LOCAL PRESS

SNS demands election recount (B92)

The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) set up a legal team Tuesday that has filed an official request with the competent bodies for a repeat tabulation of votes cast in the Serbian parliamentary election on 24 April, the SNS said in a release. The SNS says that the request was filed in order to protect the election process and the free electoral will of the citizens as there were obvious abuses and certain inconsistencies in the process. The SNS said they had warned before and on election day that they had reasonable suspicion to believe that certain political parties and groups were consciously violating election procedures, exercising pressure of the citizens and bodies and institutions involved in the election process and using unlawful and illegal activities to prevent citizens from expressing their free will and their basic democratic right to elect a government to represent them. The SNS wants to say that it will not allow any political party to violate the electoral will of the citizens in any way, as it must be clear and free of any signs of abuse and reasons for suspicion, as that is the only way for Serbia to become a modern democratic state in which the voice and will of citizens is inviolable.

Latest RIK data (RTS/Beta/FoNet/Tanjug)

The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) announced on Monday night, based on 98.51 percent of processed material, that the SNS won 48.23 percent of votes and 131 out of a total of 250 seats in the parliament, while, in addition to them, six election lists passed the threshold, as well as five minority parties. The turnout was 56.25 percent. According to these figures, the coalition of the SPS-JS won 10.98 percent of votes and 29 seats, while the SRS won 8.09 percent and 22 seats. The DS has 6.04 percent of votes and 16 seats, and the Enough Movement has 6.03 percent and 16 seats. The coalition SDS–LDP–LSV also passed the threshold, winning 5.03 percent of votes and 13 seats, while the DSS–Dveri received 5 percent of votes and 13 seats.

PIK: SNS wins 63 mandates based on 97.98 percent of electoral body (RTS)

According to the preliminary data of the Provincial Electoral Commission (PIK), based on 97.98 percent of processed electoral body and 97.70 percent of processed polling stations in the province, the SNS won 44.5 percent of the voters at the elections for the Vojvodina Assembly. Based on the processed data, this list has 63 mandates, it is stated on PIK’s website. The SPS won 8.85 percent of the voters and 12 mandates, the SRS won 7.66 percent of votes and 10 mandates, and the DS coalition won 7.24 percent of votes and 10 mandates. The LSV won 6.43 percent of voters and 9 mandates, the Enough Movement won 5.54 percent of votes and 7 mandates, while the SVM won 7.87 percent and six mandates. The Hungarian Movement for Autonomy will also enter the Vojvodina Assembly with two mandates, as well as the Green Party with one mandate. The final results will be published after the entire material is processed.

SNS wins two-thirds majority in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won 67.09 percent of the votes in the Serbian parliamentary elections in Kosovo and Metohija, the party announced based on 100 percent of ballots processed. SNS official Marko Djuric, who also heads the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, told reporters in Belgrade that it is a historic result for the SNS in Kosovo and Metohija. “We became united and rallied the Kosovo and Metohija Serbs together,” Djuric said. According to the information released by the SNS, the Socialist Party of Serbia won 9.61 percent of the votes, followed by the Serbian Radical Party (8.61 percent), the Democratic Party of Serbia-Dveri coalition (4.3 percent), the Social Democratic Party-Liberal Democratic Party-League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (2.51 percent), the Democratic Party (1.08 percent) and the Enough Movement (0.33 percent). The turnout in Kosovo and Metohija was 44.72 percent – 30 percent higher than in 2014.

Pajtic: Vucic didn’t achieve goals – he didn’t destroy DS nor does he have 50 perecnt (Danas)

Vucic had two goals – to destroy the Democratic Party (DS) and to win over 50 percent at the elections, but he hasn’t managed to achieve neither of the two goals. He had 158 deputies, and now, according to RIK, he will have 131, along with coalition partners, meaning that he will have 27 deputies less in this convocation, thus less than 100 deputies will be from the SNS ranks,” the DS leader Bojan Pajtic said in response to Danas’ question what are the projections for the future composition of the government.

Raskovic Ivic: Most important that SNS doesn’t have majority to amend the Constitution (Danas)

The most important thing for the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) is for the future convocation of parliament not to have a two-third majority for amending the Constitution, the DSS leader Sanda Raskovic Ivic tells Danas, in response to the question what is the forecast of the coalition around the DSS for the future Serbian government. She points out that, bearing in mind that the SNS won 131 mandates in the Serbian parliament, it is certain that it will not form the government alone. “Vucic has 131 deputies and it would be normal for him to form the government alone, i.e. to assume responsibility for what he is planning to do. However, this will not happen. I am quite certain in this. He will call Ivica Dacic and his Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) since he doesn’t have the courage to bear responsibility on his own for the done things,” the DSS leader says. She claims that even though it seemed in the pre-election campaign that Vucic wants to get rid of the SPS and its leader Dacic and to form a government either alone or with some other coalition partner, yet, she claims this was deception. “Vucic will invite Dacic in the government, because the SPS is cheapest coalition partner,” notes Raskovic Ivic.

Radulovic: Vucic is vulnerable; he individually won less than 40 percent of votes (Danas)

Vucic is a symbol of everything that we fighting against, he is a symbol of corruption, electoral manipulations, party employment of incompetent staff, collapse of independent institutions of the system and media darkness. That is why the Enough is Enough Movement will never cooperate with the SNS at any level. Vucic, with a numerous coalition of gathered parties for the sake of interest, despite large manipulations with electoral lists, complete media blockade, millions of euros spent for advertising, achieved very bad result, much worse than what he had and what he expected, the leader of the Enough is Enough Movement Sasa Radulovic tells Danas. “He will form the government again, but this will be a short-term government, because his party will start breaking up after these results and the increasingly worse situation in the country for which he has no solution. It is completely insignificant who will by name enter this government since Vucic decides on everything, and the entire corrupt system, which is destroying Serbia, is based on him. That system has been broken with the  result achieved by our Movement, and we will completely dismantle it. We are not deluding ourselves that this will be an easy job, but we do not doubt in success in coalition with decent citizens who are fighting against all partocracies,” says Radulovic.

Medvedev congratulates Vucic on election victory (Tanjug)

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev congratulated his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic on election victory, and confirmed Russia’s readiness to further improve the bilateral cooperation and efficiently implement joint large-scale projects. Vucic received Medvedev’s letter of congratulation from Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Chepurin who also congratulated him on the election win, the Serbian government’s press office said in a release on Tuesday. “The citizens of Serbia expressed their support for your course, in which the strengthening of the strategic partnership with the Russian Federation occupies a special place. I would like to confirm the readiness for further improvement of the entire complex of Russian-Serbian cooperation and efficient implementation of joint large-scale projects in various fields,” reads the letter. “I remember with warmth my personal meetings with you. I will be glad to continue our interesting and useful friendship. I wish you good health, prosperity and new successes in carrying out your responsible duty,” Medvedev said in the letter.

Russian Foreign Ministry expects further cooperation with Serbian government (Tanjug)

Moscow is satisfied with the fact that the government policy aimed at boosting the strategic partnership with Russia has received majority support in the parliamentary elections in Serbia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. Russia notes with satisfaction that the early parliamentary, provincial and local elections in Serbia were held in a calm atmosphere and in compliance with the generally recognized standards and without significant violations as confirmed by international observers, including Russian representatives, the ministry said.

“We note with satisfaction that these results demonstrated that the Serbian government’s policy, which gives special attention to strengthening the strategic partnership with Russia, has been supported by the majority of voters in recent years,” TASS cited the ministry as saying. “We expect the formation of a new Serbian government after the official election results are announced. We expect the continuity in its work on the basis of positive results on the entire agenda of the Russian-Serbian relations reached previously,” the ministry said.

U.S. seeks to strengthen relationship with Serbia (Tanjug)

The U.S. Department of State said Tuesday that the first reports had showed the 2016 parliamentary elections in Serbia to have been conducted in accordance with the law and that the United States would work together with the Serbian government to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Congratulations to the Serbian people on the elections held. According to the first reports from the OSCE and the Council of Europe international observation mission, the procedures on election day were, in general, conducted in compliance with the law, said U.S. Department of State Spokesperson John Kirby. We are looking forward to working together with the Serbian government to further strengthen and improve relations between the U.S. and Serbia, Voice of America Radio reported Kirby as saying.

