LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic to Lajcak: A strong protest over Pristina’s decision to collect the alleged electricity debt (Tanjug)

In a letter to the EU’s special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija (KiM), Petar Petkovic, expressed his strong protest and concern regarding the decision of the government in Pristina regarding the collection of the alleged debt for electricity to the operator of the transmission system and electricity market, KOSTT. Tanjug learns in diplomatic circles.

According to the announcements in Pristina, this collection would be made partly from the funds of the budgets of the municipalities with a Serbian majority in the north of KiM, and partly from the Development Fund for the North of KiM. As Petar Petkovic stated in the letter, Belgrade strongly opposes such a scenario and demands an immediate reaction from the EU in order to prevent Pristina’s intention to steal the Fund’s assets.

In the letter, Petkovic pointed out that the allegations on which the decision is based are absolutely incorrect and unfounded, and that the intention itself is to unilaterally withdraw assets from the Development Fund for the North for any purpose except those provided for in the Agreement on Customs and the Development Fund for the North from 2013, which primarily concerns the development of these four municipalities, represents the most brutal attack on the dialogue process, and above all on the population of the four majority Serb municipalities for whose development and improvement of life the assets in the Fund are intended. Such a development would directly threaten the progress achieved in the field of energy, bearing in mind that on December 9, the company Elektrosever and KEDS signed a commercial agreement regulating mutual business relations in the area of the aforementioned four municipalities with a Serbian majority, Petkovic states in a letter to Lajcak.

In the letter, it is noted that the main role of the Fund is to finance financially “sustainable, economic and significant environmental projects that primarily relate to construction and maintenance”, and aim to improve the quality of life of the local population, as well as particularly vulnerable categories of the population, so “it would be any redistribution of existing financial resources that is not in accordance with the mentioned goal, represents a direct violation of point 7 of the aforementioned Agreement on Customs and the Development Fund for the North”.

Petkovic wrote that any redistribution of existing financial resources contrary to these goals would be a direct violation of the 2013 Agreement on Customs and the Development Fund for the North. “Taking into account everything previously mentioned, perhaps even more importantly, the announced payment of the alleged debt for electricity from the financial resources of the Fund for the North is one more in a series of unilateral, illegal and illegitimate decisions of the interim authorities in Pristina and, as such, represents a direct and gross violation of the 2013 Customs Agreement,” he warned.

The Minister of Finance in Pristina, Hekuran Murati, announced on thursday that four municipalities in the north of the KiM should pay almost 12 million euros in alleged electricity debt. He said that the debt of the municipality of Severna Mitrovica is 6.5 million euros, Leposavic 2.6 million, Zvecan 1.1 million and that the municipality of Zubin Potok allegedly owes 1.6 million.

Lajcak: We expect new local elections in the north of KiM to be called without further delay (Politika)

We expect that new local elections in the north of Kosovo and Metohija (KiM) will be called without further delay, and it is important that the process towards holding new elections for mayors in four municipalities finally started with the establishment of initiative groups of Serbs from KiM earlier in December, he said in an interview for “Politika “, the EU’s special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak.

Miroslav Lajcak believes that the re-establishment of fully representative local self-governments in the north of KiM is necessary for the de-escalation of the situation on the ground and for the wider normalization process. It is also necessary for the continuation of the establishment of the community of municipalities with a Serbian majority, said Lajcak.

“I am sorry that the registration of initiative groups initially faced unexpected administrative obstacles, but since then I have received assurances from Kosovo that these problems will be resolved soon so that the collection of signatures for the impeachment of the mayor can begin immediately,” said Lajcak. He stated that the situation in KiM is fragile, and that we cannot simultaneously have escalation of tensions and progress in the normalization of relations. I also pointed out that dialogue is the only platform for solving all open issues and potential sources of friction.

Lajcak: Ohrid Agreement is legally binding (Beta)

The EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has said that the EU categorically rejects any remark that the Agreement on the path to normalization between Kosovo and Serbia is “not legally binding” referring to Serbia’s non-acceptance of the provisions implying any form of recognition of Kosovo’s independence. “The Agreement and the Implementation Annex are legally binding by the statement of the EU high commissioner and the European Commission vice president, Josep Borrell, of March 18, 2023, in Ohrid (North Macedonia), which was agreed to by both sides,” Lajcak said in an interview with the Dec. 31 issue of Belgrade daily Politika.

