LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: I didn’t feel any EU pressure (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told a press conference that he had not felt any pressures on Serbia from the EU to introduce sanctions against the Russian Federation over the situation in Ukraine, stressing that his position that Serbia would not impose sanctions on Russia would not change. When asked to comment on a statement made by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic that he expected stronger EU pressure on Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia, Vucic said: “If someone should be exerted pressure on and if it exists it will be on the prime minister before all. I have not experienced anything that could be called that way. These were only discussions, although not always easy ones. I believe that Serbia’s position is respected, and we care about Serbia. We are on a European path, but Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia. Serbia has several reasons for this, and believes that it is the best possible policy for it and its citizens to pursue. Whether we will be able to hold on to such a political position or political changes will take place is another matter, but I am personally very resolute to retain the position of Serbia’s. You never know who may make a new majority – I would not rule that out,” the prime minister said.
Gasic: Invitation confirms partnership (Tanjug)

Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic, who is taking part in the NATO NATO Wales Summit, has said that the Ministry is actively participating in the Partnership for Peace program and building trust with partner countries and NATO member states. “The invitation to attend this gathering confirms that Serbia is regarded as reliable and responsible partner, committed to cooperation with all the states and international organizations aiming to improve regional and global security,” stressed Gasic. “Participating in activities under this program, members of the Serbian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces are acquiring new knowledge and skills and are sharing experiences with members of other armed forces, which is beneficial in more than one way. Of course, Serbia’s engagement in the Partnership for Peace is not inconsistent with the Serbian Army’s military neutral position and it offers extraordinary opportunities for Serbia to actively cooperate with all NATO member-states and partners and facilitate support for the defense reform process,” said Gasic. As the Serbian Defense Ministry, Gasic informed participants of the meeting about Serbia’s intent to consider in detail its possible engagement in an interoperability platform in the coming period, in line with its military’s capabilities and capacities. The meeting, in which Gasic took part, was aimed at promoting the 2014-2015 Interoperability Platform. Gasic is the first Serbian defense minister to take part in such a summit.

Brussels not requiring a peace agreement (Novosti)

There is no requirement of the EU for Belgrade and Pristina to sign a peace agreement before entering the second phase of the dialogue on normalization of relations, the Serbian leadership confirmed for Novosti. They also convey that Belgrade is ready to continue the dialogue, that they are waiting for the formation of the government in Pristina and that there are no signs that the new EU High Representative Federica Mogherini will “lower” the negotiations from the premier to the technical level. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic tells Novosti that the recent statement of Pristina officials that a peace agreement needs to be signed before the dialogue resumes is a “shot in the dark” and a show for their internal needs: “That is not an official EU condition for resuming the normalization and integration process, i.e. the opening of chapters. The Brussels agreement is neutral in status as well as all coming agreements. Belgrade is ready to resume the dialogue, and the delay occurred over the political crisis in Pristina. We expect the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini to assist in the resumption of the dialogue in a constructive spirit and the European Commission to soon define the content of the Chapter 35 that also refers to Kosovo and Metohija.” It is precisely this chapter that will be the topic of talks of the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric and the team of the EU high representative today and tomorrow in Brussels. Djuric confirmed for Novosti that they will analyze screenings held for Chapter 35 and criteria for its opening. “At present there is nobody in Pristina who would have the capacity to present the request for initialing a peace agreement nor is Brussels requiring this from Serbia. We expect the dialogue to resume soon, and since a Serb will become the deputy prime minister in the new government in Pristina, and that the people on the Serb (Srpska) list will receive several key posts, a mixed Albanian-Serb delegation will be sitting across the Brussels negotiating table,” says Djuric, saying there are no signs that the format of the dialogue will be changed, but that it will remain on the highest, political level. We heard from the Minister without Portfolio in charge of EU Jadranka Joksimovic that Serbia was ready for the opening of Chapter 32 on financial control. She hopes that this step will be made by the end of the year: “Our negotiating position for this sphere has been completed. We are aware of the German stand that the opening of this chapter should be followed with progress in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, but we have done here everything as far as we are concerned.”

