LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic after meeting Macron: No way for ZSO to be discussed within French-German plan (RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, rejected the idea of ​​discussing the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) in Kosovo and Metohija as part of the French-German plan for Kosovo and Metohija. “How do you think that someone is giving us something that we should get through some kind of final agreement, and that should have been in the first agreement. We are small and weak, I’m not particularly smart, but I’m not an idiot either. Don’t make idiots out of your leadership. There is nothing from that,” Vucic answered a journalist’s question about the media speculation that there is a three-point plan for the solution of the current situation in Kosovo, the essence of which is for Serbia to agree to discuss the request for a ZSO within the framework of the French-German plan. Asked to comment on the statements of the US Ambassador in Pristina Geoffrey Hovenier, who said that he was concerned about 21 November (when Kurti announced the penalties for Serbs who did not re-register their cars) and that the ZSO should be discussed as soon as possible, Vucic said that Hovenier was rightfully frightened. As I am also scared, he added, because after the July crisis, at the end of August in Brussels, he said that we have a problem with ID cards. “I said we will present something that is not easy for us, but it is within the framework of our policy and the Open Balkans, and it is something that is impossible for anyone to refuse. In order to overcome that situation, but regarding the plates, it is impossible,” said Vucic. He says that then they asked him to do it, that they would take care of the plates. “They said ‘our job is to convince Kurti to solve it differently’ and as you can see, nothing was solved,” said Vucic. He added that he says things that he doesn’t have to, just to show how we are backed into a corner, which Serbs from all over Kosovo understood and now, as he points out, it is much more difficult. “Now how am I going to tell them to return to the institutions tomorrow? Fortunately, they set the conditions themselves. There is nothing to do with that job until both conditions are met and that’s it,” said Vucic. Asked if he was any more optimistic after the meeting with Macron, Vucic said he was never optimistic but that the meeting had been a good one - bilaterally and otherwise. “I said I cannot talk about everything, and as far as the relations with Pristina are concerned, there is no reason for me to be optimistic,” Vucic noted, adding that he had presented to Macron documents related to vehicle registration in Kosovo-\ and Metohija and that, in line with an agreement, Serbia wanted status-neutral KS registration plates, rather than RKS plates. “That is all I am asking for, but they (Pristina) do not want to give us that because they abolished that through a unilateral decision in 2020 as those are status-neutral plates,” Vucic said. Vucic stated this in response to a journalist’s question whether now is the time to impose sanctions on Russia and reminded that today is almost 270 days since the conflict in Ukraine began and that, after four days, the conclusions of the National Security Council were made public. “There were seven or eight of us in the cabinet, from the prime minister to many others. It wasn’t my secretary who wrote, it wasn’t written by some team, some journalists or I don’t know who, I personally wrote the letters with my own hand, so it was typed only after that. Those conclusions are the policies we are leading, those conclusions are my life, the life of free and libertarian Serbia,” said Vucic. He added that these conclusions withstood 270 days of the most difficult pressures in modern Serbian history and that they are our essence - to preserve public international law, to condemn those who violate public international law and enter the territory of other countries, but also not to pursue a policy of sanctions , especially not towards those who protected us in 2015 and who helped us in preserving the territorial integrity of our country.

 

Vucic: Very complicated situation ahead in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)

 

Speaking to reporters after a Paris meeting with EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell and the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said a very complicated situation was ahead in Kosovo and Metohija. "A very complicated situation is ahead of us in Kosovo and Metohija, especially on 21 November, when ethnic Albanians intend to start collecting (vehicle registration) fines, which is contrary to the Brussels agreement," Vucic said. He said Kosovo and Metohija had been the main topic of the meeting and that he had spoken with Lajcak for slightly longer to see if there was a way to reach a compromise solution. "At this time, I do not see that it is possible, because Pristina is refusing to act in a rational manner and in line with international law. Through unilateral moves, Kurti is trying to execute what would essentially be a de facto expulsion of Serbs from their ancestral homes. That worries me and it is something you cannot be indifferent to. You cannot address other things because of that," Vucic noted.

 

Vucic: Result of Borrell-Lajcak meeting with Kurti is nothing (Tanjug/RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Paris on Friday the result of a meeting between EU representatives and Pristina's PM Albin Kurti earlier in the day was "nothing". EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell and the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak held separate meetings with Kurti and Vucic in the French capital. When asked by reporters whether Lajcak and Borrell had told him whether they had conveyed to Kurti Belgrade's demands that a Community of Serb Municipalities be formed in Kosovo-Metohija and if they had mentioned a Vucic-Kurti meeting, the president responded: "Borrell and Lajcak spoke with me about the subject of their discussions with Kurti and they were not optimistic, as I knew beforehand. I asked them to let me guess the result and I guessed right - the result is nothing," Vucic said. He noted that Pristina intended to continue to use force and put Kosovo Serbs under additional pressure and harass them. Asked whether Borrell and Lajcak had proposed a solution to the situation following a departure of Serb representatives from Pristina's institutions, Vucic said it was "difficult to find a rational proposal when you know who is to blame". "You know Kurti is the one, but he is protected by very powerful countries that tell him 'just carry on doing your thing'. So, what can Borrell and Lajcak do? Kurti can do whatever he wants, he will always have the support of Germany and the UK," Vucic noted.

