LOCAL PRESS

Progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)

Following the meeting with the Head of the Pristina delegation Isa Mustafa in Brussels, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that the talks that lasted a little longer than anticipated, were difficult, but that there had been progress in some fields discussed – telecommunications, civil defense, energy. The Prime Minister said that concrete progress was achieved only when it comes to the opening of two new administrative crossings. “One of these crossings will be towards Raska, and the other in the Medvedja municipality,” explained Vucic, adding that the opening of one of the crossings was requested by the Belgrade side, and the other by the Pristina side. He pointed out that they also touched on a number of issues and that the stands had become closer in some of them, as well as that the working groups would continue to work on the preparation of the next round of the dialogue to be held in May. “We will try to find some common ground,” said Vucic. He pointed out that they discussed the formation of the Union of Serb Municipalities, but that, unfortunately, common language was not found. “We have reached an agreement to stop the privatization of companies in northern Kosovo, within the talks on the return of Serb MPs to the Kosovo Assembly,” said Vucic. Speaking about the energy problem, he said the Pristina side had admitted that the Gazivode Lake is mostly located on the territory of Serbia proper.

Vucic asks to open accession negotiations chapters in June (Tanjug)

Serbia is finishing preparation of action plans for accession negotiations Chapters 23 and 24, relating to judiciary and fundamental rights, and the job will be done as early as a few days from now, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said in Brussels Tuesday. “I do not want to hide that I asked for opening the negotiations in June,” the Serbian Prime Minister said at a joint press conference with European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and thanked Hahn for supporting him in that. Vucic said that opening the first chapters of accession negotiations with the EU would not only provide additional impetus to stepping up reforms in Serbia, but would also mean a lot to the Serbian people in a symbolic way. EU Commissioner Hahn stated that opening chapters in Serbia’s EU accession talks is hindered by a group of indecisive EU member states, adding that he will try to persuade them to change their stance. We believe that it is in the common interest for the chapters to be opened as soon as possible, Hahn told reporters in Brussels after a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, adding that some of the EU member states are indecisive in this respect.
We will do all in our power to make them change opinion in the next few weeks, he said. Hahn said that Serbia is practically ready to open Chapter 32 – financial control, but added that it is still questionable whether criteria relating to Chapter 35 – normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, are fulfilled. This is a political issue, Hahn said, stressing that in his opinion, opening chapters would provide a fresh impetus to the EU integration process of the entire region.

Vucic to Tusk: We deserve to open chapters in June (RTS)

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has stated after the meeting with President of the EU Council Donald Tusk that Serbia has done a lot on the path of European integration and deserves to open the first negotiating chapters in June. Vucic has pointed that a lot has been done in view of the fiscal consolidation and economic reforms in the country, although the hardest part is yet to come. He thanked Tusk for the support to Serbia in the process of European integrations. Tusk praised the pro-European course of Vucic’s government and the hitherto progress in the implementation of the reforms. He has stressed the importance of continuing the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and implementation of the Brussels agreement.

Nikolic: Brussels should demonstrate that Serbia’s decisive steps are not futile (RTS)

Serbia has proved that it is absolutely committed to the path toward full-fledged EU membership and it would be good if Brussels could now show by opening first chapters that Serbia’s decisive steps were not in vain, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said in talks with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics. He agreed with the President of Serbia that it would be good if Brussels, as a gesture of goodwill, opens first chapters soon. Nikolic said that on its EU path, Serbia is facing conditions that other states did not and would therefore probably be more successful than some EU member states, because it will make an effort to meet the requirements of the 34 standard chapters in the best possible manner. Belgrade has genuinely entered into dialogue with Pristina as it is interested in relaxation of tensions and better living conditions for all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, but Serbia will never recognize the independence of its southern province, said Nikolic.

Djuric: Ready to open chapters in June or September (Tanjug)

There are no new or additional conditions for the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations, the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric told a press conference today. Stressing that Serbia had fulfilled its obligations from the Brussels agreement, he said that Serbia undertook everything in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, in internal reforms and in building good quality relations in the region. Asked about the conditions for opening chapters, Djuric said there were a lot of speculations and list of conditions in the media. He says that the reports of one Belgrade daily on 11 conditions for Serbia is not what had been discussed in Brussels, but adds there are EU member states that have certain expectations when it comes to the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations. “We have implemented everything that we had committed ourselves in written of verbal form, and we expect the other side to do the same. We have no new or additional obligations when it comes to normalization of relations in regard to those already agreed,” said Djuric. Presenting the six-month report on the progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Djuric said that the domestic political and expertise, as well as international, public would be acquainted with this document, unlike the previous years when the negotiators didn’t do this. Noting that the strongest weapon in Kosovo and Metohija is the truth, Djuric says there are five main obstacles in implementing the Brussels agreement that stem from Pristina’s non-readiness to fulfill everything it had committed itself to do. That refers to the abandoning of the plan for the implementation of the Brussels agreement by Pristina and its non-readiness to perform its obligations, lack of a reaction of the international community in delicate situations on the ground, Pristina’s attempt to constantly “push through” the status issue on topics where it is not present. He points out that Belgrade will not give up the formation of the Union of Serb Municipalities and that the Brussels agreement is clear when it comes to its functions and jurisdictions,” said Djuric. He says that Serbia remains fully ready, devoted and resolute for the Union of Serb Municipalities to be formed, noting that this is the basis for the historical reconciliation and normalization of the relations between the Serbs and Albanians in the region. “We cannot and we will not accept anything less than what is envisaged by the Brussels agreement,” said Djuric, noting that Belgrade is convinced that the formation of the Union of Serb Municipalities is the solution, and not part of the problem in Kosovo and Metohija and that the path in the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina passes through the formation of the Union of Serb Municipalities. In regard to the agreement in Brussels on two crossings, Djuric said that these are the crossings Banjska-Raska and Medvedja towards Kosovska Kamenica. In regard to the possible decision on the return of Serb representatives to the Kosovo institutions, Djuric said that a statement by the Serb List could be expected today or tomorrow, adding that the Serb List has been intensively communicating with their coalition partners over the past days and that these talks were in the final phase.

Russian Foreign Ministry: 2014 – the year of intensive Russian-Serbian contacts (Tanjug)

The Russian Foreign Ministry has assessed the relations between Russia and Serbia in 2014 as intensive and stated that they were crowned by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belgrade in October. The annual report of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that in 2014 the Russian-Serbian contacts resulted in the visit of President Putin to Belgrade when on October 16 the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Serbian capital from Nazi occupation was marked. Serbia’s consistent stance not to impose sanctions against Russia has enabled a significant increase in exports of Serbian agricultural products to the Russian market, said the Russian Ministry.

REGIONAL PRESS

KLA claims responsibility for attack on Gosince watchtower (Press24)

Certain Commander Flamuri has claimed the responsibility on behalf of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) for late Tuesday’s attack on Gosince border watchtower in northern Macedonia and beating of three out of four on-duty police officers, Macedonian online edition of Press24 reported. Flamuri addressed the Macedonian media through a statement saying that discrimination and oppression against Albanians in Macedonia became unbearable. Decadence, political instability, economic and cultural discrimination and social development seek re-awakening of the KLA, reads the statement issued on Tuesday. Flamuri called on all officers, especially Albanians, to immediately put on their uniforms and join the uprising. He qualified the attack in Gosince, in the border area with Serbia’s southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, as the first victory of KLA which gives them strength for other major victories. Albanians are waiting for better times. We expect the support of all Albanians wherever they are, says the statement signed by Flamuri.

Joint statement of six prime ministers of Western Balkans countries (Oslobodjenje)

Denis Zvizdic, Chair of the B&H Council of Ministers, participated yesterday in Brussels at the meeting of Prime Ministers of the six Western Balkan countries, at which they adopted a joint statement on the central infrastructure network and priority projects.

We present the prime ministers’ statements in full:

