LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Overturned trucks issue for EULEX, KFOR (Tanjug)
EULEX and KFOR should deal with this, as they are responsible for the security and free flow of goods and people in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said in reply to reporters’ questions concerning the overturning of trucks with Serbian goods in the province. Vucic said this while touring a newly built primary school in Kalinovac, underlining this was just the beginning of a new renovation scheme for schools, health care centers and hospitals.
Djuric: Incidents can jeopardize business cooperation (Tanjug)
The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric condemned on Friday attacks on vehicles distributing goods from Serbia proper in the province, warning that such incidents could jeopardize the cooperation between the chambers of commerce and businessmen that had been so hard to establish. This is a second such incident in just one week, so now it is clear this is an organized campaign that could have dangerous and far-reaching consequences, Djuric said.
Noting that in the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations efficient economic cooperation is of key importance, he said the attackers wished to cause wider destabilization, the Office said in a release.
Earlier on Friday, activists of the opposition Self-Determination Movement admitted they had again overturned a truck carrying Serbian goods near Pristina.
Djuric acquaints Austrian Ambassador with situation in Kosovo (RTS)
The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric met with Austrian Ambassador to Serbia Johannes Aigner, with whom he discussed the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Serbia’s EU integration process, as well as the current political and security situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Djuric says that the Serbian government sees Austria as one of the key partners when it comes to the EU perspective and creation of lasting stability in the region. Djuric acquainted Ambassador Aigner with the position of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, stressing that the frequent attacks on the Serbs, their property, and as of recently the Belgrade-Pristina trade cooperation, are concerning. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija stated that Djuric opines that Pristina could soon unblock the process of establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), the most important segment of the Brussels agreement. Despite Pristina’s increasing efforts to resolve issues of key interest for the Serbs in the province with initiatives outside the Brussels agreements, Belgrade will continue to promote dialogue on all issues of mutual interest and to create a better atmosphere for talks and normalization of relations, concluded Djuric.
Three Kosovo citizens stopped in attempt to join IS (Tanjug)
Kosovo Special Prosecution indicted three people for attempt to join terrorist organization called Islamic State (IS), Tanjug reported on Sunday. Out of 1.8 million citizens in Kosovo, approximately 300 of them joined the jihadists in Iraq and Syria in the past years, which was the greatest percentage in Europe. According to Kosovo authorities, approximately 50 Kosovo terrorists have died on battlefields in Iraq and Syria, while 120 of them returned to Kosovo.
Vulin: Migrants not crossing Serbia’s borders (TV Pink)
The inflow of migrants into Serbia has been stopped, Minister of Social Policy Aleksandar Vulin said. “No one is crossing Serbia’s borders,” Vulin told TV Pink in reply to the question on the current migrant situation. At the time when some European countries are advocating the opening of borders, and others their closing, Serbia must take care of itself, as a country between a rock and a hard place. “If the countries located behind us along this route or final destination countries do not want to receive migrants then Serbia cannot let them pass through its territory,” Vulin said.
LDP, SDS, LSV submit joint list (Beta)
On March 13, a coalition including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDS) and the League of Vojvodina Social Democrats (LSV) submitted to the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) a list of candidates titled “Boris Tadic, Cedomir Jovanovic – Alliance for a Better Serbia – LDP, LSV and SDS”.
RIK accepts SVM electoral list (Beta)
RIK accepted on March 12 a list of candidates submitted by the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM). Balint Pastor’s is the first name on the list titled “SVM – Pastor Istvan”. The list will be treated as submitted by an ethnic minority party, which means that to enter the parliament it requires support from less than five percent of the voters who actually go to the polls.
REGIONAL PRESS
Referendum to be discussed in parliament soon (Srna)
The President of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik stated that the question of a referendum on the Republic Day will be considered at one of the next sessions of the National Assembly. Dodik emphasized that the previous agreement of the leaders in RS was that they will agree on the next steps in case that it comes to refusal of the Draft Law on the Constitutional Court at the B&H level. “Previously, we had an agreement to jointly define the question that would be on the referendum. I think it is the most likely that referendum question will be: “Do you support the Republic Day to be celebrated on the 9 January,” stated Dodik in Banja Luka. On 26 November last year, the Constitutional Court of B&H determined that the Act on the Law on Holidays of RS which refers at the 9th of January as the Day of the Republic is unconstitutional, and that the National Assembly of RS must harmonize the law with the B&H Constitution within six months. Officials from RS agreed at the meeting that was held on the 30th of November that the National Assembly of RS will make a decision and hold referendum in which the people will decide whether they accept the B&H Constitutional Court’s decision to abolish the Republic Day celebrated on January 9th.
