LOCAL PRESS

Vucic, Brnabic inform Chinese Ambassador on latest situation (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic have informed Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang on the latest development of the situation following this morning’s incursion of ROSU units in northern the part of Kosovska Mitrovica. Vucic and Brnabic asked Ambassador Li to convey to the Chinese leadership that Serbia has never been in a more difficult situation despite its constant calls for peace and stability, along with a serious and responsible approach to the resolution of all problems. “The incursion of ROSU units in Northern Mitrovica has shown that KFOR, i.e. NATO, have intentionally deceived the public and it is clear today after whose order and in conjunction with what forces the NATO representatives lied,” said Vucic. On the occasion of the introduction of taxes on Serbian goods, for which she expects a reaction from the EU since at issue is the violation of the SAA and CEFTA agreements, Brnabic has stated that this is also a matter for the United Nations, because UNMIK is one of the signatories and that in this sense she expects China’s support in the most important world organization. Ambassador Li has stated that China understands very well what is happening in Kosovo and Metohija and that this is an already known scenario of an attack on Serbia’s integrity. He pointed out that President Si will be informed about everything in the course of the day and that Serbia can count on China’s support.

Vucic to Chepurin: We have no reason to trust NATO (B92/Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic informed Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Chepurin on Friday in Belgrade that Serbia has no reason to trust KFOR or NATO in Kosovo. Vucic and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked Ambassador Chepurin for Russia understanding exactly what is happening in Kosovo and Metohija and how threatened peace and stability in the entire region are. Vucic emphasized that this is the strongest yet attempt to endanger the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija so far. Vucic said that in the current situation, Serbia will continue to act seriously and responsibly, but also that there are no more reasons to trust in the KFOR mission or NATO in Kosovo and Metohija, as it turned out that everything that was said about the movement of the Rosu units (the day before) was a fabrication. Chepurin stressed that the Russian leadership is closely monitoring the development of the situation, as can be seen from the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and that he believes that Serbia, as a serious state, will be able to deal with provocations and threats of confrontation in a responsible manner.

Drecun: Dangerous move, hint at possible new violent actions (RTS)

“This is a dangerous unilateral move by Pristina that greatly aggravates the situation and raises tensions further, but unfortunately also a hint at possible new violent actions by Pristina in northern Kosovo,” the Chairperson of the Serbian parliament Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun told RTS. “They conducted a concentration of special forces that they need for such actions, as well as ROSU unites and FIT units that are not mentioned very much. This is a unit that needs to grow into a military elite formation, which was trained by the British and Americans. It was clear that after this concentration of Kosovo forces something was going to happen,” he said. Drecun says that it seems that the latest events are only an integral part of a wider strategy that has been, it seems, imposed by primarily Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, aimed at ceasing any kind of talks with Belgrade on the possibility of reaching agreement on the final status of Kosovo and Metohija, and drawing attention of the Kosovo public from problems of political, social and economic nature in Kosovo. “All that needs to actually be the redirection of the attention of the Albanians from an extremely difficult economic, social situation, from numerous problems they are facing and the failure that had been made in strengthening the international position of this false state and extremely unstable political situation,” said Drecun. He recalled that the current ruling coalition in Pristina doesn’t have the majority without the votes of the Serb List and stressed that they thus wish to redirect the attention of their own public from these problems to hatred towards Serbs. “Instead of protests being organized among the Albanians over the poor life, they are burning Serbian goods. Then they will send special unites to the north, threaten Belgrade. Everything is directed at not continuing talks in Brussels and not having a final resolution of the status of Kosovo and Metohija,” said Drecun.

Rakic: If decision is not revoked, we will organize protests in different forms as of Tuesday (Beta)

Serb List leader Goran Rakic announced peaceful protests over the Kosovo government’s decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on goods from Serbia. “The Serbs in Kosovo will not remain silent observers,” Rakic said after a meeting with President Vucic in Belgrade.

He said the Kosovo Serbs would call the international community to pressure Pristina into revoking what he said was a catastrophic and lethal decision for the Serb people in Kosovo.

“We will call for the decision to be revoked and if that does not happen we will organize protests in a different form as of Tuesday. We will not allow our children to be left without basic foodstuffs tomorrow,” Rakic said, adding that a decision on further steps would be taken on Tuesday.

REGIONAL PRESS

AFET: It is necessary to form new authorities at all levels as soon as possible (BHT1)

The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) passed a set of conclusions about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) following the general elections in the country, as well as the second version of the annual report on B&H. The main conclusions say it is necessary to form new authorities at all levels as soon as possible and that further reforms are the main priorities. During the discussions it was concluded that the Central Election Commission of B&H (CEC) is an administrative body which cannot solve election problems.

EP rapporteur for B&H Cristian Dan Preda stated that political reforms are possible in B&H if there is compromise and a consensus and this cannot be imposed. Preda reminded that the new convocation of B&H Presidency held its inaugural session, after which former Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic visited Croatia and new Serb member of B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik celebrated his new position with the Chinese and Russian Ambassadors to B&H. “This shows us their final goals. The key thing is that authorities at all levels are formed based on interests of the citizens” said Dan Preda.

Mektic, Crnadak and Sarovic send message to Dodik that they will not resign (BN TV)

B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic commented on Thursday the announcement by Chairman of B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik that representatives of Serbs in B&H joint institutions will be removed. Sarovic said that this will not happen. “It is obvious that Mr. Dodik is still not familiar with the competences he has. He will probably be well informed about that these days. He got the mandate to conduct foreign policy, together with two of his colleagues in B&H Presidency, and to worry about presentation of B&H, together with Mr. Sefik Dzaferovic and Mr. Zeljko Komsic, to take care of issues related to the B&H Armed Forces (AF), diplomatic-consular representative offices and that is it. He has no power, at least not direct one, when it comes to the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM). As far as I am personally concerned, I will perform my mandate to the last day, until the laws allows me and in the way prescribed by law,” Sarovic underlined. B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak said that he is a minister in full capacity. “I am representing the Serb people and Republika Srpska (RS) in the B&H CoM until the arrival of a new CoM. Everything I did in these three and a half years was in the function and in the interests of the RS, its international affirmation, its respect on the international scene and I will continue to work in that way,” Crnadak stressed. B&H Minister of Security Dragan Mektic stressed that Dodik primarily needs to be aware of the fact that he cannot act in the way he acted – like a bully – and to call on people to submit resignations. “Matter of people working here in these institutions is not a matter of Milorad Dodik. They were appointed in accordance with certain procedures, vacancies” Mektic underlined. Mektic added that Dodik acted in the past as if he had privatized the RS. “He decided on everything; the fate of people in the RS individually, but he will not be able to do that here. There are laws, procedures which he will have to respect. These people were not hired by Milorad Dodik so that he calls them and says you are going home,” Mektic stressed.

B&H CoM calls on Kosovo to abolish decision on introduction of 100 percent of customs tariffs (N1)

At its session held on Thursday, B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) decided to call on Kosovo authorities to urgently abolish the decision to introduce 100 percent customs tariffs to products imported from B&H. Also, B&H CoM decided not to introduce counter measures against Kosovo, primarily due to ratio between export to Kosovo from B&H and import from Kosovo that is favorable for B&H and because such measure would not be useful. However, B&H CoM condemned the abovementioned Kosovo’s decision emphasizing that it violates CEFTA agreement. B&H CoM called on the EU to engage more actively in resolving of this situation.

