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The Balkans Today
The Balkans Today: 10th - 14th April 2017
Our team brings you live updates of the most important events and developments in the Balkans as they happen.
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by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/12/2017 6:02:33 PM -
"Buy us degrees, Nebojša", a chant referencing allegations of plagiarism against Dr Nebojša Stefanović, the police… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/12/2017 6:10:32 PM
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About 3000 protesters dancing to "Government is falling", a popular song by Bajaga&Instruktori #protest2017… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/12/2017 6:25:24 PM
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by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/12/2017 6:25:27 PM
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"Afterparty at Soros'" sticker referencing allegations that George Soros supports the protest #protest2017… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/12/2017 6:50:16 PM
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An anti-protest propaganda statement from 1990s was played to reference percieved bias of Studio B #protivdiktature… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/12/2017 6:50:29 PM
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Following Albanian opposition leader Lulzim Basha statement that the judicial ongoing vetting process is “a mafioso one”, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn issued a joint statement urging local leaders “to act responsibly.”
“The much needed justice reform in Albania has once again come under attack. We call on all parties to complete the formation of the vetting institutions.
“Attacking the judicial reform rather than ensuring implementation of vetting, with close monitoring of the International Monitoring Operation, harms Albania's present and future,” the statements reads.
Mogherini and Hahn added that they expect MPs “will show […] that they stand by the people of Albania, who continue to demand that the vetting is launched and the judiciary eventually reformed, also as a crucial step for the country to join the European Union.”
Referring to the decision of Basha’s main opposition Democratic Party not to register to take part in the June 18 general election and to boycott the work of the parliament, the EU officials said “the political debate should not take place outside, but inside the parliament according to democratic practice.”
“Citizens deserve responsible leadership. We once again urge all political leaders to act responsibly, with respect for institutions, and pave the way for democratic elections, in line with international standards,” Mogherini and Hahn wrote. -
Mladen Grujicic, the first Serb mayor of Srebrenica, said in an interview on N1 television that he does not accept that genocide was committed in the town.
“Each victim has its [own] weight and importance and this must be respected. But I can't agree with the qualification of the crime,” Grujicic was quoted by N1 as saying.
He stated that in international court rulings, the number of victims of the Srebrenica massacre, when thousands of Bosniak men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995, is inconsistent.
He added that he himself was involved in research into the crime, and claimed that he had come across evidence that some of the people who are recorded as being buried in the village of Potocari, where the Srebrenica memorial is located, are actually alive. -
Bulgaria’s leading party, the centre-right GERB, which won the snap parliamentary vote on March 26, and the nationalistic coalition United Patriots - who finished third at the election - have fully agreed on a political program for their future coalition government, leaders of the two political formations announced on Thursday.The program document, which outlines the common policies of the upcoming cabinet, is 21 pages long, a symbolic reference to its commitment to rule the country for a full four-year mandate until 2021, Valeri Simeonov, leader of the National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria - part of the United Patriots - told journalists.According to GERB’s leader, Boyko Borissov, the agreement has been reached as a result of over a week of hard negotiations, where both parties have made significant compromises.He said that the ministerial posts in the cabinet he will lead will be determined after the Easter holidays.The program will be published later on Thursday.
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The process of selecting Albania’s next president will start on April 19 and could last up to five weeks, the chairman of the parliament, Ilir Meta, announced on Thursday.In coming days, the parties will present their candidates, but it is not known whether the opposition will take part, as it has been boycotting parliament since February 18, asking for the government to step down and for an interim one to be brought in while free and fair elections are organised.Under Albania’s constitutional changes in 2008, groups made up of at least 20 MPs have the right nominate a presidential candidate to parliament, which is then tasked with selecting the winner in a secret vote among the 140 deputies.
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The Slovenian government approved the proposal of the law for the protection of companies of systematic significance for the economy, made for the sake of its biggest retailer, Mercator.
The law is similar to that passed by the Croatian parliament last week - nicknamed "Lex Agrokor" by the media because of the troubled Croatian private company it was allegedly created for - and was passed in order to prevent Agrokor from using Mercator's financial assets, as their biggest owner. -
The U.S.’s decision to green-light Montenegro’s application to join NATO was “deeply mistaken” and would create further division in Europe, the Russian foreign ministry said Thursday, AFP reported.
“We consider the course towards including Montenegro in NATO is deeply erroneous, goes fundamentally against the interests of people in this country and harms stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole,” it said in a statement.
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The Russians added that “puppet NGOs” helped the Balkan country’s accession by creating “the illusion of public support.”
U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on Montenegro’s accession to the military alliance on Tuesday. -
US Senator John McCain expressed his country’s support for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on Thursday during his visit to Kosovo’s capital.“Advancing the EU-facilitated and US-supported dialogue is in the interests of Kosovars and Serbs alike,” he said. “It is vital to Kosovo and Serbia’s shared European future and essential for stability in Southeast Europe.”He also said that Kosovo should pass the border demarcation deal with Montenegro, and should only transform the Kosovo Security Forces into a regular army through constitutional changes and with support of the Serb minority.
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Hundreds of people gathered in the capital of Belgrade and northern city of Novi Sad in fresh anti-government rallies.
Today’s protests gathered fewer people, as it was previously announced that the rally would not be held due Easter holidays.
According to the previous announcements, protesters will no be hitting the streets in the next four days, but the rallies will continue on Tuesday. -
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Anti-govt rally in Belgrade: “We do not want to be cheap labour force” #protivdiktature #protesti2017… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…by Balkan Insight via twitter 4/13/2017 5:43:44 PM
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Autonomija Info reports that protesters in Serbian second city of Novi Sad said they have been followed and filmed during the last several days.
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