LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: 31 October UN SC session on Kosovo and Metohija to be held (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Monday said a 31 October UN Security Council session on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija would take place in spite of Pristina’s attempts to avoid the holding of the session. “The session will definitely be held on 31 October in the UN Security Council and I will take part in it. In the end, Pristina representatives have sent notification that they will come to the session,” Dacic told Tanjug. He said he would inform the UN Security Council members of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija and numerous incidents, as well as of a scandal concerning a purported poisoning of ethnic Albanian members of the Kosovo and Metohija election commission, and of the big lies coming out of Pristina. “I will convey President Aleksandar Vucic’s positions that we want compromise and a continuation of dialogue, but that the other side evidently still wants to impose its position on recognizing Kosovo’s independence, which is absolutely unacceptable to Serbia. We want compromise and we will take part in a continuation of dialogue if the conditions for that are in place – if the taxes are lifted,” Dacic said.

Brnabic signs Free Trade Agreement with EAEU (Tanjug/Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic signed a Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and the Eurasian Union on Friday, extending the list of Serbian products that can be exported to the EAEU territory without customs duty and increased quotas for exports of goods subject to restrictions. The agreement will replace the existing bilateral agreements with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and extend the free trade zone to Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, covering a market of about 185 million people. At a session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Brnabic stressed that the document is of great importance for Serbia and its economy, its more dynamic growth, competitiveness of companies and a better standard of citizens. She thanked the members of the Union for successfully concluding negotiations with Serbia, stating that the deal opens up a market of 183 million people. Brnabic recalled that Serbia had bilateral agreements with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan so far, and is now extending to Armenia and Kyrgyzstan with a unified agreement with the Union. According to Brnabic, it was further agreed that 2,000 tons of cigarettes, approximately 90,000 liters of vignette, 400 tons of semi-hard and hard cow’s cheese, unlimited quantities of goat’s and sheep’s cheese and unlimited quantities of fruit brandy could be exported to the Union countries. She reminded that Serbia became a member of the Eurasian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and that yesterday it had a meeting with the Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Brnabic said in Moscow that Serbia’s free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) posed absolutely no problem for the country on its path to the EU. “Brussels confirmed that today once again. This is an economic agreement, not a political one. As a country, we have a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and we have the right to free trade agreements with international organizations and individual countries,” Brnabic told reporters after signing the EAEU deal. Until it joins the EU, Serbia has the right to such agreements, but we will have to dissolve free trade agreements with all third countries and all other international organizations when we join the EU, she said. “Until then, we have the right, and I think it is in Serbia’s interest to have as many such free trade agreements as possible,” she noted. Earlier in the day, European Commission spokesperson Maja Kocijancic reiterated Serbia could enter into agreements with other countries or organizations until it became an EU member state.

Congo’s President: Serbia, Congo are loyal partners (Beta)

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Antoine Tshisekedi said during an Oct. 25 visit to Belgrade that he was glad his country would have Serbia as a loyal partner in

the future, too, promising that the government in Kinshasa would always support Serbia. “I am pleased that in the coming days, months and years the Democratic Republic of Congo will have a

faithful and honest friend, who loves Congo and is willing to cooperate with it to help it grow. In turn, we will support Serbia in all its endeavors, international or regional,” Tshisekedi said at a press conference after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The Congolese President also said that Serbia was willing to assist his country in developing its potentials, mostly in agriculture, but also in the areas of security, security of documents, science,

technology, etc. President Vucic said after the meeting that cooperation with the African state was very important to Serbia. “Congo supports the territorial integrity of Serbia, and also offers support in institutions on the matter of Kosovo and Serbia supports Congo,” Vucic said.

Congo not changing its position regarding Kosovo and Metohija issue (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Antoine Tshisekedi. Dacic reiterated that our state appreciates greatly the principled support of the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding the issue of the preservation of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, along with full respect of the basic principles of international law. Tshisekedi stressed that the Democratic Republic of Congo will not change its position regarding the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and that it condemns any form of violation of international law.

REGIONAL PRESS

Meeting of SDA and HDZ B&H delegations, scheduled for Monday, cancelled without official explanation (N1)

Members of SDA and HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) stated the meeting between the two delegations, scheduled for Monday, 28 October, is cancelled. The meeting was, as HDZ B&H said, supposed to improve overall relations between the two parties and represent a major step towards solving the state-level crisis in B&H, thus making it possible to conclude the process of authority formation on all levels. Two major topics were supposed to be discussed by the two delegations, the adoption of the Annual National Program (ANP) for the NATO and amendments to the state Election Law. Reasons behind this sudden cancelation of the meeting were not revealed to the public. In a statement he previously made for N1, HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic said he expects “open and honest talks” to be held with both SDA and SNSD. He insists that the Election Law of B&H must be amended, as HDZ B&H will never again allow for rights of Croats on electing their own representatives to be violated. Covic told that he will propose “formation of a new convocation of the B&H Council of Ministers (B&H CoM) without stating any conditions” as he believes all processes in B&H would be accelerated after that, especially those that refer to B&H’s path towards the EU. According to unofficial information, the abovementioned meeting was postponed at the request of SDA. Izetbegovic underscored that, when it comes to amendments to the Election Law, he expects from HDZ B&H to present materials that are “in no way in collision with the Opinion of the European Commission (EC), especially with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)”. SDA President Bakir Izetbegovic confirmed that SDA continues to insist on sending the ANP to Brussels.

Osmanovic: SDA is ready to participate in changes to Election Law, but we do not want to participate in additional ethnic divisions in B&H (Oslobodjenje)

Head of SDA Caucus in the B&H parliament and party’s Vice-President Adil Osmanovic said that SDA still believes the Federation of B&H government and the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H should be established simultaneously, as it was always the case in the past. He also said that SDA is ready to participate in changes to the Election Law of B&H, in line with rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court of B&H. “However, we do not want to participate in additional ethnic divisions in B&H,” said Osmanovic, adding that he hopes the meeting with delegation of HDZ B&H will result in progress towards the formation of the Federation of B&H Government and the B&H CoM. He admitted, however, that it is difficult to expect consensus about changes to the Election Law of B&H to be reached anytime soon, “especially about changes as proposed by HDZ”. Commenting on the Annual National Program, Osmanovic said that SDA is trying to find a compromise, and in a way help SNSD leader Milorad Dodik correct some of his decisions and accept sending of ANP to Brussels, “because that is our obligation”. “We will see if it (the ANP) will be reduced”, said Osmanovic, reiterating that sending of ANP to Brussels is country’s obligation. Furthermore, Osmanovic clearly said that there are no talks with SNSD, and underlined that SDA expects from other members of their coalition – HDZ B&H, SBB and DF – “to find the way to expand their own capacity onto the House of Peoples (of the parliament of B&H) as well”.

Covic: We must form B&H CoM so we can continue with integration process (Oslobodjenje)

HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic is taking presidency over the House of Peoples of the parliament (HoP) of B&H on Monday. In his statement for the Fena news agency given on Sunday, Covic said that he is going to try and establish new dynamics with members of the Collegium of B&H HoP Bakir Izetbegovic and Nikola Spiric, as well as with SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, in order to create preconditions for state-level authority formation. “If we manage to do that in the next two weeks, I believe it would represent a significant step forward, because we have been outwitting one another for too long and we strengthened only mistrust. It is high time to turn the page and send a message from B&H to all of those in the EU who look at the Southeast Europe differently today,” said Covic. He added that he hopes a meeting of SDA and HDZ B&H delegations, which was suddenly postponed, be rescheduled and help strengthen trust between the two parties and their two peoples, and open talks on amendments to the Law on Elections of B&H and implementation of the decisions of the Law on Elections of B&H. Covic stated he plans to propose formation of the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H without any conditioning, which would speed up the processes in B&H, even the adoption of the questionable Annual National Program (ANP). “That is something that needs to be done by the new Council of Ministers when it takes over. And considering it is a long-lasting process and we must have consensus about it, it is my belief we need to form the CoM and the parliamentary majority as soon as possible,” said Covic.

Cvijanovic: We will not be defending B&H from those destroying it (Glas Srpske)

President of Republika Srpska (RS) Zeljka Cvijanovic said that up until some six months ago, she believed that the RS should contribute to the process of formation of authorities at the level of B&H. “I no longer think like that, because I have seen that the RS can function independently, without B&H” said Cvijanovic. She added that failure to establish authorities at the level of B&H will actually strengthen the RS, and help citizens understand that the RS can survive on its own. “We want to live together, but we do not want and we will not allow anything to be imposed on us, because we are not trying to impose anything on anyone”, said Cvijanovic. She said that SDA and people from the RS in state-level institutions, “those who have lost the elections and are occupying those seats without any political legitimacy”, are equally responsible for the blockade of the process of formation of authorities at the level of B&H. Cvijanovic added, however, that international community is responsible as well, because “someone told SDA to act the way they are acting right now”. President of the RS said that SDS and PDP officials in state-level institutions should resign, but underlined that she does not think about those things anymore, not nearly as much as she used to think about those things in the past. Cvijanovic noted that “those in Sarajevo” are trying to turn the entire B&H into Mostar, in order to convince the world that B&H cannot function and that it needs to be centralized, “because they hate it as it is, they hate the RS, entities, cantons…”. President of the RS said that those who claim to be defending B&H are actually undermining and destroying it. “And what should we do, should we direct all of our political activities into saving what they are destroying,” wondered Cvijanovic.

Dzaferovic: Actions between Washington and Brussels is most important for B&H (Dnevni avaz)

Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic said that Croatia is conducting unilateral policy towards B&H, which is about achieving goals set during the aggression on B&H. According to Dzaferovic, Croatia is trying to use its membership in the EU in order to model its foreign policy to its own interests, adding that the EU has seen through Croatia’s policy and that the European institutions “did not buy it”. He went on to say that B&H has its EU path and that institutions of the EU will be accepting what is coming from B&H. As for the current crisis in B&H and the fact the country has not new authorities in line with the 2018 elections because of differences regarding membership in NATO, Dzaferovic says B&H needs the Western allies’ support now, arguing that the US decreased its interest in B&H in past years, which led to strengthening of activities of anti-Bosnian forces, whilst the EU did not respond to the challenge adequately. In this context Dzaferovic stated he has always said that action between Washington and Brussels is most important for B&H. The Bosniak member of the Presidency also noted that his colleague in the Presidency Milorad Dodik and HDZ B&H President Dragan Covic have been harmonizing their policies for a long time now, which are based on dividing and weakening B&H, which is something that will not happen.

Izetbegovic on Palmer’s statements before US Senate: It is a good thing that Washington has awaken (TV1)

Commenting on the address of US Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer before the US Senate, SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic said that it is a good thing that Washington has awaken and it is important that, without any hesitation, Palmer marked Serb member of the B&H Presidency and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik as the main source of obstruction of B&H’s progress. However, Izetbegovic added that this is insufficient and that stronger and more decisive approach is necessary, because other side that opposes the NATO path of B&H openly supports Dodik. Izetbegovic said that the US has had relatively passive attitude towards B&H over the past several years, while the burden was on Brussels. “That was a mistake. The withdrawal did the damage to strategic interests of both the region and NATO. Passive attitude of the US has created a vacuum, which was filled by other, malign influences in the entity of RS,” said Izetbegovic. “Some of Palmer’s stances are confusing and in complete contradiction with reality, but also with statements of some of the important stakeholders, such is Congressman Adam Kinzinger, close to President Donald Trump. While Congressman Kinzinger very clearly and precisely said that the essence of political process in B&H is fight between forces fighting for NATO path and those who want to prevent it at any cost, Palmer is trying to cover up that difference by speaking about ‘disappointing and nationalistic’ leadership at state and entity level. With this, willingly or not, he is putting all parties in the same basket,” said Izetbegovic. “The other side, which is clearly against our NATO path and openly supports Dodik, is not demonstrating a shred of indecisiveness and it is using all available mechanisms, from engagement in Peace Implementation Council, via media, high level meetings, etc. All political forces in B&H, which fight for continuation of NATO path of B&H and whose readiness to continue in this direction is unquestionable, deserve bigger support of the US Administration. At the same time, it is obvious that Palmer does not have all the information, so he is naively presenting the current authorities in Sarajevo Canton as an alternative, disregarding their corruption affairs, lack of results, but also the fact that these political forces do not exist nor they have any potential outside of Sarajevo Canton, least of all in the RS territory or where Croats are in majority. This is why one has the right to ask why search for an alternative to those who clearly support NATO path and not to those who obstruct this path?” Izetbegovic wondered.

Osmanovic: Palmer is an operative, not diplomat (Oslobodjenje)

Head of SDA Caucus in the B&H parliament and party’s Vice-President Adil Osmanovic, commenting on the upcoming visit of US Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer to B&H, said that SDA expects a lot from this visit. “It was clear in the past that United States was the most efficient one when it comes to B&H. They were not making some rotten compromises, or giving diplomatic statements; instead, they directly participated in reforms and reform processes, and wherever the United States was present, certain problems were resolved and some reforms were implemented,” said Osmanovic. “We welcome the appointment of US Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer, and it is obvious from his statements that he is more of an operative than a diplomat, because in his most recent statements he directly pointed to those who are obstructing processes in B&H” concluded SDA Vice-President.

Berlin backs Montenegro’s EU aspirations (Dnevne novine)

Strong support of Germany represents maybe the most powerful stimulus for Montenegro on its path to the European Union, as it brings a concrete assistance and cooperation between Berlin and Podgorica, writes Dnevne novine daily. This is often heard in the European and Montenegrin political scene, especially after the recent visit of the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier. “Germany appreciates Montenegro’s position of a leader in the European accession process and the reforms it has implemented. We want Montenegro to become the EU member state. We are supporting and will be supporting this process. There is only one chapter to be opened. You are making a good progress,” Altmaier said in Podgorica. It is well known that Germany has long been restrained when it comes to Montenegro, and that good news has not always arrived from Berlin. On the contrary. There was much more criticism and Montenegrin officials were rare guests of German leaders. Things changed when German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel received Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic in Berlin on 17 August last year. Minister Altmaier’s visit to Podgorica shed new light on Montenegro’s European path especially in this moment when some EU member states, e.g. France, strongly opposes further EU enlargement.

Raonic: Three countries are blocking Montenegro’s negotiation talks with EU (CDM/Dan)

The European integration process is currently in a sensitive phase, both in terms of politics and greater dissatisfaction with the achieved results, assessed the president of the NGO Civic Alliance, Boris Raonic. In an interview for Dan daily, he told Montenegro is currently in a phase that was painful for all the other countries that experienced the same – showing concrete results.

According to him, the needs and expectations of citizens are growing faster than abilities of state bodies to respond to them and solve problems that citizens are clearly indicating. “If the EU integration ceases to be a key reform framework, then all this loses its meaning, because while we are dealing with the form, citizens will start looking help for essential problems elsewhere” Raonic said. He continued: “It is a public secret that Montenegro’s negotiation process was blocked by three EU member states, some are doing it for principled reasons, some for political or for economic interests, which is reflected in slowing down the opening of the last Chapter 8.”

Pendarovski suggests holding regional summit to confirm EU path (Nezavisen vesnik)

North Macedonia, Albania and other countries in the region should continue on the EU path as there is no other alternative, President Stevo Pendarovski said Saturday at a joint news conference with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta in Tirana. Pendarovski suggests the Western Balkans countries to hold an extraordinary summit to discuss EU enlargement and good neighbourly relations and to reject all alternatives to EU integration. If all are agreed, North Macedonia would host the summit. Pendarovski said he briefed Meta on leaders meeting in Skopje and the state consensus to continue on the EU path and to organize snap elections.

Pendarovski and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama agreed to encourage all political actors to continue on the European agenda, and to urge EU leaders that negotiations with countries in the region are an investment in stability and prosperity. The president assessed the relations between Skopje and Tirana as excellent and the cooperation was intense and fruitful. Pendarovski and Meta noted that good political cooperation should continue, but that focus should be placed on the economy in the future. Pendarovski during his first official visit to Albania on Saturday also met with parliament speaker Gramoz Ruci and discussed the overall relations between the two countries. Interlocutors commended the positive developments regarding the constructive cooperation, the demonstrated commitment to strengthen and deepen the bilateral and neighborly ties through a dynamic and continuous political dialogue both at bilateral and multilateral level.

Pendarovski said the Albania remains steadfast partner in ensuring prosperity, stability, security and European perspective of the region. The current parliamentary cooperation between the two countries is constructive and intense, adding that the contacts between parliamentary bodies and committees need to intensify. They assessed that two countries have identical foreign policy goals related to regional cooperation and European integration, which are significant preconditions for stability and prosperity of the region. Expressing gratitude for Albania’s support to our country’s membership in NATO, Pendarovski said that it is very important that the two countries support each other in their bids to join the European Union. Despite the fact that our countries failed to get a date to open accession negotiations during the last EU Summit, Pendarovski said the countries should continue in realizing the European aspirations.

Rift between Zaev and Pendarovski on whether to keep implementing the Prespa treaty (Republika)

Following the defeat in Brussels, there is a growing rift between Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and President Stevo Pendarovski on the issue of the continued implementation of the Prespa treaty.

Speaking to a Greek TV, Pendarovski said that by denying Macedonia the opening of accession talks, EU will provoke the putting on hold of the further implementation of the treaty. Pendarovski was talking about the article 1(10) of the treaty, which conditions the use of the imposed new name with the opening of accession talks chapters. Zaev also hinted at this article in his initial response. But now, he insists that Macedonia will implement the treaty regardless of the EU accession talks. “We can’t write the State Archive of Macedonia, we have a Constitution and the name needs to be changed,” Zaev said, talking about one of the institutions which still use the name Macedonia without the imposed adjective “north”. We need to leave an impression that we are implementing the treaty, and we expect the Greek side to do the same. The renaming of institutions and the issuing of official documents with the “new name” is tied with the relevant EU chapters, according to most interpretations of the article. Regardless, Zaev’s Government went full steam ahead to dictate the use of the name “North Macedonia”, even before the accession talks began.

Zaev says he has arguments to persuade Macron to change his mind (Republika)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is now claiming that he has the arguments on his side to persuade French President Emmanuel Macron to lift his veto on the opening of EU accession talks. In an interview, Zaev announced that this will be his strategy after the humiliating defeat in Brussels, where France blocked Macedonia and Albania, citing the need to reform both the EU and the enlargement process first. “We are not just a strategic interest, we are Europe. There will certainly be a number of years while we negotiate all the chapters. That means we will only become a full EU member state after we have thoroughly reformed on the inside, and the accession process will help us in that regard,” Zaev said in a statement that is being shared by his PR department.

Pendarovski: Both states have made the same progress and deserved to receive the green light for moving ahead (Radio Tirana)

At the invitation of the President of the Republic, Ilir Meta, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski paid an official visit to our country. After the ceremonial reception at the Palace of Brigades and the execution of national anthems, the two Presidents held a meeting and then chaired talks between the two respective delegations, sharing the same view that European integration is the only alternative for the region. “Every other idea does not represent the will of our peoples,” President Meta said. At the conclusion of official meetings, the two Presidents gave a joint press conference. Albanian State President Ilir Meta asked Albanian politics for reflection to read carefully all the obligations they must meet to become part of the European Union. For Mr. Meta, the German Bundestag platform for the opening of negotiations should be implemented, and this requires the engagement and cooperation of all political parties. “We are a region surrounded by the EU and NATO, the only prospect is the continuation of the EU enlargement process and the membership of our countries” Meta said. According to him “In the EU family there are some rules, some criteria, the Copenhagen criteria that have to be met. Our job is to work closely with all countries, and in particular with those most critical to ensuring our credibility. I believe that France and other countries will stick to the strategic commitments regarding the Western Balkans during these decades,” Meta said.

But how much has North Macedonia been penalized by Albania? According to President Pendarovski, the NO of negotiations for Albania has not penalized North Macedonia because, as he pointed out, both states have made the same progress and deserved to receive the green light for moving ahead. “The process of separating the two states has never been part of my political vocabulary, because I think the two states should have started negotiations. We spent a lot of time convincing our friends that this is not about full membership, but only the beginning of a process that will continue for years,” said Pendarovski. “Serbia is in its fifth year of negotiations, Montenegro has been in negotiations for seven and a half years, and has not opened those chapters yet. This is the best way to make reforms” said Pendarovski. “This is an undeserved punishment for the whole Region. The region should not be forgotten. The EU must find ways to bring Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to Europe,” Pendarovski said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

A meeting with Albania’s president: “We were, and will remain here” (ahramonline, by Ahmed Al-Moslemany, 23 October 2019)

A swan after a swan was munching the lake’s grass in confidence and quietude. Swans seemed to be like a water peacock chewing the lake’s banquets while holding its head high, then off they went as if nothing has happened. While I was following the swans’ movement and sitting at the lake’s bank near to the Adriatic Sea, I remembered Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece “Swan Lake” and that prince who fell in love with a beautiful girl whom a magician turned into a swan throughout the day except for a part of the night. Her mother continued to cry until she filled the lake with her tears. The story concludes with the prince catching the magician, ending the girl’s tragedy and marrying her. This lake I called the Swan Lake to distinguish it from other splendid lakes and captivating scenes that this wonderful country is full of in the Western Balkans. This was my first trip to Albania, the country with an ancient history dating back to the Illyrian period. Mountains, valleys, plains, the Adriatic Sea and the Ionic Sea, coasts, cities and farms made this country, which has a population of 30 million, a touristic destination. There, I met the distinguished Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Khalil, as well as the president’s advisers and professors from the University of Tirana, intellectuals and economists from the Albanian elite. Then I was honoured to meet President Ilir Meta. I crossed the distance from the hotel to the presidential palace on foot because it is very tempting to walk in areas designated for pedestrians. It is also possible for one to live in Albania’s contemporary history through its streets. These buildings date back to the royal era where King Ahmet Zogu, who was a friend of Egyptian King Farouk, lived. Those buildings belong to the communist era where Enver Hoxha ruled. And the contemporary buildings represent new Albania. President Meta possesses a captivating charisma; he was a foreign minister, parliament speaker and prime minister. He has a clear vision about his country and the world. He also sees that the best possible strategic cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin would be between Albania and Egypt, for Egypt is the gate to Africa and the Arab world. Likewise, Albania is the gate to the Balkans and Europe. Both countries agree on modernity and peace and oppose extremism and wars. Meta was the first Albanian president to visit Egypt in 60 years. When I asked him about his impression, he replied: “I was very happy to visit Egypt and meet President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. Egypt is an important partner to us. Albania isn’t a big country and can’t have relations with all the world’s countries. But through Egypt we can be friends of all its friends. Albania is important to Egypt as well. Albanians, who are in every part in the Balkans, especially in Kosovo and Macedonia and in every other place, are real friends of Egypt. I’ve visited mega projects; the New Suez Canal and the Grand Egyptian Museum. My estimation is that Egypt is moving in the right direction.” The president has total faith in Europe. He said: “The EU now isn’t in its best condition. However, it is the best human enterprise, where economic progress parallels the human and civil rights progress. The EU condition will get better after the new reforms.” President Meta believes the Western Balkans will join the EU someday and doesn’t see this cumbersome to the EU. The entire area of the Western Balkan countries equals the area of a single country the size of Romania. When I asked the Albanian president on his viewpoint on the rise of the populist right in Europe he said that it was proof of the left’s failure. For the left, that led the modernisation of Europe, couldn’t respond to people’s demands. However, this doesn’t mean that the continent won’t resuming its path and power. The Albanian president believes in regional peace and when I asked him about his relations with Turkey and Greece. He said, “Albania’s relation with Greece is extremely important… we were and we will remain neighbours. Both of us are members in the NATO. There is a Greek minority in Albania and there is a great number of Albanians living in Greece. Our relation with Turkey is also historic. We have big economic interests and both of us are members in NATO. But I would like to mention clearly: It is important for Albania that the internal problems of other countries shouldn’t affect us here. It isn’t Albania’s duty to play the role of arbiter in conflicts and problems that take place in other countries.” I asked the president about what some intellectuals raise concerning “Greater Albania” and whether this suggestion was serious. He said, “All Albanians have a common project. It is the merger with Europe. The idea of Greater Albania isn’t feasible at all. The “Greater Serbia” project failed. We are living in a complicated area. There is no ‘ethnically cleansed’ country in the Balkans. It is sheer madness to talk about expansionist projects.” I told President Meta that he had warned against attempts to tear the political society apart and establish a parallel country in Albania and Kosovo, and I asked him whether he still believed this. The president replied, “We are living in a world in which [we see] the influence of apolitical personalities and [foreign] players, especially NGOs. Those are part of the dangers of globalisation. It is very important to defend the people’s sovereignty in order to maintain the state’s sovereignty.” My meeting with the Albanian president lasted for nearly an hour. I appreciate he received me despite his preoccupations and after I saw the palace was crowded as it was to receive the Italian prime minister. The president was scheduled to visit Monaco and Japan in the framework of his policy to make friends with all the world’s countries. “The Egyptian state history goes back to more than 7,000 years and we have encountered on our borders many wars and problems for long centuries. However, a great gift came from beyond our borders and we can never forget it… He was our country’s leader of Albanian descent Mohamed Ali Pasha,” I told President Meta. The president’s political adviser, who was present at the meeting, said: “I live in Zamalek where Mohamed Ali was brought up. We invite you to see the place.” With a promise to accept the invitation I left the president and his adviser, thanking them for Albania’s great gift to Egypt.

The domino effect of the French veto (New Europe, by Jovan Kovacic, 28 October 2019)

Western Balkan countries scramble to reposition themselves under new reality

French President Emmanuel Macron’s veto of the start of EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia at the EU Summit has caused massive disappointment with the European Union among the Western Balkan states as it eroded Brussels’ credibility and opened the region to unwanted outside influence from Russia, Turkey, and China, analysts and MEPs claim. The US State Department’s  Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer, said the decision sent a very bad message to Serbia and Kosovo that no matter how much you sacrifice and compromise to reach an agreement, it does not automatically open doors to EU integration. For the Americans, this carrot – EU membership – is now more important than ever since it has again engaged in resolving the more than two decade-long impasse between Belgrade and Pristina. But this is a carrot that, up to a point, Washington does not control.  US President Donald J. Trump has dispatched his trusted friend Richard Grenell as his Special Envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina talks with the goal of reaching an agreement between the historic foes by offering a massive investment package and EU membership as the ultimate prize. Palmer said the US and EU share the same goals regarding the Kosovo issue, but certain EU countries are sending a contradictory messages and which explains why the European Council’s decision not to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia is so discouraging. “This will not scupper the (Belgrade-Pristina) talks, but it will certainly disrupt the desired timeline” a Western diplomat said following the French veto. Washington has vowed to press ahead with its efforts to stabilise the Western Balkans and there has been some talk on the Hill that another Special Envoy could be sent to resolve the stalled political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Macron has explained that there cannot be any EU Enlargement without prior consolidation and reform in light of Brexit and other deep institutional problems that currently plague the 28-member bloc and that he will table his own proposals for a way ahead in January 2020. North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev called  snap elections for next April. Despite its assured fast-track into NATO, possibly by the end of this year, few analysts doubt that the land-locked country’s nationalists, allegedly backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the last election cycle, will not put up a strong challenge. The Serbian government shrugged off the European Council’s decision and said it will pursue its EU membership course no matter what. “We will continue, undaunted, with our reforms,” a cabinet minister said. The Analytic Center of the European Parliament fears that Serbia is frustrated with the slow pace of negotiations with Brussels and that this might open the doors to further political and economic influence from Russia and China, which would bring doubts about Belgrade’s commitment to its European trajectory. Brussels has already expressed its disapproval of the trade agreement that Serbia plans to sign with the Kremlin-led Eurasian Economic Union. The EU noted that any such agreement must be dissolved upon entry into the EU. The Serbian government has repeatedly said it will bring its foreign policy into line with that of the EU the moment its bound as a member. Rasim Ljajic, a Serbian cabinet minister, downplayed the fears of the deal with the Eurasian Economic Union, saying Belgrade already has a similar deal with Turkey and with Russia. Pundits agree that the latest pact is mere posturing on the part of the Serbian government, with one pundit saying, “There is no reason for the EU to doubt Serbia’s commitment  – Europe is by far our biggest trade partner. It seems its coming to the point with Brexit and all that Serbia needs to worry more about EU’s commitment to itself…This is a pacifier for Putin, nothing more.” Economic experts note that the current trade volume between Serbia and Russia of $1 billion is less than with neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, which totals some $1.3 billion.

Is a mini-Schengen in the Balkans just a halfway house?

The latest decision by the European Commission, however, highlighted a recent agreement signed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and North Macedonia’s Zaev and his counterpart in Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama, to form a mini Schengen zone known as the CEFTA+, or (Central European Free Trade Agreement, between the three countries that would allow for the free flow of people, goods, capital, and services. The declaration was signed in Serbia’s second city, Novi Sad, and calls on other countries in the region to join the initiative which would create a common market for 12 million people. “Previously, some of Serbia’s neighbours were not interested because they expected more from the EU. Now they see that we must rely more on each other, but naturally staying on the road to the EU,” Vucic said. “We cannot rely on scraps from anyone.” As a first step, the leaders envisage the lifting of customs and border barriers to free movement by no later than 2021. The World Bank has estimated that trucks lose 26 million hours each year waiting to cross the borders and Washington has long pushed the countries in the region to remove trade barriers, including providing technical assistance. The initiative was welcomed by many in Europe, and in the rest of the Balkans, especially by businessmen.

“Some 20 million companies, members of the Eurochambres, already see the Western Balkans business community as an integral part of the European economy” Marko Cadez, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce said. “They want the Western Balkan economies to formally join as soon as possible”. Professor George Pagoulatos, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy also welcomed the agreement. “Opening up borders between countries for the free movement of trade, capital, and people not only promotes economic growth, it also helps economies become mutually interdependent in a positive way. Economies that trade with each other are inclined to appreciate the benefits of peaceful cooperation rather than reliving ethnic nationalistic animosities of the past. So where borders have divided, free trade flows can unite. In addition, cross-border “internal” mobility in the Western Balkans can help improve state capacities in better protecting “external” borders. All of the above are facilitators (rather than substitutes) of the Western Balkans accession path to the European Union.” However, the Kosovo-born Albanian Foreign Minister Gent Cakaj said that unless Pristina is involved in the mini-Schengen, Albania will withdraw. The paradox of this ultimatum is that Pristina already imposed 100% duties on goods from Serbia in violation of the existing CEFTA and remained deaf to all calls from the EU and US to lift the illegal tariffs, which begs the question “who is in charge in Tirana?”