As a follow up to the Conference on the Western Balkans held in Berlin on 28 August 2014 and the WB6 Ministerial meetings in Belgrade on 23 October and in Pristina on 25 March, we, the Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans gathered in Brussels on 21 April 2015 in the presence of the European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, the European Commissioner for Transport and the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), have adopted the following Joint Statement in order to reaffirm our commitment to connectivity, good neighborly relations, regional cooperation and European integration: Improving regional cooperation and economic stability is one of our common tools for matching European standards and fulfilling the EU accession criteria, and the process should bring clear benefits to our citizens still before accession. We express our strong commitment to the “Berlin Process”, and remain focused on ensuring that the Summit on 27 August 2015 in Vienna will achieve concrete results based on specific investment projects. We recognize that improving connectivity within our region as well as with the EU is a key factor for growth and jobs in the Western Balkans. We accept that this common ambition will require our personal commitment and leadership. We note that in the European Union, the core network links all EU capitals, main economic centers and major EU ports. We acknowledge that extending it to the Western Balkans allows speeding up policy and regulatory reforms and concentrate efforts and investments on key corridors and interconnectors. We have agreed the core transport network for the Western Balkans as outlined in the attached table. In addition Corridor VIII Rail will be kept under review including through possible financing       of preparatory studies, detailed alignments, designs and exploratory works with a view to its inclusion in the core network during the next ‘TEN T’ review. We accept that our respective National Investment Committees must establish without delay single project pipelines of priority investments, as they are preconditions for receiving IPA II support for investment co-financing. The project pipelines should reflect the fact that Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI) are an important part of our connectivity agenda. We undertake to identify and address without delay all relevant measures such as regulatory issues, streamlining of border crossing procedures, which could bring about immediate connectivity benefits for the Western Balkan 6 participants and at a reasonable cost.

Zlatko Lagumdzija to visit Azerbaijan (Fena)

B&H Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija will arrive in Baku on April 27 to attend the 3rd Global Shared Societies Forum to be co-organized by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora and Nizami Ganjavi International Center on April 28-29.

Zlatko Lagumdzija will address the Forum on “Restoration of confidence in the new world order”. The Forum will bring together state and public figures, as well as former statesmen, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers from more than 40 countries. About 350 delegates from 75 countries including former heads of state and government, politicians, scientists and experts will take part in the forum. The forum will focus on the main problems of the new world order, the European Union and neighborhood, energy security, inter-religious dialogue in the region and the role of women in maintaining peace as well as the importance local, national and regional integration in ensuring the security.

Italian support to the B&H reforms (Srna)

President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso, after talks with the members of the leadership of both Houses of the B&H Parliamentary Assembly, pledged Italy’s support to the reforms that B&H must undertake on the European integration path. He pointed out that Italy has always strongly supported the European path of B&H and added that B&H must try to do everything to implement the reforms that would help her to become a part of the European family as soon as possible. President of the Italian Senate in this context, welcomed yesterday’s activation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with B&H. The Chairman of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of B&H Boris Colak stressed that B&H and Italy are friendly countries that cooperate very well in all areas, but that there is room for the improvement of economic cooperation. Although the economic crisis is a global problem, Grasso believes that the relations between Italy and B&H, with some help from the investors, can be economically improved. Grasso expressed his gratitude because the Conference of the Presidents of Parliaments of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative in Neum will address the issues of immigration. Colak said that they have discussed the issue, of immigrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea migrating to Italy, at today’s meeting, and pointed out that this issue will be part of tomorrow’s joint statement that would follow the meeting in Neum, adding that this is a problem that Italy cannot solve alone, without the help of the EU and the UN.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Thaci dispute highlights bad will in Serbia relations (EUobserver, by Andrew Rettman, 22 April 2015)

A dispute over the Kosovo FM’s visit to Belgrade has exposed bad feeling in Kosovo-Serb and EU-Serb relations. The Kosovo foreign minister, Hashim Thaci, was recently invited by the Youth Education Committee, a Serb NGO, to visit the Serb capital for a seminar on EU integration. But the former Kosovar guerrilla chief cancelled the trip when Serbia said he’d be arrested on the basis of an old warrant. The warrant stems from his conviction, in absentia, for “terrorism” in 1997 when the late Serb dictator, Slobodan Milosevic, was in power. Thaci was already arrested once, in Hungary in 2003, after Serbia red-flagged him in the database of Interpol, the international police body. But Hungary released him following a brief detention. The new dispute comes amid EU-led attempts to “normalise” relations between the two sides. EU powers, such as Germany and the UK, have linked Serbia’s compliance with the process to the EU’s opening of first chapters in accession talks later this year. For Thaci, the NGO row shows that Serbia isn’t acting in good faith. “My participation was hindered by lack of political will”, he told EUobserver on Tuesday (21 April). “It’s regrettable that Serbia has lost the opportunity to overcome the barriers of the past and to focus on the future of good neighbourly relations and a European approach”, he added. “This proves there’s still much work to be done to complete the normalisation of relations”. Kosovar sources also noted that the Serb foreign minister, Ivica Dacic, and PM, Aleksandar Vucic, have been to Pristina despite their controversial past in the Milosevic regime. But for Serbia, the Thaci incident is a provocation organised by Pristina and by Russia-hostile EU states. A Serb diplomat told EUobserver that Thaci violated protocol by failing to notify Belgrade of his travel plans. “It really wasn’t discussed with the Serb government the way it should’ve been”, he said. He noted the NGO, the Youth Education Committee, is co-financed by the British government – a leading critic of Serbia’s close ties with Russia in the context of the Ukraine conflict. Serbia, under the terms of its Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, is obliged to align itself with EU foreign policy. But it hasn’t imposed EU-model sanctions on Russia and its president is to attend a WWII victory parade in May in Moscow with a detachment of 70-or-so Serb soldiers. “We share the same anti-fascist tradition with Russia and we openly proclaim we want nothing to do with the EU sanctions”, the Serb diplomat added. “So we think this is a bit of pressure [by the UK and like-minded EU states] to fall into line by creating a pretext not to open accession chapters … We should be given some slack because there haven’t been any provocations [against Kosovo] from the Serb side”.

Tusk

In what appears to corroborate the theory, EU Council president Donald Tusk voiced annoyance with Serbia after meeting Vucic in Brussels on Tuesday. “I underlined the importance of Serbia’s foreign policy approach being guided by its number one strategic objective: to join the European Union”, Tusk said. “I expressed the EU’s expectation that Serbia progressively aligns with the European Union’s positions in the process up to accession”. But the “normalisation” process is moving forward.

Normal?

An expert-level meeting last week discussed border control issues, privatisation, and local rule by Kosovar Serbs, while Vucic is to meet Kosovo’s PM, Isa Mustafa, later this month. Meanwhile, the NGO dispute might help Thaci to avoid Hungary-type arrest incidents when he loses his immunity as a minister in future. But it won’t help him if he is indicted, as is widely expected, on charges of organ trafficking by a special EU tribunal being set up in The Hague.

Reform Justice or Lose Funds, EU Tells Bosnia (BIRN, by Denis Dzidic, 22 April 2015)

The European Commission will not release funding to pay the salaries of over 140 judiciary employees unless the Bosnian authorities adopt justice sector reforms, an EC official told BIRN.

The European Commission’s Western Balkans director Jean-Eric Paquet said that Brussels has repeatedly warned the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina that financial assistance for war crimes prosecutions will be stopped unless a justice sector reform strategy is adopted.

Despite this, Paquet said, nothing has been done. “Nothing has come as a surprise for the authorities concerned,” he said. “However, the adoption of the justice sector reform strategy remains an unfulfilled key condition for the continuation of the extraordinary IPA [Instrument for Pre-Accession] budget support for war crimes case processing. This requirement will not change,” said Paquet. In December 2013, the EC released the first tranche of funds allowing the recruitment of 142 prosecutors, judges and assistants working on war crimes cases throughout the country. But because of the failure to adopt justice sector reform, the second tranche was halted at the beginning of this year. This has already caused problems in the judiciary – some prosecutors are working without salaries, assistants have been fired and there is no funding for investigations. According to Paquet, more war crimes cases were processed as a direct consequence of the staff recruitment and urged the authorities to find an urgent solution to allow this to continue. “The advanced pace of war crimes case processing should be maintained. This is also required to respond to victims’ expectations and to avoid further undermining of citizens’ trust in the judicial authorities and their elected representatives,” he said. Asked to state the minimum the EC wants from the justice sector reform strategy, Paquet responds: “The bottom line is to address longstanding concerns over professionalism, efficiency and integrity of the judiciary throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consensus on a countrywide strategic framework for credible reforms in these directions is an important basis for EU engagement and assistance.”

Paquet said that the EC believes the strategy has yet to be adopted because the government in the Serb-led Republika Srpska entity is refusing to accept a draft which recommends the creation of an appeals court on the state level. The Bosnian Serbs allege this represents an undermining of some of their autonomy. But Paquet insisted that the creation of the court would not transfer any additional jurisdiction from entity to state level.

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Media summaries are produced for the internal use of the United Nations Office in Belgrade, UNMIK and UNHQ. The contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership.