LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: Serbia predictable and stable partner in the region (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that it is very important that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had set aside time to meet Prime Minister Vucic during the election campaign. “This is proof there is a relationship of trust and mutually correct relations,” says Dacic. He noted that the relationship with Germany has changed, since he was the witness of the meeting between Boris Tadic and the German Chancellor, which he calls “one of the most unpleasant ones that he attended”. “The reason was that the Serbian authorities had promised something to Merkel that they haven’t fulfilled,” stresses Dacic. He points out that the situation has changed since Serbia has become a predictable and stable partner in the region.

When it comes to relations in the region, the Minister thinks that a balanced policy of Brussels towards everybody is needed. He thinks that Serbia has preserved sanity in the case of B&H’s revision. “The Serbian Foreign Ministry informed last year Softic that he cannot be a joint agent and that a new decision needs to be passed,” says Dacic. “Our role and job, the job of Serbia, perhaps differs over the past years since we have become a credible partner and our policy is predictable, compared to some alternative policies that are being offered,” says Dacic.

He claims that the EU will remain committed to the open door principle for Western Balkan countries. “Europe will preserve its present form, absolutely respecting the principle that the door to Western Balkans is open. We are not advocating for all of us to join the EU, we are advocating for those who deserve, meaning those who fulfill criteria, to join the EU,” says Dacic.

When it comes to the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the Minister says he doesn’t believe there is too much concern for Ramush Haradinaj by Hashim Tachi and others in the Kosovo authorities. “Something else is at issue here, and I think there is fear how the new Special Court will treat other Kosovo officials. This is an unprecedented case, it would be as if Serbia doesn’t wish to take part in the dialogue because somebody is arrested and indicted or is in extradition detention,” says Dacic. He says the EU is the one that dictates and conducts the dialogue and negotiations. “What do authorities and political forces in Pristina think – that they will condition somebody as to whether they want to continue talks. I think this is not even a sling. It is only a bluff and if somebody falls for this bluff, it means they don’t deserve to sit in Brussels,” concluded Dacic.

Drecun: We don’t need a parliamentary debate on Tachi’s requests for Kosovo army formation (B92)

The Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun thinks that the Serbian parliament doesn’t need to debate Hashim Tachi’s request for Kosovo army formation. “As soon there is need for that, the Committee will convene again. Now we should not fall into the trap to debate and provoke destabilization,” said Drecun. “If need be, the Serbian parliament will debate this. The National Security Council is the one that needs to react immediately, but the parliament operates differently. We are not meeting while the presidential campaign is underway, but if need be, the parliament speaker will convene a session,” he adds. “What are we supposed to do? To state that this is unacceptable? To pass some resolution, declaration? Executive authority needs to react now – the Serbian government, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, the National Security Council, army and police, and if need be, the parliament as well. However, we need to avoid a situation where the parliament reacts now, to avoid what occurred when the Kosovo Assembly reacted regarding Ramush Haradinaj’s case and entered a vicious circle,” concluded Drecun.

Dacic: Belgrade will never stop dialogue with Pristina (Beta/B92)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia will never stop the dialogue with Pristina, but takes a stance against unilateral actions. “Serbia has always been for dialogue. We will never interrupt the dialogue even when we we unhappy. We will not blackmail with our participation in the dialogue as Pristina is now doing, and will not provoke,” Dacic said at a press conference after his meeting in Belgrade with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. Dacic said that Belgrade wants agreement and a lasting solution to the question of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, but opposes unilateral actions and cannot allow such actions to guide Serbia’s positions. Commenting on Pristina’s efforts to become a member of UNESCO and other international organizations, Dacic said that with time the conditions from an agreement on Kosovo’s regional representation, including using a footnote referring to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, are being forgotten. “We are not against Kosovo’s participation in international organizations, but only if it is clearly defined that it can only be asymmetric, because for us the question of Kosovo’s status is not resolved,” said Dacic. “In line with that, we are opposed to Kosovo joining various specialized UN agencies, we are opposed to Kosovo being where states should be, or if it is there, it must be marked in a special way, (indicating) it is something that is still being disputed,” Dacic said.

