LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: Good visit for future of two peoples (RTS)

Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that his Wednesday's visit to Albania is good for the future of the two peoples and countries, adding that differences that were expressed in talks are evident, but that the two have bravely initiated a process that could only bring prosperity.

"Many times we fought wars... caused each other problems, and I think it is important to look to the future together, to both want to become part of EU," Vucic said, and added that both countries want better mutual relations. The prime minister told RTS he will call on Serbian investors and businessmen to visit Albania, but also try to arrange with representatives of Albania how to make investments and invite Albanian investors to invest in Serbia.

"I think that the volume of trade exchange, which now totals EUR 109 million, can be increased to 500 million in the next 10 years," Vucic said, adding this would be a great success for Serbia.

"I also think it is very important in political terms that we have showed we can talk to those with whom we were two separate societies in the past period - and that even when we have differences that are not minor we can talk in a civilized way and resolve problems," the Serbian Prime Minister stressed. Aleksandar Vucic said late Wednesday Serbia is preparing a response to an announcement by Kosovo Foreign Minister Hasim Taci that Pristina will soon bring a genocide claim against Serbia. Vucic told RTS in Tirana, where he is on a two-day visit, he does not understand such a statement by Taci and that it is not based on facts.

"I have to admit I do not understand that... Mr. Taci is not exactly a lawyer, and he just does not understand as to what is genocide," Vucic noted.

The Serbian Prime Minister said he believes Taci's statement is an attempt to draw attention from the establishment of a special court the decision on which should be made on Thursday or Friday.

"We too are preparing our response, but this is not responsible enough for me to take it into consideration too seriously," Vucic pointed out.

 

Dacic: An international presence still needed in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic participated at UN Security Council meeting on the work of UNMIK. After the meeting the Serbian Foreign Minister stressed that it was extremely important for Serbia that the UN Security Council constantly and continuously monitored developments in Kosovo and Metohija, and that Serbia was committed to maintaining the institution of quarterly reporting, although some countries argued that it should be done twice, instead of four times a year.

“In his report the UN Secretary-General and the discussions of the Council members recognized that it was very important to establish a community of Serbian municipalities as soon as possible, because they all understood that it was a priority point as far as the implementation of the Brussels Agreement was concerned. All UNSC member states insisted on the soonest possible creation of a Special Court for to try cases of the war crimes committed by the UCK/KLA in Kosovo and Metohija and in connection with the Dick Marty report.

We emphasized the constructive approach adopted by Serbia, when it comes to continuing the dialogue, that we were willing to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. We also pointed to the major security issues and problems related to the return of internally displaced persons. More than 200,000 people have the status of internally displaced persons and cannot return to their homes in Kosovo and Metohija. In the 16 years since the war ended, only two percent of people had benefited from a sustainable return to Kosovo and Metohija.

Our position is that the Security Council should continue to meet on this issue. On behalf of Serbia, I commended the UN Mission, considering that there should be an international presence in Kosovo and Metohija, unlike Hashim Thaci, who asked for its closing, arguing that now that Kosovo was an independent state, there was no longer the need for the presence of that mission there.

Fully in accordance with resolution 1244, we believe that the issue of KiM's status is far from being resolved, and on the other hand the political and security situation, and the situation with regard to human rights, the rights of Serbs and other non-Albanians is far from being assessed positively. That is why the international presence, as a kind of guarantor, is still necessary in KiM and we will strongly advocate for it”, concluded Minister Dacic

 

"Serbs find Kosovo army unacceptable" - deputy Kosovo PM (Tanjug)

Branimir Stojanovic, who serves as deputy Kosovo prime minister, has said that creating "the Armed Forces of Kosovo would be unacceptable to the Serb people" Representatives of the Serb (Srpska) List in the Kosovo government, headed by Stojanovic, voted on Wednesday against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow for the formation of the Kosovo army, his office has announced. The draft amendments were adopted by a majority vote during a government meeting today. Stojanovic said during the meeting that transforming the Kosovo Security Forces into an army was "unacceptable" to Serbs in Kosovo.

"We are against these constitutional amendments. We have repeatedly asked for a debate on this subject, however, the discussion never took place. That's why today we cannot support these constitutional amendments and we will not support them in the Assembly, either," Stojanovic said.

He also said that "the Serb people in Kosovo consider it sufficient that there is an international peacekeeping force in this space, whose task is to ensure peace and security for all."

"Another armed formation, almost mono-ethnic, composed of members of the majority community, is perceived by the people I belong to as a threat and potential danger for the whole region," said Stojanovic. The Kosovo government has forwarded the draft amendments to the assembly.

In order to pass, this bill must be supported by two-thirds of all members of the assembly, and by two-thirds of all deputies representing minorities.

 

Vucic: Serbia will accept U.S. calls to reduce dependency on Russian gas (B92, Beta,AP)

Aleksandar Vucic has told AP in an interview that his government "will accept U.S. calls to reduce dependency on Russian gas." The agency, that interviewed the Serbian prime minister during his visit to Albania on Wednesday, ran the article under the headline, "Under U.S. pressure, Serbia ready to reduce dependence on Russian gas supplies." AP said that "in a major policy shift, the Serbian prime minister said his country will accept U.S. calls to reduce dependency on Russian gas by adding an American-backed pipeline that would bring gas to Europe from Azerbaijan."

"Regarding energy safety, energy security, we are ready to diversify the sources of gas for Serbia, which is very important for our American friends as well," Vucic said. The news agency said that the United States "has been encouraging Balkan and other states to move forward with the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which will take Azeri gas from the Caspian Sea to Italy, rather than setting its hopes on another project that would pipe Russian gas through Turkey."

Serbia is further described by AP as "a traditional Russian ally that wants to join the European Union," and one that "has already expressed interest in the Moscow-backed pipeline project dubbed Turkish Stream" - adding that "supporting the alternative American-backed pipeline is a major policy shift by Serbia which could be viewed with unease in Moscow." The report also states that "the West has accused Russia of using gas as a tool to increase its political influence over countries like Serbia."

Vucic and U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden spoke in early February on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, when, according to the media, the latter "offered alternatives" to Russia's scrapped South Stream pipeline. It was reported at the time that these alternatives included gas supplies either from the U.S. or from Azerbaijan. A debate ensued in Serbia on the cost of gas that would be supplied to Serbia "under such a scenario." Vucic, who is due to visit the Unites States on June 1, also told AP that Serbia's policy "is not about balancing," and added, "our strategic goal is EU path and we are very firm on our EU path. Yes, on the other hand, we would like to preserve good relationship with Russia." Serbia, the agency noted "refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over its policies in Ukraine," while "some Western officials have urged Serbia to make up its mind on where it wants to go - closer to Russia or the EU."

"What's wrong with that?" he asked. "I don't see it, you know? We don't speak about taking or choosing sides, our side is our path to EU, our side is (the interest of) Serbia," Vucic was quoted as saying, and adding: "I was saying it in front of Vladimir Putin at a press conference, very publicly, very openly. Can you mention another guy who said that very openly like I did in front of Vladimir Putin?" "Washington of course is enormously important and we hope that they'll support our EU way and they'll also support our economic reforms, which is very important for our country," Vucic concluded.

 

Vucic: Serbia will accept U.S. calls to reduce dependency on Russian gas (B92, Beta,AP)

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said in Albania on Thursday that "regional countries must work on joint infrastructure projects and seek support from the EU." He was addressing the "Tirana Talks" of the Vienna Economic Forum, where prime ministers of Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also Kosovo are taking part. Vucic spoke after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to say that "the request for help and support from the European Union must be made together." "If we can't get EU's help and support, we must try and do as much as we can alone together," he said. "Finally we agreed on two important issues - a common goal for all of us, and that is the European path, and about the full membership in the EU. It cannot be expected tomorrow, there are plenty of things to do before it happens,” said Vucic.

"I suggested to Edi (Rama) and Milo (Djukanovic) to sign joint projects, to go to Brussels and ask for support for these projects, and if we don't get it we on the Serbian side will be ready to start financing them from our funds," he said. Vucic added that "the state of the Serbian budget is better than before," and that Serbia is "ready for the integration processes in the Balkans." Serbia, as he said, is also "ready to deal with concrete questions and have a joint presentation before the institutions in Brussels, but also to take steps alone to improve the lives of citizens and the connectedness of the region." "Peoples will appreciate that extremely," said Vucic, adding that "the popularity of the European Union in Serbia is growing." Enlargement fatigue is being mentioned, he remarked - but added that he "could not comment on that" because he is "no expert." Taking part in a discussion during the same event on Thursday, Vucic said that "we need money from European funds," and added: "We have had enough of seminars, we need money to build roads and railways. If you can't set aside funds then say so, we will find the means." He added that "our people should not be underestimated because they expect concrete results."

The meeting in Tirana, the prime minister continued, represented "a cry of all its participants," and a call to the EU and the European Commission "to analyze the situation, consider it well, and properly evaluate - to help us better and more."

One of the forum's moderators, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, asked "what premieres of the region expect from the upcoming Summit on the Western Balkans," to be held in late August in Vienna, and Vucic replied that "citizens need something tangible, some concrete results." He added that the most important projects in the region have been defined and agreed on during a meeting with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn in Brussels. According to Vucic, the acceleration of European integration for all in the region is something that is very important for this part of Europe, because the Balkan region is still "vulnerable and faces many political and economic problems."

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also stressed that expected he expected the Vienna gathering to provide "more attention and assistance from the EU."

 

Dodik: NATO membership acceptable if people want it (NIN)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik has said that he is not against the membership of the Serb entity in B&H in NATO. However, he added, citizens are the ones who should decide on this in a referendum. "NATO has the opportunity to convince us it is a good alliance for Serbs. Let NATO open a few defense industry factories, give jobs to Serbs, and Serbs may change their minds," he told to NIN weekly. "But - how is one to explain that all defense industry factories have been shut down in the RS under pressure from the international factor, while in the other part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the FB&H, there are six. NATO is not without a chance here, it's just that I'm not ready to give my blank support. If the people say accession to that alliance should be signed, I'll sign it," Dodik stated. He then remarked that B&H will be "unsustainable" if "third-rate foreigners govern it."

"If you're not going to engage in dialogue with us, if you won't harmonize B&H with the Dayton (peace agreement), in 2017 our proposal will be a referendum on the status of the RS," Dodik said.

The RS leader also responded to High International Representative Valentin Inzko's allegations about his property coming from criminal activities, to ask whether it was "normal that a diplomat from any country presents slander against politicians of a country that welcomed him - and during an election campaign."

"I have a house in Dedinje (in Belgrade) and that's no secret. I never hid that! I took out a bank loan, I bought the structure and rented it for the amount equal to a loan payment. And I live in a village near Laktasi (in the RS). I also have two apartments in Belgrade. Everything's transparent... the Hypo Bank was sold during the mandate of the government of Mladen Ivanic, the Austrian authorities are investigating what happened in Austria. Neither myself, nor my son, nor my dad, nor my mom, are involved in all that," Dodik told the weekly. He added that the talk about the Russian influence in Bosnia was "paranoia spread by the West about Russia."

"Russia has no political ambitions here. In face-to-face meetings also, Russia's most important people will tell you that they respect the territorial integrity of B&H and the Dayton Agreement."

Asked whether there could be "conflicts in B&H as well because of the relationship between the West and Russia," Dodik replied: "There can only be an armed conflict here if NATO wants it to happen. I don't see anyone who would clash in that way in B&H."

 

According to Pristina media, Jahjaga and Mustafa knew about Kumanovo (FoNet)

Source from the Kosovo Intelligence Agency claim that the Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa have been advised of the possibility of the incident in Kumanovo, writes the Pristina daily Koha. These sources said that the agency had intercepted conversations by groups of citizens from Kosovo and Macedonia, which were hidden in five houses linked by the tunnels in Kumanovo, which show that they wanted to revive the Albanian National Liberation Army. Koha reports that 70 percent of the population was evacuated in the night when the fights broke out, adding that only four suspects knew that this was done according to the earlier agreed scenario. Plan of the leaders was to call some members of the group for the staff meeting in Kumanovo and then to surrender them to the police, but they have opened fire on police officers and the situation went out of control, writes Koha. Daily Zeri writes that the Committee for Internal Affairs and Security of the Kosovo Assembly has called on the Prime Minister Mustafa to report on the knowledge he had about the incident in Kumanovo.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

SDA undermines the status of RS with the aim to break it into regions (Srna)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik told Srna that the resolution adopted at the SDA conference, which provides for the establishment of the "Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina" organized in 5 regions and "camouflage on the middle level of government," deeply undermines the status of RS with the aim to break it in several regions. Dodik has stressed that the SDA was trying to do this earlier through various theories and agencies, which was repeatedly rejected back in 2006 and 2007. "Our approach remains the same. If I speak as a party leader, it remains as it was stated at the assembly session of the SNSD; and if I speak as the RS President - we remain committed to the Dayton Peace Agreement, which endangering will not be tolerated, and we will ask the people what they think about it," said Dodik, the leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD). He has pointed out that certain structures today do not see the danger which advocated the SDA and that "in segments, step by step, they provide the possibility of re-organization and new organization in the B&H." Dodik has stated that he remembers inappropriate reactions to a resolution adopted by the SNSD at the assembly session and added that he is interested in how the theory of the reorganization of B&H will be commented.

"We will see if there will be any reactions. If not - I will react, and warn them about their anti-Dayton behavior which does not lead to the equal respect of everyone in B&H. They want to make an experiment they have never given up on," said Dodik. He has pointed out that the SDA’s theory on the reorganization of B&H and break of RS is well known, but when speaking about it in RS it is interpreted as spreading fear and false information. Commenting on the SDA announcement concerning the new lawsuit against Serbia for alleged genocide, Dodik has told that it cannot be done unless the joint institutions, above all the Presidency of B&H, issue such a decision.

"I believe that none of the Serb members of the Presidency could accept it in the way they propose," has said the RS President, stressing that Serbia cannot be and is not responsible. He has stressed that such statements point out to the alleged SDA efforts to rehabilitate and establish good relations between Serbia and B&H, including Bakir Izetbegovic’s story about a conversation with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, which Izetbegovic now denies.

"In fact, denigration of Serbs is the only important to them in order to bring both the Serbs and Serbia in the position of constant negative attention of the international factor," said Dodik.

It was pointed out at the SDA conference, which was held Tuesday in Sarajevo that the party strove for a new Constitution, which would define the "Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina" with three levels of government, out of which five or more multiethnic regions would form the regional level, and municipalities and cities would form the local level.

 

SNSD ready to stop the adoption of resolution on condemnation of genocide (Srna)

The SNSD leader Milorad Dodik has stated that if the resolution on condemnation of genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica is included in the agenda of the session of the House of Representatives of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Parliamentary Assembly, the SNSD MPs are ready to enter the session and vote in order to prevent the adoption of the resolution in the second voting round. Dodik has stated that according to a piece of information he has, the draft resolution was sent on Wednesday to the session of the Collegium of the House of Representatives, but that the SDS leader Mladen Bosic, as a member of the Collegium, can refuse it.

"In the meantime, I have heard today from Bosic and Mladen Ivanic and I believe this is something that cannot be passed since there is an agreement between all of us that it cannot be voted in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Dodik told Srna. He pointed out that this resolution is an attempt to give an importance to the 20th anniversary of the sufferings of Bosniaks in Srebrenica. Republika Srpska (RS) Vice President, Ramiz Salkic, earlier announced that the resolution on "condemnation of genocide" against Bosniaks in Srebrenica would be submitted to the parliamentary procedure.

 

Novalic on problems in FB&H government: Difficult to say what to do next (Oslobodjenje)

Fadil Novalic, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H), confirmed that at the session of the government there were problems connected with the appointment of supervisory boards in public enterprises and conflict between the DF on one side and the SDA and HDZ B&H on the other. "It’s difficult to say how this will go on. Of course, this shows discrepancy… I would say from the beginning. It was strange to me whence came this topic? However, it’s no longer strange. It is very important and the cornerstone of contention among the parties that form the FB&H government,” said Novalic. He told reporters in Mostar after the session that the government’s decision that was made in the wake of agreement by party leaders should be implemented. At a session of the government, held in Mostar, Reuf Bajrovic, Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry (DF) proposed to introduce to the agenda the selection of six members of the supervisory board of Elektroprivreda HZ HB, which has passed through a concourse procedure, and is part of the regular appointment that started with the previous minister. Ministers from the SDA and HDZ B&H did not accept his proposal. At the last session, the SDA and HDZ made decisions on dismissals and temporary appointments in Elektroprivreda HZ HB and Aluminij from Mostar, at which the HDZ insisted for almost a month, when the government fell into crisis.

In recent days, Bajrovic has warned through the media that the decisions the government made in the previous session connected with the dismissals in the boards of Elektroprivreda HZ HB and Aluminij are not legal. Bajrovic after the session told reporters that the regular procedure for Elektroprivreda HZ HB has concluded and in accordance with the law he proposed that people who passed through the concourse be appointed to the board. The FB&H government for nearly a month has not held a session because of the crisis that arose over the dismissals and appointments in public companies.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

EU court jails 11 ex-Kosovo fighters over war crimes (EUbusiness, 27 May 2015)

(PRISTINA) - A European Union-run court Wednesday sentenced 11 former Kosovo guerrilla fighters, including two high-ranking officers, to up to 12 years behind bars for crimes during the 1990s war for independence. A high-level member of the now disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who is mayor of the northwestern town of Serbia, Sami Lusaka, was found guilty and given 12 years in prison for the wartime murder of a civilian, the European justice mission (EULEX) said in a statement. The KLA was a pro-independence ethnic Albanian rebel movement that fought the armed forces of then Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic. KLA general Suleiman Salami was handed an eight-year jail term for ill treatment of civilian prisoners in a KLA detention center in the Drench region of Kosovo. Salami, who was Kosovo's ambassador to Albania in 2013 before being hit with the EULEX charges, engaged in violence, torture as well as humiliating, cruel and degrading treatment of civilian prisoners, according to the verdict. The other nine defendants, including another mayor of a Kosovo city, were sentenced to prison terms from three to seven years for the torture of civilians at the KLA's detention center in Drench, the wartime stronghold of the guerrilla group. The defense lawyers said they would lodge an appeal. According to the indictment, war crimes were committed in Drench’s KLA detention center against mainly ethnic Albanian civilians suspected of collaboration with Milosevic's regime.

A war veterans association promptly condemned the ruling as "political" and part of "continuing efforts to criminalize our struggle for liberation." The Kosovo war ended in June 1999 after NATO bombed Serbia and ousted Milosevic's security forces from Kosovo, paving the way for its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008. The EU justice mission was launched in Kosovo just months after the war, in order to assist the local judiciary in handling the most sensitive cases.

 

Serbian Prime Minister makes landmark visit to Albania (Associated Press, By Lazar Semini, 28 May 2015)

TIRANA, Albania (AP) - The leaders of Serbia and Albania sought to mend their thorny relations Wednesday during the first visit to Albania by a Serbian prime minister. Aleksandar Vucic's visit was held under tight security, with some 1,300 policemen deployed in the capital Tirana, police and army helicopters overhead and streets in the city center blocked to traffic.

"Relations between Serbia and Albania will be the backbone of relations in this part of Europe," Vucic said after talks with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama. "If we are smart and responsible enough, and we understand that wars and bloodshed will not solve our problems, but with talks, with dialogue, with honest relations, then I can say that both Serbia and Albania have a much better future compared to the past we had together." Relations between the two Balkan states have been strained, mainly over the former Serbian province of Kosovo where majority ethnic Albanians declared independence in 2008. Serbia, which considers Kosovo the cradle of their statehood and Christian Orthodox religion, refuses to recognize its independence. "The courage that Germany and France had to overcome rivers of blood after World War II should inspire us to turn this peaceful time into a history of building up the foundations of a sustainable coexistence," Rama said.

The two premiers discussed increasing bilateral trade and investment, cooperation in energy and tourism and recognizing their countries' university diplomas. Both countries have applied for European Union membership. Albania is a NATO member while Serbia is still on the waiting list.

Vucic said the two would jointly ask the EU for funding support for a highway linking Nish in Serbia with Durres in Albania and passing through Kosovo. Vucic's visit follows Rama's visit to Belgrade in November, the first by an Albanian head of government to Serbia in 68 years.

Rama's trip to Serbia had originally been scheduled to be held in October, but was postponed over tension arising from a European Championship soccer qualifying match between the two national teams. The game in Belgrade was suspended after a drone carrying an Albanian nationalist flag ignited clashes between players and fans. His appearance in Belgrade was marred by an open clash at a press conference between the two prime ministers over Kosovo's statehood. Vucic reacted angrily to Rama's remarks that Serbia should view Kosovo's independence with "realism."

During Wednesday's visit, both Vucic and Rama stuck to their respective positions regarding Kosovo, but without placing particular emphasis on the issue during their joint appearance after their meeting. Serbia has been accusing Tirana of wanting to create a Greater Albania encompassing Kosovo, large chunks of Macedonia and other territories where ethnic Albanians live in the Balkans. Albania has repeatedly denied such ambitions, saying borders in the Balkans would not matter once all its states become EU members. Three people were shot dead in an exchange of fire downtown Tirana unrelated to Vucic's visit, according to police spokeswoman Edjona Dano, Two suspects have been arrested. Tirana is under tight security before an international economic forum that will gather prime ministers from the Western Balkan countries on Thursday.

 

Macedonia ready to join Turkish stream project once Moscow reaches agreement with EU (Reuters, 28 May 2015)

Macedonia is ready to take part in the construction of the Turkish stream natural gas pipeline once Russia and Brussels reach an agreement on the strategic project, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has announced. “Our position is that when Brussels and Moscow reach an agreement on this project, we will take part in it,” Gruevski told Press24 portal. “As a country aiming to join the European community, these are exactly the guidelines we follow when making strategic decisions.”

Following the abandonment of the South Stream gas pipeline project in December 2014, Moscow has switched its resources towards constructing the Turkish Stream as an alternative. At present, Athens and Moscow are working out the details to construct a segment of the pipeline starting on the Greek-Turkish border that will enable supplies to the EU. The Greek segment of the gas system is projected to run to the Macedonian border. The Gruevski-led government, which has seen massive uprisings against it in recent weeks, in the past opposed Western sanctions against Russia and supported the Turkish Stream construction. “If you look at the geography of the region, Macedonia is the best place for constructing the extension of the newest energy infrastructure project in the region, the so-called Turkish Stream,” Russia’s ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov told Bloomberg last week. Last Wednesday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that “the Macedonian events are blatantly controlled from the outside” to pressure Skopje, among other things, to opt out of the Turkish Stream project. Meanwhile Gruevski said that Macedonia will not face any serious problems re: gas supply over the next 10 years, as it consumes less than projected. However he says the largest problem for the country now is the high price of gas.

 

The Functionalist Engine is Running out of Steam (New Europe, 28 May 2015)

Today, in Tirana, the Prime Ministers of Kosovo, Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, and FYROM will meet to discuss business in the context of the Vienna economic forum. Greece is joining the event expected to culminate in a Berlin summit, where the countries of the region will present their economic projects, as a region. This projection of economic unity could be deceiving, because it seems that the functionalist engine of reform-and-peace in exchange for economic assistance is running out of steam. Albania opens one territorial issue after another as austerity hits Greece and Serbia. This week Albania officially challenged the delimitation of Greece’s maritime borders and exclusive economic zone. A few days ago Tirana challenged Albania’s territorial borders with Greece. Both issues were raised by the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the context of Greece’s licensing rounds for onshore and offshore petroleum licenses. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister of Albania called for the unification of his country with Kosovo as “inevitable,” opening in principle the issue of changing borders in the Balkans.

On May 18th, the Foreign Minister of Serbia, Mr. Dacic, wondered what would happen if he were to say that “all Serbs will unite under an EU flag.” He was referring to the resurgence of calls for a greater Albania, especially following the bloody confrontation between Kosovar Albanian KLA militants with the police in the town of Kumanovo in FYROM. Serbia’s government is in a relatively difficult position. On the one hand, formerly uncompromising members of the Serbian establishment, such as the President of the Bosnia-Herzegovina canton, Serb Republic (RS), Milorad Dodik, are now saying that NATO membership is conceivable. On the other hand, PM Vucic has had to defend himself against the Seselj, the nationalist leader in trial in the Hague who was granted temporary permission to return to Serbia on medical grounds. Seselj has challenged Vucic to arrest him, stating that he would not return voluntarily, and has called upon “all patriots” for the overthrow of the “traitors” – Nikolic and Vucic – government to prevent NATO and EU accession. Greece is in a difficult position, for along with Romania it is one of the five EU member states (Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus) that has not recognized Kosovo. With a traditional relationship built on a huge number of Albanian emigrants in Greece, investment, tourism and intensive cross border cooperation, the effect of this non-recognition policy was not significant for bilateral relations. However, as the economic leverage of Greece is waning, so is the influence of Athens in Tirana. The Rama administration is banking on Greece’s fiscal position and, perhaps – as sources of the Greek MFA claim – joint interests in hydrocarbon exploration with Turkey. In addition, Romania recognized Kosovo passports, making Greece a stand-alone power in Southeastern Europe adamant on the issue. Austerity is taking its toll on the stability of the Serbian government. Addressing the nationalist constituency claimed by Seselj in Serbia, PM Dodic noted last weekend that he “fought like a lion” with the IMF, to oppose an increase in the price of electricity in Serbia. Serbia is implementing a tough austerity program and PM Dodic “threatens” that he is open to the possibility of holding elections and that public opinion in Serbia is turning against the EU. Greece is also projecting a “resistance” discourse. Last June Albania was granted an EU candidate status after five years. During that time the EU Commission rejected Tirana’s request three times. The reason for the long waiting time was not only incomplete reforms but also the highly polarization of the two main political parties, the Democrats and the Socialists, which have ruled the country over the past 23 years. With the momentum of enlargement stalling and with “an opportunity” to open issues that can trigger instability but, in “closing them,” Tirana can secure certain benefits, the Balkans seem to return to the old dilemma of the interwar period, that is, “reform or status quo” thereby undoing much of what was considered progress in the context of Europeanization.

 

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Media summaries are produced for the internal use of the United Nations Office in Belgrade, UNMIK and UNHQ. The contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership.