LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: I expect the government to terminate contract with Rio Tinto (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke on Wednesday evening for Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) in an interview about lithium and its excavation in Serbia. “I’ve talked about it with the Prime Minister several times. I don’t want to get into political debates. I’m sick of answering to the people who brought Rio Tinto. Someone passed the Mining Act in 2006 that was made for Rio Tinto, which is why they have certain rights and claims against Serbia,” he pointed out. As he stated, we have to make rational decisions. “The mood is such that we would terminate every deal in the government, and thus show Serbia how much this irresponsibility has cost us before. I said that we have no right to do that because we need to provide that money and we should not indulge the people,” he said. He added that we would have to go to British and American arbitrations if we decide to terminate contract. “You think it’s not the easiest thing for me to say that I agree with the government? I think the government will make that decision. I think a moratorium should be made by the end of the year, so that we don’t lose a huge chance and money,” he added. As he stated, he never met anyone from Rio Tinto except for two meetings. “And I think they gave money to some people illegally. I have no evidence, and you can’t investigate that now after 15 years. They got the money to change the Mining Law. I have no evidence for that, but there is reasonable suspicion. Namely, the provision on public bidding for rights has been deleted from the law,” he added.

Far-reaching consequences if Pristina bans voting of Serbs in referendum

Something happened in Pristina tonight. They sent 20 ROSU special forces to Gracanica, expecting to find a meeting there and hunted an ox, photographed something, left, and the ox was supposed to be roasted for the Serbian New Year, they wanted to ban it. They didn’t find it, so they didn’t arrest it tonight. When someone loses his/her political power, she/he is ready for many political moves. Far-reaching consequences because they will ban the voting of Serbs in the referendum. My request to the entire international community is to inform their child, who they caress and care for so much, that it must respect their agreements. The consequences will be much more severe if that happens than the Albanians and the Quint assume.

All sides need to stop with negative rhetoric

Vucic said that there are many irresponsible people in the region who are using inflammatory rhetoric. He warned that this needs to stop, and emphasized that he does not want to talk about the possibility of armed conflict because he hopes that something like that will never happen. Vucic noted that radical nationalism has been on the rise in the Balkans for the past few years because there are new generations in Serbia which do not know what war means and they feel that Serbia is constantly humiliated. On the other side, there are people who feel fear every time they feel like Serbia is getting stronger. He underlined that Serbs must treat Bosniaks like friends and brothers. However, added Vucic, statements intended to insult Serbia are often coming from Sarajevo. Vucic underlined that all sides need to stop with the negative rhetoric and start taking care of good mutual relations. He reiterated that Serbia will continue to support the Republika Srpska (RS).

Request to OSCE Mission for holding referendum in Kosovo and Metohija submitted on time (RTS/Politika)

On the occasion of the referendum in Serbia, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija sent a timely request to the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and Metohija to carry out the voting process in accordance with its mandate, that is, the referendum vote of the citizens of Serbia in the province. Addressing the OSCE Mission with this request, the Office acted in the same way as it did years ago in accordance with all agreements and as all previous election processes have been organized in Kosovo and Metohija so far, including the last election process in 2020. We were officially informed on 22 December that the OSCE, in accordance with the mandate entrusted to it, is ready to organize a referendum in Kosovo and Metohija, as before, but that the authorities of the provisional institutions in Pristina did not approve the referendum process. Due to this attitude of the temporary institutions of self-government, the Office officially addressed the ambassadors of the Quint countries, official Brussels, as well as EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, who is the mediator in the communication between Belgrade and Pristina, with a clear request to enable a referendum in Kosovo and Metohija. These facts, established procedures and long-term practice are well known to Pristina itself, which knows that all communication between Belgrade and Pristina goes through Brussels, that is, in the case of organizing voting and the election process additionally through the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and Metohija, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. That is why every news placed by Pristina that Belgrade did not address the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina regarding the referendum, which is trying to mask the most direct violation of human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija by spinning, decided to ban their right to vote. That is why every news placed by Pristina that Belgrade did not address the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina regarding the referendum, which is trying to mask the most direct violation of human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija by spinning, decided to ban their right to vote and vote.

Drecun: Kurti’s provocations could create incidents (TV Pink/Tanjug)

The Chair of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun stresses that the announcement by the authorities in Pristina that Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija will be able to vote in an upcoming referendum by mail or at the Liaison Office is yet another provocation by Albin Kurti that could lead to a series of incidents, Tanjug reports. Drecun told TV Pink that Kurti is trying in every way to present Kosovo as a state and to force both Belgrade and the Serb people in Kosovo to treat his creation as a state. He stressed that the Liaison Office is not a diplomatic mission, so that people could vote there, as well as that it is Serbian citizens living abroad who vote by mail. “But Kurti is persistently trying to cheat. We will allow you – vote, but not at the polls as before. If he succeeds now, he would repeat it in April,” says Drecun and adds that this way of voting in Kosovo is unacceptable to Belgrade. According to him, Belgrade expects the OSCE and the ambassadors of the Quint countries to influence Kurti to behave rationally. “They must think ahead – when they call elections, those elections would not have legitimacy without the participation of the Serb people. The thinking must be in the long run, but Kurti is creating precedents that are unacceptable to us and by which he wants to create incidents,” Drecun points out. Drecun wonders what would happen if, despite the decision of the Pristina authorities, Belgrade organized the vote. “This is a presumed situation, I am not saying that it will happen, and I hope that the situation will be resolved, but in that case would they make incursions with special units to arrest people. This is one of the critical situations that Pristina could use for violence against Serbs. Kurti is behaving in a way that is politically irrational and unnecessary unless he wants to provoke incidents and destabilization,” Drecun said. Asked whether the EU is expected to make a statement on this issue, Drecun stressed that Belgrade has had enough of statements and that concrete actions are needed. He also told the OSCE, the EU and the entire international community that they must force Pristina to behave rationally and point out to them the consequences their current behavior could have. “There are various measures that Belgrade could take regarding the referendum, but the EU should influence Pristina to behave in a way that is appropriate to this situation,” says Drecun.

