LOCAL PRESS

Status of Kosovo in World Customs Organization disputable (Beta/government website)

The Serbian government stated that at an extraordinary meeting of the World Customs Organization (SCO) Council in Brussels held on 14-15 December, it was decided to establish a working group to deal with the accessions into the organization, including that of the so-called Kosovo, in accordance with the decisions of the Council of this organization from July 2017.

The statement states that this means that the so-called Kosovo is still not voting and that its status is still considered disputable by about half of the members of the organization who do not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. At the meeting it was decided that the working group, with conclusions and proposals, will address the Council at the next session in mid-2018, which should consider the accession of the so-called Kosovo into the SCO. Until then, the status of the so-called Kosovo is considered controversial and, accordingly, frozen in this organization. The Serbian government recalls that the so-called Kosovo tried to become a member in January this year by depositing instruments of accession to the Kingdom of Belgium, as the depositary of the Convention on the Establishment of the Customs Cooperation Council, contested by the Republic of Serbia and another half of the members of the SCO at the Council meeting in July this year when the so-called Kosovo was stripped off the right to vote. As in July, at this Council meeting now in December, it was seen that the SCO is divided over the status of the so-called Kosovo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and the Customs Administration at the December session of the Council of the SCO continued their joint engagement on preventing the illegitimate attempt to receive the so-called Kosovo into the SCO, the statement said.

Dacic: Kosovo is no state, cannot join Council of Europe (Tanjug)

Pristina’s announced application for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) needs to be dismissed as groundless since Kosovo does not meet the fundamental conditions for membership status as it is not a state, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said Friday. Commenting on a statement by Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj that Kosovo would this month, or in January 2018 at the latest, apply for membership in the CoE, Dacic said there were no grounds for such an application to be considered.

Vulin: There can be no armed force in Kosovo except KFOR  (Tanjug/B92)

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin says KFOR will remain the only military formation in Kosovo and Metohija. Speaking at the Pasuljanske Livade Range, where he attend the Serbian Army’s Zima 2017 (Winter 2017) exercise, Vulin added that any other outcome would represent a serious security problem for the whole region. Reacting to Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj’s statement – that the Kosovo Army would be established by March – Vulin recalled that this was Haradinaj’s old wish. “Based on Resolution 1244, it is clear that the only armed force in Kosovo and Metohija can be KFOR, and that is the position of the Republic of Serbia that will not change. This is the position of the government of the Republic of Serbia, of the United Nations and, most importantly, of all Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Vulin told journalists, Tanjug reported on Friday.  He pointed out that it was not possible to form any kind of an army of Kosovo – except by force and brutal violation of international law, by violation of Resolution 1244, by brutally trampling on the will of the United Nations Security Council, and, of course, of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. “Forming the Kosovo army outside Resolution 1244 would be a serious security problem for the whole region, the creation of some kind of military formation, where it cannot exist – because there is no state there – some formation that would be led by people whose goal is to destabilize this area and have conflict in this region,” said Vulin, and concluded: “Once again, I am warning that Resolution 1244 must be respected, that is the position of our people, our country, our president, and the position of our Army – that there can be no army in Kosovo, nor any armed force other than KFOR.”

Djuric within internal dialogue: Serbia will request revision of privatizations in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has stated that Serbia will request and insist on revision of privatizations in Kosovo and Metohija, which is in character illegal, plundering and criminal, but also violates domestic and international regulations and resolutions. Following the round table within the internal dialogue attended by representatives of economic faculties, institutes and expert associations, Djuric said the Office has made a comprehensive database of assets. “We have a paper for every Dinar, for every bolt we have been investing as a state in Kosovo and Metohija over the past decades,” Djuric told journalists. He recalled that over 900 factories in Kosovo and Metohija, owned by the state of Serbia, have been seized in the process of plundering privatizations without the Kosovo Serbs or the state of Serbia receiving a single Dinar. Djuric notes that we, as a nation, learned in a more difficult way on the example of Kosovo and Metohija lessons why it is important that there is a plan for every municipality, village and town. Djuric agreed with the statement that there are no final solutions when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, but only a constant struggle for achieving our interests to stay and survive as a nation in Kosovo and Metohija and in any other place. He concluded with that in mind that the economic policy of Serbia and President Vucic means that Serbia has a plan for every municipality.

