LOCAL PRESS

 

Nikolic and Vucic meet with Chinese Ambassador (RTS)

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic separately received Ambassador Li Manchang of the People’s Republic of China. Nikolic briefed the Ambassador on the successful preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Serbia. They expressed satisfaction with the eventful schedule of the visit, Nikolic’s presidential press office said in a statement. The Ambassador noted that Xi particularly looks forward to visiting Belgrade and Serbia for the first time. Vucic said that Xi’s visit is historically important for strengthening Chinese-Serbian relations as it is the first to be paid by a Chinese head of state in more than three decades, the government press office said in a statement.

 

Moscow: UNMIK plays key stabilizing role in Kosovo (Tanjug/RTS/Politika/Novosti)

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Genadii Gatilov met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zahir Tanin and conveyed that UNMIK played the key stabilizing role in this province, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. The Russian side confirmed the importance of strict adherence to UNSCR 1244 and stressed that this resolution remained fully in force and the mandatory international legal basis for resolving the Kosovo issue. “Having in mind UNMIK’s key role in stabilizing the situation in the province, the financing of this mission and its staff should not be downsized. The Kosovo Albanians should fulfill all obligations undertaken within the framework of agreements with the Serbs,” the Ministry concluded.

 

Vucic: Government may be formed after 16 June (Tanjug/RTS/Beta)

The new government has not been formed on the first day of consultations, so the talks will be resumed with all who wish to participate, Prime Minister-designate and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday evening. Following his talks with representatives of five parliamentary lists, Vucic said that he was glad to have heard diverse proposals and ideas and that he would surely take some of them into consideration and include them in his exposé. On Tuesday, Vucic spoke in the Serbian Parliament with representatives of the list Socialist Party of Serbia – United Serbia (SPS-JS), Serbian Radical Party (SRS), the “Enough Is Enough” movement, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), League of the Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) and the Dveri Movement. The Social Democratic Party (SDS) leader Boris Tadic and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Sanda Raskovic Ivic had previously announced that they would not respond to the call to participate in the consultations, as they would act as the opposition in the parliament. PM-designate announced that he would speak on Wednesday with parties of the national minorities, and that he would hold consultations on Thursday and Friday in SNS with its coalition partners. Vucic said that he does not yet know the composition of the government and that it may be formed after 16 June - the date he has set as the deadline. Forming the best possible government is definitely a goal, the SNS leader told reporters in the parliament building.

 

Seselj: Meeting with Vucic was like we met for first time (Tanjug)

SRS leader Vojislav Seselj said Tuesday that he has informed Vucic that the SRS will not be part of the future government. Speaking to reporters in the parliament building after consultations with Vucic on the new government, Seselj said that he told the prime minister-designate straight away that the SRS is ready for cooperation and a coalition agreement on condition that he and his government abandon the policy of EU accession and shift their objective to integration with Russia. “A solution could be found for everything if he gives up on the EU, and that is what I insisted on. It is an abyss between us that cannot be bridged without a change in the government policy,” Seselj said, noting that Vucic was disappointed with his position. He said that they also discussed a variety of other, mostly economy-related topics and that Vucic presented the core of the future government's economic policy. When asked how the encounter with Vucic felt after eight years, Seselj responded that it was like they were meeting for the first time, and added that they did not discuss the past.

 

Radulovic’s consultations with Vucic end after 10 minutes (Tanjug)

Enough Movement leader Sasa Radulovic engaged in another verbal confrontation with media on Tuesday as the consultations with Vucic on the new government ended after about 10 minutes. Radulovic again refused to respond to questions from Pink and Studio B reporters, branding them a part of Vucic’s propaganda team. He briefly said that Vucic told him that Serbia is making progress and that he is having difficulties with forming a government, adding that he also spoke about the rule of law. Radulovic said that he attempted to hand to Vucic a complaint he filed against him two years ago and that Vucic immediately responded with insults, calling him a thief and a liar. He added that Enough Movement representatives gave Vucic a copy of The Money Squandering Machine - a book written by the movement’s deputy leader Dusan Pavlovic that Radulovic said identifies Serbia's problems - and presented a 20-point program.

 

Jovanovic pledges support to anyone who wants Serbia in EU (Tanjug)

The LDP will be the most efficient support to anyone who wants to strengthen the European policy in Serbia, but it does not necessarily have to be in the government, LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic said Tuesday. “If you are asking me if I am closer to joining the government, I am telling you totally honestly that, at this moment, the LDP’s obligation is to tell both the head of the government to be elected and the ruling coalition that we will be the most efficient support to anyone who wants to strengthen the European policy in the country, solve Serbia’s problems with Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, make a difference between the relations with Europe and Russia in favor of the EU, and has the strength to overcome divisions in society,” Jovanovic told reporters after consultations on the new government with Vucic.

 

Canak: LSV will not join government, new discussions in 7-10 days (Tanjug)

LSV leader Nenad Canak said after consultations with Vucic that the LSV will not be joining the new government but that he came to hear what Vucic had to say about the country’s future.

Specific matters and the compositions of the national government and the government of the Vojvodina province were not discussed, and will be addressed in the next consultations, in seven to 10 days, Canak told reporters. “We were presented with an optimistic picture of economic development and it would be good if half of that were achieved,” said Canak, who was accompanied at the meeting by LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic. The fundamental principles and the systems of values are very close and can be a basis for cooperation, Canak said. The obligation of every responsible person is to do everything that is possible to stabilize society, because we do not need new conflicts in Serbia and we agreed on that, Canak said.

 

Obradovic: Dveri will be fierce but constructive opposition (Tanjug)

The Dveri movement will not be a part of the new government, but fierce but constructive opposition, Dveri leader Bosko Obradovic said after consultations with Vucic. He told reporters after the meeting that the presented to Vucic Dveri’s 10-point agenda for the future of Serbia.

Dveri’s policy revolves around the family policy, Obradovic said, noting that he informed Vucic that the country needs a ministry of family welfare and that fighting low birth rates must be the top priority. The Dveri movement is also an advocate of protection for over-indebted families and agricultural development, he said. “Whoever implements these measures will have our support,” Obradovic said.

 

NATO respects Serbia’s neutrality (Danas)

NATO respects the right of countries which are not its members, such as Austria, Serbia, Finland and Sweden, not to join this military alliance but only to cooperate, said the deputy of the Slovakian Ambassador Peter Susko on Tuesday. The Slovakian Embassy is the contact point for cooperation of NATO with Serbia, agencies reported. At the conference Partnership for Serbia: Serbia, NATO and Strategic Communication, Susko said that NATO believed that cooperation with all the partners could be increased, including Serbia. He also underlined that he was certain that the democratic values on which NATO was founded were also shared by the Serbian citizens. The assistant Serbian Foreign Minister Branimir Filipovic had, at the opening of the conference on relations between Serbia and NATO, estimated that joint interests existed in the preservation of peace and security in the region.

 

EU trains “top editors” for creating the chaos (Informer)

The European Commission invited the delegation of “top editors from Serbian media” to Brussels where they attended the lecture on EU institutions and politics on 5^th of June. Nothing would be strange about it if the mentioned delegation of “top editors” was consisted out of real journalists and the representatives of the influential media and the ones with the highest circulation. With the exclusion of Nedeljnik’s Editor in chief, Veljko Lalic, the invitation for Brussels was sent to all social and political activists, editors of failed papers and television stations, which stand out only by their persistent efforts to create chaos in Serbia by using lies and invented affairs. So the lecture in Brussels was attended by the editor of the low circulating daily papers Blic, Marko Stjepanovic, editor of the CIA owned television station N1, Igor Bozic and the editor of the racketeering daily papers Kurir, Ratko Femic! Not only that in the delegation of “top editors” there was no space for the representatives of Informer, highest circulating daily papers, but the representatives of Politika and Novosti didn’t get the invitation either. The Editor in chief of the daily papers Informer, Dragan Vucicevic stated that he wouldn’t attend the meeting in Brussels even if he was invited, and that the EU Commission has finally shown its real face and its intentions when it comes to Serbia. “If anyone had any doubts about who are they and what their intentions and plans are, she/he should now understand it clearly.”

