United Nations Office in Belgrade

 

Daily Media Highlights

 

Wednesday 7 February 2018

LOCAL PRESS

 

• Brnabic: Opportunity offered by EU to be used (Beta)
• Joksimovic: Agreement with Pristina to come at end of process (Tanjug/Beta)
• Fabrizi: Serbia no problem, but part of solution (Tanjug)
• Mogherini: Vucic and Thaci launched new stage of dialogue (Beta)
• Vulin: Kosovo issue must not be handed over to EU bureaucrats (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Security Council an opportunity for us to present the truth (RTS)
• Miscevic: Serbia must complete negotiating process in 2023 (Tanjug)

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Wigemark: B&H achieves significant progress on path towards EU (TV1)
• B&H politicians react to EC Strategy for Western Balkans (FTV)
• Fierce reactions to Covic’s statement on B&H as ‘Islamic state’ (Faktor.ba/ NAP)
• US Embassy: Unfounded and untrue statements of RS President are counter-productive; Dodik replies (N1)
• RS bothered by English translation of harmonized answers to Questionnaire (NAP)
• Reactions to the initiative for B&H to get its state anthem with lyrics (N1)

Croatia

• Croatian PM addresses MEPs in European Parliament (HRT)
• Croatian-Slovenian border dispute is both bilateral and European problem, says Juncker; Cerar refuses bilateral solution (HRT)

Montenegro

• Postponement of Markovic’s visit to Kosovo (RTCG)
• Mogherini and Hahn: We want the Balkans in the EU (CDM)
• Scekic gets another term of office as Berane mayor (CDM)

fYROM

• Zaev: EC Strategy - good news for Macedonia (MIA)
• Zbogar: 2025 deadline is too ambitious for Western Balkans states (MIA)
• EC commends Macedonia’s significant progress on its road to EU (MIA)
• Zaev: We are ready for a geographical heading, and the airport will be called – International airport “Skopje” (Meta)
• Public fully informed about Zaev’s meeting with Tsipras in Davos, says government (Meta/ Euronews)

Albania

• Mogherini: Albania and Montenegro, more closely with EU policies (ADN)

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

• Western Balkans: A new start for Europe (EUobserver)

 

LOCAL PRESS

 

Brnabic: Opportunity offered by EU to be used (Beta)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that the Enlargement Strategy in the Western Balkans considers Serbia as a leader, noting that Serbia will continue to implement reforms faster, while regional cooperation will still be a priority. After the EC adopted this document, Brnabic told reporters in the Serbian government that an important message was sent today that recognising individual results is important. Serbia should be satisfied today. We are proud and happy because our country is recognized as a leader. We worked hard to achieve this, and we will have to work much more in weeks, months and years to come, she said. Brnabic said that Serbia needs to work every day to join the European family of nations. According to Brnabic, the document suggests a greater presence of the EU in the form of new and positive initiatives. Also, she stated that the strategy clearly shows that the EU will launch six sectoral initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and additional financing and technical support from the EU. She noted that they concern the strengthening of the rule of law, engaging in the security sector and migration, supporting socio-economic development, increasing infrastructure connectivity, digital agenda and supporting reconciliation and good neighborly relations. The Prime Minister stressed that cooperation in the region will remain one of the priorities, while Serbia continues to show how committed it is. We will continue to support Albania and Macedonia to open negotiations as soon as possible and we will be available to support everyone regarding the European perspective, she noted, adding that without the region's connection there is no stability.

I would especially like to point out that the Strategy, which gives the possibility of enlargement and the chance of entry by 2025, has recognized the enlargement as a mechanism for further strengthening and stability of the EU, Brnabic said. She also assessed that the visits of Commissioner Johannes Hahn and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, as well as the previous visit by President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani are extremely important. She concluded that these three visits to Serbia provide a clear and unequivocal signal that we are on the right track, and that regional cooperation is extremely important, adding that the government of Serbia now has even greater responsibility to make reforms go even faster.

 

Joksimovic: Agreement with Pristina to come at end of process (Tanjug/Beta)

 

Serbian European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic said the EU Enlargement Strategy clearly stated Chapter 35 on Kosovo in Serbia’s accession talks would be the last to be closed and that it was assumed that a legally binding agreement with Pristina would come at the very end of the process. “Even the strategy does not set 2019 as the date for this,” she told reporters.

She underlines that the agreement actually needs to stem from the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and reiterated Serbia’s stand that there is no recognition of the self-declared independence of Kosovo and that precisely through this dialogue sustainable solutions are sought that will be lead to normalization.

