LOCAL PRESS

Vucic voices his hope in success of new round of negotiations with Pristina (Danas)

Belgrade is ready to resume the dialogue with Pristina in Brussels and discuss all open issues concerning the implementation of the Brussels agreement on normalization of relations, the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said to the European External Action Service Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey Angelina Eichhorst on Wednesday, electronic media carried a release issued by the Serbian government. Eichhorst said that Brussels was committed to making sure progress was made in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The new round of the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina should take place on January 27 in Brussels. Vucic and Eichhorst discussed Serbia’s European integration, and the prime minister voiced his hope that the process would be continued by the forthcoming opening of chapters 23 and 24, which were of the key importance for reforms in the country. Eichhorst said that the opening of the first chapters in the negotiations within the EU was important not only for Serbia, but for the entire Western Balkans, considering the role of Serbia in preserving peace and stability in the region. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic also met with Eichhorst, who – while speaking about the normalization of relations with Pristina – emphasized that many important agreements in the previous negotiations rounds were reached due to the active engagement of Belgrade. During the meeting, Eichhorst focused in particular to the situation in the Western Balkans and emphasized the importance of further strengthening regional cooperation and mutual trust, it was said in a release issued by Dacic’s office. Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa “will not travel to Brussels on January 27 for a meeting with the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic,” Pristina based daily Zeri in Albanian language wrote on Wednesday. An advisor to Mustafa and the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Bajram Gecaj said to the daily that the government in Pristina had not yet received an official invitation for the meeting in Brussels, and still had no proposals for any of the topic the two prime ministers might discuss. Gecaj confirmed the position of the Prime Minister Mustafa that he would not travel to Brussels before Kosovo got a recommendation to abolish visas required by EU countries. Asked whether the issue of visa liberalization was used as a condition for the resumption of dialogue, Gecaj did not give a concrete answer, but said the liberalization would happen this year. In a New Year interview, Mustafa said he would not travel to Schengen countries until Kosovo was given a green light for the visa liberalization process.

Vucic: I’m not very optimistic, Pristina does not fulfill its obligations (Tanjug)

Belgrade is always ready for a dialogue with Pristina, said the Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, and added that he is not very optimistic, because of the political situation in Pristina and their unwillingness to fulfill their obligations concerning the formation of Serbian municipalities.

“Climate change is required in Pristina and the greater responsibility so that the dialogue could produce better results. We are always ready for dialogue,” Vucic said. The decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, he added, canceled nine most important elements of the Brussels agreement. “To continue dialogue on what? Other issues? Fine, we will continue, but what should we continue to talk about regarding the formation of Serbian municipalities when Kosovo’s Constitutional Court says it is not in accordance with the Constitution. No problem, now we’re going to check every little thing with our Constitutional Court,” said Vucic. Belgrade, he stressed, however is always ready for dialogue.

Vucic prefers early elections to cabinet reshuffle (B92)

