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(15/09/08) Balkan Review
Macedonia
Name Issue: Greece insists on a geographical term in the new name, such as the acceptable proposal of "North Macedonia."
PM Grueski of Macedonia's last speech, made Monday 8/9/2008, criticised Greece's "radical" stance on its insistence on a single international name; a name chosen basically by Greece. Says Grueski, Macedonia will not accept this "blackmailing and playing with the country's fate and future."
The U.S. has given Skopje unofficial time limit of two months to resolve this name dispute with Greece and is attempting to broker a compromise between the two countries. However, a solution does not seem to be possible in the near future. UN meetings in regards to the name issue, mediated by Matthew Nimetz, have begun and are thus far been. Another round of negotiations is scheduled for sometime in the next few weeks.
Macedonian citizens could travel to through EU-Schengen Zone countries without visas as of next year. EU citizens and people from the Schengen zone can now enter the country with ID's only. This has shown progress in the liberalization of visas in Macedonia. This, in addition to the projected fulfilment of all 8 benchmarks at the end of the month, will be used to present the country's progress in EU related reforms.
Macedonia has passed a resolution enabling the government to better help refugees from Greece, mostly ethnic Macedonians (Aegeans).
The Council of Europe has detailed reports on prison brutality in Macedonia. Despite promises from Macedonia to reform, circumstances in Macedonian prisons have actually deteriorated rather than improved.
Serbia
The Serbian Parliament has finally ratified the Stabilization and Association Agreement. After an amendment was made specifically stating that Kosovo is part of Serbia, made mainly by the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), Parliament ratified the SAA. In addition to ratifying the SAA, the Parliament ratified a law confirming the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU. These are the first steps towards EU membership.
Serbian Parliament ratified the energy agreement with Russia. This deal calls for the construction of a gas pipe line through Serbia and the sale of Serbian oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) to Russian Gazprom.
The Kosovo draft resolution has been withdrawn from Parliament on the continuity of the status policy on Kosovo agenda; however, this did not mean that the government has changed its position on Kosovo. This does mean that policy of Serbia on Kosovo should be an issue of unity of the political forces in the country. The government still states that it will never recognize an independent Kosovo and that this issue can only be resolved through the UN Security Council.
One of the major leaders of the SRS stepped down and broke away from his party. Mr Tomislav Nikolic, deputy head and de facto leader of the SRS in the absence of its official president, is in support of the SAA and closer ties to the EU. The SRS is against both. Therefore, Nikolic stepped down to form his own MP group called Forward Serbia. The SRS is trying to expel Nikolic and the 11 other SRS dissenters who joined with Nikolic from the SRS party.
Serbia may have EU candidate status by 2009. The arrest of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic this summer was a major milestone. Now after signing the SAA and the Interim Trade Agreements, if other conditions are met candidacy may be in Serbia's future. Serbia has committed to increase efforts to arrest other war crimes fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, both wanted on genocide charges during the Bosnia war in 1995. Serbia's cooperation with the UN war crimes court will play a crucial role in Serbia's journey towards EU candidacy. However, Kosovo may hinder Serbia's EU integration process. Several countries have objected to the proposal of possible candidacy, calling for Serbia's recognition of an independent Kosovo before any negotiations for candidacy can start. Serbia is now calling for the UN member nations to petition the International Court of Justice's opinion on whether or not Kosovo was in accordance with international law when it declared its independence. Serbia believes that Kosovo violated the UN Charter and several other legal documents stating that all member countries are obliged to respect Serbia3s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
No breakthroughs have been reached between the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on the country's European integrations, constitutional reform, and especially the question of state owned property status and status of Brcko district. The leaders also failed to come to a consensus on a law to outlaw genocide denial. However, they did agree that constitutional reform debates should continue after the October elections and will try to adapt a state property law in the near future.
Some progress has been made on BiH's SAA with the EU on BiH's reform implementation. State-owned property still needs to be properly addressed; however the leader's of BiH. EU expect BiH to agree on a clear strategy to meet the requirements from the SAA for BiH.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Human Rights Body (ODIHR) has signed an agreement with BiH to outline a framework to provide training and other assistance to the Bosnian police force on how to recognize and combat hate-motivated crime.
Kosovo
The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) will no longer have most of its administrative offices, although it will still maintain a limited political role and mentor. It will reduce its staff in all departments including international police. UNMIK is reconfiguring and reducing to prepare for exit. The EU mission (EULEX) will become the main international presence in Kosovo; however, it shall be restricted more to policing and the courts system. EULEX will follow Kosovo's laws and new constitution. Kosovo has appointed its first ambassadors these past few weeks.
More countries have started recognizing the independence of Kosovo. With the Czech Republic taking over the presidency this January, Kosovo expects more recognition internationally. Turkey is lobbying the members of the Islamic conference to increase the number or recognitions of Kosovo’s independence among Arab states. Kosovo opened an international conference “Kosovo and the Arab world” to gain recognition for the independence from Arab countries. As Kosovo works to gain recognition from Arab countries, the Serbian Foreign minister is trying to prevent any recognition by these same states. Montenegro could recognize Kosovo this year. Serbia also warns Macedonia that if it recognizes Kosovo, relations between Serbia and Macedonia will become very serious.
Kosovo and Albania have agreed to cooperate on energy reform and build an interconnection line between the two countries. Both countries face regular power shortages and have poor sources of energy.
Croatia
European Investment bank is now looking toward putting special attention to small and medium sized business rather than the past focus on transport, energy and infrastructure projects. European Band for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) supports Croatia's Viro Tvornic Secera, Croatia's leading sugar producer. The EBRD is loaning the money to this sugar industry to improve operations, cut cost and make it more energy efficient. Not only will these reforms make the industry more competitive, but it will also help bring this major industry of Croatia's to EU standards for its anticipated EU accession. Croatia is expected to have its EU membership negotiations completed in 2009.
Economy of the Balkans
Croatia and Montenegro's unemployment rates have decreased significantly. Albania and Montenegro are estimated to have the strongest economic growth in the western Balkans. The Western Balkans (Albania and Montenegro prominently) have been attracting international investments, particularly in property markets, due to its growing economic and political stability and security. Albania is among the top 10 business reformers globally.
Georgian Crisis and the Balkans
Moscow has accused several Balkan countries of selling Georgia the weapons used in the conflict with Russia. The accused included Albania, Macedonia, Serbia among others. Albania did sell Georgia ammunition in 2006. Moscow has now recognized the independence of the provinces in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This strains its already fragile relationship with the west.
Paolo Bergamaschi is advisor for the Greens in the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Geschreven door: Paolo Bergamaschi {info@bartstaes.be} op 15/09/2008
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