LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: We have to discover the fate of the missing (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the missing people and their families must not become hostages of the chaotic political relations between the Balkan states. During the commemorative session in the Belgrade City Council on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared Brnabic said that it was time for the “new generations to grow up unburdened by hate, who wouldn’t bear the guilt for the events that happened before they were born.” “We must not allow for history to repeat itself, we have to do everything in our power to solve that question, to establish a joint future,” the prime minister said. She pointed out that solving the issue of the disappeared was not only an obligation towards the victims and their families but “an obligation of the utmost importance for our people whether they were in Serbia, Croatia, B&H or in Kosovo and Metohija and a reminder that such crimes must not happen again.” “It’s sad that long since the end of the conflicts on the territory of the former Yugoslavia the fates of those people were not only not investigated but sometimes we can’t even talk freely about their stories. That’s why it is crucial that we commemorate days such as this one,” Brnabic said. According to her, the state must provide support and help to the Commission on Missing Persons and similar institutions, increase employee capacity and improve working conditions and as much as it was able, establish a cooperation with other countries.

Brnabic, Fabrizi discuss Constitutional amendments and Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic underlined during the talks with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi that the Ministry of Justice and the Serbian government work committedly on the completion of a new text of constitutional amendments and harmonization with the recommendations of the Venice Commission. Brnabic explained that this is an important work on which government representatives have worked intensively in the past and expressed her belief that the text will be finalized and submitted to Serbian parliament for adoption shortly. Fabrizi assessed that progress in the field of judicial reform and the rule of law, as well as the implementation of all obligations in the negotiation process from Chapters 23 and 24, is crucial for Serbia. When it comes to the adoption of the media strategy, Brnabic explained that there is a continuous dialogue between the government and representatives of media associations. She said that the media strategy that is to be adopted should enable and guarantee the safety of media representatives and their right to work smoothly, but with respect for law.

Brnabic and Fabrizi also discussed the situation in the Western Balkan region and dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. BRnabic reiterated that Serbia is ready to find a compromise solution, but that it is not satisfied with the fact that Pristina does not work to implement the agreement, primarily when it comes to the Community of Serb Municipalities as the backbone of the Brussels agreement.

US Embassy in Belgrade: Scott in Pristina in order to hear stands of officials (Tanjug)

The US Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott will hold several meetings in Pristina with Kosovo officials and other prominent people in order to hear their stands and learn more about the situation in the region, this was the answer of the US Embassy in Belgrade to Tanjug’s question as to what are the topics of Ambassador Scott’s talks in Pristina. Scott is visiting Pristina in a long-planned return visit where his host is the US Ambassador in Pristina Greg Delawie, Tanjug was told at the US Embassy in Belgrade. The Embassy also confirmed that this is the first visit of Ambassador Scott to Pristina following the visit of Ambassador Delawie to Belgrade in 2017.

Mitchell expresses support for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (FoNet)

US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchel offered support to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Thursday’s separate telephone conversations with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, FoNet reported. The Serbian President’s cabinet said in a press release that they discussed the dialogue, the country’s EU path and promoting bilateral relations. It added that Vucic and Mitchell expressed hope in finding a comprehensive, long-term solution.

Vucic is quoted as telling the US official that he believes a Belgrade-Pristina agreement will be difficult to reach but that he will continue investing maximum efforts to achieve lasting stability in the Western Balkans.

Vucic to Keefe: Serbia will not accept humiliating solution for Kosovo and Metohija (FoNet)

Serbia will never accept a solution for Kosovo and Metohija that will be humiliating for the state and people, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in talks with the British Ambassador to Serbia Denis Keefe. They discussed the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in regard to the situation in the region, the Serbian President Press Service stated. Vucic underlined the necessity for reaching a lasting and just solution for Kosovo and Metohija, but that would not be opposed to Serbia’s state and national interests.

Arifi: Merging Presevo Valley with Kosovo is like the fall of the Berlin wall (Beta)

The Head of the Presevo municipality Shqiprim Arifi said on Aug. 30 that the inhabitants of

the Presevo Valley welcomed the idea of merging with Kosovo, but added that they would not accept this solution being applied only to the Albanian populated settlements in the three municipalities in the southern part of central Serbia. Arifi told the media in Pristina that Albanians in southern Serbia were skeptical regarding the possibility of such a solution.

“Either the entire Presevo Valley will merge with Kosovo, or the Albanians who live there will continue the war with Serbia,” Arifi said, adding that, for him, the merging of the Presevo Valley with Kosovo is the same as the fall of the Berlin wall. Arifi also said that the inhabitants of the town were “concerned about the lack of details in the idea of merging the Presevo Valley with Kosovo during the finalization of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, apart from it being mentioned informally that the Albanian settlements in the municipality on the northern side of the motorway to Macedonia would merge with Kosovo, while those on the southern side of the motorway would remain in Serbia.” “That solution is unacceptable for me,” Arifi said, adding that he was speaking metaphorically about the continued war with Serbia.

Hahn: Progress in Serbia-Kosovo talks, early for more (Beta)

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said on Friday that there was some progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, but that it still was not the time to speak about the details, Beta reported. He added that any agreement which Belgrade and Pristina reached should contribute to peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Hahn was speaking ahead of an informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Vienna which the representatives of the candidate countries, including Serbia, would attend. “The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo should outline an agreement between the two countries. Some progress has been made, but it’s too early to speak about the details,” Hahn said.

REGIONAL PRESS

Could exchange of territories between Serbia and Kosovo affect B&H’s territorial integrity? (TV1)

After the announcement that Kosovo and Serbia might resolve their issues by the end of 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has once again become the main topic of international circles. The fact that Kosovo and Serbia could resolve their issues through exchanging territories has raised concern about B&H’s territorial integrity. EU experts, however, believe that Serbia and Kosovo will not exchange territory, because the EU leaders oppose this idea. In a letter addressed to High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, three former High Representatives in B&H warned that the exchange of territories between Serbia and Kosovo would ‘help’ the division of B&H. German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently confirmed her firm stance in the matter, saying that there will be no ‘exchanging of territories’ in the Western Balkans, nor changing any borders. German political analyst, Bodo Weber, said that exchanging of territories between Serbia and Kosovo would lead to de-stabilization of the region and would give Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik good introduction into fighting for the RS’ independence. Weber, however, said that Germany is the main factor of stability of the Western Balkans region and it will not allow any decision to be adopted, which could affect that stability.

B&H politicians say possible border demarcation between Serbia and Kosovo can have no effect on B&H (Oslobodjenje)

Deputy Speaker of B&H House of Representatives and candidate for Bosniak member of B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) said that a solution for dispute between Serbia and Kosovo, including possible border demarcation, can in no way be applied on B&H. Dzaferovic added that nobody will be changing the state borders of B&H and reminded that those who tried it back in 1990-es “broke their teeth and ended up with The Hague verdicts for joint criminal enterprises, serving years long prison sentences and on landfill of history”. SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic stated that he is not interested in stories about border demarcation between Serbia and Kosovo and added that SBB B&H only wants this process to end peacefully for the benefit of the entire region. Radoncic added that SBB B&H strongly opposes any change of borders in Europe. “Nobody and under no condition can claim a millimeter of territory of B&H”. Candidate of Our Party for B&H Presidency member Borisa Falatar said that B&H must take responsibility and be an active player in regional relations and not only collateral damage of those relations.

Candidate for B&H Presidency member Diana Zelenika (HDZ 1990) commented on frequent attacks of Milorad Dodik on territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as systematic undermining of constitutional order of B&H and she condemned “such arrogant behavior which derives from Great Serbia’s neo-expansionism”. SDP B&H stated that border demarcation between Serbia and Kosovo is a problem which needs to be solved by Belgrade and Pristina in line with international laws.

