Serbia

Serbia’s president Boris Tadić stated that he was not able to sign the document “Preokret” (Turning Point) which was presented to him by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO). Tadić explained that it was an “illusion and delusion” to think that Serbia would accelerate its admission to the EU with a changed policy toward Kosovo. At the same time, Tadić added that the Great Powers will not allow questioning gains thus far brought about in Kosovo. Tadić noted that it was an anomaly and questioned why the LDP and SPO had invited him to sign the document in the first place. He stated that he was not able to change Serbia’s course of policy on Kosovo to bring it in line with the Ahtisaari Plan as was proposed the LDP and SPO adding that doing so would lead to an exodus of Serbs from Kosovo so that in three months time no Serb would be left in Kosovo. Upon the president’s refusal to sign the document, head of the LDP, Čedomir Jovanović, criticized the president. In a written statement, Jovanović stated that the president “was seriously wrong” if he deemed the “Preokret” document extreme and in any way unpatriotic. Insead, Jovanović stressed that “Serbia had no time to lose” and that signatories to the document included the bravest representatives of Serbia’s civil society. Tomislav Nikolić meanwhile stressed that he will insist on renewed dialogue with Priština regarding the status of Kosovo i Metohia. Nikolić, as he put it, addressed EU officials and he will seek support from the USA and Russia in his endeavor. “Serbia must not discontinue its institutions in Kosovo” and if the discontinuation thereof becomes a stipulation that is tied to EU membership, then “the EU should consider if it wants Serbia in the EU or not”. Tadić meanwhile is walking a fine line stating that the Albanian side would like to see a simple process by which Kosovo was acknowledged while Serbia cannot do that. However, according to Tadić, this does not mean that a solution is impossible to find. In an analysis of the transpiring events, Predrag Simić, professor of political science at the Belgrade University, stated that events such as the above are part of the pre-election contest in which differing parties situate themselves in differing camps. What is clear, according to Simić, was that there a two sides are transpiring; one side will argue that the future of Serbia lies in EU membership while the other will stress national security and the importance of Kosovo.

The Chief Mufti of the Islamic Community in Serbia Muamer Zukorlić announced that the Islamic community will unite regardless of official Belgrade support or lack thereof. Zukorlić assured that he is not interested in politics. Instead, he explained, he is interested in politicians’ action. The Mufti stated that Muftis and Imams are not allowed to participate in politics as was decided ten years ago and that he accepted this decision. Zukorlić added, however, that he will not stand idly by when politicians start to meddle in the matters of the Islamic community. Turkish foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived in Belgrade on the 12th of November where he met with foreign minister Vuk Jeremić. He was scheduled to meet with Tadić and later with Muamer Zukorlić so as to find a solution to unite the split Islamic community of Serbia.

Boris Tadić stated that Serbia was not being asked to meet new conditions, but that Serbia needed to find out who was hiding war criminals for its own sake. This he told reporters upon meeting Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague in Belgrade. It was important to detect, according to Tadić, if there was/is a political network that protected war criminals and that these needed to be found for the protection of the security system and respect for the rule of law in Serbia.

“Još bez dogovora o prelazima”. Radio-televizija Srbija. Accessed November 13, 2011. www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/Politika/990020/Još+bez+dogovora+o+prelazima.html

“Davutoglu u Beogradu”. Radio-televizija Srbije. accessed November 12, 2011. www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/Politika/989676/Davutoglu+u+Beogradu+.html

“Tadić: Važno otkriti ko je pomagao skrivanje optuženika”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 9, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija.168277.html

“Zukorlić: Jedinstvo bez obzira na Beograd”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 8, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija.168173.html

“Tadić: Ne mogu da potpišem document Preokret”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 6, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168075.html

“Nikolić: Insistiraću na ponovnom dijalogu o statusu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 6, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168073.html

KiM

On November 9th, KFOR removed the barricade that was months before erected by Serb citizens on the administrative border crossing of Jarinje near Leposavića. Serb citizens resident in Leposavića, Leška and other towns nearby hurried to protect the barricades and to erect a new one in its place. KFOR thus employed tear gas and stated that the employment thereof was necessary so as to disperse the crowd. State Secretary Oliver Ivanović stated regarding the incident on the border that the actions taken by KFOR were wrong and that such action will not prevent Serbs from creating alternate routes to Serbia.

“Probijena barikada blizu Jarinja”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 9, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168289.html

Serbia and the EU

Karl Bilt meanwhile assured Serbia that the removal of the barricades on the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings are not regarded as new conditions that decided for or against Serbia’s EU membership while solving the question of the administrative border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo was. According to Bilt, Germany did not stipulate the removal of the barricades until the 9th of December which is when the commission decides on Serbia’s EU membership. However, there are questions within the EU itself. For instance, some states wonder whether an eastward expansion is necessary. Bilt expressed his concern not with regard to Serbia, but concerning EU enlargement per se as the EU is faced with economic and financial problems.

“Bilt: Uklanjanje barikada nije povezano s kandidaturom”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 10, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168332.html