Serbian parties fail to reach minimum election threshold in Presevo (Beta)

The municipal electoral commission in Presevo has reported that three Albanian parties won 79 percent of the local vote, while two Serbian parties failed to cross the minimum election threshold. The election winners are the Democratic Party of Albanians led by Ragmi Mustafa, a former mayor of Presevo, the Party for Democratic Action, whose leader is Riza Halimi, and Shiprim Arifi’s Alternative for Change. The election commission chief, Zecir Miftari, said to

Beta that the preliminary results indicated that the Democratic Party of Albanians, the Party for

Democratic Action and the Alternative for Change had won 35 seats in the 38-seat municipal parliament. Out of a total of 37,474 registered voters, 17,598 voted in the local polls, with a turnout of 46 percent.

REGIONAL PRESS

Zvizdic, Covic congratulate Vucic (Fena)

Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic congratulated Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on the occasion of convincing victory in the parliamentary elections in Serbia.

Croat member of the B&H Presidency, Dragan Covic, also congratulated Vucic on his election victory,  pointing out he is convinced that the Serbian Prime Minister will responsibly take advantage of  the trust in his future work and  contribute to the further strengthening of stability and cooperation in the region.

Djokic congratulates Vucic, Dacic (Srna)

Leader of the Socialist Party (SP) Petar Djokic congratulated the SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic on the victory in early parliamentary elections in Serbia wishing him to continue practicing the policy of peace, stabilization and economic prosperity in Serbia and the region. Djokic congratulated the SPS leader Ivica Dacic, all members and supporters of the party, on the result achieved in the early parliamentary elections in Serbia, which, as he points out, has once again confirmed stability and strength of the SPS and the coalition of the parties gathered around it.

Izetbegovic and Radoncic propose changes in B&H Election Law on elections in Mostar (Fena/klix)

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and President of the Alliance for Better Future (SBB) Fahrudin Radoncic held a meeting yesterday at the premises of the B&H Presidency. As it was pointed out after the meeting, the main topics were economy and the upcoming elections, as well as the Mostar issue and other topics. “We have discussed the relations between the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and SBB, the Mostar issue, then the joint participation in elections, and 90 percent of discussion were dedicated to the issues of economy and developmental projects. I am satisfied with the meeting and I still believe that economy is our biggest priority,” Radoncic said after the meeting. He briefly commented on the Mostar issue, stating that, just like Izetbegovic, he also believes that Mostar must not be divided. Izetbegovic said that SDA will reach certain decisions on a session of the party presidency which is to be held on Wednesday. Decisions will be related to the possible joint participation with SBB in the upcoming local elections. Proposal of SDA and SBB for elections in Mostar will be on the agenda of the House of Representatives of the B&H Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday, and Izetbegovic is optimistic when it comes to support from the parliament. “I believe our proposal will be supported by the Serbs, and hopefully even Croats, in the House of Representatives. At this moment, the most important thing is that SDA and SBB agree on the Mostar issue,” Izetbegovic concluded.

PACE delegation in pre-electoral visit to Macedonia (MIA)

A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), comprising seven members and headed by Stefan Schennach, will carry out a pre-electoral visit to Skopje on 26-27 April, PACE says in a press release on Monday. The visit aims to assess the election campaign and political climate ahead of the early parliamentary elections on 5 June, MIA reports from Strasbourg. The delegation is due to meet the President of the Assembly and the Minister of the Interior. Talks are also scheduled with representatives of political parties running in the elections, the Chairman and members of the State Election Commission, the Public Prosecutor, as well as with members of the diplomatic community and representatives of international organizations, civil society and the media, reads the press release.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Russia’s electoral official calls for showing special approach to Serbia (TASS, 26 April 2016)

“We should demonstrate a special approach to Serbia in the wake of what’s happening in neighbouring Montenegro,” a member of Russia’s Central Election Commission Vassily Likhachov said

