LOCAL PRESS

Nikolic: After Paris, off to Brussels with much more optimism (Tanjug)

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has stated that Belgrade, after UNESCO’s decision not to admit Kosovo, can go to Brussels with much more optimism for the negotiations with Pristina under EU auspices. “Now we have the support of UNESCO and we need to use this and commence talks on the topic that concerns this. We should do this so we are not told later on that we haven’t done everything we could have, that we were silent before the voting day,” Nikolic told journalists at the Serbian Presidency. Nikolic says that he thinks our neighbors had disgraced themselves as not a single country of the former Yugoslavia, including direct neighbors, were not on our side, even though Serbia had in the past period demonstrated and proved to the world that it has become a friend to the former Yugoslav countries. “The fact that someone doesn’t want us as a friend is their problem. It is incomprehensible that Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, voted for Serbia, while our neighboring countries did not,” said Nikolic. He says that those who sponsored Kosovo’s UNESCO membership were wrong, as well those who voted, either over ideology or pressures, noting that they would not have engaged in this enterprise that carried on the risk of divisions within UNESCO, had they not been certain that Kosovo would become a member. “This is a big warning for them. Just as they do not dare present the issue of UN membership before the UN General Assembly, they should also refrain from the attempt of joining some other UN organizations,” said Nikolic. He says the voting had shown that the world needs more understanding and talking, than simple voting where the fate of the Serbian heritage would be decided by people who might not even know where Serbia is located. Nikolic wondered what right the others have to pull politics into UNESCO, noting that Pristina representatives did not have one single argument for UNESCO membership that concerned culture or science.

Vucic: I am sorry that some are disappointed with UNESCO’s decision (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has stated that it is important for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to continue, and reiterated that Serbia will not respond to insults from Pristina, adding he was personally sorry over the reactions of some European officials and states to UNESCO’s decision. Asked to comment the reactions of some countries, including Great Britain and the United States that are disappointed with UNESCO’s decision, Vucic said he was sorry that all of them were so disappointed, but that he wasn’t disappointed, at least with the result. “I am disappointed with the fact that they entered the entire procedure without asking and informing Serbia and expected a completely different result,” said Vucic. “We were so disappointed with the entire operation that we cannot be disappointed with the way in ended,” said Vucic. He also said that the fact that “numerous European officials were also crying” was their policy as they recognized Kosovo’s independence. “What can I do, it is their policy, they recognized independence Kosovo and they behave in accordance with their policy. Serbia will also behave in accordance with its policy and it will not recognize independence of Kosovo,” said Vucic.

Dacic: Serbia remains committed to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug)

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic underlined in the talks with Minister of State for European Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Harlem Desir on Tuesday that Serbia remains committed to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, but that it does not accept Pristina’s unilateral decisions such as application for UNESCO membership.

Desir praised the efforts which Serbia invests in the process of EU integration and particularly its good attitude towards migrants. The officials agreed that relations between Serbia and France are good and that in the last three years political dialogue has been developed at the highest level. They also expressed a mutual desire to improve bilateral relations between the two countries, with special emphasis on economic, cultural and educational cooperation.

Drecun: Pristina must behave rationally (RTS)

If Brussels and Washington want progress in the normalization of relations, then they need to exert pressure so Pristina would start behaving rationally in the process, the Chairman of the parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS). He says that, following the failure in UNESCO, Kosovo will try to receive membership in other international organizations. Drecun says that it is clear on the international plane that a large number of countries are determined to respect order and to oppose membership of a unilaterally declared state, adding that Serbia’s campaign yielded results. On the other side, Serbia didn’t fall into the trap of extreme political performance as Pristina had done. Serbia faced the international community with arguments and facts, but also showed the brutal proportions of the destruction of our heritage,” says Drecun. It is quite possible that Kosovo will try again to receive again UNESCO membership in two years, says Drecun, adding that many things could change within these two years. He points out that Kosovo’s main goal is to launch from a dead point the acquiring of full-fledged membership in international organizations, adding that Kosovo will also try to become a member of Interpol and the Council of Europe. Drecun notes that Belgrade should continue to insist on the fact that Pristina also places on the agenda the issue of the heritage in Kosovo and Metohija. “Pristina didn’t want to include this issue on the agenda of the dialogue, since it had support to conduct obstruction. They thought they would receive UNESCO membership and that they would then put Serbia before a fait accompli,” says Drecun. He points out that Serbia collected, only with a prudent and sober reaction, sympathies and support of the international community in a situation when Pristina acted in a way to face us with unpredictable situations. Asked to comment the reactions of Kosovo leaders after yesterday’s decision, Drecun concludes that there is nothing to expect from those who have been destroying Serbian sanctities, and now would like to be guardians of heritage even though, as he put it, they still haven’t taken off the uniforms of the terrorist KLA.