B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic said that unless Kosovo abolishes the abovementioned decision CEFTA will be seriously undermined. Sarovic went on to say that besides economic ones, there are obviously some non-economic reasons behind this decision. Sarovic said that the B&H CoM is also asking the European Commission (EC) and its officials to get involved in this problem which, according to Sarovic, is threatening to disrupt the free trade zone, as well as to ask the Kosovo side to immediately abolish its decision to introduce 100 percent tariff on B&H products. Reporter reminded that Sarovic and his counterpart from Serbia decided that due to earlier decision of Kosovo to introduce 10 percent customs tariffs to products from B&H and Serbia, they will not attend a meeting of CEFTA countries that will be held in Pristina at the beginning of December. Reporter commented that recent developments should be observed through context of political relations, primarily relations between Serbia and Kosovo.  B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak stressed on Thursday that all recent developments might negatively affect stability of the Western Balkans. “From my point of view there is now great responsibility on Brussels, because it is not only trade that is in question here, but this also represents attack on stability of entire region” underlined Minister Crnadak.

Crnadak said that Kosovo’s decision is a typical political move. “When you introduce 100 percent tariff, it is politics. Thursday’s statement by Ramush Haradinaj that tariffs in Serbia’s case will be abolished when they recognize Kosovo very clearly shows what this is all about,” Crnadak said. Chairman of the Presidency of B&H Milorad Dodik, stated that decision to introduce 100 percent customs tariffs represents violation of all international agreements related to CEFTA and to free trade. He warned unless Kosovo is stopped by those who granted Kosovo certain status, complete regional relations will be undermined.

PO files two charges in “Thaler” case against Gruevski, Bozinovski, Janakieski and Dimovski (Meta)

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it has filed two charges in connection with the “Thaler” case, one for the illegal financing of the political party VMRO-DPMNE, and the other for the illegal construction of the party’s headquarters. The indictment for the illegal financing of the political party VMRO-DPMNE was filed against the former leader of the party, and current asylum seeker in Hungary, Nikola Gruevski, then for Kiril Bozinovski, Mile Janakieski, Ilija Dimovski, Leko Ristoski and Elizabeta Cingarovska, as well as the political party – VMRO -DPMNE. “The accused Gruevski, in the period from 2009 to 2015, abused his official position, secured finances from anonymous and illegal sources financed the VMRO-DPMNE. Bozinovski and Janakievski intimidated representatives from various legal entities that had concluded public procurement contracts with state bodies, public enterprises or local self-government departments to provide cash to finance the VMRO-DPMNE party. Gruevski did not return the money to the individuals from whom the funds came, that is, he did not return it to the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia, consequently gaining illegal funds for the financing of the VMRO-DPMNE in the amount of at least €4,608,661,” reads the statement by the SPO. To hide that the money came from criminal origins, Gruevski, Bozinovski, Janakievski and Cingaroska arranged for the funds to be paid into a VMRO-DPMNE account, through cash payments using “PP10” payment slips in which false information was entered claiming that the payments made were by the persons listed in the payment receipts, even though this was not the case. Subsequently, as authorized signatories of the party’s account, Dimovski, Cingaroska, Ristoski and Janakieski released the money in further circulation by signing orders for payment and buying real estate for the political party VMRO-DPMNE while at the same time knowing that the funds had criminal origins.

EC: Further explanations needed from Hungary on decision to grant asylum to Gruevski (Meta)

The European Commission shares the opinion and position of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations and Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn, that the decision to grant Nikola Gruevski asylum deserves further explanation from Hungarian authorities. “There is no escape from the rule of law” said EC spokesman Margaritis Shinas. He said the decision to grant asylum to Gruevski was a judge’s decision and that the European Commission “could not do much” however that does not mean that no additional explanation is needed. “This type of decision requires further explanations,” said Shinas. The European Commission has confirmed that it received a letter from MEP Benedek Javor in which he requests a response from the EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, regarding the legality of Hungary’s the decision to grant asylum. According to Jsvor, the decision goes against the EU directive from 2011. The EC does not want to anticipate Avramopoulos’s response on the issue, Shinas said.

