LOCAL PRESS

Serbia advocates intensification of Serbian-British cooperation (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke on Wednesday with the UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Stuart Peach about the situation in the region, improvement of bilateral relations with the United Kingdom, and the current energy situation. She pointed out that Serbia’s strategic goal is the European path, stressing that the future government will continue the reform processes, but that a positive impulse from the European community and faster opening of clusters is necessary. When it comes to regional cooperation, Brnabic emphasized that our country supports and actively participates in the intensification of cooperation through various initiatives and that it is committed to stronger regional cooperation through infrastructural and economic projects, recalling all the benefits that have been brought first and foremost through the Open Balkans initiative for the citizens of the three countries. The Special Envoy congratulated Serbia on the organization of the First International Wine Fair in Belgrade, which represents additional support for cooperation and economic integration, and at the same time changes the perspective of the region in the future. Peach pointed out that the United Kingdom supports building a better perspective for young people in the region, primarily through infrastructural and economic connections and strengthening the region’s political stability. The two officials also discussed the potential offered by the British credit mechanism UK EF (UK Export Finance), which is already partially involved in financing the construction of the Moravian Corridor. Speaking about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Brnabic stated that she expects tensions to subside, recalling that Belgrade is determined to preserve peace and stability. The meeting also looked at cooperation in the field of energy security, for which the Prime Minister stated would be one of the priorities of the next government, and for which Peach expressed his readiness for cooperation. Brnabic pointed out that Serbia is advocating the intensification of Serbian-British cooperation, primarily in the field of economy, and thanked the Special Envoy for his bilateral support in the reform processes that Serbia is implementing.

Stefanovic and Turner on cooperation between the two countries (RTS) 

Minister of Defense Nebojsa Stefanovic assessed, in a conversation with United States Congressman Michael Turner, that the cooperation between the two countries is on an upward trajectory, following the improvement of overall relations, and that a significant segment of it is the joint training of the armed forces of Serbia and the USA, which contribute to the exchange of experience and knowledge and raising the level of operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces. Stefanović and Turner agreed that the successful cooperation of the Serbian Army with the Ohio National Guard is one of the key levers of our cooperation in the field of defense, according to the statement of the Ministry of Defense. The interlocutors expressed determination for its further improvement, especially in the military and military medical fields, as well as through the cooperation of engineering units. Stefanovic also emphasized the importance of US donations to the defense system of the Republic of Serbia, which in the last ten years amounted to more than 47 million Dollars, and among the last ones in the series are “Berket G3” armored vehicles for the needs of the Military Police, diving equipment for the 72. special brigade and a 64-slice scanner and mobile x-ray machine for the “Karaburma” Military Hospital. The Minister of Defense pointed out that Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vucic, is firmly committed to preserving peace and stability, both in the region and in the world, for which there are numerous concrete indicators. Stefanovic and Turner also discussed the possibilities of the first cooperation between members of the two armies in the peacekeeping mission in Sinai. Minister Stefanovic highlighted the good cooperation of the Serbian Army with KFOR, recalling its role and importance in preserving the security of the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija, but also the unilateral moves of the temporary institutions in Pristina. Congressman Turner thanked Minister Stefanovic for the warm welcome, appreciating the role of Serbia and President Vucic in preserving peace and stability in the region, and emphasizing the contribution that good cooperation in the field of defense made to the development of the overall relations between our countries. He also expressed the expectation that in the coming period it will be improved in all areas of common interest.

Selakovic and Peach on bilateral relations, the situation in the region and in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS) 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic met with the special envoy of the Prime Minister of Great Britain for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, with whom he discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and the situation in the region and in Kosovo and Metohija. Selakovic informed the interlocutor about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, expressing the expectation that Great Britain will provide constructive support to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and to find compromise solutions, according to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the head of Serbian diplomacy, Belgrade is consistently committed to dialogue and the search for sustainable solutions that will enable lasting stability in the region, which also implies the implementation of existing agreements. When it comes to the situation in the region, Selakovic pointed out that Serbia’s constructive regional policy is also reflected in the Open Balkans initiative and other forms of connection and cooperation with its neighbors.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the bilateral relations between Serbia and Britain are good, but that there is significant room for their further improvement, both in terms of intensifying political dialogue and exchange of visits at the highest and highest level, as well as in the field of economic cooperation. As stated in the announcement, the meeting discussed a wide range of political topics related to the stability and development of the Western Balkans, as well as some important geopolitical issues and the challenges they pose, such as energy, food and migration.

