LOCAL PRESS

 

Hahn-Vucic press conference (RTS/B92)

 

The formation of a joint market in the region would bring good to all countries, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn told a joint press conference in Belgrade. They said that this would be a good chance for all countries of the region and that at issue is a market of 20 million people. “If we would form a united market, we would have flat tax rates, and this would imply gain for us and all others in the region,” said Vucic. “It is not important for us whose idea it is, but the important thing is to discuss this,” said Vucic. There are several very important steps before Serbia, mentioned by the Serbian President in the inauguration speech. “This is primarily the continuation of the EU integration, but also opening of an internal dialogue, so we could mark the goals for the future. I wish to thank Hahn for the support when it comes to regional stability, because everything depends from stability and peace in the region. This is our vital goal. Despite the frequent irresponsible and often threatening messages coming from Pristina, we will resume the dialogue,” said Vucic.

Responding to journalists’ questions what he thinks about the inflammatory rhetoric coming from Pristina on the eve of the elections in Kosovo and blackmails regarding the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Hahn said he doesn’t wish to comment statements by Pristina politicians. Instead, he said that all citizens in the region have strong interest for EU membership. “Ordinary citizens wish peace and stability and this can be achieved only with EU membership. A reasonable politician should understand what citizens want and this needs to be implemented,” said Hahn. According to him, statements by Pristina politicians may be interpreted as an election campaign. However, Vucic disagrees with Hahn. He says he doesn’t consider threats coming from the Pristina side to be election rhetoric at all. “Statements that imply threat for the survival of the Serbs and that fact that this goes by unsanctioned are concerning. Had we spoken as Pristina - that we will not continue the dialogue, threatened with violence - I am sure that hundreds of press releases and warning statements for Serbia would have been issued so far,” said Vucic. We have to understand that our view is different from that of the 22 out of 27 EU member states. I am not going to add fuel to fire, I don’t think that at issue is a campaign and receiving of votes, and this is what concerns me. But I am not going to say one bad word and insult anybody, peace and stability is our policy,” said Vucic. “I told our friend Hahn that several important tasks are ahead of us – continuation of the EU path, opening of an internal issue on constitutional amendments and relation on Kosovo and Metohija. “On the one hand, that relation should not be imbued exclusively with a mythical approach, and on the other hand, with an approach saying ‘we will easily give up everything that belongs to us’. This needs to be a serious debate, based on arguments. Once we set the goals for the future, we will easily find the way,” said Vucic. “Everything depends from regional peace and stability. I didn’t want to gain political points by criticizing what everybody has been saying. There have been irresponsible statements that are often threatening, but we need to stick to the appeasing tone, not because we are weak, but because decent people behave this way. We will invest great effort, we are prepared to continue the dialogue with Pristina and we are not interfering in the internal politics of any state in the region, but we are committed to maintaining peace. Many difficult topics with Hahn are ahead of us – rule of law, fight against corruption and we hope we will achieve good results,” said Vucic.

 

Hahn talks with Dacic upon arrival in Belgrade (Tanjug)

 

Upon arriving in Belgrade, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn met with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. Han said that progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is a prerequisite for the EU perspective and voiced expectation that Pristina would confirm commitment to that process since dialogue doesn’t have an alternative, the Serbian Foreign Ministry stated following the meeting between Hahn and Dacic. They assessed that the dialogue must be conducted with concrete results, despite the difficult past, since a successful and constructive dialogue is important for both sides. Hahn reiterated that Vucic had said that he is devoted to dialogue, and the EU expects the same from Pristina since this is a prerequisite for the EU path. Dacic said Serbia would do everything to contribute to resumption of the dialogue with Pristina, but that he also expected that everything that is most important for Serbia, the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, to be fulfilled.

 

Vucic: I hope the EU will understand who wants dialogue (RTS/Beta)

 

The messages of Kosovo Albanian politicians that they will not allow the forming of the Community of Serb Municipalities and their threats are an escalation of verbal hysteria and the European Union, United States and everyone involved in creating the Brussels agreement on normalizing Belgrade-Pristina relations should react, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday. It’s good that the Albanians have said in public that the Community of Serb municipalities will not be formed because they have been tricking their own public and the international community for four years… This is hysteria with the message “planning is one thing, implementation another,” Vucic told reporters in Subotica. He said that Serbia will react to threats calmly and peacefully because it respects what it signed in the Brussels Agreement to April 2013 and the ensuing obligations. Serbia is a sovereign and independent country and asked how anyone has the right to tell it what to do, Vucic said when asked to comment Kosovo President Hashim Tachi’s statement that the threat are the Russian MiG-29 aircraft which are due to arrive in Serbia not the Kosovo military. Stories about the Russians being involved in something are the easiest to sell in the West and that is why someone launches them, Vucic said.

He said that his idea on a regional economic zone was portrayed in the same way even though no one knows whether the Russians support it and what their view is. Vucic voiced the conviction that Serbia’s European path will not be slowed down over the fact that statements are coming from Pristina that the Community of Serb municipalities will never be formed or over claims that action will be launched. I believe and expect us to be more successful and I hope that people in Europe understand well who it is that does not want a dialogue, he said.

 

Drecun: Unity of Kosovo Serbs important more than ever (RTS)

 

Very aggressive political messages coming from Pristina should not surprise us, the least those coming from Ramush Haradinaj who is suspected of most serious crimes, the Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS). “Haradinaj really has the potential to destabilize the situation. He hints at the behavior of Pristina’s so-called OVK (UCK) list following the elections, which is very disturbing, as well as the poor reaction of the EU and the international community. They are announcing that there will be not Community of Serb Municipalities. If they officially give up the Community of Serb Municipalities this would imply the suspension of the Brussels agreement,” said Drecun. He says that the EU reaction depends from their plans and goals here. If they want reconciliation and economic prosperity, opines Drecun, they need to send a strong message that will not be ignored by anyone, including Ramush Haradinaj. What is perhaps more concerning, are the divisions among the Serbs. Six lists registered for the elections and we had the case with Jablanovic who pulled a gun on Serb List representatives. “The Albanians are obviously preparing laws that will be detrimental for the Serbs and this is why the Serbian government is requesting unity through the Serb List. Any other action represents violation of unity and reduces the capacity of the Serbs in the Pristina Assembly. The Albanians need four sure votes from the Serbs for passing laws. That is why all interests must be subordinated to the interests of Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs,” said Drecun.

 

Brammertz: Regional cooperation heading in wrong direction (Tanjug/Beta/RTS)

 

ICTY Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz reiterated before the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that regional judicial cooperation in war crimes justice in the former Yugoslavia was going in the wrong direction. “That is still the case today,” he said, expressing the Office of the Prosecutor’s alarm at an ongoing, widespread denial of crimes.

 

Backovic: Serbia committed to fight against impunity of crimes (Tanjug) Serbia has unambiguously shown its commitment to the fight against impunity of the most serious crimes and to cooperation with the ICTY, Serbian Assistant Justice Minister Cedomir Backovic told the UN SC. “Our criminal legislation is fully aligned with relevant standards and enables cooperation with the ICTY without exception regarding all acts that the SC recognized in the ICTY Statute as serious international crimes,” he said, reflecting on semi-annual reports by ICTY Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Theodor Meron, president of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

 

SNS Presidency: Support to prime minister designate proposed by Vucic (RTS)

 

The SNS presidency unanimously decided yesterday that the Serbian president and leader of that party, Aleksandar Vucic, be the one to propose the new Serbian prime minister designate.

“Vucic will make a concrete proposal within the legal deadline. We can expect a Serbian parliament session about it before his inauguration,” a member of the SNS presidency Maja Gojkovic stated after the session. She stressed that all SNS would support his nominee, and that the country would have a new prime minister in June. “As head of government, Vucic has left Serbia stable in the political and financial sense. We need this policy in the future,” Maja Gojkovic stated. She said that almost all members of the party presidency had participated in the debate about who would be the best prime minister. She said the party wished to continue its cooperation with all the parties with which it ran in the elections, and particularly deepen relations with the Socialist Party of Serbia.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

PIC SB calls on B&H authorities improve overall political atmosphere in the country (FTV)

 

The two-day session of Political Directors of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB) ended in Sarajevo on Wednesday. On this occasion, the PIC SB discussed the current situation in B&H. The PIC SB called on B&H authorities to make steps towards improving the overall political atmosphere in the country, to implement the Reform Agenda, and speed up the European path of B&H. The PIC SB also urged the authorities to refrain from unilateral actions and to strictly adhere to the fundamental principles of compromise, dialogue and consensus. According to the PIC SB, B&H officials keep trying to introduce divisions, like in the case of glorification of war criminals, instead of working together. The PIC SB emphasized that there are differences in views on a number of matters, including amending of the Election Law of B&H. In this regard, the PIC SB warned that any scenario that would call next year’s general elections in B&H in question is unacceptable to the international community (IC). In addition, the PIC SB concluded that the focus should be set on implementation of rulings of the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR), solving the issue of elections in Mostar and progressing on the European path of B&H.

