LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic arrives in Bratislava, meets with Sefcovic (Tanjug)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has arrived in Bratislava, where he will attend the GLOBSEC 2022 forum on Thursday. Vucic met with Maros Sefcovic, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for inter-institutional relations and foresight. "A very good meeting with Sefcovic. We discussed the flexibility and sustainability of energy systems in the present situation, as well as management of raw materials from Serbia within the EU," Vucic wrote in a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account that also included photos from the meeting. "One of the topics was also joint projects Serbia should work on together with the EU," Vucic said. This year's GLOBSEC forum will focus on mobilizing support and action for Ukraine and the European neighborhood, including the Western Balkans.

 

Petkovic meets with Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug/Politika)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic met with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko on Wednesday to discuss the course of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the political and security situation in the province. The Serbian side has always demonstrated constructiveness at Brussels meetings, as confirmed by the fact that Belgrade has met all its commitments from the dialogue, while, for over nine years, the Pristina side has been refusing to meet agreements on establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities, as well as many other agreements, Petkovic said. Despite constant obstructions by Pristina, Belgrade continues to believe that all open issues can only be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, and it will continue to insist on this even though Pristina’s refusal to meet its commitments is a major obstacle and a challenge in the process of normalization of relations, Petkovic said. Pointing to an increase of incidents taking place almost daily in Serbia's southern province, increasingly frequent desecrations of Serbian Orthodox churches and attacks on Serbs and their property, Petkovic said this demonstrated that Pristina politicians lacked even the minimum good will for building mutual trust, peace and coexistence in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. Petkovic thanked the Russian Ambassador for the open and sincere conversation and for understanding that a compromise solution and normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations were only achievable through dialogue, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said in a statement.

 

Serbia, Azerbaijan sign Agreement on cooperation in field of energy (Tanjug)

 

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic stated in Baku on Wednesday that cooperation between Serbia and Azerbaijan in the field of energy, first and foremost in the gas sector and energy transition, will contribute to the improvement of overall relations between the two states. After signing the Agreement on cooperation in the field of energy and mining between the government of Azerbaijan and the Serbian government and the talks with the country’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, Mihajlovic underlined that good political relations between the two states will help additionally improve cooperation in the field of energy. According to her, the agreement signed will additionally strengthen cooperation, primarily in the gas sector, given that the Southern Gas Corridor is important for the supply of entire Europe and diversification of routes and suppliers. She pointed out that Serbia started the construction of gas interconnection with Bulgaria, which will be completed next year, and which will enable us to receive gas from Azerbaijan. We expect that by activating new deposits, in which reserves of natural gas in the Caspian region have been confirmed, Serbia will secure additional quantities of natural gas for its needs, and that it will become a transit route by building the gas interconnection, by which we will additionally increase stability and security of our country and the region, she stated. Mihajlovic explained that the agreement signed opens space for cooperation in the part related to electricity, given that Azerbaijan has surplus in electricity production and in the field of improvement of energy efficiency and the exchange of experiences and technologies and new investments in renewable energy sources. Shahbazov said that this is an excellent opportunity for talks about future joint activities when it comes to the Southern Gas Corridor and other topics related to energy and the economy.

 

Drecun: Unacceptable new proposals on ZSO, von Cramon not to interfere (Tanjug/RTV)

 

The Chairman of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun stated today that no new proposals on the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) are acceptable for Belgrade, but the formation of ZSO in accordance with the agreement reached in Brussels. Commenting on the statement of the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo Viola von Cramon that Pristina has a proposal for the implementation of the ZSO agreement and will not give up its positions, Drecun said that she (von Cramon) was not invited to talk about it because she is not a participant in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process and has no basis on which, as he says, one can interfere in. He emphasized that no one can offer new proposals on the ZSO, but that what the Pristina side accepted as its obligation with the first Brussels agreement should be implemented to the end, for which, he added, there is no political will in Pristina. “We are now in the phase when the statute of the ZSO should be adopted and a community should be formed. It is obvious that Pristina does not want that, and I do not know why von Cramon would interfere in all that with the announcements of some possible proposals,” stated Drecun.

