LOCAL PRESS

Dacic in UNESCO: We ask for a chance for dialogue and agreement (FoNet)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic called on the members of the UNESCO General Conference to postpone the debate on Kosovo’s admission, in order to give a chance to dialogue, because this is the only way of reaching a mutually acceptable solution. Dacic said at the General conference that further divisions, politicization and confrontation inside UNESCO would be avoided this way. “We are asking for a chance for dialogue and agreement, instead of unilateralism,” said Dacic.

Vucic: For UNESCO from Mauritius to Papua New Guinea (B92)

On the occasion of the UNESCO General Conference, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic says he is talking with his colleagues throughout the world. “I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I have no reason to be an optimist because I know that the big powers will continue to promote this policy. I talked last night with two prime ministers who voted “yes”, asking them to abstain,” said Vucic. As he said, Serbia conducted within this diplomatic battle talks with countries with which nobody has been talking over the past 70 years – from Mauritius to Papua New Guinea.

Djuric: Kosovska Mitrovica of strategic importance (Politika)

The state of Serbia will work on the survival and improvement of the quality of life throughout the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, while special investments will be Kosovska Mitrovica. It is no chance that this town is of strategic importance, because it is well-known that this is the only large urban Serb settlement that has been preserved since the war, the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric said in Bosnacka mahala, in the northern part of the town, who handed in keys to residents of two buildings, including 24 apartments for socially vulnerable families in which the Serbian government invested RSD 60 million. Djuric also said that in the past 12 months, the Serbian government and the municipality have built 100 apartments in Kosovska Mitrovica.

EU says impossible to amend SAA signed with Kosovo (Novosti)

There is no dilemma for the EU – the only valid agreement on Stabilization and Association (SAA) with Kosovo is the one offered by Brussels and signed by both sides. Along with the name Kosovo, there is also an asterisk that states that the status is not prejudged. This is the reaction in the EU headquarters to the latest maneuvers by Pristina in regard to the adoption of the amendment that states “Republic of Kosovo” instead of Kosovo with an asterisk. “We published the SAA in April,” the EU High Representative’s spokesperson Maja Kocijancic tells Novosti. The head of the Serb List in the Kosovo Assembly Slavko Simic tells Novosti that the Committee for EU integration proposed this amendment right before the beginning of the session. “I fiercely opposed this and said I will leave the session, after which there was a separate voting for the amendment, and for the SAA,” says Simic, claiming that the agreement can’t be changed with an amendment, and that the SAA remains neutral in regard to the status. Asked why the Serb List MPs abstained from voting for the amendment, but didn’t vote against, he says: “We abstained because we are with these people every day. This is a political matter where you need to react wisely and pass decisions that will not irritate other MPs.”

Dodik: Serbia chose a wrong partner in B&H (Dnevnik/Beta)

The RS President Milorad Dodik has stated that the referendum on the work of the B&H Court and Prosecution will be held and that the RS will do everything to return lost jurisdictions with democratic means. “The will of the people, the will of the RS citizens is very important for us. The referendum is a done matter. We will check the will of citizens, and it is very important for our further democratic and institutional battle for the return of original Dayton jurisdictions that were taken away from us,” Dodik told Dnevnik. On the occasion of the joint session of the Serbian government and the B&H Council of Ministers, he says that Serbia is trying to affirm regional cooperation, but that it had chosen a wrong partner in these talks. “The B&H Council of Ministers is some auxiliary body, i.e. auxiliary organ of the B&H Presidency. The Council of Ministers has no joint state jurisdictions, so it would be far more purposeful if a meeting was held between the Serbian government and both entity governments in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka. B&H as a state does not have a government. The entities have governments,” said Dodik.

REGIONAL PRESS

Vucic: I was welcomed in Sarajevo as if I was John Kerry or Joe Biden (Radio Sarajevo)

The Serbian government delegation, led by the Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, is staying in a two-day visit to Sarajevo. Vucic spoke about cooperation of the two countries, visit to Srebrenica, and he also said that he was welcomed in the capital of B&H as a very important person. Vucic reminded that the trade exchange between Serbia and B&H increased by nine percent compared with 2013, which is evidence of good cooperation of the two countries. “That is 1,400,000 BAM, and in the first six months of this year we recorded a new growth by 9.2 percent of our export and 9.6 percent of import from B&H. those are serious numbers and that makes B&H de facto one of the two most significant foreign trade partners of Serbia, and I believe Serbia is becoming the most significant partner of B&H,” said Vucic. Prime Minister of Serbia added that politicians must talk and make as good relations as possible, and that the economies of Serbia and B&H can progress in the time of peace, stability, and full political cooperation. “Only at the third joint session will the ministers completely relax, understand each other, and search for a way to cooperate. Tomorrow we will discuss the ways of jointly attracting tourists who will visit Belgrade, Sarajevo, Kopaonik, Bjelasnica, Jahorina – all together. That way we will all make greater profit and it will be better for everyone”, Vucic said. Vucic will be staying in Srebrenica on November 10 and 11, where the investment-developmental conference is to be held. Vucic said that Serbia will help Srebrenica, the citizens of this municipality, and that it will allocate millions of EUR for economic development.

