LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic sworn in as president (Tanjug/B92)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was sworn in in the parliament on Tuesday for his second presidential term. With his right hand on the Constitution of Serbia and the Gospel of Miroslav - the oldest Serbian book - Vucic pronounced the oath of office: "I swear that I will devote all my strength to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, including Kosovo and Metohija as its integral part, as well as to the exercise of human and minority rights and freedoms, respect and defense of the Constitution and the law, and the maintaining of peace and the prosperity of all citizens of the Republic of Serbia, and that I will perform all my duties conscientiously and responsibly." Vucic then signed the oath of office, which was greeted by applause from MPs and guests at the swearing-in ceremony. According to a report released by the national election commission, Vucic won 2,224,914 votes in the 3 April presidential elections.

 

Vucic addressed the citizens in front of the parliament

"There are no higher honor and obligation for me, because I lead the most beautiful country in the world. I could never do that without you. Together we got 1.5 million votes more than those who tried to beat us, because you can't deceive people. I will not act in a way that satisfies their interests, but I will work in their interests, which means that you will not agree with my decisions sometimes, but it also means that we will preserve peace and stability, Kosovo and Metohija and the future of our country and our children," said Vucic to the gathered citizens in front of the parliament, asking them to go home because it is raining outside.

 

Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija in front of the parliament: Supporting Vucic, for better or worse

Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija arrived in Belgrade to support Aleksandar Vucic who is taking the oath of office for the second presidential term in the parliament today. The citizens, who left the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica and Leposavic by bus at around 3 a.m. this morning, gathered in front of the parliament, where they were joined by political representatives of Serbs in the southern province and officials of the Serb List. They point out that it was not difficult for them to travel five hours to the capital to support Vucic, who, as they say, is always with the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. Vera Arsenijevic from Leposavic said that Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija are always with President Vucic and that they wish him a lot of success in his new mandate. "We are with President Vucic for better or worse," Arsenijevic said. The director of the elementary school Vuk Karadzic in Zvecan Sladjana Ficovic says that Vucic works a lot for the Serbs in the southern province, who stands out, they believe that they will save Kosovo and Metohija together with him. "Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija have firmly decided to stay in Kosovo and Metohija and preserve their homes. We hope that the situation will change for the better and that together with the president we will overcome the crisis," said Ficovic. Sladjan Radovic from Leposavic points out that Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have the support of Vucic in everything and that they have confidence in him. "We expect to live peacefully and the issue of Kosovo and Metohija to be resolved once and for all," Radovic told reporters. Serbs from the southern province came in front of the parliament carrying a large banner that reads "Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija are with their President Vucic", and the banners also read: "President Vucic, the whole of Kosovo and Metohija is with you", "President, Thank you that you are guarding our Kosovo and Metohija" and "While President Vucic is, there will be Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija".

After taking the oath in the parliament for the second term, President Vucic said that he wants the new government of Serbia to be formed by the end of July. "The formation of a new government is of crucial importance, bearing in mind the situation we are in, a difficult situation. Today, we all have to think together, and I can't do it alone, as someone who has received great support from the people, instead we need a government, and the one that has full legitimacy not the one in the technical mandate. We have to deal with new sanctions, which could again damage us, so we will plead with European partners to be spared," said he. He announced that he would start consultations with all parliamentary parties as soon as the new convocation of the Serbian parliament is formed. "I am convinced that the new government will accept some of my advice and requests and I believe that the prime minister will decide to make the government minority inclusive, to include as many Hungarians, Bosniaks, Croats, Romani, minorities, representatives of all nationalities who wish this country well... Who have only one homeland, and that is Serbia, who love it endlessly, who plan to live here just like us," he stressed. Vucic said that he knows how to say, "members of ethnic minorities", but that he prefers to talk about wonderful citizens, peoples who do not belong to the majority, and who have always been with Serbia, helped and shared in good and bad with us and solved all problems together. He said Kosovo and Metohija would be the crucial political issue for Serbia, as the West, too, would see it as the more important topic, and that a compromise solution must be sought. Being associated with the Ukraine crisis, the issue will be more prominent and more difficult to solve, he said. "Whatever anyone might say, Kosovo and Metohija will be a bigger and more significant topic to the West, also because of what Putin has spoken about. They will say this is not the case, that it is not similar to other examples, they will repeat that frantically... But it is clear that the more they repeat that, the more they are troubled by it," Vucic said.

 

Vucic meets with von Cramon (Tanjug/RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with MEP Viola von Cramon on Monday to discuss the economic situation, Serbia's EU integration and problems in the dialogue with Pristina, as well as the regional situation and initiatives aimed at connecting Western Balkan countries.

Vucic noted that Serbia would continue on its European path even more intensively and that the country approached regional politics in a serious and responsible way and was hence recognised as a dependable and responsible partner in the region. Speaking about the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Vucic stressed that dialogue was the only right path to resolving open issues, as well as to reaching a sustainable agreement. He noted that he expected constructive support for dialogue and for finding a compromise solution, along with implementation of existing agreements, above all, the one on the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities. He stressed that Serbia would devote particular attention to energy efficiency and advancement of the environment, and noted that he expected support in these fields both from the European Parliament and von Cramon personally. Von Cramon said respect of Serb rights in Kosovo was in the interest of the EU and the European Parliament and noted the significance of continuing the dialogue, adding that the present difficult geopolitical situation called for responsibility on both sides and restraint from provocations. Speaking about the media situation in Serbia, von Cramon pointed to problems in that field, noting the necessity of serious and fundamental rule of law reforms and more significant commitment to the EU integration process.

 

Von Cramon: EU best partner for diminishing of Russian influence (Tanjug)

 

MEP Viola von Cramon said on Monday imposing sanctions on Moscow was in Belgrade's interest, as well as that Russia's influence in Serbia must be "diminished" and that the EU was the best partner for that, but that it was not up to the bloc to force anyone to do anything. "It must come from the inside... from the Serbian government, if they want to be part of the club, if they want to be part of the EU, that goes along with values and norms and standards," von Cramon told reporters in Belgrade after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. When asked by Tanjug if she welcomed Serbia's favorable deal on Russian natural gas supplies, von Cramon replied it was just an announcement and that details of the agreement were as yet unknown. "It is only an announcement, it was a call between Putin and President Vucic yesterday, we have nothing in writing here, nothing released (as to) what concretely it means, whether the capacity which Serbia needs can be fully provided by Russia, or only partly, what the average price for Serbia means," she said. Von Cramon also said it remained to be seen if the EU could provide a part of the gas needed by Serbia and why the country was not looking to the future when it comes to renewable energy sources. Asked whether she had discussed with Vucic an amendment she had submitted to a draft resolution on Serbia regarding the Serbian-Russian Humanitarian Centre in Nis, Von Cramon responded that the topic had not been discussed at the meeting.

 

Lo Cascio: Serbia plays key role in protecting peace in WB (Beta/Politika)

 

Italy’s outgoing Ambassador to Serbia Carlo Lo Cascio said at a 30 May meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that Serbia played a key role in protecting peace and stability in the Western Balkans, which was very important for Italy because of the proximity of the region. Lo Cascio praised the results Serbia had achieved in the challenging times, protecting its national interests and moving forward on its path to the EU, the Presidency of Serbia quoted the Italian diplomat as saying in a press release. Vucic thanked the outgoing Italian ambassador for having contributed to bilateral economic ties and political dialogue with his commitment and activities. Vucic and Lo Cascio agreed that aside from political and economic cooperation, the two states shared interest in all other forms of cooperation, especially in the areas of education and culture.

Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic also met with the Italian diplomat, underlining that Serbia and Italy had developed a very good bilateral relationship and cooperation in the energy sector. Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said at a meeting with Lo Cascio that Italy was one of Serbia’s most important political and economic partners, and that full membership of the EU was the country’s foreign policy priority and strategic goal.

 

Serbia wants relations with Algeria to progress (RTV/Tanjug)

 

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Monday, in a conversation with the new Ambassador of Algeria Fatah Mahraz, that Serbia wants the relations between the two countries to progress continuously, especially highlighting the political dialogue, exchange of visits at the highest level and economic cooperation. The Serbian Foreign Minister thanked Algeria for its principled and consistent support for preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, expressing the expectation that such support for Algeria would remain unchanged, and that we would continue successful cooperation at the multilateral level, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said. Selakovic stated that Serbia and Algeria are bound by traditional decades-long friendship and historical relations, which are a good legacy. The head of Serbian diplomacy conveyed his readiness to visit Algeria this year, especially bearing in mind that Serbia and Algeria are marking 60 years of establishing diplomatic relations.

 

Petkovic to Osmani: They know only about hate speech in Pristina (RTV/Tanjug)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic told the President of so-called Kosovo Vjosi Osmani, on the occasion of her statements about the Open Balkans, that it not be a surprise that Pristina is against the concept of Open Balkans because “they only know about hate speech there”. “Vjosa Osmani does not miss the opportunity to attack Aleksandar Vucic for his commitment to peace and regional cooperation. These are unknown words in Pristina, they only know about hate speech there. That is why it is not surprising that they are against the Open Balkans concept,” Petkovic said on Twitter.

 

Botsan-Kharchenko: Serbia’s decision not to impose sanctions against Russia firm, unwavering (Beta/ TV Russia-24/TASS)

 

The Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko said on 30 May that Serbia was not joining the European Union’s sanctions against Russia, and that its stance was firm and unwavering. “It’s common knowledge that Serbia, in principle, has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia. The Serbian stance is firm and unwavering, and at this point there’s no reason to think that the Serbian leadership might change it,” the TASS agency quoted the Ambassador as saying in an interview to TV Russia-24. The Russian diplomat said that a decision not to join “the anti-Russian measures has a moral and political component, too”. Botsan-Kharchenko said that join projects hadn’t been disrupted over the past few months, and that the dialogue between the Russian and Serbian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Aleksandar Vucic, had been “continuous, regular and substantial”, and would develop in the same way.

 

Lajcak: EU needs to speed up integration of Western Balkans (FoNet)

 

The EU needs to speed up the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues Miroslav Lajcak said on Monday. He told reporters at the Summit for Democracy in the Montenegrin coastal resort of Budva that the forming of a regional market needs to be faster.

According to him, the war in Ukraine has brought expansion of the EU back to the political agenda and added that this is an opportunity for the countries of the Western Balkans. He said the region is not alone. The EU is with you, helping you overcome the consequences of the war and we have a plan how to help the countries of the region. “The region can’t wait, we know that,” he said adding that the only answer is speeding up integration.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Novakovic-Bursac: Banning Dodik’s candidacy would be drastic move that could justify the right of the RS bodies to conduct according to their will in the election process (ATV) 

 

Head of the SNSD Caucus in the House of Representatives (HoR) Snjezana Novakovic-Bursac, commented on the latest attempts to prevent Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik from participation in the October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Commenting on the recent statement of B&H Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic who said that Dodik will most likely activate his plans for Republika Srpska (RS)’ secession in case that he will the general elections, Novakovic-Bursac said that such rhetoric actually reflects stances of the Bosniak policy led by SDA that sees SNSD and Dodik as the biggest enemy, now that they refused to support the amendments to the Election Law of B&H that could have ensured for Croats to be able to elect their legitimate representatives in the elections. She stressed that Bosniak structures hope that they will be able to accelerate the process of implementation of their policy through such statements and lies. Novakovic-Bursac stated that it is important to see the difference between the goals and means to achieve these goals, reminding that SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic’s recent statement that Bosniaks start to have domination shows their true goals, they do not care about constitutional structure at all and they do not advocate for the Dayton-based B&H. She added that it has been visible at all levels in the past couple of months that their means include abuse of B&H institutions, lies and fabrications. Novakovic-Bursac assessed that an attempt to “break” the election will of the RS citizens and twisting the truth and realistic situation with the goal to promote goals of the Bosniak policy is on stage. Commenting on information according to which some of the foreign embassies in B&H have lobbied to ban Dodik’s candidacy for the elections, Novakovic-Bursac stated that the appointment of unlawful convocation of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of B&H was indicative and this convocation was welcomed and accepted by some of the foreign embassies in B&H, so it is not surprising that all moves or decisions of this body are under impact of foreign factors. She warned that it is worrying and intolerable that two members of B&H CEC from PDP and SDS were unlawfully and illegitimately “installed” in this institutions, concluding that it is logical that such moves will not remain without adequate reaction. Novakovic-Bursac said that banning Dodik’s candidacy would be a drastic move that could justify the right of the RS bodies to conduct according to their will in the election process. She emphasized that SNSD is sure about its election capacity and voters’ support, and the party’s goal is to see regular and fair elections in October.

 

Komsic submits request to B&H CC for constitutionality review of FB&H Constitution, RS Constitution; Requests provisions related to vital national interest to be declared unconstitutional (O Kanal) 

 

B&H Presidency member Zeljko Komsic has submitted a request to the B&H Constitutional Court (CC) for reviewing the constitutionality of individual provisions of the Federation of B&H (FB&H) Constitution and the RS Constitution. Komsic requested the B&H CC to annul the provisions that allow constituent peoples in the FB&H House of Peoples and the RS Council of Peoples to declare “everything they want” as a vital national interest, thus blocking all legal procedures. The request also stated it is a discriminatory approach, based on which the Others, i.e. minorities, have no rights. “Is it possible that in B&H, someone who declares as Bosnian and/or Herzegovinian is considered a minority in their country? That is not only the case with the citizens and the Others, because every person in this country must have equal rights, and that is the foundation of every democracy. Everything else is segregation and discrimination that results in autocracy as a method of governance. Such system is unsustainable and leads to further divisions in the society, and it makes B&H a state in which full democracy does not exist, because only constituent peoples exist, whilst all others are in an inferior position. Representatives at the House of Representatives are elected by citizens in free elections, whilst delegates at the House of Peoples or Council of Peoples are elected by political parties within political agreement and that is why those upper houses attack the fundamental democracy, because they do not represent legitimate will of voters, and that needs to be changed”, reads the statement by Komsic office. Komsic additionally asked for the repeal of the provisions according to which every decision or law must be adopted in both Houses of the B&H parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR) and the House of Peoples (HoP), in the same text. SDA demanded reduction in the powers of the HoP, called for the establishment of a body modeled according to the RS CoP, and the HDZ replied that it was a matter of a protection mechanism. N1 carried the following statements of officials from March 2022. SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic said that HDZ B&H demanded that the B&H Constitutional Court (CC) is removed from the process as arbiter that decides whether the VNI is threatened. HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic stressed that it is problematic that the VNI mechanism was invoked in the FB&H nine times in the last two decades. People and Justice (NiP) leader Elmedin Konakovic assessed that certain progress was made regarding the electoral reform, but SDA did not want to sign an agreement regarding VNI issue.

 

Vulic strongly criticizes Komsic’s motion for assessment of constitutionality of protection of vital national interest (Nezavisne) 

 

Following the decision of Croat member of the Presidency of B&H Zeljko Komsic to file a motion with the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H for assessment of constitutionality of several provisions of the FB&H Constitution and RS Constitution related to protection of vital national interest, MP Sanja Vulic (SNSD) told the daily that, in case B&H CC accepts Komsic’s request, this would definitely represent the end of B&H upon a request of those who swear by it the most, such as Komsic. “Zeljko Komsic launched a campaign, in no other way but against the vital national interest. When someone has no affiliation, when someone is neither on the ground nor in the sky, then one makes moves such as those made by Zeljko Komsic,” Vulic argued and said that Komsic is getting more and more aware of the fact that Bosniaks cannot secure the second mandate for him and that he can no longer be “a false Croat while representing interests of Bosniaks, so now this Sarajevo’s hybrid is reaching for anything that resembles a lifebelt”.

 

Popovic, Stevandic, Petkovic criticize Komsic's motion on vital national interest as dangerous (Glas Srpske) 

 

B&H Presidency member Zeljko Komsic filed a motion with B&H Constitutional Court (B&H CC), asking B&H CC to declare unconstitutional certain provisions of the RS and FB&H Constitutions which allow only constituent peoples to declare any issue a vital national interest. Commenting Komsic’s motion, law expert Vitomir Popovic stated that it represents a great danger because similar initiatives and talk about civic state resulted in war in the 1990s. He warned that any one-sided changes to the Dayton Peace Agreement and its provisions can potentially lead to dissolution of B&H. “I would not be surprised if B&H CC fulfils his sick wishes because this body has been serving interests of Bosniaks politics for a long time, instead of protecting and interpreting B&H Constitution. B&H CC should not even consider his motion, but one needs to know that in the recent period, this Court has passed a series of decisions which have nothing to do with law or its competences”, said Popovic. He underlined that Komsic’s goal is to raise tensions and promote the ideas of unitary and civic concept. According to Popovic, the RS should start preparing its own legislation, because of the Dayton peace Agreement is not valid for Komsic and the likes of him, then it should not be valid for the RS either. ‘United Srpska’ leader Nenad Stevandic stated that the only thing unconstitutional in B&H is Komsic himself because he allegedly represents Croats although he was elected by Bosniak votes. He noted that there is no more vicious nationalism than the one hiding behind Komsic’s principles of civic state. Stevandic emphasized that in his three terms, Komsic created a lot of unnecessary and dangerous hatred, and he is now panicking because Bosniaks will now have two strong candidates for B&H Presidency and he can no longer count on votes of Bosniak voters. Therefore, Komsic is radicalizing the political situation because that is the only way for him to survive on the political scene, said Stevandic. RS parliament deputy speaker Milan Petkovic stated that Komsic’s motion can only lead to further disintegration of B&H as a state, and it undermines the already fragile relations among B&H’s peoples. He underlined that Komsic’s motion will only additionally complicate political relations within B&H.

 

RS opposition says ruling authorities have given up on transfer of competencies (BN TV) 

 

RS opposition believes that recent moves in the RS parliament prove that the ruling authorities are trying to back out of the entire story on regaining the entity competencies that were transferred to the state level. The opposition accuses the ruling coalition of once again fooling the citizens of the RS. After the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H annulled the acts and conclusions that were adopted by the RS parliament, RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic said the B&H CC was not competent to deliberate on this matter. He explains that adopted acts and conclusions were, in fact, political stances of the RS parliament. DEMOS members, the party in which Cubrilovic is the leader, back his claims. They say that the RS parliament adopted “political documents”. Chairman of the DEMOS Political-Economic Council Mile Dmicic emphasizes that the B&H CC was not competent to deliberate on this matter, and it should have rejected the motion for a review. The opposition reminds that they have been pointing out to the real reason why a special session of the RS parliament was held on December 24. They say adopted conclusions and acts were just a way in which SNSD, and its coalition partners, tried to divert attention from the story on transfer of competencies, and from the real issues in the RS. Those issues also include numerous affairs in which ruling coalition members took part. SDS says the talk on transfer of competencies was a “farce” and another way of tricking the people of the RS into believing something will actually be changed for the better. Member of the SDS Presidency Vukota Govedarica expects Cubrilovic to at least issue an apology to the RS citizens due to these “games they play”. He adds that Cubrilovic should also resign his post. Govedarica said it is “startling” that story of the return of RS competencies, which was a very serious move, was now downplayed and called a “simple political stance”. Govedarica concludes by saying the RS parliament is one of the leading institutions in the RS but with the move of the ruling authorities it was completely humiliated. Political analysts also believe latest statement by Cubrilovic proves that the ruling majority did not really have the intention to bring back RS its competencies, but only used this matter for gaining political points.

 

Dodik: Sarovic and Ivanic should answer Borenovic who cooperated with former HR Ashdown (RTRS) 

 

Serb member of the B&H Presidency and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik published a series of Twitter posts on Monday reacting to PDP leader Branislav Borenovic’s accusations that Dodik used to cooperate with former High Representative (HR) Paddy Ashdown. In his Twitter posts, Dodik accused the current RS opposition of actually having cooperated with Ashdown. Dodik underlined that SDS leader Mirko Sarovic and PDP Honorary President Mladen Ivanic should answer Borenovic as to who cooperated with Ashdown and noted that Ashdown mentioned – according to the Serb member of the Presidency - “his henchmen” in his autobiography ‘A Fortunate Life’. Responding to Borenovic’s accusations that he (Dodik) was preparing to destroy the RS together with Ashdown, the Serb member of the Presidency stressed that the PDP leader has been making things up about the “time of Ashdown dictatorship”. In addition, Dodik noted that he himself was the only politician from the RS who publicly confronted Ashdown. Specifically referring to Sarovic’s claim that SNSD has devalued the word patriotism, Dodik underscored that the RS citizens will decide in the elections who patriots are. Dodik said: “The patriotism of all of us is measured by the people in the RS in the elections, and history will evaluate it. SDS, once a national party, failed both tests!” Dodik also tweeted: “'As for the lists for the shooting, let him (Borenovic) ask his honorary president (Ivanic), but also his coalition partner Sarovic, who cooperated with Ashdown and how people were removed from posts at that time. Ivanic and Sarovic will tell him everything, they do not have to do that publicly! After all, Ashdown publicly bragged about who his henchmen were in his autobiography "A Fortunate Life!”. RS President and SNSD Vice-President Zeljka Cvijanovic, who recently ironically said that PDP and SDS showed their patriotism when they were extraditing Serbs to courts, stated on Monday that Borenovic is showing nervousness and, although he is distancing himself from PDP members who acquired property in the UK, he is not denying that PDP members were doing exactly that. Cvijanovic noted that while Sarovic seems to have forgotten to register certain properties he has in Serbia in his property sheet, Borenovic “also suffers from oblivion” and deliberately avoids answers to the question of how PDP members acquired properties in the UK along with UK citizenship. Cvijanovic was quoted as saying: “I hope they are not forgetful as Sarovic, who missed to report what he has in Serbia. Yet, they are calling other people out.” Cvijanovic reflected on the fact that Borenovic said SNSD is nervous over its trading on the London stock exchange, responding: “It could have been any stock exchange market, and the RS Government will opt for such a step again if Borenovic's foreign friends keep blackmailing the RS with transfer of competences to the B&H level.” The RS President said that the blackmail could mean that more favourable arrangement of funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be offered to the RS in exchange for transfer of competences onto the B&H level. The RS President noted that, if the UK Embassy fails to come out to properly defend PDP, this will mean that, in that political party, “the first league has been replaced by second league”. She concluded: “I see Borenovic attributes nervousness to SNSD, but only he shows it.” Advisor of the Serb member of the B&H Presidency and SNSD Spokesperson Radovan Kovacevic told RTRS that the RS opposition should respond whether they would protect the Constitution and the interests of the RS even if that means they would face UK sanctions. “Given that these are officials who have assets in the UK and who live in the UK, the question is whether they had some kind of influence when it comes to imposing sanctions on the RS officials, for the sake of weakening their role,” added Kovacevic. In a statement to RTRS, United Srpska leader and SNSD’s coalition partner Nenad Stevandic stated that the RS opposition confirms it is at service of “foreigners, who are working alongside Bosniaks on preparing a plan to undermine the RS”, and added that this can be seen from the opposition’s constant accusations directed against the authorities. Stevandic accused the RS opposition of causing intolerances in the RS.

 

Zakharova criticizes Truss’ statement made during visit to B&H about malignant influence of Russia in Western Balkans (RTRS) 

 

Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova criticized in a post in Telegram the statement of UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Elizabeth Truss, who stated during her recent official visit to B&H that Russia has a malignant influence in the Western Balkans. Zakharova wrote: “UK’s actions in the Western Balkans were more destructive than gunpowder and bombs and more deadly than the plague.” According to Zakharova, during the 1990s, the UK, as part of the Western coalition, covered up the trade in organs carried out by Kosovo Albanians, as well as trade in all types of prohibited goods, including weapons. Zakharova presented the stance that the NATO’s influence on the region was "unscrupulously destructive", recalling “the NATO aggression” in the former Yugoslavia, when depleted uranium missiles were used during the bombing. “Head of the British Foreign Office Liz Truss, who is a well-known expert in history and geography, warned the people in B&H that they should not trust Russia because of its malignant influence on the region,” noted Zakharova when recalling what Truss stated during her visit to B&H. Zakharova said the Western countries have contributed to negative occurrences in the Western Balkans, noting that for long time the Balkans was considered as “Europe’s gunpowder keg”, and that London was the one to put Slavs in inferior position.

 

Abazovic: When text of Fundamental Agreement with SPC is harmonized, it will be available to public (CdM) 

 

PM Dritan Abazovic could not specify when exactly the Fundamental Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) will be signed. “It should happen as soon as possible but all in accordance with the Constitution and laws. There are no major problems at the moment. Like every document, is should be passed by the Secretariat for Legislation and then the competent commission, and only then it is discussed at the cabinet meeting. When we get to that phase, everyone will be able to see it, react and comment. We need to remove this issue from the agenda in the best way and move on. By signing it, we will get out of the matrix that someone is above the law,” said Abazovic, answering journalists’ questions in Budva.

 

At the Open Balkans Summit as observers, EU is our goal (RTCG) 

 

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said that it was crucial for the region to cooperate in joining the European Union, stating that we should help each other along the way. According to the Prime Minister, our goal is EU membership and "we are not interested in any substitute for that". EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak says that the war in Ukraine has returned the enlargement process to the political agenda, adding that it is an opportunity for the countries of the Western Balkans, but also that it is up to them to use it. "We need to help each other along the way. The region has suffered the consequences of irresponsible policies for a long time, we should start differently now," Abazovic said. He pointed out that the events in Ukraine are a great reminder for the countries of the Western Balkans. "We went through wars, aggressions. We know what war crimes mean. We need to work together to contribute to peace. That is our obligation," Abazovic said.

 

Vucinic: The Open Balkans in Montenegro can be decided without the Parliament (RSE/Pobjeda) 

 

The Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovic said on 30 May that the decision on the eventual accession to the "Open Balkans" initiative is in the government, which leads the state's foreign policy, and that he does not need anyone's special support. Nebojsa Vucinic, a professor of international law in Podgorica, confirmed for Radio Free Europe (RFE) that the government does not need the support of the parliament for this decision. "The government is pursuing domestic and foreign policy, and therefore could formally and legally make a decision on Montenegro's accession to the Open Balkans." However, that is an issue of general social interest, and a public debate should be held on that," said Vucinic. Although Montenegro has refused to join the regional initiative since launching the Open Balkans initiative in 2019, Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, elected in late April this year, supports Montenegro's accession, despite a majority in parliament and a significant number ministers of his Government. Of the six Balkan states, the Open Balkans regional initiative is supported by Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia, whose officials have launched a project to mutually promote the free movement of goods, services and people. Kosovo and B&H do not support the initiative, while in Montenegro there are conflicting views between the president, the parliamentary majority and the government.

 

Who in the government opposes the Open Balkans? 

The possibility of Montenegro joining the Open Balkans, as well as Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic's announcement that he would attend a summit of the regional initiative in Ohrid on 7^th and 8^th June, drew sharp criticism within his government. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Rasko Konjevic said that Prime Minister Abazovic could go to the meeting of that initiative only as an observer, but that he must not take on any obligations on behalf of the state. "That would mean destabilizing the government, and I do not believe that the prime minister cares more about the Open Balkans than about the government he heads." Involvement in any regional initiatives must be the result of dialogue, followed by proposals from the competent Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And above all, it must aim at the state interests of Montenegro", said Rasko Konjevic in an interview with Pobjeda on 29 May. The second Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Bosniak Party, Ervin Ibrahimovic, said that the regional initiative Open Balkans does not have his support, nor the support of the Bosniak Party, neither in the Government nor in the Assembly. "The priority task of the current administration is to accelerate EU integration, and all institutional capacities should be directed towards that goal," Ibrahimovic said on Twitter on 29 May. They have a similar attitude in the Democratic Union of Albanians, assessing that the Open Balkans is a big trap for Montenegro and Kosovo. However, they do not believe that Abazovic will do anything in that direction without consulting the ruling majority.

 

Abazovic: EU and Varhelyi support Open Balkans 

Reacting to the criticism of the last few days, Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said that he would go to the Summit as a guest and that he did not need a parliamentary majority to possibly support the initiative. "It is the job of the government that leads the country's foreign policy," Abazovic said on May 30 in Budva. He said that he had criticized and warned Deputy Prime Ministers Konjevic and Ibrahimovic for democracy, noting that it was a matter of "collecting political points". He stressed that he takes into account the national interests of Montenegro, "and that is the most stable region": "Our biggest foreign policy goal is membership in the European Union (EU). We are not interested in a replacement for that, but anything that can accelerate that goal is welcome." Abazovic reiterated that Montenegro's foreign policy priority is EU membership, and in support of the EU's support for the Open Balkans, he said that Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi would also attend the summit. "If it turns out that this initiative is in favor of our foreign policy goals, I have nothing against joining it. The majority of deputies in the Assembly and the Government are committed to regional cooperation, and that is the most important thing,"Abazovic said.

 

Government and parliament differ on the Open Balkans 

When it comes to the support of the three branches of government in Montenegro, their attitude towards the Open Balkans differs. Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic believes that this initiative is not optimal for Montenegro, and that he is not worried about the fact that Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic supports it. "We have different views on this initiative. I have heard from him many times that as part of his support for all regional initiatives, he also supports that. I see it as a replica of the Berlin Process," Djukanovic said in Berlin on May 17. He pointed out, among other things, that Montenegro refused to enter the Open Balkans, during the rule of his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), that it was a project for the realization of great Serbian ambitions. With the support of 30 deputies of Djukanovic's DPS in the Montenegrin parliament, the minority government of Ditan Abazovic was elected on April 28. He is the leader of the Civic Movement URA, which has four members of parliament. Apart from the DPS, the Open Balkans is also unacceptable for the Social Democratic Party, the Bosniak Party and the parties of Albanian national minorities, which are also in the government. Opposition Democrats of Aleksa Becic as well as Social Democrats are against. Explicit support for the Open Balkans is given by five deputies of the pro-Serbian Socialist People's Party (SNP), which has six departments in the Abazovic government. The opposition pro-Serbian Democratic Front, following the moves of official Belgrade, also supports this project. In the government, on the other hand, the ministers of the URA and the pro-Serbian SNP have a slim majority compared to the ministers from the SDP and the minority parties. It should be noted that Abazovic said on the eve of the formation of the government that a qualified majority would be required for the most important issues. "We will only determine that qualified majority in the rules of procedure. Nevertheless, I expect us to make decisions by full consensus. We will solve everything in the government in a democratic way. "

 

Vucinic: A dialogue should be held on the Open Balkans 

Regardless of the fact that the Government does not formally and legally need the support of the parliament for this decision, Professor Nebojsa Vucinic says that a wider debate should be held. "Dialogue between political entities and within civil society, and the parliament would have to declare itself. Because that determines the foreign policy orientation of Montenegro. Our orientation, at least for now, is direct and direct European integration ", says Professor Vucinic. Vucinic emphasized that it is especially problematic that no one knows the content of the rights and obligations arising from the concept of the Open Balkans. Of all the Western Balkan countries, Montenegro has advanced the most in the EU membership negotiations, which began in 2012. So far, it has opened all negotiating chapters and temporarily closed three. Two of the three countries that initiated the Open Balkans project - Northern Macedonia and Albania, have not yet opened negotiations with the EU, unlike Serbia, which opened them in 2014. Kosovo and B&H have not yet received candidate status.

 

Djukanovic with Lajcak: Western Balkans in EU is a geostrategic investment in the stability of Europe (CdM) 

 

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic received Miroslav Lajcak, the EU special representative for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other issues in the Western Balkans. Djukanovic stressed that the new view of the Western Balkans after the Ukrainian crisis should not be abused, but insist on the principles and rules long defined by the EU and gain support from Brussels, through the dynamics of adopting standards and reforms, who should understand that the Western Balkan in the EU is a geostrategic investment in the stability of Europe.

Welcoming and pleased with the dynamics of the dialogue after the recent talks in Brussels, Djukanovic thanked the Special Representative for his continued attention to Montenegro and the region, which is always important, especially at this time. "On that line, he pointed out new incentives and opportunities to see even more realistically the needs of more intensive integration of the Western Balkans, which is important for our countries, but also European stability and further prosperity of Europe." He informed Lajcak about the intensive communication within the country and the region in order to do our part and provide arguments to European partners in the direction of dynamizing enlargement," Djukanovic's office said.

He said that the formation of the new government rehabilitated the political will to unblock and improve the dynamics of the process on the basis of which, if there are capacities, we can, according to Djukanovic, reach a solution by working together and continuously. In relation to the situation in the region, the President of Montenegro noted the stagnation and blurred view of the European future caused by retrograde ideas as a consequence of hybrid action in the long run, which, he points out, must be treated after the war in Ukraine. The EU special envoy, with high agreement with Djukanovic's assessments, expressed satisfaction with the continuation of the talks, with the message that after Ukraine, the enlargement process has become a political issue on the EU agenda. "As a leader in helping Ukraine, the EU recognizes the new momentum for enlargement and expresses good will to make progress in that process," Lajcak said. On that line, he said that Montenegro with the current government can be an example and show through concrete steps and results that the enlargement process is alive and credible. "Everything is in your hands and I do not see any obstacles," Lajcak said. "With the agreement on the need to use the chance for a clear European perspective of Montenegro and the WB, the interlocutors exchanged views on the state of open issues in the region and the need for a constructive approach and finding solutions through dialogue," the statement said.

 

Abazovic and Lajcak: It is important that we achieve results, and more importantly that they be recognized (CdM) 

 

We expect that by the end of the first regular session of the Assembly, there will be a significant shift in making key decisions. It is important that we achieve results, and more importantly that they be recognized ", said the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovic during a bilateral meeting with EU Special Representative for Dialogue Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak on the sidelines of the annual summit of the International Republican Institute - South-eastern Europe Democracy Summit. SEE | DEM) which will be held from 29 to 31 May in Becici.

According to his Cabinet, Abazovic pointed out the importance of the EU's presence in the Western Balkans region and stressed the importance of European institutions in the enlargement policy, having in mind the EU's geopolitical and strategic attitude towards the Western Balkans. "As a responsible candidate for membership in the Union, Montenegro consistently follows the EU's foreign and security policy, where we have without exception joined the EU's positions and decisions, which also apply to sanctions imposed by the EU after Russia's invasion of Ukraine," he said. During the talks, Abazovic stressed that the government's priority is the rule of law, unblocking institutions and the fight against crime and corruption, recalling the results achieved in that direction and ambitions in the future, to make Montenegro the first EU member.

"Congratulations on the election of the 43rd Government. For all of us, in the European Union and Montenegro, this is the government of Hope," said Lajcak and pointed out that Ukraine has changed everything when it comes to EU enlargement, and that the Western Balkans is viewed from a new perspective in which Montenegro is still in the lead in the process of European integration. He said that Montenegro has always been a factor of stability in the region and stated that any progress in the integration process will be recognized and valorized. "We are considering the option of stronger inclusion of candidate countries," Lajcak pointed out. "Among other things, the meeting exchanged views on regional initiatives, then on the effects of the situation in Ukraine, where the readiness of the European Union to help cope with the consequences was expressed," the statement said.

 

Pendarovski says EU perspective in foreseeable future is unfortunately over (Republika) 

 

According to President Stevo Pendarovski, the fact is that “the construction of the Bulgarian political scene” is currently such that it is difficult to reach an agreement. The EU perspective in the foreseeable future is unfortunately over. The chances are getting smaller and smaller. I cannot say that they are over. I cannot say, people, as of tomorrow we are moving to a completely different strategic perspective, because I do not see another better, but we must manage those expectations that were unrealistically high over the past year or two, said Pendarovski.

 

Even the third round for the election of the President failed, Balla: SP will propose a name in the fourth round (Radio Tirana) 

 

The Assembly has considered the report of the Law Commission approved at 09:00 for the third round for the election of the new president without any candidacy proposed by the deputies of the parliament. Although the majority decided that the first three rounds should be left to the opposition to nominate their candidacies, it did not submit any name to the Assembly, the deadline for which ended on 29 May at 16:00. In yesterday's plenary session, the vote for the third round was considered exhausted. It will be the Conference of Chairman that will decide at the next meeting the date for the fourth round of the President. Meanwhile, the head of the Socialist Parliamentary group Taulant Balla in a statement for the media outside the Assembly stated that the SP will propose a name in the fourth round, while emphasizing that with this round the election of the new President will end. Balla has requested communication with all deputies of opposition parliamentary groups for the election of a consensual president. "We will not leave the country without a president. Our desire is to dialogue with anyone who wants to share with us the responsibility of electing the president. No one can take the presidential election process hostage. We were ready to cooperate in the election of the president. I believe that we have come to the moment of concluding this process. We demand dialogue communication with all deputies of opposition parliamentary groups. In the 4th round the SP group will propose a candidate depending on a process that we are following from 28 April. We have identified and continue to identify candidacies. "I hope it will be the final round, the 4th round," said Balla.

 

From 1 June, Albania takes over the Presidency of the UN Security Council (Radio Tirana)

 

Albania is expected to take over the presidency of the UN Security Council in a month. This Presidency will pass to Albania from 1 June and will end on 1 July. In New York, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka will be in charge of the Security Council. June 11, 2021 was a historic date for Albania. She was accepted as a temporary member of the UN Security Council. Albania became a member of the UN on 14 December 1955, and after 66 years of membership, was voted for the first time to be a member of the Security Council. This Council consists of 15 members, where the US, UK, France, Russia and China are 5 permanent members while the other 10 member countries have a two-year term.