LOCAL PRESS

RIK assigns mandates to new MPs (Tanjug)

The Republic Electoral Commission has assigned the mandates to new MPs of the future convocation of the Serbian parliament, whereby conditions have been created for scheduling the constitutive session of the parliament. The mandates were assigned according to the order on electoral lists. Of twenty lists that took part in the elections, twelve entered the parliament, of which the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won most mandates – 131. The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)-United Serbia (JS) won 29 mandates, the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) won 22 mandates, Enough is Enough Movement won 16 mandates, as well as the Democratic Party (DS), the Dveri-Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) won 13 mandates, as well as the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP)-League of Social-Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV)-Social-Democrat Party (SDS). The League of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) has four mandates, Muamer Zukorlic’s Bosniak Democratic Community of Sandzak has two mandates, SDA Sandzak has two mandates, while the Green Party (ZS) and the Party for Democratic Action (PDD) will have one each. According to the Serbian Constitution, the first session of the new convocation of the parliament is scheduled by the parliament speaker from the previous convocation, so that the session is held 30 days at the latest from the announcement of the final election results that were published on 5 May. MP mandates are confirmed at the first session, while the parliament is constituted by confirming the mandates to two-thirds of MPs. The speaker and deputy speakers should be elected and the secretary general of the parliament should be appointed at the first session of the new parliament convocation. The oldest MP chairs the session until a new leadership of the parliament is elected, and if he/she doesn’t wish or cannot to do this, then the next oldest present MP chairs the session. If it happens that some of the MPs who receive the mandate assume later on a government post, their mandates are assigned to the first next candidate on the electoral list who was not assigned the mandate – the member of the same political party.

Vucic: We will solve problem with Kosovo Serbs’ passports (Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stated that the problems with the Kosovo Serbs’ passports would be solved after the recommendation of the European Commission on the visa liberalization for the citizens of Kosovo who travel in the Schengen zone. “We will solve the problem in accordance with the interests of our people and our citizens,” Vucic said at a news conference in the Serbian government. The European Commission recently adopted a recommendation for abolishing visas for citizens of Kosovo traveling in the Schengen zone, which the political representatives of the Kosovo Serbs had estimated as a step forward, but also said that the Kosovo Serbs would face discrimination because of the passports they hold.

The Kosovo Serbs use passports issued by the Coordinating Bureau of the Serbian Interior Ministry, which are not biometric, and the European Commission’s recommendation did not define how those with Serbian passports issued by the Coordinating Bureau would travel, or if they would need visas.

Stefanovic: We will not allow extremist groups to go to Banja Luka (RTS)

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic told Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) morning news that the Interior Ministers of Serbia and the Republika Srpska have good cooperation and that the police would not allow extremists from Serbia to take part at the protests in Banja Luka. Stefanovic says that Vucic received information from security services that the extremists would go to the protests in the RS. “The ministries cooperate, we exchange information on everything, terrorism, stabilization of RS, however, the prime minister has more information since he receives it from security services and it turned out that there are interests and factors that could use the instability in RS that will harm the interests of countries,” says Stefanovic. “There is large pressure to hold something like that, a stable Serbia and RS doesn’t suit many,” says Stefanovic.

Stefanovic, Li discuss cooperation in field of internal affairs (Tanjug)

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic met with Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang in Belgrade Wednesday to discuss cooperation in the field of internal affairs.

In the spirit of good relations between the two countries, Stefanovic and Li agreed that cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia (MUP) and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China should be stepped up. According to a release from MUP, the meeting also touched on Minister Stefanovic’s forthcoming visit to China, aimed at establishing closer cooperation between the two countries’ interior ministries.

General Dikovic takes part in defense conference in Istanbul (Tanjug)

Chief of Staff of the Serbian Army General Ljubisa Dikovic took part in the Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defense Conference in Istanbul on Wednesday, and its participants agreed that the forum remained a successful framework for discussions on regional security and stability.

According to a release from the Serbian Defense Ministry, the participants also agreed that the forum offered a firm foundation for improving military cooperation between its members and with other forums and security organizations. Taking part in the 10th edition of the conference were the chiefs of staff of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey, and the deputy chief of staff of Romania. Attending as guests were the deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the Allied Joint Force Command Naples commander and the chiefs of staff of Croatia and Slovenia. Turkish President Rexhep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey welcomed the participants and guests and delivered a speech. According to the release, General Dikovic had bilateral meetings with Chief of Staff of the Turkish Armed Force, General Hulusi Akar, and Chief of Staff of the Macedonian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Metodije Velickovski. The conference concluded, among other things that this forum remains to be a successful organization for regional security and stability and offers a strong basis for further development of military cooperation among the members, but also with other security organizations.

Groysman, Tsipras congratulate Vucic on electoral victory (Tanjug)

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has congratulated Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on the electoral victory, expressing confidence that there are great possibilities for enhancing bilateral cooperation, the Serbian government press office said in a statement on Thursday. I am confident that we have great possibilities for further development of the Ukraine-Serbia cooperation in many fields of mutual interest and on the path of European integration – I wish you much success in your work for the benefit of Serbia and in the name of the well-being, stability and prosperity of its people, Groysman said in the congratulatory message.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also congratulated Vucic on the electoral victory, wishing him success in future work, the Serbian government press office said in a statement on Thursday.

I am looking forward to a strengthening of cooperation for the benefit of our two countries and the entire region, based on strong historical ties and the common values and principles of our peoples, Tsipras said in the congratulatory message.

Dittmann: Open chapters with Serbia as soon as possible (Tanjug)

Germany supports a soonest possible opening of Chapters 23 and 24 in Serbia’s EU accession talks – ideally, it should happen in the first half of this year, German Ambassador to Serbia Axel Dittmann told Tanjug in Novi Sad on Wednesday. Serbia opened the first two chapters with the EU in December last year, and the important Chapters 23 and 24 on the rule of law are about to be opened next, Dittmann said. “The European Commission has made a very clear proposal that Serbia has fulfilled all conditions to open the chapters – we support this,” Dittmann said.

OSCE condemns attack on TV Most crew in Kosovo (Tanjug)

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic Wednesday condemned an attack on a TV Most crew in Obilic. Violence against journalists is an attack on freedom of speech and society in general, Mijatovic said in a release. Mijatovic said it was important to carry out a swift and thorough investigation into the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Civic protest held over events in Savamala, resignations in police requested (FoNet)

Civic Initiative Let’s not drown Belgrade demanded on Wednesday evening, from the protest in Belgrade over the demolition of buildings in Savamala, resignations of Interior Minister Nebojsa

Stefanovic, Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali, Police Director Vladimir Rebic, Communal Police Chief Nikola Ristic and Chairman of the City Assembly of Belgrade Nikola Nikodijevic, FoNet reported. Dobrica Veselinovic, on behalf of the Initiative, said that he would file the request for resignations to the government of Serbia, which has a 14-day deadline to fulfill these requests, and if they fail to do so, the protest will be organized again.

REGIONAL PRESS

Dodik: Gratitude for Vucic expressing responsibility (Srna)

President of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik said in East Sarajevo that any kind of information about potential threats to stability and security of RS is welcomed and expressed his gratitude to the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, who publicly warned us and thus demonstrated responsibility. Dodik said that there are speculations about the alleged arrival of some extremist groups and said that in these speculations, there are evil intentions. He said he was sure that both rallies of which are planned for Saturday, 14 May, in Banja Luka are going to pass in a stable and peaceful manner. RS President said that the protection of peace public order and is going to be a priority task of the police and that the police have the authority to take action. Commenting on Vucic’s statement that the government has the information that the unrests are possible during the announced protests in Banja Luka, Dodik said that the responsibility of the police is to declare if there is something that comes from a “third party”. He warned that the most rigorous measures in accordance with the law will be used against anyone who tries to do anything. Commenting on the statement of the SDS leader Mladen Bosic that Vucic conveyed knowledge that there are extremist groups in Serbia that are being organized to attend the rally organized by the President of the RS and SNSD, Dodik said that this is a “political deceit and Bosic’s political prank”.

The session of the Central Census Bureau: No agreement on a single program for data processing (Nezavisne)

The Central Census Offices did not managed to agree on a unique program for processing the data of the census, households and dwellings in B&H from 2013, with the conclusion that there is no consensus among the members of this body for the issue to be settled. Director of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbian Radmila Cickovic told reporters in Sarajevo that the whole process now starts from the beginning. Director of the Agency for Statistics of B&H Velimir Jukic said that he hopes that, in accordance with the law, agreement on a single methodology is going to be reached, noting that if the deadline is extended to the end of the year, there will be enough time to reach an agreed position.

Members of B&H Presidency meet with Brammertz (Klix)

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and member of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic met with the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, who is staying in an official visit to B&H within preparations for the six-month report to the UN Security Council. Cooperation of B&H with the Prosecution of ICTY is on a high level, the interlocutors agreed. It was also discussed about processes currently in progress in B&H, as well as about cooperation of B&H with neighboring countries in the processing of war crimes. Members of the B&H Presidency thanked for the help provided to B&H judicial institutions in the processing of persons accused of war crimes. Zoran Djeric attended the meeting on behalf of the member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic.

The Republika Srpska Army Day marked (Srna)

Marking of the Republika Srpska (RS) Army Day has begun yesterday by holding memorial service for 23,184 fallen soldiers and civilian victims of the defensive-patriotic war at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Savior in Banja Luka. The RS President Milorad Dodik has pointed out that the Third Infantry Regiment, that continues to guard the legacy of the RS Army, is a guarantor of the survival of the Serb people and RS in this region. The RS President has stressed that, by paying tribute to the fallen soldiers of the RS Army, all who are now living in peace and freedom, with deep respect and eternal gratitude, cherish the memory of their sacrifice which permanently obligates us to guard and defend RS in order to leave a legacy for future generations. “This year too, we are proudly celebrating the anniversary of the formation and remembering the heroic path of the RS Army in defending RS and the Serb people at their centuries-old homes during the last defensive-patriotic war,” Dodik stated in his congratulation message.

Investigation stopped in Ruben case against 31 Bosniaks (Patria)

Prosecutor’s office in Banja Luka stopped investigation against 31 Bosniaks arrested last year during “Ruben” action in Republika Srpska (RS). They were arrested under suspicion of being connected to terrorist groups. Prosecutor’s office Banja Luka issued a press release which confirmed that they did not find any weapons that are forbidden to keep at home. Several of the arrested that were found to be in possession of forbidden weapon will be fined yet cannot be brought into connection with any terrorist organization. It was also concluded that the weapons found in their possession could not be used for the purpose of terrorism. The group of Bosniaks was arrested last year during spectacular actions of RS Ministry of Interior. Raids and arrests were carried out in Banja Luka, Bosanska Gradiska, Sipovo, Teslic, Prijedor, Zvornik, Srebrenica, Kalesija, Doboj and several other locations. The arrested group was said to be dangerous terrorists who are security threat to the citizens of RS. A year later Prosecutor’s office in Banja Luka informed that the arrested persons are not connected to any terrorist groups. One of the arrested persons, who wished to remain anonymous, told Patria that he is in touch with others now released, and that they are preparing a lawsuit against RS. He told us that their livelihoods have been negatively affected because they were once misrepresented as dangerous terrorists. They and their families are all seriously traumatized by this experience. They are labeled in their communities. Some have lost their business partners but also their friends.

Erjavec: Montenegro met all the conditions for joining NATO (CDM)

All conditions for Montenegro’s membership in NATO have been met and the progress towards EU integration is at a high level, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said during the meeting the President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic. The president’s office stated that Vujanovic expressed his high appreciation for the Slovenia’s strong support to Montenegro on its European and Euro-Atlantic integration path. He added that after signing of the protocol on Montenegro’s accession to NATO, he expected Slovenia to immediately ratify it. When it comes to EU accession, he said that Slovenia’s expert assistance was valuable and that he believed the country would continue it and enable opening of the remaining chapters of accession negotiations. Vujanovic expressed his satisfaction with the bilateral relations between the two countries, which may be a positive example of cooperation in all fields. He also said that there was a wide room for improving economic relations. Erjavec congratulated on the tenth anniversary of Montenegro’s independence, emphasizing that Montenegro is a positive example in the region and that it had made a significant progress in all areas. It also stated that the Slovenian government would promptly submit the ratification to the parliament. Erjavec noted that all the requirements for Montenegro’s membership in NATO were met. He commended a high level of European integration of the country, adding he was convicted that it would continue opening the negotiation chapters for membership in the EU, which would be strongly promoted by his country. Erjavec agreed with Vujanovic that a room for cooperation in the economic field should be jointly used, noting that cooperation proved to be successful so far.

Macedonia ruling alliance partner joins opposition election boycott (Hina)

A junior partner in Macedonia’s ruling alliance on Wednesday joined the opposition’s boycott of the 5 June elections, which were called early in line with an EU agreement. The DUI, one of the two main parties from the ethnic Albanian minority in Macedonia, confirmed that it will not take part in the polls, which were already delayed once amid opposition complaints. The ruling nationalist VMRO was yet to react, but DUI’s move puts additional pressure on it to accept a delay in the elections and more reforms towards a fairer vote, in keeping with opposition demands. Early elections are part of a broad agreement the European Union brokered between VMRO chief Nikola Gruevski and opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) leader Zoran Zaev in June 2015. The elections are supposed to end a long-running political crisis that erupted when the SDMS refused to acknowledge the result of snap elections two years ago, accusing then Prime Minister Gruevski of rigging them. SDSM also accuses Gruevski of abusing the media and security services to cement his hold on power. In early 2015, Zaev released batches of material allegedly proving that Gruevski’s authorities illegally wiretapped 20,000 people. Although Gruevski quit in January after a decade as prime minister – also part of the EU-brokered deal – making way for a cabinet of technocrats, he and VMRO are still in control and he seeks to return to office with another election win. Polls were initially planned for April 24, but in February the date was moved to June 5 as SDSM insisted that there was still too much room for manipulation. Meanwhile, President Gorge Ivanov on April 12 announced the pardon of dozens of politicians – including his ally Gruevski – who were implicated in the wiretapping scandal, effectively nixing half a year of efforts by a special prosecutor. The move triggered nationwide protests, which occasionally turned violent. Macedonia, which barely escaped an all-out civil war following an Albanian insurgency for more rights in 2001, is still deeply divided politically and along ethnic lines. An attempt by the EU to continue brokering the talks between Gruevski, Zaev and the two main ethnic Albanian leaders failed on 22 April.

Gruevski calls Zaev not to be afraid of elections on 5 June, results will be recognized (Telegraf.mk)

Ruling Party VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski called Zoran Zaev on Wednesday to participate in elections on 5 June and that he would recognize the results. This call comes after Zaev on Tuesday said he would not participate in the elections even though they are convinced that they will win because Gruevski would not recognize the results. “I heard from the media that Mr. Zaev said he was very confident he would win the elections and fears that when VMRO-DPMNE will lose the elections whether it will recognize them and that is why he would not go to elections. It may sound nebulous all this that he says, and I publicly urge that he has enough time until the end of the day, he needs not to be afraid of VMRO-DPMNE on whether it will recognize the elections or not and to submit the MPs lists. I publicly promise him that if he submits the lists, VMRO-DPMNE will recognize the elections and will not have any problem,” Gruevski said.

Macedonia: SDSM leader Zoran Zaev’s contradictory statements increase as election date approaches (Telegraf.mk)

As election date approaches, the number of contradictory statements by SDSM leader Zoran Zaev increases. On Tuesday, he confused the public with his statement that he will not go to elections because he knows that he will win, but that Nikola Gruevski will not admit this. “SDSM does not want to take part in 5 June elections because it will win, while Gruevski and Ahmeti will not recognize the elections. If we take part in irregular elections there is a chance for Nikola Gruevski not to recognize them, keep that in mind. Currently, the opposition is convinced that if it goes to elections it will win and gain support. But those elections might not be recognized by Nikola Gruevski or by Ali Ahmetu, as well as by other government representatives. Why? Because conditions for holding regular, fair and democratic elections have not been met. The answer is simple,” Zaev said. SDSM leader does not want an expert government either. He said that the parties should turn toward the Przino Agreement again. But, according to experts, his stance is quite contradictory because with Zaev’s running away from elections, the Przino Agreement, signed by SDSM, VMRO-DOMNE, DUI and DPA leaders, is being breached. According to experts, the only reason why Zaev does not want an expert government is the fact that his interior and labor ministers Oliver Spasovski and Frosina Remenski would have to step down. This option does not work for Zaev because he is aware that he would lose control over those ministries. What will be the outcome of the crisis in Macedonia will be clear after German MP Johannes Haindl comes to Macedonia in a few days. According to announcements, he is supposed to meet with the 4 political leaders, after which it will be known what the international community’s further steps of action are.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Zagreb Blocking New Serbian EU Talks (Transitions Online, by Ky Krauthamer, 11 May 2016)

Belgrade unwilling to accept conditions set by former enemy for accession talks to go ahead.

Serbia’s chief negotiator with the European Union has called for accession talks to continue as planned despite neighboring Croatia’s “blocking” the process. Zagreb is holding up progress until Serbia accedes to conditions including better cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and political representation of minorities. “Technically speaking, yes, they [Croatia] are blocking … they are stopping the possibility to go further,” Tanja Miscevic (pictured) said 10 May. “I am not going to call it a blockade because they never formally vetoed something … But they are doing something else, they are not giving the so-called ‘green light’ on those documents,” EurActiv quotes her as telling AFP. Croatia’s stance could cause headaches for the European Commission, which wants to see the talks go ahead as planned.

Croatia, or any other member, can in effect stop Serbian accession because every “chapter” in the complex accession process must be approved by all 28 member countries. The Netherlands, the current EU presidency holder, along with Germany, want to open negotiations on the chapter on judicial and fundamental rights in June. Yet the biggest obstacle of all could come from Serbia itself, over the nagging problem of its former province Kosovo. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has spearheaded the negotiation process. He called, and won, early elections last month mainly to get a stronger mandate to press ahead with economic and judicial reforms that Brussels demands, EurActiv says. Yet he and most other leading politicians insist Belgrade will never recognize the independence of Kosovo, although most EU countries have done so.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic used the platform of Victory Day celebrations on 9 May to ram home his unconditional refusal to recognize the country’s former province. “Some representatives of the EU are giving us a hint that Serbia’s entry into the European community of nations might be conditional on recognizing Kosovo-Metohija. If it really is demanded of us, it means that they do not want us. Serbia, a UN member, wants to enter Europe as a whole – it’s either that or nothing,” InSerbia quoted Nikolic as saying. Croatia last week told the other EU countries it would not drop its insistence on Serbia agreeing to fulfill its demands before accession talks can be opened, Total Croatia News reported, citing local media. A source familiar with the closed-door meeting told the news site, “We still have the status quo. The remaining 27 states have given the green light, but one country has not done that. We hope that this will soon change, but this debate demonstrated that nothing has changed for now.”

• German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in April reassured Serbia that there would be no new conditions for its accession process.

• Miscevic, Serbia’s chief negotiator with EU, said she would not ask the Commission to put pressure on Croatia: “It is not up to us … It is up to 27 member states to tell the 28th member state that actually they are wrong,” she said.

• The EU has said no new members will be accepted until after 2020, according to EurActiv.

Bosnian Serb Opposition Loses Key Stronghold (BIRN, by Danijel Kovacevic, 12 May 2016)

The main Bosnian Serb opposition party, the Serbian Democratic Party, SDS, has control of the bastion of Bijeljina, in a sign of trouble ahead for the opposition in the local elections. The Serbian Democratic Party, the main opposition party in Republika Srpska, has lost control of the key bastion of Bijeljina following a controversial session of the town council. After a meeting marked by interruptions, insults and mutual accusations, the town in the northeast corner of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity got a new ruling coalition led by the ruling Bosnian Serb party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, SNSD, and its ally, the Democratic People’s Alliance, DNS. This means the SDS has lost its main stronghold, which it has ruled since Bosnia’s first multi-party elections since World War II, in 1990. The loss of power was an ominous sign for the SDS-led opposition bloc, which was hoping to use the upcoming local elections on October 2 to take control of as many municipalities in Republika Srpska as possible. That was supposed to lay the ground for victory over the SNSD in the next general elections in Bosnia in 2018. However, polls in recent months showed that the SNSD still had an edge over the SDS, despite dissatisfaction with the weak results and corruption of the SNSD-led government. The SNSD has also proved to adept at winning over members of city councils and of the entity parliament from the SDS, which was how the SNSD wrestled control over Bijeljina from the SDS. In March, one of the town’s leading SDS officials, Mladen Maksimovic, left the party, unhappy with the SDS’s support for the candidacy of Mico Micic, who was SDS mayor of Bijeljina for the past 15 years. When Maksimovic then announced his own candidacy, he was immediately endorsed by the SNSD and the DNS. Micic showed a brave face, especially after Ivan Buric, a member of the SNSD on Bijeljina council switched sides and joined his party. Yet this was short lived. At the beginning of April another coalition partner left the SDS. Dragan Djurdjevic, leader of the Serbian Radical Party “Vojislav Seselj”, whose party supports the SNSD-led government at entity level, turned his back on Micic after years of political cooperation, and pledged his support for the SNSD. Djurdjevic, who is also speaker of the town council, at the latest session of the council accused Micic of crime and corruption. Micic replied that Djurdjevic would have to prove that in court. Less than a week after Djurdjevic left the SDS, another members of the council left the party. At that moment it was clear that the SDS had lost its narrow majority on the council – which was confirmed on Wednesday. The new majority is said to have support of 16 members of the council while 15 others are still loyal to the SDS-led coalition. Amidst tensions and frequent interruptions, the SDS-led bloc accused the SNSD of rigging the vote. According to them, only 13 MPs voted for the new majority, though the electronic voting system showed 16 votes. At one moment members of the assembly ripped up cables and hid their electronic voting cards, after which the session was moved into an old conference room where they continued to work using old white and yellow cards for voting. The first decision brought of the new majority was to replace the SDS chief of the Finance Department in the town administration, Milorad Sofrenic, with the SNSD candidate, Vaso Arsenovic. They later replaced more officials, including deputy mayor Huso Zeckabovic, from the mainly Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, SDA. In a statement to the media, Micic admitted that the SDS has lost control of the town council, but complained of irregularities in the voting process. When news that the SDS had lost its majority in Bijeljina was published, the SNSD issued a press release saying that Milorad Dodik, the SNSD and RS president, would visit the town that day. Dodik duly arrived in Bijeljina on Wednesday evening, when he told the media that “this was a great day for Bijeljina” and pledged that the new ruling coalition would spend the local budget much more responsibly than the previous government.