Eastern approaches

Ex-communist Europe

Roundup in the Balkans

Back to the Balkans again

Sep 9th 2011, 14:20 by T.J. | BELGRADE

THE first serious working week after the summer holidays has already produced a wealth of stories here in the western Balkans. Some are more serious than others, unless of course you live here, when they are all deadly serious. Here is a roundup of some of them.

Outside the old Yugoslav Federal Parliament building in the Serbian capital they are rolling up the red carpet which had been unrolled to welcome delegates to the 50th birthday bash of the Non-Aligned Movement, which I have written about here. Serbia, which hosted the gathering, is not a member, but never mind that. It finds it useful to lobby over the Kosovo issue and for business.

In the aftermath of the meeting, Serbian papers are reporting that two countries which had hitherto been understood to have recognised Kosovo, now say that actually, they didn’t. Oman says it just, kind of, um ah, kind of said it wanted Kosovo in the United Nations, but that is totally different. The West African state of Guinea Bissau claims that recognition was held up in parliament.

Vuk Jeremic, Serbia’s foreign minister adds that a criminal investigation has begun in one African country against a senior official. He said:

“There are founded suspicions that he received a bribe from an Albanian businessman from Kosovo in order to start the procedure to recognize Kosovo independence. If that investigation gives results we expect, this country will also withdraw its recognition of Kosovo independence.”

In the piece I wrote in this week’s print edition I noted that many countries find the Non-Aligned Movement’s meetings useful because they enable countries to lobby and network. However in a stinging commentary (behind a paywall,) at Balkan Insight Milan Misic, the Washington correspondent of the Serbian daily Politika, argues that the whole shebang was mounted because Belgrade “needed something to boost its confidence”. It was just a show of nostalgia for all its participants argues Mr Misic and “dwelled on the past achievements of the movement. “

At the meeting the ex-Yugoslavs all sat together. They had better be careful. People (specifically Croatia’s Nova television) are asking questions. Why Ivo (Josipovic, the president of Croatia) was spending so much time with Boris (Tadic, the president of Serbia). Two men of the same age, same background, same jobs, same problems, what a scandal...

Meanwhile, as some Croatian journalists were obsessing about Ivo and Boris a small Croatian paper, the Makarska Kronika, appears to have a world-beating scoop, if true of course. In February I wrote about the close connections between the former Yugoslavia and Colonel Qaddafi. The press then wrote that his wife Safiya was originally Sofija Farkas, a Croat with Hungarian roots from Mostar in Hercegovina. According to the paper, Mrs Qaddafi has recently been trying to buy land and property in Igrane on the Croatian Adriatic coast not far from Mostar.

Mrs Qaddafi and some of the family are now in Algeria. This summer the Balkan press has been full of stories of various celebs in various stages of inebriation or undress, from Prince Harry to Beyoncé, who have been holidaying in Croatia. Whether Mrs Qaddafi fits the profile the Croats want, I am not sure, but, if she is really a Bosnian Croat she has every right to a Croatian passport and hence visa free travel throughout Europe.

On a more sombre note, Dimitar Bechev of the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations writes about the “protracted death of democratic Albania.” Discussing the political conflict that has paralysed Albania for the last two years he says that both Edi Rama, the leader of the opposition Socialists and Sali Berisha, the prime minister are to blame. However Mr Berisha “must take the lion’s share.” He is hell bent, says Mr Bechev, on gaining control of all the Albanian institutions which still remain beyond his grip.

Why are ordinary Albanians willing to allow such de-democratisation? One reason could be that, unlike other former Communist states, ordinary people see in the EU nothing different from Albania. To one side, across the Mediterranean, is Italy, with its unique brand of game-show politics; to the south, over the mountain ranges, lies bankrupt Greece. If this is what it means to be an EU state, many Albanian politicians can be excused for thinking they already live in one, or should qualify for membership.”

Not quite as dramatic, but still, alarm bells have begun to ring in Montenegro too. Thomas Roser, of the Austrian daily Die Presse has written about the spate of attacks on vehicles belonging to Vijesti, one of the country’s main dailies. Four have been torched in the last couple of months. Zeljko Ivanovic, the paper’s managing editor says that the media situation in the country is dire and that the attacks are messages from people connected to orgainised crime which in Montenengro have always been believed to overlap with political interests that “they are stronger than the state” and thus Vijesti’s reporting about such issues is pointless. Who cares about the world economy when you can worry about media freedom in Montenegro. Watch this space. 

Readers' comments

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snowflake92

When Kosovo separated from Serbia there was mess all around streets, people were fighting each other and invade in stores to steal stuff or just destroying everything. That was another shock for Serbia because few years ago Montenegro became independent state so when everything started with Kosovo, Serbian government threatening Croatia-no to recognized Kosovo.

Rutger111

"Sofija Farkas, a Croat with Hungarian roots from Mostar in Hercegovina ... if she is really a Bosnian Croat she has every right to a Croatian passport"

It is really not for sure if whole story is just local newspaper guy imagination.
In this case above, as far as I see, she might claim for three passports.
Bosnian, by birth. Croatian, by origin, and Hungarian also, if she could claim that her ancestry is Hungarian. Problem is that she should also speak Hungarian. She might take a lesson in language.
That way she is free to live, travel and work throughout EU.

mikimedic

"The three ethnic/national groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina are Bosnians, Croats, and Serbs. All of them are considered Bosnian nationals by citizenship."

This is somewhat true, but not entirely. 'Bosniac' came to be used in the 90's - and there was an ongoing debate among 'Bosniac/Muslim's whether 'Bosniac' or 'Bosnian' should be used. The predominant outcome of that discussion was that 'Bosnian' should refer to the new ethnicity/nation (and not citizenship) and include Serbs and Croats as well - who of course completely disagree with it.

So it remain that 'Bosniacs' refer to themselves as 'Bosniacs' but when dreaming of a great nationhood they refer to 'Bosnians'.

I would of course have no problem to go for your proposed wording - the problem is however Bosnia(c)ns who will not agree with you.

DefenderOfTruth

"'Bosniac' is normally a citizen of Bosnia who belongs to the newly created nation of 'Bosniacs' - which used to determine themselves as 'Muslims' in SFRY - Muslims as ethnicity and not religious determination."

Actually this is not right. Bosniac is not a new term. The term has been around for centuries. From the 11th century until the arrival of the Ottomans in the Kingdom of Bosnia the Bosnian people refered to themselves as "Bosnjanin" which bascially meant "Bosnian". The Ottomans changed the pronaunciation slightly to "Bosnjak" which in English is written as "Bosniac". Ever since Austro-Hungary occupied Bosnia-Herzegovina there had been a sustained effort to deny the Bosnian people their nationality and they were forbidden from declaring themselves as Bosnians. It was not until the 1960s that the term "Muslim" started to be used as a way of denoting Bosnian nationality. Nevermind that it makes no sense to refer to a national group by a religious name but that was a way to give the Bosnian people a sense of nationality without actually allowing them to call themselves by their proper national name. It wasn't until the 1990s that the old term for Bosnian nationality was started to be used again along with the Bosnian language. Now the Bosnian people can refer to themselves as Bosniacs or as Bosnians. Ethnic Serbs living in Bosnia-Herzegovina can be referred to as Bosnian Serbs or Serbs and ethnic Croats living in Bosnia-Herzegovina are reffered to as Bosnian Croats or Croats. The three ethnic/national groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina are Bosnians, Croats, and Serbs. All of them are considered Bosnian nationals by citizenship.

mikimedic

"I would propose again a basketball game between Serbs and Albanians but Albanians dont have a decent Basketball team. :)"

You are right - Albania was never good in basketball.

mikimedic

"Oman says that it does not formally recognize countries, it merely enters into relations with them. Like New Zealand. Oman more than hemmed and hawed in its letter to the Kosovo MFA: "In acknowledging the decision of the International Court of Justice on the independence of Kosovo, the Government of the Sultanate of Oman will welcome Kosovo’s membership to the United Nations, as well as to other international and regional organizations it wishes to join." http://www.mfa-ks.net/?page=2,4,629."

Oh yes - another one. I would also ask you to show us any link that does not lead to Kosovo 'MFA' website. And I will buy a dinner to both you and the previous comentator if you find me a link to Qatar text of recognition (save for the infamous fabrication of Kosovo 'MFA' website). Try searching the 'news' section of Qatar MFA as of the date of alleged recognition:)

"And as is by now traditional, the Kosovars pulled another recognition out of that hat in response to a statement by Jeremic: Gabon recognized Kosovo as an independent state (or "is recognizing" - the paperwork hasn't arrived yet)"

Don't worry - I am sure that Kosovo 'MFA' will pull necessary English speakers to publish it soon on its website:)

mikimedic

to: prgfin

"Oman has addressed Kosovo as Republic of Kosovo and supported ICJ opinion and has wished it successful memership in UN. Guinea Bissao wrote a formal and strong worded recognition and it has been confirmed in bilateral and multilateral contacts, and inquiries with EU states."

Perhaps you can show us a link to this 'address' of both Oman and Guiena on the internet, save for Kosovo 'MFA' website. I also buy you a dinner if you find me Qatar's recognition text anywhere but Kosovo 'MFA' website (hint: you may start with searching section 'news' on Qatar MFA website, starting with the date when Kosovo was allegedly recognized...).

"Sides need to agree on the ways both will interact in various forums. It is an imperative of Serbia to do so, less so to Kosovo"

Why is it imperative for Serbia? I would think the onus is on Kosovo if they wish (wishful thinking) to become member of international bodies. Serbia simply could not care less.

"Vuk is also desperate to produce something after the long recession of his value post-UNGA resolution that acknowledged ICJ opinion and spoke of a technical dialogue between "parties"."

Do not forget that the initial text of the Resolution that was easily going to be adopted in the GA, recognizing ICJ Kosovo opinion in full which confirms territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, was changed after arm-twisting by Germans and Brits. Their foreign ministers rushed to Belgrade to save their doomed to fail Kosovo recognition policy.

Yes, Tadic subdued and substantial qualitative advantage Serbia has had following the ICJ opinion - was not capitalized upon in the GA.

In a way - I admit - it was shooting in a foot by Tadic. But it is also a good indication of what Brits and Germans had to do in order to avoid total collapse of their (internationally) illegal project of supporting independent Kosovo.

We shall wait and see whether the new Serbian government will have strength to file lawsuits with ICJ against those countries who have recognized Kosovo and who have quite clearly violated international law (starting with UN charter and Helsinki act for instance).

mikimedic

'Perhaps you could explain to us the intricacies of such cases. If she was born in SFR Jugoslavija, was she born with Jugoslav citizenship? And what happened after the break-up? Did those born with Jugoslav citizenship automatically get citizenship according to place of residence at the time, according to place of birth, or was there a way for people to self-identify as Croat, Bosnian, Serb and choose their own citizenship?'

The concept of citizenship in the SFR Yugoslavia was rather complicated, consisting of two levels of citizenship: 1) Federal citizenship of Yugoslavia; and 2) republic citizenship.

Upon break-up of Yugoslavia, all newly created states have adopted citizenship laws where they recognize former republic level of citizenship to define a body of citizens of the new states. So, all who had Serbian republic citizenship in SFRY, have now become citizens of Serbia; those who had Croatian republic citizenship have automatically become citizens of Croatia, and so on.

While majority of people living in one republic of SFRY have subsequently become citizens of that state upon break-up, this was not the case for all. Complex ways of determining republic citizenship in SFRY were a cause of problems for a number of persons (I dare to say between 10-20% of all SFRY citizens) to acquire a citizenship of the newly created state where they lived.

How was Republic citizenship in SFRY determined?

There has been a number of different systems applicable in SFRY since 1945 and it would take a lot of space to summarize them all here. As an indication - it ranged from:

a) determining republic citizenship based on place of residence in 1947 (when republic level citizenship was established);

b) determining republic citizenship based on republic citizenship of a father;

c) based on father's place of birth;

d) based on parents' residence at the time of birth;

e) based on parents choice whether to enroll a child in their place of residence or place of father's republic citizenship registration;

and f) based on birth alone.

This complex system, coupled with the fact that Republic citizenship was not considered important in SFRY (and most people were not even aware of it), caused numerous problems for those persons who were living all their lives in one Republic only to find out that upon break-up they are not citizens of the newly created state - as their republic citizenship was registered somewhere else.

Most notable case is those who had republic citizenship of Bosnia and who have lived and worked all their lives in Slovenia, without acquiring Slovenian citizenship. I haven't followed up closely but I think while there was a progress, this issue is not fully solved.

Other extreme cases may include an ethnic Croat living all his life in Croatia but who was registered in Macedonian books of citizenship, and so on...

Important point that needs to be distinguished is relationship between ethnicity and citizenship (nationality), as some confusion is also evident in previous comments. Ethnicity in SFRY played no role in determining Republic citizenship, but it does in newly created states.

'Bosnian Croat' would normally refer to a citizen of Bosnia of Croatian ethnicity. Such person is also entitled to Croatian citizenship by operation of the Croatian citizenship law. 'Bosniac' is normally a citizen of Bosnia who belongs to the newly created nation of 'Bosniacs' - which used to determine themselves as 'Muslims' in SFRY - Muslims as ethnicity and not religious determination. And so on. It is a thin line to determine ethnic vs. citizenship determination - for example: how do you call an ethnic Hungarian living in Serbia with Serbian citizenship?

Reality Czech

"The first serious working week after the summer holidays has already produced a wealth of stories here in the western Balkans. Some are more serious than others, unless of course you live here, when they are all deadly serious."

Actually, I've come to realize the closer one is to events in the Balkans, the LESS serious one takes it on account of the ridiculousness. Those who take it "deadly seriously" are, almost always, those members of the diaspora that, no matter how many years/decades they've been removed from their "homeland" and see it more as an occasional place to visit with family members than actually move/live there, continue to live vacariously through it. Balkan conflicts might have started in Belgrade, Zagreb, and Tirana, but they will forever be fought over the Internet by people living in Toronto, Chicago, and Brooklyn.

x2y2

By now Jeremic is saying that it was two other countries that-cannot-be-named that will withdraw their recognitions. No insult intended to Oman or Guinea Bissaeu, of course, for claiming that they through unnamed officials were selling recognitions.

Oman says that it does not formally recognize countries, it merely enters into relations with them. Like New Zealand. Oman more than hemmed and hawed in its letter to the Kosovo MFA: "In acknowledging the decision of the International Court of Justice on the independence of Kosovo, the Government of the Sultanate of Oman will welcome Kosovo’s membership to the United Nations, as well as to other international and regional organizations it wishes to join." http://www.mfa-ks.net/?page=2,4,629. As for Guinea Bissau, Pacolli called the President and he confirmed that there would be no revoking a recognition made "by the will of the people and the institutions" of his country.

And as is by now traditional, the Kosovars pulled another recognition out of that hat in response to a statement by Jeremic: Gabon recognized Kosovo as an independent state (or "is recognizing" - the paperwork hasn't arrived yet).

Those words of Jeremic - accusing other governments of selling recognitions - may echo longer than his bathetic reference to Djindjic today that you supported. Was he actually threatening the EU with being responsible for future assassinations if they hold up Serbia's accession??

prgriffin

"Serbian papers are reporting that two countries which had hitherto been understood to have recognised Kosovo, now say that actually, they didn’t. Oman says it just, kind of, um ah, kind of said it wanted Kosovo in the United Nations, but that is totally different. The West African state of Guinea Bissau claims that recognition was held up in parliament." Oman has addressed Kosovo as Republic of Kosovo and supported ICJ opinion and has wished it successful memership in UN. Guinea Bissao wrote a formal and strong worded recognition and it has been confirmed in bilateral and multilateral contacts, and inquiries with EU states. So neither feels like "withdrawal of recognition" as it was called by Jeremic. Vuk is out of tune with the process after Merkel. Sides need to agree on the ways both will interact in various forums. It is an imperative of Serbia to do so, less so to Kosovo, but still a fundamental test of KS Government's ability to engage in dialogue and help close the remaining chapters with Serbia. Vuk is also desperate to produce something after the long recession of his value post-UNGA resolution that acknowledged ICJ opinion and spoke of a technical dialogue between "parties".
If it wasn't for likes of Vuk and others like him in our tragic recent history, demagogues engulfed in insincere (I mean, when did YU Serb-Bosniak former commie belgrader all of the sudden start fuming about the kids throwing garbage in a medieval remains of a church that served christians before there were Serbs and Albanians) but dangerous tirades with racist connotations.

In Vuk's world Kosovo is "black hole" with "criminal leadership engaged in organ harvesting and narcotics smuggling", "where Christians are subjected to terror", and where "Albanians cooperated with Nazis against Tito", and other more or less racist statements. All these are actual words used by Jeremic in various contexts, sometimes conflicting even (both the Socialist international, or the non-aligned movement, or with Christian fundamentalist groups)

Really? Dark hole? Opposite of Serbia, the White Hole? Gimme a break.

ἐθνάρχης

"Sofija Farkas, a Croat with Hungarian roots from Mostar in Hercegovina ... if she is really a Bosnian Croat she has every right to a Croatian passport"

Really? How does this work? Does "Bosnian Croat" mean "ethnic Bosnian of Croatian nationality", or "ethnic Croat of Bosnian nationality".

If she is, as your newspaper quote states, "a Croat with Hungarian roots from Mostar in Hercegovina", this to me implies that she was born in BiH, so should have Bosnian citizenship.

Perhaps you could explain to us the intricacies of such cases. If she was born in SFR Jugoslavija, was she born with Jugoslav citizenship? And what happened after the break-up? Did those born with Jugoslav citizenship automatically get citizenship according to place of residence at the time, according to place of birth, or was there a way for people to self-identify as Croat, Bosnian, Serb and choose their own citizenship?

E.

Francis Tapon

At least it's a promising sign that they're celebrating the 50th birthday bash of the Non-Aligned Movement instead of the 20th anniversary of the Yugoslav Wars.

BTW, here's a typo: "....because they are enable countries to lobby and network."

About Eastern approaches

Eastern approaches deals with the economic, political, security and cultural aspects of the eastern half of the European continent. It incorporates the long-running "Europe.view" weekly column. The blog is named after the wartime memoirs of the British soldier Sir Fitzroy Maclean.

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