LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: Four countries against Kosovo debate at UN Security Council (Tanjug/B92)

The US, the UK, Germany, and Poland, have been fiercely opposing the intention to put the regular quarterly report of the UN secretary-general on Kosovo on the agenda of the session, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday. Dacic told a news conference that for the first time, the agenda has not been adopted at the UN Security Council, which is proposed every month by the president of the body – something, he said, that does not represent serious behavior for an organization like the UN. He explained that the agenda will be adopted on the day, 7 February, and that it remains unknown if Kosovo will be on it. “We can hardly get nine votes to put it on the agenda, because there is no veto there. But they cannot get nine votes to make it not happen, either,” Dacic said. He called on the international community to reach agreement on the issue, stressing that if – at a time when the Kosovo dialogue is blocked – someone says that there is no need to talk about Kosovo, it can be expected that Kosovo and Metohija will never be on the agenda again. “Tomorrow I must to go to Washington for a conference, from there to New York, because the session is scheduled for February 7. It’s not certain whether it will be (on the agenda), they will probably come and say, ‘we’re opening the session, who’s in favor of adopting the agenda’ – and it may happen that we get there, and they do not adopt the agenda. This is not serious behavior for an organization that has pretensions of leading the world,” Dacic said.

Vucic: Abolish taxes and end provocations to resume dialogue (B92/Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says the current stall in the dialogue can be overcome only when Pristina abolishes taxes on goods from central Serbia. Vucic added that the dialogue can continue when Pristina ceases with provocations, such as the change in the statute of the Trepca mining complex, which the President assessed was a grab of Serbian property. According to a statement issued after Vucic’s meeting with UK Ambassador to Serbia Denis Keefe, the President also said that his country will always be committed to peace and stability in the region.

He thanked for the support of that country’s government, pointing out to Keefe to the harmfulness of Pristina’s unilateral measures that endanger the dialogue,” said the press release.

Vucic also expressed Serbia’s interest in strengthening political dialogue and developing economic cooperation with the United Kingdom, hoping that Brexit will not affect bilateral relations of the two countries. Keefe informed Vucic with everything that was being done, in cooperation with line ministries, to assure no obstacles to bilateral cooperation after Britain leaves the EU. He added that the government in London with projects such as digital transformation and e-government strengthening, funded through the Good Governance Fund, continues to support the reform process in Serbia. Keefe stressed that his country wants to have a positive role in the region and in its European future, as well as to share the goals for achieving stability and progress in the Western Balkans, demonstrated through support to the Berlin process.

Dacic: Pristina’s behavior confirmation that Kosovo needs to be debated in the UN (Tanjug)

At the moment, there is a battle conducted in the UN Security Council as to whether a session on Kosovo and Metohija will be held at all in February. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told Tanjug that Equatorial Guinea has voiced huge heroism for insisting on a session to the end, but that the adoption of the monthly agenda was prevented with the opposition from the US, Great Britain, Germany and Poland. that it is strange that at moments when the dialogue has been blocked due to uncivilization taxes by Pristina, these countries do not want this to be debate. “It was not Serbia that introduced the practice for sessions to be held every three months, but the UN Secretary General writes his reports every three months. We are ready to reach compromise, but we absolutely condemn the attempt for the Kosovo topic to be thrown out from the UNSC agenda,” said Dacic. According to him, the unilateral and unreasonable decisions by Pristina, such as the voting on Trepca, show that it is necessary to debate about Kosovo. “The authorities in Pristina are the greatest threat to stability and peace in the region at this moment, that is why there is no justification for the attempts of western countries to abolish UN SC sessions on Kosovo,” said Dacic. He says it is very important to use the positive momentum in international relations to make all efforts towards reaching a lasting solution, until the end of Trump’s mandate. He says that Trump’s administration has opened the door for compromise, unlike the predecessors who didn’t want to even talk about anything else but recognition of Kosovo. “One should also use Mogherini’s positive stand on the necessity of a compromise. In one word, if there is no agreement in the next year or two, we can hardly hope for a positive solution for Serbia,” says Dacic. This is why political stability is necessary in Serbia at these hard and decisive times. “That is why the announcements of Djilas, Jeremic and others that their main activity will be the foreign political one, speaks of the fact that they will be telling the worst things about their country to the representatives of the international community – that there is allegedly a dictatorship in Serbia, that Serbia is a factor of instability, and that it is causing conflicts with everybody in the region. Our enemies are telling the same things,” noted Dacic.

