LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Serbia, Greece have always supported each other’s territorial integrity (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday Serbia and Greece had always supported each other’s territorial integrity and that he believed that would be the case in the future, too. At a joint press conference with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Belgrade, Vucic said he was happy to see Serbia and Greece maintain good friendly and brotherly relations and that his meeting with Mitsotakis earlier in the day had addressed all aspects of bilateral cooperation. He noted that this year marked the 145th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Greece and that 2024 would be an important year and a year of huge growth of bilateral trade, and also one in which a council on Serbia-Greece cooperation would meet for a fourth time. Serbia is firmly committed to accelerate its EU accession but expects the clear signals of support from the EU on that path, Vucic said. “I said Serbia is firmly committed to continue and accelerate its EU path, that we are thankful to Greece for its support and that this is not just a formal sentence used by politicians as a crutch phrase but that this is substantial for our country,” Vucic said. “But at the same time I also said I understand Europe is not always happy with all our moves, as well as that Europe must also understand that we expect strong signals of support for Serbia on its path,” Vucic noted.

Mitsotakis: Our position on Kosovo unchanged, dialogue only path

Mitsotakis said on Monday in Belgrade his government’s position on Kosovo-Metohija remained unchanged and that he believed EU facilitation and dialogue were the only path to normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations and greater stability in the region. At a press conference with Aleksandar Vucic, Mitsotakis said the Serbian president had informed him of developments in the dialogue with Pristina. “You know that our position on Kosovo remains unchangeable and we believe European facilitation and dialogue are the only path to normalisation of relations between the two sides. That would also significantly help stability in the region, which is the goal for all of us,” he said, noting that Vucic, too, wanted stability. He added that Greece had been watching developments in the past months with concern. He said Greece strongly supported Serbia on the EU path and that he had discussed EU enlargement many times in Brussels. “There is a European future for both Serbia and the Western Balkans, and there is no future for us without the Western Balkans and Serbia,” Mitsotakis said.

Vucic summarized the results of the UN visit: “Thirteen countries expressed concern” (B92/Tanjug/RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic summed up his impressions after the meeting with the UN Secretary General in New York Antonio Guterres. “It was an important session of the Security Council, you could see what kind of situation we were in due to the behavior of Pristina, we could see that 12 or 13 out of 15 members of the SC unequivocally expressed their disagreement with Kurti‘s decision regarding the dinar ban, these are important messages, we fought honorably and fairly represented our country,” said Vucic. About the main topics of the conversation with Secretary General Guterres Vucic said: “We took the prepared papers and documents related to the ban of the dinar and delivered them in written form. We talked about all the problems in Kosovo and Metohija and in the region. He knows the situation well,” says Vucic. The President adds that they discussed geo-economic conditions and last night’s session of the UN Security Council. “It seems to me that in every conversation you have, the American election always comes up as a topic. What a comprehensive impact it can have everywhere in the world. There is a lot ahead of us. It was ours to say what we have about Kosovo. It is important that we keep in touch and show the importance of the United Nations because of Resolution 1244,” he explained. “13 countries expressed concern. They talked about the wrong move with the dinar and I think that was important. Great support came from the Chinese, Russians, Algeria. I think it was important for the world to see that we caught the representatives of the Pristina regime in a direct lie. It is important that Kurti, as our citizen, got involved in political life. What they are doing shows that they are interested in the progress of their country, Serbia,” Vucic said. He also mentioned the opposition and their address in Strasbourg, which he said were acting against their country. Vucic stated that the resolutions of the European Parliament come and go, but that the shame of the opposition will remain forever. “Resolutions come and go, but their shame will be forever remembered. None of us behaved like that when we were in the opposition,” said Vucic. He added that the fact that part of the opposition demanded the adoption of the European Parliament’s resolution on elections in Serbia “is an expression of the impotence of the parties of the former regime”. According to him, those parties want someone from outside to bring them to power. “It is more important for them to have their money and their hand in the honey, than the future of Serbia,” said Vucic. He reiterated that the list gathered around the Serbian Progressive Party won the elections that the opposition specifically called for in writing. “The parties that complained in the European Parliament asked me in writing to call elections and threatened me if I didn’t do it,” said Vucic. Speaking about the EP resolution, he pointed out that in it Serbia is accused of “brutal use of force against students” by countries where the police “brutally acts against everyone who sits on the asphalt and arrest two thousand people”. “And our police suffered the worst possible attacks for two hours and 15 minutes. Four policemen were seriously injured. They tried to forcefully break into one of the most beautiful buildings – the Belgrade City Assembly,” said Vucic.