Tanaskovic: Kosovo a precedent in UNESCO history (RTS)

The decision by the UNESCO General Conference not to accept Kosovo’s entry to the organization is a precedent in its 70-year-long history, Serbian Ambassador to UNESCO Darko Tanaskovic has said in Paris. Bearing in mind that some major powers sponsored Kosovo’s request to join UNESCO, the outcome of the vote is significant, Tanaskovic told the RTS late Monday. “The situation has changed significantly because this is the first time in the international community that a proposal backed by countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Turkey or Saudi Arabia has been defeated,” Tanaskovic said. The need to protect the Serbian heritage in UNESCO does not end with Monday’s decision, he noted, adding that he believes that the matter of Serbian monasteries and churches will make its way onto the agenda in the dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija: UNESCO’s decision – triumph of reason (Tanjug)

The decision of the UNESCO General Conference to reject Kosovo’s membership bid is a triumph of reason and justice over politics, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced.

“UNESCO has shown with this outcome of the vote that the topics of the utmost importance for Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija cannot and must not be solved through unilateral decisions and initiatives since such a solution would not be lasting and sustainable,” reads the statement. The issue of position and property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as the status of the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, must be addressed in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and with the participation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, regardless of the ambitions of the interim institutions in Pristina.

European Commission: Serbia actively committed to EU integration (Tanjug)

Serbia remained actively committed to its strategic goal of EU accession, implementing the ambitious plan of political and economic reforms, reads the latest report of the European Commission on Serbia’s progress in the EU integration process. Serbia has been commended for progress in economic reforms, with the remark that Serbia’s economy is recovering from a recession and that thanks to significant consolidation measures and better tax collection, the budget deficit has fallen sharply. Serbia completed comprehensive action plans required for the opening of rule of law Chapters 23 and 24 and has reached key agreements with Kosovo as part of the normalization process, dealt with under Chapter 35. Serbia has had a very constructive role in managing the migration crisis. The document also highlights that Belgrade has played a constructive role in the region, and remained committed to the normalization of its relations with Pristina coming to key agreements within that process. Even with the improved legal framework, the situation relating to the rule of law and independence of the judiciary is still not satisfactory, because the possibilities of political influence on judges and courts are not completely excluded, reads the report.

REGIONAL PRESS

European Commission: B&H is back on the reform path (Bosna danas)

B&H is back on the reform path necessary to move forward in the EU integration process, European Commission said today in the document entitled “Enlargement Strategy Paper”.

“Meaningful progress in the implementation of the Reform Agenda adopted with political consensus in July is necessary for the EU to consider a membership application from B&H”, reads document which is released together with progress reports for each candidate and potential candidate country. “Written commitments now need to be further translated into the adoption and implementation of the necessary reforms, in particular in the rule of law field, including in the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as socioeconomic reforms.”

“In order to tackle high unemployment and low participation rates, the country should reduce labor market rigidities, including a reduction of the tax wedge. The Structured Dialogue on Justice should be the instrument to address the remaining shortcomings in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s judiciary.”

“Strengthening public administration, improving cooperation at all levels and establishing an effective coordination mechanism on EU matters will also be necessary for the country to be able to face the challenges ahead on the EU path. The SAA adaptation to take into account the EU accession of Croatia needs to be finalized as a matter of urgency,” the daily concludes.

Antigovernment opposition in Montenegro announces new rally (Vijesti)

The opposition in Montenegro announced a new big rally for November 15 in Podgorica. The rally is entitled “You are surrounded”, said the leader of New Serb Democracy (NOVA) Andrija Mandic. The decision about the rally was made at the session of the Presidency of Democratic Front, group of opposition parties which repeatedly called prime minister Milo Djukanovic to step down. “The idea is to form a human chain of free people by which we will surround institutions, as well as some private companies,” Mandic, who is representative in the state parliament, said at the press conference. He added that after this rally, the gatherings of the opposition will continue in other Montenegrin cities. The previous rally in Podgorica turned violent and protesters tried to enter the state parliament building, after which Mandic and MP Slaven Radunovic were accused of a coup attempt. Some say the protest was staged to show that Montenegro is an insecure country and to prevent its admission to NATO. Many claimed that the rally was supported by Moscow. The Montenegrin government hopes to see invitation to NATO by the end of the year.

CIA knew what would cause a war in Yugoslavia and B&H (Vijesti/Nezavisne/Kurir)

Recognition of the former Yugoslav republics by Germany and some other European countries might lead to a war in B&H and encourage the division of the land between the Croatia and Serbia, as stated on document of CIA from the 19th of December 1991, regarding estimations of future events in Yugoslavia and B&H. Bill Clinton, the former US president, announced organizing of a round table on the occasion of the publication of these documents at the beginning of October. In documents from the end of 1991 we can see the hesitant US position on whether to recognize the independence of Slovenia and Croatia, because, on the one hand, US believed that recognition might cause a war, and on the other hand, that the non-recognition might convince European countries to stay not involved in the growing crisis. The mentioned document from 19 December stated that the most likely scenario for B&H was “widespread violence and civil conflict”. “The decision of Germany and other countries of the European Community on the recognition of the independence of the Yugoslav republics is most likely going to provoke Serbs and Croats (from B&H) to join the Croatian and Serbian areas to Serbia and Croatia,” as stated in the assessment. As the most positive scenario, or the scenario with a minimum of violence, the CIA considered the way that authorities in B&H should take the moderate forces who would, through negotiations, divide parts of B&H and join them to Serbia and Croatia, and that Muslims should either join Croatia or establish an Islamic state from whatever remains from it, reported Nezavisne novine. “The perspective for B&H looks quite bad, even if Serbia and Croatia get an agreement. Intelligence data shows that Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tudjman are ready to join the parts of B&H to their territories. Furthermore, reports indicate that the two of them are in contact all the time despite conflicts. This summer, Tudjman said to German politicians that B&H is too big and that he is more than willing to share it,” stated the CIA. They estimated that Slobodan Milosevic will not defend Banja Luka in case it falls into the hands of the Croatian-Muslim forces, as written in a document from 21 September 1995. As stated there, they were surprised by the lack of reaction of Belgrade to the action of Croatian military “Oluja”, reported Kurir.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Foreign investors satisfied with progress of Serbia’s economy (Xinhua, 9 November 2015)

BELGRADE — Serbia’s Foreign Investors Council made a positive assessment of the country’s progress in the past year, but suggested the government speed up structural reforms, according to the annual “White Book” published Monday. The 2015 edition of the “White Book”, which contains proposals on how to improve the business environment in the country, was presented here before Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and ministers, as well as members of the Foreign Investors Council, including its president Ove Freidheim. Vucic said Serbia grew into a regional leader in attracting investments and reminded it had progressed 32 places in the World Bank rankings. “There is not enough investment here, but there is a lot more of them than anywhere else (in the region), and there will be even more,” he promised, adding that Serbia had created a good business environment and gave incentives to attract business people. Vucic stressed that the government was successful in conducting economic reforms that resulted in a three times smaller deficit than envisaged by Serbia’s arrangement with International Monetary Fund. The Foreign Investors Council in Serbia draws more than 130 companies who invested more than 23.5 billion euros combined in the country and employ around 97,000 people. Fredheim, for his part, said Serbia had implemented around 40 percent of the recommendations from the 2014 edition of the “White Book”, and that it had shown a strong dedication to conducting reforms. He stressed that significant progress had been made compared to last year in areas of real estate and construction, inspection, transport, intellectual property, as well as telecommunications, insurance, private security, and oil and gas. Estimating that early signs of recovery of Serbia’s economy were visible, Fredheim said he hoped the trend would continue, especially in areas such as tax collection, foreign currency transactions, food, agriculture and other areas where significant progress had not been observed. He said the Foreign Investors Council expected Serbia to speed up structural reforms, secure better implementation of laws, and harmonize them with EU legislation.