Izvor: Danas, 24.2.2010.

Source: The Balkan Insight, 27.11.2009.

Source: Borba, B92, Sept 22nd, 2009.

Yesterday five youths clad in black laid a wreath at the plateau in front of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, thus symbolically burying the state.

“The state has succumbed to ruffians and prohibited public gatherings just like Slobodan Milošević had prohibited them two months prior to October 5, 2000. Since we no longer have a state, due to it having succumbed to pressures exercised by minority, with this act we are sending out a cry for protection of human rights and the right of assembly”, said Matija Novaković upon laying the wreath.

Maša Milutinović, as she stated for the daily “Borba”, is representing all those who had wished to attend the Pride Parade.

“We did not report the event to the police. We did it all at short notice for security reasons. We are a group of youths from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Belgrade Helsinki Committee for Human Rights’ youth wing. However, so as not to wait for our superiors’ permit to do such a thing, we ourselves initiated the event.”

These young people stated that they would not be hiding behind names of their organizations and parties in future and that they would be using all measures available in a democratic state for fight against violence, repression and ultra-nationalism.

Source: E-novine, Sept 20th, 2009

More and more reactions to the cancellation of the Gay Pride Parade are coming in. Forum for Security and Democracy (FBD) has assessed that the organizers’ having been forced to cancel the Pride Parade is yet another scar of shame on the democratic face of Belgrade. This is yet another, fresh, public humiliation of Serbia and fresh manifestation of the worrying incompetence and refusal to understand and put tolerance into effect here, quotes the FBD press release.

Regardless of what official authorities may have to say about it, today’s postponement is a very negative message to both local and international public, including overdue reaction of politicians in office, with honourable exception of the Interior Minister. Postponement of the Pride Parade is above all fresh and strong tailwind to all those formal and informal groups to whose bigotry and backwardness Serbia has had no answer since Zoran Djindjic’s assassination to date and which are, once again, raising their heads high thinking they can do anything they please in Serbia, even though they are not formally in power, quotes the press release.

BOTH THE AUTHORITIES AND LGBT ERRED: We are welcoming the fact that there will be no casualties in the streets of Belgrade on Sunday; however, we deem that post-operative wisdom of the organizer, as well as that of the state, have shown that Serbia is not ready to cope with demands of democracy, pertaining to LGBT struggle in particular, stated the association LGBT Vojvodina. Organizers of the Pride Parade made an initial error in not summing up the adequacy of organizing such a manifestation only a few months upon enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Law, which corresponds to the conclusion made by organizers of the 2001 Parade, when they took to the streets not long after the fall of the Milošević regime. If there had been no wisdom in 2001, there had to be some this year – the experience was there!

This way, through irresponsible decisions, the organizers have made more damage than there would have been had they done nothing, quotes the press release. On the other hand, the Belgrade police, as well as the state authorities in general, irresponsibly procrastinated with their conclusions and, instead of instantly prohibiting or relocating the manifestation, they were waiting for the final day to do it. Today regressive forces are celebrating instead of progressive ones and the whole construction is utterly negative for democratic processes in the state, as well as for LGBT population. They both lost yet another battle, although through their own doing, while conservative forces are successfully teaming up, awaiting future battles, concludes the press release.

CANCELLATION OF THE PARADE IS THE STATE’S FAILURE: Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) has requested this evening that the Government of Serbia take full responsibility for cancellation of the Gay Pride Parade, demonstrate political will and secure safety to all citizens, as well as conditions for the respect of fundamental human rights. In its press release YIHR has underscored great success with which the Organizational Board of the Parade managed to obtain public support from numerous individuals, organizations and institutional representatives.

“Cancellation of the Parade, in spite of public political support demonstrated by some state officials, shows that there do not exist sufficiently strong state mechanisms for the views expressed by the Government to be put into effect”, quotes the press release. Upheld by the Centre for Cultural Decontamination, Humanitarian Law Centre and Women in Black, YIHR has called on the state “to demonstrate its determination through prompt and sweeping operation aimed at extremist groups and apprehension of those who have been threatening with violence and calling for lynch over the previous months, thus proving that extremist organizations are not stronger than the state”.

The press release further quotes that in the coming year the elite and the authorities shall be under great responsibility to enable that Gay Pride take place next year. YIHR welcomed the support rendered to the Parade by certain state officials and their pointing to the importance of abiding by the law and the Constitution of Serbia.

“Considering dedication demonstrated by the police over the previous period to secure in detail every segment of the manifestation to be held at the Plateau, it is obvious that relocation of the manifestation to UšÄ‡e, within time limits which make it impossible to secure participants’ safety at another location, is not the decision made by the police, but a political one”, is assessed in the press release.

Even though the Gay Pride Parade will not be taking place, YIHR has called on the police to secure safety, in particular during this and the following day, to all citizens of Belgrade and foreign nationals who have come to Belgrade to take part in the Gay Pride. The press release also contains an appeal “to prevent through firm and efficient action any activity by extremist groups from Serbia and the region in the course of this and the following day, thus preempting violence toward all those who might be perceived as different”.

Source: We Are Right, 04.05.2009.

The action titled “I Am a Citizen” represents a promotional project of the “My Initiative” activist network which has started operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina as of this year. The action is aimed at establishing local activist units in Sarajevo, Eastern Sarajevo, Zenica, Tuzla, Mostar and Banja Luka, thus for the first time creating a civic activist network which would be operating on the territory of the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What does “My Initiative” seek to develop? First and foremost, the aim of creating such a network, which already exists as such in Serbia and Kosovo, while its development is underway in Croatia and Montenegro, is to activate the youth as citizens acting within the society. Once the promotion, which has been launched in April, and is to continue through the months of May and June, is over, “My Initiative” and its local units will strive to become a dam against any form of violation of human rights and freedoms, and resistance to any form of hate speech, nationalism and fascism.

This organization’s activists wish to provoke a reaction, to work on creating a common vision of the civic society in which individuals would primarily be the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as such would all have equal rights and responsibilities. Any form of fight against ethnocracy, against an undemocratic system, and constant resistance and struggle toward realization of a serious state and society in which all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution would be implemented in practice as well.

For anyone interested in joining the “My Initiative” activist network: gradjanin@mojainicijativa.org

Source: "Borba" daily, March 17, 2009

Interviewees of the daily "Borba" are keeping up with assessments of the Government of Serbia apropos 250 days since its constitution. Andrej Nosov, Youth Initiative for Human Rights' president, graded the Government of Serbia with an average mark of 2.7. He, however, says that Mr. Cvetković's government is certainly better than the previous one, helmed by Vojislav Koštunica.

"Its policy toward Kosovo has remained within the Action Plan, which no one has ever seen. In the European integrations process the progress is smaller than the expected minimum. What also characterizes this government is large influence of various lobbies, such as the ecclesiastical one, which is even capable of withdrawing laws from parliamentary procedure", says Mr. Nosov.

According to him, there are several cabinet ministers who can be assessed as fine, but there is no political will to bring about changes in their respective fields. "Compared to the previous two governments, this one is surely better, but it is a far cry from the government Serbia needs. The economic crisis has still not affected the Government, its staff is expanding daily", said Mr. Nosov.

Mirko Cvetković, Prime Minister in the Government of Serbia:

He does not appear as the head of a government, but more as a secretary general implementing certain orders issued by the Cabinet members. Albeit giving an air of a decent and moderate man, what he does is not quite clear. grade 2 (D)

Ivica DaÄ?ić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior:

A highly positive impression since he reacted appropriately in critical situations. It is anyhow positive that there were several cases of purging the police ranks from those who violated the law. Even though his work did not yield considerable results, a surprise in this government. grade 4 (B)

Božidar Ä?elić, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister:

Apart from us all being aware of his fountain pen, which has earned him a high grade, and the promise of entering the Schengen white list, the public is not exactly familiar with the specific affairs the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister is in charge of. Although expectations were high, results are modest. grade 3 (C)

Mlađan Dinkić, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy:

He appears to be doing his job properly, he is appealing for his showdown with tabloids, in whose foundation he himself participated. His party is likened to numerous scandals involving steering committees and other commissions, but experts charge their services well. grade 3 (C)

Jovan Krkobabić, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister:

Waiting for pensions to increase. grade 2 (D)

Vuk Jeremić, Minister of Foreign Affairs:

In addition to numerous diplomatic incidents, Vuk Jeremić voted on Serbia's behalf in the United Nations against the EU's motion to punish Iran for human rights violations. Serbia, Russia and Belarus were thus the only European countries to openly support whipping, stoning, mutilization, repression against women and minors underway in Iran. It is even redundant to remind the public of the case of Miladin KovaÄ?ević or the expulsion of the Montenegrin and Macedonian ambassadors from Belgrade. Remember that he was to become the Prime Minister; what that government would only look like? grade 1 (F)

Milan Marković, Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government:

His struggle for the rights of Serbs in the South of Serbia is evident, while he is not exactly in tune with Albanians. It is excellent that he has taken charge of the Coordination Body for the South of Serbia, after that body's many years of operation we are all hoping a result will follow. His initiatives for decrease in the number of MPs and for reform of local self-government are excellent. He only needs to implement them. There is no law on non-governmental organizations, which is in his jurisdiction. grade 3 (C)

Slobodan Milosavljević, Minister of Trade:

"Delta" company minister, earned his name through ties with and defense of the "Delta" monopoly, as well as by advising citizens against buying washing machines, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators during the crisis. Maybe he should devote more time to poetry, in that filed he was quite successful, or that is at least what he believes in. grade 1 (F)

Snežana Samardžić Marković, Minister of Youth and Sports:

She comes across as someone who puts a lot of effort into improving the position of youth and athletes. Various strategies were adopted in the course of her tenure, funds allocated to youth organizations, hundreds of youth offices opened, and the youth are still the fifth wheel to this Government. The scandal surrounding the Fund for Young Talents and an unwillingness to hold a dialogue with those from the youth sector who hold different views and refuse to praise her strategy and endeavours, but rather see them in critical light, make her a grade below top-quality ministers. grade 4 (B)

Tomica Milosavljević, Health Minister:

Scandal after scandal. Smoking Ban Campaign. There is progress in his sector, but I think he has nothing to do with it. grade 3 (C)

Jasna Matić, Telecommunications Minister:

Gives an air of someone who will bring about changes in the telecommunications sector, she has a great team, the only thing lacking is a bit more action the citizens could perceive as well. grade 4 (B)

Rasim Ljajić, Minister of Labour:

When it's tough - Rasim. His commitment to the Anti-Discrimination Law is highly commendable. Reforms in the social policy sector; while the Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which seems more as a screen for covering the state's impotence to apprehend the two remaining Hague fugitives, does not fall under the brighter side of his political career. A decent politician. grade 4 (B)

Sulejman Ugljanjin, Minister without Portfolio:

Impossible to comment on, an invisible minister. grade 1 (F)

Žarko Obradović, Minister of Education:

A tough question. There are no records of this person, except that we have heard of him having destroyed everything good that was left behind the previous two so-called ministers. grade 1 (F)

Svetozar Čiplić, Minister of Human and Minority Rights:

By observing the work of his ministry one would gain an impression that this state truly functions. He has an excellent team, the only thing occasionally lacking is political will to implement the policy created by this ministry. grade 5 (A)

Dragan Šutanovac, Defense Minister:

Waiting for professionalization of the army. grade 4 (B)

Diana Dragutinović, Finance Minister:

Sometimes resembles a treasurer of an insolvent firm, her need to argue with MPs is fascinating, while her defending all her proposals before the National Assembly is highly commendable. grade 4 (B)

Snežana Malović, Justice Minister:

Waiting for reform of the judiciary. grade 4 (B)

Saša Dragin, Minister of Agriculture:

Appears to be doing something sensible, but we haven't seen it in public. grade 2 (D)

Petar Škundrić, Minister of Energy:

The next year's gas situation remains to be seen. We froze to death this year. grade 1 (F)

Milutin Mrkonjić, Minister of Infrastructure:

Waiting for Prokop. One big nothing. grade 2 (D)

Oliver Dulić, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning:

A decent minister with some ecology-related plans. Results invisible. grade 4 (B)

Nebojša Bradić, Minister of Culture:

A decent minister with an OK team. grade 4 (B)

Verica Kalanović, Minister for NIP [National Investment Plan]:

Waiting for a competition for NIP. grade 3 (C)

Goran Bogdanović, Minister for Kosovo & Metohija:

Anything is better than Samardžić. grade 2 (D)

Bogoljub Šijaković, Minister of Religion:

He often forgets that Mr. Cvetković, not Irinej, is his boss. Scandalous attitude toward small religious communities, inadmissibly deep ties with churches. grade 1 (F)

Srđan Srećković, Minister for the Diaspora:

He lacks programs for establishment of ties with intelligent youth that have left Serbia. Almost every campaign is designed for gastarbeiters. grade 2 (D)

Tamara Kaliterna

Žarko Puhovski, a Professor at Zagreb’s Faculty of Philosophy and Vice President of the Croatian Helsinki Committee (CHC) between 1993 and 1998, is delivering this week his testimony before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) against three Croatian generals, Ante Gotovina, Ivan ÄŒermak and Mladen MarkaÄ?, charged with crimes perpetrated during the operation “Storm” and in its aftermath. His position is that it was the case of ethnic cleansing since between 120,000 and 150,000 people left their homes.

When the International Court of Justice accepted Croatian lawsuit against Serbia for genocide committed between 1991 and 1995, Vuk Jeremić stated that, due to the Serbian countersuit, the Prosecutor at the Hague shall have to face the fact that “250,000 Serbs were forced to leave their homes in Croatia”. Boris Tadić concurred with his assessment. Aleksandar VuÄ?ić, Deputy President of SNS [Serbian Progressive Party] was telling Croatian journalists in Benkovac of “400,000 exiled Serbs”. Savo Štrbac, President of the Documentation-Information Centre Veritas, accused “Croatian army that it had acted upon its plan and, aided by the political leadership, forced some half a million Serbs from their homes”.

SRS [Serbian Radical Party] Vice President Dragan Todorović told parliamentary reporters that in 1995 “over 750,000 Serbs were forced from their homes”. On July 19, 1991, Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Croatia published that, according to the census data, some 550,000 citizens who declared themselves to be of Serb “national affiliation” were living in Croatia during that year.

CHC reports of “200,000 exiled Croatian citizens of Serbian nationality” between 1991 and 1995. “It appears to me as undisputable that we had a case of ethnic cleansing agreement between Zagreb and Belgrade, from which both sides profited”, said Puhovski on January 24 for Zagreb’s Radio 101.

(Published at PešÄ?anik.net website, February 19, 2009.)

Tamara Kaliterna

Although the new supreme legal act of Vojvodina reached the national parliament on October 15, 2008, it is still unknown whether and when Belgrade will approve of it. Only one quarter of MPs in the Parliament of Vojvodina come from the parties which wouldn't even consider Europe. 89 MPs from the ruling coalition voted in favour of the Draft Statute of Vojvodina, while the Serbian Radical Party and the Democratic Party of Serbia were against it. Vojislav Koštunica's party submitted 68 amendments, but none was passed, while of the 34 amendments put forth by the Radicals one gained approval. In Serbian Parliament the ratio between pro-European forces and those inclined otherwise is not as obvious.

As the comedian case would have it, the Statute is to be adopted on the 20th anniversary of the “yogurt revolution” - an interlude to the abolishment of Vojvodina's autonomy, when the “young, handsome and smart” of Vojvodina, half of which now languish in dungeons of Belgrade and the Hague, took over the power. Post-Milosevic nation-builders fear that after the “Serbian Sparta”, Serbia will get bereft of the “Serbian Athens” as well. The Statute transforms the Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (APV) into the “provincial government”, assigns the province the right to designate the plain's coat of arms and flag, regulate the establishment of the Provincial Ombudsperson Institution (which, by the way, it introduced before Serbia) and the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Vojvodina.

The Statute also defines the province's right to property and source revenues, allows for the foundation Vojvodina's development bank, establishment of the province's public companies. The province is also being granted the right to open its bureau with the EU. Down the river, the opposition claims that the Statute spells the end of Serbia. The truth is that it is the end, but of Yugoslavia. When Serbia conquered Kosovo in the Balkan wars, the Constitution in force in Serbia was the one from 1903. Article 4 of that Constitution stipulates that any change of Serbian borders must be approved by the Supreme National Assembly, and not a common parliament. Such an assembly never met, and thus Vojvodina and Kosovo directly entered the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918. „Corpus separatum”; “Vojvodina opens its embassy in the EU”; “latinization of the entire public sphere north of the Sava and the Danube”; „Vojvodina's language”; „the nation of Vojvodina”; object the critics.

President of the National Board for the “Truth” on Radovan Karadžić, Kosta ÄŒavoški, stated on the eve of the vote at the Vojvodina Parliament that the Statute “opens two detrimental possibilities: creation of the state of Vojvodina within the state of Serbia and secession of the District of Subotica, and maybe even the whole of Vojvodina”. ÄŒavoški, a citizen of Serbia, is a senator of Republika Srpska, a province within another state. The unfortunate truth that the authorities of Bosnia and Hercegovina deported him from RS proves this. Vojvodina uses 7 percent of Serbia's budget, while at the same time generating 40 percent of the state budget. Kosovo, another province which invests nothing, while its northern part, along with commission fees for party apparatchiks, amply siphons Serbian budget, has found itself in the preamble to the state Constitution.

Article 182 of the Constitution stipulates that of the two autonomous provinces it is only Kosovo that has essential autonomy and the law to guarantee it. For that reason Liberal-Democratic Party will not support the Draft Statute of the APV. Centralism of Slobodan Milošević has pushed Vojvodina, the socialist “granary”, to a nondescript territory which food and oil are being siphoned from, where churches of Byzantine proportions and sanctuaries for hundreds of thousands of Serbian refugees from the territory of former Yugoslavia are being erected. A century later, League of Vojvodina's Social-Democrats demanded for the second time that Belgrade indemnify the Province in the amount of 840 million euros which, according to this party's assessment, is the difference between what Vojvodina is to be given after the sale of NIS [Serbian Oil Industry] to the Russians and the company's real price.

NIS was sold to Gazprom for 400 million euros, while this company's market value is around 2.2 billion euros. In the 20th century the citizens of Vojvodina used to pay on the bridge, while in the 21st they will be paying on the river crossing as well. The proposed Statute of Vojvodina harmonizes local-patriotism, state sovereignty and transnational integrations. Once again, the comedian case would have it that Vojvodina be admitted into the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Council of Europe's organization, on November 29, 2002. This coincided with the anniversary of the session of AVNOJ [Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia], which decided that in the Federal Yugoslavia, established on the right of nations to self-determination, all nations shall enjoy equal rights.

Serbia and Montenegro were admitted into the Council of Europe five months after Vojvodina's admittance. This January, due to parties pitting against each other in the Parliament, Serbia did not duly send its delegation to the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2006 Vojvodina was selected among nine candidates as the “European Region of the Year”. Vojvodina is the region bordering the EU. Two major European transport routes lead through it - the Danube and Corridor 10. Vojvodina is a member of the DKMT (Danube-Kris-Mureš-Tisa) Euro-region that spans over Southern Hungary, Western Romania and Northern Serbia. Many European regions were either autonomous provinces or divided among sovereign states: Flanders, the Basque region, Catalonia, Corsica…

They all suffer from nationalistic nostalgia, while some demand autonomy for historic or cultural reasons. As such, they are all in the EU's Committee of the Regions (CoR). CoR's approval is needed for two thirds of EU's legislation. United Kingdom is the state consisting of four countries. Germany consists of 14 provinces and two states. Belgium is based on territorial and functional regionalism. There exist three regions: political-territorial units with autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution (Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia). Italy and Spain are functional regional states. Following fascist centralization in Italy, Franco's authoritarianism in the 20th century Spain, democratization required giving up on the 19th century ideal of “piedmontism” - unitarian state and centralist “nation-building”.

Choosing in the early 20th century among three variants of ”piedmontism” - for Yugoslavia, united Balkans and the “Greater Serbia”, Belgrade opted for the last one. Serbian anthem is the one from 1904. Barring the off-key monarchist tones, it is being chanted: “Serbian lands, Serbian nation”. At the end of 2008 Minister of Economy and Regional Development, MlaÄ‘an Dinkić, presented in Užice a book of impressions - Draft Law on Regional Development of Serbia. Without this law Serbia cannot join the EU, nor can it access the money from the EU's pre-accession funds. Serbia is the country with the largest regional disparity in Europe. Disproportion in the development of municipalities is seven to one, with rich municipalities tending to get richer and the poor ones poorer.

“As stipulated in the Draft Law, Serbia is to consist of seven regions - Vojvodina, Belgrade, the Western, Eastern, Central, Southern Region and Kosovo & Metohija”, Mr. Dinkić explained. The Draft Law hopes the regional development policy to be financed from the budgets of Serbia, the two provinces, local self-governments, EU funds and those of international organizations. Swiss cantons that are outside the EU, as well as Swedish districts, collect a certain rate of income tax; taxes account for 49 percent of the cantons' budgetary funds, while income tax revenues represent almost two thirds of the overall Swedish districts' funds.

French regions' tax revenues make up one half of their overall funds. In Spain only ten percent of the autonomous provinces' budget comes from independent sources, while one percent comes from tax revenues. In Italy the regions holding special status have broader authorities regarding collection of taxes. In German provinces more than 85 percent of revenues come from their share in national tax revenues. In Germany 56 percent of VAT revenues go to the Federation, while the remainder is distributed to provinces. Two thirds of Serbia's annual revenue are generated by two of Mr. Dinkić's seven regions: Belgrade and the District of South Backa, with its headquarters in Novi Sad. Companies operating in Vojvodina are: Stada, Interbrew, Lafarge, Carlsberg, Erste Bank, Flender-Loher, Albon Engineering PLC, Japan Tobacco International...

“Vojvodina is not a dairy cow”, “Where is our money”, Vojvodina's inhabitants ask of those who dreamily hop to the tunes of “Hoy, Serbia, from three parts”. And, finally, another thing which, in the time of radiators, distinguishes us from Europe: In European dictionaries synonyms for the word region are: area, zone, part, neighbourhood, premises, surface, land, hometown, homeland, fatherland, province, district, field, space, expanse, terrain, sector, sphere, place, world.

Most often used in Serbian dictionaries are predominantly administrative, geographical or mythical, but synonyms narrow in meaning: landscape, area, district, territory, land, province, heritage, patrimony, fatherland, estate, legacy, ancestral homes, ancestral cemetery, native soil…

(The article was originally published in February issue of the 'Biznis&finansije' magazine)

Source: Politika, January 16th, 2009

Strasbourg, January 15 – Today the European Parliament has adopted, with 556 votes in favour to 9 against, a resolution officially designating July 11 as the day of remembrance for the victims of the Srebrenica massacre throughout the EU. The resolution was adopted following a motion put forth by Jelko Kacin, Slovenian MEP and the EP’s Rapporteur for Serbia.

„With this resolution the EP calls on the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to commemorate appropriately the anniversary of the Srebrenica – Potocani act of genocide and to call on all the countries of the Western Balkans to also mark July 11 as a day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide”, is, inter alia, stated in the joint text of the resolution. The resolution emphasizes that the men most responsible for the worst war crime in Europe since World War II, which resulted in the execution of some 8,000 men, are Ratko Mladic, Radislav Krstic and Radovan Karadzic.

The resolution’s initiator, Kacin, stated for the daily “Politika” that he had visited Srebrenica on several occasions and realized that the entire Western Balkans was suffering from the severity of the atrocity.

“Until it has been clarified, those stereotypes of collective responsibility and blaming the other side for just about everything and anything will persist, and therefore I decided there was no other way but to hold that civilized debate which has to ease that whole situation. With women from Srebrenica and Zepa, who were here two months ago, we have agreed to prepare this text. I believe that Serbia is also ready and willing to hold a debate at its parliament and adopt this resolution”, explained Kacin, adding that Srebrenica, as a symbol of the innocent perishing, must enter European textbooks and collective consciousness.

There was almost no parliamentary debate apropos the resolution, with the exception of the rebuttal made by the Bulgarian MEP Dimitar Stoyanov, since positions of all party groups had been harmonized during the drafting of the joint text itself. The text states, among other things, that institutional commemoration of the day of remembrance is the best way to honour victims of the massacre, as well as to send a message to future generations. Stoyanov, however, requested to address the parliament and, contrary to vast majority (the remainder) of MEPs, objected to the text, asking his colleagues until when they were going to apply double standards.

“The text of the resolution before us is merely one half of the story. I do not see here names of the Muslims who perpetrated crimes against Christians. We cannot keep applying double standards and pretending not to know what had happened”, said Stoyanov in a brief rebuttal.

However, Doris Pack, who, on behalf of European people’s parties, worked on harmonization of the text of the resolution with other political groups in the EP, deems this resolution to be in no way aimed at any particular nation, including Serbs, but it has been drafted to, among other things, help Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We did not deem it possible for such a crime to take place in Europe at the end of the 20th century, but it did. It was a grave error on part of the international community which was not capable of preventing the massacre, and Srebrenica has remained a symbol of wars in the Balkans. This resolution expresses how MEPs feel about such a tragic event. I do not believe that this resolution may contribute to Mladic’s arrest, but it may help the reconciliation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that indeed is necessary. The country has been divided along ethnic lines, citizens do not have an equal feeling of what had happened, and reconciliation is difficult to achieve. I would like to note that this resolution was not drafted to target Serbs, but as a German myself I can understand that Serbs feel guilt over what had happened in Srebrenica. Not all Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina are responsible for this atrocity, but they all have collective national past, like Germans do. This resolution is in memory of the victims and we guarantee to not forget them”, said Pack.

Explaining the need for adopting a resolution on Srebrenica, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, stated that recognition of what had happened was the first step towards reconciliation. The resolution states of having regard to the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina had this past summer signed Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU as a future potential EU member state and that full cooperation with ICTY was the basic requirement for continuation of euro-integration in the Western Balkans.

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Europe Remembers the Holocaust and Terrorist Attacks

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated on January 27, in memory of the day on which, in 1945, the Soviet Red Army freed Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz. On November 1, 2005, United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating January 27 as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Apropos the Remembrance Day, the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said it was of utmost importance to not forget the tragedy of the Holocaust. On March 11, 2004, when Madrid was shook by bloody terrorist attacks, the European Union immediately reacted, as well as a year and a half later, on July 7, 2005, when London faced the same terrorist attacks. Every year on March 11 the European Union commemorates Remembrance Day, expressing its solidarity with all the victims of terrorism.

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REACTIONS

Natasa Micic, Vice-President of the Liberal Democratic Party

It is sad that the European Parliament has adopted such a decision before the Serbian Parliament, considering that Serbia is linked to the responsibility for the genocide committed in Srebrenica. That is another indicator of how much we live outside the world. Both as the Civic Alliance [of Serbia] and as LDP, we submitted on two occasions a motion for the adoption of a declaration condemning the atrocity committed in Srebrenica and we naturally approve of what the European Parliament has done. As well as disapprove of the fact that there is no awareness here of a need that we institutionally condemn it through the parliament.

Jelena Trivan, Spokesperson for the Democratic Party (DS)

It is our position that all war crimes on all sides and against all victims must be punished and, naturally, commemorated in memory of something that must not repeat. In that sense Srebrenica, but also for Serbs perhaps “Storm” or some other crimes, must be equally treated, and perpetrators both convicted before ICTY and domestic judiciary, as well as historically condemned. I wish to believe this is merely the beginning and that Srebrenica is not the only crime to be addressed in such a manner.

Milos Aligrudic, Vice-President of the Democratic Party of Serbia

All the crimes perpetrated during the wars in former Yugoslavia deserve to be condemned. All the victims should indeed be commemorated. What might potentially incite a dilemma is a notion that by insisting on one horrific atrocity it appears as if others never took place, as if atrocities against other nationalities had never been committed by someone else.

Borislav Pelevic, Serbian Progressive Party Presidium member

If a day dedicated to victims is being designated, it should be equally dedicated to Muslims and Serbs. International humanitarian organizations established beyond dispute that 3,110 people were killed in Srebrenica and that, with few exceptions, they were male soldiers. Some of those registered as missing later appeared on electoral rolls in Sarajevo and Srebrenica, which clearly demonstrates the manipulation at hand. No one talks of the events that took place before Srebrenica, when forces led by Naser Oric burned down 135 Serbian villages on the outskirts of this town and that, according to international humanitarian organizations’ records, some 3,500 Serbs, including women, children and the elderly, were killed then... Therefore, if a day of remembrance for the victims is being designated, it should be equally dedicated to Serbs and Muslims.

Andrej Nosov, President of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights

The decision reached by the European Parliament is good because Europe is thus facing its own responsibility for the genocide perpetrated in Srebrenica. On the other hand, it is also important for Balkan countries. It is an opportunity for us in the Balkans, and for Serbia in particular, to reexamine our attitude towards our own culture of remembrance. Because this remembrance day also implies that we should never forget all the atrocities committed during armed conflicts on the territory of former Yugoslavia. And Srebrenica is surely the most monstrous atrocity on European soil since World War II, says Nosov.

Source: Radio Free Europe

In the South of Serbia protests are unfolding apropos the apprehension of nine members of the former KLA who have been charged with crimes against civilian, predominantly Serbian population in Gnjilane, Kosovo, in 1999, that took place upon the arrival of NATO troops there. Will this apprehension operation incite additional tensions in the part of Serbia where armed conflicts were brought to a halt in 2001?

"I believe that with this act they have started poking the sleeping lion – it would be fortunate if they didn’t inadvertently sting it.” Whether what we have heard and what has been uttered by one of the participants of the protest in Presevo is a threat or merely an anxiety – is not so important. It might be both, but the real question is whether the South of Serbia is indeed a dangerous lion whose sleep someone has interrupted? What is being resented about the police operation which, as the Minister of the Interior Ivica DaÄ?ić has reiterated today, possesses serious evidence that the arrested group of Albanians had committed horrific crimes against Serb civilians: “One thing is certain, evidence for these claims exists, that being evidence presented by witnesses, bodies found in Gnjilane and UNMIK minutes. Rest assured that such a complicated operation would never have been undertaken if there were no evidence and witnesses to support it. I am not entitled to speak of it, it is the Prosecution that should be speaking of it, but witnesses exist even among perpetrators of those crimes.”

Belgzim Kamberi of the Human Rights Committee in the South of Serbia relates that the operation resembled the capture of Bin Laden, at the very least: “Many vehicles, a spectacular operation… I deem all that to be exaggerated and that gives us an indication that the entire operation is of political background.” Why has the apprehension of a group of people suspected of committing crimes against civilian population provoked an outcry from a part of the Albanian public in the South of Serbia? Here is an opinion of two human rights activists, Belgzim Kamberi from Presevo and Andrej Nosov from Belgrade:

"The first reason is a typically Balkan one, no one believes that a member of their nation may have committed war crimes, and what contributes to it is the fact that in those communities no one has done enough towards facing their own crimes. Another issue is mistrust Albanians harbor toward Serbian judiciary, yesterday at the protest, as I’ve heard, a demand was stated for that process to be investigated by the Hague Tribunal.” "What we have here, as it appears, is a continuous pressure exercised at the Albanian community on part of Belgrade. When you are sitting at a café in Presevo having a coffee, you can see members of the Gendarmerie and other formations patrolling the town in armored vehicles, wearing those head masks. Therefore, that atmosphere of fear, or mistrust between local population and members of the Gendarmerie, has certainly had a great impact on the reaction to these arrests as well.”

Nenad Djurdjević, Director of the Government’s Coordination Body for the South of Serbia, deems that the arrests will not result in greater upheavals: “I believe no one needs destabilization, the Government of Serbia shall in no way contribute, nor does it contribute, to any destabilization.”

Aleksandar Popov of the Centre for Regionalism, governmental organization having contacts with Albanians in the South of Serbia, has no doubt that the police operation ensued upon the Prosecution having obtained serious evidence against the defendants: “I believe that both the police and the Prosecution had solid arguments for arresting those individuals and that there exist no reasons for staging protests. This protest, as could be seen, did not have high attendance rate, not many people attended it.” However, Popov adds, ever since the time of the rebellion of Albanians in the South of Serbia, consensually brought to an end in 2001, interracial trust has been fragile, it is difficult to establish it, particularly with having in mind the open problem of Kosovo: “They feel neglected, in recent years not enough attention has been devoted to the development, primarily of the economy, to the creation of new jobs, but not enough attention has been given to opening up capacities for education either, so that their children wouldn’t have to be educated in Pristina, since afterwards they would encounter a problem regarding the recognition of those diplomas.”

The recent bitter polemics in the Parliament that ensued between the cabinet minister in charge of the South of Serbia, Milan Marković, and the only Albanian member of the Serbian Parliament, Riza Halimi, apropos the budget, is not exactly an example in favor of the notion that the Government is aware of the delicacy of the situation in that part of Serbia and that it is accordingly taking adequate measures.

Still, Nenad Ä?urÄ‘ević of the Government’s Coordination Body presents the facts in favor of the authorities having taken steps toward solving the most distressing problems of Albanians in the South of Serbia: “We’ll move towards opening universities in both the Serbian and the Albanian language. We deem that we must provide as many opportunities to the youth as possible in order for them to be able to search for their future and perspective within the Republic of Serbia.”

Izvor: Politika, 10.12.2008.

Podgorica (MINA) – From September 1 to December 9, Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) registered ten cases of citizens complaining about behavior of police officers, it was announced by this non-governmental organization.

"The number of such cases is lower than in two previous quarters that were analysed. There were 14 cases in the first quarter, and 13 in the second", it is said in the announcement. YIHR researchers also recorded an incident in Institute for execution of criminal sanctions (ZIKS).

Citizens that made accusations about police officers' work said that in seven cases, they experienced torture, i.e. physical abuse, and in three cases, they experienced humiliation. Accusations for the incident in ZIKS regarded physical abuse.

"During this period, violent and hostile behavior of citizens towards police officers was noticeable. The number of police officers injured during the course of their duty is 26, according to most recent YIHR records", claims this organization.

It was assessed that investigations regarding citizens' complaints about police officers' behavior are not being conducted urgently, thoroughly and efficiently. "Rooms where people are being detained do not meet international standards. YIHR supports the decision by Police Department to adapt these rooms and install video surveillance".

"We think that, although this step is very important, it is not enough to prevent torture. That is why we think that Police Department has an obligation to include additional education of officers who are in contact with detained persons", it is stated in the announcement.

It has been assessed that sanctions against police officers who overstep their authority and police ethics are too mild and very often disproportional, compared to those pronounced by courts. It is stated that attacks on officials must be sanctioned, and that continuing unacceptable behavior of police officers towards journalists is worrying.

YIHR also recorded six cases of politically motivated violence.

"These incidents were labeled as religious intolerance, attacks on offices of political parties, and continuation of pressure on the witness of deportation of Bosnian refugees, Slobodan Pejovic, by destroying his property", it is said in the announcement.

YIHR is worried by religious incidents involving Serbian Orthodox Church, on one side, and Montenegrin Orthodox Church on the other.

"The state must put additional effort to find perpetrators and to issue sanctions according to crimes committed, and to find models to resolve problems and hostilities between believers of these two churches in peaceful and dignified way", it is said in the announcement.

YIHR called upon all church dignitaries to refrain from statements that could deepen and provoke conflicts.

Source: Danas, 11.13.2008.

Belgrade – The first debate through video link whose goal was establishing dialogue between Serbian and Albanian communities in Belgrade and Pristina was held this evening. The debate is a result of the initiative of FM radio from Pristina for communication with Belgrade.

Journalist from Pristina Halili Matosi, artist Albert Heta, and guest from Belgrade, artist Marija Savic, who is visiting Pristina, addressed Belgrade through video link from Kosovo Institute for Media and Communication. Marija Savic pointed out that she is having a great time in Pristina, and that she is feeling safer than in 2002, when she visited Kosovo for the first time, and that it is visible that situation is much better.

In Belgrade Centre for Cultural Decontamination, President of NUNS Nadezda Gace, activist of NGO Youth Initiative for Human Rights Andrej Nosov, artist Milica Tomic, and guest from Kosovo, journalist of daily newspaper Ekspres from Pristina Miljot Hasimja talked to Pristina.

Hasimja, who is visiting Belgrade for the second time, said that he has more Serbian friends in Belgrade than in Kosovo. Admitting that he had prejudices before he came to Belgrade, and that he was thinking if he should speak Albanian or English in Knez Mihajlova Street, he said that he has only good impressions of Belgrade.

Participants of the debate assessed that exchange between Belgrade and Pristina is far from institutional, but it does exist, and that they will try to improve it by organizing more events such as this.

Source: Politika

Minister of the Defense made a decision about abolishment of categories and degrees of secrecy for documents of Military-Security Service VBA.

Regarding the request by Youth Initiative for Human Rights to give information about the number of orders that it received from authorized coroner, for implementation of surveillance and recording of telephone and other conversations in 2007, Minister of the Defense Dragan Sutanovac made the decision to cancel categories and degree of secrecy from VBA's documents, in order to deliver that information. According to the announcement posted on Ministry of Defense's website yesterday, during 2007, VBA received 35 orders from the authorized coroner to implement surveillance and recording of telephone and other conversations or communicating by other technical devices and optical recording of persons. Based on this orders, with legal authority, VBA implemented the measures of surveillance and recording of telephone and other conversations or communicating by other technical devices on 35 persons during 2007.

President of Youth Initiative for Human Rights Andrej Nosov assessed the decision by Minister of the Defense Dragan Sutanovac to abolish categories and degree of secrecy of VBA's documents, on request of this association, "as a positive step that is encouraging". Nosov also told "TANJUG" that he is "glad that Minister of the Defense acted according to the Law on free access to information". He reminded that Youth Initiative for Human Rights was trying for a long time to get information concerning citizens' rights, and not the ones that would endanger the security of the country, or its officials. Nosov added that citizens could hear what is the salary of the Director of Security-Information Agency (BIA) only when Sasa Vukadinovic took over that duty. M.G.

Articles about the same subject are published by Glas Javnosti, Press, Dnevnik and Danas also.

Text source (in Serbian): Danas daily

Ministry of the Interior did not want to announce yesterday if extreme right-wing associations Blood and Honour and National Formation reported the gathering "Serbian March 2008", which they intend to organize on October 11 in the centre of Belgrade, with the support of Serbian branch of the international neo-Nazi organization Stormfront. Informative service of Serbian Ministry of the Interior also did not want to answer "Danas'" question will this gathering, which caused numerous critics in public", be banned.

"We cannot tell you anything at this point, we will make an announcement shortly", we were told. According to the Law on public gathering, moving gathering should be reported to the police five days in advance, and gathering at one place must be reported at least 48 hours in advance. Therefore, "march" of the extremists should have been reported until Monday October 6. It is interesting that this gathering, by concurrence of circumstances, or intentionally, is scheduled on birthday of Vojislav Seselj, leaders of SRS who is accused by The Hague Tribunal. Tensions provoked by the news that groups of anti-Semite and racist convictions will gather on plateau in front of the Faculty of Philosophy were additionally enhanced when Anti-fascist Campaign association announced that their activists and sympathizers would gather at the same time and same place to say that there is no place neo-Nazism in Serbia.

- During organization of our gathering, we will make sure that there are no incidents. If there would be any indications that safety of participants is jeopardized, we are ready to cancel the walk to Terazije, where German occupiers hanged five citizens, when they came to Belgrade in 1941 – claims for "Danas" Srecko Sekeljic from organizational board of Anti-fascist campaign. He points out that he trusts the police and its experience in securing of previous meetings. However, experience shows that incidents are possible. Last year, on October 7, when National Formation organized a similar "march" in Novi Sad, there were physical confrontations between right-wing extremists and anti-fascist, and several people were injured.

- If these two groups organize gatherings at approximately same time and place, confrontations will certainly occur. The police should ban gatherings of organizations that are not registered and whose work is banned in Serbia. On the other hand, experience shows that the covered pot of bans could explode uncontrollably, so in other countries such gatherings are allowed, with extreme security measures – evaluates for "Danas" Bozo Prelevic, lawyer and former judge. According to him, unless those who announced "the march" are not legal and registered organizations, Ministry of the Interior would be forced to allow their actions. But, warns Prelevic, "police should care for the way in which our country is represented and what kind of picture are we sending to the world, because allowing neo-Nazis to march could have tragic consequences for already shaken Serbia's image".

A great number of non-governmental organizations demanded from Ministry of the Interior yesterday to ban the rally of neo-Nazi organizations. In the announcement signed by CZKD, Center for peace and Development of Democracy, FHP, HOPS, YIHR, YUKOM, Queeria, and Women in Black, it is said that this gathering is being organized to reaffirm values of Nazism, and to provoke violence on the streets.

- A year ago, on October 7, regardless of the ban of fascists' rally, police did not stop them to gather in the garden of Military Centre in Novi Sad, attack the line of citizens and injure several people. 58 neo-Nazis were arrested, 11 Slovakian citizens among them. However, although the investigation started, it is still not completed – reminded Executive Director of Center for Regionalism Aleksandar Popov yesterday, with the demand to ban the gathering on October 11, because "fascist evil must be stopped". Previous days, Liberal Democratic Party, Social-democrat Union, and President of the Assemblyof Vojvodina Sandor Egeresi demanded from Ministry of Interior not to allow street action by right-wing extremists.

Text source (in Serbian): Danas daily

You should write that unemployment is great, that people live hard, and that authorities do not care about us – this is the first reaction of a small group of people who are standing in front of the mosque in center of Presevo, talking to journalists from several Belgrade editorial offices who visited Presevo and Bujanovac recently, in the organization of Youth Initiative for Human Rights.

One of interviewees says that "after 27 years of work, he was fired from his job, and that there is no place where he could work". He added that "journalists should come more often to see how we live here". He points out a small house next to the mosque, encircled with debris, and explains that around 50 Roma live there. He translates the writing in Albanian on the board next to it that says "Do not throw out the trash", but claims that nobody respects that. People are cordial and want to talk about their problems. They are happy that somebody is visiting them, because they say it rarely happens, and they want to be written about.

There's another pile of trash in front of the Cultural Centre. There are a lot of children in the streets, some of them begging. Football is played in front of Municipal building in the centre, because they do not have a sports hall. There are some cafes, with much lower prices than in the capital, but they are not particularly crowded. On the streets of Bujanovac, passers-by call out: "Welcome, but why did you come to us peasants? You will be disappointed". Older citizens cannot remember when was the last time they had a theatre play in town, and most of young people have never even been to the theatre. A company from South Africa, lead by Hollywood director Michael Lezak, preformed a play titled "Truth in Translation" in Bujanovac's Cultural Centre while journalists from Belgrade were visiting. The hall was full, and the audience was surprised that somebody came to perform in Bujanovac at all.

Gazmend Selmani studies law in Tetovo and lives in Presevo. He says that he wants to stay there and help development of his community. – The biggest problem is unemployment. About 85% of young people go away to study in Kosovo and Tetovo in Macedonia, but when they return, they do not have where to work – says Selmani. He points that about four fifths of young people from Presevo and Bujanovac have never been to Belgrade. He explains that "there is a wall" between local and republic authorities, and that "people in Belgrade are generally uninterested to know about the life in undeveloped towns on the south of Serbia". Serbian Government lacks political will for integration of Albanians, as if only Belgrade exists – says he and adds that he feels Serbia as his own country, but that he is not sure that "that is the case with his peers".

Visar Mehmeti finished Faculty of Law in Tetovo, and works as a coordinator of the Youth Centre of Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Presevo. He saw all of Europe, but he visited Belgrade for the first time two years ago. He says that he still does not feel comfortable to say where he is from when he comes to the capital, because he had various, and sometimes-negative experiences. YIHR's Centre, says Mehmeti, works for about a month, and young people are interested in lectures, trainings on human rights, and cultural events that they are planning to organize, but the problem is that they are used to the situation where rarely anything happens in their town.

- Musical groups from Belgrade are not coming, the movie theatre is not working, and certainly more than the half of our peers never saw a theatre play in their lives – explains Mehmeti, and our interviewees point out that relations between Serbs and Albanians are quite good and that they have many friends among Serbs. "We share the same problems and there are no tensions between us. Our peers are open, cordial, and need support to actively participate in development of local communities that they are living in", they concluded.

Serbs make 5% percent of population in Presevo, just as Roma, and Albanians make 90%. Bujanovac has 30% of Serbs and just as many Albanians and Roma. Riza Halimi, President of Party for Democratic Action and member of Serbian Parliament from Coalition of Albanians of Presevo Valley, points out that "the necessary level of Albanians' trust in Coordination Centre or Government of Serbia is still not accomplished, and that they are not convinced that they are working on integration of Albanians in the system". According to him, Presevo is the most undeveloped municipality in Serbia, by all development parameters, with level of unemployment around 70%.

- Region of Presevo Valley did not develop economically, because if we would invest in production, we would not have the market for our product. Since 1992, Albanians are in the ghetto, and that is one of the reasons of holdup of economical development of this region – explains Halimi. According to Jounz Musliu, President of the Assembly of Municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia is moving in a better direction than before, but not according to expectations. He points out that Albanians must be included in all levels of authority, "and that is not the case at present". He hopes that the time will come when Serbian and Albanians, with the help of outside mediator, "will offer each other the hand of reconciliation".

Text source (in Serbian): Danas daily

Almost three years after submitting of a demand for information on salary of the Director of Security-Information Agency (BIA), Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) got the reply from BIA. Salary of the Director of BIA for May 2007, it is stated in the reply, totaled 150.906 RSD net. It is pointed out in the reply that the information on monthly salary of the Director of BIA and his deputy could not have been given, even after the decision of the Commissioner for information of public importance from August 7 last year, because deputy director of BIA was not appointed, and such document did not exist.

Dragan Popovic from YIHR says for "Danas" that they submitted the demand for information on salary of then director of BIA, Rade Bulatovic, on October 31 2005.

- We got the reply after three years. This is a big thing, because after three years, we finally have some kind of openness in BIA. It was the most secretive institution in Serbia until now, who did not obey the Law on access to information at all, and is the inglorious champion in that respect, according to our and commissioner's researches. This is a great leap forward and I hope that political message of leaders of BIA is that from now on they will be more ready to obey the law and to oblige citizens – points out Popovic. Dragan Popovic from Youth Initiative for Human Rights claims that the salary of the Director of BIA was strictly kept secret, and that BIA was the only state institution that was not providing the information on director's salary "who is financed by citizens through Serbia's budget".

- There were problems with directors of public companies and their governing boards, but we got that information, after Commissioner's decision and public pressure, so now we know what their salaries are. Even members of Serbian Parliament could get this information only through special procedures. Now BIA's leaders show different attitude than their predecessor Rade Bulatovic – concluded Popovic. Rade Bulatovic was the head of BIA since March 2004. He resigned at the beginning of July, and new Director of BIA Sasa Vukadinovic began his duties on July 17 this year. A lot of criticism was expressed towards BIA regarding getting information of public importance from this institution. It is said in Commissioner's last year's annual report that BIA breaks the Law on free access to information most drastically, and that "during 2006 this state body did not have necessary communication with citizens that demanded what is their legal and constitutional right, and with the Commissioner, as appellate body".

In short, BIA ignored queries of Serbia's citizens and publishing of informational bulletin and did not deliver annual reports to the Commissioner. Rodoljub Sabic, Commissioner for information of public importance, says for "Danas" that he also got an announcement from BIA that information on salary of the Director of BIA was delivered, and that "it acted according to directions from the decision that I made a year ago".

- In the normal course of things, this would not be interesting news at all. Information on salaries of people who are at the head of state institutions should be available to the widest public, and should be published on internet presentations. In our situation, this is interesting news, because it hints that an important state institution, with sensitive jurisdictions – BIA – will have much different, correct attitude regarding its obligations by the Law on free access to information of public importance - said Sabic. According to his words, for a long period of time, BIA ignored its obligations determined by the law, and allowed itself to ignore citizens' demands completely, to disregard Commissioner's directives, "and did not meet even completely benign formal obligations, such as publishing of bulletin about its work, or delivering annual reports to the Commissioner", which Assembly, President and Government of Serbia did regularly.

- I have pointed out this BIA's attitude towards the Law in my annual report to Serbian Parliament, assessing it as intolerable and warning that, in a democratic society, no one should be allowed to position oneself above the law. Unfortunately, although the report was adopted without objections and unanimously in Parliament's board, there was no reaction on such BIA's actions. That is why I talked to the new Director Sasa Vukadinovic and his associates right after they took up their duties. They assured me that current attitude will be fundamentally changed and that BIA will obey principles of legality, and will act strictly according to the Law on free access to information in the future – points out Sabic.

He added that execution of this and other previously unexecuted Commissioner's decisions speaks positively about seriousness of such attitude, which is important, "because BIA's correct attitude towards its obligations to the public, taking uniqueness of its role and MO in consideration, could contribute to affirmation of appropriate principles in an democratic society regarding relations between authorities and public in general.

Denis Siljak, Program manager of YIHR Bosnia and Herzegovina, was guest in the morning program of national BHTV 1, talking about the finalization of the project Trust building schools, which Initiative has organized around Bosnia and Herzegovina, for young people with not possibility to cooperate with their peers from surrounding region.

Danas, the Belgrade daily, features an article about the transitional laws in Kosovo, the implementation of which was monitored for a year by Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo.

danas.co.yu/20070421/vikend8.html#2

Andrej Nosov, President of Youth Initiative for Human Rights, was interviewed by Milica Lucic Cavic in the Radio Free Europe's regular program "Press Club". Nosov spoke about the trial of Skorpioni group for their commission of a war crime in Trnovo, about attitudes to the past and about young people's future chances and opportunities.

www.slobodnaevropa.org/article/2007/04/10/4dab61e3-c998-44d8-8ebf-5715ab2be908.html

Dragan Popovic, Executive Director of Youth Initiative for Human Rights, appeared in TV B92's program "Replika", hosted by Igor Bozic. The program's main discussion topic was implementation of the Law on Free Access to the Information of Public Interest. Other guests were Nadezda Gace, President of Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia, Rodoljub Sabic, Information Commissioner appointed by the Government of Serbia, and Predrag Jovanovic, Director of Public Acquisition Service.

Kosovo weekly newspaper “Java” has published an article on YIHR report of Monitoring the Law on free access to official documents in Kosovo. The article was entitled “No transparency towards citizens” and it is based on YIHR results.

About report part one

About report part two

In the regular column “Intervistë”, in Koha Javore newspaper, an interview with Edina H Cobaj, Youth Initiative for Human Rights Montenegro Office coordinator was published. Edina Hasanaga Cobaj, throughout the interview, presented the work of Youth Initiative in regional level as well as the work of Montenegrin Office, its present and future projects.

www.kohajavore.cg.yu/arhiva.phtml

Within the TV program "Open About Kosovo" which is broadcast on TV Studio B, the production group MREZA broadcast an interview with Tanja Matic, YIHRs Media Coordinator, who spoke about the youth in Kosovo, their status and their future in Kosovo after the resolution of Kosovo's final status. Another guest in the program was Ana Adamovic, a photographer, who had organized a photography course for youth from Kosovo. Her project, which lasted several weeks, was supported by the YIHR Prishtina office.

Dragan Popovic, Executive Director of YIHR took part in the program OKO, broadcast on March 14th on the Radio-Television of Serbia (RTS). Popovic spoke about implementation of the Law on Free Access to the Information and about the charges the YIHR has filed to the court in Strasbourg against BIA and its refusal to respond to YIHR's information request about the number of citizens who had been wiretapped in 2005.

Sarah Maliqi, YIHR Regional Deputy Director and Head of the Kosovo Office was interviewed by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network after the riots organized by the Vetvendosje movement, took place in Prishtina on February 10, when two protestors lost their life in a clash with the police.

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B92 web site and Danas daily feature news on YIHR’s action against republic Serbia in Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg.

News on B92

News from Danas

Andrej Nosov, YIHR President, was interviewed for the common program of BBC Radio Serbian section and B92 Radio for daily program The World at 2, about the perception on use of marihuana among politicians.

Danas, daily, quotes Draga Popovic, YIHR Serbia Director, speaking on the conference organized by coalition on Human Rights NGOs about the necessity of introducing Anti-Discrimination Law in Serbia.

Read more

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting features a story on a conference about the evolution, and purpose, of the Hague-based International Criminal Court, ICC, organized by YIHR for young lawyers, representatives of judicial institutions, and journalists from the Balkans.

www.iwpr.net/

Andrej Nosov, YIHR President, spoke to Radio Free Europe about the denial of war crimes in former Yugoslavia’s states.

The French magazine Liberation writes about the Mobilization of Civic Serbia, YIHR’s campaign for motivating young people to vote at the parliamentary elections in Serbia.

More:

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The Albanian language daily, Koha Ditore, has published an interview with Andrej Nosov, YIHR President, about the Mobilization of Civic Serbia, YIHR’s campaign for the motivation of young people to vote at the parliamentary elections in Serbia

B92’s website and television station carried the news on the beginnings of Mobilization of Civic Serbia, YIHR’s campaign for motivation of young people to vote at the parliamentary elections in Serbia.

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B92 reports on Visiting program YIHR is organising with the aim of creating connections between youth in Serbia and Kosovo.

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