Brnabic: Political, economic relations with Egypt on the rise (Tanjug/RTV)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic received on Wednesday Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Serbia Amr Aljowaily on a farewell visit and expressed gratitude for the successful cooperation during the Ambassador’s term in office and wished him success on his new position.

Brnabic said that the political and economic relations between the two states are on the rise and that there is room for cooperation in many fields. These are, in particular, agriculture, tourism, health care, telecommunications, construction industry, machine industry, mining and science research projects, she said and thanked the Ambassador on his personal contribution to the improvement of cooperation in these areas to date. Aljowaily said that during the four years of his mandate many concrete improvements were made in cooperation in the fields of agriculture and trade, science and infrastructure, culture, education, technology, sports, media and tourism.

Serbian and French parliamentarians advancing ties (Tanjug/RTS)

Serbian parliament speaker Ivica Dacic on Wednesday met with French Senate President Gerard Larcher in Paris to discuss the advancement of bilateral relations between the two countries and possibilities for strengthening the ties through parliamentary cooperation. “The joint conclusion was that we should try to do all we can to advance our bilateral relations, that the parliaments should make a contribution and that we should try to exchange as many visits as possible,” Dacic said after the meeting with Larcher in the Senate building. He said he had invited Larcher to visit Serbia as soon as possible. Speaking to Tanjug, Dacic said that no French parliamentary delegation had visited Serbia since as far back as 1985. He said he was very pleased with the level of Serbia-France bilateral relations, and noted that they were accompanied by agreements and mutual respect between top officials of the two countries, including between Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Emmanuel Macron. He said France and Serbia were carrying out several joint projects, including the Belgrade airport and the construction of a Belgrade metro, and added that bilateral economic cooperation was good despite the coronavirus pandemic. “Our annual trade volume totals 1.1 billion Euros and has not declined at all during the pandemic. There are a great many French companies operating in Serbia and it would be good if that trend continued,” Dacic said. Larcher said the relations with Serbia needed to be strengthened at economic, political and strategic level and that the French EU presidency would help promote that goal. He said he had told Dacic to send a delegation of Serbian MPs to a conference on European security and defense, a March conference on European economic sovereignty and a May conference on migration and asylum. He said this would be another way of strengthening Serbia-France relations further.

Government: Untrue writing of the media (B92)

The government of Serbia issued on Wednesday a statement regarding the allegations that appeared in the media. The government of Serbia is forced to react to the brutal untruths presented by certain organizations and individuals, which are transmitted by the media, despite the fact that these untruths are easily verifiable. It is untrue that a session of the government was scheduled for today at 12 o’clock and it is untrue that its holding was canceled,” the government said in a statement. According to the established schedule, regular sessions of the government of Serbia are usually held on Thursdays, which is a fact that is known to absolutely all media in the country. The next session of the government is scheduled last Thursday, 6 January for next Thursday, 13 January. The extent to which these claims are untrue can be clearly seen through the obligations of the Prime Minister scheduled for today. At 11 o’clock the Prime Minister had a meeting with the Ambassador of Egypt, while at 12 o’clock a conversation was scheduled with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret,” the statement concludes.

Three thousand people from Serbia filed lawsuits against NATO (TV Prva/B92)

Two new lawsuits against NATO over depleted uranium used in Kosovo during the 1999 bombing of the FRY will be filed with the Belgrade High Court next week. According to lawyer Srdjan Aleksic, who is filing the lawsuits on behalf of about 3.000 people, in cooperation with the Italian lawyer, he told TV Prva that more lawsuits are being prepared against the Alliance.

According to him, the previous lawsuit was filed in January last year and was sent to the defendant, i.e. NATO, but no answer has been received yet, says Aleksic. That lawsuit contains all relevant documents, evidence, it is in English and they have now been given a deadline to declare themselves, explains Aleksic, noting that in addition to two new lawsuits, new ones are being accepted. When asked who is the plaintiff against the Alliance, he explains that about 3.000 people have so far called, our citizens, members of the Serbian Army, reservists, civilians who were in Kosovo and Metohija during the NATO bombing. Also, as Aleksic points out, the lawsuit was written in cooperation with an Italian lawyer, who participated in 250 final cases, in which the court made a decision on compensation to Italian soldiers who developed deadly diseases due to depleted uranium. As Aleksic explains, this is a very specific tumor, and in all these cases it was proven that there were heavy metals in their blood. It is the same, he continues, with our soldiers, reservists, but also civilians who were in the bomb-throwing zones, but their cases are even more difficult. The evidence is solid, he concludes, stating that it was on the basis of them that the Italian court passed 250 final verdicts in favor of the Italian soldiers who were in Kosovo and Metohija during the NATO bombing.

Escobar: Open Balkans to be open to everyone (VoA/Beta)

Senior US diplomat Gabriel Escobar said on Wednesday that the Open Balkans initiative has to be open to everyone and meet the appropriate standards. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State said that official Washington wants those two conditions in place in return for its support of the initiative. He told the Voice of America’s Albanian service that there can be no free trade zone unless the initiative includes all the countries of the Western Balkans and added that it has to have institutions which can manage goods and money efficiently. Escobar said that he would be coming to the region with EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak to signal support for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and show commitment to the process. He said that the US will be very much engaged in the process in the entire region, not just in Serbia and Kosovo, and on both political and economic issues.

REGIONAL PRESS

US calls for investigation of nationalistic incidents and glorification of war criminals (FTV) 

The US State Department called for investigation of nationalistic incidents and glorification of war crimes that occurred during marking of the unconstitutional Day of the RS. US Ambassador to B&H Eric Nelson stated on Wednesday that it is liability of authorities in the RS and the Federation of B&H (FB&H) to carry out investigations and to apply laws, because no citizen should feel there is a threat against them. Reporter commented that the US presented its stance through sanctions they imposed, adding that a similar activity might be expected from the EU. Nelson said: “We witnessed what was happening in relation to unconstitutional marking and celebrating the RS Day January 9. We saw calls for division, hatred, threats with violence. All that was present. It is the responsibility of the authorities in the RS and the FB&H, wherever it happens, to investigate and implement laws, to apply laws regardless to whom it refers to, because no citizen should feel threatened.” “We urge competent authorities to investigate these incidents without delay and to hold the responsible individuals accountable. The United States is deeply concerned over reports of hate speech, glorification of war criminals and provocative incidents targeting returnees in the RS entity during the weekend,” reads a statement of the US State Department.

Dodik comments on US request for investigation into celebration of RS Day (ATV) 

January 9 remains to be the RS Day regardless of how anyone refers to that, even the US State Department, says Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik. Dodik said there was never before a case in which an institution forbid people to mark or celebrate anything. He adds that never before has someone sanctioned Serb personnel in the Armed Forces (AF) of B&H because they attended the central ceremony of marking the RS Day in Banja Luka. Celebration of the RS’ 30th birthday bothered the US State Department as well. The State Department asked B&H institutions to investigate all the things that happened on 9 January. Dodik emphasized that 9 January will be celebrated in the RS regardless of what anyone thinks, asks or believes. Serbs will not stop celebrating this day only because someone else wants that, he said. “What can they investigate? What can they do? What can they? Close an entire nation because it marks the Day of the Republic that happened on 9 January 1992. And what will they achieve then? What country will they build? And with what will they build it, Dodik asks. He added that RS authorities actually searched for data on whether an institution has ever forbid people to mark or celebrate something, and they found no records of such a thing. “What are they insulted with? Who is hurt? Those who are hurt, they should not watch TV on that day, and it is OK. What is the problem? We have done nothing to anyone, we have not undertaken anything, and suddenly there is all that noise, mess,” said Dodik for the media. Dodik also commented on the note of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs sent to the B&H Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the unveiling of the memorial plaque to Major Milan Tepic in Banja Luka. Dodik said that Tepic is a Serb hero. Dodik was quoted as saying: “We do not dispute that other nations celebrate their heroes.” Dodik added that he has already repeated several times that Tepic is a Serb hero.

Salkic: US reaction important because of general influence of USA globally (Hayat) 

US officials reacted to the marking of the RS Day on Sunday in Banja Luka. They called on B&H authorities to investigate all cases of glorification of war criminals and the disturbance of returnees to the RS. Bosniak Vice President of RS Ramiz Salkic said that the reaction of the USA is important because of the general influence of the USA globally. He added that the B&H Prosecutor’s Office needs to understand this message and undertake measures against those who glorify war criminals and authorities which allow this. Talking about provocations registered in several cities in the RS, Salkic stated that this is consequence of the education system where children learn that the RS Army is heroic, but do not learn it committed genocide.

OSCE, UN and EPP concerned due to recent incidents registered in several cities in B&H (O Kanal) 

The OSCE Mission to B&H expressed concern due to recent incidents that occurred in Bijeljina, Prijedor, Brcko, Gacko, Istocno Sarajevo, Foca, Doboj and Buzim. It was underlined by the OSCE that use of inflammatory and rhetoric of divisions by some officials in B&H contributes to occurrence of this type of incidents. They commended initial steps conducted by some structure for implementation of law in Bijeljina, Brcko and Prijedor. “Respect for others, regardless of one’s religious, cultural and/or ethnic affiliation, must be protected by all, and in the interest of all”, the OSCE Mission said in a statement on Wednesday. The UN called on all relevant levels of authorities and institutions in B&H to ensure conducting of necessary measures to prevent any future repeating of any manifestations of discrimination and hatred which only incite feeling of insecurity and distrust. “Such events have no place in a democratic society. They perpetuate the suffering of survivors and families of victims, who deserve respect and solidarity. People in B&H deserve to live in an environment of mutual understanding, respect and dignity,” reads the statement by the UN Mission in B&H. The biggest political group in the European Parliament (EP), European People’s Party (EPP), reacted to marking of the unconstitutional day of RS. EPP strongly condemned the most recent unacceptable incitement calling into question B&H’s territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty. They condemned denial and glorification of war crimes.

RS MoI: Persons that participated in incidents in Bijeljina region identified and will be sanctioned (Nova BH) 

The RS Ministry of Interior has issued a statement that persons who participated in nationalistic incidents in the Bijeljina region on Orthodox Christmas were identified and will be sanctioned.

Association of Generals of B&H calls for defending of constitutional order of B&H (Oslobodjenje) 

Association of Generals of B&H issued a statement which reads that it is necessary to convey a clear message to friends of B&H and “those others”, “that we are united and we will never kneel in the defense of civilizational norms and values, established through centuries long coexistence in B&H”. The Association calls for urgent stopping of futile election debates and establishing of united political front of all patriotic parliamentary parties.  “It is high time for all of us together, to define one goal and priority, which is defending of constitutional- legal order of B&H, through all state institutions,” reads the statement.

