LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: No solution to any problem without Russia (Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Moscow, on Oct. 1 that he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin for concrete political support to Serbia, declaring that "without

Russia there can be no solution to any problem plaguing the Serbs."

On the eve of his Oct. 2 meeting with Putin, Vucic told reporters that the timing of the encounter was "one of the most important to Serbia in years."

"The situation in our region is very complex and every word and political move must be weighed. At a time when we are advancing economically, we have significant political problems in the region and a lot where it isn't completely certain what the outcome may be if there is any disruption of stability and peace. That is exactly why the meeting with Putin is of particular importance," the president of Serbia said.

He said he was not expecting "spectacular things" from his talks with Putin, but confirmation of support to Serbia and the advancement of the friendship between the two states and peoples. According to him, political and economic relations are good, but he said they "must be much better."

"Our trade is not directly proportional to the strength of our political relations and we must work on that most concretely. We need Russia in everything, in politics and in the economy. That is why we must have the closest relations with Russia," Vucic said.

 

Vucic to Putin: We are far from the solution for KiM (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Vucic told Putin that, regardless of the efforts of our country to reach a compromise and to support peace and stability, we are far from any solution to the Kosovo and Metohija issue and stressed that the state of Serbia faces daily provocations. After tete-a-tete meeting, a meeting of two delegations will follow.

At the beginning of the meeting with Vladimir Putin, Aleksandar Vucic said that he is always honored when he has the opportunity to meet with the President of Russia, and that today's meeting is of great importance for Serbia.

"I am very pleased with the development of our relations and this is all result of our open, constructive and fruitful talks. Relations between Russia and Serbia on the international level are very good and I have to personally give you great recognition for the strong position you take in the protection of international law and vital national and state interests of Serbia" emphasized Vucic.

Vucic said that the situation in the Western Balkans is very complex and that Serbia as a state faces numerous provocations on a daily basis.

"Regardless of our efforts to reach a compromise and to support peace and stability, we are very far from any solution to the issue of KiM" Vucic said.

He stressed that Serbia, as a free and independent state, would maintain military neutrality, and expressed the belief that Serbia is today the only country in the Western Balkans with such orientation.

"As far as our economic ties are concerned, I am satisfied and I think we can continue to strengthen our economic relations in the future" Vucic said. He thanked Putin for everything he has done in favor of Serbia and invited him to visit Belgrade soon, adding that it would be a great honor for our country and our people. He then gave him the book "My Beautiful Serbia" by Russian authors.

The President of Russia expressed his satisfaction that he could talk to his Serbian counterpart in Moscow again.

"And I remember your last visit on May 8 and 9. We recently celebrated the 180th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. I am also pleased to note the growth of trade exchange, which is a steady growth - last year it was 23 percent, and in the first six months of this year more than 13 percent"Putin explained. He said that the growth of Russian investments in the Serbian economy, which reached four billion dollars, is also recorded. I'm sure we will have something to talk about when it comes to the situation in the region" Putin said.

 

Djuric: Without Russia's support, there is no positive solution for KiM (RTS)

Serbian-Russian relations are ingrained in the very roots of Serbian independence and the statehood, said the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djuric.

Marko Djuric said that without the support of Russia there is no positive solution for the problems in Kosovo and Metohija (KiM).

"It is therefore important that the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic will meet for the 14th time with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and their good personal relationship is a pledge for good interstate relations, and we expect further progress in these relations" Djuric said.

 

Moscow condemns international forces reaction in Kosovo (Beta)

Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned on Monday “a passive behavior of the international forces in Kosovo” which did not take any action against “irresponsible intrusion of Pristina’s special police in the Serb parts of Kosovo” the Beta news agency reported.

“A demonstrative incursion by the Kosovo special police into the northern area with Serb population in spite of the agreements between Belgrade and Pristina is a provocation aiming at intimidating the Kosovo Serbs and putting pressure on Serbia,” the Ministry’s statement said.

It adds that the international forces in Kosovo are obliged by the United Nations mandate to secure peace and safety in Kosovo.

The statement said that “such an irresponsible behavior of the Kosovo authorities could have caused new bloodshed there and the destabilization of the Balkans as a whole. Pristina’s continuous efforts to take control of the parts of Kosovo with Serb majority by force can ignite interethnic hatred and make senseless the longtime international community’s efforts to find a post-conflict solution to the problem.”

 

Selakovic: Gratitude to Russia because they call things by the real name (RTS)

The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the passive behavior of international forces in Kosovo and Metohija (KiM), calling it irresponsible and that it could cause a new bloodshed and the destabilization of the Balkans as a whole. Serbian Secretary General Nikola Selakovic thanked Moscow for being ready to "call things by the right name".

Serbian Secretary General Nikola Selakovic said that the public is used to see the President Aleksandar Vucic regularly with the highest officials in the world, which wasn’t the case before, and it is rare with other Western Balkan leaders.

"Our President is respected by the world leaders, he enjoys a kind of reputation not only because of the independent policy he is leading but also, which is important, because of the successful policy of economic reforms that began in 2014”.

Selakovic stressed that the situation in the region has grown hotter and that it is never peaceful in the Balkans.

"Not only because of the referendum in Macedonia, the upcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), but also because of the armed intrusion of the Albanian special forces, in the north of Kosovo" said Selakovic.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the passive behavior of international forces in KiM, claiming it irresponsible and that it could have been a stating of a new bloodshed.

Selakovic said that on one side we have a policy of peace and the responsible President Vucic, and on the other, a weapons policy.

"It is just as Ms. Maria Zaharova pointed out, expressing the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, to which we owe the gratitude to her, Minister Lavrov and Putin, because, if nothing else, they are ready to call things by their real name" stressed Selakovic.

On the other hand, it is hypocritical, says Selakovic, when the European Commission calls both sides to calm the tensions. Selakovic expects the continuation of Moscow's support for Belgrade's policy and President Vucic, as before.

"This is the 14th meeting of the two presidents in a short period of time. The intensive and strong cooperation results in the support provided by the Russian Federation to Serbia in solving the KiM problem" Selakovic said.

The Secretary General of the President said that Vucic spoke about the situation in the region with all the leaders he met with - Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel, and Mike Pence.

"Why did he talk to them about that? Because Serbia cannot be good if the situation is unstable and bad for the neighbors. The crisis in the Balkans have tendency to spill over the borders” Selakovic said.

Speaking about failed referendum in Macedonia and the reaction of the EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn who said that support was given to the Prespa Agreement, Selakovic said it was "an unusual statement".

"I was eagerly waiting for the EU reaction to the failure of the referendum, and then this reaction came in. It shows that our position is never easy and simple, that small nations in the Balkans seek understanding from the big ones, but it often happens that the same rules don’t apply to big and the small ones" Selakovic said. We are asking for a little bit more of acknowledgment and respect, for our voice and our side to be heard” concluded Selakovic.

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic - who is in Moscow for a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin - said he was grateful to Zakharova for commenting on "everything that the Albanians have been doing in the north of Kosovo and Metohija - it demonstrates Russia's commitment to the truth."

 

UNMIK: We were not informed or involved in Thaci’s visit (RTS, Tanjug)

UNMIK's personnel were not informed or included in the visit of the president of the provisional Kosovo institutions, Hasim Thaci, to Gazivode Lake on September 29th, UNMIK spokeswoman Sanam Dolatshahi said. UNMIK's spokeswoman said this in a statement issued to Tanjug regarding "some media reports" on Thaci's visit to Lake Gazivode.

"Regarding some media reports on President Hashim Thaci’s visit to Gazivoda reservoir on 29 September, UNMIK wishes to clarify that its staff were neither notified of nor involved in this visit.  UNMIK staff and vehicles in the area were present only fulfilling monitoring responsibilities, which include ascertaining and assessing developing situations on the ground, under the Mission mandate" reads the statement.

 

China Returns Kosovo to the UN Security Council (RTV)

Thanks to Beijing, the United Nations Security Council will again discuss the issue of Kosovo and Metohija (KiM) at a session in November, writes Vecernje Novosti.

Next month, China will be the world's chairman of the presidency and will include the report of Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the situation in KiM, unlike the United Kingdom, which prevented him from considering it during August, when she held the presidency.

The regular term for discussing KiM was in August.

Washington, followed the footsteps of London, which according to the rotation made the work plan for September, so the US also avoided discussing KiM.

Considering that the reports of all the UN Secretary Generals have been made quarterly since 1999, and that in November another three months, from the last written, but not discussed Guterres report, will pass, the Security Council will be presented by two reports of the first man of the world organization.

The first one related to the period from April 16 to July 15, 2018, and the other, which will cover events from July to mid-October.

This will be the first time that a session dedicated to KiM will be held after half a year, since the last one was held in May.

 

Vucic: I negotiate on Kosovo, not Tony Blair (Pink TV)

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic denied on Monday that the chief negotiator for Serbia in the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on normalization of relations held in Brussels was the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Speaking to the Belgrade-based Pink TV Vucic said that “he (Blair) is not negotiating on anything, I do. It was the decision by our executive authorities and mine to accept that burden.”

He responded to an opposition leader's statement to N1 on Saturday that some very intense talks on Kosovo had been going on behind the scene and that Blair was negotiating with the top international officials on Vucic’s behalf.

Vuk Jeremic, the leader of the opposition People’s Party and a former Chairman of the UN General Assembly, said many high international officials, whom he spoke with at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session last week, confirmed such talks were taking place.

 

Serbian minister says Kosovo issue to return to UN (Prva TV)

Serbian Minister without portfolio Nenad Popovic said on Tuesday that the time is right to take the Kosovo issue back to the United Nations after the European Union failed in its moderation efforts. “The EU has failed as moderator in the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and now is the right moment to return the Kosovo issue back where it belongs – the UN” he said in Moscow. Popovic is part of the delegation that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has brought with him to the Russian capital. The minister told Belgrade’s TV Prva the great powers – the United States, Russia and China – should be included in the search for a solution of the problem.

 

Vucic: EU's reaction to Macedonia referendum very important to me (B92)

President Aleksandar Vucic has commented from Moscow on the outcome of the referendum in Macedonia, and stressed that Europe must act more responsibly.

"It's not my place to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign country... I'm afraid and it seems to me that some people from abroad underestimate us Balkan nations and think that they can do anything," Vucic said, adding:

"They think - 'we'll see if we can do it with the people, if not, then we won't, we will try to pressure deputies (parliament members), if that doesn't work either, no matter, it must be that way... I would ask people from Europe and the world to show respect toward us small nations and to show that they understand what is happening," said is Vucic.

 

He then "superimposed" the situation onto Serbia.

"Imagine me calling on people to take part in a referendum, and 25, 35 percent end up turning out, and me saying, 'we've won'... That is an impossible situation for me. There is democracy, constitutions and laws are there to be respected, even when the decision of the people isn't liked by someone. I don't like the stance of people in Serbia, to sit, to be silent, and to think that somebody from the sky will help. I respect that position if this is the position of the people, it's no good that I think differently, it's no good that I think we should be solving our future in a more responsible way, but my duty is to respect my people and understand the messages that people are sending, "Vucic added.

 

He stressed that the reaction from the EU to the Macedonia referendum was "very important to him. As far as the world is concerned, I expected more understanding for the real reasons behind the low turnout, and I expected someone to consider this in a realistic way. You cannot forget what the people think, Europe must take a more responsible stance" Vucic said.

The Serbian President added that he "respects the agreement between Greece and Macedonia" on the name of the latter - which was, among other things, included in the referendum question.

 

Brnabic in Geneva at a meeting on the Western Balkans (Tanjug)

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic arrived in Geneva, where she will attend the "Dialogue on the Western Balkans" organized by the World Economic Forum. Leaders from all over the region are taking part in the gathering, and after the meeting they will address the joint press conference.

The meeting with the leaders of the Western Balkans is chaired by Founder and Executive Director of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab, and next to it will be attended by the President of the Forum Borge Brende and the Director for Europe and Eurasia Martina Larkin.

The meeting will also be attended by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and others.

 

Stoltenberg: I'm going to Serbia for our biggest rescue exercise (Tanjug)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that he will attend the "biggest emergency relief exercise" of the Alliance next week in Serbia with 40 countries which are participating.

"Next week I travel again to that region and I will visit Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana, and in Serbia I will attend our biggest emergency assistance exercise with 40 participating countries" Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference held on the eve of a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels.

On the site of the Alliance, it was announced that Stoltenberg pointed out that it was the first exercise of this kind that is being held in Serbia.

"This is the first such exercise hosted by Serbia, which reflects a strong and highly valued partnership between Serbia and NATO" said the Secretary General of the Alliance.

Stoltenberg, at a press conference ahead of a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, said he expects that negotiations on Macedonia's accession to the Alliance will be completed by January 2019.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Serbian President Vucic confirms he will present evidence on interference of foreigners in elections in B&H (RTRS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic commented the fact that Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Mladen Ivanic called on Serbia not to interfere in internal matters of B&H and Republika Srpska (RS), as well as on Ivanic's statement that he will not comment Vucic's statements that certain foreign factors are interfering in the elections in B&H until evidence of that is presented. Vucic confirmed that he will present evidence corroborating his claims after the elections in B&H.

"It would be enough to show just one evidence to see what some did and what they allowed themselves. But, this is not a big surprise to you. You all know that, but everyone is only acting naive. I will only show, by name and surname, what some did and nothing more. But, this is not the question now. I do not want to further interfere. I will have something to say to Mr. Ivanic, but after the elections are completed. I will not interfere in, as he said, internal matters of B&H given that I see that Serbia is the biggest problem and the only problem" Vucic said.

 

Dodik: I will commit to closing down the OHR (Srna)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik has said that high representatives have destroyed the Dayton Agreement and violated international law for years in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), and that this is why he will commit to closing down the OHR.

“High representative to B&H, Valentin Inzko is meddling into the election process. I think that high representatives are causing conflicts here since they destroyed the Dayton Agreement. They are the greatest criminals, and Paddy Ashdown is bragging about the violence he carried out against us. Inzko has had a salary of 24,000 Euros for ten years and he is lecturing us about stabilization” Dodik told reporters, prompted by Inzko’s statement on elections in B&H.

He says that by derogating from the Dayton Peace Agreement, high representatives distanced B&H from a possible existence.

“B&H can exist in keeping with the Constitution, and if something is not in line with it, then it is illegal. Now, you have a man who was destroying the Dayton Agreement and was covering up the crime, while preaching who will vote for whom. Of course, that this amounts to the meddling into the election process, and his statements are a proof enough that he is doing it” Dodik has said.

 

He has said that high representatives devastated the status of Croats in B&H.

“Look how everything looks like now. High representatives destroyed a possibility of a quota of Croatian votes for obligatory decisions. This will be prepared for us if we do not defend ourselves,” Dodik has said.

He has said that indirect taxes, which are in the competence of B&H, cost RS 1.5 billion Euros.

“This is our complete foreign debt. We transferred 1.5 billion Euros to B&H accounts of which we did not have any benefit. We could build roads, schools and give to companies as aid. We gave the money in keeping with a model that was supported by Mladen Ivanic, which is catastrophic for us since our fiscal sovereignty has been destroyed. No one in RS feels that they are getting anything from B&H” Dodik has said.

 

Inzko has said that in the upcoming elections, citizens can choose between confrontation and normalcy, between stagnation and progress, and added that the IC did not intervene enough.

 

B&H misses’ deadline to answer EC's follow-up questions (N1)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) authorities were given a three-month deadline to submit the answers to the European Commission (EC) Questionnaire's follow-up questions and the Commission has not yet received the replies, an EC spokesperson told N1.

“It is our understanding that the B&H authorities are now finalizing their answers in the framework of the country's coordination mechanism on EU matters. The Commission looks forward to receiving the answers in the coming period,” said the spokesperson adding that, however, the specific questions on where the country exactly stands with the preparation of the answers should be addressed to the country's authorities.

 

The Commission sent to B&H's authorities a number of follow-up questions as a part of the preparation of the Commission's opinion on the country's application for the EU membership.

“An indicative deadline of three months, until the end of September was given to the B&H authorities to submit their replies. The Commission has not yet received the replies,” said the spokesperson.

 

B&H formally applied for the EU membership in February 2016 and was to provide the answers to the 3,242 questions of the EC's Questionnaire within six months. However, it took the country a year to complete the process, because of deep political and ethnic divisions.

 

In February this year, B&H's senior officials handed over the answers to the Questionnaire to the EC President Jean-Paul Juncker and the country is now expecting the Commission's opinion to its EU membership application.

The purpose of the follow-up questions is to clarify what has been provided by B&H authorities in the answers received by the European Commission on 28 February 2018 as well as to request missing information, reads the introductory part of the document the authorities received in June.