Addressing a press conference after the session, High Representative Valentin Inzko stated that the PIC SB noticed that the pre-election campaign has already started for some parties. “However, we reiterate that the pre-election period is something that lasts 30 days rather than 15 months. Time should be used for work”, Inzko added. Inzko emphasized that this country must urgently fulfill the remaining conditions within the arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to enable realization of international assistance, fiscal stability and economic development. Asked by media when it is possible to expect closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), Inzko replied that he would be happy to leave B&H as soon as possible, but that it is not up to him to decide. Inzko explained that the Agenda ‘5+2’, which implies solving the issues of military property registration and establishment of positive political atmosphere, should be fully implemented prior to closure of the OHR. The High Representative noted that the PIC SB would then need to make a positive assessment of the political situation in B&H. The PIC SB Political Directors unanimously adopted the Communiqué, without dissenting opinions, concluding that the OHR should stay in B&H as there are still no conditions to shut it down. Inzko warned that the situation has gotten worse in terms of the rule of law, since corruption and political sponsorship are visible elements of the political system with almost no consequences to those who are responsible for such situation. The PIC SB Political Directors also concluded that the issue of Mostar must be finally solved and that the general elections must be held in 2018.

 

Zvizdic held a meeting with Head of the EP Delegation for Relations with B&H and Kosovo (Hayat)

 

Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic held a meeting with Head of the European Parliament (EP) Delegation for Relations with B&H and Kosovo Tonino Picula and EP Rapporteur for B&H Cristian Dan Preda, which took place in Sarajevo on Wednesday. They discussed the reform path of B&H over the past two years, concluding that the country has managed to overcome certain obstacles in terms of economic and social issues, regardless of how complicated it was. However, Picula underlined that these two years are a good opportunity to say that the things cannot go on like this anymore. He argued that it is obviously difficult to reach an agreement in the institutions of B&H, which requires a sort of compromise.

“B&H must put a lot of effort into achieving its European ambitions. This is a time that raises a serious question as to whether the EU integration process and the EU enlargement process are still identical processes. Therefore, it will be necessary to exert much more efforts than what it took for a country to join the EU 10 or 15 years ago,” Picula stressed. Preda said that the EP certainly supports B&H’s efforts on its path towards the EU. He reminded that the EP and EU institutions are still waiting for the country to provide credible answers to the European Commission’s (EC) Questionnaire. In this context, he stressed the importance of trust among all participants in this process. “I call on all representatives and working groups to gather and work on preparation and harmonization of the answers, which is not impossible to do”, Preda was quoted as saying. The EU officials also warned that B&H is the only country aspiring to join the EU that still has not established the parliamentary supervision over the stabilization and association process. Commenting on this issue, Zvizdic argued that further obstructions by some of the members of the B&H Parliament would be absolutely unfounded in this context. “It is time to finally establish this Committee, so that we could more actively participate in the meetings and processes at the EP,” Zvizdic said. He also welcomed the EU officials’ call for adoption of the set of laws on excise duties.

 

Zvizdic met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary Hoyt Brian Yee (Hayat)

 

Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Brian Yee in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The two officials discussed the current situation in B&H, as well as the country’s most important priorities in the upcoming period. They concluded that B&H’s integration with the EU and NATO is a basis for stable economic and political progress of the country, so it is of crucial importance to work on implementation of these goals. Yee expressed full support of the US to reform processes in B&H and said that they are a condition for functional and stable B&H. US Ambassador to B&H Maureen Cormack was also present at the meeting. Zvizdic stated there have been some positive developments in the region lately, including formation of the new Macedonian government and accession of Montenegro to NATO, which clearly shows regional progress in the process of the EU integration. He also pointed out he is content with positive economic indicators in B&H.

