LOCAL PRESS

 

Djuric: ZSO is no threat to Albanian population (RTS)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has told the morning broadcast of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) is no threat to the Albanian population and that its primary objective is protection of the Serbs in the province. “First of all, I think that it is horrible that some politicians in Pristina are intimidating the Albanian people with the ZSO. The fact that the Serbs will have more rights through this organization doesn’t imply that anyone else will have fewer rights,” said Djuric. He adds that 120,000 Serbs in Kosovo, which is one-third of the former number of the Serb population in this province, should have a chance to survive and that the ZSO will provide them with this chance. Djuric points out that it is important for Belgrade that high-ranking officials, who are in charge of Serbia, have been saying over the past days that 25 December is the deadline for adopting the ZSO statute. “This is a message for those who are approaching this process with less desire, and not for us. The EU is the guarantor of these agreements and we are fully prepared to work on the implementation of what has been agreed,” said Djuric.

 

Serbian Foreign Ministry: Serbia requests respect of Resolution 1244 (Danas)

The Serbian Foreign Ministry claims that “NATO hasn’t given support to Pristina for the formation of the Kosovo armed forces”, and the Serbian Foreign Ministry says they do not have information on the alleged support. Both ministries claim for Danas that something like that is not possible at this moment, because four members of the North Atlantic Treaty oppose the transformation of the Kosovo security forces into an army. “The North Atlantic Treaty adopted in November 2014 a document whereby the NATO Liaison and Advisory Team and the NATO Advisory Team were merged in one advisory body. That document is technical and represents the starting point for further examination of the ‘project task’ and other issues concerning the role of the new advisory entity. The adoption of the decision on the merge of teams passed without major complications, but the ‘project task’ has not yet been adopted – at issue is a far more complicated process, which includes a series of politically sensitive issues, whereby certain NATO member states oppose the transformation of the so-called Kosovo security forces into the so-called Kosovo armed forces. Decisions are passed in NATO by way of consensus, and four members didn’t recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo,” the Serbian Foreign Ministry explained to Danas. This Ministry stresses that official Belgrade finds “unacceptable Pristina’s aspirations for the beginning of the transformation process, by changing and expanding the mandate of the so-called Kosovo security forces, which would destabilize Kosovo and Metohija and undermine the security situation in the region”. The Ministry notes that “according to UNSCR 1244, KFOR is the only legal military force in Kosovo and Metohija, which are the arguments that the Serbian Foreign Ministry continuously places at the bilateral and multilateral level”. The Serbian and Defense Ministries count on the fact that Pristina’s intention to transform the Kosovo security forces into an army will be complicated with the legal procedure – amendment of the Kosovo Constitution requires the votes of two-thirds of all MPs, plus two-thirds of minority votes, primarily the Serb (Srpska) List. The Kosovo government is presently working on “legal gymnastics” that should enable it to conduct the transformation without voting in the assembly. At the same time, signals on the ground state that Thaqi has started to collect “safe votes” in the Kosovo Assembly both for the Kosovo army and his presidential candidacy. Albanian sources speculate that, allegedly, he is counting on seven Serb votes. Serb members of the Kosovo government unofficially claim they know nothing about NATO’s support for the transformation of the Kosovo security forces, while the official stand is that the entire Serb List opposes this. The Serb list is currently undergoing mutual accusations as to who has been secretly negotiating with the Minister for the Kosovo security forces Haki Demoli.

 

Belgrade-Pristina agreement on diplomas published, then withdrawn for revision (Novosti)

The Belgrade and Pristina negotiating teams have agreed the ways they will mutually recognize university diplomas, but the text of the agreement was nevertheless returned for additional adjustment. The agreement on mutual recognition was published late Wednesday on the website of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. However, it was withdrawn on Thursday morning for revision, at the request of all three sides – Brussels, Belgrade and Pristina. The final version will be adjusted at the first following meeting in Brussels, at the ministerial level. The first version of the agreement was reached in 2011. The conclusions that were briefly published state that the European University Association (EUA) needs to mediate in the mutual recognition of diplomas. With the EUA certificate the further procedure is valid for university documents from all other countries, at least in Serbia. The faculties will be in charge of the validation for continuing education, and the ENIK/NARIK center, which was opened yesterday by Serbian Education Minister Srdjan Verbic at the Education Ministry, will be in charge of the validation for employment. “That international institution needs to establish the validity of these diplomas, and this was agreed in Brussels. Once they have this, the diplomas will be recognized in the same way as the documents from all credible universities in the world,” Verbic said at the opening of the center.

 

Dragan Jablanovic offers resignation (Novosti)

The President of the interim authorities of the Leposavic municipality, Dragan Jablanovic offered to resign from the post. The request was submitted to the Serbian government that appointed him to the position more than a year ago. Jablanovic confirmed that he made the decision because of the conflict that arose between the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric and his son Aleksandar. Djuric had previously supported the motion for the dismissal of Aleksandar Jablanovic from the position of the President of the Serb List. “He is trying to remove my son from the Serb List in all possible ways. When I saw that, I offered my resignation to the government of Serbia, in order for the Leposavic municipality to have the same treatment at the Office for Kosovo and Metohija as the other municipalities” said Dragan Jablanovic.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Club of Bosniaks delegates raising question of vital national interest (klix.ba)

Club of Bosniak delegates of the Republika Srpska (RS) Assembly made a decision raising a question of the protection of the vital national interest related to decision of the RS Assembly on forming the Regulatory commission for energy and Commission for the conduction of the referendum. Mujo Hadziomerovic, President of the Club of Bosniaks in the RS Assembly said that the Club unanimously decided to raise the question of a vital national interest for the formed Commission for the conduction of a referendum and forming of the Regulatory commission for energy. Club decided to raise the question of a vital national interest due to the unconstitutionality of the decision on a referendum. When it comes to the one-national composition of the Regulatory agency for energy, attitude of the Club is that composition is unacceptable. “The decision on forming the commission for energy was made even though we had registered one Bosniak, who hadn’t passed. We have a positive example in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where even in the lower acts, such as statutes, it is said that it has to be consisted of all three constituent people“, emphasized Hadziomerovic. As a reminder, the RS Assembly elected a one-national composition of the Regulatory commission for energy. National structure of the proposed candidates for members was not respected during the election in the entity parliament, which resulted with the fact that elected members are only members of the Serb constituent people.

 

B&H at the crossroads - Sharia entering the common institutions? (RTRS)

The sharp reactions of the professional public and the RS institutions to the agreement between B&H and the Islamic community which was signed two days ago in the Council of Ministers. Members of the B&H Presidency will soon declare their positions regarding the provisions of the agreement, and then the delegates of the B&H Parliamentary Assembly are going to do the same. President of the RS, Milorad Dodik is asking for the rejection the proposed agreement.

According to the proposal of the contract - public and private sector, all institutions, public institutions, enterprises in the private and public sectors are obliged to respect the provisions of the Sharia for Muslims believers regarding the prayers during working hours, the specific wardrobe, and the Halal standards for food products that would be determined by the Islamic community, together with the Agency for Standardization.

Is B&H a secular or religious state, democratic or theocratic? B&H is at a turning point.

 

Session of government of B&H and Serbia to be held on 4^th and 5^th November in Sarajevo (Novo vrijeme)

The Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic and Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic agreed at the meeting in Strasbourg that the joint session of the governments of these two countries will be held on 4 and 5 November in Sarajevo. Themes of the meeting and the agenda will be agreed later, as announced from the Service for Public Relations of the B&H Council of Ministers.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

Serbian PM Views Stability as Key to Western Balkan Economic Recovery (Sputnik, 2 October 2015)

Stability is a precondition for economic growth in the Western Balkan states, with figures suggesting that the region’s economy is on the rise, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Thursday.

STRASBOURG – "Stability is the key word, and I think it is a precondition for economic recovery in the Western Balkans and we see that all European numbers speaking about the economy say it will go down, but all the numbers in the Western Balkans and Serbia will go up," Vucic said on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's (PACE).

The Western Balkans are made up of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania, most of which were formerly part of now disbanded Yugoslavia. The countries were severely hit by the 2008 economic crisis.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the economies of the countries of the Western Balkans have undergone a major transformation since the beginning of this century.
Bosnians Clash Over State Court at EU Meeting (BIRN, by Denis Dzidic, 1 October 2015)

Representatives of the Bosnian state judiciary and the justice ministry in the Serb dominated Republika Srpska entity have clashes over the jurisdiction of the state court at an EU seminar.

The Bosnian Serb Justice Minister, Anton Kasipovic, said the Bosnian state court had a “bad institutional framework”, which is why the ministers of justice in Bosnia on September 10 had signed in Brussels a protocol highlighting the need for reforms. “It is dangerous we are now dealing with politics and not expert discussions. The law we proposed from Republika Srpska is not ideal but it is an excellent starting point for discussions. "The issue of the Bosnian court jurisdiction, leaving aside political standpoints, is problematic even for experts, which is why we want to talk to experts and find a common solution,” Kaspiovic said. He revealed that participants at the seminar were discussing two proposals on the reform of the state court – one prepared by Republika Srpska and the other by the state justice minister. The president of the Bosnian court, Meddzida Kreso, said that the meeting had the wrong connotations, as “the proposed laws initiate a compromise that goes against expert positions. “There can be no compromise in the sense that the Bosnian court and prosecution lose jurisdiction over cases in which they defend the state,” Kreso said. She added that the Bosnian Serb law proposal “represents interests from the political centres of power [in Republika Srpska]”. “The Republika Srpska proposal foresees the state court being abolished and two new institutions being put in its place – first instance and appeals, which would have entirely new jurisdiction,” said Kreso. She explained that if the plan was implemented, it would bring into question prosecution of war crimes in the country, as the state court deals with the most complex cases. The President of the HJPC, Milan Tegeltija, criticized the EU for not inviting the institution he presides over to sign the protocol on justice reforms in Brussels last month, explaining that the role of the HJPC is “managing reform strategies for the judiciary. “The start of this seminar does not give cause for optimism, but I hope that we will manage to move past politics and more on expert issues,” Tegeltija said. He added that the HJPC did not support either of the two proposed laws, but insisted on several principles, such as the state court continuing in existence, but with clarified jurisdiction over cases and with the HJPC's authority remaining intact. The head of the EU delegation, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, said the seminar was an excellent opportunity to discuss reforms after the signing of the protocol in Brussels. “I do not expect any big conclusions”, he added. The issue of jurisdiction of the Bosnian state court is contested by Republika Srpska. It wishes the right of the state level judiciary to take over cases from Republika Srpska and the Federation entity at its own discretion, removed. Condemning the alleged bias of the court in war-crimes cases, the Bosnian Serb assembly has called a referendum on the legality of the institution next month, which many believe could destibilize the country.

 

Macedonia Parties Haggle Over Election Reforms (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 2 October 2015)

Talks on Macedonia’s election reform ‘package’ are expected to wrap up by the October 6 informal deadline set by Brussels - even though deals on key issues are not yet in sight. Political party representatives expect a deal between the government and opposition on a set of electoral reforms to be reached by the end of this week at the latest. A deadline of October 6 was set by the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, during his last visit to Macedonia last month. “A deal must be reached and talks on several issues are well advanced… But as always, we will probably have to wait until last minute for it,” a source close to the talks told BIRN. He was referring to the last-minute agreement last month on appointing a new special prosecutor to investigate the massive illegal surveilance cases that have shaken the government of Nikola Gruevski. If all goes well, sources expect the package of electoral changes to go before parliament for a vote next Monday or Tuesday. The key reforms that the government and opposition are obliged to agree on ahead of the April elections include changes in the State Electoral Commission, cleaning up the disputed electoral roll and possibly changing the electoral model, reducing the current six electoral districts to one. The EU facilitator in the talks, former Belgian MP Peter Vanhoutte, has not commented about the progress of the ongoing talks. Unofficially, talks between the four main parties have been stuck over the opposition Social Democrats' claim that the electoral roll is full of fictive voters. If the opposition idea is adopted, voters will put themselves on a brand new electoral roll ahead of the elections to reduce the possibility of misuse and fraud. While the main ruling VMRO DPMNE last week said this idea was acceptable, its junior partner, the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, is now allegedly against. Sources told BIRN that while other issues are being discussed, no definite deal has been reached on any of them. Parties are still haggling over boosting the power of the State Electoral Commission to ensure that no political party influence can dominate its work. While the opposition proposes the formation of a new body to rule on complaints about electoral procedures, the ruling parties want the Administrative Court to remain in charge. While the Social Democrats want Macedonia turned into one electoral district, which would benefit smaller parties whose votes are not then dispersed among six districts, the ruling VMRO DPMNE proposes increasing of the number of MPs elected by the diaspora and granting extra seats to the election winner to ensure a stable government. The talks on the electoral model and on other reforms that need to be implemented by the April elections are part of an EU-brokered political deal reached this summer, aimed at ending the political crisis in the country. The crisis revolves around allegations of mass illegal surveillance. The opposition says that tapes which they have been releasing since February showed that Prime Minister Gruevski was behind the illegal surveillance of some 20,000 people, including government ministers. The tapes appeared to reveal the government's direct involvement in election fraud and abuse of the justice system and media. Gruevski, who has been in power since 2006, has insisted that the compromising tapes were “created” by unnamed foreign intelligence services and given to the opposition to destabilise the country.

 

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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.