 

“B&H's answers to the Questionnaire and to the follow-up questions will be taken into account for the ongoing preparation of the Commission's opinion on the merits of B&H's application for EU membership. On the basis of the Commission's opinion and its future recommendations, the EU Council will take a decision as to the next steps in the country's EU integration process as well as the necessary reforms for B&H to carry out to make this happen” N1 was told in this institution. The Commission emphasized it was crucial for B&H's leaders, parties and institutions to “maintain the strong focus on reforms” which includes the smooth organization and implementation of the October election as well as the swift formation of authorities following the election “in order to resume with the necessary reforms, in line with citizens' expectations.”

 

Croatia

 

Prime Minister attends World Economic Forum summit on Western Balkans (HRT)

The World Economic Forum is holding a strategic meeting on the Western Balkans in Geneva.

The objective is to address the challenges faced by the economies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. Top officials from the six countries and Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Turkey are attending the gathering. Tensions in Kosovo, relations between Macedonia and Greece, and elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are some of the issues that are being discussed. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic is attending the summit. He said Croatia wanted to see these countries move closer to the EU since Croatia planned to make the Western Balkans a top issue of its European Council presidency in 2020.

 

“We want to see how several important political and security issues will play out. We also want to help by conveying our knowledge with respect to what candidates can expect during the accession negotiations. That's our strategic position and I think it is important to get some momentum going on this process by 2020, as we prepare for our turn at the helm of the European Council which will come at the same time as a new Commission and a new parliament” Plenkovic said.

 

fYROM

 

President Ivanov: The reality is the referendum failed (MIA)

The silent majority has decided, the reality is that the referendum failed. Do not attempt to change this reality, President Gjorge Ivanov said in an address to the nation.

 

"Do not attempt to change this reality, do not underestimate the sovereign will of the Macedonian people. A 36.9% turnout is not the will of the people, 63.1% that didn't come out to vote is the people's will. The reality is that the referendum failed. It is time for responsibility. You have reduced the NATO and EU support from 80% to a mere 36.9%. You have been manipulating our citizens and also our European and Euro-Atlantic partners. You have been providing them with false perceptions," said Ivanov. The referendum is no opinion poll, Ivanov noted adding that the decision of the citizens was binding.

"In a referendum, you, the citizens, directly exercise your sovereign power. The Parliament must respect this decision," stated President Ivanov. Only rallying around our state interests, respecting the constitutional and legal order, we may complete our path to the European and Euro-Atlantic family, according to him.

"Without a doubt, the place of the Republic of Macedonia is in the EU and NATO. But, we should join the organization with our human dignity, without intimidation, pressure and double standards. Only then we will be able to tackle the two great challenges," Ivanov said.

 

The first one, he said, involves serious and thorough reforms in all segments, and the second challenge is to restore national consensus in order to unite in defensing our state interests and fulfilling our strategic objectives.

The Macedonian President said he expected OSCE/ODIHR to seriously take into account reports about irregularities in several polling stations. President Ivanov also called on the ruling majority to take responsibility for the failed referendum.

 

PM Zaev: Agreement with opposition or early elections - to be known in coming days (MIA)

It will be known in a few days if there is a climate to reach an agreement with the opposition for a two-third majority required for the Parliament to pass the constitutional changes required under the name agreement with Greece, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Monday. According to him, today is the day to digest all the analyses and plans.

Talks will start as of tomorrow (Tuesday October 2^nd), PM Zaev told reporters. He said that there were capacities for holding early elections, considered as the last resort if an agreement couldn't be reached.

"Of course, there are capacities for elections. The law and the Constitution envisage what is next. But, I hope we will manage to make an agreement. Processes cannot be deadlocked moving nowhere, things must be moving forward," stressed the Prime Minister.

According to him, if all attempts fail to reach an agreement and early elections must be organized, then polls will be administered very soon. It is highly likely that elections can be organized by late November, which was already mentioned by Zaev last night. He noted that other deadlines must be taken into account, such as European Parliament elections, set to take place in May 2019, in which Greece will be also involved. He said that by now there was no concrete support for constitutional changes from VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers. After talks with the opposition in the coming days, we will get a clearer picture of what is the climate in this respect, according to him. As things stand now, PM Zaev added, all stakeholders need to show political maturity since no one has offered any alternative to NATO and the EU or an agreement that could be better than the one reached with Greece.

 

Name agreement illegitimate, opposition leader Mickoski says (Alfa TV)

The opposition VMRO-DPMNE parliamentary group is monolithic and still considers that the name agreement failed to gain legitimacy in yesterday’s referendum, party’s leader Hristijan Mickoski said in an interview with Alfa TV.

