LOCAL PRESS

The European Parliament calls on Serbia to harmonize its foreign policies with the EU’s, including the part that refers to Russia (Tanjug)

Serbia should continue its reforms and harmonize its foreign policy with the EU’s, including the part referring to Russia, according to the first draft of a resolution on Serbia prepared by European Parliament rapporteur David Mc Allister. The European Parliament welcomes Serbia’s commitment to EU integration and active implementation of social and economic reforms, says the document, which will be presented to the European Parliament committee on foreign affairs later this month. The resolution states that a thorough implementation of the adopted reform laws is the key indicator of the success of EU integration, and that further progress in the judiciary reform is needed to open chapters 23 and 24 (related to the rule of law) of the accession talks as soon as possible. The European Parliament calls on Serbia to harmonize its foreign and security policies with the EU’s, including the part that refers to Russia, and regrets that Serbia has not joined the EU’s restrictions imposed on Russia, the draft says. When it comes to the talks between Belgrade and Pristina meant to bring their relations back to normal, McAllister’s document states that the process was slow last year because of the elections in Serbia and Kosovo and it adds that the talks between the two sides’ top ranking politicians should continue as soon as possible.

The framework for the accession talks requires progress in the relations with Kosovo under Chapter 35, along with progress in other chapters, McAllister said in the draft, stressing that Chapter 35 should be among the first to be opened. McAllister praised Serbia’s efforts to improve regional relations and particularly highlighted the visit by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama to Belgrade in November. Serbia was also commended for adopting a strategy against discrimination and successfully holding a gay pride parade in September. When it comes to the fight against corruption, the EP rapporteur on Serbia lauded the country for starting a number of proceedings to combat high-level corruption, but said it was necessary to make much more effort to fully implement the legal framework, and to set aside sufficient financial resources for use by anti-corruption bodies. Leakage of investigation information to the media is a source of serious concern as it may constitute a violation of the presumption of innocence and should be investigated in compliance with the law, says the draft document. The document also expresses concern over threats against journalists and overall worsening of the situation in terms of the freedom of opinion and expression, and calls for increasing media ownership transparency. The draft resolution contains criticism of Article 234 of Serbia’s Criminal Code, related to the abuse of official position, with the caveat that the article still allows for too broad interpretation. Serbia is called upon to harmonize its energy policy with European rules and to start reconstruction procedures in the state-owned natural gas provider “Srbijagas” to ensure competitiveness in the energy sector as soon as possible. McAllister will present the draft document to the EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee on January 19, and it will reach a final form after two rounds of discussion and amendment submission to be finally adopted at a plenary session in March.

Vucic: Serbia and France together against evils of terrorism (Blic)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic signed the book of condolences in the French Embassy on Friday and paid homage to the victims of the terrorist attack in Charlie Hebdo paper, saying that Serbia and France will fight against the evils of terrorism together, just as they have done on a number of occasions in the past. At the same time, Vucic condemned in the harshest of tones the terrorist shots at free, peaceful citizens. On behalf of the government of the Republic of Serbia and all the citizens of the country, I want to express deepest sympathy with the families of the victims killed in the terror attack in Paris, and I most fiercely condemn the terrorist shots at free, peaceful citizens, Vucic wrote in the book of condolences. We are shocked by the evil that afflicted the friendly country of France and we believe that the people of France and the country’s leadership will triumph over those who want to take mankind several centuries back in history, Vucic wrote. Serbia believes that it still can and has a lot to learn from France, with regard to respect of human rights and freedoms, the implementation of democratic principles of government and many other aspects of the state, and this is why, dear friends in France, you can count on sincere and wholehearted support of Serbia and its people at this difficult moment, the prime minister wrote in the book of condolences. We will fight against the evils of terrorism together, just as France and Serbia have done on a number of occasions in the past, Vucic wrote. Glory be to all victims of the mindless terrorist attack, Vucic wrote in the book of condolences.

Je suis Charlie, Vucic wrote.

Dveri, DSS and group of intellectuals sign agreement (Tanjug)

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), movement Dveri and a group of intellectuals signed on Thursday a 10-point agreement on cooperation entitled the Christmas Declaration, whose goal is to get early general elections through activities as the opposition.

At a joint news conference, member of Dveri’s top committee Bosko Obradovic, DSS President Sanda Raskovic Ivic and the group of intellectuals that included member of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences Kosta Cavoski, Berkley University physics professor Jasmina Vujic and political analyst Djordje Vukadinovic called on all the patriotic forces, individuals and organizations to join them in order to put a stop to Serbia’s deterioration. An invitation for talks will be sent to Serbian Radical Party President Vojislav Seselj as well, Obradovic stated, explaining that he viewed that party as part of the opposition.

The goal is to form a strong opposition and create a new national policy and a patriotic government, he stressed. Raskovic Ivic also invited others to join, underscoring that the door was open to all patriots who wanted to be part of “the bloc designed to save Serbia.” Vukadinovic pointed out that it was not a group that shared the same opinions or a coalition for the elections, although he did not reject that possibility, but a group of people who were deeply convinced that the country and its people were in danger. Vujic emphasized that Serbia could expect nothing good unless the rush to join the EU was stopped. She believes that Kosovo’s secession has to be stopped, along with attempts to change the Constitution and sell the remaining government companies, especially Telekom. According to Cavoski, it is a moral duty for the Serbian intellectuals to be involved in politics. It would be best to leave the Constitution as it is, or else the door to federalization will open, which will lead to the dissolution of the country, he remarked. The 10 points of the declaration are: organizing Serbia as a country with a strong rule of law based on democratic principles, keeping Kosovo within Serbia, improving the standard of living, opposition to Serbia’s EU integration, Serbian integration, preventing the country from joining NATO, maintaining close ties with Russia, establishing a sustainable concept of economic patriotism, a cultural policy that is meant to strengthen the national identity of the Serbian people and a systemic, indiscriminate and institutionalized battle against corruption.

Office of Presevo in Gnjilane (Tanjug)

In Gjilane the Office for Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja was opened, and the opening of the Pristina office was announced too. The chairperson of the National Council of Albanians, Jonuz Musliu, announced the opening of the same office in Pristina. He said that the office in Gjilane shall serve “to help the Albanians from the Presevo Valley who live in Kosovo” with provisioning documents, reports portal Preseva.com. Musliju, who is also the mayor of Bujanovac, said that office in Gjilane will not be the only one and that he expects that there will “soon be opening of the office in Pristina”. According to him, the opening of the first office in Gjilane has great significance for Albanians from Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja and because it is being run by those who are very familiar with all the problems. Political representatives of Albanians from Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja in the previous period were in favor of establishing the stronger ties with Kosovo in various fields.

Croatian presidential candidate on conditions for Serbia (B92)

A Croatian presidential candidate has said that she would condition Serbia’s EU membership path “with the return of the missing persons from the (1990s) war.”

Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic of the right-wing HDZ party said this was because of her stance in favor of minority rights in Croatia, and added, “I will ask the same, which is now not respected, from Serbia.” Grabar Kitarovic made the statement during a televised debate with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, who is running against her in the presidential election second round. “No neighbor of ours, including Serbia, can go to the EU unless they take the same road that we have,” said Josipovic. They also spoke about former Croatian President and HDZ leader Franjo Tudjman, former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, and former Croatian General Ante Gotovina, who was indicted for war crimes by the Hague Tribunal, arrested in Spain where he was hiding, and later acquitted. “I think that Gotovina is a hero, but should have proved his innocence in the court. I think a mistake was made when he was advised to leave Croatia before he read the indictment,” said Grabar Kitarovic. Josipovic said that Gotovina’s arrest was legally and politically necessary, and that neither he nor Gotovina blame anyone who took part in that procedure. “Tudjman’s reconciliation project was a good idea. Reconciliation is always a good thing. If he stood for that today Tudjman would be expelled from the HDZ,” Josipovic noted. His presidential race opponent responded by saying that “it was needed at that time, and it is a part of Tudjman’s legacy.” Grabar Kitarovic also said it is up to the Zagreb residents to decide whether the city’s Marshal Tito Square should be renamed. “I consider him (Broz) a communist dictator and this issue is causing divisions among people,” she observed. “I consider him a positive personality,” Josipovic said.

REGIONAL PRESS

A horrible provocation of Bosniaks in regard to RS Day of the Republic (Pravda)

The Vice President of the Republika Srpska (RS) Ramiz Salkic calls on the authorities in Banja Luka to refrain from marking the 9th of January – RS Day of the Republic, arguing that the holiday among Bosniaks causes “discomfort and disgust.”

He argues that in this way, “the policy of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic is being celebrated” and that the RS “in the four years of war made more mass graves than in the whole world in that period.”

Salkic minds the celebration of the patron saint of the RS Archdeacon Stephen too, because, as he says, Bosniaks are being discriminated in this way. He states that the Bosniaks, which he sees as a majority population in B&H, “are ready to provide security and equality of all peoples and citizens.” Salkic appeals to international organizations who are dealing with the human rights issues, to engage in research and sanction, as he said, “human rights violations being committed against non-Serbs in the Serbian entity of Republika Srpska”.

The President of the RS Milorad Dodik said that the appeal of Vice President Salkic is unacceptable, inappropriate and unnecessary. Dodik says that Salkic’s statement “brings more misunderstandings than constructiveness in contributing to an agreement.”

“I’m also disgusted, with B&H, but some things I have to tolerate. I can understand that some of the things are not pleasant to them, but many things in B&H are not pleasant to us either, but we are forced to exist” – said the President of the RS. He added that it might be interesting to deduct half of the Salkic’s salary, as he didn’t say that he doesn’t want to receive it from the RS, although everything else is bothering him. “In any case, it is not good that he interferes like that, because people perceive the RS on a very emotional way, many have died for it. By speaking like that he is insulting the people who are majority and who love RS- Dodik told reporters in Banja Luka.

In accordance with the election rules in the Republika Srpska, two Vice-Presidents of the RS are to be elected from among Bosniaks and Croats. In this way Silkic took office and the position of a Vice-President of RS.

Security in RS at the highest degree of alert (Srna)

The Interior Minister Dragan Lukac has said security in Republika Srpska (RS) is at a satisfactory level and that at this point he does not have any information that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) could experience a terrorist attack similar to the one that occurred in Paris on Wednesday.

“The RS police are on the highest degree of alert and we are controlling the events on the ground in collaboration with all other security agencies in B&H,” Lukac told reporters in Banja Luka on Thursday. He said he was hopeful that there could not be a terrorist attack in B&H like the one that happened in France, asserting that police must be ready at all times, because France was an example that it could happen anywhere in the world.

Three masked gunmen attacked the premises of the Parisian satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday killing 10 journalists and two policemen. The paper had earlier published cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.

HDZ Josipovic trying to prevent Croatian citizens in Bosnia from voting (Dalje.com)

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) member of Parliament Gordan Jandrokovic said on Thursday that the complaint filed by the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate, Ivo Josipovic, with the State Electoral Commission over the transport of Croatian voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) to polling stations was an attempt at preventing Croatian citizens in B&H from exercising their constitutional right to vote in presidential elections in Croatia.

“This is not a donation to the HDZ’s presidential candidate, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, or to the HDZ, but a donation to Croatian citizens who live in B&H to help them go to the polls and exercise their basic constitutional right,” Jandrokovic told a press conference.

When asked who would pay for the buses that would take voters to the polling stations, Jandrokovic said that the cost of transport would be covered by a road carrier who had offered to organize the transport on his own initiative. Jandrokovic said Josipovic was doing this because he assumed he would not score well in B&H and therefore wanted to prevent Bosnian Croats, who are citizens of Croatia, from voting.

“It is interesting that Mr. Josipovic never before challenged voting by people who came by bus from Serbia, for example in recent local elections in Vukovar, or how the buses that brought those people for voting were financed,” Jandrokovic said.

Josipovic’s election team on Wednesday formally asked the State Electoral Commission to examine whether the free bus transport of HDZ voters to polling stations in B&H would be in line with the law.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Poll: Serbia’s complex attitude towards the EU (EurActiv.com, by Smiljana Vukojcic, 9. January 2015)

Serbian citizens have a more positive attitude toward Russia than toward the EU, but they would prefer to see their children live in the EU, according to a recent poll by Ipsos Strategic Marketing for the Beta News Agency, EurActiv Serbia reports.

The poll reveals that the apparent divisions in Serbia regarding the EU shouldn’t be taken for granted. More importantly, 54% of those surveyed support EU integration.

Support for accession remains the same as in a previous survey in February 2014, while a positive attitude toward the EU increased from 27% in February to 32% in November.

Still, 40% of the respondents have a negative opinion of the EU, while 17% have a negative stance towards Russia. Positive attitudes toward Russia are growing, with 52% in November, 5 points higher than in February. While those results suggest polarization in Serbian society, the data should also be read in another light. The survey showed that 70% of Serbians would like to see their children live in the EU if they opted to live abroad, while only 17% would choose Russia.

The preference for Europe is explained by the benefits citizens expect from the EU. They assume that accession would have a positive impact on infrastructure, and the protection of human rights (70% each), the judiciary (69%), health care (67%), education (66%), the economy (64%), unemployment and corruption (63% each). Optimism regarding Serbia’s accession to the EU started climbing in November, when 37% of respondents indicated they were positive that Serbia would become a member in 2020, which is a date often mentioned by Serbian officials as the official goal. On the other hand, Serbians were less informed about the EU accession process in November than 9 months before, as shown by the result that only 24% know that Serbia officially launched the EU negotiation process, 11 points less than in February. While there was no explanation by Ipsos, this may be due to the fact that reporting on the accession process was focused on political issues.

The survey also showed that the majority of citizens don’t have confidence in Serbian state institutions. The most trusted are the police (48%), and the government, which saw confidence rising from 44% in February to 48% in November. On the other hand, 50% said they don’t have confidence in the government. The least trusted are prosecutors (66%) and the courts (68%). The judiciary is known to be a weak spot in Serbia, with proceedings lasting too long, making it an inefficient way to protect civil rights. When it comes to the satisfaction with the government’s work, the biggest change is noted regarding anti-corruption efforts, with satisfaction declining from 53% in February to 42% in November.

Politician charged with genocide (Belfast Telegraph,8. January 2015)

Bosnia’s war crimes court has confirmed a genocide indictment against a Serb politician over the executions of Srebrenica Muslims during the country’s 1992-95 war.

Dragomir Vasic, a politician in the parliament of Republika Srpska – one of Bosnia’s two independent administrative parts – is accused of participating in the forcible removal of Srebrenica civilians, the separation of men and boys from their families, and their execution, the court said.

More than 8,000 Muslim Bosniac men and boys were killed in just a few days after Srebrenica – a UN-declared “safe area” – was overrun by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995.

At the time, Vasic was police chief in Zvornik, near Srebrenica.

Montenegro Opposition Seeks Support For Crisis Gov. (BIRN, byDusica Tomovic, 8. January 2015)

The main opposition party Democratic Front is seeking allies outside its own ranks to back its demand for the formation of a technical government to lead the country into early elections.

Opposition Democratic Front leader Miodrag Lekic will next week start consultations with various parties on an initiative to form a technical temporary government because of what he termed the “serious political and economic crisis” in Montenegro. Lekic said he would seek the support of all opposition NGOs and parties as well as parties representing ethnic minorities in parliament.

He said he would also invite the junior ruling Social Democratic Party, SDP, led by the speaker of parliament, Ranko Krivokapic, to join the talks. If the sought-for technical government is not formed, the opposition says it will radicalize its demands and stage mass protests against the government of Prime Minister Milo Djuknaovic.

“The people are demoralized by their living conditions … We have an economic, moral, institutional, political and corruption breakdown,” Lekic said. While opposition parties root for the formation of a temporary technical government, the smaller ruling SDP has not made up its mind on whether to support the demand. SDP chief Krivokapic cautiously said that Montenegro did not need a technical but a stable government. His party colleague, Dzavid Sabovic, welcomed the proposal of the Democratic Front, however. On Thursday, Sabovic said that he had long advocated the concept of a technical government, with a cabinet containing at least one minister from each parliamentary party. “A technical government should be formed with a fixed-term mandate of up to two years. Such a cabinet would forgot all the issues about the language, flag, anthem and coat of arms and dedicate itself to [national] survival,” Sabovic told the daily newspaper Dan.

The current government was elected on December 2012. It comprises Djukanovic’s Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, the Social Democrats, SDP, and three ethnic minority parties. The next regular general elections are not due till 2016.

Sports Court to Hear Albania-Serbia Dispute (BIRN, byBesar Likmeta, 9. January 2015 )

The Lausanne-based Court of Sports Arbitration, CAS, on Thursday said it will hear Albania’s and Serbia’s appeal against EUFA sanctions over the abandoned match in Belgrade on October 14.

“The football associations of Albania and Serbia seek to annul the UEFA decisions or subsidiarily to reduce the sanctions that were imposed,” the Court said.

“Two arbitration procedures have been opened and are being conducted in accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration,” it added. The cases concern the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014, which was abandoned amid chaos. The first football match ever held between the two sides ended in mayhem after a small drone with a banner embossed with Albanian motifs flew over the pitch, after which Serbian fans erupted and invaded the pitch. The banner flown by the drone portrayed a map of “Greater Albania” covered with an Albanian flag and portraits of independent Albania’s two founding fathers, Ismail Qemali and Isa Boletini. After Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic pulled down the banner a scuffle ensued between the two teams, as Albanian players grabbed the flag back from Mitrovic.

The scuffle turned into a worse brawl when Serbian fans invaded the pitch and attacked Albanian players, prompting British referee Martin Atkinson to suspend the match. The score was 0:0 at the time. Videos show Serbian fans attacking Albanian players with fists and kicks as the Serbian players try to protect them. Serbian fans also threw torches and lighters at the Albanian players as they left the field. Several Albanian players were hit by the hooligans who had invaded the pitch.

Following an investigation, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body sanctioned the Football Association of Serbia with a three-point deduction for the current UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying round, a fine of 100,000 euro and an order that the next two competition matches at home be played behind closed doors.

UEFA also sanctioned the Football Association of Albania, however, with the loss of the match 3-0 and a fine of 100,000 euro.