- Deadly nightclub blaze in North Macedonia kills 59
Fifty-nine people, mostly youths, tragically died in a fire at the Pulse nightclub in the eastern North Macedonian city of Kocani on the night of March 16. 197 were injured, suffering burns.
The fire broke out at around 2:30 a.m. It is believed the fire was caused by sparks from on-stage lighting effect equipment. The large number of victims is explained by the fact that the club premises were not suitable for holding mass events; in addition, there were not enough fire extinguishers at the facility.
The investigation is underway.
North Macedonia has declared seven days of mourning. Several neighboring countries have declared one mourning day.
More than a 100 victims have been transferred to hospitals abroad – in Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Turkey, Sweden, Hungary, and Poland.
North Macedonia has activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to facilitate coordination of assistance from member states.
On March 18, thousands of Macedonian students and pupils, as well as ordinary citizens, gathered in Skopje and other cities across the country to pay their tribute to the victims. During the gatherings, people also expressed their protest against murderous corruption, demanding accountability.
In Kocani, the rally spilled into riots. Protesters effectively demolished the Classic cafe, which has the same owner as the Pulse club, and looted his shop.
Currently, 20 people are under investigation, including high-ranking officials. Several suspects have been detained. “There will be no mercy, no matter what ethnicity or political party someone belongs to. “What happened is more than a crime, it is a mass murder that someone allowed to happen for money, bribes and corruption,” said North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Kristijan Mickoski.
- Was a “sonic cannon” used against protesters in Belgrade?
The largest political rally in Serbia’s history took place on March 15. The Arhiv javnih skupova organization estimated that between 275,000 and 325,000 people joined the event in Belgrade.
The action was organized by students who have been blocking faculties and holding mass rallies for several months, demanding political and legal accountability for the deaths of 15 people at the the Novi Sad train station where a canopy collapsed on people on November 1 last year.
On the eve of the March 15 rally, Serbian authorities warned of protesters’ plans to seize state institutions and possible violent actions, but this never happened.
“Serbia has won, we succeeded in preserving peace,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in a speech late on March 15.
However, protesters and the opposition accused the authorities of using banned equipment – a sonic cannon – against the protesters.
Numerous videos posted on social media show how activists first observe a minute of silence to honor the victims of the tragedy in Novi Sad. Then protesters were seen scattering abruptly, with no apparent reason.
“According to testimonies, those present felt a strong sonic impact before confronting a wave of heat or wind,” a statement from several Serbian civil society organizations (NGOs) said.
The Serbian President, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and Security Information Agency (BIA) immediately denied accusations of employin sonic cannons against protesters. However, opposition leaders presented photos showing vehicles equipped with sonic cannons spotted outside the presidential administration building on March 15. After that, the Serbian police admitted to having powerful acoustic devices in service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, presenting them to journalists. The police insisted that the “sonic cannons” were never used as an anti-riot tool but were planned to be employed to broadcast messages to protesters.
Against this background, the Serbian Parliament confirmed the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević on March 19. Thus, a 30-day countdown began for the appointment of a new government.
If a new government is not approved within 30 days, new parliamentary elections will be held. Eearly elections are now seen as the most likely developments.
- Republika Srpska tentatively adopts new constitution
The National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NARS) adopted the draft of the new RS Constitution on the evening of March 13.
The main provisions define the Republika Srpska as a sovereign, united and indivisible constitutional entity, affirmed by the will of the people and the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Dayton Peace Agreement). Republika Srpska is defined as the state of the Serbian people and all nations and citizens living in it.
The single citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be abolished, and only the citizenship of the entities of BiH – the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – is mentioned.
The new Constitution will provide for the creation of the Army of Republika Srpska, the abolition of the Council of Peoples of Republika Srpska and the position of RS Vice President.
The draft states that Republika Srpska has the right to self-determination and may unite in state communities of a federal or confederal structure with neighboring and other states – or groups of states.
It is envisaged that laws adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be applied on the territory of Republika Srpska only after their approval by the People’s Assembly of Republika Srpska.
The draft of the new Constitution determines that the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska (not Bosnia and Herzegovina) will decide on the application of laws and acts of the authorities of BiH on the territory of Republika Srpska.
Fifty lawmakers from the ruling coalition out of 58 present in the session voted in favor of the adoption of the draft of the new RS Constitution.
The tentatively passed draft of the Constitution of Republika Srpska will be put up for public discussion for 30 days, with a subsequent vote on the new Constitution within six months.
The final adoption of the new Constitution requires a two-thirds majority (56 deputies), while the ruling coalition includes only 53.
If the new constitution of Republika Srpska is ultimately adopted, this will mean a clear course for RS to gain much greater, or even complete, independence.
The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, does not share the opinion that Milorad Dodik is “bluffing”. In his view, this is about “long-planned preparations for independence” of RS.
“No, this is not a bluff, this is still an attempt to draw new borders peacefully,” Schmidt said in an interview with Austrian media.
- Kosovo, Albania, Croatia sign memorandum on military alliance
The document was signed on March 19 in Tirana by the Minister of Defense of Albania Pirro Vengu, his Kosovo counterpart Eyup Makedonci, and Croatian defense chief Ivan Anušić.
The memorandum aims to promote cooperation in building up defense capabilities and the defense industry, increase interoperability through training, counter hybrid threats and strengthen strategic resilience, as well as provide full support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic and regional defense integration.
As noted, the memorandum is the first such deal signed in the region.
“We have a common assessment of threats in a fragile security environment. In this context, our commitment to developing our defense capabilities is stronger than ever,” Minister Vengu stressed.
Minister Makedonci stressed that “the purpose of this cooperation is not to threaten anyone, it is a message to those who intend to threaten the region.” “We show them that we are together and will not allow anyone to destabilize the region. This agreement is a declaration, it is a message to every country that aims at destabilization that we are together,” he said.
The Croatian minister stressed that the goal is to strengthen regional stability and improve interoperability between the armed forces of the three countries, including joint exercises and the exchange of military experience.
Anušić noted that Bulgaria may join this trilateral military alliance in the future.
Commenting on the agreements between Zagreb, Tirana, and Pristina, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the signing of the trilateral Memorandum is a violation of the “so-called subregional arms control agreement of 1996”, and accused Albania, Croatia, and the “so-called Kosovo” in that “they started an arms race in the region.” However, regional analysts emphasize that the 1996 agreement, which the Serbian president mentions, is a document that, in fact, only lists the types and volumes of weapons that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia could have at that time, so Belgrade’s accusations seem unfounded.
