LOCAL PRESS

Vucic-Putin talks in Moscow (Politika)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic announced, after his visit to Moscow and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian president would visit Serbia by the end of the year. The talks also touched on potential Russian investments in Serbia, which are to contribute to the level of trade between the two countries, which increased by 9% in the first four months of this year and by 15% last year. The Russian President emphasized that Russia intended and expected to strengthen relations with Serbia, above all in economy and mutual trade. He said Russia was informed about the political situation in Serbia and that the most important thing was that economic relations be improved. He assessed that Serbia and Russia had realized numerous joint projects and many more could be realized yet. Vucic thanked Putin for Russia’s support to Serbia’s stand on the Kosovo issue as well, i.e. the fact that Russia had not recognized independence of the southern Serbian province. The two also discussed the situation in Ukraine. Vucic said they all believed that peace in Ukraine was in the interest of all the sides and that Russia had not warned, let alone blackmailed Serbia on that issue. Putin agreed that peace in Ukraine was in the interest of all. We have discussed political issues, but our talks were mainly dedicated to economic questions, said Vucic, adding that he had not been hiding in Moscow either that Serbia is on the EU path, but would want to have close relations with Russia.

Serbia obtained the best conditions for the South Stream from Russia (RTS)

“Serbia may have obtained from Russia the best terms of a contract on the building of the South Stream gas line compared with other countries as Russia has taken on full risk for the project realization,” said Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in an interview to Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) after his visit to Moscow. The contract on the building of the South Stream guarantees energy security for our country and citizens, said Vucic, adding that is a major investment enterprise. We will employ local capacities and Serbian companies will earn at least 350 million Euros, he specified, expressing gratitude to the Russian side. He said that the Serbian side had managed to change the payment method and that the interest had remained 4.25%. Stating he had met with a sincere and friendly attitude of the Russian side, the Prime Minister said he was grateful to the Russian leadership for understanding Serbia’s political position and its wish to join the EU.

Djuric: Peace Park to stay in Kosovska Mitrovica (Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has stated that the Peace Park will stay in Kosovska Mitrovica and that Serbs have no reason for concern. Serb representatives in northern Kosovska Mitrovica decided in mid-June, after talks with KFOR Commander General Salvatore Farina, to remove the roadblock on the main bridge that divides the northern and southern part of the city, and set up a Peace Park instead. Visiting Kosovska Mitrovica, Djuric said that nobody is allowed to destroy anything in the city, especially not Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri. He noted that relevant factors should sit down at the same table and discuss the ways to build a better future for both Serbs and Albanians. During his stay in Kosovska Mitrovica, Djuric visited the construction works at the site where the Czar Lazar Square should be built, in the vicinity of the main bridge over the Ibar River as a spot where Serbs built the Peace Park and put up flower pots. “I wish that citizens of Serbia and all Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija may know that they have no reason to fear the threats by Pristina which could be heard over the past few days from Mrs. Edita Tahiri,” he said. Djuric underscored that all problems and open issues should be solved through a dialogue in order to ensure a better future for both Serbs and Albanians. “Such statements and behavior are contrary to the spirit of normalization of relations and all that we strove to achieve over the past 20 months, and they lead nowhere,” Djuric noted. Two days ago, Tahiri said that she received guarantees from Brussels that the Peace Park in Kosovska Mitrovica would be removed.

Miscevic: Screening of 20 chapters completed (Blic)

The chief negotiator in the EU accession talks Tanja Miscevic has stated that the screening process has so far been completed for 20 acquis chapters, adding that the screening on information society and the media will start this week in Brussels. “A bilateral screening meeting covering the area of information society and the media will be held in Brussels this week, where we will discuss the set of three media laws ready to be adopted by the parliament,“ Miscevic told reporters at a book promotion event on Tuesday. “Another screening will take place next week, related to the chapter on common foreign and security policy. We will end this month, and the period before the European Commission’s summer recess, with the screening of 22 acquis chapters underway. The progress will continue at this pace throughout the year,” Miscevic said.

REGIONAL PRESS

Sorensen: EU will continue to assist B&H (Nezavisne novine)

“The EU will continue to actively assist B&H to recover from the devastating floods of May 2014”, the Head of the EU Delegation to B&H and EU Special Representative in B&H, Ambassador Peter Sorensen said in a meeting with Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Bruno Macaes in Sarajevo. “Those in authority in B&H must work even harder now on promoting economic development, implementing economic reforms, creating a better climate for businesses, and fighting corruption. The recovery process will offer the opportunity for investment in reconstruction. There also needs to be a focus on flood prevention and joint action in the region to minimize future risk”, Ambassador Sorensen said. During the meeting, the Ambassador and the Minister also discussed the economic and social situation in the country. The Ambassador outlined the six areas of economic reform defined at the Forum for Prosperity and Jobs, held in May this year. These areas include: to cut taxes on jobs from their current levels (close to 40 percent of total labor costs); to remove other specific barriers to hiring new workers; to slash the administrative barriers to investment; to undertake serious reforms in old enterprises and adopt a plan to improve corporate culture; to seriously address corruption by removing incentives and making administrative procedures more transparent; and to target social welfare at those most in need of help.

Tegeltija: Maintain achieved level of judicial independence (Srna)

The newly-appointed president of the B&H High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council Milan Tegeltija has said that during his term in office, the institution will strongly advocate maintaining the achieved level of judicial independence because that is a prerequisite without which there can be no system that rests on the division of authority that includes democracy. “This means that we won’t collaborate with the executive and legislative authorities at all levels but such collaboration will be based on the principles of the division of authority, the principle of mutual respect and agreement,” Tegeltija told a press conference in Sarajevo. The judiciary in B&H has reached a high level of independence which the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council will try to preserve for the sake of all citizens, he said. “In fighting organized crime and corruption, judiciary is one of the most important factors and all holders of judicial positions will strongly be supported by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council to tackle this serious and difficult work that is ahead of them. In the coming period, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council will make sure that the politicians in this country talk less about judiciary and that judiciary talks about the authorities and the way they are if they are corrupt, and this will be done through the processes that are bound to happen,” he said. Answering a question whether he was associated with some political parties, Tegeltija said his previous cooperation with the executive authorities was directed exclusively on the provision of material resources for the functioning of the Banja Luka Court of First Instance, of which he was president. Tegeltija promised he would make sure that the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council be the institution that would appoint B&H prosecutors under the procedures prescribed by the valid High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council Act. President of the Banja Luka Court of First Instance Milan Tegeltija is the new president of the B&H High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Council has decided. Tegeltija has been appointed to a four-year term. Ruzica Jukic and Jadranka Lokmic Misiraca have been appointed High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council vice-presidents, the Council said.

Turkish war ships banned from entering Neum (Fena)

The B&H Council of Ministers didn’t give consent for holding an open navy exercise of the marine academy of the Turkish Armed Forces, requested by the B&H Ministry of Security, and which was supposed to be held between 14 and 19 July in Neum, of which the Ministry of Security will inform the B&H Presidency. The B&H Council of Minister recalls that the local community has a negative stand towards the entrance of ships into the Neum Bay as it considers that the presence of war ships would negatively reflect on the tourist season and the eco-system.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Vucic Tightens Serbia’s Russia Ties in Moscow (BIRN, 8 July 2014)

Following the Serbian Prime Minister’s meetings with Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow, the two countries are to deepen economic cooperation and sign the deal on construction of South Stream pipeline, it was announced.

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, stated after his meeting with Vucic on July 8 that Moscow intends to strengthen relations with Serbia, primarily in the field of economy and trade.
For his part, Serbia’s Prime Minister announced that the agreement on the construction of South Stream gas pipeline through the country would soon be signed, along with other business arrangements.
He also stated that President Putin was to visit Belgrade by the end of the year.
Although the two leaders did not divulge the topics of their meeting in detail, before Vucic left for Moscow it was announced that the main issues, beside the pipeline, are the price of Russian gas, Serbia’s debts to Russia and standpoints on the conflict in Ukraine.

