LOCAL PRESS

Djuric: All recommendations from the EC report useful for Serbia (RTS)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that all recommendations from the report of the European Commission (EC) are useful for Serbia. Djuric stresses that the amendment of the Constitution certainly awaits Serbia, but not only because of relations with Pristina, but because of Euro-integration. Part of the EC report regards the Belgrade-Pristina relations. It positively assesses this year’s elections in the province, but it also notes a stalemate in the Brussels dialogue and its implementation. Djuric explains that the EC report refers to the implementation of the Brussels agreement, the formation of the Union of Serb Municipalities, but also the resolution of issues of civil authorities, which will be discussed later. “Normalization of relations with Pristina is implemented because of us,” said Djuric. Speaking about the possibility of amendments to the Constitution, Djuric says the legal framework in the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations is seen as something given. However, he adds, at one point the Union of Serb Municipalities will have to be incorporated into the legal system in order to have legal security. Djuric stresses that amendments to the Constitution certainly awaits us because of the Euro-integration. According to him, it is important that the Serbian Constitution envisages the possibility of passing a constitutional law that refers to Kosovo and Metohija. He opines that the issue of Belgrade-Pristina relations is sometimes pushed too much into the limelight, so some other issues necessary for Euro-integration are being neglected. When it comes to the resumption of negotiations with the EU, Djuric expects the opening of one more chapter parallel to Chapter 35 by the end of the year. Commenting the media speculation that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga will visit Belgrade on 1 November, Djuric says he has no such information, but that all citizens who are not violating the law may move throughout the territory. Speaking about the fact that the Assembly in Pristina has not been constituted yet, Djuric says it doesn’t suit us but that we can’t elect the leadership to the Albanians. When it comes to the money from taxes that are collected at two administrative crossings and paid into a special fund, Djuric says that the 2.3 million euros that have been collected so far are not used since Pristina is blocking the election of the Serb member of this fund.

OSCE to continue to support Serbian government (Tanjug)

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday welcomed the progress achieved by Serbia in the EU accession process, announcing that it will continue to support the Serbian government in further consolidation of the reform process. “It is encouraging that the 2014 Report concludes with finding the satisfactory progress of Serbia on its European integration path despite some reported shortcomings,” said Michael Uyehara, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia. “Consistent with its mandate, the OSCE Mission to Serbia will continue to assist the Government of Serbia in further consolidation of its reform efforts, especially in the fields of rule of law and media freedom,” Uyehara said in a statement released by the OSCE Mission.

Vekaric: Thaqi suspected in the Likovac Camp case (NIN)

“The order for the exhumation, investigation, autopsy and identification of the remains of persons believed to be buried in the village of Piskota, Djakovica municipality, and at a nearby location, issued by the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo, i.e. EULEX’s War Crimes Investigative Unit, should target those most responsible for the crimes, which were carried out in the Likovac Camp. According to the information from the documentation of the Association of the Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons, these are Sahit Jashari, Sulejman Selimi, Sami Lushtaku, Shaban Shalja, Rahman Rami and Hashim Thaqi. Fatmir Ljimaj, who was tried in the ICTY in The Hague for the crimes in Likovac, was acquitted of those charges last year, because there was no valid information that would point to his activities in this camp,” Deputy War Crime Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric tells NIN. “Certain EULEX experts from the Department of Forensic Medicine had been ordered to indicate the immediate cause of death, time of death, visible traces of injury, whether such injuries occurred as a result of some external force, to determine what force is at issue, i.e. to determine how the injuries were inflicted. They are also asked to determine the time from the infliction of injuries, and, finally, whether death occurred as a result of these injuries. The explanation describes the execution time of this offense, through confidential sources. At issue is the period of conflicts in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.”

What are the expectations from the investigation?

“We can find the people who were in the Likovac Camp. That Camp was formed in the region of the Drenica operative zone in 1998 and contained kidnapped Kosovo Serbs, Albanians and Roma were brought here. The case of abducted persons that is linked to this Camp points that the abductions were carried out in the Drenica, Lab and Dukadjin operative zones. The lowest number of injured parties for whom we know have passed through the camp is 25, and we believe they were killed there.”

How do you interpret this investigation in the context of the July report of the Special Prosecutor Clint Williamson?

