LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: UNMIK guarantor of status neutrality (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the United Nations is the most important international organization that is of special importance for the issue of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca conveyed that the UN and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highly appreciate Vucic’s and Serbia’s contribution to preserving peace and stability in the region. Vucic voiced gratitude for UNMIK’s presence as the guarantor of status neutrality of the international presence in Kosovo and Metohija, based on Resolution 1244, stated the President’s office for media relations. Vucic added that Belgrade remains committed to continuing the dialogue with Pristina and finding a compromise solution for the issue for Kosovo and Metohija. Jenca pointed out how much the world organization appreciates Serbia’s engagement in UN peacekeeping operations, reminding that, according to the number of engaged members of the Serbian army in UN peacekeeping forces, it is among the first ten in Europe.

Dacic: Further UN presence in Kosovo in unaltered format necessary (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca discussed today the current political developments in the region, stressing the importance of preserving peace and stability, as well as further reforms. Dacic stressed the importance the United Nations has for Serbia in protecting territorial integrity and sovereignty, and stressed the need to preserve the dynamics and format of the UN Security Council sessions on UNMIK’s work, as well as the UNMIK mission as a guarantor of status neutrality, to an unprecedented extent scope and mandate. Dacic reiterated the commitment of our country to finding a compromise and sustainable solution to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija through a dialogue under the auspices of the EU. He also emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation and dialogue with the United Nations on all issues of relevance to the region in the upcoming period. Jenca emphasized Serbia’s role on the regional level and expressed his gratitude for the contribution that our country provides through the engagement of its members in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world, as well as the active engagement of Serbia in other significant spheres of its operation.

Djuric: Problems to be resolved with compromise (RTV/RTS/Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric met today with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca. Djuric acquainted the UN representative with the course of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and once again stressed Belgrade’s commitment for resolving problems in the region with compromise and in a peaceful manner. Stressing the importance of the UN engagement for protection of the position and rights of the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija, Djuric voiced expectation that UNMIK will continue to act on the ground in unreduced capacity and status neutrally, insisting on the respect of UNSCR 1244. He stressed that it is important for the international public to continue to be informed about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija through regular quarterly UNMIK reports.

The meeting was also attended by the Representative of the UN Secretary-General and the Head of the UN Office in Belgrade Simona-Mirela Miculescu.

Moscow consistently supports Serbia’s territorial integrity (RTS/Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric met on Thursday with the Charge d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Belgrade Denis Kuznedelev, who underlined on this occasion that official Moscow consistently supports Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Kuznedelev pointed out that the Russian Federation offers contribution to a political solution of the issue of Kosovo and Metohija in accordance with UNSCR 1244 and international law. He says the Russian Federation is monitoring the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, in which, according to him, Serbia has a constructive approach, contrary to Pristina’s radical position.

Djuric acquainted Kuznedelev with the course and topics of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, underlining that Belgrade continues to search for a compromise, i.e. a solution that would not fully satisfy either of the parties in the dialogue. Djuric once again thanked the Russian Federation on the support it offers to Serbia on the international plane in the battle for the protection of its state and national interests, voicing expectation that this support will be confirmed and intensified in the upcoming phases of the dialogue, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stated in a release.

Ruzic: Ugljanin departed legal frameworkswith the invitation to Pacolli (Politika)

Serbian Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government Branko Ruzic has stated that the invitation of the Chairperson of the Bosniak National Council (BNV) Sulejman Ugljanin to Bexhet Pacolli to visit Novi Pazar as “the minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Kosovo” and “other Sandzak municipalities” represents a departure from the legally established framework of the jurisdiction of national councils. “This kind of behavior of the Chairperson of one of the 22 national minority councils in Serbia represents a departure from the legally established framework of the jurisdiction of national councils,” said Ruzic, under whose jurisdiction is also the issue of the functioning of national councils of national minorities. Ruzic told Politika that the national minority councils are not political bodies nor political parties, and, according to the law and the decision of the Constitutional Court, they are obliged to implement activities in accordance with the legally prescribed jurisdictions in the sphere of culture, information, official use of language and script, as well as education. “Any other behavior and using of the council for political purposes is detrimental to the minority they represent. Establishing whether there are elements of a criminal offense, as well as proceedings in regard to this, is the job of competent state institutions,” said Ruzic. He adds that Ugljanin’s behavior confirms the need for further de-politization of national councils, established with the goal of preserving tradition and cultures of ethnic communities and their better inclusion into the modern Serbian society.

