LOCAL PRESS

Nikolic: Possible new resolution on Kosovo in Serbian parliament (RTS)

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has stated in Belgrade that the most delicate part of the negotiations in the dialogue with Pristina is ahead, which includes the topic of judiciary and announced the possibility of a new resolution on Kosovo and Metohija in the Serbian parliament. He stresses this is why Belgrade needs to have a crystallized and clear stand. “Judiciary is a zone where we don’t have regulated relations even in Serbia. We need to have excellent judges in Kosovo. This is not feasible at the moment, maybe if we send judges to assist, but this doesn’t fit into the system of Pristina laws. If EULEX wishes to change the mandate of the mission and unit strength, then we obviously need to reach a new agreement. If they request a new resolution, I will certainly propose this, I never ran away from this. If they request my stand on the resolution submitted by the government, I will also do this. I will not obstruct the government,” said Nikolic. He assessed yesterday’s round of talks in Brussels as a meeting prior to the formation of the new government and stressed that it, considering the delicacy of issues discussed, has to present a strategy on how to move on and the new parliament will also have to take a stand on this issue. “In the meantime, since the signing of the Brussels agreement several unforeseen things occurred – transformation into Kosovo armed forces, as there was no indication that this should be discussed, and then various events throughout the world that may shake Pristina’s confidence and make Belgrade think whether it can offer a final solution that would be in accordance with the Constitution, international law and reality. We won’t be able to get everything that we want nor to lose everything others would like us to,” stressed Nikolic.  According to him, the negotiating team for the dialogue with Pristina will remain practically the same, but that Vucic will be conducting these talks more directly if he becomes the prime minister, and that there will be no changes in wishes and ambitions.

Dacic: Without objections to Serbia’s stand towards Russia (Politika)

The Serbian representatives in Brussels voiced the “principled position” that Serbia does not want to take any steps that would lead to an erosion of its relations with the Russian Federation, outgoing Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said late Monday, stressing that no objection was made to the stance, which resulted in no particular discussion. Speaking to reporters after the 23^rd round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Dacic said that EU High Representative Catherine Ashton did not raise the issue of Serbia’s position regarding Ukraine, and said that he and outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic voiced a position based on the fundamental orientation that Serbia wants to continue on its path towards the EU, and that, on the other hand, it does not want to take any steps that would endanger its relations with the Russian Federation. Dacic said that the questions of territorial integrity and sovereignty are very important to Serbia as both have been violated in Serbia, too. With that in mind, Serbia’s foreign policy and positions will be balanced according to those principles, Dacic also said. Serbia, a non-EU member country that is under no obligation to align its positions with those of the EU, aligned its positions with Brussels’ views in 29 out of 32 cases last year, Dacic said.

Stefanovic: Ratio of judges in northern Kosovo means that Albanians got what they wanted (Beta)

Member of the Presidency of the Democratic Party (DS) Borislav Stefanovic has stated that the agreement on judiciary in northern Kosovo between the Belgrade and Pristina teams proves that the interpretation of the Brussels agreement of the Serbian government was incorrect and with the purpose of the election campaign. “Now they must explain to these people, from whom they had received large support in Kosovo and Metohija, that there will be more Albanian judges and prosecutors, that Kosovo laws will be applied, that judges will be sitting in the court with Kosovo state symbols. They must state this courageously, as it is, and not to send constantly Vulin and others who are reciting epic poetry to us,” Stefanovic told Beta. He said it was big question mark what was agreed on Monday on the judiciary in northern Kosovo, because we hear about the agreements between the Kosovo and Serbian sides “only based on statements of officials.” “With the Brussels agreement it was already agreed for a Serb to be the president of the court, while the ratio of judges means that the Albanians got what they wanted, and this is for southern Mitrovica to be included in the court, which is very unfavorable,” explained Stefanovic who conducted the negotiations with Pristina in the mandate of the DS government. He said that the formation of the Union of Serb Municipalities is not mentioned any more, even though all local institutions have been formed. “Why can’t the Union be formed, when local representatives will make this Union? They are deliberately stalling because they know they will not be able to fulfill expectations that they have artificially raised with the Kosovo Serbs for political purposes,” said Stefanovic.

Shooting in Zubin Potok (RTS)

Three Serb police officers serving in the Kosovo Police Service have been wounded in a firearm attack in the Zubin Potok municipality in the northern Kosovo and Metohija. Their police car was fired at late Monday during a routine patrol in the Banje residential area, the Kosovo police confirmed. The police officers were shot in the back, the Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) reports. Policeman Oliver Kuzmanovic (40) was seriously wounded and had to undergo surgery immediately at the health center in North Kosovska Mitrovica. Health center Deputy Director Zlatan Elek said that Kuzmanovic sustained serious injuries and exit wounds. “He has two ribs on the right side of his ribcage broken. An exit wound caused by a firearm left him with injuries to the large and small intestine. The wounds have been taken care of and the patient’s life is not in danger for the time being. He is in intensive care. We are hoping for a good outcome,” Elek said. He said that policewoman Radojka Milic from Pec was hospitalized at the orthopedic unit with shin injuries. Policeman Zivko Ivkovic sustained minor injuries and was discharged for home treatment, Elek said.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija condemned wounding of three police officers (FoNet)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija has severely condemned the wounding of three Serb police officers in the village of Banje, municipality of Zubin Potok in the north of the province, and asked the international community to enable the safe life for all the citizens. “We want individuals to be immediately found and punished who set up an ambush and shot at the vehicle carrying police officers, members of the Kosovo Police Service,” states the release. The Office underlined that it condemns every form of violence which threatens safety of citizens in the province, especially the attacks on authorities. “We demand the international community to ensure safe and peaceful life for all citizens in the province in keeping with its mandate,” states the release issued by the Office.

DS to appoint new leadership (Tanjug)

The Democratic Party (DS) adopted by a majority vote at its Main Board session the report filed by party leader Dragan Djilas on the work which the party performed between the two Main Board sessions. At the DS Main Board session late on Sunday, Djilas stated that the results which the party achieved in the early parliamentary elections are poor but not catastrophic, and added that there are major differences between the parties which did not get seats in the parliament and the parties that reached the census. At the Main Board session, Djilas said that with six percent of votes, DS will be the only opposition party in the Serbian parliament, and added that its big chance lies precisely in this fact. He blamed former honorary president of the party Boris Tadic for the poor results and said that his departure from the party caused a lot of damage to the democrats because citizens did not wish to vote for a party torn apart by arguments and splits. Upon the conclusion of the session, the DS leader told reporters that he would have filed a resignation had his report not been adopted and had the party elections not been scheduled for 31 May when the new party leadership would be appointed according to the system of delegates. He announced that the party assembly should be held during which delegates would discuss the mistakes made in the past, primarily in the sectors led by DS which comprise foreign policy, agriculture and economy.

REGIONAL PRESS

Spriric: Amendments to the law for the sake of returning Brcko District to system (Srna)

The B&H Finance and Treasury Minister Nikola Spiric said that the Board of Directors of the Indirect Tax Authority /ITA/ reviewed legal solutions for the sake of returning Brcko District to the indirect tax system. The Board also reviewed a bill amending and supplementing the law on the system of indirect taxation and a bill amending and supplementing the law on payment into the single B&H bank account. Spiric explained that Brcko District has a fixed coefficient for distribution of funds of 3.55, which is not stimulative, and that the Board proposed that amendments should go into force on 1 January 2015. Spiric, who is also the chairman of the B&H ITA Board of Directors, said that during the debate on amendments and supplements to the VAT Law there was no consensus on introducing a so-called zero-rate VAT. He says that this is election campaign politics, noting that such amendments are not in keeping with European directives. Spiric and the director of the B&H Indirect Tax Authority Miro Dzakula expressed satisfaction with the fact that growth in both gross and net revenues from indirect taxes was recorded in the first three months of the year.

Ivanov: No one has the right to change Macedonia’s name (Utrinski Vesnik) 

“We will not allow de-personalization of the Macedonian nation and the Macedonian citizens should solve their key national issues on their own,” said Gjorge Ivanov, president candidate for a second term in office nominated by the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, said during a rally in the town of Strumica, Utrinski Vesnik writes. According to Ivanov, no one else but the Macedonian citizens have the right to choose the name of their country.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Crimean scenario mustn't occur in Bosnia, says Croatian defence minister (Hina, 31 March 2014)

ZAGREB, Russia's annexation of Crimea has shown $ how fragile security in Europe is, threatening a state's integrity and sovereignty cannot be tolerated in the 21st century, and Croatia will strongly advocate in NATO the position that the Crimean scenario must not happen in Southeast Europe, i.e. in Bosnia, Croatian Defence Minister Ante Kotromanovic said on Monday.

"The illegitimate annexation of Crimea has shown how fragile Europe's security architecture can be... European security cannot be taken for granted," he said at a panel in the Croatian parliament on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Croatia's NATO membership.

Kotromanovic said those "policies are dangerous," recalling that Croatia was faced with that in the 1990s. "Threatening the integrity and sovereignty of a state can't be tolerated in the 21st century and Croatia will strongly advocate in NATO the position that the Crimean scenario must not happen in Southeast Europe, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina."

NATO is "a guarantee that you won't be alone," he said, adding that Croatia had been alone and "we don't want that to happen again." He underlined the importance of winning the 1991-95 Homeland War and joining NATO for Croatia's military, saying those events "most defined the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia."

Kotromanovic said Croatia would be an "active and agile ally" in NATO and that it had demonstrated this through its engagement in Afghanistan. As for its neighbours, he said Zagreb remained committed to NATO's enlargement policy with a view to stabilising the region.

He said the integration of 12 Central and East European countries into NATO had turned out to be one of the best investments in security in Europe and the rest of the world.

NATO Assistant Secretary-General Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, who took part in the panel, said NATO sessions always began by remembering those who were killed defending NATO values. She thanked everyone who was killed for Croatia, saying today was the anniversary of the killing of the first Croatian soldier in the 1991-95 war, Josip Jovic.

"By joining NATO, Croatia joined a Euro-Atlantic family to which it always belonged," she said.

Commenting on the latest crisis in Europe's east, she said a possible solution to the Ukrainian crisis was strictly political. "Russia has broken so many international law provisions, from the UN Charter to the Budapest Memorandum and the principles of partnership, and this will define the (NATO) summit agenda in Wales in September and NATO's new phase... We will have to go back to the initial principles of collective defence and fundamental values, which are also universal $ values."

However, Grabar Kitarovic said, NATO "won't shut its door, burn bridges" and that it wanted to build cooperation with Russia.

At a round table on Croatia and NATO, former Croatian Ambassador to NATO Davor Bozinovic said that by joining the alliance "Croatia invested in its future in the best way possible, with not even one negative experience." He said the fall of the Berlin Wall marked NATO's victory in the Cold War which "was won with the force of its $ fundamental values."

Matthew Mark Horn, a senior US official who strongly advocated Croatia's NATO accession in Congress, thanked Croatia for its engagement in the ISAF mission to Afghanistan and said that what Croatia had achieved in a decade was unimaginable.

Croatia is a shining example to others that want to join NATO, he said, hopeful that Montenegro would be invited to join at the upcoming summit.

Macedonia President Spurns TV Debate With Rivals (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 1 April 2014)

All presidential hopefuls bar the incumbent have agreed to take part in a televised presidential debate organized ahead of the April polls.

President Ivanov, who is seeking another five-year term, is the only one of the four presidential hopefuls who has not yet replied to a call to take part in a debate organized by the US-backed National Democratic Institute, NDI.
“Three candidates have said 'Yes' and we are still waiting for President’s Ivanov’s office to come back to us,” NDI's senior director in Macedonia, Chris Henshaw, told Balkan Insight.
The NDI is fighting an uphill battle in Macedonia, trying to change the practice whereby candidates rarely take part in televised debates ahead of the polls.
The President's office on Monday did not respond to Balkan Insight’s request for a comment on the issue. But Henshaw says that even without Ivanov, they will try to get the debate going.
“If three [candidates] are willing to do it, and we certainly hope all four will do it, there is still a discussion to be had. We are determined to try and find a way,” Henshaw said.
Henshaw said Macedonian politicians ought to accept televised face-to-face debating during elections as a normal part of democratic life.
“If you get involved in politics, you need to accept certain concepts like the need to talk to the people and accept debates. The media should accept this as well,” he said.
The practice of no-shows at TV debates with the opposition began with current Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski when his VMRO DPMNE party took power in 2006.
The opposition has called for face-to-face debates over the years, but Gruevski and his party usually respond that there is no need for a TV debate because VMRO DPMNE presents its achievements and policies to the people every day.
During the 2009 presidential elections, the VMRO DPMNE candidate, Ivanov, now running for a second term, initially agreed to televised discussions with other contestants but cancelled subsequent debates as election day approached.
There were also no TV debates between the Prime Minister and the opposition during the 2011 early general elections.
The NDI launched its initiative during last year’s local elections when it managed to bring together mayoral candidates for several televised debates.
On April 13, Macedonians will choose between four presidential candidates. A second round, pitting the two best-ranked candidates against each other, takes place on April 27, alongside snap general elections.
Ivanov’s main opponent in the presidential race is Stevo Pendarovski, representing the opposition Social Democrats.
“If Ivanov cannot do it, then let Gruevski come out [for a TV debate] on his behalf. What’s important is for the people to see an open TV duel, so they can judge for themselves,” Pendarovski said week.
The small GROM party has nominated Zoran Popovski for President. The former deputy speaker of parliament, Iljaz Halimi, is the only ethnic Albanian running for the position, endorsed by the opposition Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA.
In tandem with the presidential face-off, the NDI has also invitated political parties to appoint representatives for a set of separate TV debates for the early general elections.
While it says the parties have sent positive signals about attending, Henshaw said a face-to-face between Prime Minister Gruevski and the new opposition leader Zoran Zaev remained on the wish-list for the future.

Albania Greets EU Decision on Pre-Accession Funds (BIRN, by Besar Likmeta, 1 April 2014) 

Albania's government has hailed an EU decision to transfer responsibility for managing €64 million in IPA funds as a sign of confidence on the part of the European Commission.

Albania’s EU Integration minister, Klajda Gjosha, described the decision as “testimony to an efficient public administration, which Brussels can back without equivocation.

“I also consider this also a clear message for the Albanian government to advance reforms in order to guarantee progress for its citizens,” she added.

The Instrument of Pre-Accession Funds, called IPA, is a funding mechanism of the EU, which includes candidate and potential candidate countries like Albania.

The EU’s latest decision grants the Albanian government responsibility for procurement procedures for projects that Brussels will fund.

Under IPA 2013, 12 projects with a total value of €64 million will be funded.

The Minister of Finance, Shkelqim Cani, said administration of IPA funds would be a challenge for Albania’s institutions, which will have all the support of the government in the process.

“This decision comes after the engagement of the government to create the institutional framework for management and control of IPA fund, which satisfy EU criteria,” Cani noted.