 

Dodik and Radojicic meet Eichhorst (RTRS)

 

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik met with Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey in the European External Action Service (EEAS) Angelina Eichhorst in Banja Luka on Wednesday. Dodik stressed that the RS is committed to the process of EU integration, but that it must be visible on the European path in accordance with its constitutional powers. Dodik said that he expects institutions at all levels of government to do their part of the job in accordance with the Coordination Mechanism. Mayor of Banja Luka Igor Radojicic also met with Eichhorst. Eichhorst said that Radojicic and she had a very good discussion about the future.

 

Hellbach: We want to save Western Balkans from political elites (Nezavisne)

 

Commissioner of German Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Southeast Europe, Turkey and EFTA countries Christian Hellbach said that the Western Balkans and B&H are high amongst priorities of the EU at the moment, but not as big priority as it should be, because he believes that the effective transformation of the region that would come from the EU integration is very important issue, especially from the security aspect: “We have weak countries at our border that can become fertile ground for organized crime and extremist movements.” Asked about the information about the “Balkan Plus” initiative, Hellbach confirmed that the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs is indeed working on an initiative aimed at increasing EU engagement in the Western Balkans. “There is a true danger of the region facing complete demographic disaster. Young people are leaving from B&H and the whole region. If they leave, who is going to build the country? We must speed up transformation of the Western Balkans, we cannot lose time anymore, otherwise, in a decade, we will face the truth that we did too little too late,” he said and noted that they need support of both European and German parliaments for the initiative: “With this initiative we want to give additional force to the EU agenda. Through the German-UK initiative we made several steps towards Europe. However, the fact that the process is in a stalemate is alarming. We keep talking about dedication to EU integration and how everything is wonderful, but we are not seeing concrete and real steps that truly lead to that. There is no transformation of society, no true change.” Hellbach noted that the reforms are necessary in order for the regional countries to become EU members, because that is not going to happen with the institutions and judiciary as it is. That is why the focus of the EU will be on establishing rule of law, fight against crime and fight against corruption.

Asked about the constant talks about secession, third entity and revisions of verdicts, Hellbach said that they keep dealing with artificially caused crises, as their goal is to distract from true problems – the main problem being the fact that B&H is trapped by the political elites that refuse to change anything in the country. He noted that the new initiative for the Western Balkans can change things, but it will not offer a magical instant solution. “We want to save these countries from political elites that are keeping them hostage.”

Commenting a statement of German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the EU can no longer rely on the US support when it comes to the Western Balkans, Hellbach stated that the US remain one of the most important partners of the EU for the Western Balkans, underlining that Chancellor’s statement did not refer to their cooperation in the region. Hellbach underlined that both the EU and the US believe there will be no new changes of borders in the region despite some claims of Greater Albania, but they are concerned about nationalistic rhetoric, as it cannot contribute to reconciliation and stability. He concluded he believes the EU and the US will continue to work together and help the countries deal with the issues of corruption and lack of rule of law.

 

HNS changes mind on entering into coalition with HDZ (N1)

 

On Wednesday evening, the HNS Main Committee decided that it would reject the decision made by the party Presidency on Tuesday and enter into a coalition with HDZ.

Although on Tuesday it seemed that HDZ would not be able to successfully conclude a coalition reshuffle and find a new ruling majority in the Parliament, after ejecting MOST from the coalition more than a month ago, Wednesday changed everything. While on Tuesday evening the HNS Presidency decided not to enter into a coalition, which caused party president Ivan Vrdoljak to resign, the party’s Main Committee, a much larger body, decided to reject that decision and enter into coalition negotiations with HDZ. HNS has 9 MPs in the parliament, but four of them have announced they will not abide by the party’s decision and would still vote against the government, which is expected to lead to their expulsion from the party. The four MPs are Goran Beus Richembergh, Nada Turina, Anka Mrak Taritas and Vesna Pusic, former Foreign Minister, and long-time party President. They said they were shocked and saddened by the party’s decision. The other five MPs are expected to support the new government. According to media reports, out of 107 members of the Main Committee present at the meeting, only 20 were against the coalition with HDZ, while nine abstained from voting. Despite the change of opinion, former party president Vrdoljak said he would still retire from politics and withdraw from the Parliament, where he is still an MP. The chief proponent of the deal with HDZ was Predrag Stromar, Vrdoljak’s deputy and now acting party President, who explained the party’s change of mind to reporters. “The Main Committee did not accept the Presidency's decision. We will start negotiations with HDZ based on the platform that we have put forward. After talking with them, we will know a lot more. This does not mean that the outcome of negotiations will be positive or that a coalition is inevitable. This is the first step on our side. We have proposed three ministers for the new government. Blazenka Divjak would be the Minister of Education and Science, which means that current Education Minister Barisic would have to leave the government. Ranko Marijan would be the Minister of Justice, and I would be the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction,” said Stromar after the vote. The decision is being criticized and referred to as a betrayal of HNS’s voters, since the party went into the last elections as part of a left-wing coalition with SDP, and has now decided to support the centre-right HDZ government. “We have not cheated our voters. We want what is good for Croatia, we want an open society. Voters will realize that. We want curricular reforms to continue,” said Stromar after the vote. Despite numerous rumors that HNS was in secret negotiations with HDZ during the last month and a half, ever since MOST was ejected from the government, party leaders repeatedly said they would never enter into a coalition with HDZ. However, as soon as local elections were over, as expected, they publicly changed their mind. Their explanation is that they are doing it for the good of the country and not for their personal benefit and positions in government, nor, in their own words, are they doing it for state-owned companies, which they are now sure to gain.

