• UK to invest $100 million in Western Balkans (Klan)
• Liz Truss warns Russian meddling could reignite conflict in Western Balkans (telegraph.co.uk)
• Lavrov: Events at Bucha, part of the same scheme as Recak (media)
• Kurti: The vote for Shaip Kamberi is a patriotic task (RTK)
• Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs a clear political project (media)
• Abazovic to go to Ohrid for the ‘Open Balkans’ Summit (media)
• ERO and U.S. Embassy discuss energy tariffs (media)
• IMF staff concludes visit to Kosovo (RTK)
• COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)

UK to invest $100 million in Western Balkans (Klan)

United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pledged $100 million to the Western Balkans region during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Sarajevo, she said that Russia’s aggression must be met with strength.

The UK Embassy in Kosovo said: “An important speech from @trussliz in Sarajevo, announcing an aim to mobilise $100m in investment for Western Balkans energy & infrastructure & making a clear statement in defence of democracy over malign influence and corruption.”

Liz Truss warns Russian meddling could reignite conflict in Western Balkans (telegraph.co.uk)

Foreign Secretary accuses Moscow of exerting a ‘malign’ influence in the countries that once made up Yugoslavia.

Russian meddling in the Western Balkans risks tipping the region back into war, the Foreign Secretary warned on Thursday on a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Liz Truss accused Moscow of exerting a “malign” influence in the countries that once made up Yugoslavia as she called on the West to stand up to Vladimir Putin in the Western Balkans, as well as in Ukraine.

The brutal Bosnian war raged from 1992 to 1995. Serbian forces laid siege to Sarajevo and committed genocide in Srebrenica before NATO intervened, which helped end the conflict.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/38U3txt

Lavrov: Events at Bucha, part of the same scheme as Recak (media)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that when something suits the interests of the United States, anything is permitted, even the bombing of former Yugoslavia.

“Consider the arrogance, the sense of superiority – this is a colonial mindset when I am allowed everything and you have to do what I tell you,” online media quote reports from B92 which in turn carry Lavrov’s interview to RT.

According to Lavrov, William Walker, former head of OSCE verification mission in Kosovo, had declared that genocide was perpetrated in the village of Recak. “The same was done on 23 April in Bucha, near Kiiev. It’s the same scheme. It works, regardless of whether it convinces someone or not. They did not have to convince anyone. They bombed Yugoslavia by violating all OSCE principles.” He further alleged that the victims in Recak were not civilians but militants whose uniforms were replaced with civilian clothing.

Kurti: The vote for Shaip Kamberi is a patriotic task (RTK)

On May 27, Shaip Kamberi and the “Coalition of Albanians of the Valley” seek for the third time the support of Albanians in securing a seat in the Serbian Parliament. Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has invited Albanians there to vote Shaip Kamberi today.

“We have already seen that Serbia, its figures and political mechanisms, have done everything to prevent Albanians from having their voice in the Assembly. So, the first thing on your daily agenda, go out and vote at the Voting Center no. 6 in Ternoc,” Kurti wrote adding that it is necessary for the Albanians of the Valley to give a message and a lesson to those who nurture impatience with the Albanian factor and who tried to stop the Albanian voice in Belgrade. “The blow starts with the first vote at the opening of the polling stations, reaching the number of votes needed for Shaip and the support for him”, Kurti wrote on “Facebook”.

According to him, the vote for Shaip Kamberi and for the Coalition of Albanians of the Valley, is a patriotic duty of everyone with the right to vote. “Shaip is a flag carrier in the parliament and outside it, to tell the truth and to protect the rights of Albanians in the Serbian parliament and to commit against the constant oppression by the power of the autocratic regime in Serbia,” he added.

Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs a clear political project (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku said at the presentation of party’s programme for the future that Kosovo needs a clear political project and not what he said was an “incapable populist” government.

Speaking in Pristina, Abdixhiku said the LDK would offer a “clean, professional, and inclusive” governance. ” Abdixhiku will be presenting the party’s programme in the rest of Kosovo municipalities in the coming period.

Abazovic to go to Ohrid for the ‘Open Balkans’ Summit (media)

The Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovic stated on Wednesday that he has not heard a valid argument that the ‘Open Balkans’ is not good for Montenegro.

“I will respond to the invitation of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic to participate in the ‘Open Balkans Summit’ in Ohrid. I will go on as prime minister,” Abazovic said, stressing that any regional initiative that could speed up integration, is something that must be accepted. If anyone has an idea to make a replacement for European integration, we are not interested,” he said.

“If it is not good for a party or a politician, let them say so. I have not heard a valid argument from the state,” Abazovic said.

ERO and U.S. Embassy discuss energy tariffs (media)

Representatives from the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) and the U.S. Embassy met yesterday in light of the Appeals Court’s decision to suspend the implementation of new energy tariffs.

ERO said in a statement that its officials informed the representatives of the U.S. Embassy about the uncertainties regarding the implementation of the tariffs and about the serious situation of the energy sector.

IMF staff concludes visit to Kosovo (RTK)

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Gabriel Di Bella, conducted a staff visit to Kosovo during May 10 – 13 and May 20, to discuss recent economic developments, the outlook, and policies. Mr. Di Bella issued the following statement at the conclusion of the visit:

“The war in Ukraine represents a severe shock for Kosovo. While direct trade and financial channels with conflict countries are negligible, the impact of the increase in the international prices of food and energy on Kosovo’s imports could be as high as 5.5 percent of GDP. While the momentum from last year’s recovery is still strong, the shock will inevitably affect demand and economic activity in 2022. Although the pandemic and the war represent serious challenges, they have also spurred interest from investors to relocate to Europe. Maintaining sound macroeconomic policies and financial stability, as well as advancing the implementation of reforms will be essential to attract foreign direct investment to Kosovo.”

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3ajMJ33

COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)

Eight new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. There are 127 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.