LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: Agreement on ZSO is important (Tanjug)

Serbia believes that it is very important to reach an agreement on the formation of a community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday, adding that it is the key part of the Brussels agreement. The threats made by the Kosovo parliamentary party Self-Determination, of causing violent riots in KiM if the ZSO is formed, are alarming, Vucic told a press conference in Belgrade. They threaten with something that is close to war, because of a document signed in Brussels. Six out of 15 points of the Brussels agreement, or 40 percent of the text, refer to the ZSO. Is it possible that they have only just read it yesterday, asked the prime minister, adding that the agreement was signed two years ago. Vucic said that he still hopes that reason will prevail. "There is obviously something very strange happening in the region, as if everyone is flexing their muscles and looking to show their strength. But we will not do that,” said Vucic, adding that the Serbs find such policy unacceptable.

 

Stojanovic: Threats from Self-Determination must be investigated (Novosti)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic condemned the statements by the Secretary General of Kosovo’s Self-Determination movement Dardan Molicaj concerning the establishment of a community of Serb municipalities and urged relevant authorities to take those threats seriously and to investigate them. "I call on the relevant institutions to question Molicaj and determine what he meant by saying that only a war would be missing - is anyone planning a new March 17 (2004, day of pogrom perpetrated against Kosovo Serbs)," said Stojanovic. He called on KFOR and all security structures "to take these threats seriously and do everything to prevent attacks and violence from happening against anyone in Kosovo, including the Serbs as the most exposed target. The relevant institutions are under obligation to establish the seriousness of the threats expressed, and to guarantee security for people and normal operation of the institutions," Stojanovic said in a release.

 

Vucic: Everyone in region wants to flex their muscles (Tanjug)

"Something strange is happening in the region," Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday, and added" everyone wants to flex their muscles again. Serbia does not accept such a policy," he remarked. Responding to reporters' questions about Pristina's attempt to join UNESCO during a news conference at the government HQ in Belgrade, Vucic said that "even after UN's refusal to forward this request a difficult political battle with uncertain outcome will follow."

According to him, "Serbia will do its best to prevent what it considers would be a disgrace."

Vucic also mentioned as "disturbing" the threats coming from the Self-Determination Movement in Kosovo related to the forming of a community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) - something envisaged in the Brussels agreement - saying the party was "threatening with something that is almost war, and that was signed in Brussels." "To us, six out of the 15 articles are the ZSO... 40 percent of the text of the Brussels agreement... concerns the ZSO - is it possible those people only read it yesterday?," asked the prime minister, and then remarked that the agreement was signed "two years ago." Nevertheless, Vucic said he "hopes that reason will prevail in that process," and added, "one can only imagine what would happen if such statements came from the Serb society." He reiterated "the position of Serbia, which considers it very important to reach an agreement on the formation of the ZSO," and stressed this was "the key thing in the Brussels agreement." "But what can you do, it is obvious that something strange is happening in our region, it's as if everyone wants to once again flex their muscles and demonstrate their strength - we Serbs won't," said the prime minister, and added: "We want to compare ourselves to others, to measure our work, knowledge, various visions of the future, but the size of muscles and the number of bullets that can be fired, we Serbs don't want that anymore. And such a policy we don't accept." During the news conference - held after his meeting with the president of the Serb National Council in Croatia, Milorad Pupovac - Vucic also announced he will neither "give up on the initiative for regional reconciliation" nor on insisting on a joint remembrance day. Speaking about the planned sale of the state-owned telecommunications company Telekom Srbija, Vucic said there were "several companies from the U.S." among the eight that have expressed their intention to take part in the privatization. He added "that was all" he could say about the companies in question, and noted these were "merely the unbinding offers" for the moment. "We will try to get the best possible price and the future for our company, or we won't sell," said Vucic.

 

FM reiterates Pristina did turn to UN over UNESCO bid (RTS)

Pristina's request for UNESCO membership has been sent directly to this organization - after the UN rejected Kosovo's application for UNESCO membership. This is what Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told the state television RTS late on Wednesday. Although the authorities in Pristina said they did not send the request to the UN, Dacic reiterated that they in fact did, and that the UN told Pristina they will not meet the request because it is not within the mandate of UNMIK and the UN, which is based on Resolution 1244. "It's now UNESCO Director-General Mrs. (Irina) Bokova's move, to whom this letter, that is this request, has been sent. For now it has not been delivered to anyone, nor is that information circulating in the institutions of UNESCO or the United Nations," Dacic added. The minister also said that Serbia "cannot calmly stand by while someone is taking away the Serb cultural heritage." "This is not about some victory of Serbia, so we're supposed to have won the first round - the fight continues, but the UN refused to stand behind the proposal for Kosovo to become a member of UNESCO. It is strategically important for us, because it is about Resolution 1244," said Dacic. Asked what Serbia can do to prevent "the direct entry of Kosovo to UNESCO as it could very easily enter through outvoting, because the executive board has 58 members, of which 33 have recognized Kosovo" - Dacic said that "it should be observed how the director-general of UNESCO will react to such a request, whom she will turn to, how this will be legally grounded," and added that there had been no similar cases at UNESCO in the past.