Lajcak stressed that the expression of agreement had been explained in detail to both sides in Ohrid and that neither had made objections to it. He, however, added that the EU had acknowledged the concerns expressed by Serbia, adding that he was expecting a debate on such matters in the course of the Dialogue process. “The EU will continue to closely monitor whether legal processes and the rule of law are fully respected. All agree that citizens in Kosovo’s north, regardless of whether they belong to the majority or non-majority communities, should enjoy the advantages of the rule of law and good governance,” Lajcak noted. He added that the Dialogue was the only platform for resolving all open issues and potential sources of tension between Kosovo and Serbia.

From 1^st of January in central Serbia, movement is allowed for vehicles registered in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)

From 1^st of January in central Serbia, the movement of vehicles registered in Kosovo and Metohija (KiM) is allowed, and notices have been placed at all administrative and border crossings that this is done exclusively for practical reasons. Allowing all vehicles registered by the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina to participate in traffic on the roads is done in order to facilitate the position of individuals and enable their freedom of movement and cannot be interpreted as recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of “Kosovo”, according to the notice.

This decision of the Serbian government “does not prejudge the determination of the final status of Kosovo and cannot be interpreted as Belgrade’s consent to deviate from the rights guaranteed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244,” the text of the disclaimer states.

Officials of the European Union welcomed the decision of the authorities in Belgrade to no longer cover certain parts of the license plates with stickers, calling on the authorities in Pristina to do the same. The government in Pristina announced that their reaction will depend on how the decision is implemented by the authorities in Belgrade.

Vucic: Decision on free movement of Kosovo plates prevented ‘big pitfalls and dangers’ (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that with the decision on the free movement of vehicles with Kosovo RKS licence plates through central Serbia, “big pitfalls and dangers” for the country were avoided. Vucic told TV Prva that he thinks the decision of the Government of Serbia, which came into force on January 1, will benefit the Serbian people and Serbia as a whole.

“Our interest is the Open Balkans and freedom of movement, which also applies to vehicles. I think that this decision will benefit the Serbian people and Serbia as a whole. With that and some other things, we avoided big pitfalls and dangers for Serbia,” the President said. He estimated that during January and February, Serbia will face “great pressures” regarding Kosovo, but also that it will be exposed to new pressures due to relations with Russia.

“They have to solve the Kosovo problem before entering into any talks about Ukraine. The end of January and February will be the peak of their campaign for the European Parliament elections and in March Russia will hold elections where Putin’s mandate will be renewed but also more intense pressure from the world on all those who have any relationship with Russia [will be renewed],” said Vucic.

Brigadier says NATO, Serbia closer than people think (Demostat)

The head of NATO’s Military Liaison Office (MLO) in Belgrade, Italian Brigadier General Giampiero Romano said that Serbians aren’t aware of everything that has been achieved in partnership with the Alliance. “I think the citizens of Serbia are not fully aware of how much we work on and achieve though our partnership,” Romano is quoted as telling the Demostat portal. He recalled that Serbia is in NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and is involved in the Science for Peace and Security program. The Brigadier said that NATO and Serbia have conducted more than 1,000 joint activities over the past 17 years, both military and otherwise.

According to Romano, a stable Kosovo is crucially important to the stability of the region and security of the Alliance, adding that peace and stability in Kosovo have been a priority for NATO for more than 20 years. “We continue providing support to a safe and secure environment in Kosovo,” he said.

He said that scientists from NATO member states and Serbia have worked together on a large number of projects, sharing experiences and expanding limits through technological and scientific achievements to bring a better and safer future for the benefit of everyone. “Serbia and NATO are much closer than it seems at first glance,” Romano said adding that Serbia is a respected, important and valued NATO partner.

Non-partisan ProGlas initiative calls for annulment of elections (Beta)

Speakers at a rally organized by the non-partisan ProGlas initiative on Dec. 30 said that the latest elections in Serbia were rigged and had to be annulled and repeated under better electoral conditions. One of the ProGlas manifest signatories, Prof. Filip Ejdus, said that citizens would not accept results of rigged elections or arrests of students, nor would they allow “the darkness of single-party dictatorship to fall upon Serbia.” He called on the gathered people to create a society where such things would not be possible, wherein the first steps toward that goal would be to process all who had facilitated electoral frauds, annul elections and schedule new polls, but only six months into thorough changes of the electoral conditions. One of the leaders of the Serbia Against Violence coalition, Radomir Lazovic, said that the large number of people at the rally confirmed that citizens were ready to fight for a Serbia where people would live freely and normally, noting that protests would continue so as to carry “the flame” into the next year. “This is evidence that we are going into the New Year as a new year of hope that Serbia will be able to win against the crime, violence and fear we witnessed in the previous year,” Lazovic told Beta shortly after the end of the ProGlas initiative rally titled “We Refuse to Accept.”

Vucic rejects opposition demands for international investigation (Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rejected on Jan. 2 a request from a part of the opposition for an international probe into alleged electoral irregularities, saying that elections in Serbia “are a question for state institutions.” Vucic said that the past elections in Serbia had transpired “with a never lower number of objections” and that the representatives of the parties on the Serbia Against Violence ticket had signed “all the registries” at polling stations.

“Foreign observers from their sister parties signed all the registries. They remembered that they had a problem when they saw that they lost in Belgrade and convincingly at that. We were behind by as much as eight percent in Belgrade in July-August, but we succeeded in winning,” Vucic said after visiting the construction site of the Iriski Venac tunnel on the Fruska Gora Corridor near Novi Sad.

Commenting on remarks by the foreign media that Serbia “needs a new opposition,” Vucic said that he wanted to know which foreign factor wanted a different government and opposition in Serbia. “I could not care less what the foreign media or governments say, let them deal with themselves and their problems while some of them have more problems than we do. What kind of government and opposition Serbia will have is a question for Serbia’s

citizens,” the president said.

Russian FM: The west attempted to orchestrate unlawful seizure of power in Serbia (Beta)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Dec. 31 that the West had tried to organize unlawful seizure of power in Serbia, noting that the country’s authorities had been keeping everything under control. In an interview with Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Lavrov took a look at the situation in Serbia and the opposition protests in the wake of the Dec. 17 elections. “What happened in Belgrade is yet another attempt to orchestrate illegal seizure of power. It appears that not everyone in the West is ready to accept the fact that Serbian voters expressed support for President Aleksandar Vucic and his political course in the elections,” Lavrov said. This was no new trend, Lavrov noted, saying it was well-known how such ventures tended to end, adding it would be enough to recall “the coup in Ukraine in February 2014, inspired by Washington and Brussels.” “This has not been forgotten in Serbia either, partly owing to their own experience. Obviously, that is why the number of protesters was relatively small, just a few hundred people. Citizens do not trust people who verbally declare to be against violence, but actually behave the exact opposite way in practice, ignoring the free will of voters and provoking law enforcement bodies,” Lavrov specified.

Vucic revealed when the new government will be formed (B92)

In his address to the public, President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, referred to the formation of the government. Vucic said that the list “Serbia must not stop” won convincingly at all polling stations, both at the city and republic levels. “The turnout at the republic level is about 43 percent, which is a high turnout for repeated elections, and slightly less than 40 percent at the level of the city of Belgrade,” said the President of Serbia.

Also, Vucic pointed out that a convincing victory was won in Ripanj, as many as 79.8 percent of the votes. “As far as other polling stations are concerned, the percentage for the list ‘Serbia must not stop’ increased by between 10 and 30 percent everywhere. And in nine stations, the turnout was higher, or the same as 13 days ago. In those stations, we even got 30 percent more votes, so you have seats in the municipality of Lebane and Zagubica where we have more than 92 percent of the total number of votes”.

Vucic thanked the citizens of Serbia for doing their job in a peaceful way and showed their democratic will with a pen. He said that they endured all kinds of pressure and attacks and thanked them for being able to withstand the violence that often characterized the post-election period in the last election years. “Some can never come to terms with the election results. And let me tell people, I saw recent research after the attack on the city assembly, there was a drastic change in the mood of the citizens of Serbia. We were at 49 percent before that, today we are at 51,5 to 52 percent of the electorate. Nestorovic‘s list has grown a bit, the rest is in free fall,” said Vucic. “I am proud that the list ‘Serbia must not stop’ won so much trust from the citizens”, Vucic concluded. “The people have clearly said who they support. We will try to form a government by the end of February, by the beginning of March, to see how we are going to move forward. To continue implementing the recommendations of the ODIHR,” said the president.

