Sandzak

In a declaration reached at a meeting of the Muslim Supreme Council in Mecca, the human rights situation for Muslims of Serbia was declared worrisome. Mufti Muamer Zukorlic was attending the meeting in Saudi Arabia where the council called for greater attention to the Sandzak, Southern Serbia. According to the Islamic Communities’ website, Serbia’s government ought to stop the isolation of Muslilms and Bosniaks in Sandzak. The Supreme Council called on the Islamic Cooperation Organization to pay close attention to events unfolding in Serbia in light of the government’s role in the genocide against Muslim Bosniaks in Bosnia i Herzegovina (BiH) at the end of the 20^th century. Serbia’s government was further asked to stop obstructing the process of creating a unified Islamic Community. According to the Islamic Community, Serbia’s Islamic Community was adopted as a member to the Council, the highest representative body for Muslim organizations.

The strategy on the development of culture will be finished by the coming fall, said Aida Corovic, head of the NGO UrbaIn of Novi Pazar. Serious investments from the EU will not reach this area without a strategic plan and documents. The problem, said Corovic, cannot be resolved overnight but must be tackled with a long term plan. It is important that as many people as possible participate in this process, especially those that possess the competency in cultural issues, the young and those that partake in cultural events.

“Corovic: Strategija O Razvoju Kulture NP Do Jeseni”. June 20, 2012.

http://www.akter.co.rs/30-kultura/7568-orovi-strategija-o-razvoju-kulture-np-do-jeseni.html    

“Muslimanska svetska liga zabrinuta za Sandzak”. RTV. June 17, 2012. http://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/muslimanska-svetska-liga-zabrinuta-za-sandzak_325869.html

Serbia

According to analysts, Serbia’s government is most likely to be formed by the Democratic Party (DS) in coalition with Serbia’s Socialist Party (SPS)-the Party of United Pensioners (PUPS)-United Serbia (JS) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-United Regions of Serbia (URS). Meanwhile, Vesna Pesic, sociologist and critique of Serbia’s government, stated that the government ought to get rid of people such as Ivica Dacic who has become like a “little Slobodan Milosevic”. Ivica Dacic and his party, the SPS, however, gained further strength with the DS’s dwindling political clout. The reason for this is that much time has passed without the DS taking much action to form a new government. Dacic has thus become an important factor that has to be counted with when thinking about the new Serbian Government. In other words, Dacic will get the chance to form his own coalition should the DS not act soon. Dacic too is thought of seeking the Premiership – the Russian government and Mira Markovic, the late president Slobodan Milosevic’s wife, have been reported to support Dacic in his endeavor.

After Tomislav Nikolic’s visit to Brussels and participation in the Rio summit, Serbia’s first official state visit will lead him to Turkey. Nikolic will also need to decide on whom will take the post as head of the cabinet. Vladimir Cvijan is believed to be take on this function. Milan Bacevic and Aleksandar Nikolic are likely to serve as Nikolic’s advisors.

Head of the news portal E-Novine Petar Lukovic critiqued the government after the news agency was cut off from access to electricity. E-Novine, according to SEEbiz, has an outstanding bill of 60.000 Serbian Dinars for which is why the paper was cut off from its access. Luskevic, however, explained that many citizens as well as companies have outstanding bills that surpass the amount owed by E-Novine while only the papers’ electricity was turned off. Not even the Milosevic regime cut newspapers off from electricity, said Luksevic. He sees the incident as a message from the government as E-Novine published a series of articles regarding fraud, manipulation and lies in governmental circles. E-Novine, Luksic added, has already been under pressure for the past three years. The goal of this pressure is to ruin the paper economically, but they will not succeed in this endeavor, so Luksic.

“Lukovic: Ovo ni Milosevic nije radio, shvatio sam to kao pomenu”. June 20, 2012.

http://www.seebiz.eu/lukovic-ovo-ni-milosevic-nije-radio-shvatio-sam-to-kao-opomenu/ar-38119/

“Prva Nikoliceva medudrzavna poseta – Turska”. Novi Magazin. June 18, 2012.

 http://www.novimagazin.rs/vesti/prva-nikoliceva-medjudrzavna-poseta---turska

“Vesna Pesic: Treba Skloniti Malog Slobu”. Blic. June 18, 2012. http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Politika/328852/Vesna-Pesic-Treba-skloniti-malog-Slobu