EULEX obstructing arrest of physician Jusuf Somnez? (Danas)

While the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution claims that it has strong evidence that Turkish physician Jusuf Somnez, suspected of trafficking in human organs, is in the Netherlands, EULEX is still checking this information. The Serbian Prosecution submitted, as early as eight days ago, all data to the EULEX Chief Prosecutor Jonathan Ratel, even the address in Amsterdam where Somnez is located. The fact that Somnez is on Interpol’s warrant but hasn’t been arrested yet, points to the fact that EULEX hasn’t informed the Dutch police on the possibility that the wanted fugitive is on their territory. “EULEX has been acquainted with the media reporting on the fugitive physician Jusuf Somnez who is allegedly in Amsterdam,” Danas was told by the EULEX leadership. However, we were not given a response as to why the checking is taking so long and why is Somnez still at large. The Serbian War Crimes Prosecution tells Danas that they don’t know when Somnez escaped to the Netherlands, but that he is in Amsterdam without any doubt. “All information was submitted to EULEX and the next step is on them,” the Prosecution stated. Danas’ interlocutors opine that EULEX is for some reason obstructing intentionally the investigation and that one week is more than enough to determine someone’s identity. Law professor Bogoljub Milosavljevic tells Danas that the key question is how to force EULEX to react. “Had the Dutch police been informed that the fugitive from Interpol’s warrant is located in Amsterdam, he would have been already arrested. There should be no doubt on that,” says Milosavljevic. Criminologist Zlatko Nikolic agrees that the Dutch police are one of the best in Europe and it would have checked the identity of the suspect a long time ago had they been informed on this. “EULEX is obviously obstructing the arrest for reasons known to them. Since the case reached the public, the suspect has probably already fled,” says Nikolic.

Without extradition since they don’t recognize Kosovo

Before he was located in the Netherlands, Somnez was hiding in the South African Republic for some time. EULEX prosecutor found him and requested his extradition, but the South African authorities refused “because they don’t recognize the state of Kosovo”.

Medical specialists leaving Kosovo and Metohija and mostly getting jobs in Belgrade (Danas)

Over the past year more than 20 medical specialists had left central and northern Kosovo and Metohija. Former director of the health center in Gracanica and professor of the Medical Faculty of the Pristina University with headquarters relocated in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica Rada Trajkovic tells Danas that this number is higher if one also takes into account Strpce and Kosovo Pomoravlje. Marko Jaksic, the Head of the Orthopedic Department in the health center in Kosovska Mitrovica and former MP of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) in the Serbian parliament, warns that, due to the departure of young specialists and the retirement of their older colleagues, the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija could soon find themselves in a situation where there is no one to treat them. They opine that the difficult situation in the Serbian healthcare in Kosovo and Metohija could additionally influence the migration of the Serbs from the southern Serbian province. Over the shortage of medicine, sanitary supplies and reagents, but also dispersal of physicians in Serbian healthcare institutions, which is a result of the personnel policy of the former head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Aleksandar Vulin, the Serbs south of the Ibar River are increasingly more treated in private Albanian clinics. Serb physicians who would want to open a private practice or to even get a job in the Kosovo healthcare, according Trajkovic, have a problem with Kosovo licenses and diplomas from the Medical Faculty in Kosovska Mitrovica, which Pristina doesn’t recognize. According to her, the Brussels agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on universities is valid only for the Albanians from southern central Serbia. “Everybody is saying that the healthcare will remain in the Serbian system, but the situation on the ground is different. With the departure of physicians, who are, just like the Church, one of the pillars of Serb survival in Kosovo and Metohija, their families are also leaving and the people after them. We all had problems in the healthcare in Kosovo and Metohija and managed somehow. But after the Brussels agreement, along with the obstruction of Pristina in the expansion of health security, we have destabilization of the healthcare system with the personnel decisions from Belgrade, problems with medicaments that cannot be found even in northern Kosovo and Metohija. The new danger is the departure of the second level of healthcare – specialists, expert and educated young people. Thirteen specialists left only Gracanica – the clinical and healthcare center. Many more would have left, by they are bound by academy titles and are facing specialization,” Trajkovic tells Danas. Jaksic tells Danas that more than 10 physicians, young specialists, left northern Kosovo and Metohija, and 90 percent of them found jobs in Belgrade. “When prominent people leave they are automatically sending a message that there is no future and perspective in Kosovo and Metohija. The other problem is that many physicians will be retiring within a year or two, and a large vacuum will be created since five or six years are necessary in order to educate one medical specialist. There will no one to treat people in the near future,” stresses Jaksic. He points out that Serb physicians in northern Kosovo and Metohija don’t have a problem with Kosovo licenses and recognition of Serbian diplomas, as is the case south of the Ibar River, but that the salary in the amount of 150 percent of the physician’s salary in the rest of Serbia isn’t preventing them from leaving. Milan Ivanovic, the Director of the health center in Kosovska Mitrovica opines that “the departure of physicians doesn’t have serious proportions”. He tells Danas that “several specialists” left this institution and that “in cooperation with the Health Ministry they are working on limiting in Serbia proper the admission of physicians from Kosovo and Metohija”. “We will request the authorities to show more understanding for employment. People are retiring, and the Ministry didn’t approve one single admission. We announced a competition for some 15 scholarships because nearly 34 physicians will retire,” explains Milan Ivanovic.