 

Dacic: Grounds of French-German plan unacceptable or Serbia (TV Pink)

 

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the foundations of the French-German plan for Serbia are unacceptable, because the plan first starts from the fact that Kosovo is independent. He said that Serbia cannot support a political solution on what Kosovo should look like as an independent state, if the issue of independence has not been resolved for it.

“Our decisions on the introduction of sanctions against Russia both directly and indirectly have an impact on our position regarding Kosovo, if we do that we will anger our traditional friends a bit,” Dacic told TV Pink. He added that Serbia should extend its hand to all parts of the world and that it should be focused on its national interests. “Serbia risks a lot by imposing sanctions on Russia, it has no guarantee that it will not endanger its national interests. We do not have a guarantee from someone from the West that these interests will be protected,” said Dacic.

 

Vucevic: KFOR is factor of peace, Albanians cannot replace Serb policemen (RTV)

 

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic told Radio and Television Vojvodina (RTV) said that he told Kolomin on that occasion that KFOR must not allow anyone other than Serbs to fill that vacuum in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, and that KFOR is a key factor in maintaining peace on the ground. “We do not all interpret the provisions of the signed agreements in the same way. I could not hear from NATO representatives that they would react if the Serbs put logs on the road, while at the same time it would be realistic for them to have Albanian policemen come to the north of Kosovo and Metohija as a replacement for Serbian policemen. I really don’t know who will come to the north, but I know that KFOR is the guarantor of peace. I don’t know how they will implement peacekeeping technology,” he said. Vucevic reiterates that the clear message of the Serbian leadership is that Serbian police officers cannot be replaced by Albanians, as well as that the construction of a base for special units among Serbs from the north is contrary to Resolution 1244 and the Brussels agreements and all other agreements reached. “How is it possible that the so-called Kosovo Security Forces are becoming the Kosovo Army before our eyes. Foreigners tell us that this is not done by NATO, but by NATO members through individual bilateral agreements; they equip the so-called Kosovo Army with expensive weapons. We then tell them that we will not allow ‘Lightning’ and ‘Storm’ in Kosovo and Metohija from 2004,” he points out. Vucevic adds that our proposal is to return to the negotiating table, as well as the position that unilateral acts cannot change agreements already reached. “Of course, the condition is also the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities. But you see that Albin Kurti denounced it, that he cancelled it in the middle of Berlin. They ask us what we will do if the Albanians move to the north of Kosovo. Allow us not to show all the cards we have,” he points out. Vucevic explains that there were drones on the administrative line and in the Raska administrative district last night, and that he cannot say whose they are, but that some were activated by citizens of our country. “Videos of downed drones are not for the general public, unless VBA decides otherwise. Among the observed drones there are those of KFOR. Of course, the drones do not record landscapes in nature, but are focused on recording the positions of the Serbian Army. Some enter the Ground Security Zone, some even in the territory of Serbia proper. Some are military, and some are semi-commercial, which have cameras and can carry some other things as well,” he explains.

 

Petkovic: Aim of new threat from Pristina is expulsion of Serbs (RTS)

 

The latest announcements by Kurti’s officials that the so-called Kosovo security forces can operate on the territory of the entire province, including the north, is another alarming threat and vicious announcement from Pristina with the aim of expelling Serbs from their centuries-old hearths, says the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic. It is clear to all international factors that the so-called KBS have nothing to look for in the north of the province, but Kurti and his agents obviously want to break especially those agreements that preserve peace and guarantee the safety of the Serbs in Kosovo, because that is how they want to deal with our people in the province, especially the Serbs in the north, stated Petkovic. He recalled that, according to the agreement signed and guaranteed by the then NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmunsen with the authorities in Pristina in 2013, it is unequivocally stated that any military formations from Pristina cannot operate in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, without prior double approval of the commander of KFOR and 4 mayors from the north of Kosovo and Metohija. That guarantee, says Petkovic, was signed and adopted on the same day as the Brussels agreement, which additionally indicates that that document was also a condition for the Brussels agreement. “Let them not play with fire in Pristina and stop using inflammatory statements, announcements and actions to further destabilize the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija, which they have already undermined with their unilateral and illegal and violent actions regarding the license plates,” says Petkovic. Belgrade will not allow anyone to make clay pigeons out of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and will always be with its people, and international missions must clearly define according to such an irresponsible and dangerous announcement by Kurti’s associates who only want conflicts, tensions and new crises, pointed out Petkovic.

