Prosecutors issuing the arrest warrants for former speaker Trajko Veljanoski, former minister for education Spiro Ristovski and former minister for transport Mile Janakieski, said the three former high officials were involved in violent acts which have threatened the constitutional order and security in state institutions.

Veljanoski, who benefits from parliamentary immunity, has denied charges and was released hours after his arrest. The three are leading figures of VMRO-DPMNE party of exiled former PM Nikola Gruevski.

A Skopje Court has today asked Parliament to revoke Veljanoski’s immunity, after he was charged by the state prosecutors on Wednesday.

In April 2017, tens of VMRO-DPMNE supporters stormed into the parliament building, injuring several MPs and journalists, including former social-democratic chair Zoran Zaev, currently the prime minister of the country.

Prosecutors have said that Veljanovski, Ristovski, and Janakieski were involved in a plot to block the parliament’s activity and prevent the peaceful transfer of power from VMRO-DPMNE to LSDM.

The violent acts by nationalists followed plans by Zaev’s LSDM and Albanian minority parties to approve a controversial law which would make Albanian the second official language of Macedonia.

Former VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski, currently on the run, is also under investigation on the matter, alongside 15 others.

Mr. Gruevski, who served as prime minister of Macedonia for 10 years from 2006 to 2016, has now fled the country and granted political asylum in Hungary, following a prison sentence on corruption charges.  

Following the election of social democratic leader Zoran Zaev to the premiership of Macedonia , the small Balkan country has agreed an historic deal with its southern neighbor Greece to change its name to ‘North Macedonia’ and has since signed a membership protocol with NATO, while it expects to formally start membership talks with the European Union later this year.

Last year, EU member states agreed to a European Commission recommendation to open accession talks for Macedonia to join the European Union, a scenario which looks more feasible now following the landmark agreement between Athens and Skopje.

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Crowds of Montenegrins flooded the streets of Podgorica on Saturday evening chanting ‘Milo Thief’, ‘No more crime’ and ‘rebellion’, protesting against what seems like an ‘unchallengeable’ political leader in the tiny Balkan nation.

President Milo Đukanović, a veteran politician who has ruled Montenegro since 1991, has been accused by a former ally over corruption affairs and involvement in financial crime, causing a series of scandals which have shaken the country’s political scene.

Đukanović refutes the allegations and authorities are looking for his former ally Duško Knežević, who has fled the country.

Duško Knežević is the founder and president of the board of directors of Atlas Group Corporation (AGC) which is the largest financial group in Montenegro consisting of dozens of companies with far-ranging business interest, including banks and financial companies in Serbia, Cyprus, Russia and Great Britain.

The head of the troubled Atlas Banka accuses the Đukanović ‘clan’ of ordering his arrest and faking charges of money laundering and financial fraud, claiming that the president and his family are trying to take over his businesses and properties along Montenegro’s Adriatic coast.

The powerful businessman has also alleged that Montenegro’s banking sector is crumbling with three banks at particular risk. Since Knežević fled the country, he has revealed information over a €10mn villa as a gift given to President Milo Djukanovic, which he denies.

Prosecutors have now accused Knežević of heading a criminal group that organized and executed the laundering of €500m Euros through Atlas Banka, illegally receiving €1.9m.

Mr. Knežević, who has a previous history of bankruptcy, has been charged with abuse of office and the special prosecution office of Montenegro has issued an international arrest warrant for him. A Montenegrin court ruled several weeks ago that, once arrested, he must spend one month in detention.

The scandal has now escalated further as a video showing Knežević giving money to a member of Đukanović’s long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) was released. The money was allegedly donated to support Đukanović’s campaign in 2018 which returned him to the presidential seat.

Milo Đukanović has been the President of Montenegro since 20 May 2018. He served as Prime Minister of Montenegro in three governments from 1991 to 1998, as President of Montenegro from 1998 to 2002, and as Prime Minister again from 2003 to 2006, from 2008 to 2010, and from 2012 to 2016.

Mr. Đukanović is also the long-term president of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, originally the Montenegrin branch of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, which has governed Montenegro since the introduction of multi-party politics.

Montenegro is a candidate country for EU membership and is currently engaged under intense negotiations with the European Commission to pave the way for its eventual membership.

The tiny Balkan country of 620,000 citizens became a member of NATO in 2017 following a harshly fought campaign with its pro-Russian opposition parties, which accuse Đukanović of siding with the west to protect his political legacy.  

During the 2017 general elections, British intelligence officials said that Moscow stands behind a planned plot to steal Montenegro’s elections and kill its pro-NATO leader Milo Đukanović, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Montenegro has been historically divided between pursuing pro-Western policies and sticking to an alliance with Orthodox Christian allies Serbia and Russia. Montenegro gained independence from Serbia in 2006.

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However, lukewarm celebrations in Prishtina were being organized as EU mediated talks between Prishtina and Belgrade have come to a deadlock, while the US is increasingly calling for an historic deal to be agreed by both countries in order to move on from past hurdles.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump renewed his calls to Belgrade and Prishtina to normalize relations and agree a final bilateral deal which will include the formal recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Serbia, hoping this would unlock the knot and make it easier for other international recognitions desperately needed for Kosovo to become a full member of the United Nations. 

“We believe that the mutual recognition should be the central element of that normalization” – Trump told both Serbia’s and Kosovo’s Presidents in separate letters.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and it is currently recognized by 116 countries. However, the new country is not recognized by Russia, China, Serbia and 5 other EU member states which fear dissidence with their own regions wishing to break away.

The young small Balkan country is not a member of the United Nations and its citizens are the only ones in the region not to benefit from a visa-free regime with the Schengen European area. It hopes to join NATO and the European Union in the future but any prospects of that happening would be held hostage by Serbia and its larger ally Russia.

Growing frustration with the impasse is pushing people towards emigrating elsewhere in Europe while Washington is concerned about the lack of tangible progress in the Balkans as the region slides into further economic uncertainty and is increasingly vulnerable to ‘external’ influences from Russia, China and Turkey.

Furthermore, although Serbia is hinting at a possible final agreement, it is actively pursuing an aggressive foreign policy to halt or even reverse some recognitions obtained by Kosovo, assisted by its faithful historic ally Russia.

During a press conference in Belgrade last year, Liberian Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley said his country was reversing its decade-old decision to recognize Kosovo.

More recently, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić told Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Lurie Leanca that Serbia was grateful for the principled position of Moldova not to recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, and for the country\’s support on this issue in regional and international organizations.

Although there’s no transparency over a possible secret deal being negotiated between Belgrade and Kosovo, rumors that it may include a highly controversial ‘land swap’ have fired up controversy in Prishtina, with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj declaring that Kosovo’s territorial integrity was not to be threatened.

Back in August, White House national-security adviser John Bolton said “The United States will not oppose a possible exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia as long as both Prishtina and Belgrade agree to a ‘mutually satisfactory settlement’.”

Many political analysts fear that the glory of independence has faded away given the lack of progress in recent years and growing frustration over economic opportunities in the small Balkan country.

Commenting on the 11^th anniversary of independence, Kosovo’s President and former KLA commander Hashim Thaçi wrote on Twitter:

“My hair is little bit grayer, the world has certainly changed too. But that very special day, “feeling the heartbeats of our grandparents”, will forever be marked in my memory & memory of an entire nation. God bless people of #Kosova, God bless our friends.”.

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In fresh letters sent to the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and to the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi, US President Trump urged both leaders to rise to the challenge and finalize a bilateral agreement, with ‘mutual recognition’ as a core element of the deal.

Writing to President Vučić on Serbia’s Statehood Day on the 15 February, President Trump said:

“The United States remains firm in its support to your commitment to deepen regional cooperation, and particularly to your determination to normalize the relations with Kosovo. We believe that the mutual recognition should be the central element of that normalization”.

Trump noted that “such an historic agreement” would pave the way for the goals of European integration of Serbia and further economic growth for the Balkan nation.

In a parallel letter, President Trump congratulated President Thaçi on the 11th anniversary of Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence (17 February), and urged him to continue working towards a mutual historic agreement which would end up with Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia, while asking the people of Kosovo to focus on the development of democracy, rule of law, economic and business opportunities.

In a previous letter sent earlier in December, Trump had told both Vučić and Thaci that the United States would welcome the signing of an historic deal between Kosovo and Serbia in Washington, signaling a swift turn in the deadlocked Prishtina-Belgrade EU mediated peace talks which have failed to produce any tangible results in the past months.

Trump said both Kosovo and Serbia should make use of this unique chance of reconciliation, referring to the latest efforts by both Kosovan and Serbian leaders to reach a deal between the two countries, which may include a controversial plan to swap territories between the two Balkan nations.

Following the suggestions of a territorial exchange back in August, White House national-security adviser John Bolton said “The United States will not oppose a possible exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia as long as both Prishtina and Belgrade agree to a ‘mutually satisfactory settlement’.”

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 and hopes to join NATO and the European Union in the future. However, the new country is not recognized by Russia, China, Serbia and 5 other EU member states  which fear dissidence with their own regions wishing to break away.

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Speaking to a group of diplomats in the Slovak capital of Bratislava, Pompeo warned that 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, Russia and China are again threatening the achievements made so far in terms of democratic and free market development by Central & Eastern European countries, including its southern part of the Balkans.

Announcing that the United States will boost its engagement across the region through defense agreements and other exchange projects, Pompeo said the US will assist post-communist countries to counter recent political and investment advances made by both China and Russia.

\”Russia is not the only nation that seeks to erode sovereignty and freedom in Europe. You need to guard against China\’s economic and other efforts to create dependence and manipulate your political system.\” Pompeo said in Bratislava.

Pompeo, who is in Slovakia as part of a regional tour including Hungary and Poland, added that the United States may be forced to scale back certain operations in Europe and elsewhere if countries continue to do business with Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.

“The United States has strong concerns about Huawei\’s motives in Europe, especially in NATO and European Union member states, as well as its business practices. We\’re fine with companies competing, but they have got to do so in a way that\’s fair and open and transparent, and they can\’t do so with anything other than an economic motive.\” Pompeo told his Bratislava audience.

Pompeo said nations would have to consider choosing between Huawei and the United States. The warning was broad but pointedly delivered first in Hungary, a NATO ally and European Union member, where Huawei is a major player.

Pompeo said the US plans to reverse a decade of disengagement across Central and Eastern Europe that has created a vacuum for Russia and China to exploit. Over the course of the past 10 years, he said, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leaders have become much more aggressive in the region and made inroads.

\”I want to make sure that the Slovakian people understand that America is engaged, we\’re back,\” he said earlier at a ceremony at Slovakia\’s \”Gate of Freedom,\” a memorial on the banks of the Morava River at the Slovakian border with Austria that commemorates the 400 people killed at the borders of the former Czechoslovakia while attempting to escape the Iron Curtain between 1945 and 1989.

US warnings come as China has slowly been advancing its relations with the region, particularly through its ‘One Belt, One Road’ program devised to revitalize the Silk Road and boost links with its former communist allies. In parallel, Russia has been investing in nationalist right wing political groups across several European nations, intending to divide the western alliance and hamper the project of the European Union.

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Speaking on Monday in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, Pompeo also said that the United States has not done enough to be engaged in central Europe and wants to do more going forward.

Pompeo\’s Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto, said any criticism Washington has of Hungary\’s diplomacy with Russia is misguided as other European countries are also involved in energy deals with Russia. He also said that Budapest is fulfilling its obligations to Western nations as a member of the NATO military alliance.

Hungary gets most of its gas from Russia and the Russian state corporation Rosatom is involved in a multi-billion dollar project to expand Hungary\’s Pak nuclear power plant which provides much of Hungary with electricity.

U.S. officials say Pompeo\’s tour to central Europe, which will also include stops in Slovakia and Poland, is an attempt to re-engage in a region that has seen a growing engagement by Russia and China.

Pence warned U.S. allies against allowing Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build communications infrastructure on their soil. The Chinese company has recently increased its operations in Hungary and Poland and U.S. officials are worried that Huawei\’s equipment could be used for espionage.

\”What is imperative is that we share with them the things we know about the risks that Huawei\’s presence in their networks present — actual risks to their people, to the loss of privacy protections for their own people, to the risk that China will use this in a way that is not in the best interest of Hungary,\’\’ Pompeo said.

Huawei denies being involved in any intelligence gathering for the Chinese government.

Pompeo said the United States shunned central Europe in the recent past which led Russia and China to fill the void in engagement.

\”I think for a long time we shunned them in a way that drove them to fill the vacuum with folks who didn\’t share our values,\’\’ he said. `The Russians and the Chinese ended up getting more influence here, they do not remotely share the American ideals that we care so deeply about.\”

Source: Voice of America

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The courage and creativity shown by the leaders in Athens and Skopje to resolve their decades-long dispute should be an inspiration to everyone in the region.  As U.S. Ambassadors in Belgrade and Pristina, we are convinced that sober, visionary political leadership can lead to a comprehensive agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, with mutual recognition at its core.  This achievement would lay the foundation for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all the peoples in this region.

This is why we today launch an appeal: it’s time for Kosovo to suspend the tariffs, for Serbia to respond constructively, for provocations by both sides to end, for Belgrade and Pristina to return to the European Union-led Dialogue, and for both sides to embrace peace boldly.  If you do so, we are optimistic you can reach a historic normalization agreement in 2019.

You have the full support of the United States, and we will do whatever we can to help you succeed and to build the trust necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive agreement.  President Trump recently wrote to Serbia’s and Kosovo’s leaders to encourage both countries to “seize this moment and to exercise the political leadership in making decisions to balance the interests of both countries.”  President Trump added “it would be extremely regrettable to miss this unique opportunity for peace, security and economic growth.” President Trump was equally clear when he addressed the UN General Assembly:  responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their citizens.

We believe an agreement is possible, and hope to celebrate together with you, just as we celebrate the courage of Greek and Macedonian leaders.  In fact, President Trump has already invited Presidents Vucic and Thaci to the White House to commemorate the achievement as soon as it occurs.  The United States does not, and will not, prescribe what the solution should look like, but believes it must be implementable in both Kosovo and Serbia, and must contribute to the long-term stability of the region.  It is up to leaders and their teams to resume EU-led talks to explore what is possible, and to communicate transparently with their citizens – both to ensure negotiations reflect the will of the people, and to help overcome anxiety and suspicion.

We recognize this is not easy.  We are not blind to the historical events and ongoing tensions that have led to the mistrust and misperception that burden the relationship.  That is why any agreement must be wide-ranging and mutually beneficial, to give both Kosovo and Serbia a stake in its success.  That is also why the United States is committed to working with Serbia and Kosovo to ensure that the two sides effectively develop and implement a sustainable agreement.  Recent steps by both Belgrade and Pristina that raise tensions must stop if there is to be any hope of bringing lasting peace, prosperity, and justice to the region.  If the two sides fail to seize this opportunity, you risk losing the best opportunity in a generation.

The status quo has held back economic and political progress in both countries, and led professionals and young people to seek their futures in more stable nations with more dynamic economies.  In their place, organized crime, corruption, and other extremist elements are taking root, posing threats to regional and European security.

Neither country benefits from continued obstructionism and delay.  Serbia’s and Kosovo’s citizens deserve a future where their children and grandchildren will know peace and prosperity rather than conflict and economic hardship.

A durable, implementable compromise agreement is in both countries’ interest.  Long-term stability and prosperity for both Kosovo and Serbia depend on a return to the EU-led Dialogue, and the courage to overcome the past and build a shared future together.  If Serbia and Kosovo are ready to embark on this path, the United States will be at your side every step of the way.

Kyle Scott is the United States Ambassador to Belgrade, Serbia.  Philip Kosnett is the United States Ambassador to Pristina, Kosovo.  

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According to the national office for statistics in Serbia RZS, during the fourth quarter of 2018, the value of construction works performed in the country grew by 8.7% in current prices and by 3 pct in constant prices compared to the same period of the previous year.

\”In Q4 2018, the value of the works performed rose considerably in the Vojvodina region (20.1 pct) and in the Belgrade region (1.9 pct) in constant prices, and the construction activity was at approximately the same level in the regions of southern and eastern Serbia as in Q4 2017,\” the RZS office said in a statement.

A 10.7 pct decline in constant prices was also recorded in Sumadija and western Serbia.

The territory of Serbia accounts for 96.8 pct of the total works performed in Q4 2018, with foreign construction sites making up the remaining 3.2 pct, the office said.

Serbia has moved up in the World Bank’s Global Doing Business ranking during the past 2 years, coming in 43^rd out of 190 ranked countries, thanks to its improved reliability of the land administration systems by implementing a geographic information system.

Recent changes to Serbia’s Planning and Construction Act made dealing with building permits faster. The so-called “integrated procedure” for obtaining all necessary documentation for construction, electronically, on a “one stop shop” basis was created. This procedure encompasses all actions in the construction process, from determination of adequate location conditions, through the issuance of the building and use permits, up to the registration of ownership of a newly constructed facility in the Real Estate Cadaster.

Currently, the biggest construction project in Serbia is the Belgrade Waterfront project: A EUR 3.5 billion residential and business complex in Belgrade. The project is being conducted by the Republic of Serbia and an investor from the United Arab Emirates.

Copyright @2019 TiranaEcho.com  All Rights Reserved (Source: Tanjug)

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Thaçi made his comments during an interview with Voice of America Albanian Service in Washington DC, where he said he would work toward the finalization of the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue through an all-inclusive agreement which would culminate with Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia and its eventual membership at the United Nations.

“The benefits for Kosovo would be its recognition by Serbia as an independent and sovereign state, its membership at the UN, recognition by the 5 remaining EU member states, clearing the path for NATO and EU membership.” Thaçi told the VOA.

Thaçi added that a ‘creative solution’ is needed in order to reach a deal and that this could not happen unless a clear definition of interstate borders is reached between Kosovo and Serbia, hinting that the ethnic Albanian speaking municipalities of Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc in southern Serbia could join Kosovo as part of a bilateral agreement.

“I believe it would be logical that Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc are included in the territory of Kosovo, without affecting our country’s resources, Gazivoda, northern Mitrovica, the Trepçe mine and other areas.” – said Kosovo’s President, adding that unless there are substantial assurances that Serbia would recognize Kosovo, there’s no point to have bilateral talks.

Thaçi’s comments come as political commentators across the Balkans are battling to find out what ‘secret’ deal is allegedly being negotiated between Prishtina and Belgrade with possible US and Russian agreement, which could end with a land swap between Kosovo and Serbia, where Serbia gets a part of Kosovo’s northern territory inhabited by ethnic Serbs while in exchange giving the Presevo valley in its southern tip, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians.

Both countries have been engaged in several years of EU mediated dialogue without any substantial results, prompting tougher US involvement in finding a way out of the deadlock.

Earlier in the day, Thaçi told a meeting organized by the authoritative
US based Council on Foreign Relations that “reaching a deal between Kosovo and Serbia will not be an easy process, but it is the only path forward in order to avoid a return to previous tensions and conflicts.” – adding to speculation that an agreement may already be under \’secret\’ negotiations backed by both the United States and Russia.

Back in December, US President Donald Trump wrote to leaders in Prishtina and Belgrade telling them the “United States would welcome the signing of an historic deal between Kosovo and Serbia in Washington”, signaling it was moving in to accelerate the EU mediated Prishtina-Belgrade peace talks.

A month later, during a visit in Serbia’s capital Belgrade, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted that Russia may be ready to work with everyone involved to find a deal on Kosovo, providing that a compromise is reached by everyone.

“Russia shares the concern of Serbian leadership and citizens because these moves can lead to a destabilization of the Balkans. Russia, like Serbia, is interested in keeping the Balkans stable and safe”, Putin said in a joint press conference with President Vucic in Belgrade.

Comments by both US and Russian Presidents come weeks after US National Security Advisor John Bolton said “the U.S. policy, is that if the two parties can work it out between themselves and reach agreement, we don’t exclude territorial adjustments.”

Asked by the VOA whether he was optimistic a deal could be reached within this year between Serbia and Kosovo, President Thaçi said he was both “optimistic and realistic”, hinting that secret negotations may already be underway, while public debate focuses on shedding light over a somewhat non-transparent possible agreement.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia 10 years ago following a NATO led bombing campaign against the Milosevic regime in 1999, which had forced the majority of ethnic Albanians to flee their homes to neighboring Macedonia and Albania.

Serbian politicians are reluctant to publicly accept the independent Republic of Kosovo, claiming that Kosovo is the cradle of Serbian civilization, although behind the scenes they talk of a ‘fait accompli’.

So far, 117 countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent state while Russia strongly objects to a possible UN recognition of the young Balkan state.

Five EU member states are yet to recognize Kosovo while the European Union recently recommended the liberalization of the visa regime for Kosovo’s citizens.

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Earlier in the week, Federica Mogherini’s spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told Serbian news agency Tanjug that all open issues, incuding the Trepçe mine should be resolved through the finalization of peace talks between the two countries.

\”The EU, as a mediator in dialogue, aims to resolve all open issues between the two sides once and for all through a legally binding agreement on a comprehensive normalization of Belgrade-Prishtina relations,\” said Kocijancic in response to Tanjug\’s question on the consequences of the adoption of the Trepçe statute in a final deal between the two Balkan neighbors.

Kocijancic’s comments immediately provoked the condemnation of Kosovo’s prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who called the statement as “unprecedented, unacceptable and contrary to Kosovo’s sovereignty,” adding that the European Union had “lost its way”.

“Trepçe is not an open issue between Kosovo and Serbia and the people of Kosovo and its institutions will not allow fake topics to be created that clearly seek the division of Kosovo,” Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook page.

Echoing Haradinaj’s comments, the former chief negotiator of the Kosovo negotiating team in the Belgrade-Prishtina talks, Edita Tahiri, strongly rebuffed Kocijancic’s comments, telling BIRN that the EU Chief of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, has lost the credibility required to be a unbiased facilitator of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

“I strongly condemn such a scandalous war inspiring statement by the Office of Mogherini, which shows that Mrs. Mogherini is siding with Serbia. This is not an EU position, but only that of some officials which are taking the wrong side,” Tahiri said.

EU comments have sparked fears that the Trepçe mine, Europe\’s largest lead-zinc and silver ore mine located in the north of Kosovo, may be included in a final land-swap deal secretly being negotiated with US and Russian help, which may end up granting the area to Serbia’s territory.

However, Kosovo’s deputy PM and former foreign minister Enver Hoxhaj wrote on Twitter last night that the Trepçe mining complex would never be included in a final bilateral deal.

“It is absolutely unacceptable to see EU officials releasing immature statements that can harm the process of dialogue with Serbia. Kosovo’s national resources will never be part of the dialogue,” Hoxhaj said.

The Trepçe mine ownership, once one of the biggest companies in Yugoslavia, was transferred to Kosovo’s government through a special law approved by Kosovo’s parliament in 2015, however, the bill was judged ad unconstitutional  by Kosovo’s Supreme Court in 2016.

Since 2011, Kosovo has engaged in a high level dialogue with Serbia mediated by the European Union. Following a deadlock over the past two years, the two countries have hinted they may be close to a final agreement with US and Russian blessing which may culminate with Kosovo\’s recognition by Serbia.

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