LOCAL PRESS

Serbian government proclaims three-day mourning for victims of Belgrade school shooting (Beta/RTS)

The Serbian government has proclaimed three days of national mourning, from May 5 to 7, Serbian Minister for Education Branko Ruzic has stated. Eight pupils and a security guard of the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in Belgrade were killed on 3 May in an armed assault by a seventh-grade pupil, while seven pupils and teachers were wounded, the Serbian Interior Ministry has announced. The attacker is a pupil of the same school, initials K.K, aged 14, who was arrested. He has planned this assault for a month and had a list of children whom he intended to kill. The police stated that he had in his possession two pistols, owned by his father, and four Molotov cocktails. After committing the attack, the pupil called the police and reported what he had done. Officials in the region, various organizations in Serbia and political parties have condemned the attack and sent condolence telegrams.

Vucic: Brussels meeting was aimed at tricking us into recognising so-called Kosovo (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday Serbia was facing great danger over the issue of Kosovo and Metohija “through no fault of our own”. Speaking at a press conference, Vucic said Tuesday’s meeting of the Brussels dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina had been aimed at tricking Serbia into recognising the so-called Kosovo both de facto and de iure. “Yesterday, there was an attempt to make a new kind of implementation plan, with the presentation of the statute (of a Community of Serb Municipalities) under Point 1 and our consent to their (Pristina’s) admission to international organisations under Point 2, and it is only after that that they would form a Community of Serb Municipalities under Point 3. I rejected that because it is completely contrary to what they were saying before,” Vucic said. When they realised that will not happen, they tried to resolve things in the north of Kosovo and Metohija in a purportedly rational manner, Vucic said, noting that Pristina’s PM Albin Kurti believed he could rule the area with voter support of just three percent. Vucic also said EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell had had a more fair approach, but noted that he was afraid Borrell might “get his opinion changed” by the next meeting. “Kurti rejected an interim solution under which they would not be seizing offices in the north on 28 May. I thought it was an ideal opportunity for Kurti to get away with things, but then I realised this was a plan aimed at expelling Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija,” Vucic said.

Drecun: Community of Municipalities hard to achieve without strong Western pressure (Tanjug)

The Chair of the Serbian parliamentary committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun says the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities will be very difficult to achieve without strong Western pressure on Pristina. Belgrade insists on an agreement being reached, and that is why a draft statute of the Community has been made as the most important point for progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Drecun told Tanjug on Wednesday. He said Pristina’s PM Albin Kurti was trying to avoid the establishment of the Community at all costs, through political manipulations and unexpected moves. Instead of being punished for his refusal to form the Community, Kurti has been rewarded with the launch of the procedure for the so-called Kosovo’s admission to the Council of Europe and with a recognition of elections held in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, Drecun said. He also said the adoption of a declaration on missing persons was a positive step in Belgrade-Pristina relations but that technical details were yet to be defined. He added that he had doubts about Pristina’s readiness to allow excavations on nine locations that were suspected burial sites of Serbs. One of the key issues is whether international organisations such as the OSCE and KFOR will provide the documentation they have to help shed light on the fates of missing persons, Drecun said. “To me, the most important question is whether the Republic of Albania – which has no such obligation under the declaration – will hand over documentation on illegal detentions, because it is evident that its intelligence service knew of all that,” Drecun said.

Escobar: US, EU fully committed to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta)

State Department official Gabriel Escobar said in an online news conference that the US and EU are fully committed to seeing both Belgrade and Pristina satisfied in their dialogue. “We will invest every effort to make sure that the agreement is fully implemented so that both sides win and to improve the lives of the people… It’s very important for both sides, primarily Kosovo to take the process seriously,” he said. Escobar said that the implementation of agreements starts with the forming of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO). “Normalization (of relations) are directed at the rights of minorities, especially the Serbs. That is absolutely critical,” Beta quoted him as saying. He added that this is what Washington expects and demands. He said Kosovo’s application for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) was not a victory but is an obligation with room for CoE to look into the status of the Serb minority.

Stefanovic: Government against Serbia’s EU accession (Nova/Beta)

A deputy to the president of the Freedom and Justice Party Borko Stefanovic, who also chairs the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that “a failure to introduce at least some package of sanctions against Russia will cement the isolation of Serbia,” and that “with the government it has, Serbia does not go to Europe.” “We are opposed to sanctions as such, and we don’t believe in them as a desirable instrument in international relations, but in this we need to look after our own interests. Just like any other state in the world would,” Stefanovic said in an interview with the Nova newspaper, published on 3 May. When asked about the prevailing view within the Committee, supposed to discuss the matter, Stefanovic said that it seemed to him that the Serbian Progressive Party and the Socialist Party of Serbia were “effectively opposed to Serbia’s accession to the EU.” “Their speeches before the Committee and their decision not to vote on a draft resolution on the alignment of Serbian foreign policy with the Union’s deepen the gap between Serbia and Europe,” Stefanovic has cautioned. As he put it, “we have nowhere else to go but home, to Europe.” “The regime does not want to see it, just like it refused to see it before, in the 1920s. They are gambling with the interests of the nation,” Stefanovic said in the interview.

Foreign officials express condolences over tragedy in Belgrade elementary school (Beta)

European officials and international diplomatic missions and organizations in Belgrade have expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy in the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in Belgrade, which claimed the lives of eight pupils and a security guard. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi stated in a message on Twitter that he extended his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wished a quick recovery to the wounded. The European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik called for a full investigation of this tragic event. The European parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo Viola von Cramon has stated that she was shocked and saddened by the tragic news about the fatal armed assault in the school. The OSCE have expressed sadness over the “horrific crime” in the school and sent condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The British Embassy in Serbia has expressed sadness and solidarity with the families of the victims. The general secretary of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, wrote that she was “shocked and saddened” by the armed assault in the Belgrade school and that her thoughts extended to the victims and their families.

REGIONAL PRESS

Newly appointed ministers in FB&H government and new FB&H Prime Minister Nermin Niksic officially take office (Nova BH)

The newly appointed FB&H government led by the FB&H Prime Minister Nermin Niksic took office on Wednesday, despite the protests of SDA activists and officials, noted the presenter. After individual handovers by department, Niksic gathered a 17-member ministerial team at a joint meeting. Optimistic and visibly satisfied, Niksic and the new ministers met with those leaving, but only some of them, added the reporter. The former FB&H Prime Minister Fadil Novalic did not appear in the government building. Niksic said he did not hear from Novalic, and that Novalic planned a trip earlier. “He left a letter containing what should be part of the handover”, said Niksic. The former FB&H Minister of Interior Aljosa Campara and the new FB&H Minister of Interior Ramo Isak met on Wednesday. Campara said he was proud of the work that was completed, while Isak said he is ready to work on improving the police despite negative reactions to his appointment. Campara said he hopes he will perform his duties well in the legislative-legal body, above all in the canton and the House of Peoples. The former FB&H Minister of Finance Jelka Milicevic and the new FB&H Minister of Finance Toni Kraljevic also met on Wednesday. Milicevic said that she left the built road to her successor. She said that they want this government to deal not with financial stability like the previous government, but with the reforms that citizens expect from them.

German Ambassador Fitschen welcomes formation of FB&H government (Oslobodjenje)

German Ambassador to B&H Thomas Fitschen on Wednesday stated: “I was relieved to see that the FB&H parliament finally managed to appoint the government more than six months after the elections. I hope that the new team with (FB&H) Prime Minister (Nermin) Niksic at the helm can now adopt many decisions that are important for citizens and that have been postponed for a long time”. A press statement of the German Embassy to B&H also carried Ambassador Fitschen as saying that “in this, I wish him and his government lots of success. For the future of not only the FB&H but also of people in B&H, it is crucial to take decisive reform steps on the path to the EU without any delays”.

Covic reacts to Dodik’s statement according to which Covic and Konakovic agreed on amendments to Election Law of B&H (FTV)

Commenting on the latest statement of RS President and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, who said that HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic and B&H Foreign Minister and NiP leader Elmedin Konakovic agreed on the amendments to the Election Law of B&H, Covic said that he will not fall in a trap of spins in which someone elaborates on actions of others. He stressed that he will continue to cooperate with Dodik and that all the problems will be resolved as they emerge. “Problems regarding the FB&H or agreement on the Election Law of B&H are primarily the problems of the FB&H and B&H as a whole, and in order to adopt that the Election Law of B&H needs to be changed at the level of B&H. This will be discussed in the next six months, but not in everyday life that needs to be the executive and legislative authority. We will try to complete this job so that there will be no need for the High Representative to impose anything ever again. We have a plenty of time for that”, Covic stated.

Escobar: US encouraged by latest developments in B&H especially with new leaders in authority structure (BHT1)

US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar commented on Wednesday on the situation in B&H, saying that the US is encouraged by the latest developments in B&H, where he especially highlighted the new leaders in the authority structure. “Therefore, we look forward to working with the new government at the state level and the new government of the FB&H to advance the goals of stability, economic prosperity and Euro-Atlantic integration,” noted Escobar. He stressed that the US does not want for the model in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo to be the model that was designed for B&H.

Abazovic to DF: If you want to be part of the government more easily, you have to go over some things (CdM)

The control hearing of the Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) Dritan Abazovic before the Parliamentary Committee for International Relations and Emigrants regarding the decision to support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) has ended. Prime Minister in technical mandate Abazovic said that the decision is part of the responsible foreign policy led by Montenegro, and that it is not decided at the government sessions, and that Montenegro behaves as a country that has recognized Kosovo’s independence. He told the Democratic Front (DF) that if they want to be part of the government more easily, they have to go over some things. Committee members from the ranks of the DF criticized Abazovic for the decision, telling him that it was a finger in the eye of all Serbs and that the decision was dictatorial. The leader of Prava Montenegro Marko Milacic also criticized the decision, saying that he should have voted against it. The President of the Committee and leader of Demos Miodrag Lekic accused Abazovic of creating a problem and said that Montenegro had to exercise restraint in this matter. The discussion was also marked by the Prime Minister’s message in the technical mandate that the government has been functioning properly since the release of two problematic men, alluding to SDP ministers Ranko Krivokapic and Rasko Konjevic. Prime Minister in technical mandate Dritan Abazovic said that nothing has changed in the foreign policy of Montenegro. “Montenegro led a responsible foreign policy. I wouldn’t be surprised if we voted against it so I was called to a control hearing. The Committee voted. Government members are not present there. Government members have different opinions, but they all agreed that we will see a foreign policy that is consistent. Montenegro voted with 33 other countries,” he emphasized. I informed Serbian Foreign Minister about this before the vote, Abazovic said. He said that he said that there is nothing against Serbia. “Montenegro is behaving like a country that recognized Kosovo,” he pointed out. This is not a decision made by the government. “We hope that a solution to the relations between Serbia and Kosovo will be found in the dialogue. The only EU member that did not vote for Kosovo’s accession is Hungary. All the others are,” he stressed. Lekic said that they thought it was an inadequate move. “This country is not yours. There are institutions, the Constitution. Too delicate a topic,” said Lekic. Lekic told Abazovic that he had created a problem. “We will correct what you did,” he said. According to him, he was with Ivica Dacic that day. “He didn’t tell me that they knew about the vote. We are not investigators here, we will interfere in this. There will be further proceedings. I think the measure was to be restrained,” he pointed out. He said that Montenegro should not be a pawn, but should be more dignified.

Pendarovski: Having no Judicial Council president stains country’s democratic dossier (Alsat-M/TV21/Telma/Sitel)

President Stevo Pendarovski said the fact that the Judicial Council has no president is a specific problem and stains the country’s democratic dossier. “The problem is that the Judicial Council president, whoever that might be, also chairs the Judicial-Financial Council, which means there is no one to sign the salary statements for judges. This situation must be resolved as soon as possible, not only for the sake of salaries but because it stains North Macedonia’s European, democratic dossier,” President Pendarovski told reporters. According to him, reactions coming from the EU and US Embassy are not coincidental. “These have been the harshest criticism of the state of Macedonian judiciary since 1990,” assessed Pendarovski. He added that unpleasant scenes, such as the ones that took place in the Judicial Council last week, were unheard of. “This was a situation that should not happen in a country negotiating with the EU and a state that wants to join the club of the world’s biggest democracies,” said Pendarovski.

Kovachevski at UN Security Council: North Macedonia example for solving open issues (MIA)

Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski gave a speech on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres‘s New Agenda for Peace at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, becoming the first Macedonian prime minister to speak before the Council. PM Kovachevski’s speech was in honor of the 30th anniversary of North Macedonia’s membership in the UN. He said the country had always been an example of resolving conflicts and open issues at home and with neighbors. He also said the UN and its multilateral system had proven effective in contributing to world peace in the past. “Today, when we have a moral duty to contribute to the New Agenda for Peace, we should also recall the old agenda from 1992 and the beginnings of the UN’s first preventive mission in our country, which was widely regarded as successful,” Kovachevski said. He added that in the case of North Macedonia, peace building was confirmed in practice. “Our first president, Kiro Gligorov, in the difficult years of war on the soil of former Yugoslavia, through his wisdom, responsibility and commitment to peace, made possible the peaceful independence and international establishment of North Macedonia as an independent and sovereign state,” Kovachevski said. In times of war in the region, he said, the country had its own national peace agenda supported by internal consensus but also backed by the UN, the OSCE and the EU. “The UNPREDEP mission prevented the conflict from spilling over. We preserved peace and stability, which saved countless lives and needless destruction,” the prime minister said, adding that the country even then promoted a culture of dialogue toward overcoming challenges. It is through developing this culture of dialogue that North Macedonia has become an example and a role model for solving open issues at home and with neighbors, according to Kovachevski. Also, he said, the country had to make many difficult decisions over the past 30 years. “These were difficult but visionary decisions, which made it possible for us to become a member of NATO and start negotiations with the EU, with our Macedonian language, identity and culture recognized and protected,” he pointed out. Once a country welcoming international peace missions, North Macedonia was now a factor of stability, hosting peace negotiations between other countries, Kovachevski said. However, he noted, a lot of work remains for the country, regarding the Sustainable Development Goals for example. Unfortunately, the prime minister said, the ongoing Russian military aggression in Ukraine has changed global relations to that extent that now it was urgently needed to first fulfill the UN Charter’s goal of avoiding the scourge of war. He said North Macedonia made the choice to be on the right side of history, standing with the democratic world and supporting the right of every country to self-determination. “As an equal part of the then [Yugoslav] federation, which was one of the founders of the UN, but also as a state that independently gained its place in the UN 30 years ago, the Republic of North Macedonia raises its voice and shares the extreme concern over the crisis threatening the UN but also the international order, world peace and stability.” 6 Concluding his speech, the Macedonian prime minister urged the world to adhere to the UN Charter. Guterres’s New Agenda for Peace “is a chance we need to take” in light of growing risks, Kovachevski said. “We need peace now, at once,” he added.

Hill: Open Balkans creates sense of good neighborliness (MIA)

Open Balkans is all about creating a sense of good neighborliness. It makes borders points of merger not division, and what is important for any regional integration, especially in the Western Balkans, to be open, said United States Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill on Wednesday. Hill, a former ambassador to North Macedonia, told conference “Regional Security Challenges and Recent Developments in Western Balkans”, organized by the Presidential Center for Political Education, that the point of Open Balkans is to create a feeling of unity and functionality with neighbors. “Open Balkans creates good neighborliness and facilitates border flows. The point of the initiative is to create ways for cooperation between neighbors,” noted Hill. Asked if there is hope for optimism on the Balkans, the US Ambassador said there was not much to be optimistic about when he had arrived in Macedonia back in 1996. “And look what happened in the meantime. People have their own expectations, and when you raise the level of expectations, then optimism goes down,” said Hill. According to him, if one sees what has been happening in the country over the past 30 years, “you cannot be anything but optimistic”. On corruption and drug trafficking, he said it is a problem but not an exclusive issue for the Balkans and present in other parts of the world as well. “It is my personal view that citizens should hold leaders accountable. Nevertheless, focus should be placed on institutions,” he added. The Ambassador noted that the Russian leadership “has taken civilization into the woods”. “It is an enormous tragedy what they have done in Ukraine but it is also a huge tragedy to see what they have done to themselves. We must, and when I say we, I am referring to the United States and its allies, emerge victorious and be clear that one cannot attack a neighbor and kill the neighbor’s children. We must be clear about this and be prepared to do everything until we prevail,” underlined Hill.

Xhacka meets with Roswall: Sweden supports Albania in its journey towards the EU (Radio Tirana)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhacka received the Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Jessica Roswall, in a meeting. In a post on social networks, Xhacka emphasized that the focus of the discussions was the process of Albania’s integration into the EU. Xhacka emphasized that Minister Roswall guaranteed Sweden’s support for Albania in the European integration process. “It was a pleasure to welcome in Tirana the Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Jessica Roswall, to discuss the European integration process of Albania and the Western Balkans. Gratitude to Sweden for the support given to Albania in our journey towards the EU. We share the same opinion that the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU remains crucial for the security of the region and Europe”, writes Xhacka.

US Ambassador meets State Police Director General, police plays a decisive role in the regular election process (Radio Tirana)

The US Ambassador Yuri Kim held a meeting with the Director General of the State Police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku. Focus of the meeting was law enforcement and Albania-US cooperation increase in the fight against crime and drug trafficking. US Ambassador also emphasized the important role that the State Police plays to a smooth running of a regular election process of 14 May. Administrative elections are scheduled to be held in Albania on 14 May.