Politicians from RS request from B&H Prosecutor’s Office to react on marking of 29th anniversary of ‘Munja 93’ military operation organized in Buzim (FTV) 

Political parties from the RS demanded reaction of judicial institutions due to published videos, war paroles, iconography and song in Buzim, as well as due to statements of wartime commander of RB&H Army Hamdija Abdic a.k.a. Tigar. FTV reminded that 29th anniversary of military operation ‘Munja’ was observed in Buzim on Tuesday. Participants of march organized on this occasion was carrying flags of RB&H and flags of Buzim Brigade of the RB&H Army. Some participants were shouting religious paroles and majority was wearing military uniforms. Also, Abdic said that unless judicial institutions do their job, the situation that happened in 1992 will repeat. During the march, the participants shouted religious phrases and played songs in honour of Commander of the Buzim Brigade Izet Nanic. Politicians from the RS have requested from the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H to react. DNS leader Nenad Nesic said: “DNS is requesting reaction from the Prosecutor’s Office over battle cries, war iconography, war songs and all we could see in Buzim. I am asking all my colleagues, politicians from the FB&H, not to incite hatred. No incidents, no attacks on anyone’s home, regardless of their ethnicity or religion, can be justified, and cannot and must not go without sanctions”. Representative in the RS parliament Nebojsa Vukanovic did not attend the celebration of the Day of RS. However, as he himself stated, he is welcome in Buzim. He said that he receives hundreds of messages from Buzim and he would “easily fill a hall full of people” if he came to this town. ATV noted that judging by the footage that recently came from Buzim, Vukanovic is the only Serb that is welcome there. Reactions to the war flags and war cries that were seen in footage from Buzim came from the RS, but not from the FB&H, and not from the international community. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik emphasized that RS Day celebration, and parade of members of the RS Ministry of Interior (RS MoI), are deemed as problematic, but nobody assessed that the incident in Buzim was problematic. There, Dodik points, people are trying to once again form the ‘Zelene beretke’ (Green Berets) unit and to arm themselves. Dodik said the RS has a safe environment and places full trust in its police. He emphasized that the RS MoI will protect all citizens of the RS, regardless of them being Serbs, Croats or Bosniaks. He rejects and condemns any and all incidents that were reported across the RS in the past days. He said the RS police has formed cases against all the people that were part of these incidents, and they will be properly processed. He, however, asks if someone will process the incident in Buzim.

RTRS analyzes calls for mobilization of Green Berets and incident in Buzim (RTRS) 

While the RS celebrated its holidays with peacetime activities and ceremonial parades of members of legal and legitimate organizations, calls for mobilization, paramilitary orgies with Islamist cries and ornaments echoed from the FB&H, noted the presenter. While in the RS they unreservedly search, find and prosecute individuals who violated public order, and send louder messages of peace and respect for the Constitution and the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), no one thinks of sanctioning or at least warn the increasingly louder advocators of war in the FB&H, added the presenter. The presenter raised the question whether the 1990s are being repeated. The civic B&H, but with Takbir shouts, war flags and the most terrible Islamist war folklore is present in continuity and at every step, from Mrkonjic Grad and Buzim through Sarajevo to Podrinje, commented the reporter. The actors are war veterans of paramilitary formations from the 1990s, assisted by heirs, even minors, with a medieval narrative in which only the argument of force is acknowledged, added the reporter. These are the features of several months of orgies, Sarajevo and other Bosniak non-attacked defenders and the heroes behind whom Serb and Croat hearths remained extinguished during the war, noted the reporter. It has culminated in recent days, so Bosniak quasi-patriots, instead of in prisons and detention centers, are encouraging themselves on the streets, favorite media and social networks, added the reporter. The Green Berets, a Muslim paramilitary formation, officially emerged from the secret garden of the SDA in June 1991, long before the dissolution and referendum, even when the Yugoslav People’s Army was the only legal armed force, pointed out the reporter. Another paramilitary party branch, the Patriotic League, which began to resist the non-existent aggression in August 1990, when, according to chief logistician Halid Cengic, a germ was formed in the Ustikolina mosque – a platoon of about 50 armed soldiers, and it germinated unstoppably, commented the reporter. Thus, for at least two years, as the reporter said, the germ carriers secretly prepared for the war and armed themselves, and publicly chanted about 500,000 unarmed defenders in sneakers who gathered on the night of April. Now they are being resurrected in public and again under the guise of security, this time of the returnees to the RS, the non-attacked call for defense and mobilization, added the reporter. President of the Sarajevo Canton (SC) Green Berets Muhamed Svrakic stated: “In 24 hours, I can say that we have had over 15,000 inquiries about how and where to join.” The war-time Commander of the RB&H Army Hamdija Abdic ‘Tigar’ stated: “There is nothing here without force. We are 10, 100 times stronger than we were in 1992. We now have institutions, we have strength. When it comes to some internal conflicts, they have no chance with us”. Despite such statements, Sarajevo investigators and prosecutors, and international officials concerned about B&H, are still squinting, commented the reporter. Others, however, are examining the RS Day celebrations in detail. The Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik stated: “We are told that, what are regular police forces, they go out in the streets, which are in the streets every day, then it is a problem. And it is not (a problem) armament or calling for or re-forming the Green Berets which we see in the media, new membership is called for, or this event in Buzim. That does not provoke any reaction, but we are already used to it”. Politics, and that of Sarajevo, just like in the 1990s, is now the main culprit of tensions, according to analyst Mehmedalija Nuhic. Nuhic stated “The source of all this, in our time, is the political attitudes of individuals who undoubtedly lead a Bosniak-Muslim population on the path where it is thought and understood that B&H is a country of Muslims and Bosniaks, and that minorities should live with all their norms and living conditions, and that they, as the majority, dictate those conditions of life.” The SDA has never taken off its military overcoat, nor has it disbanded paramilitary and para-political formations, warned the security expert Dzevad Galijasevic. Galijasevic stated: “What Bakir Izetbegovic and Sefik Dzaferovic are saying has its reflection in the additional mobilization of those paramilitary and para-political structures. There are, of course, Wahhabi structures, there are also these militants who enter with the flags of the B&H Army in Banja Luka, in Doboj, which are moving in columns, which in that way make not only a provocation but also intimidation and a certain examination of the terrain”. The terrain is being examined through proven heroes, commented the reporter sarcastically. Krajina’s Tigar is the main actor from the still unpunished war film by director Atif Dudakovic about the urgent shooting of two prisoners. Tigar is the accused murderer of the Croat general Vlado Santic, whom he took to sleep on Dudakovic’s orders, without Santic ever waking up, noted the reporter. Svrakic, himself has suspicious war and peacetime biography who is still shamefully celebrating comrade-in-arms Caco and events in Kazani. Serb veterans are looking for an urgent reaction. President of the Association of Veterans of the Security Service of the RS Goran Macar stated: “I am surprised that SIPA, OSA (B&H Intelligence-Security Agency) and other security bodies and the Prosecutor’s Office have not reacted so far.” There is obviously no dilemma who is in favor of war and who is in favor of peace in B&H, commented the reporter. There is also no dilemma when it comes to the deployment of international forces because the Balkans have always been a strategic goal of East and West, and a barrel of gunpowder that can be ignited by a spark, but there are sparks on all sides. If it explodes again, nothing will be different and that should probably be clear to everyone, concluded the reporter.

Dodik, Okolic, Majkic comment on proceedings initiated against Serb soldiers who attended RS Day (RTRS) 

Sarajevo started persecuting Serb officers from the B&H Armed Forces who attended the celebration of the RS Day in Banja Luka, commented the reporter. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said that there is no disciplinary or criminal responsibility of Serb officers and B&H Deputy Minister of Defense Mirko Okolic because Dodik sent them invitations based on the law and they were obliged to respond, adding that the announced process by B&H Minister of Defense Sifet Podzic only serves daily political purpose. Podzic, a war officer of, as the reporter said, the so-called Army of RBiH, is especially zealous in the persecution of Serb officers. Podzic entrusted, as the reporter said, the dirty investigative work to the Head of the Joint Staff, General Senad Masovic, the war commander of the infamous Seventh Muslim Brigade. Podzic stated: “It could be seen that, unfortunately, five members of the B&H Armed Forces and my deputy Mr. Okolic attended this event, the marking of the unconstitutional Day of the RS.” Dodik stated: “People are not responsible nor guilty. It is an attempt to keep tensions, therefore, nothing will happen, absolutely. It is not allowed for them to be punished, I absolutely think that in that respect, any procedures they carry out are insignificant and have a daily political character.” The Serb officers ask what kind of general, a Serb and an Orthodox, would please Podzic and Masovic. If the criterion is that they do not attend the celebration of the RS Day, they will have to look for other Serb officers, added the reporter. They are not afraid of disciplinary proceedings, but they do not have permission to appear before the camera. Okolic claimed that disciplinary proceedings cannot be initiated against him, because he is a member of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM). Okolic stated: “It is known to whom I answer.” Okolic added that criminal charges were filed against him and it remains to be seen how this will end. Deputy Chairperson of the Joint Commission on Defense and Security in the B&H parliament Dusanka Majkic was quoted as saying: “If the Prosecutor’s Office reads the laws carefully, it will determine that there is no criminal responsibility of Okolic nor Serb generals, because military personnel are obliged to respond to the summons of a member of the Supreme Command, in this case a Serb member of the Presidency, and Milorad Dodik is a legally elected member”. Also, the Third Infantry RS Regiment, which inherits the tradition of the RS Army, is part of the B&H Armed Forces. Majkic stated via phone: “Instead of dealing with the appearance of Green Berets in the Ministry of Defense and the Joint Staff, some of whom are in the uniforms of the B&H Armed Forces, Sifet Podzic and Senad Masovic would rather sanction Serbs in the Ministry of Defense and the Joint Staff, even if unfounded.” When he took office, two years ago Podzic was forgetful a bit and greeted all those present with, as the reporter said, the war cry of the so-called Army of RB&H “Greetings to the homeland”. He apologized and went without sanctions. He never completed disciplinary proceedings against Bosniak members of the B&H Armed Forces who publicly belittled Serbs and the RS. In 2021, Podzic willfully cancelled a previously agreed military exercise with the Serbian Army, and Bosniak representatives prevented his removal, added the reporter. That gave him wings and he started a confrontation with the Serb officers, who told him to stop while there is still time, concluded the reporter.