BELGRADE, It is important for Russia to demonstrate a special approach to Serbia now, Vassily Likhachov, a member of Russia”s Central Election Commission (CEC) who led the CEC delegation at Sunday’s early parliamentary election in Serbia told a group of Russian reporters here on Monday. “We should demonstrate a special approach to Serbia in the wake of what’s happening in neighboring Montenegro (a pro-Western political course and the craving to join NATO TASS) and the Americans’ goal to split this country away from Russia as much as possible and pull it into the field of military, political and economic influence of the European Union,” Likhachov said. “This course is moving on with much difficulty because the gene of historical memory, community of culture and, in a certain way, community of mentality of the Russian and Serbian peoples impede a sharp breakup of the kind on all sides of the relationship between Belgrade and Moscow.” As he spoke about the results of elections in Serbia, he said: “This election showed what might be a split tough as this definition is or as a minimum a kaleidoscope of viewpoints that doesn’t always make common positions possible.” “Almost 50% registered voters didn’t come to the polls and the people who will take seats in the Skupstina (the national parliament) and will form the government don’t have the right to ignore this huge number of people,” Likhachov said. “Conclusion number three,” he went on. “This election was what we call ‘a marriage market’ a market of possible potential future leaders of Serbia.” “They were displaying their right to be leaders, to occupy high posts and they used the results reached by their parties and coalitions they stood at the head of to demonstrate their personal qualities and aspirations, as well as the ability to heed the voices from several Western countries however cynically this may sound that have been working in Serbia very actively. In part, they were very active in the run-up to this election,” Likhachov said. “We must do a very comprehensive monitoring of our collaboration with Serbia and work in Serbia,” he said.

As he spoke about the opposition parties’ complaints over numerous violations and forging of the results of voting, Likhachov said: “Elections in any country practically always involve this theme.” “The losing parties have to save their face in front of the electorate and retain influence over the groups of people that put their trust in them,” he said. “Secondly, they have to send very serious signals to the authorities and that’s why the waves of these claims are still forthcoming and are inevitable. Along with it, Likhachov pointed out the presence of competitive political environment in this country. “Not a single vote has been received here without struggle or competition,” he said.

Serbia’s New Reality: What Election Result Means for Serbs, and for Moscow (Sputnik, 25 April 2016)
As expected, Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections in Serbia saw victory for supporters of European integration. Russian political analyst Gevorg Mirzayan summarizes the elections’ implications for Serbia, and for relations between Belgrade and Moscow.

According to preliminary estimates, the electoral coalition formed around Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic’s Progressive Party won about 50% of the vote, with Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic’s Socialist Party coming in second, with about 13%. The anti-EU Radical Party came in third, with 8%, clearing the 5% threshold for entry into parliament. The leaders of several parties that failed to reach the threshold have launched complaints about vote rigging. A total of 3,270 candidates from 20 political parties and electoral coalitions participated in the contest for Serbia’s 250-seat National Assembly. The final results will be announced in the next few days.

Commenting on the election results, Expert magazine contributor Gevorg Mirzayan explained there are signs that Serbia will attempt to continue its multi-vector foreign policy course. The main question, he suggests, is whether this will actually be possible. “On the one hand, this course implies an unconditional line toward joining the European Union, with both Vucic and Dacic advocates of European integration. Another element will be [the continuation of] policy in favor of maximum association with NATO – that is, rejection of formal entry into the alliance, combined with the highest possible level of cooperation.” “It’s true, some experts believe that joining NATO is a de facto prerequisite for accession into the EU, but Serbs, understandably, are not ready to join an organization which led several wars against it in the 90s, and provided direct assistance in the business of breaking up Yugoslavia. It’s most likely that this convergence will take place gradually – the early elections themselves came about after Serbs took to the streets following the ratification of another agreement with the alliance.”

Kosovo

“Undoubtedly,” Mirzayan writes, “Vucic and Dacic should expect even more serious protests, and not only over the measures to reduce social spending that will be required under the agreement with the IMF. At some point, the Serbian government will have to decide what to do with Kosovo. Right now, the Euro-integrationists, giving up their president and their generals, continue to maintain that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia. However, to enter the European Union, Belgrade will have to recognize the region’s independence – ‘special conditions’ on the question of its sovereignty are out of the question.” “It’s possible that the Euro-integrationists are hoping that in time – while negotiations continue, Serbs will come to terms with the idea that Kosovo has become an independent territory. For this reason, both Brussels and Belgrade will postpone, as much as possible, the Kosovo dilemma; it should be decided as the last or next-to-last step prior to the country’s accession to the EU.” Ultimately, the analyst notes, “if the social mood changes, there will be a referendum. If not, there will be a decision at the executive level (along the lines of the Montenegro case, where the head of state recently decided to take his country into NATO, in spite of popular attitudes).” “In this situation, Belgrade will have to dismiss its claims not only over Kosovo, but also over support for Serbs in the region around Kosovska Mitrovica,” the ethnic Serb-populated municipality in northern Kosovo.

