България от Бтенберг до Стамболов: италианската гледна точка

Author(s): Francesco Guida / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

In the exposition of this article the author is focused on the Bulgarian international statute in the years after 1886 (In their diplomatic activities great powers were very concerned with this issue in that period), he is also describing some of the internal policy issues of Bulgaria and some aspects of the person that was Stambolov. The purpose of this analysis is to give a vivid and definitive rating regarding the relation of the Italian government (and part of the public opinion as well) towards the Bulgarian question and the Bulgarian national aspirations.

Италианската политика спрямо Княжество България от Освобождението до признаването на Фердинанд за български княз (1878-1896)

Author(s): Rita Tolomeo / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The Italians strongly sympathized the liberation of Bulgaria. Briefly after the Liberation Ferdinand arrived to Bulgaria. This article presents the complex political affiliations that many countries like England, the Ottoman empire, Italy, Serbia, Austria-Hungary and others held towards the new country. The Italian diplomats from the nineteenth century tried to held their objectivity and not take sides in the political problems that occurred between Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire and so did not support the exaggerated claims the Ottoman Empire held against the new country.

Новите Балкани при срещата им с италиански дипломати и журналисти

Author(s): Alberto Basciani / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This article presents the interest that the Italian journalists and diplomats have shown in the political events that were taking place in the former Ottoman provinces. It was clear for Italy that the eastern Europe problems were not local in their origin. Despite the Italian interest in the Balkans the circumstances didn't allow for Italy to always take the intended from the country actions .

Hana Arent i nacionalizam

Author(s): Ronald Beiner / Language(s): Serbian Publication Year: 0

Hana Arent se ponekad smatra važnim izvorom ili nadahnućem savremene komunitarne političke misli. U tom shvatanju postoji izvesna mera istine, ali misliti o njenoj političkoj teoriji kao izrazito komunitarnoj više je nego pogrešno. Jer, ono što karakteriše komunitarizam kao filosofsko osporavanje liberalizma jeste njegovo naglašavanje toga kako se sopstvo konstituiše kroz kolektivni ili grupni identitet, kao i argument da nedovoljna pažnja prema snazi zajedničkih identiteta obeležava središnji nedostatak liberalno-individualističkih koncepcija političke zajednice.

Analiza usaglašavanja Srbije sa spoljnopolitičkim deklaracijama i merama Evropske unije tokom 2015. godine

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): Serbian

ISAC Fund presents its second annual analysis of Serbia’s alignment with declarations, positions and measures adopted under the framework of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The analysis provides a critical review of the process of alignment, while providing a number of recommendations for the Government of Serbia and its negotiating team.

Analiza usaglašavanja Srbije sa spoljnopolitičkim deklaracijama i merama Evropske unije tokom 2017. godine: polugodišnji izveštaj

Author(s): Teodora Pavković,Jovana Perkučin / Language(s): Serbian

As part of its activities related to monitoring Serbia’s progress under Chapter 31, ISAC announces a semi-annual review of Serbia’s alignment with the EU foreign policy declarations. The report covers the period from January to July 2017 and consists of a brief analysis and tabulation of Serbia’s alignment with the EU foreign policy declarations.

Excess cultural baggage. Social mobilisation in an authoritarian Russia

Author(s): Jadwiga Rogoża / Language(s): English

In contemporary Russia, the traditional socio-political culture has left a legacy of conviction that the political leadership, headed by the president, is the only body empowered to act, capable of making decisions and entitled to make them, while society is subordinate to the government and acts as a petitioner appealing to the goodwill of the decision-maker. The conviction that this model is natural for Russia is upheld by an extensive network of actors, both those who deliberately foster the state-centric vision (representatives of the state administration, PR advisors, journalists) and average citizens, teachers, parents, who unknowingly reproduce the view that certain things are a “natural course of events” for Russia. As a result, society’s dissatisfaction with the condition of the state is frequently accompanied by a feeling of powerlessness and disbelief in any change of the present system.

(NE)SVRSISHODNOST JAVNIH NABAVKI ZA POLICIJU

Author(s): Vladimir Erceg / Language(s): Serbian

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Serbia plans to spend 8% of the budget (about six billion dinars) for the procurement of much-needed equipment, uniforms, and technology and to invest in the development of police capacities. Purposeful spending of these funds will significantly improve the work of the police and improve the safety of citizens. That is why it is important to wisely plan and spend every dinar. Improving the expediency of public procurement implies improving efficiency, effectiveness and economy in tenders.

QUOTAS IN THE SERBIAN SECURITY SECTOR – DO THEY CONSTRAIN OR PROMOTE WOMEN?

Author(s): Maja Bjeloš / Language(s): English

Worldwide, the security sector is dominated by men, and Serbia is no exception to this. Recent times have seen some changes to this situation, with the quota system being among the factors responsible for this. Quotas are provisional measures which set a minimum proportion of women in security sector institutions. In the Serbian security sector, a quota system is used for the enrolment of women in police or military schools or in training for police or military jobs. Are quotas suitable for resolving the problem of inequality between women and men? Do they constrict or encourage the recruitment and promotion of women in traditional security institutions? Do they alter the prevailing perception of the role of women in the security sector, or do they reinforce existing preconceptions? This paper focusses primarily on analysing the way in which the quota system has been applied in the Serbian police and military. Based on this, recommendations are made for security and defence system institutions. In addition, the paper attempts to identify the origin of quotas and to outline the advantages and shortcomings of their application in the security sector.

GENDER ANALYSIS: POSSIBILITIES OF APPLICATION IN SECURITY SECTOR

Author(s): Zorana Brozović / Language(s): English

Gender analysis investigates the relationships and differences between men and women in their respective roles, status, position in the society, and privileges. If we understand gender differences, this will enable us to understand the effects that existing or planned policies, programmes, and ways in which services are provided, have on different gender groups, as well as to improve the position of a gender group in less favourable position. Conducting the gender analysis is absolutely necessary in the processes of creating and implementing the strategies and policies since it enables us to take account of their different implications for different gender groups. In this text we will present the development of interest for gender mainstreaming and gender analysis, concrete steps in the implementation of this analysis, and the most significant theoretical-methodological approaches to gender analysis. Possibilities for the application of gender analysis in security sector – when creating and reforming the policies, formulating and revising the legislation, planning the services, and planning and implementing the projects, are presented here below in more detail and appertaining examples are provided.

WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION 2013 PROGRESS REPORT ON SERBIA

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

“prEUnup” (ser. prEUgovor) is the first coalition of civil society organizations formed in order to monitor implementation of policies related to the Accession Negotiations between Serbia and EU, with an emphasis on Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security). “prEUnup” is formed on the initiative of Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) with the mission to propose measures to improve the condition in the fields relevant for the negotiation process. In doing so, the coalition aims to use the process of EU integration to help accomplish substantial progress in further democratization of Serbian society.

GENDER ADVISORS IN THE SERBIAN SECURITY SECTOR

Author(s): Gorana Odanović / Language(s): English

Mechanisms for introducing a gender equality policy into security sector governance, aimed at bringing about gender-sensitive treatment of women beneficiaries of the security system, are still lacking in Serbia. One way to ensure that gender equality issues are continuously addressed is to create a specific position for an individual whose job would be to advise top management about measures for improving gender equality. The National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in Serbia envisages the introduction of a gender advisor to the minister/director at the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Customs Administration, the Security-Information Agency, and the Administration for Enforcement of Penal Sanctions. The advisor’s task would be to advise managers during the process of developing and implementing policies, with the goal of facilitating respect for the rights of women and men, both those employed in the security sector and those who use the services provided by security sector institutions. The same document envisages the inclusion of gender advisors in the composition of Serbian contingents in multinational operations. The intention of this text is to provide a position description, a method for selecting the gender advisor, and the ideal profile of a gender advisor. Conclusions and recommendations are made, based on the experience of other countries and on guidelines provided by participants in a specific round table on gender advisors, organised by the BCSP with the support of DCAF, and in workshops on gender advisors, organised by the BFPE in cooperation with BCSP with the financial support of the OSCE Mission in Serbia, within the framework of the training programme “Introduction of a Gender Perspective into Security Sector Reform”.

Parliamentary Oversight of Implementation of Special Investigative Measures in Serbia

Author(s): Katarina Đokić / Language(s): English

Special investigative measures (SIM) are measures covertly applied by state institutions (foremost security institutions), which inherently constrict the degree to which citizens enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed rights. These fundamental traits of SIM mean that uncontrolled implementation may lead to undue violation of human rights, abuse of power, and it may unnecessarily cost taxpayers significant amounts of money. These risks are not purely “theoretical”. In recent years, there were several scandals in Serbia involving the use of SIM. In 2012 and 2013 the public was shaken by media reports of phone tapping of high state officials. In early 2014, former deputy head of the Police unit responsible for SIM implementation was arrested for having leaked information to an organised criminal group on measures implemented against its members. Apart from these scandals, there are also indications that SIM are amply implemented by institutions. For instance, one mobile operator reported that public institutions made 270,000 accesses to retained electronic data of its customers within one year.1 All of this suggests there is a need for strengthening external oversight, which is essential for increasing the accountability of state actors implementing SIM. Strengthening external oversight is also in the best interest of security institutions, as it helps demystify their work and enhance public trust towards these institutions.

Attitudes of Serbian Citizens Regarding Relations with Kosovo and Albania

Author(s): Maja Bjeloš / Language(s): English

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo are currently reduced to the EU-facilitated talks in Brussels. The long-stalled talks went “back on track” after the appointment of EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak. The resumption of the dialogue was influenced by a different US approach to the Balkans following the presidential election and the appointment of Special Envoy Gabriel Escobar. Despite the international community’s strong desire for the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to return to the negotiating table, it seemed that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti were unwilling to take a step forward. Their first meeting in June 2021 in Brussels was not encouraging, as it revealed personal animosities that threatened to bring the dialogue to another impasse. With an accession perspective that includes no date, i.e. without a tangible ‘carrot at the end of the stick’, leaders seem less motivated to make bold decisions. The actors were more engaged in the production and management of a crisis than in taking an effort to reach a final solution and progress towards EU membership. All in all, ten years after the dialogue began, there is little room for optimism as relations between Serbia and Kosovo are now at their lowest level. Many agreements have not been fully implemented, while the implementation of Brussels’ provisions concerning the association of Serb-majority municipalities is still pending.

ASSESSMENT OF POLICE INTEGRITY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2015

Author(s): Alma Kovačević,Hamza Višća / Language(s): English

A question of police integrity in BiH is quite difficult to consider due to the complexity of the police system. The police sector in BiH consists of 16 police agencies at all levels of government and 6 institutions which provide them support or carry out similar activities. This fact makes any research difficult because each police agency could be considered as an individual entity and particular research could be committed for each of them. Generally, findings of the report indicate that neither the legal framework, nor the practice is satisfying to ensure police integrity. In addition to that, the citizens assess police work as very weak and its efforts insufficient in fighting corruption. A very high influence of politicians on the police work still exists; police transparency is not satisfying when it comes to investigation of serious cases of corruption; human resources management and financing require serious reforms to be more functional in the fight against corruption; while both internal and external controls need serious changes to be more independent and functional. This report could help to consider police integrity from important points of view, including legal framework and citizens’ perspective. The report can help make a comprehensive study and a deeper analysis of each chapter.

URGENT POLICE DEPOLITICISATION IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

Author(s): Sofija Mandić / Language(s): English

One of the biggest problems faced by the police in the Western Balkans is politicisation and lack of operational independence from political leaders and structures. This is confrmed by the legal framework on policing which introduces a wide scope of competencies of Ministers of Interior and other politically elected figures, and by the citizens’ perception that the police serve the political parties’ interests. The Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) Law on Internal Affairs of 2014 allows direct and indirect influence of political parties and officials on the autonomy of the police. Most important shortcomings are related to the Federal Minister of Interior who is allowed to make decisions regarding concrete police actions, influence human resources micro-management, and decide on the use of police finances and detention treatment and rules. The Law only declaratively stipulates that the police are subjected to civilian and democratic control. However, more than 80 percent of the citizens of BIH believe that the influence of politics on operative work of the police is quite high. In Kosovo, before the Prime Minister takes a decision on the appointment of Police Director General, the Minister of Internal Affairs interferes in the process by establishing and regulating the work of the Commission whose task is to nominate the candidates. The 2012 Law on Police in Kosovo allows direct influence of the Minister of Internal Affairs on the internal organisation of the police and the establishment of special police units. The Minister can compromise the operational independence of the police regardless of the fact that the Law on Police stipulates otherwise. More than 70 percent of the citizens perceive police as politicised and fully, or to some extent, under political control. The Montenegrin Law on Internal Affairs of 2012 allows the Minister of Interior to influence the Police Director’s appointment by proposing the candidate to the Government, and to influence the work of the Police Directorate by appointing Police Director’s deputies. The Minister is allowed to define the exceptions concerning the duties that are deemed incompatible with police work, but he also has discretionary powers to allow police officers to conduct some activities that are in contravention to the rules if he estimates that this will not harm the professional work of the Ministry. The Minister can decide in disciplinary proceedings and develop its rules. The public image of the police as an authority serving the citizens is better, to the extent that the legal framework is more progressive – one third of the citizens believe that the police is working in their interest. The Serbian Law on Police of 2016 does not create sufficient and necessary conditions for depoliticisation of the police. The text of the law mentions “respect for the operational independence of the police” but fails to specify what that actually means. The Minister of Interior is allowed to prescribe the mode of performance of internal affairs tasks, request reports, data and other documents relating to the work of the police and the Ministry, and provide the Internal Affairs Sector with binding instructions for work, as well as with orders to perform certain tasks and undertake certain measures. The Minister is given the power to assign and dismiss the highest ranking heads of the Police Directorate. More than 80% of the citizens see the police as an institution serving others’ interests instead of theirs. There are various legal shortcomings influencing the operational independence of the police in the Western Balkans. It is therefore necessary that the international community – the European Union (EU) in particular – advocate the development of legal instruments and institutional mechanisms which will prevent the political leaders and structures from crossing the forbidden line and becoming involved in the operational work of the police.

THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT IN BUILDING POLICE INTEGRITY IN SERBIA

Author(s): Katarina Đokić / Language(s): English

Parsimonious legal framework and parliamentarians’ reluctance to utilise their powers have impeded parliamentary oversight of police work. Hence, the parliament does not have a significant role in building police integrity in Serbia.

USTAVNI OKVIR REGIONALNE DRŽAVE – primer Srbije

Author(s): Marijana Pajvančić / Language(s): Serbian

Monitoring of Implementation of the Agreement Concluded between Kosovo and Serbia in the Field of Free Movement of People and Goods

Author(s): Tatjana Tucić / Language(s): English

On top of all respect for previously concluded and future talks and agreements, the agreement on freedom of movement of people is one of the fundamental agreements, and evaluation of overall relations between Belgrade and Pristina shall depend on its implementation. Can normalization be discussed if people cannot move and communicate freely? Are obstacles to free movement of people still present and what can be done to remove those obstacles? Freedom of movement is one of the fundamental freedoms upon which EU stands and substantial progress of Belgrade and Pristina on the way toward the EU depends on readiness to respect and guarantee that freedom. Agreement on freedom of movement was concluded in July 2011 and implementation of the agreement began on December 26th 2011. This agreement provided free movement for citizens of Kosovo and Serbia within territories of Kosovo and Serbia. This was made possible with identification documents (personal ID cards). Freedom of movement also includes traveling by vehicles, on condition of paying mandatory border (administrative) insurance. Agreement on integrated management of border/administrative line was concluded by teams of negotiators during the technical dialog in December 2011, but the implementation did not begin until December 2012, one year after the dialog, immediately upon the beginning of political negotiations between the Premiers of Serbia and Kosovo.

MANJE BROJNE NACIONALNE MANJINE

Author(s): Jelena Perković,Darko Baštovanović / Language(s): Serbian

Research on the status, position and open issues of smaller national minority groups in Serbia.