Macedonia

[angelburst29]

Foreign Minister of Montenegro Srdjan Darmanovic said that Russia tried to meddle in the country’s internal affairs in order to hamper Podgorica’s accession to NATO, which is expected to be formally finalized in June.

Montenegrin FM Accuses Moscow of Hampering Balkan Country's Accession to NATO
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201705291054078686-montenegrin-fm-moscow-nato-interference/

In April, The Russian Foreign Ministry described the ratification of the law on Podgorica's accession to the alliance by the Montenegrin parliament amid nationwide protests against the move as “violation of all democratic principles."

“Russia openly interfered in our internal affairs, what we, of course, do not approve. Russia has been pursuing a policy of spheres of interest, opposing the expansion of NATO. We decided to define our main goals by ourselves, and we were surprised by how much Russia intervened,” the minister said, as quoted by the RTCG broadcaster on Sunday.

The minister stressed that Montenegro’s membership in NATO is not directed against Russia or any other country, noting that Moscow is one of the top ten economic partners of Podgorica.

Russia has repeatedly accused NATO of eastward expansion, which contradicts previous commitments by Western leaders. The bloc was created to offset the Soviet military might and that of the 1955 Warsaw Treaty Organization, which was dissolved in 1991.

The North Atlantic Alliance intends to use its newest member, Montenegro, to militarize the Balkan Peninsula, political activist and one of the leaders of the Resistance to Hopelessness movement Marko Milacic told Sputnik Serbia.

NATO 'Wants to Use Montenegro to Militarize Balkans'
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201705171053685838-nato-montenegro-militarizing-balkans/

NATO has expanded to include Montenegro "to show others, particularly Serbia, how powerful it is," the activist said, adding that the US-led alliance "wants to use Montenegro to militarize the Balkans and Serbia since Belgrade is the main player in the region."

Milacic further said that Podgorica has gone to great lengths to push the country into the bloc despite popular discontent with the initiative at home.

Our authorities have detained people so that no one would stand in the way of Montenegro joining the alliance. They use trivial reasons to arrest [anyone who disagrees with this decision]. They are trying to paint as criminals those who criticize this global lack of freedom as embodied by NATO. When our movement set the NATO flag on fire in a show of civil disobedience, all hell broke loose as if we launched a Tomahawk missile to hit NATO headquarters in Brussels," he said.

Milacic suggested that Montenegro would become the first country to leave NATO once new leadership comes to power in the Balkan nation.

It should be emphasized that the decision to join NATO was made by criminal authorities, not the people. Montenegrins are against the country becoming part of the bloc. All surveys prove this. The accession process took place without an input from the people or the opposition which has boycotted the parliament. In other words, a crippled parliament did this. However, aspirations for freedom appeared in Montenegro long before these people came to power. We will outlive NATO and our domestic occupants who would eventually end up in prison or flee somewhere," the activist said.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Zaev: New Government by Wednesday Evening

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44040/Zaev+New+Government+by+Wednesday+Evening

PM­-designate and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev expects the new government to be elected by Wednesday evening, with its first measure being a repeal of the external testing in elementary and secondary schools.

"The session is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday), the debate is set to go on for two days, meaning that the government will be elected by Wednesday evening. I hope these deadlines will not be used to the maximum, taking into consideration past practices", Zaev told reporters on Monday, after giving a statement in the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption over the criminal charges his party filed for conflict of interests of MPs and government ministers.

According to him, the external testing for pupils in elementary and secondary schools will be repealed as soon as the government is elected.

Zaev stressed that the work of the new government would develop in two directions ­ reforms and improvement of the citizens' lives and equality in the society, primarily in the social field.

He said their statement in the prosecutor's office referred to the conflict of interest of individuals, who acted both as elected MPs and government ministers.

"We hope the prosecutor's office will confirm the violations committed by technical PM Emil Dimitriev, Health Minister Nikola Todorov, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki and Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska­Milevska", stressed Zaev.

Zaev submits list of Government candidates

http://www.minareport.com/2017/05/29/zaev-submits-list-of-government-candidates/

The Parliament is set to meet on Tuesday, after mandate holder Zoran Zaev submitted a list of nominees for a Government. Zaev’s SDSM party counts on its 49 seats in Parliament, as well as the 10 from DUI and three from the AA coalition to reach 62 votes (61 are needed in the 120 seats Parliament). The BESA party, which initially supported Zaev to receive the mandate, said it will not join the Government, largely due to its rivalry with the DUI party. If the session begins on Tuesday, as is now announced, that would give the members of Parliament by Wednesday at midnight at the latest to hold the vote.

On Sunday evening Zaev announced the SDSM Government members, with himself as the Prime Minister. Party Secretary General Oliver Spasovski will be nominated for Interior Minister, a position he held in a technical capacity during the two Governments formed in 2015 and 2016 to prepare elections. Deputy party leader Radmila Sekerinska is nominated as Defense Minister. She has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister for European integration, and led SDSM during the ill-fated 2008 election. She has also served as Vice-President of the Socialist International.

Zaev nominated Nikola Dimitrov as the next Foreign Minister. Son of Dimitar Dimitrov, one of the leading officials of the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party in the early days of the Macedonian independence, Nikola Dimitrov served as Ambassador to the United States and the Netherlands, and as advisor to President Boris Trajkovski. He switched party allegiance from VMRO-DPMNE to SDSM after being reported that he was on US State Department payroll. SDSM also holds the Finance Ministry, for which it nominated university professor Dragan Tevdovski. Another professor from the Skopje UKIM university, Renata Deskovska, is nominated as the next Education Minister. Ljupco Nikolovski is nominated to hold the Agriculture Ministry, where he was a deputy during the two technical Governments. Mila Carovska edged out Frosina Remenski, who was technical Minister for Labour and Welfare, and is nominated in her place. SDSM’s head of the Culture Committee Robert Alagjozovski is nominated for Culture Minister and Damjan Mancevski as Minister for Information Technology and Public Administration. Goran Sugarevski, head of the SDSM office in Prilep and former head of the party group in Parliament, is nominated for the Ministry for Transportation and Infrastructure. SDSM also nominated seven ministers without a department. They include electricity trader Koco Angjusev, the party’s spokesman Robert Popovski, Edmond Ademi, representatives of several ethnic minority communities such as ethnic Turkish party leader Adnan Kahil, Roma Samka Ibraimovski, then Zorica Apsotolovska and Zoran Sapuric from the Liberal Democratic Party.

Earlier, DUI announced its candidates, which include two former guerrilla commanders from the 2001 conflict, Hazbi Lika and Sadula Duraku. Lika, who was also Mayor of Tetovo, would be Deputy Prime Minister in charge of inter-ethnic relations and political system, and Duraku is nominated to the Environment department. As with the earlier disputed election of Talat Xhaferi, who was also commander in 2001, for Parliament Speaker, these two nominations received the most criticism in the public, especially considering that Duraku was charged with cutting the water supply to the city of Kumanovo at the peak of summer. He was Mayor of the northern, border municipality of Lipkovo. Other DUI candidates include Bujar Osmani who is nominated as Deputy Prime Minister for European Integrations, Kreshnik Bekteshi who is nominated in the Economy Department and Bulent Salihu in the Justice Ministry. Former Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko is proposed as minister without a department by DUI. The Alliance of Albanians nominated doctor Arben Taravari as Health Minister and Sjuhejl Fazliy as Municipal Self-Government Minister.

Zaev called on other parties, mainly BESA, to support the formation of his Government. BESA refused to do so, citing the unacceptable candidates proposed by DUI, which BESA blames for corruption and criminal links. BESA said that it will support proposals by the Government which are in the interest of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. Recent polls have shown BESA, which was formed only recently, dead even with DUI in the levels of support they receive from the ethnic Albanian voters, which lead many political observers to note that the party can only gain if it stays in the opposition. To their objections of corruption, Zaev responded that he will ask the Special Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether some of the candidates is under any criminal investigation. He added that he will consult the regular Public Prosecutor’s Office, once “it is turned into a proper institution”. Zaev also called on the DPA party, which has two seats in Parliament, to support the Government, as well as calling on VMRO-DPMNE to support the reforms that he would initiate.

“This will be an inclusive process, we want to have understanding with all, and to have as large majority in Parliament as possible for the decisions that we will make because only that woud guarantee that we have taken under consideration all aspects that will be of vital interest to the citizens of Macedonia. I send a message that we need to support the reform process, and I said that the title of my Government will be the reformist Government of the Republic of Macedonia”, Zaev said on Sunday evening, as he was announcing the SDSM candiates for the Government. He dismissed the narrow margin his Government is likely to have in the Parliament, saying that there were cases when Governments were formed with similarly thin majority.

Kosovo terrorists disrupt Court proceedings, start shouting SDS slogans

http://www.minareport.com/2017/05/29/kosovo-terrorists-disrupt-court-proceedings-start-shouting-sds-slogans/

Judge Verka Petkovska stopped the Monday hearing in the case against 37 members and helpers of the group which attacked Kumanovo on May 9th 2015, after some of those accused began to shout in the court and to disrupt the proceedings.

The accused were shouting “no justice, no peace” as their lawyers demanded the recusal of the judge and her council as well as of higher judicial instances. Some of the accused demanded that the leaders of the then Macedonian Government and security services are called before the court. Ironically, the SDS leadership and their Soros activists used “No justice no Peace” slogan both when Zaev was detained by police during the initial stages of the coup and by Soros activists during their color revolution.

Eight police officers were killed in the attack which started when the group of Kosovar and Macedonian Albanian fighters, led by commanders from Kosovo, fortified in a area of Kumanovo and issued political demands for greater Albanian rights. Ten members of the group were also killed in the attack of the Macedonian police special forces, which captured the rest of the group. Those captured are charged with terrorism.

 

[angelburst29]

A feasibility study with strategic guidelines for the development of the Trepca mining complex, prepared by the Kosovo Privatization Agency, has been submitted for consideration by Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

'Global Forces' Are Taking Away Serbia's Mineral Wealth
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201705311054156937-kosovo-serbia-mines/

Trepca is a large industrial complex in Kosovo, located in Mitrovica. The complex's ownership structure has been the subject of dispute between Kosovo and Serbia.

With up to 23,000 employees, Trepca was once one of the biggest companies in the former Yugoslavia. During the 1930s, a British company gained the rights to exploit the Stanterg mine close to Mitrovica. After WWII, under socialist management, the company further expanded.

The Trepca mines still hold an estimated 60.5 million tons of ore containing 4.96 percent lead, 3.3 percent zinc and 74 to 81 grams/ton of silver, i.e., around 3 million tons of lead, 2 million tons of zinc and 4,500 tons of silver.

“It is imperative for us to turn Trepca into a joint stock society, which would assume responsibility for its future,” Mustafa said.

Last year the Kosovo government unilaterally snapped up the Trepca Mining Complex, one of the largest enterprises in the former Yugoslavia in a unilateral move that was quickly annulled by Belgrade.

In an interview with Sputnik Serbia, economist Bosko Draskovic said that Pristina wants to “exploit natural resources with unpredictable economic and ecological consequences in the best interest of major foreign companies” of countries, which have recognized the region’s independence.

The Serbian government is powerless to change the situation. All it can do is make public statements, nothing more. This means that from an economic point of view, powerful political and economic players are going to have a complete freedom of hand in Kosovo,” Draskovic noted.

He described the Kosovo government as a “puppet of global forces.”

Dusan Prorokovic, a Belgrade-based political analyst, said that the authorities in Pristina consider the ongoing negotiations in Brussels as a means of implementing their independent status across the entire territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

“This is exactly what they have been doing the past five years, ignoring Belgrade’s position and refusing any compromises with it. Just how this move will reflect on the course of the Brussels talks is hard to say. I believe that Belgrade should look for other ways of safeguarding its interests and those of Serbs in Kosovo,” Prorokovic emphasized.

He added that the feasibility study on Trepca reflects Pristina’s desire to phase out any Serbian influence in Kosovo and put everything in the region under the jurisdiction of “Albanian institutions.”

Serbian President-elect Aleksandar Vucic pledged to keep the country's territorial integrity including Kosovo and Metohija during his inaugural ceremony, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Wednesday.

Serbian Leader Vows to Keep Territorial Unity Including Kosovo at Inauguration
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201705311054167662-serbia-kosovo-vucic-inauguration/

On April 2, Vucic won the country’s presidential election, receiving over 55 percent of votes.

"I swear to devote all my efforts to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, including Kosovo and Metohija as its integral part, as well as to exercising human rights and freedoms and rights and freedoms of the minorities… and that I will honestly and responsibly perform my duties," Vucic told the citizens in front of the parliament, the Skupstina.

The ceremony took place on the square in front of the parliament building, which was attended by government members, Church leadership, Republika Srpska’s President Milorad Dodik and other officials. Outgoing President Tomislav Nikolic handed over the presidential standard and seal during the awarding procedure.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Under heavy Police security Zaev promises 260 euros min. salary, better judges…

http://www.minareport.com/2017/05/30/under-heavy-police-security-zaev-promises-260-euros-min-salary-better-judges/

The Macedonian Parliament started the debate on the Government proposed by SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, who read his expose and said that he will institute reforms in the judiciary and will limit the backlash against political opponents. Before Zaev spoke, VMRO-DPMNE representative Ilija Dimovski asked that the Parliament votes to urgently begin preparations for the municipal elections, a proposal that was rejected with 41 votes in favor and 52 against. 27 MPs failed to show up to work.

Tuesday’s session was led by Talat Xhaferi, who is recognized by DUI, SDS and AA as the Speaker. Xhaferi led by speaking in Albanian before switching to Macedonian. Antonio Miloshoski from VMRO-DPMNE accused Xhaferi of being elected illegally and referred to him as “respected member of Parliament” and not as a Speaker, to which Xhaferi said that he will continue to lead the session in Albanian if VMRO continued not to recognize his excellency. The child-like discussion continued this way for 15 minutes.

Zaev, who claims he is beloved from the people, brought in at least 20 police vehicles and EBR policemen to protect him from the people.

Santa Clause is in town

Zaev announced some of the measures which SDS has proposed, such as increasing the minimum wage to 16.000 denars (260 EUR) and the average wage to 30.000 denars (500 EUR), extending the mandate of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, re-introducing an electricity subsidy, abolishment of the public broadcasting tax, increases of salaries for specialized doctors and abolishment of the external testing of teachers. Zaev also insisted that his Government will push for a full repeal and re-election of all judges and prosecutors. He also said that he will work to limit the backlash against SDS’ political opponents and said that he will refrain from mass firings in the public administration.

Gruevski called Zaev’s minimum and average salaries a fantasy which even Santa Clause wouldn’t do.

VMRO-DPMNE also took the rejection of their proposal to urgently prepare for early elections as announcement that the SDS led majority in Parliament will try to avoid the elections, which are now expected to be held in mid October and would be the first test for Zaev’s Government.

“I decided to submit this law because we still have doubts about whether the newly formed majority in Parliament is honest about respecting our agreement from three weeks ago to call the municipal elections on October 15th”, Dimovski said while proposing the law which would have specified the date for the local elections. The mandate of the current municipal authorities has already lapsed and it is feared that postponing the elections could lead to complete blockade of their work.

Members of Parliament argue over Zaev’s proposed Government, inter-ethnic relations and the April 27th incident

http://english.republika.mk/members-of-parliament-argue-over-zaevs-proposed-government-inter-ethnic-relations-and-the-april-27th-incident/

A testy debate continued in the Macedonian Parliament on Wednesday, the second day of discussion on Zoran Zaev’s proposed Government, which should with a vote end no later than midnight.

VMRO-DPMNE representatives criticized the proposals as unrealistic and the composition of the Government as made up of people with criminal backgrounds, and SDSM members of Parliament responded with criticism of VMRO-DPMNE’s term in office. Notably, the disputed Speaker Talat Xhaferi, spoke in Albanian when talking to members of VMRO-DPMNE, who do not recognize his office, leading to several tense exchanges.

“We will not be drawn into scenarios to provoke new incidents which we see today. We showed good will on our part during the session on Tuesday, and we will continue to show it, but only if there is proper approach towards us as well. And if we continue to see these low provocations coming from Talat Xhaferi, then all hopes that the situation will normalize are in vain”, said VMRO-DPMNE’s Ilija Dimovski. Xhaferi insisted that he speaks Albanian because VMRO-DPMNE representatives do not recognize his position as Speaker.

On the Government itself, Dimitar Stevanadzija from VMRO-DPMNE said that it programs appears to have been written outside of Macedonia, and that its very proposal violates the will of the citizens, the majority of whom supported VMRO-DPMNE in the elections. Stevanadzija noted the broken SDSM promise that the next Government will have under 20 members. Zaev’s proposals includes 26 ministers, many of them without a designated department.

In their discussions, Maksim Dimitrievski and Goran Misovski from the SDSM led coalition called on the VMRO-DPMNE representatives to apologize for the incident on April 27th, when hundreds of protesters stormed the Parliament after SDSM led a parallel session to appoint Xhaferi as Speaker. Responding to comments from VMRO-DPMNE that Zaev has been twice pardoned for various crimes, Aleksandar Kiracovski from SDSM said that Zaev also has two scars on his face from the incident in which he was bloodied. Protest organizer turned SDSM members of Parliament Pavle Bogoevski, who was one of those attacked during the incident, said that “we will not forget how VMRO-DPMNE members of Parliament helped open the doors to the protesters”. Xhaferi called on the representatives not to discuss about the incident and to focus on the proposed Government.

VMRO-DPMNE spokesman Dragan Danev accused SDSM of trying to form a Government without winning the majority votes among ethnic Macedonians, saying that such a Government is a precedent in Macedonian history. “You, Mr. Zaev, will be the only holder of a mandate to form a Government who is not supported by the majority of ethnic Macedonians in Parliament. You have engineered a post-election coalition which puts the Macedonian people in the opposition”, Danev said. Zaev received the support of three parties that represent ethnic Albanians, and his SDSM party also received so far unprecedented support from ethnic Albanians, to narrow the margin of defeat at the elections on December 11th. Meanwhile, one of the Albanian parties which supported Zaev, BESA, said that it will not vote for the Government given the candidates from its rival DUI party.

Thaci: We want great Albania, but US needs to fight for it

http://www.minareport.com/2017/05/31/thaci-we-want-great-albania-but-us-needs-to-fight-for-it/

Kosovo officials are in a panic mode. They have sent a document to all 28 EU members and the US in which they accuse Belgrade of having an army which is ready to fight. As an example, official Prishtina pointed to the “exercise” on May 9th, in which the Serbian army paraded their weaponry to mark the 72nd anniversary of defeating fascism.

According to Kosovo officials which themselves continue to train and send hundreds of jihadis to fight in Syria, the military parade in Belgrade is dangerous and a threat to the great Albania project.

As Belgrade based Informer reports, Kosovo officials are fully aware the Serbian army would literally run over Kosovo in 24 hours. However, official Prishtina has made a lot of noise and threats to its neighbors simply because it is hosting a US/NATO base on its territory.

Informer reports albanian officials in the region believe this is their moment, however it is critical that the brunt of the fighting is not done by them, but by Washington and Brussels. The ‘great albania’ project itself is backed by unelected elements in Washington commonly known as the Deep State, who are deeply involved in Albania’s narcotics trafficking, a multi billion dollar business.
However, the concern is, the project doesn’t have the full backing in the US administration who itself is in a vicious battle with the Deep State. Kosovo officials need to be 100% sure that Washington will back their fight immediately, as otherwise would be utterly destroyed.

Serbia’s former prime minister and current president Aleksandar Vucic has warned Kosovo officials not to attack the Serb minority in north Kosovo as they would face an immediate response from the Serbian army.

According to Informer, Kosovo still has a plan “to take” north Kosovo, and has already employed albanian lobbyst and CIA asset William Walker, who has backed the great albania project while in the Clinton administration and was deeply involved in a dirty media campaign to demonize Serbia in order to justify NATO’s aggression. ‘Every time rogue elements in the CIA activate Walker, something will happen’, says Informer.

Perhaps the following video shows why Thaci wants Washington to fight for great Albania.

https://youtu.be/vR2sP500Wic

 

[Anthony]

Pepe Escobar has a columon about the Balkans and the Western drive to curtail Russia and China.

https://www.sott.net/article/352563-Pepe-Escobar-Jihad-2-0-The-making-of-the-next-nightmare

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Attempted murder on Health Minister Todorov

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/01/attempted-murder-on-health-minister-todorov/

The Interior Ministry informed that the attacker who tried to kill outgoing Health Minister and top VMRO-DPMNE official Nikola Todorov is 60 year old Lj.S. from the village of Dolno Kalaslari near Veles. The attacker waited for Todorov to leave the Health Ministry on the day when the position was officially handed over to newly elected Health Minsiter Arben Taravari.

According to eye witnesses Lj.S., in some media outlets identified as Ljupco Stojanovski, shot three bullets at Todorov, coming at him from behind. Todorov’s security pushed the outgoing Minister to the side, and then quickly overpowered the attacker, pinning him to the ground. Todorov was evacuated, and there are no reports that he was injured in the attack.

Media outlets close to the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia claim that the attacker was the grand-father of Tamara Dimovska, who died aged 10 in 2015 from a very serious case of spinal scoliosis. For years her death was used as a major political talking point for SDS, who accused Todorov of deliberately delaying providing funding for her surgery.

The Ministry claimed that all attempts were made to find a suitable hospital abroad where Tamara would be operated and that funding was never the object, but that the case was extremely difficult. SDSM and pro-SDSM media outlets used her death heavily in their political and election campaigns, often comparing any public investment the VMRO-DPMNE led Government would make with a price tag they put on Tamara’s surgery, claiming that the girl could have been saved if this or that project was canceled.

The gun used in the murder attempt is licensed and registered to a SDS official in Veles. According to Skopje media, two SDS activists from Veles drove and accompanied the shooter to Skopje and fled quickly after the shooting.

SDS and Soros activists on social media displayed dismay and anger that Todorov wasn’t killed.

PM Zaev condemns Todorov attack, talks first day in office

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44125/PM+Zaev+condemns+Todorov+attack%2C+talks+first+day+in+office

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev condemned Thursday the attack on former Health Minister Nikola Todorov.

"I condemn this attack. People should not even think of this, let alone do it. I am glad that former minister Nikola Todorov is safe, because we are all people, we should help each other, not send bad messages", Zaev told reporters.

During a meeting in the morning, PM Zaev and President Ivanov agreed over the need for cooperation.

"I am aware on the necessity for cooperation with the President. At the same time, he knows that cooperation with the Government is required because we are here for the citizens. I sincerely hope for cooperation and we will do everything in our power to put this cooperation at the highest level possible", said Zaev.

Regarding his request for the resignation of Public Prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski, the PM said this would signal the start of the judiciary reforms.

"These reforms will be accompanied by enhancement of the people's quality of life", he added.

Zaev also met with predecessor Emil Dimitriev, who briefed him that the state of the budget is stable.

"This is a bit of a comfort, because at the end of the day, it all depends on the money, which belong to the citizens. I believe we will be successful in managing the state funds", added PM Zaev.

Asked if he would remove the fence surrounding the Government building, Zaev said instructions for this action would be given today.

"The Government must be open and accessible to you, journalists, and the people in general", he said.

Zoran Zaev Officially Takes over Duties from Outgoing Prime Minister

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44117/Zoran+Zaev+Officially+Takes+over+Duties+from+Outgoing+Prime+Minister

The new Prime Minister of Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, took over Thursday duties from the outgoing Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev.

"At a ceremony to hand over the prime ministerial office, the outgoing Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev and I discussed all the necessary details that I need to know according to protocol and in line with the provisions," Zaev, who was accompanied by several members of the SDSM-led coalition government, told reporters.

"I'm glad the handover took place in a friendly atmosphere, because it sends a positive message to the citizens that regardless of the current political circumstances, our political stances and oftentimes different political views, it's clear we are going to need each other to work for the citizens, for the country and everything else that is in their interest," stressed Zaev.

Congratulating Macedonia on having a new government, PM Zaev urged politicians to govern the country wisely and solely in the interest of citizens.

Earlier in the day, the newly-appointed ministers were welcomed by President Gjorge Ivanov in his cabinet.

The new government of Macedonia was elected by MPs late on Wednesday with 62 votes in favor, 44 against and five in abstention. The new government is made up of 25 ministers.

Handover ceremonies are being held in most of the ministries throughout the day.

Zoran Zaev Starts Long Awaited Reforms from Judiciary, Calls State's Public Prosecutor to Resign

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44107/Zoran+Zaev+Starts+Long+Awaited+Reforms+from+Judiciary%2C+Calls+State%27s+Public+Prosecutor+to+Resign

Zoran Zaev starts the long awaited reforms in the Macedonian society right from the judiciary. Late on Wednesday night, after taking oath in Parliament, when he officially became prime minister of Macedonia, SDSM leader told the prosecutor, Marko Zvrlevski to leave the post.

"One of the things due to which the judiciary is like this is the state public prosecutor. I hope, the beginning of the reform can be started and I am calling him to resign. I expect his resignation as an act of person who knows that on the proposal of the government, parliament dismisses and selects the state public prosecutor. Therefore, I am calling Mr. Marko Zvrlevski to speed up processes and resigned", Zaev said for television "24 News".

Less than two hours earlier, during a speech on the session Zaev said that no politician of the new government will not dare to influence a public prosecutor.

"I want everyone here in the public to know, if anyone dares to influence a prosecutor, or a judge it is better for him to resign, because if not, I will give a proposal for his dismissal. This is the only way to restore the rule of law, only by example and with political will and motivation. The hands of the politicians should be away from the rule of law", Zaev said.

Zvrlevski was appointed Attorney General on 21 January 2013 on the 52 parliamentary session. With taking the oath on January 25 the same year he officially became Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Macedonia. His work was the target of criticism by the SDSM in recent years.

With 62 votes "for" and 44 votes "against" and five abstentions, the Macedonian Parliament on Wednesday voted in a new government. In presenting the government program Zaev listed the many promises of reforms in the society, unity and working together with the opposition.

Ministers of New Government Attend Meeting with President Gjorge Ivanov

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44110/Ministers+of+New+Government+Attend+Meeting+with+President+Gjorge+Ivanov

Zoran Zaev with all the ministers in his new cabinet on Thursday morning met with President Gjorge Ivanov. It was the first meeting of ministers after their swearing that was givenon Wednesday in the Parliament.

At noon Zaev is expected to enter into his cabinet. On Thursday morning there was already a handover at the Ministry of Interior Affairs where the minister’s place was assumed by Oliver Spasovski.

Zaev in his first statements after the election said he would work for unity in the country and will try to involve the opposition in decision making and launching projects that will be of interest to citizens. He emphasized he would not allow political interference in the judiciary.

However, he personally told the prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski to leave the presidency of the Public Prosecution. Zaev reminded Zvrlevski that the government is giving motion to dismiss the Attorney General, as well as appointing a new one.

With 62 votes "for", 44 votes "against" and five "abstentions", Macedonian Parliament on Wednesday voted in a new government. In presenting the government program Zaev listed many promises of reform in the society, unity and working together with the opposition.

EU: We Expect New Government and Opposition to Develop Joint Program for Reform Agenda

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44108/EU+We+Expect+New+Government+and+Opposition+to+Develop+Joint+Program+for+Reform+Agenda

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn on Thursday morning in a joint statement welcomed the election of the new Macedonian government, MIA reports from Brussels.

At the same time, Mogherini and Hahn sent a message that they expect Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and the opposition to develop a joint program of reform agenda that will be beneficial for the country.

"We welcome the vote on the new government led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. The European Union is ready to support the work that the new government, and the opposition will do to constructively implement all parts of the Przino agreement and urgent reform priorities", the statement said.

"We expect all parliamentary parties to put aside their divisions right now and start working together to submit a common reform agenda that will benefit the country as a whole."

"It is also essential to get the country back on its path to European integration, a process that citizens clearly want and deserve", Mogherini and Hahn recommend.

Gruevski: We were target of an operation led from abroad, whose goal was to replace the Government

http://english.republika.mk/gruevski-we-were-target-of-an-operation-led-from-abroad-whose-goal-was-to-replace-the-government/

Shortly before the vote on Zoran Zaev’s proposed Government, VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski took the floor in the Parliament to discuss his 10 years long mandate as Prime Minister and the events of the wiretapping affair which led to the political crisis.

According to the VMRO-DPMNE leader, the political crisis in Macedonia that started in early 2015 was engineered from abroad, with the goal to break the resistance VMRO-DPMNE was giving to changing the name of Macedonia in the long running dispute with Greece which has prevented the country from joining NATO and the European Union.

“In these final years, it is clear that we were the target of an operation led from abroad, whose goal was to replace the Government. Despite these pressures, the people voted for us and gave us their support. Further efforts were made against us after the elections, the principle of forming coalitions between the winners of the largest ethnic communities was violated, and we saw violations of the law and the Constitution, namely with the way the Speaker of the Parliament was elected. The arguments of force and coercion were used against the will of the majority in the country. VMRO-DPMNE and our Coalition for a Better Macedonia did all that was in our power, up to the point when it became clear that any further steps would deal much greater damage to the citizens that it would be worth. We again decided to submit our personal and partisan interests to the interest of the state”, Gruevski said, speaking about the protests against the Tirana platform which ethnic Albanian parties invoked as the basis for the future Government, and the April 27th storming of the Parliament. According to Gruevski, it is clear that the new majority in Parliament received international support with the goal of making a deal with Greece, no matter how unfavorable it will be to Macedonia.

Gruevski also spoke about the VMRO-DPMNE cooperation with ethnic Albanian parties and said that his Government has helped open countless jobs for ethnic Albanians, introduced farm subsidies for rural Albanian families, increased retirement incomes and increased the percentage of ethnic Albanians in the public sector work force from 10 to 20 percent. “We never acted to deny Albanians their rights. We proposed improving the use of the Albanian language, as we did in the past, but in line with international standards and under the Constitution, without endangering the unitary character of Macedonia”, Gruevski said.

 

[angelburst29]

Wednesday, Judicial Watch announced that it filed at FOIA suit against the U.S. State Department and the USAID for records related to their financing of the political escapades of Soros’ Open Society Foundation, Albania.

BREAKING: Judicial Watch Sues State Department and USAID for Records Related to Funding for Soros’ Open Society Foundation Albania
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/05/breaking-judicial-watch-sues-state-department-usaid-records-related-funding-soros-open-society-foundation-albania/

The suit, “Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development” (No. 1:17-cv-01012), was filed on May 26, 2017.

Judicial Watch notes:

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after both State and USAID failed to respond to identical March 31, 2017, FOIA requests seeking:
All records relating to any contracts, grants or other allocations/disbursements of funds by the State Department (USAID) to the Foundation Open Society-Albania (FOSA) and/or its personnel and/or any FOSA subsidiaries. Such records shall include, but is not be limited to proposals, contracts, requests for funding, payment authorizations, invoices, and similar budget records, as well as any and all related records of communication between State Department officials, employees, or representatives and officials, employees, or representative of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
All records of communication between any officials, employees or representatives of the State Department (USAID), including but not limited to U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu, and any officials, employees or representatives of Foundation Open Society-Albania, its subsidiaries and/or affiliated organizations.
All assessments, evaluations, reports or similar records relating to the work of Foundation Open Society-Albania and/or its subsidiaries or affiliated organizations.
All records of communications transmitted via the State Department’s SMART system sent to or from any employee of the U.S. Government operating under the authority of the Chief of Mission in Tirana that pertain to Foundation Open Society-Albania, its subsidiaries and/or affiliated organizations.

On March 14, 2017 Judicial Watch sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and six Senators calling “on the secretary to investigate the relations between USAID and the Soros Foundations and how U.S. tax dollars are being used by the State Department and the USAID to support left-of-center political groups who seek to impose left-leaning policies in countries such as Macedonia and Albania”, the senators wrote:

Much of the concerning activity in Macedonia has been perpetuated through USAID funds awarded to implement in entities such as George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. As the recipient of multiple grant awards and serving as a USAID contractor implementing projects in this small nation of 2.1 million people, our taxpayer funded foreign aid goes far, allowing Foundation Open Society-Macedonia (FOSM) to push a progressive agenda and invigorate the political left…

This problem is not limited to Macedonia, but appears to follow a pattern of alarming activity in this volatile region. Respected leaders from Albania have made similar claims of US diplomats and Soros-backed organizations pushing for certain political outcomes in their country. Foundation Open Society-Albania (FOSA) and its experts, with funding from USAID, have created the controversial Strategy Document for Albanian Judicial Reform. Some leaders believe that these “reforms” are ultimately aimed to give the Prime Minister and left-of-center government full control over judiciary power.

Fox News reported back in August of 2016:

Newly leaked emails and other files from billionaire George Soros’ web of organizations are shedding light on the liberal powerbroker’s extensive influence in political and diplomatic affairs.

One email chain shows the Wall Street titan in 2011 personally wrote then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging intervention in Albania’s political unrest. Within days, an envoy he recommended was dispatched to the region.

You can read the full report from Judicial Watch here. TGP has previously commented on JW’s FOIA requests from the State Department and USAID.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cWOhAbOId4 (0:26 min.)

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Macedonia quickly turning into Moldova

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/03/macedonia-quickly-turning-into-moldova/

The US&EU sponsored coup in Macedonia is done. Quisling government was put in charge with a prime minister currently under multiple criminal investigations and already convicted twice. Washington and Brussels were extra carefully in putting Nikola Dimitrov in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the son of Bulgarian agent and former diplomat Dimitar Dimitrov who openly negates the existence of Macedonians!
Last, but not least, a terrorist Talat Xhaferi was put in charge as speaker of Parliament.

You can-not possibly have more anti-Macedonian government in place than this, even if you tried. Not that we’re daring the Deep State to replace Zoran Zaev with Edi Rama, although in our mind it’s essentially the same thing.

The counter balance to the treasonous Government here is president Ivanov who has already received quite a negative flak after giving Zaev the mandate. Keep in mind, Ivanov was left alone, did not have the support of VMRO-DPMNE to stop the coup.

Does this situation remind you of someone else? Welcome to Moldova. The situation there is identical to the one in Macedonia.
Fixed elections saw a US puppet Pavel Filip being inserted as the Prime Minister. As soon as he was put in charge, Moldova started with anti-Russian activities which resulted in the expulsion of Russian diplomats last week. Moldovan president Igor Dodon who was overwhelmingly elected by the people, protested the move by his Government as ridiculous and motivated by the West! Dodon, for his part wants strong ties with Russia and the West, the only problem is the US wants him to sever his ties with Moscow.

Precisely the same scenario is now unfolding in Macedonia. New Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov has made terrible faux pas in our relations with Serbia, and he’s been on the job for a day. According to Dimitrov, the friendliest of our neighbors, Serbia, is the problem in the region. Bulgaria and Greece are great! Everyone who disputes and is against our name and identity is great. Dimitrov’s main problem is with a Serbian operative being in Macedonian Parliament during the coup to observe the situation, but was not troubled by the dozen American and German operatives being there as well. Dimitrov has no issues with Albania and the Tirana platform either.

The man who spent 8 years taking in over 450,000 euros in salary from the Macedonian Government, now says the Government has been a nightmare. Everything was perfect for him until 2014 while he was still paid by Gruevski’s Government (4,000 euro salary, + 1000 for personal expenses, personal driver, + 500 for phone + 2000 for trips…). As soon as the coup started, got kicked out from VMRO-DPMNE and subsequently (officially) recruited by the Dutch and the State Department for higher pay, the Government became a nightmare for him.

Before becoming a Foreign Minister, Dimitrov insulted Austrian FM Sebastian Kurtz who is known as a great supporter of Macedonia. It is rumored our new FM is an avid fan of various opioid drugs, so this is what he wrote on his twitter account:

So this is the new norm for our “diplomats”?

Zaev, and particularly Dimitrov is tasked to do what the Moldovan Government is doing. Namely disrupt and severe ties with Russia, but in our case, in parallel he needs to create an atmosphere for changing the country’s name.

How will president Ivanov balance this act remains to be seen. It would certainly be different if he had the support of a major political party behind him, but at this time we can’t necessarily say that he does. Despite this, if the recent meeting of heads of state in Kranj is anything to go buy, where Ivanov sided with the Serbian president against Kosovo’s leader, than the political situation is eerily similar to that of Moldova.

Prosecutors tell journalist Nedelkovski he is a threat to the state

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/03/prosecutors-tell-journalist-nedelkovski-he-is-a-threat-to-the-state/

Macedonian journalist Milenko nedelkovski has received an invitation from the prosecutor’s office to show up in their offices on Thursday to discuss the charges for “hate speech and jeopardizing the security of the state”. The invitation was sent on the same day VMRO-DPMNE’s mandate ended and the SDS led Government begun their reign. Coincidence?

Milenko Nedelkovski was previously informed that this initiative and invitation by the OJO was spearheaded by the US Embassy. Namely, Vecer’s chief editor Ivona Talevska attended a “journalist forum” organized by the US Embassy which was overwhelmingly attended by USAid financed journalists. To not be overtly dubbed as the “opposition forum”, the Embassy decided to invite Vecer’s chief editor Talevska.

After the meeting, she informed Milenko Nedelkovski that during the forum he was identified as a “problem” in Macedonia. A “problem” because he is popular and his views do not match the views and narrative of the US Embassy.

Strangely, Nedelkovski was not invited to this forum, even though he is one of the top journalists in the country.

In his own style, Nedelkovski says if someone thinks that this invitation would scare him, they are terribly mistaken. In his blog, Milenko says: Bulgarian soldiers entered Kajmakcalan and illegally erected a monument, Baily is walking around our Courts as if he owns them, traitors staged a coup in Parliament, we still have people who can’t go back to their homes since 2001, they are building a refugee camp in Kumanovo, but I am jeopardizing the security of the country?

Meanwhile, USAid financed journalists have been publicly calling for the murder of Gruevski, Todorov, Petrov… for the past three years, but not a single person has been detained or brought in for questioning by the prosecution office or the police.

 

[angelburst29]

The Organized Crime & Corruption Reporting Project has issued a report accusing Russian secret services and diplomats of meddling in Macedonia's internal affairs. The only problem is that the OCCRP, ostensibly charged with fighting crime and corruption in Eastern Europe and Latin America, gets its funding from the US State Dept and George Soros.

Soros and State Dept-Funded Group Accuses Russia of Meddling in Macedonia
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706051054334402-center-accuses-russia-of-macedonia-meddling/

The OCCRP's report, published Sunday, accuses Moscow of spreading "information and misinformation" to advance Russian interests. Purporting to quote Macedonian intelligence chief Vladimir Atanasovski, the report says that Russia has subjected the Balkan country to "strong subversive propaganda activity, implemented through the Embassy of the Russian Federation."

However, observers point out that the extracts from Atanasovski's supposed briefing used in the report bear no signs of authenticity, apart from having been written in the Macedonian language.

The OCCRP also quotes another document, which alleges that Russian Ambassador to Macedonia Oleg Shcherbak recently told a senior Macedonian Foreign Ministry official that Moscow was looking to "create a strip of militarily neutral countries" in the Balkans, with Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Serbia included in the project. Again, the group could not confirm the authenticity of that document.

According to the OCCRP report, the ultimate goal of Russian actions in Macedonia is to make the country dependent on Russian policy, and to "isolate" it from Western influence through the use of soft power. Russia, the report says, uses a variety of methods to promote its goals. This includes using levers of cultural influence to promote the idea of pan-Slavism and unity in the Orthodox faith. It also includes using Russian-Macedonian friendship associations and the Russian cultural center in Skopje.

The report also makes accusations against Serbian intelligence, which it says also operates in Macedonia to undermine the possible convergence between Skopje and the West.

What's the Catch?

The OCCRP is, by its own admission, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US State Department, the Swiss Confederation, and the George Soros' Open Society Foundations.

With this fact in mind, Pyotr Iskenderov, a senior researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Slavic Studies, suggested that the report was really just part of a broader effort by the European Union and the United States to create a negative image of Russia in the Balkans, in turn strengthening their own positions politically and militarily.

Iskenderov emphasized that in Macedonia itself, "no one seriously believes that Russia could interfere in their domestic affairs, especially given the fact that relations between the two countries have not developed very actively in recent years due to the internal political instability facing the Balkan country."

What's more, the expert said, there is little reason for Russia to even try to influence the country's major political forces, since as far as foreign policy is concerned, both the ruling coalition and the opposition have positions that are broadly similar.

Instead, Iskenderov said, the idea of Russian interference in other countries' internal affairs fits into a narrative which has become quite popular in Western countries. Accordingly, he noted, "the EU first and foremost, and certain sections of the US establishment, need to create a negative image of Russia in order to strengthen its own position in the Balkans."

The academic also recalled that numerous analytical articles have appeared in leading Western media in recent months showing fading Western interest toward the Balkans, and saying that the lack of prospects for joining the EU in the near future may drive Balkan nations into Russia's arms.

"In this context, studies and publications [like the OCCRP report] are designed to reverse this situation – to draw attention to this 'problem' among the Western public (even if it is rather contrived) and to try to get more money out of the relevant political and financial structures in the EU for projects relating to the Balkans," the expert said.

For his part, Oleg Morozov, a member of the Russian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated bluntly that allegations of Russian meddling in Macedonia have absolutely no basis in fact, and everyone knows it.

"For all the importance Russia places in Macedonia and the Balkans as a whole, it is difficult to imagine Moscow getting involved in Macedonia's [internal] affairs, risking its reputation in doing so," Morosov stressed. "Such accusations amount to political conspiracy theories, and are not based on any real facts," he added

President of Republika Srpska's Milorad Dodik said that he considers unacceptable the political game of putting Russia in a position where it has to constantly justify itself and give explanations for its actions in the Balkan countries.

Republika Srpska President Says Russia Not Meddling in Balkans Affairs
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706051054328232-russia-balkans-dodik-comment/

Russia does not interfere in the affairs of the Balkan countries, President of Republika Srpska's Milorad Dodik told Sputnik on Monday.

"Any intervention that implies the support of one side against another, leads to new conflicts and a new aggravation of the situation. Russia does not behave this way," Dodik said.

"I consider unacceptable the political game of putting Russia in a position where it has to constantly justify itself and give explanations for its actions," the Republika Srpska leader added.

Russian Foreign Ministry called the claims of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) of Russia's alleged interference in the internal affairs of Macedonia "provocation."

Moscow Slams 'Groundless Claims' of Involvement in Macedonia's Internal Affairs
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201706051054334854-occrp-russia-macedonia/

Moscow considers the accusations of its alleged interference in the internal affairs of Macedonia, made by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) a provocation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Russia's envoy to the OSCE called for stopping external interference in the internal affairs of Macedonia.

Russia Calls for Stopping Foreign Interference in Macedonia's Affairs
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201703161051657697-russia-macedonia-interference/

"It is necessary to stop external interference in the internal affairs of Macedonia, respect Macedonian citizens’ right to shape their own destiny based on the founding democratic principles," the text of Lukashevich’s speech, published by the Russian Foreign Ministry, said.

Russia calls on all Macedonian political powers, as well as EU and US mediators, to try to settle the domestic political situation via dialogue, Lukashevich added.

Lukashevich noted that contrary to the will of the Macedonian people, some powers, with the help of an Albanian minority, try to bring to power those politicians who lost the December parliamentary elections, and, thereby, make the political process inter-ethnic.

Lukashevich stressed that heightening inter-ethnic tensions in Macedonia was dangerous not only for the state but for the whole region.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Lavrov: US Obsessed with ruling the Balkans

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/06/lavrov-us-obsessed-with-ruling-the-balkans/

Sergey Lavrov has said the US and several Western countries are obsessed with the idea of ruling the Balkan region once again.

“The EU has some plans in this regard. Negotiation processes are under way, including Serbia as well as Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro,” stated the Russian Foreign Minister.

He said Russia had nothing against these countries becoming part of the European economic integration.

“It is only natural, because geography envisages common mechanisms, a common space and a common market. But we hope that sometime in the future, this economic space will engulf the remaining part of Eurasia as well,” FM Lavrov noted.

Zaev initiates procedure to fire chief public prosecutor

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/06/government-to-replace-prosecutor/

The Government initiated Tuesday a procedure for dismissal of Public Prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski due to illegal and inappropriate execution of the function.

At today’s second session, the Government also appointed Pece Mircevski to the post director of the Office for General and Common Affairs, replacing Vase Donevski.

The Government also discussed the weekend’s storm in the Tetovo region and the spill of Porojska Reka. Several ministries have been charged with establishing the damages and finding a sustainable solution benefiting inhabitants in the region.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Zaev’s first interview turns into a disaster, no surprises

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/06/zaevs-first-interview-turns-into-a-disaster-no-surprises/

Appearing more as a scared puppy than a prime minister of a country, Zaev held his first interview at MTV’s studios, and what an interview it was.

We don’t believe any of the viewers were surprised by the discussion, at least if you’ve seen Zaev speak at any point during the past three years.
What the prime minister said last night, two days ago, or two months ago of course is no longer valid. Today, it’s something new. At the same time, in a span of few seconds time Zaev would once again change his stance even though the question remained the same.

Lets begin.

The 260 minimum salary

Bombastically announcing a minimum salary of 260 euros just few days ago, Zaev now backed out of it and promised a debate on this in the next few years. Not an increase in the next few years, but a debate on it.

Days before taking over the PM slot, Zaev also promised an average salary of 500 euros, yet he pays his employees in Strumica 150 euros/month!

No provocations towards Greece?

During the interview Zaev stated Greece would let Macedonia join NATO under the UN acronym, but only if we stop our provocations towards Athens, says the man who received a 1m euros hacienda on the shores of the Aegean sea, courtesy of the Greek Government.

Zaev added the name can be resolved very quickly only if Macedonia stops provoking Athens.

Needless to say, many were unhappy by Zaev’s statements, including journalist Naum Stoilkovski.

Zaev also discussed changing Macedonia’s taxation laws, which at this time are considered Europe’s best and lowest, an example to other countries who have already begun copying and implementing them.

*****

To make matters worse, the new Prime Minister has surrounded himself with people who have served jail time, which is perhaps fitting considering Zaev himself spent time in jail.

Zaev’s new cabinet chief was announced today, and it is Mirjana Janeva who spent time 1.3 years in jail for stealing money and money laundering. That makes her the 7th person in the Zaev led Government to have been convicted for money laundering or stealing from a state entity.

It appears it is a requirement for an individual to have been convicted of major crimes to serve in Zaev’s government.

https://youtu.be/CVIrNAM-ra4

 

[angelburst29]

Steven Meyer, former CIA deputy chief of the Balkan Task Force, believes that the only way to ease tensions in the Balkan region is to yet again redraw the borders of former Yugoslavia creating a confederation of Orthodox nations in response to the emergence of the so-called Greater Albania.

Remedy or Recipe for Disaster? CIA Vet Offers to Redraw Balkan Borders… Again
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201706061054370330-balkans-borders-us/

The Balkan borders could be redrawn, Steven Meyer, a CIA veteran, who served as deputy of the US administration's Balkan Task Force for five years in the 1990s, told Sputnik Serbia.

Known as a critique of the US's policies in the Balkans, Meyer argues that the borders "more or less imposed" on the Balkan nations by the US and its European allies following the collapse of Yugoslavia do not correspond to the true state of affairs.

Recalling the conclusion of the Dayton Peace Accords, signed in December 1995, the CIA veteran pointed out that the agreement, aimed at ending the bloodshed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was made in a hurry.

"They [US President Bill Clinton and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke] were so anxious to get a solution and to do it quickly. I understand that a good part of Dayton was ending the bloodshed in Bosnia and [President of Serbia Slobodan] Milosevic was anxious to please the US, he wanted aid from the US and he spoke for the Bosnian Serbs," Meyer told Sputnik.

In accordance with the Dayton agreements, the State of Bosnia-Herzegovina was established as the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and of the Republika Srpska.

"Holbrooke was very adamant, very tough about the solution. He convinced the [US] administration that it was the right way to go," the CIA veteran said.

However, according to Meyer, it was clear from the very beginning that the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina wouldn't be sustainable in the long run.

The country Bosnia exists on paper, it's a fictional place, really," the CIA veteran said, "The power doesn't lie in Sarajevo, it lies in other places, it lies with the ethnic communities, it lies with the American Embassy in Sarajevo, at least for the Federation."

Meyer believes that the best way to solve tensions in the Balkan region is to redraw its borders… once again.

"It can be, it depends on how it's done. We have already redrawn borders here. Montenegro, a very-very close vote, but Montenegro in Serbian borders have been redrawn," Meyer noted, in a reference to a controversial border demarcation agreement between Kosovo and Montenegro.

"Much of the world has recognized Kosovo," the former CIA official continued, "not everybody, five countries in the EU have not, but that is redrawing borders. And as I said earlier, Bosnia doesn't really work very well and those borders are essentially redrawn."

Meyer highlighted that borders should be redrawn peacefully and insisted that in that way it wouldn't somehow violate international law.

"I think it should be done peacefully. There has to be some sort of creative leadership in the Balkans," he underscored.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Zaev has phone conversation with Tzipras, discuss name

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/07/zaev-has-phone-conversation-with-tzipras-discuss-name/

Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic perspective, the name issue and possibilities for development of bilateral relations were discussed during a telephone call between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev.

Tsipras and Zaev also exchanged opinions over the promotion of the confidence-building measures between the two countries, as well as regional developments, said the Greek PM’s Office.

Tipras congratulated Zaev on assuming the PM post and reiterated Greece’s positions regarding the name row.

In a Macedonian Television interview with chief editors of leading media late on Tuesday, PM Zaev expressed hope that Macedonia would soon join NATO under the interim reference, in parallel with the name row discussions with Greece.

“In this regard, I hope it is possible for Macedonia to soon become NATO member under the interim reference, accompanied by at least approximation of certain positions with Greece, sending of positive messages, confirming the confidence-building measures launched by the previous government that we indent to upgrade. In this way, we can create an ambiance of Macedonia being partially unblocked”, said Zaev.

Countries’ foreign ministers are expected to meet soon after Greek top diplomat Nikos Kotzias extended an invitation to Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov for a visit to Athens.

Name change by end of year? Sputnik says Macedonia to enter NATO in 2018

http://www.minareport.com/2017/06/08/name-change-by-end-of-year-sputnik-says-macedonia-to-enter-nato-in-2018/

NATO plans to admit Macedonia as a full-fledged member by the spring of 2018, a source close to the country’s accession talks with NATO has told Sputnik.

“The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenber, is planning on visiting Skopje by mid-July at the latest and discussing the prospect. NATO’s goal is Macedonia to become its member by the spring of 2018,” the source told the Russian news service.

The United States are actively engaged on the matter, according to the source.

“The US Ambassador in Skopje held yesterday a meeting with the Minister of Defense and the issue was discussed,” it stated.

The Republic of Macedonia has met all the conditions to join NATO before 2008, however Greece has blocked it.

Macedonia’s PM Zoran Zaev on Monday will meet with Stoltengerg at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Jason Miko: In Defense of Macedonia

http://www.independent.mk/articles/44246/Jason+Miko+In+Defense+of+Macedonia

I’ve been writing for Macedonian newspapers and magazines since 2001 and this just happens to be my 600th column so I thought it proper to return to a theme I’ve written about again and again: the defense of Macedonia’s name and identity. As Macedonia gets a new government, it’s important to remember that Macedonia must be defended – oftentimes on a daily basis – so that all that is Macedonia can be handed down to future generations.

But to begin on the other side of the pond: If there ever was a doubt that the sovereignty of nations was under attack, then President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Accord should dispel that doubt. The reaction from the elites of the world proved that they want nothing more than to eliminate the individual nation-states and replace them with global governance with them as the global governors looking down on the “deplorables” (Hillary Clinton) and the “bitter clingers” (Barack Obama). The reaction to the pull-out was swift and vociferous.

Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and now part of a group of retired, and elderly diplomats, tweeted “The US reneging on its commitment to the Paris Agreement renders it a rogue state on the international stage.” Timothy Wirth, who was undersecretary of state under former US President Bill Clinton, said it amounted to “crimes against humanity.” Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said “Paris Agreement was born of multilateralism, no one country and undo it.” And the wailing and gnashing of teeth continued: Carl Bildt, the former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister (now on the payroll of the International Crisis Group which is funded, in part, by George Soros), tweeted out “The United States will now do whatever it wants, without taking the interests of the rest of the world into account.” Swedish Ambassador to Macedonia, Mats Staffansson retweeted Bildt’s tweet stating “The scariest part of Trump’s Paris accord speech wasn’t about climate. Very good (and indeed scary) by Carl Bildt” to which I replied “It was about American sovereignty. Something y'all seem to have a problem with.”

And it is about sovereignty: the sovereignty of the nation-state is, and has been, under attack for decades now. Mike Gonzalez of the conservative Heritage Foundation, writing in National Review last month, notes that we are witnessing a transformation in the world between two sides: the “Patriot Party” which consists of traditional conservatives and the “Transnational party” which consists of the newly emerging global order of elites. Gonzalez notes that we are witnessing “sustained attacks on national identity by cultural Marxists who have taken over our universities and arts. Most members of the knowledge elite who will form the Transnational party will have been taught to disdain the nation, the family (‘the patriarchy’), and the church. Their anthem is John Lennon’s ‘Imagine,’ and their flag is the rainbow one that proclaims that the family is whatever arrangement you want.” In Macedonia, you know who these people are.

And what do they want? First, they want Macedonians to be obedient little boys and girls and do what they’re told. They have promised the lesser elites in Macedonia (and you know who they are as well) that they will become the representatives of the global elites if they can force their will on Macedonia. Among other things, being obedient means changing Macedonia’s name and identity.

Writing at the end of May in the Wall Street Journal, H.R. McMaster, National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump, and Gary Cohn, Director of the National Economic Council in the White House, further explained the Trump Doctrine writing, “We engage with the world not to impose our way of life....The president embarked on his first foreign trip with a clear-eyed outlook that the world is not a ‘global community’ but an arena where nations, nongovernmental actors and businesses engage and compete for advantage.” On President Trump’s first foreign visit, he gave a major speech in Riyadh where he declared “America is a sovereign nation, and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture. We are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship.” Just before he was inaugurated, President Trump told German newspaper Bild “Countries want their own identity.”

I am going to continue this theme in my column next week, but I want to leave you with some quotes; think about these and discuss them between friends and family in the coming week. George Orwell wrote “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” Russian dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote “To destroy a people, you must first sever their roots.” And Milan Kundera, in his book, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, writes “The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history…. Before long the nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was.” Now I ask you: is this happening in Macedonia and to Macedonia? Is Macedonia’s history under attack? Are Macedonia’s roots being severed? Are Macedonia’s books, culture and history under attack? The answer to all these questions is of course, yes. Next week we’ll talk more about sovereignty and the nation-state – and who, specifically, wants to destroy Macedonia’s name and identity.

 

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Serbia has launched a team of lawyers tasked with the preparation of a lawsuit against NATO over the damage it had caused to the country during the 1999 bombing. The team will include the best lawyers from Serbia, as well as from the EU, Russia, China and India and will be headed by prominent Serbian lawyer Srdjan Aleksic.

Serbia to Sue NATO Over Damage Caused by 1999 Bombing of Yugoslavia
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706081054452091-serbia-sue-nato-bombin-of-yugoslavia/

"We want to bring to trial the NATO states that participated in the aggression against Yugoslavia. These are 20 states that directly or indirectly participated in it. The lawsuits will target directly each of these states," Aleksic told Sputnik Serbia.

According to Aleksic, the lawyers do not plan to apply to the International Court of Justice. Instead, the lawsuits will be filed with the national courts of each of the 20 states.

"We believe that this is within the competence of national courts. These states violated the principles set forth in the seventh chapter of the UN Charter, which prohibits aggression against any state. In addition, NATO has violated chapters 5 and 6 of its own charter, since NATO is a defensive alliance, and not an offensive one. This is about a violation of international law, in particular conventions, which prohibit aggression and the use of force against sovereign states," the lawyer explained.

Members of Aleksic's team are expected to prepare about 20 cases supported by convincing material evidence, like medical documents that indicate a connection between the use of depleted uranium munitions during the bombing and the increase in the number of oncological diseases in Serbia over the last two decades.

"They dropped from 10 to 15 tons of depleted uranium on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The increase in the number of cancer patients has caused serious concerns. Malignant tumors are found annually in 33,000 Serbian citizens. Every day this terrible disease is diagnosed at least in one child in our country. Compared with 1999, the number of cancer patients has increased by five times, primarily in the south of Serbia, as well as Kosovo and Metohija," Aleksic said.

According to the lawyer, outstanding Serbian doctors, oncologists and toxicologists will participate in the preparation of the lawsuit.

"All our statements are evidenced by the fact that 45 Italian soldiers who served in those areas of Kosovo which were affected by the bombing with depleted uranium eventually got cancer. The court acknowledged the fact that the responsibility for the incident must be borne by the State of Italy, and now it pays serious compensation, from 200,000 to 1,200,000 euros to each person diagnosed with the disease. Our lawsuit will be based on that," the lawyer said.

The lawsuit will also take into account the consequences of the use of cluster bombs, resulting in numerous human casualties, as well as the bombings of chemical and oil facilities that have damaged the environment.

In 1998, an armed conflict broke out between Kosovo Albanian independence supporters and Yugoslavia, as militias were seeking independence for Kosovo and Metohija. The following year, NATO intervened in the conflict without UN approval and started bombing Yugoslavia.

The bombing killed hundreds of civilians, and destroyed the country's infrastructure including bridges, industrial plants and public buildings.

 

[angelburst29]

Serbia to Sue NATO Over Damage Caused by 1999 Bombing of Yugoslavia
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706081054452091-serbia-sue-nato-bombin-of-yugoslavia/

"We want to bring to trial the NATO states that participated in the aggression against Yugoslavia. These are 20 states that directly or indirectly participated in it. The lawsuits will target directly each of these states," Aleksic told Sputnik Serbia.

According to Aleksic, the lawyers do not plan to apply to the International Court of Justice. Instead, the lawsuits will be filed with the national courts of each of the 20 states.

Serbia has formed an international legal team to file charges against NATO for using depleted uranium munitions during the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia.

Serbia's Idea to Sue NATO for 1999 Bombings 'Viable' - Lawyer
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706101054505337-serbia-bombings-lawsuit/

The legal team, proposed by the Serbian Royal Academy of Scientists and Artists, will bring together the best lawyers from Serbia and also from Germany, France, Italy, Russia, China, Britain and Turkey.

In March 1999, NATO launched a series of airstrikes against Federal Yugoslavia.

The aerial campaign and also NATO’s military intervention in Kosovo were not authorized by the UN Security Council and, therefore, violated international law.

In an interview with Radio Sputnik, Vice President of the International Association of Russian-Speaking Lawyers, Mikhail Ioffe, said that Serbia should have filed the lawsuits immediately after the 1999 bombings.

"From a legal standpoint, they should have brought the charges when the damage [caused by the airstrikes] was there for everyone to see, not now that its traces are no longer evident. Still, the damage they caused to the people’s health is hard to miss,” Ioffe said.

He described the idea of suing NATO for the 1999 airstrikes as “viable.”

He described the idea of suing NATO for the 1999 airstrikes as “viable.”

Mikhail Ioffe also mentioned a number of legal problems that would prove hard to resolve.

“The question is whether the US will respond to these charges or not. The other countries could likewise want to shirk responsibility for what they did. The biggest hurdle is that [the 1999 bombings] have not been recognized as an international aggression by any authoritative international body,” the lawyer stated.

“The UN refused to authorize them, neither did they term the actions by the US and its coalition partners as an act of aggression. I guess this could be a matter for some backdoor diplomatic bargaining Serbia could benefit from,” Mikhail Ioffe concluded.

NATO launched air strikes in Serbia on March 24, 1999, without the backing of the UN Security Council.

Codenamed “Operation Allied Force,”' it was the largest attack ever undertaken by the alliance and the first time that NATO used military force without the approval of the UN Security Council and against a sovereign nation that did not pose a real threat to any member of the alliance.

In the course of the campaign, NATO launched 2,300 missiles at almost 1,000 targets and dropped 14,000 bombs, including depleted uranium bombs and cluster munitions.

More than 2,000 civilians were killed, including 88 children, and thousands more were injured. Over 200,000 ethnic Serbs were forced to leave their homeland in Kosovo.

During a meeting with Sergei Lavrov in Kaliningrad, Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak denied the possibility of Slovakia's withdrawal from NATO. In an interview with Sputnik Ceska republika, Slovak journalist and political observer Dusan Kerny commented on the issue.

This is Why Slovaks Have a Bone to Pick With NATO
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201706091054480884-slovaks-have-bone-nato/

Answering the question of whether Slovak citizens' position toward the alliance is as categorical as that of the country's authorities, Kerny said:

In general, the public supports the country's membership in NATO. But at the same time, it has more and more critical questions concerning the alliance which remain unanswered."

According to the journalist, NATO creates an impression that it simply does not have any answers to the puzzling questions of the Slovaks.

For example, why is there still no progress in Afghanistan after 16 years of direct intervention, with the participation of the Slovak military contingent? The Taliban controls more and more of the country's territory: we see that they are actually running the show in Kabul," Kerny noted.

Another issue is the statements about alleged Russian aggression. Many Slovaks do not believe that Russia poses a threat to their country.
According to polls conducted in 2017, 59% of Slovaks consider migrants the biggest threat to their national security, 46% — terrorism, and 14% economic crises in the European Union.

"But, contrary to public opinion, we are still actively involved in strengthening of NATO's eastern flank. There are still US convoys going across our territory to take part in military exercises," the journalist noted.

According to Kerny, the meeting in Kaliningrad between Slovakian FM Miroslav Lajcak and Russian FM Sergei Lavrov was extremely important.

I think we are witnessing a turning point in the Slovak-Russian relations, a kind of "disarmament" in the anti-Russian campaign that has been launched by the media. Miroslav Lajcak is an experienced diplomat, but he has to act in a very difficult situation. After all, the president of Slovakia has been sharply criticizing the government's policy towards Russia two years in a row, calling it vague and unarticulated," the journalist said.

In late May, more than 150,000 Slovak citizens signed a petition demanding a referendum on their country's withdrawal from NATO, according to the Russian newspaper Izvestia. The referendum is expected to be held in the next two years, however Kerny is not confident whether the voting would actually take place.

"Theoretically, such a referendum could have taken place two decades ago, but it was ripped off. Until now, we failed to find what actually happened. Referendums and European elections are traditionally not popular in Slovakia. We have one of the lowest levels of participation of citizens in such votings in the EU," Kerny concluded.