LOCAL PRESS

Vucic and the US Ambassador met (B92/Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the US Ambassador Christopher Hill. Vucic talked with Ambassador Hill about bilateral cooperation, global issues and the situation in the region.

The two interlocutors emphasized that the condition for the progress of both Serbia and the entire region is the preservation of peace and stability, and that in that sense, the support of the United States is of exceptional importance. Vucic expressed hope that during the mandate of Ambassador Hill, the already good relations between Serbia and the United States will be further improved. Ambassador Hill pointed out that he knows the Western Balkans well, that there is great potential for the economic development of the region, emphasizing the need to work on better promotion and attraction of American investors, including the Open Balkans initiative.

Mihajlovic, Hill discuss strategic partnership (Tanjug/RTV)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic met with new US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill on Monday. They discussed bilateral economic ties, development of energy infrastructure, regional connectivity, energy transition, new US investments and advancement of the business environment in Serbia, Mihajlovic’s ministry said in a statement.

She said the 140 years of Serbia-US diplomatic ties reflected the partnership and the friendship between the two countries and that major steps towards advancing the economic ties had been made in the past years. She said the Morava Corridor – the first project with a US company as the main contractor – was one of the examples. “We have done a lot in the mining and energy sector, especially when it comes to creating a legislative framework. Serbia is in the initial stage of energy transition, we need new capacities, especially in the energy sector because we have built no capacities in 35 years and we get over 70 pct of our energy from coal-fired power plants. The priorities are to invest in new capacities, boost energy efficiency and diversify the gas sector,” Mihajlovic said. Today, Serbia is a politically and financially stable country that is open to investments and committed to dialogue, economic connectivity and cooperation, Mihajlovic said, adding that there was room for US companies to participate in implementation of new projects. “I believe that having an agreement on strategic partnership between our countries, like the agreements we already have with the Russian Federation, China, France, Italy, the UAE, Azerbaijan and Hungary, would be beneficial for future cooperation and I believe an agreement with the US would create frameworks for further advancement of relations and implementation of joint projects. We want to develop the best possible economic relations and have even more US companies operating in our country,” Mihajlovic said. Hill said Serbia’s economic progress represented the greatest change, and noted that cooperation in the energy sector would help the relations between the two countries develop. “We want to deepen the relations with Serbia at all levels – at political, economic and energy level, and to continue to work more intensively on advancing the cooperation,” Hill was quoted as saying. He said an agreement on strategic partnership would greatly facilitate joint projects, in particular in the energy sector – where he noted speed was crucial – in order to develop projects in line with achievements in technology and help to boost energy efficiency,” Hill said. They also discussed diversification of the natural gas sector, construction of energy infrastructure, the need for new power generation facilities, as well as energy security, in particular in light of the Ukraine crisis.

Dacic meets with Botsan-Kharcheko (Tanjug/RTV)

Serbian parliament speaker Ivica Dacic and Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko met on Monday to discuss the current situation in Europe and the Western Balkans, as well as further development of Serbia-Russia bilateral ties. Botsan-Kharchenko said Russian MPs and senators who had been members of election observation missions of the Russian parliament as well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States had given positive assessments of recent elections in Serbia, noting that they had been transparent and well-organized, the Serbian parliament said in a statement. Speaking about the current situation in Ukraine, Dacic noted that Serbia was advocating respect of international law and would always be committed to peace, and that it would be governed by its own national interests and continue to maintain its traditional friendship and partnerships with Russia and China on its European path. Dacic also said he hoped the Ukraine conflict would end soon and would be resolved by diplomatic means.

Petkovic: Brussels agreement means defense of Serbian national interests (Tanjug/RTS)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Tuesday the 2013 Brussels agreement was a cornerstone of the defense of Serbian national interests in Kosovo and Metohija. In a statement to Tanjug on the ninth anniversary of the signature of the agreement, Petkovic said Pristina was still refusing to implement the document, which he said was “at the heart of dialogue” between Belgrade and Pristina and the reason why Belgrade had embarked on the process of normalization of relations with Kosovo Albanians. “In these difficult times, when Europe and the whole world are facing the Ukraine crisis, it is becoming apparent how important it is to establish a Community of Serb Municipalities to ensure collective rights to Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija. If we want peace and stability, we need to have a Community of Serb Municipalities,” Petkovic said. The fact Pristina is still refusing to form the Community shows that it is unwilling to ensure collective rights to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as that destabilization on the ground still suits someone, Petkovic noted.

