LOCAL PRESS
15 years since United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (B92)
On 10 June, 15 years ago, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1244, whereby Kosovo and Metohija was placed under the UN mandate. The Resolution was passed one day after the signing of the Military-Technical Agreement in Kumanovo, whereby the bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that lasted 79 days, ended. Let us recall that the decision on the bombing, during which at least 2,500 people, mostly civilians, died, was passed without approval of the UN Security Council for the first time in history. The resolution of the UN highest body was preceded by numerous negotiations of the then President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) Slobodan Milosevic and Viktor Chernomyrdin, who was the representative of the then Russian President Boris Yeltzin, who entered into negotiations after an agreement with the US and EU. These negotiations ended at the beginning of June, with the mediation of Martii Ahtisaari, who represented the EU and UN. The document on the Milosevic-Ahtisaari-Chernomyrdin agreement, which was accepted by the FRY parliament and federal government, was the basis for Resolution 1244. The passing of Resolution 1244 is a very important date, because it ended the aggression against the FRY. The Resolution is a framework referred to, even today, by Serbia regarding Kosovo-related issues. Namely, this Resolution guarantees the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia (the successor of the FRY) in Kosovo and Metohija, while a “broad autonomy” for the sovereign territory of Serbia was envisaged for the province. The interpretations of the Resolution of the two sides to the Kosovo conflict, the Serbian state and the Kosovo Albanian community, are contradictory. It can be heard from Belgrade that the Resolution doesn’t mention in one single place where a referendum on the future status of the province would take place, while on the other side, in Pristina, they say that not one decree of the Resolution bans an independence of Kosovo. Some Pristina lawyers claims that it even advocates the final status. One thing is certain: the Resolution implied that the Serbian Army and the police withdraw rapidly, completely and within a specified period, from the province of Kosovo and Metohija, which occurred. Only some members were to be allowed to return later on, and to perform specific duties, in accordance with the provisions of the Resolution, where it states that at issue is a “small number, hundreds, and not thousands”. One of the main tasks that the Security Council placed before itself, and the international community with this Resolution, was a safe and free return of all displaced persons, of which there still are about 200,000 Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanian expelled residents of Kosovo. Even after 15 years, the level of returns is very low. Since 1999, 18,000 displaced have returned to Kosovo and Metohija, and less than 4,000 of them have achieved a sustainable return. The UN Secretary-General submits a quarterly report to the Security Council on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Serbia committed to international law (RTS/Tanjug)
“Serbia remains committed to the principles of international law and the UN,” the Serbian government Office for Kosovo and Metohija has stated on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The Office states that Serbia will continue to build the path with the aim of ensuring that the tragic consequences of the war do not remain a burden on the coming generations, which will be achieved through a dialogue with interim self-government institutions in Kosovo and Metohija and partners in the international community. Through a responsible attitude and solidarity with our compatriots in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia will demonstrate its responsibility towards itself and its future, the Office stated in the release. Since June 1999, over 242,000 Serbs, Goranis, Roma, Turks, Egyptians, Ashkalis and other ethnicities were banished and sought refuge from Kosovo and Metohija, and 312 out of 437 settlements where Serbs lived until 1999 were completely ethnically cleansed, states the release. This period was marked by mass sufferings and banishment of Serbs and other non-Albanian population. Over 7,200 ethnically motivated attacks were registered and over 1,100 Serbs and citizens of other ethnicities were murdered, while 1,000 more were gravely wounded and 841 Serbs were kidnapped. The Office recalled that with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the international community took over the responsibility to protect human rights and set up rule of law on the entire territory of Kosovo and Metohija. A decade and a half later, it is clear that the need for international involvement in the province has not ceased to exist, the release states.
More than 50 bodies in mass grave (Politika)
The Serbian government’s Commission for Missing Persons announced yesterday that the mortal remains of 43 people and a larger number of body parts have been discovered so far in the mass grave in the Rudnica quarry near Raska, at the administrative line between Serbia proper and Kosovo and Metohija, so the minimal number of victims is estimated at 50 at this moment. “Two bodies have been identified so far, the DNA analysis of samples is conducted in a laboratory in Tuzla, while the exhumed mortal remains are kept at the location in Rudnica. The search of another nearby location should start in the following weeks, where it is presumed that mortal remains are also located. At issue is a location right next to the one where the exhumation is conducted,” the Chairperson of the Commission for Missing Persons Veljko Odalovic told Politika. War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic had earlier stated that he disposes with information that the execution of 82 people of Albanian nationality was carried out in one of the villages “near Rudnica”. The Prosecution has conducted excavations four times since June 2007 in the Rudnica quarry, but Vukcevic suspects there have been obstructions during these past attempts. “Cooperation with the colleagues from Sarajevo was crucial. Through them, we reached an expert who, based on satellite images from 1999 that they possessed, stated that mixing of land occurred in Rudnica,” said Vukcevic. At issue is an expert from Denmark, who pointed out that it is seen on the images that mixing of land occurred in Rudnica, i.e. that land was brought and thrown into the quarry, after which it was logical to start experimental excavations in search of mortal remains.
REGIONAL PRESS
SDA favors Lagumdzija’s dismissal (Oslobodjenje)
The SDA Collegium session has made a decision for this party’s delegates in the B&H Parliament to vote at the regular session of the House of Representatives for dismissal of SDP B&H leader Zlatko Lagumdzija from the function of foreign minister. The request for the dismissal of Lagumdzija and Defense Minister Zekerijah Osmic was submitted by the SBB as an initiative. But the SDA will support just the dismissal of Lagumdzija, so the B&H Council of Ministers would not have a national imbalance.
Implementation of South Stream project not disputable (Srna)
The Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik said that the implementation of the South Stream project has never been disputable, and warned that there are tendencies to politicize every issue. “The RS is a part of the project. We have procedural problems within B&H which I am convinced will be solved,” Dodik told reporters in Sarajevo. He said that there is “the selfishness of B&H” despite the fact that it should be a country in the service of the entities and not a barrier to their development. The RS President said that effort will be expended towards making a direct agreement with the Russian Federation on the implementation of the South Stream project. According to him, this entails the agreement of the B&H Parliament, and this will be the first time this mechanism will be used, since the B&H Council of Ministers did not find it necessary to resolve this issue. “Without wanting this taken as a threat, the Serb representatives have no reason to resolve anything else when such an important project for the RS is being hampered,” Dodik told reporters in Sarajevo where he attended a reception the Russian Ambassador to B&H Aleksandr Botsan-Harchenko, organized on the occasion of Russia Day. “We count on the RS’ continued effort towards implementing the South Stream project. Together, shoulder to shoulder, we will overcome all obstacles and obstructions which now exist and which are artificially caused,” Botsan-Harchenko said. He said that the relations of his country with B&H have been on the rise in the past four years, particularly relations with the Republika Ruska (RS). Botsan-Harchenko said that the RS leadership, led by President Milorad Dodik, has achieved very good cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Poposki meets with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (Kanal 5/Sitel/MTV1/MIA/Makfax)
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors held a meeting in Skopje with FM Nikola Poposki. The interlocutors, Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry said, exchanged views on the activities Macedonia’s Government is taking to fulfill the obligations deriving from the Ohrid Framework Agreement, including the equitable representation of the non-majority ethnic communities. At the same time, they discussed the implementation of the Integrated Education Strategy, which should contribute to increased interaction between students from different ethnic communities in the education process. Poposki reiterated that the implementation of the Strategy remains a priority for the Government. Moreover, he confirmed the support for the Commissioner’s work, which focuses on efficient protection and promotion of the rights of minorities in the OSCE participating States. Thors, on her part, voiced satisfaction with the cooperation with Macedonia’s Government, saying she expects the cooperation to continue during her term as well. The major opposition party SDSM’s leader Zoran Zaev and executive committee member Renata Deskoska-Trenevska also held a meeting with OSCE High Commissioner Thors. At the meeting, SDSM said, it was established that the remarks of the latest OSCE/ODIHR report note serious problems in the election process, primarily in the area of blurring of state and party lines. “The High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed interest in the opposition’s next political steps, following the decision on non-participation in Parliament, and in the solutions SDSM proposes for a way out of the political crisis. Zaev pointed out that the systematic control set up by the government usurps the voters’ will and thus disables a fair and a democratic election process, and that the democratic institutions and processes need to return to the country” the press-release reads. The meeting also focused on the need to develop the interethnic relations in Macedonia in the spirit of co-existence and mutual understanding.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Serbian PM’s Berlin Visit Will Focus on EU (BIRN, 11 June 2014)
As Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic starts his first official visit to Germany on Wednesday, experts expect Chancellor Angela Merkel to support Serbia’s EU progress and discuss assistance.
Ivo Viskovic, a former Serbian ambassador to Germany, says Vucic’s meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday will focus on Serbia’s EU integration process.
According to him, Serbia can expect German help on its path to EU membership. “This help would be mainly of an advisory and economic character through stimulating German investment in Serbia,” Viskovic told BIRN.
The Belgrade University professor said Serbia could learn from Germany in many areas, including social policy, public control of politics and public accountability of politicians.
Marko Cadez, director of the Forum Serbia-Germany, also expects the discussion to focus on potential German assistance to Serbia in the implementation of reforms on its EU path.
Meanwhile, German media are reporting that Merkel is looking forward to Vucic’s visit and has words of praise for Serbia’s progress.
Serbia started EU accession talk in January and is hoping to join the European club in 2020.
Vucic is due to hold meetings with both Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Serbian leader is also due to meet members of Germany’s business community who are interested in investing in Serbia.
“Serbia is a small country that wants to solve its problems, not in conflict with anyone in the region or the world, and is turning to its European future,” Vucic told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper ahead of the visit.
The visit comes three days after Kosovo held general elections. Crucially, the Serbian government called on local people in the Serbian populated north of Kosovo to take part in the elections, although it does not recognise Kosovo as an independent country.
The EU is not insisting on Serbian recognition of the independence of its former province. However, “normalisation” of relations with Kosovo is a precondition for Serbia’s EU progress.
Ahead of the visit, the German Ambassador to Serbia, Heinz Wilhelm, said Berlin saw Serbia as the key country in the region, and described Vucic’s visit as an important one.
“Relations between the two countries are already very good, but there is always room for improvement, and I think this visit will contribute to this,” Wilhelm said.
Predrag Simic, Political Science Professor, stressed the importance of the visit also in the light of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Serbia has adopted a neutral stance on the issue in deference to its strong ties to Russia, which puts it at variance with the views of the EU.
“Germany is trying to defend its [view of] Europe and is pushing Serbia to be part of that Europe,” Simic noted.
Accroding to the Germany embassy, since the political changes in Serbia of 2000, Germany has invested more than 1.5 billion euros in Serbia.
Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu visits Serbia (www.aa.com.tr/en, 10 June 2014)
The Turkish Foreign Minister indicated that both countries planned to form a joint disaster management group after floods hit the Balkans last month.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met his counterpart Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, President Tomislav Nikolic on Tuesday during his one-day visit to Serbia which was hit by severe floods last month.
The Turkish Foreign Minister indicated that both countries planned to form a joint disaster management group after floods hit the Balkans last month.
Davutoglu added that the Turkish-Serbian economic forum was to be held in October.
He added that they agreed on the creation of a Turkish bank in Serbia thanks to the co-operation between Turkish bank Halkbank and Serbian banks.
The Turkish Foreign Minister said that the relations between Turkey and Serbia are crucial for preserving the stability in Balkans, especially considering recent developments in the Black Sea basin and in the Middle East.
After completing his trip to Belgrade, Davutoglu flew to the United States on a private jet.
Serbia central bank may keep key rate on rising inflation prospects (Reuters, 10 June 2014)
BELGRADE: Serbia’s central bank is likely to leave benchmark interest rates unchanged this month as it contends with both rising inflation and a slowing economy, each caused by catastrophic floods in May, a Reuters poll showed.
Last month, the bank cut its benchmark rate, the highest in the region, by 50 basis points to 9 percent as inflation declined and the government pledged to cut spending. It later warned that the crisis in Ukraine could affect Serbia through rising food and energy prices.
In late May, floods inflicted as much as 2 billion euros ($2.72 billion) of damage on the economy, according to a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development assessment. The floods could cause an economic decline of up to 1.5 percent this year, but they could also push up inflation.
Eleven out of 13 traders and analysts polled by Reuters expect the bank to keep its benchmark interest rate at 9 percent on Thursday. Two saw a minimal 25 basis points cut.
“It is too early for another rate cut and inflation will (also) start to rise,” said Srdjan Tomasevic of the Serbian arm of Erste Bank.
Inflation, mainly driven by food prices, stood at 2.1 percent in April, below the lower end of the central bank’s target range of between 2.5 and 5.5 percent this year.
The statistics office is expected to publish May inflation data on June 12, but the full effects of floods on food prices will not be seen until July, analysts say. The poll showed June inflation rising to a median of 2.5 percent.
Timothy Ash, head of emerging markets research at Standard Bank in London, said he expects a rate cut. “I see a cut, maybe between 25 and 50 basis points … on weak growth on floods,” Ash said.
Serbia’s planned talks with the International Monetary Fund have been delayed until autumn because of the still unclear effects of the floods. Also, the government has yet to reveal measures to cut spending and its budget deficit, reduce the size of the public sector and boost investments.
A deal with the IMF is seen as crucial to assure investors of the government’s readiness to implement reforms and cut debt, now at about 63 percent of national output. They are also a condition for Serbia to win World Bank loans for budget support.
The Fund froze a previous deal with Serbia in 2012 because of overspending and rising debt.
Copyright Reuters, 2014
Dodik Accuses Bosniaks of Grabbing Flood Aid (BIRN, by Elvira M. Jukic, 11 June 2014)
The Bosnian Serb leader has accused Bosnia’s Federation entity of trying to take an unfair share of post-flood aid from abroad.
The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has accused Bosnia’s mainly Bosniak and Croat Federation entity of seizing more donations for flood relief than it was entitled to.
Dodik said the issue of forming a solidarity fund at state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina had become stuck – and he rejected the idea of simply dividing the donations by half.
“It is clear that the damage done in [Republika] Srpska was far worse than in the Federation,” Dodik said in Sarajevo on June 10. “However, at the expense of our suffering, the Federation wants to use the money coming from abroad,” he added.
Both entites, the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, were badly affected by floods that struck central and northern parts of the country.
Dodik said that “someone from outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina” should be put in charge of determining the extent of the damage in the two entitities, and working out how the donations should be distributed.
Speaking earlier on Tuesday in Belgrade with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Dodik reportedly asked Serbia to help Republika Srpska gather donations.
Bosnia’s state-level authorities have already announced plans to organize a donor conference for the whole country.
The areas around Maglaj, Doboj, Samac, Bijeljina and Brcko were among the worst hit by the recent floods in Bosnia.
In some places, the floodwater reached six metres deep after it overspilled the banks of the rivers Bosna and Sava.
The rivers Drina, Vrbas, Una and Sana also flooded areas around them. Authorities said that one-fifth of the territory of Bosnia was submerged at the worst point.
Estimates of the damage caused by the floods are still being drawn up and are likely to be published next week ahead of the planned donors conference. This may take place in the first half of July, report indicate.
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Media summaries are produced for the internal use of the United Nations Office in Belgrade, UNMIK and UNHQ. The contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership.
