LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: Main achievements of trilateral meeting were peace, stability and improvement of economic relations (RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic gave an interview for RTS after the trilateral meeting in Mostar on Tuesday. Speaking about the meeting, Vucic said that the main achievements were peace, stability and improvement of economic relations. When it comes to foreign trade exchange of Serbia, Vucic explained that it increases with both Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), and added that Serbia exports more than imports from the both countries. He stressed that B&H and Serbia are strategic partners of Serbia, and added that it is not possible to have good economic relations without peace and stability. “We respect Croatia and B&H and want to have best possible relations. Our relations are not sweet nor fairy tales, but we have to deal with problems,” Vucic stressed. Speaking about upcoming International Economic Fair in Mostar, which will take place in a month, Vucic said that he will bring a lot of Serbian companies to promote Serbian economy in western Herzegovina and connect businessmen from Serbia and areas in which Croats are majority. “We expect that do be an additional improvement of our economic relations,” he said. Asked if the trilateral meeting was important for neighborly relations that were mentioned in the EU strategy on Western Balkans, Vucic said that these six initiatives from the strategy are great, but added that he spoke about concrete projects. “About highways, our bridges, about the fact that truckers are waiting on borders for 15 hours, about solving out open questions,” he said. Vucic said that he is not a philosopher who can predict what will be in 15 years, but wants to deal with current problems. He underlined that they had open talks, which were neither easy nor sweet, and added that he will host the next trilateral meeting in Novi Sad to discuss cooperation further.

 

Brnabic: Government reshuffle open topic (B92/Beta/RTS)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told the Kopaonik Business Forum that the possibility of a reconstruction of her cabinet was an open topic. According to Brnabic, if a reshuffle does take place, it will be based on results, and the lack of results. Minister Dacic spoke on Wednesday about the same topic, to say he was not against a reshuffle, adding that nobody’s ministerial chair is eternal. Dacic recalled that he was in favor of holding early parliamentary elections along with the local elections in Belgrade, and now the legitimacy issue of some opposition parties is being raised.

 

Dacic seeks responsibility of SPS municipal boards (Politika)

 

Summarizing the finalized Belgrade elections, the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic has stated that participation of the Socialists in the city authority is not the most important issue now. He assesses that changes and reforms in the party are necessary because the SPS won 6.13 percent of the votes, but that the realistic number of the votes they should have won is eight-nine percent. He notes that he talked with the SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic on several occasions about the Belgrade elections before the voting and that they had been estimating whether they should participate with one or two election lists. He says that it would be pedagogically good for the SPS and its members not to hold functions. He didn’t name those who should not be holding functions, but Politika learns unofficially from SPS sources that he is primarily dissatisfied with the work of certain local Belgrade boards who took it for granted that they will be in power in the municipalities.

 

Djilas accuses SNS of buying votes (RTV/Tanjug)

 

The opposition candidate for mayor at the elections in Belgrade Dragan Djilas said on Tuesday that the representatives of the coalitions which he had headed at these elections would not vote in the City Election Committee for the acceptance of the election results since they are illegal and illegitimate. Djilas told reporters in Belgrade that the and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic had belittled democracy and the elections by everything that was done at the local elections in Belgrade. Djilas said that there had been pressures on the part of the SNS on people working in state companies to secure 10 votes each for the SNS, that on the eve of the elections in Belgrade they registered people who did not in fact live in the capital city. He said that several days before the elections, about two million euros were paid from the state budget for social aid, with which the SNS was able to buy 70,000 votes. Djilas still doesn’t know whether he will form his own party or if he will find some other model for political engagement. “I still do not have an answer,” said Djilas at a press conference. However, in any case the group which stood behind him at the Belgrade elections should remain intact at the level of the entire country, he said. “Various possibilities exist. The group which has created this result should be maintained at the level of Serbia and it is our standpoint that the other political parties which are against the current authorities should participate in all of this. I believe that vanity should be set aside and we should forget the story of leadership, since that has cost us dearly,” Djilas said.

 

Enough Movement presidency submits resignation (Politika/Tanjug)

 

The Enough Movement (DJB) became the first political organization whose leadership had submitted on Tuesday resignations because of the failure at the Belgrade elections.

