LOCAL PRESS

Court: Decree on administrative crossings-unconstitutional (Tanjug/Politika)

The decree on the control of crossings along the administrative line with the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija is not in line with Serbian Constitution, the Constitutional Court of Serbia has ascertained. The Constitutional Court made the decision on 26 March, but refused the motion for terminating the implementation of individual documents and actions arising from the decree, it was published on the Court’s website. The Serbian government adopted the decree on the control of crossings along the administrative line with the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija on 23 December 2011, and the motion for declaring it unconstitutional was submitted by 25 MPs, 21 of whom belong to the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). In the reasoning behind the motion, they said that the decree constituted a severe violation of the unity and territorial integrity of Serbia. On the same day, the Constitutional Court rejected the motion for reviewing the constitutionality of the decision to accept the report on the EU-facilitated political and technical dialogue with the interim institutions of self-government in Pristina. The Court also rejected the motion for reviewing the constitutionality of the government’s conclusions delivered on 22 April 2013, with which it accepted the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Brussels agreement).

Enhancing cooperation with NATO with preservation of military neutrality of Serbia (RTS/Tanjug/Politika)

Serbia is militarily neutral and does not aspire to NATO membership, but also sees room for further improvement of cooperation within the mechanism Partnership for Peace, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said at a seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Belgrade. Dacic added that NATO recognizes and respects the specificity of Serbia in relation to all other member states and partners of the Alliance. Serbia recognizes NATO’s importance and the role in the system of regional security, Dacic said. He stressed that Serbia wants to be a reliable, responsible and predictable partner and collocutor NATO, in order to jointly contribute to the preservation of peace and stability in the region. “Our active participation in the Partnership for Peace program since December 2006, including the meeting of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich security conference in February, as well as the visit Defense Minister Gasic paid to NATO headquarters in March this year, confirms our commitment. The adoption of the IPAP on 15 January this year will give a special contribution to the further improvement of cooperation in all areas of common interest. Serbia wants to deepen cooperation for mutual benefit and respects the aspirations of its neighbors towards NATO membership although Serbia has no intention of becoming a NATO member,” said Dacic. Important political decisions enacted and implemented by the Serbian Government are also recognized by the EU, and in this context, we expect even stronger support from the EU and the first negotiating chapters to be opened as soon as possible, Dacic said. Encouraging is also, he added, the positive tone of the recently adopted European Parliament’s resolution on Serbia’s progress in the process of European integration and the EU’s readiness to have the first negotiating chapters opened this year, as stated by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini during her recent visit to Belgrade. Referring to Serbia’s OSCE presidency and the crisis in Ukraine, Dacic stressed that Serbia respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all UN member states, including Ukraine, and expressed his belief that the crisis can be resolved only by peaceful and diplomatic means. Dacic reiterated that Serbia has traditionally friendly relations with Russia, which does not affect our country’s commitment to the EU membership.

Participants of the three-day seminar were welcomed Deputy Parliament Speaker Igor Becic, who assessed the cooperation of the Serbian delegation and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly as successful. Paolo Ali, vice president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, also stated he is satisfied with the cooperation. Stressing his belief that the future of Serbia lies in the Euro-Atlantic integration, he added that it is for the citizens of Serbia to decide, and that he does not see anything wrong with the fact that Serbia does not want to be a member of NATO.

Dacic: Resolution on genocide does not contribute to resumption of dialogue (Politika)