“Densely concentrated in the north, and having a common border with Serbia, these ethnic Serbs refuse to submit to Pristina, and today may be the most striking embodiment of the Serbian national spirit. However, if Belgrade establishes real border controls and stops supplying them with the necessities (from food to electricity) the inhabitants of this territory will have a very difficult time maintaining their independence.”

Moscow’s New Options

At the same time that it seeks to join the European Union and dialogue with NATO, Belgrade will also attempt to build relations with Moscow. “Today’s Serbia needs Russia not only for economic reasons (Serbian companies are active in the Russian market, particularly in the export of food), but politically as well.” This, Mirzayan notes, stems from the fact that Serbia’s leaders understand that the EU fears Russia using the country as a foothold in the region. The hope, he notes, is that “the EU will be wary of excessive convergence between Serbia and Russia, and will therefore become more tolerant and supportive of the Serbian leadership, perhaps providing some additional financial support, or accelerating Serbia’s entry into the EU.” At the same time, “in negotiations with Russian authorities, Foreign Minister Dacic will recall the ‘Russian-Serbian brotherhood’, and will hint at a willingness to intensify political cooperation in exchange for investments.” “Meanwhile, Serbian Radical Party’s Vojislav Seselj’s election [as an MP] will somewhat complicate the prime minister’s game. And it’s not even about the fact that the opposition now has a brilliant orator in the assembly, or that Seselj enjoys significant support among the population…It’s more to do with the fact that Russia traditionally does not like multi-vector policy.” “Until recently,” Mirzayan recalled, “Moscow found itself in a desperate situation in the Serbian field; the country lacked a concrete anti-EU opposition, and President Tomislav Nikolic was only conditionally pro-Russian, and had little decision-making authority. Now, the unconditionally pro-Russian Vojislav Seselj has emerged. Yes, with only 8 percent of the vote, but he is an understandable and pleasant partner for Moscow. And it’s possible that Aleksander Vucic will now have to compete for attention and support from Russia.”

ISIS Recruitment in Balkans Continues (Transitions Online, 26 April 2016)

Visit by CIA head indicates heightened U.S. interest in the region’s contribution of foreign jihadist fighters.

U.S. intelligence chief John Brennan was in Sarajevo at the end of last week to meet local anti-terrorism officials, The Associated Press reports. His unexpected visit came on the heels of a journey to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he met with senior officials from six Arab nations to discuss common efforts in combatting the conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.  An official agenda of Brennan’s meeting was not released, but Bosnia’s chief prosecutor, Goran Salihovic, said the country’s anti-terrorism group planned to inform the U.S. intelligence service about local efforts to combat terrorism.  According to the anti-terrorism group, an estimated 124 Bosnians are involved in foreign wars – four fighting in Ukraine and the others for the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Some already want to return home, and negotiations are underway to facilitate the process, evidently with lighter sentences offered to those who provide intelligence.

Bosnia is far from the only Balkan country where Islamists have successfully recruited locals. A report on the B92 website cites “a dozen to several dozen” Montenegrin citizens fighting alongside ISIS. As just one example, B92 mentioned a former Muslim cleric from Montenegro who was reportedly killed fighting in the ranks of ISIS in Syria. In Albania, 24 citizens from three villages in the southeast of the country have left to join terrorists in the Middle East over the past three years, Balkan Insight reports. So far, four of them have reportedly been killed.

•           A total of 51 Bosnians have died so far in foreign armed conflicts abroad while 49 have already returned. Half of those have been taken to court, according to the Republika Srpska RTRS broadcaster.

•           Some 70 people have been identified as suspects in terrorist activity in Bosnia, The Associated Press reports.

•           John Brennan has been serving as CIA director since 2013. Before that he served as chief counterterrorism advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Compiled by Evgeny Deulin

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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.