All the members of the Movement’s Presidency – leader Sasa Radulovic, deputy leader Miroslava Milenovic, deputy leader Dusan Pavlovic, deputy leader Jasmina Nikolic and deputy leader Aleksandar Stevanovic - submitted their resignations, states the DJB website.

Resignations were also submitted by the chief of the Belgrade DJB board Vojin Biljic and the party’s general secretary Dimitrije Majkic. “The resignation is a personal act of taking responsibility for the poor result at the Belgrade elections. In accordance with the

DJB Statute, new elections will be organized in a deadline of 60 days”, it is stated on the site.

The DJB in coalition with Dveri won less than four percent of the vote.

 

Balsa Bozovic resigns (B92/Beta)

 

The Chairman of the City Board of the Democratic Party (DS) in Belgrade Balsa Bozovic resigned on Tuesday. Bozovic sent a letter to the members of the City Board in which he stated that the defeat in the elections for the Belgrade Assembly obligates everyone to bear their own responsibility in the name of the future of the DS. “Since the DS is more important than any individual, and its future is important for the political life and democratic future of Serbia, my opinion is that this result has put before all of us the obligation to do everything so the DS can rise again and achieve its political role. I thank everyone who hasn’t given up from this battle and with whom I will continue fighting. We have never given up and we will not give up over this lost battle. We have to learn from this defeat and do everything to strengthen the DS,” said Bozovic.

The DS presidency will hold a joint session with its parliamentary club on Thursday, the DS announced on Wednesday. At the session, DS leader Dragan Sutanovac will submit a report, while the results of local elections held on Sunday will be reviewed.

 

GIK rejects 77 objections (Tanjug)

 

The City Election Commission (GIK) adopted a decision last night on rejecting a total of 77 objections. The announcement reads that they rejected 62 objections of the coalition “Let Us Free Belgrade – Democratic Party, SDP, NS and Green Party – the Greens”, as unfounded. Other objections were rejected because they were submitted by unauthorized people, the Secretariat for Information of the City of Belgrade stated. Regarding the request of the authorized person, the citizen group “Enough and Dveri” to have insight into the entire election material and to be delivered certified copies of registers on the work of all 1.185 election committees, GIK formed a working group that will propose the manner of procedure at this request.

 

Moscow wants comprehensive cooperation after Belgrade vote (Beta)

 

Moscow counts on the development of comprehensive cooperation with the authorities in Belgrade after the city's recent elections. Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said this on Wednesday during a regular press conference in Moscow. Zakharova said that the elections on Sunday went "in line with Serbian legislation and democratic procedures." "Many observers, among whom there were six representatives of the embassy (of Russia) in Belgrade, did not register any significant irregularities," she said. Zakharova said that the ruling Serb Progressive Party (SNS) won 65 out of 110 seats in the city assembly, while its coalition partner (in the government), the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), won eight seats.

"Moscow is counting on the development of comprehensive cooperation with the new authorities of the Serbian capital," she said in her introductory address touching on the most important international political issues, before taking questions from journalists.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Trilateral meeting of B&H, Serbian and Croatian leaders held in Mostar (Hayat)

 

Trilateral meeting of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Serbian and Croatian leaders was held in Mostar on Tuesday. B&H Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic (HDZ B&H), B&H Presidency members Bakir Izetbegovic (SDA) and Mladen Ivanic (PDP) met with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and Croatia’s President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. The meeting was assessed as successful as it was focused on important issues that might represent a step towards stabilization of social, economic and other relations among the countries of the region.

Addressing the joint press conference after the meeting, Grabar-Kitarovic said that the newly-adopted EC’s strategy on the Western Balkans represents the framework of this meeting. She stressed that she supports B&H on the EU path that could be accelerated through connecting the transport and energy infrastructure and construction of the Corridor that will connect Ploce and Budapest, as well as B&H and Serbia. “I also see many opportunities for joint participation of all three countries on third markets, as well as for various projects when it comes to cooperation in the field of industry, information technologies, energy ties - i.e. development of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project, connecting the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline, etc.”, Grabar-Kitarovic stated.

Vucic said that economic cooperation has been improved, reminding of significant foreign trade of Serbia with Croatia and B&H. He stressed that development of a single economic market is useful for everyone, especially for non-EU countries. “We believe that we have to work on equalization of tax, customs and subvention rates, as well as to try to create single economic environment,” Vucic assessed. Ivanic expressed hope that there will be an opportunity to see positive developments when it comes to the bridge over the Sava River and that the issue of the Bratunac Bridge will be finally resolved, i.e. that B&H institutions will complete their part of job.

Addressing the press, Covic said: “In this way we are building environment in which executive authorities in all three states will be more capable to resolve all open issues related to our future, which we have not been able to resolve for a long time.” He reminded that quite good trends have been recorded lately when it comes to trade among the three countries, adding however that a positive synergy and significant progress can be made in this field. Izetbegovic concluded that open bilateral issues among the countries can be resolved through commissions, noting that B&H has an urgent problem with Croatia regarding the Peljesac Bridge and that he is glad that Grabar-Kitarovic confirmed that Croatia recognizes and supports B&H’s rights when it comes to an access to open sea. “As for Serbia, we had direct talks on infrastructure and the highway that is supposed to connect Sarajevo and Belgrade via Tuzla and back via Pozega and Visegrad”, Izetbegovic said. The three countries’ leaders jointly concluded that common issues that burden their countries include departure of young people who seek better future abroad and poor interest of foreign investors, stressing that this trend will continue until economic situation in their countries is improved. They also concluded that the Election Law of B&H represents an internal issue of B&H and therefore it should be resolved by B&H political leaders. During the press conference, Izetbegovic and Vucic had a disagreement about demarcation of the border between B&H and Serbia. Izetbegovic said: “Serbia requests changes near two power plants and where the rail and the road near Rudo are. I think there is no chance to talk about changes of the border near the power plants, but we should find a way to make the power plants work.” Vucic replied that what Izetbegovic said is not true, explaining that the proposal he officially sent to B&H does not even mention something like that. “I can see he did not read that. It was our previous proposal to change the border demarcation in such a ‘large’ area of 14 and 37 hectares, believe it or not,” Vucic argued. Izetbegovic replied that it is not up to the presidents to discuss this issue on this occasion, reiterating that competent commissions should be engaged again to work on this problem. The next trilateral meeting of this kind is expected to be held in Novi Sad.

 

Crnadak and Dacic discuss relations of B&H and Serbia (BHT1)

 

B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak held an informal meeting with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in Mostar on Tuesday. On that occasion, they discussed relations of B&H and Serbia, relations in the region and future cooperation. Also, Dacic confirmed his arrival in Sarajevo on 16 March, to attend the ministerial meeting of Western Balkans countries.

 

Cavara: Inzko should not use Bonn powers (TV1)

 

After the statement by High Representative (HR) Valentin Inzko, who said on Tuesday that he is well-aware of the fact that he could use the Bonn powers, but local politicians should also get serious and take over responsibility. Federation of B&H President Marinko Cavara was asked if he thinks Inzko should use the Bonn powers if there is no agreement on amendments to the Election Law of B&H, Cavara reminded that the Bonn powers have always been used at the expense of democracy and the state of B&H, which is why he thinks it should not be done. “On the other hand, I do not think Mr. Inzko has such capacity no matter what kind of statements he makes. I do not think there is readiness in the Peace Implementation Council to impose anything. On the other hand, if this country is heading towards the EU, what kind of imposed solutions and protectorate are we talking about?” Cavara said, concluding that everyone should be willing to create an environment for a compromise in B&H.

 

SNSD’s Kovacevic says Inzko’s announcement on possible use of Bonn powers is preparation for new attacks on RS (Glas Srpske/EuroBlic)

 

Spokesperson for SNSD Radovan Kovacevic assessed that the latest statements of High Representative Valentin Inzko, in which he said that he will use Bonn powers unless changes to the Law on Elections of B&H are adopted by May this year, is completely unacceptable and represents devious preparation for new attacks on Republika Srpska (RS). “SNSD supports efforts to adopt a new solution for the Law on Elections of B&H, but only if it is based on agreement of internal factors in B&H,” Kovacevic stated. He said that trust among local political actors cannot be built for as long as the international community wants to participate in all processes in B&H. “Changes to Law on Elections have to be carried out on the basis of internal political stances and needs, not because that is what the international community is asking,” Kosarac said and assessed that there is a need to enable a democratic approach and respect “political ambition of those who are dissatisfied with the current legislation”.

