LOCAL PRESS

Serbian president orders military to stand down (Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has ordered the military to stand down from its highest state of combat readiness in the south of the country, a defence ministry statement said on Thursday.

The statement said that Vucic issued the order to “disengage the rapid reaction forces” early on Thursday to Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Milan Mojsilovic.

“The Army of Serbia, working with other security structures in line with the order from the Supreme Commander, is continuing to monitor the security situation and is prepared to protect its state and all our citizens regardless of where they live at every moment,” the statement said.

Ivanic: If Vucic has proof of foreign interference in B&H, he should publish it before the elections (RTV)

If Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic really does have proof of foreign interference in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) as he claims he does, he should publish it before Sunday’s elections, the Serb member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic told RTV on Wednesday.

Ivanic is running for re-election as a candidate of the opposition Alliance for Change.

“I respect Vucic but if there is evidence of foreign interference she should say so before the elections” Ivanic said.

Last week Vucic said he would present after the election in B&H on 7 October “striking evidence about most brutal interference of certain Western powers in this election” in the Republic of Srpska (RS). “If I get an opportunity to meet Ivanic one day, I will tell him but I will certainly say in public what I think of everything after the elections,” Vucic said.

Vucic: Serbia and Germany reach historic level of bilateral relations (Beta)

President Aleksandar Vucic on Oct. 3 congratulated German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel on German Unity Day, saying he was proud that the two countries had now reached a historic level of bilateral relations, characterized with deep mutual trust.

“Our economic cooperation is also reaching new heights and I believe that an increase of German investments reflects on a changed perception of Serbia and its bigger reputation in Germany. I am thankful to German companies for providing jobs for some 50,000 people in Serbia, but also for giving an example of how more work and diligence can produce success and better standards” Vucic said in his letter. Vucic also said he hoped that in the coming years, bilateral relations would continue to develop for the mutual benefit and in the spirit of European values. He also said that the strength of Germany was the strength of the EU and that he was convinced that Germany would help with the EU in handling challenges and overcoming them successfully as it was of the utmost interest for Serbia’s EU future.

“Along with gratitude for all the support of Germany to Serbia’s EU path, I would like to confirm that Serbia, as a reliable partner, will be a strong pillar in preserving peace and strengthening democracy in the Western Balkans, which owing to the Berlin Process has headed toward stability and cooperation” Vucic said in the letters.

Dacic in Moscow: Inter-government committee in Belgrade in November, ahead of Putin’s visit (Beta)

The session of the Russian-Serbian inter-government committee will be held in Belgrade at the start of November, ahead of the announced visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stated in Moscow on Oct. 3. After a meeting with the Russian deputy prime minister, Yuri Borisov, who is also the co-chairman of the Russian-Serbian Inter-Government Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, Dacic said the topics of the November meeting of this committee would be all those that are significant for cooperation between the two countries, the Serbian Foreign Ministry has stated. In Moscow on Oct. 3, Dacic also met with Alexei Muller, the president of the Gazprom company, who, in Dacic’s words, informed him “about the works on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the course of their talks with Bulgaria, regarding the realization of the pipeline through Bulgaria towards Serbia.” Dacic stressed that this was a very important matter for Serbia, because “it is being supplied with gas via one single route – from Russia via Ukraine.” Dacic also participated in the international energy forum in Moscow on Oct. 3, Russian Energy Week, while Minister for Energy Aleksandar Antic had separate talks with the Russian side, it said in the statement.

Serbia’s opposition to collect signatures for Vucic’s ouster (N1 Belgrade)

Serbia’s opposition “Civil Bloc 381,” said on Wednesday it would start collecting signatures for the overthrow of President Aleksandar Vucic on October 5, on the 18th anniversary of the dismissal of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic, N1 reported.

On October 5, at 6 pm we will remind people that it is possible to overthrow a dictatorship. We will walk the streets of Belgrade to make them think about the country we live in today,” Sasa Jankovic, the Bloc’s leader said. He added he would continue collecting the signatures as long as Vucic was in power. His coalition partners said that Serbia was a democratic country and that it was his (Jankovic’s) legitimate right.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Plus Media conducts election poll which shows SNSD-DNS-SP coalition convincingly leads in RS (ATV)

Banja Luka-based agency ‘Plus Media’ presented the results of the latest independent election poll conducted on a sample of 6,800 respondents. The poll was conducted in the period between September 28 and October 2 and the results show a significant lead of the ruling SNSD-DNS-SP coalition in Republika Srpska (RS).

