LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Serbia-US relations on upward trajectory (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke with US Ambassador to Belgrade Anthony Godfrey on Wednesday. “I had an open and friendly conversation with US Ambassador Anthony Godfrey,” Vucic wrote in a post on his Instagram profile that also included a photo of him and the US diplomat. “Serbia-US relations are on an upward trajectory,” Vucic noted, thanking the US for supporting “the association of countries in the region and economic integration that means progress of Serbia as well as of everyone else around us.” With US support, Serbia can change many things in the future and, above all, provide better living standards to the Serbian citizens, Vucic added. “I believe in the friendship between Serbia and America,” Vucic concluded.

Vucic: Serbs have to take into account the emotions of the Bosniaks in Serbia but the Bosniaks have to do the same because they all live in Serbia (TV Pink)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday that Novi Pazar FC supporters showed what they truly think by shouting slogans which Serbian nationalists consider offensive during a match with Belgrade-based Partizan FC. Sunday’s match in the western Serbian city of Novi Pazar was interrupted for some 40 minutes when supporters of both clubs shouted nationalist slogans. The Novi Pazar supporters chanted Naser Oric, Kosovo is Next Door to Serbia, This is Bosnia and Yellow House, while the Partizan supporters shouted Knife, Wire, Srebrenica and Ratko Mladic. Vucic said that what the Partizan supporters chanted is absolutely unacceptable but added that Novi Pazar supporters showed their true face. “Partizan supporters can be said to be organized but the others (Novi Pazar supporters) are ordinary people who showed what they think of me (by shouting Vucic Fagot), that is not important but what is important is what they think of Serbia and how deep the divisions are,” Vucic told TV Pink. He said that chants offensive to him are democracy but that chanting Kosovo is Next Door to Serbia is a violation of the constitution. “We have to consider the future as serious people. The point of going to a football match is to cheer for your club or else go do something else. Just tell us that this has nothing to do with sports,” he said. According to Vucic, Serbs have to take into account the emotions of the Bosniaks in Serbia but the Bosniaks have to do the same because they all live in Serbia.

Godfrey: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue requires compromise by both sides (021.rs/N1)

US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey said on Tuesday that any agreement between Belgrade and Pristina will require a compromise by both sides. We all agree that there has to be a productive dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and that people can’t come to the table with demands and not be prepared to compromise, the ambassador told the Novi Sad-based 021 portal. He said that both sides have to show readiness to talk, adding that Washington supports the dialogue and expects Belgrade and Pristina to advance on their road to the European Union. Commenting the recent summit between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Prime Ministers of North Macedonia and Albania, Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama, Godfrey expressed satisfaction with what he said are additional steps towards greater regional economic integration which shows the public that better cooperation bring benefits.

REGIONAL PRESS

 

RS opposition criticizes Dodik over participating in session of B&H Presidency, which Dodik denies (FTV) 

 

While the Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Milorad Dodik denied participating in the session of the B&H Presidency, the opposition from the Republika Srpska (RS) reacted. The SDS leader Mirko Sarovic said that he did not expect Dodik to give in so quickly and thus violate the agreement of the parties from the RS, reached after the imposition of, as Sarovic stated, the former High Representative (HR) to B&H Valentin Inzko's law. Sarovic stated that this whole situation is mysterious in some way, and he considers that it is necessary to avoid such situations. “We need to remain consistent and act in line with our agreement. The agreement is not to participate in the decision-making in the institutions except in the cases where we assess that it would be more detrimental to the RS not to vote,” Sarovic stressed. He concluded that it is important not to fall into traps. The PDP leader Branislav Borenovic said this was an insult to the highest legislative institution in the RS. Borenovic noted that there is evidence that the session of the Presidency took place and that Dodik voted against a decision, contrary to the agreement of RS parliament leaders on the boycott. “Dodik has thus devalued the RS parliament and humiliated the citizens. He participated in the decision-making. He gave up on the clearly presented stances, for the umpteenth time. We need to unmask that,” the PDP leader stated. DNS leader Nenad Nesic reminded that he had warned that Dodik might do such a thing and that it is possible that he is only using the opposition to justify himself before the IC. In his opinion, the key question is whether to trust what Chairman of B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic or what Dodik is saying. “Everything will be cleared in the upcoming days,” he concluded.