 

Zvizdic legalizes unconstitutional name “Herzeg-Bosnia canton” (Dnevni avaz)

 

Dnevni avaz daily carries that publishing of answers to the European Commission’s Questionnaire, which were recently delivered to the EU’s officials, has also discovered a scandalous fact that Chairman of B&H Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic approved use of names that were declared unconstitutional by the Federation of B&H Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Court of B&H. Daily finds it shameful that unconstitutional name of the Canton 10 – “Herzeg-Bosnia canton” was used in more than 2,000 pages long chapter Political Criteria, adding that Zvizdic is the one who stands behind this document. According to the author, this was not the first time that Zvizdic introduces unconstitutional names in official documents of B&H, violating in this way decisions of the Federation of B&H Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Court of B&H. Namely, he did that too in ‘Reform Agenda for B&H 2015-2018’, which mentions name ‘Herzeg-Bosnia canton’ on several occasions instead of the Canton 10. This information was unveiled by SBB B&H member of the parliament of B&H Damir Arnaut, who asked Zvizdic why this name was used. Zvizdic then replied to Arnaut, thanking him for correct comment and useful suggestion, and he promised that the error would be fixed and, if necessary, the Agenda would be again delivered to the MPs but with constitutional names of cantons. Two and a half years later, Zvizdic failed to keep that promise and, moreover, he took one step further and allowed use of unconstitutional names in answers to the Questionnaire, concludes the author.

 

Croatian President meets with B&H and Serbian counterparts (Hina)

 

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said on Tuesday that Zagreb encouraged the members of B&H Presidency to agree on an election law as soon as possible and show that they could arrive at solutions that were essential for the country. "The members of the Presidency informed me about the situation with the new election law. We didn't go into its elements and, on Croatia's part, I can encourage (them) to reach an agreement as soon as possible and show that the political forces in B&H are capable of arriving at solutions which are essential for this state," she said after a meeting with the highest B&H and Serbian officials in Mostar, B&H. The meeting was attended by the three B&H Presidency members - Dragan Covic, Mladen Ivanic and Bakir Izetbegovic - and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Grabar-Kitarovic said that adopting an election law in line with decisions of the B&H Constitutional Court and international bodies, such as the Sejdic-Finci ruling, was necessary to ensure the Dayton peace agreement's principles "without any meddling in internal matters." She recalled that Croatia, as a signatory to the Washington agreement and a guarantor of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, had the obligation to closely follow processes in B&H and mention any challenges it might notice. "The Republic of Croatia really stands for the fundamental Dayton principles and not some specific solutions, and it's up to B&H leaders to assume responsibility for ensuring a better future for it." The only remaining democratic option is to "implement the principles under which all three nations and the others are constituent and equal, as stated in the Dayton Agreement," she said, adding that "that's the direction which B&H leaders should approach to amend the election law." She said the worst option would be if the international community or someone from it imposed solutions to B&H. "I think the best path is towards the European Union, where the B&H constitution will have to be changed one day, just as Croatia too changed it, and to work on a balance of collective and individual rights in B&H." As for border issues, Grabar-Kitarovic said she was generally for bilateral solutions but that, if they could not be reached, she advocated for an international tribunal. She recalled that she and Vucic had agreed that the Croatian-Serbian border dispute should be resolved bilaterally over the next two years and that, if that failed, the two countries would go to an international tribunal. As for the Croatian-Bosnian border issue, she said the two countries signed an agreement in 1999 that was not ratified but was being applied. If no agreement is reached, there is always a tribunal, she added.

 

Ruling coalition leaders meet with Prime Minister (Hina)

 

Representatives of the parties comprising the ruling majority said on Monday, after their regular meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, which lasted more than four hours, that they discussed current issues and that new Agrokor emergency administrator Fabris Perusko briefed them about the situation at the heavily-indebted food conglomerate, stressing that there was no mention of the opposition’s initiative for a non-confidence vote in Economy Minister Martina Dalic. Croatian People's Party (HNS) leader Ivan Vrdoljak said they discussed the current state of affairs, including the GDP growth, the program aimed at boosting the economy and investments, prepared by Minister Dalic, the issue of citizens with blocked bank accounts and the Distress Act. Vrdoljak said they did not touch on the initiative for a no-confidence vote against Dalic. The leader of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) Milorad Pupovac said the talks focused on Agrokor and not on Minister Dalic. Asked if his party would support Dalic in parliament, Pupovac said they would first hear all the arguments and see which direction the parliamentary debate would take.

