LOCAL PRESS

Kosovo not admitted to UNESCO (RTS)

One hundred and forty two members voted at the UNESCO General Conference for Kosovo’s bid in UNESCO, 92 voted for, 50 voted against, and 29 states abstained. For the two-third majority 95 votes were needed, so three votes were needed for the proposal to be adopted. Among the countries that did not support Kosovo’s UNESCO membership were Brazil, China, Spain, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Belorussia, Palestine, North Korea, Slovakia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bahrein, Indonesia. The countries that abstained from voting were B&H, Columbia, Greece, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunis and Zambia. Kosovo’s UNESCO bid was supported by Belgium, France, Canada, Bulgaria, Belize, Ireland, Island, Italy, Lithuania, Malaysia, Pakistan, Panama, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Chad, Thailand, Turkey, Afghanistan, Albania, Germany, Andorra.

The proposal for Kosovo’s admission has been previously elaborated that this is not voting for Kosovo’s recognition as a state or UN membership, but a request to “enable Kosovo citizens access to cultural values and education”, and “in the end to support the UNESCO mission”. On the other side, it was reiterated that Kosovo’s admission to UNESCO would imply politicization of this organization, as well as violation of international law.

Earlier during the day, the UNESCO General Conference in Paris did not accept Serbia’s proposal to postpone the debate on Kosovo’s request to join UNESCO. One hundred and seventy states voted, 88 states voted against Serbia’s proposal, 58 voted for, 22 states abstained from voting, and 16 didn’t attend the voting. Serbia’s proposal for postponement was supported by Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, China, Romania, Greece, Angola, Argentina, Belorussia, Bolivia, Botswana, Cyprus, Columbia, Cuba, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Georgia, Haiti, India, Morocco, Mexico… Against were France, Great Britain, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Belgium, Estonia, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Australia, United Arab Emirates…B&H abstained from voting.

Nikolic: Just and moral victory in impossible conditions (RTS)

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic congratulated Serbian citizens the victory on the occasion of the voting on Kosovo’s request for UNESCO membership at the General Conference. He congratulated them “for having confidence that we will defend what our predecessors had protected for centuries”, reads the statement by the President’s Office for Media Relations.

“This is a just and moral victory in almost impossible conditions, when often what is correct cannot count on the support of the majority,” added Nikolic. The President congratulated the Serbian government for investing much diplomatic effort and hasn’t given up even when everything seemed lost. “Serbia has many friends in the world who do not base friendship on the scope of the trade exchange and arms power, but on the behavior of nations and states. This victory was not won with money but with respect that the world has towards our state and people,” said the President. “This is the continuation of the battle for Kosovo and Metohija and a sign sufficiently clear to everybody that we will never give up from our southern Serbian province,” concluded Nikolic.

Dacic: Great victory by Serbia (RTS) 

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has stated that this is a great victory of Serbia and that he is sure that this is felt by every member of the Serbian nation. “We haven’t requested anything from Kosovo; we didn’t want to take away anything we just defended our sanctities and heritage. Dialogue must remain the way for resolving disputable issues, we showed that we have friends and influence and I wish to thank all those who were on Serbia’s side, on the side of justice and principles,” said Dacic. “Bexhet Pacoli was in UNESCO’s hall today and he has nothing to do with the cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, but he does have to do with bribing members to vote in favor of Kosovo’s UNESCO membership,” said Dacic. “It was not easy to resist all those pressures and I thank also those who showed us that they were not our friends, but also those who took part in the battle that went on for day and night,” said Dacic. He added that the Serbian government talked with representatives of more than 90 states, insisting that Serbia favors dialogue and respect of international principles. “Certain foreign agencies released previously prepared reports as they didn’t expect that Kosovo would not be admitted,” said Dacic.

Serbian Orthodox Church welcomes UNESCO decision, urges dialogue (Tanjug)

The Serbian Orthodox Church has welcomed the decision by the UNESCO General Conference to reject the proposal for the admission of so-called Kosovo, the Serbian Orthodox Church said in the statement, urging dialogue and trust-building as the only way to solve all problems.

The Serbian Orthodox Church expressed gratitude to all countries that supported the path of dialogue and understanding. “Evidently, the matter of spiritual and cultural heritage cannot be solved through politicization, particularly in a situation where so many Christian Orthodox churches, monasteries and cemeteries have been destroyed in Kosovo and Metohija in the wake of the war there,” the statement said. “Trust must be built by actions, not words, let alone by denying the very difficult situation in which, years after the war, our faithful people and our holy sites live in Kosovo and Metohija,” the Serbian Orthodox Church said in a statement.

Reactions to non-admission of Kosovo to UNESCO (Tanjug/Beta)

Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic welcomed the decision for Kosovo not to be admitted to UNESCO, noting this represents a victory of the team of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. “This is a victory of the Foreign Ministry, but most of all of the Serbian government and Aleksandar Vucic’s team,” Gasic told the session of the parliamentary Committee for Defense and Interior Affairs.

The Chairman of the parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun has told Tanjug that the decision of the UNESCO General Conference not to admit Kosovo as a member is a victory of the part of the international community that doesn’t accept the undermining of the foundations of the UN and international order. He assesses that this is a victory of the part that condemns Pristina for the horrible vandalism since the arrival of the international forces that reflected in the destruction of those cultural-historical monuments that were and are on the UNESCO list. According to Drecun, the decision for Kosovo not to be admitted to UNESCO is also a “very important message and a blow to those who advocate and support Kosovo’s independence and a blow to their attempt to initiate from a dead point the gaining of international capacity of this self-declared state,” said Drecun.

The leader of the United Serbia Dragan Markovic assesses that justice conquered politics. “I thank all states that didn’t allow in Paris for history, law and justice to be trampled on. Justice conquered politics today and UNESCO, as an UN organization, preserved the meaning of its existence. Any other decision would have meant self-abolishment of the basic principles of the UN organization for culture and science,” said Markovic in a statement. He said that the Serbian Orthodox Church has played an important role in the preservation of the historical cultural heritage.

UNESCO’s decision not to admit Kosovo into membership is a victory of law and justice and news that made Serbia happy, the leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia Sanda Raskovic Ivic assesses. “The decision made by UNESCO is a result of the principled stand of Serbia’s friendly countries and defenders of international law, a result of the engagement of all institutions and organizations from Serbia that were active in the diplomatic battle for Kosovo not to be admitted to UNESCO, but also a result of the wrong estimate and impatience of the typically arrogant Washington-Brussels diplomacy,” reads the written statement by Sanda Raskovic Ivic.

Dacic: Pristina doesn’t want to discuss UNESCO issue in Brussels (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told Radio and Television of Serbia that he doesn’t know whether the public knows how big the pressures are from the other side, not only from Kosovo and Albania, but also from those who co-sponsor Kosovo’s UNESCO membership. Asked whether this issue will “move” to Brussels if the debate is postponed, Dacic says the Pristina side didn’t want this issue to be discussed in Brussels. He reiterated that Kosovo Foreign Minister Hashim Thaqi said at the last meeting in Brussels that he didn’t wish to discuss UNESCO. When it comes to Serbia’s chances to prevent in Brussels Kosovo’s participation in international organizations, Dacic notes that Belgrade has no chances in Brussels since they don’t wish to discuss this there. “I think it is important for all people to know that it is a lie that we allegedly accepted for Kosovo to become member of international organizations. Where is this written? This is not written anywhere in the Brussels agreement. They wanted this but we didn’t accept,” stressed Minister Dacic. He says that Belgrade and Pristina agree that they will not obstruct each other on the EU path in the sense of negotiations, and standards that need to be achieved. “The EU path has nothing to do with the unilaterally declared independence or any unilateral act,” notes Dacic, adding that voting for Kosovo’s UNESCO membership is not the end of the battle.

Drecun: Brussels will have to react over the ZSO (Dnevnik)

The Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun has stated that Brussels will have to react in regard to Pristina’s attempt not to realize the signed agreement on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO). “Now it is up to Brussels, as the mediator and guarantor of agreements, to force Pristina to start behaving in a politically rational way, as otherwise there could be destabilization of the barely somehow stabilized situations,” Drecun told the Novi Sad Dnevnik. On the occasion of the decision of Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga to forward the agreement on the formation of the ZSO to their constitutional court and the announced possibility of Pristina addressing the Venice Commission in this regard, he says that “Pristina may indefinitely invent various Venice Commissions and constitutional courts, but that it is obliged to realize the signed agreements”. Drecun adds that “Pristina, unfortunately, is doing everything to endanger the process of normalization of relations, introducing it into the halt phase”. He says that Belgrade “will use all disposable political means and step-up international capacity not to allow Pristina to behave in such a manner”, adding that Serb representatives in the Kosovo administration will also engage on the same platform. “We believe that we will manage to form, sooner or later, the ZSO. If this doesn’t happen, then Serbian-Albanian relations in Kosovo do not have any perspective,” concluded Drecun.

Stefanovic and Djuric to meet with former Kosovo Serb policemen (Tanjug)

A delegation of Kosovo Serb policemen will meet today in Belgrade with Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic and the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric, Tanjug was told at this Office. One of the representatives of the former Serbian Interior Ministry employees Rajko Sekularac told TV Most that they will discuss at the meeting possibilities of resolving their status. Sekularac said that the former employees have two main requests – the first one is the adoption of a law that will regulate their legal status, but that this law is adopted in accordance with the Serbian laws and Constitution. The second request is to enable those employees who do not want to retire to return to the Serbian Interior Ministry by deploying them throughout towns in Serbia proper. Instead of the earlier announced protest, the former employees will hold consultations after which they will meet with Stefanovic and Djuric. Further activities of the former Serbian Interior Ministry’s employees will be known after the meeting.

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosniaks will react against the decision on referendum in the RS (Klix.ba)

The RS Vice-President Ramiz Salkic warned that in B&H mechanisms for the protection of the Dayton Agreement exist, and the activities regarding the referendum in the RS on the B&H Court and Prosecutor’s Office are contrary to this agreement. Due to this reason, Salkic expects reaction from all those who protect “Dayton”. Furthermore, Salkic noted that all important actors in B&H and outside, not only Bosniaks, highlighted that this referendum is contrary to the Dayton Peace Agreement. He points out that the Bosniak representatives of authority are waiting for a publication in the RS Official Gazette and the decision by the Assembly on the referendum in the RS on judiciary in B&H in order to undertake certain measures.  Salkic said that the preparations for an appeal to the B&H Constitutional Court against that decision are in progress. However, Salkic pointed out that there are lots of other people who want to protect the Dayton Agreement and that he expects their reaction as well. “We will not fail to react and we know what we are to do,” stressed Salkic.

Foreigners should be advisors to B&H, not imposers of their own will (Novo vrijeme)

The Vice-President of the Party of independent Social Democrats (SNSD) Nebojsa Radmanovic assessed as necessary that the international factors be advisors to B&H, not imposers of their own will, and reiterated that the High Representative should finally leave B&H. At a press conference in Banja Luka, Radmanovic pointed out that peace and equality are a prerequisite for survival and further progress of B&H, the Europe, and the whole world. “Revisions of international agreements never did anything good,” Radmanovic said and called for consistent implementation of the Dayton Agreement, and for using all its possibilities and providing equality for everyone in B&H, which is important for survival and further progress. Prior to today’s International day of Fight against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, Radmanovic considers that not much is being talked about this day neither in Europe or in B&H, but points out that hate speech must be overcome in order to move forward. When it comes to the recent meeting of the officials of Republika Srpska and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bijeljina, Radmanovic welcomed the calm tone which is advocated in the discussions, suggesting that it should be continued that way.

Russia could block extension of EUFOR mandate to B&H (Bosna danas)

The B&H Foreign Ministry supports the extension of the mandate of the EUFOR mission in B&H, on which the UN Security Council will decide soon. The Foreign Ministry believes that EUFOR contributes to the overall stability and security in the region and expresses hope that, during the debate in the UN Security Council scheduled for tomorrow, the agreement will be reached on the Resolution relating to B&H, and that the mandate of the Mission will be extended, the Ministry stated today. According to media reports, Russia objected to the resolution regarding EUFOR mission to B&H. Russia is not against the extension of EUFOR’s mandate, but has problem with the part of the Resolution which welcomes further integration of B&H into EU and NATO. Russian Ambassador to B&H Petr Ivantsov said earlier that “EUFOR should be without Euro-Atlantic perspective.” He stressed that Russia is not against extension of the mandate of EUFOR. “If you look at the executive part of the resolution, you will see it consists of three paragraphs. The rest of it relates to Euro-Atlantic perspective of B&H and the position of High Representative. Those issues, in our opinion, are not relevant to the mandate of EUFOR. The same text is on the table for 11 years, but conditions have changed, and we have different relations with NATO and, in certain way, with the EU,” Ivantsov said. He emphasized that Russia “believes that B&H has the wider perspective than the (entrance into) EU and NATO”, pointing out that Moscow “proposes mandate of the EUFOR to be extended, but without Euro-Atlantic perspective.”

Croatia election: Opposition HDZ conservatives claim victory (Bosna danas)

Croatia’s conservative opposition has declared victory in parliamentary elections, but faces a challenge to form a government. Results show the center-right coalition, led by the HDZ, won 59 seats while the ruling alliance, led by the Social Democrats, won 56. Both are well short of the 76 needed for a parliamentary majority. These were Croatia’s first general election since joining the European Union two years ago. The migration crisis was one of the main issues. More than 320,000 migrants have passed through Croatia this year. “The victory brought us responsibility to lead our country, which is in a difficult situation,” HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko told supporters. “Whoever wants to fight with us for the quality of life in Croatia is welcome.”

A new, third group in the election – an alliance of independent candidates known as Most (Bridge) – emerged as a powerful force in the election, winning 19 seats. Most said before the vote it would not join either main coalition. However the leader of “Most” Drago Prgomet said on Monday that he is ready for the negotiations. The success of Most shows that many Croatians are disenchanted with the traditional political parties, which have failed to address the country’s deep-rooted economic problems, the correspondent says. Croatia’s two main alliances have promised different approaches on how to handle the arrival of more refugees and migrants. The country has become a transit hub for migrants, many from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, who want to travel north. Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and his Social Democrats (SDP) won approval for their compassionate handling of the refugee crisis, whereas Karamarko has suggested using troops and fences to reduce the number of arrivals. As well as the migrant crisis, Croatia’s next government will be faced with a weak economy: unemployment is at 15.4% – the third-highest in the European Union, after Greece and Spain, youth unemployment is at 43.1% – also the third-highest in the EU, the country has suffered six years of recession, but has seen little growth this year.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Kosovo fails in bid to gain UNESCO membership (Reuters, 9 November 2015)

PARIS – The United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO voted against Kosovo getting full membership in a vote on Monday after less than two-thirds of countries voted in favor.

The vote was fiercely opposed by Russia and Serbia, which attempted to get the vote postponed at one point earlier in the day. To win membership, Kosovo needed a two-thirds majority. Of the 142 countries that voted, 92 backed the motion, 50 voted against and 29 abstained, meaning the bid fell short by three votes. Kosovo has been recognized by 111 countries since it broke away from Serbia in 2008 but its bid to become a full United Nations member has been blocked by Moscow.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Ingrid Melander)

Montenegro Opposition:  We’ll Protest as Long as It Takes (Sputnik, 8 November 2015)

The brutal crackdown of a massive anti-government rally in Podgorica on October 24 has only galvanized the opposition, prompting it to change tactics; rather than holding national rallies, its leaders are going from town to town in the tiny country of 620,000 people, delivering speeches; the latest was staged in the coastal city of Bar.

Vasily Raksha — “We will protest as long as it takes to achieve our goals,” Dr. Strahinja Bulajic, the Vice President of the political party New Serb Democracy told Sputnik. His party is part of the Democratic Front – a broad coalition opposed to the country’s ruling Democratic Party of Socialists and its Coalition for a European Montenegro. Montenegro is undergoing a severe economic, social, moral and spiritual crisis, he said, referring to the protests. He claims the country is tired of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic’s reign, and believes it has led the country into a dead end. He has been ruling for 27 years [in different positions starting in Yugoslavia] but the economy is not even in stagnation; it is falling apart: factories are closed, and unemployment is dramatic for our country of 620,000 people,” he said. According to IECONOMICS, the unemployment rate in Montenegro constituted 15.67 percent in October.

Montenegrins want to get rid of the “corrupt”, “occupational”, “mafia” regime, opposition leaders exclaimed onstage, slamming the leader’s kleptomaniacal crony capitalism and accusing him of dictatorship. The audience responded by whistling at and booing at the sound of the PM’s name, and on the other hand welcoming the speakers with terrific applause and chanting their names. The atmosphere was electrified, resembling a powerful street demonstration.

“All we want by our protest is to have an interim government for holding the first free democratic elections in the history of Montenegro,” Dr. Bulajic told Sputnik, emphasizing that the protests will never ever turn violent. “We want respect for the will of the people.”

Djukanovic ultimately lost public confidence after engaging in vote rigging during the 2013 presidential and local elections, the politician said. Therefore the opposition wants to suspend him from organizing elections in the future. Three opposition MPs: Milan Knezevic, Andrija Mandic and Slaven Radunovic risk being stripped of their immunity from prosecution and criminal charges for organizing the anti-government rally. “People are our immunity,” stated Knezevic and got a wave of rousing cheers from the responsive audience. After an hour of heated speeches, the galvanized people spilled into the streets of Bar and marched around the town center. They attracted a group of approximately 1,000 people. Walking along the empty evening streets, the demonstrators shouted out “Milo [Djukanovic] – thief” and “together [we are strong].” The leaders walked in the front with a banner reading “Freedom Calling Me”.

The march went peacefully. Several policemen were deployed to cross-roads to prevent any traffic accidents. Bar residents observed the demonstration from their balconies. The chanting and booing surged when the participants passed by a billboard depicting Milo Djukanovic insisting NATO membership would guarantee the country a “secure future”.

NATO Membership Contradicts Spirit and History of Montenegro

NATO remains a sore point for Montenegro; Dr. Bulajic explained to Sputnik that he was vigorously opposed to the idea of joining the alliance, which he claims is being pushed by the leadership because membership in a bloc that mercilessly bombed the Union State of Serbia and Montenegro in 1999 was unforgiveable.

Dr. Strahinja Bulajic, the Vice President of the political party New Serb Democracy told Sputnik: “For 300 years we have had friendly relations with Russia, only Russia helped Montenegro, and without it we would not have survived. NATO membership just goes against our spirit and nature.” He’s not the only Montenegrin opposed to the alliance.

Twenty-six-year-old Danijel argued that the security risks Montenegro is facing originate in Albania, where nationalists lay claims on the territories of adjacent countries – the so-called concept of Greater Albania. Citing the case of Kosovo, he said that although now the threat is not supported by actual action, it may come to life in the measurable future. However, even this menace could not outweigh the suffering NATO brought to Serbia and Montenegro.  “They were bombing us for 78 days, one after another, we cannot forget it. How can we join NATO after it?”

Dr. Bulajic added that “only time will show” why Prime Minister Djukanovic is dragging Montenegro into the Alliance, but described the whole initiative as a betrayal on a par with the leader’s behavior during the NATO bombardments, his referendum on breaking up with Serbia in 2006 and the recognition of Kosovo.

“The Democratic Front comprises five parties, four of them against NATO and one championing the membership. But we all agreed that only Montenegrins have the right to decide on it, and it should be done via a fair referendum.”

But bus driver Rajko has his own take on why Djukanovic is so ardently promoting the military bloc. In 2012 the US found evidence corruption had taken place during the privatization of the Montenegrin state-owned telecommunications company “Telekom” in 2005, which allegedly involved Milo Djukanovic’s sister receiving bribes. The PM dismissed the charges. However, in Rajko’s opinion, the US can now blackmail him, turning him into a compliant puppet fostering Washington and Brussels’s interests in exchange for securing his own position.

Rajko panned the government for its low salaries and irregular working schedule – to make a living, people have to work up to 12 hours and on weekends. The sanctions Montenegro imposed on Russia are catching up with those in the West, and are from the same stable as the artificial NATO aspirations. “Sanctions? On Russia? From Montenegro? It’s ridiculous”, Rajko said bursting out laughing.