Vucic from New York: Djuric returns to Serbia to perform a very important duty (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic made the announcement from New York on his official Instagram profile. In the photo from New York, Vucic is with the current Ambassador of Serbia to the USA Marko Djuric. “Once upon a time, when Bidza appeared in Pomoravlje with Milosevic, people asked who was the one standing next to Dobrivoje Budimirovic. So, I hope, one day, people will ask who was the one standing next to Marko Djuric. Well, Marko is returning to Serbia and I believe that he will perform one of the most important duties in our country,” wrote Vucic in the description of the photo.

China one of most important partners in economic development of Serbia (RTS/RTV)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Friday, at the celebration of the Chinese New Year in Belgrade, that Beijing has become one of the most important partners in the economic development of our country. Brnabic, on the eve of the New Year’s countdown on the Sava Promenade in Belgrade Waterfront, pointed out that this event is not only an opportunity to have fun and enjoy art, but is an important step towards strengthening cultural ties between our countries. According to her, cooperation is strengthening not only in the cultural field, but is deepening in various areas. The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude for China’s firm position not to recognize the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called Kosovo, stating that the representatives of that country once again showed their commitment and support to Serbia at yesterday’s session of the United Nations Security Council. Brnabic wished a happy Chinese New Year and a happy Serbian-Chinese steel friendship and presented Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Serbia Li Ming with a postage stamp with Dragon motifs. The ceremony, followed by a countdown at the Belgrade Tower, began at 5 pm Serbian time, when the clock struck midnight in Beijing. In Serbia, the official celebration of the Chinese New Year and transition to the “Year of the Dragon” is organised by the government of Serbia, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Serbia and the Belt and Road Institute. The celebration started on 29 January in Nis, and was later celebrated in Novi Sad and Smederevo. The festivities end on 19 February, when a concert by the Chinese National Traditional Orchestra is scheduled at the Ilija Kolarac Foundation in Belgrade.

Odalovic: By holding of UNSC session, the topic of Kosovo and Metohija returned to the UN (Tanjug/RTV)

The Chair of the Commission for Missing Persons Veljko Odalovic said today that the holding of the UN Security Council session returned the topic of Kosovo and Metohija to the UN Security Council, recalling that it was the Security Council that adopted Resolution 1244, which assumed responsibility for the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. He told Tanjug that the address of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the session of the UN Security Council was in the function of showing the difficult situation that is currently in the region of Kosovo and Metohija, from the aspect of the physical security of the Serbs and the terror carried out by the Prime Minister of Pristina’s provisional institutions Albin Kurti, which is according to Odalovic, a consequence of an indiscriminate transfer of jurisdiction to some institutions that are not recognized by the UN. “We have witnessed that in the last few years the issue of Kosovo and Metohija has been marginalized from the public scene as much as possible in the UN Security Council. Let us remind you that we fought hard to leave the issue and that it is discussed unfortunately no longer four times a year as it was earlier, but twice a year, and I think that now is a good moment to tell the members of the SC, in front of the entire international public, what is really happening in Kosovo and Metohija, what dangers Kurti is doing,” he said. he. Odalovic believes that Kurti has the support of certain Western power centers for everything he does, because, according to him, even though he receives warnings, no one prevents him from making an illegal decision to ban the use of Dinars in Kosovo. He pointed out that it is also good that the other members of the UN Security Council at the UN Security Council session were critical of what Kurti is doing, and added that if Serbia gets wider support, it is possible that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija will return to the UN much more seriously. “It seems to me that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General sitting in Pristina should be brought back to life, who has every right to comment and point out all the things that are happening, as well as the dangers that they carry with them. The EU is unfortunately someone who watches silently, and it seems to me that they are someone who should react much more, because they have greater responsibility and have taken it upon themselves to lead the dialogue,” said Odalovic.

