Serbia and UN cooperation

Belgrade June 28. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbia and UN recently signed a new five year partnership document. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia William Infante put their signatures on the document. The Serbian foreign minister said that the new strategy between Serbia and the UN marks a new era in the cooperation between Serbia and the UN. The strategy involves USD 250mn of investments in projects between 2011 and 2015, which will be designed by the government and other partners, the Foreign Ministry has announced. The five-year strategy will support Serbia's efforts in European integration. It focuses on three areas: responsible government, sustainable development and social inclusion and finally regional stability and cooperation. The document was created in agreement with Serbian ministries and government agencies, civil society representatives and other partners. All of the projects within the new strategy are based on five general principles that define the UN global interest: gender equality and suppression of gender discrimination, environmental sustainability, human rights protection, development and government based on results, all of which are part of the UN Millenium Development Goals. The UN is proud that Serbia sees it as a reliable partner, said Infante. According to him, the strategy will rely on the experience and expertise of more than 24 resident and non-resident agencies that will provide counselling, achieve concrete results and strengthen Serbia's leadership position in the region

Tadic: EU, do you really want to accept all Balkan countries?

Belgrade June 26. 2010. (Serbia Today) EU has to be honest and say if it wants to accept all countries of the Balkan”, Serbian president Boris Tadic said addressing to recently held summit of heads of state and governments of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) During the conference in Istanbul Tadic also highlighted the union should reveal if is prepared to work with Balkan countries in a very practical way to ensure the existing criteria is fulfilled. "We all have our constraints, but we deal with them. We do not just let them be used as pretexts for doing nothing. Thus, Serbia expects that positive atmosphere and messages from recently held meeting in Sarajevo between EU and Western Balkans will be translated into action," Tadić said. Speaking about the importance of regional cooperation, Tadić pointed out that it has to be focused on fight against organized crime, the transnational networks of which pose the most direct danger to the region's prosperity. "Serbia has declared total war on organized crime and it will spare no effort in its mission to eradicate this threat. Serbia's zero-tolerance policy means no one-absolutely no one-will be permitted to stand beyond the reach of the law. Our police and judiciary institutions will continue their relentless pursuit of crime bosses and their collaborators," Tadić pointed out. Once again Tadic pointed out that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo independence.

Deputy PM Djelic in four-day visit to U.S.

Belgrade, June 26. (Serbia Today) - On Monday Deputy  PM and Minister of Science and  Technological Development Bozidar Djelic started a four-day official visit to the United States. Djelic will meet with heads of multinational companies like “Hewlett Packard, Intel, Altera, Cisco Systems, Oracle and Nokia.” According to the announcement from the Serbian ministry for Science and Technological Development the aim of these meeting will be to launch “concrete projects that will be implemented within the framework of the recently signed Agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between Serbia and the U.S.”

Brammertc: We act as Mladic is still alive

 
Belgrade, June , 25. 2010. (Serbia Today) - The chief prosecutor of the tribunal in The Hague, Serge Brammertz (Serge Brammertz) said that the court, and the Serbian authorities act under the assumption that the Hague fugitive Ratko Mladic is still alive. Brammertz said that at a press conference after the regular semi-annual reports of UN Security Council, responding to a journalist's question whether the court is against Mladic's family decision to declare dead of the Hague fugitive. He said that the Hague Tribunal "is the assumption that the Mladic is still alive" and that the competent authorities in Serbia have the knowledge that he is  still hiding. The prosecutor reiterated that the arrest of fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, remain the highest priority to the prosecution. "The message is clear, there is no alternative to arrest Mladic", he said. Brammertz announced that in the past six months, the Serbian authorities continued with the operational activities for the arrest of Mladic and Hadzic, but there is still not enough real results  and that is why  Belgrade should  re-evaluate the current way of searching, expand the investigation and intensify efforts to find and arrest. Mladic. Lawyers of  Ratko Mladic family handed over on June 16 in the First Instance Court in Belgrade, the proposal to declare that dead of the Hague fugitive.


Council of Europe recognize resolution 1244

Belgrade, June 24. 2010. (Serbia Today) Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg adopted a resolution on Kosovo status, which emphasizes neutrality of the oldest European organization considering Kosovo status. Also resolution highlight the need of strong commitment to overcome problems in the field of rule of law, democracy and respect for human and minority rights. The resolution implement the neutral policy of Council of Europe towards Kosovo status and further recognizes the validity of Security Council Resolution 1244. 33 members of the European organization recognized the Kosovo independence.

United regions victory in the Bor local elections

Belgrade, June 23. 2010. (Serbia Today) The United Regions of Serbia (URS) coalition and the Socialist Democratic party of Serbia (SDPS) won the most votes in the local elections in Bor. Leader of the United regions of Serbia is G17 plus president and economy minister Mladjan Dinkic while lieder of SDP is labor minister Rasim Ljajic. Election monitors CeSID. According to CeSID's (election monitor) preliminary results, based on 80 percent of the votes, URS won 25.15 percent of the vote in the eastern Serbian municipality. According to the organization's Regional Coordinator for eastern Serbia, Radomir Milošević, the Change for Bor Group led by SNS and NS, finished second with 18.7 percent. The Democratic Party (DS) led “For a European Bor” finished third with 17 percent of the vote, while the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition finished fourth with 11.8 percent of the vote. LDP also passed the 5-percent threshold with 6.57 percent, as did DSS with 5.48 percent. The Serb Radical Party (SRS) did not pass the census, with only 4.8 percent of the vote. Milošević said that the elections would be repeated in seven days at one polling station where irregularities were noticed. SPS official in Bor Branko Ružić said that the elections results are “proof of the vitality and continuity of excellent results in all parts of Serbia” for the coalition. G17 Plus deputy leader Vladimir Ilić said that the parties of the state government would be in power in Bor as well. Ilić said that it made sense for the local government to be formed through a coalition with the municipal presidency going to a member of the URS. “This is the first time since the URS was founded that it has participated in an election,” Ilić said. The final results are expected to be known by June 23. According to initial statistics, 43 percent of registered voters in Bor participated in the elections.

New political battle for Kosovo?

Belgrade, June, 22. 2010. (Serbia Today) - New political battle will ensue after the International Court of Justice gives its opinion on Kosovo’s independence, writes Priština daily Express. The daily writes that this will have consequences for both Belgrade and Priština. “Both sides will try to interpret the opinion to their advantage, and the winner will be the side that shows greater political power,” unnamed sources from Kosovo institutions told the daily. They also said that “partner countries” of Belgrade and Priština would also be involved in the process. Priština is announcing new recognitions after the ICJ’s decision is given and expects help in that process from countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence. “One step which will be taken by the Kosovo institutions is that they will send demands for recognition to countries that have yet to do so. Along with the demands, they will be sending their interpretation of the court’s decision,” the source said. The daily states that experts of the International Crisis Group (ICG) believe that Priština and Belgrade will “begin talks from different positions” after the court decision. “Serbia will have to treat Kosovo as an equal side. Belgrade will try to talk about the possibility of discussing Kosovo’s status, while Priština will insist on talks that only include technical questions,” ICG analyst in Kosovo Naim Rashiti said. He said that Priština and Belgrade would not talk only about technical questions, because there is a possibility that there will be talks about some parts of the Ahtisaari proposal for Kosovo’s status. The ICJ’s opinion is expected unofficially some time in July.

Nato ministers discuss reduction of KFOR numbers

Belgrade, June 21. 2010. (Serbia Today) NATO defense ministers met recently in Brussels to, among other issues, consider a possibility of further cutting KFOR numbers in Kosovo. The ministers concluded that additional political and military assessments of the security situation in Kosovo were needed before a decision is made on the reduction of the number of KFOR troops to 5,000 and on shifting the mission into a "deterrent phase.” The defense ministers of NATO and other countries whose troops are part of the NATO-led peacekeeping force in the province said that “despite the occasional security incidents in Kosovo, general developments are still moving in the right direction, toward greater security and stability, as well as stronger local institutions.” This was stated by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who said that the ministers had not yet developed an exact program of reducing and transforming KFOR into a deterrent mission, although this is the aim that will be gradually achieved. Rasmussen was asked at a news conference to say whether the KFOR mission would be downsized regardless of the recent clashes between ethnic Albanians and Serbs on the bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica and of other incidents. "We occasionally witness some incidents, as was the case a couple of weeks ago, but I believe", Rasmussen said, "that the general development is clear - an improvement of the security situation." "And this will allow for a gradual reduction of our military presence (in Kosovo)," Rasmussen explained.
 
 

Tadic: Serbia strongly against corruption

Belgrade, June 19. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbia remains absolutely committed to fighting corruption and organized crime, says President Boris Tadić. He spoke in Belgrade at the recent opening of a round table dedicated to the fight against corruption and organized crime in southeastern Europe. Someone's political affiliation, family ties or role in the society will not provide them with protection, Tadić was quoted as saying. “As you can see, nobody's protected in Serbia, people who are in a way national icons and represent living monuments in the society are not protected,” he said, adding that “everyone's entitled to a fair trial”. According to Tadić, Serbia remains committed to EU integrations and wishes to contribute to the regional stability, and that in all of Europe, “and for that reason Serbia remains a partner to the Western Balkans and all European countries in the fight against organized crime and corruption”. Justice Minister Snežana Malović echoed the president's statements, adding that the success of that fight will depend on a “change of mentality of the citizens”, and on establishment of a “new system of values”. As for the state's role, the minister believes that it will “implement laws consistently” and in this way secure efficient prosecution of corrupt individuals and breaking up of financial channels used by crime groups. “This applies to all who have illegally acquired their economic power no matter what their social status is, and who use that power to corrupt state officials, buy media outlets and manage financial institutions,” said Malović.

3 EU states against Serbian candidature

Belgrade, June 18. 2010. (Serbia Today) - 24 EU member-states support the forwarding of Serbia’s candidate application the European Commission, writes Belgrade daily “Vecernje novosti”. As Večernje Novosti reported, Belgium, Holland and Germany were against it. At the EU Ministerial meeting held on June 14, discussions regarding the issue were longer than expected, and as a result, the working lunch between the Ministers and Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz also lasted longer, says the article. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, who is sees as the main proponent of the hard-line position, did not back down at the meeting, while Italy's Franco Frattini was “as usual” on Serbia’s side, writes the daily. The EU meeting in Luxembourg decided that the Stabilization and Association agreement between Belgrade and Brussels, signed two years ago and suspended, can be ratified in EU member-states' parliaments, but a decision on Serbia's EU candidate status bid was postponed. “Serbia needs to be even closer to the EU, in every aspect. The Italian proposal is that Serbia needs to receive the ratification and have its (candidate) application forwarded to the Commission. We will continue to try to convince all those who are indecisive about moving ahead with this,” Frattini was quoted as saying. He added that the candidacy question should be discussed at the next EU ministerial meeting in July, and also said he expected the SAA ratification process to be swift, even though it has been known to last over a period of several years. “I believe that all the countries of the EU will ratify the SAA with Serbia by the end of the year,” Frattini said. Several countries announced that their parliaments would be urged to put the issue on their agendas immediately, while Holland will continue to insist on further extraditions of fugitive war criminals to the Hague Tribunal before doing so.

Serbian officials: EU decision is big step for Serbia

Belgrade, June 17. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Deputy PM Božidar Đelić claims that the EU decision to ratify the SAA with Serbia was a “big step and an important moment for the country”. According to Đelić, Serbia has “thus become an EU associate member”. "Parliaments of all EU member states will ratify the agreement and thus show the investors in their respective countries that Serbia is a secure place and that it is possible to do business with us, which will increase the number of investors and jobs in our country," Đelić said. He pointed out that, even though it was not expected, the European ministers added an official conclusion regarding Serbia's candidacy. "First of all, they welcomed the candidacy, second of all they greeted Serbia's efforts within the EU integration and third, they decided to return to the issue of candidacy very soon. This means that already in the fall Serbia may make its second big step towards Europe, that is the European Commission may be given the green light to consider our candidacy," Đelić said. "In that case, Serbia's goal to become a EU candidate country by mid 2011 would become a reality," he stressed. The Council concluded that Serbia has submitted the request for EU membership on December 22, 2009, and greeted the country's commitment to EU integration, whereas Serbia's request for acquiring candidate status will be considered subsequently. The Stabilization and Association Agreement between Belgrade and Brussels was signed in late April 2008, but was immediately suspended pending Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković voiced the expectation that Serbia would gain European Union candidate member status in 2011. Cvetković said the process of ratifying the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and the EU could last one to two years, as parliaments of the 27 members of the bloc would have to confirm the deal.

EU citizens can come to Serbia without passports

Belgrade, June 16. 2010. (Serbia Today) Citizens of EU member-states, as well as from Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, can enter Serbia as of Saturday with only their personal identification cards. The Serbian government passed a decision on May 28 regarding countries whose citizens can cross the border into Serbia without a passport, as long as they have a valid identification card. The officilas of Interior Ministry said to the Tanjug news agency that the border patrols are organizationally and technically equipped to perform such border controls. Citizens of these countries that enter Serbia without a passport will be able to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days.

Parliament works for BIA and not for citizens

Belgrade, June 15. 2010 (Source : B92) - The ruling coalition in Serbia has no intention of forcing security services to obtain court permission if they want to follow who, with whom, for how long and when is communicating by phone or via Internet. It is obvious that the amendment to the law on electronic communications suggested by Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic for protection of privacy of communications is not going to be accepted by the Parliament. As one of the reasons for refusal of the Ombudsman’s proposal mentioned by the whip of the ‘For European Serbia’ caucus Nada Kolundzija is that the amendment has not been filed ‘in line with the parliamentary procedure’. Jankovic denied that claim at his site and presented electronic copy of the document forwarded to Serbian Parliament. On the other hand the ruling coalition has accepted amendment to article 130 which includes supervision by the Secretary for information of public importance. If we are talking about possible abuse of authority that security services have, then we think a debate should be opened over that topic and see if laws defining that sphere should be changed. This is a basic law in the field of telecommunications and it cannot define segments such as judicial system and security services. If somebody thinks that this is not in line with the Constitution, then opinion by the Constitutional Court of Serbia can be requested. If that court rules otherwise, that decision has to be respected. We think it is not in contradiction with the Constitution’, Kolundzija said

Deputy PM Božidar Đelić says he expects Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's report to be sufficient for EU countries to ratify the SAA.

Belgrade, June, 12. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbia and the EU signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in the spring of 2008, but its ratification was immediately blocked, with the Netherlands demanding Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Đelić, who is to head a state delegation in Luxembourg on June 14, said that there will be communication with Brammertz, who will also be present, and that a decision to start the ratification process would be an important step forward in Serbia's European integration. "Yesterday we had a meeting with the political director of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and what we heard is an indication of a positive outcome, but he said that there will be additional consultation between the Dutch parliament and the Dutch government this week", Đelić told state broadcaster RTS. Asked whether anything could change after today's parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, Đelić said that in terms of ratification the position will not change, but the fact that there are elections in the Netherlands and Belgium is an aggravating circumstance for the expected second step, which is "forwarding of the nomination to the European Commission for consideration.” Asked whether he expected negative reactions of the EU member states that have recognized Kosovo, Đelić said that “Serbia does have only friends in Europe, it is up to our country to fight, to enter into an alliance and to do what is in the interest of its citizens.” “Full-fledged EU membership is in the interest of Serbia, but not at any cost. Kosovo is an inseparable part of Serbia, and we as a country respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which has arranged issue in southern Serbia is a specific manner", concluded Đelić.

Jeremic: Possibility for historic compromise

Belgrade, June 11, 2010. (Serbia Today) - Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic said that the possibility for a historic compromise to be reached between Serbs and ethnic Albanians will increase after the decision of International Court of Justice (ICJ). Jeremić specified that this would happen once the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reports back to the UN General Assembly regarding the legality under international law of the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. The proclamation was made two years ago, and was rejected by Belgrade. Now, speaking in Lima, Peru, Jeremić stated that Serbia was ready to engage in dialog. “My country is ready to engage in a good-faith dialog that produces a solution to the Kosovo problem acceptable to all parties. Serbia will be constructive in the talks to come, for a solution needs to be found, requiring flexibility on all sides.”  At the 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Lima, Jeremić underlined that Serbia “will never accept an imposed outcome that aims to unilaterally terminate our sovereign rights in Kosovo”, adding that “this is neither just nor legitimate, or sustainable.” Jeremić underscored that the consequences of a positive outcome would not only be felt in our corner of Europe, adding that they would provide a critical boost to all who are committed to consolidate a rules-based international order for the 21st century-“one in which unilateralism is clearly seen as a threat to stability, and one in which reaching agreement is an essential element in enhancing the security of the world.”

SAA ratification, if Brammertz’s report is positive

Belgrade, June, 11. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Director of the Dutch Foreign Ministry Department for South East and East Europe Caspar Veldkamp said in Belgrade on Monday that Holland could give its consent for the EU Council of Ministers to commence the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) if Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz gives a positive report on Serbia's cooperation with the war crimes court. According to a statement issued by the Serbian parliament, Veldkamp conferred with Serbia's President of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs Dragoljub Micunovic. He reiterated Holland's stance that the apprehension of the remaining Hague indictees is important for Serbia's EU path and relations between the two countries. The delegation from Holland, which included Dutch Ambassador to Serbia, Ron van Dartel, noted that Serbia is a leading country of the Western Balkans and that there can be no full integration of the region into the EU without it, adding that Serbia needs to meet all the criteria and conditions on its EU path. Serbia's “recognition of Kosovo” is not a condition to its EU accession, but “development of good neighborly relations”, said the statement.
 

Debate started in Parliament, opposition says Soskic might not be preferred NBS candidate

Belgrade June, 10, 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbian Parliament opened on Monday in an extraordinary session to debate amendments to the Law on the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), which will be applied in the selection of Governor. New Serbia party Director Borislav Borovic, however said that Dejan Soskic might not be the preferred choice. He noted that Soskic prefers a flexible exchange rate of the domestic currency, which could “disqualify him as a desired candidate for this position.” Borovic also said that “the Serbian government intends to defend the exchange rate at all costs by pumping euros into the Serbian foreign currency reserve, which was a strategy agreed on in the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.” “That is why the speculations are real that the NBS governor would be someone who is closer to that concept”, he said,

Brammertz: Serbia to alter the strategy in search for Hague fugitives

Belgrade June, 09, 2010. (Serbia Today) - Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will propose in his report on Serbia’s cooperation that Belgrade alter its strategy in the search for Hague fugitives, reported Serbian television B92. Brammertz has already submitted his report to ABOU Serbian in cooperation with the Tribunal to United Nations diplomats. At the same time Daily Politika writes that Holland will support the ratification of the SAA with Belgrade if Serge Brammertz’s cooperation report is positive. As Serbian media reported, Brammertz will reiterate that Serbia’s efforts in trying to locate the remaining fugitives are continuing, but that there should be a change in strategy in the search for Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić. According to the document, which B92 has seen, Brammertz will recommend that Belgrade spread its search into different directions instead of focusing their work on individual investigations. Brammertz will also state that there is no proof to justify the belief that Mladić is not in Serbia. Brammertz will commend the cooperation of the National Council for Hague Cooperation which has met all of the Hague Prosecution’s demands regarding the exchange of documents. He also is expected to praise the fact that 3,000 pages of Mladić’s diary were handed over to the Hague office, adding that the information contained in these pages is of great importance to a number of trials. Brammertz will be reporting to the UN Security Council and EU ministers on Serbia's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal some time in June Daily Politika has learned from inside the cabinet of Holland’s foreign minister that the parliamentary elections in the country on June 9 will not be an obstacle in supporting the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU. “If you are asking what will happen if Brammertz is content with cooperation, then it is possible that Holland’s answer will be positive”, a source from Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen’s cabinet Gijs Korevaar told the daily. “If Brammertz is satisfied as he was when he wrote the positive report in December, we will not reject the start of ratification”, he said. Hague Chief Prosecutor Brammertz will give his next report to the UN Security Council on June 18, when EU foreign ministers will meet for the last time under the Spanish presidency. Belgium will assume the EU presidency on July 1

State Secretary: There will be new Kosovo status talks

Belgrade, June, 08. 2010 (Serbia Today) -Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic has said on Friday that there will “certainly be new negotiations about the status of Kosovo.” Such negotiations are necessary and they are always better than conflict, he added, and warned of the danger of high tension and conflict in case there were no talks. “It is very important that both sides realize the need for the talks and a reasonable solution” said Ivanovic and pointed out that the world is slowly realizing the correlation between Kosovo’s status and stability in the Balkans. “That’s why the position that new talks and finding of a sustainable solution are necessary is increasingly maturing. And it will be sustainable only if supported by Serbia”, he emphasized. According to the state secretary, it is imperative to secure a ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which favors the Serbian position.

National Council: Serbia cooperates with the Hague Tribunal

Beograd, June, 07. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Serbia has answered all 1,886 requests filed by the Hague tribunal prosecutor, which referred to documentation, access to state archives, allowing witnesses to disclose confidential information and other issues that are the responsibility of the council,  announced The Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. The Council also concluded that Serbia's responsibilities have been carried out in a routine and problem-free manner. The council concluded that this applies "both to the cooperation with the office of the Hague prosecutor and the indictees' defense teams.” The council feels that these results were achieved because of the established mutual trust between the council on one side and the office of the Hague Prosecutor and indictees' defense teams on the other. With that in mind, the council concluded it necessary to maintain the existing level of cooperation through joint efforts with other government institutions