"Wherever it can to prevent unilateral acts Serbia does, where it cannot, we express our opposition. That's why we are saying all countries need to know what it is they are voting for, if we give them full details of what is happening with the Serb cultural heritage (in Kosovo) which is under the protection of UNESCO, if they look how (ethnic Albanians) have treated churches - they burned churches, smashed crosses - well let each country take its own position," said Dacic. During the interview, Dacic also commented on the list of ten ambassadors sent to the government, who should soon assume their duties. "The names of those nominated for ambassadors are not published before they receive accreditation in the host countries," said Dacic. Asked "what would be the main challenge for representatives in Berlin, Athens and Zagreb, considering we have not had ambassadors in these cities for three years," Dacic said: "Times have changed. It doesn't depend on the kind of ambassador you have but on what kind of authorities are in power in a country. It is certain that the ambassador to Croatia will not solve the problems between Serbia and Croatia. Also, we achieved best possible relations with Germany at a time when we had no ambassador, which means that times have changed." Dacic also said the idea of ​​Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to establish a common day of remembrance for the victims in the region was "good."

 

Franc Bogovic backs Serbian PM's initiative for establishing a joint remembrance day (Tanjug)

MEP Franc Bogovic backs Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic's initiative for establishing a joint remembrance day for all victims of the Yugoslav wars, as it is time for reconciliation and a common European future based on shared values. Most ordinary people in the Yugoslav countries want to live in peace and prosperity. Politicians should listen to them, and not individual and often very vocal nationalistic groups, Bogovic told Tanjug. The rejection of Vucic's initiative, when it comes to Croatia, Bogovic sees in the context of internal developments in the country. The election campaign is already overheated in Croatia, without good solutions for economic growth and a better life of citizens, Bogovic said, noting that this is the reason why politicians want to impose topics relating to foreign and neighborhood policy. Bogovic, Vice-President of the informal group “Friends of Serbia” at the European Parliament, said that he absolutely supports every Croat, Bosniak or Serb that proposes an initiative for reconciliation after the tragic events of the 1990s in the Western Balkans.

 

Frattini: Vucic's idea big step forward, pity others disagree (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic's initiative for establishing a joint remembrance day for all victims of the wars of the 1990s is a great step forward and it is very unfortunate that it has not been met with approval in Croatia and Kosovo, notes Franco Frattini, Italy's former foreign minister and senior official of the European Commission. “Who could deny that all the victims of the wars in the former Yugoslavia deserve respect and compassion?,” Frattini said in a statement to Tanjug. The Italian politician, who is also president of the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI), notes that the Serbian prime minister has already taken important initiatives aimed at reconciliation in the region, such as going to Srebrenica or inviting the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Belgrade. According to Frattini, the idea of regional reconciliation, which is at the core of the Serbian prime minister's initiative, is and will be much stronger than any propaganda or nationalistic rhetoric. “Reconciliation needs visionary leaders, and I am optimistic, results will come,” Frattini said.

 

"The EU does not want to re-introduce visas for Serbia" (Vecernje Novosti)

The European Union does not want to reintroduce the visas for Serbia and other Balkan countries, but countries in the region need to do all they can, to change the difficult situation with asylum seekers, said the head of the EP delegation for relations with Serbia Eduard Kukan. Commenting the rumors that the visa-free regime could be called into question, Kukan added that the concerns about the possible abolishment of visa-free regime could be justified, if the dramatic situation with the large numbers of migrants who travel to Western European countries does not improve, but does not believe that it will happen. "I am sure that the EU and the countries in the region are going to join the efforts to find an appropriate solution that would bring results,"said Kukan. Kukan also pointed out that there is a strong political will not to re-introduce visas, because, as he said, it would be a real step backwards. He stressed that Serbia bears responsibility only for its own citizens who, in different ways try to reach the EU countries. It must be explained to citizens that leaving the country and seeking the asylum are not the ways to solve the problems, because that can cause damage to all the citizens of Serbia. Kukan said that raising the fence, as the Hungarian authorities decided to do, along the border with Serbia, is not the way of resolving the situation.

"I do not think that it would be useful and helpful if we all started to raise the walls," concluded Kukan for "Vecernje Novosti".

 

Pupovac: Serb position in Croatia aggravates (Tanjug)

President of the Serb National Council in Croatia (SNV) Milorad Pupovac stated on Wednesday that the position of Serbs in Croatia has aggravated due to drop of focus in terms of Croatia's obligations defined in the accession agreement with the EU which clearly lists the matters that need to be tackled for the sake of both Serbs and other communities. The overall atmosphere has also aggravated, which to a considerable extent poses an obstacle to realization of Serb rights in Croatia, Pupovac said addressing a news conference after the talks with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. One aspect of the atmosphere is a consequence of the anti-Cyrillic campaign that lasted almost two years, while a part of it results from belief of some people that nationalism is the best state for a society, and such an atmosphere is most conducive to violation of minority rights, including Serb rights. Milorad Pupovac stated that the matter of missing persons, restoration of trust, issue of war crimes trial and development of areas where Serbs live, as well as status issues, constitute the four top issues for Serbs in Croatia. Many crimes have not been prosecuted and we expect the two countries to focus on this matter and not allow the perpetrators of the crimes to remain unpunished, Pupovac told a news conference after the talks with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Pupovac said that the development of Serb-populated environments has been halted and that the delay can be qualified as historical compared to other regions in Croatia, which is why it is important to set up mechanisms that would help overcome this problem. Tenancy issues still remain unsolved, as well as the issue of pensions which needs to be tackled, Pupovac said and added that he discussed these matters with the Serbian president and government on Wednesday.

It is important for Serbs in Croatia to have unhindered opportunities to feel as one with their nation, to have their identity, and for their children to be able to choose their educational programs without fear, as well as for them and their parents to be able to declare their national identity freely, Pupovac said.

 

Vucic announces visits to "four great powers" (Tanjug)

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic announced on Thursday that he will visit "four great powers" in the next four months - the EU, the U.S., Russia, and China. Judging by the composition of the delegations that will accompany him, "this will primarily be an economic and diplomatic mission," Tanjug reported. "I will visit the the U:S. just before mid-September, in October I will go to Russia, and I believe this will be a big visit with a great number of businesspeople, while in November I will go to China. The president has an important visit to China and a meeting with the country's president in September," Vucic told journalists on Thursday. He added that the first big meeting with the participation of EU officials will be held in Vienna on August 27. "This very important meeting will discuss the 'core network' (regional network of roads, which should become part of the European network)," Vucic said. The Prime Minister also announced that the Brussels dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will continue just before or just after the Vienna conference.

 

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Jerlagic: SDA hasn't respected the agreement we reached! (Patria)

Amer Jerlagic, SB&H President, confirmed to Patria that today he will hold discussions with Bakir Izetbegovic, SDA President, after which SB&H party organs will decide whether the political party will remain in coalition with the SDA and BPS and A-SDA that was signed on 31 July or otherwise leave the coalition, which would once again mean that there is no parliamentary majority in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H). Although they coalesced not even 15 days ago, the newly formed Federal coalition is on the verge of collapse. The SB&H announced its exit from the coalition due to a failure to respect the agreement of the other coalition partners, primarily the SDA.

"The FB&H government appointed the oversight board of Elektroprivreda B&H several days before concluding the call for applications, and with that no one informed the SB&H of the fact," warned Jerlagic. He added that this is not the partner relationship that was agreed with coalition partners, and he expected that all further decisions in the Federation will be made on the basis of agreement and consultation, Patria writes.

 

2,047 Montenegrins applied for asylum in Germany (RTCG)

2.047 Montenegrin citizens requested asylum in Germany in first six months of this year, it was said to Mina agency from thr Federal office for immigration and refugees. PR of this German institution, Kira German, said that since January until the end of June, asylum was requested by 2.047 Montenegrins, which is two thirds more than during the entire last year, when there were 1.269 requests. According to her, out of 749 applications that were processed in first six months, asylum was approved for 0.1 percent of the persons while 581 were denied. As she explained, positive decisions are related to seekers who received political asylum, refugee protection, subsidiary protection, or who stayed in Germany based on a clause that forbids deportation. As German explained, out of 868 applications from last year, nobody received protection, and 646 were denied. Asked whether it is true that asylum seekers from Balkans that have no basis for requesting asylum will soon be deported to their own countries, she answered affirmatively.

“I can confirm that those applicants will soon be returned to their countries of origin. These applications are a priority now, applicants are staying in Reception centers which makes it easier to process the requests and when and if the protection is denied, to send the seekers home more quickly", German explained. She also reminded that the possibility of giving less money to seekers from Balkans is being discussed in order to discourage them. Emigration of citizens of Montenegro, especially from the north of the country, is a problem that has been pointed out by NGO's and some political subjects in last couple of months. According to latest data from NGO Euromost, 5.620 Montenegrin citizens left from Montenegro to Germany. Government said that the problem of emigration was overly politicized and that in a smaller extent it exists for years.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

Report: Serbian fence is useless

The Hungarian government is “bound by international laws” to accept migrants once theyenter the country, and as the fence along the frontier with Serbia is not on the border, but in Hungary, migrants are in the area of Hungary even if they do not cross the fence, Tamás Lattmann, an international lawyer told Hungarian online daily index.hu. Despite Gergely Gulyás, deputy head of ruling Fidesz’s parliamentary group, stating that Hungary “has nothing to do with migrants who do not cross the fence”, the government is in fact responsible for them, Index said. Index reports that the 175 km-long fence the Hungarian government is building on the Serbian border as a “temporary” measure to “protect” the country from “illegal immigrants”, is not on the Serbian-Hungarian border, but a few meters away from the border, on Hungarian land, and it is therefore useless. Index claims that migrants do not have to cross the fence, to enter Hungary, in fact once they get close enough to the fence that they can touch it, they are in Hungary and can ask for asylum and the procedure must be launched. The portal also notes that the fence is ineffective against human trafficking, as those who promise to escort migrants to Hungary in exchange for money, are able to keep that promise, as the fence is not on the border, but on Hungarian soil.

 

 

 

 

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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.