VMRO_DPMNE, he said, is ready for snap elections, but the process must be preceded by completion of certain activities.

“We have an Electoral Code. At one of the leaders’ meetings we have agreed that a Przino-style government should be appointed 100 days before any election process. PM Zoran Zaev will make attempt to avoid that, interpret constitutional regulations for snap poll, but he cannot run away from the Przino-style government, because VMRO-DPMNE will insist on what the party leaders have agreed upon” Mickoski said.

VMRO-DPMNE, he said, will accept snap elections only if the Public Prosecutor resigns and a steering committee on the referendum irregularities is established. According to Mickoski, the referendum put an end to the implementation of the Skopje-Athens name agreement.

 

Kremlin closely follows developments in Macedonia, expects adherence to laws (MIA)

Kremlin is closely following developments in the Republic of Macedonia after the referendum over the country's name change and its membership in NATO and EU, said spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday.

"We believe that all processes should remain within the scope of the rule of law and adherence to laws," said Peskov in a statement.

Russian MFA also comment on the Results of the Referendum in the Republic of Macedonia by issuing a statement: “On September 30, a referendum was held in the Republic of Macedonia regarding the acceptability of the Prespansk agreement on renaming the Balkan republic to "Northern Macedonia". The turnout of 36.8% does not allow to recognize the plebiscite as having taken place (it is necessary for this to be 50%) and unambiguously testifies that the Macedonian voters preferred to boycott the decisions roughly imposed from outside Skopje and Athens - leading politicians from NATO and EU countries directly participated in the expanded propaganda campaign, interfering in the internal affairs of this Balkan country.

 

Despite the fact that two-thirds of the Macedonian population did not support the Prespan agreement, the results of the vote were immediately welcomed by the leadership of the EU and NATO, as well as by Washington. There is an aspiration to ensure the accelerated drawing of Skopje to NATO despite the opinion of the Macedonian people.

 

Our principled position remains unchanged: a long-term solution can only be found by the parties themselves, without outside interference, exclusively within the legal framework and with the support of broad public support. The Prespan agreement clearly does not correspond to these criteria. It contradicts international law and the Macedonian constitution, which was repeatedly emphasized by the President of the Republic of Macedonia G.Ivanov, including from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly.

 

Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council closely follows the development of the situation. We proceed from the fact that, in accordance with paragraph 3 of UNSCR 845, the results of negotiations between Skopje and Athens will be considered in the UN Security Council.

 

UK Foreign Secretary Hunt: Implementation of Prespa Agreement will improve stability in Macedonia and wider region (MIA)

At the referendum in Macedonia voters showed their desire to resolve the long-standing dispute with neighboring Greece over the country’s name and take a positive step towards Euro-Atlantic integration. If implemented, the Prespa Agreement would improve stability in Macedonia and the wider region, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said.

 

“Although turnout was below expectations, this referendum was a positive step for Macedonia. Voters in Macedonia have made clear their wish to be part of the Euro-Atlantic community and I call on Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his government to work with parliament to build consensus around the future of the country” Hunt said in a written statement.

He expressed belief that the implementation of the Prespa Agreement would be good for Macedonia and good for the region.

“It offers the prospect of greater security and prosperity and better opportunities for Macedonia’s young people. It also allows Macedonia to serve as an example to the region of what can be achieved with courage, determination and a vision for the future. The UK is proud to be a longstanding friend and partner of Macedonia. We look forward to this partnership enduring and strengthening in the future. And we look forward, in particular, to the day when we will be NATO allies – the door is still open” Hunt said.

 

EU/NATO: Next days to determine the fate of next generations (MIA)

European Council President Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a joint statement Monday on the consultative referendum in Macedonia. They once again notify that the name agreement between Athens and Skopje has created a historic opportunity for Macedonia to join the transatlantic and European community as an equal member.

‘This would change the life of the people of the country and that of their children for the better,’ Tusk and Stoltenberg said.

In the consultative referendum, they said, an overwhelming majority of those voting supported that path.

‘It is now in the hands of politicians in Skopje to decide on the way forward. The decisions they take in the next days and weeks will determine the fate of their country and their people for many generations to come. We encourage them to seize this historic opportunity,’ the joint statement of the EU and NATO top officials reads.

