LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: Merkel in Serbia; I would have met with Thaci, if I've been invited (RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Serbia. As he said, she will visit Serbia in 2020, prior to expiration of her term of office. Aleksandar Vucic underlined after the meeting with Chancellor Merkel that they had discussed Kosovo and Metohija, and economy. The president said that there's no doubt that Europe wants a solution to the Kosovo problem and that Germany would insist on it. He stressed that it was reiterated on the meeting that talks should resume soon, a regional summit should be held and intensive talks between Serbs and Albanians should be started in order to find a solution.

"There's no doubt that Europe wants a solution to the Kosovo problem and that Germany would insist on it" Vucic added. "They expect us to talk and talk until we come to a solution" Vucic said. He said he had invited the German Chancellor to visit Serbia and said she had promised him to do so by the end of her term. "It would be a great honor for our country to thank her for all that she has done" Vucic emphasized.

 

President Vucic also met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres in New York. The main topic of discussion was Kosovo and Metohija. "Thank you for supporting peace and stability. We will always be dedicated to supporting your work" stated Vucic after the meeting with Guterres. Vucic said he met with Macedonian and Albanian prime ministers, Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama respectively, and that they are coming to Serbia in the first half of October for a meeting dedicated to the removal of customs barriers. The Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama will be visiting Serbia on 9 and 10 October, announced President Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday. The idea is for the three countries to mutually remove the obstacles for doing business on their territory, and at the meeting in Belgrade these plans should be shaped, he said. Asked if he would meet with Hashim Thaci on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he said - if he had been invited, he would have met with Thaci. "However, Thaci, like Vuk Jeremic, walks along the corridors of New York."

 

He said that parliamentary elections would be held in time and that leaders of the Alliance for Serbia (SzS) could come forward with the proposal for adopting a legal act before the Assembly if they want to delay the election. Vucic told reporters in New York that he is not planning to delay the election because of SzS leaders Dragan Djilas, Bosko Obradovic, Vuk Jeremic.

"They want to postpone the elections because they cannot win, so they expect that they will be able to delay election for a few months" Vucic said. He assessed that they are entitled to submit a proposal for the adoption of a legal act, but that he expected those who were "against dictatorship" to be in favor of the election.

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with State Department officials Philip Reeker and Matthew Palmer in New York, and the main topic of discussion was the Kosovo issue, namely the abolition of taxes and the possibility of returning to the negotiating table. Reeker is the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the State Department, while Palmer is the Special Envoy for the Western Balkans. Ahead of the meeting, Vucic told Serbian journalists: "These are very important meetings, after the meetings with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, to see what is the American plan and what is the American idea for KiM."

 

Dacic meets briefly with world officials at U.N. HQ in New York (Beta)

 

Before the opening of the general debate of the 74th U.N. General Assembly, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic held several brief meetings with global officials on the sidelines of the Assembly, the ministry has said. According to a statement, the Serbian foreign minister met with Belgian Prime Minister and future president of the European Council Charles Michel, as well as with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordana Grlic Radman and Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic. Dacic also briefly met with the foreign ministers of Brazil, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, as well the OSCE's secretary general.

 

The cabinet of Croatian President Grabar Kitarovic announced on Tuesday that no bilateral meeting was held in New York with the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. “The Croatian delegation met the Serbian one in the hallway, just like a dozen others. If the President greets someone, that is not a bilateral meeting” states the commentary from Grabar Kitarovic’s cabinet. There was no meeting, nor is one planned. By the end of the day a response to the claims from Zagreb arrived from the Serbian side, which pointed out that the Serbian Ministry did not claim either that this was a bilateral meeting, but rather only an informal meeting. Besides, Vecernje Novosti reports, on the video footage from the UN website it can be seen that Dacic and Grabar Kitarovic greeted each other in the hall, and not in the hallway, as was stated from the cabinet of the Croatian President.

 

Office for KiM: In the past year 70 ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs (Tanjug)

 

In the past year, in Kosovo, there were 70 ethnically motivated attacks on the Serbs, said the deputy director of the Office for Kosovo Dusan Kozarev on Tuesday. Speaking in Warsaw at the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Kozarev said that for the Serbs in Kosovo their basic human rights to living, movement, property, affiliation to their ethnic and religious community were daily endangered. The Kosovo Albanians wish to completely “usurp and falsify Serb history” and also to “eliminate every trace and the centuries-old presence” of the Serbs on the territory of Kosovo, he said.

 

Zorana Mihajlovic reacts to Komsic’s speech at the UN (Beta)

 

“It is not the neighbors that are destabilizing Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), but the strongest Bosniak party in the country – the Democratic Action Party (SDA) with their programme declaration, calling for territorial reorganization of the country and the change of its name into the 'Republic of B&H, Serbia's infrastructure Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said on Wednesday.

“When a representative of one of three constituent peoples (in B&H) accuses the neighboring countries of destabilizing his country from the UN's rostrum, then we must be concerned” Mihajlovic said.

Her response came after the B&H Croat Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic accused the neighboring countries of destabilizing the country, during his UN General Assembly speech on Tuesday.

“Serbia recognizes B&H as a state consisting of two entities: The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska (RS) and it respects the Dayton Peace Agreement as its guarantor” she noted. “The only destabilizer in B&H is the one demanding for the country's internal rearrangement without the agreement of all three peoples and the abolition of the RS – and that is Bakir Izetbegovic, the leader of the SDA” Mihajlovic pointed out.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Gendarmerie Unit of the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) officially presented by ceremonial lining-up (RTRS)

 

Gendarmerie Unit of the Republika Srpska (RS) Ministry of Interior (MoI) was officially presented by ceremonial lining-up of this unit in training center Zaluzani near Banja Luka on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by senior RS officials, as well as by Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Milorad Dodik. It was underlined on this occasion that the Gendarmerie Unit was formed with a goal to improve security of the RS, its citizens and property. The RS officials stressed that it represents reflection of the RS’ commitment to strengthen its defense abilities. They underlined that in this way, the RS conveys a message it wants stability and peace and that it is prepared to provide response to all challenges.

RS Minister of Interior Dragan Lukac said that the Gendarmerie Unit was not formed to “wage a war against anyone”, but to protect security of the RS and all of its citizens and their property, regardless to their religious or ethnic affiliation. “All those living in the RS will be protected by the RS MoI” stated Lukac.

RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic stated that this new organizational unit represents a step towards strengthening of the RS MoI and significantly contributes to security and stability of the RS. Cvijanovic explained that the RS authorities are committed to investing in security of the RS regardless of the fact that any initiative launched in the RS has always been facing negative reactions coming from Sarajevo. “I think we should not pay attention to that”, said the RS President.

Reporter noted that the RS authorities originally planned to form reserve police forces of the RS MoI, adding that authorities gave up on this because it was established that formation of reserve police forces would require longer period of time.

Dodik stressed that everything the RS does is condemned by part of the international community (IC) and “political Sarajevo.” He underlined that the RS has not given up on formation of reserve police forces, adding that this exclusively depends on assessments of the RS regarding its security and on material means, and not on the will of Sarajevo or anyone else.

Reporter noted that once Gendarmerie Unit was formed, intervention forces of the RS MoI ceased to exist. This organizational unit is composed of members of active RS MoI units, most notably young police officers trained in Police Academy.

RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic said that additional education and equipping of the abovementioned unit will be provided in the upcoming period. Viskovic underlined that the Gendarmerie Unit will be equipped the same as similar units in neighboring countries.

 

OHR: RS, as well as whole of B&H, needs less police and fewer weapons and not more (TV1)

 

Commenting on the new Gendarmerie Unit of the Republika Srpska (RS) Ministry of Interior (MoI), which was presented on Tuesday, the OHR stated that the RS, as well as the whole Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), needs less police and fewer weapons and not more. The OHR added that, given the overall socio-economic situation in the RS, one would expect the RS authorities to focus their attention and resources on improving the lives of citizens so that they are not forced to leave the RS. The OHR stated that instead of aiming to additionally militarize the RS police, authorities should focus on professionalism, responsibility and cooperation of the RS police with other law enforcement agencies in B&H. It was added that only in this way, the RS police will be capable to serve their citizens.

 

US Embassy to closely monitor work of Gendarmerie Unit of RS MoI and other new police structures (N1)

 

The US Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) issued a statement reading that they will carefully monitor the work of Gendarmerie Unit of the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI), but also of all other new police structures so that they can act exclusively in case of joint threats, protection of interest of citizens and preservation of stability of B&H. The US Embassy also stated that the US is investing millions of dollars in B&H in order to support non-militarized police agencies, adding that police forces in B&H need to be professional, responsible, coordinated and interoperable to deal with common threats, protect citizens' interests and preserve B&H's stability. "The United States will continue to closely monitor the Gendarmerie of Republika Srpska (RS) and all other new police structures in B&H to ensure that they operate consistently, in line with these goals," the US Embassy said in a press release.

 

Federation of B&H Interior Minister Campara: This is just another provocation (N1)

 

Commented that formation and line-up of Gendarmerie Unit of the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) in Banja Luka did not spark many reactions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Interior Aljosa Campara said that this is just another provocation and attempt of the Republika Srpska (RS) authorities to offer something to their voters, because they failed to form reserve police forces of the RS MoI. Campara said that nothing is changing nor is capacity being increased within the police structures themselves. "As far as we from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are concerned, we will always have a response to any kind of attempt at misbalance of police structures" Campara stressed.

 

Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik stated that although the RS did not line-up reserve police unit, it did not give up on it. "That is not outside the Constitution, outside the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). That is only limited by our need and feeling of security and our material resources, and not by the will of Sarajevo or anyone else" Dodik underlined. Campara, on the other hand, said that Dodik is "often dreaming while awake." "But, time will tell whether he will ever form the reserve police unit. I believe that he will never form it," Campara said. Campara assessed that formation of the Gendarmerie Unit does not mean anything within the frameworks of the RS MoI. However, he warned of negative effects of this situation that could cause additional tensions, affect mutual relations and bring fear among returnees.

 

Federation of B&H PM Novalic: Formation of Gendarmerie Unit is another performance behind which there is no other material change (TV1)

 

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Prime Minister Fadil Novalic, commenting on formation of the Gendarmerie Unit of the Republika Srpska (RS) Ministry of Interior (MoI), said that "this is another performance behind which there is no other material change." "I often use the term repacking when I am speaking of companies. Here, police have been repacked into different uniforms and all of this is a performance and message that this is a backup variant for the reserve police unit" Novalic said, adding that the RS is not in such a position that it can spend more money on police in a situation in which "absolutely nothing is endangering it."

 

Komsic at the UN: Dodik to stop seeking trouble; B&H is partner to UN, EU, NATO (N1)

 

Addressing the 74th session of the UN General Assembly which gathered the world leaders to discuss the top issues in the world, Zelko Komsic, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Chairman, warned the Serb member to stop looking for trouble. Komsic added he would not give up efforts to politically and democratically prevent Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the Presidency, to produce more crisis, further militarization and destabilization of B&H. His words seem to be prompted by the Tuesday's news about, Republika Srpska (RS), forming its Gendarmerie.

Speaking about his country, Komsic said B&H was a reliable, serious and brave partner to the UN, the European Union and NATO. By accepting the UN's Agenda 2030, B&H obliged to launch a process of systematic monitoring and control of this global-level programme, which encompasses social, economic and ecological dimensions of development, said Komsic in a 25-minute-long speech. “B&H advocates the stance that a successful implementation of 'Agenda 2030' requires an agreement on foreseeable, coherent and sufficient financing for achievement of developmental goals” he said.

Speaking of the ongoing situation in the country, the Presidency Chairman emphasized that the Euro-Atlantic integration is in focus of all political developments in B&H. “Activities regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the harmonization of B&H social-political system with the European Union's Acquis are in the focus of political developments in B&H, as the country is committed to continuing the activities towards stabilization and acceleration of the started reform processes” said Komsic. He recalled that the European Commission precisely defined in its opinion on B&H's membership application the necessary reforms the country needs to implement, which includes annulment of systematic discrimination of citizens.

B&H is also actively contributing to regional efforts towards the strengthening of security in the region, said Komsic. “I assure you, we are particularly resolute in strengthening Europe's security space, we are strongly committed to combat the organized crime, fight terrorism and violent extremism, illegal migrations,” he said.

The Presidency Chairman also said that the country's relations with neighbors are among top priorities of B&H's foreign policy and that those relations are generally good. "...but because of the particular policies of our neighbors, we are frequently witnessing their activities aimed at achieving their political interests in B&H, which brings unrests and produces certain destabilization in my country, which is not good nor it contributes to the development of desired good mutual neighborly relations" said Komsic.

 

Croatia

 

President calls on world leaders to renew their commitment to the UN (HRT)

 

World leaders have gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. In her address to the assembly Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic stressed the need for member states to renew their commitment to the UN so that it can better respond to emerging global threats and challenges. "We cannot deny that multilateralism is facing challenges. The reasons might be numerous and complex. However, it still remains our best chance of achieving our common goals. By standing alone and isolated one fails. But many of us together united around common ideas and working in good faith, have the tools in our hands to succeed" the president said.

The Croatian President's Office denied media reports that President Grabar-Kitarovic had held a bilateral meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on the margins of the UN General Assembly session in New York, saying that "a courtesy encounter and greeting in the corridor" could not be called a bilateral meeting.

According to a statement by the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dacic had several brief meetings with senior officials from the region and the world ahead of the 74th UN General Assembly session in New York, including one with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Grabar-Kitarovic's Office said that she had had many bilateral meetings with statesmen, including US Vice President Mike Pence and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, as well as with representatives of Google and the World Jewish Organisation, but not with Dacic. "To describe a courtesy encounter and greeting in the corridor as a bilateral meeting would be impolite and incorrect" her office said in a statement.

 

Montenegro

 

PM Markovic hosted Metropolitan Amfilohije (CDM)

 

The Government and the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral will continue dialogue about the recommendations of the Venice Commission on the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and legal status of religious communities, it was concluded at the meeting between Prime Minister Dusko Markovic and Metropolitan Amfilohije.

PM Markovic said: “The Government wants to shape the legal system in accordance with today’s needs of Montenegro as a multi-religious and multicultural society. Our obligation is to leave an environment and heritage that won’t be a burden to future generations.” Markovic also said that the Government respects the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and its supporters, and it’s a common interest to reach the highest degree of consensus on religious issues and in the process of meeting the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Internal and Foreign Policy, Zoran Pazin, who will lead the Government expert team in its further work on meeting the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

 

Without a caretaker government, elections will not be free (RTCG)

 

Without a caretaker government, efficient implementation of reformed electoral legislation, nor conditions for free elections, cannot exist, opposition representatives told head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Aivo Orav and ambassadors of the EU member states said. The meeting with Orav and the ambassadors was held today in Podgorica. After the meeting, SDP MP Rasko Konjevic said that at the meeting, they had affirmed dialogue and consensus and agreed on similar communication in the coming period. Konjevic states that it is important for Montenegro to reach a legislative solution, and after that, to implement the law.

"All parties that attended the meeting said they did not believe implementation of law could be effective unless it was done through a specific model of technical government" Konjevic said after the meeting.

The DF expects the EU to put pressure on the authorities to pursue the democratization of the electoral process.

"For the time being, we do not recognize the desire in the DPS to discuss a technical government, neither we see the desire of the EC to put pressure on the DPS," said DF MP Milutin Djukanovic, adding that concrete solutions were proposed at the meeting.

"It is up to the EC and the DPS to prove there is a genuine desire on the part of the EC to put pressure on the authorities" Djukanovic said, noting that the DF would make a decision on its status in the Committee in the coming period.

The leader of the Democrats Aleksa Becic said there was a continuing obstruction of the Brussels Agreement, both by the DPS and the opposition.

"In my opinion it is not a good thing. We will continue to be serious, responsible and constructive," Becic said, adding that he hoped everyone would come to their senses.

 

Republic of North Macedonia

 

Mitsotakis told Zaev that he will uphold the Prespa treaty (Republika)

 

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met with the newly elected Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis in New York, during the United Nations General Assembly. According to Zaev Government sources, Mitsotakis told Zaev that he will upheld the Prespa treaty, which imposes the name of “North Macedonia” on the Republic of Macedonia. Mitsotakis opposed the treaty as opposition leader, but since assuming power he announced that he will try to limit some of its defects, but will overall respect it. Mitsotakis also reportedly told Zaev that Greece will support the opening of EU accession talks with “North Macedonia”.

The Greek Prime Minister expressed his support for the opening of EU accession talks, and emphasized that full and timely implementation of the Prespa treaty is key to advance the relations and to ensure the European perspective of North Macedonia, Zaev’s Government informed. According to Greek media outlets, Mitsotakis said that he opposed the treaty, but that now he is bound to respect it.

 

Albania

 

German Bundestag gives the green light on Albania’s accession negotiations; conditions set opening (Radio Tirana)

 

The parliamentary groups of the ruling CDU-CSU Coalition and the SPD in the German Bundestag voted today a resolution in favor of opening of Albania’s negotiations with EU.  9 main conditions were imposed to our country. The main concern of the German Bundestag is the political crisis in Albania, which in the resolution is considered severe, and therefore urges the parties to kick off dialogue as soon as possible in order to overcome it.

“Albania is in a serious political crisis. The German Bundestag urges all democratic forces in Albania to take immediate steps to overcome this crisis as soon as possible through political dialogue, otherwise the path to membership negotiations will be significantly hampered” says the joint resolution of the ruling parties of Germany, the CDU / CSU and the SPD. In this document, the ruling coalition parliamentary groups in Germany do not have a date for the opening of negotiations on Albania, the only figures were the set conditions that went from 7 to 9.

 

The other two conditions are directly related to election problems, including those of June 30th.

 

1. Functioning of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court
2. Prosecution of all vote buying cases
3. Voting the new electoral reform
4. Implementation of a comprehensive electoral reform
5. Prosecution of all judges and prosecutors who haven’t passed the vetting process
6. Establishment of SPAK and punishment of senior officials and politicians
7. Tangible results in the fight against organized crime and corruption
8. Progress in the public administration reform
9. Constitutional court final decision regarding the legitimacy of June 30 elections

 

The German Bundestag supports Albania’s EU perspective and praises the reform efforts in the country, stressing out the shortcomings.