LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: We have to live with each other, not next to each other (Politika/RTS/Tanjug)

At a panel devoted to reconciliation in the region 20 years after Dayton, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said in New York that we need each other, and that we have to live with each other, and not next to each other. He said it wasn’t easy for him to come to New York, since Bill Clinton, whose foundation organized the panel, was the US president when Serbia was bombed. Many in Serbia, he said, criticized him for deciding to come and take part in the panel that discusses the region and the crime in Srebrenica. “I told them that we have to talk with everybody, that there are two approaches in Bosnia today, one is among the Bosniaks, 1.7 or 1.8 million of them and they say – we are stronger than the Serbs, we can expel them again – and you will hear this every day. On the other side there are 7 million Serbs in Serbia and they also say – we can beat them,” explained Vucic. He says this is a difficult situation, but this is the reality, and that is why he insisted on having as many as possible meetings and agreements with the Bosniaks. “I advocate talks between the Serbs and Bosniaks since we can’t live without each other, we have to live together…” said Vucic. “I went to Srebrenica to pay respect to the victims, but I was attacked by those present there. I haven’t bowed my head for a moment. We recognize the pain of the people in Bosnia,” said Vucic. He added that “we have done everything in Serbia that we could have done, we punished and indicted those who were guilty for the massacre in Srebrenica. Sixteen people were arrested, he said. He added that just like there are many victims and a lot of pain among the Muslims, so are there similar tragic stories on the Serbian side. “I hope the perpetrators will be found and indicted for these crimes,” said Vucic, adding: “We will do everything to maintain peace and stability, but this is not easy. It is more difficult than 20 years ago and it is becoming even more difficult every day. We need to invest a lot of courage, because the atmosphere is very bad. I hope for a more objective approach of the international community, and that we will all be able to accept the bad things that we have done in the past, because only then will we be able to overcome all difficulties.”

 

Vucic: We respect integrity of B&H, but RS will not disappear (Beta/TV Pink)

In an interview with TV Pink during his visit to New York, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic described as irresponsible a statement by Bosnian wartime military commander Sefer Halilovic threatening with a new war to wipe the entity off the map if an imminent referendum on the RS Day was carried out. “Such statements, whoever they come from, are certainly not good. Serbia will do its utmost not to see peace disrupted and any statement in that direction, from any side, is bad and unnecessary. We need peace at any price and we will keep it. We respect the integrity of B&H, but the RS will not disappear either, and this is in line with the Dayton Accords,” Vucic explained.

 

Vucic meets Stoltenberg, European colleagues (Beta)

On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic examined the situation in the region with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. A visit by Vucic to the NATO headquarters in Brussels was arranged during the meeting, the

Serbian cabinet said. Vucic met with his colleagues from Romania, Austria, Moldova and Luxembourg on the sidelines of the gathering. Vucic and Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos agreed on holding a new meeting soon, in Belgrade or in Bucharest, the Serbian cabinet's media office has said. The Serbian prime minister met with Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, with whom he arranged a new meeting before the end of the week, the statement said. Vucic also met with Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip, as well as with Luxembourg Prime Minister

Xavier Bettel. He also had a talk with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

 

Drecun: Nobody can erase RS by force (Tanjug)

The Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun has assessed regarding Sefer Halilovic’s threat that such extreme statements seriously damage the painstakingly established peace and coexistence in the Dayton B&H. Nobody can bring into question the right of the Serb nation to live on its land, to be equal with other nations in Dayton B&H nor can anybody erase RS by force, Drecun told Tanjug. “The biggest guarantor of the survival of RS, apart from its people, the Dayton Accords, is the Republic of Serbia that is at the same time the most important factor of stabilization of the entire region. Problems are resolved with negotiations, agreement and compromise, and not by calling for destruction, and war. We had too much of that,” he said. Drecun opines that the wise policy that the RS has been conducting over the years will manage to completely erase the possibility of destabilization of not only B&H, but will also manage to stabilize the entire region.

 

Popovic: Serbia to protect RS interests (RTS)

The leader of the Serbian People’s Party (SNP) Nenad Popovic has assessed that Serbia needs to urgently place all of its potentials in the function of defending the RS, as well as to make it clear that, as the guarantor of the Dayton Accords, that it will protect at all costs the interests of its people west of Drina. He called all state institutions in Serbia, as well as political parties, to unite in the defense of key national and state interests at a dramatic moment when Sarajevo is sending “unambiguous calls for war, disappearance of RS and the extermination of the Serbs”.

 

DSS calls citizens to vote and Vucic to support referendum in RS (Tanjug)

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) has called citizens to vote at the referendum in the RS, and called Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to support the referendum. “We call the Prime Minister to change his decision and support the referendum, because support to RS citizens is much more important for our national and state interests than the praises he had received from former US president Bill Clinton,” the DSS said in a statement.

 

Stefanovic: Each state along migrant route to share burden (Beta)

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said in Bratislava that in facing the migrant crisis Serbia wanted to work together with its partners and neighbors to identify a solution to provide for better border control. “The migrant crisis needs to be resolved where the problem first occurred - in the states the migrants have come from. Serbia firmly believes that each state along the migrant route needs to shoulder its part of the burden and responsibility. This is one of the most complex problems in the recent history of Europe, and it far exceeds national frameworks, which is why it requires a comprehensive, lasting solution, extending beyond a simple closure of borders. This crisis is not the past; unfortunately, it's the future of Europe,” Stefanovic said. After the Prague Process ministerial conference Addressing Challenges Together, held in Bratislava on Sept. 20, Minister Stefanovic said it’s important to respond to the questions of how to treat economic migrants, how to curb illegal entries and how to deal with traffickers, the interior ministry reported.

 

Serbia, Slovakia to set up joint border police patrols (Tanjug)

Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic and his Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak agreed in Bratislava on Tuesday the two countries would establish joint police patrols on the Serbian-Bulgarian border. The move is a part of the cooperation between Slovakia and Serbia aimed at curbing illegal migration and other illicit cross-border activities, the Serbian Interior Ministry said in a statement. Stefanovic and Kalinak signed a memorandum of understanding that will see 15 Slovak border police officers arrive in October. The memorandum was signed as part of joint operations funded by the EU. Stefanovic and Kalinak said the cooperation between their countries' police forces was excellent and agreed further steps in the joint fight against corruption and crime.

 

NATO: We are not threatening anyone (Danas)

The claims of the Serbian daily Informer - that NATO General Petr Pavel “threatened Serbia with a war” during the conference in Split - are not true. NATO is not threatening anyone, a NATO official told Danas, in an answer to the question in regard to the recent rhetoric of the NATO general that was assessed by certain media as a “threat to Serbia with a war”. Danas’ source points out that NATO and “all states in the region have good and close cooperation towards the same goal – for Western Balkans to remain safe and secure”. Commenting the disappointment of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic regarding alleged statements of General Pavel and the military cooperation between NATO and Serbia, Danas’ interlocutor notes that “NATO welcomes its cooperation with Serbia”, as well as that “it fully respects Serbia’s policy of neutrality”.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Statements of BPS leader Halilovic spark reactions (TV1/N1)

N1 carried that BPS leader Sefer Halilovic was a guest of TV1 evening news on Monday. He was speaking about the referendum on the RS Day, due to be held on September 25, and pointed out that if President of Republika Srpska (RS) and leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik holds the referendum, it will mean that the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) is no longer in effect and added that the Republic of B&H will be back in place. He stressed that Dodik uses the referendum the referendum in pre-election purpose, and even managed to silence the opposition. According to Halilovic, the international community is obliged to react, because they will be held responsible for what comes next. He also stressed that, in case of a new conflict, the RS would be able to survive only some 10 -15 days. Halilovic also said that he would never advocate a war and that a hundred years of talks are better than one day of war. The statements of the leader of BPS sparked various reactions in the RS and the region on Tuesday. Dodik stated that the latest threats against Serbs in the RS, addressed by former Commander of the RB&H Army Sefer Halilovic, were another in a series of warmongering statements by a failed general who is trying to incite a war.

 

EU officials welcome approval of B&H’s application for EU membership (Hayat)

Decision of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC) to accept B&H’s application for EU membership was welcomed by EU officials. European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn congratulated B&H for this success and said that a lot of work will follow. Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak wrote on Twitter that hard work brings results. Representative of the EU Delegation to B&H Maja Maricic wrote on Twitter that the hard work has paid off. Rapporteur on B&H of the European Parliament Cristian Dan Preda stated that the decision of GAC firmly positions B&H on its EU path. “I hope the European Commission will quickly react and send the questionnaire as soon as possible, so B&H authorities can start preparing the answers,” he said. Head of the EU Delegation to B&H Lars-Gunnar Wigemark stated that this decision marks the beginning of a process where B&H is striving to catch up with its neighbors in the region who are already candidates for EU membership. “B&H must not lose the focus. The reforms improving economic growth and social justice, rule of law and public administration need to continue, and leaders and authorities in B&H should address them constructively and through dialogue,” he said.

 

Zvizdic, Radoncic, Bosic, Ivanic on EU General Affairs Council’s decision (BHT1/BNTV/TV1)

In a brief interview for BHT1, Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic spoke about the fact that B&H’s application for the EU membership was accepted by the EU General Affairs Council (GAC). Speaking about the questionnaire that B&H will receive from the European Commission (EC), Zvizdic stressed that this will be a sort of inventory of the situation in B&H. “This will enable us to know what kind of professional capacities we have at our disposal and just how much various systems in B&H are self-sustainable. On the other hand, the EU will get a clear insight into the capacities of B&H and we will be able to clearly define the problems we are faced with and causes of those problems. Then we will be able to draft action plans and projects to solve those problems,” Zvizdic underlined. Asked whether he believes B&H can fulfill the remaining conditions by the next year in order for it to obtain the EU candidate status, including establishment of rule of law, public administration reform and implementation of Sejdic-Finci ruling, Zvizdic stressed that rule of law is one of the basic postulates on which the EU was founded.

Commenting on the EU General Affairs Council’s (GAC) decision to approve B&H’s EU membership application, SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic stated on Tuesday that commitment of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM), the Federation of B&H Government and the RS Government to focus on the Reform Agenda, as well as the “brave” decision of Croat member of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic to submit the application at the time – resulted in historical opening of the EU doors to B&H. Radoncic emphasized that this is encouragement for all citizens and ruling authorities to continue the path towards the EU with even more enthusiasm.

Commenting on the decision of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC), Speaker of B&H House of Representatives (HoR) and SDS leader Mladen Bosic stated that it is very positive news, which did not get reaction it deserves, and added that every country would celebrate such step. “We have the encouragement of the EU, and on the other hand there are worrying processes that dominate,” he said.

Commenting on the EU General Affairs Council’s (GAC) decision, Serb member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic stated on Tuesday that the EU questionnaire will make the politicians in B&H focus on answering the questions instead of focusing on political conflicts. Ivanic deems that the latest topics will be put aside in the upcoming days in this way, since the current atmosphere does not benefit anyone. “This is the beginning of the entire process and there is no turning back. I believe it is good in political terms, because it will make us discuss practical issues, while the latest developments caused by (Chairman of the B&H Presidency Bakir) Izetbegovic’s decision to dispute the RS Day will be put aside,” Ivanic said.

 

Izetbegovic meets Mogherini, Hahn and Tusk on sidelines of UN GA’s session (FTV)

Chairman of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic is taking part in the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, which started on Tuesday, and he is expected to deliver a speech on Wednesday. On the sidelines of the session, Izetbegovic met with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Izetbegovic also attended the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, which is taking place in parallel with the UN General Assembly’s session. As part of the Clinton Global Initiative’s meeting, Head of Srebrenica Municipality Camil Durakovic addressed the panel discussion on reconciliation and common society, where the genocide in Srebrenica is one of the topics of discussion. Izetbegovic also met with President of the European Council Donald Tusk. On this occasion, European officials informed Izetbegovic that they are pleased to see that B&H has fulfilled its obligations towards the EU in this phase of the agenda. Izetbegovic and European officials agreed that B&H has made significant progress on the European path. Izetbegovic underlined that B&H has made a huge political step forward when it comes to the European path of B&H. Mogherini said: “This is a good day for B&H, just like it is a good day for the EU.” Mogherini added that B&H and the EU achieved this great result together, underlining that a lot of work had to be done in previous months. “The best thing is that this is turning into something that is good for the people of B&H,” Mogherini added.

 

Covic writes to Mogherini, Hahn: Croat issue is something we have to address as challenge for B&H (TV1)

Croat member of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic has sent a letter to EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn. The letter reads that the EU’s conclusions confirmed B&H’s European perspective as the only acceptable thing for all peoples and citizens. Covic believes that the EU integration process will gradually neutralize a number of difficult political issues in B&H. “Finally, the existing Croat issue in B&H, which is based on evident institutional inequality of Croats in relation to other two constituent peoples, is something that we are obliged to address as a challenge for this country, but not in a way that these issues are set as a priority over the EU path. We are aware of the fact that it is impossible to imagine an EU member state that has such degree of inequality and does not comply with constitutional provisions. As a Croat member of the Presidency, I have responsibilities towards this issue”, reads the letter.

 

Croatia won’t be able to let migrants pass due to closed borders (Hina)

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, who was attending a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, said on Tuesday that in the event of a new migrant tide her country could not let refugees pass through its territory given that the borders of Croatia’s neighbors were closed and Croatia must protect its territory as well as help all those in need. President Grabar Kitarovic said that last year Croatia had let migrants pass through it while other countries, that is Slovenia and Hungary, had no barriers along their frontiers with Croatia, however, those frontiers were now shut. “I do not think that we rose to the occasion (last year), and generally nobody catered for those people. It has been established that 85% of them were economic migrants and not refugees in the real sense. What about those who have remained in Syria? We have shown hypocrisy in all of that, and I believe that a little more responsibility should be demonstrated,” Grabar-Kitarovic told Croatian reporters who were covering the UN General Assembly’s work. She underscored the importance of Europe’s common response. Without agreement with the countries that are crucial when it comes to messages to migrants that have started arriving in Europe and without our agreed response, it will be very difficult. Nevertheless, we must prepare ourselves as we have to be prepared to protect our territory and border as well as to help all who need our help, the Croatian President said.

 

Vasiljkovic’s counsel to contest charges (Hina)

The defense counsels for Dragan Vasiljkovic, aka Captain Dragan, who pleaded not guilty to war crimes charges on Tuesday, said that they did not intend to prove his innocence but would have him acquitted by contesting the charges and evidence presented by the prosecution. Vasiljkovic told the presiding judge that he was not just anyone but a known officer whom officials in the Croatian judiciary in 2005 proclaimed a war criminal. He said that the proceedings today had nothing to do with war crimes and those witnesses have testified falsely and that he had not committed any crime. “A crime has been committed against me because I have been in prison for 11 years without any sentence. This is a rigged case...the indictment is ridiculous...this is all a lie,” Vasiljkovic said. He concluded that the indictment against him should not have been upheld and that he would prove in court that the testimonies against him are false. Defense counsel Tomislav Filakovic said that the indictment is based on claims that Dragan Vasiljkovic had a commanding role, however, stressing that there is no credible evidence of that and adding that it would be difficult to prove the claims made in the indictment. Vasiljkovic is charged with violating the Geneva Conventions by torturing and killing Croatian prisoners of war in a prison in Knin in June and July 1991 and in Bruska near Benkovac in February 1993. He is also indicted for having planned in July 1991 in Glina, in agreement with the commander of a Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) tank unit, an attack on the police station in Glina, its suburb of Jukinac and the villages of Gornji Vidusevac and Donji Vidusevac. The prosecution alleges that during the attack civilian properties were damaged or destroyed, the local population was forced to flee their homes, their property was plundered and civilians were killed and wounded, including a foreign reporter. The trial will continue on October 18, 19 and 20 when 12 witnesses are expected to be heard.

 

“Immediate Response 16” multi-national military exercise taking place in Slunj (Hina)

A two-week multinational military exercise, “Immediate Response 16”, which started on 9 September and is being held simultaneously in Croatia and Slovenia, was observed by reporters at Croatia’s multifaceted Eugen Kvaternik training range in the central Croatian town of Slunj on Tuesday. “Immediate Response 16” is a multi-national, brigade-level command post exercise utilizing computer-assisted simulations and field training exercises spanning two countries, Croatia and Slovenia. The exercises and simulations are built upon a decisive action-based scenario and are designed to enhance regional stability, strengthen allied and partner nation capacity, and improve interoperability among partner nations. The exercise will last until 23 September and will include more than 1,900 soldiers and security forces from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States. “Immediate Response 16” supports the goal of a “Strong Europe”, with militaries and security forces are trained and ready to join forces to ensure unified security across allied and partner nations. “Immediate Response” is a pre-planned exercise that has occurred annually for the past six years.

 

Macedonian President meets EC President at 71st UN General Assembly in New York (MIA)

President Gjorge Ivanov met Monday with European Council President Donald Tusk, at the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting tackled Macedonia's Euro integration and challenges of the migrant and refugee crisis, with a focus on the security aspect, the President's Office said in a press release. President Ivanov stressed Macedonia would continue the process of reforms towards achieving European standards and criteria, as well as contribute to regional cooperation in maintaining the stability and prosperity of Southeast Europe. According to him, Macedonia seeks for equal treatment by the European leaders and all EU member states, expecting parallel development of integration and overcoming of open bilateral issues. “Despite the Union’s challenges, Macedonia and the region of Southeast Europe require accelerated EU integration, because this is the best way to fully consolidate the area and the European Union in general,” stressed Ivanov. Regarding the migrant­-refugee crisis, he said Macedonia promotes a comprehensive European solution, encompassing common criteria for its management. In this context, interlocutors agreed over the need for urgent coordinated action of all countries concerned. In addition, President Ivanov said Macedonia has undertaken all measures and activities for protection of the national borders and maintenance of national security, taking into account the commitment for humane treatment of refugees, reads the press release.

 

Poposki calls for long term solutions (Telegraf.mk)

If short-­term handling of the migrant crisis entails successful border management and humane treatment of migrants, then long-­term handling calls for all substantial issues to be resolved at home, in the countries that generate migrant surges. It requires the inauguration of a quality educational system, employment opportunities, quality healthcare, infrastructure, better living conditions, etc. If people are happy at home, they would not decide to immigrate just as easily. This was stated by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in his address at a session related to migration, part of the summit on refugees and migrants, during the opening of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release Tuesday. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change offer prospects which address the various aspects that give rise to migration,” stated Poposki. Also, he voiced support for the UN Global Response to Safe and Regular Migration. To address the causes of migration, Poposki added, leadership and partnership are required between international organizations, institutions and among member-­states, as well as commitment toward an effective and efficient approach to the matter. The migrant crisis was also discussed in a working meeting of the foreign ministers of Western Balkan countries, organized by Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz. The meeting, also attended by EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, focused, among other things, on the EU integration process of candidate countries, fighting terrorism and the need for prevention against violent radicalism. FM Poposki was also present at the meeting of President Gjorge Ivanov with the President of the Council of the EU, Donald Tusk, and with the Premier of Norway, Erna Solberg, read the press release.

 

Fences proven effective: Migrants enter Serbia through Bulgarian villages (MIA)

Hundreds of refugees enter Serbia through Macedonia and Bulgaria. They mainly use illegal crossings near Tabanovce and Dimitrovgrad. However, the number of migrants entering from the Bulgarian side increases. After penetrating Serbian territory, they are taking buses and trains to Hungary, hoping to enter EU territory. Moreover, since Hungary erected fences along the border with Serbia, it is very hard to enter its territory illegally. Thus, refugees become anxious, furious and they cause incidents, robbing stores and local households near Horgos and Kanjiza. Dissatisfaction grows among Bulgarians due to the rise in number of migrants entering the country. Protests have been announced as well.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

Kosovo's Vetevendosje Rallies Supporters in Albania (BIRN, by Fatjona Mejdini, 21 September 2016)

Leaders of Kosovo's Vetevendosje party rallied supporters in Albania - declaring that the campaign against ratification of the Kosovo-Montenegro border deal would continue.

Tirana - Two leaders of Kosovo's Vetevendosje [Self determination] Movement, party chairman Visar Ymeri and one of the founders, Albin Kurti, rallied several hundred supporters in Tirana, Albania, on Tuesday, explaining why they oppose the Kosovo parliament adopting a demarcation deal with Montenegro. Calling on supporters in Albania to back them, Ymeri said the anti-demarcation campaign had showed the importance of pan-Albanian unity. "We have to be together in important things," he told the activists. Kurti called the Kosovo parliament's postponement of a vote on the demarcation agreement a major victory for Vetevendosje and promised that action would continue. "On September 1, we achieved a big victory while we save 8,200 hectares of Kosovo land that was ready to pass to Montenegro," he said. "Our protests, petitions, and arguments made the [ruling] Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, and the Serbian List withdraw from the agreement," Kurti added. The movement claims that the agreement would result in the surrender of thousands of hectares of land to Montenegro. He and Ymeri claimed that Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, and other political opponents did not want to admit that the real reason for the postponement of the vote was their pressure. Following a protest rally by Vetevendosje in Pristina on September 1, the Kosovo parliament postponed the ratification agreement. However, Mustafa said the government had withdrawn the agreement from the agenda in part because an unnamed “parliamentary group asked for concessions”. While the Kosovo Serbian party, the Serbian List, a government coalition partner, was not present at the assembly, the allusion was that they had set conditions for voting in favour of the deal. Kurti disputed this interpretation. "They didn't need the votes of the Serbian List to proceed with the agreement," he said in Tirana. "In the plenary session, they had 80 out of the 120 votes that the agreement needed to pass. What they didn't have was the social peace necessary for this important agreement to be implemented," he added. Kurti also said tensions were growing in the Balkans and a new conflict might erupt there; Croatia and Serbia were in an arms race, he said, while the Bosnian Serb referendum in Republika Srpska was a threat to Balkan stability. "As a result of the problems in Balkans in the next four or five years, there are more chances of having a new conflict in the region than not having one," he concluded.