 

Greek spokesman: Greece continues to support Zaev's efforts (MIA)

On our part, we will continue to support the great efforts of Mr. Zaev, we will continue to support the need for preserving the momentum of the Prespa Agreement, because we believe it is a waste to miss this chance to solve an issue plaguing the Balkans for nearly 30 years, said a Greek spokesman on Monday.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said that the referendum in Macedonia produced 'great predominance for the 'Yes' vote,' and called it 'a good development aimed at ratification and coming into force of the Prespa Agreement.' However, he said, the low turnout is a cause for concern.

"It is now up to fYROM's parliament and we hope that the initiative of the PM Zoran Zaev's government for a revision of the constitution will be successful. We will continue to closely follow developments and to support the initiative of Mr. Zaev with the sole purpose of preserving the momentum of the Prespa Agreement," said Tzanakopoulos.

Asked about the deadlines, the government spokesman noted that there was a slight delay. For Greece, according to him, the fulfillment of deadlines is not crucial, the important thing is to meet the preconditions for the agreement to be ratified in the Greek Parliament.

"We want to send a concrete and clear message that we shouldn't allow this opportunity to be lost," Tzanakopoulos stated adding that at the moment there was a window of opportunity for the wider Balkan region to enter a new era.

The government spokesman also mentioned the 'climate of nationalism and skepticism existing in both countries,' referring to the positions of the opposition parties in Macedonia and Greece, namely VMRO-DPMNE and New Democracy. The two parties view the name agreement as 'detrimental to national interests.'

When asked about yesterday's phone call between the premiers of Macedonia and Greece, Tzanakopoulos said it took place in a cordial atmosphere with Alexis Tsipras voicing support for Zoran Zaev.

"The conversation was held in a positive and cordial climate. PM (Tsipras) extended his support to Mr. Zaev and praised his initiative to go ahead with the agreement's ratification process, to go ahead with the process of constitutional revision in the Parliament of FYROM," government spokesman Tzanakopoulos told the briefing in Athens.

 

Albania

 

Albania welcomes referendum's result in Macedonia (ADN)

Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, welcomed on Monday the 'YES' vote of Macedonian citizens in support of the name agreement with Greece during consultative referendum.

According to the institution, there should be no more delays of the further legislative process in Sobranie.

"We encourage the continuation without delays of further legislative process in Sobranie to initiate the necessary constitutional changes and to fully implement the agreement reached in Prespa as the only way for NATO and EU membership. It is time for all political forces in Parliament to respond to the will of the citizens and with broad consensus to use this historic opportunity to advance the country's Euro-Atlantic path," said the Ministry.

 

Macedonian referendum, Kryemadhi: Politics should act with discretion (ADN)

The Chairwoman of the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), Monika Kryemadhi, welcomed on Monday the implementation of the referendum in Macedonia on the name issue with Greece.

According to her, from now on, Macedonian Politics should act with discretion for the realization of the agreement with Greece and the country's integration.

"I would like to welcome the will expressed by the Macedonian people for the final settlement of the agreement with the neighboring state of Greece on the name issue. Macedonian citizens gave a clear message of their Euro-Atlantic perspective. It is up to Macedonian politics to act with discretion to implement the agreement with Greece and the country's integration stages in the Euro-Atlantic family" said Kryemadhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

Snap Election May Yet Salvage Macedonian Name Deal (BIRN)

Macedonia’s prime minister says he wants parliament to endorse the country’s ‘name’ deal with Greece, but is ready to go to voters again to get the two-thirds majority he needs.

Macedonia’s government will seek to convince its right-wing opponents not to stand in the way of parliamentary ratification of a deal with Greece to change the country’s name and unlock accession to NATO and the European Union, but party insiders and analysts say a snap election looks much more likely.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev wants parliament to endorse the new name of ‘Republic of North Macedonia’, pointing to a large ‘Yes’ vote among those who voted in a referendum on Sunday.

But low turnout, aided by an opposition call to boycott, rendered the result invalid and threw into doubt an historic deal with Athens to end almost three decades of disagreement that has frustrated Skopje’s Western integration.

Zaev said consultations with the opposition VMRO-DPMNE would start on Tuesday, and his deputy, Radmila Shekerinska, said seven to 10 days should be enough to determine whether the party was willing to move Macedonia along the path of Euro-Atlantic integration or not.