 

HNS demands three ministries (Hina)

 

The head committee of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) on Wednesday evening decided to, contrary to the recommendation of the party presidency, support the possibility of forming a coalition with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the HNS will ask for three ministries in return -- the justice ministry, the science and education ministry and the construction ministry, acting HNS president Predrag Stromar told reporters. HDZ deputy president and parliament deputy speaker Milijan Brkic said on late Wednesday evening that the HNS would be represented in the Andrej Plenkovic cabinet proportionally to the support this party might ensure among lawmakers for the government.

 

Austerity measures or debt crisis (RTCG)

 

Montenegro would experience a debt crisis if there were no strategies and austerity measures that the government plans to implement, said Martin Petri of the IMF at the press conference. He said that the package of measures was good, that the measures were realistic and that the result could be even better than we currently expected. The Government of Montenegro will increase the general value added tax (VAT) rate from 19 to 21 % in the next year, and the excise tax on cigarettes, alcohol, coal and carbonated water will also increase, while the lower VAT rate of 7% will remain unchanged. It is planned to freeze employment in the public sector by replacing three natural job vacancies with one new employee. The revision of compensation payments to mothers with three or more children is also planned. Among other things, the measures provide 6% reduction of officials’ salaries. The government of Montenegro says that measures are unpopular, but that the consolidation of public finances is necessary. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed support to the government for the proposed measures.

At a joint conference of Minister Radunovic, CBC Governor Radoje Zugic and Head of Mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Martin Petri, one of the subjects was the fiscal consolidation by 2020. Finance Minister Darko Radunovic said that all citizens would be affected by new austerity measures in "the slightest form" and that the situation is not ideal, but that the goal is to have a sustainable budget. He said that the state would not enter into an arrangement with the IMF, but that international organization provided technical assistance. He explained that new measures in public sector did not mean dismissing workers, but retirements, redistribution of jobs and internal ads, while the pensions would not be frozen. The IMF chief Martin Petri stressed that Montenegro's biggest problem is debt.

 

Indictment against Mandic and Knezevic validated (Dan)

 

High Court in Podgorica has validated the indictment against Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic in the state coup case, the court confirmed for Dan. Thus, conditions are met for the beginning of a trial for DF’s leaders. In addition to the DF leaders, the Special State Prosecutor’s Office’s (SDT) indictment includes two Russian nationals Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov; Serbian citizens Milos Jovanovic, Nemanja Ristic, Predrag Bogicevic, Bratislav Dikic, Kristina Hristic, Branka Milic, Milan Dusic, Dragan Maksic, Srboljub Djordjevic; and DF driver Mihailo Cadjenovic. DF translator/interpreter Ananije Nino Nikic has been charged in a separate case.

According to the indictment, on 16 October last year a coup was prevented in Montenegro.

Defendants in the coup case said that the charges were unfounded and arbitrary and that it should be returned to SDT for complementing, in order for the evidence to be better understood. Some of them even demanded rejecting it due to lack of evidence. The defendants’ attorneys see the fact that the indictment was based on the testimony of cooperative witnesses Sasa Sindjelic as particularly controversial. According to them, his testimony has been completely destroyed by Serbian Security and Intelligence Agency (BIA) and Ministry of Interior. Milan Knezevic’s attorney Miroje Jovanovic submitted to the court a document obtained from the Serbian ministry showing that Sindjelic had not left Serbia from 1 January to 23 October 2016. On the other hand, according to the indictment, it was found that Shishmakov established the criminal organization, together with Vladimir Popov. Allegedly they gave instructions and orders to the members of the organization to commit the offenses. “After meeting with Sasa Sindjelic in Moscow, at which Shishmakov presented his criminal plan, Shishmakov and Popov came to Serbia to implement the criminal plan. They stayed in different hotels in Belgrade until 21 October 2016, which was determined by checking the state border crossings records and relevant documents on their stay,” the indictment says.

 

NATO and EU mustn’t allow Balkans to be Europe’s “soft underbelly” (Dnevne novine)

 

Montenegrin NATO membership is a good reminder to other countries in the region to respond prudently and adequately to the messages coming from the EU and NATO, DPS leader Milo Djukanovic said in an interview with the Austrian national television ORF. He said that the door was open towards the two organizations and that they should be entered by carrying out reforms.

Djukanovic, who is a key figure of Montenegro’s membership in NATO, said that membership in the alliance meant that there was yet another place in the world today where European heritage and culture was promoted. Djukanovic commented on the relations on the global political stage, within the European Union, with a focus on the region and the creation of conditions for the Western Balkans to ensure lasting stability and catch up with the developed European countries. He also said that NATO and the EU should help the pro-European governments in the region.

“Those governments face difficulties – I can tell that as someone who used to lead such a government for more than 20 years. If you want to get an alibi why Montenegro or any other Western Balkans society should not be a part of the EU, you can always obtain one and say: a substantial part of the public is still against it. I think it is not the role of a government. I believe the role of a government is not to follow the public opinion, but to create it and change unfavorable historical legacy. Montenegro has followed that direction,” Djukanovic said. Djukanovic said that infrastructure projects were of great importance for the integration of the region into the EU. “I dare to say that Europe has done all but nothing so far in terms of this matter. It is necessary to make a corridor that will connect the EU with the Western Balkans. First of all, I think it should be the Adriatic-Ionian corridor. Also, it is necessary to make strong energy connections. When you create those two preconditions, then you have physically integrated the Western Balkans in Europe. Everything without that is just an empty talk,” said Djukanovic. If Europe does not decide to continue such assistance to the Western Balkans following the idea of ​​the Berlin process, then, as DPS leader said, there will be more room for forces of political destruction in the future, the ones we currently see in the region coming from Moscow. “We will be responsible for the empty space left in the Balkans to still hold the region in a historic delusion and away from the European system of values… and consequently for the Balkans to be a “soft underbelly” of Europe. Therefore, Europe will be forced to deal every now and then with solving conflicts in the Balkans, instead of its own development,” Djukanovic said.

 

Zaev to visit Brussels on Monday for talks with Mogherini, Hahn (MIA)

 

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and the Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, this coming Monday will host in Brussels the new Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev, it was confirmed Wednesday. Monday will mark Zaev's first official visit to Brussels after assuming office as premier of the country, MIA reports from the Belgian capital. Mogherini and Hahn in the meetings with Zaev will reiterate their commitment to support the new government, and the opposition, in their efforts to deliver their common goal for EU-related reforms, according to a spokesperson of the European Commission. "They are offering their assistance in this regard and will insist upon implementation of all parts of the Przino Agreement and the Urgent Reform Priorities. This is of essential importance to get the country back on the right track towards European integration," Maja Kocijancic told MIA.

 

Tsipras and Zaev in telephone call (MIA)

 

Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic perspective, the name issue and possibilities for development of bilateral relations were discussed during a telephone call between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev. Tsipras and Zaev also exchanged opinions over the promotion of the confidence-building measures between the two countries, as well as regional developments, said the Greek PM's Office. Tipras congratulated Zaev on assuming the PM post and reiterated Greece's positions regarding the name row. In a Macedonian Television interview with chief editors of leading media late on Tuesday, PM Zaev expressed hope that Macedonia would soon join NATO under the interim reference, in parallel with the name row discussions with Greece. "In this regard, I hope it is possible for Macedonia to soon become NATO member under the interim reference, accompanied by at least approximation of certain positions with Greece, sending of positive messages, confirming the confidence-building measures launched by the previous government that we indent to upgrade. In this way, we can create an ambiance of Macedonia being partially unblocked", said Zaev. Countries' foreign ministers are expected to meet soon after Greek top diplomat Nikos Kotzias extended an invitation to Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov for a visit to Athens.

 

Baily says US will support Macedonia in reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the Greek issue (MIA)

 

American Ambassador to Macedonia Jess Baily said that the United States always have and will continue to support Macedonia in reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue with Greece, which blocked our NATO accession. Baily made the comments after newly appointed Prime Minister Zoran Zaev spoke with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on ways to resolve the name issue. Baily said that it is good that Macedonia and Greece are talking, but that he will not discuss outcomes of the talks. According to Baily, the US will support Macedonia in achieving its European Union and NATO accession goals. Baily also said that there needs to be unity in the entire society, including the opposition on the rule of law reform steps that need to be taken.

 

DM Sekerinska meets US, Croatian Ambassadors in separate meetings (MIA)

 

Minister of Defense Radmila Sekerinska and US Ambassador Jess Baily concluded Wednesday that the two countries nourish close and fruitful cooperation as regards defense and security, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. "The Ministry and the government of Macedonia appreciate the political and military support of the United States, which has helped shape the Army and defense system. Our strategic goal is full-fledged membership into NATO and the EU," said Minister Sekerinska. According to her, Macedonia is proud of being one of the initiators of the Adriatic Charter. From today's point of view, it is frustrating that all member countries, but Macedonia, are part of NATO now, Sekerinska noted. She vowed efforts would be made to modernize the Army of Macedonia.

In a separate meeting with Croatia's Ambassador to Macedonia Danijela Barishic, Minister Sekerinska extended gratitude to Croatia for its continuous support and the countries' excellent cooperation. According to Barishic, Macedonia can count of Croatia's support to meet its strategic goals, NATO and EU integration, stated a press release of the Ministry.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

US Balkan Policy Will Eventually Catch Up With Reality (BIRN, by Timothy Less, 8 June 2017)

 

At some point, Washington will be forced to re-engage with the Balkans and work out a new policy that is in tune with political reality.

Not everything about Donald Trump is unpredictable. At least towards the Balkans, his policy so far has be¬en entirely consistent in its general indifference. Not only is the region irrelevant to his political programme, it’s also of marginal interest to the country he leads. No doubt Trump wants the best for the Balkans. But as the EU’s backyard, he would no doubt argue it’s a place where Europeans must take the lead. So Florian Bieber shouldn’t be surprised that American policy toward the Balkans has not changed discernibly since Trump took office. It’s business-as-usual on the ground as ambassadors press ahead with their civilising mission - bringing democracy, justice and prosperity to the natives, guiding the region towards the sunlit uplands of the European Union, and clamping down on the nationalists who threaten to return the region to barbarity. However, it would be wrong to conclude from all this that American policy towards the Balkans is set in stone. On the contrary, an important debate is beginning in the media and the political institutions about the United States’ approach to the region. Bieber cites dissenting comments by the congressman and Chairman of the House’s Europe, Subcommittee Dana Rohrabacher and the security analyst John R. Schindler.He could have added those of the former Deputy Chief of the CIA’s Balkan Task Force, Steven Meyer. In my own country, the UK, an ex-ambassador to Belgrade, Ivor Roberts, has suggested a land swap between Serbia and Kosovo and another, Charles Crawford, has written about the ‘existential instability’ of the current regional settlement. These comments have received extensive scrutiny from defenders of the current policy, generating a loud and vigorous online discussion. The debate is also taking place outside the media glare. Various think tanks have been holding seminars that invite ‘blue skies’ thinking about international policy towards the Balkans. And after setting out my views in Foreign Affairs, I received a plethora of mail from individuals in the US who question its approach. Florian Bieber dismisses those who advocate a change in policy as pipe-dreamers. But to do so is to misunderstand how foreign policy evolves over time. As I discovered during my time as a diplomat, there is no document lying in a drawer which permanently defines a government’s policy towards the Balkans or any other region. Instead, policy is the product of a continuous dialogue within a specialist community encompassing officials, special advisers, intelligence analysts, parliamentarians, academics, think tankers, journalists and lobbyists who are actively monitoring and responding to events on the ground. When the dialogue between these people begins to change, so, eventually, does the policy.

Why, then, is the dialogue now changing?

It is not, I would suggest, because of the ‘void of no discernible Balkan policy’ created by Trump. In the absence of new instructions, the institutions are continuing to run with the policy from the Obama era: nationalist politicians have been sanctioned and sidelined, Montenegro has joined NATO, and so on. More precisely, the debate about the Balkans is changing because it’s increasingly clear to many observers that Western policy towards the region is just not working.

In its simplest form, the West has tried to nurture a durable peace in the Balkans by offering it the prospect of integration with NATO and the EU. This, it was hoped, would stabilise the region by guaranteeing its security and prosperity, and allowing divided nations to be reunited in a borderless Europe. Twenty years on, however, reality falls far short of this ideal. Sometime during the last decade, the basic goal of peace in the region got lost as the EU insisted that weak and economically handicapped states meet an impossible number of political and technical conditions before they could be accepted as members. Now the politics have turned against enlargement as the EU languishes in a state of apparently permanent crisis created by the intractable contradictions of the euro zone, differences over migration policy, and much more besides. In most EU countries, public opinion is hostile to further enlargement into the Balkans, whose problems can only add to the EU’s own. This is having perverse effects in the region, where the failure of ‘Europeanisation’ is plunging almost every state into a political crisis of some kind, manifest in institutional paralysis, unrest on the streets, alienation from the political process and growing cynicism towards Western officials who appear to support any local leader who endorses Euro-Atlantic integration, regardless of their fitness for office.

As the promise of EU membership dies, people are instead investing their hopes and dreams in the nation, encouraged by corrupt politicians who are happy to champion nationalism to stay in power. Albanian leaders talk openly about the possibility of unifying their territory if they cannot join the EU. Macedonian protestors demonstrate against enhanced Albanian rights. A Serbian president threatens to go to war in Kosovo. Croatian politicians sing songs to Herzeg Bosna.

Those who know the recent history of the Balkans should not be surprised by any of this. In different circumstances, the region is simply replaying the events of the 1980s when the failure of another ideological project, Titoist-style socialism, encouraged people to take refuge in the nation. Not everyone, of course, has abandoned the European dream. Significant numbers still believe – in a triumph of hope over experience - that the mechanism of European integration can yet be made to work, just as many in the eighties believed that socialism could be revitalised.

But this belief relies on so much changing – a revival of the EU and eastward enlargement, an unprecedented drive at reform in the region, a decisive re-engagement by the United States and Russia’s willingness to stay out of the Balkans – that the chances of success are severely limited.

Since the existing policy is not working, and because the actual consequences are an uncontrolled rise in nationalism and civil unrest, various commentators are naturally coming forward with new suggestions for upholding stability in the Balkans that get beyond European integration. For many, that means revisiting the question of borders. This is not because borders are the only problem in the region but because illegitimate borders - and everything that follows from them in terms of power, security, rights and opportunities - are the casus belli for any renewed inter-ethnic violence. My own view is that the West should recognise the inevitability of a collapse of the ‘Post-Yugoslav settlement’ and switch its focus from trying to uphold something that cannot be preserved to managing its orderly undoing, with the end goal of establishing legitimate nation states. This doesn’t mean the United States should charge in and carve up ostensibly peaceful countries in the manner of a nineteenth-century colonialist.

But it does mean that Western policymakers should generally support demands by minorities for greater devolution along national lines; accept closer cross-border cooperation between national kin; and stop promoting the ‘principle’ of multi-ethnicity, the main beneficiaries of which are opportunistic politicians who enrich themselves on the backs of people’s fears of what another national group will do to them. Of course, nothing sufficiently dramatic has happened in the Balkans since Donald Trump came to power to compel the White House to take up these suggestions. As I stated at the outset, policy continues to be run by local ambassadors who promote a theoretical process of European integration and leverage this to involve themselves in the nooks and crannies of their host countries’ domestic politics. When things get out of control, as they did recently in Albania when the opposition boycotted the elections, or in Macedonia, where the president refused to give a mandate to a winning coalition, their superiors from the State Department fly in to bang local heads together. All this is broadly in the American interest. For as long as these ambassadors and officials can keep a lid on things in the Balkans, they free up the president and the Secretary of State to focus on more urgent international problems such as Syria and North Korea. However, this approach will be difficult to sustain into the next