“These investigations are not related to his report, because we have been conducting them for several years. We came to the conclusion, from researching the terrain and the information we have, which was recently the case with the Batajnica site. And there will be more.”

Ognjen Tadic: I would like to be the Vucic of the Republika Srpska (Danas)

“Any comparison of me being an Aleksandar Vucic of the Republika Srpska (RS) feels good,” says Ognjen Tadic, candidate of the Alliance for Change (SP) for the President of the RS.

“Although I do not believe in the preservation of the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) as a state, what is represented by my rival Milorad Dodik – a unitary B&H, or, the so-called third entity – there is no legal precondition for the realization of such thing.” Tadic doesn’t express his views about ICTY trials, until the verdicts are made. “Aleksandar Vucic is the man to whom the citizens of Serbia gave a huge support and trust to transform Serbia into a serious state in which the citizens can live a decent life. Today his politics are respected by EU, USA and Russia at the same time, which is indicating that he is a serious politician that Serbia deserves. If I win the elections and become President of RS, I will try to justify the confidence of voters and to make RS a better place to live. B&H, as it is, can hardly survive. She is stagnating on her way to EU, citizens are living badly, and corruption is enormous. I believe that some changes must happen. Unfortunately I don’t see B&H as a country being a part of EU. That is the reality. The global economic crisis, tense relations between EU, USA and Russia and other problems have led the EU to deal with its own problems, and the sincerity of wishes for its continued expansion are under question.”

REGIONAL PRESS

EC criticizes B&H in progress report (Beta)

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule says B&H ranks low among regional countries when it comes to fulfilling its EU integration obligations. The lack of political movement is in stark contrast to the wishes of the citizens of B&H who want to see reforms towards EU, he said as EC’s 2014 progress report was published. Fule said that it will be important to quickly form all levels of government after the general election on Sunday. He stressed it was of critical importance for B&H to find ways of establishing effective coordination to deal with urgent social and economic reforms. “Only when we find this new political impetus will B&H be able to overcome the current stalemate in the integration process,” said Fule. In the progress report of the European Commission, the country is primarily criticized for a lack of political will of its political leaders to truly deal with the reforms necessary for its “European path.” The mass protests of citizens in February underlined the fragility of the socio-economic situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was pointed out. The ruling elite still instrumentalizes political, ethnic, and narrow party interests on many important issues, the EC said. It noted that B&H has not implemented the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the Sejdic-Finci case. “A lack of effective coordination mechanism on EU-related issues will continue to affect the interaction with the EU, including the level of financial assistance,” the report said. It added that there was little progress in implementing reforms to reduce corruption “that continues to affect the entire public sector, and remains most acute in the area of ​​services, and access to employment.” There has been increased political and financial pressure on the media, as well as intimidation and threats against journalists and editors, which is of serious concern, according to the report. The document assesses as negative the efforts to reduce unemployment, while the judicial system is described as inefficient as it represents “a terrible obstacle to investments.”

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

EU Raps Balkans Over War Crimes Prosecutions (BIRN, by Marija Ristic, 9 October 2014)

The latest EU progress report said that Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia are still making unacceptably slow progress in prosecuting war crimes.

The report published by the European Commission on Wednesday, examining the progress made by the western Balkan states towards the EU, said that the rule of law remains the most problematic issue in all four countries, while not enough is being done to prosecute perpetrators of crimes from the 1990s conflicts.

A lack of political will to prosecute high-level officials was also named as a serious problem in most of the countries.

The report said that Bosnia and Herzegovina had continued to tackle its huge backlog of domestic war crimes cases and implement its national war crimes strategy, but the pace was still too slow.

Prosecutors’ offices have recruited more staff but “appropriate financing of adequate staffing levels in prosecutors’ offices and courts remains an issue to be addressed urgently to ensure timely and effective processing of the backlog”, it said.

The report said that the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, must continue to investigate and prosecute war crimes in Kosovo because local judges were not able to do so.

“The local judiciary is still unable to fully pursue cases of this kind,” it said.

It also expressed concerns about threats and intimidation in Kosovo.

“Harassment of judges and prosecutors in the media and the absence of an effective response from the relevant institutions continue to be a serious concern,” it said.

As well as “insufficient political support” for war crimes and missing persons investigations, the report said that witnesses still faced threats intended to deter them from testifying.

