LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic at the UN Security Council session on Kosovo (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will speak tonight at the meeting of the UN Security Council on Kosovo.

At the session quarterly report will be presented by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for the period from 16th of July till 15th of October this year.

Ban, in his report expressed concern about the political deadlock in Pristina and urged Kosovo's leaders to intensify efforts of finding a solution as soon as possible and continuing dialogue with Belgrade.

"I am particularly concerned about the prolonged political stalemate in Pristina and the possible negative consequences for the progress made so far in strengthening democratic institutions and processes in Kosovo," said Ban.

The UN Secretary-General congratulated the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina on progress towards a European future and encouraged an early resumption of high-level dialogue, under the auspices of the EU.

"We also call on all sides to find a way to accelerate the momentum in the process, regardless of current political challenges," he added.

The European Commission, as noted in the October report on the progress of Serbia said that progress in the normalization of relations is crucial for the European path of both sides.

Ban noted that technical discussions continued and that there has been some progress in the area of integrated crossing management, telecommunications, energy and freedom of movement.

On tonight's session UNMIKs chief Farid Zarif will also talk, while Pristina will be represent by the Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

The session was originally scheduled to be held on November 13, but it was postponed.

As Kosovo media was reporting at the time, Pristina authorities have asked the Security Council to postpone the session due to the fact that they still didn’t established the new institutions.

 

The Kosovo Army is endangering the Belgrade – Pristina Agreement (Beta)

The onetime Minister of Defense, Dragan Sutanovac, believes that the establishment of a Kosovo Army would make null and void the Kumanovo Agreement and would endanger the Brussels Agreement. Sutanovac thinks that the establishment of a Kosovo Army is “unacceptable” and he called on the Government to express that opinion to partners in Brussels.

“The possible establishment of a Kosovo Army by the interim Kosovo institutions would have unfathomable consequences for peace and stability in the region. That would, practically, void the Kumanovo Agreement and essentially put the Brussels Agreement on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina into question, which certainly isn't in Serbia's interest”, Sutanovac stated for the weekly “Vreme”.

Sutonovac called for initiating “a series of diplomatic activities” so as to ensure Serbia can influence the cessation of “negative processes, such as the establishment of a Kosovo Army, which would be contrary to the Kumonovo Agreement between NATO and Serbia, and to the UN Security Council's Resolution 1244”.

“With the formation of the land and air security zone (Kumanovo Agreement) the Serbian Army had lost the right to engage in that space independently and without prior approval from the KFOR Commander. Now, 15 years after signing the said Agreement, Serbia still respects that decision and we must insist that all cosignatories also treat it with the same respect. If that should fail, Serbia must find a way to protect its vital interests”, Sutanovac said. When questioned about the role of NATO in the establishment of the Kosovo Army, he said that NATO, that is, certain member states of that alliance, “have already once made the mistake of assisting in the formation of the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) which left behind it a trail of crimes against Albanians, Serbs and other people in the province of Kosovo and Metohija”.

“We must do everything to convince our partners that the establishment of a so-called ‘Kosovo Army’ would make the process of normalization between Belgrade and Pristina meaningless”, Sutanovac said. Sutanovac was Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2012.

Basel, the OSCE Ministerial Council on Ukraine (RTS)

The two day conference of OSCE Ministers has begun in Basel with a discussion on the Ukrainian crisis. Serbia is dedicated to a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis, stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic. The Chairman of OSCE, chief of Swiss diplomacy, Didier Burkhalter, said at the opening that this year was not a usual one for OSCE, due to the Ukrainian crisis, according to BETA.

He added that cooperation is necessary to resolve this crisis, and that compliance with the Minsk Protocol is the best way to accomplish it. Burkhalter noted that Protocol compliance has been very limited, that the cease fire is not holding, political processes have not commenced, and that the situation is fragile. Switzerland, he added, will continue supporting the special OSCE mission and dialogue.

The Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, who will chair OSCE from January 1st 2015, said that Serbia is dedicated to a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis, the largest crisis since the Second World War. Dacic said that there needs to be an increase of engagement to finding a solution to the Ukrainian crisis and that it's important that everyone act responsibly and increase efforts to achieve compliance with the Minsk Protocol. It has been three months since the Protocol has been signed and we must increase our efforts, Dacic said and added that Serbia, as the incoming Chair, will continue supporting the mission in Ukraine, a mission which plays a key role in implementation of all signed documents.