 

Borrell: Serbs to return to institutions, Pristina to form ZSO (Beta)

 

EU High Representative Josep Borrell asked Belgrade and Pristina on Friday in Paris to “find urgently needed solutions to the current crisis”. He underlined that Serbs should return to Kosovo institutions, and that Kosovo should align its actions on license plates to past dialogue agreements and launch negotiations on the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) with no further delay. Borrell said this in a statement released from Brussels, following separate meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. He said that Belgrade’s and Pristina’s obligations, taken under the dialogue, “remain valid and binding”. The EU High Representative said that, “with the war in Ukraine, Europe cannot have another conflict on its soil,” and underlined that it is the responsibility of Belgrade and Pristina to avoid this and to refrain from any unilateral actions and inflammatory rhetoric. Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak spoke with Vucic and Kurti on Friday and called on both sides “to engage constructively and show readiness for a compromise and honor their dialogue commitments.” “Inability to deliver on obligations and de-escalation swiftly will have damaging consequences first of all on the people in Kosovo and Serbia, for the European future of both Parties and their credibility in the eyes of the European and international partners;” cautioned Borrell. “The current geopolitical environment makes it even more imperative to overcome the legacies of the past and engage in meaningful negotiations on what really matters for Kosovo, Serbia, their people and the entire region – which is the normalization of relations between the two Parties as a key factor for them to move forward on their respective European path,” said the High Representative. He said he would debrief EU Member States on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Council about his discussions and “provide his analysis of the situation.”

 

Minorities vote for 23 councils in 13 November vote in Serbia (Beta)

 

Elections for the national councils of 23 national minorities took place in Serbia on 13 November, while the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialog announced that direct votes were held for 19 councils and electoral votes for four councils. Members of the councils of the Albanian, Ashkali, Bosniak, Bulgarian, Bunjevac, Vlach, Greek, Egyptian, Hungarian, German, Polish, Roma, Romanian, Russian, Rusyn, Slovak, Slovenian, Ukrainian and Czech ethnic minorities were picked directly, while the Macedonian, Croat, Montenegrin and Goranci minorities voted for their national council members through electoral assemblies. "National councils are the most important institutions of national minorities that are extended by law 'public authorization to take part in decision-making or make independent decisions on certain issues in the areas of culture, education, information and the official use of language and alphabets with a view to exercising the collective rights of the national minority to self government in these areas," the ministry said. Almost half a million ethnic minority members were eligible to vote and included in a special voter registry.

 

We do not want to choose side, although it has its price (Politika, by Mladen Kremenovic)

 