 

Slovenia ready to sue Croatia over border ruling (HRT)

 

The lawsuit is ready and Slovenia’s government is expected to inform the European Commission about its intentions very soon, Karl Erajvec said on Tuesday in Ljubljana. “Our ministry was tasked with preparing everything that was needed and we have done so,” Erjavec told reporters after a meeting with Slovenia’s Human Rights Ombudswoman Vlasta Nussdorfer.

Erjavec said that Slovenia had worked with a French law firm and lawyer Alain Pellet in drafting the letter to the European Commission, which lays out the key arguments in Slovenia’s case against Croatia over the arbitration ruling. Pellet represented Slovenia in the arbitration process.

“Slovenia has very few legal experts in this particular field, so we hired the best foreign law firm for European law,” Erjavec said. The letter to the European Commission will be sent after Prime Minister Miro Cerar briefs lawmakers on Friday about the details of the lawsuit and receives political support for the move.

 

No changes in Berane: DPS – 17 seats, Zdravo Berane – 14, Democrats – 4 (CDM)

 

After repeating elections in five polling stations in Berane, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) won 17 seats in City Council, the Zdravo Berane coalition won 14 and the Democrats won 4. The result is the same as in the 4 February elections, so it is expected that Zdravo Berane and the Democrats will form local administration in this city soon. The Zdravo Berane’s list leader and the deputy leader of Socialist People’s Party (SNP), Dragoslav Scekic, addressed the media and proclaimed victory. He said that Berane had resisted the criminal gangs that controlled the electoral cycle in Berane and the political corruption of the State Election Commission. He thanked Berane residents who resisted the pressure and preserved the opposition Berane in such an atmosphere. Scekic called on opposition representatives at the state level follow the example of Berane and support a common opposition presidential candidate and thus announce the definitive end of DPS’s rule. In five polling stations in Berane where re-voting was held today a total of 1,799 voters are registered. After considering the complaints submitted by DPS, the State Election Commission decided to repeat the voting in those five polling stations. Although DPS is the strongest party in Berane, it did not manage to win a sufficient number of seats in the City Council to form local administration.

 

Andrija Jovicevic gave up his presidential candidacy (CDM)

 

Former interior minister Andrija Jovicevic has given up running in the upcoming presidential elections, Democratic Front (DF) announced. “The DF Presidency informs the public that it has reached an agreement with Andrija Jovicevic to give up the candidacy for the president of Montenegro for the sake of the historic importance of unifying entire the opposition around a non-party candidate. In this way, we once again demonstrate the responsibility that all relevant opposition subjects should show today. Personal and party interests should be subordinated to the majority of Montenegrin citizens who are seeking a change of government. The upcoming presidential elections are a real opportunity for that,” DF stated. This political alliance points out that the public is aware that DF did not propose a party candidate, and since March 2017, it has been advocating that entire opposition should support a non-party candidate. It calls the rest of opposition once again to give up plans to nominate several candidates and to make a deal on a common non-party candidate. According to the alliance, it is very important to emphasize the fact that at this moment there is not time pressure for the opposition, because its political opponents (DPS) has not announced its presidential candidate, expecting the opposition’s move.

 

NATO will not test Montenegrin armed forces this year (Pobjeda)

 

NATO will not be testing Montenegrin armed forces’ capabilities this year. This is due to Montenegrin armed forces have no plans for this year to assign its members to NATO Response Force (NRF), NATO responded to Pobjeda’s question. Slovenian forces didn’t pass muster this year, which is why the Slovenian chief of joint staff resigned. NATO said it was allied countries’ own responsibility to keep their forces up to the allied commands’ standards (ACO/SHAPE).

“The only case when a member state’s troops are subjected to NATO’s assessment is when they are assigned to the NATO security forces, such as, for example, the NATO response and leadership force, called the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. Therefore, the Slovenian forces were tested by NATO evaluators. The same principle applies to the Montenegrin armed forces. This year, they have not been assigned to any of the forces of high NATO combat readiness,” NATO said.

