LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic and Orban meet and agree on a number of bilateral projects that will be implemented in the coming period (RTS)

 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban held a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Budapest. They talked about their cooperation, and Vucic emphasized how Hungary’s support, in various ways, means a lot to Serbia. Vucic said this confirms that the two countries are friendly and that they support each other always. Vucic and Orban agreed on a number of bilateral projects that will be implemented in the coming period. Vucic specifically emphasized that Hungary understands Serbia’s political struggle when it comes to Kosovo. “Hungary understands the situation in Kosovo very well. I believe we will have understanding there, even better and greater than there was 25 years ago”, the Serbian President assessed. The trend of mutual understanding will certainly continue, Vucic added. Vucic stressed that each meeting with Orban is exceptional but that this one has special symbolism given that Hungary marks 20 August as the Saint Stephen's Day and the National Day. Vucic said that they discussed a number of projects, including the construction of the Belgrade-Budapest railroad. According to Vucic, Montenegro and the North Macedonia will pay a price for recognizing Kosovo just as it happened with Ukraine. In the same statement, he announced that elections would be held very soon in Serbia -- in three to six months, or six to seven at the latest. He said regular local and provincial elections would be held as they were supposed to, and that a parliamentary vote would most likely be held, as well.

 

Dacic: More pressure on Serbia to impose sanctions against Russia (TV Pink)

 

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Sunday that this week would be exceptionally difficult for Serbia because of additional pressure to introduce sanctions against Russia. Appearing on TV Pink, he said that it was not just alignment with EU policy that was an issue in Serbia's relations with the organization and that "there is also something else." "Albania is bragging that it is 100 percent aligned with the EU and wonders why negotiations are not being broached. Some neighboring countries just get demands and immediately carry them out. This shows that alignment with EU foreign policy is not just our problem in relations with them," Dacic said. According to media reports, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is slated to spend 21 and 22 Aug. in Athens at an informal meeting of the region's leaders and senior representatives of the EU.

 

Vucevic: Pressures aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia will be increasingly greater (TV Pink)

 

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic stated on Friday that the pressures on Serbia in connection with the non-imposing of sanctions on Russia are constant and they will be greater. In a guest appearance on TV Pink, Vucevic said that on 22 August Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will be “at an important international conference, where special attacks on him for the imposing of these sanctions are expected”. Commenting the advancement of the Serbian army on the recently published list of the world’s strongest militaries, Vucevic said that this is the result of a ten-year policy of investment in the military and that next year the jump ranking will be even greater. “And imagine had we succeeded in getting everything that we had purchased, which the new geopolitical circumstances are not permitting us – if everything that should have arrived from Russia and China had arrived,” Vucevic added.

 

Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija do not want to work against their own people (Tanjug/RTV)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Friday that Belgrade does not pressure Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija to make decisions about where they will work or how they will live, but that it is certain that they perceive the "Kosovo police" as an occupying force in which they do not want to work against their own people. In a statement, Petkovic pointed out that Albin Kurti's words still resonate with Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija that the Kosovo police is the continuation and successor of the terrorist so-called KLA, and therefore it should not surprise anyone that they do not want to work in Kurti's institutions. “It is well known that Kurti wanted and boasted in numerous places that he would "fill the security vacuum in the north" by hiring Serbs and agitators that he finds suitable, but the Serbs once again answered him that they want neither him nor his so-called Kosovo police. That is why now, in order to justify his failure and find an alibi for the fiasco before the international community, he accuses Belgrade of making some kind of pressures. He should face the truth once and for all - a true Serb will never strike at his fellow countrymen, he will never be a stick against his people in the hands of Svecla and Kurti, and they clearly told them that when they left the "Kosovo police" on 5 November last year, when the last straw was that they did not want to write fines to their fellow citizens for Serbian license plates," Petkovic emphasised in his statement.

 

Serb communities in Kosovo running out of medicines, medical supplies (FoNet/Kosovo Online)

 

Director of the Gracanica Health Center in Kosovo Mirjana Dimitrijevic said Friday that Serb communities in Kosovo are running out of medicines and medical supplies because they have not been receiving any since 14 June. As for the medicines and disposable materials that we use, since Kosovo’s institutions imposed a ban on imports of all Serbian goods into Kosovo, we are facing difficulties in our work. We have not received any shipments of medicines, medical supplies and other disposable materials for two months now, Dimitrijevic told Kosovo Online. Our stockpiles are running low and if this situation persists, we will face a shortage of everything we need for the health institution’s normal functioning, said Dimitrijevic. Director of the Pasjan-based Gnjilane Health Centre Zoran Peric said they have stock of medicines to last them another 15 days, adding that the situation is alarming. The Kosovo government banned on 14 June the import of goods originating from Serbia proper, including medicine and medical supplies.

 

Serbia Against Violence protesters leave demands in front of Presidency (Beta)

 

Serbia Against Violence protesters in Belgrade left on 19 August a banner with their demands in front of the Presidency building, which concluded the 16th iteration of the protest, themed on education. Journalist and TV presenter Smiljan Banjac said the demands were left there because Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic "is pretending, for the 16th time, to not hear the demands of protesters," and then read them again from a sound truck heading the march. As customary, the protesters marked the end of the demonstration by turning on the lights on their smartphones, symbolically lighting the Presidency up with the message, "We are the light, they are darkness." Protesters at the head of the march through downtown Belgrade carried large banners reading Serbia against Violence and Students against Violence, and chanted, "Resignations, then prison." The protesters said they would not give up their fight, as proven by months of demonstrations. Radomir Lazovic, a member of parliament from the Don't Let Belgrade Drown movement belonging to the Green-Left Club, told Beta that the entire autumn, like the Serbia against Violence protest, should be devoted to problems in education. Protests were also held in many other Serbian cities.

 

Veselinovic: Vucic should be replaced by opposition, not US or EU (Danas)

 

The sanctions the US has levied against Security and Information Agency chief Aleksandar Vulin demonstrate that the West’s attitude toward Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is “slowly but surely changing”, yet the regime must be changed not by the Americans or the EU but by the opposition, said Dobrica Veselinovic, a representative in the Belgrade City Assembly and an official of the Green-Left Front. “Let’s not forget that Vulin is one of Vucic’s closest associates – therefore, the message is more than clear. On the other hand, Vucic won’t be replaced by the Americans, nor the EU. We must do that ourselves. Because this is our country and we plan to stay,” Veselinovic told Danas. According to him, the Serbian Progressive Party and Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Sapic fear elections because all relevant polls indicate that the regime’s rating in the capital has plummeted. Asked whether he expects a snap local election to be held in the capital before the year is out – as was promised – Veselinovic replied that “the enormous crisis society is in must be resolved via elections, but that, in the wake of the great tragedies, the demands of the ‘Serbia Against Violence’ protest must be met first, and only then should elections be called”.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Dodik, Cvijanovic meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Orban in Budapest (RTRS)

 

RTRS carries that there is understanding for the situation in B&H in Hungary adding that pressure on democratically elected leaders is unacceptable, and sanctions are doomed to fail. RTRS notes that these are just some of the messages conveyed after the meeting of RS President Milorad Dodik and Serb member of the B&H Presidency Zeljka Cvijanovic with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban held in Budapest. The key message after the meeting is that the RS has friends in the world, and it is not isolated. Dodik and Cvijanovic attended a number of bilateral meetings during their two-day visit to Hungary. They informed the officials, from the region and the world, about the real reasons behind the political crisis in B&H. Dodik and Cvijanovic believe that their interlocutors understood the situation in B&H. Orban assessed that sanctions never yielded any good results, adding that pressures onto democratically elected leaders are unacceptable. When discussing projects, the Hungarian PM confirmed that his country will continue to offer help to the agricultural sector in the RS. He also said that Hungary will most probably invest in the ‘Hrgud’ energy project. During their Sunday meeting, Dodik informed Orban of Christian Schmidt’s legal violence, as well as about the policy with which the RS protects its sovereignty and the Dayton Agreement. Dodik said that the RS rejects Schmidt’s law by which all those that do not respect his decisions can be punished with a prison sentence. He added that such behavior is an attack onto the B&H Constitution and the Dayton Peace Agreement. Dodik points out that the same can be said for Schmidt’s illegitimate mandate in B&H. When addressing members of the press, Dodik asked how Europe can accept what Schmidt is doing in B&H. Europe cannot accept that, and that is a serious matter for Europe, the RS President stressed. “As this process continues, that question will be directed towards Europe more and more”, Dodik added. Cvijanovic said that Orban supports the RS’ positions and policies. She said Hungary’s cooperation with the RS does not exclude the wish of this country wanting to maintain good cooperation with everyone in the Western Balkans. We appreciate that, but it is always good to have someone in the EU who understands the situation well when it comes to B&H, she stated. Officials from Hungary and the RS agreed that they will continue to cooperate in implementation of many projects in the RS, and for that purpose, a council for cooperation should be formed in the coming period. Dodik said a new format will be created, and a cooperation council for following all the policies and projects will be formed. The council will be headed by Orban and Dodik. Dodik says a report on the projects will be submitted every three months to the council. This will also include mandatory meetings every six months.

 

Dodik, Cvijanovic meet Erdogan; Mutual respect and continuation of agreed projects confirmed (RTRS)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik and Serb member of the B&H Presidency Zeljka Cvijanovic met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Budapest on Sunday evening. At the meeting, mutual respect and the continuation of implementation of agreed projects were confirmed. New meetings were agreed, and Erdogan announced that he will visit Banja Luka during his next visit to B&H. The Turkish President confirmed his attendance at the opening of the ‘Mrsovo’ Hydroelectric Power Plant in the municipality of Rudo.

 

RS officials hold meeting with President of Azerbaijan in Budapest (RTRS/ATV)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik and Serb member of the B&H Presidency Zeljka Cvijanovic

also met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Budapest on Sunday. They discussed projects and investments, as Azerbaijan showed great interest in investing in the RS. Focus of the discussion was construction of a gas pipeline, which would connect B&H to gas supply from Azerbaijan. The RS leadership reminded that the RS gave its approval for this project, but the political Sarajevo obstructed the construction of a gas pipeline branch – with which Russian gas would come to B&H. Dodik says this was the opportunity to explain to Aliyev that decisions in B&H are made only through consensus. Dodik told reporters that this gas pipeline branch will be built after a joint solution is found in B&H, and he believes the coming period will bring that consensus. The RS President said he would like to see internal affairs in B&H functioning on the basis of respect. Cvijanovic said for the past two years, they have been working on building good relations with Azerbaijan, and to show this country that there are many potentials in which they can invest. She says Aliyev is informed of all the details and he is quite interested in some projects and investment in the RS. Aliyev pointed out to Dodik and Cvijanovic which areas are the ones in which Azerbaijan wants to invest in the RS. Dodik said that Azerbaijan is interested in agriculture and energy. He added that Azerbaijan is one of the largest suppliers of gas and oil to the EU today, and that this is interesting for the RS as well. Cvijanovic said that it was a very constructive meeting, and she is satisfied that they signed earlier an agreement with Azerbaijan on strategic partnership. Cvijanovic said that it is important that Azerbaijan is interested in several important projects and investments in the RS.

 

Zvizdic: Signing of agreement between Hungary and RS would violate B&H’s sovereignty (Avaz)

 

B&H House of Peoples deputy speaker Denis Zvizdic stated that the announced signing of agreement between Hungary and the RS and establishing of the joint council for monitoring of joint policies without the approval of B&H parliament and B&H Presidency would grossly violate B&H’s sovereignty. He added that by signing this agreement, Hungary, as an EU member state, deliberately or accidentally, would agree to be part of the processes which violate provisions of B&H Constitution.

 

Dodik: Issue of property is key issue and it is issue of statehood (ATV)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik stated in Banja Luka on Friday that the issue of property is a key issue and it is an issue of statehood, “because if you do not have property, you do not have a state, and that is why the RS will not give up.” Dodik stressed that property is an issue that will certainly not be resolved the way foreigners predict it. Dodik stated that all proposed laws at the upcoming session of the B&H House of Representatives (HoR), scheduled for Tuesday, 22 August, will have the support of the RS. “These are points that were previously on the agenda. But after that session on 22 August, everything will be different. If someone thinks that they can make decisions without half of the country, without 33 percent of the political capacity, then let them also bear the responsibility,” Dodik stated. He pointed out that foreigners have no right to interfere in things in B&H, and a decision must be made at the B&H level that foreigners do not have the right to make decisions in B&H. Dodik emphasized that every decision he signed was his legal obligation and that this is actually the key thing. Dodik stated that “false” Christian Schmidt could not attack the RS parliament as a legislative body, but he attacked the President of the RS who signed the decree. Dodik called Schmidt a pest that is attacking all the institutions of the RS. The RS President stressed that nothing will shake him in this fight and that he is ready to roll up his sleeves in the defense of the RS. “I am telling everyone that I am ready for both a legal and a political fight. If they want a political fight to the end - they will have it... Schmidt's laws will have to be repealed. I am not asking for it in my case, let me tell you right away, but all future work we do will have to be conditioned by that issue. If there is no such decision at the B&H level that a foreigner cannot impose laws in B&H, and they accepted it only because it is to the detriment of the RS… I have a very serious intention to roll up my sleeves to deal with politics and the defense of the RS. That is my only answer. You will not get property. Now the main thing is – they will ban Dodik from political work. They will not ban my life. What if someone bans me from political work now? Does anyone think that I will leave the position of the President of the RS? Here is a story for them for a new story. I will not leave. I was not elected by Schmidt, who is a fake high representative, nor was I elected by the Court of B&H so that it could ban me from political activity,” Dodik said. He repeated that the indictment against him is illegal and unfounded and that he will never give up on the property. Dodik stated that he agrees that certain things should be at the level of local communities, but that SDS leader Milan Milicevic's proposal goes hand in hand with the solution given by the OHR to place the property in the ownership of B&H, and then transfer it to the local level and thus bypass the cantons, the FB&H and the RS. Dodik noted that he does not want to argue with Milicevic “who thinks he knows something”. “As a doctor he began to interpret legal categories, he is trying to say something smart. How can highways be owned by municipalities? How can each municipality build a highway? What if they do not meet on the contact lines, then what will we have? How should each municipality manage the waters of the RS, what if you have a river that flows through several municipalities,” Dodik asked. Dodik stated Friday that Christian Schmidt is again trying to turn things upside down with lies. Dodik stressed that Schmidt should publicly show the resolution by which he was confirmed as the High Representative and thus prove that he is what he says he is. “I do not interpret the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), I read it, and there in Annex 10 it says that the High Representative is confirmed by the UN Security Council,” Dodik stated on the social network X (formerly Twitter). ATV reminded that Schmidt stated that Dodik knowingly does not understand the Dayton agreement and that he violates its position. Dodik also stated that all the problems B&H has were created by international officials such as US Ambassador to B&H Michael Murphy, “including the circus related to interventions in the Criminal Code of B&H”.

 

Dodik signs Decree on Promulgation of Law on Changes and Amendments to RS Criminal Code criminalizing defamation (ATV)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik signed on Friday the Decree on the Promulgation of the Law on Changes and Amendments to the RS Criminal Code criminalizing defamation. Dodik stated that such a law with far more rigorous penalties exists in 18 EU countries. “Such a law is being worked on at the EU level to be adopted by the end of the year, the same and far more rigorous. If that EU law is more rigorous, we will copy it and we will amend that law again and we will strengthen the story. This was passed by the parliament. This was determined by the legislative body, which is the only one competent to do so. As the President, it is my job to support this with a decree because it is provided for in the Constitution,” Dodik said. ATV reminded that Bosniaks initiated the protection of the vital national interest due to changes to the Criminal Code of the RS because they believed that they could serve for their discrimination and silencing in the RS when they talk about, for example, war crimes. ATV also recalled that part of the journalistic community protested against the changes because they believe that criminalizing defamation violates freedom of speech. Representatives of the RS government, which was the proponent of the changes to the Criminal Code of the RS, stated that those who write and speak the truth and have evidence for what they say or write should not fear any punishments.

 

Decision in indictment against Dodik and Lukic by 26 August (Nezavisne)

 

The daily reads that the Court of B&H will reach a decision by end of next week regarding the indictment filed by the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H against RS President Milorad Dodik and acting Director of the Official Gazette of RS Milos Lukic. The Court of B&H told the daily the indictment was received on August 11 and, in line with the Criminal Procedure Code of B&H, a decision about indictment has to be made within 15 days upon receiving indictment. In essence, according to the daily, a decision has to be made by 26 August. The daily further explained the procedure saying that, among other issues, should be indictment be confirmed, the accused would first have to enter plea, after which main hearing will be scheduled. The daily’s (unnamed) source, which is reportedly close to the judiciary of B&H, said that, in case the indictment is confirmed, it will be known within one month the most when the trial would start.

 

TI B&H calls for extraordinary professional supervision at Pazaric Institution (O Kanal)

 

The Transparency International in B&H (TI B&H) sent a letter to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the FB&H and requested the implementation of extraordinary professional supervision at the Pazaric Institution for the Care of Mentally Disabled Children and Youth after the publication of a video of the abuse of protégé of this institution, which in recent days shook the entire the public. TI B&H also called on the relevant Ministry to adopt the necessary regulations that would regulate the situation in this area. TI B&H warns that intimidation of persons who pointed out the violence towards residents in the Institution and published a video that alerted the institutions to react is unacceptable.

 

Milatovic: Any external attempt to meddle in formation of the government of Montenegro is unacceptable (CdM)

 

As President of Montenegro, I find any attempt to directly or indirectly meddle in the formation of the government of Montenegro both by the region and the rest of the world unacceptable, the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic tweeted. Milatovic reacted on Twitter following the recent comments of Serbian officials on the formation of the government of Montenegro. According to the President, the 28th convocation of the Assembly of Montenegro reflects the will of Montenegro citizens, who are, in line with the Constitution, the holders of the sovereignty. “I expect that the formation of the 44th government will be based on the freely expressed will of the citizens in the previous parliamentary elections, as well as on program priorities which will enable the accelerated membership of Montenegro in the EU, the growth of the standard of living and the development of rule of law,” he concluded.

 

No solution to Savnik election in sight, Mugosa says (RTCG)

 

Last week, for the first time, the State Election Commission (SEC) didn’t receive any objection requiring the Savnik elections to be repeated, the President of this body Nikola Mugosa tells the RTCG portal. As he says, DIK was informed that the session of the Savnik Municipal Election Commission wasn’t held, most likely because there was no objection submitted. Mugosa reminds that so far DIK has been ordering the Savnik Municipal Election Commission to make a decision on re-calling for the elections in two polling stations every week, after which a majority wouldn’t be needed to organize them. “Unfortunately, for now, it seems that there’s no way out of this situation. I hope that the forthcoming reform of election regulations, announced for autumn, will tackle such situations as well,” he says for the RTCG portal. Mugosa adds that DIK hasn’t been informed about actions of other state bodies concerning this situation.

 

Constitutional changes don’t endanger a single Macedonian identity question, says PM in parliament address (MIA)

 

There is only one motive behind the proposal for constitutional amendments – EU accession, this is what the citizens want. The constitutional amendments ahead of us don’t threaten a single Macedonian identity question. We have to be a European country for our own good. I know that this path is neither easy nor short, but we firmly know that there won’t be a new veto on the European path from anyone, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in his address Friday at parliament's 123rd session discussing the need to open the Constitution to introduce the changes required to continue the country's EU integration. “The proposal [for the amendments] is ours, Macedonian, based on the European proposal and the Agreement from 2022, with which our country, after years of waiting, finally opened accession negotiations. It was drafted here, in Skopje, where it is also being debated in parliament. I dismiss the false theses that there is a dictate from anyone over anything. And, most importantly, the constitutional amendments ahead of you do not endanger a single Macedonian identity question. The proposal doesn’t impact nor refer to any questions of Macedonian identity. And this is completely clear to everyone in the country,” said Kovachevski. The PM stressed that the proposal only leads to the current, historical opportunity, to do something good for the country. “By adopting the proposal, we make a decision not to stand in place, not to wait again, but to step forward towards full-fledged membership in the EU and to fulfill the set goal of full-fledged membership in 2030. Yes, this is our Macedonian proposal, supported by the entire EU and our strategic partner the US, to our benefit, for our own good,” stressed Kovachevski. Kovachevski highlighted that the country finally began accession talks in 2022, after 17 years of waiting. “In Brussels, the screening process is unfolding in the Macedonian language and it is very successful. We must continue forward, to open and close chapters one by one. This process is essential because it is meant to change us, to transform us, to make us more successful. This is our decision, our necessity, and that’s what we decide in Skopje, not in Brussels, and even less in Sofia. We have an appropriate, fixed negotiating framework, there won’t be new demands, and the bilateral issues are not an obstacle. With the fulfillment of the accepted tasks from the European proposal last year, we firmly know that there won’t be a new veto from anyone,” said Kovachevski. He stressed that the Macedonian language is being spoken and written in Brussels, and that the Macedonian identity was recognized by Berlin and Washington. The proposal on the amendments of the Constitution, said the PM, is the result of a fully open, transparent, expert and political debate which lasted several months. “We did as we promised. Publicly, clearly, without limits and through a broad procedure, we made it possible for all relevant factors, all citizens to be fully acquainted with the need, the reasons and the concrete contents of the proposal,” said Kovachevski. The proposed interventions to the Constitution, said the PM, only involve the addition of nationalities into the Preamble and into Articles 49 and 78 of the Constitution, when listing the communities living in the country. “In other words, into the wording ‘The citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Macedonian people, as well as citizens living within its borders who are part of the Albanian people, the Turkish people, the Vlach people, the Serbian people, the Romany people, the Bosniak people and others’, a comma is to be placed after ‘the Bosniak people’ and the following to be added: ‘the Bulgarian people, the Croatian people, the Montenegrin people, the Slovenian people, the Jewish people and the Egyptian people.’ Appropriately, and in line with previous amendments to the Constitution, an amendment has also been proposed in the section related to the Committee on Inter-ethnic Relations, in order to maintain parity in terms of the representation of all the ethnic communities,” said the PM. Kovachevski reminded that as early as in 1991, the citizens defined EU integration as the highest national priority. “For me, and for an enormous majority of citizens, this hasn’t changed in 2023. Both then and now, EU accession was and will be the best national, integrational, interethnic, intergenerational, economic, legal and political process. Our connective tissue, our mechanism to improve for the better. This, alongside our NATO membership, is what makes us a country with a goal, focus, cohesion. A country with a present and a clear future,” said Kovachevski. “I am personally convinced,” he added, “that by voting in favor, we can all be winners, just as how we will all be losers if we vote against, unfortunately the country and the citizens will lose as well.” “They don’t deserve this, they don’t want this. This isn’t, and must not be a vote for elections. Elections will be held next year, with the citizens, and not you, respected 120 MPs, deciding on the results, as fits a democratic country. From you, I urge reason, conscience, responsibility, honesty and that you are led by the general interests, not by your personal interests. Whatever you decide, you will be responsible, but the first choice will make you responsible for progress, while the second will make u responsible for the harm inflicted on the country and the citizens,” Kovachevski told the MPs. The Prime Minister stressed that today it will become clear who truly wants to see the country in the EU, as well as who is blocking the European future of the citizens. “Today is the day when we see whether those who ran away and obstructed until now will continue to run away or whether they will gather courage and give their vote for the European future of the country and the citizens,” said Kovachevski. The Prime Minister also addressed the citizens, saying they should remain assured that the decision is being made in their best interest. “We call on everyone to stand behind it, and for a change to demonstrate cohesion, unity, new energy and an example for statesmanlike behavior,” said Kovachevski, adding that he hopes the debate will be peaceful, constructive and successful.

 

Micevski: No constitutional changes under dictate, early elections must be held (MIA)

 

Constitutional amendments are not meant to be made under dictate. Constitutional amendments under dictate will not happen, but early parliamentary elections must happen, said VMRO-DPMNE’s parliamentary whip Nikola Micevski at a press conference Friday after parliament’s session. “After a whole year of manipulations from the government, it became evident that parliament does not have a two-third majority for the constitutional amendments. There are no 80 MPs in parliament, while outside of parliament over 80 percent of the people oppose the constitutional amendments under Bulgarian dictate,” said Micevski. The VMRO-DPMNE party whip said constitutional amendments are not meant to be made under dictate. This, he said, represents “a trampling of the dignity and integrity of the country, and undermines its sovereignty”. “This government is the problem, and the solution lies in elections. Constitutional amendments under dictate won’t happen, but early parliamentary elections must happen because the government has been delegitimized,” stressed Micevski.

 

Parliament concludes discussion on need of amending Constitution (MIA)

 

Parliament concluded Friday the discussion on the need to amend the Constitution in order to add the Bulgarians and five other ethnic communities to the Preamble of the Constitution.

SDSM party whip Jovan Mitreski was the last to speak, after which parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi adjourned the 123rd session of parliament and said the MPs will be informed over when it will resume. Opposition MPs, who voted against the session’s agenda, expressed dissatisfaction with the session’s adjournment. The adoption of the need to amend the Constitution requires the support of at least 80 MPs. It represents the first of three stages of the constitutional amendments procedure. During the vote for the agenda of the 123rd plenary session, 70 MPs voted in favor, while 47 were against. Adding the Bulgarians to the Constitution is a prerequisite for the continuation of the country’s EU accession talks and the holding of the second intergovernmental conference.

 

Rama explains Meloni's visit: The focus is on the EU, water supply, energy, railway lines (La Stampa/Radio Tirana)

 

"Giorgia is incredible. I'd say a friendship has been born between us." This is how Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama addressed his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, in an interview for the daily La Stampa. Meloni visited Albania for a few days, on vacation with her family, spending also time at the Prime Minister's residence in Vlora. "[With Meloni] we talked extensively about international relations and European integration, which she calls reunification," said Rama, regarding the country's EU membership. "Giorgia told me that it is time to get to work," added the Albanian Prime Minister. Regarding the Italian-Albanian economic cooperation, Rama clarified that plenty of things are expected, while informing that the Strategic Committee for Italian Investments will meet soon. "We talked about the water pipeline project from Albania to Puglia, which Andreotti and Berlusconi wanted. It would be something important. It is about connecting resources of Southern Albania with Italy. Then, the Balkans railway network needs to manage, which also needs be developed. Finally, [it is] technology, there are large Italian companies that have shown interest in the past. There is also the energy line project, which would connect Italy with Albania. [Meloni] is one of those women who can get things in motion. I have a lot of faith," said Prime Minister Rama. The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, will come to Albania again in October to participate in the Berlin Process summit. The summit takes place in the framework of the European Union's goals to join the Balkan region within the European family. Prime Minister Rama thinks that although Meloni represents the hard political line in her country, when it comes to international politics, she remains a friend of Albania.