Belgrade DMH 011113

LOCAL PRESS

Vulin calls Serbs to turn out for Kosovo elections (Radio Serbia)

Not in a black “uniform” but in a black suit and grey shirt, Serbian Minister without portfolio in charge of Kosovo and Metohija Aleksandar Vulin has called in Gracanica the Serbs to turn out for the local elections on 3 November and not to permit ever more for the Ibar River to divide the Serbs in northern and southern, and for the mayor of Kosovska Mitrovica to be someone who is not a Serb. “We must go to the polls in order to get more than what they think we deserve,” said Vulin.

Selakovic: Who doesn’t support “Srpska” doesn’t support Serbia (RTS)

Serbian Minister of Justice Nikola Selakovic has called the Kosovo Serbs to turn out in large numbers for the 3 November elections and to vote for the Serbian (Srpska) Civil Initiative, with the message: “Tell everyone that those who don’t support Srpska don’t support Serbia.” He said that 3 November was a unique opportunity to “stop the departure of the Serbs and to enable their return to Kosovo and Metohija.” “Serbia’s return through Srpska,” said Selakovic.

V4 commends Serbia’s foreign policy (Novosti)

Serbia was highly commended for pursuing a positive foreign policy at Thursday’s meeting of the Visegrad Four (V4) group, the countries of the Western Balkans and the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Budapest, attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic. Among those commending Serbia’s policy were Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State Victoria Nuland, European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, officials from Lithuania, which is currently holding the EU Presidency, and other participants from the EU, particularly Poland, according to a release from the Serbian Foreign Ministry. Reached were a number of agreements on joint cooperation between V4 and the Western Balkan countries, aimed at stepping up the processes leading to full membership of the EU for all the countries in the region. Particular attention was given to the upcoming local elections in Kosovo and Metohija, and it was stressed that Pristina needs to make sure the elections are conducted in such a way that all sides are satisfied that they were fair and in line with democratic standards. The Serbian foreign minister expressed Serbia’s views on all issues on the agenda of the meeting during a working lunch debate, the release said. The CEI is holding yet another meeting of the foreign ministers of its member countries in Budapest on the same day. The meetings of V4, the Western Balkans and the CEI will continue tomorrow, and the topics will include energy, infrastructure, transport, and European integration, Serbia’s Foreign Ministry said. V4, also called the Visegrad Four or Visegrad Group, is an alliance of four Central European countries – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – founded in 1991, two years after the fall of the communist regimes in those countries, states the release.

Government withdraws from parliament procedure three agreements with Turkey (Beta)

The Serbian Government has withdrawn from parliamentary procedure three proposals for confirmation of agreements between Serbia and Turkey, so these documents will not be in front of the MPs at the current session even though this had been initially envisaged. At issue are agreements between Serbia and Turkey on extradition, mutual legal assistance in civil and trade matters, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. The Serbian Government informed on 28 October in the letter, signed by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, that it is withdrawing three agreements from parliamentary procedure, without stating the reasons.

U.S. wants implementation of agreement on Kosovo visits (Tanjug)

The U.S. wants the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to implement the framework agreement on visits by officials which was reached during the talks under the EU auspices, and to solve all the issues through the dialogue, Tanjug learns in the U.S. Department of State. The governments of Serbia and Kosovo agreed on the framework for officials’ visits concerning the staging of local elections, an official of the State Department told Tanjug and added that the U.S. will continue fully supporting the dialogue and obligations which the two governments took on by the agreement on normalization of relations reached on 19 April. The official underscored that the elections in Kosovo are an important chance for all communities in the area to have their voice heard, adding that fair and inclusive elections would improve the life of citizens and bring the region closer to the European future.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

Fule claims progress achieved (Fena)

The meeting of five political leaders from the B&H Federation with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule in Budapest ended without an agreement on the implementation of the Sejdic-Finci rulilng. The EU has supported the continuation of the negotiations, and according to some participants of the meeting, they have promised to speed up the European path if the Sejdic-Finci case gets solved soon. “I have recognized the progress and political determination to harmonize the attitudes at the meeting with five political leaders of the B&H Federation held in Budapest when it comes to the implementation of the ruling on the Sejdic-Finci case,  stated Fule after the meeting. According to office of the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Fule has stated: “We intend to continue these discussions at the expert level next week in Brussels, and if is necessary to have additional consultation meetings in B&H.”  The EU Enlargement Commissioner said that progress was achieved and he hopes that the final agreement can be made at the next meeting.

Different assessments of the success of the meeting in Budapest (Srna)
At a meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule in Budapest, the views of five parties from the B&H  Federation on the implementation of Sejdic-Finci decision had been brought closer, the SBB Vice President Mirsad Djonlagic told Srna. Djonlagic added that they will continue as Fule announced and that everything was said in the European Commissioner’s statement. He could not disclose more details from the meeting of leaders “the five” with Fule on the implementation of Sejdic-Finci decision held Brussels. SDP leader Zlatko Lagumdzija said good progress was made during talks in Budapest. “Discussions are continuing at the expert level, and there is a chance. The important thing is that the EU and Fule are included in the right way. I expect that we come to some solution, with the help of the EU in the future," Lagumdzija said, TV1 broadcasts. SDA Vice President Bakir Izetbegovic believes no progress was made. “We will work on it, first at the experts level, and then on political,” Izetbegovic said. HDZ leader Dragan Covic believes that it is still possible to move forward and that B&H can catch up with countries in the region, which are, he says, miles ahead. Covic was pleased that discussions were held in a “gentlemanly manner,” and that everyone expressed concern for B&H. “It looks like we love it so much that we're not ready yet to get rid of these nuances between us. I do not see any reason not to sort that out on the expert level in the next ten days,” Covic said. SBB President Fahrudin Radoncic said that this was another busy and productive meeting. “Our job is to patiently work and come up with a solution in the next days. I think that time is not wasted, that we are simply looking for a solution and tolerance,” Radoncic added.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

EU urges high turnout in Kosovo vote, increases funding (EUbusiness, 31 October 2013)

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union urged voters across Kosovo on Thursday, including Kosovo Serbs, to participate in key weekend local elections as it announced extra funding to cushion a Serbia-Kosovo peace deal.

"The November 3 elections are a key moment in Kosovo's future and are an important element in the implementation of the April Agreement and the process of normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

Urging the premiers of Kosovo and Serbia to show the "same vision and courage" in ensuring a fair vote as they had in reaching the historic April deal, Ashton said "the EU will be following closely the conduct of the elections."

"My message to the people throughout Kosovo is: participate in the elections on Sunday. This is especially true for the Kosovo Serb community. I understand the concerns, particularly in the north, but participation is the best way to ensure that your voice is heard."

Kosovo's minority Serbs, who reject Kosovo's unilateral breakaway from Serbia in 2008, are torn over whether to vote in the elections backed by former Yugoslav master Serbia for the first time as part of the April deal.

Serbia still officially rejects Kosovo's independence, but agreed to encourage the breakaway province's Serb community to vote under pressure from the EU, which it hopes to join.

Some 40,000 Serbs live in the northern Kosovo region bordering Serbia, which has maintained a certain control of institutions there, giving Pristina almost no power in the area. Another 80,000 Serbs live scattered in enclaves throughout Kosovo.

Also Thursday, the EU executive, the European Commission, announced 15 million euros in additional funding to support the deal to normalise ties between the two.

The funds will address the needs of Serb majority municipalities throughout Kosovo, with a specific emphasis on the north, the Commission said, focusing on infrastructure, public administration, rural development, employment and environmental protection needs.

They are in addition to an annual 65 to 70 million euros already allocated to Kosovo. 

Kosovo elections key in Serbia EU entry talks (EUbusiness, 1 November 2013)

(KOSOVSKA MITROVICA) - Important elections Sunday in Kosovo will be watched for the turnout of its minority Serb population and as a vital step in Serbia's bid to join the European Union.