For the position of the next RS President, SNSD candidate Zeljka Cvijanovic convincingly leads in the race against ‘Alliance for Victory’ (Savez za Pobjedu – SzP) candidate Vukota Govedarica. The poll shows that 41 percent of respondents gave their support to Cvijanovic, while 33 percent of them supported Govedarica.

In the race between SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and PDP member Mladen Ivanic for the position of the next Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency, Dodik got 49 percent support from the respondents, while Ivanic got 37 percent of votes. The conducted poll did not include opinion of the Bosniaks living in the RS, because, as ATV explains, many of the Bosniaks refused to be part of this poll and give their opinion.

When it comes to the support for the RS National Assembly (RSNA), SNSD received 39 percent of the votes, which is an increase in comparison to the previous elections. According to the poll, SDS got a 22.2 percent of votes, DNS got 10.9 percent, PDP got 9.7 percent, SP received 6.3 percent, while NDP and ‘Ujedinjena Srpska’ received the least support, with around 2 percent each. When it comes to receiving mandates for the B&H House of Representatives (B&H HoR), SNSD is expected to receive six direct mandates, while SDS will get three.

With the compensation mandates, SNSD might have seven to eight mandates, SDS three or four, DNS will have one or two and PDP-NDP Club will probably have only one representative in the B&H HoR.

Bildt: NATO and EU should increase military presence in Kosovo and B&H (Nezavisne novine)

Former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt stated on Wednesday that NATO and the EU should increase their military presence in BiH and in Kosovo because of instability. Commenting a tweet posted by the Center for European Reforms claiming that some frozen conflicts in the Western Balkan region are thawing and asking if the EU can ensure peaceful resolution, Bildt tweeted: “My recommendation to NATO and the EU is to increase their military presence in Kosovo and Bosnia because of instability.”

Trump’s campaign manager Lewandowski holds lecture at Faculty of Political Science in Banja Luka (RTRS)

US President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign manager Corey Lewandowski delivered a lecture on the current political situation in the US and its influence on Europe at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka on Wednesday. On this occasion, Lewandowski said that a number of media outlets in the US and other countries are trying to annul the effects of good results of the ruling authorities by fake news. Referring to Republika Srpska (RS), he assessed that media outlets are not presenting the true picture despite significant economic progress, which is also the case in the US. As a classic example of fake news, Lewandowski referred to the articles accusing him of being an Albanian lobbyist as well as the news on Russia’s alleged interference with the elections in the US. In his opinion, this is the result of intolerance of certain media outlets and so-called “deep state” i.e. former administration towards Trump. Lewandowski is convinced that the best way to fight such system and improve relations between the US and the RS– is the way in which RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic is doing that.

“Your Prime Minister has been to Washington many times and she had an opportunity to talk to key figures in our administration. I think this is crucial for your country,” Lewandowski was quoted as saying. He also stressed that he is not interfering with the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H).

Answering the students’ questions, Cvijanovic said that she has been a target of fake news on several occasions, particularly when she held meetings with a number of influential politicians in the US. She added that despite the fact that many people have disapproved of that, every single visit to Washington has certainly paid off. Lewandowski and Cvijanovic agreed that it is necessary to improve relations between the US and the RS and present the truth about the situation in B&H directly to representatives of the US Administration.

Lewandowski said that Trump came to Washington to change what the old administration has done in the past 30 years and make America a top priority. On that path, he was largely hindered by “fake news” and the old administration that is still deeply rooted in the system. “Our media hate Trump more than they love their country”, said Lewandowski. He denied claims of him being a lobbyist for Kosovo. “I am not a lobbyist. These are fake news. I have never in my life talked to anyone from Kosovo, at least I think so, nor have I ever visited Kosovo”, confirmed Lewandowski.

Croatia

“Croats in areas bordering Serbia should own arms” says HDZ MP (Hina)

A parliamentary debate on a bill on firearm possession on Wednesday went off on a tangent, focusing on “historical topics”, after Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) MP Stevo Culej said that “every able-bodied Croat in areas bordering with Serbia should have a firearm within their reach,” with Social Democratic Party (SDP) MP Nenad Stazic retorting that Culej was making fascist statements.

Culej said that he would support the bill on firearm possession particularly if it enabled “every mentally and physically fit Croat who lives in areas bordering with our former enemy Serbia, to possess weapons because who knows what the night and future may bring.”

He said that after he heard the “debate by fellow MPs on the left side of the parliament, it is clear why we were disarmed in the 1990s and had to buy guns at a thousand and a half Deutsche marks a piece and bullets at two and a half marks a piece.” “That’s their style – disarm Croats and arm someone else,” Culej said.

“Your statement that Croats and Croats alone should be armed is not just dangerous, it is openly fascist,” Stazić retorted. He wondered how Culej would determine who was a Croat. “We can’t count blood cells to determine who is a Croat,” he added.

Citing an article on Wikipedia, MP Ivan Pernar (Zivi Zid) claimed that the SDP had in fact advocated the disarmament of Croatia in the early 1990s, “and it appears that that continues to be a thorn in their side.”

SDP MP Gordan Maras said that “Wikipedia lives off what someone writes on it”, adding that then SDP leader Ivica Racan deserved credit for the establishment of the Republic of Croatia and its independence, and that even the late president Franjo Tudjman had admitted that.

Montenegro

Stoltenberg: Investments in Montenegro doubled thanks to NATO (RTCG)

Montenegro represents a good example of the NATO membership. Since it acceded to NATO, the investments have doubled, said NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg. The United States permanent representative to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, told Montenegro is an important North Atlantic member.

At the press conference organized ahead of the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg said the meeting is going to tackle various important issues, such as the “issue of burden and responsibility sharing”.

“We remain concerned about Russia’s lack of respect for its international commitments” underlined Stoltenberg.

This meeting of Defense Ministers will strengthen partnerships and he is to meet the representatives of the EU as well.

As for the Macedonia’s name-change referendum, he said: “NATO is ready to welcome the country as our thirtieth member. But the only way is to implement the name agreement. There is no other way to NATO membership”.

Next week he will be travelling to the region, visiting Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana.

fYROM

Ruling SDSM, opposition VMRO-DPMNE define next steps following name referendum (MIA)

The highest bodies of ruling SDSM and opposition VMRO-DPMNE are holding separate meetings Wednesday to define the parties’ next steps after Sunday’s name referendum.

SDSM says the party leadership is holding a regular meeting, which will be dedicated to the political developments in Macedonia after the plebiscite. Prime Minister/SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, Ministers Radmila Sekerinska, Dragan Tevdovski, Goran Sugarevski, Ljupco Nikolovski, Edmond Ademi, Skopje and Karpos Mayors and MPs are in attendance.

VMRO-DPMNE also says it intends to review the post-referendum developments in the country.

Kostadin Bogdanov, member of the VMRO-DPMNE Executive Committee, told reporters that the party meeting would review the possibilities for MPs to support the name deal with Greece or the call for snap elections.

“I personally believe that the process related to name agreement should be completed at the Parliament. The MPs should take the responsibility” Bogdanov said.

However, for VMRO-DPMNE MP Dragan Danev the referendum was not successful, and therefore he wouldn’t vote for constitutional amendments.

The two parties are holding meetings as PM Zaev called on VMRO-DPMNE MPs to either support the changes to the Constitution, as stipulated in the name agreement, or the call for snap elections.

VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said the party’s MPs would not support the constitutional amendments. The party also conditioned possible snap poll with an appointment of a Przino-style government, meaning the incumbent government to submit its formal resignation to Parliament 100 days before the parliamentary elections.

Germany’s CDU/CSU: Opposition must not block Macedonia’s NATO and EU perspective (MIA)

With over 91 percent of the votes in favor, voters in Macedonia gave overwhelming support to the European path and to greater perspective of their country in the EU and NATO, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Johann David Wadephul, said. Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s ruling German CDU/CSU group believes that the opposition must not block Macedonia’s NATO and EU perspective, warning that the failure of the name deal will isolate the country for a long time.

“In Sunday’s referendum in Macedonia, more than 91 percent of voters voted in favor of changing the name of the country in “North Macedonia” and, at the same time, for further perspective of their country in the NATO and EU. However, the required quorum of 50 percent turnout was not achieved. Therefore, the vote in parliament will be decisive” Wadephul said.

The CDU/CSU parliamentary group regrets that only about 37 percent of eligible voters participated in the referendum on the name change and thus the required quorum was not reached. However, the referendum is not binding. It is crucial that the necessary 2/3 majority for the constitutional amendment and the name change is achieved in the necessary vote in parliament, Wadephul said.