Dacic welcomes new Chinese Ambassador to Serbia (Beta)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic welcomed the Chinese new Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, voicing the conviction that she would contribute to the further development of the

two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership and timeless steel friendship. Dacic and Chen expressed pleasure at the exceptional overall relations between Serbia and China, which are at a historical high, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. The Serbian Minister again expressed thanks for China’s continued support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, at the same time pointing out Serbia’s consistent support for the One China policy, the press release noted further. Chen was quoted as voicing a readiness to invest personal efforts to further elevate the Serbian-Chinese strategic partnership. The two officials agreed that planning mutual visits by functionaries at the highest levels would further contribute to enhancing Serbian-Chinese political ties.

Djuric: Adoption of “Trepca” statute a new blow to dialogue (Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric urged on Sunday the international community not to allow the implementation of a law on the statute of the “Trepca” mining complex, which was adopted by the Assembly in Pristina. Djuric underlined that this would have the same consequences to the dialogue as the anti-civilization tariffs on goods from Serbia. Djuric told a press conference in the Serbian government that in the darkness of the night the Assembly in Pristina passed the law on the “Trepca” statute, which allows for the seizure of this strategic mining complex that employs 3,500 workers. What we see here is a continuation of the attempt from 2016 at seizing and plundering our “Trepca”. “Trepca” is undoubtedly one of the strategic resources and those who are planning to seize it, intend to cut the vital flow of existence to our people in the province, Djuric said. When asked what he expects from the international community, bearing in mind that the tariffs on Serbian goods have not yet been abolished, Djuric referred the letter from US President Donald Trump to Belgrade and Pristina in which he expressed his desire for the dialogue to continue, but also urged Pristina to refrain from unilateral moves. What is the application of this statute if not a new unilateral move? We will, in cooperation with all partners in the international community and permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia, China, but also with the US, discuss and make consultation on how to prevent this practice from happening again, Djuric underlined.

Drecun: Apart from political violence, Pristina conducts also legal violence (RTS)

The Chairperson of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun has told Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that the passing of the statute on “Trepca” in the Kosovo Assembly shows that Pristina, apart from conducting political violence, is also conducting legal violence. He says that Pristina has been attempting for years to seize private property from the Kosovo Serbs, while Serbs do not have a chance of proving ownership with the passing of various laws. “On the other hand, they are also seizing what is the property of the state of Serbia. ‘Gazivode’ and ‘Trepca’ – that employs around 3,000 people, are now targets. Thus, Pristina now has the possibility to stop the operation and disable the survival of the Serb people,” notes Drecun, explaining that this is being done so Pristina would take up a better position before the dialogue with Belgrade. Drecun underlines that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci had stated that he would not allow the discussion on northern Mitrovica whereby they are trying to expel the Serbs from the northern part of Mitrovica. He says that Thaci will also not discuss “Trepca” and “Gazivode”. “Everything that was state property remains the property of the false state with the passing of false laws in the assembly,” says Drecun, noting that Serbia has all the papers to prove its ownership. Drecun says that the Security Council session is certain a chance to hear the other side that is speaking the truth. “The first mafia state that was legalized by part of the international community is Kosovo. You see that the specter that wishes to create a Greater Albania is not giving up. This world doesn’t function according to the principle of law, but according to the principle of interests,” says Drecun. Speaking about the dismissal of Nenad Rikalo, Drecun says that the Serb List has demonstrated that it can be united and now they are looking for some Serbs who will not be agreeing with Belgrade and the Serbian President, but will listen to Thaci and Haradinaj. When it comes to threats received by Minister Dacic in Bucharest from Pacoli, Drecun says it seems that Dacic is bothering them a great deal. “The Albanians have a problem where they had the strongest support. Washington now has a different stand. They opened up the space, they said an agreement is necessary with Serbia. However, the Albanians think that the US will return to the path of old politics,” says Drecun.