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Thursday that early parliamentary elections are possible in 2016. Addressing a news conference in Belgrade, he noted there was “only one reason” not to go to the polls – the possibility that this might slow down the country’s reforms. Vucic said that “if someone wants a sizable reshuffle, or to make a program through 2020, then elections are the better option.” The Prime Minister’s desire to replace several ministers was also indicated in his answer when B92‘s reporter asked why his party, the SNS, would want elections, considering it has a majority in parliament in its own right, and room to make any political decision. “Politics is not mathematics, it is a mistake of many people to think so. Politics is life, morality, work, psychology, atmosphere, and never mathematics. Do you think it is important whether the party of Velimir Ilic or some other party will have five or eight deputies (in the assembly)? It is not. If the atmosphere in society is such that there are constant pressures, if the government needs fresh blood, if there should be a reshuffle for the sake of five ministers, then it would be torture, a political showdown that would last five or six months. When you see there is no stability because pressure is being put on that stability each day, if the opposition speaks every day about catastrophes, dictatorship, censorship, then I think it is democratic to put it to a test,” Vucic said. Asked whether he agrees with the statement that the Serbian president does not support the holding of a referendum in the RS, Vucic said: “I said it in front of (RS President) Milorad Dodik last year and reiterated recently that I will not change my stance, but also that Serbia will not put pressure on the policy in another country. It is yet another topic that the government and the president of Serbia are discussing.” He reiterated he would consult the president of Serbia and his ruling SNS party before making a final decision on early elections. Vucic did not confirm that he yesterday met with Nikolic and said he would “not talk about something that has not been announced.” Vucic also stated he was “not afraid to lose his job and does not deal with party matters.” According to him, it will be up to the opposition to decide whether to join forces. He also remarked that “even those who do not hold the same opinion on the same issues are joining together.” The Prime Minister said that the Hague Tribunal would receive a report about the warrant for the arrest of three officials of the SRS party charged with contempt of court because they threatened, intimidated, offered a bribe and otherwise influenced witnesses in the case against SRS leader Vojislav Seselj. Asked whether, if elections are called, Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic will remain in office until they are held, Vucic said he was “true to his word and will keep his promise” that the minister, who insulted a female journalist with a sexist remark, would leave office in January. Vucic said he thinks he has a good relationship with the media, and is “answering all their questions” while the only thing he wants is “the right to think for himself.” He said the atmosphere in the country was one of “going from one lie to another,” while the public was occupying itself with “nonsense” – because some individuals lost their privileges and “a chance to engage in corruption.” Vucic also that 2016 will be better than the previous two years, and that the first goal of Serbia is to preserve peace and stability in the country and in the region at a time when relations in the region, Europe and worldwide “are not easy.” The second objective is to improve the economy- something he described as “much more important and something that should be talked about, while ignoring the saber-rattling.”

Vucic “ready to resign, schedule early elections for April” (Vecernje Novosti)

PM Aleksandar Vucic is “close to a decision” to call early parliamentary elections, that would be held along with provincial and local ballots. This has been reported by the daily Vecernje Novosti on Thursday. The report added that if he chooses this option, Vucic could resign in late February. According to current calculations, said the newspaper, “the optimal date for provincial, local, but also possible parliamentary elections is April 24.” In that case, elections would have to be called on February 24 at the earliest, and on March 10 at the latest, to give between 45 and 60 days to the campaign. The daily said that the ruling SNS party’s main board will meet on Sunday when he will ask for authorization to decide on early elections even before the party’s assembly on February 13. Vucic will, according to the report, hold a round of consultations after the SNS meeting on Sunday with his closest associates and coalition partners, and then decide whether to go to early elections.

Montgomery: There is no real alternative to Vucic (Tanjug)

The Serbian Government must maintain its present course and its results are visible, says former US ambassador to Serbia William Montgomery. Montgomery also believes that the West is not trying to weaken Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. The West is definitely not giving up on Vucic – on the contrary: the reality of the Serbian political scene today is that, in any case, there is no real alternative to Vucic, Montgomery said in an interview to Tanjug. If anyone was to assess the results achieved by the Serbian Government, they would see a dynamism and activity unseen in the past ten years and many positive steps, Montgomery said. This is reflected by incentives for foreign investments, efforts aimed at reconciliation with neighbors, as well as strong efforts to control public spending and cooperate with the IMF and the World Bank, he said.

President Nikolic against RS referendum – adviser (Danas)

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic is against a planned referendum in Republika Srpska (RS), stated Nikolic’s adviser Ivan Mrkic. According to the announcements, the Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) will hold a referendum on the work of the B&H Court and Prosecution. Asked if Nikolic has taken a clear position regarding RS President Milorad Dodik‘s intention to call the referendum, Mrkic told Belgrade-based daily Danas that Nikolic shares Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic‘s view on this matter. “The President of Serbia agrees with the position of the Serbian Government. The Serbian Government has voiced its position on the referendum, and it is a position that is also shared by the President of the Republic,” said Mrkic.

REGIONAL PRESS

Dodik: I was not talking about Referendum with Nikolic (ATV)

President of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik stated that he did not talk about the referendum with the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, but about the fast implementation of agreed projects between RS and Serbia. After a meeting with Nikolic, Dodik reiterated that the referendum will be held in the RS the moment he estimates it is purposeful. “We did not talk about referendum; I do not know why this issue is so insisted on lately. Referendum is an issue legalized by many nations and peoples and I believe we also have the right on it, the topic is our choice and that referendum will take place the moment we estimate it is purposeful and useful,” Dodik said. Dodik added that he and Nikolic discussed about relations between Serbia and RS and the implementation of projects. “I must say that RS has continuously had good cooperation with Serbia dating many years back, but at this moment we also have one novelty – to implement the agreed projects and plans fast, which is very important,” Dodik stated, adding that there are no relationships more special to RS than those with Serbia. Now, Dodik said, there is an opportunity to talk to people from Serbia about strengthening relations in economy, culture, education and health.

B&H Security Ministry secretary in one-month custody (Bosna danas)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Court accepted B&H Prosecutor’s Office request and ordered one-month custody for B&H Security Ministry secretary Bakir Dautbasic and Bilsena Sahman. They have been arrested under suspicion of obstructing an investigation of B&H Prosecution. They, allegedly, tried to persuade Azra Saric to give false statement in case against Naser Kelmendi who is charged with drug trafficking and murder of Ramiz Delalic. Saric was Delalic girlfriend. According to prosecutor Bozo Mihajlovic, Dautbasic and Sahman tried to persuade Saric not to mention Fahrudin Radoncic and Naser Kelmendi in her statement on Delalic’s murder. Radoncic is a leader of the SBB and Dautbasic is candidate of this party for state Communications Minister. Radoncic, Dautbasic and Sahman deny all allegations.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Kosovo to call for demarcation of borders with Serbia at upcoming talks (Sputnik)

The minister in charge of dialogue with Belgrade in Kosovo government said that the breakaway republic authorities plan to raise the issue of defining the border with Serbia during the next talks with Belgrade officials.

The Kosovo authorities plan to raise the issue of defining the border with Serbia during the next talks with Belgrade officials, Edita Tahiri, the minister in charge of dialogue with Belgrade in the breakaway republic’s government, said, as cited by local media on Wednesday.

“Among the issues that we want to discuss during this phase (of negotiations) is the demarcation of the border between Kosovo and Serbia,” the RTK broadcaster quoted Tahiri as saying. According to her, the next meeting of Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic may be held on January 27, but Brussels, which is hosting the talks, has not yet issued an official invitation to the sides. Kosovo broke away from Serbia and proclaimed independence in 2008. It has been recognized by 23 out of the 28 EU member states. Belgrade has been in reconciliation talks with the breakaway region since 2011 after Brussels put pressure on the Serbian government.

Hague Tribunal demands updates on Serbian Radicals’ arrests (BIRN)

The UN-backed court in The Hague told Belgrade to send monthly reports on its efforts to arrest three Serbian Radical Party officials accused of threatening witnesses at their leader Vojislav Seselj’s trial.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY, told the Serbian authorities on Wednesday to file regular updates about its progress in arresting Serbian Radical Party officials Vjerica Radeta, Petar Jojic and Jovo Ostojic. Radeta, Jojic and Ostojic are accused of threatening two protected witnesses at their leader Vojislav Seselj’s war crimes trial. They are also accused of blackmailing the protected witnesses and offered them bribes of 500 euros in order not to testify at Seselj’s trial for alleged wartime crimes in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia. The ICTY ordered Belgrade “to submit monthly reports to the chamber outlining its efforts with regard to executing the arrest warrants, with the first report being due on 1 February 2016”. The contempt indictments against the three Serbian Radical Party officials were raised confidentially on December 5, 2014, while the warrants for their arrests were issued in secret on January 19, 2015. Redacted versions were only made public in the beginning of December last year. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that Belgrade will comply with the ICTY’s request. “They asked for the report. They will get the report,” Vucic told a press conference. The head of the Serbian office for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Rasim Ljajic, said in December that the publishing of the indictments was “surprising and unexpected”. “We expected that Vojislav Seselj’s verdict would (be handed down) over the course of this year and that most logical thing would be to try these people for contempt of court at the same time as the verdict on Seselj is rendered,” Ljajic said in a statement.

Seselj is still waiting for the exact date of his first-instance verdict, after several controversial delays. He returned to Belgrade after being granted temporary release on humanitarian grounds in November 2014 to undergo cancer treatment. According to Serbia’s Law on Cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Belgrade is not obliged to comply with all The Hague court’s requests. The government can deny any request if it believes that it violates Serbia’s sovereignty or national security. One of the accused Radical Party officials, Vjerica Radeta, told media she would never go to The Hague court voluntarily. This is not the first case of contempt of court during the ICTY’s 20-year history. The most famous was against the UN court’s former spokesperson Florence Hartmann, who was fined 7,000 Euros in 2011 for disclosing evidence from a trial. Seselj was also convicted three times of contempt of court. The Radical Party chief is still in Serbia, waiting for the ICTY to deliver his verdict in 2016.

