Serbia and the EU

The visit in late December 2011 of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign policy and security advisor Kristof Hölzgen to Serbia was intended to make clear the conditions Serbia faces regarding the upcoming decision on Belgrade’s EU membership candidacy. Clearing the barricades in the areas of Jarinje and Brnjak were, according to Danas, of less importance compared to the parallel Serbian institutions in Kosovo. The understanding of what these institutions are, however, differ between Belgrade and, for instance, London, Paris and Berlin. When discussing parallel institutions in Kosovo, EU member states have in mind institutions such as police stations and courts that are, as Danas reported, funded by Belgrade while they are under the control of local criminals. Belgrade, on the other side, has in mind kindergartens, schools, local universities and hospitals. At any rate, eliminating parallel institutions are the most important factor deciding over Serbia’s EU candidacy status in March as was reported in late December.

Following Hölzgen’s visit, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Čedomir Jovanović stated that nobody who wished for a “normal” future should recognize an independent Kosovo. Recognizing Kosovo, according to Jovanović’s words, “would be a crime against our children who would be poised to live on a hallmark of national frustration, humiliation and defeat that could culminate in retribution and revenge based on a new holy war for Kosovo”. Jovanović also stated that the current administration failed to take responsibility for its failure to secure EU membership status while Serbia has lost her right to expect anything in return from the EU.

Serbs resident in Kosovo meanwhile requested Kosovar license plates on masse as was reported by an international news agency in Kosovo. 4686 Serbian individuals exchanged their license plates, which is an uptick of 400 percent from November 2011. A Serb who was questioned why he chose to do so answered that driving to central Serbia cost him 100€ a day upon returning to Kosovo. Now, he only pays 400 Dinar when entering Central Serbia. In his words, he rather pays Belgrade than Kosovo when making a trip to Serbia.

“Srbi masovno traže kosovske tablice.” FOCUS. Accessed December 25, 2011. http://focusnewsinfo.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/srbi-masovno-traze-kosovske-tablice

“Niko normalan ne može priznati nezavisnost Kosova.” NoviMagazin.rs. accessed December 24, 2011. http://www.naslovni.net/2011-12-24/novi-magazin/niko-normalan-ne-moze-priznati-nezavisnost-kosova/3055746

“Absolutno jasne poruke Berlina”. Dnevni list Danas. accessed December 23, 2011. http://www.danas.rs/danasrs/politika/absolutno_jasne_poruke_berlina.56.html?news_id=230819

Sandžak

Deputy of the Sandžak List to the Serbian Parliament Esad Džudžević stated that claims for the autonomy for Sandžak are not separatist demands. Instead, autonomy would serve the reason of economic development to which, according to Džudžević, 95 percent of all Bosniaks of Serbia would agree. The Deputy added, however, that Muamer Zukorlić pursued separatist policies that were harmful to Muslims. Later on, Džudžević called on Bosniaks to unite so as to pursue the implementation of guaranteed national rights and the struggle for regional autonomy. At the celebration of the BNV’s two decade long existence, Džudžević that a united stance in regards to the past. A unified stance would also extend to squander attempts to rehabilitate the Četnik leader Draže Mihajlović and the Četnik movement that, according to Džudžević, harasses and insults Bosniaks while they steer Serbia away from EU membership. Džudžević also demanded the persecution of war criminals that were responsible for massive human rights violations against Bosniak residents of Sandžak in the period between 1991-1995.

Sulejman Ugljanin, minister without a portfolio, spoke of the Islamic Community (IZ) in Serbia stating that there should be unity among Muslims as there is unity in Serbia’s Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish communities. The IZ, according to Ugljanin, did not exist for the Islamic leaders, but for the citizen who wish to exercise their religious rights. Ugljanin rejected previous claims by which he supposedly violated Serbia’s governmental regulations as he sat beside a member of the Kosovar delegation at a conference in Turkey. The conference, according to Ugljanin, was not of international nature. Instead, he visited Turkey, as did Bosniaks from other Balkan areas, as a descendent of Turkey. Ugljanin announced that his party, the Democratic Action Party of Sandžak (SDA) will hold a congress at which he plans to announce his strategy ahead of the upcoming elections in Serbia adding that he expected a better turnout for his party then in the recent past. The minister believes that this time around, citizens will know for whom to vote “as the fog has lifted and masks have fallen”. Sandžak, as Ugljanin explained, is a multinational and multireligious area where memories of a war ridden past and hatred do not exist. Instead, it is a place of religious and governmental tolerance – a fact recognized by the EU.

The city square of Novi Pazar, Sandžak, has no official name while according to the ruling party, the Sandžak Democratic Party (SDP) as well as the her opposition party, the Party of Democratic Action of Sandžak (SDA), the square carries the name Isa-beg Isaković. The name was received this year when Novi Pazar marked the existence of five and a half centuries. When the decision regarding the name of the square was made, the unified Serbian party, headed by the cities’ parliamentary speaker Borko Jovanović, left the assembly. Jovanović stated that he would not sign such a decision adding that he would leave it to Tariq Imamović who was supposed to head the following session. The open question regarding the name of the square, however, was forwarded to the ministry of human and minority rights who after a waiting period of three months time professed its inability to make a decision regarding the inquiry. The case attracted national attention and stirred national feelings that ware ascribable to the indecisiveness and lack of review of the council interethnic relations.

At a session held in Novi Pazar, the Bosnian National Council adopted a conclusion that set out to analyze the current state of education, culture, official languages, scripts, human rights and treatment of Bosniaks in Sandžak, Serbia. The BNV’s intentions are to work out a plan in accordance with the committee’s findings. At the session, the BNV also issued full support to Mustafa Cerić and his engagement regarding the protection of religious and national rights of Bosniaks in Bosnia i Herzegovina and Sandžak as well as the diaspora. The Council also sharply condemned Serbian president Boris Tadić as he, according to the BNV, returned to Milošević policies that were intended to create a greater Serbia. The following week the National Council of Sandžak opened an office in Sarajevo. According to the official website of the IZ of BiH, Enver Zornić will represent Sandžak in matters of national, political, economic and cultural interests.

In an interview with Blic Online, head of Serbia’s Islamic community Adem Zilkić proposed that both him and Muamer Zukorlić withdrawal from the Islamic community so as to open the door to reconciliation. Zilkić affirmed his believe that IZ seat ought to be located in Belgrade – Serbia’s capitol city – as is the case with the Islamic community of Montenegro, Macedonia and Turkey who based their IZ seat in their respective capitals. Zilkić further stated his expectation that Belgrade be a provider of services and mediator between the disparate Islamic communities while expecting from Turkey to be an impartial mediator in this process. In Zilkić’s words, Serbia’s Islamic community has been historically autonomous. Accordingly, Mustafa Cerić is the head of the Islamic community of BiH, and not the Islamic community of Serbia. However, should the national reconciliation want an Islamic community of/for Bosniaks, Cerić is welcome to implement muftiats upon verifying the mandates. However, the existence of a transnatinal Serbian Islamic community is not possible. Zilkić concluded on the note that the biggest problem of Serbia’s Muslims is the lack of religious infrastructure such as adequate spaces for prayer – the masjid, religious education and the lack of qualified personnel to carry out the implementation thereof. This is especially true for the Muslims of Sandžak. The problem is also of economical nature and it is a well knows problem that Muslim citizens reside on some of the least developed areas where infrastructure is only poorly developed while investment there is yet amiss. This situation brings about dissatisfaction and depression, especially among the young. Zukorlić answered to this proposal by stating that these are the doings of the Serbian regime who seeks the split of the IZ while Zilkić was the last man who could suggest anything regarding the IZ.

According to a report published by Novosti.rs, leader of the Wahhabi community of Vienna Hafiz Muhammad Porča finances the purchase of villages in BiH so as to set up communities whose existence is in line with the Sharia. Wahhabi’s, predominantly found in BiH, have since the war of the 1990’s bought over 300 Serbian and Croatian villages the latest example of which is the Serbian village of Gornja Dubnica in Kalesija. According to the head of Southeastern Europe’s counter terrorism team Dževad Galijašević, Porča created the “Unijon džemata selafijske dava” that is funded by Saudi Arabia. The Union in turn allegedly disperses funds to BiH as well as to Serbia and Macedonia and other villages that have become the property of Wahhabi’s. Galijašević argues that lawyers engaged in and around BiH and other regions in Austria perform the purchases. Obtained properties and places include Maoče near Brčko, Ošve near Maglaja and two villages near Zavidović Rujnice and Stog. Other villages whose property has been bought with funds coming from Vienna are villages near Hatkinje Nnjive and Jezero that border Republica Srpska. In Galijašević’s words, it is striking that many villages purchased are located in the boarder region between BiH and Republice Srpske. The villages meanwhile are organized according to jamaats and include between 20 – 100 houses. In the estimation of the counter terrorism team, there are about 730 such villages in BiH.

Muftija: Nema prgovora sa Zilkićem. Sandžak Press. Accessed January 3, 2012. http://sandzakpress.net/muftija-nema-pregovora-sa-zilkicem

“Vehabije parama iz Beča kupuju srpska sela.” Novosti.rs. accessed January 3, 2012. http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslova/aktuelno.293.html:360411-Vehabije-parama-iz-Beca-kupuju-srpska-sela

“Zilkić: Zukorlić i ja treba da se povučemo sa svih funkcija.” Blic Online. accessed January 3, 2012. http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Politika/299448/Zilkic-i-ja-treba-da-se-povucemo-sa-svih-funkcija

“U Sarajevo otvoreno predstavništvo Sandžaka.” Radio-Televizija Vojvodine. Accessed December 29, 2011. http://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/u-sarajevo-otvorneo-predstavnistvo-sandzaka-_292282.html

“Džudžević pozvao Bošnjake na konzensus.” Blic Online. accessed December 29, 2011. http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Politika/298393/Dzudzevic-pozvao-bosnjake-na-konzensus

“BNV: Podrška Reisu Ceriću i osuda povratka Tadića na Miloševićevu velikosrpsku politiku.” Bosnjaci.Net. accessed December 25, 2011. http://www.bosnjaci.net/prilog.php?pid=44552

“Trg u Novom Pazaru bez zvaničnog nazica.” FOCUS. Accessed December 26, 2011. http://focusnewsinfo.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/trg-u-novom-pazaru-bez-zvanicnog-naziva/

“Ugljanin: Treba nam objedinjena IZ.” FOCUS. Accessed 26, 2011. http://focusnewsinfo.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/ugljanin-treba-nam-objedinjena-iz/

“Autonomija Sandžaka ne znači separatizam.” FOCUS. Accessed December 25, 2011. http://focusnews.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/autonomija-sandzaka-ne-znaci-separatizam/