LOCAL PRESS

After the barricades, planters on the bridge (Beta / Tanjug)

Kosovksa Mitrovica – In the middle of the main Ibar bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica, from which a concrete barricade was removed this morning, concrete planters are just being placed.

As the agencies report, planters with flowers are placed on the north side, with Director of the Office of Kosovo and Metohija, Government of Serbia Marko Djuric and mayors and presidents of the provisional institutions in northern Kosovo attending.

The North Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic, spoke to journalists and said he was aware of the fact that this activity is “disturbing and unexpected for most of the population” and he therefore decided to build a “peace park” near the bridge, in coordination with the leadership of Serbia.

“Everywhere in the world bridges are built to connect people, but ours has, unfortunately, over time, become the symbol of separation and absence of normal and peaceful coexistence between members of the Serbian and the Albanian people,” Rakic said.

According to him, this bridge does not differ in any way from the others that exist in cities across Europe, but the circumstances in which it lost its purpose of existence by becoming the dividing line between people, are very different from the circumstances in which citizens of free and democratically regulated states live in the beginning of the 21st century.

The presence of regional police and the international community in north Kosovo has increased.

Last night, the barricades at the bridge over the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica were removed. Provincial Board of DSS said it is a “political irony that the public and the citizens of Serbia were represented as the Serbs themselves removed the barricades” from the bridge over the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The security situation in Mitrovica is stable after establishing a peace park in the middle of the main Ibar bridge, regional commander of operations for the north of Kosovo Police, Zeljko Bojic said.

There are many citizens and strong security forces on both sides of the bridge.

“There are no problems, presence of people has increased, but it cannot be said that there is tension, more like curiosity,” Bojic said to reporters.

Bojic added that the increased presence of police officers, will, if necessary, fulfill their duties should it come to disturbance of public peace and order.

Minister for Communities and Returns in Kosovo Government, Dalibor Jevtic, is convinced that “we do not need the barricades,” and in a statement to Tanjug, he says he does not have complete information about last night’s action, and that he found out about it from the media, but he welcomes it, confident that it is the result of the local government’s decisions.

“We certainly need freedom of movement and everything that makes life normal,” emphasized the minister and reiterated that he welcomes the decision of the local government in northern Mitrovica.

The deputy head of the parliamentary group of the SPS in the Parliament of Serbia, Djordje Milicevic, believes this move shows that all those who live in Kosovo and Metohija consider Serbia their country and are committed to cooperation and peace.

He told reporters at the Parliament that he believes the Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica will be safe after the removal of the barricades on the bridge between the northern and southern part of the city.

The Deputy Head of the parliamentary group of the New Democratic Party, Janko Veselinovic, also sees the decision on barricades removal as good news, if it is, as he said, backed by the people and done voluntarily and peacefully.

“We hope that this is true, and if so, we welcome it,” he said.

New Democratic Party MP Janko Veselinovic said today that it is good news if the barricades on the main Ibar bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica were voluntarily removed.

“Any communication that is established and freedom of movement are good, if they are established in a peaceful manner and if backed by the citizens,” Veselinovic told reporters in the Serbian Parliament.

It is good news also for the Head of the SDPS parliamentary group, Milorad Mijatovic, though, as he says, more work on creating trust between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija has to be done.

He is, however, certain that the safety of Serbs will be challenged by this move, which is why he emphasizes the responsibility of the international community.

“We have the guarantee of the international community and we believe in them,” Mijatovic said, assessing that the implementation of the Brussels Treaty is a process and that Belgrade wants complete stabilization of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

“Serbia’s policy is such that living in Kosovo and implementation of human and minority rights is finally possible,” Mijatovic concluded.

The Deputy Head of the parliamentary group United Serbia, Petar Petrovic, however, said at the assembly that it was not exactly a good time for the removal of barricades in Mitrovica, and believes that this will be a big test, especially for the international community.

“The international community will have to guarantee and ensure that extremist Albanians do not cross into the Serbian part and do something illegal in the north of Kosovska Mitrovica,” said Petrovic, stressing that those who ordered or agreed to remove barricades “have to bear all the consequences that may possibly occur”.