Szijjarto, Schmidt have phone conversation (Glas Srpske) 

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto had a phone conversation with High Representative (HR) Christian Schmidt. He reiterated the stance on opposing to introduction of sanctions to politicians by saying that “talks with the Western Balkans are more than welcomed.” During the phone conversation, Szijjarto emphasized that peace and stability in the region are in the interest of the Hungarian national security as well as in the economic interest of this country. He said: “There is no doubt that B&H plays the key role from this point of view in the region and this is why we, Hungarians, believe that it is important to continue meaningful dialogue that is based on mutual respect with leaders of B&H.” He underlined that Hungary does not see the point in threatening with introduction of sanctions and he added that European politicians should understand that talks with the Western Balkans are more welcomed than talks about it. Hungarian media reported that MEP Katalin Cseh warned that according to reports, the government of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban allocated EUR 200 million for the campaign aimed to “dismantle B&H.” MEP Tamas Deutsch characterized the information as untrue and said that this should be neglected. He accused Hungarian leftists of being known for spreading false news and insults about the Hungarian government and their country and he connected all this with the upcoming elections. The daily reminded that Hungary has been opposing in Brussels for weeks to introduction of sanctions to member of B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik and to the RS, while Budapest announced help to small and medium-size companies in the RS in the amount of EUR 100 million.

MEPs write to EC President von der Leyen calling for investigation of Varhelyi’s role in Dodik’s separatist escalation (AJB) 

A group of the European Parliament members (MEPs) asked for an investigation to be launched against Oliver Varhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, for his ties with Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik. “We call for an investigation into Commissioner Varhelyi’s alleged role in assisting Milorad Dodik’s separatist escalation in B&H,” they explain. The MEPs accused Varhelyi of conducting his own policies and policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and not the EU’s policies. In an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the MEPs said that it is “needless to say that Commission representatives cannot appear to appease separatist movements in this manner or act beyond their mandate contrary to the official EU policy pertaining to the Western Balkan region”. “If Mister Dodik’s endeavor to break up the country and establish the RS’ independence by withdrawing from state institutions and setting up independent authorities on the territory of RS is successful, its ramifications will be felt far beyond the borders of B&H, with grave consequences for the EU foreign policy and the enlargement process alike” reads the open letter. The MEPs asked whether an internal inspection will determine the true goals of the activities of Varhelyi. They also asked what the policy of the EU is towards the territorial integrity of B&H and the violation of the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA). The letter reads that Varhelyi agreed with Dodik on the date of a special session of the RS parliament on return of the RS’ competences. The MEPs also warned of consequences of Dodik’s activities.

Plenkovic says Pupovac was in Banja Luka as SNV President (Hina) 

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has said Milorad Pupovac was at a celebration of Bosnian Serb entity day as head of the Serb National Council and that parties that have criticised him for that should have done the same in the case of President Zoran Milanovic‘s “love” for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. A number of Croatian political parties have condemned Pupovac’s attendance at the ceremony in Banja Luka. Asked about that topic in Novska again on Wednesday, Plenkovic said that the Serb National Council (SNV), an umbrella association of ethnic Serbs in Croatia, had provided an explanation. “He went there in his capacity as SNV president, not as a representative of the parliamentary majority, not to mention confabulations about him being a member of the government, or as a deputy in the Croatian parliament. That is a fact, his presence there was explained by the SNV itself. I will not and do not need to be anyone’s interpreter,” he said. Pupovac is also the leader of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) and member of parliament. Plenkovic dismissed interpretations about double standards, considering that in 2019 Croatia’s Ambassador to B&H Ivan Delvecchio, was recalled after attending the same event, adding that Pupovac “is not an ambassador”. Asked if in the case of events such as the marking of Republika Srpska Day one could separate Pupovac’s position as a member of the parliamentary majority and that of SNV president, Plenkovic said that he would like to have seen the same uproar from political parties concerning “Milanovic’s love for Milorad Dodik.” “There was no such reaction a few weeks ago, quite the contrary. There should be no double standards in reactions,” he said, and to a repeated remark from a reporter that one could not disregard the fact that Pupovac is a member of the parliamentary majority, he said that one should put the question to Pupovac. “You should ask him, I will not interpret the SNV’s positions,” he said. Commenting this past Monday on Pupovac’s attendance at the Banja Luka ceremony, Plenkovic said that he was there only for the official ceremony in his capacity as president of the SNV, adding that “there has been significant support there to the post-earthquake reconstruction of Banovina”, a reference to post-earthquake aid to Croatia’s Sisak-Moslavina County provided by the Serb entity authorities. “He neither made any speeches nor did he have any special role there,” Plenkovic said then.

Zirojevic: New initiative to remove the government within a reasonable time (Gradski portal) 

There will be no reconciliation in Montenegro as long as anyone feels threatened, said the spokesman of the Social Democrats Nikola Zirojevic. Today, as he said, it is those who declare themselves as Montenegrins and members of minority nations. “When we find ourselves in a situation where none of us feels threatened, then we will be able to work on reconciliation. “As long as the climate in the parliament is as it is, as long as we have such a public discourse, I am afraid that the situation among the citizens will be even worse,” Zirojevic believes. Speaking about the announcement of a new initiative for the removal of the government, he says that he cannot say when it will be submitted, but he will within a reasonable time. “In the past year, we have seen what the government of this parliamentary majority looks like, that is, government without legitimacy. The ground is now being prepared to put an end to this agony. “I expect that the initiative will be submitted again and that, in a relatively short time, we will finally say goodbye to Zdravko Krivokapic and his ministers, and that Montenegro will get a pro-European and civil government,” Zirojevic said. Commenting on the Memorandum of URE, SNP, CIVIS and minority parties, he says that the SD, on the same day when they were acquainted with its contents, said that it had their support. “Any rapprochement of political subjects of government and opposition on ideological grounds is something worth supporting and praising. This is a good starting point for future cooperation. “There is a will to talk, because we have to cooperate, although we often disagree politically,” Zirojevic pointed out. He says that he is glad that the leader of GP URA Dritan Abazovic said that the minority government is one of the possible solutions to the political crisis, but that it is wrong to hold Montenegrin citizens hostage because of personal relations, “because the situation with this government is unsustainable and to the detriment of all. Krivokapic completely made the work of the parliament meaningless”. Commenting on Serbia’s donation of two million euros to the Municipality of Niksic, he says that he doubts the intentions with which the money was sent, and that the question is why no one in the neighboring country reacted. “It is money that could have been invested in something in Belgrade.” It is questionable what will happen with that money,” emphasizes Zirojevic. Speaking about the situation in the entity of the RS, he says that B&H is still a barrel of gunpowder and that he is very worried about the tones from RS. “However, this is nothing new. Now it has only gained in importance, having in mind the strong support of Serbia, the secret and organized support of Montenegro. We had the same tones in Serbia, in Novi Pazar, and thus a very clear message is being sent to the Bosniak population – you are not welcome. War criminals convicted of genocide are celebrated. I am afraid that the worst is yet to come, this is just catching up on some other things,” warns Zirojevic. He also notes that everything that is happening in RS is reflected in Montenegro. “We have a situation in Pljevlja, a multi-religious and multinational environment, where graffiti is written, murals of war criminals are drawn. It is unbelievable that this does not meet with any condemnation from the government and institutions. I cannot believe that state institutions remain silent on something that is a de facto threat and on the message to Bosniaks in Pljevlja that they are not welcome,” says Zirojevic.

Dimitrov: “International friends” wanted to see me replace Zaev as Prime Minister (Republika) 

During his bombshell press conference, Nikola Dimitrov claimed that “many international friends” wanted to see him named as Prime Minister after Zoran Zaev resigned. “That is no secret, many international friends called me to support me in taking over the Government”, he said. Zaev’s former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Nikola Dimitrov came out with a hard-hitting press conference, accusing the government of being ready to accept the most hard-line Bulgarian demands. Dimitrov, who signed the 2018 Prespa Treaty which gave away Macedonia’s name and much of its history to Greece, accused current Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani of being willing to accept Bulgarian demands that would reduce the Macedonian language to a dialect of the Bulgarian. I do not have full trust in the Foreign Minister on the issue of Bulgaria. That comes from my experience with our internal coordination meetings and the meetings in Brussels. I have a sense that he is driven by the need to achieve success at any cost, which is dangerous and not productive. I may be wrong and I hope I am wrong, Dimitrov said. He added that he was being offered to go to D.C. as Ambassador or to choose a post to his liking, but that this would “silence him” and remove him as a source of resistance to Bulgarian demands within the government. Dimitrov also claimed that “many international friends” wanted to see him named as Prime Minister after Zaev resigned. “That is no secret, many international friends called me to support me in taking over the government”, he said. Dimitrov was an enthusiastic supporter of the idea that Macedonia should give away chunks of its history and identity to Greece to secure its approval for EU and NATO membership. But once Bulgaria raised similar demands against Macedonia, he largely disappeared from public eye, and after several trips to Sofia, stopped engaging with Bulgaria. Bulgarian officials publicly accused him of being a “virus worse than Covid” because they saw him as trying to get EU and US officials to put pressure on Bulgaria. The Foreign Ministry is now led by an ethnic Albanian, a first for Macedonia, and it is widely seen that Osmani will be far more open to accepting Bulgarian demands aimed against the Macedonian national identity. In his press conference, Dimitrov advised that Macedonia should “freeze” the dispute with Bulgaria – a complete policy reversal from his previous calls that Greek demands are accommodated as soon as possible. It would be wise that we remain open to dialogue, but not pre-occupy ourselves with the dates, whether we reach a deal in January or July. Let’s invest our energy at home. The issue is that we must be prepared for a dignified dialogue and base our positions on European principles and international law. We want to be friends with Bulgaria, but they have to respect us, Dimitrov said. Dimitrov is the son of Dimitar Dimitrov, a former high VMRO-DPMNE official who was, in his day, accused by SDSM of being far too pro-Bulgarian. In the 1990-ies, the elder Dimitrov also famously cursed whoever in the future signs off Macedonia’s name, that his right hand may whither. After being appointed to top ambassadorships by VMRO-DPMNE, Nikola Dimitrov switched sides and endorsed SDSM and Zoran Zaev during the 2015-2016 Colored Revolution, for which he was given the post of Foreign Minister, and later Deputy Prime Minister. He was even named to the top of the SDSM list of candidates for the 1st district in the 2020 elections. Today, he declared that he had two major clashes with the Zaev government, once in Skopje and once in Brussels, when he refused to accept the Bulgarian demands. Zaev was very open to accepting all key Bulgarian positions in late 2020, a move which caused divisions in his party and greatly contributed to his defeat in the 2021 local elections. Dimitrov indicated that he will remain influential on the political and diplomatic scene despite the fact that he will not be in the next SDSM – DUI led government. The office of outgoing Prime Minister Zoran Zaev responded to Dimitrov’s comments with a press release, in which Zaev insists that the Macedonian national identity and language are not a matter of discussion with Bulgaria – which is at the core of Dimitrov’s stated reasons for his distancing from the SDSM policies. Dimitrov agreed to the Macedonian positions and had a serious role in determining these positions, in a process led by Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani. If Dimitrov was opposed to anything in the positions that were jointly determined, it would be honest that he explains to the people what he is opposed to. Otherwise, he will leave an impression that he is engaging in untruths and speculative public manifestations after he was left out from the future government, Zaev’s office stated.

