LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: For now no change to policy on sanctions against Russia (RTV/Beta)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday that there would be no change at present to the policy established by the National Security Council not to impose sanctions against Russia. “At the moment, the percentage of our alignment with European foreign policy is 46 percent. We’ll try to get that higher, but the problem is that the majority of those resolutions, declarations that we have to accept relate to the crisis in Ukraine and Russia. We must have a careful and balanced approach,” Dacic told TV Vojvodina in the program Pravi ugao (the Right Angle). Asked about the French-German proposal, he said he had not read it, but based on what Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had said at a recent National Security Council session, “there isn’t a good foundation there to even discuss the details”. “The attitude isn’t to discuss what the political solution would be, but that the solution is already here — the independence of Kosovo, while Serbia’s role is not to protest too much,” Dacic said, adding that National Security Council members agreed that was unacceptable. Dacic also said that the Serbian government would not at any point urge Serbs in northern Kosovo to accept vehicle registration plates that read “Republic of Kosovo”, but that Serbia “will continue to be a predictable partner”, which means “knowing exactly what we can, what we can’t and what we won’t do”.

Vucevic: Army ordered to raise military alert level (TV Happy/Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had ordered all Serbian Army units to raise military readiness, Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said today. “We are not preparing for war, but we must not be unready,” Vucevic told TV Happy, adding that no one wanted conflicts with Pristina.  Commenting on reports that the Kosovo police had issued a first warning to people who had not replaced Serbian license plates with Kosovo ones, Vucevic said he could not believe that the Quint countries had no influence on Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti and the Pristina administration. He said he had attended Vucic’s meeting with a NATO delegation and that it seemed that the alliance did not want an escalation either, but a solution reached through dialogue. Vucevic said the Serbian Army was prepared to execute any order issued by Vucic as commander-in-chief to protect Serbia and all its citizens and to look after the security of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. “When Serbia is talking about peace and stability, it does not mean we are weak or cowards and that we can be humiliated,” Vucevic said. He said that, contrarily to UN SC Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Agreement, Pristina was undeniably working on arming forces and that it intended to form an army. They are heading towards a de facto formation of an army, and we can be no indifferent to that, Vucevic said. He also said that Serbia had to work on armament, staffing and army popularization. Vucevic added that the line Ministry would advocate benefits for members of the armed forces and their families when seeking employment or taking loans. “We want to stimulate people to join and stay in the defence system and together with Mali we have been working on a budget for 2023,” Vucevic said.

Radojevic: Serbia will not change stance on re-registration (RTS)

The President of the municipality of northern Mitrovica Milan Radojevic told Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that the Kosovo police at the administrative crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak started handing out warnings, but it is certain that this will not change the attitude of the Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija regarding re-registration. “Serbs in the north of Kosovo are really not a threat to anyone, we want to live a life worthy of a human being. There will be no incidents or problems from our side, until the first sentence is pronounced, which can happen according to Pristina’s announcements in 21 days. But we will see what is the reality on the ground,” Radojevic pointed out. He added that citizens are determined not to make any changes when it comes to license plates. “The question is how that decision would be implemented on the ground, as far as the writing of sentences is concerned. I have absolute confidence in the people in the North Regional Directorate and I think they will make the right decision in the interest of the people,” he noted. He emphasizes that in the previous period, Pristina set up several bases in the north of Kosovo and Metohija and brought units from other regions. “What we can expect is for these units to issue warnings, but also to issue fines. We hope that in these three weeks, the international community will put additional pressure on Pristina and reduce tensions. We are witnessing the persistence of Albin Kurti to continue with the implementation of this decision,” Radojevic said. In the third phase, if it happens, it is planned to introduce trial plates. However, Radojevic does not expect to reach the third stage. “We cannot put more pressure on Pristina than what we have done so far. The fact is that we have communication with international representatives. By implementing this provision, it only contributes to the deterioration of the security situation,” says Radojevic. As he added to all representatives of the international community, they say that the Serbs are not a threat to anyone, the reactions on 31 July were of a defensive nature. He did not rule out the possibility of barricades, but emphasized that peace and stability are in the interest of the Serbs. “I can’t imagine a situation where the Kosovo police writes fines to the ambulance or the bus that transports our children and we stand aside and that only because they have KM signs with which they can travel everywhere in the world except Kosovo due to the whim of a man from Pristina,” concluded Radojevic.

The first warning was issued on Kosovo and Metohija (Kosovo Online/B92)

On the night between Monday and Tuesday, Kosovo police handed out the first warning for vehicles that were not re-registered from Serbian to RKS license plates. At the administrative crossing of Jarinje, a few minutes after midnight when the deadline for re-registration set by Pristina expired, a reprimand was served to a vehicle registered with KM plates driven by a woman, reported the reporter of the Kosovo Online portal from Jarinje. That woman told the portal that police officers handed her a paper containing guidelines for re-registration. As she pointed out, she does not plan to register the vehicle with RKS plates, but she is waiting for the decision of the official Belgrade. At midnight, the deadline given by the provisional institutions in Pristina for the re-registration of vehicles with RKS plates expired. The reporter of Kosovo Online reports that the situation on the administrative crossing of Jarinje is calm for now, that the traffic is reduced in intensity, and that the presence of the Kosovo police has been increased. Despite the demands of the USA and the EU to postpone the deadline for vehicle re-registration by 10 months, Pristina decided on Friday to implement that decision in four stages. It was announced that in the first phase – from today until 21 November, Kosovo police will issue a reprimand to the drivers of cars with Serbian license plates and demand that they register their vehicles with RKS license plates. In the second phase, from 21 November to 21 January, Serbs with Serbian license plates will be fined 150 Euros, it was announced in Pristina. The third phase envisages the issuance of test plates and will last until 21 April, when, according to the decision of the government of the provisional institutions of Pristina, Serbian license plates will be banned in the Republic of Kosovo. The Serbs from the north of Kosovo and Metohija will give a fierce response and resistance to the first imposition of a fine.