US State Department: The legal process of Gruevski should proceed in Macedonia (Meta)

The US Department of State is closely following the case with Nikola Gruevski especially since he was granted asylum in Hungary. The US Department of State has repeated its position stressing that Gruevski was sentenced to a two-year prison sentence after a “thorough and transparent judicial process” The State Department also stressed that Gruevski has four pending procedures against him and that it is necessary for them to proceed within the Macedonian justice system.

‘Astir’ protest at parliament, Rama urged them to leave (ADN)

Prime Minister, Edi Rama called on ‘Astir’ residents, from Parliamentary session, to leave the protest in front of the Parliament as there won’t be compensation for illegality. Rama stressed that not every “conqueror” of public property can be compensated, as according to him the law is clear and it states that construction is strictly prohibited in areas where the public interest is being violated. Rama declared that there won’t be any compensation so the residents have to leave, and added that the project is in line with the standards adopted in 2015. Astir residents have been protesting for several days against the extension road project of “Big Ring” that affects their houses, and stated that they won’t allow the demolition of their houses without being compensated.

Protests, President appeals for institutional dialogue (ADN)

President of the Republic, Ilir Meta, appealed on Thursday for institutional dialogue after serious incidents happened during the protest in front of the Parliament by ‘Astir’ residents who are against ‘Big Ring’ road project. The Head of the State, condemns acts of violence and urges all parties to immediately leave violence and do their utmost to avoid the conflict and the language of the force used in the matter. President Meta finds the opportunity to appeal again to the state institutions to strictly follow the legal procedures and urgently urges the resumption of dialogue with the affected inhabitants of this project to find a right solution for all citizens and the public interest. He called on politics to be cautious and to provide cooperation and dialogue messages, while the initiators of violence should be isolated.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Macedonia Govt Risks Paying Price for Forgotten Pledges (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 23 November 2018)

While the new government makes major strides in foreign policy, it appears to have forgotten the many pledges it made in 2016 about key domestic reforms.

Emphasising the need to solve long-standing forging policy issues and unlock the country’s stalled Euro-Atlantic integration process has paid off for the Social Democratic-led government of Zoran Zaev. The latest polls carried out by M Prospect agency, published on Wednesday on Telma TV, show that 18 months into their term in office, Zaev’s Social Democratic Union, SDSM, enjoys a solid lead over the former ruling VMRO DPMNE party. The Social Democrats lead with 26.8 per cent of support while the opposition VMRO DPMNE trails behind on 21.1 per cent. But experts warn that once the big national issues, like the historic “name” agreement with Greece, are implemented – and are no longer obstacles to Macedonia’s progress – the government may face a backlash over the many social problems it has so far pushed aside.

Neglected issues include judicial reform, governance issues, corruption and impunity, low economic growth, high unemployment, poverty and pollution. Together, they may become the “Achilles Heel” of Zaev’s government during the second half of its term in office, which ends in 2020. “Once we wrap up the story about NATO accession, once the Western political wind [behind Zaev’s government] subsides, and once we open EU accession talks [late next year, possibly], all the policy issues will be put on the table,” political analyst Borjan Gjuzelov told BIRN. “The focus will then shift from big historic topics to concrete public policies – and then the tendency towards disappointment [among voters] will continue.”

High expectations matched by low results:

When it came to power in May 2017, Zaev’s government took control of a country that was deeply marred by a long-standing political crisis caused by the previous government’s corruption and authoritarian rule. Internationally, EU and NATO accession processes were blocked by the dispute with neighbouring Greece over its name, and, to some extent, by chilly relations with Bulgaria as well. Internally, Macedonia was one of the poorest countries in Europe with average monthly salaries of just over 300 euros, an unemployment rate over 21 per cent and a poverty rate of over 30 per cent. Fast forward to today and Macedonia has made a huge leap forward on the international stage. Tough work on resolving the “name” dispute with Greece resulted in invitation to join NATO, which is expected to take effect next year, alongside a conditional invitation to start EU accession talks soon. By contrast, most observers agree that the government has failed to deliver on many of its domestic pledges, such as upping the fight against corruption and impunity, re-establishing the rule of law, reviving the economy, raising wages and curbing alarming air pollution levels in towns. Most critics say a prime example of an over-hyped pledge was the government’s promise to cut the dangerously high levels of air pollution, which often tops world charts. Its latest plan, promoted last week, was to cut air pollution in the capital Skopje in half in just two years, on an annual budget of only 1.6 million euros. The announcement drew ridicule from environmental NGOs and activists. More importantly, the government has not delivered either on its promise to end the culture of impunity and to take responsibility for domestic scandals. One erupted this summer, when a company linked to Vice Prime Minister Koco Angjusev was awarded a government grant for innovation. It was later withdrawn, for ethical reasons. Failure to accept responsibility for the recent “great escape” of former Prime Minister and former VMRO DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski, who has thereby evaded serving a two-year jail term, has also dented trust in the government. In both cases, Zaev publicly defended his subordinates. He first defended Angjusev, saying his firm had acted unintentionally, and insisting that his firm’s withdrawal from the grant was enough. Following Gruevski’s escape to Hungary this month, Zaev then backed his Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski who denied responsibility for the bungle, blaming the judiciary.

Gjuzelov says that, as time goes by, such failures to duly pinpoint responsibility will result in growing disappointment. “They came to power on an expectation to prevent impunity, but now, during big scandals, transfer responsibility to others,” he said. “The electorate will be disappointed because of this government’s failure to change the paradigm on key expectations. One of them is impunity,” he added. In August, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, GRECO, urged Macedonia to up the fight against corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors, calling the rate of progress made so far “clearly disappointing”. The GRECO report noted “no meaningful development” in strengthening the system of declaring assets and interests for officials through the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, SCPC. Since the SCPC collectively resigned in March, parliament has not yet nominated new members of the commission, rendering it almost useless in the declared fight against corruption. In an interview on Alsat M TV last Friday, Zaev said he was aware of the domestic shortcomings of his administration but insisted they resulted from the current focus on the name deal. In future, more focus will be put on the economy and other issues, he insisted. But Gjuzelov said this was no excuse. “A government should be able to manage parallel processes,” he said. “There is no reason to slow down judicial reforms, for example, because the country is improving its international position and solving the ‘name’ dispute. Separate institutions and ministries are in charge of each of these problems,” he added.

No sign yet of economic recovery: 

When Macedonia ended last year with a practically zero economic growth rate, many were lenient towards the new Prime Minister. Global financial institutions attributed the economic stagnation to the effects of the country’s long-standing political crisis. But, despite government predictions of more than 3 per cent growth this year, the IMF’s latest autumn report says the country will likely finish 2018 with a lowly growth rate of 1.6 per cent., down from its previous estimate of 2.8 per cent. Vanco Uzunov, Economics Professor at the Law Faculty in Skopje, told BIRN that Macedonia’s economic future will depend on the outcome of big political processes such as the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration. If the government puts Macedonia back on track in this field, “it will ease the space for dealing with economic issues, to a degree”, he said.

“If this is then followed by solid government measures, it will give a positive impulse for the improvement of the economy.” However, if Macedonia fails to wrap up the name deal, as planned, by the start of next year, “economic problems will pile up even more, no matter the government’s policies”, he warned. Uzunov said economic miracles should not be expected in the short term anyway, as potentially good economic policies will only pay off in the long term. They will not, therefore, affect the popularity of the existing government that much. But Uzunov agreed that the government made “overloaded” election promises in 2016, when, among other things, it vowed to increase the average wage to some 500 euros by the end of its term in 2020.

“If it does not fulfil its political promises, the government at the end of the day will pay the political price for it,” he concluded.