“Witness intimidation continues to be a concern, although the police have made good progress establishing a witness protection directorate,” it said.

The report also raised series concerns about Montenegro’s efforts to tackle war crimes, saying that “no serious efforts to tackle impunity have been demonstrated”.

After recent acquittals and light sentences handed down by Montenegrin courts, the report noted that the country has yet to lay charges for command responsibility over war crimes.

“Montenegro needs to step up its efforts to fight impunity for war crimes, and effectively investigate, prosecute, try and punish war crimes in line with international standards. All outstanding allegations of war crimes need to be duly followed up. Montenegro needs to ensure that victims of war crimes have access to justice and reparations,” it said.

Meanwhile the report said that although Serbia had opened four new investigations, brought charges against ten people and convicted 13 others, senior commanders were still evading prosecution.

“Despite consistent efforts by the war crimes jurisdictions, the number of investigations against high-level officers still remains low, and courts continued to pass lenient sentences in such cases. Only a few victims of war crime have access to effective compensation under the current legal framework,” it said.

It also criticised Serbia for not doing enough to ensure witnesses’ security and help victims.

“Serious weaknesses in the witness protection system have not been addressed and assistance to victims has not improved,” it said.

The report also called on all four Balkan states to do more to resolve the fate of over 11,000 people still missing from the 1990s wars, urging “greater political commitment and renewed efforts” to tackle the problem.

“The lack of information on new sites and difficulties in identification of exhumed human remains continue to be key obstacles. A lack of political support seems to underlie the fact; no new information on the fate and whereabouts of missing persons was provided,” it said.

EU Commission Charts Uneven Progress in Balkans (BIRN, 8 October 2014)

Most Balkan countries have made some progress on their EU path, but key areas of concern remain organised crime, corruption, the rule of law, the courts, politicized state administrations – and giving a free media room to breathe.

Presenting the annual Enlargement Package in Brussels on Wednesday, Commissioner Stefan Fule said EU enlargement policy was delivering concrete results through reforms that gradually transform Balkan countries.

“Five years ago, we set out to strengthen the credibility and the transformative power of enlargement policy. Today, this approach is bearing fruit,” Fule said.

At the same time, the reports that European Commission has published on Wednesday show that progress in Balkan countries has been uneven, and some will have to work harder than others.

Albania: political dialogue needed

The Commission praises Albania for its “concrete action and sustained political will in the area of EU-related reforms.

“The new government undertook a number of reforms to bring the country closer to meeting the key priorities for progress towards the EU and deliver further tangible results, notably in the area of rule of law,” the EU noted.

However, the report also voiced concern about political divisions; the main opposition Democratic Party has been boycotting parliament since July.

The Commission said that “government and opposition should take steps to restore political dialogue in parliament.

“The government needs to ensure that the opposition has the possibility to fully perform its democratic control function. At the same time, the opposition also needs to engage constructively in the democratic processes.

“Increasing cross-party cooperation remains essential for a sustainable reform process,” report said.

On the economy, the report stated that Albania had maintained macroeconomic stability but still faces significant challenges.

“Persistent fiscal imbalances have caused public debt to reach high levels and fiscal buffers are largely exhausted,” it said.

“Large accumulated government arrears have sapped liquidity and confidence in the economy, despite the government beginning to clear these in March.

“The high current account deficit reflects weak competitiveness and a narrow production base. The private sector is held back by weaknesses in the regulatory environment and the rule of law. Substantial efforts are required to improve the labour market,” the commission wrote.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: at a standstill

The Commission noted with regret that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains at a standstill on its path towards European integration, and lamented a lack of political will to address necessary reforms.

“Following the elections [on October 12], it will be essential for the country to speak with one voice, to tackle urgent socio-economic reforms and to progress on its European agenda,” the report stated.

The report remarked that Bosnia made limited or no progress in adopting EU-related laws, fighting corruption, judicial reform or improving the functionality and efficiency of all levels of government.

“The complicated decision-making process, lack of shared vision and weak cooperation between the various levels of government have delayed structural reforms and hampered the country’s progress,” the Commission wrote.

The EU further noted that “continued use of divisive rhetoric by some political representatives and questioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity to function as a country had a negative impact on cooperation between the [two] Entities and the functioning of the State.”