Dacic also stated that the Ukrainian crisis is a reminder that we need to work together and continue dialogue.

Talking about dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Dacici said that the Brussels Agreement on normalization of relations was a breakthrough, and he expressed the Serbia Government's resolve for fully implement this agreement.

The OSCE General Secretary, Lamberto Zannier, said that instability and insecurity are on the rise in the OSCE region and beyond. On Ukraine, he said that there are currently 341 observers in Ukraine, including in 10 regions, among which are Donetsk and Lugansk.

EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, commended the work of Switzerland during its chairmanship of OSCE and welcomed Serbia's strong resolve and balanced approach. She said that we must all find a permanent solution to this crisis, one which is based on respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mogherini requested the withdrawal of all illegal forces, mercenaries and military equipment from East Ukraine.

 

Russia to continue talks with Austria, Hungary, Serbia (Press)

Russia is ready to continue talks with Austria, Hungary and Serbia, Russia’s Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said on Wednesday. "Ways out of the situation that developed as a result of the closure of the South Stream project" would be discussed, he said.

“The Russian side is ready to discuss what to do next and how to overcome the situation. The gas pipeline thread may go in any direction from the Turkish hub," Chizhov told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

"Serbia, of course, is today not a member of the EU, but Serbia, as is well known, has applied for membership. We all witnessed the pressure EU exerted on Belgrade on political issues - including on joining the anti-Russian sanctions and you can be sure, also on economic topics."

According to Chizhov, it is too early to say who lost, and who won from the decision to abandon South Stream. "I think, first of all, the final balance should be made when the alternative pipeline is built," RIA Novosti reported him as saying. According to Chizhov, the new pipeline will be placed at the bottom of the Black Sea and will emerge in the west of the country, close to its European part.

"When this node will be built in the Turkish territory - it cannot be quickly, and by then we will see what will be the position of the EU and what will be the position of the states concerned," said Chizhov. The Russian diplomat at the same time accused the United States of "actively opposing the realization of South Stream, stressing it was necessary to reduce Europe's energy dependence on Russian energy supplies."

"This is the policy of the current and previous administrations," he said, adding that the United States, at the same time, never promised TO replace Russia as a source of energy.

"All these talks on gas and oil from shale that will flow from the United States - these are stories for the uninformed," said Chizhov, adding that, even if American laws that restricts export were changed, U.S. companies would not use these permits in the European but in the Asian market where the price of gas is one and a half times higher. Chizhov also "expressed surprise" that Russia has not received gratitude from the EU for meeting it half way and canceling the South Stream project. "Perhaps this was unexpected to the general public in Europe, but for professionals working in the energy sector is was not," he said. As for Bulgaria, Chizhov said that it did not recommend itself as a reliable partner not only when it comes to South Stream, but also in other projects.

According to him, the political situation in that country "is not simple", with governments changing and some stepping down due to differences regarding energy issues. Chizhov said that Bulgaria's position was the reason Burgas-Alexandroupolis and the equipping of the new nuclear power plant Belene were not realized. Turkey, on the other hand, "is reliable and able to make decisions independently" according to him. "Turkey is acting quite independently. We should not forget that Turkey is a NATO member and a candidate for EU membership, but the Turkish leadership behaves quite independently, in any case much more independently than, alas, the Bulgarian government."

 

Zagreb cancels Dacic's visit because of Seselj and Vukovar (Novosti)

Croatian officials have canceled the visit of Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, that was planned to take place on November 12th, and as “Novosti” have been told in Zagreb, the main reason is that the planed meetings coincided with the return to Serbia of the leader of the Radical Party, Vojislav Seselj, and with the commemoration of the fall of Vukovar.

Minister Dacic confirmed for us that the host requested the cancellation:

“Serbia remains dedicated to good relations and cooperation with everyone in the region. There is obviously a slowdown in relations between Belgrade and Zagreb, but Serbia didn't contribute to this in any way. What is more, we believe that it is only through dialogue that we can solve issues that remain open between us. I am prepared to go and visit Zagreb and host Croatian officials here as well, but it is up to them to allow this dialogue to continue”, Dacic stated for “Novosti”.

According to our information, there is yet no talk of newly scheduled visits, and the “cold front” in relations between Belgrade and Zagreb will last for some time because the Croatian state authorities are not keen on hosting Serbian officials at least until the presidential elections in Croatia are over. For the same reason it remains unclear whether the two Presidents, Tomislav Nikolic and Ivo Josipovic, will meet.

Official Zagreb also considers Serbia – Croatia relations to be at their lowest point in the last several years and that a change of rhetoric may be expected, to some extent, sometime around the beginning of 2015, when the presidential elections are over.

 

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

 

Further postponement of the election of Vice Presidents in RS Assembly from Bosniak and Croat peoples (Oslobodjenje)

Nedeljko Cubrilovic announced that the first session of the Republika Srpska (RS) Assembly will be held on 10th of December. Mr Curbilovic made the statement following a session of the Board of Parliament Presidents of this Bosnia Herzegovina (B&H) entity.

While addressing the press, Mr. Cubrilovic said that a special session of the RS Assembly will be held, where delegates will be chosen for the House of Peoples of the B&H Parliament and Council of Peoples of RS, General Secretary of the RS Assembly and other parliamentary bodies.

“Even though it was previously announced, Vice Presidents of the Assembly of RS will, however, not be elected during this session due to lack of political consensus”, stated Curbilovic. He declined to clarify the meaning of “lack of political consensus”, but he expressed his belief that the Assembly will obtain all its authorities by end of December.

Radovan Viskovic, the Chief of Alliance of Independent Social Democrat (SNSD) Parliamentary group, said that the parliamentary majority in RS will not accept the election of the three remaining Vice Presidents until the Council of Ministers is formed on B&H state level.

“We are waiting to see what the Bosniak-led Coalition Homeland will do and then we will vote on Vice Presidents. This isn't a form of political coercion, but we have been witness to Coalition Homeland requesting, at the RS Assembly session, that Vice Presidents for Bosniak and Croat peoples be from their ranks. However, majority parties also have Croat parliamentarians, so they can also supply the Vice Presidents”, stated Viskovic.

As a reminder, in accordance with the RS Constitution's principles of equal representation and constituent peoples in the leading legislative body of RS, two Vice Presidents are to be chosen from the ranks of Bosnika and Croatian peoples.

The same requisite is stipulated in provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the RS Assembly, as well as the requirement stating that the third Vice President is to be from the largest opposition party, in this case the Serb Democratic Party.

 

B&H House of Representatives to be formed on Tuesday: First the Board and then the Council of Ministers (Oslobodjenje)

The founding session of the House of Representatives of the B&H Parliamentary Assembly has been scheduled for Tuesday, following yesterday's session of the old Board of the House of Representatives. This was proposed by the Chairman, Boza Ljubic, while the Vice Chairman's, Denis Becirovic, proposition that the founding session be held tomorrow was rejected. Considering that various interpretations regarding scheduling of the founding session are circulating, Becirovic stated that the whole process is being conducted in accordance with the law and with Rules of Procedure since the day confirmed results on general elections in B&H have been made public.

“I was of the opinion that we shouldn't wait for the deadline and that we could have had a session of the Board already in November, and right after that we could have held the founding session, but that didn't happen”, Becirovic said. He added that it's in everyone's interest, regardless of whether they're in opposition or in leading positions, that all government bodies and legislative and executive functions on state level be formed as soon as possible.

“We have not received proposed candidate names for the new House of Representatives. We will do that during the session itself. We must wait until Tuesday to find out who the official candidates are for these three, most important, duties in the House. We have made an agreement with Mirsad Djonlagic (Union For A Better Future), as the most senior representative of the new House of Representatives who will chair the session, that we will have an informal, founding meeting in order to prepare for effective work of the House on Tuesday”, Becirovic stated.

The first session's program will focus on three tasks: giving an official statement by all new members, election of the Chairman, his first and second Vice Chairmen, and election of the Commission for Selection of the Council of Ministers of B&H. When asked why they waited till the last moment to schedule the founding session, Ljubic said that the session was scheduled one day before the legal deadline, December 9th, and that it could not have been held a day later due to a session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in Sarajevo.

“The session was scheduled within the legal time frame, and therefore accusations made by some representatives that there has been a violation of the Rules of Procedure do not stand. We have never had an instance where the House of Representative members were elected on a founding session, this however does not mean it will not happen on Tuesday for the first time”, stated Ljubic. As President of the Main Board of the Croatian People's Assembly, Ljubic noted that this coalition has its candidate, but wouldn't clarify who it was. Instead, he would rather have the party to which the candidate belongs make the announcement.

“It would be best for us to have, on state level, as large a Parliament majority as possible. Practically, to have two thirds majority which would be able to also adopt the necessary Constitutional changes. I believe that Parliamentary majorities must be compatible vertically and that it would be best for B&H to conduct this process simultaneously or from the bottom up”, said Ljubic for “Oslobodjenje” and denied claims that he is interested in the position of Vice President of the Federation of B&H, noting that he isn't interested in any executive functions.

 

Hill: Dodik can block reform processes regardless of whether he is in opposition or in power (Oslobodjenje)

Nicholas Hill, the Chargé d’Affaires of the USA Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), said that the leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) and President of the B&H Entity Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, can block reform processes regardless of whether his party is or isn't part of the Government on state level in B&H.

“He (Dodik) is capable of doing just that. Today we can see what the situation is like in relation to agricultural farming, and this is a result of one of his blockades which make it impossible to form agencies and institutions that would enable export of agricultural goods”, Hill stated at today's press conference in Banja Luka. He added that the US Embassy is closely monitoring the situation on state level and the Federation B&H level.

“Our priority is to form, as soon as possible and on all levels, stable governments and I hope the leaders' focus will be on improving the economic situation”, Hill said.

After talks which he had during the previous two days with the President of the People's Assembly of RS, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic and leader of the National Democratic Movement, Dragan Cavic, on forming a government in this B&H entity, Hill stated that he “believes the situation is very interesting”.

“I don't wish to imply anything with this assessment aside from the fact that right now in this coalition you have several parties and there is no longer one dominant party”, clarified Hill.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the USA Embassy in B&H remained consistent in his practice and this time again, while on official visit to Banja Luka, did not meet with the President of RS, Milorad Dodik.

“No, I have not met with Mister Dodik and I have nothing further to say about that”, Hill said.

While commenting the work of security agencies in B&H in regards to anti-terrorism, Hill reminded that the USA have been in close cooperation with the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and other Government institutions.

“So far we have had good cooperation and we greatly appreciate this. However, there is no doubt that much remains to be done. We must all do more, the prosecution must make stronger cases and we are very glad that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of B&H, Zlatko Lagumdzija, at a conference of the coalition for the fight against ISIS in Brussels, said that B&H supports this fight against terrorism”, Hill concluded.

Dodik: If Bosnia were an independent state Hill would have been banished a long time ago (Srna)

The President of the Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, stated for Srna that the Charge d'Affaires of the USA Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Nicholas Hill, continues to “arrogantly violate good diplomatic practice, putting forth untruths and constructed accusations, meddling in internal matters of a country, insolently qualifying, accusing and judging”.

“If B&H were an independent state, which it is not, then Hill would have been banished from it because of his behavior a long time ago”, the President of RS said in reply to Srna's question that he comment today's statement Hill made about Dodik: “Milorad Dodik sometimes makes constructive statements, and sometimes he says he intends to block certain processes” and that “the situation agricultural farmers in B&H find themselves in is a result of one of his blockades, that is, a result of obstructions in forming institutions that could work on improving export of agricultural goods”.

The President of the Republic of RS noted that Hill is evidently preoccupied with Milorad Dodik and that he doesn't miss any opportunity to talk about him, while giving his personal opinion of him, and using untruths and lies.

“He did this today, falsely accusing me for the unsatisfactory situation of agricultural farmers in B&H. Hill is using what little remains of his mandate in B&H to behave like a Bosniak lobbyist, lobbying for the establishment of a ministry of agriculture at the state level, which would supposedly solve all the problems of agricultural farmers. This is just manipulation, completely inappropriate for a diplomat, especially a diplomat from a country such as the USA”, noted Dodik.

While commenting on Hill's claim that the “RS loses nothing by the abandonment of the ‘South Stream’ project, and there is therefore no reason Dodik to support a project which defies the EU”, the President of RS stated that Hill evidently deliberately overlooked and will not make peace with the fact that the “South Stream” is a mutual project of some EU member states and the Russian Federation, instead making things up and maliciously representing it as a project that defies the EU.

“If this weren't so, there wouldn't be a ‘North Stream’ which ensures energy stability to North European countries. But, who has given Nicholas Hill the authority of determining what constitutes economic loss for RS and whether there is any point in supporting this project?”, stated Dodik.

Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia have already reacted – states which were involved in this project – and they think that the cessation of the “South Stream” would endanger their energy stability, noted Dodik, adding that Hill's arbitrary statements on the importance of one such project for RS are really comical.

“We are convinced that, to Hill's great dismay, the ‘South Stream’ project will be accomplished, because it is a project that benefits some EU member states and some of us who are not members, just as much as it benefits the Russian Federation”, noted Dodik. He also stressed that he is not the least bit interested in Hill's assessment of the RS President because “those assessments come from a diplomat who has already been completely compromised.”

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

Serbia to focus on objectivity during its OSCE chairmanship in 2015 — ambassador

(ITAR-TASS, 3 December 2014)

Serbia will respect arguments of all the sides and settle all questions exclusively by peaceful means and by way of dialogue

Serbia during its chairmanship in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) next year will have to face many complex issues, but objectivity will prevail in its approaches to all matters, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic told TASS on Wednesday.

According to him, Serbia’s position will be characterised by objectivity of approaches to all issues. “We will respect arguments of all the sides and settle all questions exclusively by peaceful means and by way of dialogue,” Terzic said. “Serbia has good relations with both the European Union and Russia and this will promote the settlement of many issues,” he added.

The diplomat also said during its OSCE chairmanship-in-office Serbia would face many complicated tasks.

Serbia wants to be reliable partner to Moscow, Kiev, Brussels and Washington

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic in November said Serbia will try to be a reliable partner to any center of political power - be it Moscow, Kiev, Brussels or Washington.

“I hope that Serbia will not find itself in a situation when it will have to choose between Brussels and Moscow,” Dacic said adding that as an EU candidate Serbia has a commitment to coordinate its foreign and security policy with the European Union until the negotiations are over.

Sanctions against Russia are the only foreign policy issue which Serbia has refused to coordinate with the European Union so far.

EU wants Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia

EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in November said Serbia should bring its foreign political position in line with the European stance by imposing anti-Russian economic sanctions.

Both Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia would not impose sanctions on Russia despite its goal to join the European Union. Nikolic, however, admitted that the EU membership which Serbia was seeking implies an obligation to pursue a common foreign policy.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich said Moscow hopes that Serbia will remember the friendly nature of relations with Russia when it makes a decision whether it should join the EU sanctions against Russia.

 

Serbia caught between Russia and the west (Financial Times, by Andrew Byrne in Belgrade. 3 December 2014)

“Partners for the Future!” proclaim the Gazprom billboards that line the main roads into Belgrade --- the Cyrillic text imprinted on a bright image of Russian and Serbian flags stitched together.

The advertising campaign was meant to celebrate the growing energy ties between the two Slavic Orthodox nations. But for a Serbian government that has been left bitterly disappointed by the cancellation on Monday by Vladimir Putin of the giant South Stream gas pipeline project, the message is a painful reminder of what might have been.

Since his appointment in 2013, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has sought to tread a narrow path between advancing his country’s EU membership ambitions and attracting Russian investment into Serbia’s struggling economy. Following the announcement by Mr Putin, Russian president, the largest part of that strategy appears to have failed.

Instead, Mr Vucic has been left counting the cost as Serbia is caught between Russia and the west in the competition for influence in central and Eastern Europe.

Gazprom, the state gas company, has been at the forefront of Moscow’s push to expand its influence into the Balkans — a region beset with economic and political difficulties. Belgrade in 2008 agreed with Moscow that the $50bn South Stream pipeline would cross its territory, and in turn sold a controlling stake in its national oil and gas company NIS to a Gazprom subsidiary for €400m. Serbia imports the vast majority of its gas from Russia and is struggling to repay a $224m debt to Gazprom.

Only six weeks ago, Mr Putin told a Belgrade newspaper that construction of the Serbian sections of South Stream would bring $2.5bn of investment to the country, as well as valuable gas transit fees. But while Gazprom’s stake in NIS is now worth more than €630m, the eagerly anticipated pipeline will not be built, leaving the Serbian government feeling burnt.

“Serbia has been investing in this project for seven years, but now it has to pay the price of a clash between the great [powers],” Mr Vucic told local television on Tuesday, adding that he would seek urgently to discuss the matter with Mr Putin.

The decision to scrap South Stream came despite a long-running charm offensive directed at Moscow by Mr Vucic and Tomislav Nikolic, Serbia’s president. Although Mr Putin has faced isolation internationally following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, he was greeted with full military honours on a recent visit to the Serbian capital. Yet still Belgrade learned that Moscow had called time on South Stream only via media reports — they received no advance warning.

The ill-fated pipeline was Moscow’s most enticing offering to Belgrade but it was not Russia’s only investment. State-controlled Russian Railways is set to refurbish Serbia’s creaking rail infrastructure in an $800m scheme, while privately owned oil company Lukoil owns almost 80 per cent of Beopetrol, Serbia’s former state petrol retailer. Belgrade also hopes Russian investors will buy some of the 500 state-run enterprises it will seek to privatise next year.

Opinion is divided over whether the end of South Stream will push Serbia’s government closer to the EU. To many Serbians, Russia appears to be a familiar country thanks to a shared religion, Cyrillic alphabet, close cultural links and Russia’s historical opposition to recognition for Kosovo, the mostly Muslim state that broke away from Serbia in 2008 following a Nato-led military intervention. Belgrade and Moscow have regularly co-operated on votes at the UN, with Serbia abstaining from a March vote that condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Western leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel, have in recent weeks expressed concern that Mr Putin’s ambitions to assert Russian authority stretch beyond Ukraine to the western Balkans.

Judy Dempsey, senior associate at the Carnegie Europe think-tank, says Moscow wants to disrupt EU influence not just in Serbia but also Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro — an objective that risks undermining the region’s fragile security.

“It is a strategy of inconvenience. The aim is to make the EU’s life in the region difficult,” Ms Dempsey says. The cancellation of the pipeline, she adds, is an opportunity for Europe to renew its commitment to Serbia’s EU membership bid.

European investment and trade in the Balkans dwarfs that of Russia. The EU’s share of Serbian trade is 63.2 per cent according to the government, compared with Russia’s 9.5 per cent. Italy’s Fiat opened a large car factory in Serbia in 2001, and vehicle sales to Western Europe are now the country’s most significant export. By contrast, apples and nylon tights are its top exports to Russia.

But officials in Belgrade are also displeased that EU opposition has contributed to the scuppering of South Stream, and they have resisted calls to join EU sanctions on Russia.

While Serbian officials insist EU membership is their priority, the appeal of Russian gas and investment remains strong. “Our strategic goal is to join the EU, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Serbia’s interior minister said last Friday. “But we have historic ties to Russia — we are dependent on Russian energy, in particular gas.”

Mr Vucic held out hope on Tuesday that South Stream could still be salvaged. Reconciling competing demands from both east and west looks set to be the prime minister’s most significant challenge.

 

U.S. Calls FYROM ‘Macedonia’ in International Summit, Greek Govt VP Walks Out (Greek reporter, by Philip Chrysopoulos, 4 December 2014)

Greek government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos walked out during a 60-country summit when the United States accepted the name “Macedonia” instead of FYROM on the list of countries that pledged to fight against the Islamic State.

After the summit, the Greek Foreign Ministry issued an official announcement, complaining to the U.S. side. The announcement explained that Venizelos left the summit in protest, since the name of Greece’s northern neighbor, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, has not been established yet and the two countries are still in the process of negotiations. Furthermore, according to a decision by the United Nations Security Council, the name of FYROM has not been decided until the two countries agree.

Ministers from 60 countries met in Brussels yesterday after a U.S. initiative to form an official coalition against the Islamic State. According to Greece, the U.S. did not follow the formal procedure of the United Nations to call each country under its official name. FYROM went to the meeting under its present name, but in the joint 60-country statement, it signed as “Macedonia.” FYROM officials said that “Macedonia” is the country’s constitutional name.

After Venizelos left in protest, Greece was represented by NATO representative in Brussels Michalis Diamesis.

After the 60 countries signed the treaty, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pledged to continue the campaign against the Islamic State “as long as it takes.”

 

 

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Media summaries are produced for the internal use of the United Nations Office in Belgrade, UNMIK and UNHQ. The contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership.