Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 79 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Hoti receives letter from U.S. President Trump (RTK)
• Hoti: We have worked hard on the main principles (media)
• Greek Foreign Minister Dendias visits Kosovo (media)
• The IMF objects to the 10 percent withdrawal from the Trust (Koha)
• NISMA demands international reaction to Dacic’s statement (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on Varhelyi’s visit, EC report, Covid, Kosovo (B92)
• Vucic: A big assignment for new pro-European government (B92)
• Vucic accepts responsibility for claims in EC report (N1)
• Brnabic says European Commission assessment arbitrary (FoNet, N1)
• EP rapporteur says EC investments will be tightly controlled (N1)
• Serbian Government appoints Marko Djuric ambassador in Washington (media)
• “Djuric’s appointment as ambassador in US would change nothing” (Radio KIM)
• “Kosovo police violates Law on use of languages” (Radio KIM)
• Hasani: Point on Gazivode Lake in Washington Agreement doesn’t endanger Kosovo territory (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• DW: ”Citizens of Serbia and Kosovo need to be prepared for the truth” (Danas)
• Kosovo: Three governments, one country report (EWB)

International:

• EC report on Serbia – Not a pleasant read for the citizens of Serbia (EWB)
• Nobel Peace Prize goes to UN World Food Programme (BBC)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU presents guidelines on Green Agenda for Western Balkans (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Workshop on human rights protection organized for RAE students (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media 

COVID-19: 79 new cases, three deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said today that 79 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the last 24 hours. 

61 persons have meanwhile recovered from the virus during this time and three deaths were recorded.

The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (26).

There are currently 1,159 active coronavirus cases in Kosovo.

Hoti receives letter from U.S. President Trump (RTK) 

The U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Kosovo Prime Minister, Avdullah Hoti, expressing appreciation for joining him at the White House meeting held on 4 September when Kosovo and Serbia signed the agreement on economic normalization observed by Trump.

“Thank you for the book and for joining me at the White House recently.

I appreciate and share your steadfast commitment to ensuring the stability and peace of the Balkans and the world. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the partnership between our nations and send my best wishes to you and the people of Kosovo,” Trump wrote in the letter.

PM Hoti expressed gratitude to the U.S. President for his commitment for peace in Western Balkans. “Thank you President Donald Trump for your steadfast commitment for peace and security in the Western Balkans and in the world” Hoti Tweeted.

Hoti: We have worked hard on the main principles (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, while reporting on the 100-day work of the Government, said that during this period they have worked hard on the main principles, freedom of citizens and respect for free expression. 

He said that they have restored trust in the partners, and increased the work on the agenda for European integration. 

Hoti said that they have done a good job in managing the pandemic, increasing the number of health personnel.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation to the friendly countries for their assistance in managing the pandemic. 

“Regarding the management of the pandemic, we have been insulted in this Assembly as well, but today we are among the countries that manage this situation better. Those who have distorted the data on the number of infected people must be held accountable,” Hoti said.

Kosovo Assembly MPs from opposition political parties criticized Hoti’s government.

The head of the Parliamentary Group of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) Rexhep Selimi criticized the government stressing that it is illegitimate and does not derive from the votes of the population. 

“We have no way not to start re-emphasizing once again that we are dealing with a government in vain and 100 days wasted. We have called it an illegal government, it does not come from the opposition but the way it came here where it is today,” Selimi said.

MP Abelard Tahiri from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, said that while listening to the report, he could not believe that Kosovo was being discussed.

“For three months in a row you have not been able to approve any legal initiative, all that has passed has been the result of cooperation with the opposition. Here we can also refer to the package for economic recovery that has not been voted yet, while we are speaking,” said Tahiri.

Greek Foreign Minister Dendias visits Kosovo (media)

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived today in Kosovo. He was welcomed at the Pristina International Airport by Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla.  

Stublla in a Facebook post said that Greece as a member of the EU has kept a high standard of political constructiveness – by maintaining a practical dialogue with Kosovo and supporting Kosovo’s EU integration path.

“It was my pleasure to discuss today with Minister Dendias on our bilateral cooperation and exchange our ideas on how to further deepen our relations,” Haradinaj wrote.

“We are also connected with Greece by the common friendship with the United States, which is an extraordinary element in building and consolidating the strong foundations of our relations,” said Haradinaj-Stublla.

“Excellent meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. We have built constructive and sustainable relations with the Hellenic Republic and this visit is another step towards deepening our economic and political relations,” wrote Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti after the meeting with Greek Foreign Minister.

Asked by the media if there is hope of recognition of the independence of Kosovo by Greece, FM Dendias said ‘well, it is not a matter of hope, but a matter of establishing relations between the two countries.’

According to a press release of Greek Foreign Ministry, Dendias will also meet the contingent of Greek soldiers serving in NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo – KFOR. Greece is one of the five EU member states which does not recognise Kosovo’s independence.

The IMF objects to the 10 percent withdrawal from the Trust (Koha)

The International Monetary Fund has not supported the idea of ​​the Government of Kosovo to withdraw 10 percent of funds from the Pension Savings Fund.

This is because according to this institution, it would affect the reduction of future pensions and would limit the size of the internal capital market.

“The proposed withdrawal of 10 percent of pension savings from the Kosovo Pension Savings Trust (KPST) undermines Pillar 2, reduces future pensions and limits the size of the internal capital market, which has been an essential source of budget funding,” was stated in the concluding statement of the Article IV Mission for 2020 IMF.

The Hoti government has foreseen the withdrawal of 10 percent of the funds from the Trust. He has included this in the Draft Law on Economic Recovery, which has failed six times so far to be voted in the Assembly.

The statement said there was a need to refocus on social spending and current transfers.

“Furthermore, reforms need to be implemented to refocus social spending to protect the most vulnerable. The creation of additional pension benefits on existing schemes without an analysis of the actuarial sustainability of existing benefits, should be avoided,” the statement said.

NISMA demands international reaction to Dacic’s statement (RTK)

The Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) has demanded a reaction to the statements of the Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, who has asked the Serbs “not to tell where the mass graves of Albanians are.”

According to NISMA, “the European Union must take urgent action against criminals like Ivica Dacic and others.” 

“The statement of the criminal Ivica Dacic addressed to the Serbs: “not to show where the mass graves of the Albanians are” is an open threat to them by him. It is universally known that the strategy of concealing the crime of genocide aims to avoid the direct or indirect responsibility of those who are involved in committing the most ugly and monstrous crime known to human history,” reads their post.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic on Varhelyi’s visit, EC report, Covid, elections, Kosovo (B92)

Portal B92 reported that the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, during his visit to the Clinical Center of Serbia, talked about the construction of the Covid Hospital, the elections in Sabac, the Varhelyi’s visit, the report of the European Commission, and regarding the allegations in today’s Vecernje Novosti article that ”the Serbian services indicated to the preparation of provocations and attacks” in Kosovo ”with an aim of creating instability”.

When it comes to the elections in Sabac, Vucic stated that it has been a sad saga, and added “I think we have a happy ending in Sabac, as the people wanted”.

Yesterday, a part of the opposition met with the European Commissioner Varhelyi, Vucic’s reaction was that it was not important for him to comment on that, because there was a lot of work ahead. 

“From the fight against the coronavirus, which is becoming increasingly difficult …”, he stated. 

He stated that Covid numbers were growing but that it was the same both in Europe and in Serbia. “We will have new infections, there will be new viruses, but we will have huge capacities,” Vucic added.

He said that Serbia will continue its European path, but would also keep its pride, and commenting on the visit of the commissioner, he added:

“And to be honest, no matter who I resented in Europe and the world, I am proud of every word I said last night, because I know that it will be difficult to have a president to say something so as not to offend anyone, but also enough courage to say what everyone sees and thinks.”

Serbia’s policy was to be on good terms with everyone, he said in relation to the European Commission’s report. As he further stated, he also praised the good relations with China and Russia, but also the EU.

He also said that he would not rule out the parliamentary elections, but the elections for the city of Belgrade will be held in a year and a half, reported portal B92.

“Elections for president, I would not exclude parliamentary elections, certainly elections for the City of Belgrade, will be held in the next year and a half, maybe a little less,” Vucic said. 

“The bottom line is that I’m willing to pay any kind of political price,” he said. 

When it comes to participating in the campaign for the parliamentary elections, he stated that there were more events today than during the campaign and added that Macron and Johnson participated in the elections in their countries from the position of prime minister.

He added that he did not think that the independence of the judiciary was a problem, but efficiency.

There will be no new “Storm” or pogroms of the Serb population from Kosovo, Vucic said today, regarding allegations published by daily Vecernje Novosti that “Serbian services indicated preparation of provocations” in Kosovo with “an aim to create instability”.

When asked how he comments on that and how the state will protect the people in Kosovo, Vucic answered that it was not easy, because Serbia did not have effective control but it managed to save most of the Serbian people in Kosovo with wise policy and talks, that will continue to do so, reported the portal. 

“But I have already said that, there will be no new “Storm”, no pogroms of the population, and we are standing by that. And we will fight diplomatically, we will inform, warn …”, said Vucic. 

He said that he personally wanted to believe in reason and that Albanians also understand that nothing could be solved with weapons, but that only through talks, cool heads and compromises, both Serbs and Albanians could achieve a better life.

B92 portal recalled that media reported today that the Serbian services warned the top of the state that Serbs in Kosovo, especially those in the enclaves, will be the target of organized provocations and attacks by Albanians in the coming days, all with the aim of creating instability that would lead to a stalemate in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, as well as to the obstruction of cooperation with the Special Court in The Hague.

Vucic: A big assignment for new pro-European government (B92)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU Neighborhood and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelji addressed the public after the meeting yesterday afternoon, B92 reports.

“I would like to express my satisfaction with the visit of a true friend of Serbia”, Vucic said while addressing the media.

“I spoke openly about my shortcomings, about what I am guilty of, it is good to take it upon myself. We talked about the Report, it is always good to see political issues, they had nothing to tell us about economic ones. There are special criticisms that I used my position of the president of the republic and thus won the votes… It doesn’t matter, I will answer when the time comes. I pointed out only to a single project that is directed against Serbia”, he said.

Varhelyi stated that after the formation of the new government, they will cooperate in order to achieve all the goals that will lead to the opening of new chapters in the negotiations.

“We have a fresh start ahead of us,” he adds.

He also said that he discussed with President Vucic annual report of the European Commission on Serbia and he noticed some progress has been made, but more has to be done.

“We encourage the new government to implement reforms that must go hand in hand with investments, so that they can be realized”, Varheyi said at a joint press conference.

He pointed out that the EU attaches great importance to the rule of law.

“We will have to start working with the government to speed up the work, in order to achieve all the goals, in order to open new chapters in the pre-accession negotiations with the EU”, Varhelyi noted.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3iHOhTe

Vucic accepts responsibility for claims in EC report (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after a meeting with European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi that it’s always good to see a European Commission report, adding that he accepts responsibility for the steps he took during the coronavirus pandemic, N1 reports.

“There are some good things, there is criticism of me saying that I used my position as president and won votes from my party list of candidates and I will answer it when the time comes but I have accepted responsibility and I am prepared to face the consequences”, he told a joint news conference. 

He said that they discussed all of his shortcomings. “The list of my sins is long and I accept them. I insist on cooperation with Russia and China, I said no one should do anything to the protesters before they take over an institution, they don’t have to write that down. I accept it and now I’m going to get drones from a problematic country,” Vucic said. 

He said that he was not guided by personal political interests during the coronavirus pandemic but by the fight for lives. “I thought I had the right to say what I think about the coronavirus situation but now I see that is not always desirable”, he said. Vucic also said that he assumes that the police use of force against protesters was not proportional as the report said. “The report does not say that the police used violence first, the police has the right to use force and did not use anything before the protesters captured the parliament building. That is not in the report”, he noted.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told Varhelyi in a separate meeting that the new government’s priority is to continue reforms, adding that EU membership is the country’s key foreign policy goal.

See at: https://bit.ly/2FeXkNN

Brnabic says European Commission assessment arbitrary (FoNet, N1)

Serbian Prime Minister designate Ana Brnabic said on Thursday that some of the claims in the European Commission’s latest report on the country’s progress were arbitrary while others were simply being repeated with no concrete examples, FoNet news agency reports.

“I think some of the assessments are too arbitrary while others are just repeated non-stop without giving concrete examples”, she said, adding that she would demand concrete examples because she does not want to do her job arbitrarily “and can’t talk to our partners if they give arbitrary assessments”. 

“I agree with some of the comments on the election process, with some I don’t. We will discuss them openly just as we have so far,” she told a news conference after a meeting with young people about the “My First Salary” program.

See at: https://bit.ly/3jIrIio

EP rapporteur says EC investments will be tightly controlled (N1)

European Parliament IPA III rapporteur Zeljana Zovko told N1 on Thursday the money from the European Commission’s investment plan will be tightly controlled.

Zovko, the rapporteur of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) for the Financial Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III, said that the nine billion Euro that the Commission has earmarked for the Western Balkans will be invested in projects and added that the Commission has its own view of how the money should be spent but that agreement should be reached on the value of IPA III.  

The MEP said that significant amounts will be invested to help with projects already underway, primarily infrastructure, and in human potential.  

She said that her suggestion to the Commission was to include trade preferentials in the economic plan because she believes that is the best way to help both EU member states and candidate countries to place their products on the EU market. Zovko said that there will be enough money to realize projects but warned that significant amounts of IPA Fund money were not used because of a shortage of projects.  

See at: https://bit.ly/3d94Xlm

Serbian Government appoints Marko Djuric ambassador in Washington (media)

The Serbian Government on Thursday officially appointed Marko Djuric to the post of Ambassador in the United States of America, N1 reports.

Djuric is to take over as head of Serbian Embassy in Washington DC, after Ambassador Djerdj Matkovic whose term in office expired earlier this year.

Djuric headed the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija as acting director since 2014. He was officially relieved of that post at Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

RTS reported that Petar Petkovic, current Assistant Director would take over the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. Petkovic has been assistant director since April 2016.

Djuric announced the news last night. “Petar Petkovic would continue running the office, together with a team of proven fighters, patriots, committed and dilligent officials of the state of Serbia who have a task to reach out to each and every of our people in Kosovo and Metohija in the coming period”.  

“Djuric’s appointment as ambassador in US would change nothing” (Radio KIM)

Nenad Radosavljevic, RTV Mir owner and director opined today that appointment of Marko Djuric as Serbian ambassador in Washington would not change things for the better. Miodrag Milicevic from NGO Aktiv said the Office for KIM was more partisan than nationally organized, while local politician Nenad Rasic thinks Djuric’s new tenure is not a promotion at all, Radio KIM reports.  

Commenting on Djuric’s appointment Radosavljevic said that “nothing would change for better or worse by his departure from the helm of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija”.

Radosavljevic added “that in diplomatic relations nothing would change either, as long as one man rules this country (Serbia). From local community to the highest level of power, everyone is obedient only and nothing more”.

Milicevic said that the position of Serbian Ambassador in the US is good news foremost for Marko Djuric personally.

“The function of the ambassador in the US is very significant. All this should be considered in the context of the achieved Belgrade-Pristina agreement. When it comes to the work of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, I think it worked more based on the party (basis) than national, and that a good opportunity was missed to advance the lives of Serbs in Kosovo in certain areas”, Milicevic said.

Rasic said he was surprised with the new function of Marko Djuric.

“Djuric has no experience in diplomacy, and I think his appointment is utterly wrong. There are career diplomats, educated and committed to it, and they constantly upgrade themselves. Democratic countries usually send such people to those positions, in particular to Washington (…)”, Rasic said.

He assessed the work of Djuric as director of the Office for KiM as “controversial” since Djuric, as Rasic said it, “managed in every possible way by a single sentence to spoil relations that were established”.

He also opined that appointment is not a promotion, adding that people sent to different embassies in political cycles are those “who have ended their political careers”.   

“Kosovo police violates Law on use of languages” (Radio KIM)

By not translating reports into Serbian language and sending the answers to the journalists in the Albanian language only, Kosovo police violates the Law on use of languages, Office of Language Commissioner said, Radio KIM reports.

The Office of Language Commissioner reacted following complaints of the RTV KIM and representatives of other media that Kosovo police does not send press announcements in Serbian, while responses of the spokesperson Baki Kelani were sent in the Albanian language only.

The Office of Language Commissioner said they received response from the police information office that the lack of communication in Serbian language with the media was result of the lack of interpreter or officials with good knowledge of Serbian language, while interpreters from police translation unit are available during the working hours only from 08:00 to 16:00, while the information office works in two shifts, including weekends.  

However, the Office noted that regardless of difficulties and challenges they face, communication with the media must be in both official languages, and therefore conclusion was made that the Kosovo police has violated the Law on use of languages.

At the same time, recommendations asking for swift undertaking of appropriate measures were issued to the police, including full implementation of the Law on use of languages and ensuring that all public documentation is available in Serbian language, as well as that information and instructions published in the Albanian are at the same time published in both official languages.

Regarding communication with the media, the Office recommended that group communication with the media should be held in official languages, while answers to the requests should be sent in the official language used by the sender of the request. Given the nature of the work and the need for simultaneous provision of the information, it was necessary that the information office engage officials whose mother tongue is Serbian or Serbian was the language of education, or interpreters who would be responsible for the needs of this office.

Radio KIM also reported that in addition to the police, the Office of the Language Commissioner sent recommendations to other ministries and agencies in Kosovo reminding them of their legal obligations. 

Hasani: Point on Gazivode Lake in Washington Agreement does not endanger Kosovo territory (Kosovo-online)

Kosovo Constitutional Court former president Enver Hasani said last night that the agreement on economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia, that is, the point for Gazivode Lake, does not violate the territorial integrity of Kosovo, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“No interpretation of that provision said that the territory would be endangered,” Hasani told TV Klan Kosova.

He pointed out that Serbia, when it comes to Gazivode, only asks about the use of energy.

“That does not mean that the territorial integrity of Kosovo will be endangered; the Americans are working on its feasibility, they are asking Serbia about the use of energy and its diversification,” Hasani concluded.

Opinion

DW: ”Citizens of Serbia and Kosovo need to be prepared for the truth” (Danas)

Almost a decade ago, the European Union launched a dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. The end of the process is not yet in sight, although some – as shown by the round table of the Aspen Institute in Berlin – are slightly optimistic, writes Belgrade based daily Danas, quoting Deutsche Welle (DW).

Almost ten years of negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo on the normalization of relations and with the results that are more than modest.

DW reported that people in both countries no longer believe in that process.

“People simply no longer believe that there will be any progress,” was heard at the Aspen Institute’s virtual roundtable in Berlin on “The future of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina”, which brought together interesting interlocutors such as Miroslav Lajcak, the EU’s special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and Susanne Schutz, director of the department for Southeast Europe at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sonja Licht, president of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, and Naim Rashiti, executive director of the Balkan Policy Research Group  in Pristina. 

Prepare the people for compromises

During the presentation, the participants stressed the need for stronger involvement of civil society and independent media in monitoring and working on the process of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. The absence of these actors in the process so far has led to this situation in which confidence in the outcome of the negotiations is so low. Political instabilities in the region itself, especially in Kosovo, certainly do not help.

In the discussion, from which it was allowed to report, but without citing a specific source of information, something that was called “the elephant in the room” was openly discussed, and that is the topic of mutual recognition of Serbia and Kosovo. 

“It is clear to everyone that it will not be possible to reach a final agreement without that,” it was said at the virtual discussion and it was concluded that “everyone in Belgrade is aware of that as well.” “The people must be prepared for the final result, which will be full of compromise,” it was concluded.

Optimism and pessimism

It should also be clear to Serbs in Kosovo that the agreement will bring Kosovo closer to the process of approaching the European Union, which is “a good thing for their security”.

Opinions among participants were different on how far we are from the final agreement after almost ten years of the negotiations: from the conclusion that the negotiations have reached a dead end again,  to the assessment that ”not years, but months” remained until ”the final deal”. But even the optimistic ones eventually admitted that the negotiations had been going on for too long, and that they were “diluted” to such an extent that the citizens no longer recognized them.

Don’t look for answers on the other side of the Atlantic

But there was a consensus among the interlocutors on one topic: the dialogue process has no alternative. Because, frozen conflicts can always flare up, which was shown by the latest conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. However – once again the actors in the negotiating process were told that the way out should not be sought, by no means, in a solution called the exchange of territories.

The way out and answers should not be sought either from the other side of the Atlantic. “You can sign an agreement with whoever you want and wherever you want, but the decision on whether to move closer to the European Union can only be made by the European Union,” was the reaction to the latest news from Washington that US President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to re-engage in the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina – this time not with the aim of reaching economic, but political agreements. “Vucic and Hoti are aware that negotiations in the EU framework have no alternative,” it was concluded at the virtual discussion of the Aspen Institute, reported daily Danas.

Kosovo: Three governments, one country report (EWB)

The Kosovo 2020 report attempts to wrap up the work of three governments: the Haradinaj caretaker government, the short-lived Kurti government, and the Hoti government. The latter, however, happens to be the key partner for the EU in the process of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia that it facilitates – even if this government is not very keen to deliver on reforms.

The report – although sugarcoated in many aspects – is rather disappointing for the citizens of Kosovo. It begs the question how it is possible that the most pro-EU country in the region, led by pro-EU governments heralding the integration process, a year and a half since the last assessment, can receive a report stating that there is limited progress on EU-related reforms?

To best reflect the complexity in EU-Kosovo relations, the report starts with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and the European Reform Agenda, for which Kosovo has shown limited willingness and effectiveness in delivering. Furthermore, the report continues with the long overdue visa liberalisation process, which emphasises the lack of political will to deliver from the EU side and has had a detrimental impact on the EU’s credibility in Kosovo.

See at: https://bit.ly/3jMB10N

International

EC report on Serbia – Not a pleasant read for the citizens of Serbia (EWB)

The Serbia 2020 Report is not a pleasant read for the citizens of Serbia. The image in the mirror shows one of the “frontrunners” in the EU integration process appearing as a competitive democracy with major structural deficiencies struggling to prove its capability to fulfil EU accession criteria. This is exactly why this Report is so important for Serbia’s future and its citizens.

See at: https://bit.ly/3dgxJ3p

Nobel Peace Prize goes to UN World Food Programme (BBC)

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for its efforts to combat hunger.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the WFP had acted “as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict”.

The prize is worth 10m Swedish krona ($1.1m; £872,600).

The WFP, the 101st winner of the prize, said it was “deeply humbled”.

“This is in recognition of the work of WFP staff who put their lives on the line every day to bring food and assistance to more than 100 million hungry children, women and men across the world,” it said on Twitter.

WFP head David Beasley told the Associated Press news agency it was “the first time in my life I’ve been without words”.

See at: https://bbc.in/30Md1U2

Humanitarian/Development

EU presents guidelines on Green Agenda for Western Balkans (balkangreenenergynews.com)

The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, envisaged by the European Green Deal, is expected to be endorsed by the Western Balkan leaders at a summit in Sofia, Bulgaria in November, the European Commission has said.

In the European Green Deal, a plan to make the EU climate neutral by 2050, the commission says that “the ecological transition for Europe can only be fully effective if the EU’s immediate neighborhood also takes effective action.”

The announcement comes as part of the presentation of a EUR 9 billion Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans

See at: https://bit.ly/34GSlxU

Workshop on human rights protection organized for RAE students (Radio KIM)

Non-governmental organization Roma Veritas Kosovo has launched a project “Inclusion of youth from minority communities in decision making” that would help students from Roma, Egyptian and Ashkali communities “to better understand human rights protection mechanisms”, Radio KIM reports.

25 students selected out of 500 young people who attended different Roma Veritas Kosovo programs participated in the project. The project would last six months and would focus on human rights protection mechanisms, functioning of institutions dealing with human rights, international and local organizations working on human rights and similar topics.

The three best performing students would get a chance to do an internship in the local self-government in areas they come from.

“Our aim was to enable young people acquire some working experience, to learn something new and be ready for the job that awaits them”, project coordinator Gazmen Salijevic said.

He also said the biggest problem facing Roma, Egyptian and Ashkali communities is unemployment.

“Our organization has more than 500 young students attending our programs. Out of this number, I can say certainly that only few of them are working, all others either leave Kosovo after the studies and go to Western Europe to work there or seek employment form non-governmental organizations”, Salijevic added.

The project “Inclusion of youth from minority communities in decision making” is supported by Canadian Embassy in Zagreb, Radio KIM said.