Vucic: Srebrenica will applaud to me (Vijesti)

Prior to departing for Sarajevo, the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said that the regional stability is very important and that Serbia will do everything to maintain it. Vucic does not fear about the safety after the attack in Srebrenica, that was not even discussed, and he will visit that place in several days. “Serbia will allocate significant amount of money for that small municipality. We will be coming back and we will be helping. Not at the cemetery, but at some other place, those people who threw things at me and tries to knock me down with fists will welcome me with applauses”, Vucic said. The Serbian Prime Minister said that things will be that way since “the truth and work always win, not the media manipulations”, and that he does not deal with safety but with achieving results for Serbia. Vucic stated that infrastructure projects and cooperation in all fields are very important and that those should not be kept at the level of political discussions which should “satisfy someone in Europe”. “A real result is needed, to work on tourist connection as well, to invite people to the destinations through videos… When people get in touch, then the relations between the countries improve”, Vucic said. Regarding the relations between Serbs and Bosniaks, Vucic said that people are almost completely the same, that only religion and faith are different. “We also want good relations with the Albanians, but that is a different society despite the fact that we live next to each other. We are almost the same as Bosniaks, religion and faith are different. That is why we will fight for the closest relations, B&H is one of the most important export destinations and that is significant for us”, said Vucic.

Balkan leaders dismiss Merkel’s fears of new war (TV1)

Leaders of the Western Balkan countries have said that the fears by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the migrant crisis can lead to a new war in this region are unfounded. Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that there will be no new wars in the Balkans if Germany closes its border to contain influx of refugees and migrants. He added that Croatia can close its border “much faster” than Germany. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that the region is fed up with war, and that he is sure that migrant crisis and other problems can be overcome with rational behavior. “I understand Merkel’s concerns. She always cared about this region. But we are all fed up with war in this region, and we will do our best not only to maintain peace and stability, but also to enhance our economic and overall relations,” Vucic told reporters in Sarajevo. Member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic told TV1 that he does not believe in the possibility of the outbreak of the war in the Western Balkans, but that refugee crisis could cause terrible problems and tensions, and create negative political environment. “I think it is exaggeration to speak about armed conflict, but it could cause horrible problems, tension and negative political environment,” Ivanic said. He said that Merkel’s statement is aimed toward Germans in order to explain to them how important is to deal with migrant crisis.

SDA worried about arms race in region (Bosna danas)

The biggest Bosniak party, SDA, has expressed concerns over arms race in the region, and said that, if it continues, Bosnia will have to catch up with neighbors. “We are very concerned over the news that Serbia and Croatia are buying arms, because that violates the balance granted by Dayton Peace Agreement, and we expect the reaction of the international community,” said party leader Bakir Izetbegovic. He added that arming is the last thing we need in this socio-economic situation. According to him, SDA sees solution in gradual demilitarization instead of spending taxpayers’ money for weapons. “Unfortunately, if neighboring countries continue with this, we will have to catch up and maintain the balance,” Izetbegovic said.

If the new Law on Foreigners is adopted, Abu Hamza might be released? (Dnevni list)

The new Law on Foreigners, which has been adopted by the House of Representatives and which should be approved next week by the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of B&H, among other things should also mean the release of Abu Hamza, a detainee who has been in the immigration center for foreigners in East Sarajevo for years now. As confirmed by Nedim Kulenovic from the NGO Vasa Prava, the new Law on Foreigners is in procedure and it has to be aligned with the European standards. “We expect the new Law on Foreigners to be on the agenda of the House of Peoples of B&H PA on November 10, and unless there are any changes we expect that Abu Hamza might be released already by the end of this year”, Kulenovic said. Abu Hamza has been in the immigration center for foreigners in East Sarajevo for seven years. He is originally from Syria, and he came to B&H back in 1980s. During the aggression on B&H, he fought as a member of El-Mujahedeen brigade. After the aggression, he obtained the B&H citizenship, but he got arrested in 2008 under the pretext of representing a threat to national security. The European Court of Human Rights confirmed that Abu Hamza’s rights have been violated and that B&H is required to pay him compensation in the amount of 3,000 EUR, but he has not been released yet.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Serbia, Bosnia Pledge Closer Ties at Joint Session (BIRN, by Rodolfo Toe, 4 November 2015)

The Serbian and Bosnian governments pledged to work on a number of common issues during their first joint session in Sarajevo on Wednesday. At their first joint session in Sarajevo, the Serbian and Bosnian governments were due to discuss stronger economic and environmental cooperation. The Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, arrived in Sarajevo on Tuesday with a delegation of members of the Serbian government who will participate in the joint session with the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the most important issues to be addressed concerns the border between Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina along the river Drina.
The border is supposed to run somewhere in the middle of the river but since the collapse of Yugoslavia it has never been properly defined. This ambiguity has had a negative impact on the water management of the Drina and has prevented the creation of an effective system of flood protection. It has also generated a dispute over the property of the two hydroelectric power plants in the towns of Zvornik in Bosnia and Bajna Basta in Serbia. During the Yugoslav era, they produced energy for the whole region but today they are only exploited by Serbia. After the meeting, the two countries are expected to sign a protocol about research into missing persons from the conflicts of the 1990s, protection of the historic Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge in Visegrad, in eastern Bosnia, development of infrastructure and telecommunications and the protection of the environment. On arrival in Sarajevo, Vucic said the meeting was “very important for our two countries and for our citizens. Serbia is the second trading partner of Bosnia, and we want to work to become the first one”. This is the first time that the two governments have met in a joint session. Igor Crnadak, the Foreign Minister of Bosnia, said the session would “confirm the existence of friendly relations between our two countries and put an end to all the problems we experienced this year”. This meeting will have an impact on the regional stability and on relations between Sarajevo, Belgrade and Republika Srpska, the Serbian-domninated entity of Bosnia, experts said. “This is an historical meeting”, Srdjan Puhalo, a political analyst from Banja Luka, said. “It shows that the privileged connection between Republika Srpska and Belgrade is slowly being put aside in favour of stronger ties between Belgrade and Sarajevo.”The relationship between Bosnia and Serbia has been slowly normalizing during the past years and Vucic is just continuing this trend,” Puhalo told BIRN.

Refugees Start Entering Croatia from Bosnia (BIRN, by Sven Milekic, Rodolfo Toe, 4 November 2015)

While most refugees still enter Croatia from Serbia, small groups are starting to cross over from Bosnia and Herzegovina, possibly creating a new route for refugees heading west.

Some refugees from the Middle East have started to enter Croatia from neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, opening up a potential new route towards Germany and northwest Europe.

Since Hungary closed the Serbian border and diverted the refugee wave to Croatia on September 16, all refugees entering Croatia have been accommodated in the camp at Opatovac near the Serbian border. From there the refugees were transported firstly to the border with Hungary and later to the border with Slovenia. However, Croatian police detained three Kurdish migrants from Turkey on Sunday in Vrhovine in the continental region of Lika who had crossed over from the northwestern Bosnian city of Bihac. They reportedly flew to Sarajevo, Bosnia, from Turkey and told police that around 15 more were currently in Bihac and would enter Croatia on the following day. The reports have not been confirmed by the local authorities. “We don’t have any evidence of refugees crossing this part of the country,” a spokesperson of the Una Sana canton in Bosnia told BIRN on Tuesday. Bosnian authorities have been on full alert for months, expecting a new refugee route to open up inside the country. However, most refugees have avoided crossing through Bosnia so far. Since Croatian officials said at the beginning of the influx that Croatia will not tolerate refugees entering from Bosnia, the three Kurish migrants were transferred to the centre for illegal migrants and will be deported back to Bosnia. The process would be “transport to the centre for illegal migrants, procedure and deportation,” Ranko Ostojic, the Croatian Interior Minister, said on Tuesday. Croatian authorities will meanwhile close the centre in Opatovac in the coming days, since a new refugee camp in Slavonski Brod, in eastern Croatia, opened on Tuesday. This camp will serve as a transit and registration centre during the winter with its heated tents. The first transports of refugees by train from Presevo in southern Serbia to the camp in Slavonski Brod started on Tuesday. Between midnight on Monday and 9am on Tuesday, 2,006 refugees entered Croatia. In total, 314,423 refugees entered Croatia from September 16. Addressing members of her Christian Democratic Union, CDU, in the western city of Darmstadt on Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that closing the German border with Austria to refugees would be reckless and would lead to a backlash in the Western Balkans. “I do not want military conflicts to become necessary there again,” Merkel said, explaining that disputes in a region still scarred by the armed conflicts of the 1990s could escalate easily, which “no one wants”.

* * *

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.