Izetbegovic: I am ready to cooperate with Vucic, but not to the detriment of B&H (Danas)

“The atmosphere at the dinner and in talks during my visit to Belgrade was not bad, we talked calmly, we were trying to reach agreements, whereas the President of Serbia was obviously disappointed with my stand that I do not wish to resolve the issues of the Agreement on the state border between B&H and Serbia according to the wishes and interests of Serbia, but in a way for both states to achieve their sovereign interests and rights. My proposal was to sign immediately the Agreement on the state border whereby the existing border between two states is confirmed and demarcated on maps that would be an integral part of this agreement, because this is a border that is internationally recognized and unquestionable in accordance with Article 10 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in B&H and according to Opinion n.3 of the Arbitrary Commission within the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia dated 20 November 1991,” Bosniak B&H Presidency member Bakir Izetbegovic told Danas. “Open issues along the state border can be agreed without any exchange of territory, on principles of cross-border cooperation, using special mechanisms and regimes that would reign in border areas of special interest for both states, which are well-known in international practice and are successfully implemented in the EU, including free flow of people, goods and services, free access to organs and institutions of both states for the population in border areas, as well as free conducting of works on installations and other movable and immovable facilities that are located in both states in border areas. As regards relations of B&H towards Kosovo, Dragan Covic offered, contrary to the agreement inside the tripartite Presidency, the obligation for B&H to fully follow Serbia’s stands. I also opposed this at the meeting of the delegations, and then at the press conference. I would not be up to the task if I would allow for any open issue to be resolved contrary to the interests of and to the detriment of B&H. To hand over property and water resources without compensation, to hand over sovereignty over foreign policy even to the smallest extent, all this would be to the detriment of and contrary to the interests of B&H.”

Asked about his statement on independence of Kosovo, Izetbegovic said: “I am ready for dialogue and cooperation with Vucic, but this doesn’t mean that I am ready to give any kind of concession that is detriment to the interests of B&H.”

REGIONAL PRESS

Covic: Third entity realistic possibility for B&H (FTV)

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic stated that a third entity in B&H is a realistic possibility and that B&H officials should consider this idea and discuss it as a potential solution of the crisis in B&H. Covic added that he is sure that Croats in B&H will achieve their goal of getting equal rights and emphasized the need for the help of the International Community, in finding the right solution for B&H, if they do not wish to support the idea of forming of the third entity. Covic said that B&H will not survive without its three constituent peoples and that a solution must be found so that all of them feel comfortable in B&H. There must be an agreement. I can dream of a third entity and a form of an arrangement of B&H that I want, Bakir Izetbegovic can dream of forming an Islamic state, but the agreement of the three constituent people must be achieved in the end. In the B&H Parliament, with the two-thirds majority, any kind of new arrangement of B&H will have to be confirmed. I, personally, believe that this idea of the third entity would be one of the solutions that could be acceptable to all sides”, said Covic.

Speaking about Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik, Covic said that he is a wise politician and that he never went back on an agreement. As for Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Covic deems that he proved to be a leader who can knock on doors of Brussels, the USA or Russia.

Dodik and Covic support removal of foreign judges from B&H Constitutional Court (FTV)

The SNSD leader Milorad Dodik resents the presence of foreign judges in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Constitutional Court (CC), while HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic started supporting Dodik’s stance recently. They both agree that the role of foreign judges is suspicious and unnecessary. However, the foreign judges in B&H CC are constitutional category and they can be removed with two-third majority in B&H Parliament, which is difficult to achieve. Tudor Pantiru, Margarita Caca Nikolovska and Giovanni Grasso are three foreign judges in B&H CC, who were appointed by the President of the European Court of Human Rights, in consultations with B&H Presidency. Dodik said that foreign judges should be eliminated from B&H CC, enabling constituent peoples to make decisions. He said that a sustainable solution should be found. Foreign judges participate in plenary sessions that take place six times a year. During 2017, they participated in work on 0.5 percent of cases, while all other cases were solved by the Grand Chamber, which is composed of judges from B&H.

B&H CC President Mirsad Ceman said that it means that B&H CC could function well even without foreign judges. The OHR deems that foreign judges are still necessary. “Presence of international judges in B&H CC is still of crucial importance in times when political officials often dispute foundations of the Constitution. Judicial institutions in B&H have to be respected more. Politicians should work on strengthening of judiciary, and not on undermining of its authority”, the OHR said. Expert on constitutional law Kasim Trnka said that removal of foreign judges is possible in case of abolishing of entity voting. He explained that entity voting and foreign judges maintain balance in B&H, which is quite necessary in B&H.

Sejdic, Finci comment on Dodik’s claims on ruling (TV1)

The statement of Repubika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik that the ‘Sejdic-Finci vs. B&H’s ruling should not be implemented has sparked strong reactions in B&H. Namely, Dodik stated that members of B&H Presidency must be elected only from ranks of Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs. Appellant and President of the Jewish Community in B&H Jakob Finci assessed the statement as unserious and surprising, while appellant and Coordinator of B&H Roma Council Dervo Sejdic said that Dodik finally said what he has been thinking for a longer period of time. Finci reminded that as things stand now in B&H, Serbs from the Federation of B&H as well as Croats and Bosniaks from the RS, cannot run for the aforementioned posts. Finci reminded that implementation of the ruling is part of B&H’s process of integration in the EU and warned that the country will be disabled to progress on the road, due to the failure to implement the ruling. Sejdic stated that Dodik knew that the proposal on implementation of the ruling will never get the support of HDZ B&H and leader of this party Dragan Covic.

Inzko commented the last Communique adopted by the PIC (Nezavisne)

High Representative (HR) Valentin Inzko commented the last Communique adopted by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board, which was not supported by the Russian Ambassador. “The Communique did not state anything that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) itself does not want. During the last talks, we referred to a document signed by Zeljko Komsic, Nebojsa Radmanovic and Bakir Izetbegovic, the Presidency, which refers to B&H’s ambition to get the Action Plan for the membership. And that, of course, does not mean B&H is going to become a NATO member, as that is up to you. In my opinion, there is nothing controversial in it,” said Inzko commenting the fact that Russia did not support the Communique stating that PIC members who are part of NATO and Japan do support activation of Membership Action Plan for B&H. Asked if failure to pass a unanimous decision is going to weaken the PIC message, Inzko said he believes that the Russian policy should be considered in a global way, especially since the Russian representative in the UN supported a Resolution on B&H and the decision to keep the EUFOR Mission in B&H. “One of the most important messages of the PIC referred to the issue of the Law on Elections in the context of the decision of the Constitutional Court of B&H in the ‘Ljubic’ case. The message is that we do not want to see ‘Mostarization’ of B&H. This decision must be implemented. I did not miss the chance to mention other decisions of the CC, especially with regards to the constituent position of Serbs in some of the cantons in the Federation of B&H. The fact that Serbs are not constituent in some cantons is discrimination, and that is unacceptable. But it is also unacceptable to wait for 15 years for implementation of the decision on equality of Serbs in some cantons!” Asked if there is something that is better in the RS than in the Federation of B&H, Inzko said that the police in the RS is more efficient, and Banja Luka is one of the cleanest cities in B&H. With regards to the issue of the Law on Elections and claims of some officials that the OHR’s help will be needed, the High Representative stated that the use of the Bonn Powers is always an option, but he believes they need to be avoided, because he wants to see B&H political leaders reach an agreement on their own.

Wigemark: Media speculations about ‘2+2+2’ Strategy of EU for Western Balkans are completely false (BHT1)

The media speculations about the existence of the so-called ‘2+2+2’ Strategy of the European Union (EU) for the Western Balkans are completely false, stated Head of the EU Delegation to B&H, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark. He confirmed the existence of a new EU Strategy for the Western Balkans countries, but calls the inadvertent allegations that it is a ‘2+2+2’ Strategy or a grouping of countries that are not yet members of the EU in three groups. The media reported that in the draft of the ‘2+2+2’ Strategy, in the first group for the accession to the EU are Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania are in the second group and B&H and Kosovo in the third group. It was also mentioned that there is a lobbying campaign for B&H to be placed in the first or second group for the accession to the EU.

B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak stated that it would be quite frivolous of him to comment on a document that is currently being drafted and to comment on the speculations about what it might contain. Experts on the EU integrations in B&H believe that politicians in B&H have to assume their obligations and stop with the “cheap politics”. “If Serbia would become part of the EU, then that would momentarily mean that Kosovo is an independent country.

Crnadak meets ambassadors of Serbia, Montenegro and Albania, chargé d’affaires of FYROM (N1)

B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak met in Banja Luka on Friday with ambassadors of Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania as well chargé d’affaires of FYROM in B&H. Topics discussed at the meeting include European integration, relations of the Western Balkan countries, and forthcoming signing of interstate agreements. Addressing the media after the meeting, Crnadak said that B&H has very intensive cooperation with Serbia and announced that an agreement between B&H and Serbia on cooperation in the field of European integration will be signed at the beginning of 2018. As for fYROM, Crnadak noted that a very important agreement that B&H should sign in the coming period will enable B&H citizens to travel to Macedonia only using ID cards and vice versa.

Dodik: We will follow Serbia on issue of demarcation with B&H (Factor.ba)

RS President Milorad Dodik stated that RS will follow Serbia, when it comes to process of border demarcation between Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and Serbia and that approval from the RS has already been issued. “We have clear coordination with Serbian side and in this regard we gave approval for demarcation”, said Dodik, adding that there is no will among Bosniak component in B&H, to resolve this issue. He added that two members from RS Geodetic and Property Affairs in the B&H Border Commission will follow the politics of the RS.

RS plans to join Serbian lawsuit against NATO claiming contamination with depleted uranium (Glas Srpske)

Republika Srpska (RS) is going to join Serbia in its lawsuit against NATO for causing humanitarian and ecological disaster on their territories during the bombardment with missiles containing depleted uranium. Legal team of the Serbian Royal Academy in Belgrade, working on preparation of a lawsuit against NATO member countries, stated that they have a legal foundation for the lawsuit, which is going to be based on a verdict of Italian courts in favor of Italian soldiers who sued the Italian Ministry of Defense for sending them to bombarded locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo without proper protection, which led to cancer diagnoses. The legal team stated that the Italian courts have decided there is a connection between bombarded with missiles containing depleted uranium and development of cancer. The RS has proven before that NATO used such missiles on its territory, and they also proven that even the minimum dose can lead to cancer and negatively influence reproductive health. The evidence is also in possession of the experts of the UN who analyzed 130 locations in the RS in 2002.

Brammertz: criminals are still celebrated in Serbia, Croatia and RS (Factor.ba)

Last Chief Prosecutor of ICTY Serge Brammertz said that the ICTY has achieved respectable results, but the reconciliation did not happen, “as there is no true will in the region to accept the crimes”. He noted that it will be difficult to reach reconciliation in former Yugoslavia, all until criminals are treated as heroes. Addressing the debate on ICTY legacy before Congress, Brammertz reminded of reactions that followed verdicts to Ratko Mladic and indictees in case ‘Prlic et al.’, adding that some government officials stood in the defense of people convicted of war crimes and some of them once again used the opportunity to accuse ICTY of biasness and being political court. “The fact is that majority of individuals, who were prosecuted before the Tribunal, are from rank of Serb people, but this also greatly reflects the true image of the conflict where Serbs were involved in war in Croatia, in Kosovo and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We do not say that cases statistically reflect number of committed crimes, but we prosecuted those who carried the most responsibility and I think that this is in great measure reflected in our cases”, said Brammertz. Even though ICTY is closing their doors, Brammertz believes that many war victims are still searching for justice and noted that the ICTY is not closing down because the justice has been served, but because UN Security Council decided to switch the responsibility onto domestic judiciaries. Considering the political climate in the region, Brammertz said that he is not certain what will happen with all these domestic cases, but believes there is no alternative.

Breakthrough? Slovenian Prime Minister coming to Zagreb to discuss border issue (Vecernji list)

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar will arrive in Zagreb on Tuesday to continue talks on finding a solution to the border issue, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced in Brussels, where he spoke with Cerar for more than an hour at the end of a two-day EU summit and managed to persuade him to finally come to Zagreb, which Cerar had refused without Plenkovic’s promise they would discuss the implementation of the border arbitration decision.

Asked by reporters whether he promised Cerar that and whether that was the reason why Cerar had now agreed to come to Zagreb, Plenkovic replied that “there were no such promises made.”

“It is important to demonstrate that we are mature, responsible countries that understand the positions of both Ljubljana and Zagreb, but also want to look for solutions to the border issue. And this was the key to the today’s conversation and the background for talks in Zagreb on Tuesday,” Prime Minister Plenkovic said. What happened at a meeting in Brussels to achieve this breakthrough? “It is important to maintain the cooperative atmosphere in this dialogue. This would prevent one-sided moves and incidents. The general atmosphere is a prerequisite for seeking a solution to the border issue,” said Plenkovic. After the meeting in Zagreb on Tuesday, Plenkovic expects experts to continue with a technical dialogue that will focus more on the border issue details.

Abazovic announces fierce political debates in spring (Pobjeda)

“Civic opposition won’t return to the parliament and none of us is to change his/her opinion regardless of the DF’s decision to end the parliament boycott. I won’t deny that protests could be our response, but we will agree on the matter, in order to hold extraordinary elections and change Montenegro’s ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). We expect intense political debate in spring”, Dritan Abazovic of the URA Civic Movement stated for Pobjeda. Civic opposition neglected the Democratic Front’s (DF) calls for talks on joint action. Representatives of Demos, Democratic Montenegro, Socialist People’s Party (SNP), URA Civic Movement and Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (SDP) have met on several occasions and always with a same conclusion – to continue with their boycott until DPS accepts to hold extraordinary parliamentary elections. They announced one more meeting by the end of December without revealing future steps. DF disagreed with their position, stating “they want to talks with DPS and not with the opposition” and thus established another “front” – the one which returned to the parliament. Abazovic says he is not disappointed with the DF’s decision to return to the parliament. “I admit this a bad moment for their return as they have violated the principle of cooperative behavior- joint parliament boycott. This is a clear indicator of political situation in Montenegro and who is supposed to represent future of policy”, tells Abazovic. He also believes “media and DPS are the only ones who continuously force the idea of problems within opposition structures on people”.

To accelerate EU accession, Montenegro must end its internal conflict (MINA)

If Montenegro wants to accelerate its accession process, it should act as a modern and mature democracy and put an end to this internal conflict as soon as possible, said MEP David Martin, the chair of the Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee. He called to mind that Montenegro applied for EU membership in 2008. After the Commission’s green light in 2010, accession negotiations finally began. In his opinion peace for the European Western Balkans news portal, he says that “steady progress has been made on the Montenegro side” since then. Out of 35 chapters, 30 have been opened and 3 are to be closed imminently. The opening of 2 important chapters – on freedom of movement for workers and on the right of establishment and freedom to provide services – has actually just been announced this week. “It is no surprise that the EU expects Montenegro to make significant progress on essential areas such as the rule of law, including the fight against corruption and organized crime, and media freedom,” he points out. Martin believes that progressively reducing external debt and deficit will be also crucial. “These are all areas in which the EU and the European Parliament, in particular, require strong engagement from their partners and will not accept sub-optimal results,” he says. The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, mentioned in the State of the Union speech before the European Parliament last September the possible accession of Serbia and Montenegro to the EU by 2025. Martin explains that this was just an indicative deadline and did not necessarily imply that Serbia and Montenegro would accede to the EU at the same time. “Their accession negotiations are not inter-linked but follow their own paths,” he says. The EU welcomed Montenegro’s accession to NATO last 5th June.

According to Martin, that was an important step signaling Montenegro’s willingness to engage with the international community and a historic shift towards the Western Alliance. “In fact, as expected, this triggered strong protests by Russia. In light of the above, there is no doubt that Montenegro is certainly moving in the right direction,” the MEP says. However, at the same time, he points out that the opposition’s continued boycott of parliament since the October 2016 elections is extremely worrisome. The legal process concerning Election Day events is unfortunately still ongoing without any clear timeline for a court decision, he adds. “I frankly do not believe the EU could ever accept such political situation in any of its member states,” Martin emphasizes. If Montenegro wants to accelerate its accession process, it should act as a modern and mature democracy and put an end to this internal conflict as soon as possible. “While I am sadly witnessing the departure of the UK from the EU, I continue to strongly believe in the EU project and in Montenegro as one of its members, hopefully, in the very near future,” Martin concludes.

Zaev-Rama: EU members inclined to embrace Western Balkans (MIA)

There is a propensity among EU members for the accession of Western Balkan countries to the organization, and at the same time there is an opportunity for Macedonia to join NATO, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said at a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama.

‘I know that Macedonia and Albania share the vision for prosperous and inter-connected region, integrated with the European Union and NATO. However I would like to say that Albania’s support of Macedonia on that path will mean a lot to the state and its citizens,’ Zaev said.

In this respect, he extended gratitude to Albania, its government and Prime Minister on the regular support of Macedonia’s bid to join NATO. Macedonia and Albania expect to kick off their EU accession talks in 2018, considering the positive climate in the region for a progress to that end, the Prime Ministers, Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama, told a press conference Friday in Pogradec, which hosted the first joint session of the governments of both countries.

Rama on his part said that the joint session of the Macedonian and Albanian governments was aimed at advancing the bilateral relations in favor of the citizens of both countries.

‘We have agreed on establishing a regional zone for more efficient inter-connection…The projects for the long-distance power line between the two countries, cultural cooperation will contribute to better flow of goods, capital and to attracting investments,’ Rama said.

He commended Macedonia’s government for its decision to adopt a law that would advance the usage of languages, saying that it is yet another step forward to strengthening the overall friendly relations between the two countries.

Tensions in parliament, MPs clash with security guards, gas bombs in and outside parliament headquarters (ADN)

The parliamentary session started with clashes this Monday morning. Democrat MPs clashed with security guards that tried to prevent the former-Prime Minister Sali Berisha from reaching the podium. His request to speak denial by Speaker Gramoz Ruci generated a harsh reaction by the Democrat MP Flamur Noka and other Democrats. The latest was soon joined by other Democrat MPs who blocked the podium forcing Speaker Ruci to interrupt the parliamentary session. Opposition strongly objects majority’s unilateral attempt to elect a temporary chief prosecutor labeling this as a clear constitutional violation aimed to ‘bury’ drugs smuggling related files. Later, Arta Marku was elected by the parliament as the new provisional Chief Prosecutor amid an unusual and very tensed situation.  The election was made during a hard Parliamentary Session, with gas bombs in and out the Parliament headquarters. She was elected was with 69 votes pro, 2 against and 2 abstentions. During the voting process, the entire Democrat parliamentary group was protesting while their supporters were protesting outside the Parliament.

Berisha calls on opposition MPs to burn their mandates (ADN)

The former prime minister Sali Berisha called on the opposition’s MPs to ‘burn’ their mandate on view of the unilateral election by the majority of Arta Marku as provisional chief prosecutor.

Basha declares that opposition will not accept the constitutional coup that was realized in parliament through the unilateral election of a provisional chief-prosecutor. In his address to the protesters gathered in front of the parliament on Monday Basha declared that this is just the beginning of a popular uprising. “Let Prime Minister Edi Rama and his aides be informed that the Albanian people will neither accept nor tolerate this constitutional violation. This is the beginning of a popular uprising in defense of independent justice. No one should think that we will sit in silence accepting this constitutional coup,” said Basha. He emphasized that provisional chief-prosecutor Arta Marku election serves to only one purpose, to rescue Saimir Tahiri, Vangjush Dako and most important of all, PM Edi Rama, the Europe’s most corrupted Prime Minister. Speaking to journalists at the end of Monday’s parliamentary session he directly accused Rama as the man that ordered the security guards to prevent him from speaking in parliament. “I want to make it clear to every Albanian citizen that Premier Rama organized an ambush against me in parliament. I demanded the right to speak for procedure but the Speaker asked me to speak a minute later thus I accepted. I headed to the podium to speak while PM Rama ordered the mercenaries, the security guards chief to stage an ambush, an unprecedented act in parliament’s history. After the speaker gives me the right to speak a bandit, a man without a bit of human moral, orders the guards to prevent me from talking in parliament. It’s was PM Rama not speaker Ruçi who blocked my speech. The co-existence is totally absent in this parliament violated in an upper scale thus the citizens should stand up and overthrow this government. Opposition must use only one language from now on in parliament, the mandates ‘burn down’,” said Berisha.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Nimetz upbeat on talks, but obstacles lurk (ekathimerini, 18 December 2017)

Negotiations on the name dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are being treated with a fair amount if optimism at the United Nations. Matthew Nimetz, the UN’s special representative on the matter, appears determined to intensify talks between the two sides. A deal could be struck by June 2018.

People in the know say that Nimetz, an experienced lawyer and former diplomat who has been trying to negotiate an end to the dispute since 1994 (originally serving as former US president Bill Clinton’s special envoy, before being appointed personal envoy for the UN secretary general late 1999), has been encouraged by recent developments and is convinced that an agreement can finally be reached. An EU summit in June and a NATO meeting in early July provide an informal timeframe for this latest initiative to break the deadlock. Nimetz can be expected to move cautiously. He will not propose a specific name at this stage. When he does, it will most likely be a composite name with a geographical qualifier. His latest proposal, “Republic of North Macedonia” is still on the table, while previous proposals have included “Republic of Upper Macedonia” and “Republic of Vardar Macedonia.” The biggest thorn here is the scope of the new name’s use. Athens insists on a mutually accepted name to be used by all and for all purposes – which would also, of course, be the most practical solution. The starting point of negotiations in the rival camp is a name that will be used in bilateral relations – which is a non-starter for Athens. Foreign officials understand that the composite name will be the one to be used internationally. After all, Washington and other key governments have said they will adopt any name to emerge from the negotiations, which cover a range of issues including identity and language. At this stage, Nimetz will work on hammering out the right framework. Symbolic gestures like changing the name of Skopje airport, now called Alexander the Great, are expected to improve the climate in talks. Nimetz is hoping on the realism and determination of FYROM’s new prime minister, Zoran Zaev. Zaev has stated that he is prepared to brave the political cost, even if that means losing the next general election, and make compromises that will open the doors to the Balkan country’s membership of the European Union and NATO. The US and the EU (led by Germany) have encouraged the UN envoy to move forward, assuring him that they will back his initiatives when, and for as long as, necessary. In light of this, Nimetz plans to intensify and upgrade the process by organizing talks at the foreign ministers’ level – and perhaps also at the prime ministers’ – as he knows that FYROM Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov is more reserved on the issue, which he had for years handled as Skopje’s representative in Nimetz-supervised talks. Zaev on the other hand says he is ready for compromise. Given the fact that the name dispute is a delicate one for both countries, the mediator is understandably placing particular significance on public reaction in both countries. For that reason, attention is not restricted to governments but extends to the stance of the opposition as well. After negotiating the issue for almost a quarter of a century, Nimetz is well aware of the political equilibrium and the particularities in each country. With regards to Greece, there is concern over the stance of the government’s junior coalition partner, the right-wing nationalist Independent Greeks party. There is also concern about the reaction from opposition New Democracy, a party that includes both more pragmatic liberal politicians and  more conservative ones who are not certain to support a settlement.

In the case of FYROM, the main headache is the opposition rightist VMRO-DPMNE party. The resignation of long-standing opposition leader Nikola Gruevski has generated some hope, but a lot will depend on who will succeed him as party chief. Recent comments by Zaev that he has received positive signals from the opposition creates optimism, but it is too early to tell.