Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Palmer: Kosovo citizens need freedom of movement (media)
• PDK against sacking of RTK board expected to happen next week (media)
• LDK’s Gashi: Sacking of boards, anti-constitutional act (Indeksonline)
• Serbia violates the Washington agreement (Koha)
• Calls for freedom and equality echo across Prishtina (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Since June 17 no new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• What could await Kurti if he goes to the north of Kosovo? (Danas)
• Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s possible visit to north (Radio KIM)
• Rakic writes to Quint ambassadors, seeks protection for Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Reconstruction of religious buildings financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP (KiM radio)
• Gracanica Mayor: We call on KFOR to protect Serbs because the police cannot or will not (KiM radio)
• “KLA” on a billboard in Gracanica; “Youth prevented from placing hoops” in Lipljan (Kosovo Online)
• Video of burning SOC flag appeared on social networks (Kosovo-online, social media)
• Dacic: Serbs in Kosovo most endangered Christian community in Europe (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Protest in Podgorica over one-month detention to Jovanovic (Radio KIM)
• Vucic tells Merkel regional cooperation Serbia’s top priority (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic: Israel recognized Kosovo in meantime, so our interests have changed (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s new political leadership and the dialogue with Serbia: The battle between the little ram and the big fish (EWB)

International:

• Germany, UK Reaffirm Commitment to Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• No roaming charges across Western Balkans (N1)

Albanian Language Media  

COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)

10 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 14 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 165 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Palmer: Kosovo citizens need freedom of movement (media)

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matthew Palmer, said today that Kosovo should get visa liberalisation and that its citizens need freedom of movement. In his address at the first international conference of the Prespa Forum for dialogue in Ohrid, Palmer said that the EU must respect its obligations to the region. “This includes moving forward in the membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania and giving visa liberalisation to Kosovo,” Palmer said. 

PDK against sacking of RTK board expected to happen next week (media)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group chief, Abelard Tahiri, said today that this party is against the sacking of the board of the Radio Television of Kosovo which is expected to happen in next week’s session of the Kosovo Assembly.

At a press conference after today’s meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency, Tahiri argued that the Kurti-led government is dismissing boards of public enterprises and institutions to make room for the employment of family members and activists of the Vetevendosje Movement.

“At the next session of the Assembly, the ruling majority will continue to degrade the independent institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. Next week’s session will discuss the sacking of the RTK board, which would be another blow to a free media and an important institution for Kosovo’s citizens,” Tahiri said.

LDK’s Gashi: Sacking of boards, anti-constitutional act (Indeksonline)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group chief, Arben Gashi, told reporters today that the Kurti-led government is wrong to sack public boards and that this constitutes a violation of the Constitution. “The decisions and actions are wrong, and they are against the law and the Constitution. The decisions of the current government are dangerous for the country. The basic principle is that all persons were elected individually and the decision on eventual dismissals must be individual. There can be no individual appointments and collective dismissals,” he said.

The Kosovo Assembly Presidency decided today that there will be an assembly debate about the Washington Agreement next Wednesday. “The positions of the current government are not clear to us. We are ready to discuss at the session on Wednesday. We expect Prime Minister Kurti to attend the session,” Gashi said.

Serbia violates the Washington agreement (Koha)

Kosovo and Serbia signed a list of pledges on September 4 last year at the White House in the presence of then US President Donald Trump. One of the points in the list of pledges foresaw that by September 20, two weeks after the meeting in Washington, Serbia would open a trade office in Jerusalem and that by July 1, 2021 (today), it would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Serbia has failed to do this and therefore has violated the pledge.

Calls for freedom and equality echo across Prishtina (Prishtina Insight)

Hundreds of people took part in Prishtina’s fifth pride parade on Thursday, the culmination of Pride Week activities held across the capital this week. 

The parade started in Skenderbeg Square in the centre of the city before continuing down Mother Teresa boulevard all the way to the catholic cathedral, before returning to Zahir Pajaziti square for a short concert. A banner reading “Together and Proud” was displayed throughout the parade. 

Addressing participants, Lendi Mustafa, an LGBTQI+ activist said that despite the difficulties that the community is facing, togetherness is helping them to overcome the challenges presented.