REGIONAL PRESS

Berton: Challenging the name of RS and Croat Declaration are not welcome (N1)

The initiative to challenge the name of Republika Srpska (RS) and the Croat National Council’s (HNS) Declaration rejecting the UN court verdicts are not welcome, head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Bruce Berton, said for N1. “The initiative is not welcome, especially now when Bosnia is about to form its government. I understand the frustrations and that the return process is not over, yet, but my question is how will this initiative solve these problems at a time when Bosnia is about to move out of the stalemate” Berton asked. Berton said he also agrees with conclusions of international delegates overseeing the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB), who said the initiative is counterproductive and the Declaration is contrary to efforts to build trust among peoples. When asked what the PIC SB could have done, Berton said: “You’re probably thinking of the Bonn Powers, but those days are over. We need to urge the government to take things into their own hands and to make a compromise.” According to Berton, the international community’s High Representative, who is in charge of interpreting the Dayton Peace Agreement and overseeing its civilian implementation, has the right to use the Bonn Powers – a set of powers by which the High Representative can impose decisions, laws and regulations, and that he does not need the PIC SB’s approval, but Berton said that people need to be more realistic. “The High Representative alone cannot impose any decision without the support of the PIC SB, and that’s how the Office of the High Representative works. We can’t expect the OHR to solve problems. The State authorities need to do this,” Berton noted.

Commenting on the Declaration adopted by the HNS, he said the Declaration is particularly unacceptable because it rejects verdicts of international courts. “Other parts of the Declaration are also unacceptable. Like the part which speaks of the federalization of B&H. The Constitution stipulates that B&H is a single country consisting of two entities,” Berton stressed. The Head of the OSCE Mission concluded that B&H needs to harmonies its laws with European standards and that the OSCE and the international community are ready to help B&H do that.

RS President urges the RS-based parties to join together at B&H’s state level (Fena)

RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic expressed hope all Serb representatives at the state level will reach a joint stance, stressing that this was a necessity due to challenges and pressures on RS. Cvijanovic said this was a conclusion that the Executive Board of the ruling Alliance of the Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) passed on Friday, inviting all the RS-based parties in B&H parliament to form a strong coalition for RS. The RS opposition will hopefully recognize the need and responsibility of acting together at the state level “in order to remove the pressure from RS” she said. “There is a need for all those who got the support of the RS citizens for the state-level to join together with the election winners” Cvijanovic said. “We offered what is in the interest of RS and it would be important for every politician, aware of challenges lying ahead of us and pressures that come from political Sarajevo, our surrounding ant the global level, to understand that,” said the RS President.

Dodik: The international protectorate to stop, B&H’s impediment to the development of the Entities and the Cantons (Srna)

SNSD President Milorad Dodik said that the international protectorate must stop in B&H, which today proves to be an obstacle to the development of any peoples, entity or canton. “What the international protectors have done in the last 20 years has essentially not helped anyone. On the contrary,” Dodik told reporters. According to him, if the original Dayton Agreement would have been applied, it would surely have constituted strong units that make up B&H and could have achieved their development. “All these years, because of the attacks and behavior of the High Representative who has violated the international treaty massively, we have come to the situation that we have a complete paralysis at the level of B&H, without any idea of what will be the meaning of B&H tomorrow,” Dodik said. He said that there are only individual ideas – Bosniaks think that RS should disappear and that B&H should be integrated, with Sarajevo being the epicenter of all events. “The Croats are completely dissatisfied with the situation in the Federation of B&H and want to see, if they are able to form their own territorial-political entity, and we Serbs do not see any future in B&H, where there is only the arrogance of international factors and ideologies of neoliberalism, trying to pour us into some mixture that cannot function and produce anything good,” Dodik explained. Dodik believes that the time that is coming is going to initiate the talks of all three people again, about how they will continue with B&H, because this, as he said, is certainly not the way by which the B&H can continue and ensure the success of all. Commenting on the possibility of forming a joint political bloc of parties from the RS in Sarajevo, Dodik said that the SNSD, as a responsible party would sacrifice its inter-party interests and call for unity and a broad gathering of parties from the RS.

SNSD: We’ll put out of force all the imposed laws, abolish OHR, block NATO path (Fena)

