LOCAL PRESS

Vucic on Kosovo: We are playing chess without the queen and rook (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that, when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, “we are playing chess without the queen and bishop and trying to have pat, so we can push our king into the corner without their pawns not allowing us to have rem. He says that Germany recognized independence of Kosovo and that he believes that German Chancellor Angela Merkel didn’t criticize him because she respected his courage to present different views and solutions that are not stereotypical. He notes that Merkel listened what he had to say regarding the Kosovo issue. He adds that he doesn’t think, unlike everybody else, that time is working for us. “I can leave the chessboard, but a frozen position will not return us either the queen or bishop,” explained Vucic. Asked whether there is progress in Pristina towards a compromise since Pristina has been announcing a diplomatic offensive to convince the remaining EU member state to recognize independence of Kosovo, Vucic says this is silly, and that all this are their internal games. He says that, even though tomorrow is the last day of the campaign for the local elections in Serbia, he will meet with Juncker, Mogherini and Thaci in Sofia. Asked whether he will meet with Thaci, Vucic says: “I suppose. I will meet with all of them in Sofia tomorrow, we will talk. For the things we are doing here in Serbia you need strength and courage, because all those above are only waiting to spit on you,” Vucic says. “As regards Pristina, I don’t see either strength or commitment, but I hope that we will have this in the future. This is not a matter of one day or two months and nothing will be resolved in one day or one or two months. This is a large process in which we need to think about ourselves, to what is realistic, to see whether we can achieve this or not,” says Vucic.

EU enlargement strategy encouraging for region (Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke on Tuesday with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker about the adoption of the EU Enlargement Strategy and future activities of Serbia on its European path. Brnabic pointed out that the adoption of the EU Enlargement Strategy is a encouraging message for the whole region of the Western Balkans, stressing that it is encouraging also that the region is again in the focus of the Union. She pointed to the importance of the upcoming summits on the Western Balkans, first in Sofia, and then in London, the second to be held within the framework of the Berlin Process. Serbian Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic, who attended the meeting, expressed her gratitude to President Juncker for the new rhetoric and push that he had given to the enlargement policy and the fact that he recognized Serbia as the most serious candidate for membership in the European Union. She stressed that Serbia will continue to make reforms to make the accession timeline realistic. Juncker reiterated that it is important to continue resolving open bilateral issues through dialogue with neighbors, not because it is a condition for joining the EU, but because it is of great importance for the citizens of Serbia and the region. Juncker welcomed the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at the technical level, and expressed the expectation that both sides will actively and responsibly work on the implementation of commitments envisaged by the agreement. The interlocutors underlined the importance of adopting the Multi-Annual Action Plan for the Regional Economic Area of the Western Balkans, which was adopted at the Trieste Summit. Juncker underlined that the goal is to support economic development and cooperation in the region even more strongly in the coming period and help infrastructure connectivity.

Strengthening dialogue of Serbia, Italy, Albania (Beta)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic announced on Tuesday that, in order to improve relations, trilateral meetings between chambers of commerce and non-governmental organizations of Serbia, Albania and Italy will be organized in the coming period. Dacic said at a joint news conference in Vila Mir, held with Italian and Albanian Foreign Ministers Angelino Alfano and Ditmir Bushati respectively, that these countries are committed to improving relations, to continuing with the exchange of visits at the highest level, but also to seeking common interest in many areas. Noting that this meeting is important for the strengthening of dialogue of the three countries, Alfano underlined that dialogue that would also include businessmen and NGO sector could contribute to the political process. Bushati said that the task of Serbia and Albania is to work on the implementation of initiatives outlined in the strategy.

As part of the third trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Serbia, Albania and Italy, Dacic held a separate bilateral meeting with Bushati. The two ministers confirmed determination of both sides to continue the development of bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest, especially in the domain of European integration, regional initiatives, as well as in the domain of economy, through the cooperation of chambers of commerce. Also, they expressed the willingness to agree in the coming period on the signing of a memorandum on cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Recognition of Kosovo independence big mistake of Czech Republic (Beta/Politika)

Dacic received on Tuesday a delegation of the Czech Republic, led by the deputy of the Czech Social Democrat Party in the country’s parliament, Jaroslav Foldyna. In the delegation of the Czech Republic was former foreign minister of that country Jan Kavan, as well as movie director Vaclav Dvorak. The occasion for the meeting was Foldyna’s initiative to sign a petition to withdraw the Czech recognition of Kosovo’s independence, which was launched during this year’s protests organized in Prague in connection with the marking of the tenth anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo. The goal of this initiative was to point out to the Czech and the wider public that the proclamation of the unilateral independence of Kosovo was contrary to international law and that the Czech Republic, which was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence, made a huge mistake.

Dacic responds to Pacolli: Yeah, we’re offering a-bombs (Beta/B92)

Foreign Minister Dacic says Pristina officials must get used to the fact there are countries that think recognizing Kosovo is wrong. He called on the authorities in Pristina, but also on all regional countries, to show restraint when it comes to those issues on which they disagree with Belgrade. Speaking during a joint news conference in Belgrade with Albanian and Italian Foreign Ministers, Ditmir Bushati and Angelino Alfano, Dacic said that everyone should be doing their job, and added that he was convinced the process with Kosovo was not over.

Reacting to Kosovo Foreign Minister Bexhet Pacolli, who said Dacic has a budget of 300 million Dollars at his disposal, and is offering arms lobbying against Kosovo’s independence, the minister said he wished this was true, and then added, speaking ironically, “Yes, we’re offering atomic bombs.” Asked to comment on Albanian PM Edi Rama’s statement that Kosovo and Albania should have one president, Dacic said he was unable to act as interpreter of thoughts of other politicians. “We know what we don’t agree on – we don’t agree on Kosovo,” he said, and added that Serbia could also be making such statements – for example, that Serbia and the Republika Srpska should have one president.

Kocijancic: Dialogue passes in constructive spirit, new steps necessary (Beta) 

The technical dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on the Community of Serb Municipalities and other subjects in Brussels unfolded in a “constructive spirit” and “several issues and steps were jointly established which need attention to advance the application” of past agreements and the normalization of relations, European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said. EU High Representative Federica Mogherini’s spokeswoman said in a statement that the Belgrade and Pristina delegations headed by Marko Djuric and Avni Arifi, respectively, reviewed the implementation of agreements reached by the two sides. “The delegations reviewed above all agreements on free movement, integrated border management, the judiciary, the Community/Association of Serb majority Municipalities, the bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica and energy,” Maja Kocijancic said. The delegations of Belgrade and Pristina agreed to reopen a debate next month on implementing their agreement on free movement, integrated border management, the Community/Association of Serb majority Municipalities, the bridge in Mitrovica and energy, Mogherini’s spokeswoman said.

REGIONAL PRESS

Covic and Zvizdic submit answers to EC’s Questionnaire (NAP/RTRS/Srna)

Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Dragan Covic and Chairman of B&H CoM Denis Zvizdic submitted President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker with the answers to EC’s Questionnaire. Covic said that he is grateful to everyone for the chance to submit the answers. “This is a huge job and it is true that we worked for 14 months on this.  In last six months we brought this job to the end. More than 1,000 representatives of B&H participated and every our following step towards the EU, to which we are dedicated, will facilitate to work faster. Today, B&H is holding its European path in its own hands”, said Covic. He underlined that this job depends of authority carriers and stressed that the upcoming elections will not slow down this path, but will accelerate it. “I am certain that this visit of yours can be an encouraging act to adopt changes to election legislation in following month and a half. I am convinced that we can make a new agenda today,” said Covic. Juncker said: “As of today, Europe and B&H will walk together. This is an important day and I wish to pay respect to all those who were included into this huge job. You have had six months to answer and that it a huge job. We had 35 working groups and I am impressed with the job done. This was truly a stress-test and now you have seen how every-day’s job of European officials looks like. The essence is more important than the date.  I cannot give you a date, when your country will become a candidate, if there are additional questions we will submit them to your services and we will take it one step at the time. It is necessary to make difference between speed and hastiness, we will do everything to remain in friendly mood,” said Juncker.

Juncker and Hahn meet B&H Presidency members and addresses both Houses of B&H parliament (Klix/Fena)

President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn met with the members of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic, Bakir Izetbegovic and Mladen Ivanic. Juncker also addressed the joint session of both Houses of B&H Parliament. Addressing the joint session of B&H parliament, Juncker said that the EU is based on society of equal values. “This selection that you made in February of 2016 is the election that each of the EU member states made. EU is not evident by itself, it was always a choice. You will never achieve anything in the EU, unless you make an effort. This includes efforts of not only politicians, but of citizens as well”, said Juncker. President underlined necessity of reforms in order to overcome disagreements. “Disagreements are not good for your citizens, I am sorry that such differences exist. This process is often seen as a great technical process. This is about accession to a spirit. Way in which we would all live together”, said Juncker, adding that this requires unity of everyone in the country. “This choice of yours is for the future generations. This is why I want to address youth of B&H. We want to convince them that we want to carry out all reforms in order to secure better future for them”, said Juncker. He noted that Olympic spirit will return to B&H, adding that this is very important for European spirit, in order for the people of different cultures, religions and ethnicity could live together.  Juncker further noted that it is necessary to stop speaking about the EU as united states of Europe, as if they are USA. “No, we are Europeans. I like being Luxembourgian, and I like being European as well. Such patriotism has nothing to do with nationalism. These are European values”, said Juncker.  He stressed that he will always fight against xenophobic speeches. “Peace is much more than end of hostilities. Peace is much more than to sign the agreement. Peace is courage to overcome old hostilities and problems form the past. In the Europe, we decided to organize Europe on basis of the law. Base of the law is stronger than the weapon”, said Juncker. President underlined that it is necessary to continue fight against corruption, noting that without this there is no rule of law, he underlined importance of justice reform and stressed that future cannot be built, unless citizens are in the center of political activities. “It is necessary to launch entire series of reforms. In this way, you will respond to demands of your citizens. Crime and corruption are not suitable for foreign investments. We need to import stability in Europe, not instability. This is why it is necessary to resolve border disputes,” said Juncker and concluded: “Long live B&H, long live Europe”.

Despite the announcements, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini did not arrive today to an official visit to Sarajevo. Statement issued by B&H Presidency reads that Mogherini’s visit was canceled due to bad weather and inability to land on Sarajevo International Airport.

EU senior officials are coming with positive message (Dnevni list)

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation (EUD) to B&H Khaldoun Sinno stated that senior EU officials, EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, are coming to B&H with a positive message. According to Sinno, their message is very clear. Namely, after renewal of dynamics in the process of European integration, the EU doors are open, on condition that all partners in the region do their part of the homework. Sinno explained it means solving of all open issues in all the countries, including B&H, not only in terms of rule of law but also in terms of regional cooperation and reconciliation. Commenting on the issue of implementation of all decisions of the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H dealing with changes to the Law on Elections, he said the EU expects from local politicians to harmonize their views, including the CC’s decision in the motion submitted by Bozo Ljubic. Sinno noted since the decision in the motion has not been implemented, “it is possible it could have consequences for whole of B&H when it comes to implementation of elections planned for October”. He underlined that the need for implementation of the said CC’s decision does not mean that other decisions and rulings should be neglected.

Without changes to Law on Elections, we are going into dead-end or something like Mostar (Vijesti.ba)

Speaker of the B&H House of Peoples Barisa Colak (HDZ B&H) said he expects nothing more than it is already known from the EC strategy on the Western Balkans. On the other hand, continued Colak, he expects support in terms of acceleration of reforms and objective criticism because “a lot more should have been accomplished”. Colak added that the main topic will be the issue of the Law on Elections because it is a necessary pre-requisite for elections to be held in democratic spirit and to elect the authorities. “Without it, I fear we will fall into an even bigger crisis and that is why I think the emphasis must be placed on that part and on reforms that need to be implemented,” said Colak. He stressed that the EU’s focus on implementation of the Constitutional Court’s (CC) rulings, not on the European Court of Human Right’s rulings, is not in favor of HDZ B&H, but in favor of B&H, because failure to implement rulings of the CC lead to crisis. He added that one must avoid the dead-end otherwise there could be a repeat of the situation from Mostar.

Dodik: European path is RS’ goal (RTRS)

Addressing the media in Istocno Sarajevo, Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik said that European path is goal of the RS as well and he believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) should get status of EU candidate “and we will see everything else, how things will go on”. He assessed that entire story about answering the Questionnaire lasted long, which is specific for B&H. He also reminded that all answers passed the coordination mechanism and that some of the answers are double, there are those provided by the RS and by B&H institutions.

“We expect Europe to equally accept both answers. If they do not do that and if they would be biased towards only one answer that would convey a bad message”, said Dodik.  He stressed that he expects RS data on census and some other issues, to be acknowledged and if that is rejected “we deem that someone wanted to make a deceit form the start”.

Primorac sends open letter to Wigemark, asks him to protect Croats in B&H (EuroBlic)

Leader of HSP B&H Stanko Primorac sent an open letter to Head of the EU Delegation to B&H Lars-Gunnar Wigemark asking him to protect 500,000 Croats, EU citizens, who live in B&H. “A number of EU citizens is constantly faced with unequal position in which they cannot exercise most basic rights, such as the right to elect their own representatives in the authorities”, Primorac noted in his letter.

Bosic files motion for review of constitutionality of provisions of cantonal constitutions in the Federation of B&H that do not recognize constituent status of Serb people, Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet (Hayat)

Deputy Speaker of the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Mladen Bosic has filed a motion with the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H for a review of constitutionality of provisions of cantonal constitutions in the Federation of B&H that do not recognize the constituent status of the Serb people, Serbian language and the Cyrillic alphabet. Bosic stressed that provisions of certain constitutions of cantons in the Federation of B&H clearly say that Bosniaks and Croats are constituent peoples and that official languages of those cantons are Bosnian and Croatian. He emphasized that he expects the B&H CC to declare its opinion on the matter as soon as possible. Bosic underlined that Serbs are unable to learn Serbian language and use the Cyrillic alphabet in education in Posavina Canton, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton, West Herzegovina Canton, Canton 10 and Bosnia-Podrinje Canton. “I expect the B&H CC to use this opportunity to show that it protects the provisions of the Constitution and find a way to ensure equal treatment and equal rights of all three constituent peoples, i.e. Serbs in five cantons in the Federation of B&H in the same way this was solved in the Constitution of Republika Srpska (RS) and the Constitution of the Federation of B&H” Bosic underlined. Bosic stressed that similar initiative aimed at ensuring constitutional equality of Serbs in four cantons in the Federation of B&H did not get the necessary support in the B&H HoR, recalling that HDZ B&H and SNSD failed to support this initiative. Asked why it took this much time to file the motion for a review of constitutionality of provisions of cantonal constitutions in the Federation of B&H that do not recognize the constituent status of the Serb people, Serbian language and the Cyrillic alphabet, Bosic said that there was no political will in the cantons for solving of this issue.

Zvizdic invites May to visit B&H (Fena)

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Denis Zvizdic attended a reception on Monday evening in London organized by UK Prime Minister Theresa May for the Western Balkan prime ministers. During his meeting with PM May, Zvizdic invited her to visit B&H, underlining that the relationship between B&H and the UK is good, but there is always space for improvement. May said that B&H belongs in the EU, and that she fully supports country’s aspirations towards the EU and NATO. The two officials agreed that good political relations of the Western Balkan countries are of great importance for the stability and progress of the region, underlining that it is necessary to work on resolving open political issues through dialogue and cooperation. The event was also attended by UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson and President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Suma Chakrabarti.

Merkel and Vucic talk about B&H too (Dnevni avaz)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday. “We talked about the region as a whole. I think that possibilities will open for us to make progress with that regard too. I must say that there are different upcoming tasks, I primarily refer to B&H, but meetings within the Berlin Process will enable progress. I appreciate work of Aleksandar Vucic on improvement of relations in the Western Balkans and I support his efforts” Merkel was quoted as saying.

Opposition planning no confidence vote against Deputy Prime Minister (Hina)

After the opposition MOST party suggested the launch of procedure for a vote of no confidence against Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Martina Dalic, and accordingly convened a meeting of opposition parties in the parliament for Wednesday, it remains to be seen whether the strongest opposition party – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – will join this initiative.

“A majority of opposition parties have responded positively, however we are still waiting for the SDP to give its position,” MOST lawmaker Nikola Grmoja said on Tuesday. We will see who will turn out at the meeting. Everyone has been invited, he added. Grmoja said that for the MOST it was not important who would be the initiator of the procedure, but it was essential to reach agreement among opposition MPs. The latest developments surrounding the private debt-laden Agrokor after the resignation of emergency administrator Ante Ramljak prompted the opposition to criticize Minister Dalic who is perceived by opposition lawmakers as the person who actually had a say in appointing Ramljak to this position last year. Last time the opposition seriously tried to dismiss a cabinet minister was in May 2017 when Finance Minister Zdravko Maric survived a vote of no-confidence in the 151-seat parliament. The 75 lawmakers voted for the motion for the dismissal of the minister whom they accused of the conflict of interest in connection with the ailing private food and retail group Agrokor, and the same number voted against the motion, with one lawmaker abstaining. The SDP, which initiated the vote, failed to muster the 76 votes needed to dismiss Maric. However, the vote did split the then ruling coalition and prompted a coalition reshuffle, with MOST leaving the coalition and HNS crossing over to the government benches.

