LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Gratitude to Serbia for not introducing counter-measures against Pristina (Tanjug/Politika)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said after a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that she felt support and gratitude to Serbia during her visit to Brussels for not imposing countermeasures against Pristina, which in particular contributed to regional stability. Brnabic stressed that during a two-day visit to Brussels, she came across full understanding of all the interlocutors, adding that the meeting with the EC President was excellent, adding that it was also attended by European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. With this we have rounded off a visit to Brussels and I hope that this will give us new energy in our talks with the EU, as well as give a signal for the general calming of the situation in the region, she said, adding that she hopes that things will get back to where they were before Pristina introduced taxes.

Malmstrom: Clear political context of Pristina’s discriminatory measures (Beta)

In talks with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom in Brussels, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic pointed out that the 100% tax that Pristina has imposed on goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in opposition to European values ​​represents a direct violation of the CEFTA agreement and undermines regional stability. Serbia, on the other hand, wants a stable region in which investors will come and from which young people will not leave, she said. It is estimated that the Serbian economy suffered the damage of €25.7 million in November this year only due to the fees of the temporary institutions in Pristina and that, if these measures remain in effect until the end of the year, this amount will climb to €65.5 million. Commissioner Malmstrom voiced concern over Pristina’s measures and reiterated the unreserved stance of the EU that taxes of 100% are wrong and must be withdrawn, and that it is clear that the imposed measures have no economic background but a political context. She expressed her gratitude to Brnabic and Serbia, as the largest country in the region, for a constructive approach and insisting that the solution be solely reached through dialogue.

EU: Trump’s letter support to dialogue (Tanjug/B92)

The EU sees US President Donald Trump’s letter to President Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci as a sign of support and encouragement Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic has stated. “The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is headed by presidents Vucic and Thaci, with the mediation of High Representative Federica Mogherini, and with the United States an important partner in that process,” she said. Asked by journalists whether the US initiative, whose officials have supported changing the borders of Kosovo and Serbia, contradicted the position of the EU Council and was, as such, more harmful than helpful to the dialogue, Kocijancic reiterated that the EU has clear parameters when it comes to a possible solution in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. “Work is under way on a legally binding agreement on a comprehensive normalization of relations. This would lead to a permanent solution for open issues that must be based on international law, in accordance with EU law and acceptable to all member states,” concluded Kocijancic. The European Commission added that the issue of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue was the topic of talks between Jean-Claude Juncker and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. Juncker on the occasion encouraged the continuation of the dialogue as well as further regional integration of the Western Balkans.

Ljajic: Losses worth 34.6 million Euros (RTS)

Serbian Trade Minister Rasim Ljajic told RTS that following Pristina’s 100 percent taxes on goods from Serbia, Belgrade had lost 34.6 million Euros and that the move boosted smuggling. Ljajic said the figure showed only the direct damage to Serbia’s export, adding the measure had multiple effects indirectly. He said the goods that were going to Kosovo included re-exported products and foreign brands. Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s letter to both Kosovo and Serbia presidents, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vucic, Ljajic said it showed the US intent to engage in the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue and to demonstrate its power to the EU which failed to move the process forward. “Besides, it serves Thaci’s attempt to receive the international support in the absence of backing at home,” Ljajic said, adding Belgrade and Pristina were far away from a final phase in the dialogue considering the events on the ground.

Stoltenberg: KFOR to continue mission (Tanjug/B92)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says this military alliance will continue its KFOR mission in Kosovo. Stoltenberg announced that as Kosovo Security Force (KSF) evolves, NATO will reexamine its level of engagement with the KSF in the new year. He said this during a phone conversation on Wednesday with the prime minister of the provisional Pristina institutions, Ramush Haradinaj. “NATO will continue its KFOR mission to ensure a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. KFOR operates under a UN mandate and will not be affected by the laws on the transition of KSF,” NATO said in a press release. Stoltenberg also said that he would continue his engagement with all actors relevant for regional stability.

REGIONAL PRESS

Western Balkans leaders meet with EU officials in Brussels (TV1)

At the invitation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, leaders of the Western Balkans held a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic and EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Mogherini stressed that partners from the Western Balkans should work together on integration into the EU, strengthening peace and putting more effort into regional cooperation.

Zvizdic used the opportunity to stress the importance of further dialogue and affirm B&H’s commitment to the EU values. He added that the country is finalizing the answers to follow-up questions of the European Commission (EC). “During this meeting, we focused on the issues of regional cooperation that we think is extremely important. We noticed that regardless of certain progress especially in terms of economic development, regardless of some positive steps that every country has made on the EU or NATO integration path, certain topics, actions or decisions from the past – which somehow violate the international law and signed agreements – have been keeping the entire region of the Western Balkans in status quo lately,” Zvizdic told reporters. Zvizdic said that regional cooperation and mutual trust are of key importance for improvement of political and economic relations, attraction of foreign investments, preservation of stability and improvement of reconciliation process.

Zvizdic does not have right to represent B&H in Brussels (RTRS/Srna)

Delegate in the B&H House of People (HoP) and member of SNSD Nikola Spiric told Srna that the deputy speaker of the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Denis Zvizdic cannot speak or make decisions on behalf of B&H in Brussels. Spiric said that it is unknown to him by which criteria EU High Commissioner Federica Mogherini was led when she decided to gather the leaders of the region. He stressed that it is clear that Zvizdic cannot speak nor decide on behalf of B&H as such a forum. Spiric pointed out that foreign policy falls under the competence of the B&H Presidency and it was logical for the invitation to be sent to this institution. Former B&H ambassador in Brussels Drasko Acimovic said that Chairman of the Presidency of B&H Milorad Dodik should have attended the meeting in Brussels, instead of Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zvizdic. “It is not logical to have Zvizdic attending the meeting to which presidents of countries in the region were invited, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic. Chairman of the Presidency of B&H should have attended this meeting,” said Acimovic.

Radmanovic says admission to NATO will have to wait, advocates military neutrality (Dnevni list)

Deputy speaker of B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Nebojsa Radmanovic said that the adoption of laws which will harmonize B&H’s legislation with the EU’s legislation will be the priority in work of both Houses of B&H Parliament. Radmanovic noted that six commissions of B&H HoR and Caucuses of B&H HoR will be formed at the next session of B&H HoR, so that representatives can discuss the first key issue, i.e. the appointment of the Chair of B&H Council of Ministers (CoM). He reminded that the appointment of B&H CoM Chair is not only up to B&H HoR representatives, because candidates for this position are proposed by B&H Presidency and only confirmed and appointed by B&H HoR. According to Radmanovic, equality is of crucial importance in B&H. “We would even have to be above the EU in certain matters in order to function properly. B&H parliament is a place which shows whether we established equality, both of people and of entities,” Radmanovic added. Speaking about the European path of B&H, Radmanovic said that it is clear what a country which is heading towards the EU needs to do but he noted that B&H is sometimes too slow and lacks agreements on matters on which politicians have same stances while, at the same time, European institutions sometimes neglect B&H. Radmanovic added that he is not saying that European Union should turn a blind eye on some things, but it should assist B&H. “I have always claimed that the EU is not complete without the Balkans, or what they wrongly call Western Balkans”, Radmanovic said and assessed that it seems as if Europeans seem not to have a clear stance on this. At the same time, Radmanovic said that “B&H will wait with the realization of NATO path at this stage”. Radmanovic explained by saying that, just like Republika Srpska (RS) decided, there will be no moving towards NATO and added: “This is about military neutrality. There is no NATO, there are no other alliances in this area. It is impossible to insist now on NATO path based on some old decisions dating back almost ten years, knowing that one of entities and one of peoples do not want that. Therefore, this only creates problems,” Radmanovic said. Commenting on the fact he, as a former member of B&H Presidency, signed the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP), Radmanovic said that this signature was related to a decision of B&H Presidency which was signed by the Chair of B&H Presidency. “I must remind you that all three votes are equal, but only one as the Chair signs (documents)”, Radmanovic said and also reminded that he supported the conclusion on signing of NATO MAP because that was the valid stance of the RS National Assembly at the time. He also reminded that it was not a decision but a conclusion of B&H Presidency to apply for NATO MAP and it was based on a decision of the RS National Assembly and Law on Armed Forces of B&H. “This changed in the meantime”, Radmanovic added.

SDA invites all MPs in B&H Parliament who announced appeals regarding B&H CEC decision to file one together (N1)

After the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Central Election Commission (CEC) made the decision on Tuesday to use the 2013 census as the basis for the Federation of B&H House of People (HoP) formation, reactions are still incoming. Several parties from the Federation of B&H announced on Thursday that they will file complaints on this decision to the B&H Constitutional Court. SDA invited all parties in the B&H Parliament to file an appeal to the B&H Constitutional Court to assess the decision. General Secretary of SDA Halid Genjac said that it would be best for MPs in the B&H Parliamentary Assembly, who come from parties that announced appeals, to file one appeal to the court. He said that this is at least 11 MPs and it would be better to file one joint appeal than several appeals regarding the same issue. Appeals were announced by SDP and DF. DF representatives stated for N1 that they will discuss the B&H CEC’s decision in the upcoming days, as well as a joint appeal with other parties. Croat member of B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic already announced an appeal to the Appellate Division of the B&H Court. Bosniak member of B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic discussed the B&H CEC decision with the Head of the OSCE Mission to B&H Bruce Berton. Dzaferovic’s Cabinet issued a statement saying that he explained to Berton that the decision by the B&H CEC goes against the Federation of B&H Constitution. Dzaferovic stressed that the 1991 census has to be applied until the Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) is fully implemented. President of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic stated that the B&H Election Law needs to be changed in the B&H Parliament. He explained that the changes to the Election Law are responsibility of the legislator and not any other institution in B&H. The B&H CEC said that in case complaints and appeals are filed to their decision, they will have an answer ready. ˝There are deeper explanations why something is like this and not somehow else and they will be sent to the Constitutional Court in case an appeal is filed. The fact that political parties believe something, you can see this as a pressure on us. Instead of this believing, they can try and adopt laws and change the constitution to regulate this˝ said President of the B&H CEC Branko Petric on Tuesday.

Dudakovic and others plead not guilty of crimes in Una-Sana Canton (ATV)

A former “Republika Bosnia and Herzegovina Army (RB&H)” Commander pleaded not guilty to charges of war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war during the 1992-95 war. Atif Dudakovic appeared before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) on Wednesday. Fifteen others indicted with Dudakovic also denied the charges while one more ex-soldier is yet to enter his plea. The indictment accuses the group of killing more than 300 Serbs, mostly elderly civilians and prisoners of war. Prosecutors said they have more than 400 witnesses to back the case. Dudakovic and the others are charged with crimes against humanity in the municipalities of Bosanski Petrovac, Kljuc, Bosanska Krupa and Sanski Most and war crimes against the civilian population in the municipalities of Bihac and Cazin. The other RBiH Army 5th Corps ex-soldiers who are indicted are Ekrem Dedic, Sanel Sabic, Ibrahim Siljedic, Safet Salihagic, Adis Zjakic, Hasan Ruznic, Redzep Zlojic, Samir Solakovic, Fatmir Muratovic, Muharem Alesevic, Husein Balagic, Ale Hodzic, Edin Domazet, Ejub Konjezic, Ibrahim Nadarevic and Said Mujic. All the defendants pleaded not guilty except Ale Hodzic, who failed to attend the plea hearing due to poor health. Judge Davorin Jukic said Hodzic would enter his plea at a later stage. Dudakovic was apprehended in Bihac in April this year in a police operation carried out by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) of B&H.

Darmanovic: Process of the formation of the army in Kosovo must be gradual (CDM)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Srdjan Darmanovic said that Montenegro would continue following the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is under the auspices of the EU. “That dialogue must be priority for all parties. We welcome all the efforts put in the search of sustainable, comprehensive and long-term solution through a constructive dialogue which will contribute to permanent stability of Western Balkans,” said Darmanovic. Presence of NATO in Kosovo played a key role in the protection and stability of the region, and Montenegro gave its contribution to that objective by engaging an officer of the Armed Forces of Montenegro in the mission in Kosovo. Commenting on the formation of the army in Kosovo, Darmanovic said that neither Montenegro nor NATO had questioned the fact that every state should have the right to have its own army. “NATO Secretary General warned that this process had to be gradual, open, inclusive, and that it had to contribute to the stability of the region. That’s a realistic approach,” said Darmanovic.

Zaev – Tusk: If Macedonia continues at this pace, it can make up for lost time for EU integration (Meta)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, started their working visit to Brussels with a meeting with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. At the meeting, it was concluded that the country’s determination to resolve the major political issues with neighbours and bringing reforms in the key areas of the judiciary, security services, public administration, the media, the fight against corruption, has put Macedonia on the right track towards European integration. “The message is that if Macedonia continues at this pace, if the Prespa Agreement is implemented and if key reform priorities are implemented, it can make up for some of the lost time in the integration process and hope for the start of the negotiations to be in June 2019,” reports the government. At the meeting with Tusk, Zaev informed that the state is working hard to fully implement the Prespa Agreement and expects equal efforts from Greece. “We expect, with two-thirds support in Parliament, by the end of January 2019, to adopt constitutional amendments that will complete the process in our country and will enable Greece to begin their process of ratification of the Prespa Agreement and the adoption of the accession protocol to NATO. The process of joining NATO is our main focus in 2019. We are also working hard on key reform priorities, which emerged as a message from the European Council in June 2018 as a condition for an effective start of EU membership negotiations in June 2019. We know that implementation is important in the process and we will do everything to ensure it, especially in the area of the rule of law,” Zaev said.

Brussels changes its position on amnesty, Zaev offers to help on Kosovo (Republika)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev was in Brussels on Wednesday for meeting with European Union officials, and the EU welcomed the amnesty for the April 2017 parliament incident. This is a notable change in the EU position, given that in the past stages of the political crisis in Macedonia, Brussels insisted that there can be no amnesty. EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic said that the move is important to overcome polarization in Macedonia and to help build national consensus on strategic issues. Three former VMRO-DPMNE members of Parliament who were charged in the incident voted in favor of opening the process to amend the Constitution and rename Macedonia, and are widely seen as bargaining with their votes in the final stage of the constitutional change and demand full amnesty. While this was going on in the European Commission, Zaev met with EU Council President Doanld Tusk and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who both welcomed the push to rename Macedonia. In turn, Zaev offered to contribute with the Macedonian experience in solving bilateral disputes in other areas, such as the currently pressing issue of Kosovo. “We are convinced that we can help in the whole process with the experience we gained in the Prespa process. That can be an experience for this other burning issue in the Balkans. The Balkans definitely have a joint future and we have to work together on that future and help each other and have mutual understanding. I believe that we can help the process to find a solution,” said Zaev speaking about Kosovo. Zaev said that Tusk was a strong supporter of the current processes in Macedonia, which Zaev describe as “European manners and courageous implementation of European policies”. Zaev asked for guarantees from his hosts that after the renaming process is finished, Macedonia will be allowed to begin EU accession talks in June.

Two Iranian diplomats expelled, US high officials support Albania (ADN)

Albania has expelled two Iranian diplomats for national security reasons, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Edlira Prendi confirmed late on Wednesday. The expulsions followed talks with other countries, including Israel. But U.S. President Donald Trump‘s national-security adviser, John Bolton, wrote on Twitter that Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama “just expelled the Iranian ambassador, signaling to Iran’s leaders that their support for terrorism will not be tolerated.”

“We stand with PM Rama and the Albanian people as they stand up to Iran’s reckless behavior in Europe and across the globe” Bolton added. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement described the diplomats as “two Iranian agents who plotted terrorist attacks in Albania.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia’s Vučić doesn’t share Trump’s optimism on Kosovo deal (politico.eu, by Andrew Gray, 19 December 2018)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Wednesday he doesn’t share Donald Trump’s apparent optimism about the prospects of a Kosovo peace deal. The U.S. president made a surprise intervention into faltering talks between Serbia and Kosovo aimed at reaching agreement on issues left unresolved from their 1998-1999 war. In a letter to Kosovan President Hashim Thaçi published Tuesday, Trump said an agreement that balances the interests of Kosovo and Serbia is “within reach.” Vučić received a similar letter, his media adviser said. Speaking in Brussels, Vučić described Trump’s interest in relations between Belgrade and Pristina as “very important” and said it would place an even greater onus on both sides to reach a deal. “On the other hand, I’m not that optimistic as people in Pristina were [about the effect of the letter]. I’m not as optimistic as it looks like President Trump was,” Vučić told POLITICO after a meeting with fellow Western Balkan leaders and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. “I’ve seen a lot of different initiatives.” Vučić said Belgrade is ready to take part once again in an EU-backed dialogue with Pristina as soon as its leaders revoke a decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on Serbian goods.