LOCAL PRESS

 

Nikolic: Albanians need to respect agreements (RTS)

 

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic told Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) in New York that he insisted on several important topics during the UN Security Council meeting on Monday.

“I insisted on several most important topics. One is the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), i.e. the manner in which we could impact Pristina to fulfill obligations that it had assumed. Here I was addressing more the sponsors of their so-called independence, in order to understand that the Albanians in Pristina need to respect agreements, to realize that Serbia is making agreements in good faith and fulfilling them,” Nikolic said. “The representative of Pristina Vlora Chitaku behaved presumptuously in her speech, she said that they would form the ZSO is it in line with the constitution, and if it is not then they will not form it. She went back to the past with lies on raping of women and murdering of civilians. She had no basis to accuse Serbia of anything from the present and the events on the ground,” said Nikolic. He says that those who support independence, except for speaking in favor of reducing the number of sessions, didn’t have any arguments that would confirm that UNMIK should be removed and that obligations should be handed over to EULEX, who has already largely handed over everything to Pristina. He says that the session was difficult, but every Security Council session demonstrated how other states behave.

“States that recognized independence have a far softer rhetoric towards Serbia, aware that Belgrade has done a lot of things, but the US and Great Britain continue to maintain their stand,” said the President. He points out that the states that support Belgrade openly say so; the Russian Ambassador spoke for 20 minutes, while those that recognized Pristina’s independence speak in a shrouded form and cannot support the speech of the Ambassador, who said that Haradinaj for them is an honorable man and that the KLA is not a terrorist organization. “Even from the heights of the US one cannot but see how much Pristina acts badly in relations with Belgrade and the entire region. I think that we have enough evidence in our hands and a good position and we must use it,” said the President.

Nikolic also commented the speech of the Ukrainian Ambassador Volodimir Yelchenko, who proposed an amendment of UNMIK’s format so it can become a political body, advocated also by Washington and London. “The Ukrainian Ambassador is the Chairman of the Security Council. We discussed this morning the similarities of our situations, but he jumped out of this and spoke, as if he were a representative of one of the big states, about UNMIK’s function, how to reduce the number of Security Council session, noting even that UNSCR 1244 has not determined the dates and format,” said Nikolic.

He explained the significance of the ZSO and that said that one should not allow for the level of decision-making to be dropped to the local self-government since the Albanians might have too much influence there. “However, we must not give up and allot too much agreement between Pristina and the self-government in Serb municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija. We need to work as we have in the past, as this has a growing impact on many states throughout the world,” said Nikolic.

Nikolic reiterated that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo, regardless of what is offered in return, and no matter what kind of pressure we are exposed to. He called on all states that have not recognized Kosovo to remain firm in that position regardless of the shameless pressure.

 

Nikolic: Peace, stability Serbia’s primary goals (Beta)

 

“Serbia will continue carrying out a responsible and peaceful policy and it will not give anyone an excuse for escalation and violence. In the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Serbia is endeavoring to pave the way to a gradual normalization of the situation, but a sincere and life applicable agreement also requires the sincerity of the other collocutor,” said Nikolic at the session of the UN Security Council, at which the report of Secretary General Antonio Guterres is examined on the work of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). “Serbia is ready to make agreements, but not to be blackmailed, it is ready for a dialogue, but not for ultimative unilateral solutions, it is ready for the essential autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija, but never for an independent Kosovo,” Nikolic said

As regards Serbia’s request for the extradition of Alliance for the Future of Kosovo leader Ramush Haradinaj, Nikolic asked why no one had condemned his open threats of a new war, when he had said that Serbia would experience another 1999. “Failing to punish crimes must not be allowed or tolerated. This is a civilizational issue and a serious test for the entire U.N. membership and an opportunity to show that law and justice are beyond politics and that all victims are equal,” Nikolic noted.

Nikolic said that the endeavors of Serbia to adhere to the dialogue in continuity were followed by the violation of agreements and the aggressive actions of the authorities in Pristina with the goal of provoking conflicts. As an example for his claim he cited the ban on distributing textbooks in the Serbian language, the attempted confiscation of the mining-metallurgical company Trepca and the ban of the train from Belgrade entering Kosovo. Nikolic estimated that the sending of special police units to the north of Kosovo because of the train which had started off from

Belgrade for Kosovska Mitrovica represented “a call to armed conflict and a direct threat to the lives of civilians”.

