LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic’s remarks on EC progress report for Serbia (RTS/Beta)

“It is important to us that we are achieving progress on almost all chapters, that the EU is positively assessing our political role in the region, the migrant crisis, that the World Bank and IMF recognize the excellent results of the Serbian economy and say that growth is higher than expected and that we have a huge number of investors thanks to a better and changed business environment,” Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said. Although he said that Serbia still has a lot to do, Vucic mainly did not agree with the remarks in the European Commission report. Speaking about Chapter 31 – foreign, security and defense policy – the Prime Minister said that he saw remarks on cooperation with the Hague Tribunal on the extradition of three Serbian nationals. “They are three members of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and a strange act of crime,” Vucic said without explaining why he is hesitant to extradite the members of his former party. “I saw the analysis of our relations with Russia and I did not quite understand why it includes the agreement that the SNS has with the United Russia party. I don’t see what that has to do with an analysis of state policy,” Vucic said. He said he does not have to agree with everything in the report and that is probably why he did not comment the fact that the report says that the quality of legislature and efficiency of oversight of the executive authorities have to be strengthened and that cooperation between the executive authorities and independent regulatory institutions has to improve.

 

Dacic: I am satisfied with the EC report (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met in Vienna with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz and said he was satisfied with the EC report on Serbia’s progress, assessing it positively. “We will make effort to have dialogue with Pristina, and to reinforce relations with our neighbors, but also with EU countries,” said Dacic. Serbia has good relations and cooperation with the US whoever wins at elections, while Donald Trump’s victory may be an opportunity for restarting Serbia-U.S. relations, since we haven’t agreed on some things in the past, said Dacic.

 

Hahn: Serbia has taken major steps forward (Tanjug)

Serbia has taken major steps forward which led to the first four chapters of the EU accession negotiations being opened, including on rule of law and on normalization of its relations with Kosovo, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in Brussels on Wednesday.

“The overall pace of negotiations will depend, in particular, on progress in these two areas,” Hahn told the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, presenting the Serbia Progress Report. “Serbia, too, has been seriously affected by the migration crisis, during which it has played an active and constructive role. The economic reforms are producing results and need to continue,” he also said, noting that Western Balkan countries must devote particular attention to economic development.

 

Kukan: There is no document on recognizing Kosovo (FoNet/TVN1)

There is no official EU document insisting that Serbia should recognize Kosovo, the chair of the EU-Serbia Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee Eduard Kukan said. “Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is very important to us. The European Parliament takes the dialogue very seriously. Everything depends on how the agreements reached so far are translated into reality,” Kukan told TVN1. “The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, is not present in the media; however, she works on continuation of the dialogue in order to have positive outcome for both parties.” Kukan noted that the compromise during the dialogue is necessary. “Nobody is happy about compromises, but the compromise is the only solution,” he said.

 

Ciolos: We are supporting Serbia on EU path (Tanjug)

In an interview to Tanjug ahead of Thursday’s meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Timisoara, Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos said that, from the very beginning of Serbia’s EU integration process, Romania had been one of the strongest and most vocal supporters of Serbia’s European prospects. We hope that new negotiation chapters will be opened soon - we recognize that Serbia is making progress on its path toward European integration through adopting and implementing reforms, he said. Romania’s position on non-recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence remains unchanged, he said, urging a continuation of high-level meetings between Belgrade and Pristina.

 

Serbian parliament adopts law on peacekeeping missions and Western Balkans Fund (RTS)

The Serbian parliament adopted the decision on participation of Serbian Army members in multi-national operations in 2016, and the annual plan for using the army and other forces in these operations, which envisages around 700 members of the Serbian Army in the UN and EU operations at 340 posts. The engagement in seven UN multi-national operations continues in Congo, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Lebanon, the Near East, and in the Central African Republic and in EU missions in Somalia, the Central African Republic and Mali.

The Serbian parliament also adopted the Law on confirming the agreement whereby the Western Balkans Fund is established, which is aimed at strengthening and encouraging EU integration of Albania, B&H, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. This Fund will finance various projects, which will help better connection of agreement parties and faster reaching of the final goal, which is EU membership.

 

Opposition obstructs Davenport’s presentation of EC report (Tanjug/B92/RTS/Beta)

The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport has not been able to present European Commission’s report on Serbia to the Serbian parliamentary committee for EU Integration. Davenport was unable to start his presentation before the Committee for EU Integration for an hour and a half, blocked by opposition MPs from the Dveri Movement and the Serb Radical Party (SRS). They are invoking the parliament rules and refusing to consider the document that is in English. They are also questioning the legitimacy of Davenport himself as an EU representative - considering that his country, has voted to leave the EU.  The Dveri Movement has also asked that the Committee’s session be postponed until Serbia joins the EU.

Dveri leader Bosko Obradovic told Davenport that instead of presenting the EC progress report on Serbia, he should present a report on Brexit. “Davenport who comes from Great Britain is not competent to deal with this subject. Great Britain has left the EU and I don’t know why he is persuading us to join the EU,” said Obradovic.  SRS deputies, meanwhile, said that they received the material for today’s session in English, and reported this as a violation of the parliament’s rules of procedure. “We received no material for work, English is still not an official language of the parliament. Until you can provide us with adequate material and create (proper) conditions, you should postpone the meeting,” said Nemanja Sarovic (SRS).  He also objected to Davenport being seated in the chair of the presiding official today, and noted that while the EU representative is allowed to address sessions of the Serbian Assembly, this is not true when it comes to the Committee. The Committee’s chairwoman, Marinka Tepic (LSV), said that the document in question was not our official document, and added that English is an official language of the EU - while Davenport planned to present the report’s summary in Serbian.

 

Gojkovic, Dang: Historic visit from Pan-African Parliament (Tanjug)

Serbian parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic met with the President of the Pan-African parliament (PAP) Roger Nkodo Dang in Belgrade Wednesday during what both officials said was a historic visit from the PAP. Gojkovic stressed that Serbia is grateful to the Pan-African Parliament for respecting its territorial integrity and for not voting in favor of Kosovo membership in UNESCO.

EU membership is not the only priority of Serbia’s foreign policy - so are good relations with countries worldwide, said Gojkovic. “We expect that we will sign agreements on cooperation during the next visit, thereby institutionalizing cooperation between our two parliaments,” she said, informing reporters that she spoke with Dang about common and global issues such as terrorism, economic matters and preservation of cultural heritage in Serbia and Africa.

 

ICTY President informs UN GA that Serbia doesn’t fulfil its obligations (Politika)

The ICTY President Carmel Agius informed the UN General Assembly that Serbia has not carried out the arrest warrants regarding three members of the Serbian Radical party (SRS), who are charged with contempt of court. Recalling that the arrest warrants were issued for the three

Radicals 21 months ago, Agius announced that the tribunal would report the lack of cooperation of Serbia in December again. The written report of the ICTY president also voiced concern over the fact that Serbia has not yet appointed a new war crimes prosecutor, although the deadline for this expired back in December 2015. As a reason for concern, the judge Agius also said that the authorities in Belgrade have not either accepted, or implemented a judgment which the B&H State Court rendered to the RS Army General Novak Djukic.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Dodik, Cubrilovic congratulate Trump (Srna)

The President of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik sent a letter of congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the US presidential election on Wednesday. “I congratulate you most sincerely on a convincing and expected victory in the United States presidential election. The trust that your citizens have shown you is a confirmation of the successful policy of your party and you yourself, as well as the strength and determination to represent your country in the best way possible during the upcoming term in office,” said Dodik. In the letter to Trump, Dodik expresses the conviction that the United States has received a president who will take the best possible care of the country’s overall progress in the future and pursue the policy that will contribute to peace and stability in the whole world, which is very important to the people of RS too. “I expect more understanding, mutual respect and resolution of all problems through dialogue, not force. Dear Mister President, sending you best wishes for a successful performance of the high and responsible duty of the US president, I express my deepest respect and admiration,” reads the letter of congratulations by the president of RS.

Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic congratulated the new president of the United States of America, Donald Trump on Wednesday saying he believes that Trump will use his term in office in the best way possible and for the benefit of the whole world. “What is most encouraging is the first speech by the new US president and the message that the president of the biggest military power in the world sent to the other countries, which goes like this: ‘I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America first, we will deal fairly with everyone – with everyone, all people, all nations. We will seek partnership, not conflict,” Cubrilovic wrote in his congratulatory note sent to Trump via the US Embassy in B&H. The RS parliament speaker added that on Tuesday night the United States was the center of attention of the whole world, which awaited the election results with complete uncertainty. “Last night, America and its citizens showed everyone that democracy is invincible. Citizens of RS too followed the US Election very attentively, never forgetting until this day that it was exactly the US administration’s intervention that stopped the civil war in B&H and helped the Dayton Peace Agreement to be signed, which treaty is now a guarantor of the existence and equality of RS as one of the two equal entities in B&H,” reads Cubrilovic’s letter of congratulations.

 

B&H officials react to election of Trump (TV1)

B&H Presidency Chair Bakir Izetbegovic, Presidency member Dragan Covic and SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic congratulated Trump for his victory and stressed that the US are an ally of B&H. B&H Presidency member Mladen Ivanic said it seems that US citizens have become tired of political elites and wanted something new, thus the election of Trump. He said he does not believe that international policy of the US will change. B&H Council of Ministers Chair Denis Zvizdic stated that the US understands relations in B&H very well and stressed that the US was always on the side of sovereign, prosperous and European B&H. Deputy Speaker of B&H House of Representatives Borjana Kristo (HDZ B&H) said the election of Trump was a surprise, but added that democratic will of US citizens should be respected. State MP Aleksandra Pandurevic (SDS) said the US is a serious country that has continuity in foreign policy and have long-term strategic plans regardless of the elected president. Izetbegovic voiced his expectation that Trump will be leading the USA in the best possible way. Izetbegovic reminded of good cooperation between the USA and B&H, expressing his hope that such cooperation will continue. “The USA has been strongly supporting B&H in achieving peace and stability, particularly on our path towards membership in the NATO. I expect that such cooperation will continue,” Izetbegovic stressed. Kristo assessed that it is difficult to talk about possible impacts of Trump’s election victory on B&H at this point. She expressed her expectation that the USA’s support to B&H will serve the interests for this country to secure constitutional equality of all three constituent peoples.

 

Hahn: B&H showed that success is possible (Dnevni avaz)

European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn presented on Wednesday before the European Parliament the reports on progress in process of enlargement during 2016. He said on this occasion that B&H proved that success is possible and that the country achieved progress in crucial priorities, which enabled adoption of positive opinion on B&H’s membership application. “The progress must now be sustained,” stressed Hahn, adding that the country must solve structural issues, strengthen the rule of law and conduct public administration reform. Hahn will deliver the European Commission’s questionnaire in Sarajevo on 9 December, as the new step towards the EU membership. In his message to citizens on Wednesday, Hahn emphasized that the authorities must now focus on crucial issues such as youth unemployment, and that they must not allow that rhetoric of division disturbs them in that. He called for a more resolute fight against corruption and organized crime, and establishing of independent judiciary. Commissioner Hahn also commented progress made by Serbia and Montenegro, concluding that facing problems. He underlined that the enlargement remains in interest of the EU, because that means a process of modernization of countries especially in the Western Balkans. Hahn noted as well that radicalization, terrorism and organized crime pose threat to the Western Balkans countries and to the EU, reads the daily.

 

Zvizdic: 2016 Report on B&H clearly recognized credible efforts (TV1)

B&H Council of Ministers Chair Denis Zvizdic, commenting on the 2016 Report on B&H, said the report clearly recognized credible efforts of all levels of authorities in B&H and success in implementation of three main conditions – credible implementation of the Reform Agenda, the adoption of the Coordination Mechanism and adaptation to the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). He said the most important thing is a statement of European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, who said that EU doors are open to all countries of the Western Balkans. Zvizdic said after Hahn brings the questionnaire in B&H on December 9, it will become a priority of all institutions in B&H that will be involved in task forces for giving adequate and timely answers. He explained that the answers are not very important for the EU, but they should serve for realizing to what extent B&H is harmonized with the EU, and to find out how to harmonize the legislation with the EU and adopt European standards. According to Zvizdic, B&H will submit the answers in six months, while the EU will need a few months more to analyze them and hopefully reply by a candidate status.

 

Croatian President confident of good cooperation with Trump (Hina)

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Wednesday expressed confidence that cooperation with the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration in NATO and regarding topics pertaining to southeast Europe would be good. “I believe that we will continue working together so as to make concerted efforts in addressing threats to security and resolve some of the outstanding issues that have been burdening the relations among southeastern European countries for years,” Grabar-Kitarovic said during her visit to the town of Cabar in the Rijeka hinterland. In response to questions from the press, the current president, who in the past performed duties of Croatia's foreign minister, ambassador to the USA and Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy, said she did not have an opportunity to personally meet Trump, however, she is confident of good cooperation with the 45th U.S. president. She said that there are plenty of initiatives and topics which she would like to discuss with the new U.S. administration and added that she would soon thank the outgoing U.S President Barack Obama for cooperation.

 

Croatians in Democratic Party concerned about US foreign policy after Trump’s victory (Hina)

The representative of the Croatian community on the Democratic Party’s National Committee in the United States, Steve Rukavina, on Wednesday expressed concern about the foreign policy of newly-elected US President Donald Trump. There are a lot of questions as to what this election result could mean for US foreign policy. We hope nothing changes as regards full support to NATO, which is of great importance to US-Croatian relations, Rukavina told Hina. Rukavina, who is a coordinator on the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council (NDECC), said that Tuesday's presidential election was anti-establishment and a clear call for change. Many Americans feel neglected and believe that Trump can create jobs and provide a boost to the economy, he concluded.

 

Hahn: Form a government, boycott is not a solution (CDM)

EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that the elections in Montenegro were transparent and that it is the time to form a government. At a press conference in Brussels, he said that Montenegro made good progress on the European path, but that there is room for improvements, particularly in the rule of law. “The legal framework in the field of rule law is almost complete and now the system has to implement what has been adopted to see results. Negotiations with Montenegro will continue at this pace determined by the results of the fight against organized crime and corruption,” said Hahn. He said that the boycott of the parliament is not what democratic majority approves. “Now is the time to form a government. This is not just a request to all parties in Montenegro, but also in the region and beyond. Boycott is not what democratic majority approves,” said Hahn. The rapporteur for Montenegro Charles Tannock said that “tiny Montenegro remained a good story”. Tannock welcomed the elections held last month, which were positively assessed by the OSCE. “I am disappointed that the opposition boycotted the inaugural session,” added Tannock.

 

EC report: Elections transparent; fight against crime and corruption will determine negotiations pace (CDM)

The parliamentary elections of October 2016 were conducted under a substantially revised legal framework and in a more participatory and transparent manner, it is said in the European Commission’s Montenegro 2016 report. The report says that that the legal framework in the field of rule of law has been largely complete, but that the system needs to produce more results, particularly in the fight against organized crime and corruption. “Progress towards meeting the interim benchmarks set in the rule of law chapters will be key for further progress in the negotiations overall,” the report says. When it comes to the economy issues the EC points out that increased level of public debt challenges fiscal sustainability. Commenting on the report, the EU Ambassador to Montenegro Aivo Orav said that the elections were conducted in an atmosphere of respecting mutual rights. “The competent authorities are expected to swiftly and transparently investigate the arrests on the election day and the temporary suspension of two mobile communications platforms,” Orav said. He emphasized the need to resolve the cases of attacks on journalists and commitment to solving border issues with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Orav said that it is important to form a government as soon as possible in order to continue fulfilling the European agenda. He said that he could not go into the details when it comes to fighting crime and corruption but said he expected results. When it comes to the arrests on the election day, Orav said he did not want to comment on that but that the EU expects swift and transparent investigation.

 

What Djukanovic, Vujanovic and other politicians think about the US choice? (CDM)

After the election of Donald Trump, the United States should continue to strengthen relations with Europe, which we belong to, outgoing prime minister Milo Djukanovic said. “There is no doubt that this is a regular win and that the relations in the post-election period will develop differently than it is the case in Montenegro. The US president-elect should be congratulated and we should continue to develop our very good relations. The US needs to continue consolidating relations with Europe, which we belong to. Certain Western Balkan issues should be closed as soon as possible,” he said after consultation with Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic on prime minister designate. Vujanovic is sure that Washington will support continuing ratification of the Montenegro-NATO accession protocol. So far, 13 out of 28 NATO member states have ratified the protocol. “I am convinced that Montenegro will have intensive and beneficial relations with the new administration. I hope Mr. Trump will be favorable to this region. He is a businessman and I expect him to encourage American companies to come to Montenegro,” he said. Dritan Abazovic from the Key coalition says that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were bad candidates and that his favorite lost. “But you see, the Americans want something to change. Is it because of hairstyle or something else - it does not matter. They want to break the boredom. I do not think Trump’s victory will have drastically negative impact on Montenegro's NATO integration,” Abazovic said. The president of the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI) Marija Vucinovic also believes that there will be no problems in the US ratification of the Montenegro-NATO accession protocol. “I think that Trump’s victory cannot have a negative impact on Montenegro. We think that it will not stop ratification of the NATO accession protocol in the Senate,” Vucinovic said. The president of the Bosniak Party (BS) Rafet Husovic also believes that the US administration is serious enough, so that nothing will change in that respect. “We expect everything to be completed by April or May,” Husovic said. The leader of the Social Democrats (SD) Ivan Brajovic also believes that Montenegro will have good relations with all US presidents. “I think that US foreign policy does not depend predominantly on who is the president,” Brajovic said.

 

Putin: Montenegrin government to carry out a balanced policy; Djukanovic: That’s what we do (Vijesti)

Russia hopes that Montenegro leadership will carry out a balanced policy, said Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the ceremony of receiving letters of credence from foreign ambassadors to Russia, including Montenegrin Ambassador Igor Jovovic, Putin said that the relations between Montenegro and Russia were always based on friendship. “We count on Montenegrin government to stick to the balanced policy in order to jointly develop interstate relations in all areas,” said Putin. Replying to that, the outgoing Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said that so far Montenegro had led a balanced policy and openly said that it respected the centuries-long tradition of good cooperation with Russia. “We regret that there have been some problems. I think that we haven’t provoked the problems and I believe we have probably caused dissatisfaction of other circles in Russia with our decision to fulfill our national interests. It is the right of every state, regardless of its size. We are carrying out a balanced policy which will take into account the traditional relations,” the Prime Minister said.

 

EU Ambassador Zbogar Presents EC Progress Report on Macedonia (MIA)

This year Macedonia has obtained yet another recommendation for opening the EU accession talks, but it is conditioned with the implementation of the Przino Agreement, administration of credible early election and completion of the urgent reform priorities, EU Ambassador to the country Samuel Zbogar said on Wednesday. The government that will be set up after the 11 December elections should take advantage of and use this report to turn the conditional recommendation into an unconditional one, Zbogar said. The political crisis has taken too much time, he said, pointing out that the state institutions should restore their credibility, while the EU is ready to grant support for transforming Macedonia in what it deserves to be ­ a democratic, dynamic and prosperous country, capable to offer stability and better prospects to its citizens. On Wednesday, Zbogar presented the European Commission’s progress report on Macedonia at a press conference in the EU Office in Skopje. The 2016 European Commission Progress Report for Macedonia can serve as a roadmap for the activities to be implemented by the new government after the December 11 elections, said Caretaker Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev and EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar after a meeting on Wednesday. “Macedonia’s European agenda remains the country’s top priority in the coming period. The remarks noted in the Progress Report represent a fresh roadmap over the future activities. I hope the EU agenda will again be the main priority after the elections and the composition of the new government,” said Dimitriev after the meeting, at which Zbogar handed over the Progress Report. He voiced hope that the new government could focus more on the EU agenda compared to the previous year, when the country faced enormous political challenges and the migrant crisis. “I hope the elections will create conditions for implementation of the urgent reform priorities that will bring Macedonia closer to the EU, followed by Union accession,” said Dimitriev.

 

Ivanov, Gruevski congratulate Trump (Telegraf.mk/MIA)

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov sent Wednesday a note to Donald Trump congratulating him on his election victory becoming the 45th President­-Elect of the United States. Ivanov wishes him success in carrying out this very responsible office, his cabinet said. “The Republic of Macedonia attaches great importance to the strategic partnership with the United States, and the commitment to its further strengthening is of special interest for the Republic of Macedonia and its citizens. You take the lead of your country in time of security turmoil, global challenges and lack of order. These challenges are inevitably reflected in the countries of the region of Southeast Europe, including the Republic of Macedonia,” the Macedonian President notes. For 25 years of independence and sovereignty, he adds, the Republic of Macedonia has long been facing unfair and unprincipled blockade on our European and Euro Atlantic path. “As the world needs order, so we need consolidation of peace, greater stability, security and democracy in the region. To achieve these goals, integration of the Republic of Macedonia and the entire region into NATO and the European Union is needed, as well as respect for international law. To achieve these goals, the support from the U.S. is of vital importance,” Ivanov says. He says he is confident that the US under Trump’s leadership will help the country meet these highest strategic objectives. “I am confident that in the coming period our strategic partnership will be enhanced and enriched, and therefore, once again, I express our full readiness. I want to assure you that the Republic of Macedonia, as a proven friend and partner of your great nation, will continue to support the US and global efforts for peace, stability and security, based on the need for justice, respect for international law, freedom and human dignity in the world,” President Ivanov concludes.

VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski congratulated Donald Trump on the occasion of his victory in the US presidential election. “I congratulate you and the people of the United States for the victory in the presidential elections. The principle of respect for the will of the people is the highlight of democracy, it is a victory of the right to the free will of all citizens,” the note reads. Your presidency, as the note stated, entails a great honor and responsibility to be a leader in the fight to build a better world, for the restoration and improvement of society. Gruevski in the note wishes Trump luck and success. “At this solemn moment I want to emphasize the satisfaction from the development of relations and cooperation between Macedonia and the United States and also to express our readiness for their further development and intensification in all areas of common interest. NATO membership is our priority and fundamental commitment whereby especially significant is the support from the United States, as our strategic friend,” the note by the President of VMRO-DPMNE reads. Gruevski expressed belief that the friendship and understanding in the relations between the two countries will continue to be nurtured and further developed.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

Serbs Ponder Vucic's Claim to Tito’s Legacy (BIRN, by Milivoje Pantovic, 10 November 2016)

As Aleksandar Vucic increasingly compares his achievements with those of Josip Tito some say he is consciously tapping into a historic yearning among Serbs for an authoritarian leader.

He may once have compared himself to Serbia's reformist late prime minister, Zoran Djindjic, but these days Aleksandar Vucic more often matches his goals and results with those of former Yugoslavia's "president for life", Josip Broz Tito. At a summit in Riga, in the beginning of November, Prime Minister Vucic said one goal of his government was to build twice as much highway as was built during the 35 years of Tito’s rule, when 48 kilometers of highway were built a year on average in Yugoslavia. Earlier this year, Vucic said that under his rule, Serbia had accomplished as much as was ever done during Tito’s reign. “One day, people will say that there was Tito and there was Vucic, who did as much as Tito. Until someone else comes,” Vucic mused to Serbian TV station Prva in April. Tito ruled Yugoslavia from 1945 to his death in 1980, after leading the Partisan struggle during World War II, and many view his time in office with nostalgia, recalling full employment and Yugoslavia's powerful image in the world. Because of his non-aligned diplomatic stance, he was admired also by many in the West, seen as a benign dictator who had successfully maintained peaceful coexistence between the often warring peoples of Yugoslavia. Sociologist and university professor Ratko Bozovic told BIRN on Tuesday that references to Tito are intended to draw on widespread memories of “better times” among the public. The habit of drawing comparisons with Tito started in December 2014, when Vucic claimed that under him, Serbia had regained the good reputation on the international political stage that it had enjoyed under Tito. Before he started mining Tito’s legacy, Vucic was more often compared to the reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, killed in 2003, whose words Vucic used to quote. Ruzica Djindjic, Djindjic's widow, said in March 2013 that she did not object to the comparison, as both men shared an energy that they invested in Serbia's progress. However, Bozovic said the comparison with Tito was highly questionable. “During Tito’s reign, we lived in a relevant country that was destroyed by the same people that are in power now," he said, referring to Vucic's Serbian nationalist past. "Djindjic, on the other hand, was a reformer. The government intends to connect those names with current leader Vucic - despite his own political past,” he added. Bozovic also said that Serbia had again entered a period of autocratic government and a cult of personality was being deliberately created, which, according to him, was easy to do in an impoverished country with a cowed population. “The ruling Progressive Party has already build up a personality cult around Vucic. In an autocracy, it is not important what is written in the law but what the leader says - and we have that situation in Serbia right now,” said Bozovic. He concluded that Vucic had learned his lessons about the importance of the media in the creation of a personality cult while he was Minister for Information during the 1990s, when Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic was in power. Bojan Klacar, director of the Belgrade-based Center for Free Elections and Democracy, CESID, told BIRN that traditional and conservative societies like Serbia's often lean to strong leaders. “The Progressive Party is doing political marketing based on the personality of PM Vucic. We have an ongoing campaign, and all the resources of the government and Progressive Party are being directed to the promotion of Vucic as a leader,” he said. He agreed that Tito is still seen in the collective memory as a figure who delivered peace, stability, and prosperity - and Vucic wants to connect with that image. “On the other hand, the comparison with Djindjic has a different target group, one that does not vote for the Progressive Party," he noted. "Djindjic personified the intellectual elite, a prestige that the Progressive Party is yearning for. Part of the public positively reacts to Tito and other to Djindjic. That is why both of them are mentioned so often,” he observed.