LOCAL PRESS

Vucic visits the works on the bridge over the Sava (B92)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited Sabac, to attend the joining of the bridge over the Sava (section 2). The bridge on the Sava near Sabac is an integral part of the highway to Ruma, consisting of access structures on the left and right banks and the bridge construction over the river. The length of the bridge found on 371 piles is 1.33 km, with a total of 45 main beams and 47 columns. Upon arrival, Vucic declared that the bridge was beautiful. He also said that the road from Sabac to Ruma should be completed this fall, and from Sabac to Loznica a year later, in September 2024. “We still manage to maintain the projected dynamics of work and that is a big thing for Serbia,” he said. He said that the future journey from Belgrade to Sabac will take mere 40 minutes, not an hour and ten minutes, which is a significant difference. “At a time when speed is becoming important due to increased needs, this represents a key benefit,” he added. The President then pointed out that the Jadar project could have been a development boost for the whole of Podrinje and Loznica. “The Jadar project could have been a development boost for the whole of Podrinje and Loznica, which could have had a budget of 150 million Euros so that people could live five to ten times better than today, but it is my own fault that I succumbed to the pressures, which were somewhat induced from the outside. Loznica is developing quickly, but not fast enough. And this is a big thing,” noted Vucic. “We will complete the Ruma-Sabac highway in a little more than a year. This is a big deal for Belgrade, Novi Sad, but also for the whole of Macva, the whole of Podrinje,” he said. He reminded us that the works on the Sabac-Loznica high-speed road, near Loznica, were opened, and a better job of expropriation was done than in Sabac, with some problems in Stitar, causing the part of the project to be changed. “That way, Serbia would no longer be the same country and the Drina will be much closer. We must not forget the impact on the economy,” explained Vucic. The bridge on the Sava near Sabac, he says, is a small masterpiece. He pointed out that the bridge was financed directly from the budget of Serbia. “I am proud of what we are building and that the country looks different from day to day. We did not stop any big projects during the crisis. Things are going well,” he said. Vucic explained that as soon as the price of gas rises, the prices of other materials will rise, and he points out that it is therefore important to finish the works “as quickly and as soon as possible”.

When asked by a journalist how long it took to build this road and whether this and other roads will influence the additional investors to come, he said that it is extremely important to build roads and that it is a condition which makes the whole country progress. “This is what brings us higher salaries and pensions. This bridge means new jobs,” said the President and pointed out that salaries are twice as high today compared to 2014. During the de-icing of the bridge, he stated that it is important to prepare as much as possible for the winter. “The electricity prices have gone to heaven. Everyone cools and heats with electricity. When there are days like this, consumption is like during winter. We will see what we will have to do and whether we will have to be responsible and save as Europeans or we will manage to push through without that. Soon we will have to make some assessments,” he stated.

Forming of joint working group of Serbia, Albania, Northern Macedonia for energy cooperation accepted (Tanjug/RTS)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic announced on Monday in Tirana that the relevant ministers from Northern Macedonia and Albania accepted Serbia’s initiative to form a joint working group for cooperation in the energy crisis and on strategic projects. Mihajlovic, who spoke on the panel on energy security at the meeting of the Crisis Mitigation Group as part of the “Open Balkans” initiative, said that for the energy security of the region in the conditions of the national crisis, a community is needed for cooperation. She said that there is no reason not to talk about connecting the market and joint balancing, which is needed in all countries of the region. According to her, we will start working within the working group from next week and that we will present a proposal for joint investments to the presidents, that is, the prime ministers of our countries. Mihajlovic reminded that Serbia has passed new laws in the field of energy, most of the by-laws, the drafting of strategic documents is nearing completion and it has a new investment plan. The construction of gas interconnections with Bulgaria is underway, which will enable the diversification of supply sources, and we plan to connect with other neighbors as well, primarily Northern Macedonia and Romania, she said. At the same time, we are interested in the possibilities of better cooperation and connection with Albania, when it comes to the planned LNG terminal, as well as for better connection in the region when it comes to the high-voltage network. All these interconnections enable greater energy stability not only for Serbia, but also for the region, she said.