The CDU/CSU parliamentary group urges the Macedonian opposition to agree to historically important vote in the parliament on constitutional amendments, otherwise, it would be politically responsible for blocking this path for Macedonia in the long run and thus isolating the country from Europe. And will reflect on possibility of launching EU accession negotiations.

Balfour: Parliament’s failure to proceed with implementation of name agreement might lead to destabilization of Macedonia, entire region (MIA)

Rosa Balfour, Senior Fellow at the Germany Marshall Fund (GMF) of the US and Acting Director of its Europe Programme, warned Wednesday of possible destabilization of Macedonia and the region if the Parliament fails to proceed with the implementation of the name agreement with Greece.

“Prospects are not good if the agreement goes down the drain. History says that without a national engagement a status-quo, as we have seen in Macedonia, doesn’t only undermine democracy, but also the stability. We cannot exclude the possibility of deterioration of the inter-ethnic relations in the country. I am not saying it is going to happen, but such development may lead to a political crisis in the country and destabilization of the region,’ Balfour told MIA.

Despite the fact that the international community expected problems related to the referendum turnout and was aware of the difficulties with the electoral roll, it clearly pointed out the significance it had been attaching to this agreement and the plebiscite, considering how many high officials visited the country during the referendum campaign, Balfour said.

The historic significance of this agreement, which should be a way out from the ‘status quo’ Macedonia has been stuck in since 2005, was not ‘fully grasped’ in the country, she said.

‘If ethnic Albanians start to feel alienated over the deterioration of the political climate, if Serbia and Kosovo is to be undermined as a result of the activities of political opportunists – we all know exist in the region – all of these could lead to the region’s destabilization,’, Balfour said.

Now it is up to Macedonia’s Parliament, which in spite of the low referendum turnout should consider the fact that vast majority of citizens who came out, voted in favor of the agreement and the country’s EU, NATO membership, she said.

“The Macedonian agreement may serve as a solid example to other countries in the region about how long-lasting, complex disputes may be settled by a good will,’ Balfour said.

Stoltenberg: Agreement with Greece – only way for joining NATO, international community (MIA)

The agreement with Greece is the only way for joining NATO or the international community, but citizens and institutions of the country should make a decision to that effect, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference Wednesday.

“What I can say is that membership in NATO is only possible if the name agreement with Greece is implemented. There is no alternative way into NATO or the international community without mutually accepted, agreed name agreement with Greece. Therefore I welcomed the name agreement, therefore I’ve supported the full implementation of the name agreement because I think it will be a great advantage for Macedonia, for the region and for NATO” Stoltenberg said.

We, he said, are ready to welcome the country as the 30th member, but it has to make sure that the name agreement is implemented because there is no alternative way to NATO.

Turkey continues to support Macedonia’s EU and NATO membership bid (MIA)

Turkey will continue to support Macedonia’s prosperity and security and its membership to the EU and NATO, says the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Turkey has recognized the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name since its independence. We have always supported and will continue to support Macedonia’s prosperity and security, as well as its membership to the EU and NATO,” reads a statement of the Foreign Ministry commenting on Sunday’s name referendum in Macedonia.

Italy expects Parliament to approve constitutional changes after Sunday’s referendum (MIA)

Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Sunday’s name referendum in Macedonia says it hopes that Parliament will approve the constitutional changes required by the Prespa Agreement.

“In a consultative referendum, the broad majority of voters in favor of the Agreement with Greece confirmed the EU and NATO aspirations of the Macedonian people. Italy fully supports the Euro-Atlantic path of the region hoping that Parliament will approve constitutional changes required by the Prespa Agreement” says the Italian MoFA.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Interview with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (The Washington Post)

As part of a series aimed at understanding Russia’s global influence, The Washington Post examined Russia’s low-cost, high-reward strategy in Serbia — a pivotal Balkan nation that has declared a desire to join the European Union but also counts Moscow as an ally. Although the West is showering far more cash on Serbia, Russian influence is far more penetrating. The Kremlin dominates the front pages of newspapers, Serbian Orthodox priests often echo Russian talking points and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic makes regular trips to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One key issue that has kept the countries close is the Kremlin’s refusal to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation following the former Serbian province’s decision to break away in 2008. Russia has used its U.N. Security Council veto to block efforts to give U.N. membership to Kosovo and to shield Serbia from condemnation. The Post spoke to Vucic this summer about how he balances relations between Russia and the West. Here are some excerpts from the conversation, lightly edited for clarity.

The Washington Post: You’ve been emphasizing a European, Western path for Serbia but also preserving good relations with Russia. If you were a member of the E.U., you would have to impose sanctions on Russia. Is that something you would be ready to do?

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic: Serbia has not only a regular and normal position but has the only position that it can defend by itself. Which means that we are on our E.U. path, we want to belong to a European type of society. That’s No. 1, something of the biggest significance for us.

And what we want to be a part of is the European Union as an organization of 27, 28 member states, which is the biggest bloc of peace and tranquility. And also, that would help us to keep stability and to keep up reforms on different issues, including the anti-corruption fight, rule of law. That’s what we need.

On the other hand, we have the Kosovo issue, which is interpreted in different ways, but you have Kosovo in all of our chapters in a way. Whatever someone might say, we are overwhelmed with the issue of Kosovo. And if you analyze the polls, the recent polls in Serbia, you are going to see that if one day there would be a referendum on the European future of Serbia, the E.U. path will win. That’s about the rational approach of the Serbian people.

But if there would be the people’s assessment and people’s estimation on the European policy on Serbia, it is slightly different. People immediately connect the European Union to all the pressures that we are facing with Kosovo, and it is the same with Americans. And it is something strange.

And on the other hand, we have Russia, which supports our territorial integrity, which has always been helpful and supportive at the United Nations Security Council and at different institutions and organizations.

We have a very rational approach, although we consider both Europeans and Russians among others as well, as our true friends. That’s very simple. You take everything you can to defend your country’s position and your country’s and your people’s interest.

WP: Apart from Russian support on the Kosovo issue, what is more attractive about Russia than the West to Serbia?

Vucic: Serbs are very much attracted by the Western living standards, the standards of people.

That’s why they like Germans. Because they bring their factories, they bring their plants to this country. They respect them very much. And the way of living is something that is preferable in the West than in the East, no doubt.

Then, some people wanted to stigmatize and to put a seal on our forehead, that we, our people, only our people committed genocide, you know, the only people in Europe to commit genocide after the Second World War. The Russians were on our side at the U.N. Security Council when the others were not.

And people will say okay, they are a close ally, but here is our rational choice and our rational approach that we are going to go to the E.U. It does not mean we are going to spoil our relationship with Russia. But even when we go to Russia, it does not mean we are leaving our E.U. path.

But you know, I am the president of an independent country and we make decisions by ourselves for the benefit and the sake of our people. We are Serbs, we are ordinary citizens of Serbia, we have our own politics and I’m very proud to say that. Of course, we have to obey some rules, to be decent with everybody, but we have our interests. That’s it.

WP: Ordinary Serbs do not necessarily seem to realize the degree to which trade is focused on Europe versus Russia, and I have to say, looking at the Serbian media, I think I understand why. You see Vladimir Putin on the covers of tabloids. There is a big orientation towards Russia. And I wanted to ask why that is.

Vucic: I’ll try to explain it a very rational way, speaking about all the events from the 1990s, including 1999 [when NATO bombed Serbia]. And all the pressure that we were facing after 2000 on the Kosovo issue. I don’t know what else. These are the reasons.

I’ll put it this way. If you ask my parents, particularly my father or my brother, they would have thousands of words of remarks on the European Union’s behavior in Serbia. And after all, if you ask the question whether we should continue, whether we should carry on with our E.U. path, you always get the same response. [Yes.]

It is very difficult to tackle people’s sentiments and people’s emotions. But this is our job to do it, to do everything in a very rational and realistic way.

Our country, our Serbia, is on its E.U. path. Would we like to preserve the best possible relationship with Russia? Yes, we would. Are we going to join NATO or not? No, we are not interested in that. Do we have a good relationship with NATO? Yes, we do. Through [Partnership for Peace] programs, through all the other programs, but we are not willing to join NATO.

WP: What is the role Sputnik and of Russian media here?

Vucic: Sputnik became, I think, a relatively reliable source of news, if I’m not mistaken. I do not know, to tell you the truth. I am not sure. They work freely here and that’s it. There is BBC in Serbian, as well. There is N1. There are media owned by people from different countries and that kind of diversity.