Hill: The Open Balkans means that borders are used for rapprochement, not for division (RTS) 

The Open Balkans regional initiative is an effective tool for countries to use borders to bring them closer together, not divide them, US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill said on Twitter ahead of the Open Balkans summit on September 2 in Belgrade. Christopher Hill, in response to a question posed to him via Twitter, whether the Open Balkans is an exception within the framework of the coordinated performance and complementary interests of the US and key European countries in this area, and whether the US believes that this project can come to life even without the support of the EU and of key EU members, said that it is important that the idea for OB came from the Balkans itself, and not imposed by some foreign governments. “It’s really about the countries of the Balkans looking for ways to cooperate better. I think it’s a very effective tool for countries to use borders to bring them together, not divide them, so the US government and I support that,” Hill said in the video messages. The US Ambassador says Open Balkans also helps countries reach deals, from reducing congestion at borders to allowing diplomas to be accepted in different countries. He added that the Open Balkans initiative is an example of new forms of cooperation. As he said, it is quite clear that the future of the countries of the Open Balkans is in the European Union. “I think the Open Balkans will help the EU and bring a solution, not problems,” concluded Hill.

Implementation of Belgrade-Pristina agreement on IDs begins (RTS)

Today, the implementation of the verbal agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on IDs began today, according to which Belgrade will cancel documents for owners of personal cards issued by the provisional institutions in Pristina, while Pristina will not introduce them for citizens with Serbian IDs. Everything is going on normally, reports RTS reporter. The agreement simplified the transition. This is stated in the disclaimers posted at all administrative points. Several people passed through Merdare with IDs issued by the authorities in Pristina, and they were not issued an accompanying document that replaced the ID while they were staying in Serbia proper. On the other side of the checkpoint, there is no accompanying document issued for citizens with Serbian IDs, which the authorities in Pristina planned to introduce starting today. It is calm, and such information comes from other points as well, primarily in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. There are no armored vehicles or members of special police units near the Merdare checkpoint. In the previous days, in the vicinity of the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings, the police additionally strengthened and arranged the bases, demonstrating the state of emergency in that area. It was in this context that the Interior Minister in Pristina Xhelai Svechla visited the checkpoints in the north last night, who stated that the police command in the north had deployed elite units of the special police. American soldiers are on the roads in the north of Kosovo. In armored vehicles, they monitor the situation and have the task of informing their units if an emergency situation arises. The two-month period for re-registration of vehicles with Serbian license plates of the acronyms of the cities in Kosovo begins today. In Pristina, they are not giving up on re-registration, and the Serbs are announcing a boycott of re-registration. We have two months ahead of us for Pristina and Belgrade to resolve that issue as well.

Petkovic to Kurti: We will fight for KM plates as well (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)

I am telling Kurti that just as we saved Serbian identity cards in Kosovo and Metohija, we will also fight for KM license plates, announced today the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic. He assessed that the prime minister of the provisional institutions of Pristina Albin Kurti, in order to hide the catastrophic situation in the field of energy, continues to threaten the cancellation of KM registration plates on the day of the start of the implementation of the agreement. The fact that Albin Kurti records videos in Serbian all day, and Xhelai Svechla takes pictures for social networks in the north of Kosovo and Metohija under the cover of night, will not hide the fact that Pristina is on the verge of an energy collapse, with 90 percent of consumers being restricted on a daily basis, up to seven hours,” said Petkovic, the Office announced. Petkovic assessed that even the Albanians, as he said, no longer fall for Kurti’s anti-Serb hysteria, which he uses to cover up his incompetent management of the energy crisis, because people in Kosovo and Metohija want to have electricity at the threshold of the heating season. “By visiting the administrative crossings, Svechla was able to read a disclaimer that makes it clear to him that the so-called “statehood” of Kosovo does not have a letter, nor will there ever be one, so Svechla took away from Brnjak the lesson he came for,” he said. He adds that while Pristina is desperately trying to hide its bad results and is planning mischief, in Belgrade today, as part of the “Open Balkans” initiative, the largest wine event in this part of Europe is opening, where we show the values of cooperation and economic connection, which are in Pristina unknown words.

Open Balkans wine fair opens in Belgrade (Tanjug/RTS)

The first Wine Vision by Open Balkans international wine fair opened at the Belgrade Fair on Thursday at a ceremony also attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the PMs of Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro – Edi Rama, Dimitar Kovacevski and Dritan Abazovic. “Today, Belgrade and the Open Balkans are the world’s wine capital, and we greet our guests with open hearts. Welcome, cellar masters, distributors… It is also today that you can see how important and open the Open Balkans initiative is – in it, we want to see all those who can find a place for themselves,” Vucic said at the ceremony. Held on September 1-4 under the patronage of the governments of Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia as part of the initiative, the fair has brought together nearly 400 exhibitors and wine producers from over 20 countries, as well as representatives of around 40 countries. Over 230 exhibitors come from Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania alone, with the others representing countries including Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Argentina and Chile. The fair aims to promote the Balkans as an increasingly sought-after wine and tourist destination.

Kovacevski: “Open Balkans” is a step towards Europeam quality of life (Politika, by Zeljko Sajn)

In an interview with Politika, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski emphasized that within the framework of the Open Balkans initiative are already being taken regarding the economic and energy crisis, as a result of Covid and the military aggression against Ukraine. We already discussed these topics intensively at the previous Summit, and last month in Tirana the working groups of our governments also had a meeting. At the Summit that will be held here in Belgrade, we as governments, as well as the relevant ministries, will have intensive discussions about finding concrete ways to provide enough food and energy to survive the hardest winter since the Second World War. Particular attention will be paid to ensure that the region has food and energy supplies at all times and to ensure a smooth flow in the supply of basic food products, i.e. to react quickly and appropriately if any disruption occurs in the supply chains. In the so far established mechanisms and signed memoranda of cooperation, we have practically committed ourselves to help each other in the coming period, which is expected to be seriously difficult. But it is certainly not an unknown category. We also helped each other during the covid pandemic. To conclude, we will work intensively so that there is no shortage of food and energy, but the new geopolitical reality calls for caution. We will have a winter full of challenges. But as before, as good neighbors, we will help each other, Kovacevski said. He underlined that a strong and competitive regional economy must be built together. The brain drain and permanent emigration, mostly due to economic reasons, is indeed a topic that is in focus, but with such initiatives, it is aimed at enabling citizens, especially young people, to build their future here, at home, in the region. With the Open Balkans and all the activities arising from it, we are one step closer to European wages, European quality of life, a vibrant economy and the rule of law, now, here, at home, pointed out Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski, who today is participating in the First International wine, food and tourism fair “Wine Vision of Open Balkans” in Belgrade.

REGIONAL PRESS

Talks on changes of Election Law resume; DF delegation meets with representatives of OHR (O Kanal/Hayat)

Talks on changes to the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Election Law and the Constitution of the FB&H were resumed on Wednesday in premises of the Office of High Representative (OHR). Delegations of DF and SDA respectively met with representatives of the OHR. The delegation of DF, consisting of Dzenan Djonlagic and Zlatan Begic, expressed discontent with this meeting, primarily because High Representative Christian Schmidt failed to attend it. DF’s representatives underlined that instead of the High Representative, a legal team of the OHR met with them. Instead of talks, the DF delegation only submitted their proposal of amendments to the Election Law of B&H and the FB&H Constitution and left the OHR building. They described failure of Schmidt to attend this meeting as a cowardly and undignified act. Djonlagic stressed that solutions that might be imposed by the High Representative do not exist in any country of the EU or the Council of Europe, adding that B&H should not have such solutions. He went on to saying that they insist on implementation of all the ECHR’s ruling concerning B&H, adding that this is something the EU demands for progress of B&H in the process of accession to this bloc. DF’s representatives also stated that Schmidt should not be fulfilling wishes of HDZ B&H or Croatia, adding that citizens of B&H should decide in a referendum on whether they want additional ethnic divisions. Begic stressed that there is an attempt to create “European Palestine” in B&H. Addressing the media after the meeting, Djonlagic said: “The line we will not go below is implementation of all rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) from Strasbourg. If this was an attempt to, through these consultations, give legitimacy to future decisions – no to future decisions that will ethnically cement the country – consequences of those decisions will be borne by the one who makes them, i.e. Mr. High Representative.” Begic said: “We will not make love to Mr. Schmidt behind closed doors in relation to the topic of creating Palestine in this country, nor shall we assist some in Sarajevo here, or his Nazi HDZ friends who are trying to implement that’’.

SDA delegation meets with representatives of OHR (Nova BH)

Talks on changes to the B&H Election Law and the Constitution of the FB&H were resumed on Wednesday in premises of the Office of High Representative (OHR). Delegations of DF and SDA respectively met with representatives of the OHR. Nova BH noted that the SDA delegation stayed at the consultations with the OHR legal team a little longer than the DF delegation did. The SDA delegation confirmed that they did not come to the consultations to demand or offer solutions for the Election Law, because they consider that deadlines pertaining to the amending of the Election Law have passed. The SDA delegation concluded that the election campaign is about to start in a couple of days, and imposing any kind of solution for the Election Law would only further heighten tensions. According to the SDA delegation, this political party is willing to carry out talks on the amending of the Election Law only after the elections and now it is time to focus on the election campaign. SDA representative Alma Colo told media in front of the OHR building that the SDA delegation was not offered any solutions from the OHR at Wednesday’s meeting that was held behind closed doors. Colo said that she does not expect that the HR will impose amendments to the B&H Election Law. “We said that it is not good to amend the Election Law in the midst of the election campaign”, pointed out Colo, who added that such manner of amending the Election Law would be contrary to the Venice Commission’s opinion. She added that the Brussels agreement clearly defined that the Election Law should be negotiated by the parties in B&H after the elections, and that SDA is willing to do that.

Turkovic meets Escobar in Bled (Avaz)

Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H and Minister of Foreign Affairs of B&H Bisera Turkovic and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar met on the sidelines of Bled Strategic Forum on Tuesday. Turkovic and Escobar, among other things, discussed the necessity of continuation of international military presence in B&H, reform of the Election Law of B&H and strengthening of fight against corruption. Turkovic and Escobar discussed the current political matters in B&H and region and they pointed out the importance of continuation of the Euro-Atlantic path of B&H and continuity of the support of USA to B&H.

Cvijanovic: Turkovic does not deserve to represent B&H (RTRS)

RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic said on Wednesday that B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Bisera Turkovic does not deserve to be at this post because she is not aware or is ignoring the needs of all citizens that live in B&H. She added that initiatives for the removal of Turkovic existed before because she ignored the B&H Constitution many times until now. Cvijanovic said that she was shocked with the lack of respect by Turkovic and the fact that she has a vision of B&H that is not compatible with the constitution is her problem and they do not want to suffer consequences of her behavior

Dodik meets Serbs of Romania (RTRS)

Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik visited Romania on Tuesday and met with representatives of Serbs in Timisoara. He said that the RS is stable and they will not give up on it. The RS government will ensure financial help in the amount of 100,000 Euros and further cooperation was agreed upon. Dodik visited the cathedral of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Timisoara where he met representatives of the church. Dodik said that the Serb community in Romania has two homelands, Serbia and the RS. President of the Association of Serbs in Romania Ognjen Krstic said that they are grateful for the help and support of Dodik. He said that this help is significant for the preservation of the ethnic identity of Serbs in this area. Dodik said that the RS is in the process of launching an initiative for the issuing of national identification cards for all Serbs wherever they live, so that they can use it in certain areas to obtain rights in the RS. He said that they will try and realize this idea in Serbia as well. Dodik commented on the situation in B&H, saying that he will not give up on the national policy and rights of their people. He said that he is not accepting a unitary B&H and he will not give up on the rights of the Serbs. Dodik believes that he is a legalist and that he is right.

Abazovic: Danijela Djurovic’s dismissal would send a bad message, some politicians want to ruin the country (CdM)

Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic stated that dismissal of the parliament speaker Danijela Djurovic would send a bad message. “It wouldn’t be good to dismiss the parliament speaker. We have neither the Constitutional Court nor members of the Judicial Council. Irresponsibility of the Montenegrin politicians reflects in the fact that they’re doing everything to destroy the country,” Abazovic told following visit to the Pljevlja Hospital. The parliament of Montenegro will hold its extraordinary session and discuss Djurovic’s dismissal on 2 September. He told the press that they hadn’t had negotiations over the new government, adding that “no initiative has ever been sent” to him.

Osmani: Conflict in Ukraine priority of OSCE Chairmanship (Republika)

The world is again facing the biggest challenge and OSCE is in the eye of the storm of the current aggression of one participating state over another. The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is unjustified and wrong, a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, fundamental premises of international law and values of humanity. This war undermines the foundations of OSCE, which vision as a center of intercontinental security cooperation is under a serious test. As chair-country of the organization in 2023, the conflict in Ukraine and mitigating of the crisis’ far-reaching consequences will be our top priority, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani in presenting Macedonia’s priorities within its OSCE Chairmanship in 2023 before the organization’s Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday. The two critical drivers, dialogue and consensual decision-making, aimed at peaceful cooperation and sustainability, are sidelined. This paralyzes the assets of our organizations and bogs down their processes, adding, at the same time, further uncertainty and discomfort throughout the OSCE region and beyond, even calling into question our future as an organization, Osmani said. He pointed out that the OSCE and its participating countries have been investing in building trust, institutions and mechanisms for years; insisting on dialogue, at times boring and yet a very necessary tool for overcoming disputes, precisely trust and cooperation were among the first victims of this aggression.

EU is becoming aware that there will be no constitutional amendments (Republika)

Michael Roth, Chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in Skopje that the EU should strengthen its presence in Macedonia, but also that constitutional amendments should take place in order to continue accession negotiations with the Union. Roth expressed his pleasure to be here again, especially as he said, in these difficult times when he can feel frustration and disillusionment with the EU. It is our obligation of politicians from the EU and from Germany to encourage the Macedonian men and women to take the next step in the direction of the EU and to know that it is really worth it, said Roth in a statement to the press after the meeting with Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski. He said that the country has invested a lot on the way to the EU and right now the Union has an obligation to be more present in Macedonia, to be more visible, to engage more, to provide perspective and more work for young people so that they know that it is worth it. That is why it is now very important to once again point out and make it clear that the EU is not only an internal market and a community that has one currency, but that it is a community that has cultural and linguistic diversity and that no one has the right to interfere in the cultural identity. No agreement will ever be able to change any of this basic principle on which the EU is based, Roth said.

Rama: Open Balkans is much more than economics and politics, it is a project of peace and peaceful coexistence (Radio Tirana)

The first edition of the Wine Fair has opened in Belgrade, within the framework of the Open Balkans initiative, organized by Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia. Present in Belgrade, Rama said in his speech that the goal of the “Open Balkans” regional initiative is much more than economic and political, but a peaceful coexistence project. Considering the Fair at a high European level, Rama said that it clearly showed that it is better for the Balkan countries to stay together and not against each other. ” At this high-level European fair, it is clear that it is better together, getting closer to people, seeing how much we have in common as people, than as we stood before, with our backs turned to each other. Opportunity is created to our producers and wine merchants to view in a common space so many products that would otherwise require long trips to view. Today there are 22 producers from Albania. This is an initiative for the people. The Open Balkans is much more than economics and politics, it is a project of peace and peaceful coexistence, a project of peaceful unification of a common vision for the future”, said Rama.

Recent criminal events, the General Director of the Police, Gladis Nano discharged. Cuci: He did not fulfill the objectives (Radio Tirana)

The General Director of the State Police Gladis Nano has been discharged. The news was announced this Wednesday by the Minister of the Interior Bledi Cuci. “Today the government made a decision to discharge the general director of the police, a dismissal related to the failure to fulfill the objectives we had set and mainly related to the situation created in recent months, a situation that normally requires a stronger reaction and more efficient management of State Police. For the moment, the duties will be performed by the deputy general director of the Police and very soon we will appoint the new director of the State Police,” said Minister Cuci.

The American Embassy reacts after the dismissal of Nano: He was a strong partner (Radio Tirana)

The American Embassy in Tirana has reacted after the dismissal of the General Director of the State Police Gladis Nano. Through a post on the Twitter social network, the Embassy appreciates Nano’s work as it writes that he was a strong partner of the US as director of the State Police and director of the Office against Terrorism. “We express our appreciation to Gladis Nanos, who was a strong partner of us as director of the Albanian State Police and before that, as director of the Office against Terrorism”, writes the Embassy.