Politika carried an interview with newly elected Serb member of the Presidency of B&H Zeljka Cvijanovic, who will assume her duty at a ceremony in Sarajevo on Wednesday, which will be preceded by taking the oath at the RS parliament on Tuesday. Asked what she will be committed to in the oath, in other words what will be the policy she will be representing, Cvijanovic replied by saying she will do what the Constitution of B&H stipulates she has to do, namely to protect the position of the RS. According to her, the position of the RS, the Constitution of the RS and interests of the RS are issues that need to be worked on in order to protect Serb interests. Asked to comment on the daily’s remark that “your coalition” will stay in power in the RS and the remark that it is unclear who could be in the authorities at the state level, Cvijanovic said ”we will soon go into formation of a new government of Srpska”, that negotiations about the state level are yet to start, that the picture is clear when it comes to the Serb and the Croat political corps and that there are uncertainties when it comes to the Bosniak corps. According to Cvijanovic, according to the current situation, SNSD and HDZ B&H will be in power, whilst one will have to wait for the Bosniak side. Asked what her expectations are in terms of cooperation within B&H, and if B&H can breathe easier without (SDA leader Bakir) Izetbegovic “whose place has been taken over by Denis Becirovic”, Cvijanovic said she does not see a big difference between political aspirations of the former and current Bosniak member (of Presidency of B&H). According to Cvijanovic, if everyone abides by the Constitution, “then we should not have a problem”. “But knowing how much disorder and collisions of two of three different concepts we had, there is not much room for optimism (…)”, added Cvijanovic. Asked about ‘your’ (presumably RS’) relation with Russia in the context of the crisis in Ukraine, especially when it comes to the EU’s expectations, Cvijanovic says she comes from the RS and it is normal she advocates official positions of “our institutions” in Sarajevo. She further stated that ‘we’ have decided to remain neutral and that she believes they will come under pressure to change their policy. Cvijanovic went on to say the RS has opted for neutrality and not to choose side, arguing that “the pressures are high and carry certain price”. Asked to elaborate on her statement that the EU path will most likely be a declarative one, Cvijanovic replied by saying, among other issues, the scepticism dates back to an earlier period and the knowledge that the process served to reformulate things within the Constitution of B&H. According to her, “knowing that the Constitution cannot be changed without consent, Brussels closed its eyes when the High Representatives adopted unconstitutional laws and they closed their eyes when the Constitutional Court of B&H assumed the role of the High Representative and instead of protecting constitutionality, it started to impose unconstitutional solutions (…)”, said Cvijanovic. She went on to say that the EU requested decentralization of the public administration and police in North Macedonia, whilst in B&H they (EU) requested centralization of these areas. “It, of course, did not happen, but that was their approach and that is not something that strengthens the EU’s credibility (…) The EU did invest a lot of money here but did not manage to remain a credible partner (…) Even this offer that we get the candidate status is happening at a globally complex political moment and carries symbolism but I do not believe it will have essential importance”, said Cvijanovic. Asked about expectations from the regional cooperation, such as the Open Balkans (initiative), the Berlin Process, Cvijanovic said the said processes offer opportunities and that she see more advantages in the ‘Open Balkans’ because it is a local initiative aimed at taking down barriers for businesses and other issues. In Cvijanovic’s opinion, ‘Open Balkans’ has more content and has more possibilities than the Berlin Process, adding that “I see in the Open Balkans everything that our colleagues in Sarajevo do not see or do not want to see, and I do not see anything they allegedly are afraid of”. Asked what her expectations are in terms of “Schmidt’s potential intervention regarding the so-called state property”, Cvijanovic said she disagree with any kind of imposition and that there is no place for High Representative in democracy. She believes that issued should be resolved by local institutions and that the “colonial principle that we have on the scene right now cannot contribute to progress of B&H”. Cvijanovic underlined that good relations with all neighbors are necessary, and Serbia, as the most important, powerful and developed country in the Western Balkans, is a country with which cooperation is inevitable. "Of course, Belgrade has special feelings towards the RS, but why should that bother anyone? Relations between BiH and Serbia need to improve, and whether that will happen depends solely on the other two members. We have heard bad messages from Sarajevo many times, which were followed by obstructionist moves that blocked economic projects from which everyone in the region would benefit, especially Serbia and B&H”, the Presidency member noted.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Turkovic meets French Minister Colonna in France, discuss relations, EU path of B&H (N1)

 

B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Bisera Turkovic visited France on Tuesday and met with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna to discuss the relations of the two countries. Colonna welcomed the extension of the EUFOR peace mission mandate in B&H. Turkovic informed Colonna that the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H has launched a process of opening the office of the French Development Agency in B&H. Turkovic expressed hope that B&H will make enough progress for the EU to award it the candidate status. Colonna expressed support for internal dialogue and the EU perspective of B&H.

 

SDA reacts to Escobar’s statements regarding IZ B&H’s stances (Hayat)

 

Hayat reports that SDA reacted to the statement of US special envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, who commented the stances of the Islamic Community (IZ) in B&H regarding changes to the FB&H Constitution and the B&H Election Law. SDA emphasized that the IZ B&H has the right to present stances on matters that are of the general public interest. SDA said it is concerning that the stances of the IZ B&H were placed under special attention, which can be seen in the comments made by Escobar. Escobar said that criticism stated against the imposed decisions are “a wrong assessment”. SDA also stated that the moment in which Escobar makes such a statement is worrying. As they say, it is worrying that Escobar's assessment comes at a time “when we are witnessing the strong involvement of a part of the international community in introducing divisions within the Bosniak and overall pro-Bosnian political being, and that same part of the international community does not deal with those who block the institutions and slow down the Euro-Atlantic path of B&H, they even reward them, as in the case of HDZ B&H”.

 

Islamic Community of B&H responds to Escobar’s claims (Avaz)

 

The Public Relations Office of the Islamic Community of B&H on Friday published a press statement noting that Escobar responded affirmatively to the question on whether criticism coming from the Islamic Community was actually a result of wrong assessment. The press release notes that the Islamic Community of B&H presented its stance on imposing of changes to the FB&H Constitution and Election Law of B&H as it deemed that partial changes imposed by the High Representative, which were limited only to the FB&H, are only deepening divisions and segregation. “The Islamic Community utterly benevolently warns its friends in the world that there is an increasing number of people, not only in B&H, who get the impression that at the height of the crisis caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, there are attempts to make concessions for Russian allies in this region at the expense of B&H and Bosniaks in order to convince them to stay in the Western bloc,” the Islamic Community stated.

 

United Srpska supports nomination of Stevandic as speaker of RS parliament (BHT1)

 

At its session held on Sunday, the Presidency of United Srpska decided to support the initiative to nominate leader of this party Nenad Stevandic as a candidate for a speaker of the RS parliament. Stevandic explained that according to the coalition agreement on distribution of ministerial positions in the RS government, United Srpska got 1.4 ministries, adding that since DEMOS got 1.7 ministries, they will have two ministries and as compensation for the second ministry, United Srpska will get the position of the speaker. He went on to saying that United Srpska will support SNSD’s candidates for the B&H House of Peoples (HoP). After the session, Stevandic also said that the Presidency of the party decided that Kostadin Vasic should be the head of the parliamentary group in the RS parliament. Stevandic stated that United Srpska also supports four lists for the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) proposed by SNSD and they will put effort into providing four delegates in the House of Peoples (HoP). He concluded that the authorities should be formed proportionately in line with the number of votes and mandates.

 

SDS Main Board accepts Sarovic’s resignation from post of SDS President, Milicevic appointed acting President (BNTV)

 

SDS Main Board held a session in Bijeljina on Saturday and accepted the resignation of Mirko Sarovic from the post of SDS President. Milan Milicevic has been appointed acting President of SDS until the completion of the intraparty elections. When it comes to the participation of SDS in authorities at B&H level, the Main Board passed a conclusion defining that the talks will continue and SDS can negotiate with all political entities both in the RS and the entire B&H. Elaborating on his first steps as the SDS acting leader, Milicevic said: “My first obligation is to propose to the Main Board at the session, which will be held very soon, a team that can be called acting presidency of SDS, because that is the statutory right of the leader of the party. That will make up the team that will lead the party until internal party elections, where practically everyone - from local boards to the SDS president - will be elected.” The Main Board analyzed the results of the general elections and agreed on the stance that the process was irregular and they are determined to start consolidating the party. This was confirmed by Milicevic, who pointed out that this requires teamwork. "Our political stance is that we have no intention of being in any way a collaborator of the regime against which we fought. In order for this battle to be successful to improve the position of the RS and the standards of the people who live in it, we will persevere in this and in this sense in some way modernize our way of working," the acting President specified. Sarovic, who handed over his authorities to Milicevic, said that he transferred his authorities to Milicevic “at own risk” and assessed that the best decision was made. Sarovic noted that Milicevic will lead SDS in the process that is ahead and it is important for the party to stay united. Sarovic concluded: “The party should come out of this only stronger. I will give my full support to such a process, I congratulate Milicevic. He will have my support and that of the other members.”

 

Djukanovic: Day of the never conquered throne of Cetinje is a celebration of the highest values of Montenegro (CdM)

 

President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic congratulated Nikola Djuraskovic the President of the Old Royal Capital, Milica Vujacic the President of the Assembly, councillors and all Cetinje residents on the Old Royal Capital Day (13 November) wishing them further success.

“Today’s celebration of the never-conquered throne of Cetinje, the City of Heroes, the beacon of freedom, one of the pillars of the millennial Montenegrin statehood, is the holiday of the highest values, independence and identity of civic Montenegro,” Djukanovic pointed out. According to him, the town under Lovcen still clearly rejects all those who, with arrogance and violence, attack the wealth of diversity, cultures and origins, built bridges of full understanding and mutual respect among us. “The messages of support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people from Cetinje prove Montenegro’s permanent commitment to the civilizational values of Europe and the modern world,” emphasized President Djukanovic. The Old Royal Capital Day, as he added, was a chance to assess the achievements and take a closer look at the future priorities.

 

Fourth attempt: Savnik elections in two polling stations repeat (CdM)

 

Voting in the Savnik local election will be repeated at two polling stations on Sunday. A total of 541 residents have the right to vote. The elections will be repeated in the polling station – building of the Municipality of Savnik – where 483 people may vote, and in the Krusevice village, where 58 Savnik residents may cast a ballot. In the previous three election rounds (on 23 Oct. 30 Oct. and 6 Nov.) the voting was interrupted after certain members of election boards didn’t all voters to cast a ballot. President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic urged competent bodies to ensure Savnik residents to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

 

THERE’S PLENTY OF US: Petition for snap elections launched (CdM)

 

The Organizational Board of the protest group named ‘Ima nas’ (‘There’s Plenty of Us’), comprising representatives of political parties, NGOs, independent intellectuals and citizens launched a petition aiming to accelerate snap parliamentary elections thus preserving the European perspective and the future of Montenegro. “Our country’s facing a deep political, institutional and economic crisis, and the only way to get back to the normal functioning of the entire society is to have snap elections, after which Montenegro would get a stable political government to run the country in a right way,” they noted. In a text, they also say that “they provided a genuine democratic chance and have been waiting for long to see the outcomes of the current government. Instead of a responsible commitment to the state interest of citizens, we got party and political calculations, revanchism, cheap populism and dangerous incompetence in the performance of public affairs. And our topmost interest is to have a political, security and economic stability, a dynamic democratic and economic development followed by better standard of living, strengthening of the Euro Atlantic partnership and the EU membership as soon as possible.”