Office: Word “reciprocity” is not mentioned in agreement on license plates (RTS)

There are no regulations on reciprocity in the agreement which was reached with the Kosovo representatives in Brussels on 30 September last year, it rather “clearly states” that the temporary solution of putting stickers over license plates issued by the Serbian authorities will be implemented “until an agreement is reached on a permanent solution”, stated the Office for Kosovo and Metohija on Monday. “We call upon the representatives of the temporary institutions in Pristina to point to the item in the agreement reached on 30 September in Brussels concerning the license plates, in which the word “reciprocity” is mentioned. We also call upon the Pristina representatives to show the item of the agreement which states that the up-to-now sticker regime, will be valid for six months,” states the announcement.

Ukraine dismisses Vucic’s accusations in relation to hoax threats (Beta)

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on 18 April rejected as unfounded the accusations by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic of Kiev’s connection to a recent spate of hoax bomb threats directed at Air Serbia’s civilian flights to Russia. Oleg Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian ministry, told the Ukrinform news agency that Vucic’s statements about Ukraine’s alleged involvement with reports of bombs on Air Serbia flights were false. Nikolenko expressed displeasure that Serbia had still not joined the European Union’s sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, stating that Russian forces were bombing Ukrainian cities, killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure day in and day out. Late on 17 April, Vucic accused Ukraine and an unnamed EU member that they were behind the spate of hoax bomb threats against Air Serbia flights. “The foreign services of two countries are doing it. One is an EU country, the other is Ukraine,” Vucic said. Due to the series of bomb threats that have led to late and delayed flights to Russian cities, Air Serbia is no longer profitable, but the flights have not been canceled “on principle,” Vucic added.

Petition against sanctions to Russia presented in Belgrade (Beta)

A petition against imposing sanctions on Russia was presented in Belgrade on 18 April, after the collection of signatures by over 200 public figures, including the academicians Matija Beckovic, Kosta Cavoski and Vasilije Krestic, Serbian Orthodox Church bishops Irinej and David, filmmaker Emir Kusturica and former ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic. The petition asks Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the cabinet and “the most important institutions of the Serb people” to reject “pressure and blackmail from the West” and not impose sanctions on Russia. According to the architects of the petition, the “closest ties” connect the Serb and Russian peoples and a “lasting alliance” with that nation is the only guarantee today of the preservation of the integrity of Serbia, i.e. Kosovo and Metohija remaining within its borders, as is it the only guarantor of the preservation of the constitutional standing of Republika Srpska (RS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) as defined by the Dayton Accords. The signatories voiced the hope that the Ukrainian people would “reject” the Western allies that are pushing them into a conflict with their “Slavic brethren” for their own selfish interests. They added that no political organizations were behind the petition and announced that a second round of signatories would be released on 9 May, Victory Day. According to academician Matija Beckovic, Serbia must not allow itself the “humiliation” of sanctions against Russia. Milo Lompar, a professor at the Belgrade Faculty of Philology, said that Serbia was being asked to join the sanctions against Russia “in order to side with the Western interpretation of the crisis in Ukraine”.

They are overthrowing Dodik by blocking projects! (Novosti, by S. Misljenovic)

The daily reminded that, following sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom against Serb member of the Presidency of B&H Milorad Dodik and RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic, the RS found itself under an economic attack as well. Namely, the German government suspended preparation for four infrastructural projects worth 105 million Euros – hydro-electric power plant ‘Trebinje’, hydro-electric power plant ‘Trebinje’ phase 3, wind park ‘Hrgud’ and waste water distribution in Gradiska. In addition to this, the EU suspended two grants for the construction of Corridor 5c and railway tracks near Samac. Political analyst Srdjan Perisic said that the suspension of the projects represents a continuation of the policy of sanctions against the RS and its leaders. “This is not about Dodik, although the West wants to present him as a factor of disturbances in B&H. Dodik is just a mask for the western officials to settle accounts with the RS,” Perisic said and claimed that the main goal of the western officials is to make sure citizens of the RS feel the consequences of economic pressures so that they would replace parties in October elections in such way that would be suitable for the western forces. “A part of the international community obviously wants to install its players at the political scene, so that they would obey their mentors without any objections. Apart from weakening the RS, the other goal of pressures is to drag B&H into NATO,” Perisic said and concluded that the NATO and West have been trying to “drag B&H into the Alliance” for the past 12 years but the RS and policy of Milorad Dodik did not allow them to do that. “NATO is in the focus now because it is trying to unite all countries in fight against Russia and NATO sees a perfect chance to include BiH into the alliance. Therefore, the RS has been targeted now as an obstructer of this process and it will come under even greater pressure because of that and this will reflect in suspension of economic projects as well,” Perisic concluded. Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Istocno Sarajevo Marko Djogo said that effects of economic pressures, reflected in suspension of projects, can affect the credit rating and increase of price of public debt. “It would not be good if this situation lasted for a while. Road infrastructure projects are needed because we have the worst infrastructure in the south-east Europe. As for the energy related projects are concerned, those are not as important because there are many who are interested in it,” Djogo concluded.

