Wednesday, April 30, 2014

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. 

Monday, April 28, 2014

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. 

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Greece: A Strategic Alternative to Turkey?

Greece: A Strategic Alternative to Turkey?


INSS Insight 
No. 201, August 20, 2010

In less than a month the prime ministers of Israel and Greece exchanged official visits; each visit was the first of its kind. It is hard to find a precedent for this proximity of visits in the annals of Israeli diplomacy.

photo: zingarate.com
In less than a month the prime ministers of Israel and Greece exchanged official visits; each visit was the first of its kind. It is hard to find a precedent for this proximity of visits in the annals of Israeli diplomacy.
Until recently the low profile of their bilateral relations suited the interests of both Greece and Israel. While appearing at the Arab Economic Forum on May 20, 2010, George Papandreou noted the friendship between many Arab leaders and his father, then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, and spoke about the solidarity of the Greek nation with Arab nations. He stipulated, "Israel, must respect United Nations Security Council resolutions. And of course the Arab peace initiative must be promoted. The roadmap obligations must be fulfilled, to move forward on core issues, on the basis of a two-state solution along the 1967 lines."
There is little likelihood that the reference to the 1967 lines escaped the Israeli team that prepared for the Greek prime minister's visit to Israel in late July and the Israeli prime minister's visit to Greece this week (August 16-17). But it is also likely that at the same time, they eyed a no less important strategic issue, namely, containing the damage caused by the souring of relations between Israel and Turkey. The shift in Turkey's foreign policy that has led it to draw closer to Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hizbollah signals a significant change in the strategic balance, not only from Israel's perspective. Cairo, Amman, Beirut, and Ramallah also see this shift as cause for concern, although perhaps with less severity than Israel. Athens almost certainly is worried by this shift in Turkey's foreign policy, as well as the ramifications of this change and the internal processes in Turkey.

More on (source): http://www.inss.org.il/index.aspx?id=4538&articleid=2215

Serbian Prime Minister’s Advisor Talks about Campaign against Him

Serbian Prime Minister’s Advisor Talks about Campaign against Him


photo: busienssnewsdaily.com
Ivica Toncev who is engaged as an advisor for national security in the Serbian Prime Minister’s Office talks about campaign against him in some Serbian media.

Toncev stresses that in the first half of 2013 he was under huge media pressure with the aim of discrediting his professional engagement in the Government of Serbia. OCCRP and the Centre for Investigative Reporting in Serbia (CINS) accused Toncev of maintaining long-term relationships with several mobsters.

The campaign was followed with several researches within Serbian administration regarding these accusations. Mr. Toncev didn’t oppose to any of these researches. The final results of these measures were the evidences of Toncev’s innocence.

‘This campaign is organized because someone wants to make damage to my social and professional reputation. I don’t belong to any of the interest groups present in Serbia and that’s the reason why I was under this pressure. I am not involved in any of irregular privatizations within Serbia also. One of the reasons for that dishonorable campaign was also an attempt to discredit Serbian head of Government Mr. Dacic. I also wonder why I was under three checks and some other ‘interesting persons’ were spared?’, said Toncev.

Obviously, Toncev wants to highlight the fact that the whole campaign against him was orchestrated but that there were no proves that it correlates with reality.