The request of the caucus of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) led by Hashim Thaqi to vote in the Assembly on the Resolution on the genocide committed by the Serbs against the Albanians during the 1999 conflict is apparently an attempt to draw public attention from the story on a special court for war crimes that is shaking the ruling coalition. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic pointed out yesterday that the resolution on the Serb genocide against the Albanians is not in favor of the Brussels talks. Following the meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Dacic said that there was not voting on genocide, but a trial is conducted. “I have just received the news that the Kosovo Assembly is considering some declaration on the genocide in Kosovo. Wait, does anyone think that Serbia can talk in Brussels under such conditions? Where does all this take us?”, said Dacic, according to Tanjug. The Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun assesses that the resolution is obviously an attempt to counter the story on the formation of a special court for war crimes, the upcoming determination of responsibility for the crimes perpetrated by the terrorist formation KLA,” says Drecun, adding that the KLA had genocidal intentions towards the Serb people, as well as that they attempted to do this on several occasions. “Now Thaqi, Veseli, Haliti and others are scared of the responsibility for these crimes and the indictments in a special court that should be formed. They are trying now to calm down the so-called veterans of the KLA with these statements that should create some sort of image to this party that it is still on the paths of their struggle, but as a matter of fact with an invented story about some genocide which, of course, didn’t occur.” Asked what would be the real significance of such a resolution if it were to be adopted in the Kosovo Assembly, Drecun says: “None, except for further radicalizing the situation, destabilizing and increasing this abyss that exists between the Serbs and Albanians. That is extremely irresponsible political behavior of Albanian political parties and leaders. Instead of turning to the process of true reconciliation, process of continuing normalization of relations, now they are trying to cover up their own responsibility that will be uncovered at least to some extent, if not entirely, before a special court that will be formed by them or the United Nations.”

Dacic: Borders cannot be changed by force (Blic)

“The self-determination principle applies to nations and not to minorities and it cannot be realized unilaterally, without agreement, i.e. borders cannot be changed unilaterally and by force. This was the case with Kosovo, they passed unilaterally the decision, without Serbia’s consent, and this was accepted by one part of the international community, yet those same countries didn’t accept Crimea,” Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic explained for Blic. He, thus, responded to the request of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) to elaborate his statement that Serbia doesn’t deny the right to self-determination, assessed by this party as accepting independence of Kosovo. “I spoke about the principle that is equally treated in international relations as the principle of territorial integrity, for example in the Helsinki principles referred to be the Russians at present,” said Dacic.

Dacic: Serbia committed to fighting radicalism (Danas)

“Serbia is firmly committed to response to security challenges and it is ready to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and all modes of extremism and radicalism,” Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stated. He noted that there are radical Muslim preachers in the Raska District and in Kosovo and Metohija who preach religion in an extremist way in foreign-funded religious centers and are also recruiting the young for the so-called religious wars. The number of mercenaries from Serbia, mainly from the Raska District and Kosovo and Metohija, is small compared to the total number of mercenaries in extremist groups, Dacic told a panel discussion on how to stop the tide of radicalization. He said that the total number of people from Serbia in extremist groups abroad adds up to over 100, but the figure is not negligible for Serbia, having in mind the potential consequences upon their return after the training by religious fanatics. The panel discussion in the Italian Embassy organized by the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence gathered Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and Vice President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States Ivan Vejvoda.

Attorney Tomanovic: Serbian government should address Security Council (Politika)

If the Serbian government really believes that the ICTY decision threatens the country’s stability, then it should not extradite Seselj to The Hague, famous Belgrade attorney Zdenko Tomanovic tells Politika, adding: “They will find the legal basis for such a decision in the UN Charter, as well as in a number of conventions. There are situations when the states are permitted not to fulfill international obligations and to violate international law. The UN Commission for International Law in Article 25 of the Rules on the responsibility of a state for an unlawful act envisages the necessity as the permitted basis for non-fulfilling an international obligation. The International Court of Justice has also held the position that Article 25 of the rules is part of customary law. If the ICTY decision threatens Serbia’s stability, Belgrade can address the United Nations and the Security Council and refer to this article, i.e. the necessity of maintaining stability of Serbia and the region and the need of national security. These are sufficient grounds. There are also other legal reasons not to extradite Seselj to The Hague. The norms that regulate human rights have greater legal importance than the obligations toward the Tribunal. One cannot send a man before a court that has been annulling guaranteed rights for 12 years. After all, they released him for humanitarian reasons. Did he in the meantime recover, so now they want him back?”