“The message which I want to send from this position to all extremists, is that peaceful solutions have no alternative. Problems and open issues have to be resolved through dialogue, and not by threats and use of force,” said Nikolic and added that the forming of the Army of Kosovo, which would violate Resolution 1244, represented “a serious threat to the efforts directed at stabilizing not only Kosovo, but rather the Western Balkans”.

Nikolic reminded that, not even four years since the reaching of the Brussels agreement, had the forming of the community of Serb municipalities began. He said that in public appearances, the representatives of Pristina increasingly openly conveyed that they would not adhere to that which has been agreed, because of which he called upon the international community to condemn such behavior. “Four years is more than enough time. Excuses for procrastination can no longer be easily accepted. The forming and activation of the community of Serb municipalities is a priority,” Nikolic said.

 

Tanin concerned over growing tension in Kosovo (Beta)

 

UNMIK Head Zahir Tanin said in New York that the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at the highest level was a crucial step in restoring trust. Speaking at a U.N. Security Council session, Tanin hailed the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on the formation of an association of Serb communities. Tanin expressed concern over the growing tension, series of escalation, and reactions and counter reactions that had affected the political process and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. He further said that Belgrade and Pristina had two different approaches to resolving the situation in Kosovo and were exchanging mutual recriminations, saying that Pristina leaders were blocking Belgrade and vice versa.

 

US, Great Britain for reducing UNMIK, Russia against (RTS)

 

During a debate on the situation in Kosovo at the U.N. Security Council, Russia’s representative Vladimir Safronkov said that Moscow severely opposed changes to UNMIK’s mandate in Kosovo. He said that the formation of armed forces of Kosovo was contrary to Security Council Resolution 1244. Safronkov further said that numerous incidents and attacks on the non-Albanian population were still taking place in Kosovo, and he warned of the risk of radical Islam spreading as the result of the Kosovo Albanians’ involvement in the clashes in the Middle East.

The US, Great Britain have requested that UNMIK’s reports to the Security Council be submitted twice a year, instead of every three months, and that the number of this missions’ officials be ‘reduced’ in line with UNMIK’s role on the ground.

The US representative said that Kosovo is a success story. He underlined the importance of the Belgrade- Pristina dialogue and called on both sides to implement the agreements reached under the Brussels-brokered dialogue. He also stressed the importance of the EU’s mediation in the dialogue. The U.S. diplomat also said that tensions had grown in Kosovo in the past few months, but that the problems had been resolved peacefully and without clashes. He also said that Washington supported Kosovo as a multi-ethnic democracy, its international recognition and membership in international organizations, including the United Nations.

British representative with the UN said that his country was committed to maintaining stability in the Western Balkan, adding that the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations played the crucial role in that process.

“Kosovo is a free and independent state, which has been recognized by a large number of free nations in the world... Kosovo is a member of more than 50 international and regional organizations and is on a clear path of joining the EU and we hope also, the UN,” Chitaku said. She also said that Serbia was living in a parallel universe and that the reality was that Kosovo was a free, independent and sovereign state. Commenting on the detention of the Alliance for the Future Kosovo leader Ramush Haradinaj, Chitaku said that this was persecution. “Mr. Haradinaj has been declared innocent twice by the Hague tribunal. This is not justice, this is not criminal prosecution, but persecution,” Chitaku said, adding that the arrest warrant for Haradinaj was Serbia’s attempt to turn history backward.

 

Ugljanin supports B&H request for revision of lawsuit against Serbia at ICJ (RTS)

 

The leader of the Bosniak National Council (BNV) Sulejman Ugljanin supported the request of B&H for revision of the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the genocide lawsuit against Serbia. Ugljanin urged the state authorities of Serbia to use the B&H request for revision of the ruling in order to “shed light on crimes and criminals and thus ensure the satisfaction of Bosniak victims and satisfy justice.” “In this way, the authorities of Serbia can take off the burden of responsibility from all future generations of the Serbian people for crimes against the Bosniaks committed in their name,” Ugljanin said at a press conference in Novi Pazar.

