LOCAL PRESS

Albanian President visits southern Serbian municipalities (Tanjug)

Albanian President Bujar Nishani arrived in Bujanovac shortly after noon on Tuesday, marking the start of his one-day visit to Bujanovac and Presevo. Nishani was welcomed at the administrative line by the President of the Coordinating Body for southern Serbia Zoran Stankovic, while he was greeted in front of the municipal building by Mayor of Bujanovac Saip Kamberi and Mayor of Bujanovac Jonuz Musliu, who is also President of the National Council of Albanians in Serbia. Only the Albanian anthem was sounded on that occasion. A ceremonial welcome was organized for Nishani in front of the municipal building, with members of a local folklore ensemble wearing Albanian national costumes. According to estimates, more than 1,000 citizens were in front of the municipal building today, greeting Nishani by waving Albanian flags. According to the protocol, the President of Albania will speak with local Albanian political leaders in the cabinet of the mayor of Bujanovac, and then visit the Muharem Kadriu elementary in Veliki Trnovac. He will then travel to Presevo, where he is expected to address citizens in this town in the local House of Culture. Increased police security was not visible in the streets of Bujanovac today, said Tanjug, but it is assumed that security measures have been increased by deploying plainclothes officers.

Vucic: That’s not nice (B92)

Asked to comment on Bujar Nishani’s visit, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that nobody will be allowed to dream any dreams at the expense of our territory and our nation’s vital interests. “We’re not scared by anything, we’re an open country, everyone is welcome, but those who think they can or dare undermine the country’s integrity – my answer is, don’t do it, and don’t even try it,” he said, adding: “I think we’ve acted in a wise and rational way. The Albanian president has been greeted like any guest.” Vucic said that head of the Coordinating Body for Southern Serbia Zoran Stankovic was also there today, but remarked that it was not nice that the Serbian anthem was not sounded during the welcoming ceremony. He said that Stankovic knows the protocols of the state of Serbia, and then told all those who dream some other dreams, rather than new factories – which are our dreams to forget about them. “Don’t even try that – and I wish they have a good time,” said Vucic.

Vucic: Serbia will never agree with formation of Kosovo army (Beta/RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on that Serbia would work on preserving peace in the region, but would never agree with the formation of Kosovo armed forces. Speaking at a rally in Mladenovac, Vucic said that the region was looking at a turbulent period, but stressed that there were lines that Serbia will never cross. “Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija, contrary to their own Constitution, which we do not recognize, want to set up their own army. Serbia will never agree with the formation of a Kosovo army. They can exert as much pressure as they want, we will keep demanding peace, I will be talking with Kosovo Albanians on a daily basis, but we know what belongs to Serbia and what we will never give away to anyone,” he said.

Mihajlovic: Tachi’s story about the army is a spin for internal purposes (RTS)

Radio Belgrade Director Milivoje Mihajlovic has told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that elections await Kosovo President Hashim Tachi, and that he is using the story about the formation of an army for this purpose. Mihajlovic says that KFOR is the only army that can operate in Kosovo. “The Kosovo security forces are under KFOR and NATO command, without any combat role. This is primarily a media attempt, spin for some internal purpose, since Tachi needs some new story for the upcoming elections,” said Mihajlovic. He says that Tachi is pushing the army story and initiating plan B. According to him, not everything is what it looks like, since not much can be changed in essence. “KFOR arrived to stay permanently and it will always have justification for staying in Kosovo. Now the role is directed towards controlling the operation of the Islamic State, the story about an army is a political story for internal purposes,” says Mihajlovic. The EU and the US now have a serious role to play in treating this issue. “I think that NATO will react in the most serious manner, they have already stated that as far as they are concerned the security forces can be formed in whatever way, but this cannot turn into something serious without the voices of all communities,” notes Mihajlovic.

Speaking about the visit of Albanian President Bujar Nishani to Presevo and Bujanovac, Mihajlovic says that he doesn’t think this will be a harmful visit. “He is coming to Serbia in agreement with the Serbian authorities. I think this visit will improve communication between Belgrade and Tirana. His constitutional obligation is to take care of the Albanian minority in regional countries,” Mihajlovic says, adding that Mishani’s visit will upset more Kosovo Albanians than anyone else. “They think that Albania must not interfere in the relations of the Albanians in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja since they think that the Albanians there gravitate more towards Pristina than towards Albania,” said Mihajlovic, adding that local politicians are trying to use these events for some kind of political domination at the local level.

Commenting the statement by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini that the Balkans could easily become one of the chessboards for playing great game of powers, Mihajlovic says that he thinks that the big powers are already here and that the Balkans has long been a chessboard. “I think that Mogherini’s visit was sucessful even though she came at a time when the Balkans is boiling. Even though she was welcomed in Belgrade as she was, Serbia was most peaceful. Her diagnosis is absolutely correct and I think the EU needs to stop ignoring the requests of this part of Europe to join the EU,“ said Mihajlovic.

Working group meets to normalize air traffic above Kosovo (Beta)

Serbian Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic headed the session of a working group, dealing with the normalization of air traffic above the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, the Defense Ministry reported in a press release. The Ministry explained that the working group had discussed the details of a negotiating platform to be presented to the Serbian government, while the pressing issues arising from the group’s authority would be discussed in Serbia and in Brussels. Aside from experts of the Defense Ministry and the Serbian army, the working group includes experts

from the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Construction, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, the Office for the Coordination of the Negotiating Process with the Interim Authorities in Pristina, the Civil Aviation Directorate and the Flight Control Agency of Serbia and Montenegro.

Working group for uncovering crimes in Kosovo and Metohija meets (Beta)

The working group gathering the facts and evidence to shed light on crimes against Serbs and other ethnic communities in Kosovo and Metohija met for a third session on 6 March. The Defense Ministry reported that at the session in the old army headquarters building the working group analyzed the work of the group, and defined intense activities for the coming period.

The session was attended by the defense minister, Zoran Djordjevic, the state secretaries at the interior and justice ministries, Biljana Popovic Ivkovic and Radomir Ilic, as well representatives of the state agencies involved in the working group of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija.

Mogherini: Balkans could easily become chessboard for playing great game of powers (Beta)

“All of the countries in the Western Balkans have made good progress on the European integration path. There is also the confidence that there is no other power in the world that has so much impact for good on the Western Balkans as the European Union. Foreign Ministers sent a very clear message: what the people of the Balkans can expect from us is a serious, consistent and committed approach,” said Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “Some internal political issues are creating tensions in certain countries. There are dangerous interethnic or interstate relations that could cause the region to go several years backwards. Peace should never be taken for granted”, Mogherini underlined. Mogherini warned that the region is also exposed to certain global tensions and added that “the Balkans could easily become one of the chessboards for playing great game of powers”. Mogherini explained that the EU ministers agreed that the EU’s power in the Balkans lies in credibility of European integration.

Ministers reconfirmed the EU engagement and focus on the region, including through political and economic links. The Council also stressed the need for partners in the region to deliver on reforms to ensure they make steady progress on the European path. In this context, good regional cooperation continues to be essential, as is the need to contain and avoid inflammatory rhetoric. Ministers also underlined the importance of reaching out to the populations of the region, in particular through public diplomacy,  to better communicate the benefits of the European path has on offer: improvement in the rule of law, the transformation of societies and economic and social opportunities, in particular for the youth. Ministers also expressed the EU’s readiness to continue helping the Western Balkans address common challenges, such as human trafficking, drugs smuggling, extreme radicalization and terrorism. The Council’s discussion will feed into the European Council meeting of 9-10 March, which is expected to discuss the situation in the region.

Popovic: DSS will not have controllers in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Politika/Beta)

The candidate of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) for president Aleksandar Popovic has stated in Novi Sad that this party will cover with its controllers almost all polling stations at the 2 April presidential elections. He told a press conference that his party will probably not be able to cover with its controllers the polling stations in Kosovo, just as it was unable last time, because the OSCE didn’t permit this unconstitutionally.

Canak: Cheering a foreign country offends feelings of citizens (RTS)

Serbia is full of those who are on the “payroll” of Russia, the presidential candidate of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) and its leader Nenad Canak said. “I’ve noticed in the arsenal of insults by politicians referring to each other that no one said about anybody that s/he is a Russian mercenary. As Russia is not a foreign country. And Serbia is full of those who are in some way on the Russian payroll,” Canak said, the LSV carried. Canak condemned the incident caused by the MPs of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) last week in the parliament, who by making noise obstructed appearance of the EU high representative Federica Mogherini – among other things by cheering Russia. “Cheering a foreign country in the parliament offends the feelings of anyone who sees Serbia as their state,” he said.

RIK confirms Seselj’s candidacy for president (Novosti)

The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) declared last night the leader of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) the candidate for the president of Serbia at the 2 April elections. RIK determined that 12.976 signatures were legally valid.

REGIONAL PRESS

Lajcak: Two Balkan countries face dissolution (Hayat)

Slovakian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak stated in Brussels on Monday that two Balkan countries are facing dissolution, while three of them are facing a deep crisis. According to Lajcak, this is a consequence of the fact that the EU is becoming a less serious partner to talk about the issues of enlargement, as well as the fact that it has abandoned the Western Balkans. He added that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has returned from her Balkan tour being frustrated. Lajcak made the statement prior to the meeting of the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, who were due to discuss the situation in South-East European countries, among other topics. Lajcak added that the EU has not fulfilled its leadership role as a party which should offer prospects to the aforementioned countries.  Lajcak said that all EU foreign ministers emphasized the fact that the EU recently gave up on its attention to the region. “As a result seen, we see weakening of the pro-European forces within the country and opening room for other players,” Lajcak underlined.

Transcript of Crnadak’s speech during Mogherini’s visit confirms that he slandered RS (RTRS)

Deputy Head of SNSD Caucus in Republika Srpska (RS) Assembly Igor Zunic stated on Monday that transcript of PDP Vice-President Igor Crnadak’s address during Federica Mogherini’s visit to B&H confirms RS President Milorad Dodik’s statements – according to which Crnadak and SDS leader Vukota Govedarica misused the meeting to defame and slander the RS. Zunic also noted that Bosniak media were satisfied with such behavior of representatives of the Alliance for Changes, reporting that the Federation of B&H representatives were united, while the RS’ ones were quarrelling with each other.

CLAC fails to reach consensus on motion of RS Assembly members to examine legality of B&H Statehood Day (Nezavisne)

B&H House of Representatives’ Commission for Constitutional-Legal Affairs (CLAC) failed to reach consensus on the request of B&H Constitutional Court to declare its opinion regarding the motion to examine constitutional legality of the law declaring November 25 B&H’s Statehood Day. The motion was filed by members of the RS Assembly. CLAC member Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) stated that the motion of RS Assembly members is not acceptable and that CLAC should reject it. He explained that Statehood Day is marked in line with the law which is applied basing on principle of legislation continuity. CLAC Chairman Damir Arnaut (SBB) said that CLAC will send B&H Constitutional Court a conclusion declaring that CLAC members were unable to reach consensus. CLAC members Lazar Prodanovic (SNSD), Momcilo Novakovic (NDP) and Borjana Kristo (HDZ B&H) voted in favor of such conclusion. Dzaferovic and Arnaut abstained from voting.

B&H HoR session to be held on Tuesday (RTRS)

Unconstitutional activities of Bosniak member of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic regarding the revision of the ICJ’s ruling in the case of B&H’s lawsuit against Serbia caused disunity among Serb representatives in institutions of B&H. Namely, SNSD’s request to postpone a session of B&H House of Representatives (HoR) scheduled for Tuesday, was rejected at Monday’s session of Collegium of B&H HoR. Representatives of SDS underlined that political crisis caused by the decision to file a motion for the revision has not been solved. However, MPs from this party will attend the aforementioned session of B&H HoR. Deputy Speaker of B&H HoR Mladen Bosic (SDS) stressed that MPs from this party will attend the session but will not vote. “We will not participate in blockades, boycott and destruction of institutions, in order to avoid helping those who really want it”, explained Bosic adding that due to lack of democratic conditions for regular work of B&H HoR, representatives of SDS will not vote for any item on the agenda of Tuesday’s session of B&H HoR. He also underlined that the goal of those who request blockade of institutions at B&H level is to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA).

On the other hand, SNSD’s Stasa Kosarac reminded that it is not fair to talk about blockade of B&H institutions, because recent conclusions of the RS Assembly do not call for blockade but for respecting of the DPA. Kosarac explained that delay of the session was requested because crisis caused by Izetbegovic’s activities was not resolved and actually it was additionally deepened. He underscored that majority gathered around Izetbegovic “which is not Brussels coalition, but Bakir’s coalition” decided to reject SNSD’s request. “Here we have one phenomenon, expressed through political autism of the Alliance for Changes (SzP)”, said Kosarac. A session of SNSD Caucus in B&H HoR will be held on Tuesday morning, when members of this Caucus will decide if they will attend the session of B&H HoR. SNSD’s MPs underlined that they will remain committed to conclusions adopted at the recent session of the RS Assembly. Also, Speaker of B&H HoR Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) stressed that the session of B&H HoR will be held.

Cvijanovic: SDS’ decision to attend session of B&H HoR is another evidence of this party’s vassal policy in Sarajevo (RTRS)

Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic said that decision of SDS to attend session of B&H House of Representatives (HoR) scheduled for Tuesday is another evidence of this party’s vassal policy in Sarajevo. She also underlined that parallelism is present within SDS, because of opposite stances of its officials regarding future work of B&H CoM and B&H HoR. RS Prime Minister described politics of SDS as “wandering”. She expressed concern that SDS’s activities will be used by political Sarajevo against the RS. “They have been misinterpreting conclusions of the RS National Assembly (RSNA). No one ever asked them to block work of joint institutions. They were asked to insist on issues important for the RS,” explained Cvijanovic.

Large exercise to take place in cooperation with NATO in September, RS refuses to partake (FTV)

A conference dedicated to exercise for removal of consequences of disasters titled “Bosna and Hercegovina 2017” that is scheduled for September, was held in Sarajevo on Monday. In cooperation with NATO, over 500 international and 350 local participants will check whether they are ready to respond and cooperate in the case of floods, landslides, earthquakes and other disasters. Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) will thus, host a field exercise organized by NATO’s The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), with the aim to make local teams ready for the fight against natural disasters and to achieve better coordination with international teams. Head of the EADRCC in NATO’s Operations Division Guenter Bretschneider said that the exercise in September will show how countries work together when they are facing joint challenges. He underlined: “This is the essence of NATO’s existence for over 70 years”. Attendees of the conference emphasized that the exercise is of civil character, regardless of participation of B&H Armed Forces and that it will be held in the area of the Tuzla Canton. B&H Minister of Security Dragan Mektic said that these kinds of actions are aimed to enhance local capacities for protection and rescuing from consequences of natural disasters. Despite of plans to include territories  of the RS and Brcko District in the exercise, the RS Civil Protection Administration responded by saying  that they are not interested in taking part in such activities.

President of Montenegro Vujanovic pays visit to B&H (TV1)

At the invitation of the Presidency of B&H, President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic arrived on Monday for a two-day official visit to B&H. On that occasion, Vujanovic held separate meetings with members of the Presidency of B&H, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H (B&H CoM) Denis Zvizdic, as well as members of the House of Peoples (HoP) and the House of Representatives (HoR) of the Parliament of B&H. Vujanovic met with Chairman and Serb member of the Presidency of B&H Mladen Ivanic, Bosniak member of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic. On that occasion, the officials discussed, inter alia, construction of the Adriatic Ionian Corridor, bilateral relations, the situation in the region, construction of the Azerbaijan gas pipeline and cooperation between B&H and Montenegro. Following the meeting with B&H Presidency members, Vujanovic addressed reporters at a joint press conference and underlined that there are no open issues between B&H and Montenegro, noting that relations between the two countries are the best in the region and represent the best example of good neighborly relations. Vujanovic also emphasized that Montenegro supports B&H’s aspirations to join NATO. Ivanic pointed out that Vujanovic proposed that single, joint border controls should be introduced at the border crossings between the two countries, noting that this issue will be discussed in the forthcoming period.

Vujanovic: I haven’t asked Djukanovic if he is to run for president (CDM)

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic has not asked DPS President Milo Djukanovic what he thought about his earlier proposal that Djukanovic should be a presidential candidate. He said that in Sarajevo when reporters asked whether there was any feedback regarding his proposal to Djukanovic to run in the 2018 presidential elections. “I haven’t asked him about his reaction in respect to my statement and I don’t have, as you say, any feedback. I think there is a lot of time before the presidential elections and I want him to be a candidate. Based on his both political and general work, I think he is recognized as a man of value and a man who would get my support. When we discuss this issue, this will be my position, which does not mean, of course, that he will accept it,” said Vujanovic. He said he had constructive and friendly relation with Djukanovic within which they exchanged opinions. “In any case, as you know, he personally withdrew from the PM position, believing personal life should have its value as well and that a man does not need to sacrifice his own personal life for the state function, no matter how valuable and important it is,” said Vujanovic. He had earlier said that we live in a time in which Djukanovic consider his candidacy and that he would advise him to accept this responsibility.

Extradition of Bogicevic rejected (RTCG)

A Serbian court has rejected Montenegro’s request to extradite one of its citizens wanted by Montenegrin authorities for his alleged participation in an attempted coup. Serbian citizens Predrag Bogicevic and Nemanja Ristic have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow Montenegro’s government in October. The Belgrade high court rejected Montenegro’s request to extradite Nemanja Ristic, saying the request was ‘unfounded’. The decision was made on 8 February, the court said.  The ruling can’t be appealed, but the case file can be sent to the Appellate Court in Belgrade for a final revision. An extradition request for Bogicevic was approved last month by a court in the Serbian city of Kragujevac. Bogicevic continues to be in Serbian custody; Ristic has been released.

Attempted coup in Montenegro put a spin in US-Russia relations (Pobjeda)

Moscow position in the region has been seriously compromised by new intel of British and US sources that claim Kremlin was collaborating with Serbian nationals who had attempted to violently overthrow government in Montenegro, thus preventing it from joining NATO, writes political analyst Janus Bugajski from Washington DC, Pobjeda reports. He said that “the attempted coup clearly demonstrated different goals the US and Russia have in the region”.

“Pence’s statements during his visits in Brussels and Munich confirm American obligation towards NATO, assuring Balkan it will not be left to Moscow,” Bugajski said.

In his analysis, Bugajski reveals that the US will have continuity on Balkans and maybe even become more of a support for the region, which had become a strategic test for Trump’s administration. “Although is too early to be precise about US position in Balkans, international integration of the area is progressing. Trump could be more lenient with Serbia or Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some believe Trump will step back from Balkan and let EU deal with it,” Bugajski said. He reminded of controversial statements of US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher that speaks of border changes on Balkan. “Some assume Dana Rohrabacher could influence White House’s policies. Congressman claims that Serbia and Kosovo need to exchange territories and people, and that Macedonia should be divided between Bulgaria and Kosovo. Any kind of border changes could lead to serious conflicts in the region. Even NATO members Croatia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey could become a part of the regional war. So, Dana Rohrabacher is not taken so seriously,” Bugajski explains. Despite Moscow and Belgrade hoping Trump would be their ally, his administration might have different plans for Serbia and Russia. “There are early signifiers. US policy in Balkan is torn between Trump and Putin, and Montenegro is very close to joining NATO,” he said. As far as Kosovo is concerned, it seems that US administration is ready to support its independence. “American Secretary of Defense said that the US can support Kosovo in gathering armed forces that could take place of American soldiers there. Belgrade and Moscow were not happy with this idea. Some speculate Washington DC might ask Serbia to accept Kosovo independence”, Bugajski said. According to him, Trump administration is carefully monitoring Moscow activity in the region. “Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs was clear about his government looking for post-Western world order. Trump now has the opportunity to make the West stronger,” Bugajski concludes.

Mogherini: Don’t play with fire and don’t turn this into an inter-ethnic conflict (Meta)

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, at a press conference after the council of the EU’s ministers of foreign affairs had ended, said that she was worried about the situation in Macedonia and she told the politicians not to play with fire. “How worried am I? I am worried, but I’m trying to learn to move beyond the worries and to see the potential for solving the institutional and the political crisis. I believe what is Skopje facing today is still a political and institutional crisis. My main worry is that this will turn into an inter-ethnic crisis. This was the main message that I passed to those that have a political responsibility. Don’t play with fire and don’t turn this into an inter-ethnic confrontation. That will ruin the country and will probably spread beyond the country,” said Mogherini. She stressed that she believes in a solution for the crisis and that the institutions in Macedonia have the resources to find a solution. “I believe firstly in the wisdom of the president, and secondly in the capacity of the Parliament to proceed, by electing a speaker or to unblock the situation so that this institutional and political crisis so it can be managed with the instruments that Skopje has, without any interference. I hope that the wisdom will prevail,” said Mogherini. She didn’t want to give any details on the special presentations she gave the ministers regarding Macedonia, but she said that in general, all ministers gave their strong support for the messages she has passed to them after the meetings in Macedonia.

EU’s next steps regarding Macedonia to be revealed later this week, says Zbogar (MIA)

EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said it would be known what actions the EU would take as regards the situation in Macedonia after today’s meeting in Brussels of EU foreign ministers and the summit of EU heads of state and government slated for Thursday. Asked to comment on the political situation in Macedonia, Zbogar said the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, had made very clear statements during her last week’s visit and any next steps would be revealed after this week’s two important meetings. “We’ll see what steps are going to be taken next, because Mogherini today is meeting with EU foreign ministers and is going to inform them about her visit to Skopje. Also, on Thursday she will meet with EU heads of government to discuss her report,” Zbogar said Monday in Tetovo adding the meeting was expected to result in some conclusions as well. He refused to comment on the possibility of the local elections being postponed saying local political representatives should offer answers on the matter.

Szijjarto: EU Council to condemn so-called Albanian platform (MIA)

“I will call on my colleagues at today’s meeting to condemn the so-called Albanian platform and the interference of a foreign prime minister in the internal affairs of a neighboring country” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told MIA correspondent in Brussels on Monday. Szijjarto said he had already urged his EU colleagues to present their stance on these matters at the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. Szijjarto’s colleagues, Foreign Minister of Austria, Slovenia and Greece – Sebastian Kurz, Karl Erjavec and Nikos Kotzias respectively – are also expected to call on the EU to officially condemn the platform of Albanian parliamentary parties in Macedonia, MIA correspondent reports.

Koenders calls for Macedonia to calm tensions, verbal aggression and respect for the majority (Meta)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Bert Koenders called for calm regarding the tensions and respect for the parliamentary majority in Macedonia and for and the EU to show unity. “The situation in Macedonia is very concerning. I believe that the parliamentary majority must be respected and we must emphasize the importance of doing things without verbal aggression. This decision must be made in Macedonia itself. We are open for Macedonia’s further movement into the EU and NATO, but this must be resolved peacefully,” Koenders said before the meeting between Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers in Brussels. Koenders declined to comment on the position of VMRO-DPMNE, but said he was concerned about the verbal aggression in the country. “I believe that there is a parliamentary majority and that the Macedonians should decide. We are concerned about the verbal aggression in the country. I think that things need to be resolved peacefully, and I urge all parties to do so in a peaceful and democratic way,” said the Dutch Foreign Minister. From all the Foreign Ministers of the member states of the EU, Koenders demanded a unified position towards the crisis in Macedonia. “It is important for the EU to show unity in asking Macedonia to respect democratic principles, the parliamentary majority and a peaceful solution to the crisis,” added Koenders.

Fresh marches in Skopje, across whole country for united Macedonia (MIA)

The ‘Civic Initiative for United Macedonia’ organized Monday yet another march against constitutional changes and an introduction of bilingualism in the country. The march, as in the last few days, kicked off in front of the government to be wrapped up in front of the Parliament building. Protesters reaffirmed their demands for united Macedonia, saying again that they reject platforms designed in foreign countries. ‘We are for Macedonia-made platform, one that will defend the interests of all citizens’.

Vetting, parliament fails to elect official bodies (ADN)

The extraordinary parliamentary session failed on Monday to elect the new vetting official bodies. The opposition boycotted the parliamentary session. Luan Rama and Shpetim Idrizi are the two MPs proposed by the political parties in Albania to be part of the Parliamentary Committee for Vetting. Rama was selected from the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), while Shpetim Idrizi by the Party for Justice Integration and Unity (PJIU). Another candidate will be proposed by the Socialist Party while the opposition refused to participate and continues its boycott the parliamentary activities. Parliamentary Committee for Vetting should be composed by MPs by the majority and the opposition.

Free and fair elections, Albanians protest in Brussels (ADN)

A group of Albanian citizens protested on Monday in Brussels for free and fair elections on 18 June. With billboards ‘European standards for Albania’, ‘Free and fair elections in Albania’, or ‘Parliament of Albania to be free from the criminals’, they gathered in the Belgium capital to support the opposition’s protest in Tirana. They submitted a petition to the chief of the cabinet of Jean Claude Juncker, Martin Selmayer on this issue, in order to send it to the President of the European Commission.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

The US plan for Macedonia: Keep Serbia down and Russia out (RT, by Marcus Papadopoulos, 7 March 2017)

The role of the United States in the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is often overlooked by people who are critical of Washington’s intervention in the internal affairs of independent, sovereign countries.

For it was in the former Yugoslavia that the precedent was set for future American intervention in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo provided the launch pad for the West’s concept of humanitarian intervention, which, in reality, is a pretext for safeguarding and enhancing US global hegemony.

However, intervention by Washington in the Balkans in the 1990s served a more immediate objective for the Americans. While Otto von Bismarck, the legendary first Chancellor of Germany, scoffed at the notion of intervening in the Balkans, having said that the region is “not worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier,” the US took a decidedly different view on the matter.

For Washington, helping to break up Yugoslavia would not only create client states for the US but would also, at best, keep Russia out of the Balkans, or, at worst, limit Russian influence in the region (historically, Russia has close connections there based on pan-Slavism and the Orthodox faith). An American presence in the Balkans would also allow US policy-makers to project American power beyond the region, as Camp Bondsteel, in Kosovo, has been helping to do for nearly twenty years now. Incidentally, it is one of the largest overseas US military bases in the world, hosting up to seven thousand soldiers and an array of military equipment.

Today, Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo are American client states. But the process of Washington colonizing the Balkans is not yet complete. Standing in the way of the US achieving full mastery over the region are Serbia and Russia.

Throughout its history, Serbia has resisted foreign occupiers, from the Ottoman Empire to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the German Empire to the Third Reich. However, since the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic, in 2000, in an election which the Americans played a decisive role in, Serbia has begun to be colonized by the US. Today, there are NATO supervisory offices in key Serbian institutions, from the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the judiciary to the civil service. The former is all the more ironic and humiliating for Serbs given that NATO representatives sit in the very building that NATO partly destroyed during its bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999.

Further to that, to weaken Serbia and ensure that it does not resist the diktats of Washington, the US encouraged and recognized Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence in 2008, as well as having instigated and overseen the fraudulent independence referendum result in Montenegro in 2006. As a consequence of both illegal actions, Belgrade lost control of Kosovo and Montenegro, reducing Serbia in size and in clout.

But despite Washington’s penetration of Serbia, assisted by the European Union, and accelerated under the current prime minister, Alexander Vucic, more and more ordinary Serbs are coming to realize the tremendously damaging effects of American influence in their country – politically, economically, militarily and socially – and thus anti-Western sentiment in Serbia is now widespread.

Buoyed by its emphatic return to the international arena, and by its foreign policy successes in the Crimea and in Syria, Russia has begun to show increasing interest in the Balkans. Moscow understands the geostrategic importance of the Balkans for Russian national security and, like Tsarist Russia is starting to capitalize on pro-Russian sentiment in Serbia, Montenegro, the Republika Srpska (the Serb entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Macedonia. And it is Macedonia that today the US regards as constituting an effective means of keeping the Americans in the Balkans, the Serbs down in the Balkans and the Russians out of the Balkans.

Washington, which is actively seeking both NATO and EU membership for Macedonia, is acutely aware that political, economic and cultural relations between Russia and Macedonia have been steadily progressing in recent years, demonstrated by the construction of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Skopje, in 2015. That groundbreaking event was presided over by Archbishop Stefan, the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, who also blessed the site.

While Macedonia has been independent for 26 years now, it is a very fragile country, and this is due in large part to its restless Albanian community, which makes up a quarter of Macedonian’s population. Enter the US.

Since the US bombed Serbia in support of the Kosovo Liberation Army, an ethnic Albanian terrorist organization with powerful links to organized crime, Washington has cultivated an extremely strong relationship with Albanians in the Balkans – in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. US pre-eminence in the region rests, to a large extent, on the fervent support it receives from Albanians there (indeed, Albanians are one of the staunchest supporters of America in the world). It is a mutually beneficial relationship, too, as the Albanian goal of wrestling Kosovo away from Serbia has been realized, due to the NATO bombing of Serbia and the subsequent withdrawal by Belgrade of its army and police from the Serbian province, while the immense political power which ethnic Albanians in Macedonia today wield, is due to the Ohrid Agreement which NATO imposed on Skopje in 2001, following an Albanian terrorist campaign in the country.

Under American patronage, the foundations for a Greater Albania have begun to take shape. And the areas which fall under a Greater Albania include Kosovo, parts of Macedonia, such as Tetovo, the Presevo Valley in Serbia, and parts of Montenegro, such as Malesia.

With historic ties between Serbia and Macedonia (pan-Slavism, the Orthodox faith and a wariness of Albanian territorial ambitions in the Balkans), and developing ties between Russia and Macedonia, and with anti-Western sentiment rapidly increasing in Serbia, and with a resurgent Russian on the international stage, the US has begun to take action to preserve its dominance in the Balkans. And by what means? By playing its trump card in the region: the Albanians.

Currently, in Macedonia, there is an internal crisis, in which the two opposing sides are the Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and the leader of the opposition Zoran Zaev, who is backed by ethnic Albanian political parties. Mr. Ivanov will not grant permission to Mr. Zaev to form a government, rightly fearing that Albanian secessionists in Macedonia will take advantage of this and sever links with Skopje in pursuit of a Greater Albania.

Outside proponents of a Greater Albania have clearly demonstrated their involvement in the crisis in Macedonia. The self-proclaimed president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, has called on ethnic Albanians in Macedonia to “take the destiny of their rights into their own hands.”

Responding to the crisis in Macedonia, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the US and EU of interfering in the internal affairs of the country and of supporting “the Greater Albania project which includes vast areas in a number of Balkan states.”

By Washington playing the Albanian card in Macedonia, the country could cease to exist or could be reduced significantly in size, thus limiting any future Russian presence there. The Albanian-dominated parts of Macedonia could unify under a single entity and replicate what Kosovo did: become de facto independent and then one day unilaterally declares itself independent. That would also serve as a warning to Serbia: namely, if the Serbs continue with their current anti-Western sentiments, then Greater Albania could extend into Serbia, by the Americans encouraging and arming secessionists in the Presevo Valley, which could reduce the country even further in size.

Despite there being a new US administration, there is very little chance of President Donald Trump changing Washington’s policy in the Balkans and abandoning the Albanians there. Indeed, Mr. Trump demonstrated his full support to Kosovo this February when he sent a message to the self-proclaimed Kosovan President Thaci (a man with historical links to organized crime) congratulating Kosovo on its so-called independence.

In the letter, the US President wrote that: “On behalf of the United States, I am pleased to congratulate the people of Kosovo on your independence day on February 17. The partnership between our countries is based on shared values and common interests. A sovereign, multi-ethnic, democratic Kosovo’s future lies in a stable and prosperous Balkan region that is fully integrated into the international community…We look forward to continuing our broad and deep cooperation.

Mr Trump, who, like Thaci, has links to organized crime, is not going to relinquish America’s hold on the Balkans, for continued American dominance of the region will help to achieve the US President’s goal of ensuring American global power remains preeminent, together with his pledge to increase the already bloated US defense budget and to make the American nuclear arsenal the largest in the world.

Macedonia is the country where Washington’s determination to remain dominant in the Balkans is beginning to play out in. The American-Albanian alliance is a lethal one for the security and stability of that historically volatile region. Yet, for the Americans and the Albanians, it is a win-win situation. With the help of the Albanians, the US will remain the leading outside power in the Balkans. And with the help of the Americans, the Albanian goal of realizing a Greater Albania will take another leap forward.

President Trump is starting to play Washington’s trump card – the Albanians – in Macedonia. Making “America great again” is beginning to take on another dimension.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

‘An extremely explosive combination in the Balkans’ (DW, 7 March 2017)

Secessionist aspirations, anti-government protests and ethnic provocations: the Balkans, it seems, cannot find peace, the Heidelberg-based political scientist Silvia Steininger tells DW.

DW: The Balkans are documented in this year’s Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK) annual Conflict Barometer. What kinds of conflicts did the HIIK find in the region?

Silvia Steininger: We are currently observing 18 conflicts in the Balkan region – most are nonviolent. In fact, we found that only two conflicts in the Balkans involved violence last year. The first of those was the conflict between Macedonia’s government and its opposition, which we have been observing since 2014. The other is a similar conflict that broke out last year between Kosovo’s government and opposition. Both conflicts, however, have been labeled “violent crises,” which, according to our methodology, is the lowest level of violent conflict.

We can observe three categories of conflict in the Balkans. The first includes conflicts with a strong ethnic component. Those conflicts are primarily leftovers from the Balkan wars, and, thus, most prominent in the countries of former Yugoslavia. The second group consists of so-called classic conflicts between government and opposition groups. We have been observing such nonviolent versions of this type of conflict in Romania and Bulgaria. And, as I already mentioned, violent versions thereof in Kosovo and Macedonia. The third group consists of conflicts involving militant groups. Such conflicts are going on between xenophobes and right-wing and extreme-right groups and minorities in Hungary, or in conflicts with Islamist groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The secessionist aspirations of the Republika Srpska are also a major topic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. How worrying is the situation in that divided country?

We have seen that the discussion around the possible secession of the Serb Republic has become much more strident over the last few years. But one should also never underestimate the threat that Islamist groups pose to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty. Since 2012, more than 200 Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens have joined Islamist groups engaged in armed conflicts in the Middle East – some 50 have now returned home. The combination of these two conflicts is a stress test for a country as fragile as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Last year saw major demonstrations in Macedonia. The Colorful Revolution marched against the government and against corruption. Over the past few days there have also been protests against the introduction of Albanian as a second official language. How does the future look for Macedonia?

The opposition conflict in Macedonia was one of the most serious conflicts that we observed in the Balkans last year. And we have yet to see any de-escalation of the conflict over the last three years. Our assessment of the level of violence seen in Macedonia also leads us to believe that de-escalation will not come any time soon. Thus, our prognosis is negative.

Unfortunately, mediation by a number of organizations, including the EU, have not led to any long-term solution to the conflict. The situation then became especially tense after last December’s elections. In light of that, we view protests over the introduction of Albanian as a second official language with great trepidation. The amalgamation of questions of political rule and ethnic resentment is an extremely explosive combination in the Balkans.

How would you assess the current situation in Kosovo?

Kosovo has enormous difficulties. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia are decidedly better these days, some 10 years after Kosovo declared independence; nevertheless, tensions regularly flare. One such flare-up occurred in January, when, for the first time in 18 years, Serbia sent a passenger train from Belgrade to the Serb-dominated city of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo. The train was decorated in Serbia’s national colors and adorned with the words “Kosovo is Serbia.” After major protests, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic ordered the train stopped at the Serbian border. Needless to say, such episodes will not lead to ending the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.

A further conflict has arisen in Kosovo, as well: one between the government of President Hashim Thaci and opposition Albanian nationalists. Kosovo signed bilateral agreements with both Serbia and Montenegro in 2015. This led Albanian nationalists to employ tactics such as using teargas in parliament or inciting violence in the capital Pristina in order to keep the agreements from being implemented. Kosovo remains very divided.

Will the Balkans remain a powder keg?

Although it is a relatively small area geographically, there are a large number of longstanding and very virulent conflicts in the Balkans. Above all, the many ethnic conflicts that we have observed in the Balkans over the years, even decades, have not decreased in number. Our assessment is that the potential for conflict in the Balkans remains significant.

Can the European Union do anything to ensure peace in the Balkans?

The EU plays a major role throughout the entire Western Balkan region. For the countries of former Yugoslavia, the EU offers a potential future – very often with the goal of democratic transformation. Of course, we can also see that Croatia’s EU accession has sent a powerful signal to many countries in the region. EU member states are also active in securing peace in North Kosovo. But the EU also plays an important role in the entire state apparatus of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also observe that, in Serbia and Montenegro, the EU accession process has been a major impulse for those states to find peaceful solutions to ongoing conflicts. The EU plays an important role in Macedonia, too, as it has been repeatedly engaged as a mediator between conflicting parties over the last several years. Nonetheless, it does not look as if those efforts will bear fruit anytime soon.

Interview conducted by Marina Martinović

Johnson: Montenegro Shows Russia is ‘Undermining’ (BIRN, 6 March 2017)

Balkans British Foreign Secretary says events in Montenegro show Russia is ‘undermining’ countries in the Western Balkans.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said events last October in Montenegro – where the government says it forestalled a Russian-organized coup – show the Kremlin is busy “undermining” governments in the Balkans and elsewhere. Speaking in Brussels ahead of a planned trip to Moscow, Johnson said of the Russians: “They’re engaged in undermining countries in the Western Balkans – you saw what happened in Montenegro – to say nothing of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which are as everybody knows completely unacceptable. “So point number one is to get that message across to the Russians. They’ve got to change,” he said.

Britain’s political establishment has broadly accepted the Podgorica government’s version of events on October 16, when officials said they narrowly prevented a group of Serbian nationalists organized from Russia from storming the parliament and assassinating the former prime minister, Milo Djukanovic. Opposition parties bitterly contest the claim, insisting the government invented the coup claim to discredit them.

Russia and the West have been engaged in an increasingly tough tug of war over Montenegro, which was traditionally close to Russia but whose government seeks to join both the EU and NATO. Russia has dismissed allegations that it was involved in an attempted coup in Montenegro as “absurd”.