Djilas: EP Resolution contains nothing that targets Serbia (Nova S/Beta)

Freedom and Justice Party leader Dragan Djilas said on Friday that the European Parliament’s (EP) resolution on elections in Serbia did not contain a single point directed against Serbia and only criticized December’s “rigged” elections. Djilas said in an interview with Nova S that it was good for the state that institutions examined every allegation and found out what happened and that it was also good for the state for those responsible to be held to account and that the situation in the Serbian media community needed to change. Djilas, who is also a Serbian MP, said that the Resolution was the consequence of clear “election manipulation and fraud,” and that it was backed by 90 percent of MEPs. The opposition party leader also said that outgoing Prime Minister Ana Brnabic “has nothing to resign over”, and that cabinet’s term had expired when the term of the parliament that elected her ended. Djilas was referring to Brnabic’s statement of Friday, when in a comment on the EP resolution requesting an international investigation into allegations of election fraud in Serbia’s parliamentary, provincial and local polls she said that she would resign as soon as she was presented with such a demand as the Serbian Prime Minister. “She really does not understand that the request has been filed, and that she doe not have anything to resign over, because a cabinet’s term ends when the term of the legislature that put it into office ends. Humiliating,” Djilas wrote on X.

A gathering of Serbs was held; This is an occupation (B92/Tanjug)

In the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, on Brothers Milic Square, a large public protest meeting of Serbs was held.​ With this protest, the Serbs of Kosovo and Metohija want to draw the attention of the whole world and the international community to their disenfranchised position, especially because of Pristina’s decision to suspend Serbian Dinar. Citizens carried Serbian flags and banners “UN USA 1244 HELP”, “Europe, open your eyes”, “Without social benefits, we won’t even have food”, “This is an occupation”. “I have been earning my pension all my life, I will not give it to Kurti”. Apart from those, the Serbs also carried banners that read; “Kurti, why do you leave our children without milk in kindergarten?”, “You will not expel us from our hearths!”, “Kurti forbids our salaries and pensions!”, “What should we buy medicine from when you take our dinars?”, “Let the ambassadors move from words to actions!”, “Europe, burnt to the core, rein in the arsonist!”, “Our hospitals will run out of medicine!”, “Kurti wants to shut down our kindergartens and expel our children!”, “For Kurti’s ‘democracy’, I’ll give you five bucks!”…

REGIONAL PRESS

Dodik on meeting of ruling coalition on B&H level, financial stability of RS (ATV)

“At the meeting with partners at the B&H level, an agreement was reached to harmonize three laws, in order for pre-accession talks with the EU to be opened. How serious the Union is will be seen in the decision if it will determine date for beginning of negotiation process”, RS President Milorad Dodik wrote on Instagram. He emphasized that the RS maintained financial stability, and it will do everything necessary to additionally strengthen that stability. Dodik promised top RS officials will visit all cities and municipalities with the goal of initiating all important projects and establishing necessary coordination. He wants a team of young people to be organized in each municipality, and these people must be capable of swiftly reacting to any type of open possibility.

SNSD: Results cannot be positive until partners from FB&H remain under influence of foreigners (RTRS)