Hill: License plates not the most important issue in Kosovo (N1)

US Ambassador Christopher Hill said on Monday that the license plate issue is not the most important thing to be resolved through the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. He said the re-registration of vehicles with Serbian-issued license plates is not really important because it won’t solve crucial issues such as Kosovo’s international status and the position of the Serb community. According to the Ambassador, the solution to the vehicle registration issue lies in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue but warned that it should not be turned into a mechanism of disagreement and disputes. We want the dialogue to deal with important issues, Hill said.

State Department: Request to Pristina was clear, we are disappointed (KoSSev/N1)

“We are disappointed and we are concerned that the government of Kosovo has rejected the request and advice of its closest international partners on implementation,” the US State Department once again said just a few hours before the phased implementation of Kosovo’s decision on the re-registration of Serbia-issued license plates, KoSSev reported. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a press briefing that the US efforts regarding this issue are ongoing, and noted the US released a statement last week to make very clear its belief and the belief of its international partners that the government of Kosovo needs to extend the implementation period for another 10 months. Price stressed that Kosovo has the right to implement the change under the Brussels agreement. “But we are disappointed and we are concerned that the government of Kosovo has rejected the request and advice of its closest international partners on implementation,” said Price.

Dacic: Serbia continues to strengthen cooperation with China (Tanjug/RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stated today that he is convinced that Serbia and the People’s Republic of China will strengthen cooperation in all aspects, especially in the field of the economy and infrastructure. Opening the Second conference “New world trends in the reflection of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China”, Dacic expressed gratitude to China on the significant support it gives us in the preservation of territorial integrity and added that Serbia reciprocates them in the protection of their national interests when it comes to the One China policy. The First Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that today’s conference in Belgrade is a way to encourage cooperation between Serbia and China, which both countries see as friendly, strategic and long-term, to mutual benefit. He added that he sees the One Belt, One Road initiative as a supporting model of cooperation between the two countries, stating that Serbia was among the first states that recognised the usefulness of that project and is one of the most active and wants to continue to strengthen cooperation with China as a reliable partner and one of the most influential factors in today’s world. Special Envoy of the Vice Foreign Minister of China Cha Li, who addressed the conference via video link, said that the One Belt, One Road initiative was welcomed by the international community. The Chinese side signed a cooperation agreement with 149 states and 32 organisations and founded the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. A large number of projects have been launched already, including the construction of the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed railway, she recalled.

Orlic with Brazilian Ambassador on friendship and cooperation (RTV/Tanjug)

Serbian parliament speaker Vladimir Orlic met yesterday with the Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Serbia H.E. Jose Mauro Da Fonseca Costa Couto and officials jointly expressed satisfaction with the more than eight decades of traditionally good bilateral relations between the two countries, grounded in friendship, mutual cooperation and understanding. Orlic thanked Brazil for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty of and for its principled stance of non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of so-called “Kosovo”. He informed the Ambassador about the current situation in the southern Serbian province and Pristina’s intentions to forcibly confiscate property and vehicles with Serbian license plates. “We are facing pressures and attempts by Pristina to trample on everything agreed and lead to escalation, while Belgrade is trying to preserve peace and stability in this part of Europe, which is clear to everyone, whether they want to admit it or not,” he said. The Ambassador affirmed Brazil’s stance and support for Serbia’s position on this issue. Speaking about inter-parliamentary cooperation, the officials opined that there is room for improvement, and that the Serbian parliament is open to working on establishing ties between the two parliaments, both at the highest level and through the contribution of working bodies and parliamentary friendship groups.

REGIONAL PRESS

RS opposition resumes insisting on annulment of elections for RS President (Nova BH) 

The opposition in Republika Srpska (RS) resumes to insist on their demand to annul the elections for the RS President. Representatives of opposition parties submitted a complaint with the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and the Appeals Chamber of the Court of B&H on Saturday. They expect that decision – one on the side of law and justice – will be passed by Wednesday and that the Court of B&H will order B&H CEC to repeat elections at polling stations where the biggest irregularities were registered. They also called on members of the B&H CEC to submit resignations. Leader of List for Justice and Order Nebojsa Vukanovic underlined that they need to resume exerting pressure until captured institutions are liberated, because otherwise they will be expected to accept stolen elections as regular ones.

Mazalica accuses opposition of abusing institutions in B&H to settle accounts with authorities in RS (ATV) 

SNSD representative in the RS parliament Srdjan Mazalica, commenting on potential motives for the opposition announcing new protest in front of the RTRS premises on Wednesday, said he does not see any reason for the protest at that location, given the fact that RTRS gave the opportunity to the opposition to present their political stances. Mazalica went on to say that the opposition is probably trying to make a political pressure on the B&H CEC to change its position and annul election for the RS President, as well as an attempt to justify themselves for their activities so far and for what will come in case they are appointed in the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) “without Serb legitimacy”. He also accused the opposition of abusing the institutions in B&H “to settle accounts with authorities in the RS”, thus damaging the RS, noting that the RS has been damaged because the victory of SNSD candidate for the RS President Milorad Dodik’s victory “was decided by control ballot count in Sarajevo, in an institution that under the B&H Election Law should only implement elections”. Asked to comment if the opposition is endangering RTRS’ employees by making accusations at their expense, Mazalica said the opposition is making pressure “on the independent media”, noting that organizing protest in front of the media outlets and imposing sanctions against the media, as was the case with ATV Banja Luka, “is unbecoming in the 21st century”.

