Serbia at a Crossroads? Axel Jaenicke
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Report to the Government of Serbia on the Visit to Serbia Carried out by The
CPT/Inf (2012) 17 Report to the Government of Serbia on the visit to Serbia carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 1 to 11 February 2011 The Government of Serbia has requested the publication of this report and of its response. The Government’s response is set out in document CPT/Inf (2012) 18. Strasbourg, 14 June 2012 - 2 - CONTENTS Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT's report ............................................................................4 I. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................5 A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation ..............................................................5 B. Establishments visited...............................................................................................................6 C. Consultations held by the delegation and co-operation received .........................................7 D. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention establishing the CPT ......................................................................................................................................8 E. National Preventive Mechanism ..............................................................................................8 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED ..............................10 A. Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Interior.........................................10 -
RESOLVING DISPUTES and BUILDING RELATIONS Challenges of Normalization Between Kosovo and Serbia
Council CIG for Inclusive Governance RESOLVING DISPUTES AND BUILDING RELATIONS Challenges of Normalization between Kosovo and Serbia Contents 2 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 SUPPORTING THE BRUSSELS DIALOGUE 16 ESTABLISHING THE ASSOCIATION / COMMUNITY OF SERB-MAJORITY MUNICIPALITIES 24 KOSOVO’S NORTH INTEGRATION AND SERB POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 32 PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION 39 COOPERATION ON EU INTEGRATION 41 PARTICIPANTS Albanian and Serbian translations of this publication are available on CIG’s website at cigonline.net. CIG Resolving Disputes anD BuilDing Relations Challenges of normalization between Kosovo and serbia Council for Inclusive Governance New York, 2015 PrefaCe anD AcknowleDgments Relations between Kosovo and Serbia are difficult. Since Kosovo’s declaration of independence in February 2008, all contacts between officials of Kosovo and Serbia ceased. Belgrade rejected any direct interaction with Pristina preferring to deal through the EU Rule of Law Mission and the UN Mission in Kosovo. However, encouraged by the EU and the US, senior officials of both governments met in March 2011 for direct talks in Brussels. These talks were followed in Brussels in October 2012 by a meeting between the prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia. These EU-mediated dialogues resulted in a number of agreements between Serbia and Kosovo including the April 2013 Brussels Agreement. The Agreement’s main goal is to conclude the integration of the Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo’s north into Kosovo’s system of laws and governance, including the establishment of the Association/Community of the Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo. The sides also pledged not to block each other’s accession processes into the EU. -
Serbian Institutions
“It is My Dream to Leave This Place” Children with Disabilities in Serbian Institutions Copyright © 2016 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-33603 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org JUNE 2016 ISBN: 978-1-6231-33603 “It is My Dream to Leave This Place” Children with Disabilities in Serbian Institutions Map .................................................................................................................................... I Summary ......................................................................................................................... 1p Life in Institutions .................................................................................................................... 6 Obligations ........................................................................................................................... -
Republic of Serbia Serbia and Montenegro
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights REPUBLIC OF SERBIA SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 13 and 27 June 2004 OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Report Warsaw 22 September 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................1 II. INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................2 III. POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE ELECTIONS ..............................................................................................3 A. GENERAL BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................................................3 B. CANDIDATES ........................................................................................................................................................4 IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK.......................................................................................................................................5 A. RECENT LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS ................................................................................................................5 B. LAW ON FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES .....................................................................................................6 V. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION .......................................................................................................................8 -
Serbia in 2001 Under the Spotlight
1 Human Rights in Transition – Serbia 2001 Introduction The situation of human rights in Serbia was largely influenced by the foregoing circumstances. Although the severe repression characteristic especially of the last two years of Milosevic’s rule was gone, there were no conditions in place for dealing with the problems accumulated during the previous decade. All the mechanisms necessary to ensure the exercise of human rights - from the judiciary to the police, remained unchanged. However, the major concern of citizens is the mere existential survival and personal security. Furthermore, the general atmosphere in the society was just as xenophobic and intolerant as before. The identity crisis of the Serb people and of all minorities living in Serbia continued. If anything, it deepened and the relationship between the state and its citizens became seriously jeopardized by the problem of Serbia’s undefined borders. The crisis was manifest with regard to certain minorities such as Vlachs who were believed to have been successfully assimilated. This false belief was partly due to the fact that neighbouring Romania had been in a far worse situation than Yugoslavia during the past fifty years. In considerably changed situation in Romania and Serbia Vlachs are now undergoing the process of self identification though still unclear whether they would choose to call themselves Vlachs or Romanians-Vlachs. Considering that the international factor has become the main generator of change in Serbia, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia believes that an accurate picture of the situation in Serbia is absolutely necessary. It is essential to establish the differences between Belgrade and the rest of Serbia, taking into account its internal diversities. -
THE WARP of the SERBIAN IDENTITY Anti-Westernism, Russophilia, Traditionalism
HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA studies17 THE WARP OF THE SERBIAN IDENTITY anti-westernism, russophilia, traditionalism... BELGRADE, 2016 THE WARP OF THE SERBIAN IDENTITY Anti-westernism, russophilia, traditionalism… Edition: Studies No. 17 Publisher: Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia www.helsinki.org.rs For the publisher: Sonja Biserko Reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Dubravka Stojanović Prof. Dr. Momir Samardžić Dr Hrvoje Klasić Layout and design: Ivan Hrašovec Printed by: Grafiprof, Belgrade Circulation: 200 ISBN 978-86-7208-203-6 This publication is a part of the project “Serbian Identity in the 21st Century” implemented with the assistance from the Open Society Foundation – Serbia. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Open Society Foundation – Serbia. CONTENTS Publisher’s Note . 5 TRANSITION AND IDENTITIES JOVAN KOMŠIĆ Democratic Transition And Identities . 11 LATINKA PEROVIĆ Serbian-Russian Historical Analogies . 57 MILAN SUBOTIĆ, A Different Russia: From Serbia’s Perspective . 83 SRĐAN BARIŠIĆ The Role of the Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches in Shaping Governmental Policies . 105 RUSSIA’S SOFT POWER DR. JELICA KURJAK “Soft Power” in the Service of Foreign Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation . 129 DR MILIVOJ BEŠLIN A “New” History For A New Identity . 139 SONJA BISERKO, SEŠKA STANOJLOVIĆ Russia’s Soft Power Expands . 157 SERBIA, EU, EAST DR BORIS VARGA Belgrade And Kiev Between Brussels And Moscow . 169 DIMITRIJE BOAROV More Politics Than Business . 215 PETAR POPOVIĆ Serbian-Russian Joint Military Exercise . 235 SONJA BISERKO Russia and NATO: A Test of Strength over Montenegro . -
Third Section
Communicated on 25 June 2014 THIRD SECTION Application no. 5591/10 Milica ĐORĐEVIĆ and others against Serbia and 3 other applications (see list appended) STATEMENT OF FACTS A list of the applicants is set out in the appendix. They are all represented by the Belgrade Center for Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation based in Serbia. A. The relevant background An attempt was made on 31 June 2001 to hold a rally intended by its organisers to promote the equality and visibility of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender population in Serbia (the “Belgrade Pride Parade”) in central Belgrade. This event was violently disrupted and the rally had to be stopped. The next attempt to hold such a rally was made in 2009 (see below). A “Pride Parade” was held in central Belgrade on 10 October 2010 with official permission. While the parade itself was held without incidents, the police had to confront numerous violent opponents who tried to disrupt it. It was reported that more than 100 police officers were injured. No “Pride Parades” have been permitted since. The applications concern the applicants’ attempts to hold “Pride Parades” in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. B. The circumstances of the present cases The facts of the cases, as submitted by the applicants, may be summarised as follows. 2 ĐORĐEVIĆ AND OTHERS v. SERBIA AND OTHER APPLICATIONS STATEMENT OF FACTS AND QUESTIONS 1. Pride Parade in Belgrade in 2009 (Application no 5591/10) (a) Introduction The applicants in this case are Ms Milica Đorđević, Mr Dušan Kosanović, Ms Majda Puača, Ms Marija Savić and Ms Dragana Vučković. -
UNDP RS NARS and Indepen
The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Serbia AND INDEPENDENT BODIES SERBIA THE REPUBLIC OF OF ASSEMBLY NATIONAL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND INDEPENDENT BODIES 253 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND INDEPENDENT BODIES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND INDEPENDENT BODIES Materials from the Conference ”National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and Independent Bodies” Belgrade, 26-27 November 2009 and an Overview of the Examples of International Practice Olivera PURIĆ UNDP Deputy Resident Representative a.i. Edited by Boris ČAMERNIK, Jelena MANIĆ and Biljana LEDENIČAN The following have participated: Velibor POPOVIĆ, Maja ŠTERNIĆ, Jelena MACURA MARINKOVIĆ Translated by: Novica PETROVIĆ Isidora VLASAK English text revised by: Charles ROBERTSON Design and layout Branislav STANKOVIĆ Copy editing Jasmina SELMANOVIĆ Printing Stylos, Novi Sad Number of copies 150 in English language and 350 in Serbian language For the publisher United Nations Development Programme, Country Office Serbia Internacionalnih brigada 69, 11000 Beograd, +381 11 2040400, www.undp.org.rs ISBN – 978-86-7728-125-0 The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme. Acknowledgement We would like to thank all those whose hard work has made this publication possible. We are particularly grateful for the guidance and support of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, above all from the Cabinet of the Speaker and the Secretariat. A special debt of gratitude is owed to the representatives of the independent regulatory bodies; the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, the State Audit Institution, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia and the Anti-corruption Agency. -
Serbia by Miloš Damnjanović
Serbia by Miloš Damnjanović Capital: Belgrade Population: 7.098 million GNI/capita, PPP: $13,420 Source: World Bank World Development Indicators. Nations in Transit Ratings and Averaged Scores 2017 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 National Democratic 4.00 4.00 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 4.00 4.25 Governance Electoral Process 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.50 Civil Society 2.75 2.75 2.50 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 Independent Media 3.75 3.75 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.25 4.50 4.50 Local Democratic 3.75 3.75 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 Governance Judicial Framework 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 and Independence Corruption 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 Democracy Score 3.79 3.79 3.71 3.64 3.64 3.64 3.64 3.68 3.75 3.82 NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. If consensus cannot be reached, Freedom House is responsible for the final ratings. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest. -
OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Republic of Serbia/Serbia
ODIHR.GAL/38/04 2 June 2004 OSCE/ODIHR ENGLISH only Election Observation Mission Republic of Serbia/Serbia and Montenegro Presidential Election 2004 5 Lomina Str, 3rd floor, Belgrade Tel: (+381) (0)11 3281456, 3281597, 3281632, 3281653, 3281675, 3282211 Fax: (+381) (0)11 3282662 e-mail: [email protected] INTERIM REPORT 18 May – 1 June 2004 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • The presidential elections of 13 June will be the fourth attempt to elect a new President in the Republic of Serbia. All previous presidential elections since 2002 failed because voter turnout fell below the 50 per cent threshold. • In line with previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in early 2004 adopted significant amendments to the election legislation, including the abolition of the 50 per cent voter turnout requirement for a presidential election, eliminating the potential for a cycle of failed elections. In addition, new provisions were introduced to allow voting abroad, in prisons and at home. • To win in the first round, the new legislative provisions require that a candidate must receive 50 percent plus 1 of all votes cast. If not, the two leading candidates go into a second round two weeks later, in which the candidate who receives the most votes is elected. • A new Republican Election Commission (REC) was formed in February 2004 to reflect the changed composition of the Serbian National Assembly after the last parliamentary elections held in December 2003. • A total of fifteen (15) candidates will contest the presidential elections: the REC issued the final list of candidates on 28 May. -
Albanian Minoroty on Hold; Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa As
HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA ALBANIAN MINORITY ON HOLD Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa as hostages of the Serbia and Kosovo relations ALBANIAN MINORITY ON HOLD Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa as hostages of the Serbia and Kosovo relations Published by: Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia For the publisher: Sonja Biserko Belgrade, 2021. Photos: Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia Title page: Coiffure saloon in Veliki Trnovac Design and layout: Ivan Hrašovec This publication was prepared with financial support from the Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Balkan Trust for Democracy, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, or its partners. CONTENTS Conclusions and recommendations . 5 Southern Serbia: a strategic point . 10 The beginning of political pluralism in 1990 . 13 Referendum on autonomy . 14 Partition as an option since the beginning of the disintegration of Yugoslavia . 17 NATO intervention: persecution, killings, damages. 21 Southern Serbia after the NATO intervention . 23 Southern Serbia through the lens of Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo. 25 Serbian Government’s program for resolving the crisis by peaceful means (“Čović’s Plan”) . 26 Belgrade’s wishes: Greater Albania . 28 Security challenges in Southern Serbia . 30 Southern Serbia, the final status and Kosovo’s independence. 32 Strategy for the integration of Northern Kosovo as opposed to the partition of Kosovo . 33 Real problems of the three municipalities . 35 Political life . 41 Economic recovery . -
REVIEW REPORT on MONITORING the INTERNAL DIALOGUE on KOSOVO July 24, 2017 – January 17, 2019
FONDACIJA ZA OTVORENO DRUŠTVO, SRBIJA OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION, SERBIA REVIEW REPORT ON MONITORING THE INTERNAL DIALOGUE ON KOSOVO July 24, 2017 – January 17, 2019 Belgrade, January 17, 2019 Review Report on Monitoring the Internal Dialogue on Kosovo1 July 24, 2017. - January 17, 2019. 1 In this report the term “Kosovo” is used both as a general and technical term, primarily because its use is common in today’s domestic and international literature and the public. But the use of this, as well as other appropriate terms, that is, for this part of Serbia, is one of the most illustrative examples of a general “ethnification” of public and political life and language. Both Serbs and Albanians have their own separate and often mutually exclusive narrative dominated by special “key words”, especially as regards the names of cities, villages, streets, etc. The name “Kosovo and Metohija” has been in use for a very long time in terms of constitution and linguistics. “Kosovo and Metohija” is a designation used in the first constitution after the Second World War. However, the second part – “Metohija” was later dropped, and reintroduced into the constitutional terminology in 1990 by the constitutions of Serbia and the FRY. The designation “Kosovo and Metohija” is now considered a synonym for the “Serbian viewpoint”. The name “Kosovo” is of Turkish-Albanian origin and marks the district of Kosovo which, before the Balkan wars of 1912, included the territories of Sandžak, Gornje Polimlje, Kosovo and Metohija, northern Macedonia to Veles and eastern Macedonia to Bregalnica. The name was associated with the idea of Greater Albania.