Although the UN court has asked for him to return to detention in The Hague, the Serbian authorities haven’t arrested him, citing his poor health as a reason. Since returning to Belgrade in 2014, Seselj has led nationalist protests and made a series of hardline statements that have angered war victims. He had been in custody since 2003, when he voluntarily surrendered.

Zaev: Macedonia Not Yet Ready for Fair Elections (BIRN)

Macedonian opposition leader Zoran Zaevtold BIRN in an interview that preparations are not yet complete for free and fair early elections in April aimed at ending the country’s political crisis.

Zaev accused his bitter political rival, the long-standing Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, of breaching the deadline agreed for his resignation in the EU-brokered agreement to end Macedonia’s political crisis, and of stalling other key reforms needed for fair parliamentary elections that were set out by the deal. “The entire Macedonian public knows that the conditions for fair and democratic elections have not been met,” the leader of the opposition Social Democrats leader told BIRN. Zaev argued that according to the crisis deal, Gruevski should already have resigned in the past few days to allow a new interim Prime Minister to be elected by the January 15 deadline, and not wait for Friday’s arrival of the European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn to step down. Another key unfulfilled task to pave the way for fair polls was a check on the electoral roll, which according to many observers and the opposition contains deceased and false voters used to tip election results in the Gruevski government’s favour in the past. “Even laymen know that with 1.8 million voters, [as] registered on the last electoral roll, Macedonia cannot go to elections. There are fewer than 1.6 million residents in the country, of whom some 400,000 are minors and we have fictional IDs and ‘duplicate’ voters. That has to be cleaned up,” Zaev said. Another key point is reform of the media, which Zaev argues will have a direct effect on the elections. “At 100 days before the elections there has to be a new team of experts and a new head of the Agency for Audio and Audio Visual Services [media regulatory body] so that we can expect this body to react to hate speech, unequal representation and breaches of professional standards,” Zaev said. “Personnel changes are needed at MRTV [the state broadcasting service] and MIA [the national news agency]. All of this should be done no less than 100 days before the elections, which according to the initial [EU-brokered] agreement expires on January 15. This is impossible to accomplish,” he insisted.

He expressed hope that the arrival of EU commissioner Hahn on Friday would help to clear matters up. “His arrival is a great help and we expect that this will make the dates for the implementation of Przino [the EU-brokered agreement] more precise,” he said. Regarding any possible postponement of the planned April 24 election date, Zaev said that the State Electoral Commission should have a say in the schedule. “The State Electoral Commission is now the most authoritative institution that should make the plans and calculations… They must match all the photos from the biometrical documents to annul duplicate photos, cross-reference all the databases and conduct field [door-to-door] checks of the electoral roll,” he said. He says that all options for the election date remain open, from April until as late as September. “Let them announce the concrete dates when we have a good electoral roll and an agreement on media which will be implemented… this will determine the election date,” he said. The political crisis started in Macedonia in February last year, when Zaev started releasing batches of covertly recorded tapes, claiming they showed that Gruevski was behind the illegal surveillance of some 20,000 people, including ministers. He insisted that the tapes contain incriminating evidence against many senior officials, including proof of high-level corruption, the government grip’s on the judiciary, prosecution, businesses and media, politically-motivated arrests and jailings, electoral violations and even an attempted cover-up of a murder of a young man by a police officer. Zaev told BIRN that the wiretap material, which his party recently handed to the newly-formed Special Prosecution for investigating the surveillance cases, contain many more scandalous corruption allegations that involve multi-million euro sums. “I am convinced there are other cases, as big and as scandalous as the ‘Chinese fees’,” he said, referring to claims that Gruevski allegedly took large bribes in a lucrative deal with Chinese firms for the construction of highways. Zaev said that he was convinced that once conditions are set for truly free elections, Gruevski’s VMRO DPMNE party will lose. “Citizens must know that Gruevski is no longer the man in charge and that his time is over,” he said.

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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.