LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: Future of Serbia's policy lies in independence (Tanjug/Politika/RTS/RTV)

 

It is very important to say that the future of Serbia's policy lies in independent decision-making, without pressure or external influences, and in looking after the interests of our people, our citizens, our country and the region we live in, rather than after personal interests or the interests of those who never wished good to Serbia and our people, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday. Vucic was speaking at a ceremony at which he presented state honors to distinguished individuals on the occasion of Serbia's Statehood Day, which commemorates the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising against Ottoman rule on February 15, 1804, and the declaration of the Constitution of the Principality of Serbia on the same day in 1835. He said those two events had created modern Serbia. "The former is considered by historians as the most important one in our modern history because it marked the beginning of the wars for freedom, independence and unification. On February 15, 1804, at Maricevica jaruga in Orasac, the leaders of the people - those who had escaped the sabers of the occupiers - started the first uprising for freedom in the Balkans, an uprising that would create an independent Serbia," Vucic said. The will expressed by the tribunes of the people and their sacrifice have become an integral part of our DNA and a boundary that, even today, no one must cross, Vucic said. "Today, we are indeed a bastion of freedom and independence as well as a guarantor of peace in the region, and we are aware of its value and have a desire for longevity, a life of togetherness and good-neighborly relations with everyone around us," Vucic said. He said Maricevica Jaruga was where Serbia's path to freedom had begun and that, today, Serbia owed nothing to anyone except to itself and its own future. "We are repaying our debt to all the protagonists of the uprising - Karadjordje, Sindjelic and others - on a daily basis by making Serbia more beautiful. Every new road, hospital or factory we build is a repayment of interest of sorts on their dreams and sacrifice. Despite its failure as the end result, the First Serbian Uprising demonstrated that Serbia is depending on itself and only itself and that it can be a completely free and functional state," Vucic said. He also said the 1835 Constitution had abolished feudalism and transformed Serbia into a modern state.

 

Brnabic: Serbia follows path of progress, statehood (RTS/Politika/Tanjug)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated on Tuesday at the central state ceremony marking Serbia’s Statehood Day that our country is celebrating the anniversary of the renewal and establishment of a free and constitutional state. Brnabic said that Serbia will prove in 2022 that it will follow the path inspired by the spirit of Dimitrije Davidovic - the author of the Constitution of the Principality of Serbia, declared on 15 February 1835 - the path of progress, statehood, a modern European country that is respected around the world and which will be a source of prosperity and happiness for every citizen. She stated that Serbia, with the constitutional changes voted by the citizens on 16 January this year, became a pioneer of separating the judiciary from other layers of power, stating that the new solutions not only give primacy to the legal profession in law enforcement but also strengthen citizens’ perception and justice will not depend on the personal relationships of judges and acting officials. She pointed out the results that Serbia is achieving today, led by President Aleksandar Vucic, emphasizing economic growth, new roads, high-speed railway that will soon travel between Belgrade and Novi Sad, new clinical centers, hospitals and health centers. Brnabic told those who advise Serbia to be as humble and submissive in emphasizing the results as two centuries ago, that our country will give the same answer, that it will not justify itself to anyone, but that it can win and be the best. She reminded that in Orasac in 1804, the representatives of the Serbian people made a decision on the beginning of the uprising against the Turks and chose Djordje Petrovic as the Serbian leader. A small country of a great nation returned to the map of Europe with its own will, strength and sacrifice, Brnabic pointed out, noting that the state-building spirit could never be extinguished again. She also said that on this day in 1835, the first Serbian Constitution in the history of modern Serbia was adopted in Kragujevac, adding that Serbia had risen from absolutist to state system in which the rights and obligations of citizens are not subject to individual whims but written rules. “Serbia rose from the ranks of absolutist systems to a state system in which the rights and obligations of citizens were not subject to the whims of individuals, but to written rules. In those dark ages, when constitution was a forbidden word in the Russian, Turkish and Austrian empires, the provisions of that legal act included one that said that every Serb had the right to choose their way of life by their own will,” Brnabic said. She recalled that the 1835 Constitution had also included a provision under which any slave became a free person upon setting foot on Serbian territory. The central state ceremony marking the Statehood Day was held in Maricevica Jaruga near Orasac. Wreaths were laid at the monument to the leader of the First Serbian Uprising by Prime Minister Brnabic and Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Milorad Dodik.

 

Officials of countries worldwide congratulate Vucic on occasion of Statehood Day (Tanjug)

 

On the occasion of Serbia's Statehood Day, President Aleksandar Vucic has received congratulatory messages from officials of countries worldwide, including from US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Italian President Sergio Mattarella also sent congratulatory messages, the press office of the president of Serbia said in a statement. Messages also came from the President and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Janos Ader and Viktor Orban, as well as from Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Czech President Milos Zeman and Slovak President Zuzana Caputova. Vucic has also received congratulatory messages from British Queen Elizabeth II, the Presidents of Finland, Switzerland and Portugal, the kings of the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Saudi Arabia and the emir of Qatar. The Presidents of India, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Cuba, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and the UAE also sent messages on the occasion of Serbia’s national holiday, as did many other international officials, representatives of international organizations and institutions and foreign diplomats serving in Belgrade.

 

Selakovic receives congratulatory note from Chinese Foreign Minister (Tanjug)

 

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic received a congratulatory message from State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi on the occasion of the Serbian Statehood Day. The congratulatory message states that the Chinese-Serbian relations are recording a development trend, that mutual visits were successfully carried out last year, and especially emphasizes that our steel friendship is unbreakable. Minister Wang Yi also emphasized that he is ready to work with Minister Selakovic on greater development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People’s Republic of China and Serbia. “I wish your country a lot of prosperity, and happiness and prosperity to the people,” reads the congratulatory message.

 

Selakovic: Strengthening political dialogue, economic cooperation with Cameroon (RTV/Tanjug)

 

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic met on Monday in Yaounde with Prime Minister of Cameroon Joseph Dion Ngute, to whom he delivered the Order of the Republic of Serbia Sash for the President of that country Paul Biya, who was decorated with this order in 2016 by the then President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic. Selakovic underlined that the traditional friendship and good political relations between the two countries represent an excellent foundation that should be used for strengthening bilateral cooperation. He also said that Serbia is determined to intensify political dialogue with Cameroon and called for the visit of top officials of that country to Serbia in the coming period. Selakovic conveyed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Cameroon for the principled position of that country on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, noting that Serbia also strongly supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cameroon. Selakovic began his official visit to Cameroon with a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Lejeune Mbella Mbella. Selakovic recalled that the two countries are connected by decades of friendship, mutual understanding and support, as well as important common goals and values conceived within the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. In that sense, he said that it is necessary to work on strengthening political dialogue, improving cooperation in the field of economy, but also in other areas of common interest. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cameroon expressed his gratitude to Selakovic for making the first visit of a Serbian minister to Cameroon in 40 years and intensive meetings over the last five months, noting that the two countries have been linked for decades by sharing the same values and challenges. He expressed the desire to deepen relations with Serbia and underlined that economic cooperation lags behind excellent political cooperation and that it needs to be intensified, primarily in the field of agro-industry, digital economy, and telecommunications.

 

Brnabic: Serbia continues to help Serbs from entire region (Tanjug)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met on Monday with representatives of the association Coordination of Serbs Mostar, saying that it is extremely important for her to have constant communication with representatives of Serbs from the entire region. Brnabic talked with her interlocutors about joint projects, as well as about the recent donation of materials for testing for coronavirus to this city, which will help all residents of Mostar. Brnabic emphasized that Serbia will, to the extent possible, continue to support the projects that are being implemented in Mostar. The interlocutors told her that the help and support that Serbs in that city receive from Serbia is valuable, and that they hope that it will be deepened. They also pointed out the excellent cooperation they have with the Consulate of Serbia in Mostar. According to them, Serbs in Mostar have all the preconditions to be equal with the other two nations and, in that sense, they are ready to cooperate in every field - political, economic and cultural. Cooperation with Mostar was intensified after the visit of Brnabic to this city on 4 October last year, when she visited the Serbian community, met with the mayor of Mostar and visited the Zitomislic monastery.

 

Dacic calls local elections for 3 April (Tanjug/RTS)

 

Serbian parliament speaker Ivica Dacic on Tuesday called local elections in 13 self-government communities for 3 April. Dacic signed a decision calling the elections for the city assemblies of Belgrade and Bor and the municipal assemblies of Arandjelovac, Smederevska Palanka, Lucani, Medvedja, Knjazevac, Bajina Basta, Doljevac, Kula, Kladovo, Majdanpek and Secanj. Dacic noted that the President of Serbia would dissolve the parliament later in the day and that, as a result, local and parliamentary elections would be held on the same date. He also announced that he would call the presidential elections in early March - 90 days before the expiry of the president’s term - and that they, too, would be held on 3 April. “I wish everyone a successful campaign and that everything may take place in a fair atmosphere, as well as that the citizens may vote freely on whom they wish to give the greatest trust,” he said.

 

Vucic calls parliamentary elections for 3 April (Tanjug/RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday signed a decree dissolving the national parliament and a decision calling early parliamentary elections for 3 April. Vucic said the timeframe for electoral activities would begin on the day the decision entered into force, and added that this essentially meant that all activities would start almost simultaneously. He said the parliament had completed tasks that were important for the country, especially in the field of rule of law, and added that the government and MPs had also done other important work, in particular when it comes to economic progress and maintaining full political and economic stability in the country. Calling on citizens to vote in the parliamentary and local elections to strengthen Serbia’s democratic capacity, Vucic said he was certain the polls would be another step towards a democratic and European future of Serbia.

 

Brnabic shocked by Heinrich Bell Foundation chief’s interview (TV Happy/Nova)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Tuesday that she was shocked by what the head of the Heinrich Bell Foundation Simon Ilse said in a recent interview. Ilse told Belgrade weekly Vreme that he was very surprised by Brnabic’s claims that “hypocritical” foreign organizations were financing environmental organizations and their protests in Serbia, saying that the accusations were false and absurd. He also said that the protests against Rio Tinto were not an isolated event but part of a wider picture which included the mini hydro power plants on Mt Stara Planina, air quality, Chinese loans and investments all of them part of what he called the ecological degradation of Serbia. Brnabic told TV Happy that a person in Ilse’s position could not make the same kind of statement in Berlin without being expelled from Germany that same day. “It’s incomprehensible that someone who is in Belgrade says things like that about the president, prime minister and government. That is direct interference in Serbia’s internal affairs,” she said. “If a Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) foundation had its offices in Berlin and its chief said things like this I think he would not be in Berlin by the end of the day,” she said. “Here, we let it go and say: let’s see how far they’ll go, saying that this is an autocratic regime, … that Vucic and I are the same as Putin, Lukashenko and the president of Kazakhstan,” she said. “Imagine a German coming here and telling you that if you don’t do something your children will be ashamed of you,” she said.

 

Ponos goes to Kosovo, draws fierce reaction from Serbian authorities (N1)

 

Zdravko Ponos, the opposition United Serbia coalition’s candidate for President, said in Prizren that Kosovo is a major part of Serbian national identity. “If our national identity were made up only of words, the word Kosovo would be the biggest building block in our national identity,” a United Serbia press release said. “Kosovo is something else to many people who lived, live and will live here – life before everything else. My professional life began in Kosovo 35 years ago, that was the start of my career as a soldier. In Prizren where I am today among other places. Prizren is still as nice a town as it was then but there’s something missing. It’s missing something so big, so obvious – Serbian spoken on the streets,” he said adding that he would like to see that change to make it “the old beautiful Prizren with Serbian and Albanian spoken on its streets”. The retired general’s visit to Kosovo drew a fierce reaction from both the Serbian authorities and Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb List party. Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, a very vocal critic of the former chief of General Staff, said that Ponos did not go to Kosovo when he should have during the pogrom of the Serbs, nor did he do anything concrete to help them. A statement quoted him as saying that Ponos can’t expect the support of the Kosovo Serbs. The Serb List went a step further, accusing the opposition’s presidential candidate of enjoying “the sympathies and support” of the authorities in Pristina. A press release said that the Kosovo authorities did not ban Ponos from visiting Kosovo as it has done with some Serbian state officials.

 

Selakovic: They are twisting our arm about Kosovo in vain (Novosti, by Danijela Milinkovic)

 

Immeasurable and crucial is the importance of the Statehood Day of Serbia in our modern history, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic told Novosti on Tuesday, noting that the only thing that guarantees true survival of Serbia is continuation of a sovereign and independent policy, staying on the European path and being military neutral. Selakovic says Belgrade will not sit with its arms crossed in case Pristina tries to secure more recognitions of the so-called Kosovo. “If anyone thinks they will get our back against the wall that way and twist our arm to get us to agree to something, they need to know that we, too, can change the way we behave,” Selakovic said. He said the project of the so-called independence of Kosovo was a failure and added that there was no reasonable alternative to the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina.

He described Belgrade’s relationship with Pristina as a Gordian knot entangled by long decades.

“That issue cannot be discussed in the belief that it can be disentangled over the short term,” Selakovic said. He said Belgrade remained committed to dialogue and that maintaining peace, stability and the state and national interests in Kosovo and Metohija were the priorities in that process. Selakovic also said Serbia respected the territorial integrity of B&H as well as the integrity of the Republika Srpska (RS), noting that the territorial integrity of Serbia was under attack in Kosovo and Metohija. “Attempts by certain political factors to - as opposed to the process of secession of Kosovo and Metohija - conduct a unitarization process in the B&H to make the Dayton structure of B&H look absurd. In that sense, there can be no parallel between Kosovo and Metohija and B&H. I always ask my discussion partners what principle that is about and why some are allowed to do something others are not,” he said.

Selakovic confirmed Serbia was under pressure over Kosovo and Metohija and the RS, and added that the pressure would build up and become more complex, in particular because 2022 is an election year for Serbia. “With the policy it has been pursuing to date, Serbia has demonstrated how peace and stability in the region are maintained and how wise political decisions are made. We do not fall for provocations and we think even decades ahead, and by that I am primarily referring to President Vucic’s Open Balkans initiative,” Selakovic said.

Asked whether Ambassador Christopher Hill will come to Serbia “to complete what has been started with bombs in 1999 – to complete the independence of Kosovo”, Selakovic replied by saying that Hill must be given a chance to show what he will do, knowing that he will come in a different and new role. Asked whether Brussels is asking Serbia to harmonize its foreign policy with the EU and renounce its good relations with China and Russia, Selakovic said that such requests always exist but he reminded that some EU countries have much bigger trade exchange with China “so one must realize that this is some sort of hypocrisy”.

 

Angry drivers cause incidents at protest (N1)

 

At least two drivers caused incidents during the protest by environmental activists in front of the Palace of Serbia on Tuesday. One of the protesters was scooped up on the hood of a car whose driver forced his vehicle through the crowd. The car picked up speed and the protester dropped off the hood after about 50 meters. A plain clothes police officer told protesters later that the driver had been arrested. A few minutes later two protesters told police that a man driving a red Dacia tried to run them down on the sidewalk. Protesters reported a total of four incidents involving cars and expressed their anger because there were no traffic police officers at the site of the protest. Some of the protesters entered into a verbal exchange with plain clothes police at the end of the two-hour protest.

 

New provocations from Buzim with shouts ‘Allah Akbar’ (Politika, by Dusanka Stanisic)

 

Political Sarajevo, ambassadors of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC SB) and officials of the judicial institutions in B&H failed to react to the gatherings in Buzim, Politika writes. President of the Presidency of the RS Veterans’ Association (BORS) Aleksandar Savic said that he expects the international community to finally react to “frequent marches of Bosniak associations in Buzim. We do not want to have a new war in this area, we really do want the international community to be unbiased at least a bit”. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said that there will be no war and he assessed that the gatherings in Buzim were not spontaneous nor those were any kind of a reaction to something. “This was something that was organized, this was some kind of a devious activity which is, obviously, taking place in the territory of the entire Federation of B&H (FB&H). We know that SDA is gathering its wartime veterans, it is trying to mobilize them and, of course, to organize them in some kind of illusory story that they might be needed eventually. There will be no war here,” Dodik said and assessed that there will be no reaction of the international community because it is “in tune with Muslim extremism here”. Dodik also argued that US and Brussels administration, whether they want it or not, by creating the story on centralized B&H are in fact creating a unitary state “which is supposed to be a state for a single people and single majority. Serbs will not agree to be a civic minority in B&H, but will continue to fight for their rights in a peaceful manner”.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Komsic congratulates Kosovo Independence Day to Kosovo President Osmani (BHT1) 

 

On the occasion of 18 February, Kosovo Independence Day, B&H Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic sent a congratulatory message to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani. Komsic sent the congratulatory message on his behalf and on the behalf of the citizens of B&H. Komsic's move provoked a number of reactions in the RS given that B&H never officially recognized Kosovo's independence. The B&H Presidency, in whose jurisdiction is foreign policy, for the first time voted on recognizing Kosovo's independence in mid-2020. B&H Presidency member Milorad Dodik then voted against recognizing Kosovo's independence, while Komsic and B&H Presidency member Sefik Dzaferovic voted in favor of recognizing Kosovo's independence.

 

Kovacevic: Komsic’s congratulating Kosovo Independence Day is provocation; Kosovo is part of Serbia for B&H (RTRS) 

 

RTRS reported about another scandalous move of Chairman of the B&H Presidency and leader of DF Zeljko Komsic as he congratulated the Day of Independence of the so-called Kosovo Republic to the President of the self-declared Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, while Serbia marked its Statehood Day. Komsic said that he congratulates the holiday on behalf of citizens of B&H that – RTRS reminded – still did not recognize independence of Kosovo. According to RTRS, this sparked reactions in the RS according to which this is his way to distract the attention and raise tensions. Spokesperson for SNSD and adviser of Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik, Radovan Kovacevic characterized a provocation arguing that Komsic is always way too unserious. He underlined that B&H did not congratulate the holiday bearing in mind that for B&H, Kosovo is a part of the Republic of Serbia. United Srpska leader Nenad Stevandic stated that Komsic is trying to draw attention to himself because he has been shunned by foreign diplomats in recent period. According to him, Komsic is upset because nobody cares about his opinion on electoral reform and he is considered to be an eccentric. SNSD’s Dusanka Majkic stated that Komsic is doing nothing to calm down the tensions in B&H, and on the contrary, he is constantly trying to stir up the flames. She noted that Komsic is afraid of electoral reform because he will no longer be able to pretend that he is Croat member of B&H Presidency. According to Majkic, if they do not want to sacrifice B&H, Bosniaks will have to sacrifice Komsic.

 

Second gathering under wartime flags of ARBiH in Buzim in past month sparks fierce reactions in the RS (EuroBlic) 

 

Uniformed people with wartime flags of the Army of the Republic of B&H (ARBiH) recently gathered in Buzim for the second time in one month while shouting ‘Allah Akbar’. The daily noted that the gathering intensified fear among Serb returnees to the Una-Sana Canton (USC) while politicians from the FB&H failed to react to this gathering. Dean of the Faculty for Security from Banja Luka Slobodan Zupljanin said that the gatherings in Buzim obviously were not spontaneous and he argued that this was an organized activity carried out with the goal to heighten tensions and create fear among Serbs. Zupljanin said that nothing is a coincidence and warned that these gatherings should not be taken lightly, adding that he hopes the competent bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) will look into this case. Zupljanin also assessed that this and similar events are being used to exert pressures on the international community so that it would “come down on the RS even stronger and prevent its legitimate and legal restoring of competencies”. Former minister of interior of the RS and Vice President of DNS Radislav Jovicic said that B&H is a country that is deeply divided on ethnic grounds as a result of policies carried out by the ruling parties who have no idea on how to economically recover and internationally strengthen the country. Jovicic assessed that the latest events in Buzim are worrying and he assessed that the population has been abused to heighten inter-ethnic tensions. Jovicic noted that he cannot even imagine what kind of reactions would be provoked if a similar event took place in the territory of the RS with wartime flags of the RS Army “especially knowing that Bosniak Vice President of the RS Ramiz Salkic says that constitutional and regular forces of the RS Ministry of Interior are genocidal and he says the RS itself is genocidal. Of course, money and privileges he gets from the same RS are not genocidal”. Jovicic concluded by saying that Bosniak politicians, if they truly want coexistence of all citizens in B&H, must condemn such events. The daily criticized the fact that the political Sarajevo, ambassadors of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC SB) and officials of the judicial institutions in B&H failed to react to the gatherings in Buzim. Serb member of the Presidency of B&H Milorad Dodik said that there will be no war and he assessed that the gatherings in Buzim were not spontaneous nor those were any kind of a reaction to something. “This was something that was organized, this was some kind of a devious activity which is, obviously, taking place in the territory of the entire FB&H. We know that SDA is gathering its wartime veterans, it is trying to mobilize them and, of course, to organize them in some kind of illusory story that they might be needed eventually. There will be no war here”, Dodik said and assessed that there will be no reaction of the international community because it is “in tune with Muslim extremism here”. Dodik also argued that US and Brussels administration, whether they want it or not, by creating the story on centralized B&H are in fact creating a unitary state “which is supposed to be a state for a single people and single majority. Serbs will not agree to be a civic minority in B&H, but will continue to fight for their rights in a peaceful manner”.

 

Embassies in B&H fail to react to gathering in Buzim and open calls for conflict (ATV) 

 

ATV comments that the fact that a new gathering in Buzim, under the flags of the so-called B&H Army and with war cries and shooting, has not caused concern among the foreign Embassies, that failed to react until ATV’s inquiry on the issue. ATV reports that the inquiry on why the provocations from the Hasin Vrh (A hill in the vicinity of Bihac) were not condemned was sent to the US Embassy to B&H, the UK Embassy to B&H, the German Embassy to B&H, and the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in B&H.  The reporter comments that the Embassies in B&H urgently react to everything happening in the RS, however, they have failed to respond why they did not react to open calls for conflict from the other entity. The UK Embassy to B&H has issued a statement: “The position of the UK is clear and consistent, underlined during the last meeting of the PIC (Peace Implementation Council), calling on all leaders to create atmosphere of mutual trust and to engage in dialogue, among others, by immediately stopping rhetoric of divisions and escalations, and destabilizing political activities or decisions”. The reporter notes that there was no mentioning of Buzim, war flags, war crimes and other war symbols in the said statement. The German Embassy to B&H has not responded to the inquiry, and the US Embassy to B&H briefly stated that “they condemn nationalist extremism and that they are concerned’’. The reporter notes that the OHR responded to the inquiry by sending a link to a statement from one month ago. “Aggressive rhetoric and action, from any source, that calls for violence or evokes the dark imagery of war raises public concern throughout the country and is unacceptable behavior,” reads the statement by the OHR. The reporter notes this was allegedly the reaction to the gathering in Buzim in January and not a very strong one, and goes on to say that it does not mention the other entity and the so-called B&H Army. The reporter concludes by saying that perhaps exactly because of that those who gathered in Buzim then did not hesitate to shoot at the same location one month later. The RS officials stated that the lack of reactions from security agencies in B&H and the international community to this shameful rally of extremist and para-military Bosniak groups is worrisome, calling on Bosniak politicians to distance themselves from war messages. They stressed that silence of the international community contributes to creation of new conflicts and incidents.

 

Roth on Russian relations with Dodik: EU needs to take stance because Russia continues to threaten peace in B&H and region (Nova BH) 

 

In a post on his official Twitter account, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag Michael Roth commented on the relations between Russia and Milorad Dodik. Roth warned that the EU needs to take a stance, because Russia continues to threaten the peace in B&H and the whole region. “In the light of the Russian aggression on Ukraine, Kremlin continues to destabilize the Western Balkans. Blatant support to Dodik's plans for secession threatens peace and security in B&H and the entire region. The EU must take a stance,” tweeted Roth.

 

Dodik: I do not want war, that is not our agenda; I will not sacrifice peace for status of the RS (Financial Times/Dnevni list) 

 

Milorad Dodik stated that the RS should not be taken lightly, that Serbs are convinced they are right and that Serbs will not risk outbreak of violence for the sake of realization of set goals. “I do not want war. That is not our agenda. I will not sacrifice peace for the status of RS,” said Dodik adding that when it comes to the US’ sanctions because of alleged undermining of stability of B&H, “secession is not one of my goals”. He further noted that B&H must maintain boundaries set by the Dayton agreement and broader autonomy for all three constituent peoples in B&H, adding that the balance of power has been jeopardized and that Bosniaks have been given bigger influence. In this context Dodik said the original (Dayton) agreement did not give Sarajevo the competence over military, judicial and fiscal issues, which led Dodik to wonder why he is being called out for trying to secure respecting the original Dayton agreement. “Great Britain is talking about integration of B&H after the country has left the EU. Does it mean London has the right to its position and the RS does not? Sanctions will only strengthen me and SNSD before the October elections, we will have huge majority. I had smaller support before the American sanctions than I have now,” said Dodik. Dodik said that NATO bombed the Serb people twice without the approval of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and it is not fair to expect the Serbs to sympathize with those who did this. He said this in an interview with Financial Times and added that the past events marked the sentiment of the Serb people towards NATO and they are cautious about the role of NATO in Europe.

 

FB&H Association of Judges expresses full support to B&H HJPC (Oslobodjenje) 

 

The Association of Judges of the FB&H expressed its full support to the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of B&H and condemned the adoption of the Draft Law on HJPC of the RS. Following the decision of the RS parliment to adopt the Draft Law on HJPC of the RS, the Association expressed its concern and warned that one-sided and unconstitutional decisions are dangerous and unacceptable, as these undermine the institutional position and competencies of B&H HJPC and lead towards creation of parallel institutions which will certainly fragment and reduce functionality of judicial institutions in B&H even more. “By these dangerous decisions, the RS parliament directly jeopardized independence, objectivity and professionalism of judicial authorities in B&H and it also jeopardized key integration processes and achievements both within B&H society and state and in the context of fulfilment of preconditions for joining the EU,” the Association stated.

 

RS Ministry of Health and Social Protection responds to claims there will be no formation of RS agency for medicinal products and medical devices (RTRS) 

 

The RS Ministry of Health and Social Protection responded to claims of Director of the B&H Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices Aleksandar Zolak that there will be no formation of RS agency for medicinal products and medical devices. According to the RS Ministry of Health and Social Protection, formation of the RS agency for medicinal products and medical devices is one of responses to failed efforts to enable functioning of the health system and protection of people’s health under extraordinary circumstances. The RS Ministry of Health and Social Protection argued that the pandemic proved that everything under competences of the RS was functioning.

 

Orasac hosts central ceremony of marking of Serbian Statehood Day; Dodik: Serbs have two states - RS and Serbia (RTRS) 

 

The central ceremony of marking the Serbian Statehood Day was held in Orasac on Tuesday. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, member of the B&H Presidency and leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik, numerous officials of Serbia and Republika Srpska (RS) attended the event.

Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin stated in Orasac on Tuesday that Serbia and the RS are one and that “the thing that we are separated by borders, which we did not ask for nor drew, are another issue that we do not have to talk about today”. Addressing the attendees, Dodik said that nowadays, Serbs have two states - the RS and Serbia. Dodik stressed that Serbs always brought freedom to other peoples, while their ancestors set the foundations of what is called a modern civilization nowadays. According to Dodik, Serbs in the RS mark this date as their own. He underlined that Serbs have their red, national lines of freedom and state that they do not want to lose but they want to build and leave them to their descendants. Dodik added that Serbs in the RS and in Serbia belong to one people who jointly mark their identity of victory and suffering, despite of borders that big powers set between them. According to Dodik, Serbia is a guarantor of peace and security. Dodik also said we look at Serbia as our country, our homeland, and wherever Serbs live, they of course see Serbia in that way. “Serbia rightly gives us guarantees and shelter. Serbia is here to comfort and help us, to encourage us and to show us that the fight for the interests of the people, the Serb people, wherever they are, always has justification,” Dodik underlined. RS PM Radovan Viskovic said that many dispute the universal rights to Serbs adding that the fight for exercising rights is still underway. RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic also attended the ceremony and on this occasion, he stated that only strong Serbia can guarantee survival of all Serbs in the region which is why marking these kinds of ceremonies together – that strengthens mutual ties – is extremely important.

 

Dodik meets Vucic; Dodik: RS is fighting for its constitutional position in B&H (RTRS) 

 

Following a conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Tuesday, Milorad Dodik stated that the RS is fighting for its constitutional position in B&H and he added that Serbia understands this. He reminded that the RS has stable institutions, economy that is developing in an accelerated way, the highest number of employees as well as the highest salaries registered so far. Dodik stated: “We need peace here. We fight for peace and of course, for preservation of our institutions. Some wrongly understood that we will politically withdraw in the RS in order to carry out centralization in Sarajevo. No, we will not do this. Therefore, we fight for constitutional position and I am glad that Serbia understands this, our friends in the neighborhood understand this. Croatia has a similar problem with Croats in B&H. They understand this. Some other countries understand this, way more than it was the case some ten years ago. This is a new dynamic, this is a new relation and this is why Serbian successes must be celebrated because those are also successes of the RS and the entire Serb people.” Dodik also said that he was honored to be a part of the ceremonies marking the Serbian Statehood Day. He said that Serbia is becoming more successful, while the RS is following it because it has stable institutions.

 

Becirovic: Messages about existence of two Serb states unreasonable and anti-Dayton; Salkic that the RS is neither the state, nor it is a second Serb state (Hayat) 

 

On Tuesday, Milorad Dodik said that “Serbs have two states – the RS entity and Serbia”. SDP B&H delegate in the B&H House of Peoples (B&H HoP) Denis Becirovic reacted to this. Becirovic said Dodik is “a very talented politician – but for nebulosity and scandals”. In his statement, Becirovic said that all people in Europe know that Serbia is a state, and that the RS is an entity - and that it was never, is not, and will not ever be a state. He emphasized that the RS is an inseparable part of the independent and sovereign state of B&H. Becirovic believes that those that called Dodik to come to Serbia on Tuesday should have explained this to him. He also accused Serbia’s top officials of “preparing Dodik’s anti-Dayton speech with him”. “The Serb people do not have two states, but unfortunately, they have two dangerous political kamikazes – Milorad Dodik and Aleksandar Vulin. If the two of them continue to speak on behalf and for Serbia, the Serb people could have problems in this one state they have. Reasonable people in Serbia clearly know what I speak of, and why”, Becirovic was quoted as saying. Becirovic also said that the messages about existence of two Serb states are unreasonable and anti-Dayton.

Reacting to Tuesday’s statement of Dodik, Bosniak RS Vice President Ramiz Salkic said that the RS is neither the state, nor it is a second Serb state. “Every other claim does not suit the truth and it is on the trace of undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement, as the foundation based on which the entity exists,” said Salkic. Salkic also stated that the experience of Bosniaks shows that Serbs are not a libertarian people and that members of Serb people have been committing severe crimes.

 

Mecacci meets with IAWG; Borenovic: For half of meeting, participants were forced to listen to frustrations of HDZ B&H and SNSD in regards to election of CEC members (FTV) 

 

Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci met in Sarajevo on Tuesday with members of Inter-Agency Working Group in charge of changes to the election legislation of B&H (IAWG) to discuss whether it is possible to adopt changes to the Election Law of B&H that refer to integrity of the election process. The reporter commented that this was an opportunity for representatives of the OSCE to learn that it is hard to expect B&H politicians to reach an agreement on anything on their own. Namely, following this meeting, HDZ B&H’s Borjana Kristo said that those talking about improvement of technical aspects of the electoral process as a condition to improve integrity of elections, fail to talk how integrity of elections is affected by implementation of decisions of courts and illegal election of members of the B&H CEC. SNSD’s Sredoje Novic said that if representatives of Bosniaks, Croats and Others in the RS parliament have right to participate in election of delegates in B&H House of Peoples (HoP), Serbs in the FB&H should have the same rights. Novic added that if this issue cannot be discussed, there is nothing obliging him to accept a discussion on polling station committees. On the other hand, PDP’s MP in B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Branislav Borenovic stated that for a half of abovementioned meeting, participants were forced to listen to frustrations of HDZ B&H and SNSD in regards to election of members of the B&H Central Election Commission (CEC). “Their frustration is so big, they started burdening with it every meeting with anyone who wants to help this country to get a modern election law that will enable free and fair elections,” explained Borenovic. Some participants of abovementioned meeting underlined that free and fair elections cannot be expected unless a package of amendments to the Election Law of B&H is adopted. SDA’s Alma Colo stressed that until this happens, numerous obstructions will happen, including prevention of a budget that is necessary to provide funds to hold elections. Mecacci also met with President and members of the Central Election Commission of B&H (CEC) in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The mandate of the ODIHR in B&H in fields of elections, human rights and rule of law was in the focus of the meeting. The ODIHR expressed strong support to the CEC and readiness to provide expert assistance to B&H institutions in order to improve the election process in B&H. The necessity to implement relevant recommendations of the ODIHR as soon as possible was expressed in order to secure that elections in B&H are implemented in accordance with European standards. The initiative for adoption of changes to the B&H Election Law that the CEC submitted to the B&H parliament in 2021 was also presented.

 

Covic: HNS’ decisions and conclusions will be mandatory for all Croat officials, without exception (Dnevni list) 

 

HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic met with HDZ B&H Cantonal Board of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) in Mostar on Tuesday to discuss about the current political situation and other topics. Speaking about activities pertaining to negotiations on limited changes to the Constitution of B&H and changes to the Law on Elections of B&H, Covic reiterated that the legitimate representation of the Croat people at all administrative-political levels is crucial for the future of the country and that reaching agreement about the electoral reform is important for stable relations for all three constituent peoples in B&H. Speaking about the forthcoming extraordinary session of the Croat People’s Assembly (HNS), which will take place on 19 February, Covic said that decisions and conclusions that will be adopted by the HNS Assembly will be mandatory for all Croat officials, without exception. In addition, the Cantonal Board expressed support to Covic and the negotiating team in all future activities.

 

Ministers say Croatia and Kosovo will boost cooperation in transport, infrastructure (Hina) 

 

Over the next few years Croatia and Kosovo will strengthen economic cooperation, particularly in the area of air and rail traffic as well as in infrastructure, Croatia's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic and Kosovo's Infrastructure Minister Liburn Aliu said in Zagreb on Monday. The two ministers expressed their satisfaction with the meeting in Zagreb where they discussed important topics and activities by the two ministries and announced the next round of their talks for April in Pristina. After the meeting, Butkovic told reporters that he had informed his colleague from Kosovo about Croatia's investments in infrastructure. "We are currently investing HRK 25 million in transport infrastructure, and apart from investing in roads most of the outlays are for the railways and that is why, executives from the HZ Infrastruktura nad HZ Cargo railway companies attended today's meeting," Butkovic said, adding that investments in transport and infrastructure are important for both countries. The two ministers also discussed air connections and relaunching profitable Zagreb-Pristina flights with Butkovic saying that this could possibly restart in about a month and a half. Butkovic underscored that Croatia wants to increase commodity trade between the two countries and he will be accompanied by several business people during his visit to Pristina. Minister Aliu expressed his thanks for the meeting with the minister of, as he said, a friendly country and said that Kosovo wants to be connected more with other countries in the European Union and to hear about their experiences in building infrastructure. "Our main focus is on developing and investing in railways as well as air connections and it is important for us to be acquainted with Croatia's experiences. Apart from experience we need cooperation with companies and we are prepared to cooperate with them and revive the Zagreb-Pristina flight," underscored Aliu. The parliamentary deputy representing the Albanian minority, Ermina Lekaj Prljaskaj, and representatives from the railway sector and others attended the meeting. Responding to reporters Butkovic confirmed that there were no more obstacles to prevent the construction of the final leg of the Zagreb-Sisak motorway. "Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC) will sign a contract for the remaining 11 kilometres of the motorway towards Sisak this week and this refers to an HRK 280 million (without VAT) project and its implementation will last for 24 months," said Butkovic. The HAC motorway management company on 28 January announced that it had once again selected the Colas Hrvatska and Geotehnika consortium's bid of HRK 281.34 million without VAT to construct the Lekenik-Sisak section on the A11 Zagreb-Sisak motorway. The consortium was originally selected in October 2021 but the Strabag company submitted an objection and the call for tenders was repeated.

 

Croatian Prime Minister says NATO poses no threat to anyone (Hina) 

 

NATO isn't a threat to anyone, it's a defense alliance of states that live and promote freedom, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday during a visit to the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which has been docked in the port of Split since last Friday. US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is a symbol of the US commitment to NATO and the defense of our common values -- freedom and democracy, said the Croatian PM. The Croatian PM said that the presence of the aircraft carrier Truman was also a symbol or our time, in which we must speak with a unanimous, strong, transatlantic voice -- and say clearly that we are united in the defense of freedoms and democracies of our countries, as well as in securing peace and stability in Europe and the transatlantic area. Plenkovic underscored that NATO wasn't a threat to anyone. NATO is a defense alliance of states that live and promote freedom. By strengthening unity in NATO, we promote peace just like we did together in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and the Mediterranean, and just like we still do in Kosovo and on the Baltic coasts, the PM said. Three days ago, the USS Truman docked in Split, which has been a friendship city of Los Angeles for 28 years. In recent weeks, the crew of the aircraft carrier have participated together with the Croatian colleagues in the NATO-led maritime exercise Neptune Strike in the Adriatic Sea. Plenkovic wished the crew calm seas, and Captain Gavin Duff thanked Croatia for its warm welcome and said that the crew had enjoyed the cuisine and culture of Split. We look forward to continuing our warm relations with Croatian and in the maritime domain we will expand our capabilities, capacities and interoperability with a key ally in NATO, said Rear Admiral Curt Renshaw, the commander of a carrier strike group.

 

Djuraskovic: SDP and Old Guard of LSCG agree on cooperation in Cetinje (CdM) 

 

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Old Guard of the LSCG (SG LSCG) have agreed on cooperation in Cetinje, says the SDP list leader Nikola Djuraskovic. “Eight councilors of our list and three councilors of SG LSCG have signed the candidacy for the election of the Parliament Speaker and submitted it for the procedure. The SDP and the Citizens will not enter into any form of cooperation and political and personnel concessions with other parties and coalitions, in order to gain support for voting on the proposed personnel and other decisions,” Djuraskovic has posted on Facebook. He adds that the local government, which will consist of SDP, the Citizens and SG LSCG, if the councilors support their proposal, will be formed on the principles of expertise and depoliticization.

 

Becic: Democratic principle happened in Cetinje (CdM)

 

Everything that happened in Cetinje is a democratic principle. Four parliamentary clubs, the Democrats, URA, SDP and the Old Guard LS, are forming the government, said the President of Democratic Montenegro Aleksa Becic. He said that answering the question "whether the recipe from Cetinje is applicable at the state level, ie that the Democrats and the URA support another majority". "Everything that happened in Cetinje is a democratic principle. Look at my statements after the Cetinje elections, I pointed to this scenario immediately after the Cetinje elections. Four councilor clubs, which represented the opposition for many years in the Cetinje parliament, namely the club of councilors of the Democrats, URA, SDP and the Old Guard LS, are forming the government. "Because that is a democratic principle," Becic said. According to the leader of the Democrats, the citizens voted for the DPS to join the opposition. "You who criticized them for four years and offered a program on the promise that you will change the DPS, received a mandate from the citizens. Everything else is a maneuver that does not correspond to the will of the citizens. I am glad that what are democratic principles were respected,” said Becic. One of the leaders of the Democratic Front Milan Knezevic congratulated the GP URA and the Democrats for, as he says, for stopping the fraternal forces for the DPS to take over the Capital. He said this after Milena Vujacic (LSCG Old Guard) was elected president of the Cetinje parliament with the support of the URA and the Democrats. "I congratulate URA and the Democrats for stopping the DPS to take over the Capital in Cetinje today." Now the obligation to agree at the state level is even greater. The people are watching us," Knezevic stated on Twitter.

 

Montenegrin officials congratulate the Statehood Day of Serbia (CdM) 

 

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovic congratulated the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia to President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and parliament speaker Ivica Dacic. "I congratulate the state leadership and all citizens of the Republic of Serbia on the Statehood Day, in the hope that we will find the strength to build the best possible relations." We wish you a lot of success on your further reform path," stated Abazovic in congratulatory message. The President of the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro Vladimir Jokovic congratulated the Statehood Day, ie the day when Serbia received one of the most modern and most democratic constitutions of that time. "Traditional, fraternal relations between Montenegro and Serbia must continue and develop, for the benefit of our peoples and all citizens. We are obliged to do that because we are bound by our glorious common history, as well as our rich cultural and spiritual heritage. With the hope that the Republic of Serbia will achieve progress in all fields, we congratulate you once again on this great holiday," stated Jokovic.

 

The parties found a field for a political contest (DW/Libertas) 

 

The government claims that a working group had been set up with a mandate to draft a completely new Electoral Code. The demands for change of the electoral model, with which the parties bid differently with the need for one, three or eight constituencies, reveal that everyone is knocking on the open door, but also that nothing is happening behind the door, although ambitious plans were announced. DW came to the content of the opinion of the government that it submitted to the parliament last April, after MPs from smaller parties on 5 March 2021 submitted a draft law amending the Election Law, which proposes RSM to be one constituency, with a proportional electoral model and without a threshold. The proposal was signed by MPs Pavle Trajanov (DS), Maja Moracanin (DOM), Monika Zajkova and Bobi Mojsoski (LDP), Ljupco Balkoski (VMRO-NP) and Bejjan Iljas from DPT. The opinion of the government on this proposal was sent to the parliament with the signature of the First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi, and the answer reads: "The government does not give a positive opinion…"

The explanation of the opinion reminds that within the Ministry of Justice at the end of December 2020 an interdisciplinary working group was established (with representatives of state bodies, science, SEC, SCPC, SAO, AVMS, non-governmental sector and several parliamentary parties) and that its work is supported and monitored by international organizations that have been monitoring the election process in the country for the past 20 years (IFES, OSCE / ODIHR, NDI, EU). "The mandate of the working group is to draft a completely new Electoral Code, given the fact that since 2006 more than thirty amendments have been made that make the Electoral Code inconsistent, difficult to read and complex to implement," reads the opinion of the government.

 

Now small changes, and then a new law 

As an explanation for the negative opinion of the government, it is pointed out that in the run-up to the local elections, the OSCE / ODIHR report on the early parliamentary elections in 2020 was reviewed, which contains a number of priority recommendations that need to be overcome before the next election. cycle. The government is currently giving priority to the recommendations for corrections for the needs of the local elections and that the consideration of the proposal to change the election model will follow. "One of the key recommendations of the OSCE / ODIHR is to define any changes to the election rules at least six months before the elections, so that they are known to all participants in the election process and otherwise act contrary to international good practices, has emerged as a necessity to move to urgent amendments to the Electoral Code before the local elections by focusing on the OSCE / ODIHR recommendations, after which the proposal to change the electoral model will be considered. The working group will continue its work after the adoption of the amendments to the Electoral Code and will work on a completely new Electoral Code. "Having in mind all the above, the Government does not give a positive opinion on the proposed text of the Draft Law on Amending the Electoral Code submitted by a group of MPs, and proposes to the Assembly not to pass the Law," reads the opinion of the government from April 2021. In "five to 12", ie 12 days before the start of the local election campaign, the government and the opposition voted by a two-thirds majority to amend the Electoral Code, related to additional guarantees for the conduct of the local elections. The explanation was that these amendments increase the accountability, transparency and control of state resources during the election process, as well as the confirmation that the elections will be conducted under strict control and respecting the established protocols for organizing a safe campaign and voting in conditions of the current pandemic. However, the local elections have passed, and to date there is nothing from the government's claim that a new Electoral Code is being prepared, nor information that the working group is meeting on that issue. Especially, that despite the negative opinion of the government on the proposal of the small parties, "Ilindenska" number 2 still assessed that the working group should take into account that proposal. "The government considers that the submitted proposal should be reviewed by the working group for drafting the Electoral Code, in order for it to be the subject of a wider discussion between profession and politics, and the final proposal for amendments to the Electoral Code to be the result of a comprehensive, inclusive and "consultative process, in order to guarantee legal certainty," reads the final part of the government's opinion. For now, only a set of party monologues is guaranteed to change the election model, given that there is no announced "wider discussion between profession and politics". Almost all parties spoke on the issue of the election model with different views. The leader of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, said that this is one of many open internal issues. "Here are the topics for one constituency, the existence of a dysfunctional Przin government, the reduction of the number of MPs in the Assembly for a more functional legislature. "It seems very clear that on all these issues the government partners SDSM and DUI drowned and their dishonest relationship came to the surface," Mickoski said. VMRO-DPMNE EC member Saso Klekovski stressed that the party's initial steps were focused on the need to change the political system. "A change in the political system is needed because we have a completely occupied political space from small elites to a few political parties" Klekovski said. "For me, the long-term interest of the state is the increased legitimacy of the Assembly. That requires dialogue between the parties. At the moment, VMRO-DPMNE stands for one constituency, the Alliance for Albanians for eight constituencies, DUI for three. "Everyone avoids raising the issue of open lists," Klekovski said. Given that there is currently no consensus on the number of constituencies, it is uncertain whether a model that will unite the parties will be found at all. VMRO-NP recently addressed this aspect and called for a compromise. "VMRO-People's Party welcomes the initiative to open a discussion on changing the electoral model into 'one constituency', but as the debate and the direction of the discussions develop, we are afraid that the whole initiative will soon fail. That is why VMRO-People's Party proposes to seek a compromise in the proposal of DUI and BESA for an election model that includes three constituencies without a lower threshold. "We are deeply convinced that this change is still better than the current election model and gives greater chances to small political parties," the party said.

 

Rama meeting with Blinken in the US: We are proud to be your allies (Radio Tirana) 

 

For 45 minutes, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting at the State Department offices in Washington where they discussed the close cooperation between Albania and the United States of America. While expressing satisfaction with Albania's membership in the Security Council for the period 2022-2023, Blinken said that the two countries will work together on very challenging issues. A special gesture of Prime Minister Edi Rama has left an impression on Blinken, as he described it. The Secretary of State praised the readiness of the Albanian government, as the first country to offer shelter and hospitality to Afghan refugees. This, according to Blinken, showed the values ​​of our country, hospitality and generosity.  Rama thanked Blinken and expressed satisfaction with the meeting held at the beginning of the year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the United States. The day before, Rama met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Earlier, under the rhythms of Albanian traditional music, in a hall filled with representatives of 193 UN member states, Albania organized a gala reception in New York on the occasion of the beginning of Albania's 2-year mandate in the UN Security Council.

 

Rama: Blinken gave 100% consent for the continuation of Open Balkans (Radio Tirana) 

 

After the meeting with Antony Blinken, Rama held a meeting with the Albanian journalists who accompanied him on this visit. The meeting was held at the Albanian Embassy in Washington, where Rama confirmed that "Blinken had given his consent to continue this initiative". According to Report Tv journalist Ermal Qori, "Rama has claimed that Blinken has given 100% consent to the Open Balkans project, while he has not commented on Sali Berisha's grata announcement, saying that this is Berisha's own merit and no other influence." Despite the accusations made by Berisha that they lobbied against him. Regarding the meeting he held with the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, Rama said that his presence was due to the ceremony organized by Albania in the framework of the celebration of 2-year membership in the UN, as well as due to the friendship we have together, underlining the appreciation for our country. Another point discussed was the field of military defense, where there will be new developments. "Defender will be repeated in 2023," said Rama.

 

Milo: Albania in SC will be a spokesperson for Kosovo and the entire region (Radio Tirana/RTSH) 

 

Former foreign minister Paskal Milo praised Albania's role in the Security Council. He declared for RTSH with the journalist Blerta Tafani that with its position, Albania can become a spokesperson for the protection of the rights of Kosovo and the region as a whole. "It is a very good thing that Albania is in the Security Council because it will become the spokesperson for the protection of Kosovo's rights. It means its own word for the region. The issue of Bosnia will come, there will be a country in the region there that has its say. There will be a report on Kosovo. This is very important. Albania in this general climate of distrust in the Security Council is not that it will solve the problems. But it means its own word. That is why organs have been created," said Milo. While the former MP Ralf Gjoni stated that this role of Albania in the Security Council does not bring any other benefit than prestige in diplomacy. He said that in the face of big actors like Russia or China, Albania is powerless. I think that apart from increasing our prestige in diplomacy, I do not think we can achieve anything greater, declared Gjoni.

 

President Meta’s criminal indictment against parliament (ADN) 

 

The Presidency has published the criminal indictment filed by President of the Republic Ilir Meta against the Albanian parliament. In the introduction, the Head of State Has underlined that the gathering of the Assembly in plenary session on 7 May 2021 and the setting of the plenary agenda of this session, was determined by order no. 19, dated 6.5.2021 of the parliament speaker, i.e. only one day before the plenary session, which is contrary to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. Rules of Procedure of the Assembly provided that the order and the issue under consideration cannot be notified to the Members of Parliament later than 48 hours before the holding of the scheduled session, added the President’s indictment. Another serious violation by the Assembly was the fact that on 7 May 2021, the Assembly in addition to Decision no. 44/2021, dated 7.5.2021, "On the approval of the report and proposal of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights ‘On the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry based on the request of a group of MPs for the impeachment of the President of Republic’,” took another decision, specifically Decision no. 45/2021, dated 7.5.2021, "On the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry of the Assembly ‘On the investigation of serious constitutional violations by the President of the Republic of Albania’", which was not defined in the agenda that the parliament speaker had set, argued the Presidency. Furthermore, the Albanian parliament has also consumed two other flagrant violations of the articles of the Rules of Procedure has underlined the President:

1. The Assembly or commissions cannot discuss and decide on issues that are not on the agenda of the session.
2. To discuss, or decide in plenary session on issues that are not on the agenda, the Assembly takes a decision with the approval of not less than three-fifths of the MPs who are present. Proposals for putting other issues on the agenda must be submitted in writing by at least 10 MPs, by a parliamentary group chair or by the Council of Ministers only before the beginning of the session, before the beginning of the discussion of an agenda item or when the discussion is suspended. In cases when the request is not made by the parliamentary group, the request is submitted by one MP and the support group of MPs stands up.