Following his meeting with his Russian counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev, Vucic on July 7 said that all crucial issues regarding the pipeline had been resolved, with only technical details remaining.
When complete, the pipeline will pump gas from Russia under the Black Sea and through Bulgaria and Serbia towards Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. Once built, the pipeline is expected to cut dependence on Ukraine for the transit of fuel.
Construction of the pipeline in Serbia is expected to cost about €2 billion of which Serbia should pay half.
Medvedev said that the project is to the benefit of both Serbia and Russia and should not be politicised, calling it a priority project for Russia.
According to Serbian media reports, the two sides agreed that Serbian companies will be engaged in construction, and that Serbia would pay off its part of investment from the credit at an interest rate of about 8 per cent, instead of the planned 8 per cent. The credit would be paid off from funds gained from transiting the gas.
Vucic said on Monday that Serbia aimed to join the European Union, but underlined that the country does not want to damage relations with Russia in the process.
He added that Belgrade welcomed recent peace initiatives launched by President Putin in relation to Ukraine.
“I have never concealed that Serbia wants to become a part of the EU, but Serbia does not want to damage good, the best, friendly relations with Russia at this difficult moment,” Vucic said, addressing reporters after a meeting with Medvedev.
Vucic and Medvedev also discussed expansion of the free trade regime in relation to Serbia’s exports, and the further engagement of Serbian construction firms.
According to Serbia’s public broadcaster, RTS, the two agreed that the free trade regime between the countries have been expanded to include Fiat 500L cars, cigarettes and cheese.

Balkans home to nearly half of media freedom violations (Index on Censorship, 9 July 2014)

Since its launch at the end of May, over 170 cases have been submitted on the media freedom crowd-sourcing platform promoted by Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso and Index on Censorship.

Over 170 cases have been submitted on a new media freedom crowdsourcing platform since its launch in May, while about half of the mapped cases of censorship and violations that spread in all 28 EU member states and candidate countries occurred in southern and southeast Europe.

Mediafreedom.ushahidi.com is a website that enables media professionals and citizen journalists to report and map media freedom violations across the 28 EU member states plus candidate countries. Ushahidi means ‘testimony’ in Swahili. Single cases can be uploaded through direct reporting on the platform or sent via email and be visualised on a Google map.

Information on the map reveals some common trends and similar problems across the region.

Over 40 of the reported cases involve legal measures taken against a journalist or a media, suggesting the pressing need of legal support and protection of those affect. Despite the existence of several associations and NGOs offering such support, journalists often fail to get the help they need on time, if ever.

Meanwhile arrests, verbal and physical attacks continue to be used as a tool to scare or discredit professionals. In some cases, journalists are detained in the field without clear explanation or warrant only to be released several hours later, when they can no longer report the event they originally intended.

A high concentration of violations is observed in Turkey, Italy and Serbia.

In Turkey, where 17 cases have been reported, financial and legal pressure seems to be one of the main tools used to silence critical voices.

In Serbia, where 16 cases have been reported, May’s devastating floods unleashed a series of worrying developments that made the international and local community turn their eyes towards the state of media freedom and spreading censorship in the country. For instance, several blogs experienced blockades and attacks after criticizing the government’s role and reaction to the floods.

In Italy 15 cases have been reported, with many involving threats and assault.

About the project

The Ushahidi media freedom crowd-sourcing platform has been developed in partnership by Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso and Index on Censorship. OBC participates in the initiative as part of the EU-funded Safety Net for European Journalists project, implemented in partnership with SEEMO, Ossigeno Informazione, Professor Eugenia Siapera (Dublin City University).

Gazprom subsidiary awarded South Stream deal (UPI, by Daniel J. Graeber, 9 July 2014)

Subsidiary Centrgaz will build pipeline through Serbia.
“Centrgaz will focus on design, procurement, construction and installation activities, personnel training and commissioning of South Stream in Serbia,” Gazprom said in a statement. “The contract stipulates involving Serbian subcontractors in carrying out certain operations.”

Centrgaz is a subsidiary of Gazprom. The Russian parent company said the bid was secured during a March bidding process that involved four other companies.

South Stream is designed to add a layer of diversity to Gazprom’s export strategy for European consumers. Most of the Russian gas bound for Europe runs through a Ukrainian transit system and geopolitical issues there expose that route to risk.

European leaders have balked over South Stream, saying it would strengthen Russia’s grip on the energy sector. European energy regulations are meant to keep monopolies like Gazprom from having a major stake in transit networks.

Gazprom said Tuesday it expects first gas deliveries through South Stream by late 2015 and the entire route from the Black Sea through Central Europe should be in service by 2018.

10th annual peace march starts in Bosnia-Herzegovina (World Bulletin, 9 July 2014)

The road in which Bosnian victims used to escape from the Serbian massacre holds a “peace march” organization with a high participation, between 8-11th July.

The road in which Bosnian victims used to escape from the Serbian massacre holds a “peace march” organization with a high participation, between 8-11th July.

A “peace march” with more than 5,000 participants from all over the world began Tuesday in Bosnia-Herzegovina to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. The march will last for three days.

Early on Tuesday morning, thousands of people — primarily from European and Arab countries — gathered on “Death Way” to commemorate the victims of the Srebrenica massacre. In 1995, about 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces under the command of Gen. Ratko Mladic, in what is considered the worst massacre on European soil since the Nazi era.

Mladic is on trial in The Hague, Netherlands, accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

This is the 10th anniversary of the first peace march. Marchers began their walk in the town of Nezuk and they will walk to a cemetery in Potocari, a village in eastern Bosnia-Herzegovina, just northwest of the town of Srebrenica. The walk is approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) per day. Marchers will spend three days on the road. At nights, they will stay in wooded areas previously designated for them.

After the march, a funeral prayer will be offered for 175 newly found genocide victims who will then be buried in the memorial tombs in Potocari.

The organization will inform the participants about the genocide during the three-day walk, drawing on the memories of those who survived the Serbian attacks.

Hamdi Fejzic, the chairman of “peace march” organizing committee said the march will send a message of peace, tolerance and coexistence. He said it is important not to forget the people who lost their lives.

Cihad Erginay, Turkey’s Ambassador to Sarajevo, also participated in the Peace March.

Retrial Demanded in Macedonia Mass Murder Case (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, Edona Peci, 9 July 2014)

An ethnic Albanian leader in Macedonia urged an internationally monitored retrial of the so-called ‘Monster’ case after six Albanians were found guilty of terrorism and jailed for life.

Ali Ahmeti, the head of the junior party in Macedonia’s ruling coalition, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, demanded on Tuesday a transparent retrial and a public presentation of the evidence that led to the conviction of six ethnic Albanians for terrorism – a verdict that sparked unrest on the streets of the capital last week. The statement came a week after a court gave life sentences to six Albanian Muslims for the killing of five ethnic Macedonians in 2012 in a case that raised ethnic tensions.

Alil Demiri, Afrim Ismailovic, Agim Ismailovic, Fejzi Aziri, Haki Aziri and Sami Ljuta were found guilty of the grave offence of terrorism in connection to the killings. One defendant was acquitted.

Two other men who were also convicted, Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic, are serving prison sentences in Kosovo and were tried in absentia.

Condemning the protests against the verdict in Macedonia over the past few days, Ahmeti said in a statement that there was “a joint responsibility to identify and overcome the efforts at selective justice”.

He said there was a also need to examine the role of “judges and prosecutors who carry out their duties with prejudice” and whose work devaluates faith in justice.

Ahmeti said that any new trial should be closely monitored by Western representatives.

The verdict angered ethnic Albanians, several thousand of whom who took to the streets of Skopje last week, throwing stones and bricks at the Criminal Court building and at riot police, who responded with tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades. More protests have been announced in Macedonia, while more than 200 protesters took to the streets of Pristina in neighbouring Kosovo on Tuesday in support of the convicted men.

Holding posters with slogans like “Skopje is not alone” and singing nationalist songs, protesters headed towards the Macedonian embassy where they burned the Macedonian flag.

The War Veterans Association in Kosovo echoed Ahmeti’s request for a retrial, accusing the authorities in Macedonia of handing out an unjust sentence.

The veterans’ organisation said the verdict proved that “the repression of Albanians continues even in the 21st century and has culminated with the ‘Monster’ trial in which Albanians were given life sentences without any proof [of guilt]”.

“As war veterans we express our readiness to help our brothers in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia… with whatever they need in order to bring an end once and for all to Slavic repression,” it said in a statement.

The association also urged the Kosovo government to not extradite the two Albanians convicted of terrorism in absentia to Macedonia.

Meanwhile, the situation in Macedonia itself on Tuesday remained calm, despite renewed calls for protests.

The Macedonian embassy in Tirana, Albania, also said that no protests took place in Tirana, although some groups had called for people to take to the streets.

In 2001, armed conflict between ethnic Albanian insurgents and the security forces erupted in Macedonia. It ended the same year with the signing of a peace deal that increased Albanian rights. Ethnic Albanians make up a quarter of Macedonia’s 2.1 million population.