Herzog, Vucic: Israel and Serbia should continue cooperation (Beta)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Jan. 2 that he expected the unchanged political circumstances after elections in Serbia to offer stable development, as well as maintain the direction of development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Israel. In a telephone conversation, Herzog congratulated his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic on the

Serbian Progressive Party’s victory in parliamentary elections. Both officials said they expected cooperation between the two countries to become more diverse and expand to different areas. They also concluded that relations needed to reflect the closeness of the two peoples and voiced their expectations that Serbia and Israel would stay in touch more frequently, so as to make the examination of subjects of mutual interest regular. Vucic and Herzog said they hoped that they would be able to meet soon, the Serbian Presidency stated.

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia and Herzegovina

RS authorities announce commemoration of January 9; Orban’s arrival announced while Milatovic rejects invitation (Nova BH)

The authorities in Republika Srpska (RS) announce, as they said, a spectacular celebration of January 9, a date which was challenged twice by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) as the RS Day, noted the presenter. This year’s central event will be held in Banja Luka. The RS officials announced the arrival of dignitaries, including the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to the Speaker of the RS National Assembly (RSNA) Nenad Stevandic.

Stevandic stated: “On January 9, a prime minister from Europe will come here, for example, Mr. Orban, therefore, the RS has a response and shows them that it is above that little, deceptive, rigged game that they are trying to play on our territory”. The reporter commented that the people who usually stand next to the RS President Milorad Dodik on January 9 are mostly unchanged, i.e. his closest associates, the Russian ambassador, the delegation from Belgrade, but without the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and in 2022 there was also a convicted war criminal and the son of another war criminal. In an interview with the Podgorica news portal on Monday, the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic said that he declined the invitation. Milatovic was quoted as saying: “I was invited. I will not go. You know my stance regarding the integrity of B&H. This is our state policy, and this is my stance. As for other state officials of Montenegro, everyone will demonstrate their certain political stances with their actions”. These stances are indirectly shown, as the reporter said, by Vucic who, in recent years, on January 9 regularly has previously undertaken obligations, so he usually sends a delegation to Banja Luka, and in 2022 he sent his own son to Istocno Sarajevo.

Leader of the List for Justice and Order Nebojsa Vukanovic commented: “I believe that Andrija Mandic or someone from the Democratic Front will be there because they have been there for a long time. I believe that someone from SNS will come from Serbia, but that it will not be the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. I think that in this way, (High Representative to B&H Christian) Schmidt sends a message to the international community and probably wants to say that Dodik is in some kind of isolation”. A regular guest on January 9 is Aleksandar Vulin, who recently became a senator of the RS, added the reporter. Vulin said: “Of course I see us all gathered together on January 9 in our free RS. The only thing in which I see the possibility of our resistance is that on that day, no matter where we live in the world, we will be together, because the RS is the pride of all Serbs”. It will it be clear on January 9 whether the RS Government will really gather all the friends they often mention in one place or if someone else will follow the example of the Montenegrin president, commented the reporter. The RS Vice President Camil Durakovic stated: “Probably for their own sake, therefore, they are trying to remain legalistic and respect the state of B&H as a sovereign state, and that is a good signal, especially from Montenegro, where the President of Montenegro explicitly refused to attend such an event”. Durakovic said that it is an even worse provocation that he received an invitation to come to the commemoration on January 9, as the RS Vice President from the rank of the Bosniak people. The reporter reminded that, in the beginning of 2023, Schmidt said that the commemoration of January 9 will not happen in 2024 in the same manner and framework as it previously did. Therefore, the announced celebration of the unconstitutional RS Day is as much a challenge to Schmidt as it is to the police and the Prosecutor’s Office, because failure to implement the decisions of the Constitutional Court of B&H is a criminal offense, concluded the reporter.

Kalabukhov: RS has every right to act as if High Representative in B&H does not exist (Nova BH)

The Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Igor Kalabukhov said that the RS has every right to act as if the High Representative in B&H does not exist at the moment and assessed that the reason for the court process against the Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik is absurd. Kalabukhov was quoted as saying: “Dodik is accused of disobeying the decisions imposed by a private person who is not a High Representative and as such does not have the appropriate competences here. Besides that, the RS President represents the election will of the majority of citizens and his trial on the issue of opposition to external dictate is a literal violation of the Constitution of the RS”.

Kalabukhov stated that RS President Dodik is one of Russia’s greatest friends who is always welcomed with joy and hospitality in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other Russian cities, and announced that the date of his new visit will soon be agreed. Kalabukhov noted that, during the last years, Dodik visited Russia more than 20 times, and that each of his visits was carefully prepared in order to reach new agreements, as well as to implement previously reached agreements. Speaking about economic cooperation of Russia with B&H and the RS, he stated that this year, Russia holds the first place when it comes to the direct investments in B&H, i.e. primarily in the RS in the value of BAM 284.2 million for the period of nine months.

Croatian President Milanovic: B&H is clumsy, sloppy, incompetently managed colony, Schmidt is colonial administrator (O kanal)

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic stated on Saturday that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is “a clumsy, sloppy, incompetently managed colony where a handful of third-rate bureaucrats live”, and he referred to High Representative (HR) Christian Schmidt as “a colonial administrator who has been installed.” Milanovic believes that the OHR led to the escalation of the situation in B&H and called on all Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks to talk without “the colonial administrators”. Milanovic told, according to Srna, the leading agency of the non-profit International Media Union, that Schmidt was installed as a colonial administrator in B&H, that he does not have a mandate from the UN Security Council (UN SC) and that some embassies in that country are behind his moves, particularly singling out the US Embassy to B&H. He described Schmidt as a retired German politician who left an insignificant mark.

Documents of UNSC confirm Schmidt is not HR; Nobilo: Schmidt will be called to testify in trial of Dodik; Dodik: Schmidt is illegal HR (RTRS)

According to the leading agency of the Non-profit International Press Syndicate ‘InDepthNews’, documents of the UN Security Council (UNSC) confirm that Christian Schmidt is not a legitimate High Representative (HR). According to the report, draft resolution on the appointment of Schmidt has failed because the resolution was not adopted in New York of July 22, 2021, because he did not get the necessary number of votes.

RTRS reported that lawyer Anto Nobilo said that the criminal proceeding against Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik is a good chance to reexamine the role of the international community (IC) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). According to Nobilo, Schmidt will also be called to testify as a crucial witness. In a statement for ‘InDepthNews’, Dodik pointed out Schmidt is a manifestation of all despair of the international policy that tries to impose a failed concept in the past 30 years. Dodik said that Schmidt is an illegal HR because he is missing the approval of the UNSC, and they reminded that they have been point to this fact from the day he showed up in B&H.

According to the ‘InDepthNews’ article, the High Representative’s salary of EUR 24,000 per month, along with numerous other benefits, can certainly be a motive for strong lobbying in the international community initiated by the retired Schmidt to keep his post in B&H. In early November, Schmidt addressed the European Forum in Vienna, and according to the article, his speech was reduced to merely speaking against RS Dodik. “His presentation was reduced to the fact that he spoke against the RS President Milorad Dodik, because he cannot talk to him for the same table. It was clear to the experienced diplomats present that Schmidt’s goals and the tools he was pushing had nothing to do with diplomacy. That is what diplomacy is all about, sitting at the same table and talking. You cannot use the wrong tools and wonder why something does not work. There is no repression in diplomacy. That is why foreign diplomats must stop abusing the rule of law and disrespecting international norms and the Dayton Agreement, including the democratic constitutional order of B&H,” reads the article.

Dodik stated that Schmidt is a manifestation of all the hopelessness of international politics, which for the last 30 years has been trying to impose a concept that does not pass and cannot pass here in B&H. Dodik claims that the retired German politician enjoys the support of only the Americans and those who follow them. He pointed out that what brings a very sad emotion to the whole story is the fact that Germany allowed their foreign policy to be destroyed in this way.

Dodik: I will not sacrifice national interest of my people due to threats, pressures of foreigners (AP)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik told the Associated Press (AP) that he plans to carry on weakening the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) to the point where it will tear apart, despite a pledge by the United States to prevent such an outcome. The AP described Dodik as “the Bosnian Serbs’ separatist leader”, noting that he appeared unperturbed on Friday by the statement by James O’Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, that Washington will act if anyone tries to change “the basic element” of the 1995 peace agreement for B&H, and that there is “no right of secession.” “I am not irrational, I know that America’s response will be to use force … but I have no reason to be frightened by that into sacrificing (Serb) national interests,” said Dodik. He said any attempt to use international intervention to further strengthen B&H’s shared, multiethnic institutions will be met by Bosnian Serb decision to abandon them completely and take the country back to the state of disunity and dysfunction it was in at the end of its brutal interethnic war in the 1990s. Because Western democracies will not be agreeable to that, he added, “in the next stage, we will be forced by their reaction to declare full independence” of the Serb-controlled regions of B&H.

The AP notes that over the years, the OHR has pressured B&H’s bickering ethnic leaders to build shared, statewide institutions, including the army, intelligence and security agencies, the top judiciary and the tax administration. However, further bolstering of the existing institutions and the creation of new ones is required if B&H is to reach its declared goal of joining the EU. “Among Serbs, one thing is clear and definite and that is a growing realization that the years and decades ahead of us are the years and decades of Serb national unification,” Dodik said. “Brussels is using the promise of EU accession as a tool to unitarize Bosnia,” said Dodik, who, according to the AP, is staunchly pro-Russian, adding: “In principle, our policy still is that we want to join (the EU), but we no longer see that as our only alternative.” The EU, he said, “had proven itself capable of working against its own interests” by siding with Washington against Moscow when Russia launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. “Whether U.S. and Britain like it or not, we will turn the administrative boundary between the entities into our national border,” Dodik said. Dodik, who has been calling for the separation of the Serb entity from the rest of B&H for over a decade, has faced British and U.S. sanctions for his policies but has had Russia’s support. There are widespread fears that Russia is trying to destabilize B&H and the rest of the region to shift at least some world attention from its war in Ukraine, notes the AP.

B&H CC to continue working without single judge from RS, because RS refuses to appoint new judges (BHT1)

BHT1 noted that judge of Constitutional Court (CC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Zlatko Knezevic retired on last day of 2023. In this way, B&H CC has been left without judges from Republika Srpska (RS). Reporter reminded that B&H CC has not been filled in for more than a year, due to retirement of judges and failure of entities’ parliaments to appoint new ones. BHT1 reminds that President of the ECHR appoints three foreign judges in B&H CC, the Federation of B&H (FB&H) Parliament four and the RS National Assembly (RSNA) three. Currently, there is no single Serb judge from the RS in BiH CC and there is only one Croat judge.

President of B&H CC Valerija Galic stated earlier that since B&H CC has not been filled in, sessions of the Grand Chamber could not be held. She reminded that the Grand Chamber passes most of decisions related to motion competences of B&H CC. Reporter reminded that the FB&H has not appointed judge from rank of Croats due to blockades in the FB&H Parliament, namely due to blockade of the FB&H HoR’s commission for selection and appointment. Also, RS President Milorad Dodik has been claiming that the RSNA will not appoint new judges until Law on B&H CC is adopted and until mandate of foreign judges in B&H CC is eliminated. Galic stated that although it is not good thing B&H CC is without single judge from the RS, adding that they cannot allow blockade of B&H CC. B&H Minister of Justice Davor Bunoza underlined that there is no consensus on when foreign judges should leave B&H CC and there is no consensus whether this issue should be solved by amending of law or B&H Constitution.

Declassified documents of UK Ministry of Defense shed new light on engagement of UK special forces in Srebrenica in 1995 (Glas Srpske)

The daily reports about the recently published article by UK journalist Kit Klarenberg about the recently declassified documents of the UK Ministry of Defense on the events in Srebrenica in 1995. According to Klarenberg’s article, UK intelligence services and special forces played an important role in in events related to Srebrenica, they collected information and evidence about war crimes. “British authorities — including the SAS — took the lead on capturing Bosnian Serbs indicted by the Tribunal. One of the convicted genocidaires, Radovan Karadzic, is currently imprisoned in Britain. Yet at no point during the trials was the secret SAS unit operating in Srebrenica mentioned, let alone called to testify. Whether that implies their testimony could have raised problems for ICTY prosecutors, or they have something deeply sinister to hide, is difficult to determine”, writes Klarenberg. The declassified UK and Dutch documents reveal the presence of the SAS in the area of Srebrenica, which conducted “reconnaissance missions” and “special assignments” on the order of General Michael Rose, who led Britain’s UN peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) during the war. General Philippe Morillon, who commanded UN peacekeeping forces in B&H in 1992/93, foresaw “something terrible” happening in Srebrenica due to RBiH Army Commander Naser Oric’s use of the enclave to attack Bosnian Serb territory. Frequently targeting undefended villages and taking no prisoners, including on religious holidays, Oric’s militants had a fearsome reputation for torturing, mutilating and brutally murdering their victims, writes Klarenberg. According to the article, local Muslim forces expected NATO airstrikes once the Republika Srpska (RS) Army arrived in Srebrenica, and the British apparently gave them ample grounds for believing these would be forthcoming. Their false promises may account for Muslims’ lack of resistance against RS Army incursions. According to the article, Sarajevo’s Western-backed President Alija Izetbegovic sabotaged evacuation efforts because his aim was to ensure the intervention of international forces. The NATO intervention finally came at the end of August 1995, in the form of a month-long bombing campaign targeting the VRS, which killed up to 2,000 civilians, reads the article.

Montenegro

Milatovic: I was invited to marking of RS Day, but I will not go; I am visiting Sarajevo in spring (CDM)

In an interview for Montenegrin media, President Jakov Milatovic was first asked about the concept of ‘Serb World’ promoted by Serbian officials, being that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic considers himself president of all Serbs and that Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik advocates uniting of Serbia, RS and Montenegro. Milatovic noted that he has clear stances on this matter, which is “for Montenegro to have best possible relations with Serbia. But I truly am not advocate of any other world, except of this, our the European one”.  “I think that in this regard, I have collocutors in all other countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia. This country also has clear European course and I think that we need to work together on both them and us, becoming the part of EU… As for my foreign-political orientation, I think that I was clear. Absolutely credible membership in NATO Alliance and true European integration. However, the European integration include enacting of decisions in the country, which are transparent and inclusive. We cannot only talk about European integration and prove otherwise with actions…Naturally, as I repeated several times during this interview, dedication to good-neighborly relations, for which I deem that we improved them, including the ones with Serbia. And I think that it is our citizens who have benefits from that, but I truly am not part of any world, except this democratic one that I strongly advocate,” said Milatovic.

Asked if he was invited to attend marking of unconstitutional RS Day- January 9th and whether he will attend and whether it is acceptable of Montenegrin official to go there and violate decisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) bodies, thus expressing disrespect toward that state, Milatovic said that he was invited, but will not attend. “I was invited. I will not go. You know my stance regarding the integrity of B&H. This is our state policy, and this is my stance. I have very good relations with all three members of B&H Presidency… After visit to Belgrade and Zagreb, my next bilateral visit within the region, will be to Sarajevo, which was already agreed in principle with Mr. (Denis) Becirovic, who is taking over the presiding over B&H Presidency sometime at the end of March, beginning of April, I think. Exactly in this way, I will show my relation toward integrity of B&H, acknowledging both its entities, the RS and the Federation of B&H (FB&H) and what is currently part of their joint agreement. As for other state officials of Montenegro, everyone will demonstrate their certain political stances with their actions”.

Census 2023: Preliminary results on 25 January (CDM)

The Statistical Office of Montenegro, MONSTAT, has stated that the census preliminary results are going to be announced on 25 January. “The 2023 census started on 3 December and finished on 28 December. It was carried out successfully in a process demonstrating responsibility and maturity of the society, aware of the importance of the country’s statistics,” MONSTAT claims.

They underline that they collected key data on the population, households, flats, and other important data referring to the demographic features, education and living conditions, as well employment, i.e. unemployment of people, their computer literacy and other important characteristics of the population. Having in mind all conducted activities and control mechanisms, as they add, citizens can fully trust the entire process, including its quality and confidentiality of the collected data.

“In the coming months, after data are inserted, employees of the Statistical Office of Montenegro are going to carry out statistical controls, data processing and in-depth analyses in order to be able to prepare the official census results, while citizens may expect to get the preliminary results on 25 January 2024.”

Ministry of Interior: Temporary protection for nearly 10.000 Ukrainians (RTCG)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has issued documents granting the right to temporary protection for 9.752 Ukrainians in the period from 14 March 2022 to 1 December this year, suggests the work report of the Coordination Body for Supervision of the Implementation of the Temporary Protection Decision for refugees from Ukraine. As the document says, the right to temporary protection for foreigners has been determined by Article 97 of the Law on International and Temporary Protection of Foreigners. “The mentioned law stipulates that a foreigner has the right to stay in Montenegro while their temporary protection lasts.”

Since the start of the Ukrainian crisis, that is, the adoption of the Temporary Protection Decision for refugees from Ukraine on 11 March 2022, the Ukrainians get their permission to stay in Montenegro by being granted a document guaranteeing the temporary protection. Figures say that this year the highest number of Ukrainians came to our country during summer – 90.894 of them entered Montenegro, while 89.708 left.

North Macedonia

Kovachevski: Details on caretaker government by January 25 (MIA)

Prime Minister and SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski said that the meeting with VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski would take place in the new year, before or after the holidays, while adding that all details on the discussions regarding the caretaker government would be made public on time.