Mustafa also addressed the ongoing efforts to ensure that same sex marriage is enabled by amending Kosovo’s Civil Code. “The Civil Code is denying our rights but we will fight together shoulder to shoulder,” he said.

For the activist, the parade is both a protest and a form of resistance. “Do not give up your rights and or on each other,” he continued. “We will stay together and proud.”

Among the participants in the parade were Vetevendosje MP Adriana Matoshi and Ambassadors to Kosovo from Finland and the United States.

Serbian Language Media

Since June 17 no new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)

Out of 21 tested samples in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, none tested positive for Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced today, KoSSev portal reports.

Currently there are two positive cases of Covid-19 in the Serbian areas.

What could await Kurti if he goes to the north of Kosovo? (Danas)

The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament called on Kosovo leaders to go to the north of Kosovo, recalled daily Danas. 

If the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, now decided to come to the north of Kosovo and talk to Serbian politicians, his visit would pass without problems and resistance of the community only if the officials of the Serbian List agreed to that, wrote Danas. 

However, if his visit is not well-intentioned, the reactions could be fierce, say interlocutors of Danas, thus answering the question, whether it was realistic for Kurti to come to the north to talk to Serbian politicians and what the citizens’ reactions would be.

The rapporteur of the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, visited Kosovo, and on Tuesday she visited Zvecan and Kosovska Mitrovica, where she talked with the representatives of the non-governmental sector.

According to the Kosovo Klan, she called on Kosovo leaders to “break the ice”, visit northern Kosovo and contact Serbian political leaders, despite hesitations and claims that they are not welcome there.

Von Cramon pointed out that the hand of cooperation should be extended, especially since the Pristina leaders speak Serbian language

Last time, Kurti was in North Mitrovica during the campaign for this year’s early elections, and there were no incidents then, but he was booed. 

Milica Andric Rakic, project manager in the organization New Social Initiative from North Mitrovica, says that she believes that communication between SL and the Kosovo government exists far from the eyes of the public, since the Serbian List is part of the government.

– But that kind of visit would be problematic. Since the formation of the government in March, the SL has had a very bad relationship with the Self-Determination because they have not been given two ministries and for the first time, since the beginning of the SL’s engagement, they have one ministry in the government. That is the main point of contention between them. This was followed by pressure from the Kosovo government on the Serbian Orthodox Church, which further damaged relations not only with SL but also with the Serb community, which is not comfortable watching the pressure on the Serbian Orthodox Church. We also had a lot of tense situations around Vidovdan (St. Vitus day) and with the returnee from Djakovica. Relations between officials of the Kosovo government, SL and the Serbian community are at the worst level since the beginning of SL’s engagement – describes Andric Rakic.

Andric Rakic therefore opined that it was not realistic that an official visit of Kosovo government officials to the north may take place soon.

Interlocutors of Danas recalled that there were visits before, when the Minister of Internal Affairs in the previous government visited Zubin Potok, then Isa Mustafa as the Prime Minister, although without the consent of the local community

– Now it would cause a lot of negative reactions because it is a tense situation, but I do not believe that there would be incidents. On the other hand, if Kurti agreed and had the consent of SL, the visit would take place without problems and resistance from the community – Andric Rakic believes.

While Aleksandar Rapajic, project coordinator of the non-governmental organization Aktiv, told Danas that in this case, it is not important where that meeting would take place, in the north, south or in Pristina, but to have a conversation

– It is not a matter of place, but that Kurti’s government does not want to cooperate with Serbian List from the beginning. And the Serbian list, whatever it is, is the elected representative of the Serbian people. Kurti’s government cannot talk to the Serbs who suit them and choose who will be the representatives of the Serbian people. If SL is elected in the elections, Kurti’s government must talk to them – says Rapajic.

Asked what the reactions of the citizens would be to Kurti’s arrival, he said that if the arrival was well-intentioned, then the reactions would not be terrible.

– But if he would be in the capacity of a campaign and what Kurti already does, I think the reactions would be fierce – says Rapajic.