The executive board of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) will, if the attacks on RS continue, seek from the elected and appointed representatives in this B&H entity and in the B&H institutions to approve the drafting of the laws that would put out of force all the earlier adopted decisions, laws and other acts, which are in contradiction with the original Dayton Agreement and the Constitution of B&H. SNSD spokesman Radovan Kovacevic said that “SNSD would demand the distribution of competencies in accordance with the DPA, which has been the cause of all the problems and crises in B&H. The greatest responsibility and accountability for the dreadful situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina lies on the High Representative and international community that implements the DPA in B&H, as they have been the ones that have violated the Dayton Peace Agreement massively, its Annex 4, the B&H Constitution, by manipulating the apparent consensus that they imposed to implement the reforms in B&H. All this has produced catastrophic results in the form of the current atrophy of B&H. RS, therefore, has immeasurable damage on the economic and social agenda,” it is said in the conclusions of the Executive Board of the SNSD. SNSD proposes to the RS government and parliament, “as signatories to Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, to submit an initiative to abolish this annex with the other signatories to the Agreement – Serbia, Croatia, the Federation of B&H and the B&H institutions, in order to terminate the mandate of the institution of the High Representative in B&H. They will also propose to the Presidency and to the General Board of the party to initiate the adoption of the new Constitution of RS. SNSD spokesman Radovan Kovacevic told journalists at a press conference in Banja Luka that the Executive Board confirmed at its session the commitment to European integration and the obtaining of candidate status for B&H. “We expect that the necessary procedures will be carried out and, as soon as possible, in accordance with the coordination mechanism, the competent institutions submit the responses to the European Commission Questionnaire,” said Kovacevic. They noted that the European Union has been fair in its offer and the expectations it has set before B&H, regarding the continuation of European integration and the awarding of candidate status. The Executive Board of SNSD states that the implementation of election results, the appointment of the new government and the submission of the responses to the European Commission Questionnaire, are priorities in the European integration process. “SNSD remains committed to the European integration process, but it will not sacrifice the institutional and state interests of the RS for the sake of the EU path of B&H,” said Kovacevic. The SNSD Executive Board calls on all parliamentary political parties from RS at the state level “to unite on the principle of national interests of RS and uniquely reject and condemn “attacks of SDA on RS, all in accordance with the positions and the conclusions adopted at the joint meeting on the occasion of the announcement by SDA that it would submit a request for the abolition of the name of RS.”

They propose that “the parties from RS in the parliament of B&H form a solid coalition for RS and to jointly participate in the authorities at the state level.” They condemned, as he said, the qualifications in the conclusions of the SDA Presidency, especially those that state that RS is governed by apartheid and discrimination against non-Serbs. Kovacevic also said that SNSD supports the amendment of the election law that would allow “the conduct of fair and democratic elections without interference from any side, but also the one that would reject the possibility that one people elect representatives to another people.” They regard as absolutely unacceptable “the pressure on RS regarding the Membership Action Plan with NATO integration and insist on respecting the Resolution on the Protection of the Constitutional Order and the Decision on Military Neutrality adopted by the RS parliament, and condemn any kind of derogation and disrespect of the said resolution by any of the representatives of RS.” “The Executive Board of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats has understood that the path to the European Union does not imply a path to NATO and welcomes such a clear position of the EU officials,” he said. SNSD will not join any program coalitions at the level of “the joint B&H institutions.”

SNSD and its coalition partners will participate in the B&H government as election winners in RS based on the principles of the original Dayton and European integration.” They also emphasized that they believe that it is crucial to return confidence to the Constitutional Court of B&H, to remove foreign judges from that court and to adequately replace them with the domestic judges, who are citizens of B&H. “The Executive Board of SNSD will decide on the appropriate moment when to recommend that the institutions of RS move for the withdrawal of the previously given consent to the agreements on the formation of the Armed Forces of B&H, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of B&H and the system of indirect taxation at state level,” said Kovacevic. The SNSD will not support any political or territorial reorganization of B&H, which, as they concluded, “would interfere with the existing constitutional status of RS.”

Govedarica should review documents SDS adopted until 2005 (Srna)

The president of the United Srpska, Nenad Stevandic, welcomes the position of SDS president Vukota Govedarica on B&H integration with NATO and the need to form the authorities at the level of B&H as soon as possible. Stevandic told Srna that he would like to tell Govedarica that it would be good if he reviewed all documents his party adopted until 2005 in which the commitment to accession to NATO was expressed. “I would recommend him to read the Law on Defense and the Declaration on RS Strategic Commitment regarding the Defense System, adopted on March 18, 2005, at the time when the SDS and the PDP were in power in RS. The document says, among other things, that RS will support B&H’s accession to NATO,” Stevandic has said, adding that he did not take part in that SDS. He urged Govedarica and other SDS officials to read well what their predecessors adopted before they start accusing other people of changing opinions. “Let us leave politicking behind us since no one is innocent when it comes to our earlier policy towards NATO, just like NATO is not innocent when it comes to RS. The Declaration on Military Neutrality which was adopted by the RS Parliament is in force and it voided all earlier decisions. It is guarding our future and gives us a possibility to decide on our own,” Stevandic has concluded.