If they fail to convince at least some opposition MPs to give the government the two-thirds majority it needs, the country will face a snap election by the end of November, both warned.

Party insiders and analysts said the latter was the most likely result, sceptical that the VMRO-DPMNE will change course.

 

Number crunching

 

The Social Democrat-led governing coalition has the backing of 71 of parliament’s 120 deputies. To change the constitution, it needs nine more votes.

Even as the results were still coming in on Sunday night, Social Democrat sources were crunching the numbers for a possible snap election, noting that the referendum result substantially mirrored the local elections of 2017.

Some, who wished to remain anonymous, told BIRN that internal, unpublished party polling showed a seven per cent lead for the ruling party over the VMRO-DPMNE.

Coupled with the votes of ethnic Albanian parties, which back the ‘name’ deal with Greece, a new ruling coalition led by the Social Democrats could count on the support of 85 MPs in parliament – enough to vote through the necessary constitutional changes.

Several political observers said the 605,016 ‘Yes’ votes in Sunday’s referendum – or 91 per cent of the overall vote - would encourage Zaev to seek a new and strengthened mandate from the people.

“If we look at the results from the local elections and the results from the referendum – that translates into more than two thirds of the MPs in parliament,” said political analyst Albert Musliu.

 

Two-thirds majority possible

 

In last year’s local elections, the Social Democrats won a landslide victory with more than 415,000 votes. Ethnic Albanian parties took a combined total of more than 200,000. Taken together, that would account for the more than 600,000 who voted ‘Yes’ on Sunday.

The VMRO-DPMNE, tarnished by a string of corruption and abuse-of-power scandals during a decade in power until 2016, took just 335,000 votes in last year’s local polls, down from the 440,000 it once counted on.

The party’s current rating is harder to assess given it opted for a boycott of Sunday’s plebiscite, which saw just 37 per cent turnout.

But political commentator Saso Ordanoski said Zaev could likely count on a convincing win for the probable ‘Alliance for a European Macedonia’ bloc centred on the Social Democrats, SDSM, and its current junior partner, the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI.

They may be helped, too, by the nature of Macedonia’s electoral model, which favours bigger parties or alliances over smaller ones.

“With the help of the Macedonian electoral model, it is not excluded that a large alliance led by SDSM and DUI could win a two-thirds majority”, Ordanoski wrote on Monday in an op-ed for Civil Media web site.

The referendum result was seized on by both sides to further their arguments – Zaev hailed the huge ‘Yes’ vote, while VMRO-DPMNE said that the failure to reach the 50 per cent turnout threshold meant the name deal with Greece was dead.

Ordanoski, in his op-ed, said the Social Democrats would likely only be wasting their time in trying to convince the VMRO-DPMNE to back down.

VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, Ordanoski wrote, had already declared the name deal dead, the referendum a failure and the constitution inviolable.

“It is clear that VMRO DPMNE won’t retreat from this position,” he said.

 

Tight timetable

 

Political observers say the VMRO-DPMNE and its MPs have become hostages of their own rhetoric, which has long divided Macedonians into ‘traitors’ and ‘patriots’. The few opposition MPs who did take part in the referendum, albeit voting ‘No’, were vilified and threatened on social media, making it highly unlikely that any will cross the aisle to vote for the name deal in parliament.

Mickoski already appeared to have one eye on a snap election when he told TV 21 on Monday that the referendum had been littered with irregularities and that Zaev “has no legitimacy to organise fair elections.”

International observers noted only minor incidents during the vote, but Mickoski said his party would only participate in a snap election if the opposition gets to name a new Public Prosecutor to investigate referendum wrongdoing and alleged government crimes. He also demanded a special commission to investigate the referendum.

If, as is expected, the VMRO-DPMNE resists government calls to support the deal in parliament, the Social Democrats must move by October 10 to call elections for November 25. Only then will a new parliamentary majority have the time to pass the required constitutional changes, as Zaev hopes, in February or March, before Greece enters its own electoral season.

 

The Greek government of Alexis Tsipras has said it will wait, but faces a challenge from the right and nationalist opponents of any deal with Greece’s northern neighbour that would allow it to continue using ‘Macedonia’ in its name, which Athens says implies territorial ambitions.

Greek parliamentary ratification is the last step, but can only be counted on under the current government. Any delay beyond the 2019 Greek election could doom the name deal, and Macedonia’s EU and NATO hopes with it.