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Harmonization of Coordination system in final stage (Srna)

B&H Council of Ministers Chairman Denis Zvizdic and Prime Ministers of Republika Srpska (RS) and Federation of B&H, Zeljka Cvijanovic and Fadil Novalic respectively, expressed in Sarajevo optimism about the finalization of the harmonization of the coordination system of European integrations process in B&H, which is one of the key requirements for speeding up B&H’s path towards the EU. Cvijanovic has told reporters that the meeting’s topic was planned but the meeting itself was very eventful and that the final form of this complex system is already visible; the system should enable all levels of government to act in accordance with its constitutional powers, and to successfully manage the process of European commitments implementation. “We can soon test such a new coordination mechanism as a very complex issue requiring numerous consultations. We have entered the final stage and now, our expert teams need to amend some technical details and conduct some simulations as early as Thursday and Friday, so we could be able to again exchange our views on Monday,” said Cvijanovic. She has expressed optimism about the final establishment of a coordination mechanism in B&H, emphasizing that some things have to be checked and corrected in practice. “What is important in the next few years when it comes to the challenge of completing the EU questionnaires is the challenge of preparation or training for specific positions that will exist later as a joint positions of all institutions, as well as other obligations under the program of B&H’s integration into the EU,” Cvijanovic said. She has pointed out that no new institutions or administration will be created during this process, but different joint bodies are only being formed on the basis of the existing structures in order to enable greater mobility, better coordination and more efficient joint work in the European integrations process. Sharing the optimism with Cvijanovic, Zvizdic stated that further and concrete progress was made in the harmonization of the Coordination mechanism process. Zvizdic has stressed that this is about very serious and demanding work that has been successfully completed, which has almost brought this process to the very end. "We will finalize this process and harmonize coordination mechanism in the next meeting scheduled for the next week," said Zvizdic. Federation of B&H PM Fadil Novalic is also optimistic, noting that the harmonization of the coordination mechanism is really close to the end. “We would all like if it was done today, but this is indeed a complex and challenging process. However, there is one or two issues only left to be discussed for the final harmonization,” said Novalic. Head of the EU Delegation to B&H Lars-Gunnar Wigemark congratulated Zvizdic, Cvijanovic and Novalic on the excellent job they worked together on. “The EU and I are very interested in their success, because this is closely related to the functioning of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. It is important for B&H to have efficient and transparent coordination mechanism which will involve all levels of government in line with its constitutional powers,” stressed Wigemark. According to him, it is necessary to reach a consensus for everything in B&H, this case included. “I’m encouraged by the willingness I have seen in all the stakeholders of this process,” concluded Wigemark. This meeting was attended by the entity Finance Ministers, Zoran Talgetija and Jelka Milicevic, Minister of Finance and Treasury of B&H, Vjekoslav Bevanda, and Wigemark’s associates.

 

Izetbegovic, Covic and Radoncic failed to reach an agreement on elections in Mostar (Nap.ba/Srna)

After a two-hour meeting in the building of the B&H Presidency, leaders of HDZ, SDA and SBB have not managed to find a solution on Mostar, as confirmed after the meeting by Fahrudin Radoncic, the President of SBB. “We agreed that our teams in Mostar will try to approach their views, in order for us to be easier. I hope we will have a solution next week, so that the elections in Mostar could be held,” said Radoncic. He added that he is hoping that they have managed to bring their views closer but this is a problem that lasts for 20 years and it is not so easy to come up with a solution. Dragan Covic, the President of HDZ said that they concluded at the meeting that it makes sense to continue with these negotiations in order for this year’s elections to be held in Mostar. “We agreed on two principles. To implement the verdict of the B&H Constitutional Court and that the elections in Mostar must be held this year on the 2nd of October. They will be held, as there is no more reason for Mostar to be a case city. Our delegation in Mostar will continue with negotiations tomorrow and I hope that they will find a solution. We went through all the models today and I believe we will find a way to choose 35 councilors,” said Covic. The leader of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) Bakir Izetbegovic with less optimism than his collocutors spoke about the meeting of party leaders which was held in Sarajevo at the B&H Presidency building in an attempt to unblock the electoral process for the City of Mostar.

 

Statement by the Head of the Islamic Community, deepens distrust in RS and B&H and destabilizes the situation (Srna)

The statement by Head of the Islamic Community Husein Kavazovic that there is no reconciliation in B&H until the genocide in Srebrenica is recognized deepens distrust in the RS and B&H and destabilizes the situation, President of the Security Committee of RS Assembly Milanko Mihajlica told Srna. The President of the Association of the Serbs from the Region Miodrag Linta strongly condemned the statement by Kavazovic at the expense of the Serbs and the RS, adding that Kavazovic continues to spread hatred against Serbs. The President of the RS Association of Women Victims of War Bozica Zivkovic Rajilic also feels that the statement by Kavazovic is political and inappropriate. The President of the Veterans of RS Association Dusko Vukotic has warned that the Head of the B&H Islamic Community is spreading hatred by his political statements. Security expert Dzevad Galijasevic also says that Kavazovic is conducting inflammatory political activities that are shameful for this religious community in B&H and that he continues behaving like a SDA official.

 

Kovac says political turmoil normal in democracy (Hina)

Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Ministers Miro Kovac said that the political turmoil in Croatia is normal for democracy, adding that he expected the government crisis to be resolved along the way. Addressing members of the diplomatic corps on the occasion of Croatian Diplomacy Day, Kovac said in Zagreb on Tuesday that since it gained its independence 25 years ago, Croatia has risen from the ashes and that it was on the path of the economic recovery, but that successes were overshadowed by the current government crisis. This is known in democracy, we are not an isolated case and these issues are resolved along the way, said the minister, who is coming from the ranks of the biggest party in a coalition government -- the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) -- which is in a conflict with technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic and the junior partner in the government, Bridge. Kovac said the government's priorities were Croatia as an open country with quality living standards and a constructive partner to its neighbors with which it wants to have friendly relations. “In four and a half months we changed our relations with the neighbors, reduced tensions, there are no more verbal duels and if any salvo is directed against Croatia, we don’t get upset, we resolve it through dialogue and we prefer silent diplomacy,” Kovac said. He underscored that Southeast European countries could expect Zagreb to support them on their European path and the process of adjustment with the European standards. He reiterated that Croatia supported B&H’s EU membership and Montenegro’s membership of NATO, adding that Zagreb wanted Macedonia, which is faced with the political crisis, to be rewarded for its efforts in European integration processes. “We also want our neighbors in Serbia to make progress towards EU membership, in accordance with their own merits and European criteria,” said Kovac, who had stressed on several occasions already that Zagreb was not blocking Belgrade’s EU entry talks but only insisted on Serbia’s meeting membership criteria.

 

Hrast in favor of further cooperation with Bridge, against early election (Hina)

The Hrast party, a junior partner in the ruling coalition, denied media reports on Tuesday, that its leader Ladislav Ilcic had signed the HDZ’s motion for the impeachment of Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, saying that it was in favor of further cooperation between the HDZ-led Patriotic Coalition and the reformist Bridge party and against an early election. Hrast said that an early election would cost too much and would give the Social Democratic Party (SDP) a chance to return to power. It said that it would support only those moves by the HDZ that were agreed with Bridge. Hrast said it could not be part of any new parliamentary majority with parties whose programs differed substantially from Hrast’s, such as the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS). Hrast, which holds one seat in the national parliament, expressed regret and concern about the present situation, stressing that “Croatia’s well-being must be the priority in all political actions”.

 

“Troika” has no replacement for Popovic (RTCG)

The opposition troika Demos, Civic Movement URA and the SDP do not yet have a candidate who will replace Milenko Popovic on the position of minister of agriculture. As a reminder, Popovic resigned from that position because of the health reason, as he explained. According to the findings of TVCG, several names are in circulation and a new candidate should now be agreed on. Bearing in mind the fact that this choice is going to take time even after the proposal, representatives of the opposition, according to our source, will meet today with the representatives of DPS to propose the appointment of the head of the agriculture sector at the next session of the Government until a new minister is selected. The person should be one of the existing members of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister. The opposition expects it to be one of their three ministers or Vice-president Milorad Vujovic who does not have his department.

 

Russian policy backing the protest (RTCG)

Deputy Prime Minister Dusko Markovic has rejected claims that any foreign Embassy in Montenegro issued orders how some state authorities should act. He stressed that he did not say that officials from Moscow were involved in any way in DF protest. During his speech in the Parliament Markovic added that Montenegro has the political strengths and institutional capacity to make decisions. “I did not say that officials from Moscow are involved, but that there is support from Russia which is proven by the statement from the part of the Russian state media as well as politicians. It confirms that Russian policy was on the side of the organizers of the protest,” Markovic said. The DF MP Milan Knezevic repeated accusations that the U.S. Ambassador in Podgorica, Margaret Ann Uehara ordered breaking up of protest in Podgorica on 17 October. “I said the following - we ask that military neutrality of Montenegro is guaranteed by Russia and NATO,” Knezevic said. Markovic said he is not familiar with the video of the alleged beating of Knezevic during the breaking up of protest on 17 October 2015.

 

Following Ivanov’s withdrawal of abolition decisions, SDSM leader remains only pardoned politician (Telegraf.mk)

After President Gjorge Ivanov completely withdrew the abolition decisions on Monday, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev remains the only pardoned politician in Macedonia. With President Ivanov’s decision, the main request of the opposition and the international factor for ending the political crisis is fulfilled. After the total annulment of the abolition decisions, the opposition leader Zoran Zaev will be held liable for the cases ‘Coup’ and ‘Bribe’. Additionally, he remains the only pardoned politician in the country, due to Branko Crvenkovski’s pardon decision in relation to the ‘Global’ case of 2008, which has not been withdrawn. According to this, Zaev remains the only one pardoned for a crime worth 8 million Euros. Even though he announced that he would request an annulment of the abolition for the ‘Global’ case of 2008, in which he was charged with misuse of official position as Strumica Mayor, he still has not done so. VMRO-DPMNE came out with a reaction Tuesday, which said that SDSM’s Central Board even congratulated Zaev, who is pardoned for an 8 million Euro crime and who will continue to harass Macedonia for who knows how long, just so he can escape reality and the fact that the people are not willing to accept his destructive and manipulative politics and that they will not agree to Zaev and SDSM ruling the country. “The Central Board congratulated Zaev for not applying for a request for annulment of the ‘Global’ abolition, showing in this way that the laws apply for all the citizens except for him. In such a way, SDSM remains the only party with a leader suspected of a 8 million Euro crime,” VMRO-DPMNE says.

 

SDSM is using “Colorful Revolution” to enter government without set election date (Telegraf.mk)

SDSM’s central board has passed a decision on its Monday evening session to support the demands of the self-dubbed Colorful Revolution, Telegraf.mk reads. The main request refers to SDSM becoming a part of the government’s composition without setting an elections date. This has confirmed the claims presented by certain experts that SDSM’s unique intention is to assume power for as long as it is possible, and at the same time, to postpone the elections indefinitely, possibly by the time the regular ballots are held in 2018. “The resignation of the current VMRO-DPMNE/DUI government and the establishment of a transitional government that would fully implement the urgent priority reforms contained in the Priebe report will create conditions for fair elections,” the demand issued by the SDSM-backed protesters reads. Any mentioning of the elections date by Zoran Zaev was made so that the public would have the impression that he is preparing for a ballot. On Monday, the SDSM leader told his party members that the vote could be held in November. The international community represented in the country is against holding elections in late fall. The foreign factor deems that the parliamentary and the local elections should be held at the same time in March next year. In line with the Przino Agreement, SDSM will become part of the government one hundred days prior to the Election Day. Until then, the electoral roll needs to be revised again, although the main opposition party is aware that the voter’s registry has been purged and that their claims about some kind of 'phantom voters' are untrue. The SDSM ultimatum, and the one of the colorful revolutionaries expires on June 18, in the opposite case, they have vowed to radicalize the protests.

 

President Ivanov, Haindl call for implementation of Przino Agreement (MIA)

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and the German Special Envoy Johannes Haindl shared opinions Tuesday on current developments in Macedonia and possibilities for putting an end to the political crisis in the country. Haindl commended Ivanov’s decision to rescind all pardons, which opens opportunity for focusing on implementation of the Przino Agreement, the president’s cabinet said in a press release. Ivanov expressed belief that his decision would contribute to overcoming the political crisis. In this respect, Ivanov and Haindl agreed on the need of implementing the Przino agreement and necessary reforms as the only way for ending the crisis. “There is no more room for alibis, excuses and avoidance of Przino Agreement obligations. Political stakeholders should demonstrate constructiveness, responsibility and high level of awareness for the interests of citizens and the state,” Ivanov said. Ivanov and Haindl also addressed the migrant/refugee crisis and the effect of the political developments in Macedonia on country’s capacity to cope with it, the press release reads.

 

Zaev meets Haindl (MIA)

Fulfillment of the Przino Agreement commitments by its four signatories and organization of fair and democratic elections, seen as Macedonia’s top priority, is the only way out of the political crisis, it was concluded Tuesday at a meeting in Skopje between SDSM leader Zoran Zaev and the German special envoy for Macedonia, Ambassador Johannes Haindl. “To that end, it is necessary a government to be formed in a bid to meet election conditions and to define a precise timetable involving key conditions required for fair and credible elections, i.e. editing of the voter’s list and provision of objective media coverage (of the elections),” Zaev said as cited by the opposition party SDSM in a press release. With political will demonstrated by all parties, he added, it is possible to clean the voter’s list and to secure balanced media coverage. “Macedonia needs swift and credible elections, which will be organized and implemented – as envisaged by the Przino Agreement – by a government ensuring the free will of the citizens is going to be respected. The sitting government, which so far has been organizing criminal polls, has lost public confidence and legitimacy to organize elections,” said Zaev. It was jointly concluded in the meeting that the annulment of all ‘illegal’ pardons was a necessity and was paving the way for the legal state to start functioning. It was also urged adequate reforms to be implemented allowing justice to run its course without obstructions, stated the press release.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

IS Attracting Rising Numbers of Balkan Youth (Voice of America, by Keida Kostreci, 7 June 2016)

Europe has been hard hit by Islamist attacks in France and Belgium, but there is also concern about radicalization on the continent itself. Among hotspots where young people have been found to gravitate towards extremism are majority Muslim nations in the Western Balkans.

Many paths lead people to Islamic radicalization. And while factors vary from country to country and from person to person, some commonalities can be found in the Western Balkan countries, such as Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. Factors ranging from vulnerable institutions and lack of opportunities to outside money and influence have been found among the underlying causes of radicalization in the region. Adrian Shtuni, an expert on the phenomenon of radicalization in the Western Balkans, says the high number of fighters from that region going to Syria and Iraq is concerning. “There are a lot of individuals that travel or are radicalized by their own peers. So they are radicalized by their own friends, their siblings, by their brothers and so on and so forth,” Shtuni says. Since 2011, approximately 1,000 fighters from the Western Balkans have joined Islamist militant groups. Radicalization can also stem from not focusing on economic and social development, says USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, Thomas Melia. And for some communities, he points to another factor. “Some international influences have pushed people in the wrong direction, radicalizing them and pushing them to more extreme views of Islam. We have seen that in several countries, in Albania and in Kosovo in particular, and in parts of Bosnia,” Melia says.

Saudi money

The New York Times reported recently that Saudi money and influence in Kosovo have transformed a once-tolerant Muslim society into "a font of Islamic extremism and a pipeline for jihadists" by spreading Wahhabism, a conservative Islamic strain dominant in Saudi Arabia.

Kosovo and other countries have undertaken initiatives to fight the tide of radical Islam, but Shtuni says that the region's fragile societies are still vulnerable. “Let’s face it. In the Western Balkans the conditions in general, socio-economic or political, are not ideal. So yes, they do create an environment that is conducive to radicalization,” Shtuni says.

