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The Circle Is Closed 1 the Circle Is Closed Kosovo Issue 3 No.88 jul 2012 PG 1 OF 7 Helsinki HELSINKI COMMITTEE MAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA IN RIGHTS MAN u bulletin FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA address: Rige od Fere 20, Belgrade, Serbia CONTENTS tel. +381-11-3032-408; fax. 2639-437; bulletin e-mail: office@helsinki org.rs NO.88 // jULy 2012 SINKI COMMITTEE FOR H FOR COMMITTEE SINKI l http://www.helsinki.org.rs HE Helsinki THE CIRClE IS ClOSED 1 THE CIRClE IS ClOSED KOSOVO ISSuE 3 Three months after parliamentary elections ISSuE OF VOjVODINA OPENS 4 (May 6) Serbia got a new government the very formation and composition of which reflect social disorientation and confusion. In these juDICIARY REFORM 5 three months newly elected President Tomis- lav Nikolic and his Serb Progressive Party /SNS/ clearly demonstrated that they had no political ATTEMPTED DEPOSAl OF THE CENTRAl concept or program for overcoming the crisis. It BANK GOVERNOR 6 also became evident that the new ruling coali- tion does not intend to break with Milosevic’s legacy – to discontinue his policy at national ASSAulTS AT DEMOCRATIC PARTY 6 and regional level – that it lacks human re- sources to form the government and, therefore, was forced to rely on “old” cadres or to “bor- row” officials from the democratic bloc. The very outcome of the elections created room for various coalitions, including a man- datary for the government coming again from the ranks of Democratic Party /DS/. Nothing WIKIPEDIA of this happened as, with the support from the conservative bloc and Russia, the Progres- government would be “tailored” by Moscow’s sists would not miss the opportunity to rule rather than by Brussels and Washington that Serbia. Devastating effects on Serbia’s politi- EU and US responded to new developments in cal ambiance will be in plain sight once a new Serbia. government starts functioning and local self- governments are formed. It was only after the By their delayed action, EU and US wanted to Socialists’ and the Progressists’ recurrent visits make sure that the progress the former govern- to Moscow when it became evident that a new ment had made in the movement towards EU No.88 would not be annulled. Here they were prima- true intentions against fluid domestic and in- jul 2012 rily concerned with the implementation of the ternational backdrop. Unconvincing statements PG 2 OF 7 agreements reached in Belgrade-Prishtina ne- by high officials of SNS with no vision indicate gotiations and continuation of the dialogue. that the activity of the upcoming government A visit by two US officials, Philip Reeker and will be of limited scope. MAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA IN RIGHTS MAN Philip Gordon, who were after the so-called big u bulletin coalition in Serbia, as the word had it, failed. Tomislav Nikolic promises to be a president And yet, shortly after they left Belgrade Ivica who will address all wrongs and strictly observe Dacic and Aleksandar Vucic paid visits to Ber- the Constitution. He is after “erecting a monu- SINKI COMMITTEE FOR H FOR COMMITTEE SINKI l HE Helsinki lin and Washington. They promised to US and ment to himself to be remembered by Serbia.” EU that the new government would observe all He is not after financial gain, he says, as he is agreements with Prishtina reached by its pred- “rich and comfortably off.”2 In almost no time ecessor, work on their implementation and he managed to homogenize the region against continue the dialogue. him and question the anyway modest progress made in regional relations. His statements such Post-election combinatorics and its turns, as as “Vukovar is a Serb town,” “Srebrenica stands well as the final outcome, raise a crucial ques- for a war crime but not for genocide” or “I rec- tion: where is Serbia heading for in the period ognize Montenegro but not Montenegrins who to come? Programs of key players at Serbia’s are actually Serbs” only fueled regional suspi- scene are blurred and political philosophies cions. Speaking of EU, he said, “Serbia should are based demagoguery and populism – actu- not accede EU at any cost.”3 He advocates Ser- ally they make up “an alliance skillful political bia’s neutrality and opposes membership of gamblers and turncoats.”1 The Progressists and NATO. Serbia should keep an open door to the Socialists’ close ties with Russia question Russia, “our big ally,” he argues. “We must not the pro-European agenda of the former gov- be angry with Russia that preconditions us in ernment no matter how hard the new Presi- no way,” he says.4 dent and his associates try to leave an impres- sion about continuity. True, the coalition agree- No doubt that the first issue EU will face the ment between the two parties places Serbia’s new government with is Kosovo. Belgrade is continued movement towards EU on the priori- expected to gradually normalize relations with ty agenda. On the other hand, many controver- it (Belgrade-Prishtina agreements reached in sies in the process of the government’s forma- 2011) and to continue negotiations. Nikolic said tion cast a shadow over these promises – and he would ask UN5 involvement in the negotia- primarily when comes to the respect for Euro- tions on Kosovo, because “so far Serbia has had pean standards in the process of transforma- two votes against it, those of EU and Albanian tion and democratization. representatives.”6 In the past three months President Nikolic was In the past three months Nikolic and the new not exactly convincing about key issues facing ruling coalition (SNS, SPS and URS) have been Serbia (such as Kosovo and other neighbors, EU, domestic problems, etc.). He revealed his 2 Pecat, July 20, 2012. shadowy professional and political identity. His 3 Ibid. contradictory statements cast a shadow over his 4 Ibid. 5 This implies participation of Russia that is interested in keeping Kosovo an open question. 1 Djordje Vukadinovic, Politika, July 10, 2012. 6 Pecat, July 20, 2012. No.88 after destroying Democratic Party – its inter- that has usually sided with Albanians.7 In this jul 2012 nal turmoil has only played into their hands. context, Nikolic brought up the models of Tyrol PG 3 OF 7 Nikolic blames the Democrats for all adverse and Epen. developments and says, “Boris Tadic was more concerned with foreign factors sometimes… Slobodan Samardzic, vice-president of the MAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA IN RIGHTS MAN and has lost touch with reality.” He portrays Democratic Party of Serbia /DSS/ argues that u bulletin himself as a person of high morality – some- crucial in all this is the manner in which cer- thing no one has openly argued against or re- tain models are implemented.8 Autonomy minded him of his role and the one of his par- would entail Kosovo within Serbia as a whole, SINKI COMMITTEE FOR H FOR COMMITTEE SINKI l HE Helsinki ty in the 1990s wars and devastation of Serbia. whereas “a part of an independent state you want autonomy for” would be unacceptable to The new government and Premier have neither Serbia,” he says. To have UN involved in future a plan for how to solve serious problems plagu- negotiations on Kosovo, /authorities/ must im- ing Serbia nor are they ready to put an end mediately put an end to the policy of surrender to those that have been obstructing transition for Kosovo, insists Samardzic.9 and movement towards Euro-Atlantic integra- tion for twelve years now. Many analysts argue Vladislav Jovanovic, Milosevic’s foreign min- that Nikolic’s victory created “foundations for ister, also takes that UN should mediate the changes in the country’s domestic and foreign negotiations. “Over the dialogue EU has been policies.” And this primarily refers to paying a blackmailer,” he explains. According to Jo- less attention to EU’s requests. vanovic, whether a model applies to Kosovo / as a whole/ or just to North Kosovo should be clarified in the first place. Because, if it applies KOSOVO ISSuE to North Kosovo only, that would “lead towards indirect recognition of independence.”10 The Kosovo issue is the first challenge for the new government and President Nikolic. De- By bringing up Tyrol and Epen, Nikolic tries to spite all warnings, especially those articulated define his position, says Prof. Predrag Simic, by Angela Merkel in 2011, about partition be- adding that the two models are not applicable. ing out of question, Tomislav Nikolic and his For him, UN involvement would be in Serbia’s circle constantly try to leave an impression that interest because this entails participation of Kosovo is still to be negotiated about. Their China, Russia and non-aligned countries. “This numerous statements – often contradictory or hardly suits EU and US. I am afraid, therefore, vague – confuse the general public but, in fact, that we would have little room for maneuver,” place the partition scenario on the agenda once says Simic.11 again. As usual, when Kosovo is on the agenda Dobri- According to unofficial sources of the Press dai- ca Cosic had his say. “Serbia should surrender ly, SNS has fully developed a plan for Kosovo Kosovo in a civilized manner,” he said, adding but has not revealed it to any political party up that Kosovo “is the biggest malignant tumor is to now. SNS seeks to reach a social and political consensus on Kosovo. “Analysts” fully support 7 Vecernje Novosti, July 20, 2012. Tomislav Nikolic’s suggestion about UN partici- 8 South Tyrol and Epen, Belgium. pation in the Belgrade-Pristhina negotiations 9 Vecernje Novosti, July 20, 2012. that would entail counterbalance to Brussels 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid.
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