The report also noted that Bosnia had not acted on the ruling in 2009 by the European Court of Human Rights in case of Sejdic and Finci case and had not adjusted its constitution to enable citizens who do not declare themselves as one of the three constituent peoples from standing as candidates for the Presidency and the House of Peoples of parliament.

Macedonia: a politicized administration

The Commission continues to recommend that Macedonia be allowed to start membership talks with the EU, noting, however, that the country has recent slid backwards in terms of freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary.

“There is indirect state control of media output through government advertising and government-favoured (and favourable) media outlets,” the report noted.

The report remarked that the functioning of parliament continued to be hindered by the lack of a constructive political dialogue and deep divisions between the main parties.

“The absence of most opposition MPs from parliament hampered its work on adopting new reforms, and its ability to provide the necessary checks and balances on the activities of government,” it recalled.

“Government and opposition should take steps to restore political dialogue in parliament,” the Commission wrote.

The report stated that the politicization of government at both central and local level remains of concern.

“Confidence in the independence of state institutions is low due to widely-held perceptions that the public administration is politicised and lacks transparency,” the report said.

Montenegro: time to tackle corruption

Tangible results on the ground are needed and will be key to determining the overall pace of the country’s EU accession negotiations, the report on Montenegro said.

The Commission concluded that the country continues to meet the political criteria for membership, had made further progress in establishing a functioning market economy and had improved its ability to take on the obligations of EU membership.

“Delays have been, however, noted on a number of measures, especially on legislative reforms,” the Commission wrote.

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said that Montenegro needs to make sure that cases of corruption, including high-profile cases, were thoroughly investigated and, where appropriate, the perpetrators prosecuted.

The degree to which the fight against corruption and other rule of law-related reforms produces results, he added, will determine the overall pace of the accession negotiations.

“If no tangible progress is made, negotiations would have to slow down, as agreed in our negotiating framework,” Fule told the Montenegrin media.

Kosovo: effective rule of law required

In its report on Kosovo, the European Commission stated that the initialling of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement in July was a major milestone in Kosovo’s relations with the EU.

“Now Kosovo needs to deliver on key reforms, in particular the rule of law,” the Commission stated.

Fule urged Kosovo to move forward and form a new government, which has been on hold since the June elections.

The report, meanwhile, told Kosovo to amend its constitution in order to align it with EU standards, reform the public administration, improve the independence, accountability and impartiality of judges and prosecutors and repress corruption and organised crime.

“Even though Kosovo’s judicial and prosecutorial councils prioritised corruption cases there is no track record of convictions,” the report noted.

“Corruption remains prevalent in many areas, including in public procurement, and continues to be a serious problem that needs to be addressed urgently.

“Real political commitment is needed to translate efforts into actual results in the fight against corruption,” the Commission wrote.

Serbia: progress on Kosovo essential

The Commission said Serbia continues to meet the EU’s political criteria, but it needs to comprehensively reform the rule of law and the public administration while ensuring full freedom of expression.

Progress in normalising relations with Kosovo is deemed essential for advancing the European future of both Serbia and Kosovo.

The report stated that although both governments in Belgrade and Pristina had remained engaged in the EU-facilitated dialogue, progress has markedly slowed since March 2014, largely due to elections in both countries.

“New momentum needs to be generated to tackle key outstanding issues and open a new phase in the normalisation of relations,” the report noted.

The report also noted that Serbia had not joined the EU sanctions on Russia imposed in relation to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The country “needs to progressively align its policies and positions with the EU ones, in the period up to accession”, the report advised.

It also needs to step up its efforts “towards alignment with the EU acquis in particular in the fields of energy – including on the South Stream gas pipeline,” the report added.

The fact that Serbia secured the first Gay Pride Parade in three years was welcomed. However, concerns were expressed about freedom of expression.

“A growing trend of self-censorship which, combined with undue influence on editorial policies, and a series of cases of intervention against websites, are detrimental to freedom of the media and adversely affect the development of professional and investigative journalism,” the report wrote.

The report also states that further efforts must be made towards judicial reform and the fight against corruption, as well as addressing the very high budget deficit, by streamlining government spending, restoring fiscal discipline and improving tax collection.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: the world’s most complicated system of government? (The Guardian, by Alberto Nardelli , Denis Dzidic and Elvira Jukic, 8 October 2014)

Bosnia holds its seventh general elections on 12 October. Since the end of the war, political allegiance has been usually based on ethnic identity, and divisions are still enshrined in what is possibly the world’s most complicated institutional set up

Bosnia and Herzegovina holds its seventh general elections on 12 October. Since the end of the war, political allegiance has been usually based on ethnic identity. Ethnic politics will play its role in Sunday’s elections too, but there are other issues too. The debate, following protests earlier this year, has centred most on economic and social issues, allegedly corrupt politicians, stagnation and jobs – at 27.5%, the unemployment rate in Bosnia is consistently among the highest in the Balkans. The employment rate remains below 40%, and two-thirds of young people are jobless. Meanwhile, the salary of lawmakers is six times the country’s average wage – a rarely lopsided difference, making Bosnia’s MPs, relatively speaking, among the richest in Europe.

An additional blow to the economy were the devastating floods in May, which inflicted damages of €2bn (about 15% of the country’s GDP).

Bosnia is home to what is most probably the world’s most complicated system of government. Any understanding of this rather unique constitutional and institutional set up needs to begin with the Dayton Peace Accords.

Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia on 1 March 1992, triggering a secessionist bid by the country’s Serbs backed by Belgrade, and a war that left about 100,000 dead.

The Dayton Peace Accords were signed in late 1995 and ended the conflict. The agreement achieved its immediate purpose of putting an end to the bloodshed, but it froze its ethnic divisions in place. The accords also bequeathed an extremely complex system of government, which has made governance extremely difficult.

One country, two entities

Bosnia and Herzegovina comprises two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska. The main cities in the Federation are the capital Sarajevo, and the cities of Mostar, Tuzla, Bihac and Zenica, while in the Republika Srpska entity the main cities are Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Prijedor and Trebinje. Formally part of both entities is the Brčko District, a multi-ethnic self-governing administrative unit.

Within this system there is the constant backdrop of different aspirations: Republika Srpska seeking greater autonomy, Croat parties angling for a third entity, and several Bosniak parties hoping for a more centrally governed country.

The Federation is predominantly Bosniak (Muslims) and Croat (Catholics), while the Republika Srpska is Serb (Orthodox). The largest minorities are the Roma and Jewish communities. According to a 2013 census, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a population of about 3.8 million people. A demographic breakdown remains difficult as the 2013 census has yet to be fully completed, but according to the CIA Factbook the composition of the population is 48% Bosniak, 37.1% Serb, 14.3% Croat and 0.6% “others”.

A very complicated system of government

1. A directly elected tripartite Presidency, which is in charge of foreign, diplomatic and military affairs, and the budget of state-level institutions. The three presidency members are from the three constituent nations – one Bosniak, one Serb, one Croat. Quite controversially, the candidates are “self-defined” as such and must only claim one identity, so you cannot have someone standing (or voting) for both the Bosniak and Croat member, or identifying outside these pre-constituted groups – for example, anyone who considers themselves as simply Bosnian, Roma or Croat and Jewish, is ineligible. Each member is separately elected by plurality vote (the candidate with most votes, but not necessarily a majority, wins).

Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeliko Komsic (L), Nebojsa Radmanovic (C), and Bakir Izetbegovic. Photograph: ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images

2. The Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina encompasses a House of Representatives and a House of Peoples. The 42 members of the house of representatives are directly elected via a system of proportional representation. 28 members are elected in the Federation, 14 in the Republika Srpska. The 15 members of the house of peoples are indirectly elected by the entities’ parliaments, with two-thirds of members from the Federation (five Croats and five Bosniaks) and one-third from the Republika Srpska (five Serbs).

3. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina is nominated by the Presidency and approved by the House of Representatives – s/he is effectively the Prime Minister, and nominates ministers. The state government is in charge of security and defence (so enacting through legislation the decisions of the presidency), customs and immigration, fiscal and monetary policy, and facilitating inter-entity coordination and regulation.

4. At an entity level, both the Federation and the Republika Srpska have significant autonomy. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a directly-elected 98-member house of representatives. The Republika Srpska has an 83-member national assembly. Entities’ parliaments have jurisdiction over healthcare, education, agriculture, culture, veteran issues, labour, police and internal affairs.