REGIONAL PRESS

Krsmanovic: With formation of Council of Ministers, SNSD’s “death sentence” signed (Patria)

“With the formation of the B&H Council of Ministers in Sarajevo, the death sentence of the SNSD led by Milorad Dodik was signed,” TV Patria was told by Zdravko Krsmanovic, former mayor of Foca and one of the loudest fighters for the rights of citizens in the eastern part of the Republika Srpska. Krsmanovic believes that after 31 March 2015 nothing will ever be the same in B&H, and that this is practically the beginning of the end of Milorad Dodik’s rule. “Dodik the past few months has invested great efforts to bust the SDS from the inside out, and in this way prolong the formation of the Council of Ministers until elections in the SDS, which will be held in April. He called for help from the old leadership of the SDS, including Momcilo Krajisnik. But, behold, he did not succeed,” said Krsmanovic, adding: “You are witnessing how much pressure Dodik is putting on Doboj’s mayor Obren Petrovic, calling his politics pro-Bosnian, pro-Turkish… Petrovic is a good man, who wants good for his citizens. However, Dodik’s attacks on him are more politically motivated or they have just one goal, to destroy the SDS in Doboj,” believes Krsmanovic, adding that Dodik in these intentions does not have the support of even half of the SNSD’s councilors in Doboj. Further perturbing Dodik, says Krsmanovic, is that he lost his man in the leadership position of SIPA, Goran Zubac, because the new coalition will quickly turn to appointments of new directors in state agencies, including SIPA.

Inzko welcomed the formation of the Council of Ministers and the Government of the FB&H (Srna)

The High Representative Valentin Inzko welcomed the fact that political parties had finally reached an agreement on the formation of new governments at the levels of the state and Federation of B&H. Regretting that more than five months were lost in discussions over the distribution of posts, the High Representative stressed that now was not a time for complacency but for hard work. “Citizens expect their governments to make up for lost time and to start addressing the serious challenges facing the country and its citizens, especially in respect of job creation, the rule of law, tackling corruption and advancing the country towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Now that the distribution of work has been agreed among coalition partners, it is high time for the real job of serving citizens to begin. If political parties are genuine in honoring their promises to citizens, there has to be a tectonic break in the way that politics has been conducted in B&H up until now. The citizens’ need for a better life in all spheres must finally be put before the interests of political parties and individual politicians”, the High Representative said.

Mogherini and Hahn: Confirmation of the B&H Council of Ministers to pave the way for the authorities at all levels to begin addressing the problems of B&H citizens (Fena)

Confirmation of the B&H Council of Ministers will pave the way for the authorities at all levels to begin addressing the problems faced by the citizens of B&H, particularly the high level of unemployment, said in the joint statement Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative, and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement negotiations. The new governments at state and entity level will play a key role, in accordance with their competences, in formulating and implementing the reform agenda on the basis of the Written Commitment that was endorsed by the Parliament of B&H in February. The B&H authorities must now work together to take the concrete steps needed to bring the country closer to the EU. They can count on full support of the EU in this endeavor.

Interview with HR Valentin Inzko (Oslobodjenje)

Oslobodjenje: SNSD is questioning the legality of Zvizdic as Council of Ministers’ Chair, because the 35-day deadline for appointment of the new CoM has been missed. Is this true?

Valentin Inzko: Mr. Zvizdic was formally confirmed by the House of Representative as the Chair of the Council of Minister. There is nothing in the law that even implies that the mandate of the Chair of the CoM comes to an end if a CoM is not formed within the deadline. It cannot be presumed that the rights and duties of the chair have ceased.

Oslobodjenje: Let me remind you: four years ago exactly, the HDZ did not participate in the government because no agreement was possible as the HDZ insisted on all Croat positions in the Federation government. Now we have a new problem. Covic now has all the Croat positions in the Federation government and yet he wants one Serb position, too, although – according to the SDA and DF – he had announced a minister from the Others? What can we expect of the coalition?