Today’s reaction to the removal of the barricades from Pristina are positive, and political analyst and director of the Center for Balkan Studies in Pristina, Fadil Lepaja sees this as a step forward in restoring the belief that accessing Europe together is possible, while Fatmir Sheholi interprets this as a victory for the progressive and pro-European forces on both sides.

“The abolition of the barricades on the Ibar also represents symbolism of European logic in this area and I hope that medieval forces from either side will not become stronger again, which has already been seen, and which took so many lives and caused so much suffering and harm to the people of Kosovo,” Lepaja said in a statement for Tanjug, convinced that only two truly European-oriented parties can find a common formula that would lead to Europe.

Interethnic relations analyst Fatmir Sheholi sees the removal of barricades as a great success for all progressive parties in Kosovo.

“With this approach we are getting closer to civilized Europe. The Serbian government, led by Aleksandar Vucic, shows though action, that the time for division is now history, and it is now the time for a renaissance of the Albanian-Serbian relations,” Beta Sheholi says, and believes that it is interesting that barricades were removed at a time when formation of a new government in Pristina is expected.

It is, he says, a clear message from the north that the hand for the integration processes is being offered, and now the new Kosovo Government is on the move and should show through actions that with the budget and funds, it wants to encourage maximum development in the northern part of Kosovo.

KFOR spokesman Angelo Morceli said today that the Serbs themselves have decided to remove the barricade on the bridge over the Ibar River, and that the decision was made after several meetings between the representatives of Kosovo Serbs and KFOR commander Gen. Salvatore Farina.

This has been confirmed in today’s statement made by the North Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic, who said that the decision was made after extensive consultations and constant coordination with top Serbian officials.

Serbian part of town “for sale” (Danas, by Jelena Tasic)
Genuine Brussels agreement, about which they are convincing us that it is good and invite us to stay, and former political leaders of SPS in Orahovac are selling their houses and property. What kind of message is being sent?
Will the citizens of Orahovac by selling houses in their homeland, which they abandoned long time ago, succeed in what the Kosovo Albanians since 1998, and then during the UN administration in Kosovo failed – to move out their compatriots from the northern part of this city in Metohija?
Serbs from the northern part of Orahovac, where 10 houses and four lots, including vineyards, have been sold in less than two months, ask themselves this question. This Serbian property was sold, according to some – given for a pittance, usually ahead of the Easter holidays, and, as some say, the signing of contracts of sale for two more houses is a matter of days. Orahovac is located in Podrimlje, between Djakovica and Prizren. Until the introduction of a UN protectorate in Kosovo, in this municipality, there lived 5,200 Serbs, of which 2,500 were in the city, and the rest in nine villages. Now, it has 380 Serbs, mostly natives, in the northern part of Orahovac and they are, as one would say, at “full capacity”. There are another 650 in nearby Velika Hoca three kilometers away, where the great district prefect, Stefan Nemanja, planted the first grapevine plants in Serbia. Both Serbian enclaves are widely famous for their vineyards and wines. The story is that this is one of the reasons why the Germans wanted this part of Metohija to be in their area of ​​influence in 1999.
This spring, property in Orahovac was sold by Serbs who left the city in 1999 or earlier, as well as by their descendants. Those who remained claim that generally those are former municipal officials, MPs in the Parliament of Serbia and directors of SPS, who, according to the stories in Orahovac, had settled in the rest of Serbia, receiving increased wages as if they have remained in Kosovo, and some are charged with financial misconduct, which further jeopardizes the existence of those in Orahovac.

– Among the ringleaders, we have managers: Andjelko Kolasinac, former president of the municipality, who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Kosovo, which is why the state has made compensations – he lives outside of Kosovo and Metohija, and receives increased personal income as if he still works and lives here. However, according to the government’s decision in 2003, the right to that benefit, which was 100 per cent back then, is only for those who have not abandoned their properties in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. The other is Blagoje Milenkovic, Director of “18 November “and former Member of Parliament. He left Orahovac among the first in 2005, although not re-elected, he privatized and sold the factory’s representative office in Belgrade. Therefore, he has actually appropriated approximately 200 thousand Euros worth of a building located 100 meters from the Saint Sava Temple – explains Labud Kujundzic, head of the interim administration of the Serbian municipality of Orahovac.

According to him, the 155 workers of the “18 November ” factory who are entitled to cash compensation of 20 percent were left “short-sleeved” for a fee of 715 Euros each, which the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (PAK) has refused to payout when they privatized the factory, because they have supposedly received a settlement from the sale of the factory’s representative office in Belgrade. Kujundzic says that “none of the workers have received anything because the director himself put the money into his pocket and bought two apartments for his children, and the SPS got him an apartment to use, which he later purchased, which has been equipped with furniture by Mihailj Kertes, who on trial admitted that he did so because “he has not heard a more tragic story of suffering in his life.” The Municipal Assembly of Orahovac, now interim administration since 2011, wants Belgrade to determine to whom and how the representative office of the factory has been sold, where the funds from the sale ended up and who participated in the proceedings.

– Their party makes the Brussels agreement, for which it convinces us that it is good and invites us to stay, and its members, former political SPS leaders in Orahovac, are selling houses and farms. What kind of message is being sent? What is the truth – this sale, which tells us that there is nothing for survival or what Belgrade says, that the Brussels agreement is good and we should stay? Sales happen all the time, but after the Brussels Treaty took hold, people see nothing – says Dejan Baljosevic, project coordinator, Commissioner for Refugees in Orahovac municipality.

Houses on plots, which the Serbian municipality once gave away free of charge to ​​Serbs to use for 99 years, are also on sale. One of them was built on by the European Agency for Reconstruction, but soon after burnt down by Albanians. The Serbian owner, who has not even moved into it, is now trying to sell it, but there is a problem with the paperwork. These municipal plots are on sales for less than 1,000 Euro per acre, while the real price is 3,000 Euros.

Local residents say that “the most painful part is that the church is not involved, although the situation in Orahovac is well known to it.” Silence on the sale of Serbian houses, is considered by local residents of Orahovac as an essential evidence that Belgrade has “written them off”.
According to their words, the former head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Aleksandar Vulin, was informed about this sale of Serbian houses many times, on the ground and officially through the local government, as was the Serbian Patriarch Irenej and the bishop of Raska and Prizren, Teodosije.
– Sale of Serbian property is being condemned only in Orahovac. Others are silent. Serbs here wonder why the state does not sanction it. Silence is understood to be an approval. If this is not condemned by: the state, the media, society, church, non-governmental organizations…, it is a message that we should all follow in that direction – Dejan Baljosevic says.

Russians want to get EPS through connections (Blic, by Zeljka Jeftic)

Russian diplomacy Chief Sergey Lavrov shall request from the actual Serbian leadership to keep its actual stance towards Ukraine during chairing the OSCE and prevent condemnation of Russia. He shall also repeat Moscow’s wish to buy the EPS, the Blic learns.

Lavrov’s visit to Serbia, although agreed with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in Vienna on May 6 as we learn, is taking place after constructive talks of the Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

During talks with Serbian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and President Tomislav Nikolic, Lavrov shall convey to them Moscow’s two chief goals – Serbian foreign policy and Russian interest in energy. The Blic source, a well informed foreign diplomat says that Lavrov shall direct his meetings to ‘reminding the Serbian side about agreements’ but also getting clear guarantees for Russian interests.

As the Blic learns Moscow shall mention to expect from Serbia to keep its present stance towards Ukraine which is still closer to the Russian stance. That means that there shall be no condemnation of Russian annexation of Crimea and military involvement in the east of the country. Lavrov shall express expectation that Serbia shall not follow the EU in emposing of sanction on Russia.

– However what Moscow is going to insist on today and in the period to come is that Serbia, as the country that shall chair the OSCE, not only keep the present stance but prevent condemnation of Russia by that organization as well. The intention is also that Serbia prevents some concrete actions that the OSCE might undertake – the Blic source says.

The second crucial goal of the visit is yet another in a series of attempts of finalizing the energy story that people well informed about Russian-Serbian relations interprete as Serbia’s economic-political dependence from Russia.

– Moscow has interest that their companies purchase the EPS. Russian officials are trying to agree that bilaterally as it was the case with the naphtha-gas agreement. It means that Serbia is expected not to announce tender when it makes decision over sale of the EPS – the foreign diplomat says.

This diplomat also claims that Lavrov shall request from Serbia to voice its stance regarding the Southern Stream.

– The Rusian officials have already reprimanded some of the Serbian officials because of the stance that the Southern Stream problem should be solved between Brussels and Moscow. Lavrov shall certainly try to calm Serbia’s concern over the Southern Stream the construction of which has been presently blocked – our source says. This diplomat also says that Moscow ‘has been increasingly bothered by the fact that Serbia has no longer as big need as earlier for Russian help over Kosovo’ since the actual power has signed the Brussels Agreement.

REGIONAL PRESS

“No open issues” between Montenegro and Serbia (B92)

Montenegro’s new Ambassador to Belgrade Branislav Micunovic presented on Monday his letter of credence to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic.

The diplomat stated that there were “no standing issues between the two countries” and that their mutual relations were “continuously improving.”

Micunovic called for further development of cooperation, especially in economy and culture, adding that there was equal commitment on both sides to EU integration, which was of great significance for the entire region.

Nikolic stressed the importance of good relations between Serbia and Montenegro and added he expected the two countries’ cooperation to stay at a high level and improve in all areas.

“The two countries are very close, understand each other and work together well,” Nikolic noted, pointing out that it was both sides’ duty to maintain that “unique relationship” and rely on it in the future.

On Tuesday, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic is due to receive his Montenegrin counterpart Igor Luksic in Belgrade. The meeting will be followed by the signing of an agreement and a joint news briefing.

Djukanovic “to step down, when circumstances normalize” (Podgorica Vijesti)

Milo Djukanovic has been quoted as saying that he is at the helm of Montenegro’s government “against his will and affinities.”

Furthermore, he said he “hoped” to withdraw from this position “after circumstances in the country normalize.”

These comments were reportedly made as he met with a group of journalists from the EU. Djukanovic also remarked that he twice before left top state positions and then “returned against his will.”

Djukanovic was asked “whether the time has come to make room for a younger person, after spending 25 years as prime minister or president,” the Podgorica daily Vijesti reported, based on the taped conversation to which its reporters said they had access.

Djukanovic explained that “the first time, his predecessor fell ill, and the party asked him to finish that term.”

According to the newspaper, he avoided answering the question “why he replaced Igor Luskic,” stating that at the end of 2012 elections were held in which the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) “narrowly retained the confidence because of the economic situation.”

“After the election, the prevailing opinion was that none of us, including me, could observe things from the sidelines, so I’m doing the job somewhat completely against my will and against my interests,” said the prime minister, stating that he hoped there would be “normal conditions soon.”

A group of ten journalists interviewed Montenegrin officials during the past two days – part of the “Let’s Discover Montenegro” project, funded by the European Commission.

Djukanovic, who is also chairman of the ruling DPS, is currently serving his sixth term in a top state office.

He was prime minister four times, served once as president, and once as acting interior minister.

Several years ago after Zeljko Sturanovic resigned for health reasons Djukanovic was elected as prime minister, despite previously retiring from politics.

He once again announced he was withdrawing from politics in 2010, but was again elected as prime minister two years later.

INCIDENT IN MOSTAR – Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina burned (Vecernje Novosti / Klix.ba. portal, 19 June 2014)

Burnt state flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 were found this morning in Mostar, Klix.ba. portal reports.
It is assumed that the flags were brought and burned in the western part of Mostar after the Croatia-Cameroon football match at the Mondial in Brazil, which has attracted a lot of attention in this part of the city on the Neretva River.
Flags were burned on the same spot where, recently, there stood a billboard supporting the Hague convict Dario Kordic, who was  sentenced to 25 years in prison for war crimes committed against Bosnian civilians in 1993 in ‘Lasvanska Dolina’ and was released on June 6, after serving two-thirds of his sentence.
Incidents similar to this one last night, took place last week after the World Cup match between Brazil and Croatia, when five flags of Bosnia and Herzegovina were burned down as well as the Patriotic League facility in Kiseljak, and an additional two flags of BiH near Livno.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Upcoming agreement for South Stream construction in Serbia (Energy Global, 19 June 2014)

The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Slavenko Terzic, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation.

The meeting participants reviewed the bilateral cooperation in the gas sector, paying special attention to the progress with South Stream. It was pointed out that the project was advancing in strict compliance with the schedule. At present, the bidding procedure for designing, constructing and commissioning the Serbian section is nearing completion. The bidding results will be announced and the relevant agreement will be signed in late June 2014.

It was pointed out that the Banatski Dvor UGS facility, currently operating in Serbia as a part of the South Stream infrastructure, significantly reinforced the energy security in the Republic. By the forthcoming heating season the working gas capacity in the UGS facility will be increased to its maximum of 450 million m3 in order to provide an extra guarantee of reliable Russian gas supplies to Serbian consumers during the next winter period.

Background

South Stream is Gazprom’s global infrastructure project aimed at constructing a gas pipeline with a capacity of 63 billion m3 across the Black Sea to Southern and Central Europe for the purpose of diversifying the natural gas export routes and eliminating transit risks. The first gas will be supplied via South Stream in late 2015. The gas pipeline will reach its full capacity in 2018.

South Stream Serbia joint project company (Gazprom and Srbijagas holding 51 and 49% respectively) is implementing the project in Serbia. The South Stream project was awarded the special status by the resolution of the Serbian Parliament.

The Banatski Dvor UGS facility with a working gas capacity of 450 million m3 was commissioned in Serbia in 2011. This gas storage is the first facility of South Stream and will be used for ensuring reliable gas supply via this gas pipeline.

In March 2013 the long-term Contract was signed for Russian natural gas supply to Serbia in the amount of up to 1.5 billion m3 of gas annually for a period of 10 years. Gas is conveyed via the existing route and subsequently – via the South Stream gas pipeline.In 2013 Gazprom supplied Serbia with approximately two billion m3 of gas.

Lukashenka Tears Open a Window to Europe Through Serbia (Belarus Digest, by Ryhor Astapenia, 18 June 2014)

On 12 June, Alexander Lukashenka completed his populist tinged visit to Serbia. The visit showed that Lukashenka is able to easily bypass the visa restrictions placed on him by the EU, and some partners of the West still consider him a friend.

However, Belarus and Serbia lack any true common long-term interests, so the prospects for political cooperation between the two parties looks rather hazy. Lukashenka and his Serbian colleague Tomislav Nikolic both maintain a pro-Russian orientation, but have chosen different paths for their countries.

During his visit, the Belarusian head of state had several high-level meetings, received a medal from the Serbian Orthodox Church and stuck to his habitual rhetoric. In particular, Lukashenka made a surprise announcement that he had intended on transferring several S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems and jet fighters to Milosevic back in 1999.

This high level visit, despite the accompanying publicity surrounding it, did not yield anything practical. However, as the two nation’s economic ties continue to gradually evolve, Lukashenka and Serbian tycoons like Dragomir Karych are pushing for further cooperation between the two countries.

Visit of Loud Statements

On 12 June, Alexander Lukashenka wrapped up his visit to Belgrade. Although the Belarusian state leader met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irenaeus, the visit appears to have been largely fruitless. If it were not for the loud and blatantly provocative statements that Lukashenka made before and during the visit, it would have remained far less noticeable.

On the eve of his trip to Belgrade, the Belarusian head of state gave an interview to the Serbian press. He stated that he had intended on providing Serbia with Belarusian S-300 missile systems and jet fighters in 1999 before NATO operation, but Milosevic refused to take him up on his offer. While these words were certainly relished by a segment of Serbian nationalists, they brought little in the way of benefits to Belarus.

Lukashenka was keen to point out that “the West was willing to do everything to disrupt his visit to Belgrade”

On 12 June, Lukashenka also was keen to point out that “the West was willing to do everything to disrupt his visit to Belgrade”. Despite his exaggerations, his trip to Serbia caught many by surprise, as Serbia previously supported EU visa restrictions against the Lukashenka’s regime.

Generally, the Belarusian leader talked more about the past, and had little to say about future. He spoke on the NATO bombing of Serbia and Serbia’s geopolitical vision, things which have retreated quietly out of the sphere of public discourse over the past 15 years.

While receiving the highest award of the Serbian Orthodox Church from Patriarch Irenaeus for his non-recognition of Kosovo and Belarus’ support in 1999, Lukashenka promised never to let Serbs down. The Serbian Orthodox Church gave has also rewarded this medal to the former head of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexey II and Russian Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Lukashenka’s words resonated among many Serbs, who for the most part have hold a positive view of Lukashenka and believed in Belarus’ solidarity. Indeed, Belarus sent rescuers and humanitarian aid following the recent floods in Serbia.

Belarus and Serbia’s Chemistry

Both countries used the visit to demonstrate their defiance towards the dominant regional political entities. Nikolic is bargaining hard to get more favourable terms in Serbia’s relations with the EU, while showing that he has other partners outside of the West. Lukashenka’s visit to Belgrade shows that European Union visa sanctions have failed.

Serbia joined in imposing EU travel restrictions against the Belarusian authorities in 2012, but one year later Tomislav Nicolic reneged on his commitments and visited Minsk. Lukashenka’s regime has managed to circumvent EU sanctions in large measure due to the quirks of Nicolic’ personality, and not on the strength of Belarusian diplomacy.

Nikolic remains grateful to Belarus for its support of Serbia over the Kosovo issue.

Nikolic remains grateful to Belarus for its support of Serbia over the Kosovo issue. It would appear, judging by recent and past statements, Lukashenka’s regime is even more iron-willed in his determination not to recognise the independence of Kosovo than even the Serbs themselves. Nikolic remains congenial to both Moscow and Minsk.

In 2011, then Chairman of the Serbian Progressive Party, Nikolic attended Lukashenka’s inauguration ceremony. The ceremony, of course, was mired in controversy as only a month prior the Belarusian authorities brutally dispersed protests and shipped off to prison nearly all of the other presidential candidates.

Their respective mutual economic interests would appear modest at best. Their trade turnover hovers around $200m annually, though in 2007 it took a noticeable dip and fell to $54m. Several Serbian entrepreneurs remain interested in developing closer ties with Belarus, particularly a handful of tycoons.

Lukashenka and 150 strong entourage lived in a hotel owned by Kostic

The Serbian press has reported that Miodrag Kostic, who is alleged to have invited Lukashenka to take a holiday in Serbia in 2009, among them. For the duration of their stay, Lukashenka and 150 strong entourage lived in a hotel owned by Kostic.

Another Serbian businessman, Dragomir Karych, formerly known as Milosevic’s banker, became an Honorary Consul of Belarus in Serbia in the autumn of 2013. He also served as the chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce in Serbia. Working with his brothers, Karych lords over several large investment projects in Belarus, including the construction of a large housing/business complex named the Minsk Lighthouse, an elite district in the Belarusian capital.

Serbian tycoons themselves are often the organisers of high-level government visits, as good political relations help to generate more investment projects.

Serbian Bridge?

Belarus and Serbia have a few striking similiarities – both of their leaders, for instance, are heavy on the pro-Russian rhetoric and their respective Orthodox Churches wield a considerable influence on society. However, they have embarked on decidedly different economic paths. This may be largely the fault of geography, as Russia is rather far from Serbia and has very little ability to influence its politics directly.

Mediation is almost always first on the docket for any country that Belarus has established warm relations with who in turn themselves have good ties with the EU. However, in the case of Serbia, its president enjoys little support in Brussels.

This visit is all the more striking considering the fact that Belarus does not require a mediator to negotiate with the EU at present and diplomatic channels are slowly opening up. Alena Kupchyna, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, continues to spend a fair amount of time in the EU, meeting with her Western colleagues.

Perhaps the most obvious reason for developing its ties with Serbia is to have them act as a bridge for new contacts between the Belarusian authorities and the nation’s wealthiest businessmen.

Despite all of the turmoil in Eastern Europe, Belarusian-Serbian relations are much more tied to specific economic interests than to abstract political ones. If Belarus needs new investors who are willing to negotiate with an authoritarian government, it appears that Serbia is ready to accommodate them.

Macedonia Leaders to Meet to Defuse Election Feud (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 19 June 2014)

Macedonia’s Prime Minister and opposition leader have agreed to meet in an attempt to defuse the political crisis that erupted when the opposition disputed the April elections.

Macedonia’s opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, said their leader, Zoran Zaev, had accepted a proposal to meet Prime Minister and VMRO DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski in the coming days to discuss ending the crisis that could worsen Macedonia’s EU and NATO membership hopes.

It remains to be seen whether Gruevski’s proposed date of Friday is acceptable for the opposition.

Gruevski said on Tuesday that he was glad his initiative was accepted in principle, adding that the ruling VMRO DPMNE party was “always ready for dialogue in the interests of the people and the country”.

News of the meeting came shortly after the speaker of parliament, Trajko Veljanovski, on Tuesday postponed the session where the resignations of opposition MPs were to be verified.

It also followed reports of ongoing covert negotiations between the government and the opposition allegedly instigated by Brussels.

In May, all 33 opposition MPs – bar one – submitted written resignations to the 123-seat parliament after alleging fraud in the April general and presidential elections.

The opposition insisted that the ruling VMRO DPMNE party won both elections by fraud and demanded the formation of a caretaker government to prepare new elections.

The resignations of the opposition MPs did not greatly affect the work of the new parliament, as 89 of the 123 seats remain filled, which is more than two-thirds. However, the political dispute could damage the country’s already stalled prospects of Euro-Atlantic integration.

Before the two political opponents have the chance to discuss ways out of the crisis, they were set for another face-off on Wednesday in court.

The trial was due to start of a case in which Prime Minister Gruevski is seeking half-a-million euros from Zaev for slander.

It was seen as unlikely that Gruevski would appear in person before the court as his new government cabinet was due to be formally endorsed by parliament that same day.

Gruevski sued after in April after the SDSM filed charges against him, accusing him of taking a bribe of €1.5 million to expedite the sale of Makedonska Banka to a Serbian businessman, Jovica Stefanovic, aka “Gazda Nini”, [“Boss Nini”], in 2004.

Almost two months have passed since the SDSM presented documents of the financial transactions – legal papers from Macedonia’s Central Bank that approved the sale of the bank’s shares in support of the claim, as well as a telephone recording on which the opposition claimed Gruevski’s voice could be heard discussing the illegal sale.

However, the prosecution has not yet made a move.

“I still have nothing to say regarding Makedonska Banka,” Chief Prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski told the media on Monday, refusing to specify whether they will open a case or not.

The corruption campaigner and head of Transparency International – Macedonia, Slagjana Taseva, said the slander case against the opposition leader was absurd.

“It is unprecedented in the world for a court case to be opened for slander against the very citizen who reported a case of corruption,” Taseva said.

Ex-Croatian spy chief ordered to stand trial in Germany (EUbusiness, 18 June 2014)

(BERLIN) – Croatia’s former top spy, Josip Perkovic, was on Tuesday ordered to stand trial in Germany in a murder case which sparked a row between the European Union and its newest member.

Perkovic, 69, was arrested in January after Croatia lifted a limitation on extraditions within the EU which it had imposed just days before joining the bloc in July.

The former Yugoslav secret service agent will go on trial for involvement in the murder of a Croatian dissident on German soil in 1983, prosecutors said in a statement.

Perkovic has denied any links to the murder of Stjepan Djurekovic, who was opposed to Yugoslavia’s then communist regime.

Three days before joining the EU on July 1 last year, Croatia changed its law on the use of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), which regulates extradition between EU member states.

The law made it impossible to extradite persons wanted for crimes committed before August 2002 — the date the EAW was introduced.

The move soured ties with the bloc and Zagreb finally amended the law in October.

Zdravko Mustac, another former spy chief also accused of involvement in the Djurekovic murder, was extradited to Germany in April.

Local media have speculated that Zagreb was reluctant to extradite the two former top spies as they may hold compromising information on influential people in Croatia.

But the government has denied this, saying its aim was to protect veterans of the 1990s independence war from being investigated by the EU.