Marko Jaksic, former member of the Assembly of North Mitrovica from the list “SDP – Oliver Ivanovic”, told Danas that he was almost certain that no one from the North of Kosovo would talk to the current Pristina leadership, primarily with Kurti and Osmani because the positions and attitudes they have taken are so rigid.

– Their agenda is overloaded with the past, they also deny the minimum of the minimum of rights that Serbs have according to Ahtisaari, they are against the formation of the ZSO – which in reality is nothing more than a fishing society, “compromise” is their wish list. Even if they would find some interlocutors in the theory, for taking photos, irrelevant in every respect, it is very possible that such an arrival would be accompanied by dissatisfaction of the local population and some protest – Jaksic points out.

He adds, “if that dialogue ever takes place, it will be conducted again, like everything after 2012, and it will be between Pristina politicians and SL representatives”. 

– Because as long as there is Vucic, they will be the sovereign owners of the majority attitude of Serbs. And I think that they would very easily find a common language, because personal interest is the main motive of the leaders of that list. No normal person from here would talk to those who are for the unification of Mitrovica, the abolition of the Serbian language and the introduction of reciprocity with Serbia, which directly affects the inhabitants of northern Kosovo, and I doubt that Kurti and his team would give up their policy because they have gone too far – Jaksic concludes.

Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s possible visit to north (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic reacted to the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti regarding the visit to the north by saying it has become more than obvious “that Albin Kurti nurtures strong obsession towards anything Serbian”, Radio KIM reports.

“Towards our churches and monasteries, our national holidays and history to the obsession with the north of Kosovo and Metohija and Gazivode Lake. Such a stance is understandable – when you have nothing yours, then you appropriate what belongs to others”, Petkovic said.

He added they understood Kurti’s message that “he was ready for everything”.

“We are just kindly asking him not to play around with the issue of the security of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and let him remember what people think of him when he attempted to walk in this part of our province at the beginning of the year”, Petkovic said.

He also added that politics cannot be built upon “hatred and animosity towards anything Serbian”.

Petkovic said that  Kurti “instead of getting ready to visit the north of the province, he should rather get prepared for Brussels, where difficult talks about all the open issues await him (…). There, in front of EU mediators he would also have to respond why the only returnee in Djakovica Dragica Gasic is unable to live a dignified life (…).”

Rakic writes to Quint ambassadors, seeks protection for Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)

Minister for Communities and Returns, Goran Rakic sent an official letter to Quint ambassadors, concerning violation of the basic human rights of Dragica Gasic, returnee in Djakovica town, Radio KIM reports.

In a letter Rakic expressed serious concern over attempts of Djakovica residents to evict the returnee. He pointed out daily provocations and threats of local Albanians directed against Dragica.

“Dragica Gasic returned to her town on June 9 and since that very day daily provocations and pressure on her to move out do not cease. It seems to me that she has become the only and the biggest problem Djakovica town has and that all other problems have been put aside in intention to reach the aim, that is Mrs. Gasic leaves Djakovica again”, Rakic wrote in a letter.

He added that Dragica was not allowed to replace the entry door at her apartment, under the pretext that she needs permission from the municipality.

Rakic also expressed concern that by such a message from Djakovica, the returns process in Kosovo may be completely halted.

“That is why I am kindly asking you to invest efforts and all your authority to prevent the damage which in a long-term sense may be irreparable, which violates the basic human rights of Dragica Gasic and makes the future in Djakovica uncertain”, Rakic said in a letter.

Reconstruction of religious buildings financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP (KiM radio)

The project for the renovation of 21 religious and cultural facilities in Kosovo, including three Orthodox ones – the monasteries of Draganac and Tamnica, as well as the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Kamenica, is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the UNDP office in Kosovo, it was confirmed to KiM radio. 

KiM radio recalled that recently Kosovo Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Hajrullah Ceku said that the restoration program was initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, together with the UNDP and the EU Office.

“Cultural heritage is our platform for dialogue for peace and prosperity, not a political battlefield,” Ceku said at the time.

The Diocese of Raska and Prizren reacted to this statement, emphasizing that there were no talks with the representatives of the Kosovo authorities regarding the renovation of the Draganac Monastery, the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Kamenica and the Tamnica Monastery.

UNDP told RTV Kim that the project “Cultural Heritage as a Driver of Dialogue and Social Cohesion between Communities” is one of the main EU instruments in the areas of crisis response, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. They also state that the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo provides only technical support in the entire project

“The main institutional partners in the project are Kosovo central and local institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the Institute for the Protection of Monuments, regional centers for the protection of cultural heritage and municipalities. Their role in the project includes providing technical guidance and legal support in obtaining permits, approvals and ensuring that project activities comply with applicable Kosovo laws.”

UNDP representatives did not answer the question of RTV Kim how much money will be invested in the reconstruction of religious buildings, but they stated the deadline for completion.

“The project timeframe is December 2020 – November 2021. As part of the physical intervention component, the project will cover 21 sites, in 11 different municipalities, including Pristina, Djakovica, Decane, Novo Brdo, Mitrovica, North Mitrovica, Pec, Gnjilane, Kamenica, Prizren and Junik,” stated UNDP.

Of the 21 sites, 10 are secular, while 11 are religious.

During this period, three buildings belonging to the Islamic Community, three to the Serbian Orthodox Church, three to the Catholic Church will be restored, and buildings belonging to the Tariqat community will be renovated at two locations.

Gracanica Mayor: We call on KFOR to protect Serbs because the police cannot or will not (KiM radio)

The president of the municipality of Gracanica, Srdjan Popovic called on KFOR to protect the Serb population on the territory of the municipality of Gracanica, which, as he stated, has been exposed to more and more frequent provocations and incidents in recent days, reported KiM radio.

Popovic states that the last incident in a series happened last night when unknown perpetrators wrote “Albania UCK” on a billboard located on the local road Gracanica-Laplje Selo.

“Kosovo police have shown all the powerlessness when it comes to the protection of Serbs, their personal property as well as the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the security situation is getting worse every day on the territory of the municipality of Gracanica. Therefore, we ask KFOR to strengthen its presence on the territory of our municipality and protect the Serbian population from obviously well-organized criminal and nationalist groups that move freely and without any control and carry out incidents,” he stated.

He notes that the Kosovo police “are not able to resist nationalist provocations”.

“As we have witnessed in the past, they have not managed to resist violence, incidents and attacks on Serbs, so we call on KFOR to ensure security for our citizens. I call on the residents of our municipality to remain calm not to fall to provocations and the police and judicial bodies to wake up and start doing their job,” said Gracanica Mayor.

Popovic recalled that on the night of Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day), unknown perpetrators broke and took the flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church from the main monastery gate in Gracanica.

“KLA” on a billboard in Gracanica; “Youth prevented from placing hoops” in Lipljan (Kosovo Online)

Portal Kosovo Online reported that a day after the removal and burning of the flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church, graffiti “KLA” appeared on a billboard between Gracanica and Laplje Selo.

The billboard, which has a picture of Gracanica, a cross with fire-rons (ocil), was smeared with blue paint and has black graffiti written on it, “UCK” and ”Albania”.

The portal recalled that that last November, a billboard with the slogan “Freedom has a name” and the emblem “KLA” appeared at the entrance to Gracanica, and only a few days later the KLA symbols were written on the traffic sign at the entrance to that city, which caused unrest of local Serb population

The portal wrote that ”incidents and provocations directed at Serbs have become more frequent in recent days”. 

In a separate article, Kosovo Online reported that in Lipljan group of young Serbs tried to set up a construction for hoops on the local playground, which was allegedly prevented last night by several Albanians from that place.

”The hoops were supposed to be set up as the final phase of arranging the local park, but the Albanians came close to the Serbian young men during the action of setting up the hoops and started provocations,” reported Kosovo Online. 

The portal reported that Serbian young men and women withdrew, in order to avoid physical conflict and to avoid a bigger incident.

In the coming days, the young people will try to set up a hoop construction with the help of the municipality and provide themselves with a place to play basketball.

Video of burning SOC flag appeared on social networks (Kosovo-online, social media)

A video of burning the stolen Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) flag appeared on social networks, Kosovo-online reports. It was presumed that this act took place on a hill overlooking Gracanica, the portal added.

The portal recalled that earlier a photo depicting a masked man, stepping over the SOC flag and holding the flag of Albania appeared on social networks. The SOC flag was stolen from an entry gate of Gracanica Monastery, in the night between 28 and 29 June.

Reacting to the incident and subsequent photo, the Diocese of Raska-Prizren said that “having in mind the dimensions of the flag, it is obvious that this is the one stolen from the Monastery gate. This latest incident shows a high level of disrespect of religious rights and freedoms as well as the vulnerability of the Serbian Orthodox sites in Kosovo and Metohija”.

“The official flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church is a Serbian tricolor with a Cross with four “fire-striker” shapes (originally Greek letter Beta) which is an old Christian symbol representing Christ as a King of kings. The flag is regulated by the Serbian Orthodox Church Constitution”, they added in a statement.

The Diocese of Raska-Prizren has reported the incident to the Kosovo police with request for additional security of the Monastery.

Dacic: Serbs in Kosovo most endangered Christian community in Europe (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)

Serbian Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic commented on the threats, former US Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks and acting director of National Security Service Richard Grenell received on social networks, after he congratulated Saint Vitus Day to the Serbs, by saying  it was an opportunity for him “to see a bit” whom they supported, Kosovo-online portal reports.

He added that Serbs in Kosovo are most probably “the most endangered Christian community in Europe”.

Speaking about the arrest of a man from Podgorica at Gazimestan on June 28, Dacic said that he didn’t attack anyone, didn’t do anything bad. “They keep him in detention, threaten him with five years in prison, it is really unbelievable”, he said. 

Talking about the Kosovo Battle, and the claims it was not a fight between the Serbs and Ottomans, Dacic said “that Turks and Serbs took part in a battle. There were no Albanians there because they didn’t live in Kosovo. Albanians do not have the word for Kosovo even. It is a Serbian word originating from the Serbian name of a black bird ‘kos’ (Turdus Merula )”, Dacic explained. 

Protest in Podgorica over one-month detention to Jovanovic (Radio KIM)

A group of people protested in Podgorica yesterday over one-month detention rendered to Podgorica resident, Risto Jovanovic who was arrested by Kosovo police on Saint Vitus Day (June 28) at Gazimestan, Radio KIM reports.

They also warned, if Jovanovic was not released they would radicalize the protest.

Jovanovic was rendered one-month detention; he would spend in Mitrovica North under the charges of committing a criminal act “of inciting national and religious hatred and intolerance”. He pleaded not guilty, adding the words mentioned in the indictment and attributed to him were untrue.

His defense lawyer Jovana Filipovic said she hopes the Court of Appeals would accept their complaint and revoke detention measure, as well as release Jovanovic to defend in freedom.

Montenegrin Foreign Affairs Ministry said its embassy in Pristina would continue intensive communication with responsible authorities in Kosovo regarding the decision to render one-month detention to Montenegrin citizen.

One of Democratic Front leaders, member of the ruling coalition in Montenegro, Milan Knezevic warned his party would protest in front of Kosovo embassy in Podgorica if institutional reaction by the Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic lacks.

President of Genuine Montenegro, also member of the ruling coalition, Marko Milacic said rendering one-month detention to Montenegrin citizen Risto Jovanovic in Pristina “was unseen attack against basic human rights on the territory of Europe, freedom of thoughts and expression as well as (freedom) of movement”.

Commenting on the charges Jovanovic has been accused of, Milacic said “on the contrary arrest was demonstration of religious hatred and intolerance”.

Vucic tells Merkel regional cooperation Serbia’s top priority (FoNet, N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that regional cooperation is one of Serbia’s top foreign policy priorities, N1 reports.

A press release from the president’s cabinet said he told Merkel during the telephone conversation that he hopes the coming Berlin Summit will be successful, adding that he strongly supports the initiative.

The Berlin Summit is scheduled to take place on July 5. Serbia will be represented by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

The press release said that Vucic informed the German Chancellor about agreements reached by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia as part of the “Mini Schengen” initiative and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

See at: https://bit.ly/2Uh9MU6

Vucic: Israel recognized Kosovo in meantime, so our interests have changed (Kosovo-online)

Serbia will act in line with its interests that have changed the very moment Israel recognized Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said answering the question if and when the Serbian embassy in Tel Aviv would be relocated to Jerusalem, Kosovo-online portal reports.

The deadline for relocation as per Washington agreement expires today.

“We had agreements, and I spoke with Israeli Prime Minister and told him clearly I have not signed a joint document with Albnaians and Americans, but with the Americans only and it also concerned the attitude of Israel towards us”, Vucic said.

He recalled that Israel recognized Kosovo in the meantime, and that Serbia talked about that with Americans.

Opinion

Kosovo’s new political leadership and the dialogue with Serbia: The battle between the little ram and the big fish (EWB)

By Nexhmedin Spahiu

The Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and an eventual agreement depend now mainly on two individuals: the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti.

245 out of 250 deputies of the Serbian Parliament are under the influence of Vučić, while the other five (three from the Presevo Valley and two from Sandžak) support Kurti. Thus, any agreement signed by the two politicians would be consequently approved by all 250 members of the Serbian Parliament.

On the other hand, Kurti has under his influence 80 out of 120 deputies of the Kosovo Parliament while twelve (ten Serbs, one Gorani, and one Rom) of the remaining 40 deputies are under the influence of Vučić.

This alludes that any eventual Vučić-Kurti agreement would be voted by at least 92 deputies of Kosovo, i.e., more than three quarters of the Kosovo Parliament.

Therefore, a study of the situation for the eventual Kosovo-Serbia agreement can now be boiled down to the desire of above-named individuals for an agreement and their concerns for the same.

Albin Kurti seems to be concerned with the US administration, while Aleksandar Vučić, with both the American and the Russian.

Since its inception as a modern state, Serbia has pursued political activities influenced either by Russia or the West. Historical changes on Serbia’s political scene, throughout its modern history, were determined by alternation of strengths of those influences.

Conversely, on the Kosovar political scene, anyone who became undesirable to the Americans, had to say goodbye to politics or got ‘slapped’, like Albin Kurti himself in the spring of 2020.

However, it is now up to Kurti to make the final bargain with Serbia over Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo, which is Kosovo’s strategic national interest.

Despite the recognition of the leading democracies of the world, Kosovo has not achieved yet some of its most strategic aspirations: memberships in the UN, UNESCO, Interpol, NATO, and the EU. The key countries that hinder Kosovo in this strategic journey are: Russia and China to the UN, and Spain, Greece, Romania and Slovakia in NATO and with the addition of Cyprus to the EU.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/36cCB6R

International

Germany, UK Reaffirm Commitment to Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Following a bilateral meeting in Berlin, British and German Foreign Ministers signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to Western Balkans stability and Euro-Atlantic path.

During their meeting in Berlin, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas signed a joint declaration in which, among other things, they reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to the security, stability, prosperity, and full sovereignty of the six Western Balkans countries, as well as to their European and Euro-Atlantic paths.

“We emphasise the importance of advancing the rule of law and we commit to working closely together to support the Western Balkans countries in promoting regional cooperation, tackling corruption and organised crime, especially illicit finance, and to addressing legacy issues of the past, notably Missing Persons, including in the context of the Berlin Process,” stresses the joint declaration issued today after their meeting.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3xdVZMI

Humanitarian/Development

No roaming charges across Western Balkans (N1)

Western Balkans mobile phone service providers abolished roaming charges for their clients across the region on Thursday, N1 reports.

The agreement to abolish roaming charges covers Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia. It was signed in April 2019 at the second Western Balkans Digital Summit in Belgrade. The first stage of implementation brought reductions of 83 and 96 percent in roaming charges before being completely abolished on July 1.

N1 was told by the Telenor mobile phone services provider that Roaming as at Home was in place as of July 1 but that each provider decides how to limit free of charge Internet access. Telenor and A1 (formerly VIP Mobile) said that users are free to use their mobile service packages across the region for text messaging and calls without roaming charges.

See at: https://bit.ly/3ydgtW0