 

Dimitrov meets with UN official Jenca (MIA)

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov held Tuesday a meeting in Skopje with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jenca to discuss Macedonia's foreign policy with its neighbors and the progress made in implementing the reform-oriented agenda of the government. Minister Dimitrov presented the measures Macedonia has been taking to improve its good neighborliness policy, which have been reflected through the friendship treaty with Bulgaria and the reactivation of negotiations with Greece to settle differences over the name, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Macedonia, he said, deeply appreciates the engagement of the UN special envoy, Matthew Nimetz, within the process. At the same time, Dimitrov informed his interlocutor about the current initiatives and reforms of the government as regards its home affairs. The UN Assistant Secretary General praised the positive development of the good neighborliness policy as well as the tangible results of the government’s 3-6-9 Plan. The UN, Jenca said, with due attention and serious commitment is treating the issue for settling differences over the name. Furthermore, the interlocutors shared views about key matters within the UN, implementation of the 2030 Agenda goals, the significance of multilateral actions in addressing global challenges, etc.

 

Dimitrov meets with Merkel’s foreign policy aide in Skopje (MIA)

 

Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov informed the foreign policy adviser in the government of Germany, Jan Hecker, about the course of reform implementation deemed vital for the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of Macedonia. Minister Dimitrov met with the aide of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as part of his visit to Skopje, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. An emphasis was put on the challenges in the process, including the course of the negotiations with Greece aimed at overcoming differences over the name. “Adviser Hecker pledged that the future German government will continue its active role in the integration processes of Macedonia and the region to join EU and NATO saying the Western Balkans remains top priority of Germany's foreign policy. He also praised the government in Macedonia for its efforts to implement reforms at home and to apply a positive and proactive approach in its relations with the neighbors,” stated the press release. Dimitrov thanked for Germany’s support to the European perspective of Macedonia. In this context, he welcomed the agreement on the formation of a new coalition government in Berlin calling it extremely important for the region, for Europe and beyond.

 

Zaev: I am innocent, the “Bribery” case was fabricated to stop me releasing the “bombs” (MIA)

 

At yesterday’s hearing of the “Bribery” case, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said that he does not feel guilty because he is convinced that the indictment against him, fabricated in the period when he was the leader of the opposition, would come into question during the upcoming court proceedings. “In conjunction with the Prosecution, they have drafted an indictment with malicious intent, to prevent me from any political action. It will be proven that the “Bribery” charge is pointless,” Zaev told the court. According to him, it was done deliberately through a secret agent and the Ministry of Interior to achieve a certain goal, for him, as the leader of the opposition at the time, to stop the project “The Truth about Macedonia”, ie the publication of the “bombs”. He expects that once the evidence is reviewed, it will be proven that the case is actually about the collection of donations for the Cathedral Church in Strumica and that the purpose for his calls to the businessmen, were to donate for the construction of that temple, which was accepted by them. Zaev also said that through the recording, which was not fully disclosed to the public, it will be proven that he had absolutely no intention of accepting a bribe. He asked the court to provide access to the public for all the evidence that will be used in the hearings. He also asked that the court schedule the hearing as soon as possible.

 

Parliament session on language law amendments postponed indefinitely (MIA)

 

Parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi postponed indefinitely the continuation of parliament’s 32^nd session, which had been delayed several times during the day. The session's agenda included more than 35,000 amendments to the Law on Languages.  Parliament did not provide an official explanation of the reasons for the postponement. Although Xhaferi and the MP groups were in continuous communication, they did not reach an agreement on how to resolve the issues caused by the amendments submitted by VMRO-DPMNE, the opposition party.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

Serbian Energy Minister not worried about Russian gas supplies to Serbia (Neftegaz.RU, 7 March 2018)

 

There is no danger for Serbia if Russia halts gas supplies through Ukraine, because of the contract it has with Gazprom, that includes «3 points for the delivery of gas to Serbia», Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic said on March 6, 2018. «I would not go for fatalistic scenarios, it's about relations between Gazprom and the Ukrainian transit company, and it's up to them to solve it», Antic told reporters at the Kopaonik Business Forum. He said that Serbia has a contract with Gazprom, «and we should not be interested in the route Gazprom will use to supply Serbia with gas.» «This is a binding contract, everyone needs to fulfill their obligations. During the last visit of President Vucic to Russia and his meeting with President Putin, we inserted this into the new contract: a new delivery point at the Serbian-Hungarian border. Therefore with Gazprom there are now 3 delivery points for Serbia, one is Banatski Dvor, the other is via Bereg on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, and the 3rd is the Serbian-Hungarian border», the minister said.