REGIONAL PRESS

Covic informs Serbian President Vucic about importance to preserve stability in region with emphasis on post-election period in B&H (BHT1/FTV)

Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Thursday. On this occasion, Covic informed Vucic about the importance of preserving stability in the region with special emphasis on the period following the general elections in B&H. The two officials also discussed further improvement of relations between B&H and Serbia. Addressing the media after the meeting, Covic said that B&H’s future only lies in the EU and assessed that Serbia can be the right partner for it. Addressing the media following the meeting, Covic stated that he wanted to inform Vucic about actions that can be taken during the two, three months of the election campaign, related to the European path of B&H and the current instability in B&H that is in his opinion, very important for Serbia. Speaking about potential instability, Covic mentioned the migrant crisis and the issue of the Election Law. Covic underlined that the issue of the Election Law was not topic of the meeting, but reiterated that HDZ B&H’s views remain clear; the Election Law of B&H cannot be solved at lower levels of power, but only at the level of B&H. Covic also said that a decision of B&H Constitutional Court precisely says that the decision must be reached within B&H parliament. Covic informed Vucic about B&H Presidency’s initiative for organizing of a round table on the topic of sustainable development goals, jointly with presidents of neighboring countries Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro signatories of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

FB&H HoP fails to discuss Proposal of Law on Constituencies and Number of Mandates in FB&H parliament due to lack of quorum (FTV)

An extraordinary session of the FB&H House of Peoples (HoP) which was supposed to take place on Thursday was not held after all. Delegates were supposed to vote on the Proposal of Law on Constituencies and the Number of Mandates in the FB&H parliament. FTV noted that after four-hour-long delay, media were informed that the session was not held due to lack of quorum. The reporter noted that the real reason why the session was not held is the move of two members of the Collegium of the FB&H HoP, Speaker of the FB&H HoP Lidija Bradara (HDZ B&H) and deputy speaker of the FB&H HoP Drago Puzigaca (SNSD). Namely, shortly before the session, Bradara and Puzigaca signed a document which declares the aforementioned Proposal Law detrimental for the Vital National Interest (VNI). The reporter assessed that no one expected this move; many expected that the proposal of the law will be adopted, and stressed that this is the reason why the Serb Caucus called for Puzigaca’s removal saying that he acted outside of the Caucus. Most likely, delegates will declare their stance on the Puzigaca’s removal at the next regular session of the FB&H HoP, scheduled for Thursday. The parties that supported the aforementioned law actually also supported election of Puzigaca to the post of a Speaker of the FB&H HoP, but the parties now claim that their votes will actually remove him from this position. Addressing media, Deputy Speaker of the FB&H HoP from SDA Jasenko Tufekcic stated: “In my opinion, the parties that filed Proposal Law and especially the Serb Caucus show their legitimacy by his (Puzigaca’s) removal, because they disagree that someone who represents Serbs and who is supposed to speak about preservation and protection of the Serb people in the area of the FB&H stands by the side of HDZ (B&H) and the Croat Caucus and thus, protects interests of the Croat people. I must emphasize that in this case, forces that are against BiH – I primarily refer to Mr. Dodik and Mr. Covic – wanted to destroy the exit solution in the HoP today, for quality-solution for the elections in October this year, by their secret deal”. Addressing the media, Bradara argued that the initiative launched for Puzigaca’s removal is politically incorrect and she called in question the request for his removal, claiming that the Serb Caucus was incomplete as only four delegates showed up in the session. Bradara also said that such laws should not be adopted under pressure and outvoting. Addressing media, Bradara stated: “I believe that the Election Law is on a list of the VNI and that such laws should be adopted via consensus and compromise. If someone thinks that he/she can use force to do it in one house (FB&H HoR) and to do the same in the other house (FB&H HoP), I find that this is a wrong path for B&H and the FB&H and that this brings nothing good”.

Covic: Election legislation has to be amended at B&H level (TV1)

Leader of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic stated on Thursday in Belgrade that the election legislation has to be adopted and changed at the level of B&H. He reminded that according to the decision of the Constitutional Court of B&H, the election legislation has to be amended in the parliament of B&H. He went on to say that attempt of Bosniak parties from Sarajevo to implement this decision through adoption of the Proposal Law on Constituencies in the FB&H parliament represents attack on all relations in B&H, as well as on the Constitution of B&H. He expressed hope this law will not be adopted by the FB&H HoP.

Leaders’ meeting ends in deadlock, talks to resume (MIA)

The leaders of the largest political parties, who convened Thursday in Skopje to discuss the appointment of members of the State Election Commission (SEC), the name referendum, and the wording of the referendum question, will continue to seek solutions in the coming days. The leaders of SDSM, Zoran Zaev, of DUI, Ali Ahmeti, of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, and Bilal Kasami of Besa debated for almost four hours before hitting a deadlock. DUI leader Ahmeti after the meeting said that there were differences, which had to be settled in the interest of Macedonia’s EU integration bid. “We all have to make efforts in order to conclude successfully the deal reached with Greece. Not all options have been exhausted, and talks will resume in the coming days. I expect everyone to be courageous and not to miss this historic chance,” Ahmeti told reporters. Besa’s Kasami said his party would contribute to closing the negotiations with an agreement between the parties on setting up the SEC and organizing a successful referendum. The country is at a critical point, he said, and it has to wrap up the EU integration process. “The intensive negotiations of the political stakeholders are important and therefore we will contribute to concluding the negotiations enabling an agreement to be made, the SEC to be formed and the referendum to be successful so as to allow all citizens to freely express their will and Macedonia to become a member of the EU and NATO once and for all,” Kasami noted.

Zaev: No concessions for strategic goals, no direct or indirect amnesty (MIA)

The talks between leaders of ruling and opposition parties on preparations for upcoming referendum and setting up a State Election Commission will resume on Sunday or Monday, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said after Thursday’s leaders’ meeting. “Full-fledged EU, NATO membership is Macedonia’s strategic goal, and there is no concession for strategic goals. There is also no direct or indirect amnesty. We shall give a chance to the talks if it is possible,” Zaev told a press conference after a four-hour meeting with the leaders of VMRO-DPMNE, DUI and Besa, Hristijan Mickoski, Ali Ahmeti and Bilal Kasami respectively. Zaev said he expected for the fresh talks to result in agreement on setting up the State Election Commission – key institution for organizing the referendum. Our goal is for the referendum to be successful as the further steps that should lead to ratification of Skopje-Athens name deal by the Greek parliament depend on this process, Zaev said.

We should strive to respect European values in practice, says Mickoski (MIA)

The ruling majority and the opposition have managed to harmonize their positions on some issues, which have been already raised in negotiations back in March-April, while others are yet to be solved, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said after Thursday’s leaders’ meeting.

“If we strive to fulfill European principles, we should act as such. We should respect the Constitution and the laws rather than posing vague questions for the citizens,” Mickoski told reporters adding that talks would resume on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Party leaders at the meeting, he said, haven’t yet opened the topic of the wording of the referendum question. Late on Wednesday, PM Zoran Zaev revealed that one possible question for the name referendum could be “Are you in favor of EU and NATO membership by endorsing the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?’.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Huffing and Puffing (BIRN, by Milos Damnjanovic, 20 July 2018)

Whether it’s the Berlin Process, the recent NATO Summit, Russia in the Balkans or Bosnia’s upcoming elections, huffing and puffing seem to be all around us, even if they sometimes turn into nothing more than hot air.

Much Ado About Nothing

The British hosts may have huffed and puffed about this year’s London Summit, held as part of the Berlin Process, but in the end the summit was much ado about nothing for most participants and observers. It did not help that the nominal host of the summit, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, resigned from his job in the hours leading up to the event. Yet even without that, there were seemingly few issues of substance on the agenda of the get togethers – and even fewer prizes for the Balkan leaders to take home. The Berlin Process and its summits will clearly go on, but it would seem that much more thought will need to be put into ensuring its continuing relevance.

Worrying Winds

The recent NATO Summit in Brussels was anything but an exercise in multilateral musical harmony. US President Donald Trump squabbled more or less openly with key European allies, particularly over the issue of defence spending. Between the publicly visible differences and the unofficial accounts of the acrimony at the summit, many observers got a real sense of the alliance being in deep crisis, sparking fears even about its future. However, in his comment for Balkan Insight, Vesko Garcevic argues that the real question is not whether NATO can survive Trump, but rather whether the US and European allies can find a common formula to keep NATO relevant in a changing world.

Bargaining Chip

In an interview for BIRN, Mark Galeotti, the head of the Centre for European Security at the Institute for International Relations in Prague, talks about Russia’s goals and ambitions in the Balkans. While many foreign media and observers increasingly talk about Russia’s attempts to destabilise the region, Galeotti argues that, actually, Moscow does not want instability in the region, for the most part. On the contrary, he argues that for the Russian leadership, the potential to create trouble is a far more useful source of leverage vis-à-vis the EU. Ironically, it is the EU’s own half-hearted interest in the region which increases the available space for Russia to build such leverage.

People Power

One might have thought that strongmen and ‘soft’ dictators around the world might, by now, have realised that nothing galvanises and focuses popular opposition better than a stolen or annulled election. In Moldova, it certainly seems that no such lessons have been learned.

The recent decision by judicial authorities to annul, on very spurious grounds, the outcome of the Chisinau city elections, in which opposition candidate Andrei Nastase won 53 per cent of the votes cast, has sparked sustained popular protests. It has also propelled Nastase to the helm of an opposition front seeking change in the country. Quite what happens next remains to be seen, but it would appear that November’s Parliamentary elections will be anything but dull.

Gearing Up

With just under three months left until the general elections in Bosnia, a country known for very protracted election cycles and campaigns, we take a look at the state of play between the different parties and individuals heading into the electoral ring. While the outcome of the race seems most uncertain among the parties representing the country’s Bosniaks, it would appear that surprise results cannot be ruled out among the parties vying for the votes of Bosnia’s Serbs and Croats. Yet, for once the question of who will get how many votes may be a sideshow in this election – many Bosnia experts are watching with trepidation to see if the country will be able to form any kind of government in the Federation entity and at the Central level, given that part of the country’s election law have been struck down.

Dodging

During the first half of July, the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its 38th session in Geneva. For Serbian human rights activists, the meeting was also notable because Serbia completed its third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, a process through which countries have their human rights record scanned and receive recommendations on how to improve it. On balance, Serbia accepted most of the 190 recommendations it received, rejecting only 19 recommendations. This would all seem well and good, where it not for the fact that the recommendations which were rejected were particularly important for improving the wider state of national human rights. In particular, the Serbian government seems to have worked hard to avoid any kind of additional oversight.