Valentin Inzko: A solution must be found. It is a shame that the winners of the elections, at a time when many citizens suffer economic hardship, allowed themselves the luxury of spending many months in discussions over the distribution of posts. Frankly, I am surprised that citizens have been patient for so long. Countries that are in a far better economic situation form coalition governments within days or weeks and yet here, in a country with so many burning problems, leaders behave as if they have all the time in the world. I expect the parties who have created all this confusion over the formation of the FB&H government to resolve the situation as soon as possible, and in line with the Constitution. In the Balkans we have too much history, too much politics, but it seems we have also al lot of time available to waste.

Oslobodjenje: Mr. Bevanda said in an interview to Oslobodjenje last year regarding previous government formation: “Inzko should return the division chart!” Have you done so?

Valentin Inzko: I think he was saying this ironically and very jokingly. I was not offended, such is politics. But I would like to reply in the same way, ironically and jokingly, even though we are in Lent. Of course, I am willing to return the division chart to Mr. Bevanda, but if he will then pass it on to President Cavara for ensuring the right number of ministers.

Oslobodjenje: The House of Representatives of the B&H parliament is blocked: SNSD representatives do not attend the sessions. Is the OHR going to react or help in any way because it is obvious that those who do not meet their obligations as elected representatives go with “impunity”?

Valentin Inzko: Let me remind you that this is not the first time that a party has threatened to block certain decisions through the use of the quorum rules. We have seen such threats in the past as well. The OHR view at the time and now remains the same: parties need to ensure that institutions are able to work and adopt decisions without interruptions. And we are on record with this statement then and now. If there are serious concerns over certain decisions of the parliament – and there might indeed be legitimate reasons for such concerns – solutions must be sought through the appropriate institutions. For instance, according to the Law on the Intelligence and Security Agency, appointments to the relevant parliamentary committee should respect the principle of proportional representation of political parties, including those which are in opposition. But let me use this opportunity once again, to appeal to parties to seek solutions in institutions. That means to resume work and return to the parliament. In this respect I am encouraged by reports that the SNSD and other parties in the parliament are talking in an effort to find a solution to the issue of appointments to committees.

Oslobodjenje: I assume that we can talk about a “good will” gesture on behalf of the SNSD, after they agreed to have the session of the House of Peoples provided that the election of the commission for the supervision of OSA is taken off the agenda. In fact, it seems that that was done in order to eliminate any arguments for your actions since it is obviously a case of a flagrant breach of the Dayton Agreement?

Valentin Inzko: Good will has nothing to do with it. It is the job of parliamentarians to come to work, to honor their mandates and enable the House of Peoples to function in a regular and uninterrupted fashion. But of course it is a positive move. This is in the interest of institutions, but above all in the interest of citizens who gave MPs their trust and support. I expect all political parties to respect the B&H institutions and the mandates that they received from their voters.

Oslobodjenje: You have been in B&H long enough that we can ask for your assessment: when will the politicians in this country be ready to assume responsibility and accept the bizarre fact that one of the postulates of democracy is the creation of post-election coalitions?

Valentin Inzko: As you said, it is one of the corner stones of democracy and has to be accepted as such. It may sound harsh, but sometimes it seems to me that some politicians instead of taking full responsibility for their actions seek to find excuses for not doing so. However, I think that the citizens are no longer naïve and that those excuses will not fool them. Allow me to repeat that if political parties are genuine about honoring their promises to citizens and want to be re-elected, there has to be a tectonic break with the way that politics has been conducted in B&H so far. Citizens’ interests have to come first, to be the utmost priority.

Oslobodjenje: Is it interesting to you that the SNSD, which blocked the Euro-Atlantic road of B&H for so long, now cannot reconcile with the fact that they are not in power at the level of B&H?

Valentin Inzko: To lose or win at the elections is totally normal and is a risk every political party willingly takes, that’s the name of the game. As Gundulic wrote 400 years ago: “The wheel of fate spins around and around ceaselessly. He who would be above is cast down, and he below is left on high.” The same goes for the post–election period. But, whether you are a part of ruling coalition or not, you can always contribute to progress. If you consider yourself a serious leader, the implementation of your goals proclaimed in the election campaign cannot change overnight. If you promised to work on creation of new jobs, does it mean you would abandon that goal if you are not part of a ruling structure? No, it just means that you would continue to fight for that goal in another way. The opposition has an important role to play in each parliament, and should do so in a constructive day. In England it is called “Royal opposition” with a shadow government. An important function in a functioning democracy. Why not try to improve proposals by the ruling parties that go in the right direction, instead of opposing them outright? Sometimes it seems that political parties, no matter how big they are, do not understand that opposition parties can play a constructive role in politics by ensuring the best possible outcome for citizens.

Oslobodjenje: The Stabilisation and Association Agreement will enter into force: what does that mean for the OHR and your mandate in B&H?

Valentin Inzko: First of all, I must say that I wholeheartedly welcome this action as an important step for B&H and its future within the EU as a stable, prosperous and peaceful country. The EU has extended a hand of partnership to B&H and is knocking strongly and loudly on the gates of B&H. It is now up to the newly elected leaders in B&H to set the country urgently back on track towards European integration. Elected representatives need to replace complacency with a sense of urgency and deliver on the expected reforms. This is what their voters expect and by which they will judge them. As for the OHR, you know that our role has changed over the time to mirror the path of B&H. The primary driving force behind reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina should to be the pull of EU membership, and not the executive powers of the High Representative. But rest assured that my mandate remains unchanged. The OHR is still in charge of the implementation of the civilian aspects of Dayton Peace Agreement. My office will close once all the remaining conditions set in February 2008 are fulfilled, which also – and above all – includes a positive assessment of the political situation in B&H. It is for the Peace Implementation Council to determine when these conditions have been met. But let me also say very clearly: instead of using the presence of OHR or Dayton as a constant excuse for their failures or lack of action, some leaders should know better and use the presence of international community actors in B&H to seek to speed up urgently the much needed reforms.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

EU should open talks with Serbia in 2015, Italian FM (ANSAmed, 31 March 2015)

‘Too important to remain immobile’

BELGRADE – Italy wants the EU to open chapters in accession negotiations for Serbia this year, Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni said at a Belgrade press conference on Tuesday with his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic. ”We cannot remain immobile on such an important issue for the EU,” he said. ”Serbia has made commitments and is maintaining them, as seen in the February meeting between Belgrade and Pristina.” The minister said that the lack of progress was in part due to ”parliamentary statements made in some countries, especially Germany,” which set down the condition that the agreements between Serbia and Kosovo be implemented. ”But there is nothing unchangeable except the ten commandments for those of a certain religion,” Gentiloni added, referring to the Bundestag decision, noting that he was ”respectful of assessments made by parliaments, but they are not insurmountable.” ”I believe,” he added, ”that over the next few months there will be the necessary conditions to get past difficulties.” Ivica Dacic thanked Italy for its strong and continuing support to Serbia’s European integration process. “I want to thank Italy for its strong support in Serbia’s path towards the EU and its commitment to support the opening of the first chapters in the accession negotiations with Brussels”, Dacic said in a joint press conference with Gentiloni. “Italy contributes concretely to the stability in the Balkans region,” Dacic said, mentioning the trilateral meeting with Italy, Serbia and Albania held by Gentiloni in Rome in the past months. Serbian Foreign Minister expressed great satisfaction with the “high level dialogue between Italy and Serbia at top levels”, and called for a further intensification of economic and trade relations. “Italy is Serbia’s first economic partner, but not only, it is also an important political partner. We hope for Italy’s participation in newly developing projects in our country, particularly in the field of infrastructure”.

‘No Law, No Justice’: Seselj Re-arrest Ruling Aimed at Destabilizing Serbia (Sputnik, 31 March 2015)

The decision to release and then call for the re-arrest of Serbian political figure Vojislav Seselj by The Hague Tribunal is an attempt to undermine and destabilize Serbia, according to Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Writing in the Serbian newspaper ‘Politika’, Vucic was heavily critical of the UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), saying the whole affair was being used as an attempt to “shake up” and undermine the current Serbian government.

“Someone has started using Seselj as a bogeyman,” he wrote, in reference to suggestions the radical party leader was intentionally released by officials who had planned to re-arrest him to test Serbia’s international allegiances. The Prime Minister hinted that the court’s western backers were punishing Serbia over the country’s refusal to condemn traditional ally Russia over the Ukraine crisis. “When they do not like what Serbia is doing, that it has its own position, that it will not at someone else’s request impose sanctions, that it wants to be friends and not quarrel with anyone — then they release a scarecrow out of the box expecting us to be afraid,” Vucic said. “This is no law, no justice, and Seselj has nothing to do with it. There are only misguided attempts to punish the Serbian government for its policies.” Serbia’s Labour Minister Aleksandar Vulin echoed the same sentiment, saying the saga was an attempt to destabilize the country after prime minster Vucic referred to NATO “aggression” and spoke of former NATO attacks on targets in Belgrade.

‘They Would Have to Carry me’

Seselj, who had been in custody in the Netherlands-based court since 2003, was on trial, accused of committing war crimes and inciting racial hatred during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.

Prosecutors are pushing for a 28-year sentence, however Seselj has denied all allegations.

He was released in November last year on medical grounds, however the ICTY yesterday ruled that comments made by Seselj following his release were in breach of his strict bail conditions, and ordered for his re-arrest and return to The Hague. After being released in November, the radical party leader claimed he wouldn’t return voluntarily. Seselj confirmed his intention to stay in Serbia in an interview with Sputnik, saying he would fight for his right to remain in Serbia by legal means.

Vucic claims that Seselj’s release from the Hague was #EU’s plot against #Serbia. This begins to look very messy. “Of course, I won’t be able to resist physically — I’m old and frail. But I will fight with legal means. They (The ICTY) must act in accordance with the rules of the court of law: initiate judicial proceedings, then I have to respond, and then appeal. And after my appeal is not upheld, they would have to carry me to the airport,” he said.

Legal Concerns

Meanwhile the ICTY’s decision to call for Seselj’s re-arrest has been questioned by some legal experts who say argue that he may not have been in breach of his bail conditions.

It’s getting worse-Serbia PM Vucic believes someone’s using Seselj 2 punish him & his gov’t for being against sanctions & having positions

In an interview with Sputnik, lawyer Branislav Tapuskovic said Seselj didn’t say anything that could have affected the decision to temporarily release him from custody, saying that there may have been a political motive behind the ruling. “He did not demand to be released. There is a feeling that he was released on purpose, to stir things up… Again, it turned out that events related to the Hague Tribunal, are used for political purposes.” Fellow lawyer Tomislav Visnjic backed up these claims in an interview with Sputnik, saying that the ICTY has never been consistent in deciding on the temporary release. He said that often, the decision depends on the state of affairs in the country where the defendant is to return.

Six months after polls, Bosnia gets government (Dpa, 31 March 2015)

Belgrade – Bosnia and Herzegovina got a new government on Tuesday, nearly six months after elections. The parliament approved the government of Denis Zvizdic, of the Bosniak nationalist Direct Action Party (SDA). The vote was 26-7 in favour, with one abstention. Igor Crnadak is the foreign minister and Vjekoslav Bevanda finance minister. The new cabinet faces a daunting task of starting reforms that the European Union and the International Monetary Fund require for closer ties and financing. Bosnian leaders committed in February to forge a concrete reform plan with the goal of improving “functionality and efficiency” of government and to create the conditions to restart the moribund economy. Making changes will, however, remain extremely difficult as the three main ethnic groups – Muslims, Serbs and Croats – rarely agree, while each has the right to veto any legislation. The EU signed an association agreement with Bosnia in 2008, but allowed it to come into effect only in mid-March, following the pledge of reforms in February. Bosnia went through a war pitting Serbs against Muslim Bosniaks and Croats from 1992 until 1995. In order to end fighting, the United States brokered a peace agreement effectively splitting Bosnia along ethnic lines. The peace deal, however, also created an inefficient government that has been blocked more than it has worked over the past two decades. The blockade prevented Bosnia from emerging from economic despair, which triggered nationwide protests early in 2014.

UK Ambassador to Macedonia Calls for Interim Gov’t (Novinite, 1 April 2015)

Macedonia has been left divided by comments of the British Ambassador to Skopje, who said Tuesday the option of having a transitional government in the country should be considered.

“The question of setting up a transitional government should be put on the table in negotiations between the two sides should be put on the table,” Macedonian daily Dnevnik.mk quotes H.E. Charles Garrett as saying in an interview with Alsat-M TV station. Garrett was commenting on the political crisis into which Macedonia plunged in the past months, with the opposition accusing the government of exerting excessive control over the judiciary and a number of media outlets. Speaking of “negotiations”, he was referring to the talks launched by socialist opposition leader Zoran Zaev and PM Nikola Gruevski’s governing VMRO-DPMNE party, brokered by MEPs. So far Gruevski dismisses the option to form a caretaker government, though socialists insist they will not return to Parliament (which they have been boycotting for some time) unless the step is taken. Gruevski recently noted “anything but a technical government” could be put forward for discussion. Over the past months Zaev has “unveiled” what he calls “evidence” of mass wiretapping activity and interference in the judiciary and editorial policies of newspapers and websites on behalf of the Skopje government. He has repeatedly urged Gruevski to resign, while the head of government has maintained Zaev is carrying out a foreign-inspired plot to conduct a coup d’etat with the help of foreign intelligence services. Ambassador Garrett also urged authorities on Tuesday to have a thorough inspection of the recordings presented by Zaev as a “proof” of the government’s illegal activity. Last Month Macedonia’s Interior Minister announced a probe had been launched into Zaev’s alleged involvement in a bribery scheme as an acting Mayor of Strumica, an accusation he consistently denies. A number of Western officials and MEPs have recently warned about a prolonged political crisis in the Southeastern European country which is aspiring for EU and NATO membership. Dnevnik ran its story on Garrett’s remarks under the headline “Charles Garrett Started a War against Half a Million VMRO-DPMNE” voters, claiming the episode proved that precisely “his state” (Garrett’s state, i.e. the UK) was “behind the wiretapping affair.”

Boom in Private Security Causes Concern in Montenegro (BIRN, by Dusica Tomovic, 1 April 2015)

Interior Ministry report voices concern over growth of private security companies undertaking services once provided by the police – often without much supervision. Nearly half of all security guards in Montenegro work in the grey – unofficial – economy, were trained using outdated procedures and are insufficiently monitored, a new report says. About 2,000 security guards work in Montenegro but most work without official permits, the Interior Ministry report, which BIRN has seen, says. Almost a thousand were licensed in the last year alone, but, so the report suggested, most were trained using outdated procedures and programs. The Interior Ministry, which has overall control over all security in the country, calls for the adoption of new specialized training programmes. Sixty-five private security companies are registered in Montenegro, 14 of which obtained working permits in 2014. The report reflects growing concern about the outsourcing of security in Montenegro to private companies. Until 2006, police undertook the protection of all state institutions but a change in the law in 2005 allowed private security companies to perform this task as well. Montenegrin law sets down strict obligations for all state bodies to employ security guards of some form or other, though the report said not all had done so. The report said the growing number of private security companies was becoming a challenge. “The Interior Ministry has increased the number of police officers tasked to supervise private security, but there is a lack of technical capacity for quality control of their work,” the report said. Checks last year revealed that a significant number of security guards have no health insurance or employment contracts and some of their employers do not pay taxes. More than 400 cases of legal violations on the part of private security companies were registered in 2014, and the state collected about 150,000 euro in fines from them.