Arifi: Albanians from Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja to take part in census (Bujanovacke/RTV/Tanjug)

Mayor of Bujanovac municipality and leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Nagip Arifi said that the Kosovo government has also given permission for the participation of Albanians from Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja in the upcoming population census, the Bujanovacke portal reports. He stated that they had consultations with the government in Pristina and that it “gave the green light to participate in the census”. As the municipality of Bujanovac announced yesterday, political parties of Albanians from Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja reached an agreement on participation in the census that will be conducted from 1 to 31 October. It is added that this position was taken after constant consultations with the OSCE Mission, which, they say, is also a guarantee that the census will be successfully and regularly conducted. Albanians from southern Serbia boycotted the previous census, in 2011.

REGIONAL PRESS

Protests held in front of OHR over alleged imposition of changes to B&H Election Law (BHT1)

Possible imposition of the changes to the B&H Election Law was in focus of the B&H political scene on Monday, noted the presenter. Protests were organized in Sarajevo because of it and it was the main topic of the meeting between the HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Mostar. During the broadcasting of the BHT1 central news, the protest was expected to begin in front of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) building against, as the presenter said, the announced decision of the High Representative to B&H Christian Schmidt about changing B&H Election Law and the FB&H Constitution. Several political parties, both the ruling parties and opposition parties, based in Sarajevo invited citizens to this gathering. Citizens gathered in large numbers in front of the OHR building and a strong police force secured the protest. Traffic was announced to be blocked until 21:00 hours in the street where the OHR building is situated. The politicians said earlier that they believe that, if Schmidt implements what is being speculated in the public, it would mean that he has practically sided with the HDZ B&H and those politicians in B&H who further strengthen and deepen ethnic divisions.

Izetbegovic: In case that announced amendments to B&H Election Law are imposed, it will be only to the detriment of B&H citizens (Hayat)

After a telephone meeting with HR Christian Schmidt on Monday, SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic held an extraordinary press conference, reiterating that in case the announced amendments to the B&H Election Law are imposed, it will be only to the detriment of the citizens in B&H. Addressing the press conference, Izetbegovic said: “Today, I had a telephone conversation with him. What I achieved is, I think, that the OHR will not make a decision without consultations with parliamentary political party representatives and, I hope, without the meeting of Mr. Schmidt and his people with the FB&H parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR) and the House of Peoples (HoP).” Hayat reports the consultations are SDA’s request and they expressed hope HR Schmidt will respond to the invitation. Izetbegovic also informed that SDA legal team has conducted a comprehensive analysis based on available documents. The reporter notes that the said documents are actually a ‘non-paper’ that was deliberately or accidentally released to the public. “Elements of that analysis are: filling the FB&H HoP, i.e. primarily that notorious three per cent of a constituent people in a canton. In our view, those most important and most invited to be represented in the HoP would not be represented,” said Izetbegovic. The reporter notes this means that Bosniaks from individual cantons would most likely not be represented anywhere, whilst HDZ B&H delegates would have exclusivity, but SNSD would get much more. Izetbegovic said HDZ B&H would have permanent exclusivity “in representing Croats in the FB&H, and that would gradually lead to weakening and disappearing of multi-ethnic, i.e. civic political parties in the FB&H. That would increase chances that SNSD gets a control package in the (HoP)’’. The reporter notes this would lead to gradual disappearance of human rights in individual communities in B&H, HDZ B&H, thanks to the international community, would get everything they did not get during the negotiations, the FB&H would be controlled by eight people from HDZ B&H, democracy would become meaningless as well as existence of non-nationalist political parties, and concludes by saying that accepting the abovementioned proposal would be the support to even greater blockade.

Elaborating on SDA’s stance, the SDA leader noted that, if the HR’s decision defines the Election Law according to the proposal of HDZ B&H, then some cantons would be discriminated. He added that, for instance, Bosnian Podrinje Canton (BPC) would not even provide any delegates to the FB&H House of Peoples (HoP), which means it would not be represented in the FB&H HoP. “Still, the FB&H is a federation of cantons, not only of constituent peoples”, Izetbegovic noted, adding that the decision in question would thus violate the European Human Rights Convention.

Dzaferovic: I call on HR Schmidt not to amend Election Law at time of pre-election campaign (N1)

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) addressed the citizens at the protest, where he faced opposing of a number of protesters who were whistling at him and stating that no political representatives should be allowed to address this protest. However, in his address, Dzaferovic specified that he is addressing the citizens as the B&H Presidency Chairman rather than a political party representative. “Respected citizens of B&H, I did not come here to divide you. I am speaking as the B&H Presidency Chairman here. To me, you are all equal. Thank you for coming. At the time I took the oath of office, I could not even imagine that I would be in a situation to attend public protests alongside citizens and to defend interests of B&H in this way. I have been brought in that position and I came here to thank you all for attending and expressing the citizens’ stance on the occasion of a very important matter – the announced amendments to the FB&H Constitution and the Election Law of B&H. Let the voice of B&H be heard”, said Dzaferovic. In addition, Dzaferovic called on the HR not to amend the FB&H Constitution and the Election Law at the time of the pre-election campaign. Dzaferovic reminded that leaders of political parties from B&H signed in Brussels on 12 June the agreement to work on resolving the issue of the Election Law “six months after the elections and once all authority levels are formed”. The Presidency Chairman underscored that there is no need to rush with the solutions in this regard, especially if those solutions “favor only one party in B&H”. He concluded that it is necessary to reach solutions that favor every citizen in B&H, adding: “Everyone should remember this very well.”

Niksic talks to Schmidt: Schmidt gives up on imposing of changes to Election Law (Avaz/N1)

SDP leader Nermin Niksic talked on Monday with High Representative Christian Schmidt, discussing the current situation regarding the announced changes to Election Law of B&H. The meeting took place before the announced protests, which took place on Monday night. “I have just, in the presence of my closest associates, held a phone call with High Representative to B&H, Mr. Christian Schmidt. I want to thank him for extremely constructive discussion, exchange of arguments and dedication to acknowledge different stances. I am very content that during the talk he suggested that currently there will be no imposing of new election regulations and that the changes of the Election Law will be discussed after the elections. I am glad that Schmidt has realized that imposing of the changes to Election Law would be counterproductive at the moment,” said Niksic. Niksic stated that the Election Law should not be amended before the elections, because its imposing would send a bad message at this time. “All those who did not listen to their ethno-leaders in the wartime period and did not leave their homes are now deceived”, Niksic stressed, and specified that such citizens would receive the message that they should return to the areas only where their people are in majority only to acquire the right to vote and to be elected.

Bosnia-Podrinje Canton Assembly adopts declaration opposing imposition of solutions that further deepen ethnic divisions (BHT1)

The Bosnia-Podrinje Canton (BPC) Assembly held an extraordinary session and adopted a declaration opposing the imposition of solutions that will further deepen ethnic divisions. This declaration refers to the announcement that the High Representative to B&H Christian Schmidt will impose changes to the B&H Election Law and the FB&H Constitution. In the declaration, the BPC Assembly expresses its commitment that B&H must be the state of all its citizens and peoples, who will be equally represented in all bodies and institutions on the territory of B&H. The declaration was adopted unanimously and the session was attended by 17 out of 25 representatives.

Russian Embassy: OHR turns into generator of instability as result of Schmidt’s arbitrary and unbalanced decisions (RTRS)

The Russian Embassy to B&H issued a statement on Monday, which reads that it is now obvious that, primarily due to the absence of an articulated constructive policy on the part of the so-called international community, the OHR lost its role as a mediator in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and became a generator of instability as a result of the arbitrary and unbalanced decisions of (High Representative) Christian Schmidt. The Russian Embassy noted that however difficult it may be to admit that the attitude towards this citizen as a legitimate High Representative was wrong, that step would have a whole series of positive consequences. “By taking all responsibility for the country’s development into their own hands, the peoples of B&H would finally be freed from the external protectorate in the form of OHR, they would open new perspectives for internal dialogue and more easily reach the compromise necessary to improve the political climate, which, in turn, would create conditions for growth in the quality of life of all peoples and every individual in B&H”, reads the statement of the Russian Embassy.

Plenkovic, Covic hold meeting and discuss alleged imposing of changes to B&H Election Law (BHT1)

As part of his visit to B&H, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited several Herzegovina municipalities and cities. Plenkovic held a meeting in Mostar with the leader of HDZ B&H and the Croat People’s Assembly (HNS) Dragan Covic. The topic of their meeting was the imposition of changes to the B&H Election Law by the High Representative to B&H Christian Schmidt, which is balanced according to Plenkovic. Plenkovic and Covic said that for years they have been trying to find a solution regarding the changes to the Election Law, but all negotiations have failed, even the last ones that were led by representatives of the EU and the US. Covic said that the desire of the Bosniak political parties is in fact to maintain the status quo and he is surprised by the dissatisfaction with the announcement of the imposition of changes to the Election Law, since recently the High Representative imposed the decision on the financing of the elections, and there were no such reactions then. Covic said that threats and demonstrations are the most unclear to him, especially since no one, except for Schmidt himself, knows exactly what this imposition refers to, and that B&H desperately needs stability and peace. Plenkovic emphasized that, in the past six years, since he has been in the European Commission (EC), he has been constantly mentioning B&H in a positive sense and that B&H’s progress towards the EU is due, especially due to solving key problems. That is why Plenkovic is also surprised by all these reactions from, as he said, political Sarajevo. Covic stated: “Political Sarajevo exposes some of its own issues in deliberation in B&H. We have often emphasized that political Sarajevo wants to create a unitary state under the guise of a civic (B&H) in order to eliminate us as the least numerous people from the territory of the FB&H, for the FB&H to become a dominant Bosniak majority, for us to disappear from the executive and legislative power in the FB&H”. Plenkovic pointed out: “As for the content of his decisions, that content, I assume, is known in detail only by him. We want this approach, and as I understand it – the High Representative has a very balanced proposal. A proposal that will enable legitimate representation and representation at the FB&H level and then the formation of the executive power with minor changes. So this is not a complete package. This is just the bare minimum for the country to function as it should function after the elections”. Both Covic and Plenkovic said on Monday from Mostar that they believe it is important to improve relations between Bosniaks and Croats. Croatia insists, as Plenkovic emphasized, on the concept of constituent peoples of all three peoples in B&H and that Croats in B&H must be equal. Covic called on the politicians from Sarajevo to do what they have been propagating for the past 10 years, that is, for B&H to be a country according to the standards of all peoples, because any other scenario leads to political collapse. Plenkovic stated: “One of my key theses, and a really deep conviction, is that trust itself between Croats and Bosniaks, above all between political parties, because if that exists then it will also exist between peoples, is a prerequisite for the quality functioning of the FB&H and B&H in general. Therefore, it should be worked on. Getting closer rather than further away.” Covic added: “We want to build good relations with Bosniaks, especially in the FB&H, that this is a chance for B&H, because without the Croat people, I have said many times, B&H will not be able to function as a normal country, and this is our homeland and we want to build it according to the measure of the Bosniak, Croat and, of course, Serb people.”

Grlic-Radman: Croatian government supports efforts of HR (HRT1)

HRT1 reports about strong reactions to the announcement that High Representative (HR) Christian Schmidt may use the Bonn Powers and impose changes to the BIH Election Law. The main change would allegedly be introduction of election threshold of three percent during delegation for the FB&H House of Peoples (HoP) which would according to the reporter, give chance to Croats to stop being outvoted in the FB&H. Bosniak politicians, associations, activists and the Islamic Community in B&H strongly opposed to the proposal. Bosniak parties claimed on Monday that the HR will not impose changes to the B&H Election Law after all without consultations with leadership of the key parties in B&H. Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman accompanied Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic during the visit to BIH on Monday. On this occasion, Grlic-Radman commented on for HRT1 the aforementioned initiative and he said that the Croatian Government supports the HR and his efforts to find a solution that will satisfy the three constituent peoples and enable their equality in political participation in legislative and executive authorities. He argued that this is actually correcting mistakes of previous HRs adding that Croats will get nothing new in this case as they will be returned what they lost 20 years ago. Commenting on the reactions to possible changes to the B&H Election Law, Grlic-Radman assessed them as unnecessary and he added that this only says how much BIH is complicated and that political leaders should show maturity and common sense and realize that BIH is not ownership of one people. He pointed out that BIH can be stable and institutionally-functional if equality and the constituent status of all of the three constituent peoples and the ‘Others’ is secured. Commenting on claims of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic who said that the visit of Plenkovic to B&H means nothing, Grlic-Radman asked when was the last time that we heard something good coming from the president. In his opinion, Milanovic is causing huge damage to Croatia, its foreign policy and its reputation in the world. According to Grlic Radman, he insulted the HR and all efforts of the Croatian government. Grlic-Radman sent a message to Croats in BIH arguing that Milanovic is causing them damage and harm to all efforts that the Croatian government is making at international conferences.

Gruevski: Through attempts to change history and origin of Macedonian language and nation, in the past, now and in the future, Bulgaria will try to create second Bulgarian state in the Balkans from Macedonia (Republika)

It is no secret that Bulgaria, through attempts to change the history and origin of the Macedonian language and nation, in the past, now and in the future, will try to create a second Bulgarian state in the Balkans from Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski wrote in a post on Facebook. It is not a problem for the citizens to be called Macedonians in the future and the language Macedonian, if it is accepted that until August 2, 1944 the Macedonians were Bulgarians who spoke the Bulgarian language, their history was Bulgarian and if it is accepted that after that with political intervention, persecution and torture in SFRY, the nation was renamed from Bulgarians to Macedonians and the language and history from Bulgarian to Macedonian. A Macedonian minority in Bulgaria cannot be accepted because it would contradict this goal. A Bulgarian minority in Macedonia was not sought by Bulgaria as a constitutional category in the past, but now the plans have changed, because it is obviously believed that the constitutional presence would help in an easier and faster change towards the desired, especially if there is control over history textbooks in schools and at the universities, the books of the Macedonian scientists and historians that will be written in the future, the documentaries and feature films and series that would be filmed, as well as the daily writing of the Macedonian media controlled through the form called “hate speech” for what will not be felt that it is in the service of the outlined cause, and all of this is put together and formally under control through the process of Macedonia’s accession to the EU. The goals are long-term, as will be the process of joining the EU. Whether this will be realized or not, will largely depend on the Macedonian people, but also on the political elites in Macedonia and their unity on national issues, the policies they will lead, their independence in implementing policies, their readiness for risks and pressures, their skill of diplomacy and international partnerships and alliances. At the moment, with the latest decisions of the Government and the Parliament, very solid preconditions have been created for the realization of that plan in Bulgaria, but again, it will mostly depend on the people and the politicians. In the past, until May 2017, the “Friendship Agreement” could not be agreed upon and signed precisely because of the Macedonian government’s attempts to eliminate such preconditions in the text of that agreement, which is the basis for the documents agreed and accepted during this month. The thesis that no one has managed to assimilate the Macedonian people so far, and will not be able to from now on, is not correct. Those who know at least a little history know that over the last 100-150 years millions of Macedonians have been assimilated by Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, the Ottoman Empire, and some of them around the world (of course not all) as Macedonian emigration. These are natural and political processes that happen everywhere, and this, as far as the assimilation of Macedonians is concerned, is historically confirmed and known by everyone who has read at least three books on the history of the Macedonian people. It is true that even without the documents and decisions from the month of July, Bulgaria as a member state of the EU could have halted the accession of Macedonia to the EU in order to achieve these goals. But it would have clashed with many countries inside the EU because it would have done it without a basis, and they would have been able to react on a principled basis. Now, a basis has been created, and the pressure on Bulgaria from other EU member states and from the US, in favor of Macedonia, would be much more difficult and with fewer arguments. It is true that no country has lost its identity in the process of joining the EU. But it is also true that so far no country has been given such conditions as they are now giving to Macedonia through the accepted documents this month. EU membership should remain the focus of every government of Macedonia now and in the future, but with the latest decisions of the government, preconditions have been created for huge other risks of national character, which will require much more effort and vigilance in the future and which may be the basis for new roadblocks on the way to EU membership. We cannot blame the EU or France for the proposal, because it was the government, through its representatives, that several months ago officially asked the EU to take over the resolution of the problem, i.e. the dispute between its member country – Bulgaria and Macedonia as a candidate country for membership. And here the EU agreed, upon request and in negotiations and dialogue with the Macedonian government, it made a proposal. Of course, the people in power knew that when the EU solves a problem between its member state and a non-EU member state, the mechanisms in the EU are such that the member state cannot be expected to be in a less favorable situation with that proposal. No matter how much it was a pleasure to listen in June and July of this year to the “symphony” of arguments and criticism addressed to the government by hundreds of my former critics and my political opponents and dissenters, and on the topic of national issues and Bulgaria, and all this in light of recently adopted documents and decisions; as much as their statements and inscriptions looked as if I had written them; as much as it became clear that all those hundreds of analysts, journalists, NGO representatives, colored revolution supporters, reformers, professors, actors, bishops, former Macedonian ambassadors, historians, businessmen, doctors, directors and various other newly nationally awakened “experts” seem to they finally understood what we were defending ourselves from until May 2017 and what we were dealing with when they incorrectly and dishonestly accused us of knowingly blocking Macedonia’s path to the EU, however, this month and the previous one, it was very sad to see the struggle, the efforts, the resistance, the opposition, but also the powerlessness of the deceived Macedonian people towards the intentions and decisions of a government that has lost or renounced the sovereignty of the country and does not even decide independently even about the most important national issues, writes Gruevski.

Nikolla: Albania and Portugal, close partners in NATO (Radio Tirana)

The President of the Assembly Lindita Nikolla received the Foreign Minister of Portugal Joao Gomes Cravinho, who is conducting an official visit to Albania. Nikolla thanked Minister Cravinho for the continuous and strong support that Portugal has given to Albania in the process of European integration and the opening of negotiations and underlined that, Albania and Portugal have a very good bilateral cooperation and are at the same time close partners in NATO. The Assembly of Albania and the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal are expanding and intensifying parliamentary cooperation and promoting and supporting bilateral cooperation in all fields. Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho emphasized that Portugal’s support for Albania’s European integration will continue and Portugal will strengthen bilateral cooperation with Albania in the fields of education, culture, tourism as well as in other areas of mutual interest.

SMI’s official name changes to the Party of Liberty (Radio Tirana)

Ilir Meta announced on Monday the new name of Socialist Movement for Integration party. From today SMI will be called the Party of Liberty. The new name was also approved by the National Convention. “Now there is only one way, the referendum! Only the referendum is the guarantee that Albania will belong to the Albanians. There is no force in the world that can buy 3 million Albanians. Do not forget the Motherland, your children. Our children can find everything outside, but the Motherland is only here. You who are here have pain, you have nostalgia for SMI, but I don’t believe you have more than I do. We created SMI to save the European integration process. Thanks to the SMI, Albania signed the association-stabilization agreement in 2006. The SMI did everything for the status and to get the recommendation. I invite you from the SMI party to the Party of Liberty, to the sovereignty party, to the referendum party. Therefore, I invite you to the Party of Liberty, sovereignty, the party of the referendum. The Liberty Party of all Albanians. Long live free and democratic Albania. Long live Kosovo as an independent state,” said Meta.