 

Dodik’s Cabinet denies claims of attendance at urgent telephone session of B&H Presidency; Dodik says he voted against telephone session and he did not take part in any decision-making (RTRS) 

 

The Cabinet of Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik rejected claims about him attending the urgent telephone session of the B&H Presidency on Monday evening. Media carried that on Monday evening the B&H Presidency members convened to discuss the prolongation of the mandate for the Governing Board of the Central Bank of B&H (CBBiH GB) and that two members voted for the prolongation, while Dodik voted against. Dodik’s office assessed the media reports as a lie which was released to endanger the Serb unity in the RS. The media reports were published on Monday evening and the main source for this was Chairman of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic. Dodik said on Tuesday that there was a request for a telephone session of the B&H Presidency and his office rejected the session. He said that his only participation was the rejection of the attendance at the session. Reporter noted that the Rules of Procedure define that if a Presidency member cannot attend a session, he can appoint one member of his office to represent him at the session but he cannot vote. The Rules also state that members of the Governing Board of CBBiH can only be appointed with consensus. Later during the day, Komsic stated that the mandate of the Governing Board was not extended after all. Komsic and Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic did not answer to inquiries of RTRS on Tuesday. RTRS carries that the mandate of the Governing Board of CBBiH expired on Tuesday and that they convened to request the B&H Presidency to appoint a new one. Dodik stated that it is necessary to convene a regular session, which he will have to attend but he will vote against it in order to stop the adoption of a decision.

Komsic argues Dodik voted in session against appointment of CBBiH GB (N1) 

 

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic stated on Tuesday that an urgent telephone session of B&H Presidency took place on Monday evening during which the members discussed the prolongation of the mandate of the CBBiH GB. According to him, Bosniak member Sefik Dzaferovic and he voted for the extension of mandate for CBBiH GB, while Serb member Milorad Dodik voted against. Komsic claims that the session was convened and Dodik’s office issued a statement that they are against the adoption of this decision, because of which the decision was not adopted. He added that they do not wish to participate in the media circus that will be organized by Dodik. Reporter noted that in this way Dodik violated conclusions of the RS parliament that representatives of the RS will not participate in work of B&H institutions. It was stated from Komsic’s cabinet that session of the Presidency was scheduled for Monday. They added that it was stated from Dodik’s cabinet that member of B&H Presidency from rank of Serb people does not agree with decision to appoint the CBBiH GB. Reporter noted that the opposition in the RS used this situation to condemn Dodik’s behavior. Al Jazeera noted that in the first unofficial version of the events in the B&H Presidency, it was stated that Komsic and Dzaferovic reappointed members of the CBBiH Governing Board and outvoted Dodik. However, according to an official statement that the B&H Presidency issued Tuesday, the B&H Presidency failed to appoint a new convocation of the CBBiH Steering Board.

Dodik explains dilemma re B&H Presidency session saying he rejected request to convene session (RTRS) 

 

Guest of RTRS central news was Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik. Asked about the claims about the urgent session of the B&H Presidency and his participation on this session, Dodik said that no session took place. He explained that Chairman of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic tried to convene this session and it is necessary for all three members to agree on it in order for the session to take place. Dodik explained that they rejected the request to convene the session. He stressed that many are trying to destroy the Serb unity in the RS and on the forefront of this lies BN TV. Dodik said that this TV channel has been attacking him and his family for years, but they crossed the line now when it comes to matters of the RS. He stated that the owner of BN TV called leaders of the opposition and urged them to not attend the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. Dodik stressed that they kept the report about the session of the B&H Presidency on their page despite the denial of them by his office. He assessed BN TV as a treacherous TV channel and Serbs need to know that they serve Bosniak politics. Asked whether leaders of the RS opposition are able to rise above this media spin, Dodik said that he does not know what the situation is and he did not allow for this spin to happen. He said that he explained the situation to President of SDS Mirko Sarovic on Tuesday morning and he explained the same to President of PDP Branislav Borenovic on Monday evening. Dodik said that BN TV writes statements for Sarovic and Borenovic and publishes them under their names. He assessed that BN TV is destroying the position for defense of the RS and they were instructed to do this by others. "Yesterday, there was a request for a phone session and we said, i.e. I said via my office that I am not for a phone session. My only participation in that was that I rejected a phone session. In order to schedule a phone session, all three members of the Presidency have to agree on it. I was not there, it was not scheduled and it was not held. Now they have the possibility to schedule an extraordinary session which again has to be (scheduled) with the consent of all three members of the Presidency and I said that I am against an extraordinary session as well. The problem of the Governing Board of Central Bank promptly arose and now they want that to be solved. But, of course, decision of the RS National Assembly is more important to me than that decision. The third option is that if they schedule a regular session, I have to attend that session to vote against. If I vote against, then there is no decision because it must be decided by consensus," Dodik emphasized.

Dzaferovic believes Schmidt should react to blockade created on state level (AJB/Anadolu) 

In an interview for Anadolu Agency, Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic stated that boycott of B&H institutions represents violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). "The obligation of the HR is to ensure the implementation of the DPA in its entirety, to help B&H institutions to function normally. We are now in a situation of a general blockade coming from political representatives from the B&H entity of the RS, which is an anti-Dayton activity and it is really time for the High Representative to take certain actions to help B&H function normally, as stated in Annex 10 of the DPA," Dzaferovic said. Dzaferovic believes this is the time when Christian Schmidt must react. He reminds that obligation of an HR is to ensure implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) in its fullest form. Dzaferovic noted that the statements, which are made by Dodik, should not be underestimated, and this applies to Dodik’s statement on the RS’ secession. According to Dzaferovic, there is also politicking behind this and there are attempts to score “cheap political points”. In this regard, Dzaferovic sent a message that such idea is impossible. “I have said it so many times before that the RS is not just an entity of Serb people but also of Bosniaks, Croats, and other people living in that entity. It is a part of B&H and it will forever be a part of B&H” the Bosniak member pointed out. He concluded that the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) represents some form of a balance. “It is not possible to break up the state of B&H. Taking the path to independence of the entity of the RS is certainly a path towards disappearance,” he concluded.

Conference ‘Inzko’s Law – End of the RS or the Dissolution of B&H?’ takes place in Belgrade; Dodik says Schmidt will have to do something big to prove that he is what he claims to be (RTRS/ATV) 

 

Belgrade was the host of a conference titled ‘Inzko’s Law – End of the RS or Dissolution of B&H?’ on Tuesday. Serbian and RS experts and officials discussed the effect of the decision of former High Representative Valentin Inzko to impose amendments to the B&H Criminal Code which criminalize the negation of genocide. It was assessed that this is an attempt to morally degrade the RS and its people and this can only be fought off through unity of RS political leaders. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said that B&H is an experiment of the international community and it was never the result of an agreement of the internal factors. He stressed that B&H has no High Representative and current HR Christian Schmidt is presenting himself falsely. Dodik said that he is certain of the existence of the RS and that with the achievement of certain international political positions it will be an independent state. He added that B&H has no chance and it failed to come to life despite a mass military and political operation in the past. Dodik said that Inzko imposed the amendments two days after the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Suffering of all People in Srebrenica between 1992 and 1995 issued their final report. He added that the members of the Commission are ready to come to Banja Luka and defend the contents of their report. Political analyst Nenad Kecmanovic said that the international community did not expect the united response of the RS politicians and they were confused by the counter-effect. He added that they strengthened the RS and its current authorities. Former diplomat Vladislav Jovanovic said that the act of imposing reflects the wider need of western countries to ensure the spreading of their influence before a new clash with Russia and China. He assessed that it is important that China took a stance regarding the High Representative for the first time. Lawyer Goran Petronijevic believes that it is necessary to work more in international diplomatic circles, primarily the UN and UN Security Council (UNSC). He explained that it is necessary to ask them whether they transferred their competences to another institution for the appointment of the new High Representative and to present the act and decision in which this was done. Head of the Representation of the RS in Serbia Mladjen Cicovic said that conferences organized by the Representation are always on a very high level, which is proven by the creation of publications which continue to witness the truth about the RS. The conference was organized by web portals Sve o Srpskoj and Fakti. N1 reported that Dodik attended the conference as well and said that Inzko abolished freedom of opinion and speech for all citizens of B&H, but only Serbs spoke up against it. He called on all B&H politicians to reach an agreement without the new High Representative. Dodik also stated that if a new Donald Trump shows up, then an independent RS will be possible. ATV stressed that participants of the public discussion in Belgrade discussed Valentin Inzko, more precisely the chaos Inzko left behind him. Addressing the public discussion in Belgrade, Dodik stressed that the RS is unquestionable, noting that there has never been less confidence in B&H in the survival of B&H. Dodik underlined that the RS will not disappear and that this kind of B&H cannot survive. Dodik called on the media and the public in Serbia not to address Schmidt as the High Representative because, according to Dodik, he is falsely presenting himself as the High Representative and he came to that position illegitimately. Dodik pointed out that Schmidt will have to do something big to prove that he is what he claims to be. "The man entered the RS and B&H from Dubrovnik, raised his hand and said that I am now the High Representative and now he is playing some High Representative who has no legitimacy. He has not been appointed even with the small demands that have been made and that is to be confirmed by a (UN) Security Council resolution," Dodik said. Dodik stressed that some of the members of the International Commission for Srebrenica are ready to come to Banja Luka and defend the content of their report on the events in Srebrenica in 1995. Dodik also reminded of the opinion of The Hague judge Prisca Matimba Nyambe or Simon Wiesenthal about the qualifications of everything that happened in Srebrenica in 1995. According to Dodik, Muslims needed Srebrenica as a point around which they would be gathered as a newly constituted nation. Addressing media in Belgrade on Tuesday, Dodik said that B&H stands no chance and that it is an experiment of the international community. Dodik was further carried as saying that he is convinced that the RS will soon become an independent state. According to Dodik, Muslims in B&H believe they have the right to B&H, but that is just their illusion. Dodik alleged that the international factor gathered around the UK and the US, together with the HR, is carrying out retaliation against the RS. “Ultimately, Biden will also not last for long, his mandate will last only three more years, and then we will wait and see. If some new Trump appears, we should proclaim independence of the RS in his first year” Dodik noted.

 

Komsic comments on Dodik's statements sent from Belgrade (O Kanal) 

 

The Chairperson and the Croat member of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic reacted to the Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik's statements sent from Belgrade from a forum called ‘Inzko’s Law – End of the RS or Dissolution of B&H?’. Komsic called on Dodik to preserve his dignity of those who elected Dodik and to stop insulting their intelligence. Komsic said that Dodik is telling tales and he should preserve the dignity of those who voted for him, because he is offending their intelligence.

RS officials, veterans’ associations condemn Court of B&H decision in Savcic case (RTRS) 

 

Commenting the case of BORS President Milomir Savcic, RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic said that the decision of Court of B&H is scandalous and undemocratic. He said that the B&H Court showed a one-sided opinion and an attempt to assess the war in B&H and declare Serbs as the only responsible ones for it. Cubrilovic said that the decision of the B&H Court violates the Article 2 of the B&H Constitution which guarantees right to freedom of speech. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said that this is an attempt to scare and discipline Serbs. He assessed it as a political attack against the most prominent officials of the RS. Dodik said that the prosecutor in the case was previously Croat and a Bosniak was appointed on Monday. Dodik said he does not trust the B&H judicial institutions, and that decision in ‘Savcic’ case actually deepens the crisis in the judiciary. Dodik reiterated that the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H are not part of the Constitution of B&H, and they were formed without respecting the Constitution. Dodik said that Savcic will not be put into custody and that the decision of the B&H Court is not good. He stressed that Savcic cooperated with the court and this was not enough for them. Dodik assessed that this decision will additionally complicate the situation in B&H. Dodik stated that Savcic will not be placed in detention. Dodik asked why should honorable General Savcic be behind bars, when those for whom there is irrefutable evidence that they committed various crimes against Serbs and who are moving freely through Sarajevo and the Federation of B&H are not behind bars. "Naser Oric got away just because the Prosecutor's Office came to Bijeljina and took an already formed case to Sarajevo and it did nothing for eleven years. In the meantime, witnesses were eliminated, people died by natural or some other causes, they disappeared. You have exact evidence that he personally killed and he did not spend a day in detention, and now Milomir Savcic, who is the President of BORS, only because he said that he does not accept imposed truths, is ordered into detention," Dodik said, adding that Muslim generals, including Atif Dudakovic and Sakib Mahmuljin, are walking freely. DNS leader Nenad Nesic said that the decision to order detention for Savcic is legally ungrounded and is aimed to exercise force against the Serbs after the HR’s imposed law. Veterans throughout the RS expressed support for Savcic on Tuesday. Veterans of the RS Army stressed that due to the "shameful" decision of the Court of B&H to order detention for Savcic, Serb unity should be even stronger in the defense of honorable and innocent Serb generals. Veterans from Istocna Ilidza stressed that they will prevent General Savcic from being taken into detention.  ATV stressed that citizens of the RS are also outraged by the decision of the Court of B&H. Citizens of the RS, interviewed by ATV, said that the message that was sent from the B&H judiciary on Monday is clear, i.e. that Serbs are to blame for everything.

 

Covic and Schmidt meet to discuss political situation (N1) 

 

President of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic met with HR Christian Schmidt in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The focus of the meeting was the B&H Election Law, the stabilization of political dialogue, progress on the EU and NATO path and the abolition of existing discrimination. According to the post, published at official Twitter account of the Office of High Representative (OHR) Schmidt held introductory meeting with leader of Covic to hear his views on current political situation in B&H. Covic posted on his own Twitter that during meeting with Schmidt, leader of HDZ B&H emphasized importance of equality and legitimate representation of constituent peoples for the EU and NATO path of B&H, as well as importance of removal of all types of discrimination. Covic stressed that changes to the B&H Election Law and limited constitutional changes are crucial. He added that they will provide necessary progress and institutionally protect equality and legitimate representation. Covic concluded: “It is high time that we remove existing discrimination towards all citizens in our homeland and fully stabilize a dialogue” According to Covic the path to the EU and NATO is the focus of Croat political officials. Covic expressed concern over “serious, political” attacks on independence and functioning of judicial institutions singling out the cases of the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H, the Court of B&H, OSA and the HJPC. The daily comments that it is of special importance for Croats in B&H that new HR Schmidt shows understanding for principles of the legitimate political representation and gives support to continuation of the negotiating process of representatives of three peoples, which is directed on adoption of the new B&H Election Law. The daily concludes that Croat political representatives are proactive when implementation of these obligations is in question and they are looking for the way for establishing of the dialogue within B&H in order to resolve open issues. The daily added that at the same time the messages sent by the new HR give reason for optimism when it is about the topics which refer to the constituent status and equality of peoples in B&H.

Schmidt meets SDP leader to discuss current political developments in B&H (Glas Srpske) 

 

SDP leader Nermin Niksic was invited to the OHR on Tuesday, where he met High Representative Christian Schmidt with whom he discussed current political developments including the blockade of institutions, changes to the Election Law of B&H, and introducing the electronic monitoring of the electoral process. They paid a particular attention to the issues of corruption and crime, with Niksic emphasizing that the law regulations in the Federation of B&H treating this matter, which stipulate the establishing of independent, efficient judicial bodies and mechanisms for processing the crime and corruption, is not being applied yet.

 

Krivokapic: The fundamental agreement has been handed over to the Patriarchate, the government is ready to sign it (TV Vijesti)

The fundamental agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church has been technically and legally completed and handed over to the Patriarchate, and the Government of Montenegro is ready to sign it. This was said last night by the Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic. “We are waiting for an answer. We have done everything that is up to us and now it is up to the Patriarchate and His Holiness the Patriarch to accept that agreement and, if necessary, to correct it and sign the fundamental agreement as soon as possible. I don’t want to prejudge the time. The best time is when the two sides agree. Our side is absolutely ready,” said the Prime Minister.

Krivokapic says that he knows that many political actors are involved in this story, but he does not want to think about it, because this is not a matter of politics, this is a matter of state-church relations that must be regulated and finally put an end to that part where the church interferes in the issues of state or that the state interferes in the issues of the church. “Everything is clearly defined by the fundamental agreement and the law, and that is a new beginning of good relations between the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, the Diocese of Budimljanko-Niksic, the Diocese of Milesevska and the Diocese of Zahumlje-Herzegovina,” Krivokapic concluded.

Krivokapic: Enthronement of Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije will be held on 4 September in Cetinje, and that no one can prevent that (CdM) 

Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic has said that the enthronement of Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije will be held on 4 September in Cetinje, and that no one can prevent that. Krivokapic said that he will come to Cetinje without security, maybe to show that his “power of moving mountains” is strong enough to move those citizens of Montenegro who do not want Joanikije, a representative of the Serbian church in Montenegro, to be enthroned in the Cetinje monastery. He has decided to show his strength now after the famous arrivals in Cetinje with the cordons of forces of peace and order, when he said that it was true that he had never supported this country’s sovereignty. Krivokapic’s message has additionally fueled the already heated passions about Joanikije’s enthronement in Cetinje. Numerous politicians, but also many others, reacted to this “new” edition of the newly elected PM.

Serbian Church given 600 churches and monasteries across Montenegro in a day (Dnevne novine) 

After reveal that the former minister of Justice, Human and Minority rights Vladimir Leposavic completed the job for the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in only one day by issuing the decision which recognizes the existence of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Budimlje-Niksic diocese since 1220, reactions and announcements of criminal charges followed. Officials who will have to take responsibility are Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, Internal Affairs Minister Sergej Sekulovic, ex-justice minister… Recall, on 9 June the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral submitted “the application for registering in the Book of Registered Religious Communities of the Common Register of Religious Communities”, urging a certificate of registration within the legal deadline. The application says that MCP SPC (registration number: 02246414) was founded in 1220, that its headquarters are in the Cetinje Monastery, Dvorski trg No. 6, Cetinje, and that “the person authorized to represent is Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije (Jovan Micovic) a Montenegro national residing in the Cetinje Monastery”.

Vuksic will try to prevent protests in Montenegro (Pobjeda) 

The Montenegrin security services “keep their eyes open” since last week when the Serbian Orthodox Church announced their plans to organize the enthronement of Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije in the Cetinje monastery in early September. It’s expected that thousands will gather to rally against this event, complaining that this church took the Montenegrin shrines. Head of the National Security Agency, ANB, Dejan Vuksic, organized last week a meeting with his colleagues from the public security to make an operative plan for the prevention of potential conflict. According to Pobjeda daily, the Cetinje police have already started with talks with Cetinje residents, search of some houses and flats, saying that they’ve been just gathering information from persons of interest to security.

 

Bulgaria to hold new elections, dispute with Macedonia on a longer vacation (MIA/BTA) 

 

There Is Such a People (TISP) leader Slavi Trifonov said Tuesday in Sofia that his party will not present its draft cabinet to Bulgaria’s Parliament on Wednesday. This decision – unprecedented in Bulgaria’s recent history, came after TISP’s prime minister designate Plamen Nikolov received a cabinet-forming mandate from President Rumen Radev on 30 July and came back to the head of state with the mandate fulfilled on 6 August. The President issued a decree, asking the National Assembly to take a vote on the proposal, and it was scheduled to do so on Wednesday, 11 August. On Tuesday, the President’s Press Secretariat, replying to questions from the media, said that the decree issued by the head of State had “already moved the constitutional procedure for the election of a prime minister to its decisive parliamentary phase”. Two hours after Trifonov’s statement, TISP’s prime minister designate Plamen Nikolov told BTA that he will withdraw his nomination for personal reasons on Wednesday and that there are no legal impediments to this. In a statement on 7/8 TV, Trifonov blamed the so-called protest parties, Democratic Bulgaria and Rise Up BG! Here We Come! for his party’s failed attempt, accusing them of betrayal, and said that new elections are now in order because TISP, being the largest group in the incumbent Parliament, will not back a cabinet formed either by the pro-establishment parties or by Democratic Bulgaria or Rise Up! The TISP leader recalled that his party had clearly stated that they will not be proposing a cabinet without the protest parties’ support. Trifonov’s remarks came shortly after Democratic Bulgaria decided not to back TISP’s proposed cabinet and a day after Rise Up BG! Here We Come! also said they would vote against it. For their part, BSP for Bulgaria made their support contingent on TISP dropping their nominee for deputy prime minister and interior minister Peter Iliev, which TISP said they would not do. Democratic Bulgaria and Rise Up! explained that they were denying support to an all-TISP cabinet not on account of any controversial candidate for minister but because they did not get sufficient guarantees that the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) would not influence the government once elected. The two parties proposed to TISP, provided that the third cabinet-forming mandate is handed to any of them, the formation of a short-lived expert government based on the present caretaker cabinet, but Trifonov rejected this option. “Democratic Bulgaria and Rise Up BG! Here We Come! clearly and publicly stated their refusal to support a cabinet of There Is Such a People. This means that the protest against GERB and everything done by GERB has been left in the past, whereas the present and the present parliament are fraught with political ambitions, hypocrisy, lies, betrayals and machinations which are completely unacceptable to me and my colleagues of TISP,” Trifonov pointed out.