Zaev’s reaction: Dimitrov agreed with the Macedonian positions (Nezavisen.mk) 

The Cabinet of the Prime Minister Zoran Zaev rejected the allegations of the Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov regarding the negotiations with Bulgaria, stating that he himself agreed with the Macedonian positions. And that these are inaccurate and speculative public manifestations. “Northern Macedonia has clear positions in the talks with Bulgaria, built with full government unity and sent as a response from our Foreign Ministry to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry. The Macedonian identity and the Macedonian language are not a topic of conversation between us and Bulgaria at all. The Macedonian positions given as our answer regarding the topics that are the subject of talks with Bulgaria, about which the public is well acquainted, are built through a comprehensive consultation process and working meetings in which Nikola Dimitrov had an active and essential role and contributed with his views, and such our positions are completely in line with the Portuguese proposal, which was a proposal of the Slovenian presidency, but also in full accordance with the Resolution adopted by the Assembly of Northern Macedonia. Dimitrov agreed with the Macedonian positions in these negotiations, in fact he had a serious role in the creation of our positions, through the process led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani. If Dimitrov is against any of the positions we have built together, it is fair for the people to say so and explain why, because otherwise only the impression remains that his non-participation in the future government is the reason for such inaccurate and speculative public manifestations in order “to put a burden of distrust in the government from the front.”

US working with France to start negotiations with Macedonia, says Escobar (VoA/Libertas) 

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar told VoA in Macedonian that he had spoken with France about Northern Macedonia’s accession talks with the European Union, and that he believed an agreement could be reached soon. “We have already talked to France. We have made it clear that we believe that EU membership is essential for all of us in the Western Balkans. We believe that they are part of Europe, we believe that as they meet the conditions by closing the chapters they should be more integrated in the EU and we think that it will be a solution for all countries. “Every country that has joined the EU has become more democratic, more prosperous and more stable,” he said. “Northern Macedonia’s accession process to the EU should be solved by Europe. However, we strongly support the candidacy of Northern Macedonia for the EU, we believe that it has done a great job, it is already a European country, culturally and historically a European country. “Therefore, we want to see the process start as soon as possible,” Escobar said. He said he believes the EU has not disappointed northern Macedonia because it continues to help. “I believe that we will reach an appropriate agreement in a very short period of time. “We will work on that,” he said. Escobar believes that six months, as announced by the Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov for resolving the dispute with Northern Macedonia, are enough to solve the problems, although he stressed that there is frustration among European partners that the process is not going fast. He also said that the United States remains in the position that Northern Macedonia and Albania should not be separated in the EU accession process. “There is no change in the position of the United States. We believe that both countries have done their job, both countries are moving in the right direction, both countries have a European focus and orientation, and we want to see them move together. We want to see them move together fast.”

Violence can’t be a political tool, US envoy to region says (VoA/Tirana Times) 

Washington’s point envoy in the Western Balkans has condemned the violence at the 8 January protest at the headquarters of Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party. “I think it’s deplorable that anybody would resort to violence and not the ballot box in an effort to take over a political party, and quite honestly, I condemn it,” U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said in an interview with the Voice of America’s Albanian Service. DP headquarters turned into a battleground between supporters of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and DP incumbent leader Lulzim Basha, after a months-long political campaign by Berisha to take over the party, after being expelled by Basha due to Berisha’s public designation by the United States as inadmissible due “to significant corruption.” Escobar said the designation was about corruption, not about the politics of Berisha or his supporters. “It is possible that he has supporters, but I would caution anyone thinking that because he can bring violent supporters out in the streets that this signals some sort of electoral support. I doubt it. And I hope that the voters reject this sort of behavior and activity,” Escobar said. Critics have pointed out that the U.S. focus on an opposition component out of power for eight years, like Berisha, rather than the current government, is hurting Albanian democracy by weakening the opposition. Escobar said the Democratic Party led by Basha offers a way to keep the government in check. “I believe the current Democratic Party offers such a thing. I have a good relationship with Mr. Basha. So, I would say that what is happening on the street does not really reflect what the Democratic Party is now. So, I hope the voters understand — that the voters reject this kind of behavior” Escobar said. He added: “Not everyone who claims to be a member of the Democratic Party is an important partner to us right now.” Escobar said the United States wants to preserve its current relationship with Albania. “Right now, Albania is one of the strongest, most important allies that we have in the region. Our relationship across the board – that is political, strategic and even economic – is growing faster than any other relationship in the region. We want to preserve that, that’s the future.”

Meta – Kovacevski: Both our countries deserve opening of negotiations with EU as soon as possible (Radio Tirana) 

Albanian President Ilir Meta was received on Wednesday in a cordial meeting by the Prime Minister mandated to form the next government of the Republic of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski, at the same time chairman of the Social Democratic League of Macedonia (SDSM). After wishing him many successes in this very important task and appreciating the excellent neighborly relations between our countries, Meta stressed the necessity of opening the negotiations for membership in the EU for both countries as soon as possible and expressed confidence that with joint efforts obstacles will be overcome in the near future. The Albanian Head of State praised the concrete commitments of the Macedonian side to advance with the very important project of Corridor 8, which will further strengthen economic and trade cooperation, as well as relations between the two countries. Welcoming the significant improvement of interethnic relations in North Macedonia, key to the progress of democracy and prosperity of the neighboring country, President Meta praised the role and contribution of Albanian political factors in North Macedonia, in all democratic developments and progress of the country in the Euro-Atlantic processes. For his part, Mr. Kovacevski assured that one of the priorities of his government in the field of investments will be exactly Corridor 8. He also said that his government will be fully committed to further strengthening interethnic relations in the country and to deepen, in all areas, cooperation with Albania, in the best interest of our citizens.