He assessed that it was the best way to restore the trust of the Bosniaks in state bodies of Serbia, to restore inter-ethnic trust between the Serbs and the Bosniaks and to establish just and lasting peace in the Balkans. Ugljanin voiced his hope that the US, EU and all the EU member countries would support this stance of the BNV and that way enable the establishment of a just peace in the Balkans.

 

Elections in five municipalities on 23 April (Tanjug)

 

Parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic called the local elections in five municipalities on 23 April, and it is grounded to assume that these elections will coincide with one of the two rounds of the presidential elections – the only question is with which one. The local elections will take place in Zajecar, Vrbas, Odzaci, Kovin and Kosjeric.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

RS Assembly holds special session on issue of revision of B&H’s lawsuit vs Serbia (RTRS)

 

The Republika Srpska (RS) Assembly held a special session in Banja Luka on Monday to discuss filing of the motion for revision of B&H genocide lawsuit against Serbia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The RS Assembly passed several conclusions, but the expected unity of all parliamentary parties in the RS was not demonstrated at the session. As many as 46 MPs voted for conclusions, while 23 MPs abstained from voting. According to conclusions, the RS Assembly strongly condemns the decision of B&H Presidency member and SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic to file the motion for revision, assessing that it represents the most direct violation of B&H Constitution. The RS Assembly explained that such decision-making method, allegedly on behalf of B&H but without participation of constituent peoples, requires reaction of countries guarantors of the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA). The RS Assembly called on Serb representatives in joint institutions in Sarajevo to use all legal and political means with an aim to prevent any decision-making process at the level of joint institutions, until vital issues of the RS are resolved.

Addressing the special session, RS President and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated that revision is only a culmination of the situation B&H has been faced with since 1995, adding that attempts to imply genocide intentions to Serbs and Serbia never stop. He noted that therefore this is an important moment for the RS and the RS Assembly is the only place where the RS’ interests can be defined. Dodik said that conclusions passed by the RS Assembly do not include the proposal of amendments to the Criminal Law of the RS, which would stipulate that acting against stances of the RS Assembly should be treated as criminal offense.

Chairman of B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic said that the revision will be a failure because letters sent by the ICJ to members of B&H Presidency show that something is wrong in this case. He warned of formation of parallel decision-making structures outside B&H institutions, which is a process led by Izetbegovic. He reminded that the fact that B&H Ambassador to the Netherlands Mirsada Colakovic refused to forward the letter of B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak to the ICJ at Izetbegovic’s order also proves his claims, assessing that this was the most direct attack on the institutions and the DPA that could cause immense consequences. “In case that Izetbegovic fails to withdraw his order as soon as possible, I am thinking about issuing identical orders to all Serb ambassadors, which would be an end of the joint diplomatic network of B&H,” Ivanic warned.

B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Deputy Speaker Mladen Bosic (SDS) assessed that Serb unity is necessary, noting that Izetbegovic’s decision on filing of the motion for revision represents a sort of “coup d’état” against B&H institutions. He warned that Serb representatives in Sarajevo now have to use Dayton jurisdictions even more.

RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic stated that such non-institutional action by Izetbegovic is intolerable since no one has the right to independently file motions on behalf of B&H. She noted that the RSNA therefore has to define certain issues, calling on MPs to demonstrate unity since the time has come to break all barriers.

 

Izetbegovic confirms Court demands clarification about Softic, not statement on revision of ruling (N1)

 

Bosniak member of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic said on Monday that, in separate letters sent to B&H Presidency members, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asked for clarification of legitimacy of B&H agent before the ICJ Sakib Softic. Izetbegovic stressed that the ICJ asked for the situation to be clarified because of confusion created by private letters Chairman of Presidency of B&H Mladen Ivanic and B&H Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak sent to the ICJ, in which they attempted to challenge Softic’s legitimacy. “The fact that no one in B&H can contest, not even Ivanic, is that with the decision of the Presidency of B&H passed on 4 October 2002, Mr. Softic was appointed and authorized to present B&H before the ICJ in all legal actions and procedures relating to B&H’s lawsuit B&H. One of those actions is launching of the revision of the ICJ’s ruling handed down on 26 February 2007. The 2002 decision of the B&H Presidency was made in accordance with the Constitution of B&H and the Rules of Procedure. The decision entered into force upon its adoption. The decision does not impose any kind of restrictions when it comes to Softic’s term of office. This decision of the Presidency of B&H was never altered, nor it was ever repealed,” Izetbegovic said, adding that the B&H Presidency never relieved Softic of his duties. “Therefore, the 2002 decision of the B&H Presidency still represents the official position of the Presidency of B&H... This is about respect for the elementary principles of continuity of legal rules. The adopted decision of the Presidency of B&H has to be respected and one must act in accordance with it as long as it is in force, regardless of whether some like it or not,” Izetbegovic said.