Covic: We expect authorities to be formed 30 days after the CEC publishes final election results (N1) 

The CEC of B&H should publish the final results of the General Elections in B&H on Tuesday or Wednesday. Right after that, HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic announces the beginning of talks regarding formation of authorities. Covic told reporters that parties that HDZ B&H held some talks with agreed that formation of authorities should be completed within 30 days after the results are published. Covic emphasized that their program is simple and divided into three parts. “We have divided it into the Euro-Atlantic process, where electoral legislation will be one condition of the reform activities that we must complete. The second is the rule of law and security in B&H. No one brings up the issue of rattling weapons anymore, or any kind of counting or arming. We want to send a clear message to our people that this must be a place where they can live normally and that they have legal security”, Covic emphasized. The third part of the program, says Covic, are economic and social opportunities. Covic repeated that they will open talks on authority formation based on the program they will propose and most notably based on the result of legitimate representation of other two peoples. He believes that it would be possible to complete the process of authority formation in this year. Covic stated that HDZ B&H has already prepared a framework program, which the authorities should work on during this mandate. At the top of HDZ B&H’s list are the reform laws necessary for the continuation of B&H’s European path, but the priority, it seems, is the changes to the B&H Election Law. “We would have to solve the issue of some reform activities that we have been holding back for the last five or six years without success. Primarily, it is the Election Law, possibly limited changes to the Constitution of B&H,” Covic said. Covic pointed out that those who will have a majority of 23 at the Federation of B&H level will also have a majority at the B&H level, when it comes to the House of Peoples. “That should be like some key determinants of who makes up the authorities,” Covic said.

Negotiations on authority formation for all levels to begin this week; Dodik, Crnadak, and Karajbic comment on upcoming formation of authority (BHT1) 

Political parties’ negotiations on the authority formation for all levels should begin this week. While the situation is clear for the B&H House of Representatives (HoR), it is still uncertain what the B&H House of Peoples (HoP) will look like, especially the situation in the Caucuses of Serbs and Bosniaks. Everything will be known after the entity parliaments are formed, noted the presenter. SNSD claimed that, together in the coalition, as before, they will have four delegates in the Caucus of Serbs. Although the possibility is open, SNSD said that they are not sure that they will work together with the opposition at the state level. SNSD leader Milorad Dodik said he believes that they will have four delegates in the B&H HoP again. He added that they will also have a member of the B&H Presidency and the ruling authority in Republika Srpska (RS). PDP claimed the opposite. PDP said, as things stand now, SNSD will have two delegates and the RS opposition will have two delegates, if they come to an agreement. PDP’s Igor Crnadak said it is clear that the only chance for SNSD to create a control package with which they would do the same for another four years, i.e. completely block B&H, is if SNSD is given support by the Federation of B&H (FB&H) political parties. Without that support, SNSD can have two mandates, or three mandates at maximum with their partners, said Crnadak. Those who have three delegates in a B&H HoP ethnic caucus will have guaranteed legitimate representation, that is, the capacity to be part of the Collegium of the parliamentary majority that can make decisions, noted the reporter. SDP pointed out that everything is now uncertain, except the control package that HDZ B&H will have. Elvir Karajbic from SDP said that they should wait for everything, since it makes a big difference whether someone has four or three delegates in the B&H HoP, and it is already certain that the Troika will have a control package for the Caucus of Serbs in the FB&H HoP.

HR Schmidt sends regular six-monthly report to UN Security Council; Information on Schmidt’s report (BHT1) 

High Representative Christian Schmidt sent a regular six-monthly report to the UN Security Council. According to information published in the media, Schmidt mostly explained the decisions with which he imposed changes to the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Election Law. He described, and largely criticized, the rhetoric of political leaders ahead of the general elections in B&H on October 2. Schmidt also supported extending the mandate of the Althea mission. Political analysts believe that the decision of the UN Security Council, including Russia, will be positive. When it comes to technical changes to B&H Election Law, the goal was to deter political subjects from violating election rules and to strengthen the B&H Central Election Commission’s (CEC) competencies. Schmidt used Bonn Powers, when it comes to political changes to B&H Election Law, on the day of the elections to try, as he said, in the absence of a domestic agreement, to prevent blockades of authority formation, primarily in the Federation of B&H (FB&H). BHT1 carried an excerpt from Schmidt’s report to UN Security Council which reads: “Regarding the voter’s decision, I announced this decision after the polls closed and before the first preliminary election results were announced. The decision does not affect the recounting of votes either”. Schmidt received criticism from part of the B&H public and some EU members due to the content of his decision, noted the reporter.

RS government submits 28th Report to UN Security Council (RTRS) 

The RS government submitted the 28th Report to the UN Security Council (UN SC). On behalf of the RS, as the signatory of all annexes that make the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), the Report was submitted to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and member countries of the UN SC by RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic. The Report covers key events from May to October this year. The RS government regularly sends its Report to the UN SC in order to present its views on situation in B&H. As expected, the first part of the Report speaks of the election results. It was confirmed that ruling authorities in the RS won once more, receiving another mandate for continuation of their fight for the DPA and the constitutional structure of B&H. The Report also spoke of unfounded claims on election thefts and frauds in the RS, which is why the opposition, and its foreign mentors, worked in order to force a recount of election votes, wishing for things to be changed in favor of the opposition. That plan did not yield results, the Report noted. The RS government also spoke of new members of the B&H Presidency, saying that two of the elected members are people that are directly working on abolition of the RS. The practice by which there is no legitimate representation in this institution for all of the three constituent peoples has continued. Report further says that foreigners and the international community must stop with their actions in B&H that endanger the Dayton Agreement and the constitutional order in this country. This is best viewed in the Resolution adopted by the German Bundestag. The Resolution is an inappropriate meddling into B&H’s internal affairs. “The RS calls on the German government to immediately, and unequivocally, distance itself from the Resolution of the Bundestag, and to once more reaffirm Germany’s support for the Dayton Agreement and the Constitution of B&H. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, the German government is now quiet, which causes legitimate concern in regards to future intentions towards B&H”, the RS government wrote in its Report. Third part of the Report says that B&H’s safety is not endangered despite the irresponsible rhetoric of certain Bosniak politicians. The Report specifically refers to, as stated, the “dictatorial powers of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and decisions of the German diplomat Christian Schmidt” in connection to the Election Law. Once more, it was stated that Schmidt is not a High Representative in B&H. “Any usage of these dictatorial powers represents outrageously neo-colonial violation of B&H’s sovereignty. It is an insult for the peoples of B&H, which have the right to govern themselves based on their constitutional order”, the Report underlined. The RS remains committed to the European integration, and welcomes the recent recommendation of the European Commission (EC) for grating B&H its candidate status. The RS is certain B&H can fulfil the EU’s demands, i.e. implement the necessary reforms while still keeping its decentralized constitutional structure. This would be similar to what was done in the EU member states – Belgium, Germany and Spain. In the Report, it was reiterated that the RS strongly supports the ‘Open Balkans’ Initiative, which is also supported by the EU.

Mazalica: German parliament is preparing resolution to contest Schmidt (ATV) 

SNSD representative in the RS parliament Srdjan Mazalica reminded of PDP candidate for the RS President Jelena Trivic’s statement for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) media she would not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and meeting with “illegitimate” High Representative (HR) in B&H Christian Schmidt. Asked what message is conveyed with such moves, Mazalica said he has nothing against political officials appearing in the FB&H media, and referring to Putin, he said that “whether we like him or not”, the Russia has proven countless times its support to Serb people, including its political support to the RS in the United Nations Security Council (UN SC), where Russia, together with China, “is fighting against illegal HR Christian Schmidt’’. He went on to say that support by Russia and China, two great global powers, “is of strategic importance for the RS”, and added that Russia’s support is much more important for the RS “than some Christian Schmidt who is not recognized even by some political parties in Germany. A resolution is being prepared in the German Parliament, that will call on the German government to contest Christian Schmidt, i.e. that the HR no longer exist in B&H”. Mazalica concluded by saying that when a candidate for the RS President meets with HR Schmidt without using the opportunity to “to tell him all these things, then I wonder if that individual pursues authentic policy of Serbs’ interests or they represent another policy in the RS”.

Sarrazin: Germany government supports HR Schmidt (Oslobodjenje) 

German government’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Manuel Sarrazin, asked if the German government supports decision of High Representative (HR) Christian Schmidt to impose changes to the Constitution of FB&H and the Election Law of B&H immediately after the elections, said HR Schmidt makes his often difficult decisions independently and in line with the mandate. According to Sarrazin, the HR has “our constant support for his important work”, arguing that as far as the measures from 2 October are concerned, one has to assess their impact. Sarrazin stressed by saying that the HR explained that aim of the measures is to improve the FB&H’s functionality and that the measures are aimed at ending the political blockade in the entity and make the reforms more like. “We support him in achieving that goal”, stressed Sarrazin.

Sarrazin: There will be no mora visas in the Balkans (Oslobodjenje) 

The daily carries an interview with German government’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Manuel Sarrazin, who was first asked to comment on the Western Balkans Summit, which will be held in Berlin in early November and what concretely the Western Balkans countries can expect from it. Sarrazin replied by saying aim of the Berlin Process is to promote regional cooperation and support the Western Balkans countries in their efforts to get integrated into the EU. Given the aim, Sarrazin continued, ‘we’ are glad a step forward has been made in terms of three mobility agreements, which will build foundations of common regional market, adding that the agreements will be signed during the Summit (Note: Three agreements in question are: Agreement on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards in the Western Balkans, Agreement on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications and Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors). Other important issues that will discussed during the Summit, according to him, will be strengthening cooperation in the area of energy and energy security and increased solidarity between the EU and the Western Balkans, plus the green agenda, cyber security and join fight against illegal migrations and corruption and organized crime. Sarrazin explained that the three aforementioned agreements were blocked for two years because of political issues and that owing to political readiness of all stakeholders in the Western Balkans, “we have finally managed a step forward during the talks in Berlin and the six sides managed to harmonize the texts that will leave political issues aside” and focus on making the travelling in the Western Balkans easier and to recognize diplomas and qualifications. Asked to comment on the agreement on travelling with the personal ID only and whether citizens of B&H can go to Kosovo without visas and vice versa given the fact Bi& has not recognized Kosovo, Sarrazin replied by saying the agreement does exactly that i.e. freedom of movement for all Western Balkans citizens without visas, including B&H and Kosovo.  Asked if he is afraid that some officials in B&H, such as Milorad Dodik, could use mechanisms to block adoption of the agreements, Sarrazin said he is not afraid of that, that “we are thinking positively” and that “as far as I know Mister Dodik has been supporting the process from the start”. Asked if strengthening of the Berlin Process means the end to the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative, Sarrazin said it is not about one process excluding the other, that the ‘Open Balkan’ was formed because three countries wanted to advance faster in some issues and that it is their choice if they want to continue down the path.

Komsic: Croatia is trying to destabilize B&H (Oslobodjenje) 

Member of B&H Presidency, Zeljko Komsic reacted to the letter that Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman sent to NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, warning about the consequences in case Croatian Armed Forces are not part of mission in B&H. “Institutions of state of B&H, will not be in favor of this even in case that NATO agrees to ultimatum of the Croatian Foreign Minister. There is no argument that could justify such arrangement and it is obvious intention of authorities of Republic of Croatia to destabilize B&H, intention which is evidently a consequence of giving in of the international community before aggressive politics of Croatia,” said Komsic.

Milanovic: Americans and British want to create Libya, Syria and Bosnian spring due to Dodik’s election victory; SDA’s Mehmedovic: Belgrade and Zagreb obviously have strategic partnership with Dodik and Covic on destabilizing B&H (Hayat) 

Hayat analysed the recent statements of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who accused “the Americans and the British” that they want to create Libya, Syria and “the Bosnian Spring” in B&H, because of the victory of newly-elected RS President Milorad Dodik. “And now they tried to rob him of votes in these elections. And that is terrible. So that is the recipe, I will not say whose, but we have seen it around the world, many times already. After that, chaos always follows, both in Libya and Syria, almost in Egypt, and in other countries – chaos, disorder and powerlessness”, Milanovic noted.  According to Hayat, Milanovic has made numerous statements about B&H showing he is not a friend to B&H and this time he is even making his own predictions based on unknown sources. In a video statement to Hayat, SDA’s representative in the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Semsudin Mehmedovic reacted to Milanovic’s statement, noting that Milanovic is obviously prone to sensationalism and wishes to win another presidential mandate. Mehmedovic noted that Milanovic’s desire to be re-elected the Croatian President is stronger than the danger to be remembered as a hater of everything Bosnian or to be characterized as a Russian agent in the Balkans. “The results of the recent elections go in Milanovic’s favor especially when it comes to Dodik’s election. It is obvious that Belgrade and Zagreb have strategic partnership with their political followers, Dodik and (HDZ B&H leader Dragan) Covic on destabilizing B&H and achieving their interests”, Mehmedovic assessed. Croatian analyst Davor Gjenero told Hayat via video link that Milanovic obviously speaks as “a spokesman of Kremlin in this region” and his rhetoric is same as the rhetoric of “Russian quasi-diplomacy”. Gjenero noted that Milanovic would sustain a strong blow if Dodik has faced political defeat in the elections “as he would thus be left without his ally for implementing his policy towards B&H”.

Fierce debate over the Law on the President, Djurovic took a break; Zivkovic: This is a constitutional coup; Mitrovic: You are giving Lekic the opportunity to nominate himself as a representative (CdM) 

The parliament of Montenegro started its session today with 23 items on the agenda, among which is the Draft Law on Census of Population, Households and Apartments. Deputies of the Democratic Front ask that the agenda of today’s session of the Assembly include changes to the bill on amendments to the Law on the President, which caused a quick reaction from the deputies of the Democratic Party of Socialists. The President of the Assembly, Danijela Djurovic, said that the deputies of the Democratic Front ask that the agenda of today’s session of the Assembly also include changes to the bill on amendments to the Law on the President. In the proposal, they demand that the act be passed by urgent procedure because, as they claim, the President Milo Djukanovic did not, in accordance with his constitutional obligation, assign the mandate for the composition of the Government to the candidate who received the support of the majority of the total number of deputies of the Parliament of Montenegro. DPS MP Danijel Zivkovic said that he understands the political need of the DF to collapse the agenda, to act contrary to democratic principles, and to carry out a constitutional coup. “I understand DF, but I don’t understand other colleagues who agree to be the wagons of this locomotive that is trying to collapse and degrade Montenegro,” Zivkovic pointed out, saying that Djurovic takes direct responsibility for the demolition of the Constitution. By adopting this agenda, he adds, one enters the zone of criminal responsibility. Djurovic said that the legal solution was submitted in accordance with the procedures and laws governing the work of the parliament. “So, it is definitely up to the deputies to decide how much is in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The expert service approved it, it is not my decision whether it will be in the procedure or not”, said Djurovic. She stated that it is not up to her to go into the merits of the law, adding that she expects the legal solution to pass the parliamentary committees and that in that domain it is considered how it is in accordance with the law and the Constitution. “I think the procedure has been followed, it is up to the MPs to declare what will be included in the agenda,” said Djurovic. DPS MP Danijel Zivkovic asks his colleagues whether this legal solution is in accordance with the constitution. “This is a constitutional coup. You know what would be left if this legal solution is adopted. “Let someone freely enter the Presidency building and try to evict the President from the Presidency building,” Zivkovic pointed out. DPS MP Jevto Erakovic said that we are in a serious situation in which Danijela Djurovic is helping. “It is clear that with this procedure and this legal solution you want to destroy Montenegro,” Erakovic pointed out. It is clear, he says, why we do not have a Constitutional Court. “Precisely so that you can implement such mechanisms. In similar situations such as the Podgorica assembly, history has judged in the right way. History will judge how you behave now”, said Erakovic to Djurovic. DPS member of parliament Aleksandra Vukovic called Djurovic a constitutional destroyer, a constitution breaker, who, with the votes of the DF, came to carry out a constitutional coup that will be studied for centuries as a contribution to the biggest betrayal of Montenegro. Then she addressed the Democrats: “Democrats, where is Montenegro for you?” You are not aware of what you are doing to Montenegro. DF works very consciously and kudos to them. For them, this is the comedy they wanted to watch. You are you under the hood of DF. The only structure that is the winner in Montenegro is DF and kudos to you. “Your right-wing politics won,” Vukovic pointed out. Democrats and URA contribute to destructive politics, she adds: “It will come at a political cost. Count on us, you don’t know what awaits you politically,” said Vukovic. Her party colleague Dragutin Papovic calls on the Prosecutor’s Office to react against those who want to use force to change the constitutional order, and Luidj Skrelja points out that the proposed law on amendments to the Law on the President of Montenegro is a coup law, created by a nebulous parliamentary majority. SDP MP Adnan Strikovic also said that the amendments to the law on the president of the state are in contradiction with the Constitution. “Djurovic misperceives her function. You can propose everything, that should mean everything – everything that is in accordance with the Constitution and laws, but you cannot propose everything. This “everything” is what is being proposed today and it is not in accordance with the Constitution”, said Strikovic. SD MP Boris Mugosa said that the parent and legislative committees did not announce the law. “I am ashamed of the proposed text, and I can imagine how it is for the lawyers. My proposal is that the parent and legislative committees vote on this proposal, and then schedule a session,” said Mugosa, indicating that we have come to a situation where politics comes before law and “it loses all meaning.” Liberal Party MP Andrija Popovic stated that it is not clear to him how the law will change the Constitution. “You cannot put something like this on the agenda. You know that you and all the proponents are in the zone of criminal responsibility,” Popovic points out. DPS deputy Nikola Janovic points out that with the law on the president, DF MPs are trying to make constitutional changes through the back door, bypassing the two-thirds majority. “This is a gross violation of the Constitution, the proponents are trying to take away the powers from the president and transfer them to the deputies. Today the Constitution is being trampled on, it is clear why the DF is doing it, but it is not clear to me why other parties are doing it and participating in it. Through the mantra of reckoning with the president, they want to criminalize the idea of an independent Montenegro, the idea of a civic Montenegro,” said Janovic. DPS MP Ivan Mitrovic points out that Djurovic wants to put a law on the agenda, which gives the representative of the Assembly the opportunity to appoint himself as a representative. “Imagine that illogicality. Your representative is Mr. Lekic. With this law, you will also give Lekic the opportunity to propose appointing himself as a representative. Montenegrin publicist should hear this. It’s not that this isn’t logical, it’s shameful,” he said. To that, Djurovic pointed out that she is not giving anything to anyone, but that it is a proposal of the DF deputy. DPS MP Aleksandra Vukovic said that it is now clear why URA and SNP did not vote for the Constitutional Court. “Because they were preparing this moment for them to take over the role of the Constitutional Court. Mrs. Djurovic, no matter how comfortable it is, this is not Aleksandar Vucic‘s house, maybe you thought you had power there, but power is given by the state that feeds and defends you. You are a political fluid. You are a political ether, you don’t exist as a political subject, but you assume the role of someone who will trample on the Montenegrin constitution today”, said Vukovic. DPS MP Danijel Zivkovic told Djurovic that she bears responsibility for what is happening today. “The DF is laughing and it’s no wonder they brought you into the zone of criminal responsibility,” Zivkovic pointed out. DPS requests a break of half an hour. “During this break, we are asking for a statement from the expert service with a signature – whether the act has been set up properly in the procedure in accordance with the constitution”, stated Zivkovic. Djurovic said that the expert service only gives an opinion on whether a certain act can enter the procedure, and that the opinion on the merits is given by the committees. DF MP Predrag Bulatovic said that by changing this law, they want to stop the harmful consequences of the current legal solution for the constitutional and legal system, that is, that Miodrag Lekic should not be given a mandate. He claims that no one from the DF thinks that the work of the committee and the discussion should be suspended. “The law will be debated. This is about the urgency to stop the harmful consequences for the constitutional legal system”, said Bulatovic. After his address, Djurovic announced a break of half an hour to resolve the issue of whether the expert service signed the opinion that the Law on the President is in accordance with the procedure.

Montenegro doesn’t have ambassadors in 18 countries (RTCG) 

At the moment, Montenegro does not have ambassadors in 18 countries, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry’s website shows that we do not have ambassadors in Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, China, Kosovo, Hungary, Germany, Poland, the USA, Slovenia, Serbia, the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. According to the Ministry, Montenegro has ambassadors in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, the Russian Federation, North Macedonia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Kovachevski: Elections not a priority at the moment, focus is on economic and energy 

crisis (Telma) 

In response to a reporter’s question to comment on a statement by Democratic Union leader Pavle Trajanov that he is in favor of early elections in April or May next year, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski reiterated that the elections will be held in the regular term in 2024 and that priority should be given to dealing with the economic and energy crisis. “I have said several times that the elections will be held in the regular term in 2024. At this moment, the state is facing a huge economic and energy crisis, but ahead of us is also the screening process with the EU, so that all the resources of the state and all the capacities, in the parliament, in the government, but also outside them, the academy, non-governmental organizations, we all need to be focused and direct our energy towards completing the screening phase as soon as possible and towards better dealing with the energy and economic crisis in the interest of the citizens. So, at this moment, elections are not a priority,” Kovachevski said.

BESA to initiate a joint meeting of Albanian parties on the constitutional changes (TV Kanal 5) 

By the end of this week, Bilal Kasami will try to hold a meeting with the leaders of all Albanian parties in the country, Besa Movement told TV Kanal 5. They will send an invitation to Ali Ahmeti, Arben Taravari, Afrim Gashi and Menduh Thachi, in order to build a common position to change the wording in the constitution where the Albanian language stands as a language spoken by 20% of the population. According to Besa party vice president Blerim Sejdiu, the statement of DUI leader Ali Ahmeti that the ‘20 percent’ does not threaten the position of the Albanians is scandalous. “Our position is that ‘20 percent’ should be removed from the Constitution because it is offensive to us as a nation. In the last census, the result showed we are more than 20% and we will continue to demand the removal of such definition once and for all with all our strength in the parliament,” said Sejdiu. The Alliance for Albanians is also in favor of such meeting, which according to its acting president, Arben Taravari, the same should be summoned by DUI leader Ali Ahmeti. Taravari said he was ready to call for such meeting in case Ahmeti does not do it. Meanwhile, Alternativa party supports the idea that in addition to the meeting, support should also be provided to their request to include in the Constitution the non-statutory nature of criminal offense – abuse of office. Ahmeti said this weekend that the Albanian language will be specified in the Macedonian Constitution at the right time and Macedonians will not be harmed by this, without specifying whether he will try to dissuade other Albanian parties from making the constitutional changes conditional on this issue. Earlier, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, speaking about the conditions of the Albanian political parties on the process of constitutional changes, said that all political actors in the country must consider the country’s priorities, implying the successful implementation of the screening process and country’s full integration in the EU.

Ruling majority, opposition trade accusations over EC country report, non-functional 

parliament (Sitel) 

The latest European Commission report on the country no longer serves as an evaluation of the events and a recommendation for improvement, but now more than ever it serves as a manual on how to make progress in the accession process as regards the multitude of reforms required to join the EU, EU Ambassador David Geer said Monday noting the manual is intended for the whole country, all social stakeholders, most importantly for the government and parliament, which plays a key role in the accession process. Presenting the EC country report at a joint session of the National Council for European Integration and the Committee for European Affairs, Geer reiterated the assessment on the legislative house included in the report noting its work had been overshadowed by political polarization, and good planning and consultation is necessary to limit the use of fast-tracked procedures so as to allow effective oversight and consultations as regards the laws. According to him, a lot of attention has been paid on these observations given the important role played by parliament in the EU accession process, adding it is part of growing political polarization that requires all political stakeholders to make efforts to fix it. Sustainable process, Geer reiterated, can be achieved if reform implementation becomes a national project that involves the government, the opposition, all state institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the business community. “Joint efforts by all political parties is a priority to strengthen the key role of parliament, a pillar of political dialogue,” the Ambassador said. He announced that the bilateral screening of the country will start on 11 November, which is part of the accession process. Some 800 experts from the European Commission will be included. Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, who is also the chief negotiator, reiterated that the EC country report had noted that North Macedonia is partially or well prepared in nearly 90 percent of the areas. The country has maintained the progress dynamic recording improvement in 23 out of 43 areas, whereas a limited or some progress was registered in the remaining 20 areas. “The government believes North Macedonia should use the momentum and show its full potential by accelerating reforms and with all political forces in parliament uniting in order to meet the three-decade long goal,” Marichikj said. According to him, only through national consensus and utmost efforts by the government and the administration, the civil society, parliament, the business and academic community can the country meet its commitment to join the EU by 2030. Ruling and opposition lawmakers traded accusations as to who is to blame for the report’s unfavorable segment involving the functioning of Parliament. “A party negotiator was appointed, which is the reason behind lack of trust in the EU integration process,” VMRO-DPMNE MP Antonio Miloshoski said stressing Parliament has the lowest score in the report compared to the previous four years. According to him, it demonstrated the declared commitment of the government, “which in fact does nothing to improve the standards in the institutions in Macedonia.” Miloshoski accused the ruling majority of weakening the Parliament’s position. Referring to Miloshoski’s remarks, SDSM MP Snezana Kalevska Vanchevska said that criticism from the opposition is welcomed, instead of blockades and filibustering. “It does not contribute to better legislation. Parliament should be the arena for real political competition rather than a place where obstacles are made constantly that prevent us from doing our job,” she said. The ruling lawmaker called on everyone to work for a fully functioning parliament, which is also predictable. The EC country report, the first one after the opening of the negotiations with the EU on July 19, was also presented to the head of state, the prime minister, the speaker, the civil society and to the President of the Supreme Court for the first time.

Kovachevski: Several key goals achieved for start of EU negotiations with clear Macedonian language and identity (BBC/MIA) 

In an interview with the BBC, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski points out that

several key goals have been achieved for the start of negotiations with the European Union – clear Macedonian language, Macedonian identity and historical issues not being included in the negotiating framework. “If you want to be a leader, then you have to make tough decisions. In these negotiations we had several goals in front of us, and we achieved them. Number one: clear Macedonian language in the European Union. Number two: clear Macedonian identity, of the Macedonians in the European Union and start of the negotiations with the European Union, which happened on 19 July. And, historical questions to be out of the negotiating framework. You mentioned the work of the history commission – it works with fourteen members, seven from the Bulgarian side, seven from the Macedonian side, who can make decisions only with full consensus, which can only be implemented on a reciprocal basis in the two countries. So, this is actually the agreement, where they, the historians, will deal with history questions,” Kovachevski said, adding that the goal is to build a rhetoric between neighbors that looks forward to the future. As regards European integration, PM Kovachevski stressed that the process of joining the European Union has been stuck for eleven years of the previous government because “they were not ready to move one millimetre”, the Government said in a press release. “They didn’t make any decision. We have two concepts in this country. One concept is, the one which I am leading, and this is that Macedonians and all the other citizens of North Macedonia, with heads up, with dignity, to sit on the big table in Brussels, and give their standpoint on all the issues, to negotiate, and become members of the European Union. The other concept is, with a false dignity, to sit down at the small table here in North Macedonia, alone, isolated, in conflict with all the neighbors, without talks with the European Union. This sitting at the small table, with false dignity, we have seen for eleven years. It is the responsibility of all the political parties to make decisions which will make a better future for the future generations. Because at the end of the day, I know that this process will be hard, and this process of negotiations will be tough, and I am aware of this, and all our citizens are aware of this, but at the end of the day, the big prize is membership in the European Union, because the Macedonian citizens want to be part of the European Union, but they want to live in the European Union in their country here, and not to leave the country and work in the European Union countries,” Kovachevski told the BBC, adding that it is easiest to be a politician who talks about the past, because when you talk about the past you don’t promise anything, you only play with people’s emotions, but it is very hard to be a politician who talks about the future, because then you make promises.

Assembly’s plenary sitting: Majority, opposition clash on territorial reform (ADN) 

On Monday, the Assembly held a plenary sitting that focused on the ruling majority and opposition’s reports produced by the ad hoc Parliamentary Committee on Territorial Reform as a result of its activity, print and electronic media report. Commenting on the report filed by the ruling majority members of the ad hoc Parliamentary Committee, its Co-chair Socialist Party (SP) MP Anila Denaj dwelled on the report’s recommendations, including the continuation of joint efforts of government, central and local stakeholders and international partners on the consolidation of the current 61 municipalities, in order to have municipalities that are fully operational, foster the local economic growth, and deliver high-quality services. Other recommendations, according to SP MP Denaj, include the clarification and competencies of the 12 regional councils as second-tier local government units, also by offering them the support needed to operate efficiently; the holding of consultations with local communities, elected officials and independent experts to improve the relevant legislation and include the findings in the 2023-2030 Inter-sectorial Strategy on Decentralization and Local Government; and the handling of particular requests for the improvement of boundaries between local government units. Sharing the findings of the report filed by Democratic Party (DP) members, Committee Co-chair Dhurata Cupi spoke about the need to increase the number of municipalities in the country from 61 to 94. According to the MP, the 2014territorial administrative reform was done unilaterally, in an effort to serve the ruling majority’s interests ahead of the 2015 local government elections. She said that the DP proposal for the establishment of 33 new municipalities would serve the socio-economic development of the benefiting local government units. DP MP Enkelejd Alibeaj accused his SP colleagues of refusing to change the country’s territorial administrative division, as they allegedly aim at winning the next spring’s local elections by default. Earlier on Monday, the Socialist Party (SP) parliamentary group chair, Taulant Balla, told reporters that no agreement was reached on the territorial reform with the DP MPs led by Enkelejd Alibeaj, and as such the country’s territorial administrative division would not change before 2023 local government elections. Balla added that for the SP parliamentary group it is the principles that matter when deciding to establish new municipalities, such as the number of inhabitants – not less than 5000, the fact that such a local government unit had existed before the 2015 territorial administrative reform, and that it was not a vital part of a current municipality that could be damaged if divided. Balla noted that there could be a few cases where a bigger municipality could be divided in two or two smaller municipalities merged together. According to him, the number of municipalities per se should not make the bases for discussions on the topic, the quality of services offered to each citizen should.

Rama downplays all other international reports but European Commission’s Albania Report (ADN) 

Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on Monday on Twitter on the reports of international organizations on the country’s performance, singling out the Progress Report of the European Commission (EC) as the most reliable, print and electronic media report. Reportedly, Rama argued that the EC’s progress report provides facts, not perceptions. “For me, there is only one deep and 100 percent reliable international report on the progress of the country: Albania’s Progress Report issued by the European Commission: it includes facts not perceptions, objective analysis not subjective judgments, it is drafted by a full-time professional team not by part-time subcontractors,” Rama wrote on Twitter. The media speculated that the PM’s reaction may have something to do with last week’s release of some findings on Albania’s rule of law performance as reported in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2022.

Berisha renews appeals for Rama’s resignation (Panorama) 

In a press conference held on Monday, Democratic Party (DP) Chair Sali Berisha called for the dismissal of Prime Minister Edi Rama from all his official posts, citing for this purpose what he said were the corrupt affairs related to the charter flights and waste incinerators. Print and electronic media quote Berisha as accusing PM Rama of having wasted €22mln in taxpayers’ money in charter flights and of allegedly being the mastermind behind the so-called waste incinerators’ corrupt affair. According to the media DP Chair held a meeting with the DP MPs supporting him on Monday afternoon, instructing them to seek the establishment of parliamentary inquiry committees, in order to shed light into the corruption and theft of public money at the hands of the Rama government. Reportedly, Berisha asked that the Air Albania flight company be also included in the said committee’s work as according to him the company had not submitted any financial reports in three years due to fears that it could not justify Rama’s expensive charter flights. In addition, media reported that Berisha shared with the DP MPs a draft law to be submitted by them in parliament, in order to repeal the prescription of the prosecution of corruption-related criminal offences perpetrated by Prime Ministers, Ministers, Assembly Speakers and MPs. Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to the DP chair through Twitter, dispelling his claims about charter flights costing €22mln as blatant lies at the service of Russian rubbles. “My flights did cost half of the flights taken by the persona non grata,” he wrote, referring to Berisha, his predecessor in the PM’s Office.

Media: Bardhi and Paloka in fresh meeting to heal DP rift (Panorama) 

Print and electronic media report on a meeting held on Monday afternoon between Gazment Bardhi and Edi Paloka, the two representatives of Democratic Party (DP) MP Enkelejd Alibeaj and DP Chair Sali Berisha, in an effort to make sure that the DP fields unifying candidates in the forthcoming local government elections. As reported by the media, Bardhi shared with Paloka a six-point platform that envisages the establishment of steering political committees at central and local level composed of members of the two factions to be in charge of the selection of candidates. However, according to the media, Paloka responded to Bardhi that the steering political committees would undermine the primaries being held in every municipality, as they would have 50% of power for the selection of candidates with the remaining half belonging to the primaries themselves. According to the media, the meeting was rather unfruitful, as also Enkelejd Alibeaj has doubts about the platform proposed by Bardhi. Reportedly, Bardhi met with Alibeaj, Kreshnik Çollaku and Lefter Geshtenja after his meeting with Paloka, and Alibeaj in particular voiced his misgivings about the Bardhi platform, as it would imply a major concession made towards Berisha’s faction.