Kosovo, the territory which sparked a war between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian rebels in 1998-1999, remains the main stumbling block in Serbia's membership process.

There are some 120,000 Serbs in Kosovo. The 40,000 living in the north, which has maintained a certain control of institutions, are torn over whether to vote in the elections, backed for the first time by Belgrade.

"By taking part in the elections organised by Pristina, Serbs from the north will recognise the existence of the institutions," Belgrade-based political analyst Dusan Janjic told AFP.

"This is their main dilemma since so far they have lived under Serbian institutions and do not know what life under Pristina authorities will look like," he said.

Serbia still officially rejects Kosovo's independence but it has encouraged the minority Serb community to vote in Sunday's elections as part of a series of concessions on the breakaway province.

Serbia has been a candidate to enter the EU since 2012 but was given the green light to begin membership talks with Brussels only following an EU-brokered deal in April with Kosovo to normalise relations.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton labelled the elections "a key moment in Kosovo's future and an important element in the process of normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia."

"The EU will be following closely the conduct of the elections," she said in a statement.

In northern Kosovo, particularly in the key town of Kosovska Mitrovica, the electoral campaign has brought visits from Belgrade officials, notably Serbia's Minister for Kosovo, Aleksandar Vulin.

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic was expected to visit Kosovo Friday to make a final appeal to ethnic Serbs to go to the polls.

"For us, the main goal is to create an institutional framework for Serbs" in Kosovo, Vucic said recently.

Some 1.7 million people across the territory are eligible to vote in the elections for deputies and mayors of 36 Kosovo municipalities.

But Serbian hardline nationalists have actively campaigned for a boycott of the polls. The streets of Mitrovica are decked with posters while a van roams the streets blasting from a loudspeaker Serb nationalist songs and calls not to vote.

Several employees of the Serbia-controlled institutions -- schools, hospitals and administrative offices -- said, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Belgrade has used barely veiled pressure to get them to vote.

"I have to vote," said Petar, a man close to retirement. "My boss and several colleagues informed me that it was a Belgrade order and that it would be monitored who cast ballots," he told AFP.

"I'm ashamed, but I'm too scared to lose my job by doing otherwise."

Miroslav, a man in his thirties, also said he had received orders from his employer to vote. "People are threatened with being fired if they do not vote," he said.

For Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, the elections will be a test of his decision to negotiate an agreement and improve relations with Belgrade.

The deal brokered by Brussels has been strongly criticised by the nationalist opposition in Pristina which rejects any dialogue with Serbia until it recognises Kosovo's independence.

Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is expected to win most of the ethnic Albanians' votes on Sunday.

Belgrade and Pristina have accused each other during the campaign of manipulating electoral lists, in a bid to increase the number of registered voters of their own nationality in ethnically mixed areas.

Serbia becomes ECOSOC member (Itar-Tass, 31 October 2013)

A total of 18 countries, including Serbia, were elected as new members to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2014-2016 at a UN General Assembly meeting on Thursday. Russia, whose current term of membership expires at the end of this year, was re-elected to the Council and the other two seats for Eastern European countries were taken by Georgia and Serbia, Itar-Tass reports. Kazakhstan was included as Asian states’ representative, Itar-Tass added. Other ECOSOC members for the next two years are Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Botswana, Great Britain, Denmark, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, China, New Zealand, Panama, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Korea, Togo and Sweden. Apart from Russia, five other countries were also re-elected for the next term, namely, Great Britain, China, New Zealand, Sweden and South Korea. Unlike other UN bodies, such as the Council for Human Rights, the period of ECOSOC membership is not limited by two terms and certain states remain members of the Council for decades. Great Britain and Russia have been ECOSOC members since 1947, and France and the United States since 1946 and 1945, respectively, Itar-Tass said. The Economic and Social Council is one of the six main bodies of the United Nations, composed of representatives of 54 countries, and it deals with international economic, social and environmental protection issues.

New mass graves raise hope for the missing in Bosnia (AFP, 31 October 2013)

Rusmir Smajilhodzic - Suad Zeric stares expectantly at a corpse exhumed from a gaping, freshly-dug hole where hundreds of Muslims and Croats massacred in the Bosnian war were tossed two decades ago.
The body, surrounded by forensic experts, may be his uncle or his cousin, both of whom disappeared in the ethnic-driven mayhem of the 1992-95 conflict that followed the breakup of the old Yugoslav federation. “I hope with all my heart that they will be found here,” said the 57-year-old, a survivor of the most notorious Serb-run detention camps set up during the war.
The grave was discovered in April in a disused mine in the village of Tomasica in the northwestern region of Prijedor. Exhumation work started in September in what is the biggest mass grave found in the region. “One of my four uncles who were murdered by cowards, Fehim, was discovered here, thank God,” he said in a whisper, his voice breaking with emotion.
“Kasim, his son Emsud, my uncle Salih and another, Latif, are still missing,” said Zeric, whose father’s remains were only found a few years ago in another mass grave.
The Bosnian, who now lives in the eastern French town of Mulhouse but returns home two or three times a year, was held in both the Omarska and Keraterm camps. These, with the Trnopolje camp, formed what became known as the war’s “triangle of horror” from which many detainees never reappeared.
Bosnian Serb forces set up the three camps, all in the northwest, at the start of the war, which claimed 100,000 lives and left a legacy of ethnic and political divisions that carry on today.
It was photographs of emaciated prisoners at Omarska - reminiscent of Holocaust victims in Nazi death camps - first broadcast in the summer of 1992 that shocked the world and drew international attention to the Serb campaign of so-called “ethnic cleansing”.
Zeric was detained in May 1992 in Kozarac, near Prijedor, a month after Bosnian Serbs began their siege of Sarajevo. He was first sent to Keraterm camp then transferred a week later to Omarska, a site in an old iron mine he describes as “hell”. Later on he was taken to Manjaca, another camp set up by the Bosnian Serb wartime authorities.
The grave at Tomasica, which lies 20 kilometres from the city of Prijedor, was discovered by the Bosnian Institute for Missing People based on information from former Bosnian Serb soldiers. The Institute is still searching for 1,200 people from the 3,000 who went missing in the area during the war.
“Since the start of exhumation work, on September 3, we exhumed 240 victims, and among them 170 complete bodies,” the Institute’s spokeswoman Lejla Cengic told AFP.
She said incomplete skeletons were those of victims moved from Tomasica to another grave in nearby Jakarina Kosa to try to cover up the crimes.
The remains of 373 people were exhumed from that grave in 2001, said Cengic, who said the bodies had been shattered by bulldozers used by Bosnian Serb forces during the move.
‘A desire to kill’
Forensic experts continue to exhume “hundreds of victims” at the Tomasica site, said the spokeswoman, saying it is not only the biggest mass grave found in the region but may become the largest ever found in Bosnia.
The biggest gravesite so far was discovered in 2003 in Crni Vrh, in the country’s east, where the remains of 629 people were recovered. Bosnian Serbs took control of the Prijedor region in April 1992, forcing non-Serbs to leave their homes which they then destroyed.
Families were separated and thousands of people were thrown into detention camps, held in squalid living conditions, many tortured, many executed. In the Prijedor area alone more than 1,500 people died in the camps of Omarska, Trnopolje and Keraterm.
Twenty years on, some of the bodies at Tomasica are surprisingly practically intact, said forensic expert Mujo Begic.
“This is due to the composition of the soil and also because the bodies were very deep. They were found 10 to 12 metres (33-39 feet) under the earth,” he said.
Still traumatised by his time in Omarska where he said he was regularly beaten, Zeric, a Muslim, has found peace in his faith. “I will never understand this desire to kill,” he said.
“An animal stops when it catches its prey. They (the Serb forces running the camp), never had enough of death. I hope that no one else on the planet lives through what we have lived,” he said.