 

Fabrizi: Serbia no problem, but part of solution (Tanjug)

 

For Brussels, Serbia is not a problem in the issue of Kosovo, but a part of the solution, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi told a press conference in Belgrade after the adoption of the EU Enlargement Strategy. When asked by a reporter to comment on claims the Kosovo issue had blackmail potential and whether Serbia was a partner or a problem for the EU in this regard, Fabrizi responded: “We are not speaking about blackmail, but about a dialogue between two sides that are communicating, and we are the ones who should alleviate. There is no blackmail. We see Serbia not as a problem, but as part of a solution that will strengthen the EU,” said Fabrizi. He said there were a lot of issues to discuss, including the rule of law, a free judiciary, market economy and political resolve, and that reconciliation and normalization of relations with Kosovo were key. Before joining the EU, a legally binding agreement that will lead to a comprehensive normalization of relations between the two sides should be agreed and enforced, Fabrizi said. He added that the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci, had agreed to launch a new stage in the normalization of relations, and voiced the conviction that the two sides would reach an agreement.

 

Mogherini: Vucic and Thaci launched new stage of dialogue (Beta)

 

The EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said in Strasbourg on Feb. 6 that she felt encouraged by the fact that, a few months ago, the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci had launched a new stage of the dialogue geared toward the normalization of relations. She further voiced the conviction that this initiative could be a success if there was political will, leadership and support on both sides. This was Mogherini's response when asked, after the presentation of the Western Balkans Strategy before the European Parliament, whether Serbia would have to recognize Kosovo before it could join the EU and how the EU members that had not recognized the territory could be made to do so. She stressed that the future dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo was absolutely essential, first of all to Serbia and Kosovo themselves - not just in terms of their bilateral relations, but also as related to the region and their prospects with the EU.

 

Vulin: Kosovo issue must not be handed over to EU bureaucrats (Tanjug)

 

The resolution of the Serb national issue must not be handed over to EU bureaucrats, Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said regarding recommendations presented in the EU Enlargement Strategy that Serbia should reach a legally-binding agreement with Kosovo and Metohija. Commenting these recommendations, Vulin points to the collision in the Strategy text, in two items. “If we need to reach a legally-binding agreement with somebody who is not mentioned and is not seen as a state, then this can hardly be our obligation,” said Vulin. He says that nothing that we will be doing in the region of Kosovo and Metohija will be caused by our EU path and everything that we do there we are doing because we think it is good for the Serb people, and not because we think that this would be liked by the EU bureaucracy. He says there is certain fatigue inside the EU from enlargement. “The fact is that numerous reforms suit us and make a better place for life. We need to admit all this and go in this direction, but when it comes to the important elements of our national being, the resolution of our national issue, we will be deciding about this with the understanding of pressures, but also with refusing pressures,” concluded Vulin.

 

Djuric: Security Council an opportunity for us to present the truth (RTS)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that the adoption of the EC Enlargement Strategy is good and important news. “The Strategy shows that Serbia is occupying a better place in the international community and that its reputation has improved, which means a lot in view of the fight for preserving Kosovo and Metohija,” said Djuric. A good relationship with the EU is important due to the overall foreign-political position of Serbia. “However, I would also like the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) to be mentioned more frequently in all documents where Pristina is requested to cooperate. The ZSO is not sufficiently frequently pointed to the foreground. “Holding of UN Security Council session terribly annoys separatists because it proves that nothing has been resolved in Kosovo and Metohija, even though they tried to resolve the status. At the level of the World Organization and for the majority of the population of this planet this topic has not been regulated as it suits them. This is an opportunity for us to present the truth about the suffering our people and I think that Serbia is well represented there,” said Djuric.

Djuric claims that Belgrade, despite claims from Pristina, has not received a single document about the investigation into Oliver Ivanovic’s assassination. “I talked yesterday with all competent institutions. Nobody has received one single data from Pristina, this speaks a lot about the character of the investigation, the intention of those who are conducting it. Something is not right here,” said Djuric.

 

Miscevic: Serbia must complete negotiating process in 2023 (Tanjug)

 

The Head of the Serbian EU negotiating team Tanja Miscevic has stated Serbia must complete the EU accession process in 2023 to be able to meet the timeframe for potential accession in 2025. Speaking at a conference organized by the Centre for Foreign Policy in Belgrade, Miscevic noted the document did what had also been noticeable last year, when, as she said, some EU officials identified and rediscovered the region and all individual states. That was when a significant discussion about the Western Balkans and the enlargement policy began, she said.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Wigemark: B&H achieves significant progress on path towards EU (TV1)

 