5. At both state and entity levels, delegates to the upper houses have the primary duty of ensuring that there is agreement between constituent nations, and representatives of minorities, when confirming legislation.

6. Both entities have a Prime Minister and 16 ministries. The Federation is furthermore divided into 10 cantons, each with its own administrative government and relative autonomy on local issues such as education and health care.

The voting system (for elections taking place on Sunday)

Members of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s parliament are elected through open lists and via proportional representation.

At a state level, Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into eight electoral units, three in the Republika Srpska and five in the Federation.

Each presidency member is separately elected by plurality vote with each voter in the Federation choosing either a Bosniak or Croat candidate, and those in the Republika Srpska electing a Serb candidate.

The Central Electoral Commission reports an electorate of 3.2 million voters.

The main parties

65 parties, 24 independent candidates and 24 coalitions are eligible to run in Sunday’s election.

These are the main parties:

Social Democratic Party SDP – centre-left

Party of Democratic Action SDA – centre-right

Alliance for a Better Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina SBB BiH -centre-right

Croatian, Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina HDZ BiH – centre-right

Croatian Democratic Union 1990 HDZ 1990 – centre-right

Alliance of Independent Social Democrats SNSD – centre-left (though in reality, nationalist)

Serb Democratic Party SDS – right-wing

Party positioning is indicative and to be viewed in the context and framework of the country’s specific politics.

There are 10 candidates for the post of Bosniak member of the three-member Presidency. Croats will be choosing between four candidates, while there are three candidates for the Serb seat.

The 2010 election

The last general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were held in 2010. Turnout was 56%.

The clear winner in Republika Srpska entity was the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, SNSD, with 43.3%, nearly twice as much as the SDS. In the Federation, the Social-democratic party, SDP, and the Party of Democratic Action, SDA, won 26% and 19.5% of the vote respectively. The largest Bosnian Croat political force was the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, with 11%. A six-party government (between the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Party of Democratic Action(SDA), the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ), the Croatian Democratic Union 1990, the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD)) was eventually formed 15 months after the election.

The outgoing government and parliament have been dubbed the worst ever. 106 laws were adopted by parliament in the past four years, down from the 180 between 2006-2010. As a comparison, over the same period the Montenegrin government adopted about 350 laws, Serbia 500 and Croatia about 750.

In the tripartite presidency vote, the SNSD candidate Nebojsa Radmanovic was the clear winner among Serb voters, while the SDA candidate Bakir Izetbegovic prevailed as the Bosniak member of the Presidency, and the SDP candidate Zeljko Komsic emerged as the Croat member of the Presidency. The latter result was not welcomed among several right-wing Croat parties who accused Komsic of being elected by Bosniak voters.

A reminder of the wars in former Yugoslavia at the Newseum in Washington D.C. Photo: Alberto Nardelli for The Guardian.

A country’s constitution and institutions are always a consequence of its history. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the divisions of the past may have been frozen, but their complexity and scars remain deeply enshrined in how the country’s parliament and government are elected and organised.

IMF Downgrades Montenegro’s Growth Forecast (BIRN, by Dusica Tomovic, 9 October 2014)

The IMF has revised its forecast of Montenegro’s economic growth downwards from 2.8 per cent anticipated in April to 2.3 per cent.

The IMF has lowered its prediction of growth in Montenegrin GDP from 2.8 per cent to 2.3 per cent amid concerns of the impact of the eurozone crisis and sluggish demand for goods and services.
In its half-yearly World Economic Outlook, released on Wednesday, the IMF warned that Montenegro could register a deficit of 17.8 per cent of GDP in its balance of payments this year, while next year the gap could amount to 23.7 per cent.
Consumer prices in Montenegro will drop 0.6 per cent this year, while in 2015 they could  rise by 1.3 per cent.
The IMF lists Montenegro among the “emerging” countries of Europe, together with Turkey, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.
According to the IMF, the region is likely to see 3.8 per cent growth overall in 2014 and 4 per cent growth in 2015.
The IMF report said countries in Southeast Europe were likely to experience slower growth in 2014 partly because of the severe floods that struck Serbia and Bosnia in May.
Growth is likely to pick up in 2015, however, as governments spend money on reconstruction, rebuilding flood-affected areas and, in some countries, employment grows.