 

Vesna Medenica released from prison (CdM)

 

Former president of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica has had her custody terminated, her lawyer Zdravko Begovic has told CdM. After six and a half months spent in the remand prison, she has been released pending trial and today she has left the Spuz prison. Her son Milos Medenica, who has been identified as the organizer of a criminal organization, remains in custody. Begovic points out that the decision to abolish detention was made by the High Court after his appeal to the Court of Appeals against the previous decision by which Medenica’s stay in the remand prison was extended. “Today, the High Court issued a decision terminating Vesna Medenica’s detention because there is no possible risk of escape, as the High Court previously considered in the original decision”, said Begovic to CdM, among other things. Medenica was awaited by her daughter Marija and daughter-in-law Tijana when she was released from prison. She did not want to make statements to the media after she left the Spuz prison.

 

Pendarovski at Paris Peace Forum: Western Balkans’ way out of global crisis is swift EU accession (MIA)

 

A solution to the systemic crisis in the Western Balkan region is increased European presence in the region. Sometimes it seems as though we have been forgotten by the EU and without a progress made by the countries on their EU path, President Stevo Pendarovski said addressing a panel held at the 5th Paris Peace Forum. It’s understandable, Pendarovski said, that in recent months everyone is talking about the security situation in Ukraine after Russia’s aggression, but the topic of security is well-known for the Western Balkans given its modern history. Referring to the region, he said there are shared challenges, demographic trends are not favorable noting that it is necessary to invest more for the young people in order to have more opportunities to succeed at home, in their own countries, the President’s office said. “Increased European presence is needed constantly, not only when there are crises,” Pendarovski stressed. North Macedonia, he mentioned, launched the process to access the European Union and the screening process is under way, expected to be concluded by the end of 2023. “After that, we can talk about the next stages in the EU accession process.” As regards the European Political Community, President Pendarovski reiterated that it should serve as an instrument helping us in the EU accession process rather than being only a debate club or a substitute for Union membership, because we’re already seeing trends of rising Euroscepticism and drop in support for EU accession of more than 20 percent. “North Macedonia joining the EU is not only need to strengthen the economy, to improve trade and the standards for living, but also political integration into EU institutions is needed as well as democratic development, strengthening of institutions, rule of law and free press,” he said. Asked about the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU, the President said that North Macedonia supports Kiev’s EU membership and that he had demonstrated his support by sending a letter to President Zelensky. Despite the situation Ukraine is in at the moment, he added, the granting of a candidate status is a strong political message from the Union, the EU’s strategic view, solidarity and readiness for demonstrating the bloc’s unity with the Ukrainian people. At the sidelines of the Paris forum, President Pendarovski held several meetings with heads of state and participants in the event.

 

Successful start of bilateral screening an incentive to speed up progress in reforms, says Marichikj in Brussels (MIA)

 

We had an excellent start to the bilateral screening, with clear and well-prepared presentations, recognized also by the European Commission experts, said Deputy PM for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Bojan Marichikj, after the first meeting of the bilateral screening in Brussels on Friday, within Chapter 5 – Public Procurement from the Fundamentals cluster. “In addition to the detailed presentations we made in the field of the legal and institutional framework for Public Procurement of the Republic of North Macedonia, we also answered to questions of the Commission and showed a high level of readiness. This is an incentive for us to move forward and complete the screening meetings as quickly and successfully as possible. It will give us a complete picture of how successful we are, where we still have a lot of work to do, and also the time frame in which we can conclude the negotiations. We have a lot of energy, we have a lot of knowledge and we are working hard to reach the goal set– European Union membership by 2030,” said Deputy PM Marichikj. As Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Marichikj is heading the Macedonian negotiating team to the first meeting of the bilateral screening, also attended by Deputy Negotiator and State Secretary Drita Abdiu-Halili and Zulfi Ismaili, Ambassador in the Permanent Mission of North Macedonia to the EU, based in Brussels. Members of the Chapter 5 working group presented the Macedonian legislative framework to the European Commission experts and the level of alignment with the EU law. The Ministry of Finance’s Public Procurement Bureau is the competent institution for this chapter, and the working group is led by the Bureau’s state advisor Aleksandar Argirovski. The explanatory screenings of North Macedonia and Albania developed in parallel but the countries are now separated for the bilateral screening. According to the EC calendar, the screening process for the Republic of North Macedonia is expected to last until November 2023.

 

Kovachevski: VMRO-DPMNE has shown the biggest support for Bulgarian clubs in the country (Sitel/MIA)

 

The ministers at a government session will discuss all aspects of the law on association, adopted unanimously in Parliament, and once the discussion points out which parts should be reviewed, then a decision can be made, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Sunday when asked to comment on the Foreign Minister’s initiative to send the amendments to the law to the Venice Commission for a review. He said he wouldn’t sent the new law on associations, which will be implemented in the country because the lawmakers passed the amendments unanimously. Commenting FM Bujar Osmani’s remarks that Bulgaria is conducting an active campaign against the law on associations in international institutions and the likelihood of the Bulgarian clubs being supported, Kovachevski said that the biggest support for the Bulgarian clubs in the country has already been shown by VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski. “The biggest support for the Bulgarian clubs in North Macedonia was shown by the VMRO-DPMNE leader saying it is a continuity of Vancho Mihajlov and the protests in Bitola were organized against the Vancho Mihajlov club,” the PM said adding it is also being assumed that the club in Bitola was also opened with the support of the largest opposition party in the country. It’s not disputable, he added, that our legislation should be examined by the European institutions and that also we need a new law on associations. “But, I do believe that this law and all others in connection with the relations with Bulgaria shouldn’t be sent to the Venice Commission.” Asked whether he will listen to Minister Osmani and convene a government session soon to decide to send the law on associations and the amendments to the Venice Commission, PM Kovachevski said that the Ministry of Justice is tasked with communicating with the Venice Commission.

 

Macedonians in Serbia elect members of their new national council (MIA)

 

Serbia held Sunday regular elections for members of the national councils of 23 national minorities, including the Macedonian, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports. Members of the Macedonian minority cast their votes in Belgrade’s National Assembly through electoral assembly because not enough voters were registered voluntarily in the single voters’ list. Of 59, 57 registered voters voted for only one list, the Borche Velichkovski List, which was ultimately elected by a majority of votes, 56. Also, 23 members of the new Macedonian national councils were elected. Electoral assembly elections enable members of the national councils to be elected in an indirect vote because all members of the national minority are not eligible to cast their votes. Only those that have applied to be voters are eligible to do so. The national councils are considered key institutions for the national minorities in Serbia, which are authorized to take part in decision-making processes or decide independently about issues in the field of culture, education and official use of the language. A total of 456,199 people voted in this year’s elections, held every four years, at 949 polling stations to elect members of the national councils of 23 national minorities, recognized in Serbia. Direct elections were held for 19 minorities and electoral assemblies were held for four minorities, including the Macedonian, Croatian, Montenegrin and the Gorani people. According to Serbia’s 2011 census, 22,755 members of the Macedonian minority live in Serbia, a drop compared to previous years. According to unofficial estimation, more than 100,000 Macedonians live in Serbia.

 

The meeting of the two governments/ Rama: Together towards the future! Kovacevski: We are an example of good neighborhood, third parties seek destabilization (Radio Tirana)

 

Albania and North Macedonia will look together towards their brighter future in all areas for the benefit of their people and their good neighborhood will not allow either third parties to create conflicts between or destabilization in the region. This was the message that Prime Minister Edi Rama and his counterpart from North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, gave at the second joint meeting between the two governments that took place in Skopje. Cooperation in the energy sector to ensure uninterrupted energy during the energy crisis but also coping with war inflation through trade agreements are also two very important issues where the parties agreed and cooperation memoranda are expected to be signed. During his speech, Rama said that the countries should cooperate while looking to the future. The two countries cannot do without each other, said Rama, and they have the duty not to allow instability between the two countries and our peoples. "In the region, we are too small to stand with each other's backs and we have a lot to do with each other. In this meeting, we also meet in terms of our joint efforts to become part of the European family after overcoming the great, torturing gap of not opening membership negotiations with the EU. Today we have both opened those negotiations and we will work together to move forward. All our countries will ask the EU to include us more and more in the whole organized effort to resist the energy crisis and war inflation and the other hand, to build a common plan that gives us the opportunity to see beyond this difficult and gloomy stage, which is not endless. We do not have to wait for the end of the war to project the future beyond it. In this aspect, I would say that Albania and North Macedonia have made some preparations, trying to project themselves in the future not only individually but also in a group as countries of the same geographical and geopolitical area. I believe that the Open Balkans has given us many new opportunities to look beyond the past to understand how we can overcome the present and to design a future that maximizes the capabilities of our countries to benefit from a space much larger than our own geographical space. We have seen good results from the agreements made in the Open Balkans and we have made progress in the Berlin Processe. These are part of each other and not mutually exclusive", said Rama, during the meeting of the two governments in Skopje. While, North-Macedonian Prime Minister, Dimitar Kovacevski said that the two countries are an example of cooperation and good neighborhood in the region and that today's meeting will strengthen and deepen this cooperation even further. He also spoke about third parties seeking destabilization in the region, but that this will not be allowed to. Kovacevski said that two of the main agreements are those of cooperation in the energy spectrum for the provision of energy in this time of crisis, and the strongest commercial connection between the two countries through the Corridor 8. "Albania showed true friendship for our common European future. Today we have seen the value of interstate cooperation. We are a true example of how good neighborhood relations are handled and we have established strong pillars to physically connect the two states. Both countries have condemned the war in Ukraine and condemn scenarios of other parties that seek destabilization in the Balkan region. The EU finally realized that it is in its strategic interest for the Western Balkans to be part of it. European recognition of the Macedonian language is important, the negotiations were difficult, but we managed to preserve our identity and preserve our language. Macedonia is determined to respect all entities living in our country. As we’ve both started the (EU) membership negotiations together, we have the opportunity to conclude the process together. It is important to create bridges of cooperation with our neighbors. One of the memorandums is that of cooperation in the energy sector and joint projects for the safe provision of energy, the connection Corridor 8 to enhance the commercial cooperation between the two countries until 2030. Good cooperation for the return of the icons in order, illegally taken out of the country, after the criminal procedure in Albania and their physical return to Macedonia. We will have agreements for mutual cooperation within the framework of the Open Balkans and the Berlin Process so that the region experiences a greater and faster integration in the European market", said North-Macedonian Prime Minister, Kovacevski.

 

Rama declared in Paris that in the name of freedom of speech, lies cannot be spread as if they were true (Radio Tirana)

 

Prime Minister Rama spoke at the "International Mobilization for the Observatory for Information and Democracy" panel. "For some time now, I have been very frustrated by the impossibility of getting a way of communication between the institutions and the media world. This affiliation has great potential to bring people together and create a space where people don't feel the need to guard each other, but feel the need to collaborate and create a space where everyone has own proper place," said Rama. The Prime Minister recalled the first contact with the prestigious "The Guardian", when it published the first article, while emphasizing that "today we live in a world that is completely different, so this challenge we face is extraordinary". "Maintaining the balance between freedom of speech and somehow regulating freedom of expression, which does not necessarily mean freedom of speech, but may imply spreading lies and something else is a huge challenge and it is the challenge of our civilization," he said. Rama said that in the name of freedom of speech, lies cannot be spread as if they were true. "I am hopeful that it will be possible for something to change. Strengthening both sides, the institutional side and those who make opposition, not only the political side, but the civic side, of interest groups, of young people, of everyone who wants to have a voice, is very, very important. So, balancing if there is a balance will save humanity. Otherwise, we will be in a very bad position and this can happen very quickly. I am very pessimistic about what can happen if some kind of rational reasoning and balance is not found," he said. Albania has officially submitted the application for membership in the International Partnership for Information and Democracy.

 

Opposition protest ended peacefully, with minor incidents (Radio Tirana)

 

The opposition protest, called by the leader of the Democratic Party, elected by the Re-establishment Commission, Sali Berisha, and the leader of the Freedom party, Ilir Meta, lasted almost three hours. With banners in their hands and calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, thousands of citizens gathered in front of the Prime Minister's Office.

Berisha who has taken the leadership of the Democratic party and the head of the Freedom Party Ilir Meta were part of the protest which opened with speeches by politicians, civil society representatives and students. The protest went on peacefully. Berisha and Meta also held a speech at the end of the protest. The calls not to surrender and for the removal of Prime Minister Edi Rama from power have been the focus of the speeches of the former PM, leader of the DP, Sali Berisha and the leader of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta. Considering the head of the government as a "traitor", Meta said that he is robbing Albania and that he has not kept any promises, but has done the opposite. " In 10 years, 'Rilindja' has only done the opposite of what it promised. Tirana is the first capital in the world for the number of fines imposed on citizens. He promised to fight poverty, but today over 67% of the population lives on less than $5.50 a day. He promised to revive the cultural heritage, but he collapsed the National Theater in the middle of the night, destroying all cultural heritage assets," said Meta. Berisha compared today's protest with the uprising for the overthrow of communism, as he emphasized that just as 30 years ago Albanians chanted "death to communism", today they should chant "death to monism", said Berisha. It was a peaceful protest with minor incidents.