Seeking solutions

USAID's Melia says that efforts to change that environment should include better economic performance, more opportunities, and a sense that the government is not pursuing corrupt practices and is advancing society as a whole. “That’s consistent with our larger development agenda, and it’s also increasingly important at this moment,” Melia says. The issue has been complicated by Europe's migrant crisis. The Balkan route is one of the main paths to Western Europe, and the European Union, strained by the wave of people fleeing wars, now has fewer resources to deal with the Balkans' other problems.

 

Macedonia’s protests try to bring down government with a splat (BBC, by Guy Delauney, 8 June 2016)

Three paint-splattered figures in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, are wielding a contraption that looks like it was devised for an old game show. It's a Knockout, perhaps, or better still, contemporary children's favourite Splatalot! Two people hold a thick length of rubber band, while a third loads a paint-filled balloon into a small basket and takes aim at the target. A stretch, twang and colourful splat duly follow. In the firing line on this occasion is Skopje's much-maligned Arc de Triomphe knock-off, Porta Macedonia. It was erected as part of the government's Skopje 2014 programme - aimed at recasting this small country's capital as the "cradle of civilisation" by erecting scores of statues and neo-classical structures. As a symbol of the government and with its tempting expanses of white marble, Porta Macedonia is an irresistible target for the self-styled "colourful revolution", protesting against politicians whom the demonstrators accuse of corruption, vote-rigging and abuse of power.

President's pardons

The protests started in April, after Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov pardoned 56 politicians caught up in a massive scandal involving everything from ballot box-stuffing to unauthorised surveillance on an industrial scale. Mr Ivanov said the amnesty was vital to end what he called the country's "agony" after two years of political unrest. If that really was his intention, the move completely backfired, prompting outrage rather than providing a panacea. An EU-brokered agreement last year had established a Special Prosecution office to investigate the scandal, and it appeared to be making progress. But Mr Ivanov's intervention seemed to let the politicians off the hook. Most of the politicians pardoned by the president were from the VMRO-DPMNE party, led by long-serving prime minister Nikola Gruevski. He stepped aside in January, after a decade in office, to allow an interim administration to take charge in the run-up to early elections, which also formed part of the Brussels-brokered deal. VMRO-DPMNE insisted it was disappointed by the president's pardons, saying that jeopardising the Special Prosecution investigation would hamper efforts to "unmask the lies" surrounding the scandal. Elections scheduled for June were cancelled in the face of a boycott by all parties except VMRO-DPMNE. And Mr Ivanov this week retracted all 56 of his pardons. But it is not enough to satisfy the protesters. A crowd cheers and hoots through vuvuzelas as each projectile makes its messy mark. The guerrilla artists say that the non-violent nature of their protest is a practical way of expressing their anger. "The first day the protests started, there were some signs of violence," says theatre director Irena Sterijovska. "But when we started using colour we found it made a good point and didn't take lives or put any of us in jail. We are fighting for a better future, not to lose our country or fight each other." The crowds hope to paint the town red, purple and any other shade that comes to hand. Similar stunts have been staged in cities and large towns across Macedonia. And while the protests may be unorthodox, they appear to be achieving results, adding to diplomatic pressure from the European Union and United States. The government remains defiant. Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki believes that complaints about conditions for free and fair elections are just a convenient cover for opposition parties. "The timing of the presidential pardons was not helpful at all - it provided a cheap excuse to avoid elections," he says. "Physically, we can run elections whenever we want, but from a political perspective it will take a while. The key determinant is the biggest opposition party: it doesn't make sense to run elections called by them if they're not going to participate." Opposition leaders are optimistic that the "colourful revolution" is playing its part in changing Macedonia's political scene. The deputy leader of the Social Democratic Union, Radmila Sekerinska, admits her own party's behaviour was far from exemplary when it held power more than a decade ago. But she says the protests have helped to reshape the opposition. "The protests have helped us learn to listen and talk to people with different views," she says. "The people of Macedonia have spoken. They've shown they will not tolerate this kind of governance any more, and I think that Macedonian politics will not be the same again." Many of the protesters are reserving judgement. The elections have yet to be rescheduled, and the future of the Special Prosecution is uncertain. But for the moment, Skopje's paint splattered monuments and buildings remain a graphic illustration of the power of freedom of expression in Macedonia.