- SIPA fails to arrest Dodik
Inspectors of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina attempted to arrest Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik in the administrative center of the RS Government in East Sarajevo on the evening of April 23. However, it was failed, as the Republika Srpska police prevented Dodik’s detention.
The tensions did not escalate further and SIPA officers withdrew following a brief standoff.
Milorad Dodik stated that SIPA had no authority in Republika Srpska and stressed that the RS police would not back down in the face of SIPA, the Court, or the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH (these structures were previously prohibited on the territory of RS).
The attempted arrest was based on the B&H Court’ order against Milorad Dodik for the criminal offence of undermining constitutional order. In addition to Milorad Dodik, the Court of BiH had previously issued arrest warrants for RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković and the Speaker of the RS National Assembly, Nenad Stevadić.
According to local politicians, the attempted arrest by several unarmed SIPA inspectors could have been a “test” to feel out the situation before an actual arrest. At the same time, further steps by BiH law enforcement agencies will depend on the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) and the international community’s response.
- Patriarch of the Serbian Church made a number of high-profile statements in Moscow
Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Porfirije visited Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the meeting, Porfirije expressed gratitude to Russia for its support and position towards Kosovo and Republika Srpska, “and, of course, Montenegro,” because “our people, our Church, are there too.”
“I believe and feel that our position regarding Kosovo, Republika Srpska and Montenegro also depends on the position of the Russian state, the Russian Federation on a global level. My wish, and the wish of the majority in our Church, is that in the future, if there is a new geopolitical realignment, we will be close to that Russian environment,” said the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Russian President noted the contribution of the Serbian Orthodox Church to relations between the peoples of the two countries. “The Serbian Orthodox Church makes a significant contribution to strengthening relations between the peoples of Russia and Serbia,” Putin said during the meeting. Moscow is aware of the difficult situation in the Balkans and the efforts of the Serbian Orthodox Church “to strengthen Serbia’s positions.” he noted.
Porfirije’s meeting with Putin and the statements of the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch caused outrage among pro-European opposition politicians in Montenegro and independent observers. However, government institutions also expressed their criticism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro called the statements of Serbian Patriarch Porfirije inappropriate and unacceptable.
“Montenegro is an independent, sovereign and secular state, a member of NATO and a reliable partner of the European and Euro-Atlantic community, with the priority goal of joining the European Union as soon as possible. This cannot be influenced by anyone’s statements, political, religious or other calculations, but only by the citizens of Montenegro, who have clearly opted for the development and prosperity of their country. We remind you that state issues are the exclusive competence of the institutions of Montenegro and Statements by religious leaders, including the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, that relate to domestic or foreign policy, in addition to being irrelevant, are considered inappropriate and inadmissible,” the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The government department added that Montenegro remains firmly committed to the path to EU membership, nurturing the secular character of the state, and strengthening stability and peace in the region, and that they expect all participants, including religious leaders, to respect such a commitment.
- Vučić confirms his visit to Moscow on May 9
President Aleksandar Vučić has confirmed his visit to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II. In an interview with Pink TV on April 23, Vučić said that he would most likely travel to Russia alone to “take all the blows from the world, both from outside and within,” because of the visit.
“I will go to Moscow. I will probably go alone to Moscow. Because other institutions cannot take the risk. I do not want Đura Macuta’s government to pay the price. I want him to have the opportunity to work with the European Union properly and not have anyone question him. It’s unlikely the Serbian Army will go, as it would come under various attacks and sanctions. That’s why I’m going to,” the Serbian President said.
It was previously announced that representatives of the Serbian Army would take part in a military parade in Moscow on May 9. Vučić also said that during the visit he would discuss with President Vladimir Putin the new gas agreement with and the situation around NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije), which was sanctioned by the United States due to its Russian majority ownership.
“I have many other economic issues in Moscow. I have to discuss the gas agreement with President Putin, because we must sign this deal by May 30. We also need to resolve the issue of the oil company and talk about all other matters,” he added.
Earlier, representatives of the European Union spoke out categorically against the participation of leaders of EU candidate countries in events planned for May 9 in Moscow. Unofficially, there was even talk of suspending Serbia’s EU accession process. Obviously, this visit to Russia is more important for Vučić than a threat it poses to Serbia’s European integration process.
- Montenegro’s parliament votes in favor of controversial economic deals with the United Arab Emirates
The Economic Cooperation Agreement and the Tourism and Real Estate Cooperation Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was passed under a fast-track procedure by the Parliament in Montenegro to put into effect the agreements signed between Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and UAE officials on March 28.
The vote was supported by the parliamentary majority: Spajić’s Europe Now Movement, Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić’s Serbian New Democracy, the Democrats, and the Bosnian Party. The main opposition party — Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) — exited the hall ahead of the vote.
Although there are no any details on the agreements, according to the government statements, they concern Arab businessman Mohamed Alabar and its investments in a stretch of coastline in Ulcinj. It concerns a 99-year lease of part of the Velika Plaža, which covers about 20 million square meters, where tourist and residential facilities planned to be built.
Alabar previously participated in the construction of the controversial Belgrade Waterfront project.
The country’s President, the local community, the opposition and environmentalists are strongly opposed to the project.
President Jakov Milatović believes that the government’s agreement with the UAE is illegal, as it violates Montenegrin laws, so he has asked the European Commission to express its opinion on its compliance with European legal standards.
The opposition emphasizes that the adoption of these agreements suspended the Constitution and some laws of Montenegro, as interstate agreements, once passed, hold priority over national laws in case of a dispute.
The agreements also do not guarantee the compliance with domestic legislation on public procurement and tenders.
The United Reform Action party (URA) leader, former Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, says that the agreement is considered a breach of the Constitution, since “it plans to seize property from citizens without explaining the public interest.” He previously reported that the URA filed criminal charges against Prime Minister Spajić for signing an agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
