Hahn: If EU gets wobbly in its commitments in Balkans, someone else could wrestle in

Princeton, 21 April 2017 (MIA) - If we were to get wobbly in our commitments in the Balkans, someone else could wrestle in, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in his speech 'Europe and the Crises in its Neighbourhood' at Princeton University.
'As we know, politics abhors a vacuum. If we were to get wobbly in our commitments in the Balkans, someone else could wrestle in – and that someone is actually already trying. In that sense, EU enlargement, with all conditions and criteria, is the best security policy the EU has ever had – just imagine where Poland, the Baltics or others would be today if we hadn't used the time-window of the 1990ies,' Hahn said.
At the same time, he said, the enlargement is not a free lunch. Only local leaders can do the job and deliver to their citizens. They must step up to the plate and build on the progress that has been made.
'We need to see political will instead of political games, and real reforms not on paper but on the ground – especially in the key areas of the rule of law, competitiveness and connectivity. That may endanger the business model of some individuals - but strategically, there is no alternative. Their citizens know that,' the EU Commissioner said.
The EU is 'by far the best game in town', Hahn concluded, 'but again, we all must be ready to play!
'We must be better – and tougher - at using our soft power of attraction. We can't take it for granted. Europe's gravity might be a force of nature, but it has to be deployed intelligently,' lk/19:57
###




EU: Reforms and cooperation in W. Balkan countries instead of dangerous statements
Brussels, 22 April 2017 (MIA) - Statements that can be interpreted as political interference into the internal affairs of a neighboring country hinder the establishment of good-neighborly relations in Western Balkan countries, Maja Kocijancic told Serbia's news agency Tanjug when asked to comment recent statements by Albanian leaders regarding a possible Albania-Kosovo unification.
Instead of making dangerous statements, everyone in the regions needs to focus on reforms and cooperation, the spokeswoman of the European Commission said.
Kocijancic said that both EU's foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn had underscored that.
The EU, the spokesperson said, is observing the principles of reconciliation and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.
Earlier this week, Albanian PM Edi Rama said the likelihood of a unification of Albania and Kosovo couldn't be ruled out unless the EU perspective of Western Balkan countries kept on diminishing. Afterwards, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said that if the EU closed all doors for Kosovo, all Albanians in the region would live in a one single country. ba/12:29
###



Russia, Montenegro trade barbs over NATO membership
Podgorica, 21 April 2017 (MIA) - Montenegro’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed Kremlin’s claims that Russian citizens could be endangered in Montenegro due to worsening relations between the two countries, the Balkan Insight reports.
The ministry said a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman's talk of growing "anti-Russian hysteria” in Montenegro were totally unfounded.
“There are no reports implying that any Russian businessman or tourist has experienced unpleasantness in Montenegro, or that there is any kind of hostility toward Russian people in our country. Thousands of the Russian citizens residing in our country ... can testify to that fact,” the Montenegrin ministry said.
“This is, therefore, mere manipulation and a continuation of a media war that Moscow is waging against Montenegro aimed at obstructing its accession to NATO,” the ministry said.
Podgorica reacted came after the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday said a dramatic decline in bilateral relations, provoked by Podgorica, the accession of Montenegro to NATO and the Montenegrin decision to join EU sanctions against Russia had provided the backdrop to an upsurge in anti-Russia hysteria.
"The general attitude to Russian business and Russians is becoming increasingly negative, and the ruling coalition is fostering a hostile attitude in Montenegrin society towards Russia and Russian citizens. In this situation, we cannot rule out the possibility of provocations, arrests of Russians on questionable charges and their extradition to other countries, primarily the United States," she said.
"We recommend that Russians take these circumstances into account," Maria Zakharova added.
The Montenegrin government said that all decisions on the future of the country, including NATO membership, would be made by the government and parliament of Montenegro, whether Moscow liked it or not.
“Instead of making false accusations against the Montenegrin authorities, we call on Russia once again to resolve all doubts and misunderstandings in direct and open talks that official Moscow is persistently avoiding," the Montenegrin government said.
As NATO membership for Montenegro looms - the government hopes to complete the process this spring - Podgorica has distanced itself from its historic ally, Russia.
Moscow has said that Podgorica's NATO ambitions run counter to hundreds of years of "fraternal relations" between the two Slavic Orthodox Christian nations.
NATO accession also remains a controversial issue inside Montenegro. An opinion poll conducted in December 2016 showed only 39.5 per cent of Montenegrins favour membership.