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LOCAL PRESS

Ashton in the Serbian parliament: Serbia is an example to others in the region (RTS/Radio Serbia)

The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said in the Serbian parliament that Serbia could serve as an example for others in the region and show what one can do under the right leadership and also when one works hard and makes difficult decisions. Ashton stressed that Serbia had always been part of Europe and that now it has opened a new chapter in relations with the EU. She also pointed to the numerous obstacles Serbia must overcome on its EU course and added that what is important was the fact that all the political parties shared the same goal. Debates on numerous laws, their adoption and the monitoring of their further implementation await Serbian MPs and what is also ahead of Serbia on its EU course is the normalization of relations with Pristina, the establishment of the rule of the law and economic reforms. Ashton commended Belgrade for its courage, political maturity and approach in talks with Pristina, despite the numerous difficult challenges and decisions. She said that the dialogue with Pristina had already been very successful and that an overall normalization of relations was now the key element of Serbia’s EU accession process and that therefore the dialogue would go on. Ashton assessed Serbia as an important EU political partner and pointed to Serbia’s contribution in the improvement of relations and cooperation in the region, which is essential for regional stability. She assessed the fact that Serbia is to chair the OSCE in 2015 as a clear signal of trust of the international community. She stressed that progress in the sphere of the rule of the law defined the speed of the accession process. On the other hand, she believes that economic reforms will help Serbia realize economic criteria for admission to the EU, open new work positions and create better social conditions.

Davenport: Still much work to do in normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations (Tanjug)

“Significant results have been achieved in the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, but there is still work to do,” the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said and welcomed Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s announcement that he will be representing Belgrade in the dialogue with Pristina. “It is a known fact that comprehensive normalization of relations with Pristina is an integral part of the EU accession process, and it is addressed by Chapter 35,” Davenport told a round table dubbed “Economic ties between Belgrade and Pristina - Potentials for Cooperation and Key Challenges of the Joint European Prospects.” He recalled that the screening for that chapter was conducted on 22 January and that the EU member countries need to decide on further steps. “Chapter 35 is no substitute for dialogue, but a mechanism for monitoring the obligations undertaken in the dialogue. The EU may act as the mediator in the dialogue, but it is up to Belgrade and Pristina to initiate negotiations and lead the normalization process with support from the citizens and civil society,” Davenport said. He recalled the message of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue can also encourage many other regions. “The potential is huge and the possibilities for development and cooperation have not been used entirely - development is vital for creating new jobs. The progress in the dialogue and reforms has led to Serbia’s progress in European integrations,” Davenport pointed out, adding that the EU remains committed to enlargement in the Western Balkans.

Kirby: Serbia won’t get reparations for NATO bombing (B92)

“If Serbia expects reparations for the 1999 bombing that is not something we will do, but we will continue to assist as before,” U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby told TV B92. Since 2000, Serbia was given a lot of support, and that “in money alone that support is measured in billions of dollars.” “I think you should concentrate on the future, not the past. You can deal with the past, but if you spend a lot of time on it, you will never turn to the future. We are ready to help,” said Kirby. Another topic had to do with the past, namely, with war crimes committed in Kosovo, which the U.S. ambassador said had to be investigated. According to the diplomat, Clint Williamson, who investigated the allegations from the Dick Marty report, is an experienced prosecutor, and said his country supported the establishment of a war crimes tribunal that would determine whether crimes happened and pass judgment if there was evidence. Asked whether Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaqi could be investigated by this court, Kirby said: “I’m sure Clint Williamson investigated wherever the evidence led, and that there were no restrictions. I really do not know whether Thaqi was involved, but I’m sure that soon all the details will be published.” The Kosovo issue is a key to Serbia’s path towards the EU, supported by the United States, and Kirby was asked to comment whether recognizing Kosovo was a requirement as far as EU officials were concerned: “You would have to ask the EU, but in the fall 2012 Hillary Clinton was in Belgrade with Catherine Ashton and one of the topic was the normalization of relations, and there were no statements nor requirements that this means recognizing of Kosovo as an independent state. I do not see that something has changed there, but this is a question for Mr. Davenport and the EU.” The Ambassador added that, judging by the way the EU is now working, he would be “surprised” if that became a requirement. He also noted that Serbia would not join the EU for a long time and that “much can happen by 2020,” but that he did not think that “good relations” implied recognition of independence. He also touched on his decision to visit the SNS election headquarters on election night, and said this was “a sign of support to the Serbian people,” who voted to give the party 158 seats in parliament.

Nobody protects Natasha (Politika, by Biljana Radomirovic)

Some ten days ago, Kosovo Serb Natasa Markovic, from the Brezanik village, near Pec, barely avoided being lynched by Kosovo Albanians. One can hear about this woman, a hero and symbol of Serbia in devastated Metohija, only when journalists raise the voice and, only then, is she remembered by the authorities, either the Kosovo Serbs appointed by Belgrade, Pristina or EULEX, which persistently potentiates the rule of law. She lives in her neighbor’s house, because her house was leveled to the ground during the war in 1999. She survived the ‘Golgotha’ with her sister Slobodanka, who died two years ago due to negligence of those who should have been taking care of her, because there was no insulin for her and the sisters only fed themselves with milk from their 20 goats. Natasa grieves for her sister, and instead of help, she is attacked every day by the Kosovo Albanians from the Lodje village, the Salja family whose representative is one of the chiefs in the police in Pec. “I was heading towards the forest with the goats and encountered an ambush. A group of young men, Kosovo Albanians, attacked me, they started to beat me, and I tried to break away, so they were left with my jacket. I screamed even though I knew nobody will hear me, because only those who wanted to lynch me were in the forest. I managed, I don’t know even how, to reach the asphalt road. I somehow survived,” says Natasa, whom we have been frequently calling over the past two years to check whether she is alive and to ask about her deteriorated health. Its always the same story – she is not helped by either the Kosovo Serbs appointed by Belgrade in the Pec municipality, relocated to nearby Gorazdevac village. “They, too, are obstructing me,” she says. After the attack, she called the police, and the policemen arrived only two hours later. They were joking with her. She also addressed the chief in Pec, but he forwarded her calls to Kosovo Serb policemen in Gorazdevac, who promised they would visit her twice a day or that they would be stationed day and night near the house where Natasa lives. “When there are two policemen, whose names I will not mention, in the patrol, they visit me. I feel safe then, but the others – they neither see nor visit me. My requests are not worthy, the harsh truth is that I tell them and that everybody knows: I am not worthy that I addressed the president of the interim council in the Pec municipality Mr. Dimitrijevic. I also addressed Slobodan Petrovic in Pristina, who is in the government of Kosovo, but he forwarded me to the Serb representatives in Gorazdevac. It seems that either the Kosovo Serbs in Pristina, EULEX or Belgrade don’t want to help me,” says Natasa. She received social welfare sent by Belgrade, but it is still unknown who forged her signature since the Office for Kosovo and Metohija also told Politika’s journalist that they have documents saying that social welfare was paid to Natasa and her sister Slobodanka from 2008 to 2012. Natasa claims that she had never received that money, someone played maliciously with her and her sister’s name, and she was trying to resolve the “mystery” in the Centre for Social Labor in North Kosovska Mitrovica. “I asked that the then Centre’s director receives me, he refused, but I am still trying to trace the person who deceived me and the entire state,” says this woman who has become ill over the death of her sister and the frequent Kosovo Albanian attacks. “Some ten days ago, when I was attacked, when they were chasing me like beasts, I moved in with my friend in Pec. The police arrived there and wanted to return me home, but I refused - because I was too scared. This life is no life, but I will not leave my Brezanik, this is where my estate is, this is where my home is, and if necessary I will pay it with my life,” tearfully tells Natasa, a stout and very intelligent woman, once a student of the Belgrade University, a woman who speaks six languages, who used to be, as one of the more beautiful Serb women in Pec, on the front pages of fashion magazines. She cultivates on her own the garden in front of her house, mows on her own, while last year, Politika called several times the Centre for Social Labor in Gorazdevac and barely scrounged for two people to mow her meadows so she could feed a herd of goats. Politika also addressed the representatives of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija, requesting them to provide her with a health card, but also to draw the attention of the Kosovo Serbs appointed by Belgrade to protect and help this 64-year-old day and night oppressed woman who is at the gunpoint of Kosovo Albanians, former neighbors. They do not hesitate to bang on the door, to take down the plastic from the windows that don’t have glass, to devastate her orchards; who cut more than 50 walnut trees and, one may freely say, who usurped more than five hectares of her land, which she alone can’t approach. “I am not going anywhere, I need help, I need protection, but who else do I address. I have broken open many doors for these 15 years, I addressed relevant institutions, but it seems that I am left on my own and God,” this Serb woman told Politika in a telephone conversation, who lives alone, unprotected and whose day lasts 24 hours: she doesn’t sleep at night, fearing for her bare life.

REGIONAL PRESS

Radoncic’s dismissal confirmed (Srna)

The House of Peoples of the B&H parliamentary assembly, at the initiative of the SDA, dismissed today B&H Minister of Security Fahrudin Radoncic. Croat delegates from the HDZ B&H Borjana Kristo and Dragan Covic voted against the dismissal, while the Serb delegate Krstan Simic and Croat delegate Stjepan Kresic abstained. The only one interested in the debate on this issue was Covic who is also the chair of the House of Peoples. He assessed that it is not good for B&H to stay without a parliamentary majority several months before the elections, because this could block the passing of any kind of decisions. The SDA launched the initiative for Radoncic’s dismissal after the February demonstrations. Prior to that, Radoncic’s dismissal was voted by the House of Representatives of the B&H parliamentary assembly.

Ljubic leaves HDZ 1990 (Fena)

The founder and former leader of the HDZ 1990 Bozo Ljubic left this party over the disagreement with the party leadership. In today’s open letter, Ljubic states that the HDZ 1990 that he had founded and that was accepted by a large number of Croats doesn’t exist anymore. “This is not the same party anymore – either by the idea, goals, program, and now even by the name. That is why I am informing you that I cannot be considered a member of the party any further. I wonder whether there is sense in asking to be erased from the membership of the party that doesn’t exist anymore, but if someone deems this necessary let them do it,” said Ljubic. He notes that the main reason for disagreement with the party leadership is the fact that the HDZ 1990 has decided to take part in the elections on its own and not within the Croat National Council (HNS) that is the only guarantee to realize the electoral will of the Croat people and for the Croats in B&H to be equal with the help of the HNS. He said he would not return the mandate to the House of Representatives as well as the post of the chair of the HNS Main Board, which the HDZ 1990 had earlier requested from him. Ljubic noted that he doesn’t intend to join any existing party or eventually newly founded party. He also noted that all those who had resigned from the HDZ 1990 or will resign would have his support in further political performance. There have been two wings in the HDZ 1990 – one close to Ljubic and one to the current leader Martin Raguz. The clash escalated following the decision of the Main Board that the HDZ 1990 would take part in the elections individually, and not together with the HDZ B&H and other HNS parties. The HDZ 1990 accepted joint representation only at the levels where national interests had been threatened. In the meantime, Raguz signed unification with the HNS, former HSS-NHI, whose founder is Kresimir Zubak, which caused discontent in one part of the party.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Serbia will not be pressured to choose between Russia, EU membership: Ashton (Xinhua, 29 April 2014)

Catherine Ashton, the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief, on Monday assured Serbian officials that Serbia would not be pressured to choose between Russia and EU membership.

Ashton praised Serbia's progress towards EU accession, estimating that the process would not last long. However, she did not specify a timeframe.

The high representative of the EU for foreign policy and security met newly-elected Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Monday.

She told President Nikolic that the EU would not interfere in Serbian international relations.

"We're not asking you to be against your historical, economic and any other partnership with Russia. Be sure that we see Serbia as part of the European family," Ashton was quoted as saying in a written statement.

After meeting Ashton, Vucic told a press conference that Serbia would ask the EU to open negotiations on chapters 23 and 24 of the EU enlargement process that deal with topics such as the judiciary, freedom and security as early as next year.

Commenting on the reform of Serbia's judiciary, Vucic said that the country expects help in that regard as well as in the training of staff. Ashton assured the Serbian leader that help would be forthcoming.

EU to back Serbia's difficult reforms (EUbusiness, 28 April 2014)

(BELGRADE) - The European Union will help Serbia's new EU-hopeful government implement ambitious economic reforms, the bloc's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Monday.

"The EU is determined to help and support Serbia in its efforts to ensure a strong economic path for its people," Ashton told reporters after meeting new Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, who was sworn in Sunday at the head of a centre-right government after a snap election on March 16.

Vucic, a former ultra-nationalist turned pro-European, sought EU assistance for the new government.

"We have asked for EU support for difficult economic reforms and the courageous measures that we will implement," he said.

He said Serbia expected to conclude a new deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) "in July at the latest".

Serbia hopes to get approval for a new loan to replace a previous billion-euro ($1.4-billion) credit that was frozen in 2012 because the government failed to meet IMF criteria.

Vucic said his government's goal was to conclude EU accession talks by the end of his four-year mandate and bring the Balkan nation into the bloc in 2020.

Serbia -- the largest country to emerge from the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, with a population of 7.2 million people -- has to reform antiquated labour and other economic laws and cut down on bureaucracy.

More than 20 percent of the workforce is unemployed, and those with jobs struggle to survive on an average monthly salary of 350 euros ($480).

Serbia opened EU membership talks in January.

Who Can Restart Bosnia and Herzegovina? (euinside, by Adelina Marini, 29 April 2014)

Bosnia has not been forgotten by the EU, not even at a time when the Union is strongly engaged with Ukraine, but does Sarajevo remember what commitments it made to the EU? This is one way to summarise the first Foreign Affairs Council of the EU which adopted special conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina after the initiative of several member states among which Croatia, which tabled a rather innovative proposal. Alas, many member states decided that Zagreb's idea Bosnia to receive a status of a special candidate state is too eccentric at this stage and that is why the foreign ministers united around much more moderate or rather realistic conclusions. In them, it is again reiterated that the EU remains fully committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path, but that this is not a one way process. Much more is needed on behalf of the Bosnian authorities.

The Council insists the existing conditions for beginning of BiH's eurointegration process to be fulfilled and only then to move toward the next phase. What is new in the conclusions is that they recognise the problems that had led to the mass demonstrations in the country in the beginning of the year and admit that the EU can do more on this issue. The Union also supported a Compact for Growth for the country, the purpose of which is to help the country's institutions to identify specific social-economic structural reforms that could help boost the economy and jobs creation. Results are expected in the mid-term. Besides, the Council has backed the European Commission's idea to expand the current high level dialogue on justice to include more generally the rule of law and fight against corruption.

With the aim to realise these and the older ideas to inspire Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council calls for acceleration of the already agreed projects financed by EU money, but recalls that, regretfully, due to internal differences BiH was unable to secure fulfilling of the criteria for pre-accession assistance.

A success or a failure are the foreign ministers' conclusions?

Against the backdrop of the ambitious Croatian idea to immediately begin accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina by including all the pre-conditions in the negotiations, which will practically restart the process, the agreed on April 14th text by the foreign ministers could sound very disappointing. Most reactions so far show that, in fact, these conclusions are a big achievement. Croatia's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusic seemed with mixed feeling when she commented the issue for euinside [the attached video]. On the one hand, she is grateful for the efforts of EU's high representative for foreign policy Catherine Ashton and her colleagues because, in her words, after all, the issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina found a place on the agenda. "They agreed, first of all, to discuss BiH which is an issue but certainly by many seen as not as important as, let's say, Ukraine, the Eastern partnership, Syria or the Southern Mediterranean, but I think everybody realised that a country that's an issue in Europe if there is not an appropriate reaction at the right moment could, maybe, become a bigger problem and I was very happy with the fact that absolutely everybody participated in the debate", Ms Pusic explained.

She said that almost everybody participated in the debate, but some ministers presented written contributions. Those are Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, UK, Italy. This, according to the Croatian foreign minister, is a signal that there is a political will to do something and to keep the topic on the agenda. According to her, what has been achieved is a success, but there is a long way until the Croatian idea is realised. First, the European elections should pass, then the new Commission should be formed and probably by the end of the year it can be seen how the discussion has evolved. Croatia, however, will not stop seeking support, becomes clear from this website's conversation with Vesna Pusic.

The Croatian proposals hide risks

Bulgaria entirely supports the Council conclusions from April 14th because it believes that now the ball is in the playground of the political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In its answers to euinside, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that the processes needs to be initiated from the inside not from the outside, although the EU is ready to help. The country's political leaders are those who have to invest efforts to handle the problems and to fulfil the conditions for progress in the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Sofia believes that the Croatian proposal represents, practically, a deviation from the adopted methodology of the enlargement process. This could lead to a revision of the pre-conditions for BiH which is applying the European Court for Human Rights ruling on the Sejdic-Finci case. "Turning the Western Balkans into a specific country-by-country case could lead to a deadlock in the enlargement as a process by complicating it and creating separate rules for each country", read the answers of the foreign ministry sent via e-mail.

Bulgaria also believes that a revision of the Dayton peace accord looms up more and more as a key issue from the perspective of ensuring the normal functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state. This debate, however, is not very wise to take place before the elections in October. Sofia is worried also that the elections might not lead to a quick formation of a new government that will be able to make clear commitments and to launch the necessary reforms.

Slovakia has a similar position. In the answers to euinside of the Slovak foreign ministry it is pointed out that, unlike BiH, other countries in the region had prepared their own visions and have undertaken decisive measures to reform and modernise their countries and to improve the lives of their citizens. The logic behind the agreed conclusions on April 14th is that the EU not only continues to support and help BiH but it is also ready to expand its agenda and commitments to the country. "But there will be no progress at all without political will, credible efforts and results shown by BiH institutions and leadership. We simply cannot make  homework for local leaders. A visionary politician, or visionary leadership should be able to transform shortcomings into advantages and the EU is here to support the process", read the answers of the Slovak foreign ministry which are completely in harmony with previous positions stated by Minister Miroslav Lajcak on the issue.

One of the countries with an idea of its own for breaking the deadlock in BiH is Slovenia. The country's Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec believes that it is better to apply on the country the formula that Catherine Ashton invented for Serbia and Kosovo. In his letter from February 14th to the EU high representative for foreign affairs, Mr Erjavec points out that the Union must realise that constantly imposing conditions does not work and much more serious commitment is needed. According to him, the pro-active approach in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is very appropriate. Moreover, Ljubljana, just like Bulgaria, is of the opinion that the time has come for a revision of the Dayton peace accord. "We are all aware that the Dayton Agreement put an end to the war, but it did not provide for a functional country. This is why I believe that the EU needs to set in motion and lead an appropriate process with the support of its international partners. The process should be well prepared, timely and, most importantly, well-delivered".

Slovenia is generally satisfied with the foreign ministers' conclusions because, according to the Slovene foreign ministry, many of Ljubljana's proposals have been taken into account. Slovenia is among the countries that are concerned that the Croatian proposals could be perceived as lowering the bar something which Ms Pusic firmly denies. "There is a substantial homework that needs to be done on the side of Bosnia and Herzegovina", is said in the Slovene foreign ministry's answers and it is pointed out explicitly that it is a bit overrated to call a restart of the eurointegration process in BiH what is proposed in the Slovene letter.

Too many knowns

At this stage, it is evident that the EU, indeed, is committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it is not clear if all member states share the view that the Dayton peace accord is exhausted and needs to be revised. Against the backdrop of the unabating crisis in Ukraine and the possibility it to continue to be a source of serious political problems for the EU in the coming years, it is hardly realistic to expect the launch of a process of revision of BiH's construction any time soon. To what extent is this imperative will be seen in the end of the year when the results from the October elections in the country emerge and when the new Commission shares its views about the enlargement process. It is very important to also see what will be the structure of the future European Parliament and whether the eurosceptic parties that are not very positively tuned to enlargement will have a significant influence in it. All this against the backdrop of increasing analyses that the developments in Ukraine strongly remind of the developments in former Yugoslavia in the beginning of the 1990s.