Head of the EU Delegation (EUD) to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Lars-Gunnar Wigemark stated on Tuesday that the EU’s new strategy for the Western Balkans indicates that the game has just started and that everyone will be treated equally. He stressed that any kind of decision on enlargement or candidate status is only in the hands of member states of the EU. In his opinion, B&H has achieved significant progress over the past three years. The EU expects the answers to the Questionnaire to be ready at least by the end of February. The answers will be considered later on and further progress will be visible soon after that. Speaking about the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA), Ambassador Wigemark stated that the EU nowhere explicitly asked for changes to the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), but that there are certain parts, such as ethnic prefixes, which are not in line with European standards. "Yes, there are certain aspects and parts of the Dayton Agreement which will have to be adapted or changed as part of the accession process. But, there will not be a complete change of the Agreement. The Dayton is here and it is here to stay," Ambassador Wigemark underlined. He added that method of election of members of B&H Presidency is not in line with the EU principles. He emphasized that some elements of the DPA will be possibly modified in the process of accession to the EU. He concluded that the future of B&H should be a topic of any kind of discussion. The EU’s new Strategy for the Western Balkans confirms that the door is open to everyone.

 

B&H politicians react to EC Strategy for Western Balkans (FTV)

 

Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic stressed that the time ahead of us should be used to implement reforms and fulfill conditions on the European path. Izetbegovic said that the new Strategy enables B&H to take part in an open race on the path towards EU membership in which, according to Izetbegovic, B&H can catch up and overtake the countries which are currently ahead of it. Izetbegovic deemed as very important the fact that in the near future special attention will be paid to connecting the EU and the Western Balkans in the area of security. Izetbegovic also welcomed the fact that the Strategy for the Western Balkans points out that future EU members cannot block the accession of other candidate countries and that all countries will have to resolve bilateral disputes before becoming EU members.

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H Denis Zvizdic commented the new Strategy, stated on Tuesday that the Strategy represents a positive signal for the region, as it clearly states the Western Balkans region is important part of Europe and the EU doors are open for every country. Zvizdic pointed out that the Strategy has once again confirmed dedication of the EU to the European perspective of the Western Balkans countries, recognizing the fact that the enlargement is an important factor in strengthening the EU itself.

SNSD representative in the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Dusanka Majkic assessed that B&H has to first address internal issues if it wants to make progress on the path towards membership in the EU. Majkic stressed that the EC's Strategy for the Western Balkans positions each of the Western Balkan countries in accordance with what they achieved.

Member of the B&H Delegation to the EU-B&H Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) at the European Parliament Sasa Magazinovic stated that B&H and all other countries of the region received the messages that should be a lesson for the authorities if they want to achieve progress on the path towards the EU. “EU officials have underlined that the countries must be reformed and achieve progress, especially when dealing with the organized crime, and additional accent was on connection between politics and crime.”

First Deputy Chairman of the Joint Commission for European Integration of the Parliament of B&H Ognjen Tadic said that determining of the date for B&H’s accession to the EU is something out of hands of B&H officials. “I must be ironic. We are receiving very serious voices and analyses telling us that this package that is being formulated actually a consequence of fears of the European institutions that the Russian Federation might get established here if we fail to integrate in the EU soon, and for them 2015 is soon; and that would disturb the position of not only the EU, but also the so-called western democracies in this region. If that logic is correct, and it seems to me it is not completely incorrect, one can conclude that the fastest road to the EU would be to ensure complete acceptance of all Russian interests, and I would add Chinese to that,” said Tadic.

 

Fierce reactions to Covic’s statement on B&H as ‘Islamic state’ (Faktor.ba/ NAP)

 

SDA issued a press statement, fiercely condemning the statement of HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic in which he equalized civil B&H with Islamic state. “Such statements are very dangerous and origin from Greater Serbian and Greater Croatian ideological cuisine. Their goal is to label Bosniak people and all B&H patriots with stigma of Islamic radicalism and thus present them negatively to the Western world”. Party stated that instead of accusing Bosniaks, Covic should review his own environment, where various anti-civilization ideologies are flourishing and he should then wonders if he should stand against these retrograde activities. Underlining that B&H can be built only as a state of its citizens, with respect towards its multi-ethnic character, as organized by the Constitution, SDA concluded: “To advocate B&H as exclusively ethnic state, means advocating its division and undermining its European future. Advocate B&H in a way that Dragan Covic and HDZ B&H imagine, does not mean fight for equality of peoples, but fight for domination of one party over the others. We call on Dragan Covic to realize this as soon as possible, because in the contrary he will remain remembered, not as promoter, but as gravedigger of European values”.