REGIONAL PRESS

RS veterans invite citizens of RS to join them at protest on Wednesday due to HR Schmidt’s decision (ATV)

Due to the High Representative to B&H Christian Schmidt‘s decisions, among other things, the RS veterans will protest in Banja Luka on Wednesday. On Monday, the veterans called on RS citizens to join them and condemn, as they said, the attack on the RS. ATV broadcast an announcement the protest which reads: “The people of RS are the people of freedom. If you knew that you are a part of the people who created an army to defend their will and desire to be free in a free RS, if you are against depriving us of the freedom of the RS with impositions, sanctions and seizing of our land, forests and water, if you know how much your fathers gave for the freedom of the RS, you know that now you have to attend the people’s rally in support of the RS (called) Sloboda (Note: ‘Freedom’), which will be held on Wednesday, 20 April, starting at 17:00 hours at Krajina Square in Banja Luka. May this great Wednesday be the Wednesday of the great defense of our freedom. Long live the RS, long live freedom”.

Viskovic says PDP, SDS should explain to citizens why they do not support protest in Banja Luka (ATV/RTRS)

The RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic said that the SDS and PDP should explain to the citizens of the RS because of whom are SDS and PDP not allowed to attend the people’s gathering ‘Freedom’ for the defense of the RS. Viskovic said that the RS opposition should avoid the story that it is a gathering of SNSD, because it has no foundation in common sense. The RS Veterans’ Association (BORS) is the organizer and everyone should support them, claimed Viskovic. Viskovic stated: “Is there anything more important than that? Forget about political clashes for at least 24 hours. Do you have to make politics out of everything? The name itself ‘Freedom’ for the RS, is there anyone who lives in the RS and presents themselves as a political party in the RS, that they are against freedom of the RS?”. Viskovic stated that there will be no room for politics at ‘Sloboda’ gathering. Viskovic called on PDP and SDS to say why they are afraid to attend abovementioned gathering.

PDP representatives hold press conference in relation to announced gathering in Banja Luka (BNTV)

According to PDP, it is clear SNSD is behind the protest in Banja Luka on 20 April, and that the gathering is used not to protect the property of the RS, but of those who acquired wealth during the war and that the key gathering was held in 1992. Addressing a press conference, PDP leader Branislav Borenovic has reminded he attended that gathering and later, as an 18-year-old boy, joined the RS Army. He went on to say that, instead of doing the same, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, “took a truck-load of ‘Ronhill’ and tank of oil, and sold it to the soldiers’ families and the citizens of the RS, generating enormous profit (…) and he, who never participated in the war, is the one organizing veterans’ gathering, and drawing us into additional wars that he has no intention to participate in. The property cannot be taken by anyone, it is a permanent property of the RS, but what can happen is that the property of individuals is taken away through criminal proceedings if they obtained it illegally”. Borenovic noted he suspects that individual corrupt politicians, fearing for their own property and interests, “want to put the citizens and veterans of the RS in front of them”. RS PDP representative Ljubisa Krunic expressed disappointment over some veterans who will attend the gathering “that is exclusively gathering in support to Milorad Dodik’s policy’’ and associated political parties who brought the people of the RS into such a difficult situation where 80 per cent of the population lives on the brink of poverty. BNTV reports that PDP stressed they oppose any imposed decision, because it does not bring stabilization of the situation in the country, but the decision on suspension of the RS Immovable Property has no repercussions until there is the RS. Honorary PDP President Mladen Ivanic said that even after the decision on suspension of the Law, the agricultural land will remain under the RS’ competencies. “This decision has changed nothing. Everything remains as it has been in the past 27 years, and I am certain it will remain the same in the next 27 years, because the story that something needs to be adopted at the level of B&H cannot function without us. If we are against it, there will be no decision,” said Ivanic.