In his words, his party had done everything possible, all compromises and gestures to the so-called protest parties, so that people would be reassured, so that a government would be elected and the protest parties would be pleased. According to Trifonov, if they are mandated to form a cabinet, Democratic Bulgaria and Rise Up! could take a nationally responsible approach and join GERB, the MRF and BSP for Bulgaria, set up a government, and run the country together as they have done until recently. In the same statement, Trifonov said that TISP will back President Rumen Radev’s re-election bid in the forthcoming presidential elections because “he matches to the fullest extent their idea of a president of Bulgaria.” “We hope that, with our support, he will be elected even in the first round of voting,” the TISP leader said. TISP’s refusal to seek parliamentary approval for its cabinet proposal will be followed by a second cabinet-forming mandate, which the President must offer to the second largest parliamentary group, GERB-UDF. They will most probably decline the mandate immediately, without waiting for the expiry of the seven-day deadline under the Constitution. Within a week after that, the head of state will have to hand a third mandate to a smaller parliamentary group of his choice. This attempt, too, is doomed to failure because TISP will not back a cabinet put together by Democratic Bulgaria and Rise Up!, whereas the two anti-establishment parties will not accept support from GERB and the MRF. TISP has 65 MPs in the 240-member legislature, GERB-UDF 63, BSP for Bulgaria 36, Democratic Bulgaria 34, the MRF 29, and Rise Up! 13. To be elected, a proposed cabinet must be supported by more than half of the MPs present. In the event of a third failure, the President will have to schedule early parliamentary elections within two months, i.e. for 17 October at the earliest.

 

Rama responds harshly to allegations of ‘treason’ to Kosovo with Open Balkans (ADN) 

 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded Tuesday to the accusations raised by various commentators after he posted the photo with the 2 Kosovar judokas. On a Facebook post, the Head of Government wrote that those who have found the traitor in him, are wrong because he is the one who in the middle of Belgrade spoke loudly about the recognition of Kosovo. "To all those in Kosovo who have found the traitor in me, that first of all, I am the one who in the middle of Belgrade spoke loudly about the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia and as if they all defended the recognition of Kosovo in the language of foreigners, at least as I defend it, everywhere and always, today Kosovo would be much more internationally respected," noted Rama. Moreover, Rama stressed that the Open Balkans is not only the path of the future for the prosperity of the Albanian nation, as a European nation that has its affiliation in the United Europe, but it is also a new and greater opportunity on the path towards the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. “I had the special pleasure to visit the two golden Kosovar girls of Tokyo, together with their phenomenal coach. They asked to meet me and I felt very honored. The conversation with the girls and the coach and the friends who accompanied them was inspiring and with some beautiful ideas of cooperation, which we agreed to develop together. When they asked us to take pictures, I said, ‘But, I am a traitor, I do not want to cause you any trouble!’ They actually laughed a lot and we took the pictures, which they also wanted me to post on my account. However, as I expected, the digital army of supposed patriots across the border, that swearing and cursing have their weapons of the blind war of the Albanian with the Albanian, was released hurriedly in the river of comments of my post. God forgive them, they do not know what they are doing, is the best thing to say in these cases. And I forgive them, those who inspire them and feed them with the blinding poison of hatred, division, fear of the future. Time does not stop and peace is not won by the means of war. Kosovo won the war thanks to the invincible alliance of the United States with the greatest European powers, in support of its liberation army. Without that alliance, neither freedom, nor citizenship, nor peace for the people of Kosovo could have come today all day. For 8 years now I have been witnessing in the first person, the ever-decreasing trajectory of their respect and patience with official Pristina and I am more and more hurt by the distortions of their lips when it comes to Kosovo. The Open Balkans is not only the way of the future for the prosperity of the Albanian nation, as a European nation that has its affiliation in the United Europe, but it is also a new and greater opportunity, on the way to the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia; as for one of the many examples of the great usefulness of the Open Balkans, who does not want to understand why the Open Balkans finally removes the border between Albania and Kosovo, let them tell me why they have not been able to remove it until today, those who have promised it with noise and why I cannot remove that border without the Open Balkans, none of those who ‘do not give a lulu’ for the irreplaceable strategic allies of Kosovo and Albania together, who fully support the Open Balkan initiative,” stated Rama among other things.