Serbia

Serbia’s president Boris Tadić stated that he was not able to sign the document “Preokret” (Turning Point) which was presented to him by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO). Tadić explained that it was an “illusion and delusion” to think that Serbia would accelerate its admission to the EU with a changed policy toward Kosovo. At the same time, Tadić added that the Great Powers will not allow questioning gains thus far brought about in Kosovo. Tadić noted that it was an anomaly and questioned why the LDP and SPO had invited him to sign the document in the first place. He stated that he was not able to change Serbia’s course of policy on Kosovo to bring it in line with the Ahtisaari Plan as was proposed the LDP and SPO adding that doing so would lead to an exodus of Serbs from Kosovo so that in three months time no Serb would be left in Kosovo. Upon the president’s refusal to sign the document, head of the LDP, Čedomir Jovanović, criticized the president. In a written statement, Jovanović stated that the president “was seriously wrong” if he deemed the “Preokret” document extreme and in any way unpatriotic. Insead, Jovanović stressed that “Serbia had no time to lose” and that signatories to the document included the bravest representatives of Serbia’s civil society. Tomislav Nikolić meanwhile stressed that he will insist on renewed dialogue with Priština regarding the status of Kosovo i Metohia. Nikolić, as he put it, addressed EU officials and he will seek support from the USA and Russia in his endeavor. “Serbia must not discontinue its institutions in Kosovo” and if the discontinuation thereof becomes a stipulation that is tied to EU membership, then “the EU should consider if it wants Serbia in the EU or not”. Tadić meanwhile is walking a fine line stating that the Albanian side would like to see a simple process by which Kosovo was acknowledged while Serbia cannot do that. However, according to Tadić, this does not mean that a solution is impossible to find. In an analysis of the transpiring events, Predrag Simić, professor of political science at the Belgrade University, stated that events such as the above are part of the pre-election contest in which differing parties situate themselves in differing camps. What is clear, according to Simić, was that there a two sides are transpiring; one side will argue that the future of Serbia lies in EU membership while the other will stress national security and the importance of Kosovo.

The Chief Mufti of the Islamic Community in Serbia Muamer Zukorlić announced that the Islamic community will unite regardless of official Belgrade support or lack thereof. Zukorlić assured that he is not interested in politics. Instead, he explained, he is interested in politicians’ action. The Mufti stated that Muftis and Imams are not allowed to participate in politics as was decided ten years ago and that he accepted this decision. Zukorlić added, however, that he will not stand idly by when politicians start to meddle in the matters of the Islamic community. Turkish foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived in Belgrade on the 12th of November where he met with foreign minister Vuk Jeremić. He was scheduled to meet with Tadić and later with Muamer Zukorlić so as to find a solution to unite the split Islamic community of Serbia.

Boris Tadić stated that Serbia was not being asked to meet new conditions, but that Serbia needed to find out who was hiding war criminals for its own sake. This he told reporters upon meeting Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague in Belgrade. It was important to detect, according to Tadić, if there was/is a political network that protected war criminals and that these needed to be found for the protection of the security system and respect for the rule of law in Serbia.

“Još bez dogovora o prelazima”. Radio-televizija Srbija. Accessed November 13, 2011. www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/Politika/990020/Još+bez+dogovora+o+prelazima.html

“Davutoglu u Beogradu”. Radio-televizija Srbije. accessed November 12, 2011. www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/Politika/989676/Davutoglu+u+Beogradu+.html

“Tadić: Važno otkriti ko je pomagao skrivanje optuženika”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 9, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija.168277.html

“Zukorlić: Jedinstvo bez obzira na Beograd”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 8, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija.168173.html

“Tadić: Ne mogu da potpišem document Preokret”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 6, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168075.html

“Nikolić: Insistiraću na ponovnom dijalogu o statusu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 6, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168073.html

KiM

On November 9th, KFOR removed the barricade that was months before erected by Serb citizens on the administrative border crossing of Jarinje near Leposavića. Serb citizens resident in Leposavića, Leška and other towns nearby hurried to protect the barricades and to erect a new one in its place. KFOR thus employed tear gas and stated that the employment thereof was necessary so as to disperse the crowd. State Secretary Oliver Ivanović stated regarding the incident on the border that the actions taken by KFOR were wrong and that such action will not prevent Serbs from creating alternate routes to Serbia.

“Probijena barikada blizu Jarinja”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 9, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168289.html

Serbia and the EU

Karl Bilt meanwhile assured Serbia that the removal of the barricades on the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings are not regarded as new conditions that decided for or against Serbia’s EU membership while solving the question of the administrative border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo was. According to Bilt, Germany did not stipulate the removal of the barricades until the 9th of December which is when the commission decides on Serbia’s EU membership. However, there are questions within the EU itself. For instance, some states wonder whether an eastward expansion is necessary. Bilt expressed his concern not with regard to Serbia, but concerning EU enlargement per se as the EU is faced with economic and financial problems.

“Bilt: Uklanjanje barikada nije povezano s kandidaturom”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 10, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/168332.html

Eurasian News This Week

Russia-China-SCO - Russia and China stand for accelerating the expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This was announced this Thursday by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich.

"The SCO has repeatedly in different formats and at different levels confirmed that the organization's membership is open to other countries in the region which are ready to comply with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the organization and other international documents adopted within it," he said, "We have similar positions with China on this issue, and we actively promote the idea of ​​expansion." "This issue is present in all forums, including the upcoming November 6-8 meeting in St. Petersburg," added Lukaszewicz.

"This is about Pakistan and Iran, who filed the application; and India intended to join the SCO; and Afghanistan expressed the desire to become an observer; Turkey would like to have a dialogue partner status." recalled the Foreign Ministry. "Of course, the expansion of the SCO is not so simple, it requires careful analysis and evaluation", he stressed.

Kyrgyzstan-China - The future president of Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Atambaev, and his political allies seem intent on calibrating the cash-strapped country’s foreign policy so that it aligns with Bishkek’s dire economic needs. This is likely to force Kyrgyz officials into a delicate balancing act in which they are challenged to keep the country’s two largest trading partners - Russia and China – happy. “To win an election without Russian support and the votes of the Russian-speaking population is difficult. But as president he will have to accommodate a quieter, more necessary force – that force is China.” said Osmonakun Ibraimov, who served as a state secretary under former president Askar Akayev and later became an economics professor at Manas University in Bishkek.

Atambayev made membership in a Moscow-led customs union, along with a general orientation toward Russia, a cornerstone of his successful presidential campaign, even though making good on such a pledge could threaten the crucial trade relationship with China by muddling tariff policy. At the same time, Kyrgyz policymakers, including Atambayev’s allies, are taking steps to assuage potential Chinese concerns by helping Beijing fulfill an old dream: construction of a Chinese-Kyrgyz-Uzbek railway.

Chinese officials have long entertained hopes for expanding the Kyrgyz export corridor, underscored by the fact that their plan to lay more than 300 kilometers of steel rails across the heart of Asia dates back to the late 1990s, when Kyrgyzstan’s WTO membership spurred Beijing to mull new export strategies. The railroad would be “like a port for a landlocked country” that would “connect Kyrgyzstan with the global economy,” said Ibraimov. As an early proponent of the rail route, he maintains the project could help unify Kyrgyzstan economically. Currently, only one mountainous highway connects the northern and southern provinces. The train track is planned to run from Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Andijan in Uzbekistan, where it would link into the Uzbek rail network and shave hundreds of kilometers off the existing China-Europe route. Uzbekistan has already agreed in principle to pay for its own section of the track, which would total only 50 kilometers or so.

On the Kyrgyz side, economic necessity is running up against national pride. The idea of a Chinese-owned track slicing through their country sits uncomfortably with many Kyrgyz, who are emotionally averse to an increase in Chinese influence of any sort. Many Kyrgyz look distrustfully at China’s rapid growth, fearing their giant neighbor could swallow the tiny country.

Turkmenistan-EU - The European direction is an important vector of Ashgabat's new energy policy, said President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the International Conference "Global integration of energy markets - ensuring energy security" on Thursday afternoon. Berdimuhamedov in his address said that at present, Turkmenistan is actively developing its own pipeline systems, and "the work of delivering Turkmen natural gas to Europe has become one of the main goals of Turkmenistan's energy policy. And, accordingly, Trans-Caspian pipeline system is an important project that demonstrates the readiness of Turkmenistan to the mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested parties." Turkmen president also stressed that at present there is a discussion of a gas pipeline "Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India."

Articles referred to in this post:

"Россия и Китай выступают за ускорение процесса расширения ШОС" (Russia and China stand for accelerating the expansion of the SCO)

http://www.rg.ru/2011/11/03/shos-anons.html

"Кыргызстан: Китай хочет проложить железнодорожный 'Шелковый путь'" (Kyrgyzstan: China wants to pave the railroad "Silk Road")

http://russian.eurasianet.org/node/58976

"Президент Туркмении: Энергетический вектор Ашхабада направлен в Европу" (President of Turkmenistan: Ashgabat energy vector is directed to Europe)

http://www.rosbalt.ru/exussr/2011/11/03/908302.html

Serbia and Kosovo i Metohija

Russia’s foreign minister Sergej Lavrov stated that circumventing UN Resolution 1244 in an attempt to resolve the Kosovo issue was a “gross violation of international law and may lead to destabilization in the Balkans”. In an interview with the evening news, the minister reiterated that Russia will not recognize the “self-proclaimed” independence of Kosovo adding that Moscow will continue to act within the boundaries of the international law. Asked about the trafficking of human organs in Kosovo, Lavrov answered that “without an impartial and diligent investigation into the illegal trade of human organs, reconciliation and normalization in the Balkans will be hard to achieve”. Russia supports Serbia’s proposal of a special investigation regarding illegal trafficking that would be carried out under the guise of the United Nations. Answering the question regarding U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Romania, Lavrov explained that such actions illustrate that the U.S. will go in with its plans regardless of Russia’s worry about said implementation. Lavrov asserted that Russia was willing to prolong its dialogue on missile defense with the U.S. adding that Russia was forced to protect its security should Russia be ignored in the future.

Kosovo, meanwhile, has started to issue biometric passports which counts as one of the conditions for visa liberalization. At the ceremony, interior minister Bajram Redžepi stated that citizens will receive their passports 15 days from the date of application. The ceremonial issuing of passports was held in attendance of prime minister Hašim Tači as well as a “large number of foreign ambassadors”. Tači stated that the issuing of biometric passports was an important step for Kosovo.

KFOR removed the barricades that were erected by Serb citizens by the Brnjak administrative crossing only to be re-erected later by those same citizens. Such circumstances did not unravel by the Jarinje crossing. Serb citizens, according to Politika Online, were especially nervous regarding a rumor that the barricades were to be removed upon an agreement reached between KFOR and Belgrade. KFOR, meanwhile released a statement stating that all actions undertaken on the border are carried out upon consent with Serbian officials.

“Kfor uklonio barikadu, Srbi podigli još veću”. Politika Online. accessed November 5, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/tema-dana/Kfor-uklonio-barikadu-Srbi-podigli-jos-vecu.lt.html

“Kosovo počelo da izdaje biometrijske pasoše”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 1, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167635.html

“Lavrov: Moskva ne menja stav o Kosovu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 1, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167677.html

“Lavrov: Zaobilaženje rezolucije 1244 vodi destabilizaciji”. Smedia. accessed November 1, 2011. www.smedia.rs/vesti/vest/79157/

Serbia

Serbia needs to maintain privileged relations with Russia as economic cooperation amounts to nearly as much as does Serbia’s and the EU’s, as was declared following a meeting on economics last week in Belgrade. Aleksandar Konuzin, Russia’s ambassador to Serbia, stated that cooperation is especially high in the energy sector. Russia’s goal is, according the Konuzin, that Serbia become the main exporter of energy in, as well as well as beyond the region. Konuzin stated that Russian investments to Serbia were the highest since the inception of cooperation between Belgrade and Moscow pointing toward a greater cooperation in the future. ABS Holdings president and vice president of the Democratic Party (DS) Nenad Popović stated that Serbia’s relations with the EU would be better if Moscow – Belgrade cooperation were stronger adding that wise economic policies will preserve and maybe even further Russian – Serbian relations in spite of closer EU – Serbia relations.

“Konuzin: Saradnja s Rusijom približava Srbiju EU”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 1, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167634.html

Sandžak

According to Blic, the Serbian government refused to sign an agreement of reconciliation between the two Islamic communities brought to Belgrade by the Turkish foreign affairs minister Ahmed Davutoglu. The reason for Belgrade’s refusal, as Blic writes, was that only one muftiat was to be led by a person that is close to Adem Zilkić while five six spots were reserved for people close to Muamer Zukorlić. “Nothing would be achieved except the elimination of the Islamic community that is based in Belgrade would such an agreement be signed”. According to Blic, neither Serbian president Boris Tadić nor minister Vuk Jeremić wished to support such an agreement. The six mufti’s would be present in Novi Pazar, Tutin, Sjenica, Prijepolje, Priboj and Nova Varoš. However, president of the Islamic community of Serbia Samir Tandir denied these allegations asserting that nobody in the government was foreseen to sign the agreement. Tendir told Beta that these allegations are the result of somebody’s “nerves”.

Mufti Muahmed Jusufspahić of Serbia stated that secularism should be respected suggesting non interference of religion into politics as well as non interference of politics into religion when he was faced with the question of a Serbian – Turkish mediating role between the two Islamic communities of Serbia. Answering the question of Wahhabism in Serbia, Jusufspahić said that there about 300 “expressed” Wahhabis in Serbia who “cannot” pose a problem to the Islamic community of Serbia. He pointed out that not every “so called” Wahhabi is a terrorist while, however, there are enough terrorists among them. Jusufspahić added that there are also “plenty” of criminals within the ranks of the Wahhabi movement.

As Politika Online reported, assistant police director Saša Mitrović warned a few months ago that there are signs for possible attacks by Wahhabis in the Balkans. The two most influential “radical Islamist Bosniak factions” are the so called Nesretis and Tekfiris. The Nusretis are under the command of Nusret Imamović from Maoče, BiH. The Nusretis reportedly insist on Jihad, a topic that is a frequent topic in the group’s sermons. According to conducted investigations following the attack on the U.S. embassy last week, there is information that Jašerević worked in Maoči having travelled to Austria often. From this, Politika writes, one can extrapolate that Jašerević belonged to Nusreti’s group. Leading the Tekfiris is Nedžak Balkan from Austria. The group has decided not to preach Jihad while not ruling it out completely. Relations between the two factions are allegedly not good while they plan on improving them. Politika further reported that, according to “reliable sources”, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived in Belgrade this past week so as to investigate the terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy in Sarajevo. The FBI reportedly sought to cooperate with the Serbian ministry for the interior. Upon arrival in Belgrade, the investigators are thought to travel to Novi Pazar so as to gather information regarding last week’s shooting. According to Politika investigations, the FBI plans on meeting Ivica Dačić, minister of the police, so as to obtain information Serbia has gathered thus far about radical Islam in the Balkans.

“FBI istražuje vehabije i u Novom Pazaru”. Politika Online. accessed November 5, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/tema-dana/FBI-istrazuje-vehabije-i-u-Novom-Pazaru.lt.html

“Jusufspahić: Principi IZ su čisti i jasni”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 2, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167758.html

“Tandir: Razgovori nisu prekinuti”. B92. accessed November 1, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=11&dd=01&nav_id=554109

“Propao sorazum o pomirenju dve Islamske zajednice”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 1, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167675.html

Serbia and the EU

Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament, welcomed the Commission’s decision to grant Serbia the status for EU candidacy while sending a message that Serbia must continue its dialogue with Kosovo as the crisis following violence in northern Kosovo was unacceptable. In Buzek’s words, Serbia is very close to candidate status and the start of membership negotiations. The key, however, are normalized relations with Kosovo. “It it is a requirement”. For instance, free movement of people and goods must be guaranteed. Minister for Kosovo i Metohija Goran Bogdanović meanwhile asserted that Serbia will not withdraw Serbian institutions from Kosovo as this would represent a “quite ethnic cleansing” of Serbia’s own people. Answering on Serbia’s withdrawal of institutions as part of the EU’s conditions, Bogdanović stated that this is inacceptable as Serbian citizens are only held in those parts where Serbian institutions exist.

“Bogdanović: Srbija ne odustaje od institucija”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 4, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167934.html

“Buzek: Neophodno nastaviti dijalog s Prištinom”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed November 3, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167823.html

Eurasian News This Week

Russia-China - Russia insists that the price of gas supplies to China should be close to the price to the West. This was announced October 24 in Moscow by Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky. However, he found it difficult to predict whether Russia and China can sign a long-term gas supply contract by the end of the year. He also said that the differences between the parties are still in the price of gas supplies. Yanovski explained that the formula value is defined, but Russia and China can not agree on the size of the coefficients in the formula.

According to the deputy chairman of "Gazprom" Alexander Medvedev, Russia and China will hold one or two rounds of talks on Russian natural gas supplies to China by the end of this year. "The talks on gas supplies are entering the final stage, as stated Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during the recent visit to China," said Medvedev. Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said that soon Russia and China will hold the "road map" negotiations, which will include an analysis of the balance of consumption, sources of supply, and "Gazprom"'s role in the supply structure.

Russia-Kazakhstan - A Russian-Kazakhstani uranium enrichment center will begin operating in Novouralsk, Russia, in 2012, Sergei Kiriyenko, CEO of Russia’s Rosatom said October 28, according to Novosti-Kazakhstan. The Kazakhstani partners will gain experience in enriching uranium while Russia will acquire access to “the cheapest and most profitable uranium deposit in the world,” Kiriyenko said.

Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev supported Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s idea of a Eurasian Union in an October 25 Izvestia article. Nazarbayev wrote he had always considered Kazakhstan and Russia the “locomotives of Eurasian integration.” Despite this mutual intention of accelerating the process of integration, the number of ethnic-Russian emigrants from Kazakhstan to Russia has tripled. According to the representative of the Federal Migration Service in Kazakhstan, "those leaving are literate people, including professors and PhDs."

Russian Language in Central Asia - Russian is still widespread in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, but its use is fading in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, said Bakhodir Radzhabov, a Russian-language teacher at the Navoi University of Language and Literature in Tashkent. “At the beginning of the 1990s, some gave up using Russian altogether because of the upsurge of national movements and anti-Russian sentiment, but close to the middle of (that) decade, this all died down,” he said. “Now these disputes are starting again.”

Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan - The Kazakhstani parliament’s upper chamber October 27 approved US $3m (444m KZT or 135m KGS) in aid for Kyrgyzstan’s military. Under the agreement, Kazakhstan will supply armoured transport vehicles, automobiles and mortars to Kyrgyzstan, according to the chamber’s committee on international relations, defence and security. Kyrgzystan promised not to give away or let a third party use the Kazakhstani equipment.

Kyrgyz Acting Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov October 27 ordered the State Customs Service to reject further imports of coal from Kazakhstan’s Kulansk mines. Babanov issued the order one day after Kyrgyz customs officers learned incoming Kazakhstani coal has background radiation 12-15 times higher than normal. He also ordered the Energy Ministry and the Electricheskie Stantsii Company to return all un-used Kulansk coal and to terminate their contracts with the mines. Babanov will order a new tender for alternative coal suppliers if necessary, the Kyrgyz government press office said.

Kazakh Economy - Kazakhstan has enjoyed a “strong” economic recovery but should address banking-system weaknesses, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in an October 28 statement summarising a mission’s findings. The IMF projects Kazakhstani GDP to grow 6.5% in 2011 but said annualised inflation of 8.75% by the end of September exceeded the government’s target. “Banks’ balance sheets remain vulnerable,” the IMF found, calling those weaknesses “cause for concern.” The IMF recommended “timely and decisive measures” like “forceful action to ensure proper loan valuation.”

Meanwhile, the Kazakhstani government has hired former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to advise it on economic reforms. Blair spokesman Matthew Doyle confirmed that Blair has formed an “advisory group” to implement such reforms. Doyle denied reports the deal was worth up to £8m (US $13m or 1.9 billion KZT) per year.

Tajikistan Drug Trafficking Threats - Since Tajikistan assumed sole responsibility for its border security in 2004, the number of drug seizures has decreased and problems have arisen, analysts say, but some point to signs of improvement. In 2006, authorities seized about 3.5 tonnes of drugs, down from nearly 7 tonnes annually when Russian troops patrolled the border, according to UN reports. The annual tonnage of seizures under Tajik control remained virtually unchanged until 2010, when authorities confiscated 3.9 tonnes, up 10.5% from 2009. And Tajikistan’s Drug Control Agency, the AKN, reports in the first nine months of 2011, authorities have confiscated 3.5 tonnes of drugs and 7.3 tonnes of drug-making components.

It is necessary to have an atmosphere of trust and co-operation across Central Asia, Sukhrob Kahhorov, a representative of the Border Management Programme in Central Asia, said. For Tajikistan to curtail drug trafficking, it needs to strengthen its border not only with Afghanistan but with its other neighbours as well, said Mair Dodosh, a researcher of border-zone transport and trade. “The government is gradually becoming aware of this,” he said.

Turkmenistan-EU - European Union Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger welcomes the signing of a package of gas agreements between Azerbaijan and Turkey. According to The European Political Newspaper, Oettinger stressed the importance of this deal for the EU. "Turkey as a transit country for gas will benefit the citizens of the European Union", he said.

"The gas from Azerbaijan will be distributed throughout the EU internal market. However, the export route of Azerbaijan gas has not yet been selected. But whatever the route will be, there must be arrangements for the supply of 'new' gas from Turkmenistan ", said Ottinger. Note that the EU plans to get access to Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea, bypassing Russia and Iran. Moscow and Tehran oppose the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline.

Articles referred to in this post:

"Россия хочет заставить Китай платить за газ по западным ценам" (Russia intends to force China to pay for Russian gas at Western prices)

http://top.rbc.ru/economics/24/10/2011/621811.shtml

"Россия и Китай обсудят поставки российского газа" (Russia and China to discuss Russian gas supplies)

http://www.itar-tass.com/c16/256379.html

"Российско-казахский центр обогащения урана откроется в 2012" (Russian-Kazakh uranium enrichment centre to open in 2012)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/28/newsbrief-02

"Назарбаев поддержал идею Путина о Евразийском Союзе" (Nazarbayev backs Putin’s Eurasian Union idea)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/27/newsbrief-05

"Русский исход из Казахстана утроился" (Russian exodus from Kazakhstan has tripled)

http://www.km.ru/bsssr/2011/10/28/polozhenie-russkoyazychnogo-naseleniya-v-respublikakh-byvshego-sssr/russkii-iskhod-

"Русский язык все еще важен в странах Средней Азии" (Russian language still important in Central Asia)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/features/main/2011/10/26/feature-01

"Казахский сенат одобрил военную помощь Кыргызстану" (Kazakh senate approves military aid to Kyrgyzstan)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/27/newsbrief-06

"Кыргызстан отказался от радиоактивного казахского угля" (Kyrgyzstan rejects radioactive Kazakh coal)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/27/newsbrief-09

"МВФ нашел слабые места в банковской системе Казахстана" (IMF warns of Kazakh banking-system weakness)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/29/newsbrief-03

"Блэр - советник казахов в экономических реформах" (Blair to advise Kazakhstan on economic reforms)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/24/newsbrief-01

"Таджикистан укрепляет границу с Афганистаном" (Tajikistan strengthens border with Afghanistan)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/features/main/2011/10/24/feature-01

"ЕС приемлем любой маршрут доставки газа из Туркмении в обход России и Ирана" (EU accepts any route of gas supplies from Turkmenistan bypassing Russia and Iran)

http://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1461246.html#ixzz1cL6ROAaP

Serbia and Kosovo i Metohija

This week started out comparatively quiet on the administrative crossing between Kosovo and Serbia. Serb citizens remained on the barricades near the village of Zupče under the observance of KFOR soldiers. A conference regarding the administrative crossing was to be held at the outset of this week between Serb president Boris Tadić and four municipal presidents who stated their intent on learning about Serbia’s exact position on Kosovo. President of the Kosovska Mitrovica municipality Zvečan Dragiša Milović highlighted that a viable solution to the current situation can only be found if Serbia’s highest legislators partake in the discussion. Head of the EULEX mission Xavier Marnak meanwhile asserted that the mission will stay put so as to insure safe passage to all citizens in the region. Serb citizens too affirmed their stay until KFOR and EULEX missions return to neutrality as well as the departure of Kosovar customs officials. Present at the meeting were Zvečan Krstimir Pantić, Branko Ninić, Slaviša Ristić and Dragiša Milović, each the respective municipal head of Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zubin Potok and Zvečan as well as head of the Kosovska Mitrovica district Radenko Nedeljković, four municipal assembly members, head of Belgrade’s negotiation team Borislav Stefanović and the minister for Kosovo Oliver Bogdanović. At the meeting, president Tadić stated that KFOR forces ought to be able to deliver supplies across the border while EULEX forces should be able to move freely in northern Kosvo as soon as possible. Tadić added that such arrangements were reached in the Military Technical Agreement at Kumanovo, the Resolution 1244 and the Six Point Plan. However, Tadić reiterated that while Priština and Belgrade agreed as to the appearance of a customs stamp, there was never an agreement regarding a “functioning” Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossing. Tadić and the leading Serbs from the municipalities in northern Kosovo appealed to the Serb public stating that the best way to defend their rights is to stay calm and forsake any form of violence and extremism. The president added that Serbs should “not fall” for provocations while appealing to KFOR and EULEX forces not to partake in unilateral actions.

“Sloboda kretanja za Kfor i Euleks uz garancije”. Politika Online. accessed October 26, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Sloboda-kretanja-za-Kfor-i-Euleks-uz-garancije.lt.html

“Sila jača od dokumenata”. Politika Online. accessed October 30, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Sila-jaca-od-dokumenata.lt.html

“Bez dogovora, barricade ostaju”. B92. accessed October 23, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=23&nav_id=551671

“Tadić: Omogućiti nesmetano kretanje Kforu i Euleksu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 24, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti166989.html

“Na severu Kosova mirno, bes uklanjanja barikada”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 23, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/166961.html

“Slobodno za Kfor, Euleks uslovno”. B92. accessed October 25, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=25&nav_id=552253

Serbia and the EU

Discussions regarding Serbia’s date for negotiations regarding EU membership are ongoing. Among the questions asked this week was how and/or if asylum seekers that have left Serbia for EU member states would affect its candidacy. Tanja Vajon, European rapporteur for visa issues explained thus that this situation depended on the Serb government. According to Vajon, “If the number of Serb asylum seekers does not reach alarming numbers, Serbia will not be held responsible to reduce the number of false asylum seeking individuals as a condition for membership” adding that she feels that Serbia is ready to do anything to resolve that problem. According the United Nations Agency for Refugees, there are a total of 10,300 asylum requests from Serb and Kosovar citizens to 44 developed states. These people make up the third largest source of applicants of asylum requests to industrialized countries. However, the Commission has just opened hearings on the regulation of the “White Schengen” agreement. Should the agreement be amended, there are possibilities that EU member states can request as suspension of the visa free agreement lest a state feels “threatened” by the large influx of asylum seekers from specific states.

The foreign affairs and deputy minister of Luxenbourg Jean Asselborn stated that Serbia will have to recognize Kosovo sooner or later if the state wishes to attain EU membership. The hinted at the option that conditions of a negotiation date may be influenced by Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo adding that he welcomed the Commission’s decision to recommend Serbia a candidate status as it unifies the continent while it underlines, “once and for all”, that “Serbia is in Europe”. The answer to Asselborn’s statement came prompt delivered by the foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić who asserted that Serbia will “not recognize Kosovo, neither today nor tomorrow, or at any time”. In his statement, given to B92, he cautioned that he can only speak for the current government while he was “deeply convinced”, he was hoping in fact, that whomever was bestowed with the public mandate would not hold a differing opinion. Jeremic further said that a dialogue regarding a high degree of autonomy for the Serbian population in northern Kosovo can only be held in line with resolution 1244, the Serbian constitution and decisions by the assembly of Serbia. Meanwhile, Predrag Simić, professor of political sciences, told Beta that such announcements only serve to exert pressure on Serbia while increasing existing tensions in Kosovo adding that they could be the culprit of crisis, especially in election times. According to Simic, a statement such as was given by Asselborn may encourage the ambitions of Priština officials thereby reducing the space of the continuation of negotiations between Belgrade and Priština. Serbia must find a peaceful way to resolve the situation in northern Kosovo including its administrative transition as failing to do so could bring about a very complex situation in Serbia which, according to Simić, may get out of control. Ivica Dačić, minister for the interior, added that “it would not be the end of the world if Serbia were to be denied candidacy for EU membership” (which will be decided on December 9, 2011). Dačić maintained that the EU has “lied” to Serbia starting in 2000 as the Union promised every year since then that Serbia would be given membership the coming year. With regard to Kosovo, the minister pointed toward the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s question as to why Kosovo was not to become a federation. This idea, said Dačić is interesting and has not been discussed thus far.

“Federalizacija Kosova?”. Politika Online. accessed October 28, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Federalizacija-Kosova.lt.html

“Dačić: Nije smak sveta ako ne dobijemo kandidaturu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 27, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167224.html

“Aselborn: Srbija da prizna Kosovo ako hoće u EU”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 26, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167149.html

“Fajon: Azilanti neće uticati na kandidaturu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 23, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/166965.html

“Podrška Srbiji na putu ka EU”. B92. accessed October 25, 2011. www.b92.net/info/komentari.php?nav_id+552429

Sandžak

According to the Turkish news agency Anatolia Today (AA), the Turkish foreign minister Ahmed Davutoglu expressed his hope for the ushering in of a new period for the people of Sandžak and all Muslims in Serbia following a dialogue with officials in Belgrade. In Belgrade, Davutoglu met with president Boris Tadić and head of the Serb diplomatic delegation Vuk Jeremić. However, no public statements were made in Belgrade or Ankara. Davutoglu only told reporters from the AA press that there exist “disagreements within the religious institutions in Sandžak” and that viable solutions to this problem will bring peace to the Muslim community in Sandžak as well as to all of Serbia. The foreign minister asserted that developing relation between Serbia and Turkey contribute to regional stability in the Balkans adding that Ankara attaches great importance to them. Davutoglu was expected to visit Belgrade on the 19th of October but was unable to do so due to terrorist attacks in the Turkish city of Hakkari. At this time, the media was speculating that Davutoglu’s visit may be conducted so as to unite the two conflicting Islamic communities in Sandžak. Discord between the two communities ensued in 2007 when the Islamic Community of Serbia was founded with Adem Zilkić at the helm. The other Islamic community, headed by Muamer Zukorlić, recognizes the supreme Islamic Community of Bosnia i Herzegovina (BiH). The media reported that Turky seeks to mediate between the two communities with the goal of integrating the Serbian Muslim community in agreement with the Islmaic Community of BiH.

A young man from Novi Pazar shot an automatic gun, reportedly a Kalashnikov, at the U.S. embassy in Sarajevo “having shouted Allahu Akbar” on the 28th of October. The shooter, Mevlud Jašarević, is reportedly a member of a Wahhabi movement which is linked to the Bosnian Wahhabi community of Gorni Maoči. According to Vesti Dansas, Jašerević joined the movement in Vienna but was expelled in 2009. He then lived in Sarajevo and Tuzla, BiH, before he moved to Novi Pazar, RS. He too was forced to leave Novi Pazar as he was seen moving close to group of diplomats while holding a knife. Since then, he has spend time outside of Serbia. Meanwhile, two other men, Dino Pačenković and Ahmet Spahić, were arrested on the basis of having cooperated with Jašerević. Pačenković and Spahić drove Jašerević to Sarajevo were he opened fire on the American embassy. The police in Serbia also arrested 17 members of the “radical wing” of the Wahhabi movement who were in close connection to Jašarević. From the 17 people, 12 were reported to be from Novi Pazar while two came from the Tutin municipality, two from the Sjenica municipality and one citizen of BiH. The police, in cooperation with the Security Information Agency, searched a total of 18 houses in which computers, laptops, 1800 CD’s, about 30 audio cassettes, 50 SMS cards, video cameras with 17 cassettes, five military uniforms, three “larger” knives, swords, baseball bats and literature on describing how to propagate the ideas of the movement were confiscated. The attack was condemned by members of the Presidency of BiH, officials of the Republic of Serbia and Mustafa Cerić, head of the Islamic community of BiH. Zoran Dragišić, professor at the faculty for security, stated following the incident in Sarajevo that Serbia was at risk regarding terrorism from three sources out of which the radical form of Islam, or the Wahhabi movement, presented the most potent danger adding that the threat of terrorism is not great, but nevertheless exists. Dragišić explained that Wahhabi organizations may operate to resolve the Sandžak issue or otherwise are part of a global Islamist network adding that Jašerević requested the U.S. “remove its hands from the Muslims”. According to this logic, said Dragišić, the Belgrade U.S. embassy may also become a target.

“Dragišić: Opasnost od terorizma u Srbiji nije velika”. Ekonome East Media Group. accessed October 29, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167458.html

“Privedno 17 osumnjičenih za vehabizam”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 30, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/region/167450.html

“Uhapšena dva pomagača Jašerevića”. Vesti online. accessed Octover 30, 2011. www.vestip-online-com/Vesti/Ex-YU/175679/Uhapsena-dva-pomagaca-Jaserevica

“Novopazarac napadač na ambasadu SAD”. Vesti online. accessed October 28, 2011. www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-YU/175204/Novopazarac-napadac-na-ambasadu-SAD

“Davutoglu: Nov Period za Muslimane u Srbiji”. B92. accessed October 25, 2011.

www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Srbija/174374/Davutoglu-Nov-period-za-muslimane-u-Srbiji

“Davutoglu: Novi Period za Sandžak i Muslimane u Srbiji”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 26, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/167087.html

Serbia

The minister of justice Snežana Malović stated today that Slovenia and Serbia reached an agreement on extradition legal assistance needed to fight crime more efficiently, especially the organized crime. The agreement enables cooperation in detecting, prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of crime. The justice minister added that the agreement between Slovenia and Serbia regulates in detail as to how convicted criminals are to be extradited explaining that previous cases have indicated the need for such cooperation. Other areas of cooperation include possible collaboration in defense and Serbia hopes to cooperate with Croatia, Hungary and Nigeria. Malović asserted that current cooperation between Croatia and Serbia is fairly intensive while there is room for improvement. Currently, Serbia and Croatia exchange information on international missions, transformation of defense systems and the field of telecommunication.

“Snežana Malović: Sporazumi za efikasniju borbu protiv kriminala”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 27, 2011. www.emg.rs/srbija/167244.html

Eurasian News This Week

Russia-China - China and Russia are interested in the stability in the Middle East and North Africa. This was stated by Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev on the 6 th round of Russian-Chinese consultations on strategic security issues, which were held in the Diaoyutai government residence in Beijing. Chinese State Counciler Dai Bingguo said that China is disturbed about the events that have taken place in North Africa and the Middle East. "We hope the situation in Syria can get stable as soon as possible. Military actions are not our favorable options," said Patrushev.

CIS - Eight CIS member states signed a free-trade agreement October 18. They included Russia, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. The pact, which takes effect in January, will strengthen bonds within the CIS and replaces a 1994 treaty that some CIS members never ratified, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan did not sign but said they would consider doing so before the end of 2011.

Kazakhstan Religion Law - Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev October 17 defended the country’s new religion law in a meeting with the public and representatives of ethno-cultural centres. “We’re not randomly demanding that religious movements register,” he said. “This is not a violation of their rights. We have to know who’s coming here, with what purpose in mind, and what books are being brought into the country.” Nazarbayev signed the bill October 13. It requires religious movements to register with the government and steps up monitoring of their activities.

Kazakhstan Rare Earth Metals Exports - With worldwide demand surging, Kazakhstan plans to increase its annual production of rare earth metals (REMs) to 1,500 tonnes in 2012. The country has been the world leader in uranium production since 2009, and is now looking to gain market share after China’s reduction in REM exports. “Kazakhstan plans to produce concentrates of 15 types of (REMs),” said Sergei Dar, strategic-development director at the state nuclear holding company Kazatomprom. “The source for our rare metals and (REMs) will be REM mineral deposits as well as uranium tailings; that is, what remains after extraction of uranium minerals from ore,” Dar said. “China, as the top REM producer, is reducing its exports according to plan. In this environment, the average REM price over the past half year has risen by $10,000 per tonne,” said Amaniyaz Yerzhanov, chairman of the Industry and New Technologies Ministry’s Industry Committee. “Kazakhstan, with its rich deposits, has good odds of gaining a niche in the global market and taking advantage of the ‘resource war’ we are seeing today.”

Kazakhtan Emigration - Almost 30% of the people of Kazakhstan have expressed a desire to leave the country. The greatest number of people willing to leave the country are in the western (21.7%) and northern (27.4%) regions. A major ethnic groups - Russian (43.6%). 19.7% intend to emigrate due to "material-economic reasons." 15.6% worries about the absence of prospects. Other 13% put the state language policy at the heart of the problems. 44.3% want to emigrate to Russia. To western Europe, including Scandinavia - 11.5%. And 9% to the US.

Kazakhstan-Russia - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov, and noted that the bilateral trade between the two countries has been increasingly occupied by high technology. Putin also thanked Kazakhstna's leadership for their support of the Russo-Kazakh common efforts in the implementation of the integration process.

Turkmenistan-Russia - Turkmenistan October 19 rejected Russian criticism of negotiations to deliver Turkmen gas directly to EU members, AFP reported. Turkmenistan has a “sovereign right” to build a pipeline on the Caspian Sea bed without “special permission,” the country’s foreign ministry said, rejecting Russian criticism. The Kremlin has called the idea environmentally unsound and premature barring a resolution of Caspian territorial disputes.

Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Russia - According to Uzbek expert Sergey Yezhkov, Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Islam Karimov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov are thinking about creating an alliance that would be based on the availability of natural resources, particularly hydrocarbons. He recalled that October 18 a telephone conversation took place between Berdymukhammedov and Karimov. Attention was drawn to the date of the conversation, which coincides with the Turkmen Foreign Ministry statement, which accused Russia's reaction to Turkmenistan's independent choice of partners for gas transportation. It also coincides with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan's refusal to sign the St. Petersburg Free Trade Agreement between CIS countries, initiated by the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin. The expert also points out that the conversation between the two presidents was held on the eve of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's arrival in Tashkent, and that Uzbekistan is likely to wait for her statements implying qualitatively new level of the US-Uzbek relations.

The Customs Union - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed on the join of Kyrgyzstan to the Customs Union. This was announced on October 19th at a meeting of the EurAsEC Interstate Council by the Organization's Secretary General Tair Mansurov.

At the same time, heads of Government of the Customs Union discussed in St. Petersburg a draft declaration on the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. It is expected that the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will sign a document which will form the basis for a new stage of integration of the three countries in December 2011. In early October, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wrote an article for the newspaper "Izvestia", which stated that the customs union and single economic space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan could become the basis for the formation of the future Eurasian Economic Union. On the basis of this formation, as suggested by Russian Prime Minister, may later be established Eurasian Union, whose members Putin sees the CIS countries.

Articles referred to in this post:

"Китай и Россия заинтересованы в стабильности на Ближнем Востоке и в Северной Африке - Патрушев" (China and Russia are interested in the stability in the Middle East and North Africa - Patrushev)

http://www.itar-tass.com/c45/252428.html

"Казахи, кыргызы, таджики подписали соглашение о торговле" (Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks sign CIS free-trade pact)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/19/newsbrief-03

"Назарбаев защищает закон о религии" (Nazarbayev defends new religion law)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/18/newsbrief-07

"Казахстан активизируется на рынке редкоземельных металлов" (Kazakhstan steps up activity in rare-metals market)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/features/main/2011/10/17/feature-01

"Треть населения Казахстана готова эмигрировать в Россию или Европу" (One-third of the population of Kazakhstan is ready to emigrate to Russia or Europe)

http://www.rosbalt.ru/exussr/2011/10/20/903505.html

"Путин: Товарооборот России и Казахстана стал высокотехнологичным"

(Putin: Trade of Russia and Kazakhstan became a high-tech)

http://vz.ru/news/2011/10/19/531819.html

"Туркмены отрицают Российскую критику газопровода" (Turkmens reject Russian criticism of EU pipeline talks)

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/ru/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2011/10/19/newsbrief-05

"Туркмения обвиняет Россию в попытках помешать строительству газопровода (Turkmenistan accused Russia of trying to prevent the construction of the pipeline)

http://www.inosmi.ru/middle_asia/20111019/176264786.html

"МИД Туркменистана назвал позицию России по Транскаспийскому газопроводу непродуктивной" (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan called Russia's position on Trans-Caspian gas pipeline unproductive)

http://ru.apa.az/news.php?id=205487

"Эксперты: Узбекистан и Туркмения создают альянс против России" (Experts: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan create an alliance against Russia)

http://www.rosbalt.ru/exussr/2011/10/21/903781.html

"Россия, Белоруссия и Казахстан приняли решение о присоединении Киргизии к Таможенному союзу" (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed on accession of Kyrgyzstan to the Customs Union)

http://www.itar-tass.com/c16/251215.html

"Россия даст старт созданию Евразийского экономического союза" (Russia will start building the Eurasian Economic Union)

http://lenta.ru/news/2011/10/19/project/

This week in the news:

Serbia

Serbia does not effectively control the administrative crossing between Kosovo and Serbia as reported by the European Commission, while an insufficient number of cases are filed against the organized crime. While Serbia has established an institutional framework in the field of justice, freedom and security, Belgrade so far has not implemented these rules nor has the government increased its capacity to further cooperation between the relevant institutions to successfully carry them out. Serbia must undertake greater measurements in policies that deal with migration, border control, the fight against organized crime, drug and human trafficking, money laundering and terrorism while reforming its police, judicial and customs cooperation. Though Serbia has established a framework under which to combat drug trafficking, the area is still the major route across which drugs are smuggled. Between August 2010 and September 2011, 1.9 tons of drugs were seized in Serbia; that is an increase in 0.7 tons from the previous year. Porous borders between BiH, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia are in part adding to setbacks regarding the fight against human and drug trafficking. In addition, lack of adequate databases and information exchange is hindering progress.

Regarding Sandžak policies, the president of the Executive Council of the Bosniak National Council (BNV) Džužević Esad stated that it was high time the government convened the inaugural session of the state council on the basis of elections held last year. Doing so, according to Esad, was the only way of overcoming the power vacuum in the region adding that further neglect would be detrimental to the state as well as to Bosniaks. At a news conference held last week, he maintained that the government is playing a “dirty game” as the failure to recognize any council presented the state with an alibi of ignoring or blocking Bosniak rights under the laws of the constitution. The government does not recognize the current BNV’s structure not does it wish to form a new one yet does not call for new elections either. This bestows the state with a comfortable position as the government can prevent the BNV from exercising its rights guaranteed by the constitution.

“Džužić: Prljave igre sa pravima Bošnjaka”. SandzakNews. accessed October 22, 2011. www.sandzaknews.com/vjesti/drustvo/422-dzuzevic:-prljave-igre-sa-pravima-Bosnjaka.html

“EK: Unaprediti kontrolu administrativne linije”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 17, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/166457.html

Serbia and Kosovo

A meeting was held on the 18th of October near the barricades by Jagnjenica near the village of Zupča where the first KFOR convoys arrived so as to remove the barricades by the administrative crossings. Discussions were held between Slaviša Ristić, major of Zubin Potok, KFOR lieutenant Klaus Hunger and other representatives of the local government. The meeting was held in light of the KFOR posed ultimatum by which barricades were to be removed this week. Upon the convoy’s arrival, Ivica Dačić, deputy prime minister and minister for the interior, appealed to Serbian citizens not to confront KFOR troops while simultaneously cautioning KFOR forces not to apply force as the barricades “were not created by criminals”. Oliver Ivanović, state secretary for Kosovo and Metohia (KiM), instead proposed to find a solution through diplomatic channels. Jelena Trivan, vice president for the Democratic Party (DS), stated that the fact that KFOR has not removed the barricades in addition to having extended the timely ultimatum shows that the Serb leadership is doing its job. Trivan pointed toward discussions held between Serbia, Brussels Washington and NATO adding that the Serbian leadership is seeking to find a solution for the problems in northern Kosovo.

On October 20th, however, KFOR and EULEX forces again planned on removing the Brnjak barricades having replaced them with checkpoints for vehicles. KFOR troops stretched out barbed wire were Serb citizens had earlier stopped a KFOR convoy and set up barricades near the Brnjak crossing. In response, Serb citizens from Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvečana and Leposavica travelled by bus and private vehicles so as to join the protestors in Zubče and Jagnjenica. When KFOR soldiers attempted to remove the barricades, soldiers “repeatedly” fired teargas thereby “easily” wounding more than 20 people while an additional eight KFOR soldiers were injured. As of October 20th, KFOR soldiers were about 300 meters from the barricades were “dozens” of demonstrators have gathered thus far.

The parties present at this week’s meeting agreed upon the following six points:

1) That UNMIK forces be activated in place of KFOR troops

2) That dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia be returned to the UN Security Council

3) That Serbian military and police forces return to northern Kosovo

4) That barricades remain in place in northern Kosovo under the guise of KFOR troops

5) Refusal of agreements reached so far between Priština and Serbia (that Kosovo remain a vital part of Serbia including that decisions made by the public authorities of Serbia be executed in KiM)

6) To remove the cause leading to the erection of the barricades, meaning the Kosovar boarder control

The results hailed at the meeting are, however, according to head of Belgrade’s negotiation team for Kosovo Borislav Stefanović, unrealistic and an unpleasant surprise for Serbian authorities as well as for individuals in the international community. The demands made are driven by political interest maintained Stefanović adding that the outcome reflects the interests of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). Instead of swapping international missions, the minister said, one should think about as to how to facilitate supplies for KFOR troops which in turn would lower tensions on the Jarinje and Brnjak border. Stevanović also questioned the preposition by which further dialogue was to be held under the guise of the UN Security Council as Serbia had agreed to EU mandates which in turn have been adopted by the General Assembly reminding that these are binding. In any case, there are too many states that have recognized Kosovo’s independence as of yet in addition to the fact that the Security Council is divided regarding the question on Kosovo. Stefanović, however, agreed that all decisions taken by Serb authorities ought to be binding for northern Kosovo as well as for the rest thereof.

“Zahtevi kosovskih Srba uglavnom neostvarivi”. Politika Online. accessed October 21, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Zahtevi-kosovskih-Srba-uglavnom-neostvariv.lt.html

“Kfor se vratio u bazu, Srbi nude ograničeno kretanje”. Politika Online. accessed October 19, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Kfor-se-vratio-u-bazu-Srbi-nude-ograniceno-kretanje.lt.html

“Kfor na barikadi u Zubču”. B92. accessed October 18, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=18&nav_id=550340

“Kfor se vratio na bazu, akcija odložena za sutra”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 18, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/166535.html

“Jelena Trivan: Na putu smo rešenja za sever Kosova”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed October 18, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/166510.html

“KFOR ukljana barikade”. B92. accessed October 20, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index/php/?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd-20&nav_id=550932

Sandžak

SandžakNews reported about the general irritation that ensued throughout the Sandžak area following Mufti Muamer Zukorlić’s and head of Sebia’s Progressive Party Tomislav Nikolić’s meeting last week. According to the article, the news came as a shock to general population most of whom do not understand the Zukorlić – Nikolić coalition as the Sandžak population does not wish to cooperate with radicals. Nikolić is the successor to Vojslav Šešelj who is indicted by the ICTY for war crimes committed during the war in Bosnia.

Regarding Zukorlić’s earlier call for Bosniaks to boycott the population census, the online paper reported in the minister for labour and social policy and head of the Social Democratic Party (SDPS) Rasim Ljacjić’s words that the Mufti’s call to so ended as a fiasco. By the first four hours, according the Ljajić, it was becoming clear that the majority of Bosniaks were going to show up for the census thus proving that the population was politically mature. As for Zukorlić, the Mufti explained that his call for the boycott was a reaction to the Serbian regime. The census, according to Zukorlić, is likely to be falsified with or without citizen’s participation. The difference between those choosing to boycott, however, lies therein whether or not Bosniaks chose to partake in the process of falsification.

“Ljajić: Bojkot doživeo fijasko, Zukorlić: Popis će falsifikovati”. SandzakNews. accessed October 22, 2011. www.sandzaknews.com/vjesti/drustvo/4203-ljajic:-bojkot-doziveo-fijasko-,-Zukorlic:-popis-ce-falsifikovati.html

“Sandžak ljut zbog zbližavanja Nikolića I Zukorlića”. SandzakNews. accessed October 22, 2011. www.sandzaknews.com/kolumna/65-sandzak-ljut-zblizavanja-Nikolica-I-Zukorlica.html