SDP Vice President Lana Prlic reacted to the statement, by saying that SDP advocated civil state, which will be decentralized, but not on the base of ethnic divisions. Civil values are in fact European values and we are actually carries of such values”, said Prlic. She added that it is high time to stop dividing people on ethnic grounds: “I hope that one day, every person in B&H will be able to run for every position, such is the case in Croatia and other EU countries”, said Prlic. She further stressed that every citizen has right to vote for any candidate they want, regardless of their ethnic affiliation.

Leader of Croat Party of B&H, Bozo Skopljakovic condemned statement of Covic. “Covic forgets that he openly supports (Republika Srpska President Milorad) Dodik in his dreams about secession of one part of B&H and merging with the neighboring state, all in desire for Dodik to support his dreams and aspirations in form of the third entity, but only in Federation of B&H territory. This is just as dangerous, as intention of certain circles to have B&H organized as centralized state”, said Skopljakovic. He deems that such statements are used by the ruling authorities to ruin the trust among the citizens, with goal to maintain status quo. Skopljakovic concluded that Covic does not represent all Croats in B&H. “HS B&H distances itself from all statement made by Mr. Covic, as he does not represent ours or the interest of majority of Croats in B&H.”

 

US Embassy: Unfounded and untrue statements of RS President are counter-productive; Dodik replies (N1)

 

Asked to comment on the recent statement of Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik who said that the USA wants to see B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic (SDS) as the Serb member of B&H Presidency, the US Embassy to B&H told N1 that unfounded and untrue statements of RS President Dodik are counter-productive and they serve to move focus from true problems. “The meetings that we held are focused on promotion of political, economic and social progress in B&H, instead of talks on similar conspiracy theories”, the US Embassy said in a statement. Commenting on the reaction of the US Embassy to B&H, Dodik said that he is “quite surprised by the fact that the US Embassy has said enormous lies” about him. Dodik also said on Tuesday that each ambassador’s role is to preserve the honor and reputation of the country that he or she represents, noting that there is no doubt that such role is also the role of US Ambassador to B&H Maureen Cormack but that he is “quite surprised by the fact that she has said enormous lies” about him. Dodik said that Cormack is the ambassador of a powerful country that has made an immeasurable contribution to establishing of peace in B&H and that therefore he is surprised that she has told “enormous lies” about him, by accusing him that he does not speak the truth. Dodik added that in moments of honesty, Cormack would admit that she lobbied for Sarovic’s nomination. “The truth is that Ms. Cormack announced her favorite candidate for the President of the RS to a close circle. However, we will talk about it another time. Such arrogance is not permitted anywhere, not even here, regardless of anyone’s power”, Dodik stressed. He noted that Ambassador Cormack should know that interfering with internal affairs of a country does not contribute to its progress, but only destabilizes it.

 

RS bothered by English translation of harmonized answers to Questionnaire (NAP)

 

The Questionnaire, which should be submitted to EC President Jean- Claude Juncker on February 28th, is now undergoing additional complication, due to the reaction of the RS Ministry of Education and Culture, in which the Ministry claims that “name of the language of Bosniak people is one of un-harmonized issues”. Chair of the Working Group, Radmila Kocic- Cucic noted that this is one of un-harmonized answers, being that “language of Bosniak people” is translated as “Bosnian language” and not “the language of Bosniak people”. Article noted that DEI Director Edin Dilberovic earlier noted that all answers to questions of Chapter 26 have been finalized and harmonized. The answers used syntagm Bosnian language, Serb language and Croat language. Article reminded that last finalization regarding the disputable answers, was carried out by Chairman of CoM Denis Zvizdic and RS PM Zeljka Cvijanovic on January 16th and names of languages were not mentioned on this occasion.

 

Reactions to the initiative for B&H to get its state anthem with lyrics (N1)

 

The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Commission (CLAC) of the House of Representatives (HoR) of B&H supported at the session on Monday the conclusion of the Sarajevo Canton (SC) Assembly that B&H should get the state anthem with appropriate lyrics, but it is difficult to expect that this proposal will be accepted in the Parliament of B&H in the election year.

Representatives of the Republika Srpska (RS) political parties in the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) are against this proposal and they said that the conclusion was passed by the CLAC by outvoting.

Head of the SDS Caucus in the B&H HoR Aleksandra Pandurevic said that an initiative of the SC Assembly for B&H to get its anthem with lyrics is needlessly creating a circus show in B&H Parliament.

SDA MP Semsudin Mehmedovic argued that there is no political environment in the country in the election year for any initiative that carries characteristics of statehood. Mehmedovic added that thus, he is not optimistic that B&H national anthem will get text during 2017.

HDZ B&H MP Barisa Colak said that this initiative is not impossible, but added that he is not optimistic.

DF MP Sifet Podzic argued that some previous proposals are good, including the one that does not mention any ethnicity or a party.

SDS MP Borislav Bojic stated that the constituent peoples should reach a deal on this issue.

NDP Momcilo Novakovic said that four Serb and Croat members did not attend the session of B&H HoR CLAC on Monday, so decision to send the initiative to B&H HoR Collegium was made only by four Bosniak members.

B&H HoR Borjana Kristo (HDZ B&H) said that the fact B&H does not have a text of the anthem is of minor importance and added that there are much more serious matters which need to be solved in B&H. “We need to reach an agreement on B&H Constitution and Law on Elections of B&H and the fact the anthem has no text, in my opinion, is really a side issue”, Kristo noted.

 

Croatian PM addresses MEPs in European Parliament (HRT)

 

In his address Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic spoke about the future of the European Union and Croatia's goals within the European project. In the comments after his speech MEPs and the President of the European Commission called on Croatia to resolve the border dispute with Slovenia as soon as possible. The prime minister said that this response was to be expected.

"I want to state very clearly that people who are not Croatian or Slovenian have to understand that they have to de-dramatize this issue. This is not an issue on which the fate of either country hangs," Plenkovic said. Also discussed was the coming visit to Zagreb by the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Responding the questions from MEPs Prime Minister Plenkovic said that he expected their talks to focus on those still missing from the Serbian aggression of the 1990's, the unresolved border issue, the processing of war crimes and war reparations. In his speech, which the prime minister delivered in Croatian, English, German, French and Italian, Plenkovic outlined Croatia's ambitions within the European project, emphasizing its goal of joining the Schengen border regime and Eurozone as soon as possible.

 

Croatian-Slovenian border dispute is both bilateral and European problem, says Juncker; Cerar refuses bilateral solution (HRT)

 

Speaking at a news conference after addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that, due to differing positions regarding the arbitration agreement on the border, Croatia is offering a bilateral agreement in order to reconcile standpoints of the two countries. Plenkovic said that Croatia did not exit the agreement due to some small accidents or idleness. The Prime Minister expressed regret that Ljubljana reverted to one-sided measures that lead to a negative effect on citizens, primarily fishermen. “Being a serious country, Croatia responded to this, however, we are not happy with such a scenario that leads to extremely unnecessary tensions and make a much bigger problem out of the arbitration agreement than it is,” said Andrej Plenkovic. He went on to say that the dispute needs to be “de-dramatized” and that in this there have been both “media and political excesses.” “Neither the future of Slovenia nor Croatia depends on this,” said the prime minister adding that it is important that the problem does “not transfer” to people, especially fishermen. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker said after Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s speech that the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia is a bilateral and European issue. “Croatia and Slovenia are responsible for this problem and they must resolve it,” he emphasized. He added that the Commission offered assistance in resolving the border dispute but the two sides used it only to a small extent. The Commission president then announced that no new country from the Western Balkan region will be allowed to join the EU “until all of its border problems are resolved”. Reacting to statements by Plenkovic and the President of Juncker in Strasbourg, Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar said that the border dispute with Croatia will not be resolved bilaterally but rather the decision by the court of arbitration must be implemented because besides a legal it is also a civilizational issue. “If Croatia does not implement the ruling, Slovenia will be forced to use all available legal means,” said Cerar at a news conference in Ljubljana held after a meeting with the prime ministers of Luxembourg and the Netherlands, Xavier Bettel and Mark Rutte and the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders. Cerar said that for more than 20 years Slovenia tried to resolve the border problem with Croatia through a bilateral agreement and that in Croatia’s accession agreement this is mentioned as its obligation. He added that he has always been open to dialogue on implementation of the ruling by the court of arbitration.

 

Postponement of Markovic’s visit to Kosovo (RTCG)

 

Visit of Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic to Kosovo which was scheduled for yesterday is postponed for next week, confirmed the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Montenegro. “The visit of the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dusko Markovic to the Republic of Kosovo, which was scheduled, will be postponed for the next week. The reason for the postponement of the visit is the fact that Pristina airport was closed due to fog during the morning. The term of the visit will be harmonized and timely communicated to the media.”

Markovic's plane could not land on the "Adem Jashari" International Airport at 8am, as it was scheduled. At the airport in Pristina, Markovic was awaited by the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Bedzet Pacolli, the Ambassador of Montenegro to Kosovo, Ferhat Dinosha, and the Ambassador of Kosovo to Montenegro, Skender Durmishi. The first visit of the Montenegrin Prime Minister to Kosovo, as the government previously announced, should have been an opportunity "to further deepen cooperation in the bilateral relations of two friendly countries, by defining concrete joint activities and projects that could be realized in the coming period".

 

Mogherini and Hahn: We want the Balkans in the EU (CDM)

 

Montenegro and Serbia have made the most progress on the European path and in 2025 they could become members of the Union. We want the Balkans in the EU, European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn and EC Vice-President Federica Mogherini said in Strasbourg during the presentation of the Strategy on the Admission of Western Balkan Countries to the EU.

This strategy has a special significance for Montenegro, because for the first time it gives a time horizon and confirms consistency in the EU position that the process remains entirely based on individual merits, with the continuation of expert, technical and financial support in fulfilling obligations on the European path. It should be noted that the strategy states that, in order to meet the criteria for EU membership, the Western Balkans should implement comprehensive reforms in key areas.

 

Scekic gets another term of office as Berane mayor (CDM)

 

Dragoslav Dado Scekic is likely to continue his second term of office as Berane mayor. According to a CDM’s source, Scekic enjoys great trust of citizens and is one of the favorite political figures in that city. Scekic was the Zadravo Berane (SNP and DF) coalition’s list leader in local elections. He has been mayor of the city since 2014. In the local elections held on 4 February, the Zdravo Berane coalition won 14 seats in City Council. As it has been announced, the coalition will negotiate on forming local administration with Aleksa Becic’s Democrats, who won 4 seats. According to CDM’s information, the Democrats will not condition forming the administration with getting mayor’s post but will point out the shortcomings of the Zdravo Berane coalition and will most likely insist on some personnel changes in favor of the development of the city. Neither Zdravo Berane coalition nor the Democrats wanted to talk about this topic. Scekic has announced that negotiations on forming local administration will begin soon.

 

Zaev: EC Strategy - good news for Macedonia (MIA)

 

The EU enlargement strategy involving the Western Balkan countries for us is good news. It notes that the Republic of Macedonia has made a significant progress on its European path as the European Commission says it is ready to extend a recommendation for start of membership negotiations based on the conditions it has fulfilled, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev stated Tuesday at a news conference alongside EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar. The Strategy, he said, suggests Macedonia is on the right track. According to Zaev, the position of the EU expressed in the Strategy that each country can make progress and join the group of leaders on this path according to their real merits is yet another recognition deemed of particular importance for the citizens of Macedonia. “This is an additional incentive that raises the hopes of Macedonia. This is an additional motivation to work hard and catch up with the group of countries that are already in negotiations, such as Serbia and Montenegro. For us, for the citizens of Macedonia, it is a confirmation of the success of all our efforts so far in all areas targeted by reforms,” noted Zaev. According to him, this success is a success of all of us - the whole country, of all institutions, all political parties, all communities and all of the citizens of Macedonia all the while serving as an encouragement to double efforts to produce more results in all key areas covered in the Strategy.  Considering the impetus and encouragement deriving from this significant EC document, Zaev once again called on Macedonia’s President, MPs, opposition and all state institutions to invest all of their capacities and take active part in the reform process for the benefit of the country and all of its citizens. The Strategy, he said, notifies that all countries must unequivocally commit, in both word and deed, to overcome the legacy of the past, by achieving reconciliation and solving open issues, in particular border disputes, well before accession to the European Union. “Macedonia’s government remains genuinely committed to contribute to the confidence building measures with Greece and facilitating the settlement of the name problem our southern neighbor is having with the constitutional name of our country. Serious steps for a dignified solution of this matter have been taken for the last few months,” Zaev said. For Zaev the EC Strategy is good and optimistic news for all Western Balkan countries. There is no doubt that it opens Macedonia's road to the EU membership, he stressed.

The EC Strategy, EU Ambassador to Macedonia Samuel Zbogar said, speaks very clearly about the future of the Western Balkans. “For the EU it speaks very clearly why it is in the interest of the Union to have the Western Balkans inside as well as what kind of investment it presents for the future of the EU. It speaks about the huge connectivity between the EU and the Western Balkans, a large EU member states’ investment in the region, a huge trade of EUR 43 billion, with the Union being the biggest investor, the biggest trade partner, the biggest donor of the region,” Zbogar said. Speaking about the Western Balkans, Zbogar notified that the region as it is today is not yet ready for the EU membership. “There is a need for reforms to be done, sped up, but provided that the leaders of the countries in the region take urgent action there is a possibility for the first of them to enter the EU by 2025,” Zbogar said.

 

Zbogar: 2025 deadline is too ambitious for Western Balkans states (MIA)

 

The EU Enlargement Strategy with the Western Balkans offers a clear European perspective for all six regional countries, but Brussels will not allow the accession of countries with open issues, said EU Ambassador to Macedonia, Samuel Zbogar on Tuesday. Regarding the Strategy timeline and the EU accession of new countries in 2025, Zbogar said it was an ambitious date, not a deadline, but a potential deadline that needs to be seen as an encouragement for countries towards the implementation of required reforms and meeting of criteria. “Taking into consideration the existing level of reforms and achievements, none of the candidates is prepared for Union accession and things need to change dramatically in each of the six countries regarding the reform process, showing to the member-states there is real approximation to EU standards,” said Zbogar. He added the Strategy clearly notes that the European Commission is prepared to launch Macedonian accession talks, highlighting the significance of national consensus regarding the country’s European perspective and support to reforms. Zbogar said large progress has been made in the field of reforms in Macedonia in recent months, pointing to the fact that the Commission is prepared to launch talks with the country. Regarding good neighborly relations as one of the leading EU principles, the Ambassador referred to the Bulgaria Friendship Treaty as an excellent example of solving open issues initiated by both parties, but also the encouraging renewal of the name talks with Greece.

 

EC commends Macedonia’s significant progress on its road to EU (MIA)

 

Macedonia is making significant progress on its European path and the European Commission is ready to prepare recommendations to open accession negotiations, on the basis of fulfilled conditions, reads the EC Strategy for the Western Balkans, presented Tuesday at joint press conference by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

 

Zaev: We are ready for a geographical heading, and the airport will be called – International airport “Skopje” (Meta)

 

The government of the Republic of Macedonia decided at a session to call the E-75 motorway “Friendship Motorway” and the Skopje Airport “The International Airport of Skopje”, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced at a press conference with EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar. “We are ready for a geographical heading. However, we have decided that any idea which will lead to a possibility for an agreement should be considered, i.e. whether the symbols will be MK, MKD … The rest would be done by the process of negotiations under the auspices of the UN and with the negotiator, Matthew Nimetz. We will continue to strive for meetings at every level, and everything that can help find a solution, we must use. We are also discussing the subject with the institutions and between political parties to solve this problem,” said Zaev. He also said that he has consulted with the opposition to resolve the dispute with Greece, which is not easy, but we also have to take care of our southern neighbor. “I am an optimist, but it will not be easy. We did not expect it to be easy, but we are committed. I believe that if we take care of our southern neighbor, they will take care of us, and we can come to a solution, while respecting the issue of identity”, Zaev emphasized that he and Prime Minister Tsipras have become close friends and he hopes that it will grow into friendship of the peoples of both countries. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Tuesday the Macedonian government’s decision to rename a highway and the Skopje airport. “We welcome the decision from the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to rename Skopje’s airport ‘Skopje International Airport’ and the highway linking Skopje and the Greek border ‘Friendship Highway’. The decision is a positive step towards reversing what has happened in the past decade and created tensions in the relations between the two countries. This is an important development in the direction of dealing with irredentism, and we hope that it marks the start of a new chapter in the relations between our two countries and peoples,” the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

 

Public fully informed about Zaev’s meeting with Tsipras in Davos, says government (Meta/ Euronews)

 

The public was fully informed about the bilateral meeting between the prime ministers of Macedonia and Greece, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras in Davos, and the demonstrated goodwill from both sides. The government’s announcement comes after the reaction of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, but also after a statement by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias for Euronews. “At the bilateral meeting between the prime ministers of Macedonia and Greece, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras at the Economic Forum in Davos, for the first time in two decades, the process has been unblocked, and it will lead to a dignified solution to the open issues of the Republic of Greece and the Republic of Macedonia, as two neighboring European countries. The public was fully informed about the demonstrated goodwill from both sides”, reads a statement from the Government’s press service. It states that finding a mutual acceptable solution is possible and for that purpose, a negotiation process is under way. “It takes good will and a compromise from both sides to come up with a solution that will respect the dignity and identity of the citizens of both countries. For every next significant step forward during the negotiations, the public will be fully informed, “the statement added. VMRO-DPMNE reacted that, “the country is in the dark regarding what Zaev agreed to in Davos, at the meeting with Tsipras.”

 

Mogherini: Albania and Montenegro, more closely with EU policies (ADN)

 

The EU High Representative Frederica Mogherini spoke on Tuesday over the progress that the Western Balkans countries have made towards the EU membership regarding the fulfillment of defined priorities. “The states of Western Balkans have the same story, so we want to have the same future. This is our priority. Over the past three years, results achieved were way better than we thought. Albania and Montenegro are more closely related to EU policies. The enlargement process will be based on merit and reforms. We want them to realize the same standards as those of the EU. Important decisions are expected to be taken in June,” said Mogherini. The EU Ambassador in Tirana Romana Vlahutin made clear some of the conditions on which the membership of the Albania depends after the presentation of the Strategy of the European Commission in Strasbourg for the integration process of the Western Balkans countries.

