LOCAL PRESS

Vucic, Tusk discuss possible solutions to migrant crisis (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met with European Council President Donald Tusk in Belgrade Friday to discuss the migrant crisis and possible solutions to it. During the meeting, it was pointed out that one could expect changes in Europe’s current migrant policy taking place soon, the Serbian government’s media relations office said in a release. Vucic said that Serbia would respect any comprehensive, joint conclusions should they be reached at the forthcoming EU Summit. Tusk said earlier today that he could see the first signs of a European consensus in resolving the migrant crisis showing, adding that an agreement coming from it would make it possible to stop the influx of migrants.

Vulin: Greece and Serbia have friendly relations (RTS)

Serbia is a friend of Greece’s ready to be fully engaged in finding a joint solution to the migrant crisis, a process that no country on the migrant route should be excluded from, Serbian Social Policy Minister Aleksandar Vulin said Saturday, following reports in Greek media alleging that Athens has sent protest letters to Skopje and Belgrade. Greek newspaper To Vima says that Athens has sent letters of protest to Macedonia and Serbia, warning them of the possibility of harming bilateral relations if the two countries failed to change their positions on the refugee crisis. “Greek and Serbia enjoy good and friendly relationship and it will continue to evolve. The position we have taken is clear and open – the way other countries along the route behave, especially those receiving migrants, so will Serbia,” said Vulin, who is also chairman of the working group on resolving the issue of mixed migration flows.

Djurovic: Hardly unlikely Balkan Route will be closed (TV N1)

To fully close the Balkan Route is very difficult, and now all eyes are on Turkey as key actor in addressing the problem, Asylum Protection Center Director Rados Djurovic said Monday. “It is very difficult to close such a route and the situation will probably be brought back to what it was like in 2015, before the exodus,” Djurovic told TV N1. He added that all eyes were now on Turkey. “They see it as someone who can solve all the problems. We will see if Turkey will be able to solve the problems. It carries a suitcase full of blackmail, as it is trying to use its opportunities. Without Turkey, it’s Greece and other countries that remain. I don’t think Greece would accept being a ‘hot spot’ for these problems,” said Djurovic, adding that he believed Serbia’s would be in an easier position if Turkey accepted taking in non-refugees.

Djordjevic: Serbia consistently implements policy of military neutrality (FoNet/RTS)

“Serbia consistently implements the policy of military neutrality, and its active involvement in the Partnership for Peace Program in no way represents an aspiration to become a full NATO member,” Serbian Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic said in talks with Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin. Djordjevic thanked Russia for its strong support for Serbia’s foreign policy priorities, stressing that full EU membership is a strategic goal for Serbia, but that it will continue to pursue an independent policy, the Defense Minister stated. “We want to cooperate with interested states and organizations, but exclusively on the basis of equal cooperation and mutual respect,” he said. They discussed the migrant crisis and regional and global security challenges, expressing satisfaction with a recent meeting of a Serbian-Russian working group on military technical cooperation.

Gojkovic slates local elections for 24 April (RTS/Beta/Tanjug)

Serbian parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic slated the elections for city and municipal assemblies for 24 April. Local elections will not be held in 14 self-governments where the mandates of the local authorities have not expired. Local elections were last held on 6 May, 2012. The elections will be held simultaneously with the 24 April early parliamentary elections, slated by President Tomislav Nikolic on Friday. It has been announced that provincial elections in Vojvodina, to be slated by Vojvodina Assembly speaker Istvan Pastor, will also take place on the same date.

Vozdovac and Zemun municipal assemblies disbanded (Tanjug)

The Belgrade City Assembly deputies disbanded the Vozdovac and Zemun municipal assemblies, whereby conditions have been acquired to hold local elections in these municipalities. The City Assembly has passed the decision on disbanding these municipalities and forming provisional organs in these municipalities that will perform technical affairs until the election of new authorities. The President of the Belgrade City Assembly Nikola Nikodijevic stated that formal-legal conditions had been acquired for introducing provisional organs in these two municipalities, and thus for slating elections in all 17 city municipalities.

Djuric: Elections to be held in Kosovo as well, SNS to win (Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric said in Sremska Mitrovica on Sunday that the snap parliamentary elections would be held in KiM as part of Sebia and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) would win there as well. Following the holding of the SNS’ kick-off election campaign rally in the northern Serbian city, Djuric stressed that all citizens of Serbia, including those in Kosovo and Metohija, were entitled to vote in the elections. He said the SNS was pursuing the policy of unity in Kosovo and was enjoying great trust there. “I expect the SNS to win a landslide victory in Kosovska Mitrovica, as well as in Sremska Mitrovica and Macvanska Mitrovica and everywhere else in Serbia. The Serbian people are uniting to continue the fight for changes and to strengthen Serbia’s institutions and international position,” Djuric said.

Cvetkovic: Islamists in Kosovo pose a threat (Novosti)

For the time being, we do not have information on whether a terrorist attack on Serbia is being prepared or organized, but we are not excluding the possibility of actions by individual, returnees from the wars in Syria and Iraq, especially bearing in mind that most of them took part in combat activities and passed through intensive religious indoctrinations, the Director of the Military-Security Agency (VBA), General Petar Cvetkovic, tells Novosti. He assessed that the security state on the territory of Serbia is generally stable, along with the existence of indicators of possible destabilization in Kosovo and Metohija.

The President has authorized the Defense Minister to approve the use of the Army in case the migrant crisis deepens. What kind of information do you have, will there be need for that?

“If need be, the Serbian Army is prepared to be engaged on tasks of offering support to the state institutions. In light of a possible increase in the number of migrants on our territory, the security situation in the country is permanently monitored and estimated. At present, the security situation at the Macedonian-Greek border is especially complex, the more so since at issue are people who originate from war affected regions, over which there is an open possibility of infiltration of members of terrorist organizations that are taking part in the conflicts in the Near East. However, measures undertaken by Serbia are reducing the risk that is evident over this phenomenon.”

The false state of Kosovo is in a deep political and economic crisis. Is there a risk of tensions spilling over the administrative line as well?

“The political-security situation in Kosovo and Metohija has been unstable for a long time, primarily over the disagreement between the authorities and the opposition in regard to the implementation of the Brussels agreement, which concerns the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities. The situation is additionally burdened with intensified operating of radical Islamists in the province, who have returned from war regions and who have been increasingly expressing threats. Our service has been undertaking preventative and other measures aimed at preventing eventual spillover of the crisis across the administrative line and endangerment of units of the Army and Interior Ministry in the Ground Safety Zone. For the time being, there are no indicators that could point to this spillover.”

Protest against NATO in Nis (Politika)

“If we allow members of foreign armed forces, and not just any, but those who bombed and killed us, killed our innocent children and destroyed our state, to enter Serbia in an unhindered manner, without announcement, without any control, in full combat gear, because they have diplomatic immunity, this simply means that we admitted capitulation with our own laws,” former Serbian gendarmerie commander Bratislav Dikic, who is the leader of the Patriotic Movement of Serbia, addressed the gathered people at the protest in downtown Nis.

REGIONAL PRESS

Custody for Fahrudin Radoncic due to violation of restrictive measures (Klix)

At the hearing held on Friday, the Court of B&H accepted the motion by the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H for ordering custody for the former Minister of Security of B&H and the President of Alliance for Better Future (SBB) Fahrudin Radoncic. Motion for custody was filed by the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H after the Criminal Council of the Court of B&H rejected the appeal and motion of the Prosecution to put Radoncic back in detention due to violation of previously imposed restrictive measures. Namely, not long after Radoncic was released from detention, the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H announced an appeal because, according to them, Radoncic violated the restrictive measures by giving statements to the media and leaving the place of house arrest. The restrictive measures imposed to Radoncic are prohibition of leaving the place of residence, prohibition of meeting witnesses that have been questioned, prohibition of giving statements to the media, as well as meeting and communicating with other persons accused in the case Bakir Dautbasic and others. The Court of B&H could not confirm the duration of custody.

Radoncic to get detention of up to 2 years? (Novo vrijeme)

President of the SBB Fahrudin Radoncic, according to the decision by the Court, got custody that can last up to 2 years from the date of confirmation of the indictment, by the 15th of February 2018, or until the other decisions of the Court. This was confirmed by the Office of Public Relations of Court of B&H. The SBB party most vehemently condemned the decision of the B&H Court to again put party president Fahrudin Radoncic in custody for alleged violations of restrictive measures imposed on him.

Izetbegovic: We will strengthen coalition with SBB at all levels (Oslobodjenje)

“At the session of the collegium we considered information about the work of the Council of Ministers and the Federation of B&H Government. The collegium is satisfied with the work thus far and the achieved results. We reiterated the firm commitment of the SDA to preserving and strengthening the coalition with the SBB at all levels in B&H,” said Bakir Izetbegovic, SDA leader. “We think that as soon as possible the coalition agreement should be implemented and the Council of Ministers filled with the SBB representatives. We greet the decision by the House of Peoples to abolish white bread. We believe this decision should become part of the final text of the law on salaries and wages in B&H institutions.” The SDA collegium called on the Census Bureau of the Statistical Agency to adopt a single program of processing of census results by 15 March in order to announce the results in the legally prescribed timeframe by 1 July. The Islamic Community of B&H was lent support for activities it is leading to close the so-called para-mosques and introducing order in this area. “We sharply condemn the verbal attacks on our esteemed Reis-ul-ulema Husein ef. Kavazovic. We considered the amendment to the election law and highlighted the importance of holding elections in Mostar. The SDA will make a maximum effort to find a solution to implementing the constitutional court’s decision and adopt changes so elections can be held in Mostar. Because of the exceptional importance of Srebrenica, the SDA will with other pro-Bosnian parties work on an agreement on a joint candidate for mayor of the municipality,” said Izetbegovic.

Macedonian Government: We have not annulled decision to build cross in Butel (Pulsinfo)

The Macedonian government reacted the information about the decision to erect a cross in Butel settlement has been annulled is completely false, Plusinfo portal reported. “Such decision has not been made at all, and there has not even been a session. I reject that speculation,” Government’s spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgijev said. Citing Albanian portal Albeu, online portal MKD.mk reported that the Government made a decision at a Friday’s evening session to annul the decision of the Council of Municipality of Butel to construct a cross at the roundabout at the entrance of Butel municipality.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

EU leaders `to declare Balkan migrant route closed at summit` (AFP, 7 March 2016)

Brussels: European Union leaders will on Monday back closing down the Balkans route used by most migrants to reach Europe, diplomats said, after at least 25 more people drowned trying to cross the Aegean Sea en route to Greece. The declaration drafted by EU ambassadors Sunday will be announced at a summit in Brussels on Monday, set to also be attended by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The bloc`s 28 leaders will ask Davutoglu`s government to accept “large-scale” deportations of economic migrants from Greece, the main entry point to Europe, and do more to implement a November deal to slow the flow of people into the bloc.

Greece has seen non-EU Macedonia and EU countries on the western Balkans route virtually shut their borders in a domino effect, trapping Syrian and other asylum seekers desperate to head north to wealthy Germany and Scandinavia. An EU diplomat told journalists that European leaders would declare Monday they will “close the Balkans route in the coming days,” ending the “wave-through approach” to migrants that has caused chaos and tension in Europe. Another diplomat confirmed that the language contained in an earlier draft declaration remained: “Irregular flows of migrants along the western Balkans route are coming to an end”.

The diplomat cautioned that delegations were still looking at the draft, as is always the case before a summit. Brussels on Friday unveiled a plan to restore by the end of the year the full functioning of Europe`s cherished passport-free Schengen zone after the series of border closures. It was timed with calls for not only better cooperation from Turkey but also the creation of an EU coastguard force by the summer and help for Greece to strengthen its external border.

EU leaders are set to stand by Greece after having last week promised 700 million euros in emergency aid for the country and other states to help them manage the influx at their borders.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday demanded the “urgent” relocation of thousands of refugees to other member states. The bloc adopted a scheme last September to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy, but fewer than 700 people have actually been moved. Donald Tusk, the European Council president and summit host, said in his invitation letter that success depended largely on securing Turkey`s agreement for the “large-scale” readmission from Greece of economic migrants who do not qualify as refugees. Syrians, who top the influx of people into Europe, are considered genuine refugees requiring admission under international law. Davutoglu told reporters at Istanbul airport before leaving for Brussels that Turkey had taken “important steps” to fulfil its part of the stalled November deal.

He said there had been a drop in numbers, but “not a dramatic decline” because of the ongoing civil war in neighbouring Syria. Despite progress, the EU said too many people were still heading from Turkey to Greece, with nearly 2,000 arriving daily in February. The Financial Times reported Sunday that Brussels had drafted a proposal to centralise the system for processing asylum applications, removing the current rule that requires asylum seekers to lodge their claim in the first EU country they arrive in. The proposal is part of a radical overhaul of its refugee policy to be announced at a summit on March 17.Just ahead of the Brussels meeting at least 25 migrants, including ten children, died after their wooden boat capsized trying to reach Greece, the Turkish coastguard said. Fifteen people were rescued off the Turkish coastal town of Didim Sunday. Turkey is the launch pad for most of the more than one million refugees and migrants who have come to the continent since early 2015. Davutoglu said he would discuss with his EU counterparts efforts to start within weeks building schools and hospitals for refugees with the three billion euros ($3.3 billion) pledged by Europe under the November deal. Outspoken Czech President Milos Zeman said the EU should not give Turkey the funds because it was “neither ready nor capable” of helping migrants. “It`s only wasted money,” Zeman told TV Prima. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said meanwhile the alliance was broadening its new mission in the Aegean Sea to stop migrant smugglers while working more closely with the EU border agency Frontex. British Prime Minister David Cameron announced Sunday that the Royal Navy was sending vessels to join ships from Canada, Germany, Greece and Turkey already deployed. The International Organization for Migration said before Sunday`s deaths that a total of 418 people had died or gone missing already in 2016, most while attempting to reach Greece from Turkey aboard unseaworthy boats.

Macedonia president slams EU over crisis of own making (World Bulletin, 7 March 2016)

‘Macedonia is defending Europe from Europe itself,’ Gjorge Ivanov says

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov on Friday warned European Union leaders they must do more to help his country cope with a refugee crisis that he said they must take the blame for.

In a scathing indictment of the EU’s failure to anticipate the crisis or to respond adequately to it, Ivanov said Macedonia was facing intolerable pressure because of the ease with which asylum seekers and other refugees can reach neighbouring Greece from Turkey. “The situation is no longer changing by the day, but by the hour,” he said in Rome at a seminar of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). “Europe now has more walls than during the Cold War.” By trying to close its borders to prevent thousands of refugees flooding out of Greece, through the western Balkans towards wealthier parts of the region, “Macedonia is defending Europe from Europe itself,” he said. Ivanov also took a swipe at the OSCE, saying it had failed to anticipate the crisis, making a mockery of its supposed role as a pan-European security body. “Where is the OSCE? Its early warning mechanisms failed to see this crisis coming. Does that mean it should erase the word ‘security’ from its name? “The same goes for the EU — it is great in times of peace and prosperity, not in terms of security. “It removed its internal borders without securing its external ones and now every member state is having to take over the competency that the EU failed to exercise.” European Union leaders have pledged hundreds of million euros to Greece to help it deal with the relentless influx and restrict access to its massive, island-dotted coastline. Much smaller amounts are earmarked to help non-EU countries like Macedonia. “Europe is only as strong as its weakest link and today that link is Greece,” Ivanov said. “The EU as a whole is only as strong as Macedonian security is. Therefore both Greece and Macedonia have to be helped, suggesting the Greek bottleneck be eased by flying people out. “To avoid a crisis, it is necessary to empty the territory of Greece (of refugees) as soon as possible, not by the Balkan route but by air corridors.”