Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)

German and Bosnia-Herzegovinian security services cooperate closely on the potential threat of poisoned water and food in Germany as was announced in a video message by Mevlid Jašarević prior to his shooting rampage at the embassy in Sarajevo. The German embassy in Sarajevo confirmed that the two states are exchanging information regarding the potential threat stemming from radical Islamists that are currently in custody, awaiting charges. The German embassy confirmed to news outlet Dnevni Avaz that cooperation revolves around these cases. In the seven-minute long video message, Jašarević stated attacks on Germany are due to their involvement in the war in Afghanistan in addition to having claimed that Muslims in Bosnia and surrounding regions plan a new “massacre”. Jašarević reportedly said that “America has its allies, one of which is Germany. Germany openly attacked Afghanistan and I declare war on Afghanistan. It is not a new war, but instead a new kind of war”, adding that food and water will be contaminated. The video was recorded shortly before the attack on the U.S. embassy and found in Gornja Maoča, a place inhabited by followers of the Wahhabi movement.

President of the Democratic People’s Union (DNS) Marko Pavić stated that Republica Srpska (RS) and thus BiH cannot join NATO as long as Serbia too is not part of this alliance. Pavić added that only after that decision and the referendum in RS can a decision regarding NATO membership be made. If BiH were to enter a partnership with NATO without Serbia’s joining, so Pavić, we would create an artificial border on the Drina and we do not want to, nor should we create such a border. Therefore, only after Serbia’a accession and the referendum that must be passed by RS’s citizens will BiH be able to join NATO.

The battle against corruption will be the greatest determining factor regarding BiH’s EU accession, as Stefan File, the EU’s commissioner on the Unions enlargement noted. BiH, so File, is in a relatively early stage regarding the battle against corruption, as this phenomenon is prevalent in many areas and a serious problem in private and public sectors. Regarding a potential date for BiH’s accession, File stated that it was too early to talk about accession dates yet. File also reminded that BiH ought to implement all necessary steps regarding food regulation and safety for all agricultural products and other food exports in general. The EU commissioner also reminded that the upcoming donors conference on refugees ought to be viewed from a regional perspective. In other words, it is necessary to find sustainable solutions for refugees and displaced persons that are most in need. The solution should be based on two principles; voluntary repatriation and local integration. However, final decision lie with the refugees, said File. The program, reminded File, is tied to refugees, and not the state. Based on data released by the United Nations High Chair for Refugees (UNHR) and according to surveys conducted by international organizations for migration, the most vulnerable refugees are actually located in Serbia and Serbia is slated to receive €335 million, BiH will receive €120 million.   

“File: Korupcija ključna za BiH”. B92. accessed April 20, 2012. http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=04&dd=20&nav_category=167&nav_id=602190   

“Bosna može u NATO kad u njega uđe i Srbija”. Vesti Online. accessed April 22, 12. http://www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-YU/219662/Bosna-moze-u-NATO-kad-u-njega-ude-i-Srbija

“Njemačka I BiH Istražuju Jašarevićeve Prijetnje”. Atlantska Inicijativa. accessed April 20, 12. http://www.atlantskainicijativa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1560%3Anjemaka-i-bih-istrauju-jaarevieve-prijetnje&catid=45%3Avijesti&Itemid=118&lang=hr   

Serbia

A group of citizens submitted the presidential candidacy of mufti Muamer Zukorlić to the republic’s electoral commission. More then 12,000 citizens supported Zukorlić’s candidacy. Chief of Staff for Zukorlić’s election Ferhatović Jahja explained that he expected Zukorlić to be victorious on May 6^th adding that Zukorlić will bring about the revival of Serbia’s state and society. Among those who supported the mufti’s candidacy are people that currently reside in Vienna as well as a lot of Serbs, so Ferhatović. Ferhatović explained that the process of garnering signatures for Zukorlić was obstructed by the legislature and the ruling coalitions, the DS, as Boris Tadić and Rasim Ljajić sought to prevent the mufti from garnering enough signatures to be deemed eligible for the presidential race.

The three minister’s of interior affairs from BiH, Montenegro and Serbia, Sadik Ahmetović, Ivan Brajović and Ivica Dačić met in Zlatibor, Serbia, to discuss increased cooperation on terrorism, organized crime, border security, and exchange of information regarding EU integration. The organized crime, said Dačić, does not know borders adding that police cooperation in that field is imperative. In fact, explained Serbia’s minister Dačić, cooperation among the ministries for the interior is very high, if not higher than political cooperation. The EU, according to Dačić, has increased pressure for the regions to also increase cooperation on their borders while the minister perceives the security of the citizenry as more important. Ahmetović added that BiH is working on a document by which the question of terrorism will be central so as to resolve said phenomenon.        

“Dačić: Kriminal ne poznaje granice”. B92. accessed April 22, 12. http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=04&dd=22&nav_category=12&nav_id=602749

“Predata kandidatura Zukorlića”. Radio-televizija Srbije. accessed April 14, 2012. http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/1950/Izbori+2012/1083296/Predata+kandidatura+Zukorlića.html