Initiative to enter the Serb exodus from Sarajevo in the calendar of the most significant dates for the RS (Srna)
The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) City Board in Istocno Sarajevo will launch an initiative to enter the Serb exodus from Sarajevo in the calendar of the most significant dates for the history and creation of Republika Srpska (RS), said the SNSD. Marking the 20th anniversary of the exodus of the Serbs from Sarajevo is a painful reminder and an inexhaustible source of lessons and messages for all times about the historical efforts, sufferings and sacrifices of the Serbs, said RS National Assembly Speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic. “The decision on the departure of the Serbs from Sarajevo after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement was a symbol of faith in RS, in the struggle that had been fought and in the treatment of those who had been killed for the creation of RS and for the Serb people as a whole” said RS President Milorad Dodik on Saturday.
EU membership application will be credible when B&H fulfils all the requirements (Fena)
The EU membership application will be credible when B&H fulfils all the requirements regarding the coordination mechanism, adjustment of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and continuation of reforms, said French Ambassador Claire Bodonyi.
Cvijanovic on census: Everything must be relevant, accurate and precise (Oslobodjenje)
The RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic said that the B&H census must be relevant, accurate, precise, and in accordance with the categories that exist and fit with international standards and rules of Eurostat. “I cannot help feeling that we here got deeply into a certain politicking and let it be a race of who will be greater, in order to thereafter tell some political story, and not to plan properly and realize certain social, economic, and strategic activities,” Cvijanovic told reporters in Celinac. She said that she does not agree that people are listed as residents, because it is known that all activities are performed in another country. “We will leave this question to the experts, but pity the money and energy. If conditions aren’t created that results of the census are not released on time, then we will have to have another census, which will not be verified, and I see no point in all this,” says Cvijanovic. She said that it is tragic and frustrating that each important question that should be resolved in B&H is met with an entire series of problems. “The RS’s stance on this issue is very clear, and it is manifest through the competent institutions, the Republic Institute for Statistics, and everyone who participated in the census in B&H,” added Cvijanovic.
Brammertz: Karadzic judgment one of the most important in Tribunal’s history (Fena)
It may have taken over two decades but as the verdict looms in the trial of B&H Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, ICTY Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz in an interview ahead of the judgment of former Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic later in March says it’s never too late for justice. “There have been many important trials in this tribunal, there have been many important judgments, but the one in relation to Karadzic will for sure be one of the most important in the history of the tribunal” said Serge Brammertz. He dismisses criticism that the ICTY is only stirring up painful memories of events that happened long ago and should be laid to rest. “Personally I’m absolutely convinced that to give reconciliation a chance, accountability is absolutely important,” said Brammertz. It remains painful that so many people are still missing two decades after the wars, and Brammertz has also been dismayed by the lingering bitter divisions in the region. Yet he recognizes the tribunal’s limitations — and that some who committed atrocities may also have slipped through the net. “Justice has been done for sure. To all victims, unfortunately no, because we have to select cases” Brammertz said.
Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner: Closure of the Balkan Route is permanent (Novo vrijeme)
Balkan route for migrants, in order to get to the rich countries on the north, will be permanently closed, said Austrian Minister of Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner. “On Wednesday, Macedonia closed its border with Greece for illegal immigrants after Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, which are on the way to Austria, announced new restrictions on the entry of migrants, my position is clear: the Balkan Route will remain permanently closed,” said Mikl-Leitner. She said that only that kind of “consistent signal” will discourage migrants, with many of them escaping from the war and conflicts in the Middle East and beyond by crossing the Mediterranean from Turkey to European shores. As the result of closing the route, thousands of migrants accumulated on the Greek side of the border with Macedonia and another 1,000 accumulated in a refugee camp on the Macedonian side of the border with Serbia. “This alliance of reason made a decisive contribution for maintaining stability and order for the people in Europe,” said Mikl-Leitner, in allusion to the Balkan countries along the route.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Russian op in Syria prevented ISIS from Kosovo-style formation of state – Serbian president (RT, 13 March 2016)
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has in an interview with RT drawn parallels between the case of the recognition of Kosovo’s independence and Islamic State’s attempts at establishing itself as a legitimate state. Speaking to host Oksana Boiko on the Worlds Apart program, Nikolic hailed Russia’s role in trying to resolve the Syrian crisis, slamming as biased claims that Russia started its operation in the Syrian conflict with malicious intent. “If the United States intervened in Iraq, Libya and Syria with good intentions, why is it suggesting Russia has malicious intentions, especially since it has been shown that the Russian intervention in Syria against Islamic State [IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL] directly stopped the formation of a state in the way that was used earlier in Kosovo, and thank God we have our friends and protectors in the UN Security Council, particularly Russia, who will never allow that to be formalized in the UN,” Nikolic said. “If Islamic State were to take hold in Syria and establish itself as a state, there is the question of whether anyone would use the example of Kosovo to recognize it,” he added. Serbia wants to have good relations with both Russia and the West, the country’s leader said, but ruled out the possibility of ever joining Western military alliance NATO. “Serbia will never be a member of NATO. This is a decision made by the people of Serbia, and no government can revoke it,” he said. “I once told the previous secretary general of NATO, ‘Why should we join the Alliance? We are already surrounded by nations that are either NATO members or candidates, so who could possibly invade us? Russia? Certainly not. So thank you very much, but we don’t need protection from anyone.” Nikolic also said that although Belgrade is eager to join the European Union, if the accession means that “someone will force us to recognize the independence of Kosovo and give up our cooperation with Russia, then we’d rather not join the EU.” Similar to other supranational institutions that interpret their scope of competence rather loosely, the EU tends “to impose its will on member states,” Nikolic said. Now that Serbia is being offered a chance to join the bloc and subscribe to a common foreign policy, “If this means we’ll have to be opposed to Russia, then why would we want that?” Nikolic said.
Once crisis strikes, there’s no common policy in Europe
Although the EU has operated successfully for several decades, it has never encountered challenges similar to the migrant crisis it is facing now, Nikolic said. With the issue of migrants and refugees raging in Europe, EU member states are re-introducing visas and strengthening their increasingly barb-wired border controls. “It seems that, once a crisis strikes, Europe doesn’t have a common policy anymore,” the Serbian president said. It would be useful for the EU “to work out some sort of a deal with Turkey, regardless of what Turkey gets out of [it],” Nikolic added regarding the influx of migrants. “Why is no one pointing out that it was Turkey that opened its borders for migrants who were staying on its territory for decades, causing problems in Europe in order to force it to talk about membership with Ankara after 50 years of negotiations?” Nikolic asked. He believes there’s a reason to be wary of the massive wave of asylum seekers. “We have noticed that many of the asylum seekers are young people. One can imagine some could be Islamic State fighters fleeing from defeat in Syria, who have taken off their uniforms, and are trying to pass for refugees. With passports being printed by each country, you have to take the bearer at their word because of the rules, and there’s a great risk that something bad could happen.” Nikolic warned of a “tectonic shift” awaiting Europe if nothing is done to halt the trend among the poor in Africa to migrate to Europe for a better life. Balkan states, “primarily Greece, Macedonia and Serbia,” as transit states, are dealing with “enormous issues” they cannot solve on their own, particularly “because of the selfishness of certain European nations which have closed their borders. Something serious is going on. And unless Europe develops a serious response, it will face a major crisis with unpredictable consequences,” he said. Serbia, which is not an EU member state, has committed to accommodating 6,000 refugees and has already prepared fully equipped accommodation for 3,000 of them. However, Nikolic believes that those asylum seekers have been agitated by the rumors that Europe is closing its borders, and “are trying to get to their country of destination as quickly as possible, without stopping in Serbia.”If the route is blocked and refugees are unable to pass through Serbia, then there would be a problem, Nikolic said, because transfer refugees would accumulate within the country. “Serbia is fulfilling its commitments, but it’s Europe’s move. Serbia is just a piece of the puzzle,” the president said, stressing that Serbia could accommodate 6,000 refugees maximum.
Macedonia ISIS Suspects Ready for Plea Bargain (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 13 March 2016)
Six of 11 suspects charged with joining Islamist militants in Syria told a court in Skopje on Friday that they are ready to plead guilty in exchange for lower sentences.
The Skopje criminal Court has directed six terror suspects who have indicated willingness to plead guilty to charges to settle their sentences with the prosecution. The court said it would then hold an additional session to determine whether to accept or discard the charges by the prosecution, which may or may not result in trial. While some of the defence lawyers have dismissed the prosecution charges, the prosecution insists it has all necessary evidence against the group of 11 men. The men were arrested last August 6 when police carried out a large-scale operation in several towns, including Skopje, aimed at detaining suspected Islamist radicals. The bust resulted in charges against 11 people in a case codenamed “Cell”. They were accused of “participation in foreign armed forces, police, paramilitary or para-police formations”. By law they face up to five years in jail if found guilty. Most of the suspects are charged with taking part in fighting in Syria and Iraq. A self-proclaimed imam, Rexhep Memishi, from Skopje, who is in conflict with the country’s official Islamic Religious Community, IVZ, is the suspected mastermind. The prosecution charges him with organizing and preparing people to go to the Syrian frontline “by indoctrinating them through religious and nationalistic speeches”. According to media reports, several hundred people from Macedonia at least are fighting in conflict zones in the Middle East. The Interior Ministry says it believes that at least 20 people, all ethnic Albanians, have been killed so far in the fighting there. Roughly a quarter of the Macedonian population are ethnic Albanians who are predominantly Muslim.
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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.