“We have seen from media reports that VMRO-DPMNE would meet to decide on their representatives for the caretaker government after December 31. Government coalition partners will also hold discussions and all details will be available by January 25,” PM Kovachevski told reporters. He added that SDSM has already completed all procedures regarding the caretaker government.

Asked about the surveys on party ratings ahead of the elections, the PM said polls from past election cycles proved to be wrong. “There are many surveys that show various results. I am a person driven by goals, not one sitting in the party HQ and creating feel-good surveys together with my colleagues from the leadership. We are getting out in the field, delivering projects for citizens on a daily basis. Citizens see this and therefore the SDSM-led coalition will win the May 8 elections. The opposition produced similar surveys at the last parliamentary and the partial local elections and they proved to be entirely wrong, as will be the case now,” noted Kovachevski.

Albania

Zelensky awards Rama with the Order of Prince “Yaroslav the Wise” (Radio Tirana)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has honoured Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama with the Order of Prince “Yaroslav the Wise”. The order was given with the motivation for the significant contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation, support of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. “I am proud of this event. My sincere congratulations and my boundless gratitude for the support of my people in the difficult trials of the war,” is written in the motivation of the order awarded by the President of Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian sources, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain were also honoured with this order.

President Begaj with KFOR Albanian troops: You raise the name of Albania and Albanians wherever you are (Radio Tirana)

The President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj shared a day with the Albanian troops located in the West Regional Command, “Camp Villagio Italia”, KFOR, in Pec in Kosovo. President Begaj exchanged with them congratulations for the New Year 2024.

First, the President met with Colonel Gabriele Vacca, the Commander of the military base.

In this meeting, the President once again expressed his appreciation for KFOR, as a success story. “What you are doing here is very important in defense of the values ​​of freedom and maintaining peace and security in the region,” the President told Commander Vacca.

The President thanked Italy for running this base by coordinating the troops of different countries, which have already established a very good cooperation among them.

The President signed the base’s Guest of Honor Book. The President’s visit continued with a meeting with the Albanian troops serving at the base, whom he thanked for the service they perform to the country and the flag, as well as wishing them a New Year of health, prosperity and peace.

“I thank you for the devotion, professionalism and responsibility with which you perform your duties. Today you are far from your families but be sure that you are in our minds and hearts,” President Begaj addressed the military personnel. Among other things, the President told them that as representatives of Albania in peacekeeping missions, you raise the name of Albania and Albanians wherever you are. “You embody our best values. Thanks to your work, our country is considered a reliable partner in NATO”.

In the current context of world security, your commitment constitutes a critical contribution, the President pointed out. Albania will continue to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and beyond as a member of NATO. Of course, this requires an increase in the Defense budget and support for our Armed Forces. It requires family support for your families and the creation of conditions for you to be treated and prepared as better as possible. Today, NATO is not only a military alliance, but also a guardian of the values ​​of the democratic community in the world, so we will continue our maximum commitment in defense of the values ​​of Western civilization, of which we are a part of”. Furthermore, President Begaj visited the exhibition of military equipment of the mobile battalion of the base, then, the President joined the troops of this base and had lunch together with them.

Albania closes the two-year mandate in the UNSC (Radio Tirana)

Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, during his speech in the video message given on the occasion of the end of Albania’s two-year mandate in the United Nations Security Council, listed some of the achievements Albania made during this 2-year period. Hasani said that Albania has played a dignified and active role in the pursuit of international peace and security.

As Albania completes its first two-year term as an elected member of the Security Council, Albanian chief-diplomat shared with particular pride the message that over the past 2 years, Albania has worked together with others and has played an active role in the pursuit of international peace and security. Guided by her principles and values, Albania has played a dignified role which has been appreciated by friends and allies as well as by civil society and international organizations. “We did our part by taking on more responsibility even if it meant going up against big countries and global players.

We strongly defended the Ukrainian cause because it was right and represents something important to us. During these two years we firmly raised the advancement of the women’s agenda for peace and security,” said Hasani, as he added that Albania has raised its profile in the international arena and strengthened its position as a reliable and active actor in the region and wider. “We managed to bring a strong and reliable voice to the Security Council, raising the profile of Albania in the international arena, strengthening our position as a reliable and active actor in the region, and a reliable ally and partner for the EU,” Hasani concludes his message.