Protest in Podgorica gathered over 1,000 citizens (TMN)

A protest of unsatisfied citizens was held on Saturday in Podgorica, which gathered around one thousand participants. The cause of the gathering is the legal, social and political scandal known as the “Koverta” (Envelope) affair, as well as the numerous criminal offenses where the public receives written evidence, audio, and video, from sources close to the top of government. Citizens have organized a protest because the state in this and similar situations does not react as required by the Constitution and the laws of the state of Montenegro. “The cause of the protest, one of the goals of the struggle against the collective amnesia, is known to the public. Too many affairs were left without prosecution, since the non-procession of the state-of-the-art smuggling of cigarettes, oil, and weapons in the early 1990s, through unrevealed war crimes and peacemaking accounts of organized criminal gangs, to the destruction of the state and the resale of its property to domestic and foreign tycoons. There are no valid judgments either for organizers of irregular elections and trade voices, dirty money owners, and actors of corruption scandals. The Budva case is only an exception that affirms the rule.” The organizers called for the protest, aimed at gathering at least 97 citizens. Their expectations were significantly overcome, around 1000 citizens gathered at Ulica Slobode (Freedom Street). The organizers symbolically shared the envelopes with the citizens, after which a protest walk was started on the Ulica Slobode, to Bulevar Ivan Crnojevic and back to the Prosecutor’s Office building. With whistles and sirens, the citizens chanted “Freedom Street,” “Stand Up, People,” “We Want Justice,” and then left 97 envelopes in front of the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Building, with one page written “1,000 Euros” and the other named the many-yearly ill-fated affairs that the Prosecution needs to resolve. Inviting other citizens to join, protesters called “Everyone on the streets, raise your ass!” In front of the building of the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, citizens demanded the resignation of Supreme State Prosecutor Ivica Stankovic and Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic, chanting “Leave,” “Katnic, leave,” “Stankovic, resignation!” One of the organizers of the protest, Jovan Gajevic, said that “the most stupid of all of us decides on our destiny,” as well as that “the Prosecution is pointing to the citizens.” The “Koverta” affair, by which the Montenegrin Prosecutor’s Office launched several proceedings, refers to the former mayor of Podgorica and the current secretary of the Cabinet of Montenegrin President Slavoljub Stijepovic. Stijepovic took the $100,000 bucket from the businessman Dusko Knezevic in 2016, ahead of the parliamentary elections. Gajevic said that he was 29 years old, as did current Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic when he came to power. “I have no working days, and I have finished the Faculty of Economics, as well as Djukanovic, even with a better average rating, which was not difficult for me. Would you let me enter the Government and become Prime Minister now? You probably wouldn’t. But we have allowed them to rule for 30 years, they decide our destinies, about our children, grandchildren, even our prayers, given the Montenegrin public debt,” Gajevic said. He called for a new gathering, which will be in two weeks. “Our goal is fulfilled. The goal was to have 97 and to have a thousand euro envelopes. The symbolism is clear. The next protest is on 16 February. The task for all of you is to invite a couple of friends and acquaintances to join us,” said Gajevic. The protest was attended by many opposition parties including leaders of the Democratic Front Andrija Mandic, Nebojsa Medojevic, and Milan Knezevic, Vice President of the URA Citizens’ Movement Milos Konatar, the leader of Democrats Aleksa Becic, and President of Montenegrin Party Marko Milacic. The protest was also joined by the former candidate for Montenegrin President Mladen Bojanic, Executive Director of the Center for Investigative Reporting Milka Tadic Mijovic, Chief and Responsible Editor of Weekly “Monitor” Esad Kocan and many other Montenegrin NGO’s representatives.

Macedonia to sign NATO Accession Protocol on 6 February (Nezavisen vesnik)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the ceremony for the signing of the Accession Protocol with Macedonia will take place on February 6 in Brussels. “On 6 February we will write history. NATO Allies will sign the accession protocol with the future Republic of North Macedonia together with FM Nikola Dimitrov,” Stoltenberg tweeted on Saturday.

The ratification of the Prespa Agreement, first by Macedonia and then by Greece, lifted the final hurdle on Macedonia’s road to NATO almost 11 years after Greece had blocked the country’s accession at the Bucharest NATO Summit in 2008. The signing ceremony will take place at NATO HQ in the presence of Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov. Twenty-nine permanent representatives of the NATO member countries will sign the Accession Protocol, which will allow Macedonia to take part in all ‘key formats’ of the North Atlantic Council. Macedonia will not be able to participate in meetings where sensitive information is shared before it joins the Alliance as a full-fledged member by which time the country will acquire the capacity needed to manage such sensitive information, Slovenia’s Ambassador to NATO Jelko Kacin has recently told MIA. After the Accession Protocol is signed, every NATO member will have to ratify Macedonia’s membership, which could take up to two years. However, it is expected the process to be concluded by early 2020. Some members, such as Canada and Belgium, in the past have exercised longer and more complex ratification procedures. According to diplomatic sources in Greece, Athens is expected to ratify Macedonia’s accession by the end of next week (Feb. 8). Once all 29 NATO member countries ratify the Accession Protocol, the Macedonian flag will be hoisted alongside those of other members outside NATO HQ in Brussels.

Xhaferi: I am prepared to be president if there is no census at the elections (Meta)

The presidential elections are likely to be announced on 8 February, and the first round will be held on 21 April, and the second round on 5 May, parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi said at the press briefing. “The parliament is prepared for the elections and will work until the beginning of the election campaign, to hinder the MPs to go campaigning in the parliament,” says the parliament speaker. If a 40% census is not reached in the second round, the election will have to be re-run in 6 months, and in the meantime Xhaferi would be the acting president of the country, something he says he is ready to do. “According to the Constitution, there can be no gaps in office. Having taken the responsibility to be parliament speaker means that I have assumed all responsibility, and one of those responsibilities is just that,” Xhaferi said. When asked whether he might be the DUI’s candidate in the presidential elections, he replied briefly that he is already the parliament speaker. Xhaferi says that the country right now doesn’t need snap parliamentary elections, because there are processes that need to be completed. Regarding the demands made by VMRO-DPMNE for snap parliamentary elections along with the presidential elections, he says the deadline for introducing a technical government 100 days before the parliamentary elections, according to the Przino Agreement, has passed.

Mickoski: Victory in elections, then against the Prespa Agreement (Republika)

In an interview with Radio Free Europe, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said that the people expressed their opinion on September 30 whether the positions of VMRO-DPMNE were correct or were not correct regarding the Prespa Agreement. People decided to remain silent, and as some SDSM politicians in the past used to say – some questions do not deserve an answer. So from this perspective, I can say that we have chosen the right path together with the people, the path of justice, honesty, the truth and the path of Macedonia, said Mickoski.

Mr. Mickoski, the Prespa agreement was publicly supported by most Western countries and alliances that Macedonia and your party aspire to. Now you promise that VMRO-DPMNE will do everything to change the processes that emerge from it. Are you ready to endure the consequences for both the party and the state of such a move? Do you know what are the consequences for the party and the state of the steps that we will make after we win the trust of the people?!

You did not specify the steps. What do you mean by we will do “everything”?

After we win the trust of the people, and we will win it at the next early parliamentary elections, of course, if the parliamentary majority accepts, you will see what the steps will be and you will see which processes VMRO-DPMNE will change in the future. So, I would be really careful, I understand the need to disclose sensationalism early. But I would be really careful in the steps that will go one after another, so let’s first see if the ruling majority will be encouraged to accept, will dare to support the initiative of VMRO-DPMNE to dissolve Parliament and schedule early parliamentary elections. Then the second interaction where VMRO-DPMNE will win the trust of the people, we form a government, and only then will we go step by step in the processes that VMRO-DPMNE will change. And now here I can give you an answer to the second possible question which I was also asked not so long ago – Will I be Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, I said then, and here I will repeat that I am ready to be prime minister and for me it will always remain the Republic of Macedonia not counting this historical mistake made by the government of SDSM and Zoran Zaev for personal and career purposes.

Mr. Mickoski does this mean that you will push for an initiative to re-amend the Constitution, or does it mean that you will not respect the Constitution because the constitutional amendments have already been adopted and will come into force.

Not a single process in history is one-way only, experience says all processes in history have been reversible. It is a question of time is when the feedback will be realized. So it is important some other processes to take place first, and only then will VMRO-DPMNE be able to implement before the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia what is being discussed today and on the basis VMRO-DPMNE will build its future political doctrine. We are an immediate party, a party of the people, of the citizens, a party that is honest, sincere and principled. We cannot promise something that we can not deliver. We cannot at the same time be patriots at home in front of computers and write statuses on social networks, nor will we talk about what citizens want to hear. VMRO-DPMNE can promise, I can promise that once I win the trust of the people, I will do everything in my power to change the processes. For me, the Republic of Macedonia was and will remain, and all of this will be considered to be a historical mistake, and here I have nothing to add and what to lose.

Gruevski breaks silence in a TV interview: One day I will return (Nezavisen vesnik)

“One day I will return, I didn’t come here to live, but to take refuge from political persecution. I’m unjustly convicted. I fought in court, but I saw that all the absurdities were met for me to go prison,” said former Prime Minister Gruevski in his first TV interview since his escape to Hungary. Gruevski also said that he fled Macedonia very easily through Albania to Hungary where he was granted political asylum. “I left Macedonia very easily. I departed for Albania. I went to the Hungarian Embassy in Tirana where I submitted an application for political asylum. From there, I embarked on a journey to Hungary, which involved trips prepared according to their internal consultations due to the fact that I had served as prime minister for many years. For security reasons, it was wise for me to be transported somehow to Hungary,” said Gruevski. He dismissed any suggestion that the Macedonian government had helped him escape. “Did the government help me?! No. If it could, the government would have done something bad to me rather than helping me,” Gruevski told Sitel TV. Gruevski was initially planning to serve his two-year prison sentence before changing his mind because he received reliable information about his ‘assassination.’ “At first, I was intending to go to jail, even though I had been under political prosecution based on some totally weird verdicts that had no legal ground. In the days before I was supposed to report to jail, I had received information suggesting that, most likely, there were plots for my liquidation in the jail,” said ex-PM Gruevski. According to him, information about his ‘liquidation’ came from ‘well-informed people from inside the jail.’ When asked, Gruevski refused to name those that might have allegedly plotted against him. “I cannot say anything publicly at this point because at the moment I have no proof to back it up. In order to accuse someone, you need to have hard evidence. However, I had reliable sources with this reliable information that made me change my mind and decide to leave Macedonia in order to seek asylum on the grounds of political prosecution,” said the former prime minister.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

‘No More Time to Lose:’ EU Calls on Kosovo to Revoke Serbian Duties (Sputnik, 2 February 2019)

BRUSSELS – EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini told Hashim Thaci, the leader of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo, that tariffs on Serbian goods, recently introduced by Pristina, should be abandoned as soon as possible for the normalization of Kosovar-Serbian relations. “Spoke to President @HashimThaciRKS: reiterated that the tariffs need to be revoked so #Dialogue is resumed as soon as possible. Normalisation of relations crucial for #Kosovo #Serbia #WesternBalkans #EU. No more time to lose,” Mogherini wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Kosovo introduced 100 percent tariffs on goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in November, at the same time banning all goods that were not marked in line with Kosovar regulations. However, several foreign companies running the production on Serbia’s soil were reportedly exempted from the tariffs. The move was harshly criticized by Belgrade and the European Union and put the dialogue on the normalization of ties between Pristina and Belgrade at risk with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reportedly saying that the talks would continue only after the tariffs were revoked. Thaci has said in an interview with Sputnik that the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo should be unconditional and cannot be tied to the removal of Pristina’s recently imposed tariffs. According to various media reports, taxes on Serbian imports were hiked after Pristina accused Belgrade of lobbying against having it be accepted into Interpol. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has said that the tariffs would remain in place “until Belgrade recognizes the independence of Kosovo”. Serbia said the measure has led to losses averaging $49 million a month and shortages of medicine and other necessities in the Serbian-majority regions of Kosovo. Russian envoy to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov said in December, that the introduced import duties practically brings local Serbian residents to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized by over 100 UN member states. Belgrade continues to consider it part of the Serbian territory. Two members of the UN Security Council — Russia and China — and a number of other countries do not recognize Kosovo’s independence either. Belgrade and Pristina began EU-mediated reconciliation talks in 2011.

