Serbia

During his trip through Sjenica, Novi Varoš and Prijepolje, leader of Serbia’s Progressive Party (SNS) Tomislav Nikolić announced that he wishes for Serbia to join the EU adding that, however, there might be some difficulty should the Union demand too much from Serbia. Nikolić explained that Serbia should seek out friends anywhere so as to avoid that Serbia be influenced by one-sided ideas. Nikolić stated that much effort must be devoted to said area because many people are unemployed and thus are prone to leave the villages. The government, said Nikolić, must render life in Serbia’s villages reasonable and acceptable adding that life in the villages is in fact better than struggling in the city adding that, however, it is obvious that state services are lacking in this area (Southern Serbia). The next government, explained Nikolić, will have to restore agricultural production because it presents the easiest and fastest way of restoring previous investments.

Mufti Muamer Zukorlić has announced that he will run for president in the upcoming presidential elections. Zukorlić explained that Serbia is on the brink of collapse adding that he could present a genuine rescue program that will be acceptable to all citizens of Serbia. Presidential elections will be held on the 6^th of May together with the parliamentary, provincial and local elections. Zukorlić expects to secure a serious number of votes adding that he will not disappoint those that voted for him. Mufti Zukorlić intends to give up his leading function in the religious community “when he wins the presidential election”. Thus far, contenders for Serbia’s presidential election were Ivica Dačić from Serbia’s Socialist Party, Boris Tadić from the Democratic Party and Tomislav Nikolić from Serbia’s Progressive Party, Čedomir Jovanović from the Liberal-Democratic Party, Vojislav Koštunica from the Democratic Party of Serbia, the candidate from the United Regions of Serbia party Zoran Stanković, the leader of the Vojvodinian Hungarian Alliance Istvan Pastor, leader of the Dveri Movement Vladan Glisić and Jadranka Šešelj, the spouse of Vojislav Šešelj will go in with Serbia’s Radical Party.

“I Muftija Zukorlić se kandiduje za predsednika Srbije”. Press Online. Accessed April 7, 2012. http://www.pressonline.rs/sr/glasaj2012/Najnovije_vesti/story/213436/I+muftija+Zukorlić+se+kandiduje+za+predsednika+Srbije.html

“Nikolić: EU ako ne traže previse”. B92. Accessed April 1, 2012. http://www.b92.net/info/izbori2012/vesti.php?yyyy=2012&mm=03&dd=31&nav_id=596145

Sandžak

The city administration of Novi Pazar and the German organization Help signed a contract that will finance small business projects. The value of the project is €135,000. The local government will provide €48,000, the rest will be provided by foreign donors. Jelena Jelenković who is part of the organization in Kraljevo explained that beneficiaries for this project will receave €2,500 with which they can buy equipment and supplies, as well as conduct professional training for small businesses. Help has provided €1.75 to support small business in 15 municipalities of Serbia. The German donor organization has been present in Serbia for the past 12 years during which it has helped launch four thousand business ideas. In Novi Pazar, the organization has supported 80 such projects. The last project was carried out last year during which 32 farmers received €1,500 for greenhouses and other equipment.

Members of the police department in Prijepolje found nine illegal immigrants from Algeria and referred them to the office for asylum in Belgrade. The Algerian nationals entered Serbia illegally without possession of any valid documentation. The government has now appealed to its citizens to take note of people who’s appearance and behavior suggests that they are foreigners. This appeal is justified on the basis of the recent phenomenon by which many illegal foreigners entered Serbia frequently.

The association of public prosecutors and their deputies implemented a judicial project in southern Serbia to address the fight against inefficiency and discrimination. The project is aimed at reducing discrimination on the ground of ethnic and religious differences and will present the basis for a national model of judicial protection for victims of discrimination. Focus groups have been created so as to learn about discrimination and the results have shown that in Novi Pazar, people with disabilities and Roma most often experienced discrimination. The most common form of discrimination is found in the employment sector. Research also showed that there is no real distinction when it comes to intolerance related to race and religion.

“Krivično delo koje se još uvek nedovoljno poznaje”. Dnevni list Danas. accessed April 6, 2012. http://www.danas.rs/danasrs/srbija/hronika/krivicno_delo_koje_se_jos_uvek_nedovoljno_poznaje.73.html?news_id=237731

“Prijepolje: Otkriveno 9 ilegalaca”. B92. Accessed April 5, 2012. http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=04&dd=05&nav_category=12&nav_id=597719

“Za mali biznis 135.000 evra”. Dnevni list Danas. accessed April 5, 2012. http://www.danas.rs/danasrs/srbija/hronika/za_mali_biznis_135000_evra.73.html?news_id=237601

Bosnia i Herzegovina (BiH)

According to a document published by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, BIH will disintegrate come 2025. People that now live in the territories of BiH will peacefully part ways with the help of the European Union, so the Foundation. Between 2013 and 2020, so the foundation, BiH’s neighbors will join the EU while BiH will remain isolated due to its unresolved national question. By 2025, the international and BiH’s community will realize that peaceful separation is the only solution as most politicians and citizens of BiH encounter increasing frustration over the continuous failing process to unite the country. Under this scenario, the dissolution is expected to come by way of consensus between the EU, U.S., Russia and Turkey, and consent by the constituent peoples of BiH in 2022 at which point the Dayton 2 conference is to be held. There are four other possible scenarios proposed by the publication; by 2025, the status of BiH will remain unchanged but will be part of the EU; BiH will be a decentralized and functional state; BiH regions will integrate with neighboring states and fourth, BiH will become a functional and integrated state after violent conflict and NATO intervention. However, Paul Pasch who serves as the Foundations director, explained that these scenarios serve as intellectual exercises and are meant to encourage BiH policy makers to undertake reforms regarding their political strategies. Tanja Topić who heads the Friedrich Ebert Fondation in Banja Luka explained that the foundation sought to encourage and open up debate on BiH by way of this provoking document. The document was not created maliciously but instead meant to shake up BiH politicians to improve internal relations.

April fifth marked the 2oth anniversary when two women were killed by Serbian snipers at the peace rally in Sarajevo, marking the beginning of BiH’s war. The 1990’s war in BiH now also serves instructive purposes as we whiteness many characteristics that resemble current occurrences in Syria. Similarities lie in the terrible barbarity, sectarian slaughter, mass movements of people, religions, sects, tribes and clans. Once again we are faced with warnings related to topography, this time coming from Syria’s deserts, mountains and cities; and once again we hear that arming the Syrian opposition could worsen the killing. All those arguments were brought forward during the war in BiH. Robert Kaplan’s Balkan Ghosts – read by former president Bill Clinton - so Radio Slobodna Evropa, laid bare – layer by layer – the intricacies of ethnicity and religion found on the Balkan Peninsula and described a whirl of harmonious intolerance among Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Islam and Judaism. Kaplan portrayed the Balkans as a mysterious, exotic place of blood feuds and incomprehensible politics and sent a clear message – not to enter the Balkans. Clinton followed this advice and did not enter Bosnia until it became necessary upon which NATO ended the killing. Today, the Friends of Syria are slowly coming to the conclusion that something else must be done. A coalition was to be assembled, but this effort failed due to Russian and Chinese opposition. A new attempt is now brought forward, the killings could be ended by means of communication…Many of the same methods were applied in BiH, lots of promises that do little to end the conflict. The Syrian uprising is now a full-fledged civil war. More than 9,000 people have perished, mostly civilians. For Syria’s president Bašar al Assad, there is no coming back. He will never consent to any plan according to which he will have to give up power, as this would indicate the end of him. The stakes get higher and higher, the death toll rises. In the meantime, the Friends of Syria are upset. During the meeting in Istanbul last Sunday, U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton stated that Assad ought to be judged on the basis of his actions, and not on the basis of his promises regarding what he will do. Exactly; what Assad does is killing his fellow citizens: Syrians. What others are doing: NOTHING. Hillery Clinton is the last person in the world that has to remind us about the lessons of BiH. She was in the White House when her husband was “converted”, and approved to the airstrikes that finally ended the war. How is it possible that she is listening to the same arguments on why not to arm the Syrian opposition, and against the bombardment of Bašar’s military. She listens to the same experts that warn her about Shiites, Sunnis and Alavites and how nobody really knows who leads the opposition. There surely is confusion, though there is always confusion. It is the United States that ought to bring back order. It is an art form as to how to address these issues; yet, the U.S. sate department knows how to do it. BiH showed that even in war there exists progress. Syria’s war will become much worse. Many more people will be killed, and then the U.S. will have to show Turkey and Saudi Arabia how to clean up the mess. The bridge on which the two women were killed will surely serve as the place where the 20^th commemoration of BiH’s war will be held. The Friends of Syria should attend this event. They would learn a lot there.

“Bosanski rat nudi lekcije za sirijiski sukob”. Slovodna Evropa. accessed April 3, 2012. http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/bosanski_rat_nudi_lekcije_za_sirijski_sukob/24536117.html

“Bosna se raspada do 2025”. Brčko.net. accessed April 3, 12. http://ebrcko.net/vijesti-brcko/bosna-se-raspada-do-2025.html