REGIONAL PRESS

Bevanda-Ferguson: B&H a country with enormous potential (Oslobodjenje)

The Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers Vjekoslav Bevanda welcomed on his inaugural visit Ambassador Edward Ferguson of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and wished him success in performing his duties. He said that cooperation so far has been open and sincere, and expressed the expectation that good bilateral cooperation would be continued in the coming period. Ferguson expressed satisfaction on his arrival to B&H, emphasizing that good relations are important to advance political and economic cooperation, and that economic reforms are important for the progress of the country. The interlocutors agreed that B&H is a country with enormous potential, both natural resources and young people who have shown over and over again that they know how to and are able to work. Because of this fact, they expressed the importance of encouraging the private sector and the significance of creating a self-employment program. Chairman Bevanda informed Ambassador Ferguson of the conclusions of the recently held meeting of heads of government of the Western Balkans, held in Berlin at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as the consequences of the recent catastrophic floods and landslides in B&H, the Council of Ministers said in a statement.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Serbian Public Companies Among Central Europe’s Big Earners (BIRN, 4 September 2014)

International business consultancy firm Deloitte’s annual list of the top 500 Central European companies revealed that some of the most successful Serbian firms are at least partly state-owned.

Although the vast majority of state-owned companies in Serbia are debt-makers, Deloitte’s latest report showed that in terms of the most successful companies in the country, firms in which the state holds a stake are ahead of private businesses.

This year’s list of top 500 companies from Central Europe, based on their sales revenues in 2013, includes ten companies from Serbia, two more than the last year.

With 2.29 billion euro revenues in 2013, Petroleum Industry of Serbia, NIS, which is majority owned by Russia’s Gazprom with the state holding just over a quarter of the stock, is the best-ranked and holds 63rd place in the overall 500.

The second best-ranked Serbian company is Serbian Electric Power Industry, EPS, which was ranked 85th, while the third-ranked is Fiat in 115th place.

Fiat, which received subsidises from Serbian government when entering the country, made the Deloitte list for the first time.

The fourth on the list is Delhaize Serbia, a private company that owns the chain of popular Maxi supermarkets, and was ranked 228th overall. Delhaize is followed by private energy trading company EFT Investments, which was ranked 261st overall.

EFT Investments showed a significant drop from the last year when it was ranked 61st.

The sixth company from Serbia on this year’s list is state-owned Srbijagas, in 387th place, followed by private companies Tarkett Backa Palanka in 418th, supermarket chain Mercator-S in 427th, and Idea Belgrade in 490th.

This year, 42 companies from Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina made Deloitte’s list, but none from Kosovo or Montenegro.

Balkan States Expect No Breakthroughs at NATO Summit (BIRN, by Dusica Tomovic, Sinisa Jakov Marusic, Elvira M. Jukic, 4 September 2014)

Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina expect to be praised for their progress towards NATO but the Western military alliance’s summit in Wales will not see any new members named.

NATO has already made it clear that its high-level meeting on Thursday and Friday in the Welsh city of Cardiff will not be an ‘enlargement summit’ but the three Balkan aspirants are hoping that they will be offered some encouragement in their quests for membership.

Montenegro expects reconfirmation of NATO’s often-stated ‘open-door policy’ and a promise that the country could become part of the military alliance by the end of 2015.

It expects to be praised for its contribution to the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan, to which it has deployed 25 troops.

Montenegro will be represented by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Defence Minister Milica Pejanovic Djurisic and Foreign Minister Igor Luksic.

