Majda Ruge @majda_ruge Twitter profile

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

Remarkable display of EU strategic sovereignty in the Balkans. Yesterday, the EU enacted sanctions against the Kosovo government for instructing elected municipal mayors to assume offices in 4 Serb-dominated municipalities in North Kosovo. Same day, in Bosnia & Herzegovina...

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

Today marks a watershed for post-Dayton #Bosnia . Russia is using the UN Security Council to undermine the OHR while Moscow's proxies threaten to break up the country. The US, the EU & the UK urgently need a plan of their own. My latest for @ForeignPolicy

Time to Act on Bosnia’s Existential Threat

The EU and the United States need to stop making concessions to Serbian secessionist forces backed by Russia.

foreignpolicy.com

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

7 months

My 2 cents on 🇷🇸's military military deployment on 🇽🇰border. 🇷🇸 president's strategy now seems to be: create a bigger crisis to dodge responsibility for the previous one, i.e. prosecuting his allies who staged the attacks in #Kosovo last week. His other objective seems to be:

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

The day #Berlin was unified, 4 yrs later, the old bridge connecting #Mostar was destroyed. While the post-1989 unification was a true triumph in #Europe , parallel destruction few hundred kilometers away - a chilling reminder of danger of the void in #EU policy on #WesternBalkans .

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Short🧵on Bosnia after spending several weeks offline for family reasons. The situation looks dramatic, and it is, bcs Dodik's threats at terminating Bosnia as we know it come in combination w/Russia's blackmail in the run up to November UNSC session, where extension of EUFOR...

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

In Bosnia as in Ukraine, Russia’s objective is to keep the country out of NATO, NATO out of the country, and to weaken the US engagement. My latest for @ecfr on how the escalation in 🇺🇦 may affect the UN & Russia's ability to pursue its goals in Bosnia:

Peace of the action: The Kremlin’s plans in Bosnia and Ukraine

Russia’s ambition to draw up a new international security architecture extends to regions where the US and its European allies have traditionally taken a leading role.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

My latest piece @ecfr features the house in #DC where Jean Monnet lived during #WWII & tells the story of his connections to Washington political elites. These ties were crucial in shaping US policy on Europe during & after the war. #EuropeDay #VEDay75

The house that connects France and Germany: Jean Monnet’s mission to America

European integration was never distinct from, or opposed to, a strong transatlantic relationship or American interests.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

This is not only shocking, but also strategically unwise. I wrote here why & how Serbia's President Vucic is able to take advantage of the absence of Western strategic thinking:

How to kill four birds with one stone: The West’s foreign policy challenge in Serbia

EU and US policymakers have it within their gift to change the dynamic in their relations with Serbia. Taking on Western Balkans kleptocracy lies at its heart.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

.. but is almost certain not to follow up & sanction Dodik. Many (myself included) feel that EU's sanctioning of Kurti's government is not only disproportionate but strategically unwise. This sense is reinforced by the fact that the EU legal framework of sanctions against those..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

Kosovo, in which dozens of NATO soldiers were wounded, several critically, there has been no high profile initiative (except by 🇽🇰 gvt) to identify/hold those responsible to account. The response has been to punish Kurti for provoking the bully but to let the bully off the hook.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

.. the RS Assembly voted to suspend all rulings of BIH Constitutional Court in the RS entity, after RS President, Milorad Dodik, basically sabotaged the court, the highest domestic authority for interpreting & enforcing the Dayton Peace Agreement. The EU has now issued a rebuke..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

Each time the world forgets about #Bosnia , Dodik makes sure to bring it back into spotlight. The aim of Dodik's current attack on BIH Constitutional Court is clear: to undermine & weaken the court & get rid of the three international/ECtHR judges who are thorn in his side. Why?🧵

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

.. undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement has, so far, been used zero times, despite countless violations of Dayton in 🇧🇦. Not surprisingly, Dodik has never stopped salami slicing Bosnia. Finally, a month after the brutal attacks on KFOR troops in north..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

I'm thrilled & honoured to be joining the fantastic @ECFRWiderEurope team, including @nicupopescu @vtcherneva @joannahosa @lessenska and the colleagues in the @ECFRBerlin office. What a great way to come back to #Berlin from #DC !

ECFR Wider Europe

@ECFRWiderEurope

4 years

Welcome @majda_ruge ! We are excited to announce Majda joined our @ECFRBerlin office as a Senior Policy Fellow to our #WiderEurope programme. Her areas of expertise include nationalism, post-conflict state building, the #WesternBalkans and others 👉

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

7 months

It's important not to downplay the security threat stemming from Serbia's escalation. But it is also important not to allow 🇷🇸's escalatory tactics to shape the terms of political settlement, i.e. allow for 🇷🇸's permanent political interference in 🇽🇰 through institutional means..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

I never thought I'd provide translation services for #Dodik , but it's important that this one is understood clearly by those pushing for border revision in #Kosovo . After meeting Vucic, Dodik made it clear that he intends to use 🇽🇰-🇷🇸 border deal to further destabilise BiH state.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

#Macron gets it right that #Bosnia is central to the stability of #WesternBalkans but gets it wrong as to why this is the case. On jihadist threat, both #Bosnia & #WB fare better than #France , whether measured by no. of FTFs or terrorist attacks. From my 2017 #Senate testimony:

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

7 months

... which will, long run, not lead to peace & stability, but permanent destabilization. In Bosnia, #Dodik has successfully employed similar tactics for a decade now, salami-slicing of #Bosnia 's sovereignty through escalation, at the expense of security in 🇧🇦 & the region.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

7 months

increase the level of threat & thus leverage vis-à-vis the EU & the US, in order to push through his two goals in the north of Kosovo: swift formation of a full-blown Association of Serb Municipalities & replacement of Kosovo police force in the North with #KFOR .

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

7 months

My colleague @EngjellusheM & I wrote up this very short piece for @ecfr w/some recommendations for 🇪🇺🇺🇸 response to last week's crisis. They are as valid in the light of new circumstances:

Violence in North Kosovo: How the EU and the US can break the cycle

Escalating violence in the north of Kosovo undermines the already difficult dialogue process. The EU and US need to address this destabilisation head on

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

. @OlafScholz Balkan trip is 🇩🇪's last push to unlock 🇪🇺talks for🇲🇰🇦🇱, a few days after Russia suffered a blow to its prestige in the region. Meanwhile,🇪🇺 is divided whether to prioritise W.Balkans,🇺🇦, or neither. What this means for everyone involved:

Closed-skies diplomacy: What the Western Balkans can do for the EU

The still-incomplete web of allies and institutions that the EU has woven in the Balkans in the last 30 years is not only strong but also valuable to its geopolitical struggle against Russia…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Only few days after the WH mtg, Hoti's coalition partner said he won't share Gazivode; leader of the most popular opposition party in Kosovo called the deal invalid; Serbian gvt. officials suggest Pres.Vucic won't tolerate Israel's recognition of Kosovo.

Serbia won’t open Jerusalem embassy if Israel recognizes Kosovo – Serbian source

A 'diplomatic relationship' with Pristina is acceptable, but full recognition would 'destroy' Israel's ties with Belgrade, source says after speaking to Serbian leader

www.timesofisrael.com

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Clear messages by @Dimitrov_Nikola & @albinkurti @MunSecConf @bmwfoundation event on Societal Resilience. #Kurti : we need EU integration as a tool for sanctioning authoritarian rules; #Dimitrov : the future of the region must be strong institutions, not strongmen. #MSC2020

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

@albinkurti nails it down: the mafia is the only fully integrated sector in #WesternBalkans . What we need across the #Balkans is for prosecutors to become the most famous people - not us, the Prime Ministers or ministers of foreign affairs #MSC2020 #responsibleleadership

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

The day #Putin announced the mobilisation of 300K reservists, he met Milorad Dodik, member of the BIH Presidency. Why does he make time for Dodik on such an important day? What are Russia's goals in Bosnia & how does Moscow pursue them? My take for @ecfr :

The past and the furious: How Russia’s revisionism threatens Bosnia

Russia is working to keep Bosnia divided. But many of the country’s problems are homegrown or exacerbated by neighbouring states.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Joe Biden knows the Balkans well. In my latest piece, for @ForeignPolicy , I argue that fixing Trump's mistakes will be easy, but avoiding Obama's will be much harder. Some key points below 👇

Biden in the Balkans

Fixing Trump’s mistakes in the region will be easy. Avoiding Obama’s will be much harder.

foreignpolicy.com

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

The Dayton Peace Agreement was initialled 25 yrs ago at an air base in Dayton, Ohio. My latest @ecfr report looks at how Bosnia & Herzegovina is doing quarter of a century later. Today I was asked by @BBCNews - has Dayton worked? A few points below 👇

Hostage state: How to free Bosnia from Dayton’s paralysing grip

Restoring independence to the judiciary and strengthening the rule of law are key to the country’s future stability and success…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

As #NATO allies gather in #Vilnius & #Bosnia mourns the victims of #Srebrenica genocide, Putin's proxies are carrying out a coup on the Dayton Peace Agreement. My @ecfr piece on how to stop 🇧🇦political crisis from evolving into a military one:

Deterrence starts in the Balkans: How NATO allies can prevent military escalation in Bosnia and...

As NATO convenes in Vilnius, Kremlin proxies are undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty. Allies need to formulate a diplomatic strategy to prevent a military crisis…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

My latest for @ecfr on why Russia, despite being bogged down in Ukraine, remains a threat for Bosnia. Spoiler: bc Dayton constitution gives enormous power to its proxies in 🇧🇦. And bc some EU members are facilitating 🇷🇺's goals in Bosnia. More here 👇

The past and the furious: How Russia’s revisionism threatens Bosnia

Russia is working to keep Bosnia divided. But many of the country’s problems are homegrown or exacerbated by neighbouring states.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

Honored to testify before the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee today on the crisis in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the UK response, alongside @arminkahelic and @MpDamir . Many thanks to @CommonsForeign members for paying attention to Bosnia and inviting us to speak.

Foreign Affairs Committee

@CommonsForeign

2 years

📣 Our evidence session on the situation in #Bosnia and Herzegovina with Baroness Helić, Damir Arnaut and @majda_ruge has started. 📺 Watch live:

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

Good thread. The main question here is: what explains US/EU lenience towards Serbia? @Andric1961 suggests it's 🇷🇸 delivery of weapons to 🇺🇦. Partly true. But if the war in Ukraine ended tomorrow, would the US/EU correct their policy on Serbia & the region? I don't think so. Why?

Michael Martens

@Andric1961

10 months

On the current situation in the Balkans: The EU is threatening sanctions against the Kurti government in Kosovo, but not against Serbian leaders Vucic and Dodik. This is absurd, mildly put. But there seems to be an explanation for Western leniency towards Belgrade.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

1 year

The German scapegoat! @jana_puglierin & I wrote how 🇩🇪 bashing will be a key part of GOP's 2024 election strategy. DeSantis now joins the club. For 🇩🇪, correcting the false narrative on its support for 🇺🇦 is good, delivering on the 2% goal even better.

The German scapegoat: Berlin’s inevitable role in the US presidential election

Germany cannot avoid being dragged into election debates in the US. On defence, it should focus on its own national security interests…

ecfr.eu

Noah Barkin

@noahbarkin

1 year

DeSantis says of German support for Ukraine: "They're not doing anything". This is fake news. But the narrative has now become entrenched in the Republican Party and successive German governments deserve part of the blame for that

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

A moving commemoration for victims of the #SrebrenicaGenocide was held in Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church in #Berlin last night in the presence of senior gvt. & religious representatives and the Bosnian community. A few thoughts on the event. - thread -

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

This is not necessarily contradictory. The entire purpose behind adopting Bonn Powers was to counter anti-Dayton behaviour & ensure that the state can function. So supporting their use for these purposes & opposing their use for electoral gerrymandering is quite natural.

Michael Martens

@Andric1961

2 years

🇧🇦: People who were huge fans of the misuse of undemocratic powers of an unelected official and hoped those powers would be misused to impose something they consider good now scorn those same powers as they might be misused to impose something they consider bad.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

#OTD 25 yrs ago in Paris, the #Dayton Peace Agreement was signed. Today we kick off our @ecfr conference to discuss the challenges & how to move #Bosnia forward. I am particularly proud of the young participants from Banja Luka, Mostar and Sarajevo, who have an important message.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

Yesterday's anniversary of 1938 November pogrom/Crystal Night. Berlin: parents & children lay flowers on street cobble stones engraved w/names of Jewish victims. Belgrade: Minister of Interior lays flowers on the mural of war criminal Mladic, convicted of genocide by the ICTY.

Aleksandra Tomanic

@AleksTomanic

2 years

One block away from the Mladic mural. Police preventing peaceful citizens to show their disagreement.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

It feels like a comedy, but it's actually tragic. The degree of sloppiness. The lack of preparation. How detached the ambition to portray this as a historic deal is from reality. And worst, the costs for such a large Kosovar delegation being paid from a depleted public budget.

Dimitar Bechev

@DimitarBechev

4 years

The point about mini-Schengen is also mute. There is no such legal entity or treaty to join. "Mini-Schengen" is a media term to describe vague political declarations.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

6 years

A story of courage, compassion & mutual protection: #Bosnian Muslim saves #Sarajevo Haggadah & Jewish girl from Nazis in 40s; his #Albanian wife escapes Sarajevo in Jewish convoy in 1992; his daughter is rescued from #Kosovo war by #Macedonian Jews in 99

The Book of Exodus

A double rescue in wartime Sarajevo.

www.newyorker.com

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

Honored to testify before the @SenateForeign today on Successes and Unfinished Business in the #WesternBalkans . Many thanks to @SenatorShaheen and @RonJohnsonWI for having me.

Successes and Unfinished Business in the... | United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

www.foreign.senate.gov

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Corona Diplomacy Unmasked: My @ecfr colleague @oertel_janka & I add our voices to the discussion about the #Corona -induced 'battle of narratives'. We look into the case of #Serbia , which provides important insights. Read our commentary here:

Serbia’s coronavirus diplomacy unmasked

The Serbian president has exploited the EU’s internal divisions to insult the bloc and legitimise his policies, as well as his courtship of authoritarian partners.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

1 year

Senator @JDVance1 & @RichardGrenell selectively quote our @ecfr piece to prove their point how Germany's Ukraine policy is a "disgrace." What they leave out is this bit, on 🇩🇪 being the #1 continental provider of military + other support to 🇺🇦👇🏻.

J.D. Vance

@JDVance1

1 year

Wow. Germany likely to miss the 2 percent defense spending target by a half a percent in 2023 after missing big time in 2022. This is atrocious.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

6 years

When @chefjoseandres speaks, we don‘t feel the rain 🌧. @1journeyfest

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

My latest @ecfr commentary on Germany's #Greens and the #WesternBalkans . Their starting point is excellent, turning it into policy will be challenging:

The German Greens’ future foreign policy challenge in the Western Balkans

The German Greens’ positions on the Western Balkans check all the right boxes. The challenge will be to translate these positions into a bold policy on the region.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

.. mission is due & at which Russia is likely to condition EUFOR extension by making the OHR even less relevant than it currently is. To make things worse, Biden administration has delegated Bosnia to a handful of mid-level bureaucrats looking for easy diplomatic victories ..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

My latest for @ecfr on 🇩🇪 nomination of Christian Schmidt as the new High Representative to #Bosnia . Read about the risks surrounding this candidacy & the urgent need for a strategy to mitigate them. Spoiler: 🇷🇺's opposition is not the only risk.

Great power politics in Bosnia: How Berlin can stabilise a dysfunctional state

Germany should rally its allies to imbue the Office of the High Representative with new purpose and authority to fulfil its mission…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

..in the BIH Parliament: "I'm not Ashdown, but my authority still stands." You don't have to be Ashdown to understand the simple principle that led his actions in Bosnia, which Paddy liked to evoke as late as 2018: "If you want to save the maiden, you have to slay the dragon".

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Excellent Transnational Security roundtable @MunSecConf on Tackling Illicit Crossborder Flows w/impressive group of gvt & non-gvt reps: Sudanese PM Hamdok and Cindy McCain among others. Sahel in focus but this is an obvious discussion to have on the Western Balkans. #MSC2020

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

"..there appears to be widespread public support for Kurti’s position, as his party has skyrocketed from 26.7 % of the vote in the October 2019 election to 52.8 % in the polls & the LDK has dropped from 24.5 % to 17.2 %." The latest @ecfr commentary👇

Why the EU should lead talks between Kosovo and Serbia

An escalation of disagreements over the proposed Kosovo-Serbia land swap could take on a regional dimension and pose a security threat to Europe.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

Last night, @DivanOrchestra and @DBarenboim performed @kencen , demonstrating the power of #Israeli #Palestinian #Syrian #Iranian & other #MENA musicians playing together and defying political divisions. Just listen. #WorldInOurCity @WashPerformArts @GermanyinUSA @StateDept

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Instead,the OHR is afraid of the dragon(s), while the US & the EU representatives are appeasing & even dining with them. My colleague's observation now truly applies: "this looks like a great power competition, but in reality, only one power is showing up."

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Thread: As I watch the #Kosovo crisis unfold and @VjosaOsmaniMP ’s speech I have to think of #Sarajevo Canton government coalition led by @EdinForto that was recently toppled by the corrupt wartime #SDA party eager to prevent reforms & maintain its patronage spoils.

Admirim

@admirim

4 years

. @VjosaOsmaniMP : "I absolutely don't support this motion and I call on all MPs to reject it. Kosovo today does not need a government that lacks democratic legitimacy and which will include parties that LDK promised it won't go into coalition with." #meKryeministrin #Kosovo

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

8 months

Tomorrow is the first #Republican primary debate (minus Donald Trump). How will the candidates position themselves on #Ukraine ? #Trump 's views will be echoed by some, criticized by others. To find out who sits where, read my latest for @ecfr 👇🏻

Primary concern: Trump, Ukraine, and the Republicans’ foreign policy divisions

The candidates for the Republican primaries hold diverging views on the future of US foreign policy. In the event of a Republican victory, Europeans must prepare for an end to American support to…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Clearly, all eyes are on 🇺🇸 #Election2020 . I chose to write about a different one: local elections in #Bosnia , featuring the voting dead ☠️🎃🇧🇦 and other scary types of electoral trick & treating 👻🎃🍬 Read my @ecfr article to find out more:

The voting dead: Why electoral fraud in Bosnia should matter to the EU

Voter fraud and voter intimidation appear in many forms in Bosnia, and are becoming especially visible ahead of upcoming local elections in November.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

.. & hoping to solve the crisis by appeasing Dodik. What can one expect to achieve by negotiating w/the politician who regularly insults U.S. embassy in Sarajevo, calls the US key source of instability in Bosnia, actively blocks Bosnia's NATO path, threatens to dismantle Bosnia's

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

At a campaign rally in North Carolina, President Trump reportedly claimed credit for stopping mass killings btw. Serbia & Kosovo. In fact 'the killings' were stopped by President Clinton in 1999. I wrote about what Trump's deal has(not) achieved here👇:

Trump’s Kosovo show: No big deal

The White House’s sloppy agreement does little to advance dialogue, and comes at a high price.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

A remarkable life has come to an end. A fantastic strategist & tactician, a charismatic, courageous and competent leader. Also the kindest and most decent politician I knew. He finished his last book before he was hospitalised. Read it, it is as relevant today as ever. RIP Paddy.

Paddy Ashdown

@paddyashdown

6 years

My new book, Nein! Standing up to Hitler, is published today. Synopsis here: Sample Chapter here:

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

In domestic politics, crises are often used by authoritarians to consolidate power & distract from corruption. In foreign policy, crises can be used to promote reforms & combat corruption. My piece for @aminterest on #Ashdown 's legacy in the #Balkans :

Paddy Ashdown's Lessons For Multilateralists - The American Interest

A Royal Marine, a diplomat, a politician: Paddy Ashdown knew how to be tough to get things done. But he never forgot the importance of legitimacy in every measure he pushed through.

www.the-american-interest.com

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

A heartbreaking thread by Selma Jahic, who was 7 yrs. old when #Srebrenica genocide happened. The most horrific part of her recollections is the brutality of war as seen through the eyes of children. At one point she is shocked to see that the perpetrators are actually human.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

..government institutions built with years of U.S.'s & EU's investment of political capital & funds? Unless the US envoy is talking to Mr. Dodik to communicate a threat to extend US sanctions to Dodik's inner circle of business oligarchs, these talks will inevitably result in..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

.. more concessions to Dodik's demands & further weakening of Bosnia's central government. Add to that electoral law concessions to the HDZ. I am not even mentioning the EU, since they aren't willing to use their leverage to start with. The OHR? The new High Rep recently said ..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

This piece by @faruk_hadzic and myself deals with the economic effects of #COVID19 on public finances in #Bosnia and the (un)sustainability of the bloated government system put in place by #DPA 25 yrs ago. The numbers speak for themselves. @aminterest

How The Coronavirus Might Finally Fix Bosnia - The American Interest

The coronavirus crisis has revealed just how economically unsustainable Bosnia's bloated government actually is. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords, it's time to get...

www.the-american-interest.com

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

Meet @AmilaKaracic , a superwoman who casually got on the stage to moderate a panel after passing several kidney stones. No biggie, it's just a couple of kidney stones. A bit like moderating a panel straight after childbirth.

Amila Karačić

@AmilaKaracic

2 years

I’ll never forget this panel. 🪨

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

My latest @ecfr piece w/ @nicupopescu , inspired (among other things) by high discrepancy btw. perceptions & reality of the strategic value of China & Russia to Serbia, as shown by the recent @IRIglobal opinion poll.

Serbia and coronavirus propaganda: High time for a transactional EU

It is time for the EU to direct much more of its financial assistance through channels other than highly corrupt governments that consistently violate European norms and standards.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

Russian Ambo to #Bosnia reacts to my latest text. He finds my thinking confused. I find that he, like his boss, purposefully uses #disinformation on Bosnia and Russia's war of annihilation in #Ukraine .

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Vlado Shopov & I wrote this piece on #Montenegro & #China , arguing that the #EU 's key 'China problem' in the region is the nexus between the lack of government accountability & 🇨🇳 influence. If the EU really wants to tackle the problem, laser focus ...

The EU’s Montenegro dilemma

Following a recent dispute over a $1 billion loan to Montenegro, the EU has an opportunity to take a more systematic approach to the growing Chinese presence in the Western Balkans…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Bombastic campaign claims about Trump's Serbia-Kosovo 'deal' shouldn't distract us from examining less bombastic parts of the agreement. What steps does Serbia need to take to implement its 5G pledge? What about the US+EU? My latest w/ @vladisavljev_s :

Serbia’s 5G deal with Washington: The art of muddling through

There is no obvious reason why Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic would turn his back on a relationship with China from which he draws a great deal of political capital.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

6 years

Friends in #DC ! If you have some time on yr hands today, come to the Washington National Cathedral to celebrate the courage, culture, talents & benefits of refugees w @chefjoseandres @GerDuany & the fantastic team of volunteers who put together @1journeyfest . See you there!

One Journey Festival

@1journeyfest

6 years

SAVE THE DATE: June 2 | National Cathedral | Celebrating Refugee Talents #1Journey #WithRefugees #RefugeesWelcome #DC

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

#Huawei is not mentioned by name, only 'untrusted vendors.' As President Vucic does not consider China to be an untrusted supplier, this will likely remain one of the several unimplemented points of the agreement. Just a minor misunderstanding.

Tim Judah

@timjudah1

4 years

In March Aleksandar Vucic said the only country that could help Serbia was China. Today he signed a document in Trump’s office agreeing to ban Huawei from Serbian 5G. This could end up being, for Serbia, one of the more significant points of the “deal” with ....Kosovo.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

As Russia invades Ukraine, #EUFOR decides to deploy additional 500 troops to Bosnia. Yet Russia holds a veto over their mandate at the UNSC. Read here about how it plans to use it, and what sort of contingency planning is needed by the US, EU and NATO:

Peace of the action: The Kremlin’s plans in Bosnia and Ukraine

Russia’s ambition to draw up a new international security architecture extends to regions where the US and its European allies have traditionally taken a leading role.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

If we learned something during the past 12 years of Dodik's attacks on BIH sovereignty & territorial integrity, it's that he will go as far as he is allowed to. With all due respect to diplomats + policy consultants who think 'we've got Dodik under control', relying on

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Kurti's @MunSecConf statement on the importance of prosecutors aged well, at least when it comes to Mr Smith, the🇺🇸 war-crimes prosecutor appointed thru a selection process organised by the 🇪🇺. Judicial transatlantic cooperation in #WB seems alive even when political isn't..

Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

@albinkurti nails it down: the mafia is the only fully integrated sector in #WesternBalkans . What we need across the #Balkans is for prosecutors to become the most famous people - not us, the Prime Ministers or ministers of foreign affairs #MSC2020 #responsibleleadership

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

6 years

This map by @ImerM1 illustrates that the #BIH , despite recent history of ethnic cleansing, remains a multiethnic patchwork rather than sum of ethnically homogenous territories that can be easily split up in three monoethnic statelets. Wld be great to have one of Kosovo, too.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

This is such a common sense question. If the BiH election law is so discriminatory against #BiH Croats, why have the HDZ politicians, who claim the exclusive right to represent Croats in BiH, not gone to #ECHR , but keep lobbying Brussels through the Member State Croatia instead?

Jasmin Mujanović

@JasminMuj

3 years

Pres. Komsic urges @Dragan_Covic , ldr of nationalist HDZ bloc, to sue BiH at ECHR if he’s convinced of own rhetoric re: “discrimination” of Bosnian Croats. Covic won’t, of course, bc ECHR would again rule BiH needs liberal-democratic reforms, while Covic wants more segregation.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

I'm not thrilled that my timeline is turning into Milorad Dodik's photo album. That aside: many thanks to @AJTheTake for taking an interest in the current crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pleasure discussing w/ @ptilve @riadaaa @MersihaGadzo .

Al Jazeera English Podcasts

@AJEPodcasts

2 years

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the worst one Europe had seen since World War II. Now, there are fears that a similar conflict could strike up again. 🎧We discuss the 'imminent danger' facing the country with @majda_ruge , @MersihaGadzo & @riadaaa ➡️

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Reposting my @ecfr article on the upcoming local elections in #Bosnia , taking place on November 15. With the #USElection2020 behind us, let's have a look at what systematic voter fraud actually looks like:

The voting dead: Why electoral fraud in Bosnia should matter to the EU

Voter fraud and voter intimidation appear in many forms in Bosnia, and are becoming especially visible ahead of upcoming local elections in November.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

6 years

Vucic creates another crisis to solve it and to strengthen #Brussels ' belief that any sort of deal is better than the status quo. Right response shld be: stop wasting our time, no more free photo-shoots, come back when you're serious. Instead we hear:

Petrit Selimi

@Petrit

6 years

Drama continues in Brussels! As Serbian air fighters are ordered to fly above southern Serbia skies, Serbian Presidnet Vucic cancels his meeting with #Kosovo president in Brussels and orders Serbian security and army to stop all communications with @NATO and Kosovo police.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

his promises made in closed meetings is not good enough. What is the contingency plan in case this border deal backfires, and triggers violence in Kosovo and/or RS attempts at secession from Bosnia? @StateDept @eu_eeas @OHR_BiH @MattFieldUK @GermanyDiplo

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Balkan twitter! Drop everything Mon/Tues afternoon & follow @ecfr event #DaytonAt25 on FB livestream. We're proud of such a great lineup of speakers, especially our fantastic participants from Bosnia & Herzegovina. Check out our program+speakers here 👇

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

3 takeaways: a)You can't pursue economics while ignoring politics: you have to walk & chew gum at the same time b) Expect more such statements, backpedalling on such statements & delay tactics via self-staged crises. 3. US & EU need a joint strategy on how to deal w/such tactics.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Quint reacts to Republika Srpska Assembly's attacks on the Office of High Representative and on Bosnia's sovereignty/territorial integrity. Good to see the show of unity on all 3 questions; important to keep it up beyond this statement, as Dodik will almost surely escalate. 1/2

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

After inspiring introductions by @ischinger & @TobiasBunde , a discussion on Germany‘s foreign/security policy response to #Zeitenwende kicks off w/super panel feat. Robin Niblett @NathalieTocci @SlawomirDebski & @ecfr ’s fantastic @KadriLiik , moderated by @RugeBoris .

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

Unfortunately, the EU and US have already once allowed for a premature departure of international judges and prosecutors. I wrote about it here, in the chapter 'how the ethno-criminal elites captured the state' , in the section on judiciary:

Hostage state: How to free Bosnia from Dayton’s paralysing grip

Restoring independence to the judiciary and strengthening the rule of law are key to the country’s future stability and success…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Disinformation on 3 principles for🇽🇰🇷🇸dialogue @AlbinKurti laid out at @EWInstitute conference in Berlin by Serbian tabloids/shady North Kosovo portal has been picked up by the CNN affiliate @N1info . In fact, Kurti never said he would not deal w/Vucic.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

Moving speeches by @ischinger & 🇩🇪 President #Steinmeier underlined by strong warning about the increasingly destructive dynamics in world politics-75 yrs since end of #WW2 & formation of the #UN , 30 yrs since German reunification. ”Diese #Europa darf nicht scheitern.“ #MSC2020

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

Big turnout and lots of enthusiasm at Ambassador Eric Nelson’s Swearing-in @StateDept today. Best of luck in #Sarajevo ! @USEmbassySJJ

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Republika Srpska is boycotting 🇧🇦gvt. in defiance of @OHR_BiH 's decision on genocide denial. The truth is, Dodik needed this imposition & OHR as a bogeyman in the run up to '22 election. Me on why the Quint shouldn't fall for his game/how to end🇧🇦boycott:

Close to home: Germany’s state building challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Germany insisted on its choice of new high representative. Now it needs to reveal if it has a plan to make the Bosnian state workable enough for the high representative institution to finally end.

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

I asked my friend, the first Finnish DCM to Saudi, what accounts for such high representation of women in diplomacy, politics & leadership roles? She said: Education. And: Finnish men believe in their daughters. They let them lead. @Kristina_Lunz @SelminCaliskan @Julie_C_Smith

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

My @ecfr piece published in June discusses why a Green Foreign Minister would be good for 🇩🇪's foreign policy in the Balkans. I maintain - the Greens' starting policy positions are excellent, turning them into reality will be challenging. Read more here👇

The German Greens’ future foreign policy challenge in the Western Balkans

The German Greens’ positions on the Western Balkans check all the right boxes. The challenge will be to translate these positions into a bold policy on the region.

ecfr.eu

Adi Ćerimagić

@adicerimagic

2 years

New 🇩🇪 government continues to argue among #EU27 for the use of the 2011 sanctions regime in 🇧🇦. Minister @ABaerbock goes further thank her predecessor & names Milorad #Dodik . 👇🏼

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

6 years

The unspoiled beauty of old town of #Korcula , #Croatia . Hidden behind the Cathedral is the house of Fitzroy Maclean, #Churchill 's envoy to #Yugoslavia during the #WWII . No sign on the house, and few tourists or locals take notice. Yet his story is fascinating&deserves attention.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

I still remember the shock, disbelief & many stages of denial EU diplomats in D.C. went through when Trump was elected. This time it should come as no surprise. On what the US 2024 election may mean for Europe by @JyShapiro et moi:

No laughing MAGA: What the next US presidential election could mean for Europe

Europeans should be concerned not just with whether Trump will win but how to deal with the version of post-Trump America that could emerge in 2025…

ecfr.eu

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

At the @MunSecConf Women’s Breakfast organized by @WIIS_de @SpeakerPelosi received a standing ovation as she spoke about the challenges of establishing her career at a time when politics was fully dominated by men. @MunSecConf #MSC2020 @WIIS_Global

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

"In my conversations in Brussels, I was asked to provide assurances that the talks w/ Kosovo will not affect BiH. I said that this was impossible. Public perception of these issues is very clear: the RS has no visible benefits within the BiH,

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

This is the first in a series of publications that we'll be putting out in the run up to the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement under @ecfr 's #Dayton2020 project. Stay tuned!

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

Very good to see that #PresidentElectBiden is taking an interest in the #WesternBalkans . See transcript of his conversation with 🇬🇧 PM Johnson.

The White House

@WhiteHouse

3 years

Today, President-elect Joe Biden took part in separate congratulatory calls with the leaders of France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

10 months

Because the main reason the constitutional court retained its independence is the presence of 3 European judges appointed by the European Court of Human Rights. Without these judges, the court could easily become a political instrument of nationalist parties & be used to ..

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

2 years

I look forward to this discussion on #BosniaundHerzegovina this afternoon with the dream-team below. If you are interested in Bosnia/Balkans & speak German, do join us! The spirit of the discussion can be summed up as: "The Complaint Department is Closed."

Vedran Dzihic

@vedrandzihic

2 years

Wenn es um #Bosnien geht, wird ständig über Krisen & politische Grabenkämpfe berichtet. Heute um 17.00 wollen wir am @InfoOiip Panel mit tollen @majda_ruge , @Alidav978 , @lojic_alice , @MiskicDennis & @SamBeharic nicht klagen sondern nach vorne schauen. 👇

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

4 years

An obvious thing to watch for when trying to broker a successful deal is to know the context: who you're dealing with, what their preferences are & what sort of tactics they'll pursue. And then base your strategy on that. Even soccer teams do that before a game.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

3 years

You can follow our two-day conference "Dayton at 25: Future of Bosnia & Herzegovina", and watch the documentary featuring young students from Bosnia & Herzegovina (all born after #Dayton ) on our facebook livestream available here:

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

A friend commented on Milwuakee bus driver abandoning passengers to save a baby:'This has to be a #Bosnian woman.' Turns out she's from #Serbia . If there is one trait all women from the #Balkans share, it's a primordial motherhood instinct that overrides all other priorities :)

ABC News

@ABC

5 years

DRAMATIC RESCUE: A Milwaukee bus driver pulls over and sprints across the street to rescue a baby girl wandering alone on a freeway overpass. The baby, the ninth lost or missing child to be found by bus drivers in recent years, was unharmed.

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Majda Ruge

@majda_ruge

5 years

How do you know that this assessment wasn't made taking into account security risks associated w/possible border revision between Serbia and Kosovo?

Petrit Selimi

@Petrit

5 years

For all the status-quo fans in the commentariat, here's official assessment of the US intel community for 2019: "Balkans almost certainly will remain at some risk of low-level violence and possibly OPEN MILITARY CONFLICT throughout 2019." My take: we need to finish dialogue NOW!

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