Serbia

Serbia’s president Boris Tadić announced that any existing links between Serbia’s political structures and the organized crime are severed adding that the upcoming elections are crucial in fighting the organized crime. According to Tadić, the fight against crime was not carried out with determination and only gained considerable strength with the current government. Tadić stated that the organized crime is not the generator of corruption as practices common in the nineties are no longer prevalent in Serbia. Tadić explained that Serbia, as well as other Eastern European states are no longer heavens for the organized crime as they know that they will be systematically rooted out. Successes listed by the president in proof that fighting against the organized crime is successful included the seizure of more than two tons of cocaine from South America as well as the confiscation of property paid for by criminal activity worth 350 million Euros.

Vojislav Koštunica, leader of the Serbian Democratic Party (DSS) stated that Serbia should “forget” about EU membership and instead ought to develop as an independent political state. According to Koštunica, Serbia should follow its national and state interest as opposed to bowing down to Brussels. Brussels, Koštunica continued, is not Serbia’s capital city: “we have a state and her name is Serbia”. Koštunica assured that he does not wish for Serbia to become isolated. Instead, he wishes to cooperate with all EU states. The leader of the DSS stated that policies tied to Serbia’s seeking of EU membership status comes with the price of losing Kosovo adding that the current government is ready to sacrifice Serbia’s state and national interests only so as to receive EU membership candidacy.

“Koštunica: Srbija da zaboravi na članstvo u EU”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 4, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/170148.html

“Tadić: Prekinuta Veza kriminala i politike”. Kurir. accessed November 29, 2011. www.kurir-info.rs/vesti/politika/tadic-prekinuta-veza-kriminala-i-politike-154614.php

“Tadić: U Srbiji nema veze kriminala i politike”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 29, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/169764.html

Serbia, the EU and KiM

Brussels announced that Serbia is likely to receive EU candidacy status with the stipulation that continued talks between Kosovo and Serbia be fruitful. Upon a dialogue between Serbia’s vice president Božidar Đelić and head of the Belgian embassy, Đelić stated that since the danger of escalating violence in northern Kosovo is reduced, Serbia can count on Belgium’s support regarding candidacy status. Meanwhile, Serbia is likely to know if it will receive candidacy status by December 5, 2011.

Continued dialogue between Priština and Belgrade was taken up again on November 30^th this past week. Borislav Stefanović stated that despite the difficult situation in northern Kosovo, both parties seek to find a solution regarding Priština’s representation in regional forums as well as crossings. Prior to the eighth round of talks, Stefanović stressed that KFOR should no longer try to remove the barricades by force adding that dialogue with Priština will continue to be difficult as Kosovo will not succumb from its self proclaimed status of being an independent state.

Tadić meanwhile advised Serbian citizens of northern Kosovo to remove the barricades. Defense minister Dragan Šutanovac echoed this notion as he noted that the security situation in northern Kosovo is critical emphasizing that Serbs should listen to their president. Head of the European Union caucus Nada Kolundžia added that the barricades are starting to threaten the lives and security of the citizens on the barricades as well as local residents. In such a situation, Kolundžia stated, one should forget about policies and incentives in the interest of people’s lives and security. Šutanovac added that it is not in his or the governments interest to arm-twist anybody into accepting the presidents wishes while it was important that Serbs on the barricades should work with the government as doing so lies in Serbia’s greater interest.

Meanwhile, the dialogue between Zubini Potok’s Mayor Slaviša Ristić and the KFOR’s commander of the German/Austrian unit Franz Pirkerk ended without any results save for an agreement that solutions to the situation in northern Kosovo will be brought about peaceful ways. In the near future, KFOR will not attempt to remove any barricades while Pirkerk stated that KFOR wants to establish a checkpoint by which to selectively inspect through traffic.

“Bez dogovora Srba i Kfora”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 2, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti.srbija/170052.html

“Šutanovac: Srbi sa severa Kosova treba da uklone barikade”. Studio B. accessed November 30, 2011. www.studio.rs/info/vesti.php?ik=70893

“Šutanovac: Srbi sa severa Kosova treba da uklone barikade”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 30, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/169834.html

“Stefanović: Barikake odigrale ulogu”. Politika Online. accessed November 30, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/tmea-dana/Stefanovic-Barikade-odigrale-ulogu-lt.html

“Stefanović: Barikade odigrale ulogu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 30, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/169823.html

“Đelić: O status ćemo znati 5. XII”. B92. accessed November 29, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=11&dd=29&nav_category=1262&nav_id=561612

“Đelić: Belgija za status kandidata Serbije”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 29, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/169752.html