Antic pointed out that Gazprom can supply Serbia with gas from Hungarian storage facilities, from central European facilities such as Baumgarten, «or from other interconnections.»

 

A new Russian pipeline in the Balkans? (IBNA, by Nefeli Tzanetakou, 7 March 2018)

 

The legal barriers to the completion of the construction of the Nord Stream pipeline belong to the past thanks to a European Council decision. The European Commission has proposed the legislative framework governing the EU energy market to be extended and include submarine pipelines. But the European Council has decided the EU's internal rules with regard to the energy market should remain unchanged, thus giving Russia a lead in order to progress normally with the construction of the Nord Stream II pipeline. The Nord Stream II alternative option for the pipeline will operate in addition to the Nord Stream pipeline route so that the Russian gas can "reach" Germany, under the Baltic, and from there Britain, the Netherlands, France and Denmark. The European Commission's objection was that the Nord Stream II pipeline will increase Europe's dependence on Russia and damage the fragile economy of Ukraine while efforts are being made to unblock the European energy market from the Russian gas and its alignment with the Third Energy Package. In other words, the objective was that the pipeline manager should not be both the gas producer and the supplier, in this case Gazprom, in order to have transparency and to ensure the functioning of free competition. The European Commission's proposal was confronted with all sides' involved in the energy market in Europe as well as Germany, opposition. The only ones positively positioned were companies active in the energy sector based in Poland. It is noted that five European companies are involved in the construction of the Nord Stream pipeline. These are the German Uniper and Wintershall, the Dutch Shell, the Austrian OMV and the French Engie. As a result, Moscow can now proceed with the construction of a supplementary to the Turkish Stream, pipeline, under the Black Sea, in order to boost the supply of the Balkans and SE Europe with Russian natural gas. Reports say that, possibly, it may also be called "Balkan Pipeline". Anyhow, Gazprom will be the one to decide. According to the Russian press, for the past six months, Gazprom has been considering, in consultation with Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary the future export of natural gas to these three countries -thus reviving the South Stream pipeline project.

The issue is to have gas quantities available for export....

 

Zaev Calls On Greece to Examine Its Own Constitution (Athens Macedonian News Agency, by Philip Chrysopoulos, 7 March 2018)

 

Skopje’s leadership has cast doubt on claims it can change its constitution to remove designs on Greek territory. “Any change in the Constitution of Macedonia is not a permanent guarantee for Greece, because the change can be revoked,” Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has said. Greece is asking FYROM to change irredentist articles in its constitution as a prerequisite for negotiations on the naming issue with the Balkan country. Zaev, on the other hand, proposed, as a viable solution to the name issue, the signing and ratification of an international agreement instead of changing his country’s constitution.

He said that international agreements and UN decisions are the best way to resolve complicated issues such as the dispute between FYROM and Greece over the country’s name. The FYROM prime minister stressed that the two countries should approach the issue without setting “red lines” in the negotiations. “We should not set red lines if we want to find a solution. We must take care of each other in order to preserve the dignity of both peoples, of the two countries and of the two nations and, in any case, to preserve what is emotional, and that is identity.

“Identity is emotion; no one can negotiate and barter emotion. I believe that, in this spirit, by carefully approaching the partners with whom we are negotiating, we will find a solution,” Zaev said. In this context, Zaev proposed opening the Constitution of Greece on how Athens treats Greeks outside the country, and he said that the same practice will be followed by  FYROM.

“Let’s open the Constitution of Greece and see how they care for Greeks outside Greece. I am ready, as they care for Greeks outside of Greece, to care for Macedonians who live outside Macedonia,” Zaev said. Finally, the FYROM premier claims that with the renaming of Skopje’s main airport and a major highway, his country has removed all signs of irredentism.