Bosnia not to be mentioned in Serbia-Kosovo negotiations (Fena)

B&H should not be mentioned in any context when potential border changes between Serbia and Kosovo are discussed, Bosniak candidate for the tripartite Presidency, said Sefik Dzaferovic. Dzaferovic, who is currently the Vice Chairman of the State House of Representatives, spoke about the ongoing negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina over their territorial dispute. An option that is being considered is a territorial swap and the redrawing of the border between them which would include Kosovo giving up areas in its north where municipalities with a Serb majority are located. Numerous international and local analysts pointed out that such a deal may have consequences in Bosnia as well, as the country is composed out of two semi-autonomous entities, one of which, Republika Srpska (RS), is Serb-dominated. “Nobody will be changing Bosnia’s borders, they cannot be changed. Those who advocate the redrawing of borders directly jeopardize peace and stability, and they need to be aware of the consequences and responsible,” he said. Those who push forward the ideas of ‘greater states’ and their followers have “tried this in the 1990’s” and have ended up with rulings against them by The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for joint criminal enterprises and on the “garbage dump of history,” Dzaferovic said, referring to wartime aspirations by nationalists in neighboring Serbia and Croatia who tried to expand their state territory across parts of Bosnia. “Everyone who tries to mess with Bosnia will end up like that. Everyone should know that,” he said. Dzaferovic called upon Serbia and Kosovo to solve the issues between them in a constructive dialogue and that nobody is to mention Bosnia at all within it. “I believe our messages are clear, as are the messages from the countries that have with their signatures stood behind Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement,” he said.

European Parliament delegation visits B&H (TV1)

The Delegation of the European Parliament (EP) visited B&H on Thursday. Members of the delegation met, in separate meetings, with Serb member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic, members of the Collegium of both Houses of the B&H Parliament and Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers (B&H CoM) Denis Zvizdic in Sarajevo. They congratulated Zvizdic on progress B&H made on its EU path and said that B&H is encouraged to continue in this positive direction, so B&H’s EU integration process would be accelerated. They also made some pessimistic statements, stating their concern with B&H’s serious backlog with implementation of reforms, due to political disagreements especially during election campaign which has started way too soon. “The elections are maybe the main problem, due to the fact that election campaign pushed the EU integration process to the second place. That is a pity, but we hope that that process will continue right after October. We are most concerned with the fact that the Election Law was not amended, ‘Ljubic’ case was not solved and, of course, I am concerned that election results might not get implemented after the elections. But, we do want to believe in the best possible outcome and we wish for B&H to join the progress that other countries of the Southeast Europe made”, said member of the European Parliament Dubravka Suica. Ivanic stated that the main goal of this visit was the assessment of the current state of internal affairs in B&H. He added that the members of the EP delegation stressed the importance of acquiring a candidate status for the EU membership before the end of the current EU Commission mandate. The MEPs from the European People’s Party met with Speaker of the House of Representatives of B&H Mladen Bosic, Speaker of the House of Peoples of B&H Safet Softic and his deputies Barisa Colak and Ognjen Tadic. MEP Andrey Kovatchev expressed hope that the upcoming general elections in B&H are not going to significantly influence the EU integration process of the country, and called on the politicians to make an effort to ensure B&H can get candidate status by the end of the year.

Security and defense of Western Balkans discussed at informal meeting of EU Ministers of Defense (BHT1)

At the second day of the informal meeting of EU Defense Ministers, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini talked about the relations of the EU states and states of the Western Balkans. “We traditionally perceive the Western Balkans as an instable region where the EU had the role of providing security for decades. Now we are moving into a phase where we are partners in defense and security,” she said.  Mogherini emphasized that Austria which is currently presiding of over the EU is making great efforts to keep Balkans high on the EU agenda in the upcoming period. She noted that all EU member countries have sent out a strong message stating that they want Brussels to intensify cooperation with all Western Balkan countries. She called on EU member states to more actively provide support to the migrants crossing into Europe through the Mediterranean. Minister of Defense of Austria Mario Kunasek stated that Austria wants to be a good example for the states of Western Balkans. He added that another 150 soldiers will be sent to B&H from September 15th. Projects of military support in the areas of training and facing difficult situations will be conducted, said Kunasek. All EU members have been called to be more responsible about the solving of this problem. Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE Enzo Moavero called for more solidarity between the member states. Ha added that the responsibility cannot be delegated to one country based on its’ geographical position or the rules the human traffickers make. The second day of the meeting, the ministers are going to discuss the EU integration process, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the relations with Turkey.

Inzko: Voters in B&H should not once again believe in illusion that their ethnic group is under attack (Nezavisne)

High Representative Valentin Inzko reminded that the pre-election campaign is about to start in B&H in several days’ time. “In many countries, politicians are using more direct and tendentious rhetoric during this period, in order to motivate voters. However, divisive rhetoric is being used in B&H not only during the pre-election period, but during the entire term in the office,” Inzko wrote. He noted that insults addressed at other ethnic and religious groups and political opponents, representatives of international community and even individual citizens, “have become a constant, the model of behavior and a method on the political scene”. “Since they cannot show the real progress, certain politicians in B&H are fabricating conspiracy theories, instead of seriously discussing the real problems which affect the standard of citizens”, said Inzko, adding that nationalist rhetoric is often used as a mean to achieve some personal goals. “Regardless of this disappointing trend, I believe that the majority of B&H citizens know that the goal of negative rhetoric is to turn the attention away from the failure of a significant number of those in power to do their job,” Inzko noted. He added that even though the constitutional organization of the country can sometimes make the decision-making process more difficult, politicians would be able to resolve many issues – such as corruption, bad climate for business and the fact that some are above the law – if only more of them would start considering those issues to be among their priorities. “Unfortunately, irresponsible and aggressive rhetoric can have real consequences by creating the atmosphere of intolerance or hatred towards certain groups or individuals, as we have seen recently in the case of attacks on journalists. Fortunately, reality and established facts cannot be changed, neither in the case of Srebrenica, nor in any other case”, Inzko wrote. “Reality always strikes back, one way or the other, sooner or later. Unfortunately, the blow is usually dealt to ordinary citizens, instead of political and other elites, who can allow themselves to live in a parallel world, separated from citizens they represent”, he added. According to High Representative, “relative stagnation in B&H” is caused by some politicians not dealing with real problems, but focusing on ethnic issues and blockade of the country instead. “That has made many of the best and smartest citizens of this country to leave B&H. That is the real tragedy of B&H,” Inzko wrote, adding that the same thing is in the interest of representatives of all ethnic groups – to elect politicians ready to resolve the problems of ordinary people, instead of dealing with the needs of politicians and political parties. “They should not once again believe in an illusion that their ethnic group is under attack. That is an illusion created by certain political leaders. They should not be afraid, because there is simply nothing to be afraid of. The atmosphere of fear is being deliberately created by certain politicians, in order for citizens to have that in mind come the election day,” the HR explained.

At the end, Inzko called on both voters and candidates, to “rationally think about the real needs: political stability, safety and security, the rule of law, more jobs, higher incomes, better roads, better education system, better healthcare system” “Those are the issues that really matter”, Inzko concluded.

Concerns in EU parliament over situation in Bosnia (N1)

The European Parliament expressed concerns by the lack of reform progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and the early beginning of the pre-election campaign. MP’s warned that election results must be implemented as soon as possible in order to continue with the necessary reforms. EU Parliament’s MP Cristian Preda expressed concerns over the lack of reforms and the early election pre-election campaign, during Wednesday discussion in the European Parliament. Due to lack of the agreement on Bosnia’s Election Law reform, October election must be held under certain conditions and election results must be visible in practice, without delay, Preda said. After the elections, MP’s agreed that Bosnian authorities must cooperate and overcome the differences in order to bring the country closer to EU and implement the necessary reforms. “The priorities are numerous, the fight against crime and corruption, strengthening of the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and the public administration reform,” Preda stressed. According to him, this year’s report stresses the need for a legal framework when it comes to the protection of human rights. Certain measures must be taken when it comes to the prevention of discrimination, especially in the context of cases of discrimination established by the International Court of Human Rights. He added that it is extremely worrying that media freedoms have worsened in the country and said that politicians must create a safe environment in which journalists can work safely. EU MP Tonino Picula said that they could see no progress in Bosnia. On the contrary, they concluded that the country is a state of stagnation. “The situation became worse right before the election. We’ve witnessed a pre-election rally by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held in Bosnia (Sarajevo), and attempts of denial of the Srebrenica genocide by Republika Srpska (RS) entity officials. As there was no agreement on amendments to the state Election Law, everything has been brought into question,” Picula stressed. Two years ago the Constitutional Court of B&H ruled that some provisions of the Election Law were inconsistent with the state Constitution. Since then the authorities have failed to act in the legally allowed timeframe resulting in a further court ruling to delete two sections of the Election Law that treat the matter of representation in the Federation of B&H House of Peoples. The ongoing political talks on the electoral reform in Bosnia have been in a deadlock for some time, despite the mediation of international representatives in the country, who took the advisory role in these negotiations. He warned that report on Bosnia must contain an item that would explain the ultimate cause of all the problems in the country and expressed his opinion that the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the war in Bosnia is not functioning properly. Bastian Bas Belder who is also an EU MP said that the report did not treat the Russian influence on Bosnia and it’s entity RS, nor did it treat other countries’ influence, such as Turkish and the influence from some Gulf countries. He wanted to know how these countries could affect Bosnia’s EU accession.

Croatia looking for 2,525 missing persons (Hina)

Croatia is looking for 2,525 persons, including 1,922 unsolved cases dating back to the Homeland War, it was said on Thursday on the occasion of International Day of the Disappeared, with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic saying this was a big unsolved life, humanitarian and political problem. “The Great Serbia aggression caused Croatia many wounds, but the wound of the missing is the biggest of all. We have repaired the material damage, we have buried victims in a dignified way and we can respectfully honor them, but we have still not shed light on the fate of the missing. As a state, we still haven’t settled this moral debt to our missing and their families,” said the president. She said that was why she had insisted on renewing political dialogue with Serbia and invited Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Croatia in February. After the visit, certain small steps forward have been made but much more needs to be done, as there is not one justified reason to delay solving this problem, she added.

The President said she would continue to insist on the fate of the missing as a key element of further dialogue and full normalization of Croatia-Serbia relations as well as of Croatia’s support for Serbia’s European Union accession, because the truth about the missing is the political minimum below which no one in Croatia must go. Dignified burials and marked graves are a prerequisite for talks on justice, morality, European values and civilization achievements, the President added. War Veterans Minister Tomo Medved said the investigation of mass or single graves of missing victims has intensified since 2016. To date, 128 possible unregistered sites in 12 counties have been found, test excavations were done on 100, resulting in the finding of 85 victims. After the identification of those and other remains, 108 victims were given dignified burials. Medved said 1,508 missing persons were being traced for and that for 414 there was information that they were killed but not where their remains may be. In order to find out, steps forward have been made in cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, but the key is in Serbia, so Medved suggested signing a new cooperation agreement in line with the present context. We want data from Serbia. They have that data as well as records, and one of the basic requirements for opening Chapter 23 in Serbia’s EU accession negotiations will be full cooperation in tracing the disappeared, he said. Medved said he could not speculate on Serbia’s motives for concealing those locations, but “the fact is that they have records on mass grave sites.” The president of an association of detained and missing Croatian defenders’ families, Ljiljana Alvir, said Medved’s ministry was looking for 1,922 persons who disappeared in the Homeland War. We ask of Croatian institutions to exert bigger pressure on Serbia and a firmer stance with regard to Serbia’s EU accession negotiations, as the key to finding the disappeared is in Serbia, she added. Alvir said Serbian institutions and Vucic had not kept even one of the promises they made in Zagreb in February and later in Belgrade.

Croatia supports inclusion of Western Balkans in EU defense policy (Hina)

Attending an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Vienna on Thursday, Croatia Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic said that southeast Europe is faced with a series of security issues and that the EU has the mechanisms that can strengthen stability there, and one way is to include those countries in the common EU defense policy, the Croatian ministry said in a press release.

EU defense ministers met in Vienna on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss cooperation between the EU and Southeast European countries and current EU security initiatives.

Krsticevic underscored that southeast Europe is faced with a series of issues that impact the stability of the entire region, which requires significant engagement and attention from the Union, particularly in the context of the influx of irregular migrants, the press release said.

He underscored that the EU has several mechanisms at its disposal that can contribute to strengthening stability and building institutional capacities in those countries that are necessary to face up to the existing challenges. One of those mechanisms is strong EU support for these EU aspirants on their path to accession and strengthening partner-like relations by including SEE countries in the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), said Krsticevic.

Krsticevic underscored the importance of permanent cooperation with NATO, having in mind the complementarity of the EU and that defense alliance, and stressed the need to combine EU security and defense initiatives that will result in an efficient development of Europe’s defense ability, said the press release.

Montenegro ruling parties welcome Rudovic’s idea (Dnevne novine)

Nedjeljko Rudovic, a recent vice-president of URA Civic Movement, announced talks about merging the part of pro-Montenegrin opposition parties, organizations and individuals. The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Montenegrin party welcome this idea. The ruling DPS said the opposition’s merging was a very good idea. “The DPS will support the unification of the opposition parties if their core principle is to defend the interests of the state, in these difficult times when many topics concerning Montenegro are being triggered in particular,” Aleksandra Vukovic of the DPS told the Radio Montenegro.

Ivan Vujovic of the SDP told: “Rudovic’s idea is worthy of attention and its basic principles are in accordance with the SDP’s policy.” The leader of the Montenegrin party, Vladimir Pavicevic, said his party was always open for talks as “it’s pretty obvious that Montenegrin civic parties can do much more when united.”

Zaev: 30 September referendum – process for strengthening Macedonia’s independence (MIA)

The 30 September referendum is yet another vote for strengthening Macedonia’s independence, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Thursday, promoting the pro-plebiscite campaign of the coalition ‘United for European Macedonia.’ Together we shall secure our borders and obtain certain EU, NATO perspective, Zaev said, comparing the upcoming referendum with the one for Macedonia’s independence 27 years ago. ‘I am certain that this referendum for the future of Macedonia, as the one in 1991, will be successful. Citizens will come together for European Macedonia. It is time for Macedonia to promptly take the right path, one that raises high above the daily-political brawls and fierce debates in our society,’ Zaev told the gathering of supporters at the MPs Club. Macedonia, he said, is ahead of an event of historic proportions, as it will affect the future of Macedonia and next generations, something that is much more important than any political party. Zaev voiced belief that the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, which has been an advocate of Macedonia’s accession to the EU, NATO, would also join the pro-referendum coalition. ‘I know that VMRO-DPMNE stands for European Macedonia, as I am also aware that it doesn’t accept the agreement with Greece. Criticize the government for the agreement, but don’t miss this one and only opportunity for Macedonia to become the EU, NATO member,’ Zaev said. The campaign, he said, is intended to inform citizens about the benefits of the EU, NATO membership status and the Skopje-Athens (name) agreement, which is a deal for Macedonia’s future. ‘A safe future doesn’t come easy. Nobody can deny that we’ve had to make concessions. It is painful and I share the feeling, but every compromise brings a breakthrough, progress. And when we will face our children tomorrow we shall grasp the significance of this compromise,’ Zaev said. The coalition’s pro-referendum campaign, dubbed ‘Come out and vote for European Macedonia’, brings together about 100 parties and organizations, Zaev said, expressing belief that many others would join in. DUI’s leader Ali Ahmeti said the upcoming referendum would offer an opportunity to citizens to present their opinion about Macedonia’s future within the EU, NATO; more democratic society, the rule of law and resolute fight against corruption and organized crime. ‘Our country is going through a crucial period that requires courage and determination. All of us united invite you to vote for Europe and NATO. I invite the opposition to become part of the joint success, as the accession of our country to the EU and NATO will bring benefit to the state, its citizens, but also to the opposition parties,’ Ahmeti said. Now, he added, is the time for leadership, courage and vision, not for calculation and hesitation.

30 parties join forces to campaign for ‘Yes’ vote in name referendum (MIA)

About 30 political parties have rallied around the call to the citizens for a positive outcome of the referendum and the Euro-Atlantic future of Macedonia by endorsing several joint principles.

The political parties have agreed to call on the citizens to come out on September 30 and vote Yes in the upcoming name referendum, it was announced late Wednesday at a meeting of the leaders of the political parties. The meeting was organized by an initiative of Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev to discuss the referendum and ‘the most vital state and political objective of the country – the Euro-Atlantic path of Macedonia; priorities on which the future of the country and of all our citizens depend,’ the ruling party SDSM said in a statement.

President Ivanov to be in New York for UN GA on name referendum day (MIA)

President Gjorge Ivanov will not be in the country on the day when a referendum has been scheduled on a proposed change of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia, several Macedonian media outlets report on Thursday. MIA has reached out to Ivanov’s office for comment to either confirm or deny the news. However, representatives of Ivanov’s office are yet to issue an official position on whether the President will be absent from the country on September 30, a date considered of historic importance in Macedonia’s recent history. According to his office, Ivanov will be prevented from casting his ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote in the referendum, because he will be ‘representing Macedonia at the UN General Assembly in New York,’ the media have reported. “His absence from the country comes as a result of the established ‘rotation system’, meaning that every other year the country is represented by the head of the state after the previous year the prime minister acted as the nation’s representative,” Ivanov’s office said as quoted by the media. The UN General Assembly (GA) this year will be held on September 25-30. Macedonian President Ivanov is scheduled to deliver an address on Sept. 27, shows a preliminary agenda posted on the UN GA’s website.

FM Dimitrov attends informal ministerial meeting in Vienna (MIA)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov on Thursday and Friday in Vienna will take part in an informal meeting of foreign ministers of EU members and EU candidate countries, namely Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Dimitrov has been invited to attend by EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and Karin Kneissl, Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, the country currently holding the chairmanship of the Council of the EU, the Macedonian MoFA said in a press release. Talks will focus on matters related to effective multilateralism, one of the priorities of Austria’s EU presidency, and the EU Global Strategy – the EU’s fundamental strategy document for its Common Foreign and Security Policy, according to the press release. Also, FM Dimitrov at the sidelines of the meeting will be part of a working lunch of EU foreign ministers with their counterparts from Southeast Europe and Turkey to discuss issues involving digital infrastructure.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

In Bosnia-Herzegovina Jihadists More Welcome Than Russian Writers (Strategic Culture Foundation, by Aleksandar Pavic, 31 August 2018)

On August 23, 2018, best-selling Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin was denied entry into Bosnia-Herzegovina (B-H) on the grounds that he “represents a threat for the security and international relations” of the country, as adjudged by Bosnia’s Intelligence and Security Agency. Approving Western media reports emphasized Prilepin’s past involvement in the conflict in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine on the side of the forces fighting against the central government in Kiev and its Russophobic policies instituted in the aftermath of the Maidan Coup in February 2014. But Prilepin himself has never hidden this fact, and reiterated it in his interview for the Serbian-language Sputnik news agency, adding however that he had visited B-H “20-30 times” before without any problems, having met the president of the Serbian entity, Republika Srpska (B-H is made up of two political units or “entities,” the other being the Federation of B-H, with a Croat-Muslim majority), as well as globally famous film director Emir Kusturica, who runs a cultural, administrative and educational complex there. In fact, Prilepin pointed out that this was the first time that a European country had denied him entrance, as he has traveled extensively throughout Western Europe, including Italy, Germany, Switzerland and France, without any problems. The Russian embassy expressed “concern and deep disappointment” over the incident and has asked for an explanation from the B-H Foreign Ministry, which passed the buck by itself asking for an explanation from the B-H Council of Ministers (the B-H government) and two other ministries, without any results so far. The prime minister of Republika Srpska, Zeljka Cvijanovic, marveled at the fact that, while hundreds of EU-bound migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia were being allowed to enter B-H each day without passports, a Russian writer with a valid passport was stopped at the border. In her opinion, this was an “orchestrated action of various B-H agencies and certain Western embassies,” and that some sort of “political list” of undesirable persons had been made up as part of a campaign of “anti-Russian hysteria.” Prilepin himself offered confirmation of the prime minister’s suspicions, saying that some of the border agents that stopped him “honestly admitted” that he wasn’t the only one on the “black list,” which also includes a number of Russian businessmen who are barred from entering the country. Prominent security expert Dzevad Galijasevic – himself a Bosnian Muslim – also thinks that this incident is part of a deliberate anti-Russian policy and accused top B-H government figures, including the Muslim member of the B-H presidency, of declaring “silent sanctions against Russia,” while, at the same time, “only Wahhabis, mujahedeen and terrorists of the Islamic State, who are coming while impersonating migrants, are welcome to BiH,” along with people such as Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed al Sawah, whom Fox News has described as a “legendary Al Qaeda explosives expert, whose invention of the ‘shoe-bomb’ endeared him to Usama bin Laden and who may have known about 9/11 in advance.” Al Sawah was freed from Guantanamo Bay in 2016 and sent to B-H, whose top officials had no qualms about accepting him. The outspoken president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, also pointed to the absurdity of a Russian writer being deemed a threat to B-H, while “thousands of migrants and returnees from the war in Syria” were deemed safe, declaring the ban on Prilepin’s entry into B-H as “part of the involvement of security institutions in Bosnia in the anti-Russian hysteria that is being run by some Western countries” in the run-up to general elections in B-H slated for October 7, 2018. Indeed, especially during the past months, media throughout the Balkans have carried almost daily lamentations on the part of various Western officials, diplomats and media regarding Russia’s “malign influence” in the region, without actually offering any hard evidence. On the other hand, credible, fact-based charges regarding US meddling in the election process has been offered on more than one occasion. For example, just a day before Prilepin was barred from entering B-H, Mr. Dodik accused the US of “meddling” in the upcoming elections, specifying, according to Reuters, that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was “implementing its aid program through non-government organizations to conceal… its real agenda of countering Russian influence in the region,” granting funds to various non-governmental organizations “under cover of the alleged fight against crime and corruption,” and the “strengthening of independent media and NGOs,” with the funds “always” coming by way of programs run by George Soros. That wasn’t the first time that the US was accused of meddling in Bosnia’s election. Back in May, the government of Republika Srpska submitted a report to the UN Secretary-General containing evidence pointing to serious, US-led election meddling as part of a systematic effort, by way of media financing, to influence B-H political life for the last 23 years, since the country became a de facto Western political protectorate. All told, the US has spent over $100,000,000 in media funding in B-H since the end of the civil war in 1995, most of it channeled through USAID and the US State Department through the US embassy in Sarajevo, mainly targeted against “nationalist” parties. As for the upcoming elections, the report charges, the US Congress has allocated $18 million for the so-called Economic Support and Development Fund to B-H for 2018, purportedly to “reduce vulnerabilities to Russian pressure, particularly in the energy and media sectors,” as well as “support independent media, elections, and democratic political processes.” It is, thus, relatively easy to deduce that the banning of the Russian writer’s entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina was no local caprice, but part of a broad, systematic US effort to, under the guise of combatting alleged “Russian malign influence,” meddle in the elections of another country, specifically B-H. In that context, Zakhar Prilepin is, to use a favorite term of so-called liberal interventionists, mere “collateral damage.” Unfortunately, as the entire region is viewed on the part of Western political-military structures as a piece of “unfinished business,” at the end of which process the Balkans are to be wholly absorbed into “Euro-Atlantic” structures – which is a euphemism for NATO and the EU – Prilepin’s banning is just a foretaste of (much) worse things to come – such as a possible “color revolution” in the making against the governing nationalists in Republika Srpska – courtesy of the usual “democracy-promoting” suspects, using the “Russian meddling” excuse as a convenient pretext.