Mayor Stanivukovic says City of Banja Luka has not received application for permit to use Krajina Square at 1700hrs Wednesday (BNTV)

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Mayor of Banja Luka Drasko Stanivukovic said the City of Banja Luka did not receive any application for permit to use the Krajina Square at 1700hrs on Wednesday. He explained the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) is in charge of security during gatherings, and the City of Banja Luka, i.e. its Communal Affairs Department decides if relevant permits can be issued. He noted that, although the veterans have a legitimate right to express their opinion “the paradox is that SNSD and other political organizations support the veterans for the first time, bearing in mind they ignored all appeals and initiatives of veterans (…) I think that it is a political aspect of that struggle of, clearly, one part of veterans”, and added that SNSD decided to give support to the veterans even if it is “in relation to issues that suit SNSD”.

Russians suspend financing of OHR (Nezavisne, by Dragan Sladojevic)

The OHR confirmed in a statement for the daily that they have been informed by the Russian Federation that Russia has suspended its participation in financing of the OHR. OHR explained that it is funded by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) member states, and the budget year of the OHR lasts from 1 July to 30 June. OHR’s budget for 2021/2022 is 5,327,627 Euros. The EU provides 47.68 percent of the budget, USA 22 percent, Japan 10 percent, UK 6.69 percent, Canada 3.03 percent, Organization of Islamic Conference 2.5 percent, Russia 1.2 percent, and all other PIC member states provide the remaining 6.9 percent. OHR also confirmed that it has been informed by Russia in July 2021 that Russia will no longer participate in the meetings of the PIC Steering Board. Asked for a comment, the Russian Embassy stated that they do not wish to discuss the financial matters. They underlined that Russia remains a member of the PIC Steering Board and that there is no mechanism for suspension of their membership in this institution. The Russian Embassy also commented the status of Christian Schmidt who is not recognized as High Representative by the RS. The Embassy reiterated the stance of Russia that Schmidt’s appointment is not legitimate. “However, this does not have to mean that we do not participate in work of the PIC Steering Board. Russia is ready to consider the possibility of cooperation with Mr. Schmidt if he obtains the necessary approval of the UN Security Council for this office”, the Russian Embassy stated.

Vucic is choosing between Dodik and West (Oslobodjenje, by Almir Bicakcic)

The daily reminded that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic gave an interview to Serbian media, where he stated that relations that Serbia will have to develop with Bosniaks are crucial. Commenting this statement, deputy speaker of B&H House of Representatives Denis Zvizdic stated that relations between Serbia and B&H, as two sovereign states, can and have to be better, but this comprehends respecting of the principle of international law, judgements of international courts and Constitutional Court of B&H, forsaking of forced revision of historic facts and cooperation based on mutual respect and reciprocity. He stressed that this means that Serbian authorities, besides respecting the territorial integrity, which they often underline despite refusing to sign the agreement on internationally recognized border between B&H and Serbia, should also respect internal and international sovereignty of the state, its political independence and not interfere into B&H’s internal matters. Zvizdic further deems that without the catharsis and number of courageous and wise politicians from Serbia, who are ready to accept the truth about genocide and mass crimes in B&H, relations between Serbia and B&H will remain in the sphere of peaceful rhetoric.  He concluded that messages about the peace and cooperation, coming from Belgrade, are not accompanied by concrete deeds.

Minister Sekulovic on Medenica case (CdM)

On 11 April, the Police Directorate submitted the processed material to the Special State Prosecutor’s Office in relation to the criminal activities of a large number of persons – members of the criminal organization, said Interior Minister Sergej Sekulovic, commenting on the arrest of former Supreme Court President Vesna Medenica. We remind you that Vesna Medenica’s son Milos has recently been at the center of the affair after it was announced that he was allegedly connected to drug and cigarette smuggling.

Police protect Medenica in the Clinical Centre, she was given detention order (CdM)

After a three-hour hearing at the premises of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office last night, the former president of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica was ordered a 72-hour retention and returned back to the Clinical Centre of Montenegro. Her lawyer Zdravko Begovic told the media that Medenica had denied culpability and hadn’t planned to run away. Medenica was ordered detention so that she may not influence witnesses, while the SDT suspects her to have set up a criminal organization and carried out unlawful actions. Her lawyer Begovic couldn’t reveal more details about the hearing, because, as he told, the prosecutor ordered it to be a secret proceedings.