Dacic emphasized after the meeting with his Italian counterpart that effort to preserve peace and stability should be as great as the challenges related to regional stability. He also said that disagreements and different opinions in the Balkans are syndrome of small differences, and big conflicts. He also said that, in Serbia’s opinion, the ruling request should not have been submitted in the first place. “Serbia will do its part of job. Meaning we will react calmly, we will be patient and we will only not allow that anyone humiliates Serbia, and we will protect our national interests,” Dacic concluded.

Vucic, Alfano on stability of the region (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and his first deputy and foreign minister, Ivica Dacic, earlier received the Italian official in a joint meeting. According to the Serbian government, Vucic and Alfano spoke about relations between the two countries, the situation in the region and the continuation of dialogue with Pristina. “We are trying to maintain the situation in Serbia stable so that the region could be stable too,” Vucic said regarding the current situation in the neighboring countries. He expressed gratitude for Italy’s support to the European path of Serbia and added that he expects a lot from the meeting of leaders of the Western Balkans and the EU which will be held in Trieste. The Berlin Process is a great hope for the region and we want to see more concrete results in programs of infrastructure, Vucic said.

“I want to express respect for our bilateral relations and the reform processes of your government. Yesterday I spoke with a large number of Italian investors who told me that they are very satisfied with the business environment in Serbia, and that is crucial for us,” Alfano stated.

He underlined that the fight against corruption, changes in the penalty code and the legal system are crucial points of the success of the Serbian government in the field of law, and that the economy and legal system are a good basis for strengthening relations of the two countries.

“Europe is the right place for Serbia and I want to give support to your aspirations to become part of the European family,” Alfano concluded.

KFOR recognizes Kosovo Security Forces only in present form (RTS/Politika/Tanjug)

KFOR Commander Giuseppe Fungo has stated that this international military mission remains devoted to preserving security and fulfilling its task in Kosovo. Fungo visited Gorazdevac where he talked with the local Serbs. “The Kosovo Security Forces have so far operated within their mandate and this is a form in which we recognize them,” said Fungo. According to him, KFOR will continue to perform its mission in guaranteeing security, freedom of movement regardless of ethnic affiliation and religion. He added that KFOR would continue to secure the Visoki Decani monastery and that nothing would change in this respect.

Ljubomir Maric joins Office for Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

The Serbian government has appointed Ljubomir Maric as assistant head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Tanjug learned from this Office. Maric will deal with issues related to the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) in Kosovo, and with coordination of local self-governments in Kosovo. In the past, Maric, representing the Serb List, served as minister of local self-government in interim institutions in Pristina. He was sacked by Kosovo Premier Isa Mustafa in December 2016. Maric was also the coordinator of a steering team set up to establish the ZSO.

Dveri: Controversial decision of RIK; Kosovo is not abroad (Beta)

Conservative movement Dveri assessed on Monday that the position of the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) that the same decision should apply on determining the polling stations in Kosovo and abroad was controversial. Dveri said that in this way the polling stations in Kosovo were treated as the polling stations abroad, and claimed that the elections in the province would be conducted contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, the law and the decision of the Constitutional Court, i.e. that the elections would be illegal and illegitimate. The RIK members from Dveri movement suggested two additional solutions to be made, one that would determine polling stations in Kosovo and, the other one, to determine the polling stations abroad.

49,344 representatives who will be distributed to 8,224 polling places (Beta)

The parties in parliament which have MP circles within the composition of the election committees at the presidential elections in April will have 49,344 representatives who will be distributed to 8,224 polling places throughout the country, said the representative of the Bureau of Statistics (RZS) Vladimir Sutic on Monday. Sutic told Betathat these 8,224 places did not include the polling stations in Kosovo, abroad, or those in prison units. Out of the total number, the parties which comprise the ruling coalition and those of the opposition will have the same number of representatives in the permanent composition of the election committees – 24,672 each, he said.

