LOCAL PRESS

 

Morocco PM denies Kosovo FM statement on talks (FoNet, Beta, Tanjug)

Saadeddine Othmani, the Prime Minister of Morocco, who is taking part in the 73rd U.N. General Assembly session, denied on his Twitter account that his delegation discussed bilateral relations with Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli, the FoNet news agency reported on Wednesday. He reiterated his country did not recognize Pristina’s independence. Othmani said that “during a break with my delegation a gentleman from Kosovo imposed his presence. We have not discussed bilateral relations neither establishing contacts. Morocco’s position is constant. Morocco does not recognize Kosovo and has no relation with it. He reacted to the previous Pacolli’s tweet in which he said he had a “fruitful discussion with Morocco delegation about establishing diplomatic relations".

 

Ivica Dacic says what Pristina representatives are doing on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York is "embarrassing" and "disgraceful." The minister of foreign affairs of Serbia said that Pristina has sent 41 representatives to New York, while the Serbian delegation, led by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, has "nine or ten" members.

Dacic stressed that the Pristina delegation was not officially invited, and recalled that its representatives "cannot enter the room where the meetings are held, but are instead in the corridors."

"If you look at the tweets and the various pieces of news they are releasing, it's mostly about somebody meeting someone in a hallway. On Tuesday there was one big embarrassment when the Moroccan prime minister was sitting down, and they approached him, and after that tweeted that they had discussed establishing diplomatic relations with Morocco (which has not recognized Kosovo)," Dacic said. He added that the Moroccan minister called him "immediately."  "They were shocked, they wrote a denial, I mean, everything they (Pristina) do is a disgrace," Dacic said. He also said that the ministers from Oman, and Uganda, who are on Pristina's list of countries who recognized Kosovo's independence, said that they never did so. The same thing was said by the minister from Lesotho.

The minister added that in the upcoming period, more countries could be expected to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo's independence or announce that they had never done so. As Dacic said, he will have a series of bilateral meetings in New York with representatives both of those countries that have recognized Kosovo, and those who did not, to strengthen their position.

 

Brnabic: Swiss interested in helping dialogue (RTS)

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, in a series of meetings in New York, also spoke with Swiss President Alain Berset. For the first time, the Swiss wanted to hear what they could do to help the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Brnabic said. In her statement to RTS, Ana Brnabic recalls that Switzerland is one of the countries that strongly supports the independence of the so-called Kosovo.  "It is a country that, for the first time, seems to me to insist on hearing what they can do to help Serbia in dialogue with Pristina and insist on it," the prime minister said.

In her meeting with Berset, Brnabic stressed that Serbia is committed to continuing the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

"It is a difficult process and it takes a lot of time and patience," Brnabic said during her meeting, adding that Serbia has implemented significant political and economic reforms, while resolving the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is especially important for its future.

Brnabic said that Aleksandar Vucic, as Prime Minister, initiated the process of normalizing relations with Pristina, and thus, although criticized in the country, showed leadership and political responsibility for the future of Serbia. She stressed that the implementation of the Brussels Agreement is very important for Serbia.

"The key problem is that Pristina has not done anything in the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, while Belgrade has completed all of our obligations. Although this additionally aggravates the dialogue and normalization of relations, we are not abandoning the dialogue, and we consider that compromise is the only long-term solution which is acceptable for both sides" Brnabic stressed. The Prime Minister of Serbia added that it is important that we do not leave a frozen conflict to future generations.

 

EU replies to "when and what kind" of solution is possible (Tanjug)

The solution to the Kosovo issue, which implies change of borders, is possible only if the EU and the UNSC agree on it, beside Belgrade and Pristina. This has been stated by David McAllister, the rapporteur for Serbia in the European Parliament. When asked by Tanjug about the position regarding a possible border correction as part of the solution to the Kosovo issue, he said that the EU was "aware of the possibility of exchanging territories and moving borders."

"As the EU we are here to facilitate the dialogue, but we are very aware of this debate. Indeed, in the end, such a solution is only possible if both sides agree, if it is in line with the policy of regional stability, in accordance with international law, and if, among others, the EU and the UN Security Council agree with it." McAllister told Tanjug.

He stressed that in this process has a long way to go and pointed out to "the commitment of presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci to find a viable solution."

 

Fayon: Moving border would destabilize region (Tanjug)

Representative of the Social Democratic Party in the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon, during the debate on Serbia, warned of the possible destabilization of the region in the event of a border moving. During the debate on submitted amendments to the draft report on Serbia in the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon emphasized that the most significant compromise amendment is the one related to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the possible change of borders.

I know that this is a sensitive issue and that the goal was to have the same text for both parties in the process. From Slovenia's experience, I can say that any movement of the borders would destabilize the region, and that's something we have to avoid" Fajon said.

She, as important amendments to the report of David McCallister on Serbia, listed those related to media freedom, the state of the Roma population and the solving of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic. "Every year we reiterate that the situation in the media field has not been improved and we must continue to criticize what is happening in the media" Fajon said.

Tanja Fajon warned Serbia that if she did not adjust her visa liberalization policy towards Iran by the end of October she could receive a negative report on visa liberalization by the end of the year.

 

Brnabic: Dutch support very important for Serbia on EU path (Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is heading the state delegation in the U.N. General Assembly in New York, stated on Sept. 25, after talks with the prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, that Dutch support was very important to Serbia on its path to European integration.

"The Netherlands is a country with which we did not always have the best understanding, but this seems to have changed. We had a very pleasant conversation, honest and open," Brnabic said after the meeting, which was held on the fringes of the 73rd Session of the U.N. General Assembly. She said they discussed two topics - regional stability and cooperation and Serbia's reforms on the path to European integration.

"We have good communication with the Dutch prime minister's cabinet, and that will continue," the Serbian prime minister said, adding that "growing economic cooperation" with Holland was in Serbia's interest.

Brnabic also met with Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide and NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg. The prime minister also met with Montenegrin Prime

Minister Dusko Markovic and the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir

Izetbegovic.

 

Dacic talks with Erdogan, Tsipras and Izetbegovic in New York (Beta)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who is in New York as a member of the Serbian delegation taking part in the 73rd U.N. General Assembly session, has had several meetings with world officials at the U.N. headquarters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Sept. 25.

Ahead of the start of the session, Dacic had brief conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, reads the statement.

On the sidelines of the 73rd session of the U.N. General Assembly, Dacic met with the foreign

ministers of Palestine, Riyad al-Maliki, Uganda, Henry Okello, and the Comoros Islands, Mohamed El-Amine Souef, adds the Sept. 26 statement. Dacic also talked with the president of Palau, Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr.

 

Brnabic attends Bloomberg Global Business Forum (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Sept. 26 attended the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York with the world's political and business leaders, which highlighted the importance of free trade and connectivity.

In his speech Michael Bloomberg emphasized the importance of forging connections in business and said that today, more than ever, it was key to build bridges rather than walls.

The conference focused on the benefits of free trade at a time when many states advocated protectionism, reads the press release.

The keynote speaker at the opening of the event was British Prime Minister Theresa May, who talked about the challenges and dangers of Brexit, as well as about the numerous opportunities provided by free trade.

The second key theme of the Bloomberg Forum are the challenges and changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the importance of education for the jobs of the future, adds the press release.

"We are talking about the importance of free trade and the challenges the Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing. The message is that bridges rather than walls should be built in business," Brnabic tweeted.

Among the participants of the Forum are Swiss President Alain Berset, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, IMF Director Christine Lagarde and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

 

Cooper: Give time to Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)

The first EU mediator in the dialogue, Robert Cooper, warned that parties should not "too quickly and too definitively " take sides when it comes to ideas that appeared in order to solve the overall relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Cooper, in his text for the European External Relations Council, wrote: Twenty years after the end of the last war in the Balkans, the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo has found its way back into international headlines. The leaders of Serbia’s and Kosovo’s governments began in August discussions to find a compromise on the long-disputed border between their countries.

 

This is a question that has lots to recommend it if you want to take sides: it’s about war and peace – some say changing borders will bring war, and others say it’s a way of making peace; it’s about our history in the Balkans too, the mistakes we made, the successes we had, the lessons we learned. It’s true also that geopolitical deals don’t solve the big problems of the Balkans. These are, as they always have been, bad politics and bad government. But it’s difficult to govern well if you are not sure where your borders are, and if you have non-relations with your neighbors.

 

My plea is that we ought not to allow old habits to shape our approach to Balkans issues. We ought not to take sides too quickly and too definitively. The European solution has been to keep borders as they are, and make them irrelevant. That has worked brilliantly for us. But we should also admit that we did quite a lot of moving borders around before we got there. Then there is the Helsinki Final Act: it is clear on territorial integrity and the inviolability of frontiers; but it also includes an exception for peaceful change in accordance with international law.

 

Politics ought to be about bringing people together, not dividing them. So, let’s not dig in prematurely. Why not wait and see if someone has a proposal to make, listen to it carefully, examine it seriously: not just what is proposed, but also how it might be done, and what measures might accompany it, where the balance between the parties’ is, how it would affect the region. That is, first of all, those directly affected, and their neighbors.

 

So far, no one has proposed anything concrete. We hear of ideas, but they are rather vague. Before ideas can become a plan, they need to be given a precise shape. Usually, the more you go into detail, the more difficult it becomes – but there’s no avoiding detail; policy is not about principles or generalizations. (“I like principles”, said Napoleon to Talleyrand in Erfurt, “They don’t commit me to anything”.) Detail takes time; if several parties are involved, that means there will be compromises; so, the parties will have to ask if the package is balanced, if both sides gain.

 

Decisions should be primarily taken for those who will be most affected by them

So, let’s break old habits in the Balkans for once, and not take sides before we know what has been proposed. Give those concerned time to work their ideas into proposals, give them time to explain them, maybe even to adapt them. Let’s hear opinions from all sides, especially those on the ground, and only then make our minds up – but bearing in mind that, in the end, it’s not our opinions that matter.

 

And then, according to what those concerned want – let’s get back to the serious business of making Kosovo work. There are lots of clever, creative, determined people in Kosovo; they do brilliantly in other people’s countries. Given the right sort of chance, there must be a way they can do brilliantly in their own too.

 

Djuric with Ambassador of Germany: We are concerned about pressures on Serbs (Tanjug)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric spoke with Ambassador of Germany to Serbia Thomas Schieb to whom he said that Serbia was concerned about the renewed wave of pressure on Serbs in the province and attacks on their property in the past period. Informing Thomas Schieb about the political and security situation in our southern province, Marko Djuric pointed out that Serbia is determined to protect interests and improve the living conditions of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced. Djuric informed Schieb about the efforts of Belgrade to reach a compromise solution in dialogue with Pristina, which would ensure long-term peace and stability in the region.

Djuric emphasized that the permanent solution of this issue, in a way that the peoples of this region receive strong guarantees for a prosperous future, is in the unequivocal interest of the whole of Europe, reads the statement.

 

Agreement on mutual visa abolishment between Serbia and UAE signed (RTS)

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed confirmed the friendship between two countries and two nations in New York. At a meeting held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dacic expressed his gratitude to the UAE for the continued support of the Emirate in the efforts of Serbia to implement demanding economic reforms. The officials also signed an Agreement on mutual abolition of visas for travel between the two countries.

Dacic pointed to the importance of the permanent contacts of the state leadership, all with the aim of further improving bilateral cooperation and establishing friendly relations.

Zayed pointed out that inter-state economic activity is on the upward path and that new investments are expected.

The officials also agreed to start work on the Strategic Partnership Agreement and to have regular meetings.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Chairman of B&H Presidency addresses UN General Assembly (TV1)

Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday evening. He focused on three key issues that are crucial for solving of global problems: multilateralism, the international law and the international order based on accepted rules. During his speech, Izetbegovic emphasized that citizens want to live in the world of peace in which their dignity will be respected. He underlined that B&H strives for protection and promotion of values and principles that are joint for all states. He emphasized: “We believe that ideals, values and principles in the UN Charter, as well as norms and standards of the international law, must never be breached or neglected”. According to Izetbegovic, no country should focus exclusively on securing stability and prosperity for their citizens only, ignoring what happens outside of their state borders in close neighborhood or all over the world. Among other things, he stressed that the current world conflicts and crisis imply neglecting of the international law and lack of adequate reactions. Izetbegovic underlined that the conflict in Syria enters eighth year and its end is not going to happen anytime soon. At the end of his speech, Izetbegovic said that all states have the obligation to protect noble values and principles which represent the pillars for formation of the UN.

 

Cubrilovic meets Vucic and Gojkovic in Belgrade (ATV)

Speaker of the Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly (NA) Nedeljko Cubrilovic held in separate meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly Maja Gojkovic in Belgrade on Wednesday.

After the meeting with Vucic, Cubrilovic told reporters that the two of them discussed future cooperation between the RS and Serbia. They concluded that there is a high level of understanding between the RS and Serbia, as well as good political and economic relations, on the basis of the agreement on special and parallel relations. Cubrilovic noted that Vucic expressed his commitment to keep supporting the RS as an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). “This cooperation will be maintained in the forms in which it has been maintained so far. He recognizes the legal authority that exists there and has no intention of having another kind of influence,” Cubrilovic was quoted as saying.

Vucic reiterated that Serbia does not and will not meddle, in any way, in the elections and the internal affairs in B&H. Vucic is scheduled to officially open the Istocno Sarajevo Hospital on October 5. He said that this event does not mean his interfering with the election campaign in B&H, but it will be a proof of Serbia’s continuous support and aid to the RS.

The meeting, which lasted for almost an hour, comes a day after Vucic said that he is in possession of certain evidence of foreigners’ pressure and interference with elections in the RS. However, Cubrilovic did not say if Vucic revealed more information during the meeting. “I can only repeat that one should bear in mind that such claims come from a man who has the best information in this region,” he said.

After the meeting with Cubrilovic, Gojkovic also stressed that one should wait for Vucic to present the evidence on foreigners interfering with elections in the RS. “The Serbian President’s statement was very clear – he will present the data on certain foreign intelligence services interfering with these elections and we will wait for him to present the relevant data he has. Serbia supports the life and does not interfere with the internal political situation of the country whose territorial integrity and sovereignty it respects,” Gojkovic said. Speaking about the fact that she and Cubrilovic signed an agreement on establishment of a joint commission of the two parliaments, Gojkovic said: “In this way, we completed the institutionalization of four-year-long successful cooperation between our two parliaments and raised it to the highest level of parliamentary cooperation that Serbia has ever known of.”

 

US Embassy rejects accusations on interference with elections in B&H (TV1)

The US Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) issued a statement on Wednesday as a reaction to the accusations that the Embassy interferes with the election process in B&H. The Embassy rejected the accusations, saying that the Embassy does not support any particular party or election candidate and expressed true commitment to credible and transparent elections.

“The US Government and the US Embassy are not enemies of B&H. Real enemies are as we all know, corruption, unemployment, bad services in education and healthcare systems, as well as politicians focused on themselves. Efforts of politicians to deceive the public just ahead of the elections and hide true intentions by opening roundabouts, offering free services in hospitals and other apparently useful activities, represent mocking and insult citizens of B&H. This is not the end; their efforts also include abuse of public funds and involving war criminals in campaigns, as well as false accusations of long-year allies of B&H for hostile activities. We refuse to be part of the manipulation. Irresponsible actors continue to drag us into conspiracy theories, unfounded accusations, and, literally, lies.” The Embassy also expressed true commitment to providing support to credible and transparent elections, as well as to warning about buying votes, identity theft, and other forms of electoral fraud if detected.

"During election campaigns, we strongly believe that citizens should have the opportunity to discuss the issues that will determine their and their families’ futures. The public discourse, however, has been entirely dominated by fear-based rhetoric", reads a part of the statement.

 

Dodik: Foreign embassies use threats and blackmails to destabilize ruling authority in RS (ATV)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik said that he is very familiar with what Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said about “the involvement of western powers and their influence on the election process in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)”. Dodik also presented his own findings that foreign embassies in Sarajevo have been using “threats and blackmails” in order to destabilize the ruling authority in the RS. The first documents on foreign influence could already be presented on Thursday.

“People from the US Administration and the UK Embassy walk around with people who are on the lists (of candidates), even the ones from my own political party, persuading them to get into some other kinds of arrangements. They are even threatening some of them and I know exactly to whom they are doing that. They are threatening people – if you do not behave like this, we will make sure you are prosecuted before the Court of B&H and the Prosecutor’s Office (of B&H) for being involved in the war. After a couple of years, you prove that there is nothing to it, but you go through the entire procedure and your life gets ruined in three or four years,” Dodik argued, adding that meetings between “foreign intelligence officers” and certain opposition leaders are usual. He also warned that there are people who were actually “installed”, such as certain ministers in the B&H Council of Ministers “who have no interest in the RS”.

 

Dodik also stated that interfering of “the old US administration and the British” in the election process and the internal issues in B&H is an attempt of B&H’s centralization. “I want to thank Vucic for re-opening this topic, because it is true. We will give some of our own information in Banja Luka on Thursday”, said Dodik. He sent a message to the foreign powers that meddle in B&H’s affairs that they are wasting their time, because all their attempts “will be prevented”. Dodik reiterated that the British sent 40 of its ‘specialists’ to B&H for work with media.

 

Dodik denied recent claims about him misusing his candidacy for the Serb member of B&H Presidency. The opposition in the RS stated that Dodik plans on giving up the position to someone else in case he becomes the next Serb member of B&H Presidency. Dodik strongly denied these claims. “I will not play with the will of the people. I believe that the will of the people is on our side and I will not go for winning the position and then to give up on it after three months. That would not be fair to the voters”, said Dodik, adding that most people expect a clear and strong stance of the RS in the B&H Presidency if he becomes the next Serb member.

 

Komsic, Becirovic, Dzaferovic call on Croatian President Grabar-Kitarovic to stop interfering in election process in B&H (Oslobodjenje)

DF leader and candidate for the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Zeljko Komsic accused Croatia of interfering in internal affairs of B&H, by insisting on the adoption of the amendments to the Law on Elections of B&H that are discriminatory, and added that this is their attempt to revive the policy of the Herzeg-Bosnia.

“Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has every right to be concerned. Zagreb has spent a lot of money to impose discriminatory and anti-civilizational provisions of the Law on Elections in B&H. They have made a significant effort to impose inequality of vote as a standard,” stated Komsic.

 

SDP candidate for the Presidency of B&H Denis Becirovic sent an open letter to Grabar-Kitarovic and called her to stop creating negative political and media constructions about B&H. “It is high time for the architects of false protection of Croat people leave the country of B&H alone, and to stop promoting already seen, harmful paternalistic policies. Let us turn to the future and to the building of the cooperation amongst the countries based on the principles of equality and solidarity,” wrote Becirovic.

 

SDA candidate for the Presidency of B&H Sefik Dzaferovic urged the Croatian President to stop wasting time and diplomatic credibility of her country by interfering in the internal issues of B&H. “B&H is an independent and sovereign country. Status of the Croatia as a side in the Dayton Peace Agreement does not give its political representatives a possibility or a right to influence the decision-making process and their content. That is why they should finally stop interfering in the internal issues of B&H,” said Dzaferovic.

 

Croatia

 

President Addresses UN General Assembly (Hina, PO)

Addressing the United National General Assembly on Wednesday, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic called on world leaders to common action, not just in crisis management situations and problem solutions but in spreading hope and optimism, recalling the recent success of Croatia's national football team which showed that small countries like Croatia can inspire others to reach the top.

 

Grabar-Kitarovic stressed that Croatia will continue to support its southeastern neighbors in their efforts to join the EU. Speaking about Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), she warned of risks in terms of legal insecurity and political and institutional instability after the upcoming elections in October, due to the failure in the process of amending the Election Law of B&H. She explained that this process is supposed to make sure that the rights and equality of all three constituent peoples – Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs – are fully respected, in line with decisions of the Constitutional Court of B&H with regard to legitimate and adequate representation of constituent peoples at all levels of authority, including the Presidency of B&H.

 

Grabar-Kitarovic stressed, although the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is for the two sides to resolve, we should be cautious and extremely careful when it comes to proposals with potential regional implications, most notably the ideas regarding territorial (ex)changes: Otherwise, we may (re)open the Pandora’s box of potential new territorial claims, potentially provoking serious instability and security threats.

 

Grabar-Kitarovic said that “there are inspiring developments demonstrating brave leadership as well. We warmly welcome the signing of the agreement on the name issue which has been recently reached between Skopje and Athens and hope that the referendum this Sunday will represent a crucial impetus for the country’s successful continuation of its Euro-Atlantic integration”.

 

Grabar-Kitarovic: I want B&H to become fully functional state (HRT1)

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic via a video link from New York, spoke about her speech in the UN General Assembly held on Wednesday. Commenting on her meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, she stated that talks with Trump are always pleasant. Grabar-Kitarovic said that they discussed bilateral issues, issues related to the NATO and global relations. She also said that the officials also discussed bilateral relations especially trade cooperation and investments, as well as issues related to the South East Europe (SEE).

 

Grabar-Kitarovic stated that during talks, she also mentioned Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), adding that this country needs the attention of the EU and the US. She underlined that B&H really needs to be pushed towards the Euro-Atlantic integration. Grabar-Kitarovic stressed that B&H needs help in political emancipation and launching of processes that will bring prosperity to all citizens. She underlined: “Of course, the elections will take place on October 7. What worries me – as the President of the country that co-signed the Dayton Agreement that is also the Constitution of B&H and the country that is responsible for the situation and peace in this country – is the fact that the election legislation is not changed. I hope that after October 7, we will have a stable government that will enable B&H to move forward”.

 

Speaking about the fact that some Bosniak candidates for the Presidency of B&H did not welcome her lobbying for equality of all the three peoples in B&H, Grabar-Kitarovic stated that she does not want to interfere with the election campaign in B&H. She went on by saying that during talks on the situation in world countries, officials rarely refer to internal issues. She mentioned a report of the State Department on all states and High Representative to B&H Valentin Inzko who according to the President, still reaches crucial decisions when leadership of B&H is incapable. Grabar-Kitarovic underlined: “Therefore, there is still room for political emancipation and this is what I want. I want the best for B&H. I want it to become a fully-functional state that does not need help from aside, help from the outside. At the same time, I cannot ignore the fact that Croatia is responsible for the Croat people as B&H is the second homeland of the Croat people and we want it to remain like this. I cannot ignore our obligation for security, stability and prosperity of the SEE”.

 

fYROM

Macedonia starts screening process for EU negotiations (MIA)

Macedonia starts Thursday the screening process for EU accession negotiations. Vice-premier for European Affairs Bujar Osmani is heading the Macedonian delegation in Brussels, which on Sept. 27 will begin screening related to Chapter 23 -- Judiciary and Fundamental rights.

The delegation counts about 40 people from the country's institutions and includes Justice Minister Renata Deskoska. Osmani called the screening process a turning point that formally puts Macedonia on the last stretch of the road to EU membership.

A total of 33 delegations from Macedonia will visit Brussels until June 2019, when the screening process of all chapters ends, according to Osmani. In April this year, Macedonia received a clear recommendation for the start of the EU membership negotiation.

Negotiations, if all necessary conditions are met, should start in June or after June next year.

Meanwhile, the government issued a public call for external experts to contribute in the screening process. The aim is to create a database of experts from one or more EU law chapters, chief technical negotiator and head of the negotiating team Bojan Maricic said, adding that experts could be brought in temporarily or throughout the whole process.

 

 

US Embassy issues demonstration alert ahead of referendum (MIA)

The United States Embassy to Skopje has issued a demonstration alert, urging U.S. nationals to avoid areas where protests might take place ahead of Sunday's referendum, especially in front of the Parliament building and the main square.

"Various groups intend to demonstrate against the upcoming nationwide referendum on the Prespa name agreement between Macedonia and Greece, which will be held on Sunday, September 30. Spontaneous, unannounced demonstrations might also occur in Skopje and in other parts of the country during this period. U.S. government personnel are advised to avoid any areas where demonstrations might occur," reads the press release.

U.S. nationals are advised to avoid areas where protests might take place, monitor local media for updates, avoid crowds and demonstrations. The specified locations are the Parliament on September 27 and 30, as well as the main square on September 30.

 

Greek, Bulgarian, Croatian, Romanian FMs to visit Macedonia and Albania by year-end (MIA)

The foreign ministers of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia are planning to visit Macedonia and Albania by the end of the year, said Greek FM Nikos Kotzias after a quadrilateral meeting in New York, MIA reports from Athens.

"We have agreed to intensify our cooperation towards stabilization of our region. The four of us are planning to visit Albania and North Macedonia by the end of the year, to see how we can support their European accession process," said Kotzias after the meeting, held at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. FM Kotzias is set to meet with UN Special Envoy Matthew Nimetz on Thursday.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

What Land Swap? Kosovo Eyes Demarcation of Serbia Border (BIRN)

While Kosovo’s president wants to talk ‘border corrections’ in Brussels, the prime minister has ordered that work begin on demarcating Kosovo’s frontier with Serbia as it currently stands.

While the talk may be of ‘border corrections’ and ‘land swaps’, one man in Kosovo has begun the preparatory work to demarcate the border between Serbia and its former southern province as it currently stands, and says the process should be simple.

 

Fresh from staking out Kosovo’s frontier with Montenegro, Shpejtim Mulliqi – head of Kosovo’s State Commission for Border Demarcation and Maintenance – was ordered last month by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to do the same with the border with Serbia, regardless of what might be on the table in negotiations between the presidents of the two countries.

“There might be some claims,” Bulliqi told BIRN in an interview, “but there shouldn’t be any problem if there are no specific goals to obstruct the process.”

 

Whether Serbia plans to participate is another matter; Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo as independent, and while border demarcation should eventually follow from any political deal in European Union-mediated negotiations in Brussels, it is unlikely to happen soon.

 

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has raised the possibility of a ‘border correction’, possibly annexing Serbia’s predominantly Albanian Presevo Valley, while his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, has staked a claim to Kosovo’s predominantly Serb north. Thaci and Vucic are the ones talking in Brussels, but Haradinaj has warned that partition of Kosovo would mean war, and has ordered Bulliqi to start the work of demarcating the border at it stands.

 

Contested lake

 

Bulliqi said there were “five or six controversial points” along the 380-kilometre border, small areas, he said, where Kosovo believes Serbia wrongfully claims the high ground for its strategic advantage.

One centres on 140-160 hectares in the northern municipality of Leposavic.

“According to documentation, this is part of our country, while Serbia claims in documents that it belongs to them,” said Bulliqi.

The Gazivoda/Ujmani Lake, an artificial lake in northern Kosovo that straddles the border with Serbia, is also a likely bone of contention given its importance as a natural water supply to parts of Kosovo. Control of the lake has been hotly disputed ever since Kosovo broke away in a 1998-99 war. The war left a small slice of northern Kosovo in the hands of ethnic Serbs loyal to Belgrade and who still control Gazivoda.

 

Bulliqi said it was clear from official archives that, in the 1980s, construction of the dam on the Ibar River that created the reservoir was paid for out of the budget of Kosovo as a then-province of Serbia under socialist Yugoslavia, with some help from the World Bank.

 

“Kosovo actually expropriated all that land; people have been paid various sums for residential buildings, land areas,” said Bulliqi. “Expropriations were also made in the territory of Serbia, where Kosovo paid,” he said. “All relevant documentation is at the disposal of our institutions so this is the best evidence as to whom the reservoir belongs to.”

“No wonder Serbia claims [it], he said.

“Serbia has designs on the entire territory of Kosovo; they still believe Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia.”

 

Stick to the facts

 

But he stressed that, politics aside, any disputes should be easily resolved given there has long been an ‘administrative’ line between the two and that the cadastral records of both Serbia and Kosovo up to 1999 should be in compliance with one another.

“Our party and the Serbian side must obey the facts and arguments,” Bulliqi told BIRN. “If they have arguments this part is theirs and we lack our own arguments, then we have to accept it. And vice versa.”

Bulliqi disputed a popular Serbian claim that Leposavic was never originally part of Kosovo, saying that only an area of 197 square kilometres was added to the municipality from Serbia proper in 1959. Likewise, in the 1950s, a number of Kosovo settlements were made part of Bujanovac and Presevo in southern Serbia.

The facts, he said, were all set down in black and white.

 

“The central Yugoslav archive is in Belgrade and it contains almost all the material needed and which can be used,” he said. “It’s of great value that historical decisions of the time and of the legitimate institutions of the time cannot be undone, because we have [the documents] too.”

 

Bulliqi refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding a possible land swap, saying only:

“We all know that Kosovo has declared independence along the border lines that it has, and within these borders it has been recognized by many countries around the world. I believe it is the task of the country’s institutions to work towards maintaining the territorial integrity of the country.”