According to Vlahutin, judicial reform implementation is the key of this process. “The fate of Albania depends on fulfilling the next steps of judicial reform. Soon the EU will also release a report on the progress of reform in justice by providing further recommendations. It all depends on the Albanian institutions and their will to push the reform forward. Do not expect any gifts from the EU because it should be the Albanian state that must fulfill the mission and the citizens who should evaluate it, as they are the right judges of the reform and its effects,” said Vlahutin.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

Western Balkans: A new start for Europe (EUobserver, by Srdjan Cvijic, 6 February 2018)

 

BRUSSELS - The European Commission is rarely praised for bold action these days. But the EU Strategy for the Western Balkans published Tuesday (6th February) deserves applause. Long neglected by the West, the Western Balkans region is an easy prey for other geopolitical powers that see instability as their opportunity. The EU's wavering political commitment to future membership of the six Balkan countries has caused many people in the region to lose hope.

The EU strategy aims to turn the tide and push the region towards EU membership and deep transformation. The commission has proposed bold measures; particularly important are progressive opening of EU funds, inclusion of the Balkan six governments in EU policy-making processes even before membership, lifting of visible and invisible barriers for trade and travel.

The mention of 2025 and other target dates for progress in negotiations are especially valuable as a powerful incentive for the region's politicians to work to meet the criteria for membership.

These incentives for reform now need to be matched by clear standards for the region's governments to work towards. The European commission must follow the strategy document with an overhaul of its instruments to monitor of progress in the region. Otherwise, the more sceptical member states would be right to fear that mention of dates would favour speed over quality of reforms.

 

A stop on the way

Many citizens in the region also see the EU membership not as an end in itself but as an opportunity to improve governance so that they can live in orderly, prosperous and open societies. The commission's country reports will not lead us there by themselves. This is especially true in the rule of law, where domestic problems were highlighted last month by the appalling assassination of the Kosovo Serb moderate politician Oliver Ivanovic and the continuation of the mafia wars in Serbia and Montenegro. The new strategy foresees new instruments to monitor progress, such as the kind of report produced by Reinhard Priebe on corruption and one-party takeover of state institutions in Macedonia in 2015. However, the proposed system needs spelling out and consistent implementation. New tools need to be public, concrete and easily understandable. The language of the Priebe report made it reach the hearts and minds of the Macedonian population. The commission be bolder in naming and shaming laggards and fake reformers in the Balkans. Corruption and organised crime are the biggest threat to stability of the region. The strategy is right to focus on it.

 

Over 100 mafia murders

According to the data of the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) and the Radio Free Europe, there have been 102 organised crime-related murders on the streets of Serbia and Montenegro since 2012. Only five were successfully resolved, while the perpetrators remain unknown in 75 cases. Given that the overall clearance rate for murders is roughly 80 cases resolved out of 100, either law enforcement is utterly incompetent or there is political collusion.

Corruption and organised crime are endemic in the rest of the region. Albania is undergoing an ambitious judicial reform but this is just a beginning. Even without the accession negotiations open, the commission is asking Macedonia and Albania to implement reforms that front-runners Serbia and Montenegro have not yet completed. This is a sign of learning by doing on the commission's part, but it also shows that the countries that are not yet in negotiations could in theory leapfrog those further ahead to join on the 2025 target date if they are successful in implementing reforms. The strategy promises a shift in focus from the countries adopting EU legal frameworks to respecting its fundamental values. Well managed, EU accession negotiations are also region's best chance for an irreversible transformation in a number of crucial fields such as reconciliation, bilateral disputes, Roma and other minority rights. But the commission will need to use its new and effective tools to twist the arm of politicians to overcome the oligarchies and push through meaningful reforms. The next president of the European commission who will start in 2019 should start by creating a separate directorate-general dealing only with the countries having a credible membership perspective (call it DG Membership). That would ensure the DG's internal capacity to go beyond the monitoring of the adoption of laws towards a credible assessment of the real impact of reforms. Member states, civil society and investigative journalists should be included in the monitoring process. To separate enlargement from neighbourhood policy again would be no insult to neighbouring countries in the East and South. Insincere membership promises did no one any good. The progress of some should serve as an encouragement for the rest. The best part of the Western Balkans strategy is that is moves beyond the 'stabilitocracy' approach shown by the EU when it favoured local strongmen who display worrying illiberal tendencies. This approach encouraged a protracted political crisis in Macedonia, growing euroscepticism in Serbia, hopelessness and emigration elsewhere in the region. Now the EU should recognise the citizens of the regionas its true partners, and press for reforms that serve their long-term interests in better governance.

Srdjan Cvijic is a senior policy analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute