No.106 OCT 2014 PG 1 OF 10 Helsinki HELSINKI COMMITTEE bulletin FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA address: Kralja Milana 10, Belgrade, Serbia tel. +381-11-3032-408; fax. 2639-437; bulletin e-mail: office@helsinki org.rs NO.106 // October 2014 http://www.helsinki.org.rs HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HELSINKI COMMITTEE Helsinki RED CARPET FOR PUTIN FONET Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brief visit Putin dropped by on his way to Italy to the to Belgrade attracted considerable attention at Euro-Asian summit with his Ukrainian col- international arena carefully listening to mes- league Petro Poroshenko. In diplomatic terms sages about traditional friendship Belgrade and he surely wanted show the world that at this Moscow were exchanging during Putin’s six- point there were still capitals seeing him as a hour stay. Above all, all this was in the sign of most welcome guest. More importantly, with a military parade (marking the 70th anniver- the West still in search for a response to his sary of Belgrade’s liberation in the WWII) actu- geostrategic provocations, he wanted to dem- ally staged in Putin’s honor despite all official onstrate that Moscow was successfully wid- explanations. ening its maneuver space across the regions This bulletin was published with the support of the Open Society Fund, Serbia. Its of the Open Society Fund, published with the support bulletin was This contents are the sole responsibility of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. No.106 influenced by its traditional geopolitical ambi- at the Nierenberg trials is less and less effective OCT 2014 tions: and the Balkans is surely among these in some European countries. “Overt manifesta- PG 2 OF 10 regions.1 tions of neo-Nazism have become common in Lithuania and other Baltic states. In this con- By the very act of inviting the Russian Presi- text one cannot but be anxious about the situa- dent Belgrade had emphasized the self-per- tion in Ukraine and the coup d’etat staged in it bulletin ception of a shrewd and important diplomatic in last February by nationalists and other radi- player: the one that balances well the pro- cal groupings,” he said.3 claimed policy for the membership of EU as HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HELSINKI COMMITTEE Helsinki its strategic goal and the strengthening of its In an interview with the Politika daily Putin “Eastern connection” with the country close to touched on US President Barrack Obama’s re- its “historical, religious and spiritual” heart. cent statement earmarking Russia the bigger Commentator for the Politika daily Miroslav security threat than the Islamic State. This is Lazanski capsulated this closeness saying, “On he responded, “This is not the first setback in that day at least the international media – of the relationship between our two countries. We those from the territory of the former Yugo- hope our partners would realize how irrational slavia in the first place – was focused on Bel- their attempt to blackmail Russia is, and keep grade, while Serbia seemed to have taken over in mind what hovers over any discord between the role of the ex-Yugoslavia; in positive sense, two big nuclear powers and threatens the speaking of economy, traffic, trade, policy, mili- world’s stability. As for my country, we would tary industry…”2 develop readily a constructive cooperation and genuine respect for the interests of both sides.”4 Though internationally isolated for causing the biggest post-Cold War crisis in Europe (inter- According to well-informed sources,5 Putin had vention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea), five messages for his hosts: Russia is pleased Vladimir Putin did not play on Belgrade’s hos- with Serbia’s stance on the Ukrainian crisis; it pitality to further sharpen his country’s rela- expects that during its presidency of OSCE in tions major European states. Addressing the 2015 Serbia will be showing understanding for military parade he only spoke about the com- Russia’s position; Russia expects Serbia not to mon struggle against fascism but also seized give up the construction of the South Stream the opportunity to diplomatically remind of Pipeline; Moscow fully supports Serbia’s terri- the contribution by other allies of the anti- torial integrity and sovereignty (supports Ko- Hitler coalition. However, he missed not the sovo’s partition)6; and, Russia looks forward to opportunity (like Medvedev in 2009) to warn Baltic and East European countries against the growing neo-Nazism. Unfortunately, he said, 3 Politika, October 16, 2014. the “vaccine” against the Nazi virus developed 4 Ibid. 5 Večernje novosti, 15. oktobar 2014. 6 The Head of Russia’s Office in Pristhina already said that 1 „Realistically, Russia’s influence in the Balkans will grow Serbia and Kosovo should exchange territories; “That’s in foreseeable future. Here I have in mind to major fac- one of better solutions,” said Foreign Minister Dačić com- tors: contruction of the South Stream Pipeline and par- menting on his statement. Russia is not after Bosnia’s tition of Ukraine. Russia is strenthening its influence stability, let alone after Serbia’s and Kosovo’s member- through South East Europe,“ says Dr Dragan Petrović of ship of NATO and EU. Instability in the Balkans suits Rus- the Institute for International Policy. Blic, September 21, sia: it can role-play a crisis manager. Consequences of 2014. Serbia’s long-term economic ropes with Russia, especially 2 Politika, October 18, 2014. in the domain of energy, would be unforeseen. Serbia’s No.106 further strengthening of economic cooperation the region’s ears: it totally skipped over Serbia’s OCT 2014 with Serbia. responsibility for the 1990s wars. PG 3 OF 10 Despite several ceremoniously signed agree- The military parade scheduled for October 16 ments, mutual trade, especially Serbia’s exports instead for October 20 (the official date of Bel- to Russia, will not grow significantly. The rea- grade’s liberation) just to show honor to Putin bulletin son why is quite a simple one: neither Serbia’s was a culmination of servility to “the big broth- agriculture nor industry (“Zastava Automo- er.” Like on the occasion of Medvedev’s visit to biles”) is productive enough to profit from the Belgrade in 2009,9 the incumbent regime (re- HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HELSINKI COMMITTEE Helsinki West’s sanctions to Russia. The most intriguing gardless of President Nikolić’s title of a Cheth- agreement is the one on the privileged status nik duke he had never renounced since 1993) for the employees of the so-called Russian Hu- was forced to recognize historical facts; hence, manitarian Center in Niš; no chance that it will only the flags of Red Army and partisan troops leave Serbia’s partners in the West indifferent. that liberated Belgrade were seen fluttering in the military parade.10 Nevertheless, this far Serbia leaders Tomislav Nikolić and Aleksandar from settled Serbian elite’s key controversy Vučić believe that notwithstanding Putin’s visit about the “leftist” (partisan) and the “rightist” they had managed to safeguard Serbia’s “pres- (Chetnik) anti-fascist movement. tigious neutrality.”7 This will turn to be impos- sible in almost no time. Though no official from the West (except for the US Ambassador PREPARATIONS FOR THE PARADE Michael Kirby not attending the military pa- rade) openly reproached Serbia for inviting Pu- As said above, the Russian President visited tin, Western capitals’ reservations and anxieties Belgrade on his way to Italy. The Belgrade re- about it were more than obvious. gime was informed well in advance that his visit could in no way coincide with the date of President Nikolić’s speech glorifying the his- Belgrade’s liberation. And so in due time they tory of the Serbian army as the history of lib- proclaimed that the 70th anniversary would be eration wars, freedom loving movements, “an marked for ten days (starting October 10). epopee of sacrifices for the country and the na- tion, and for salvage of other countries and na- So it happened that the military parade mark- tions…for centuries”8 was not exactly music to ing allegedly the Liberation Day was sched- uled for four days earlier. Even Serbia’s main- stream and generally Russophile public and ruling elite behaves irresponsibly when it comes to na- its outstanding figures saw this as awkward tional interests. and undignified.11 “No one in Moscow would 7 Comparing Serbia and Ukraine, Serbian President Tomis- 9 That was when Medvedev „restored“ October 20 as the lav Nikolić said in an interview with TV Channel „Russia Liberation Day the Koštunica cabinet had abolished in its 1,“ „A part of Ukraine wanted to join the EU, and another revisionism and promotion of Chetnik quislings. was for Russia. Serbia has no dilemmas of this sort. It 10 At the head of the parade were banners of Serb troops wants to be with both Russia and the EU. And both Rus- in the Balkan wars and the WWI. sia and the EU should make sure we get this.“ Politika, 11 „The Russian President is always a dear and most wel- October 12, 2014. come guest, and citizens of Serbia have always mani- 8 http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/politika/aktuel- fested these feelings to him, even at the times domestic no.289.html:515042-Nikolic-Srbija-je-bila-na-karti-sva- authorities or foreign embassies were not exactly en- kog-osvajaca-ali-nikad-nije-vodila-osvajacke-ratove. thusiastic about his visit...And he is the more so dear to No.106 reschedule the May 9 parade,” said Dragan would only do justice to the truth.17 The or- OCT 2014 Šutanovac,12 the MP of the Democratic Party ganizers, however, did not pay respect to that PG 4 OF 10 and former defense minister.