 

Wigemark calls on politicians not to block state institutions (TV1)

 

EU Special Representative Lars-Gunnar Wigemark called on politicians in B&H on Monday not to block state institutions. He stressed that it is very important not to allow the current crisis to affect the implementation of the Reform Agenda, which is very important for everyone in B&H. “We are encouraging all different political actors to remain calm and not to react violently. We are also encouraging them not to block state institutions, to avoid the total paralysis. Also, we are encouraging them to respect procedures,” Wigemark said.

 

March 1 - beginning of ethnic cleansing of Sarajevo (Srna)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik has told Srna that marking 1 March as the so-called “B&H independence day” is a provocation by political Sarajevo and added that this date is not and will never be a holiday. “March 1 as a holiday is a deceit intended for the international public and an abuse of the name of B&H for Bosniaks needs, since they did not get agreement from Serbs and the RS for marking this date nor will they get it,” Dodik has said. Dodik has said that Sarajevo is today almost completely ethnically cleansed of Serbs, and the killing of a member of the Serbian wedding party on 1 March, from today’s historical distance, can freely be considered as a date of the beginning of ethnic cleansing of Sarajevo and territories under Muslim control.

Marking 1 March as the so-called “B&H independence day” is a provocation by political Sarajevo led by Bakir Izetbegovic, which is supported by a part of the international community, RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic has told Srna.  Cvijanovic has said that this is not either independence or a statehood day because neither the entities nor the constituent peoples agreed on it, and it is clear that it will never be accepted by RS.

 

Dodik: I will not be there to meet with Mogherini due to important meeting in Moscow (RTRS)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik was asked to comment on the EU path of B&H in the context of the upcoming Wednesday visit by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.  “Unfortunately, I will not be here.” Explaining the reason why he cannot meet with Mogherini, Dodik said that he is going to Moscow on Wednesday “for an important meeting that was scheduled a month ago” but he did not specify any details. Dodik stressed that it makes no sense to cancel such meeting now, although he is sorry that he will not be able to meet with Mogherini. Still, Dodik confirmed that RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic will attend meetings with her. Asked whether he is committed to progress on the EU path, Dodik said that “this is not quite simple anymore”. The RS President claims he has nothing against it in case of a functioning Coordination Mechanism that implies that the RS is visible on that path. Commenting on the Coordination Mechanism in particular, he noted that this mechanism is being obstructed “despite the signed agreement”. Dodik reminded that harmonization of the Coordination Mechanism was one of the conditions that B&H had to meet for the sake of its EU membership application. “We completed that. However, nothing else happened afterwards. This means that there are no Coordination Mechanism bodies. There are no procedures,” Dodik added. According to Dodik, it is impossible to move forward without solving the issue of organization and procedures of the Coordination Mechanism, which is necessary for harmonizing the answers to the European Commission’s Questionnaire. Dodik noted that Head of the EU Delegation to B&H Lars-Gunnar Wigemark warned that a standstill is not good although, according to Dodik, “the RS met all of International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s conditions”.

 

Covic: Coordination Mechanism does not function (TV1)

 

Member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic stated in Sarajevo on Monday that Coordination Mechanism does not function, while there is stalemate with answering to EU questionnaire. He added that the crisis reflects on all segments of politics and life in B&H. He also said that changes to the Law on Elections must be completed in the next month or two. He said there is consensus among partners about the proposal on election of B&H Presidency members and added that it is not in parliamentary procedure due to revision of lawsuit against Serbia. Covic said it is clear that the “Sejdic-Finci” ruling will be solved soon, but added that HDZ B&H’s proposal is a minimum. He explained that the proposal enables every citizen of the Federation of B&H to vote for any candidate, while the calculation of votes would be different. Covic said added that five to six proposals for the Mostar issue were offered.