According to RTRS, progress at the upcoming meeting will, among other things, depend on whether partners from the FB&H will respect the previous agreement or they will succumb to pressure of foreigners and give up on the agreement as it happened following the meeting in Laktasi. According to SNSD, results of often meetings of representatives of Serb, Croat and Bosniak parties – that form authorities at the level of B&H – cannot be positive until partners from the FB&H remain under the influence of foreigners. RTRS reported that as of the Dayton until today, B&H has been facing with internal agreements on one side and interference of foreigners on the other side. SNSD Secretary General Srdjan Amidzic assessed that they would get closer to consensus if partners from the FB&H respect agreements reached during meetings, adding that they change their views under the influence of a foreign factor. In his opinion, his colleagues in the FB&H should grow up in political sense of the word and move from the foreign factor, think on their own and implement what they agree. Amidzic underlined: “The foreign factor is present here as long as B&H exists as a country.” Leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik reiterated after the meeting in Sarajevo three days ago that SNSD is against interference of any country in internal agreements in B&H. During the meeting, attendees agreed to harmonize three laws in order to open accession negotiations with the EU. Dodik stated: “The political group that I belong to supports the European path of B&H. It implies that there is nothing to be imposed by this fake High Representative who is strutting around Sarajevo. And if he does anything, none of this is valid, then there is no European path for B&H.”

Crucial week for B&H (Avaz)

This week will be crucial for B&H and state-level coalition parties, elaborating that the working groups the parties formed after the last meeting have until the end of week to finalize proposal laws i.e. reach agreement on texts of the law on prevention of conflict of interest, law on courts and electoral legislation. The author comments that despite numerous calls and messages sent to members of the working groups and party leaders, they could not learn if there was any progress in “drafting” of these proposal laws. The author unofficially learns that party leaders agreed not to present information about this process. However, the author noted, it is a known fact that if progress is made, delegations of parties from the state-level coalition, will meet on Friday in Mostar, which HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic already announced. Inset ‘Minimum of minimums’ reminds that SDP leader Nermin Niksic stated that law on anti-money laundering is agreed and that procedure will follow to adopt the law. The daily noted that we are waiting for the final word of the B&H House of Peoples, whom the EU Delegation to B&H called on to adopt the law. The daily noted that B&H HoP session should take place by 16 February at the latest, or B&H could end up on the grey list. The daily concluded by reminding that adoption of these laws and opening of cooperation with Frontex was presented as “minimum of minimums” by Managing Director for Europe at the EU External Action Service (EEAS) Angelina Eichhorst.

Dayton Agreement and Resolution 2625 (Nezavisne, column by RS President Milorad Dodik)

RS President Milorad Dodik penned a column on political situation and relations in B&H which was published by all major RS media outlets. In this column, Dodik argued that the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) is one of the most important documents of international law created after the World War II. He reminded that it also contains 11 annexes by which the signatories – the RS and the FB&H – agreed and elaborated in detail the conditions for achieving a peaceful solution after the civil war in B&H. “As such, the Dayton Agreement is an international treaty to which the Vienna Convention on the Law of International Treaties applies. Therefore, the Dayton B&H is neither a republic, nor a federation (which it cannot be, because it already has a federation in its composition), nor a federal state, nor anything else that exists in constitutional law practice. It is closest to a confederation, given the very small number of precisely enumerated state competencies that the two entities transferred to the level of ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’. They thus have the status of state-forming entities, but they have retained the vast majority of state competences, all those that are not expressly designated as competences of ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’ by the B&H Constitution. This kind of constitutional construction according to Article 3.3.a of the Constitution of B&H is very similar to the construction of the union of member states of the USA”, Dodik argued. According to him, the origin and construction of post-war “Bosnia and Herzegovina” is based on the international law, and the Annex 4 of the DPA refers to the UN Charter as the most important document of international law. “Given that the Charter of the United Nations is the most important act of international law, one should start from its official, authentic interpretation, which was determined by the UN General Assembly at its 25th session held on October 24, 1970, adopting Resolution No. 2625, which brought the “Declaration on the Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in Acordance with the Charter of the United Nations”, Dodik underlines. Citing several articles of the Declaration, Dodik argues that no state or group of states has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, in the internal or external affairs of another state. According to Dodik, this refers to countries like the USA, UK and Germany, as well as the Peace Implementation Council and its Steering Board, and the internal and external affairs also refer to the relations of the RS – an internationally recognized entity – with other states such as Serbia, Russia, Hungary or China. “Not only armed intervention, but also any other form of interference or any other threat, directed against personalities – sanctions against Dodik, (Serb member of the B&H Presidency Zeljka) Cvijanovic, (speaker of the RS parliament Nenad) Stevandic, (RS Prime Minister Radovan) Viskovic and others; staged court trials based on the imposed laws of (former High Representatives Wolfgang) Petritsch, (Paddy) Ashdown, (Valentin) Inzko, and especially Christian Schmidt) of the state or against its political, economic and cultural elements – crashing websites of authorities of the RS, stopping of projects and funds based on already fulfilled reforms and objectives of the EU- are contrary to the international law“, emphasizes Dodik. He further argues that no state can apply or support the use of measures of economic, political or any other nature in order to force another state, i.e. the Republika Srpska and its democratically elected authorities, to subjugate to it in the exercise of sovereign rights or to receive benefits of any kind from it, such as exploitation of agricultural land, forests, waters, minerals and other resources. Dodik also underlines that the use of force and threat of persecution in order to deprive the people of their national identity by banning the marking of 9 January as Republic Day, banning the anthem ‘Boze pravde’ or annulling the RS coat of arms represents a violation of their inalienable rights and the principle of non-intervention. “The Principle No. 5 from the Declaration of 24 October 1970 – on the equality and self-determination of peoples, is an elaboration of what is written in the UN Charter and international pacts that are an integral part of the Constitution of B&H”, Dodik notes and reminds that according to the Declaration, all nations have the right to determine their political status, completely free and without foreign interference, and to continue their economic, social and cultural development, and each state is obliged to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter. Dodik also emphasizes that under the Declaration, the creation of a sovereign and independent state, free association or integration with another independent state or the establishment of any other political order that a people has freely chosen, represents the means of exercising the right to self-determination for that people. “Each state is obliged to refrain from resorting to all coercive measures that would deprive the peoples mentioned in the formulation of this principle of their right to self-determination, freedom and independence. When acting against and resisting such coercive measures in the exercise of their right to self-determination, these peoples are empowered to seek and receive assistance, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”, underlines Dodik. “Since there was not enough readiness and determination to apply the constitutional system of Yugoslavia (of Bosnia and Herzegovina), then, of course, this in itself led to that logical disintegration which, in my opinion, was inevitable. I come back to this again – the state unions created under some special historical conditions must be ready to reaffirm the reason for their common life at the moment when those historical conditions change. The processes had gone too far and alternatives were necessary. It was necessary to think about what if we no longer recognize that country (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as ours, then what? I think it was logical that the alternative was an independent state”, concludes Dodik.

Spajic: I will resign if the average salary doesn’t increase to €1.000, and the minimum to €700 (CdM)

We’ve tried to make contribution and achieve the common goal – to have a European and developed Montenegro. Many questioned the formation of this government, some were doing both possible and impossible to prevent it – Prime Minister Milojko Spajic stated at the news conference, presenting the 100-day results of the 44th government of Montenegro.

Spajic said that he would resign if there wouldn’t be a €1.000 average salary in Montenegro within a year, and a minimum amounting to €700. “We’ve set up the government that wasn’t given a chance, but it itself has given it to everyone. The Judicial Court, the Constitutional Court and the election of supreme state prosecutor are just some of the achieved goals. We were faced with a challenge in the first days of our term of office – the census. We’ve managed to find a compromise and reach the agreement over it,” Spajic pointed out. According to him, the government also nominated the chief EU negotiator and established 25 working groups in the first 100 days of its work. The Prime Minster recalled that they’d increased the minimum pension to €450, and it was, as he said, just one in a series of steps to make. “We’ll increase the minimum salary, as we’ve already envisaged. We planned €240 million for the capital budget, and are in the midst of ensuring funds for the second phase of the highway construction.” Spajic also announced that with the EU support, they would reconstruct the Bar-Golubovci rail. “The Charlie plane is now owned by Montenegro. We’ve devoted particular attention to the digitalization of many services.” He noted that no legal and developed civic country could exist without the rule of law. “Podgorica will get a judicial district. Both the Ministry of Interior and National Police have so far demonstrated that they’d extend their hand to fight against crime and corruption. Many challenges lie ahead. This government has managed to re-start the process of EU integration and economy in a short time. This government won’t let you down. We’ll fulfil what we promised. The state is not a dowry – such approach and politics have long gone,” Spajic said.

On the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund:

“We won’t abolish the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, like we didn’t abolish the Health Fund. You all asked whether the Health Fund will continue to exist. Yes, it will and we ensured half a million for it,” the Prime Minister told.

On the security sector

“I think things have been much better. The most important thing is to develop institutions. There are institutions that should carry the security issues in Montenegro. We’ve tried to work on their development and regain citizens’ trust in them. The political stability have given much better institutions and they’ve started to function,” Spajic claimed. Asked whether he was satisfied with the work of Justice Minister Andrej Milovic, the PM said that both Milovic and his ministry had been working intensely. “If there’s evidence against Milovic, let it see the light of day. I don’t want to hear about anything else. If his work results are satisfactory, he’ll stay, if not – he won’t.

On dismissal of the head of the National Security Agency (ANB)

“We adhere to the principle of perceiving things from the institutional point of view. I think that ANB is doing its job well. If there is a need for personnel changes, they will happen. The government’s decision must be well analyzed and implemented to the end.”

Spajic: I haven’t discussed Brdjanin with anyone

Commenting on the speculations that he agreed with Brdjanin to take over some other position if he resigns from the current one, Spajic responded: “I haven’t discussed Brdjanin with anyone. All personnel solutions will be agreed on for the well-being of the nation.”

Picula: Govt has got off to a good start, reforms should be implemented, not just adopted (Radio Crne Gore)

The government has got off to a good start, but the time will show if it has enough capacity to handle the consequences of the reforms that shouldn’t just be voted for in parliament but implemented as well, a member of the European Parliament Tonino Picula has assessed commenting on the 100-day milestone of Spajic’s government. Appointments in the justice system and the census greatly impacted the restart of the EU accession process. “The government therefore has ambitious plans, it’s got off to a good start, while the time will show whether there’s enough political capacity to handle the consequences of the reforms that shouldn’t just be voted in the parliament, but implemented as well.” In a statement for Radio Montenegro, Picula says it’s good to see that political disagreements are being handled in institutions, and not in the squares and streets. “It’s also encouraging to see that they’re trying to reach consensus with the opposition whenever there are open issues, because in order to start closing the EU negation chapters, first you must close your own chapters of quite heated conflicts,” he notes. Picula adds that it’s very important to continue negotiating with EU institutions, but also have communication with the EU member states.

Pendarovski to diplomats: State to remain on EU path, keep building good neighborly relations (MIA)

President Stevo Pendarovski addressed Friday evening a traditional annual reception for diplomatic corps representatives in the country, thanking them for their contribution to promoting good relations between North Macedonia and their countries. He said 2023 was important for the country, which had held the OSCE Chairpersonship and organized the final OSCE ministerial meeting as well hosted a summit of Brdo-Brioni presidents, an Adriatic Charter meeting, and a Belgrade-Prishtina dialogue meeting, where important decisions were made not only for the region, but also for the European continent. “This for us, being a small country, is truly of special importance,” President Pendarovski said. “As the President of a country located in a turbulent region, over the past five years, I have tried to lead a balanced, transparent and predictable foreign policy, in the interest of peace and security, good neighborliness, stability, prosperity and common values we share with democratic countries,” he said. “The European integration of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans have always been the focus of my commitments and the commitments of my closest associates. I have believed in this since the beginning of my public engagement and I will continue to advocate for this idea until it is fully realized,” he added. On the topic of European integration, Pendarovski said despite the country’s compromises, “which were not harmful to Macedonian national interests,” and “starting EU negotiations after 17 years of waiting,” the country had failed to adopt the constitutional amendments required to continue the talks after the successfully completed screening. “However,” the President said, “we took a big step forward and reached the stage where progress in integrations is now only up to us, and not up to any outside factors.” Pendarovski said the country’s future would be much more predictable as a EU member “than if we were alone or if we tried to integrate into some other forms that do not have anything to do with democratic values.” “This is why I want to reaffirm my position that the state needs to stay on the European integration path and keep building good neighborly relations, regardless of who is in power after the May elections,” he said. According to Pendarovski, the Western Balkans, integrated in the EU, will be safe, economically prosperous and resistant to malicious influences. This, he added, should be a priority for any responsible politician here, but also in Brussels. Speaking about the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, the President said their outcome would set the dynamics of the reforms in the fight against organized crime and high corruption, the public administration, and the rule of law. “We are facing a period of growing political tensions and emotions,” Pendarovski said, adding that “the power struggle should not be allowed to undermine the foundations society was built on.” “It is the responsibility of us politicians not to allow political opponents turn into enemies. The election process must be fair, peaceful and democratic, and the next government must reflect the will of the citizens and our ethnic diversity,” Pendarovski said. After the elections, politicians need to be held responsible for fulfilling their election promises and also for committing to further improve interethnic relations and the continue the European integration. “Regarding the constitutional changes, the future Parliament needs to continue the debate and close this issue as soon as possible, because the state has to fully focus on solving everyday problems, alleviating the negative demographic trends and the low standard of living of Macedonian citizens,” he said.

Kovachevski: European front exists, Taravari not key for country’s future (MIA)

The state’s European integration does not depend on whether the Alliance for Albanians leader Arben Taravari went into opposition, according to SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski in response to reporters at a press conference Saturday. Kovahevski was asked whether the European front still existed after the recent dismissal of two of AA’s government ministers who had supported their leader Taravari in saying the party should join the ethnic Albanian opposition bloc at the upcoming parliamentary election. “We have a majority in parliament that advocates for the country’s European integration,” Kovachevski said, pointing out that the country’s European front was made up of many parties who had contributed to making progress on the country’s EU path. “We cannot confine the European integration of the state to whether Mr. Taravari went from power into opposition. I don’t think the country’s fate depends on Taravari.” “He is a politician from Gostivar who is a successful doctor and makes his own political calculations,” he said, adding that the country’s future cannot depend on one person or one political party. “It is a social process,” the SDSM leader said. “I don’t think that Mr. Taravari is key to the country’s future.” He said SDSM was in a coalition with the liberals, the greens and a number of other political parties with shared values. “These are the parties that ensured our NATO membership and the start of our negotiations with the EU. These are the political parties that will ensure North Macedonia’s full membership in the EU,” he added.

Sela: Central assembly can vote no confidence in leader (MIA)

According to its statute, the Alliance for Albanians executive body has the right to dismiss the party leader after a no-confidence vote, former leader and current central assembly chair Zijadin Sela said in response to reporters’ questions whether the party’s meeting on Saturday will demand responsibility from AA’s president Arben Taravari for the recent rift in the party. Sela said all members of the party’s central assembly were invited, including Taravari. “Central assembly members make the party’s decisions,” Sela said ahead of the meeting. “This is the body where final decisions are made.” The meeting agenda includes a report by the party president on recent developments related to the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. Also discussed will be the party’s Oct. 21 decision on running in the elections. The rift in the party began when Taravari had called on the membership to support the party’s plans of joining North Macedonia’s Albanian opposition bloc in the upcoming elections. Sela disagreed with the AA leader and said the party should run on its own, instead of as part of an opposition coalition.

Taravari: Change must happen in Albanian bloc after 24 years (MIA)

A change is going to come in the ethnic Albanian bloc after 24 years and no one can stop this change, Alliance for Albanians president Arben Taravari said Saturday evening in Gostivar at a party meeting held under the motto “The Change has Begun”. Asked if he would officially enter a coalition with North Macedonia’s Albanian opposition, Taravari said the parties needed to hold talks on a joint election platform first. “We still don’t have a platform with the opposition parties,” Taravari said. “This week I would also like to hear from people in several cities. That’s why we went to Kumanovo. The people have positive energy. Next week I may meet with the Albanian opposition parties’ presidents, sit down to talk to them and decide when to enter an official coalition with a platform.” Asked if he would be forming a new party, he said: “If anyone thinks that the Alliance for Albanians is someone’s property and that they brought it from home, we will take it to their home and return it.” “But the party belongs to the voters, to the membership, to the people who support it,” he added. Ahead of the Gostivar meeting, Taravari said in a Facebook post that the issue of who would lead the AA party would be taken to court. “Our cause is change. Attempts by DUI and their screenwriter [Artan] Grubi to defocus us on whose party this is and whom it belongs to did not work. “As of today, we will no longer deal with this matter. They can take their complaints to court. Ours are the changes that have begun. May 8 is getting closer every day,” Taravari wrote. Earlier in the day, at the central assembly of the party held in Skopje, a motion was adopted to dismiss Arben Taravari from his post as Alliance for Albanians president, central assembly chair and former AA leader Zijadin Sela told a news conference Saturday.

Nikoloski: VMRO-DPMNE has yet to discuss coalition for upcoming elections (MIA)

VMRO-DPMNE has considered entering a coalition with North Macedonia’s Albanian opposition parties but they haven’t discussed it yet, VMRO-DPMNE vice president Aleksandar Nikoloski said in response to a reporter’s question during his visit to Prilep, MIA’s Prilep correspondent reports. Asked whether he was expecting his party to run a fair election campaign, Nikoloski said he expected “an election campaign in which we will talk about what happened but also about the future.” “Whether the campaign will be fair is not only up to us, since we are the opposition,” he said. Commenting on the recent rift in the Alliance for Albanians party, Nikoloski said: “For years, the government tried to create a rift in VMRO-DPMNE, but it didn’t work.” “It is time for DUI to go into opposition. A strong resistance to DUI is being created in the political parties of the Albanians in Macedonia,” he added.

United Nations meeting for Kosovo/ Rama: Pointless session, Prishtina and Belgrade should return to dialogue (Radio Tirana)

Prime Minister Edi Rama has described the United Nations session on Kosovo, convened by Serbia, as unproductive. Following discussions held there, which saw mutual accusations between Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, Rama stated that the only solution for both countries to progress with integration and coexistence of their communities is to return to the dialogue table. “It was a pointless session. The UN Security Council is clear that it is not the place for anything related to Kosovo. As two sovereign countries aspiring for EU membership, Kosovo and Serbia should fully focus on dialogue facilitated by the EU and concentrate on reaching agreements on financial circulation, postal service, double taxation, and all other issues that benefit the daily lives of ordinary people, ensuring a peaceful future for generations to come,” writes Rama on the X platform. While emphasizing Kosovo’s support to preserve its territory, Rama stated that Prime Minister Kurti should cooperate and coordinate with allies. “As we stand by Kosovo in preventing any external threat, Albania will continue to emphasize to the Kosovar leadership the importance of close coordination with its key allies. A steadfast and consistent stance with them demonstrates a sense of vision and state responsibility, while any instance of standing alone in pursuit of full recognition diminishes the country’s position in the public sphere of international relations,” Rama wrote. On 8 February, an extraordinary session of the UN on Kosovo was held at the request of Serbia following the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo to withdraw the dinar as well as the closure of some Serbian offices in Kosovo municipalities. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, stated that Serbia committed genocide in the 20th century and remains the biggest threat to peace and security. On the other hand, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that Kosovo has created unbearable conditions for Serbs and that such a situation could harm the survival of the Serbian community there.

Hasani: It is not enough just to condemn Banjska, it needs to make sure it doesn’t happen again (Radio Tirana)

Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Igli Hasani said that Albania will continue to advise Kosova’s leaders on the importance of close coordination with its main allies. In a reaction on social networks, Hasani emphasized that as the Permanent Representative of the USA to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, pointed out at the meeting of the UN Security Council, that there are acute threats towards Security and Stability coming from outside Kosova. “It is not enough just to condemn Banjska. We have to make sure this never happens again,” he said. “While we stand by Kosova’s side in preventing any external threat, Albania will continue to advice Kosova’s leaders on the importance of close coordination with its main allies,” underlined Hasani.