SD’s priority state interest, not trading in positions (Pobjeda)

Deputy leader of the Social Democrats of Montenegro (SD) Boris Mugosa says for Pobjeda that the SD does not want to be a part of a concept of the minority government conceived in the way it is. He adds that the priority for that party is the state interest and not trade in positions. “In the previous year and a half, a clear parliamentary majority of 44 MPs (DPS, SD, BS, SDP, Albanian parties, LP, URA, CIVIS) voted for the removal of the government and the speaker of parliament. That majority was supposed to be a pillar of the new government and the parliamentary majority, and others who want to join that value platform are welcome, but to the extent that corresponds to the stated facts,” he explains. “Regardless of the legitimate political differences, the unity of the entire opposition was an essential step forward in the democratic maturation of political elites and a solid barrier to attempts to undermine the not so simply built fundamental values of modern Montenegro. If there had not been for this unity, the 42nd government would not have been removed,” Mugosa points out.

Osmani: I told them how wrong the name was, I even sent them Vanco Mihajlov’s CV (Republika)

Macedonia cannot allow the provocation with the opening of the cultural club “Vanco Mihajlov” in Bitola, in the presence of the Bulgarian state leadership, to interrupt the negotiation process, although the opening of the club is unacceptable for us, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said on Tuesday. After several days of fierce reactions in the public why the government allowed this event to take place, which cooled the relations between Skopje and Sofia, Osmani today explained what preceded the event and how the Macedonian side positioned itself. Initially, the Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova asked to come to Bitola, and then we found out that Karakacanov and Zaharieva would also come. We realized that the opening of the cultural club is a provocation, in order to prove the narrative that the Bulgarians in Macedonia do not have minority rights and to use that as a justification for the veto. We did not want to give an alibi and so we gave permission to hold the event. I think the name, not the opening of the club, is a provocation. The most important thing was not to fall under provocations. Our position was that the opening of the club is unacceptable, but we will not prevent it, says Osmani and adds that the registration of the name of the club is not in the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He agrees that this will complicate the negotiations and says “of course a cloud over the negotiations has descended”. But I cannot allow this to interrupt the negotiation process. I cannot say that everyone who came to Bitola wanted to provoke, but came to prevent an incident. I told them how wrong it was, I even sent them a CV from Vanco Mihajlov, but I still thought it would be wrong to prevent the event. But it is now easy to explain in Europe that not every history can be acceptable to both sides. Negotiations must continue because there is no alternative, Osmani said. The Minister says that Macedonia will not include the Bulgarians in the Constitution until the negotiation process with the EU begins, and that they still do not know who exactly called from Macedonia to Bulgaria to prevent the negotiation process.

New scandal: Government dismisses financial police chief Arafat Muaremi (Republika/expres.mk)

In a tense atmosphere on Monday afternoon, the government dismisses the head of the Financial Police, Arafat Muaremi, a member of the SDSM, expres.mk unofficially reports. Muaremi is publicly mentioned as part of a case investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime. According to the Express news portal, after receiving information about Muaremi’s activities, there is no possibility for him to remain in a high and important position in the government. The Financial Police Directorate is one of the most important tools for control, but unfortunately also for exerting pressure on the legal entities in the country. Unofficially, the case investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office involves a dozens of companies that were racketeered and blackmailed to pay black money, and in return the institutions do not prosecute them for criminal and other acts committed by them. What is the role of Muaremi and other senior officials from SDSM, DUI and government structures in this case is already being determined in an appropriate procedure by the prosecution. Muaremi was caught threatening financial inspectors for the VMRO-DPMNE mayoral candidate in last year’s local elections.

Rama: Albania needs a president that ensures a high level of professionalism (Radio Tirana)

At the meeting of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party, where the names proposed by the deputies for the new president will be deposited, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that it is important to elect a president with integrity and to ensure a level of professionalism. “What makes this moment very decisive for the character and profile of the SP is that it is not enough to simply choose a person who would be more suitable for that role of the president. But, it is to choose a figure that has integrity to guarantee mutual respect, to ensure a level of professionalism in addressing the full range of issues related to the president as well as to convey a spirit,” Rama said. The Prime Minister said that the goal is to manage to offer the Assembly and the Republic a dignified figure for the head of state. ” We need a normal man at the head of the state, we need a normal President. And to find a candidacy of a normal man we must start from the opposite of Ilir Meta. Look for the opposite of Ilir Meta and you will surely find quite a few. For the others, in order to find the most suitable candidacy among a group of candidacies with normal people, we will advance to the next phase,” said Prime Minister Rama.