REGIONAL PRESS

NDP files criminal reports against Softic and Izetbegovic (TV1)

Representatives of NDP filed criminal reports against Sakib Softic and Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic with the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H in Sarajevo on Monday. The criminal report against Softic refers to him as an “alleged” agent of B&H who filed the motion for the revision of the ruling in the case of the lawsuit against Serbia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The report reads that Softic falsely presented himself as an agent, for which he might face a fine or one-year prison sentence. At the same time, the criminal report against Izetbegovic reads that he committed a criminal offense of abuse of office or official authority, for which he might face a sentence of six months to five years in prison. Speaking at a press conference on this occasion, NDP leader Dragan Cavic assessed that validity of the ICJ’s ruling from 2007 could be brought into question after what happened in this case. He explained that not even the B&H Presidency’s decision to appoint Softic the agent of B&H in 2002 was ever published in the B&H Official Gazette, which is why he thinks he was representing B&H in an unlawful way even in the period 2002 – 2007. Cavic also underlined that Izetbegovic abused his office by gathering an informal group to encourage Softic to file the motion for the revision of the ruling. He also explained that the criminal reports were filed with an aim to protect the constitutional order of B&H.

RS President and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated on Monday that his party would have supported NDP’s criminal report against Sakib Softic and Bakir Izetbegovic if it had been asked to join the initiative. He stressed that they are certainly responsible for abuses and frauds, so it is absolutely clear that it needs to be done.

Covic with Dodik; Covic: Situation in B&H must stabilize, Dodik: Bosniaks cannot sideline us (Fena)

Croat member of the Presidency of B&H and HDZ B&H President Dragan Covic said that the situation in B&H must stabilize and that instead of conflicts, B&H should turn to progress, most notably economic progress.  Following his meeting with RS and SNSD President Milorad Dodik, Covic said it has to be clearly stated that authorities must not be abused in the name of one people, one party and one individual. Fortunately, Covic said, the answer to the request for revision came quickly and deeper crisis was avoided. Regarding actions of Bosniak member of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic regarding revision of the ruling as Serbia, Covic labeled them “violation of the Constitution of B&H and abuse of office”. Dodik noted it is clear that abuses in terms of representation of bodies of B&H have come to an end. Dodik also supported a principle that no people should elect political representatives of other people, arguing that the RS is not happy with activities of the state authorities, expecting the Council of Ministers of B&H to achieve coordination with the entity governments. According to Fena, Covic and Dodik discussed cooperation between SNSD and HDZ B&H, which was assessed as good and not targeted against any third party. “Our ambition is to stabilize relations between two peoples in the long run, not at the expense of the third people. Bosniaks cannot look at us in a way that they can sideline us and we call them to talks on equal basis,” said Dodik. Dodik emphasized that the revision request has violated the Constitution of B&H and that it will be hard to continue cooperating because trust has been damaged. “Izetbegovic made a problem and he will see in ten months what he did. It is important now to enhance the system for how to make joint decisions. Bosniaks cannot see Serbs and Croats as someone whom they can outvote, talks must exist in everything and that must be efficient,” Dodik underlined.

Radoncic: Izetbegovic brutally lied to citizens; coalition with SDA is only technical (Dnevni avaz)

The SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic speaking about the revision request, emphasized that B&H Presidency member Bakir Izetbegovic took the matter in his own hands to solve it alone with his legal team. “He gathered some fifty notable persons and lied while looking in our eyes that nothing was disputable. He explained us in advance that nothing was disputable. We supported him indeed with enthusiasm, believing that this was true,” he stressed. Asked about his request for Izetbegovic’s resignation, he explained that he asked Izetbegovic to think about his responsibility because of a wrong assessment. Radoncic deems that Izetbegovic tried to gain political points with all this situation, stressing that Izetbegovic thought this would be a football match lasting for months, and would include not only inter-ethnic or inter-entity clashes but intra-Bosniak clashes too. “Of course, he was probably shocked, traumatized by this decision of the Court, and now everyone in the world is to blame except him,” Radoncic added. He emphasized that after “this brutal lie”, SBB B&H sees the coalition with SDA as only technical, and SBB BIH will support only what serves to interest of citizens. “With such approach of Mr. Izetbegovic who completely stepped on moral category called the word,” the coalition will remain until Izetbegovic finds a replacement or the governments at all levels will be functioning in technical mandate only. As for relations with HDZ B&H, Radoncic said that conclusion of their latest meeting was that promises are not kept and that Croats, as constituent peoples, are frustrated due to being outvoted. “We have had one principled stance that we will always agree with what SDA and HDZ B&H agree on. After this that happened with Srebrenica, we will accept nothing that SDA agrees without analyzing it thoroughly,” stressed Radoncic.

SDP, DF file motion for removal of leadership of B&H Defense Ministry (Oslobodjenje)

SDP and DF MPs in the House of Representatives of the B&H parliament have filed a request to initiate a vote on reshuffling of the Council of Ministers of B&H, namely to vote for removal of Minister of Defense of B&H Marina Pendes and her Deputy Ministers Sead Jusic and Boris Jerinic. In their explanation, the MPs stated that Pendes and her Deputies have acted in violation of the Law on Service in the Armed Forces of B&H and other relevant legislation when they allowed the participation of a part of the Armed Forces of B&H in the events celebrating the Republika Srpska (RS) Day on January 9 in Banja Luka, organized by the RS government. Head of SDP Caucus in B&H HoR Mirsad Mesic told the daily that the main reason for their removal is the fact that they allowed a use of B&H AF Regiment in marking of an illegal entity holiday. Mesic reminded of the fact that even SBB B&H filed a request for removal of their official Jusic in January to Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H Denis Zvizdic, but the request was never discussed by B&H CoM or the HoR. SBB B&H filed this request after Jusic stated that he acted on the order of Pendes without checking the facts or consulting with Bosniak member of the Presidency of B&H Bakir Izetbegovic or SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic. Mesic stated it remains to be seen if SBB B&H MPs will now support Jusic’s removal. Head of SBB B&H Caucus in B&H HoR Mirsad Djonlagic stated that “we are living in complex times and we should all refrain from further complicating the situation with our actions”. HDZ B&H MP Predrag Kozul believes the request is frivolous and it will not receive support in B&H HoR.

Interdepartmental Workgroup for amendments to Law on Elections to convene today (Oslobodjenje)

Interdepartmental Workgroup tasked with drafting amendments to the Law on Elections of B&H is scheduled to convene on Tuesday. Member of the Workgroup Halid Genjac stated he expects them to have quorum and to be able to finalize the issue of agreement on priorities in their work and methods. “There are some disputed issues,” said Genjac, but noted that they are analyzing the Law on Elections piece by piece. “However, there will be some political disputes about priorities in those chapters. It is already visible from the statements to the media that there are different points of view there. We have significant number of decisions of the international courts, as well as the Constitutional Court of B&H related to the Law on Elections. Those are all big issues. We must deal with the Law on Elections in such manner not to ignore any of those decisions.” Genjac also noted that Croat politicians have already put forward certain proposals that ignore some of the court decisions, which is unacceptable. Deputy Speaker of B&H House of Peoples (HoP) Ognjen Tadic announced on Monday that he resigned from membership in the workgroup for changing of B&H Election Law. According to Tadic, the group is not able to propose changes to the Law which will democratize elections, but he did not present any other details.

General elections 2018 could be brought in question (N1)

Due to the fact that B&H politicians still have not reached an agreement regarding amending B&H Election Law, General Elections 2018 might be brought into question. This could also lead to blockade of the Federation of B&H and B&H institutions. Former member of B&H Central Election Commission Lidija Korac stressed that in the case B&H CC suspends a part of B&H Election Law related to election of delegates in the Federation of B&H House of Peoples (HoP), it will prevent election of delegates in the Federation of B&H HoP. “In the case we are prevented to constitute the Federation of B&H HoP, there will be no executive authorities”, explained Korac. Earlier, leader of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic confirmed that SDA and HDZ B&H failed to reach an agreement regarding amending B&H Election Law. Reporter reminded that SDA rejected HDZ B&H’s proposal of model regarding election of delegates in the Federation of B&H HoP. SDA and HDZ B&H also cannot reach agreement regarding issue of Mostar.

Croatia notified of class action lawsuit filed by victims of WWII Ustasha regime (Hina/Vecernji list)

The Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs confirmed on Monday it had been notified of a class action lawsuit filed before a United States court in the name of victims of Ustasha-run concentration camps, stressing that Croatia was not the successor to the pro-Nazi Independent State of Croatia (NDH). The ministry said in a statement that on 27 February 2017 it received a note from the US Embassy concerning the lawsuit in the case of Lalich et al. v. Republic of Croatia, brought before the Seventh Circuit District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on 31 May 2016. The plaintiffs are seeking $3.5 billion in compensation for the damage suffered by Croatian Serbs, Roma and Jews during the Second World War. The ministry said that the material submitted was being studied. “The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs emphasizes that the Republic of Croatia is not the successor to the NDH, as explicitly stated in the Historical Foundations section of the Croatian Constitution,” the statement said. Croatia has to respond to the allegations in the lawsuit within 60 days.

The Chairman of the coordinating body of Jewish communities, Ognjen Kraus, said that Jews had had huge properties in Croatia and their value was the reason why they had not been given back to their rightful owners. “Croatia has the most restrictive law in Europe and it is completely impracticable,” Kraus told Vecernji list.

Stoltenberg: Attempted coup in Montenegro an argument for NATO membership (MINA)

Every country has a right to decide its own path, said Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, adding that events of the Election Day in October are an argument in favor of Montenegrin membership in NATO. He presented a yearly report for 2015, and said that NATO continues to support EU integration of Western Balkan, which is the key factor of stability and prosperity in the region. „In 2016, we opened the doors for Montenegro to become a NATO member. 25 NATO members have ratified the Accession Protocol so far,” Stoltenberg said.

When asked about Russian influence in Montenegro, he reminded of the events of last autumn when Russian citizens took part in attempted state coup. “For me, these events are an argument in favor of NATO membership. Montenegro chose its democratic path,” he said. The report reminds that NATO was invited to start negotiations in December 2015, after which the allies signed the Protocol in spring last year. Montenegro is a part of NATO activity and it has its role in most NATO bodies, including the Council. He reminded that Montenegro is set to become a member of NATO this year.

SDSM urges President Ivanov to grant gov’t mandate without delay (MIA)

SDSM is once again urging President Gjorge Ivanov to grant immediately to the party’s leader the mandate on government formation. “We call on Ivanov to stop dragging out in an attempt to save (Nikola) Gruevski and the VMRO-DPMNE leadership from being held responsible for the crimes and to instantly award the mandate to form a new reform-oriented government of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,” SDSM said Monday in a press release. An overwhelming majority of roughly 700,000 voters voted in favor of changes, justice and unity, stated the press release. The program of the new government, it added, will make it happen.

Ivanov: Obstacles for mandate assignment not removed (MIA)

The obstacles for assignment of the mandate have still not been removed, says the President’s Office following SDSM’s calls to Ivanov to give the government mandate to party leader Zoran Zaev. “President Ivanov abides by the stance presented in his March 1 public address. The obstacles for assignment of the government mandate have still not been removed”, said the Office on Monday. In the above-mentioned address, President Ivanov urged SDSM leader Zaev to reject and condemn the Tirana platform, which “brings into question the interests of Macedonia and its citizens”. “As long as I am the President of the Republic of Macedonia, I will not give the mandate to a person or a party that promotes or includes in its program a platform threatening the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Macedonia. I will not back down from these fundamental values that no one has the right to trade with”, said Ivanov.

Organizers say protests For United Macedonia will continue until the Tirana platform is rejected (MIA)

The association For a United Macedonia announced it will continue its mass rallies across the country until its demands are met – mainly until political parties distance themselves from the Tirana platform. “The masks have fallen. We are in favor of a united Macedonia for all, and we are against platforms written in other countries, which some of our politicians won’t clearly reject. Despite their attempts to hide their true intentions, they will be met with strong resistance from the democratic public. The people won’t go home, as the authors and signatories of the Tirana platform asked us to,” said Bogdan Ilievski, one of the protest organizers.

EP postpones plenary vote on Macedonia’s 2016 progress report (MIA)

The European Parliament (EP) has officially decided to postpone its plenary vote, initially scheduled to take place this week, as regards the 2016 progress report on Macedonia. As previously reported MEPs have decided to postpone the vote, which could take place as early as next month, due to the protracted political crisis in Macedonia. Sources of the European Parliament have already said the status quo in the country was forcing the MEPs to postpone their vote of the resolution, after it was adopted by the EP Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET). Furthermore, the document on Macedonia’s progress passed by AFET includes a recommendation for the opening of EU accession talks, the eight consecutive recommendations, provided that the Przino Agreement and the Urgent Reform Priorities are fully implemented.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Democratic Party of Serbia Accuses US, NATO of Subtly Backing Kosovo Army Plans (Sputnik, by Victoria Mladenovich, 13  March 2017)

The Democratic Party of Serbia’s (DSS) presidential candidate Aleksandar Popovic said the United States and NATO tacitly approved of Kosovo going ahead with its plan to transform the local Security Force (KSF) into a national army, in an interview to Sputnik. “Democratic Party of Serbia clearly believes that any move of so-called institutions of so-called ‘Republic Kosova’ was not and couldn’t be made without tacit approval of US and their allies. Of course, in certain occasions, due to different circumstances, this approval is not public and obvious, however only naive person can think that any of the moves of [Kosovo leader Hashimi] Thaci’s camarilla is not coordinated with US and NATO. This one is too. So, Thaci will play independent and brave political figure for local purposes among Serbian citizens of Albanian origin believing that they live in so-called ‘Republic Kosova,’ while NATO and US will be innocent. Their weapons, however, will be on the ground,” Popovic said. On March 8, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia expected that the European Union, Russia and the United States would contribute to its efforts in countering the formation of the national army in Kosovo. According to Popovic, the Serbian government should insist that negotiations with Pristina be held in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 which, together with the Kumanovo Military Technical Agreement, ended the war in Kosovo in 1999, and thus move the negotiations back “from Brussels to New York.” “It is not late to do so, however, none of EU-fanatic governments from 2008 until now has done it… The newest provocation from Pristina is a clear sign that only by negotiating in a good will, under the auspices of UN, legal solution could be found,” Popovic noted.

Balkan Politicians Seek to Profit from Macedonia’s Troubles (BIRN, by Ivana Jordanovska, 14 March 2017)

Macedonia’s seemingly benevolent neighbours are using ‘concern’ over the situation there for their own murky games and purposes.

In the endless game of Balkan ethno-political dominoes, Macedonia’s latest struggles to form a new government are being used and misused for murky political games across the region.

For almost two weeks, a group of activists has been organizing protests in Skopje that they call “For a united Macedonia” but which actually seem against a united country, as the only real aim is to prevent the main opposition Social Democrats from forming a new government together with a group of ethnic Albanian parties. According to the demonstrators, such a government would make Albanian an official language in the country. They are apparently unaware that this right is already ensured in Macedonia’s constitution. They also claim that such a government would press charges against Serbia for genocide against Albanians in the period of 1912 to 1956, the claim as ridiculous as it sounds. But this would not be the Balkans if these claims were not sufficient for two weeks of protests, and if other seemingly benevolent neighbours did not use this crisis for their own political purposes. Former Bulgarian defence minister and diplomat Boyko Noev played the Macedonian card in his interview with Focus news agency on March 9, when he claimed that Macedonia was “losing its sovereignty” and added that “Bulgaria has a responsibility to the several thousand Bulgarians living in Macedonia.” He was presumably referring to a number of Macedonians who claimed Bulgarian nationality mainly to obtain EU passports. His statement might have been motivated more by the needs of the ongoing campaign in Bulgaria for early parliamentary elections in March than by care for the wellbeing of Macedonia.

At the same time, Serbia’s Prime Minister and candidate in the April 2 presidential election, Aleksandar Vucic, used Macedonia’s example in his own election rallies.

Speaking in the eastern Serbian town of Pozarevac, he claimed that Serbian opposition parties were trying to trigger a “Macedonian scenario” and create instability in Serbia. At the same rally, Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic went even further, claiming that “the opposition was hoping that gunshots are fired, just like in Macedonia”.

Even before politicians in Bulgaria and Serbia stepped into the fray, Albania was using Macedonia’s troubles for its own political games. The leaders of the ethnic Albanian parties that won parliamentary seats in the last election in Macedonia, in December, went to Tirana at the end of December to meet the Prime Minister, Edi Rama.

The visit followed elections in which these parties registered their worst-ever results since the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement. The four parties won only 20 seats, 10 going to the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, five to Besa, three to the Alliance of Albanians and two to the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA. In an election that saw one of the highest turnouts in years, a large chunk of Albanian voters clearly voted outside ethnic lines for the Social Democrats, SDSM, a party that was previously regarded as ethnic Macedonian. The visit of the Macedonian Albanian parties to Tirana resulted in a so-called “platform” for all Albanian parties to unite around in protection of the interests of Albanians in Macedonia. It was also meant to help the leaders of Macedonian Albanians reassert their leadership over the Albanian voting bloc by accentuating their connection with Tirana and Edi Rama. But some experts say another possible motive for this visit was for the DUI – previously governing in coalition with VMRO DPMNE – to push for a platform that would be very difficult to “sell” to the Macedonian population, actually diminishing the chances for the Social Democrats to form a government.

Meanwhile, upcoming parliamentary elections in Albania are scheduled for June 18. What better boost for Rama than with a show of support for Albanians in a neighbouring country who seem attacked and discriminated against? Macedonia’s problems are even being used in other Balkan countries where there are no immediate elections.

Controversial Balkan analyst and commentator Miroslav Lazanski has also used the case of Macedonia to stir up debate across the region. In an article published on March 6 by the Belgrade daily Politika, Lazanski offered insight into his parallel reality, in which Serbs and Macedonians are locked in a perennial struggle with Albanians over land, influence and righteousness. In this parallel universe, “true” Macedonians, of course, are only those that are against Albanians and Muslims. The Serbs, once again, are being made scapegoats by being accused of genocide.

Besides stirring up debate in the region for the benefit of Serbia’s ruling regime, Lazanski is doing the same in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There, he has a regular stint in Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska, on its government-controlled radio and TV broadcaster, RTRS. RTRS also frequently airs news about latest developments in Macedonia, most often citing high-ranking VMRO DPMNE officials who relish the opportunity to portray what will happen to Macedonia once they gave greater rights to these Albanians (who are Muslim, of course). This narrative is all too familiar in the RS whose government often claims to be the victim of a Bosniak [Muslim] drive for domination. To sum up, all of Macedonia’s neighboring countries – whether they are having elections in the next couple of months or not – are using the troubles in Macedonia to stir up old fears and divisions among their constituencies and gain votes.

It’s an old Balkan formula, but it is still working.

When politicians convince enough citizens to start thinking in terms of tribes and ethnicities, it becomes much easier to scare them into voting for them, regardless of those same politicians’ failed reforms – and regardless of the rampant corruption and devastated economies over which they have presided.

The opinions expressed in the comments section are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of BIRN.

The Brief: Brussels’ Balkans balancing act (EurActiv, by James Crisp and Sam Morgan, 13 March 2017)

The European Union must perform a delicate balancing act as it seeks to win the tug of love over the Western Balkans with Moscow and Ankara. The region risks becoming the battlefield of a war of influence. There are doubts about US commitment to the region after the election of Donald Trump, and Russia and Turkey are moving to fill the gap. Fears over “third country interference” in the region led EU leaders last week to declare their “unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans”. Sound familiar? The conclusions of the 2003 EU-Western Balkans summit read 14 years ago, “The EU reiterates its unequivocal support to the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries.” But EU support comes with strings attached, such as reforms, and with mixed messages. Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn has said the EU “will never be complete” without the Balkans. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has vowed there will be no more enlargement during his term in office, which expires in 2019. There was no mention of enlargement in the executive’s White Paper on the future of the EU. Talk of EU enlargement is the last thing the leaders of some member states want to hear. The Dutch have already rejected the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

It will be difficult to get a Balkan candidate country’s accession ratified across the EU. With crunch elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany to come this year, the prospect of low-paid workers migrating to richer EU states would be a gift to the Eurosceptic right. What can the bloc offer instead of enlargement? EU funding and programmes offer some lean-in against Russian and Turkish influence but are difficult to communicate well. A recent poll said Serbians are more likely to think Russia is the country’s biggest donor, despite the EU providing around €3bn in aid since 2000. MEPs will vote in April to demand more from Belgrade, after its foreign policy rapidly diverged from the EU’s. Issues such as the Kosovo-Montenegro border dispute stand in the way of milestones like visa liberalisation for Pristina. But they also may be an obstacle for the NATO accession of Podgorica. There is scope for the EU to be more political, as with the 2004 and 2007 enlargement, especially as dormant tensions across the Balkans are showing signs of stirring. So far, it has shown little appetite to do so, and fuelled anti-EU sentiment among Kosovars. Western Balkans (and Ukrainian) politicians need to be able to dangle the prospect of future prosperity as part of the EU to their voters. If they can’t convincingly point to that long-term perspective, why resist the overtures of other countries offering support with seemingly fewer conditions attached?

THE ROUNDUP

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she will seek permission for a second Scottish independence referendum in 2018 or 2019. She said Brexit is not just about Scotland’s relationship with Europe but what “kind of country we will become”. Meanwhile, Theresa May is expected to formally trigger Brexit this week. A leaked report from the UK Treasury has warned of a painful economic shock if Britain crashes out of the EU without a Brexit deal. UK Brexit chief David Davis said yesterday the government was preparing contingency plans. Odd couple Donald Trump and Angela Merkel will meet tomorrow. Will he try and hold her hand? Will he ask the East German for advice on his wall? Could this be the biggest clash of style and substance ever seen between two leaders? Poland will pursue a “negative” policy towards Brussels after it failed to block the reappointment of Donald Tusk as Council head. Tusk has been summoned for questioning in Poland regarding a case dating back to 2010 but will be unable to attend due to Parliament commitments. French presidential candidate Benoît Hamon has dismissed the idea of multi-speed Europe as mere “blabla” and has pledged to undertake substantial reform, particularly in eurozone governance. An electricity market dispute on the German-Austrian border has thrown the design of the EU’s internal energy market into doubt. Russian giant Gazprom has loosened its grip on Central and Eastern European gas markets. It has agreed not to seek any damages from its Bulgarian partners following the termination of South Stream. Member states have moved to weaken EU energy efficiency targets for 2030. Norwegian officials are reportedly lobbying against European Parliament calls to ban offshore drilling in the Arctic, while the EU announced €40 million for Algerian renewable energy projects. If Wales were a member state it would place 4th in terms of sticking to recycling targets. Turkish-Dutch relations have nearly collapsed after the latter barred ministers from campaigning in Rotterdam. Turkish President Erdogan again played the Nazi card. The European Commission today said this was a part of European history that “needs to be forgotten”. Martin Schulz has been dubbed a “sexy beast” in Germany. Can this be true? What better way to celebrate 60 years of the EU than running a GIF competition? And congratulations to all involved in the Brussels press revue.

LOOK OUT FOR…

The European Court of Justice will rule tomorrow on the rights of Muslim women to wear the headscarf in the workplace. Judges will decide if banning the headscarf is discrimination under EU law.

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