Trans-European Transport Networks to breathe new life into Balkans (New Europe, by Irene Kostaki, 2 February 2019)

Europe’s Transport future for a more inclusive union, under the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 was debated in the European Parliament between the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu, and Greek Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis. Crețu came out strongly in defence of Greece, reiterating the rolse she played during the economic crisis that gave Greece the opportunity to complete works under a 100% co-financing rate. “Greece is a part of my heart, I fought in front of the European Parliament to have exceptional measures (taken) in exceptional times,” said Crețu, who also congratulated Spirtzis and the Greek government for the handling of the situation in Greece under difficult circumstances. The EU executive has invested up to €70 billion in the transport sector, with €30 billion being especially allocated to the trans-European transport networks (TNT). “Our aims is to expand the rail networks by 4,600km while more than 2,000km TNT roads are constructed,” added Crețu, who has been active when it comes to inspecting most European projects on the ground. “One of the most moving moments for me was in Tempi [Greece] with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras” said Crețu, who added that their visit to what was one of the most dangerous stretches of the road to Thessaloniki was a watershed moment for her. The trip from Romania to Thessaloniki used to take 9-10 hours in the 1990s, but can now be completed in 3-4 hours by car. The Commissioner outlined her plans for the simplification of regulations, especially on the Common Provisions Regulation by saying, “We want a radical simplification of the regulations…We hope for the support of the European Parliament to approve the next Multiannual Financial Framework as soon as possible,” added Crețu. “People that drive to Thessaloniki, that use the Athens metro, and that will use the Thessaloniki metro in the future do not know that that more 85% of the funding comes from the EU. This is important for people to know, in order to defend the European project. We are living through difficult times and with many challenges. It is our duty as Europeans to prove how much the EU is doing for its citizens, both in financial and investment terms,” said Crețu.

Progressive forces must join powers

With the European elections in the immediate horizon, the bloc’s progressive forces have to present a new narrative of productive reconstruction. “The Trans-European Transport networks should be completed to create a new European narrative,” said Spirtzis. “Productive reconstruction can be facilitated by sustainable investment policy, recovery of human capital, environmental protection, and secure jobs. This is our proposal for Greece, the Balkans, and Europe,” added the minister. “The other side of the political spectrum’s proposals all come together as neoliberal suggestions that, in order to make Europe competitive, governments will have to further cut costs”. However, this narrative does not take into account the very high cost of protecting the environment. “This is a high cost for the projects,” `Spirtzis said, “in addition to the cost of the welfare state, Justice, and rule of law and…the cost of Democracy.” According to Spirtzis, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank have to step away from the logic that a project should only be financed if we can guarantee its viability. According to the minister, there must be other criteria, such as development and productive reconstruction, as well as road safety. “Projects create growth in local societies,” he said before adding, “It is the duty of all of us…to maintain our views, our diversity and our disagreements.” Regarding the recently ratified Prespes Agreement that ends the Name Dispute with what is now North Macedonia, Spirtzis believes a new dynamic has now been formed in the Balkans. “Greece will no longer be a border country for Europe, but can now look inwards towards the Balkans,” added the minister.

New transport networks between Greece and the rest of the Balkans will help connect the ports of Northern Greece – Thessaloniki, Kavala, and Alexandroupolis with Bulgaria’s Black Sea ports. “A connection with Romania should be at the centre of our attention,” added Spirtzis, suggesting that the projects are now up for funding by the European Commission. “These projects will further guarantee the interconnection and integration of Bulgaria and Romania as members of the EU, but will also upgrade the role of Serbia and North Macedonia by bringing them closer to Europe,” Spirtzis told New Europe. “The same results will be achieved through the road interconnection with Albania and other regions of the Western Balkans in order to achieve better cooperation, more stability”. The rail connection between Thessaloniki and the borders of North Macedonia will be complete within the next few weeks, which allows for second line to be implemented that reaches the North Macedonian capital Skopje.” During the second phase, the interconnection of Skopje with Belgrade is also part of the plan,” concluded the minister. As one of the organisers of the debate, Miltos Kyrkos, S&D MEP, said on the eve of European elections, the clash is now between pro- and anti- European forces who will dominate the political dialogue. “We should be standing for more Europe, a common economic policy”. Greece’s experience underlined that the country failed to compose its own policy programmes to exit the crisis. German MEP Ismail Ertug who was also present at the debate, outlined the challenges the European Parliament will face as a member of the Committee of Transport and Tourism.. “As the Transport Committee, we ask for €10 billion, but the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development says €4 billion is enough, and refuses to earmark this amount for TNTs,” said Ertug, who also revealed cities and airports absorb most money, leading to the lack of cross border connection within the EU.”