Luksic said the summit could define the final phase of the country’s path toward NATO membership and give a “clear time frame” for that.

“Achieved progress, with final stage of an intense and focused dialogue with NATO and the completion of reforms in the sphere of security and intelligence will put Montenegro in a phase of full and lasting political stability,” Luksic said in a statement on Tuesday.

Podgorica has pushed to join the alliance after it split from Serbia in 2006. It was given a Membership Action Plan in 2009, which is regarded as a final step before membership.

However NATO decided in June to once again postpone the country’s admission to the end of next year.

NATO officials said Montenegro should implement “profound reforms” in the security and intelligence services and secure majority public support as key conditions for membership.

Public support in Montenegro for joining NATO remains low, according to opinion polls. Djukanovic’s government claims 46 per cent of Montenegrins support it, but opposition parties and NGOs believe that figure is much lower, around 35 per cent.

The Montenegrin government said the country has actually received a “conditional invitation” to join. But some analysts have argued that it has not gained membership yet due to the lack of rule of law and issues with organised crime and corruption.

Macedonia will again not be offered an invitation to join because of its long-standing and unresolved ‘name’ dispute with Greece, although the country is expected to be praised for its participation in NATO-led missions.

Greece, a NATO member country with the right of veto, blocked Macedonia’s NATO accession in 2008. It insists that Macedonia’s name implies territorial claims to its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

As a result, NATO is expected to reiterate its conclusion from previous summits that Macedonia will be offered to join as soon as it resolves the name issue.

Macedonia has downgraded its presence at the summit in Cardiff. Although invited, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is not going. Instead, the country will be represented by Defence Minister Zoran Jolevski and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki.

“Being invited to join NATO is very important for us and Macedonia remains dedicated to this goal, although, as the public knows, this will not be an enlargement summit,” Jolevski told media recently.

Bosnia and Herzegovina meanwhile also expects praise for contributing eight troops to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, but the country still faces a series of obstacles on its road to membership after its Membership Action Plan was signed in 2010 but never put into force.

It still needs to register military property as state property and carry out various political, judicial, economic and defence reforms.

Bosnia has already destroyed surplus ammunition and arms and had united soldiers from its two entities, Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, into one army.

But a political agreement on registering defence property, reached in March 2012, has not yet been implemented. It foresaw some 70 military properties around Bosnia and Herzegovina to be registered to country’s state-level defense ministry.

NATO officials have said that the alliance is ready to activate the Membership Action Plan as soon as this is done.

“This condition was unfortunately still not fulfilled and represents a problem for the ambitions of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to membership in NATO,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Una Sinanovic told Balkan Insight.

“However, when it comes to our progress in NATO, we expect positive marks for our participation so far in the ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] mission in Afghanistan,” she added.

Macedonia court says opposition leader slandered prime minister (Reuters, 3 September 2014)

SKOPJE – Macedonia’s main opposition leader was found guilty of slander on Wednesday for insulting Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in a high-profile court case that may deepen political divisions in the small Balkan country.

Zoran Zaev, leader of the biggest opposition party, the SDSM, was sued by Gruevski after he accused the prime minister of taking a bribe in the 2004 sale of a local bank to a Serbian businessman.

“The court has decided to accept the complaint from Nikola Gruevski and declare Zoran Zaev guilty of slander,” the Skopje county court said in its ruling.

It ordered Zaev to pay 50,000 euros to Gruevski for damaging his reputation.

Zaev made the allegations during a campaign for the general election in March that handed Gruevski and his conservative VMRO-DPMNE party a fourth straight term in office.

The opposition immediately accused the government of rigging the vote and decided to boycott parliament and all state institutions. Gruevski and his party have rejected all accusations.

As a condition for returning to parliament, the SDSM has demanded that a “technical government” calls a new election and that the courts take seriously the bribe accusations against Gruevski.

Recent talks between the two parties to resolve the political deadlock failed to produce any results.

Gruevski said Zaev had launched an “intensive and aggressive media campaign” based on lies, while Zaev told the court he had acted “as a law-abiding citizen”, after receiving information about the bribe he thought was credible.

The Balkan country of two million people is one of Europe’s poorest, with an unemployment rate of 27 percent and an average monthly net salary of 350 euros (280 pounds).

(Reporting by Kole Casule, Writing by Zoran Radosavljevic, Editing by Angus MacSwan)

* * *

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.