 

Milosevic: DPS ready for talks with opposition (Dan)

 

DPS political director Tarzan Milosevic said that his party was ready for talks with the opposition. He said that Prime Minister Dusko Markovic’s offer and position were more than clear. Milosevic also said the problem lied with the opposition and their having a hard time agreeing on a common position. According to Milosevic, PM’s offer and position towards the opposition are more than clear. “Personally, I think that the problem is on the other side and it is related to a hard time reaching an agreement on a common position to return to the parliament and negotiate with the PM and the political entities that make up the current government. I mean the heterogeneity of the opposition and difficulties they face when trying to formulate an attitude towards the parties in power, which may not be “take it or leave it” position, as certain entities believe,” Milosevic told Dan.

 

Zaev hands over MP signatures to Ivanov (MIA)

 

SDSM leader Zoran Zaev handed over Monday signatures from a majority of MPs to President Gjorge Ivanov in order to get the mandate to form the new government. Zaev handed over signatures from 67 MPs of SDSM, DUI, Besa and Alliance of Albanians. Ahead of the meeting, Zaev voiced expectation that Ivanov would give him the mandate for the government formation.

“This is a historic day for the Republic of Macedonia. I have 67 MP signatures in my hand, which guarantees the formation of a new government. These signatures also signal the end of the crisis so that the country can finally move forward in bringing life back to Macedonia. I expect Ivanov to present the mandate as soon as possible so that we can launch negotiations over the formation of a new government of the people. Furthermore, I would like to tell citizens and state institutions that a peaceful and swift transfer of power lies ahead,” Zaev told reporters.

 

DUI to decide on whether to form coalition with SDSM or go into opposition (Telegraf.mk)

 

The political situation in Macedonia could get much clearer as of today. The main player in the post-election period DUI should reach a final decision regarding its participation in the government on Monday. If we are to trust the MPs of Ali Ahmeti, providing signatures for SDSM does not equal an automatic agreement on the government coalition. The party states that the law on the use of languages is their main and only condition upon which their participation in the government depends. Although the final version is yet to be published, DUI has boasted that the law will mean introduction of bilingualism in Macedonia and a wide use of the Albanian language, as well as fines for the institutions and civil servants who would not employ the Albanian language. The denar coins and banknotes will also be bilingual. Furthermore, DUI has stated that they are to demand bilingual boards on the border crossings and bilingual emblems of the police and army of the Republic of Macedonia. The second phase of the agreement includes changing the national anthem, coat of arms and flag. The issue of playing with the national interests and unitarily of Macedonia has caused discontent among some citizens who have staged protests so as to air their revolt.

 

U.S. Embassy: We agree with Stoltenberg and Hahn’s opinions about the government (META)

 

The U.S. Embassy in Skopje recommended that the political parties should respect the democratic processes and institutions. “We agree with the statements from NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and EU Commissioner Hahn about government formation. All parties need to respect democratic processes and institutions and focus on their shared commitment to enact key reforms. Only in this way will Macedonia advance its strategic goal of membership in NATO and the European Union, something long supported by the United States. This is consistent with our previous statements and Ambassador Baily’s February 18 interview with Sitel, said the U.S. Embassy when it replied to a question posted by Meta agency concerning Stoltenberg and Hahn’s statements.

 

MEP Vajgl urges Macedonia to form new government as soon as possible (MIA)

 

The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) for the second time on Monday reviewed the draft-report on the 2016 Commission Report on Macedonia, MIA reports from Brussels. According to MEP Ivo Vajgl, who also serves as Macedonia rapporteur, the country is in the midst of a severe political crisis. The Slovenian MEP said the outcome of the 11 December elections wasn’t completely clear which had led to a certain blockade. “A lot of time has passed and no government has been formed yet in Macedonia,” he stated. “I think it is important for the political actors in Macedonia, who have already decided to support Macedonia’s interests and to put them before their own personal interests, to take responsibility. A government should be formed as soon as possible. The formation of a government in a democratic society is debated after elections and the situation in Macedonia today is clear. There are parties that can form a government and guarantee they have claimed majority,” noted Vajgl.

 

EU Ambassador Zbogar meets SDSM leader Zaev (Republika)

 

EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev discussed Monday on the process for forming a new Macedonia’s government. The meeting urged all political parties and state institutions to demonstrate maturity for swift, peaceful power transfer that would enable a resumption of the democratic processes in Macedonia, SDSM said in a press release. Zaev told Zbogar that he handed over signatures from a majority of MPs to President Gjorge Ivanov, which, as expected, should result in obtaining a mandate to form the new government. SDSM is fully committed to setting up a new reform-oriented government, which will implement the recommendations of the reports of Reinhard Priebe and the European Commission to advance the quality of life of citizens and provide for Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic prospect, Zaev said.

 

Civic initiative marches in Skopje for united Macedonia (MIA)

 

The new ‘Civic Initiative for United Macedonia’ organized a peaceful march Monday in Skopje against possible constitutional changes. At the protest, prominent opera singer Igor Durlovski read a proclamation, which calls on political parties to respect the Constitution, vow to not work on changing Macedonia’s name and the essence of the state. “We demand that all political parties reject platforms created for foreign interests in foreign countries, without electoral legitimacy, whose goal is to destroy Macedonia as we know it,” the proclamation reads. The ‘Civic Initiative for United Macedonia’ announced a fresh protest for tomorrow.

 

Basha, promises to ex-persecuted in the name of “New Republic” (ADN)

 

The leader of Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha involved in a dialogue with ex-persecuted on Monday, in the 10th day of the opposition’s protest in front of Premier’s office. He promised them the indemnification of the moral and financial debt, something that has not been done for 26 years. Addressing them inside the tent pitched in front of Prime Ministry he said that the new republic will belong to freedom only when the debt toward the ex-persecuted will be repaid.

“You are here today as part of the people’s decision to make it clear to PM Rama that free and fair elections are the only way to bring back country’s normality. We are not gathered here in defense of our interests, but those of the citizens. Our ranks are growing on daily basis. The Albanian emigrants travelling from Athens will join our protest. We are here to say to PM Rama that free and fair elections will not be kept in hostage by an executive determined to manipulate citizens’ vote by using drugs’ money,” said Basha.

 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

 

China urges political solution to Kosovo issue (Xinhua, by Li Muzi, 27 February 2017)

 

UNITED NATIONS -- China on Monday called on all parties concerned to continue to push ahead with the process of dialogue on the Kosovo issue, and find a political solution to it.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal at a meeting of the Security Council on Kosovo. "China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and understands the legitimate concerns of that country on the question of Kosovo," Liu told the meeting, noting that Security Council Resolution 1244 provides the essential legal basis for finding a solution to the issue. "China has always maintained that it's imperative to follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions, to carry out dialogue and negotiations to reach proper settlement acceptable to all parties concerned," he said. Noting that the situation in Kosovo is basically stable, but deep-rooted problems remain complicated and unsolved, the Chinese envoy urged all parties concerned to push forward high-level dialogue, remove differences through pragmatic and constructive dialogue, and implement the bilateral agreements that have already been reached.

Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between Belgrade and Pristina. Serbia categorically refuses to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008, though most leading European countries and the United States have exchanged diplomats with Kosovo.

 

Congressmen Call for Probe into Macedonian Soros Involvement (Breitbart, by Lee Stranahan, 27 February 2017)

 

Seven Republican Congressman have started an inquiry into U.S. taxpayer funding of a George Soros-connected organization that they allege has been involved in trying to shape the internal politics of the country of Macedonia.

The letter, signed by Congressmen Christopher H Smith (R-NJ), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), and Trent Franks (R-AZ) discusses disturbing reports about what was happening in the country of Macedonia under the Obama administration: Unfortunately, we have heard credible reports that, over the past two years, the U.S. Mission to Macedonia has actively intervened in the party politics of Macedonia, as well as in the shaping of its media environment and civil society, in an improperly partisan manner, one that, directly and indirectly, has influenced the outcome of elections in Macedonia. According to reports, this intervention consistently favors the parties, media, and civil society groups of the left and center-left. We have heard reports that the actions of the US Mission to Macedonia strongly favored such parties in the run-up to the parliamentary elections originally scheduled for April 24, later postponed to June 5, and then finally held on December 11, and in the post-election process by which the Macedonian parties are negotiating to form a new government.

As Breitbart News has previously reported, Soros — leading funder of the institutional left in the United States – has focused on Macedonia, spending more there per capita than any other country in Europe, which has lead to what his supporters refer to as the “Soros Army.” Under the Obama administration, funds were sent through a Soros-connected group. The vice president of the group Stop Operation Soros elaborated: USAID, the U.S. development agency, and the U.S. Embassy here have given tens of millions of dollars over the past several years to George Soros-led groups in Macedonia. They don’t give anything remotely similar to conservative groups. They’re essentially supporting only one side of the ideological divide in Macedonia. And they were doing this at a time when these groups were organizing violent protests, attacking the police, doing all they can to bring down the conservative government in this country.

When members of Congress asked for more information, they were given vague answers, according to the letter. This is a developing story…

 

Rumbling Balkans threaten foreign policy headache for Trump (The Guardian, by Andrew MacDowall, 27 February 2017)

 

A familiar billboard face looms large over the shabby streets and squares of the Balkan city of North Mitrovica. “The Serbs stood by him all along!” says the slogan in English beneath the giant image of Donald Trump staring out passersby. Many in this Serb-dominated city in Kosovo would agree. Serbs were generally delighted with Trump’s election victory, if only because he defeated the wife of their 1990s nemesis Bill Clinton, who led the Nato bombing campaigns against Serb forces in Bosnia and Kosovo. Now, the Balkans are once again dicing with crisis. Borders are being questioned, ethnic tensions are bubbling up, and land swaps are being mooted as a last resort to prevent a slide back towards violence. Forget China and the Middle East: the former Yugoslavia could yet emerge as Trump’s first real foreign policy headache.

Last month, a row over a Serbian train covered in the slogan “Kosovo is Serbia” in multiple languages sent towards Mitrovica precipitated the worst crisis for years in the region. Most of Kosovo is dominated by ethnic Albanians, who make up 90% of the population.

Though the train was stopped outside Kosovo, Nato members Croatia and Albania have asked the alliance to revise its peacekeeping plan in Kosovo. The Serbian president, Tomislav Nikolić, said that he and his sons would personally take up arms if Serbs in Kosovo were threatened.

“I believe that all these tensions are nothing to do with citizens,” says Adrijana Hodžić, head of the North Mitrovica Administrative Office. “In the north of Kosovo, the hope still exists that they will get rid of fear. I’m personally sick and tired of Pristina and Belgrade, because we’ve been victimised by high politicians.”

Then there is Bosnia. Split between two federal chunks – a Serb part and a Bosnian-Croat part – after a three-year war in the 1990s, it has never healed properly. The autonomous Serb Republic regularly threatens a referendum on independence, while some Bosnian Serbs have threatened to boycott central government institutions over Sarajevo’s move to challenge an international court of justice ruling that cleared Serbia of complicity in genocide in the 1992-95 war.

 

Frozen disputes in the former Yugoslavia

Separately, there is Montenegro, subject of an extraordinary political convulsion late last year in which the government claimed that Russian institutions had tried to orchestrate a coup.

Finally, Macedonia, the most southerly former Yugoslav republic, is struggling to form a new government following a protracted political crisis in which ethnic Albanians have become increasingly restive. The country fell back into the spotlight when a congressman close to Trump suggested it should be broken up and divided among its neighbours. “Macedonia is not a country. I’m sorry, it’s not a country,” Dana Rohrabacher, who chairs the congressional foreign affairs committee and has regularly defended Vladimir Putin, said earlier this month, prompting a furious response from the capital, Skopje. “The situation is catastrophic,” says Belgzim Kamberi, an ethnic Albanian human rights campaigner and senior member of Kosovo’s radical Vetëvendosje party. “Nearly two decades after war, this isn’t peace. The Albanian and Serb question is not closed in the Balkans; it’s Israel and Palestine in Europe.”

 

Land swaps

As ever, the region suffers not just from its own internal frictions, but from external factors. The EU, hamstrung by its own existential woes, has cooled on expansion into the western Balkans. The Trump administration’s approach is still not entirely clear. Russia meanwhile attempts to project power across a region it sees as within its sphere of influence. Kosovo remains the crucible. It declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade never recognised this. An EU-brokered deal in 2013 promised Serbia accelerated movement towards membership, and Kosovo steps towards candidacy status. But the EU has other crises on its mind now. And the incongruous dividing lines are as palpable as ever. In northern Kosovo, streets are lined with Serbian flags, the Serbian dinar is the currency, Serbian government companies provide many utilities, and the language spoken on the streets is generally Serbian. Cars cruise around with no number plates; those with official Kosovo plates remove them on entering the north. By contrast, South Mitrovica on the other side of the Ibar river is almost entirely Albanian, and administered separately. “If you brought someone here to North Mitrovica, they would say this is more Serbia than Kosovo, it’s something fake,” says Hodžić. “I’m not sure it’s sustainable in the end.”

Hodžić says the region might be better off had a land swap been discussed early on in negotiations over Kosovo after the 1999 war. Now, some analysts are floating the idea of a land swap once again – giving North Mitrovica to Serbia in return for the Albanian-majority Preševo valley going to Kosovo. “Now we need to choose between many bad options,” says Hodžić. Despite nationalist symbolism, there is little appetite for conflict among ordinary people in the region. Many express a sense of powerlessness in the face of geopolitical machinations by bigger powers. “The Serb and Albanian people are the last ones to blame. Politicians came between people,” says Vukoje Utvic, 74, a retired ambulance driver. “We have seen enough wars.”

Diplomats in the region also pour cold water on talk of conflict, though they are concerned about politicians ramping up tensions to gain advantage and create distractions amid fraught domestic politics. “There’s only one potential sponsor for border changes, Russia, which isn’t actually that keen on the idea, and I’m not sure that the new states could actually defend the territory that they would claim,” says one western diplomat with long experience of the region. “I don’t even fear another 2004 [where widespread rioting and attacks on Serbs in Kosovo led to nearly 30 deaths]. Everyone is committed to the Brussels dialogue; changing borders is out of the question. Having said that, people felt that way in Bosnia just before the war, and you wonder perhaps if you have missed something.” Diplomats describe 2017 as a “nightmare year” for politicking in the region, with elections in Serbia, a growing likelihood of a snap poll in Kosovo, and manoeuvring beginning for Bosnia’s elections next year. The first indictments are also expected from the new specialist court established in The Hague for trials of alleged crimes committed by the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army, which could implicate senior members of the territory’s political elite, potentially creating another trigger for instability. The suggestion of a land swap has also refocused attention on Preševo, a small, impoverished majority-Albanian town in southern Serbia where shepherds graze sheep in the hills that drop down right to the main square. The Preševo valley, which includes the neighbouring municipalities of Bujanovac and Medveđa, was the centre of a conflict in 2001 between the Serbian authorities and Albanian insurgents who had taken control of parts of the area in the wake of the 1998-99 Kosovo war. In 2015 in Kumanovo, a city just 20 miles away across the Macedonian border, a shootout between ethnic Albanian guerrillas and local security forces left 18 dead.

But Shqiprim Arifi, an ethnic Albanian moderate elected mayor of Preševo last year, insists there will be no return to the border shifts and wars of the past. Arifi, who was born and brought up in Germany, points out that he defeated a long-term incumbent who had called for Preševo to join Kosovo, and took an antagonistic stance towards the Belgrade government. Arifi is focused on engaging with the Serbian authorities to tackle the municipality’s 70% unemployment and crumbling utilities. “We don’t want to change borders,” he told the Guardian in his smart office in the municipal building, where he displays a small bust of the Albanian national hero Skenderbeg. “It’s not in the interests of the region, and it’s not in the interests of Albanians. If they change one border, it’s a Pandora’s box, a chain reaction – Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Kurdistan. Our only option is to be together within the EU.” Outside the municipality lies a large wreath commemorating the fighters of 2001, with the words: “Laud the national martyrs across the Albanian lands.” It stands in place of a large and highly controversial war memorial removed by the Serbian police in 2013 under heavy security. On the streets of Preševo, support for union with Albania and Kosovo is muted, and more prevalent among the young. “Every person wants to be part of his own nation, to live together, and in the end we will. But it can’t happen now without guns – if it was possible without war, it would have happened by now,” says Drita Murtezi, 24, an unemployed psychology graduate with a degree from the Albanian-language university in Tetovo, Macedonia, as she strolls down Preševo’s broad main street. But in a cafe on the square filled with knick-knacks and incongruous pounding house music, Kamberi gesticulates with an unlit cigarette as he advocates a united Albania. “If you’re afraid of war, you don’t progress,” he says. “We should be peaceful, but not pacifists.”