Croatian and Serbian ministers discuss minority education (Hina)

Croatian Science and Education Minister Blazenka Divjak and her Serbian counterpart Mladen Sarcevic held talks in Zagreb on Tuesday focusing on the opening of a Croatian language instruction office in Novi Sad and the status of Croat students in Serbia and Serb students in Croatia in the context of reciprocity. Divjak told reporters that a Croatian language instruction office would be opened in Novi Sad as of the next academic year, saying this was very important because of the classes held in Croatian in schools in Serbia, notably in the Vojvodina province. She said her ministry would secure the funds for the office. Divjak said it was necessary to ensure high school textbooks for the Croat minority in Serbia. She noted that there were 28 high school programs in the Serbian language in Croatia. Sarcevic said they also talked about digital high school textbooks for the Croat ethnic minority in Serbia, and that they concluded there were many areas for cooperation between their departments. He said two more Croatian language instruction offices would be opened in Serbia eventually, another one in Novi Sad and one in Sombor also in Vojvodina.

Izetbegovic: Dodik is calling for war, it would be better for Croats not to mention third entity (Globus)

Globus carried an interview with “Bosniak political leader” and member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Bakir Izetbegovic who was asked, among other issues, to say why decision of the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H, which ruled that the Law on Elections of B&H is not in harmony with the Constitution of B&H, is not implemented. Izetbegovic replied by saying that changes to the Law on Elections of B&H require consensus of all parliamentary parties and that talks are ongoing under mediation of the international community. According to him, maximalist requests of HDZ B&H are obstacle to reaching an agreement, arguing that HDZ B&H, apart from requesting implementation of the CC’s decision on elections for the Federation of B&H House of Peoples (HoP), also wants changes to the way of election of members of the Presidency of B&H in a way that is in collision with ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and positions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Izetbegovic explained that according to HDZ B&H’s proposal dealing with election of delegates to the Federation of B&H HoP, Bosniaks from Canton 10 and Posavina Canton would no longer be represented in the Federation of B&H HoP, whilst Croats would lose its delegates from Tuzla, Sarajevo and Una-Sana cantons. In this context Izetbegovic says that Croats and Bosniaks from these areas understand better how to protect their vital national interests than Croats and Bosniaks who live in areas where they are in majority. Asked to comment on the author’s remark that Croats in B&H are afraid of “repeat of new Komsic”, in other words they are afraid that Bosniak majority will elect Croat member of the Presidency of B&H, Izetbegovic said the Constitution of B&H and the Law on Elections do not say a word about Croats electing the Croat member of Presidency and Bosniaks electing the Bosniak. “Such provision would be in complete collision with international and European election standards, added Izetbegovic. Asked why Bosniak politicians and media think that formation of a constituency with Croat majority would lead to formation of the third, Croat entity, Izetbegovic replied by saying any homogenization and segregation would lead to such tendencies. Asked why the Bosniak political elite is against Croats getting their own territorial-political unit, that B&H becomes a federation of three republics, Izetbegovic said such possibility was tried in forcible attempt to establish “the so-called Herzeg-Bosnia”. “The end result was that Bosniaks and Serbs were expelled from those areas, as well as traces of their existence” added Izetbegovic. He went on to say that Croats were the biggest losers of that enterprise, which is why “it is best not to mention ‘the third entity’ or any ethnic-territorial political units”. Asked to comment on his recent appearance on HRT when he mentioned conflicts that could lead to war, which in turn triggered many reactions in Croatia and among Croats in B&H, Izetbegovic replied by saying the truth, which some dislike, has caused reactions, hoping that the truth was a wake-up call. “The Croatian public must face the truth about role of Croatia in wartime events in B&H, and face long lasting failure to resolve numerous issues that are detrimental to B&H”, said Izetbegovic. He further noted that all regional, and lately global media, have been lately writing about conflicts that could lead to war. “Why would I avoid speaking about it and pretend I do not see where Milorad Dodik’s ever so dangerous and impudent policy could lead us? That is why will not keep quiet. I will speak and I will be clear. It is my constitutional obligation to protect territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H and I will resolutely go against any attack on B&H, any attempt or its further ethnic-territorial division,” said Izetbegovic. He added that people who warn with dissolution of B&H are making war threats, not him when he says he will defend the country.

Juncker: I did not come to Montenegro to give empty promises (CDM)

Montenegro is absolutely committed to the values ​​and goals of the EU and there is no reason to doubt it. As there is no doubt that the only future for the entire region of the Western Balkans is in Europe, without any alternative, Montenegrin Prime Minsiter Dusko Markovic said at a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Juncker pointed out that he did not come to Montenegro to give empty promises, and that the date of EU accession depended only on Montenegro. Junker is in an official visit to Montenegro, as part of his tour across the Western Balkans. He thanked the government for, as he put it, “being welcomed as if we were princes” in Montenegro. “I did not come to Montenegro to give empty promises. The date of joining the EU depends only on you. The EC will rate the progress on the European path for each country separately. I congratulate Montenegro on the policy towards its neighbors,” Juncker said. “This reinforces the positive messages the EU has sent to the region. The most important message is that the Western Balkans will be part of Europe and that we will work in this way both in the region and in the EU,” Markovic said. It is crucial that Montenegro is absolutely committed to the values ​​and goals of the EU and there is no doubt about it. “As we have no doubts that the future of entire region of the Western Balkans is in Europe,” Markovic pointed out.

Brajovic prevented us from contacting Juncker (RTCG)

Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Ivan Brajovic prevented the Democratic Front (DF) from informing European Commission (EC) President Jean Claude Juncker about Montenegro’s biggest problems, one of DF leaders, Andrija Mandic, announced. At the press conference, he announced that they had informed Brajovic that they would not attend the session in which Junker would take part. “Our intention was to have our representative, which should have been Milan Knezevic, make an address. The intention was that Knezevic, as the first convicted president of a parliamentary party, announces several important facts in order to make them aware of who they were dealing with in Montenegro,” said Mandic. He recalled that the DF “is subjected to state terror of the ruling coalition in Montenegro”. “We are the unclean conscience of Brussels administration which supports the regime. Our solidarity with Knezevic is complete,” Mandic said. They state that Brajovic prevented them from telling Juncker what is “the most important and the biggest problem of Montenegro”.

Gegaj: Border demarcation with Montenegro opens the EU path for Kosovo (CDM)

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) official Nikola Gegaj claims that any delay in the adoption of the demarcation agreement between Kosovo and Montenegro harms the overall credibility of Kosovo within international community. “I am sure that the Kosovo institutions have enough democratic capacity to make decisions that will only strengthen the country in all fields. I expect that the border demarcation agreement will be ratified in the Parliament of Kosovo on Wednesday as citizens of this country are eagerly waiting for. This will unblock the path of Kosovo towards the EU, liberalize the visa regime and strengthen state independence,” Gegaj said. He welcomed the consensus that was made among the strongest political subjects in Kosovo on this issue.

DIK accepts DPS’ objections: Elections to be repeated in five polling stations in Berane (CDM)

The State Election Commission (DPS) accepted the objections of the DPS-SD-BS coalition, and decided to repeat the elections in five polling stations in Berane. DIK members from the opposition did not support this decision. The session of the DIK, which was interrupted on 13 February due to its chairman Budimir Saranovic’s illness, was resumed yesterday.

“There is no reason to annul the election in Berane. But using brutal force, ruling coalition voted for annulling elections in some polling stations in Berane. It has nothing to do with the law, let alone moral,” said DIK secretary and opposition representative Veljo Cadjenovic.

He announced that the legal deadline for the elections to be repeated is seven days after the delivery of the decision. According to Milisav Coric, DIK member representing opposition, there were elements to annul the elections only in one polling station. “The DPS-BS-SD voting machine accepted the objections. Legal principles were violated and it is evident that DIK is burdened by organized crime,” Coric said at a press conference. The elections in Berane were held on 4 February. Then the DPS-SD-BS coalition won 17 seats, the Zdravo Berane coalition won 14 seats and the Democratic Montenegro 4 seats.

Kascelan is the new mayor of Cetinje (CDM)

Three months after the local elections Cetinje finally got the mayor. The candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Aleksandar Kascelan, was elected as the successor of Aleksandar Bogdanovic. He was supported by 16 DPS councilors and SD councilor Ivan Gazivoda. Before the City Council session, Nikola Djuraskovic (SDP) said that there was no quorum for opening the session, because seven DPS councilors had earlier resigned.

“In order for the City Council to establish the termination of their offices and approve appointment of new councilors at the beginning of the session, it must have a quorum before opening the session. According to the Law on the Election of Councilors and MPs, a councilor’s term of office ends on the day of resignation. Therefore those who resigned cannot provide a quorum for the beginning of the session,” said Djuraskovic. The Democrats share this view. Cetinje did not get the mayor because the City Council session was delayed due to lack of quorum. Only 16 DPS councilors came to the session.

Government denies Reuters report that Zaev presented four options for resolving name dispute with Greece (MIA)

Reuters cited Tuesday the Macedonian Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev, as saying that the country has put forward four options to settle the decades-long dispute with Greece over its name.

The suggestions, which according to Reuters were notified by Zaev, are Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Upper Macedonia, Republic of Vardar Macedonia and Republic of Macedonia (Skopje). The government points out to the incorrect interpretation of Reuters’ introductory remarks to the interview with Zaev, which reads that ‘Macedonia has put forward four options to settle the decades-long dispute with Greece over its name’. ‘The public in Macedonia, across the globe knows that these proposals have been presented by Matthew Nimetz, the UN mediator in the (name) talks between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece,’ the government said in a press release. These proposals exist, PM Zaev said, but they are not tabled by the Republic of Macedonia, the government’s press release reads.

The government explicitly denies the parts of Zaev’s interview with Reuters, conveyed by some domestic media that ‘the Republic of Macedonia is prepared to do tiny changes related to the name in the constitution’. Instead, the government press release reads, Zaev told Reuters that ‘Macedonia is prepared to do a change of the name, but it will not be by very much because it is very difficult’. The government press release also cites Zaev as telling Reuters that ‘the question that remains is whether there is a real need to change the constitution’, something that Greece has also asked for in recent months.

Protest in Skopje for defending Macedonia’s constitutional name (MIA)

The civic initiative ‘For United Macedonia’ staged a protest Tuesday in Skopje for ‘defending the country’s name and the nation’s identity’. Defying freezing temperatures and snow, the protesters held umbrellas in the colors of the Macedonian flag and chanted ‘Long live Macedonia!’ and ‘Macedonians!’ The protesters demanded for an end to ongoing talks between Macedonia’s government and their Greek counterparts aimed at solving the 25-year dispute, annulment of the law on languages and renouncement of the recently signed friendship agreement with Bulgaria.

They also demanded for an immediate release of those detained for the 27 April 2017 incident in Macedonia’s parliament. The crowd gathered in front of the EU Office in Skopje and marched to the parliament.

Kotsias will arrive in Skopje this week carrying a proposal with seven points (Meta)

The draft-proposal for solving the name dispute with its seven points will be brought to Skopje this week by the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotsias as he will land at the international airport Skopje, reports the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. According to this outlet, the name, the range of its use, the identity, the trademarks, the short abbreviations and the acronyms are part of the seven points that the draft-agreement contains. The outlet also states that the proposal for a solution is finished, it contains answers to certain issues that refer to both countries’ relations, including Macedonia’s perspectives as part of international organizations.

Zaev – May: UK supports Macedonia in its Euro-Atlantic aspirations (Meta)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs, Bujar Osmani attended audience that was organized by the Prime Minister of Great Britain in honor of the heads of the governments of countries from the Western Balkans. The government’s press service informs that May and the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnston, at a separate meeting with Zaev and Osmani, have expressed a special interest in the implementation of the reforms in Macedonia including the good neighborly relations and the projects for regional cooperation. Zaev also briefed them about the government’s latest activities regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration processes and has stressed that he expects that our country will receive a recommendation for starting the EU accession negotiations and has also informed them about Macedonia’s expectations to be NATO’s 30th country member in 2018. May and Johnson have expressed a strong support for Macedonia in its aspirations for a NATO and EU memberships.

Government appoints Lazar Elenovski for its special representative for NATO integration (Meta)

At its regular session on Tuesday, Macedonia’s government has appointed Lazar Elenovski for its special representative for NATO integration in Brussels. Several Macedonia’s honorary consuls have been also recalled: Richard Goldman, Jason Miko, Thomas Taneff, Andrew Dimitri Peykoff, Lou Vlasho and Purshotam Kalamangala Jayaram, the government said in a press release.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Bosnia’s Absurd Response to the EU’s Questions (BIRN, by Srecko Latal, 28 February 2018)

For the first time, the EU will receive not one but two responses to a questionnaire it sent to a potential member country, highlighting the game of illusions Bosnia is playing with Brussels.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union are sharing a unique and historic (read: absurd) moment on Wednesday, when top EU officials during their visit to the capital of Sarajevo will be presented with Bosnia’s reply to the EU’s questionnaire – a landmark on any country’s path to membership. Yet Bosnia would not be Bosnia without adding its own flavour to the EU’s usually dull bureaucratic procedures; not only did the country need more than a year to complete this feat, but at the end of the gruelling, painstaking process, Bosnia’s officials will present the EU not with one but two replies. Instead of unifying local politicians – which some foreign officials apparently thought this process could – the exercise only divided them even further, although truth be told, Bosnian politicians have made divisions their trademark and don’t need much excuse to display them. On Brussels’ side, EU officials would not be EU officials if they weren’t able to find some positive angle to this otherwise sad and distressing reality and still declare this achievement of Bosnia’s deeply divided institutions a “historic moment” for this country.

There is no doubt that this is indeed a historic moment for both Bosnia and EU – Bosnian officials will once again celebrate their failure to do their job properly, while the EU administration will for the first time since the 1951 Europe declaration welcome a divergent, conflicting replies to its questionnaire and still declare it a victory for the potential member country. Actually, I am unaware whether Cyprus, another deeply divided country which still managed to become an EU member in 2004, managed to achieve this feat first. Wednesday’s “historic moment” is but a logical continuation of the game of illusions which EU and Bosnian officials have been playing for years. This game best summed up by Bosnia’s former High Representative, Lord Paddy Ashdown, who often quoted his close friend, former European commissioner Chris Patten, as saying that “the Balkans pretended to reform and the EU pretended to believe them”. “Now some in Bosnia do not even pretend to reform, but the EU still pretends to believe them,” Ashdown correctly added in one of his subsequent statements.

Contrary to the EU’s perennially optimistic comments, it is this statement by Ashdown that truthfully depicts the gloomy developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 9, 2016, when state officials received the EU questionnaire consisting of 3,242 questions in 33 chapters.

Throughout this period, Bosnia’s political, economic and social crisis has continued to deepen, its people have continued leaving the country in droves, seeking a better future elsewhere.

The fate of the EU questionnaire is not surprising given the fact that the document itself was bestowed upon Bosnian officials not because they excelled in reforms that were expected of them, but specifically because they were so stubborn in avoiding them.

As a result, EU officials did what they seem to be doing a lot these days – they ignored their own principles and lowered their own standards and gave the questionnaire to Bosnia in yet another attempt to lure its politicians out of their zero-sum games and into the accession process.

But just like the EU’s latest strategy for Balkans, this is also not a new approach. This is actually how the history of Bosnia’s relations with the EU started, when back in 2008 when the then High Representative Miroslav Lajcak persuaded the EU administration to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia as his last resort to end Bosnian Serb officials’ boycott of state institutions. This boycott started in November 2007 when then state premier Nikola Spiric tabled his resignation and ordered all representatives of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity to leave their positions in the state administration, which brought the country to the edge of collapse.

It seems that neither the EU nor Bosnian officials have changed much since then.
As a result, Bosnia today find itself on the verge of yet another collapse, this time because of the broken election law which threatens to leave Bosnia’s Federation entity and possibly even the state level without new governments after the upcoming elections if local politicians fail to reform the law. One can draw an obvious although absurd conclusion from this game which Bosnian and EU officials keep playing – maybe Bosnian officials have understood that the harder they try to break the country apart, the faster and easier the EU will approve it as a member.

If this is indeed the case, then Bosnia seems to be on the perfect track to get EU membership by early 2019. After all, isn’t this what divided Cyprus already achieved when it joined the EU in 2004?

Srecko Latal is a journalist, editor and analyst who has been covering the Balkans since the 1990s. The opinions expressed in the Comment section are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of BIRN.