LOCAL PRESS

 

Dacic: Much better foreign political position of Serbia (RTS/Tanjug/RTV)

 

Presenting the report on the work of the Serbian Foreign Ministry from 1 February until 20 October 2019 at the session of the Serbian parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic underlined that Serbia can now protect its state and national interests in a better way. “When it comes to the dialogue with Pristina, we are waiting and our condition is for taxes to be abolished so the dialogue could resume. You have seen the farce with the alleged poisoning. You can see this only in films, masks and clothing they are wearing while they are counting Serb votes in Kosovo and Metohija, as if at issue is Ebola. Thereby, there is not one single report that confirms that poisoning had occurred,” said Dacic. According to him, this is only a continuation of the long term policy that is based on lies. He recalled there were similar attempts when they falsely claimed there was poisoning of children, then at the stadium in Pristina there were 100,000 imprisoned Albanians but when journalists arrived they saw there was nobody there, that the Serbs were making a blood bank from Albanian children in order to give it to police members. Dacic says that after all those launched lies it turned out they were not true. “But these lies weren’t condemned by the international community. The UN Security Council session will be an opportunity to say something about this, but I am not sure that some countries will mention this at all. We can expect at the UNSC session the report on the incident with the UNMIK member since the UN investigation has been completed. I am certain that the result of the investigation will show that there had been a violation of all obligations that someone has when accepting international presence. Nobody is allowed to touch people in international missions,” said Dacic. He reiterated that the UNSC session on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija will be held on 31 October despite Pristina’s attempts to avoid holding it. Dacic says that based on the agreement at the beginning of the year, it is envisaged for the regular UNSC session that would debate the report of the General Secretary on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija to be held in October, adding that the South African Republic has placed the session on the working program for October and that is scheduled for 31 October. Dacic noted that Serbia had earlier thwarted Pristina’s attempts to become member of Interpol and UNESCO thanks to intensive diplomacy and a large number of meetings. “This year we had a situation when Pristina withdrew the candidacy for Interpol two hours before the meeting, because they would have gone worse than last year,” said Dacic, noting he was sorry there was no voting since one would see how much they lost support. Dacic adds that out of 193 UN member states 15 of them withdrew or suspended the decision on recognition of independence of Kosovo. He says that three quarters of Non-Aligned members, 120 in total, didn’t recognize independence of Kosovo, and that he is particularly pleased with the fact that the President of Congo visited Serbia. “Congo has 85 million inhabitants and firmly stands on our position regarding the issue of Kosovo,” said Dacic, adding that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that he would visit African countries next year, which would be very important for our foreign political position. He said that it was very important that Serbia was the host this month of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since there were many high-level delegations.

 

Former chief of UNMIK’s Regional Serious Crime Unit Stu Kellock: Intelligence services knew who suspects were in journalists’ deaths (RTS/UNS, by Jelena L.Petkovic)

 

- The murdered and kidnapped journalists in Kosovo provided information to the public contrary to what the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) wanted. If the journalists did not abandon stories, then kidnappings, beatings and murders of the journalists and/or their family members would follow, says Captain Stu Kellock, former chief of UNMIK’s Regional Serious Crime Unit in Pristina, in an exclusive interview with the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS).

Kellock is one of the most decorated Canadian police officers, with more than 36 years of experience in the Toronto Police Service and the Canadian Armed Forces. He was the first foreign police officer to be invited to assist the Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Divisions of the New York City Police Department after the 9/11 attacks. He was the chief of UNMIK’s Regional Serious Crime Unit in Pristina between September 2000 and June 2001.

Today he serves with the military police as an advisor to National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa, as a Professor for the National Security Program at Durham College, a consultant on security matters and as a Director of the Royal Canadian Military Institute.

- I arrived in Kosovo at the beginning of September 2000 as an investigator and later took command of the Serious Crimes Unit. We worked with the Murder Squad, but had no jurisdiction on homicides that occurred prior to my arrival. We worked on cases of kidnapping and missing persons with the missing persons unit. That time was extremely difficult, because much of the infrastructure of the legal system was destroyed in the conflict.

There was general mistrust among the parties and the United Nations (UN) encountered the kind of mistrust and hatred it had never faced before due to the fact that we had primacy for the first time in the history of the United Nations. Witnesses to crimes were afraid to report incidents due to threats and intimidation. Despite numerous demands for a witness protection program and weapons amnesty, we were refused by the UN authorities.

 

Some Reports on Journalists’ Murders Were Removed

UNS: What did your Unit do to shed light on the murders of journalists and media professionals and what were the results?

Kellock: These journalists provided information to the public that was contrary to the messages sent by the PDK. Threats and intimidation were the first steps. If the journalists did not give up, then kidnappings, beatings and murder of them and/or their family members followed.

UNS: An investigation into the disappearance of colleague Marjan Melonashi was officially opened five years after the event. This is confirmed by the crime investigation unit files.

Kellock: I cannot say with absolute certainty why his disappearance was not investigated, but I can tell you that at the time when I arrived (September 2000), there was confusion in UNMIK. A hastily designed plan for police oversight in Kosovo was created without providing infrastructure, logistical, administrative and judicial oversight. The first thing I created when I took over as Unit Chief was a case tracking system. Prior to that, all reports were submitted to whomever was on duty at the time, without any organized methodology of monitoring or providing necessary resources to investigate serious crimes. Reports had to be translated. Police officers from around the world had innumerable ways of writing reports and a wide range of investigative talents, qualifications and experiences. We know there were also PDK sympathizers working as language assistants or even in the KPS (Kosovo Police Service), who may even have removed reports if they got the opportunity to do so.

UNS: In the investigation into the murder of journalist Shefki Popova, UNMIK police took documents from his house, the whereabouts of which are unknown.

Kellock: As I said, recording, storing and documenting evidence was ad hoc and often depended on the professionalism of the investigators and leadership. Also, evidence was generally retained by the investigator with no central repository for continuity and control.

UNS: Did you notice that evidence disappeared during investigations or that the investigations were not conducted conscientiously?

Kellock: Perhaps at the beginning of my tour, but I made a great effort to bring the best, qualified investigators into my Unit. I accepted nothing less than one hundred percent professionalism and objectivity. I dismissed several people for not being so. I also led investigations against UN employees when necessary and sent reports to the Chain of Command. Overall, my investigators worked on their assigned cases committedly, professionally and objectively and saw them through to the end whenever possible. We obviously had a challenging work environment with a lack of resources and manpower. We tried very hard to do everything we could, especially to comfort and support victims, witnesses and their families.

 

Intelligence Services Interfered with Investigations into Journalists’ Murders

UNS: In its investigation, the UNS obtained information that the interests of intelligence services were involved in the murder of journalist Xhemail Mustafa, as well as that this might be one of the reasons why the killer’s identity is unknown. Do your findings confirm our suspicions?

Kellock: I believe they know who the suspects in his death are. Both PDK and LDK had people cooperating with various intelligence agencies to opposite ends, and that made work very difficult for us. External actors from the US, UK, France and other states did not respect the primacy of UNMIK police in criminal investigations after the cessation of NATO’s action in the region. I had information that in practically every case someone was working for someone else to achieve their goals.

UNS: During investigations, did you face any pressure or suggestion that certain investigations should not be conducted, or should be put aside?

Kellock: In every case that had a political background, I was under pressure from my superiors to be careful (which meant that they would have to approve everything before I took further steps), or I received clear direction to stop any further work. That is why we took former KLA commander Sabit Geci directly to the international court, so that they would deal with the charges against him and two others. After the convictions of Geci and his associates, my commander stated: “We were not sure if we were going to allow you to keep working on that,” but they were ultimately happy with the outcome as it gave significant credibility to the UN as our unit in particular.

I very much understood that all of these investigations had an impact on the credibility of the UN. We were expected to follow their orders, whatever they may be. But, we were there to follow the law, I could not compromise my professionalism and integrity, and that often got me into conflict with politicos who had other ideas – including Bernard Kouchner, whom I had escorted from crime scenes that he was trying to exploit.

UNS: Aleksandar Simovic was kidnapped in Pristina, and then murdered. Momir Stokuca was killed in his apartment in Priština. These crimes occurred after the arrival of NATO in Kosovo. Did you know who was “managing” Pristina? Was it the international forces that were mandated or the local KLA leaders?

Kellock: Interesting question. When I arrived, NATO still had the security mandate for Kosovo. The military had primacy, as we say, in the conduct of all operations. The UN had an interim administration mandate and attempted to carry out various authorities. Neither the KLA nor PDK had any legal authority. Nevertheless, they had influence.  KFOR had no criminal investigation capacity or the mandate to do so. That is why there is so much lacking in the way of evidence based investigations prior to the creation of UNMIK Police.

UNS: Were the local leaders ever called in for questioning? Did they ever talk about those crimes?

Kellock: Political and intelligence representatives talked with them in order to gain information on the direction in which the mission could proceed.

 

Removal of Evidence of the Murders and Kidnappings of Journalists

UNS: How do you comment on the disappearance of documents on the murder of Momir Stokuca from the UNMIK archive? How do you comment on the fact that an investigation into the case was never opened?

Kellock: We know that there were KPS (Kosovo Protection Force) members who were sympathetic to the PDK and former members of the KLA. If they were in a position to do so, of course they did everything to assist their political and former military masters, including intimidation of witnesses and removal of evidence. That is why we used multiple translators to get exact statements from victims and witnesses.

UNS: Ljubomir Knezevic disappeared in Vushtrri. The families of the kidnapped Serbs link some of the disappearances to the story of organ trafficking. What is certain is that some witnesses in Vushtrri identified Gani Ymeri as a kidnapper, who was a member of the Kosovo Protection Force, and the investigation was halted. Both the investigating judge and the prosecutor were replaced. Were there any other cases of discrediting international prosecutors and judges due to pressure from parallel power centers?

Kellock: Although I am not familiar with this particular case, this was in line with the absolute control PDK and Hashim Thaci had over everything that was going on in Kosovo. He operated with impunity and with the authority of the UK, USA and CIA. At the 1999 talks in Rambouillet, Madeleine Albright decided that Thaci was eventually going to be the head of state. I can also confirm the frustration that some international prosecutors had with the political pressure on them.  I know it forced one British prosecutor to actually leave the mission.

UNS: Did Kosovo and international centers of political power interfere with investigations into the murders and kidnappings of journalists and other civilians?

Kellock: Absolutely, especially British, American and French intelligence services, and not just with journalists. Any academic, journalist or politician was subject to their influence, subtle or otherwise.

 

Kouchner Knew All About the Murders of Journalists and Abused His Position

UNS: When it comes to your work in Pristina, two stories are repeated. Number one: that your superiors were unhappy about the arrest of Sabit Geci, one of the KLA leaders, and that after the arrest secret meetings were organized within UNMIK, where your bosses reconsidered the work of your unit. The other story is that allegedly (after Geci’s arrest) then Head of UNMIK Bernard Kouchner ordered that his explicit permission be requested in order to carry out searches of property owned by the leading families in Kosovo. What is true?

Kellock: Both stories are true. Kouchner did order this and the only way to keep Geci, Ilir Tahiri and Xheladin Geci in custody was to take them before the international court. I am sure that, had we not taken them before this court, they would have been released and likely would have disappeared from the country, as was the case with the individual who had planted an explosive under a Nis Ekspres bus (in Livadice in 2001, journalist’s note). It was said that Ilir Tahiri and the younger Geci were working for French intelligence. That is why they managed to escape from Mitrovica prison soon after being incarcerated after sentencing. It was incredibly frustrating.

UNS: You said that reports on everything that happened in the field were submitted to Kouchner, i.e. that by chain of command he was aware of everything that happened: disappearances, murders, other crimes against civilians… He claims that he did not know. He reacted very strongly when asked about Swiss Senator Dick Marty’s report on organ trafficking in Kosovo. How do you comment on that?

Kellock: I officially state that the special representative of the UN secretary general was completely familiar with all criminal activities in Kosovo. I would take it a step further and state that he actually benefitted in some ways from his position.

UNS: Can one conclude that within UNMIK there was a culture of covering up crimes?

Kellock: Many countries had a vested interest in Kosovo, specifically the US. The construction of Camp Bondsteel through a signed agreement with Hashim Thaci, who was not the president at the time, indicated to me that he would undoubtedly become one. The US Administration under the Clinton’s and Albright facilitated his presidency.

UNS: The period during which you worked in Kosovo also coincides with the time frame of Dick Marty’s report and the mandate of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. Is there any hope that this court will bring justice to our colleagues, as well as to the other civilians killed and kidnapped in Kosovo?

Kellock: It has to. The court is the only hope for victims on all sides to get justice for what happened in Kosovo. As for the murder, intimidation and disappearance of journalists prior to my arrival in Kosovo, I can only say: any person, including journalists, politicians, educators or anyone who spoke out against the PDK was in extreme danger of their thugs, mostly associated with the Kosovo Protection Force. They operated with impunity under the authority of those who would later lead the country, backed by the US government. That was intimidation to the maximum – even I was subtly threatened after we arrested the Geci clan.

 

The Murder of Journalist Kerem Lawton

UNS: You also investigated the case of the murder of AP journalist Kerem Lawton, who was killed during a mortar attack near the border with Macedonia. The Albanian side blamed the Macedonians for the attack, while the Macedonians claimed that there was not even the slightest possibility that their soldiers had fired the shells. Still, it is obvious that there were armed forces that were not supposed to be there?

Kellock: Very interesting case. Upon arriving at the morgue, I was met by a number of US military, police officers and officers in civilian clothes. The Americans demanded that an autopsy be carried out immediately so that the cause of death and type of weaponry used might be determined. There were several puncture wounds on Mr. Lawton’s body which appeared to be the consequence of an explosion and the entry of shrapnel to the body and head. The US representatives in attendance demanded an autopsy in order that they would retrieve and identify the origin of the weapons used, while UK representatives of the news agency demanded that the body be returned intact immediately to the UK. It was one of the most stressful days in Kosovo, and there were many such days.

UNS: The murder of Kerem Lawton created tension between Great Britain, whose citizen he was, and the United States. Was this a matter of hiding the details of the murder?

Kellock: The thought was that Mr. Lawton was killed by ordnance fired from Macedonia, from the Tetovo or Kumanovo areas. The ordnance was believed to be manufactured in the US and/or a mortar type. When I brought the international investigating judge to the morgue, a daylong session of investigation and presentation of both countries’ opinions ensued. In the end, after much international consultation, the judge ruled that the body did not have to undergo an autopsy and that it could be returned to the UK immediately. The coroner was not equipped to conduct an autopsy according to European or North American standards. After that decision, I helped place the body in a body bag and then in a metal container that was welded shut, and then I escorted the remains to the Pristina airport, where a UK aircraft was waiting with its engines on, to depart before an upcoming heavy storm. The Italian soldiers were running towards us and I was very concerned for everyone’s safety. However, in a surprising act of respect, they formed two lines and presented arms in a moving tribute to a correspondent who died in the line of duty. Everyone boarded the aircraft leaving cars with their engines running at the airport, and his girlfriend and I left standing on the runway in the wicked storm that had now descended upon us.

UNS: Did you and his family ever learn how he was killed and who the killer is?

Kellock: Even after attempts at finding out through the media, I heard nothing. The UK media representative there to retrieve Kerem Lawton had actually worked in Canada at Global News and I had hoped that I might learn something about this case someday.

UNS: What is the likelihood of solving the murders of journalists and media professionals in Kosovo after all this time?

Kellock: I am afraid that, as long as Thaci is in the president’s seat, it is highly unlikely that any objective investigations will shed light on the fate of the missing and murdered.

It will be interesting to see if Kosovo will enter NATO and at what cost. Another interesting investigation was the massacre in Drenice – Geci’s home village… Why were our investigators attacked while trying to determine who committed the killings? Probably because the Serbs were the ones really responsible.

 

Kellock: Local Judges and Prosecutors Helped the Accused

The “Kosovo-Albanian victors” were rewriting history. The “liberation” of the Albanians from the Serbs created the illusion that the UN was “in the pocket” of former KLA members. That affected negatively any cooperation with the UN civil police which actually had executive powers for the first time in history. We could investigate, arrest and detain individuals who violated various regulations, as well as provide aid in the prosecution of offenders.

Many cases against Kosovo Albanians that reached the local judges and prosecutors were not proceeded, because they supported the accused and the charges were dropped. That additionally increased mistrust in the system and in our ability to objectively investigate crimes. Even according to my objective analysis of criminal offenses committed by both Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians, things were obviously set up in favor of the Kosovo Albanians. I believed that we would primarily be investigating serious crimes committed by Serbs, and the international media incited that assumption. My assumption was proved to be false.

 

The UN Prevented Me from Investigating Thaci; Most of the Crimes During My Tenure Were Committed by Albanians

During my tenure, as an investigator and then as the chief of the Unit, I found that most of the crimes we were assigned or which we assumed were in fact committed by Kosovo Albanians. The example illustrating that was the arrest of Sabit Geci and his group of criminals. When I wanted to investigate Hashim Thaci, I was prevented from doing so by the UN due to the fact that he was destined by the US to ultimately be the head of the country. That is why Sabit Geci was taken immediately to the international prosecutors, so that they would be seized with the case against him and two of his colleagues. He was convicted of organized crime and terrorism before the international court. I think that this had a huge influence on establishing the credibility of the UN Police and the international court. Witnesses were finally starting to come forward and give evidence on crimes to the courts, Kellock says about the atmosphere he was working in.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Izetbegovic: Meeting with HDZ B&H cancelled due to personal reasons, Covic obviously supports Dodik regarding CoM and ANP (TV1)

 

Leader of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic stated that a meeting of high delegations of SDA and HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) was cancelled due to personal reasons. He added that the meeting will probably be held at the beginning of the next week. Izetbegovic also stated that when it comes to formation of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) and sending of the Annual National Program (ANP), leader of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic obviously supports leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik. When it comes to changes to the B&H Election Law that HDZ B&H insists on, Izetbegovic stated that SDA will not cross their red line. He said: “Implementation of rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. This must be the framework and within the framework we can find solutions that Croat representatives in B&H are interested in. We used to get very close earlier via the so-called ‘April Package’ and the so-called ‘Fuele’s model’, but this is necessary. We will not accept anything that goes beyond this framework.” (model proposed by European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fuele).

 

Dodik: Reject High Representative’s Bonn powers (Srna)

 

Serb B&H Presidency member Milorad Dodik has said that it will be proposed at a special session of the Republika Srpska (RS) parliament that RS reject high representative’s Bonn powers as illegal and reject all consequences of such behavior of high representatives. “Some will ask why now. Because some would not misunderstand that we accepted violations of provisions of the Dayton Agreement. It will be written in history that they tried to model the political system by fraud and they were doing it until the moment RS strongly rejected such an approach by high representatives,” Dodik told reporters today. Dodik has said that they are trying to legalize it now, stressing that everything that was forcibly taken and transferred to the level of B&H does not exist in the B&H Constitution. “This is a serious problem for them, and we will not give up the constitutional status had by RS,” Dodik said. He has pointed out that the Advisory Board of the RS parliament is expected to set a date for a special session, noting that according to earlier indications, it should be held around 5 November. Dodik has said that the special session should give answers to certain challenges, not only to the SDA declaration but to many others as well, primarily to the behavior of high representatives, lawlessness and international crime they committed and who imposed the Bonn powers on RS, outside the Dayton Agreement, and used them to change the political system. “I think that the SNSD caucus has already organized it and that the parliamentary Advisory Board will set a date for the session these days,” Dodik said.

 

Dodik: It is evident that certain IC’ reps accepted conditioning, siding with Bosniak efforts to impose certain decisions which should be reached in regard to ANP (RTRS)

 

B&H Presidency members Milorad Dodik, Zeljko Komsic and Sefik Dzaferovic will travel Tuesday to Brussels where they will attend a farewell dinner which will be hosted for the Western Balkans leaders by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. B&H Presidency members will also meet with European Commissioner for Neighborhoods Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Dodik stressed that one of the topics of the meeting with Hahn will be formation of the authorities at the B&H level. Dodik underlined that SNSD is losing interest in participation in institutions at the B&H level, reiterating that SNSD will never agree to conditioning and membership in NATO. Dodik emphasized that SNSD's position is clear and that SNSD is for talks, but that it will never agree to conditionings that are harming the interests of RS. “The story about formation of the authorities in B&H has become an obnoxious topic. Serious damage was caused to the entire society and its movement. The RS is also suffering serious damage due to the failure to form the authorities. But, no one should count on that the authorities are so attractive to us that we would undermine our basic principles (for it),” Dodik underlined. Dodik added that principles are clear - the RS is against membership in NATO, it will not accept activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) nor submission of the Annual National Program (ANP). Dodik stressed that he met with new Speaker of the B&H House of Peoples (HoP) and HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic in Slovakia and that they agreed that one needs to avoid conditioning in the process of authority formation. Dodik noted that if the conditioning persists, SNSD will publicly say that it does not want to be part of the authorities at the B&H level. “It is evident that certain representatives of the international community (IC) accepted the conditioning, siding with the Bosniak efforts to impose certain decisions which should be reached in regard to the ANP,” Dodik underlined.

 

Dodik: Conditioning and interference of IC and HRs has been lasting for too long and special session of RS parliament will be held precisely because of that (RTRS)

 

B&H Presidency member Milorad Dodik stressed on Monday that conditioning and interference of the international community and High Representatives has been lasting for too long and that a special session of the RS parliament will be held precisely because of that, adding that the special session of the RSNA is not only a response to the SDA Declaration. Dodik said that he expects all parliamentary parties in the RS to demonstrate unity in rejecting the Bonn Powers. Dodik also stated that the RSNA Collegium will set a date of the special session in the upcoming days. RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic said that the special session, which he expects to take place by mid-November, will demonstrate how much unity there is when it comes to the SDA Program Declaration. He added that it will be a response to different kinds of declarations announced by Bosniak political parties, the goals of which are disturbing for Serbs, in his opinion.

 

Covic takes over seat of speaker of B&H HoP, says EU, NATO integration will be his priorities (BHT1)

 

Leader of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic has taken over duty of the speaker of the B&H House of Peoples (HoP) on Monday. In line with principles of regular rotation at the post of the leader of the B&H HoP, SNSD’s Nikola Spiric will perform duty of the first Deputy Speaker of the B&H HoP in the period of the next eight months, while Bakir Izetbegovic (SDA) will perform duty of the second deputy speaker. In a short message Covic said that the EU and NATO integration will be his priorities, along with constructive dialogue and reforms that will bring equality, stability and progress of B&H. Delegate in B&H HoP Denis Becirovic (SDP) accused Covic of obstructing the work of the B&H HoP. He also called on Covic to schedule a session of this institution within next seven days.

 

Officials in B&H welcome North Macedonia’s President’s initiative for organization of extraordinary summit dedicated to Western Balkan countries’ path to EU (Glas Srpske)

 

Officials in B&H have welcomed North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski’s initiative for organization of an extraordinary summit dedicated to Western Balkan countries’ path to the EU. Pendarovski said that the summit would be dedicated to enlargement and good neighborly relations in the region, and suggested that North Macedonia might host the summit. Furthermore, he also said that the region of Western Balkans has no alternative to European path. In a short statement to the daily, long-time member of the Commission for European Integration of the parliament of B&H Lazar Prodanovic (SNSD) assessed EU’s decision not to set a date for the beginning of membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia as unfair, saying that both of these countries have made significant progress, and North Macedonia has even changed its name. According to Prodanovic, summit would restore optimism in the region, and send a message to key EU member states that Western Balkan countries need to be integrated with the EU. SDP’s representative in the Parliament of B&H Sasa Magazinovic also welcomed Pendarovski’s initiative, saying that highest-ranking officials in the region should meet to discuss this issue, “because it seems that we are an object, rather than a subject”. Author reminded that the European Commission has issued an Opinion about B&H’s request for membership in the EU, which includes 14 conditions the country needs to meet in order to be in position to begin accession negotiations. Furthermore, officials in Brussels have recently stated that they are carefully monitoring the situation in B&H. President of the European Movement in B&H Predrag Prastalo has recently said that the EU cannot be compact if the issue of Western Balkans is not resolved.

 

Minister Grlic Radman comments on Dzaferovic’s claims Croatia runs unilateral policy towards B&H (HRT1)

 

Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman commented on the statement of member of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic given for the daily Oslobodjenje. In an interview with Oslobodjenje, Dzaferovic said that Croatia is conducting unilateral policy towards B&H and argued that the EU does not accept this policy. Addressing media in Zagreb on Monday, Grlic Radman said that Croatia is the sincerest advocator of the European path of B&H. He stated that such statements are really unusual, adding that this comes only from one part of B&H which in his opinion clearly shows that B&H is still not a functional state yet. Grlic Radman said: “And we want it (B&H) to be (functional)”.

 

Bosnia’s HDZ to back Grabar-Kitarovic for Croatia’s President (Hina)

 

The leader of the Croatian Democratic Union of B&H (HDZ B&H) Dragan Covic has confirmed that his party will support Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in her bid for a second term as President of Croatia. Speaking in an interview with the Sarajevo-based daily Dnevni avaz of Monday, Covic said that the HDZ BH would support Grabar-Kitarovic in the presidential race. "The HDZ BH will join in the election campaign when it formally begins," he said. Citizens of B&H who have dual Bosnian and Croatian citizenship are entitled to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections in Croatia. Covic said he hoped the forthcoming Croatian presidency of the European Union would help B&H catch up with other countries in the region in their efforts to join the bloc. "The Croatian presidency of the Union in the first half of next year gives Bosnia and Herzegovina a chance to catch up with Albania and North Macedonia because we have met all the conditions except forming a government," Covic said. Covic said that in negotiations with the predominantly Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA) he would continue to insist on amending electoral legislation, suggesting as the best solution the election model used by Belgium. Covic said that his party supported the country's NATO membership bid, but added that one should not insist on it the way the SDA did because this was a process that would not be completed in 20 years' time if it continued at the present pace.

 

Canak: Brussels has done a huge injustice to Montenegro (Dnevne novine)

 

Injustice that Montenegro is faced with is huge. Montenegro opened all chapters in pre-accession negotiations but is constantly being blackmailed by some new circumstances. Such voluntaristic approach of the bureaucracy in Brussels fails to offer clear and final prerequisites for the EU accession and that only strengthens anti-European forces in Montenegro and entire region, said in the interview for Dnevne novine Nenad Canak, leader of the League of the Social Democrats of Vojvodina. Canak points out that the EU has made “an irresponsible move” by refusing to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. He stresses that strong influence of the church on the political processes shouldn’t be neglected.

 

EU failure to open membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania still causes harsh criticism. In your opinion, what is the future of the European project in the Western Balkans like?

Canak: I think it was a very irresponsible move which affects the stability of the region.

Euro-parliamentarians have shown by far more rational and more responsible approach. They have adopted the text of the resolution on opening negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and, consequently, Serbia and Montenegro, could be one integrated region connected with firm and historic and cultural and economic interests. Such integration would weaken any nationalism-motivated project. Otherwise, these countries can be a playground for great forces.

 

What impact will the new steps of Brussels have on Montenegro?

Canak: The injustice that has been done to Montenegro is huge. It has gone so far in the pre-accession negotiations process and is constantly being conditioned. I wouldn’t exaggerate if I said that such double-standard approach is already affecting the EU itself because it fails to provide answers to rising extremism and national-chauvinism exclusivism. We might even end up in a rather awkward situation in which the biggest advocates of European values become countries that the EU hasn’t received yet.

 

Danger from third countries’ influence lurks. European leaders are probably aware of that fact, although they keep blocking the enlargement process. What’s your comment on that? Are there some new political deals on the global scene? What their consequences could be?

Canak: Every country’s foreign policy is always a reflection of the internal policy. Politicians in France, Germany and Italy, why not, are more interested in winning the elections than the outcome of the greater projects. Given that fact, it is quite logical that they will resort to most diverse nationalistic and populist tools in their everyday political games, even though it is in contravention of long-term interests of those countries. It’s normal that Russia, China and Turkey claim space for extending their influence. China, with its massive economic growth, cannot be expected to fail to request appropriate political place on the stage of global forces.

 

What will be the impact of the latest decisions rendered by Brussels, and the opinion produced by France, the Netherlands and Denmark concerning Kosovo issue?

Canak: Settling Belgrade-Pristina issue can begin the moment the spade is called a spade. As long as we have “Serbian people” and “Serbian monasteries” on one side, and “territorial integrity of Kosovo” on the other, there won’t be any constructive dialogue.

 

Some politicians are announcing disastrous events in the region and in Europe. Some even make comparisons with the WWII. Do you agree?

Canak: This is the 21st century, not the 20th. The gravity of political trends has considerably been removed from Europe to Pacific. That’s another reason that integration processes aren’t a utopian goal but a way of surviving. That’s why I’m concerned over the decisions some leaders make. They seem to be neglecting the historic responsibility modern times have imposed on them.

 

On one side, we have presidential elections in the USA, and on the other, so many problems within the EU. What could happen in Europe and in the region if the WB escapes EU attention?

Canak: Political elites must work hard on the agenda of European values. Also, influence of the church must not be neglected. I firmly believe that every WB country should commit to reducing the influence of the church and defusing the tensions in the region.

 

Nikos Kotzias undertakes international initiative for the Balkans (Nezavisen vesnik)

 

Former Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is undertaking an international initiative on the situation in the Western Balkans, following a decision by the last European Council meeting to postpone setting a date for the start of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. The former Foreign Minister had meetings with the Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak and the former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov. He had telephone conversations with Bulgarian Foreign Ministers Ekaterina Zaharieva, Hungary’s Peter Szijjarto, North Macedonia’s Nikola Dimitrov, and former Foreign Ministers of Albania Ditmir Bushati and Austria Karin Kneissl. The Balkans are situated in the middle of an unstable arc created by the regions of Ukraine in the north, Turkey with Syria and the Middle East, North Africa with Libya, and Spain with Catalonia, are at risk of igniting, with unpredictably consequences. The EU’s inaction and the Greek government’s apathy towards the region further increases the risk. Having excellent knowledge of the region and of the geopolitical and geostrategic balances, Nikos Kotzias took the initiative to exchange views with current and former Foreign Ministers of the region, activating pressure mechanisms at the institutional and diplomatic level to respond to the EU’s poor choices. At the heart of the discussions was the Western Balkans, with extensive reference to the situation in the region. On the one hand, the political crisis in North Macedonia following the veto of Emmanuel Macron is causing problems in two EU Member States, Greece and Bulgaria. The two countries that have reached agreements with North Macedonia to resolve chronic disputes may be forced to face a nationalist party such as VMRO-DPMNE, which opposes the agreements signed by Zoran Zaev, creating tension in the region. On the other hand, the EU’s unreliable attitude towards the states that wait at the EU door, as it has shown with North Macedonia and Albania, gives countries like Russia and Turkey an opportunity to step up their influence in the region, creating pockets against EU ideals and values ​​within the Union. How can Serbia and Kosovo really be convinced of EU’s intentions to help resolve bilateral disputes? How will Bosnia and Herzegovina not become a new field of nationalist confrontation? In this context, the coordination of the current and former Foreign Ministers’ action was deemed necessary by Nikos Kotzias and his interlocutors. The next steps, according to IBNA information, will be a joint letter to the EU and citizens, addressing concerns for EU policy, while in the background there will be moves for stability and security in the Balkans and the EU.

 

The Conference: US Policy in the W. Balkans in focus (ADN)

 

The Mediterranean University of Albania, in the context of the 10th anniversary of its establishment and activity in the field of Albanian higher education, has organized the international scientific conference entitled "US Policy in the Western Balkans". Many guests from around the country and around the world attended the opening ceremony of the event. Among them was the presence of the former special adviser to the State Department and one of the architects of the peace process that led to the signing of the Dayton Agreement, Mr. Daniel Serwer, and today, he is a professor at the prestigious John Hopkins School of Advanced Study in Washington. Together with him, the other special guest was Mr. Thomas A. Shannon, career ambassador and former undersecretary of State Department for political affairs. In his opening speech, the founder of MUA and at the same time honorary president of this institution, Prof. Anastas Angjeli emphasized the importance of examining the numerous political and diplomatic developments of the last decade in the Western Balkans through a prism of study. He argued that such an approach, which requires continued cooperation between the academic sphere and decision-making bodies, is of particular importance in the times we are living in. The opening of the conference was also welcomed by various representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana. Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the United States of America, H.E. Leyla Moses-Ones, expressed confidence about Albania's future and its Euro-integration ambitions. In this regard, she provided strong US support for Albanian foreign policy, not sparing the most generous terms for Tirana's diplomatic stance against Russian, Chinese or Iranian involvement in the region. "There are some things that can't be sold," said Ms. Moses-Ones - Albania has chosen to hold principled positions. Next year, she will head the leading of the OSCE, an organization that still maintains principled goals, and will continue our loyal support for Albania as it uses inspirational values. The US welcomes the priorities set by Albania, including the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. We look forward to working with Albania during the OSCE leading in 2020," in the same line, continued Prof. Daniel Serwer as well. His attention focused on the need for a new, more effective spirit in the Kosovo-Serbia negotiation process. He judged that any plan to change the borders in the Western Balkans would be fatal, and that despite the temporary circumstances, Albania's future in the European Union remains clear. "This country has made progress. When I came 22 years ago the country was in total chaos. Since then, you have gone through good economic development, not spectacular, and building an open and modern market economy, as well as integration with other Balkan countries. You have met the criteria for opening accession negotiations, for EU accession. It is only the political circumstances that prevent EU accession." Serwer said he was furious towards the refusal of France and the Netherlands to open negotiations, which they should be ashamed of such an act. "You are definitely disappointed and frustrated and I understand you. The right answer is a commitment to the demands of reforms and the demands to become part of the EU," he concluded. Former Undersecretary of State, Mr. Thomas Shannon said that Albania has great friends in Congress and in the US government. He highlighted the importance that within the NATO framework, the countries of the Western Balkans and the US should cultivate deeper bilateral relations. In the meantime, he judged the link between Tirana and Washington as a model to be taken, as an example in developing relations with other countries in the region.

It was inevitable during his greeting speech that the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, also an honorary guest at the opening ceremony of the conference, cited Albania's disappointment with the decision that decreed the non-opening of negotiations with the European Union. In a line with the speakers, as well as with a more polemical charge in his speech, Mr. Rama described the fruitful cooperation between Tirana and Washington in building and implementing major reforms in recent years, as an example not only for the region, but also for Brussels itself. "If today in our region Albanians are better than ever compared to the difficult past, this is primarily due to the special relationship with the US and the US approach to Albanians and the region itself. It fits best to this relationship and the dedication of the Albanians, Noli's words expressing that America being such a great country that draws towards universal peace freedom and democracy. Many of partners see this relationship as a naive understanding of the world by us and it is not uncommon to face their compassionate smile toward our approach as a nation in relation to the USA. It is very difficult to be understood by others why this relationship is deeply connected even to what we have experienced as people in the first period of our lives as contemporaries. These have had a profound effect on our awareness, just as if the Balkans today is a better place, it is because of US. Afterwards, other personalities of science and public activity within the country and abroad held their papers such as the Ambassador of the European Union in Albania, HE. Mr. Luigi Soreca, Former Foreign Minister of Croatia Mr. Miomir Zuzul, US security expert, Mr. Kurt Thormahlen, as well distinguished leaders and lecturers of the Mediterranean University of Albania, Former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kosovo Mr. Ahmet Shala, as well as honored directors and lecturers of the Mediterranean University of Albania, as Prof. Ksenofon Krisafi and Prof. Paskal Milo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

North Macedonia PM says EU accession halt putting name deal at risk (ekathimerini.com, 29 October 2019)

 

North Macedonia’s prime minister, Zoran Zaev, has warned that a decision not to launch European Union accession talks with the Balkan nation may put the Prespes name deal at risk, as the two processes are intrinsically linked. Speaking to the Greek edition of Euronews in Skopje on Monday, Zaev said that certain fundamental articles of the agreement signed with Greece in the summer of 2018 settling a decades-old name dispute between the two neighbors, are linked to the progress of his country’s accession to the EU. “Certain chapters will be frozen because they cannot be implemented. We will try to implement them, but the two are connected to each other,” Zaev said in comments translated into Greek by Euronews, stressing that the contentious chapters mainly concern domestic use of the country’s new name. Zaev, who called early elections for April after his country’s bid for EU accession was blocked earlier this month, mainly by France, said that admission into the bloc is the only way forward for his country and other Western Balkan nations. “We have no alternative. There are no other offers that could serve as an alternative. What other offers there may be do not give us democracy, rule of law and liberties. If the light of the stars of the European Union flag is extinguished, we will have darkness here. And we may get lost in this darkness,” Zaev was quoted as saying. “If radicalization and the resurgence of nationalism are given fertile ground, this will do a lot of harm to the entire Balkans. And when the Balkans have a problem, Europe has a problem,” the prime minister added.