LOCAL PRESS

Government by 11 August (Tanjug/RTS)

The Serbian parliament will meet within the next ten days to elect the new government, Prime Minister designate Aleksandar Vucic announced Monday, confirming the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) would join his cabinet. Speaking at a press conference, Vucic did not elaborate on the composition of the new government, but said the Presidency of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) had discussed the matter at a meeting earlier in the day, authorizing him to start discussions with the representatives of the SPS-led electoral list Tuesday. “It will all be finished by Friday,” he said. The SNS Presidency will meet again Friday or Saturday to define personnel-related solutions for the new government, all of which will most likely be tabled to the parliament three days before its session, he said. “And then the government will be elected, if that is possible,” Vucic said. He announced he had written to EU officials to express concern over developments in the region and point to a sheer anti-Serb policy, in Croatia in particular. Those developments are a serious threat to regional stability, Vucic told a press conference. He said he had sent a letter on behalf of the government Monday afternoon to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini, Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn and European Parliament President Martin Schulz. “We listed what we have faced over the past period, showing factographically what Serbia has had to endure, from monuments being erected in a EU country to prominent convicted terrorists, rehabilitations and overturning of convictions of criminals from WWII and recent wars, to people who have been convicted in Serbia and then sent to Croatia to serve their prison sentences now splashing about in the sea due to alleged illness, rather than being in prison,” Vucic explained. There are countless things indicating the manner in which a sheer anti-Serb policy is being pursued, in Croatia in particular, Vucic said. Serbia has not provoked anyone or made a single wrong move, except that it voiced its disapproval and reacted by sending protest notes over those events, he said. We want the EU officials to say if and what Serbia has done wrong in this context, Vucic said.

Vucic: Serbia supports Dodik-Izetbegovic agreement (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic confirmed in Belgrade on Monday that Serbia supports the agreement between RS President Milorad Dodik and Chairman of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic, which he thinks is very important in terms of stabilization of the RS and B&H. “We will support any kind of agreement reached by the people in B&H and their legitimate representatives. As you can see, our aim is stabilization, our aim is peace,” Vucic underlined. “We are satisfied and we support the agreement of Mr. Dodik and Mr. Izetbegovic, which was attended by Chairman of B&H Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic as well. That is an exceptionally important agreement towards stabilization of B&H and the RS. We will always support any agreement, because our goals are peace, security and stabilization,” Vucic stressed.

Djuric calls Mustafa not to invent new conditions for ZSO (Politika/Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric called Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa not to invent new conditions for the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) and stressed that he expected the EU to exert pressure on Pristina to implement the signed agreements. Reacting to Mustafa’s statement that the formation of the ZSO needs to be linked to the abolishment of parallel structures in Kosovo and Metohija, he called the Kosovo Prime Minister to read once again the text of the agreement that he signed and to stop disputing what he himself agreed in regard to the establishment of the ZSO.

Selakovic: Serbia not obliged to amend Constitution preamble (RTS/Beta/Tanjug)

Serbia should change the articles of the Constitution covering the strengthening of an independent judiciary but it has not obliged itself to change the preamble on Kosovo, Serbian outgoing Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said. There has been a lot of public speculation that Serbia will have to remove the preamble which says that Kosovo is an inalienable part of Serbia from the Constitution at the insisting of the European Union. “No one in a state body has spoken about the preamble and position of Kosovo nor have we taken on that obligation anywhere.

No one has spoken about that apart from so-called independent experts in the public,” Selakovic said. He recalled that Serbia is obliged under the action plan for chapter 23 to change the part of the Constitution which covers the strengthening of an independent judiciary, the way in which judges are elected, the makeup of the High Judiciary Council and some other parts covering the State Council of Prosecutors. The fact that a part of the public “starts taking about the preamble and Kosovo as soon as there is talk about changing the Constitution” leads to suspicion about their honesty and good intentions, Selakovic said.

Selakovic: We will fulfill all German conditions (Blic)

Serbia’s accession negotiations can only be concluded once the arson attack on the German Embassy in February 2008 is fully investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice, Gunther Krichbaum, German MP and head of the Bundestag’s Committee on the EU Affairs said. Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said that he is convinced that the Serbian judiciary will determine the truth of the case “whatever it may be”. The investigation into the incident has been ongoing since 2012 and is still not finished, reports Blic. The investigation covers three police generals and the Belgrade police chief at the time of the incident. The investigation is being conducted by the Higher Prosecution in Belgrade.

Dacic, Djordjevic meet with Chinese Ambassador (Tanjug/Beta)

Serbian Foreign and Defense Ministers Ivica Dacic and Zoran Djordjevic discussed with Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang ways to further enhance the cooperation between the two countries. The meeting noted the significance of a Serbian government initiative aimed at strengthening Sino-Serbian relations and the high degree of understanding and mutual support on a number of matters vital to Serbia and China and cooperation in many international forums.

The current global situation and regional developments, with emphasis on security affairs and migration trends, were also discussed. Li said China considered Serbia a significant partner in the southwestern Balkans and that it hoped for a further strengthening of mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation. China appreciates Serbia’s principled position on Tibet and Taiwan, while maintaining a clear and consistent position on Kosovo and Metohija, advocating respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, an official statement said.

Dacic said Serbia was appreciative of China’s support for its aspirations to preserve its territorial integrity and achieve a peaceful resolution of the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. At the same time, China is one of the most dependable strategic partners of the Republic of Serbia, he noted.

Djordjevic highlighted the significance of an agreement on cooperation in the defense industry, signed by the Serbian Defense Ministry and the Chinese State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

Omerovic: Croatia rehabilitating Ustasha movement (Tanjug)

Recent events in Croatia indicate that a complete rehabilitation of the Ustasha movement, perverse values and support for – and glorification of – criminals are at work in the country, says Meho Omerovic, Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary committee on human and minority rights and gender equality. “Erecting a monument in a EU member state to a terrorist and a murderer convicted in a EU country is not only scandalous but very worrying,” Omerovic noted in a press release. It is inappropriate and disgraceful in post-WWII Europe, he said. “The attendance of two Croatian government ministers adds particular weight to the event. The EU, which is based on anti-fascism, must react, otherwise this will be a signal to all member states that erecting monuments to those glorifying fascism or Nazism, or those who, like the Ustashas, served them, is permitted,” Omerovic said. “Is the EU’s silence also a signal to all other fascist collaborators across Europe – from Norway, the Baltic states, Hungary, Italy, Spain to, ultimately, Germany – that glorifying the greatest evil of the 20th century and the biggest criminals and murderers is permitted?” Omerovic asked.

REGIONAL PRESS

Covic: Sunday’s agreement of Izetbegovic and Dodik is unacceptable and illegal (BHT1/BN)

Croat member of the B&H Presidency and HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic stressed that Sunday’s agreement of Izetbegovic and Dodik is unacceptable and a dead letter, noting that he informed Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak and EU officials Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn about it. Covic criticized Izetbegovic-Dodik agreement by saying that he was not informed that the Bosniak and Serb leaders had met and that it was unacceptable for the Coordination Mechanism, which excludes participation of cantons within the Federation of B&H, to be adopted. In Covic’s opinion this is about an attempt to eliminate lower authority levels which is unacceptable for him. He also added that it is quite certain that this agreement cannot pass B&H Council of Ministers. “The agreement on the Coordination Mechanism cannot be made without representatives of all political options at the level of B&H or representatives of three peoples,” Covic argued. Asked by reporters whether the meeting of SDA and HDZ B&H delegations, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday and at which authority crisis at the levels of the Federation of B&H and B&H respectively were supposed to be discussed, will be held as planned, Covic replied by saying that they will see if this meeting will take place at all after Sunday’s agreement. Reporter noted that the agreement reached on Sunday by leaders of SDA and SNSD, which refers to the Coordination Mechanism, stipulates that all decisions passed in different bodies of the Coordination Mechanism can be reviewed before higher instances of the Coordination Mechanism within ten days after being passed, by authorized representatives of B&H CoM, the RS Government and the Federation of B&H Government. In cases when some of the bodies in the Coordination Mechanism fail to harmonize a position on a certain issue, the same issue will be forwarded to the higher instance of the Coordination Mechanism closing with the Collegium for the European Integration. Covic also said that he does not accept the agreement reached by Izetbegovic and Dodik and he assessed it as illegal. Covic announced that he is willing to inform the EU about everything in this regard. According to Covic, the agreement was basically reached by those who do not form the authorities that should adopt the decision on Coordination Mechanism or changes of that document.

Leader of the SDA and Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic talked about Sunday’s agreement on the Coordination Mechanism and the Letter of Intent for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached by him and Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik. Commenting on reactions of HDZ B&H’s leader Dragan Covic, who stated that Sunday’s meeting between Izetbegovic and Dodik is a historic agreement between Bosniaks and Serbs, leader of SDA said that it is historic event which will result in ending stalemate on the EU path of B&H. “However, this was not Serb-Bosniak meeting but meeting of two prime ministers, i.e. meeting of Chairman of B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) and entity’s prime minister”, said Izetbegovic, adding that these two prime ministers have been failing to resolve some important details within Coordination Mechanism over last six months. He underlined that these details were resolved with help of Dodik and him. Izetbegovic also denied Covic’s claim saying that goal of the reached agreement is to exclude cantons from the process of deciding on Coordination Mechanism and to marginalize Croat people in B&H. “I give my word this will not happen. Even if there are some such elements, we will correct them”, stated Bosniak member of B&H Presidency, adding that SDA and HDZ B&H delegations should meet over next few days to discuss aforementioned issues. He also underlined that Covic’s reaction is too nervous and explained that he has never acted similarly in situations when leaders of HDZ B&H and SNSD held bilateral meetings.

Zvizdic: There is nothing disputable about Dodik-Izetbegovic agreement (N1)

Commenting on reactions of HDZ B&H’s leader Dragan Covic, Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic denied that the position of the cantons was changed, reminding that all decisions will have to be reached by consensus – including consent of the cantons. As for Covic’s complaints that there were no representatives of the Croat people at the meeting, Zvizdic and suggested that he should address the EU Delegation to B&H which organized the meeting in the first place.

Dodik: Agreement on Coordination Mechanism will not affect RS in any way (RTRS)

Following a series of reactions to Coordination Mechanism for EU matters that RS President Milorad Dodik and Chairman of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic harmonized on Sunday, Dodik explained on Monday that this document will not affect Republika Srpska (RS) in any way. He noted that the most important change in the harmonized version of Coordination Mechanism – compared to the one that the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) adopted back in January – is the introduction of an authorized representative. That means that only a person authorized by the RS Government can vote in the bodies of coordination mechanism on behalf of the RS Government. “If he is absent, there will be no quorum or valid decision”, Dodik emphasized. He explained that all decisions will be reached by consensus of authorized representatives of the B&H CoM, the RS Government, the Federation of B&H Government and the Cantonal Governments. He reminded that the method of decision-making and representation, as referred to in the previous version of coordination mechanism, was the biggest problem for the RS. “The difference is evident in the part that refers to their suggestion that decisions of the Collegium for the European Integration would be reached by consensus of members who attend the sessions and vote in line with their constitutional competences. This means that, if someone from the RS is absent, they would be able to make decisions on the issues that only the RS is competent for”, Dodik explained. He also explained that all decisions adopted at lower levels of coordination mechanism will be reconsidered by a higher body of coordination mechanism within the period of 10 days. Dodik reminded that the previous version of this document also stipulated that the B&H CoM Chairman would be presiding the Collegium for the European Integration, while representatives of the entity governments would act as his deputies. “It is important to emphasize that we agreed yesterday that the Chairman of the Collegium must be given consent of his deputies before calling the sessions”, Dodik explained. According to the harmonized version, the RS will be able to nominate some of the Ministers to be a leader of the delegation that communicates with representatives of the EU, he added. “Up until several years ago, we were in the situation where the concept of functional B&H was dominant, as imposed by the EU and supported by official Sarajevo. It actually meant additional centralization. Now that coordination mechanism was introduced – the idea of which came from the RS – it can be perceived as one of important changes in terms of B&H’s stances in communication with the EU”, Dodik concluded.

Mogherini and Hahn welcome agreement on Coordination Mechanism (TV1)

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn issued a joint statement on Monday which reads that the agreement on the Coordination Mechanism and the decision to proceed with the program of the IMF are very welcome news. The statement further reads: “With them, the country’s leadership, at all levels, has further demonstrated its commitment to the EU integration path of the country, in line with their citizens’ expectations. The coordination mechanism aims at improving the country’s policy coordination and implementation, including as regards EU financial assistance, as well as ensuring better interaction with the EU.”

RS CC’s Council for VNI protection accepts demands of Bosniaks on referendum and census (TV1)

The Council for Protection of the Vital National Interest (VNI) with the Constitutional Court (CC) of Republika Srpska (RS) met on Monday and accepted the demand of the Bosniak Caucus in the RS Council of Peoples (CoP) for determining violation of VNI of Bosniaks regarding the RSNA’s decision on holding of the referendum on the RS Day. The Council also finds acceptable the request filed by the Bosniak Caucus to determine the possible violation of the VNI of the Bosniak people regarding the law on publishing and processing of the results of the 2013 population census in the RS. The Council will pass its decision on these demands in the next 30 days. Bosniak politicians agreed that they do not have high expectations from pending decision because the RS CC mostly works in line with the orders of RS President Milorad Dodik. RS Vice President Ramiz Salkic told TV1 over the phone that the Council has only determined that the conditions to discuss the request have been met and the RS CC will reveal its true stance during discussion. Salkic accused the RS CC of working in line with Dodik’s orders and in line with unconstitutional and illegal rules of procedure. Salkic noted that the decisions of such RS CC are irrelevant and biased. Deputy Speaker of the RS National Assembly Senad Bratic told TV1 over the phone that the request of Bosniak Caucus will undoubtedly be accepted if the RS CC and the Council for Protection of the VNI works in line with the law and the Constitution. To remind, Bosniak politicians insist on implementation of the B&H CC’s decision, according to which provisions of the RS Law on Holidays regarding the Day of the RS are unconstitutional. Bosniak politicians also claim that publishing of new results of the population census in the RS alone will be illegal.

Three right-wing Croatian parties form election coalition (Hina)

The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), the Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP) and the Family Party (OB) on Monday signed a letter of intent to run together in the early parliamentary election in September. The three right-wing parties said they were open to talks with other politically compatible groups of similar views. The newly-formed coalition, called Pomak, will run in all ten electoral units in Croatia and the one designed for the diaspora. They said they would finance their campaign with membership contributions and donations and would meet the women’s quota, which requires that at least 40 percent of candidates running for parliament should be women. HSP leader Danijel Srb said that they would fight for Croatian national interests, Christian Democratic and family values, improving the status of Homeland War veterans and reducing unemployment. He said he believed this coalition was strong enough to cross the election threshold in eight constituencies.

Plenkovic about current political issues in Croatia and the region (Hina)

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday he was ready to face Social Democratic Party (SDP) chief Zoran Milanovic in a TV debate, noting that the SDP was running in the September 11 parliamentary election with the same people and the same program based on which they had lost the previous election. “I made it clear while submitting my candidacy that I wanted a debate and that I wanted to give the public a chance to see the election program offered by the main parties. I can see that Milanovic has evolved in his views, from insults made a few days ago to debate, dialogue and today’s expressions of love,” Plenkovic told a press conference at HDZ headquarters. Speaking of the election campaign and politics in general, Plenkovic said: “I am in favor of a culture of dialogue and a high level of debate, and I am glad to see that Milanovic has evolved very quickly over the last five or six days,” he added. The HDZ leader said that he did not think that the SDP was alienated from the people, but “a political party that represents its views.” “They are running in this election with the same people and the same program based on which they lost the election on November 8,” he noted. Plenkovic welcomed the decision by the HDZ’s high court of honor to give its consent for the return of former HDZ members Drago Prgomet and Milan Kujundzic to the party. “We had discussions in recent days and I suggested that they return to the HDZ. I believe that this integrating act is the right message about the quality, direction and strength of the HDZ, which is running in this election on its own.” He said that Prgomet and Kujundzic would be HDZ candidates in the election and added that the HDZ’s door was open to other parties as well, such as HRID and Croatian Dawn. Plenkovic said that they had not yet talked with former HDZ Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor about her returning to the party. “Prgomet and Kujundzic had their own political parties, Prgomet had three seats in parliament, and at that is what is important at this point.” Plenkovic welcomed the decision by HDZ deputy leader Tomislav Culjak not to stand as a candidate in the parliamentary election, saying that this was an important political signal that it was time for “new faces on the candidate lists” and that he appreciated his gesture. “He remains an important associate in the core leadership of the HDZ and we will be working together to win this election,” he added.

Plenkovic would not comment on a photograph showing Culture Minister Zlatko Hasanbegovic posing next to a Croatian flag with the Ustasha coat of arms and the letter U highlighted in the word Frankfurt on it, which was displayed at the unveiling of a monument to Miro Baresic, a Croatian emigrant convicted of the murder of a Yugoslav ambassador to Sweden in 1971. “I think the minister already said in the media what that was about. I would not want to comment now. He clearly condemned the Ustasha regime and said he did not see what was written on the flag,” the HDZ chief said.

Plenkovic also commented on a political deal by Bakir Izetbegovic, the chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency, and Milorad Dodik, the leader of B&H Serb entity of Republika Srpska, regarding a coordination mechanism for European affairs, an IMF loan arrangement and a framework transport strategy for B&H, which was reached without the presence of a representative of the third constituent people in B&H – the Croats. “We expect all stakeholders in B&H to respect the equality of all three peoples under the constitution, with full support for B&H on its EU path, but also the full inclusion of all levels of government as provided for by the constitutional framework of B&H,” Plenkovic said.

As regards relations between Serbia and Croatia, Plenkovic said that Serbia was yet to reach the levels that Croatia had already reached when it came to ethnic minorities. “During the process of Serbia getting closer to the EU, we will advocate that Serbia resolve residual issues from the time of Milosevic’s Greater Serbia policy. It is important that Serbian society experience a catharsis and face its recent past. In that way we will resolve many issues, including the issue of the highly inappropriate hybrid law on regional jurisdiction for war crimes prosecution,” Plenkovic said, adding that Croatia would not agree to “such legal insecurity”.

Montenegro sends letter of protest to Croatia over putting up a memorial to Baresic (CDM)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro has sent a letter of protest to the Croatian Embassy in Podgorica over putting up a memorial to Miro Baresic in the town of Drage in the Municipality of Pakostane, bearing in mind that Baresic had been sentenced for the murder of Vladimir Rolovic, a Yugoslav ambassador to Sweden in 1971. Rolovic was born in Crmnica (the Municipality of Bar) in 1916. A memorial of Miro Baresic, the assassin of the Yugoslav ambassador to Sweden Vladimir Rolovic, has been put up in his home town of Drage near Pakostane (Croatia). The monument has been named “View of the homeland”. These days, while unveiling his monument in front of his home in Drage is being prepared, there are people in Croatia who believe that the killing of Vladimir Rolovic in 1971 was simply an act of terrorism, for which, after all, Baresic had been sentenced to life imprisonment in Sweden. Montenegro has also expressed its position over putting up the monument. Montenegrin Foreign Ministry has sent a note of protest to the Croatian Embassy in Podgorica. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration expects the Croatian government to distance itself from this uncivilized act, given the fact that Vladimir Rolovic was a prominent fighter against fascism and a prominent Yugoslav and Montenegrin diplomat”, the ministry pointed out.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Putin switches Russia’s geopolitics to Balkans (Pravda, 1 August 2016)

Slovenia is a small Catholic state in the Alps. The Slovenians are very good to the Russians, and the opening of the monument to Russian soldiers who died in two world wars appears to be a logical expression of this attitude. Russian President Putin is paying a visit to Slovenia, but there are many symbolic details about his visit to the European country.

Slovenia knows its place

Slovenia seceded from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, then joined NATO and the EU in 2004. Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country has not received much coverage in the local media not to attract Washington’s attention. it is worthy of note that it was Slovenia that was the first to have pulled out from the former Yugoslav federation. The country is also the last outpost of the Slavic world while moving to the West. The chapel that was built near the Alpine pass of Vršič was built in memory of Russian prisoners of war, who were building the “Russian road” a hundred years ago. Putin also attended the opening of the monument to the “Sons of Russia and the Soviet Union, who died in Slovenia.” Interestingly, this monument that was opened in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana has become the first monument to our warriors in Europe after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which is quite symbolic. Outwardly, Ljubljana has distanced itself from Moscow and attached great priority to its being as a NATO/EU member. Yet, no one knows what they say on the sidelines. It appears that Slovenia is interested in cooperating with Russia.

Nobody can guarantee a quiet life in Slovenia

No one can guarantee Slovenia a quiet life against the background of Brexit and the bubble of government bonds. it is not ruled out that those who choose to invest in the undervalued Russian economy will be able to survive the impending global financial collapse with less difficulty. Slovenia may become a beneficiary in the reanimated project of the Russian gas pipeline to Europe via Turkey One may also discuss broader integration into the oil and gas industry through oil retail sales. Russian ministers for energy, economy, communications and a representative of Gazprom do not appear to be incidental in the Russian delegation at this point. According to Italian media, experienced local diplomats appealed to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia with a request to draw up a joint statement that would say that terrorism creates new challenges in the world, so the EU should opt for the cooperation with Russia. The document has not materialized, the parties simply urged each other for peace, but Slovenia does withhold an ambition to be a bridge between Russia and the West. The Slovenian leadership ought to have more political courage. NATO allies have been strengthening ties with Russia in “sensitive areas” without hiding it from anyone. It goes about such projects as Nord Stream, the cooperation between Italy’s Iveco and Russia’s KAMAZ for the production of military equipment that is used in operations in Syria. One may continue with the shipment of Russian rocket engines to the USA and the rescue of a Boeing factory in Seattle by a Russian company that bought on lease 18 Boeing-747 aircraft.

The Balkans remain a territory of strategic interest for Russia

Reuters saw Putin’s visit to Slovenia as a wish to destroy the unity of the West on sanctions. According to the news agency, Russia’s trade with the EU has fallen by almost a half (by 40 percent with Slovenia) because of the sanctions. At the same time, the level of Russian commercial relations with the United States has not seen such a significant decline. The key point here is the aspiration to gain political weight in the region. Turkey’s Erdogan has an eye on the Balkans as well. Serbian experts agree that even the weak president of Turkey may try to solve his internal problems by destabilizing the situation in the Balkans. This region is extremely important to Russia as an outpost of its movement to the Middle East. Russian diplomats have been active in the region during the recent years. It transpired, for instance, that the head of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik would like to have a Russian military base in the country to prevent the accession of BiH to NATO. “The cooperation between police services of Republika Srpska and Russia may lead to the establishment of a center for emergency situations, similar to the one that has been created in Serbia,” analyst Srđan Šušnica told intermagazin.rs. Russia still views such countries as Montenegro, Macedonia and Bulgaria as her allies. In the region, there are pro-Russian forces that do not agree with the pro-Western course of their governments. The above-mentioned Serbian center in Nis is now called the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center. The center works in three directions: de-mining, disaster management and personnel training. This looks like a prototype of a Russian base in Serbia. The world is changing before our very eyes indeed. Putin’s visit to Ljubljana is not just an act of gratitude and a reminder of the inadmissibility to rewrite history. Russia is switching her geopolitical interests from Ukraine to the Balkans. There is another symbolic fact in this story: Donald Trump’s wife is a Slovene. Is it a sign from above? Montenegro Ministers Mull Quitting Over Power Deal (BIRN, by Dusica Tomovic, 2 August 2016)

Disagreements over a new contract with Italy’s A2A for the management of the state power company could lead to opposition ministers resigning from the cabinet.

Three opposition parties represented in Montenegro’s government on Monday postponed a decision on ministerial resignations to mid-August. They have threatened to quit Milo Djukanovic’s government after parliament backed a new contract with the Italian company that co-manages the state power company EPCG. The opposition parties say the deal violates the agreement they signed with Djukanovic’s ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, on creating conditions for free and fair elections. The opposition entered the government in April but threatened to leave on Saturday when parliament adopted the agreement with the company. Key points of this new agreement, which the opposition claim would undermine the national interests, are the extension of A2A’s management rights in EPCG and the right to appoint key managerial figures. The document also gives consent to A2A’s project to construct a new thermal power plant in Pljevlja. Last week, a statement on the government website said that two deputy prime ministers – Vujica Lazovic and Milorad Vujovic, both from the opposition – had exchanged letters on the new contract. Vujovic informed Lazovic that the opposition ministers wanted the draft agreement amended so that A2A would have to sell its stake in EPCG to Montenegro if it decides to exit the company, for 250 million euros. If A2A declines to accept this change, the opposition ministers want the signing of any agreement left to a new government that will take over after the elections this October. Last Thursday, A2A rejected the amendment requested by the opposition, however. The government is already operating in a caretaker capacity, since the general election was called last week, so a potential decision to quit the cabinet will not change matters much. The three opposition parties said the final decision would be made within the parties no later than mid-August. A2A has managed EPCG since 2009 when the it acquired 43.7 per cent of EPCG following a privatisation deal that remains disputed by the opposition and by some junior ruling parties. The company paid 435 million euros for its share. In the meantime, A2A has lost some of its equity capital in EPCG, while failing to meet pledged targets on issues such as investment. Last April, after A2A’s five-year management contract expired, it was temporarily extended so that the two owners could agree on the terms of a new management contract.