 

Petkovic: Belgrade to protect Serbs from Kurti’s irrational policy (Tanjug/RTV)

 

Belgrade will not allow Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija to be victims or targets of the irrational policy of Albin Kurti who knows only to provoke incidents and hate rhetoric, and not about respecting agreements and calming tensions through dialogue and compromise, says Petar Petkovic, the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. He adds that this is exactly the purpose of Kurti’s covert threat about the possibility of power outages in the north of Kosovo and Metohija due to alleged non-payment of bills and accumulated debts, because such allegations, says Petkovic, have no basis in reality. “The fact is that it would be better for Albin Kurti to start implementing the agreements from Brussels, in the field of energy, the first of which was reached in 2013 and the second in 2015, and which stipulates that Serbian energy companies should obtain supply licenses and electricity distribution, but that has not happened to date,” Petkovic said, adding that, at the same time it is incorrect for Kurti to accuse Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija of not paying for electricity, because for years Belgrade regularly paid for all electricity consumed in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo and Metohija.

 

It is high time they reacted (B92/Kosovo online)

 

Pristina parish priest Stanisa Arsic told Kosovo online that Kosovo police banned them from serving liturgy in the Church of Christ the Savior in Pristina today. The reaction of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, submitted to the media, states that “there is no doubt that this uncivilized act of the Kosovo Police was directly directed by the authorities in Pristina and shows their attitude towards religious freedoms in Kosovo and Metohija, SPC and believing Serbian people” “Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are being prevented from entering temples and shrines, praying to God and professing their faith, while SPC temples are being desecrated every day, and that is the reality with which Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija live,” the statement said. It is also reminded that graffiti “Jesus hates Serbs” was written on this same Temple last year, along with numerous other derogatory messages. “It is high time that the representatives of the international community clearly see what kind of persecution Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are facing and take appropriate steps to protect the legitimate rights and freedoms of the Serbian people in the province,” the Office for Kosovo and Metohija concludes.

 

Parliament of Free Serbia, Action Platform and Ecological Uprising sing Declaration of Unification (Beta)

 

The Parliament of Free Serbia, the Civil Platform “Action” and the Ecological Uprising will act as one organization in the future, after the Declaration on Unification was signed on 1 June, envisaging the formation of a joint political organization. The agreement was signed on the premises of the Parliament of Free Serbia by the presidential candidate of the We Must coalition Biljana Stojkovic, the president of the Together for Serbia and the imitator of the “Action” platform Nebojsa Zelenovic, and the activist of the Ecological Uprising Aleksandar Jovanovic Cuta. According to announcements, the organization will have co-presidents instead of a president and its name will be announced at its founding assembly, which has been scheduled for 11 June. Zelenovic stated at a news conference that the new political organization would enable “the voice of every person and every member to be heard” and that, for every future election, the candidates on tickets will have to pass a “process of preliminary election”. “There will be no more agreements behind closed doors, or between individuals. We believe that to be the only way to lead us to victory in a future election,” Zelenovic said. In his words, after the unification assembly, “a nationwide campaign will start with the aim of informing the people about the program” of the new organization.

 

Jeremic: Serbia doesn’t see to be exposed to strong pressure to introduce sanctions against Russia (Euronews Serbia TV/Beta)

 

The People’s Party leader Vuk Jeremic has said that at this point it doesn’t seem that Serbia is exposed to too much pressure to impose sanctions against Russia, adding that a decision to join the international sanctions would hardly bring Serbia closer to the EU, as “with an autocratic regime such as the one in Belgrade, Serbia cannot even dream about EU membership”. Jeremic’s party wants the Serbian government representatives negotiating with the EU and the US to say openly in the parliament of Serbia what will happen if Serbia refuses to introduce anti-Russian sanctions, since it’s very clear that the country would suffer severe economic and political consequences if it does, while the consequences of a decision not to are rather vague. “A decision to introduce sanctions against Russia would not bring Serbia closer to the EU, because Serbia has been standing still on the path to the EU for years because it lacks free media, a functional rule of law and a fight against corruption. You can’t join the EU as a dictatorship worse than Orban’s - one Orban is quite enough, they don’t need another one, from the Balkans at that,” Jeremic was quoted by his party as saying in an interview with the Euronews Serbia TV. The People’s Party went on to say in a news release on 1 June that Serbia indeed was the only state in Europe refusing to join the EU sanctions against Russia, but no other European state was bombed after the Cold War was over, or suffered international sanctions either.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

429 primary and secondary schools in RS receive reports of bombs planted in their premises (O Kanal)

 

It was reported to the police that 429 primary schools and high schools in Republika Srpska (RS) received an email at 04:00 hours with a threating message and that a bomb was planted at a school. The message read that no one will stay alive and that the human race should disappear from Earth as soon as possible, paraphrased the reporter. The mails arrived from a Russian domain, which is why there are grounds for suspicion that this was a Russian hacker attack, noted the reporter. Police officers of the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) conducted counter-diversion inspections in order to determine whether those were false bomb alerts. It was decided that school lessons will not be held during the first shift, while the second shift continued their lessons without problems considering that it was established that bomb alerts were false. Spokesperson for the RS MoI Mirna Miljanovic said that the RS MoI is conducting an investigation to identify the person who made the bomb threats against the schools in the RS via e-mail. "As part of this investigation, several IP addresses have already been singled out and all of them are from abroad," Miljanovic said.

 

Cvijanovic: Competent authorities need to find those responsible for sending threatening e-mails; Other RS officials also condemn threats sent to RS schools on Wednesday (RTRS)

 

RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic said Wednesday that the safety of children is the most important and that the competent authorities need to find those responsible for sending threatening e-mails stating that explosive devices have been planted in primary and secondary schools in the RS. Cvijanovic stressed that the police should first determine whether the threat is false or not, and then find those who are playing rudely and irresponsibly with children, parents and the society.

RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic said that reports on bombs planted in schools throughout the RS have to do with politics and that they were expected, but also that they were taken seriously and that the necessary measures were taken. "Truly monstrous messages. The human mind simply cannot understand that there are people who can even write that, but we are not sure that they are not ready to act on it," Viskovic said. Deputy speaker of the RS parliament Denis Sulic said that all institutions need to find out the IP addresses of the perpetrators and to determine which location did these emails originate from. RS MP of SNSD Srdjan Mazalica said that certain phrases were used in the emails that are not used in the daily speech in the RS and they seem to be translated from another language.

 

False bomb alert registered in BPC government, BPC MoI buildings, police stations in Sarajevo, two schools in Travnik (FTV/O Kanal)

 

False bomb threats were reported at the buildings of the Bosnian Podrinje Canton (BPC) government and the BPC Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Wednesday. The threats were sent via mail. BPC Minister of Interior Armin Mandzo confirmed it was a matter of false bomb alerts, noting that the mail specified that the explosive devices were planted in the mentioned buildings.

All bomb alerts sent to police stations in the Sarajevo Canton (SC) were false, noted the presenter. The spokesperson of the SC Ministry of Interior (MoI) Mirza Hadziabdic said via phone that bomb alerts arrived via email at 9:35 hours on Wednesday. He said that the prosecutor on duty of the SC Prosecutor’s Office was notified immediately, counter-diversion inspections were conducted and determined that the bomb alerts were false. Hadziabdic said that police officers of the SC MoI are conducting activities regarding identification and finding persons connected with false bomb alerts. There was a bomb alert in Travnik in two schools. After the evacuation and inspection, it was determined these bomb alerts were also false.

 

Turkovic welcomes motion for resolution on B&H addressed to US Congress Senate (FTV)

 

B&H Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic welcomed a new motion for a resolution on B&H addressed to the US Congress Senate, which supports state reforms and stabilization. The resolution calls, among other things, on US President Joseph Biden to develop a comprehensive strategy for B&H. Furthermore, the authorities in B&H are encouraged to continue on their path to the EU and NATO. The proposal condemns politicians from B&H and the region who are persistent in corruption, but also in blocking the adoption of necessary reforms. Turkovic thanked the US Senators, with Jean Shaheen at the helm, who proposed this resolution. Turkovic noted that the text of the resolution took in consideration the worsening of political situation in B&H and called US President Biden to support continuation of the EUFOR military mission in B&H. Apart from this, Turkovic added that the resolution expressed support to the work of the High Representative and urged US to deal with some important issues in B&H.

 

EPP adopts final version of resolution on B&H; Covic: Despite of the fact that resolution does not mention term “legitimate representation”, EPP still recognized key historic moment and challenges that B&H is facing (BHT1)

 

The European People’s Party (EPP) adopted the final version of a resolution on B&H at the EPP’s Congress on Tuesday and the document will be sent to the European Parliament (EP) for consideration. BHT1 reported that the resolution does not mention the term “legitimate representation” which was HDZ B&H’s proposal which immediately sparked reactions. The EPP stated that the accession process is the key for stability and good functioning of B&H as a European state and they are concerned due to the missing reforms that should be adopted in line with the 14 priorities. According to the EPP, functionality of institutions and election and constitutional reforms also represent priorities. The EPP called for urgent solving of election reforms in a comprehensive way and in line with demands of the EU membership; election and constitutional reforms in line with principles of the EU and decisions of international courts and the Constitutional Court of (CC) of B&H which includes equality of the three constituent peoples, the ‘Others’ and all citizens. The reporter noted that as expected, views about the resolution are opposing. Leader of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic assessed that despite of the fact that the resolution does not mention the term “legitimate representation”, the EPP still recognized the key historic moment and challenges that B&H is facing. Covic said that the EPP called for the urgent reform of the election legislation in line with international verdicts and decisions of the B&H CC including equality of the three constituent peoples as a necessary condition for political stability and European future of B&H. BHT1 learns that representatives of SDA and HDZ &IH are supposed to meet President of the European Council Charles Michel in around ten days and discuss election of delegates in Houses of Peoples which so far, turned out to be the biggest dispute between the two parties.

 

Komsic: Removal of term “legitimate representation” from EPP’s resolution proves that HDZ B&H policy has failed (BHT1)

 

BHT1 reported that the resolution does not mention the term “legitimate representation” which was HDZ B&H’s proposal which immediately sparked reactions. Leader of DF and member of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic stated that removal of the term “legitimate representation” proves that the policy of HDZ B&H has failed. Komsic stated: “HDZ B&H has lost the key political match on the domestic field and thus, the principle of the so-called ‘legitimate representation of the constituent peoples’ should not be taken in a serious way in B&H. This is a ‘profound and basic conceptual debacle and downfall of the policy of HDZ B&H.” Komsic was quoted as saying: “This is the crown of the success of the democratic struggle of pro-Bosnian forces, but also of Bosnian society against a strange policy.” “Even the group of parties that HDZ B&H belongs to cannot accept the concept that leads to further ethnic division of B&H…”

 

SDA: Urgent resolution on electoral reform in B&H adopted by EPP Congress is great victory of state-building and European policy of SDA (N1)

 

SDA stated on Wednesday that the urgent resolution on electoral reform in B&H, which was adopted Tuesday by the Congress of the European People's Party (EPP) and from which HDZ's proposal on the so-called legitimate representation was removed, is great victory of the state-building and European policy of SDA, led by Bakir Izetbegovic. SDA added that EPP's Resolution is an encouraging signal for SDA's firm opposition to secessionist and separatist policies, "whose ideas were rejected Tuesday." "The presence of President Izetbegovic at the 27th EPP Congress, a leading European political force, his meetings with key European political officials and SDA's place among European Democrats are the best confirmation of SDA's strong European course," SDA said in a statement. SDA expressed gratitude to the EPP for recognizing “true patriots in B&H” and condemnation of secession actions. SDA stated that this party is often the only one opposing ethnic division and it has no real competition among other political parties when it comes to opposing separatist policies. SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic was quoted as saying: “I thank my friends and partners from the EPP for accepting our arguments and recognizing the real priorities in B&H in the adopted resolution, and clearly marking the political actors who are blocking democratic processes and our country's path to the EU.”

 

Dodik on EPP’s resolution: B&H's progress towards EU and European prospects is not blocked by RS; The only blockades that exist come from SDA (RTRS)

 

RTRS carries that the largest group in the European Parliament - the European People's Party (EPP) - adopted a resolution calling for the adoption of electoral and constitutional reforms in B&H at the EPP Congress held in Rotterdam. RTRS noted that the resolution adopted by the EPP does not mention the term legitimate political representation, which SDA considers a great victory. RTRS added that the EPP Congress, attended by SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic and PDP leader Branislav Borenovic, condemned the alleged secessionist activities in B&H.

Serb member of the Presidency of B&H Milorad Dodik pointed out that "the positions of the political group operating within the European Parliament are not and cannot be binding for us, but it is symptomatic that they support the policy of the Muslim SDA, because the messages are the same." "That would be the same as telling us that the positions of SDA are binding for us," Dodik stated on Twitter. Dodik added that B&H's progress towards the EU and the European prospects is not blocked by RS or "Serb secessionists as individuals in Europe like to say". "The only blockades that exist come from SDA, which sends daily messages that there is no place for Serbs and Croats in B&H. We regret the fact that American and European officials have not yet received information that Bakir Izetbegovic, in the official documents of his party, is announcing the creation of a unitary Islamic state of B&H," Dodik said on Twitter. Dodik clearly gave his support again to the HDZ B&H on the way to the set goal - the Election Law, commented the reporter. Dodik said that the Croats have the right to demand the same rights as other constituent peoples in B&H and that ignoring of outvoting of one people in B&H, which Muslim political representatives persistently do, pushes B&H into instability and long-term destabilization.

RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic said that she considers it inappropriate for everyone to consider a certain situation in B&H and give their views, like various institutions from abroad, without knowing enough about the real situation in B&H. "They are trying to generalize certain things and bring them under some of their matrices that they have created and called European values, but in fact the constituent peoples live in B&H and as such are recognized in the Constitution and those constituent peoples have the right to demand to be presented in accordance with what was given to them as constitutional right," Cvijanovic said.

 

Grlic Radman: EPP resolution contains all key terms which are derivative of already existing document which specifically speaks of constituent status of Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks (N1)

 

Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman said that the resolution of the EPP contains all the key terms which are a derivative of an already existing document adopted at the political assembly which specifically speaks of the constituent status of Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks. "Here we are talking about the need for constitutional changes, changes to the Election Law, here we mention equality and constituent status, the necessity of implementing verdicts of both international courts and the Constitutional Court. All those three components are included," Grlic Radman concluded.

 

Plenkovic: EPP must advocate solving of basic problems in B&H such as adoption of changes to Election Law of B&H (HRT1)

 

Participants of the panel discussion ‘United in Solidarity: Defending Western Democracy’, which was held in scope of EPP congress in Rotterdam, discussed possible admission of Ukraine to the EU. On this occasion, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic stated that Croatia, as the youngest EU member, will be the last to oppose to the enlargement. Plenkovic also reminded that B&H and Kosovo do not have the candidate status and added that B&H should not be “the last wagon in the train towards the EU”. Plenkovic said that the EPP must advocate solving of “the basic problems” which B&H has to solve on its EU path, such as adoption of “a fair Election Law” so that all three constituent peoples would feel “good and comfortable” in B&H.

 

Plenkovic meets with Scholz in Berlin; Plenkovic expects the policy in B&H to be pursued in line with Paris-Dayton Agreement (N1)

 

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic paid a working visit to Berlin on Wednesday. Plenkovic met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It was stated that Germany and Croatia will continue to have excellent relations and that they will continue to cooperate economically and tourism-wise. Plenkovic and Scholz especially focused on the sixth package of sanctions against Russia adopted at the session of the European Council in Brussels. Plenkovic thanked Scholz for taking over the project started by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, specifically referring to the Berlin Process, the goal of which is to bring the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the EU. Scholz did not specifically mention B&H, but Plenkovic said that he expects the policy in B&H to be pursued in line with the Paris-Dayton Agreement. Plenkovic also told Scholz that the Croat political parties said that they will take part in the upcoming general elections in B&H. Plenkovic and Scholz also discussed Russian aggression on Ukraine and consequences of this on Europe and beyond. In parallel, the European Commission said on Wednesday that Croatia met all the convergence criteria and that it is ready to become the 20th member of the euro area as of 1 January 2023. Scholz said Germany fully supports Croatia's efforts to join the Schengen Area and the euro area. For Scholz, the topic of the Western Balkans is very important, noted the presenter. Scholz said elections should be held as soon as possible. Plenkovic also stated: “We also want to continue our efforts to resolve the issue of honest, fair elections and, on the basis of such an election system, which will enable all constituent peoples and all others in B&H, to form a government after the elections in which they will participate, as provided by the Constitution itself.” Plenkovic and Scholz confirmed that their countries advocate European perspective of the Western Balkans, and B&H is particularly important to Croatia. In that context, Plenkovic presented to Scholz the extremely complicated situation in B&H, the position of the Croat people and the need to change the Election Law.

 

Plenkovic: Ukraine deserves EU candidate status (Hina)

 

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a European People's Party (EPP) congress Wednesday that the EPP should be the leading political force in condemning and imposing sanctions against Russia and that Ukraine deserved European Union candidate status. Speaking at the 27th EPP Congress in Rotterdam, Plenkovic said that the Russian aggression, which has lasted for more than three months, was not just military, but that it violated international law and denied the Ukrainian nation and identity. "We, as the EPP, express our solidarity, support and sympathy for the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for freedom and for European values for all of us. We thank them for that", he said. Plenkovic thinks that the EPP should be the leading political force in condemning Russian actions, imposing sanctions, and not tolerating policies that violate everything we stand for. He called for continuing political, diplomatic, financial, economic, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine. Plenkovic considers that Ukraine deserves candidate status in the European Union, which it might gain soon. "We will support granting Ukraine EU candidate status at the European Council in June. The Ukrainians are expecting that, the Ukrainians deserve that and that symbolic gesture by the EU will be another correct and moral choice in this unprecedented crisis," he underscored. He reiterated that Croatia supported the European aspirations of other countries, mentioning Georgia, Moldova, Kosovo and neighboring B&H. "We'd like for the issue of constitutional and electoral reforms in B&H to be resolved in that process in order for all three constituent peoples to be treated equally and to feel satisfied and at ease," Plenkovic said. Earlier on Wednesday, the European People's Party adopted a resolution calling for electoral and constitutional reforms in B&H in line with decisions by international courts and the B&H Constitutional Court. The "emergency resolution", tabled by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) calls for "electoral reforms to be addressed swiftly in an inclusive manner while complying with the requirements of EU membership". The prime minister called on his colleagues from the largest group in the European Parliament to make the EPP a leader in demographic revitalization, the digital revolution and in the fight against climate change by the 2024 European election. He also called for strengthening European defense.

 

Guterres and Abazovic: I welcome your commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection and the well-being of children and young people (CDM)

 

The Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres congratulated the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovic on his inauguration. "At a time of unprecedented challenges to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis and devastating consequences of armed conflict, the United Nations remains a steadfast partner in support of Montenegro's aspirations, including through the United Nations Delegation in Podgorica," Guterres said. He added that we can successfully face today's global challenges only through cooperation and dialogue, since they require inclusive and global efforts. "Montenegro strongly supports multilateralism, which we highly appreciate," Guterres said. He welcomed Abazovic's commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection and the well-being of children and young people.

"As the new UN Framework for Cooperation for Sustainable Development for the period 2023-2027 is finalized, your leadership will be crucial to ensuring an even closer partnership between Montenegro and the United Nations. Moreover, I take this opportunity to welcome Montenegro's progress in the area of ​​women's political participation, and encourage your leaders to accelerate progress, including in the area of ​​gender equality in government and other senior positions. I wish you every success in performing your important duties and I look forward to working closely with you, your government and the people of Montenegro in reaching solutions to issues of common importance, " Guterres concluded.

 

Volker: It’s time for Montenegro to do everything to prepare for EU membership; new government should take this unique opportunity (Gradski.me)

 

“The fact that the European Union has indicated that Ukraine will become a member means reviving the idea of European Union enlargement, and the same should happen in the Balkans. It is time for Montenegro to do everything to prepare for membership in the European Union,” says former US special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker in an interview for Gradska RTV. This possibility is opening up, but it will not be open forever, so it is time for action – now, Volker points out. He believes that Belgrade has unresolved historical issues in the region, so it still feels it is important to promote Serbian nationalism. That, he says, is similar to what Russia is doing with its neighbors. The visit of the head of Russian diplomacy Sergey Lavrov is just a way for Serbia to show that it is close to Russia despite its invasion against Ukraine, and that Russia is not alone in the world, Volker stresses.

 

Mickoski: We will intensify cooperation with EU members to ensure quality future for citizens (Republika)

 

VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski informed that he talked in Rotterdam with the presidents of the sister parties about current issues and challenges facing Europe, but also the European People’s Party. Mickoski stressed that they are also discussing the challenges facing Macedonia in relation to the unreasonable move of the government not to accept the bill of VMRO-DPMNE for extension of the preferential tax rate for food products, pointing out that it directly affects the standard and the pocket of the citizens. We talked about the unreasonable move of the government not to accept the bill of VMRO-DPMNE for extension of the preferential tax rate for food products. I can say that this is the second miscalculation of the government, which does not realize that in this way it directly affects the standard of citizens. By pursuing such an unreasonable and irresponsible policy, the government does not take revenge on VMRO-DPMNE, but on the citizens, he said. Mickoski said that in Rotterdam he met with the Croatian Prime Minister and President of the sister HDZ party Andrej Plenkovic, adding that they discussed the economic challenges facing the two countries. I had a great meeting with my dear friend the Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic and President of the sister HDZ party. We talked about the economic challenges that our two countries are facing, deepening the cooperation between VMRO-DPMNE and the Croatian Democratic Union, said Mickoski, who emphasized that the congress was extremely important for the VMRO-DPMNE. We have shown once again that VMRO-DPMNE is building partnerships with our sister parties and with European countries, said Mickoski. Mickoski emphasized that immediately after the formation of the new government led by VMRO-DPMNE, the cooperation with the European Union member states and sister parties will be intensified to ensure a quality future and a good perspective. The bridges have already been laid, only cooperation needs to be intensified. We have extremely great opportunities for a quality future, for a good perspective and fruitful cooperation between VMRO-DPMNE, and later a government that will be led by VMRO-DPMNE and the EU member states and sister parties that are part of the EU member states, Mickoski.

 

Mickoski meets Plenkovic in Rotterdam (Republika)

 

VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski had a friendly meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the European People’s Party Congress in Rotterdam. The meeting focused on the economic challenges that the two countries are facing. My dear friend Plenkovic and I talked about deepening the cooperation between VMRO-DPMNE and HDZ. So we really had an extremely important congress for MVRO-DPMNE, with which we once again showed that VMRO-DPMNE is building partnership relations with our sister parties and with European countries, said Mickoski. The VMRO-DPMNE delegation led by Mickoski held several bilateral meetings in Rotterdam, briefing the interlocutors on the current economic and political situation in Macedonia.

 

Byrnes: US and Macedonia have ample opportunities to expand their partnership (TV Atlas)

 

In an interview with TV Atlas, US Ambassador Kate Maries Byrnes talked about the strategic dialogue between Macedonia and the US set to be held on 2 June in Washington and presented some of the topics that are expected to be found on the agenda of the meeting. The agenda is still being prepared, but the idea is to cover more topics from economic prosperity, strengthening democratic institutions, defense and security, and bringing in experts to discuss each side’s priorities. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Osmani, will lead the delegation from Macedonia, the list for the other representatives is still being finalized. For our part, Assistant Secretary Karen Donfried, who recently visited Macedonia, will be the official host, but there will be opportunities for meetings with other officials, said Ambassador Byrnes. The strategic dialogue is a good opportunity for continuous cooperation between the two countries and is an excellent roadmap for the continuation of the partnership between the United States and Macedonia, said the ambassador, answering the question – what message she would convey to her successor in Skopje. The purpose of the Strategic Dialogue is to explore areas that we have not yet fully explored. There is still room to work on issues in the field of defense and security, but also on many other areas such as economy, energy, climate change, youth work, cultural exchange, education… I think the Strategic Dialogue offers interesting opportunities for the future and sends a signal that the United States wants to invest even more in it. It can be a good roadmap for the two countries to continue building their partnership, said Ambassador Byrnes.

 

Albania takes over chairmanship of UN Security Council, Rama to lead forum on justice (Radio Tirana)

 

From 1 June, Albania took over the chairmanship of the UN Security Council for 30 days. Prime Minister Edi Rama will lead today (2 June) the open high-level debate of the Security Council on international accountability. As Prime Minister Rama himself has announced, Albania remains fully committed to promoting justice. "The first representative event of Albania in its first presidency of the United Nations Security Council, which I will have the honor to chair on 2 June, is dedicated to the" Forum of Accountability and Justice for Serious Violations of International Law. The United Nations has no higher value to promote than justice and the rule of law. Albania promotes it nationally and protects it internationally. Justice and peace go hand in hand and Albania remains fully committed in this direction. "We are privileged to give voice to our convictions and we will lead the United Nations Security Council with all our will and passion for what we strongly believe in," Rama said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the meetings chaired by Rama will be followed by several other activities during the month of June. On 15 June, there will be an open debate led by Minister Ola Xhacka on the topic "Women, Peace and Security", with the topic The role of regional organizations in implementing GPS in situations of political unrest and taking power by 'violence'. On 16 June, Olta Xhacka will chair an information session on cooperation between the UN and regional organizations. On 28 June, the Ambassador of Albania to the UN will lead the open debate on the Working Methods of the Security Council.

 

Albania takes over SC Presidency, Hoxha: Respecting international law and human rights, priorities (Radio Tirana)

 

The Permanent Representative of Albania to the UN Ferit Hoxha in a press conference presented the priorities of Albania in the Security Council and the work program of the Council for June 2022. Hoxha stressed that the respect of international law and the protection and promotion of human rights are at the core of Albania's foreign policy and the main priorities during our mandate in the Security Council. As a second commitment, Hoxha listed women's peace and security. "In accordance with our priorities and as a signatory to the Declaration of Joint Commitments with the other Members of the Council, Albania will protect women, peace and security and will make it a key priority during our Presidency of the Security Council. Therefore, our second landmark event will be held on June 15th. There will be a High Level Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, entitled: "Keeping Promises: The Role of Regional Organizations in Implementing the Women's Agenda, Peace and Security in the face of political unrest and the seizure of power," he said. Another priority point, according to Hoxha, is the cooperation of the UN with regional and sub-regional organizations. "The presidency will hold a high-level conference on cooperation between the UN and the European Union, especially in the political field, humanitarian and aspects of rights,” said Hoxha. Albania has joined the United Nations Security Council, as a non-permanent member, where it has also assumed the responsibility of co-host with the United States, on the issue of Ukraine.

 

Hoxha: Kosovo cannot be compared with situation in Ukraine (ADN)

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has several times compared the case of Kosovo with that of Donetsk and Luhansk, thus claiming their recognition as independent regions. Albania's Permanent Representative to the UN Ferit Hoxha, at the first conference of the Albanian presidency of the UN Security Council, stressed that "there are no similarities between Kosovo and Donetsk". Kosovo is not on the agenda of the Security Council for the month of June, when Albania will be in charge, however, Hoxha said that "I must emphasize once again that there are no similarities between the two countries". "For the sake of truth, there is no similarity between history in Kosovo and any other country. Kosovo is no longer an issue for peace to be discussed, because today it is a state built with all institutions and is developing rapidly. We have not forgotten what happened, but we are moving forward! We will not get stuck in the past," Hoxha told reporters.

 

Berisha accuses Rama of denying Serbian genocide in Kosovo (ADN)

 

Leader of Democratic Party (DP) Sali Berisha accused this Wednesday the Prime Minister Edi Rama of denying the Serb genocide in Kosovo. According to Berisha, the rejection of the DP resolution on genocide proves that it is done because of the Open Balkans, while he describes this as an anti-national act. "Rama denies Serbian genocide in Kosovo! The rejection of our resolution condemning the Serb genocide in Kosovo by Vucic's vassal Edi Rama because of the Open Balkans is the most serious anti-national act after the surrender of Kosovo to the Serbs by Enver Hoxha. This anti-Albanian act is a desecration of the souls of 10 thousand Albanians who were killed and massacred only in the last attack of Belgrade in Kosovo. Denial of genocide is an ugly crime," stated Berisha.