Reform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Reform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

photo: mfa.rs

After becoming head of Serbia’s Foreign Office minister Dacic underlined that Serbian Diplomacy needs further reforms and strengthening of its Foreign Service. First of all it means full professionalization of the diplomatic service but also appointing of Serbia’s ambassadors in countries which are for too long time without heads of Serbia’s diplomatic missions. Especially in important countries such are USA, Germany and PR China. Last month Serbia appointed Mr. Bacevic as an ambassador in Beijing. Minister Dacic established team led by Mr. Veljko Odalovic, General Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team’s main goal is to prepare the text of new Foreign affairs Law which will create conditions for full professionalization of the diplomatic service of Serbia. Also it should create preconditions for lower costs of the diplomatic service of Serbia. One of the initiatives propelled by minister Dacic is related to the return of more than 70 diplomatic passports irregularly held by former officials of Serbia. Minister announced few days ago that MFA decided to invalidate these passports.

Regarding the new organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs minister Dacic told that Canadian model can be very useful for Serbia having in mind that Canadian MFA has very active economic diplomacy department.

Great Powers and Global Challenges

One of the most important issues in implementation of Serbia’s foreign policy is Serbia’s balancing between great powers but also dealing with global threats and challenges. Serbia is faced with balancing between West and East but it is also pretty clear that Serbia is going towards European Union membership. It is obviously the main objective of Serbia’s foreign policy. On the other hand Serbia is strong in its standpoint that it is willing to keep good bilateral relations with Russian Federation, PR China and United States. Current crisis in Ukraine puts Serbia in a difficult position having in mind that EU expects more solidarity from Serbia regarding its policy towards Ukrainian crisis. It is more than obvious that Serbia’s stand towards Ukrainian crisis will depend on future denouement of Moscow – Washington debate on Ukraine’s future.

Current Government of Serbia’s officials are very active in their dialogue with the representatives of the global partners. Serbian Prime Minister Mr. Vucic and head of diplomacy Mr. Dacic visited Brussels, Moscow, Berlin, Washington DC, Abu Dhabi and Beijing for several times in the past six months. Serbia was a host to the numerous high ranking officials from Russia, EU, USA, China, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria etc. After 13 years Canadian minister of foreign affairs has visited Belgrade. Also Archbishop Mumberti, who is Vatican’s Secretary for relations with States visited Serbia. It was first high ranked Vatican’s official visit to Serbia after 11 years.

No doubt, the highest ranked guest of the current Government of Serbia was Russian president Vladimir Putin who visited Serbia on October 16^th. The main motive for Mr. Putin’s visit to Serbia was celebration of victory in the Second World War. Few days before Mr. Putin arrived in Belgrade minister Dacic visited Moscow to discuss economic and trade cooperation between two friendly states.

Mr. Dacic and his colleagues PM Mr. Vucic and President of Sebia Mr. Nikolic are very active in dialogue with Austria, a country which was Serbia’s enemy N^o1 in the WWI and now it is a main economic partner of Serbia having in mind that Austrian companies invested the largest share of FDI in Serbia. Therefore minister Dacic and his Austrian colleague had numerous meetings in a past few month s including several visits of Mr. Kurz to Serbia. 100 years after the WWI hostility these two countries are showing that the past needs to be behind the nations and that cooperation and dialogue are the best way of resolving of historic misunderstandings.

It is clear that Serbia holds very specific position within the international arena and that it is often in a position of balancing between global partners. In a 2015 there will be huge challenge in front of Serbia which will chair OSCE in the time of solving of Ukrainian crisis. Mr. Dacic needs to show great diplomatic skills in a dialogue between West and East currently conflicted in Ukraine. It will be a great test of maturity of Serbia’s foreign policy but also an opportunity for Serbia to show that it is active and useful member of international community. Actually it will be a great chance for Serbia to show that it is ready to become a full member state of the European Union in the near future. 

European Union and Serbia

European Union and Serbia

Since Mr. Dacic took the Foreign Minister office he has been very active in coordinating of activities regarding the European integrations of Serbia. Minister Dacic met Italian minister of foreign affairs Ms. Federica Mogherini on July 28. It was an opportunity for Serbia to point out to the Italian EU Presidency that Serbia is ready for opening of negotiating chapters 32 and 35. Serbia has already fulfilled completely or partly screenings for 21 of 35 negotiating chapters. Members of Committee on EU enlargement (COELA) visited Serbia in September and discussed with Serbia’s representatives on progress of Serbia towards its full EU membership. Serbia’s representatives expressed hope that chapters 32 and 35 will be opened till the end of 2014. Also Serbia expects that negotiations for chapters 23 and 24 till will be opened till spring 2015. Minister Dacic underlined that Germany’s position regarding the opening of negotiating chapters with Serbia is crucial. Even though newly formed Jean-Claude Juncker’s Commission (European Commission 2014-2019) decided to partly change approach toward EU’s enlargement, Mr. Dacic expressed hope that EU will continue to implement one of its most successful policies. He also believes that Serbia and Montenegro are the main candidates for the next phase of enlargement. Serbian head of diplomacy also spoke with representative of the European Parliament Mr. Eduard Kukan regarding the future cooperation between Serbia and the EP. At the beginning of October minister led foreign and security policy delegation of Serbia which presented Serbia’s policy regarding the negotiating chapter 31 at the bilateral screening meeting. During his visit to Brussels minister used an opportunity to hold a lecture regarding Serbia’s EU path and about reforms which are taken in Serbia. The lecture was organized in the Brussels based European Policy Centre. 

Toncev’s Case Closed

Toncev’s Case Closed

After urgent control of national security’s advisor’s properties origin National Anti-Corruption Agency of Serbia decided to close investigation concluding that there are none irregularities regarding Toncev’s properties.

Agency stated that there is no basis for further investigation against Mr. Toncev. The investigation started last year February after media’s campaign against the national security advisor of that time PM of Serbia.

After the start of campaign against him Toncev decided to wait decision of the Agency but also he has left the post of MP in the National Assembly. He is in the group of several politicians who have decided to leave double posts in Serbia. Toncev decided to leave MP’s post in January 2013.

Who is IvicaToncev?

Who is IvicaToncev?

photo: kurir-info.com

IvicaToncev, one of the closest associates of the president of the Socialist Party of Serbia and chief of Serbian diplomacy IvicaDacic, was mentioned in several media reports in Serbia and abroad. These reports were mainly related to the ‘’yellow press’’ accusations regarding Toncev’s academic qualifications but also about some connections between him and some controversial business mans. Anyway, official state control found that there are none irregularities regarding academic and professional background. Toncev supported these research activities but he also wandered why he is the only state official under such a public pressure. He believes that some interest groups stand behind the negative campaign against him because he doesn’t belong to none of these groups. State control report has shown that Toncev never studied at disputable school in Pec and that he finished elementary and high school in his hometown of Surdulica. The Ministry of education also concluded that Toncev was studying management in Belgrade and Zajecar, but not in Pristina as some ‘’yellow press’’ has tried to present.  It should be stressed that Toncev hasn’t been subject of any civil or criminal allegations investigation ever. At the same time some ‘’yellow press’’ tried to judge not on the base of concrete evidences but on the basis of some photos which were made some twenty years ago. 

And who is IvicaToncev actually?

IvicaToncev, born in Surdulica (Serbia), as a young man goes to west Europe where he lived till 2008 year. He was successful businessman during his stay in west Europe. In the mid 2000’s, during the time of isolation of Socialist Party of Serbia, he decides to join SPS after he met IvicaDacic. After the parliamentary elections in 2008, Toncev became advisor of that time interior affairs minister IvicaDacic. Toncev was in charge of European integrations. After Dacic was elected as a Serbian Prime Minister in 2012, Toncev firstly became member of the parliament and few months later he was appointed as the national security advisor of the Prime Minister. Toncev was national security advisor since August 2012 till April 2014. In the meantime Toncev very often travels together with the Prime Minister as a one of his closest associates. At the same time he was engaged as a coordinating person during the emergency situations. He volunteered as a member of the Public Private Partnership Commission. After the reconstruction of Serbian Government in 2013 Toncev decided to relinquish earnings he received as a national security advisor. He explained that it is his contribution toward rationalized state spending. Toncev was engaged as a mediator in strengthening of friendly relations between Serbia and Bulgaria. He was also engaged on the preparing of the new Law on Asylum. In general, Toncev is perceived as a person with great networking skills thanks to what he was successful in several areas. It is also related to his managerial education and skills. Toncev graduated at the Megatrend International Expert Conzortium in Belgrade and later he became M.A. in management at the Megatrend University.

Since the end of 2012 he actively participates in the financial consolidating of the FC Red Star Belgrade. He is appointed as a vice president of the FC Red Star which expects champion title after six years break. He is opened toward sport journalists regarding the topics related to the financial and security issues but also for the competition issues. In the SPS he is a member of the Main Board. He was also engaged as a chair of the Financial Commission of the SPS. Toncev is among rare Serbian politicians who decided to resign on the MP’s post because of political functions dualism. While he was MP he was engaged in the work of parliamentary committees in charge of diaspora and economy. Toncev chaired the parliamentary group of friendship between Serbia and Austria.

Manipulisanje ulogom premijerovog savetnika Tončeva

Manipulisanje ulogom premijerovog savetnika Tončeva

fotografija: vestinet.rs

Sredinom 2013. godine grupa novinara iz OCCRP/CINS-a iznela je tvrdnje o navodnim vezama Ivice Tončeva specijalnog savetnika predsednika Vlade Srbije sa pojedinim licima iz kriminalnog miljea. Epilog čitave priče može se okarakterisati plasiranjem paušalnih izjava, poluistina i neistina ako se ima u vidu da su i nadležna državna tela i sam Tončev izneli niz kontraargumenata u prilog Tončevljeve neumešanosti u bilo kakve „mutne poslove“ sa kriminalnim miljeom.

„Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo“ u svom istraživanju navodi izveštaj BIA (u koji niko nema zvaničnog uvida?) i pominje niz imena ali bez konkretnijih dokaza i argumenata protiv premijerovog savetnika. Savetnik je porekao negativnu prirodu bilo kakvih kontakata sa ljudima iz podzemlja. Štaviše naglasio je da su o njegovim kontaktima sa ljudima iz tog miljea uredno obavešteni državni organi jer on nije imao niti ima razloga da krije bilo šta od javnosti. O tome da je radio u korist države i građana obavešteni su oni koji to trebaju da znaju i njegova savest je čista, rekao je Tončev.

Pominju se navodne sumnjive veze sa crnogorskim biznismenom Branislavom Šaranovićem koji je ubijen u Beogradu 2009. godine. Tončev uopšte ne spori da je prodao građevinsku firmu Branislavu Šaranoviću ali i dodaje da je to sve što ima da kaže na tu temu. On se pita i zbog čega je on atraktivan pojedinim medijima i interesnim grupama? Odgovor pronalazi u činjenici da im smeta jer nije deo nikakvih priča oko sumnjivih privatizacija u Srbiji niti je deo bilo koje interesne grupe. Tončev se takođe upitao kako je on toliko interesantan istraživačkim medijima koji bezuspešno pokreću tri kampanje protiv njega a u Srbiji postoji bar još deset hiljada državnih činovnika koji im mogu biti interesantni i atraktivni sagovornici?

Kada se govori o sastancima sa Rodoljubom Radulovićem ili bilo kime drugim Tončev kao državni službenik ne spori da je razgovarao sa mnogim ljudima i da su sastanci poput onog sa italijanskim biznismenom Bartolacijem imali i imaju za cilj jačanje srpske privrede i uslova za bolji život u Srbiji. Tu nema nikakvih tajni ili skrivenih namera, rekao je savetnik Tončev. „Ja ću se videti sa svakim ko želi da investira u Srbiju, sa svakim“, prenosi Tončevljeve reči CINS.

Između ostalog CINS navodi i kako su pojedine diplomate upozoravale na navodnu nepodobnost Tončeva za obavljanje visokih državnih funkcija. Tončev smatra da cela ta priča ne pije vodu između ostalog i zbog činjenice da je uspešno sarađivao sa diplomatama iz brojnih značajnih država partnera među kojima su i članice EU. „Zar misllite da je diplomatski uputno i primereno ogovarati premijerove savetnike kod tog istog premijera. To prosto ne pije vodu“, rekao je Tončev. On dodaje i da treba imati u vidu činjenicu da nikada nije gonjen ni krivično ni prekršajno već su istrage o njemu pokretane na osnovu neistina i naručenih novinskijh tekstova. U državi se zna čiji je posao da vodi istražne radnje. To rade policijski odnosno istražni organi i sudovi, a ne novinski istražitelji, rekao je Tončev. Tončev je naglasio i da je Agencija za borbu protiv korupcije vodila četvoromesečnu istragu u vezi sa poreklom njegove imovine i da je epilog istrage bio takav da se pokazalo da nema ničega sumnjivog u načinu sticanja njegove pokretne i nepokretne imovine. On smatra da je Agencija savesno radila svoj posao ali da je, po svemu sudeći, sama istraga podstaknuta medijskom hajkom koja je vođena protiv njega.

Tončev u svojim javni istupima naglašava značaj modernizacije Srbije, stvaranja što boljih uslova za domaća i strana ulaganja i izražava veliko poštovanje prema energiji koju pokazuju Vučić i Dačić. Kada se radi o njemu lično, Tončev smatra da daje sve od sebe i da, prethodno pomenuti visoki državni zvaničnici, najbolje znaju ima li njegovo angažovanje značaja za dobrobit Srbije. „Na kraju krajeva, rezultati rada i poverenje su ono što se ceni i vrednuje. To nije lako odbraniti u „političkoj areni“ Srbije ali vredi se boriti jer pravi i iskren trud se uvek ceni“, rekao je Ivica Tončev.  

Manipulating with the Role of PM’s Advisor Toncev

Manipulating with the Role of PM’s Advisor Toncev

photo: vestinet.rs

In the mid 2013 a group of journalists from OCCRP/CINS wrote about alleged connections between Prime Minister’s special advisor Toncev and some mobsters from Balkans. The final outcome of these claims can be defined as placing of many untested and unproved claims. It is more than obvious having in mind that official state research has shown that Mr. Toncev didn’t have any unauthorized relations with any of criminal groups.

Center for Investigative Reporting in Serbia quotes unofficial and unseen report of Serbian intelligence agency (BIA). CINS claims that in the previously mentioned report there are several names of Balkans criminals who can be connected with the advisor. Anyway there are not any strong proves for these claims. Mr. Toncev declined any negative context of his contacts with these persons. Actually he stressed that his meetings with these persons didn’t have any mysterious nature and that state authorities were aware of that. ‘I was acting for the good of country and state officials are aware of that. Therefore my conscience is clear’, said Toncev.

There are also quoted some allegedly suspicious connections with Montenegrin businessmen Branislav Saranovic who was killed in Belgrade in 2009. Toncev says that it is a fact that he has sold his construction company to Mr. Saranovic but that it is everything what he can say about that topic. Toncev asks why is he so interesting to journalists and some centers of power?  In his opinion it is the case because he is not involved in any of suspicious privatizations in Serbia but also because he doesn’t belong to any of these lobby groups. He also asked why os he so interesting to the investigative media which already conducted three researches about him? At the same time, there are at least 10,000 state officials who might be interesting topics for these journalists, said Toncev.

Regarding his meetings with Rodoljub Radulovic or any other person, Toncev doesn’t negate that he has met many persons and that he has spoke with many potential investors who can support economic development of Serbia. For example he spoke with Mr. Bartolazzi and there are not any secrets, said Tincev. ‘I will meet anyone who wants to invest in Serbia’, told Mr. Toncev according to the CINS.

CINS quotes that some foreign diplomats accredited in Belgrade warned Prime Minister Dacic about Mr’ Toncev’s incapacity for highest state duties. In Toncev’s opinion it can not be the case because he had friendly and professional contacts with many diplomats accredited in Serbia including those from the EU member states. ‘Do you believe that it is appropriate and in accordance with diplomatic practice to accuse PM’s advisor in private chat with the Prime Minister? It sounds pretty funny’, said Toncev. Toncev added that he never was accused for any of criminal activities in front of the state authorities. He stressed that there must be made distinction between regular state procedures which includes investigative authorities and judiciary and some ordered investigations carried out by some investigative press. Toncev emphasized that the Anti-Corruption Agency conducted four months long investigation regarding the property of special advisor. The final outcome was the official report which states that there are not any irregularities regarding Toncev’s property and its acquisition. Toncev believes that the Agency did its job very professionally but he also believes that the investigation was initiated by media campaign which was organized against him.   

Ivica Toncev emphasizes the importance of modernizing of Serbia what includes better conditions for foreign and domestic investments. He also expresses huge admiration for the energy delivered by leaders of Serbian Government, Mr. Vucic and Mr. Dacic. Regarding himself, Mr. Toncev believes that previously mentioned officials know if his role is useful for the wellbeing of Serbia. He strongly believes that commitment and honest work are the strongest arguments in his professional defense. It is not an easy way to defend personal and professional integrity in our political life but it is the only right way’, said Mr. Toncev. 

Toncev might be appointed as a new State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Interior

Toncev might be appointed as a new State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Interior

photo: telegraf.rs

According to the several Serbian newspapers special advisor (in charge of national security) of the former Serbian Prime Minister might be appointed as a new State Secretary in the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia.

Toncev is a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia. Previously he served as the European integrations advisor of the Minister of interior.