LOCAL PRESS

 

Vucic: Gratitude to Cyprus for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (RTS/Tanjug/RTV/Politika)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after a meeting with Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides in Belgrade on Wednesday they had unequivocally confirmed a desire to further boost bilateral relations and cooperation, and thanked Cyprus for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia. "I expressed gratitude to Cyprus for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and respecting international public law, the UN Charter and UNSCR 1244," Vucic said at a press conference with Christodoulides. He noted that Serbia fully supported the norms of international public law, the UN Charter and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cyprus on land and at sea. That policy of Serbia is unchangeable, Vucic said, adding that Serbia and Cyprus were true friends. "I personally had an opportunity to inform President Christodoulides in detail of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, the course of dialogue and Serbia's desire to solve problems regarding that very difficult issue through compromise and dialogue," Vucic said. "I also pointed out the difficulties and the gravity of the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and the difficult position of Serbia, which is now suffering through no fault of its own just because it respects the norms of international public law and the UN Charter and because of a policy of force and destruction of international law by those who are much stronger than it is," he said. "Christodoulides is a true friend of Serbia and we are proud, happy and grateful he is a guest of our country," he said. "I wish that you and your delegation may feel at home in Serbia, just like we, too, feel in Nicosia," Vucic told Christodoulides. Vucic said he had had a closed-door meeting with Christodoulides that had been followed by a meeting of Serbian and Cypriot delegations, and that a ceremonial dinner would be held in Christodoulides's honour in the evening. Announcing a third meeting of a council on Serbia-Cyprus cooperation for Thursday, Vucic said Egypt and Greece were the only other countries with which Serbia held such summits and noted that this showed the importance of the relationship between Serbia and Cyprus. The council previously met in 2013 and 2018.

 

Christodoulides: Cyprus's position on support to Serbia's integrity unchangeable (Tanjug/RTV/Politika/RTS)

 

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday in Belgrade Cyprus's position on respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia was clear and unchangeable.

After a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Christodoulides said they had discussed the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. "I would like to publicly reiterate our support to those efforts by the Serbian government. Cyprus's position is clear. Our position when it comes to respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia cannot be changed," he said at a press conference with Vucic. Christodoulides said Cyprus was the greatest backer of Serbia's EU accession and that he believed Serbia had made very important steps in reforms as well as in many other areas. "We believe that should be recognised by the EU and reflected in discussions and the conclusions we will have at the European Council meeting in December," Christodoulides said. He said he had had an exceptional exchange with Vucic about ways to further deepen bilateral ties. "In recent years, we have been cooperating excellently in almost all sectors and there is also a possibility for further cooperation. Especially when it comes to defence, I think. We discussed that a lot and we will continue tomorrow, too," Christodoulides said, adding that trade and tourism also offered opportunities for cooperation. He said further cooperation would also be discussed at the third Serbia-Cyprus intergovernmental meeting on Thursday, to be attended by the ministers of foreign affairs, defence and education. He said important MoUs in the fields of education, science, innovation, advanced technologies and further cooperation between the two foreign ministries would be signed as well. He also said he was grateful to Serbia for its position on the Cyprus issue and on efforts to restart talks to resolve the problem. Christodoulides noted that his visit coincided with developments in Cyprus's neighbourhood in the Middle East as well as in Ukraine. He said he had informed Vucic of Cyprus's initiative aimed at establishing a humanitarian maritime corridor for shipping aid to Gaza. Christodoulides said Serbia and Cyprus were connected by years-long friendship and that he was glad his visit was a step towards further strengthening of bilateral ties. He said he looked forward to welcoming Vucic in Cyprus in the near future to continue the discussions.

 

Three cooperation memorandums signed with Cyprus (Tanjug)

 

In the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis, memorandums of understanding on cooperation between the two countries in the fields of diplomacy, innovation and education were signed today in Belgrade. The documents were signed in the Palace of Serbia, after a session of the Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Cyprus. The Memorandum on cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus was signed by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and his Cypriot colleague Constantinos Kombos. The Memorandum on cooperation between the Serbian Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technological Development and the Sub-Ministry for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus was signed by Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Jelena Begovic and Constantinos Kombos. The Memorandum on cooperation between the Serbian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth of Cyprus was signed by the relevant ministers Slavica Djukic Dejanovic and Athina Michaelidou.

 

Petkovic: Holding of 17 December elections not possible in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/Politika)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic on Wednesday informed the Republic Electoral Commission the holding of the 17 December parliamentary elections was impossible in Kosovo and Metohija due to an unacceptable condition set by Pristina and its PM Albin Kurti, the Office told Tanjug. "Based on your request to determine the possibility of holding the 17 December 2023 vote for members of the Serbian parliament in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, we inform you that it is currently not possible to carry out the electoral procedure in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija in the manner that would be in line with legal regulations and the state and national interests of the Republic of Serbia. The reason for this is the fact that the regime of the interim self-government institutions in Pristina, headed by Albin Kurti, is making the holding of these elections conditional upon a recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called Kosovo by Belgrade," Petkovic wrote in a letter to the commission. "Without fulfilment of that condition, which is unacceptable to Belgrade, Albin Kurti is refusing to ensure the required conditions on the ground for activities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe mission in Kosovo and Metohija, which, under a model agreed in 2012, should assist the state authorities of the Republic of Serbia in carrying out the electoral procedure in the territory of the Province," Petkovic added, noting that the model was based on an agreement that was fully in line with UNSCR 1244. The model was the foundation for the holding of all Serbian elections in Kosovo and Metohija between 2012 and 2020, Petkovic added. "Through these moves, and by making it impossible for Kosovo Serbs to vote in their places of residence, the Albin Kurti-led regime in Pristina continues to openly violate the rights of our people in the Province," he also noted.

 

Petkovic: Important to enable Kosovo Serbs to vote on 17 December (FoNet)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic discussed with Kosovo Serb political and institutional representatives the political and security situation in Kosovo and the “necessity to preserve peace and stability, for the sake of the Serbs’ survival in Kosovo and Metohija”, said a press release issued by the Office. The talks particularly focused on the difficult situation and position of the Serbs north and south of the Ibar River and the threats to their basic human rights due to institutional violence, persecution and daily escalatory actions initiated by Albin Kurti and the government in Pristina, said the press release. Petkovic also discussed with the Kosovo Serbs Pristina’s ban on holding the 17 December vote for members of the Serbian parliament in the territory of Kosovo, which directly violates all the rights guaranteed to the Serbs, said the Office. The Head informed the Kosovo Serbs about the latest round of talks within the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Brussels, talks on the drafting of the statute for the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, as well about all other issues that Belgrade is negotiating on with Pristina within the dialogue.

 

Continuation of OSCE support for reforms in field of rule of law (Tanjug)

 

Serbian Minister for EU Integration Tanja Miscevic spoke yesterday with Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Ambassador Jan Braathu about further cooperation in the areas that are a priority for both sides, first and foremost about the continuation of support for the reforms that our country is implementing in the field of the rule of law. The meeting specifically looked at the implementation of judicial reform, as well as the strengthening of media freedoms following the adoption of the laws on public information and media, as well as on electronic media, primarily through the adoption of by-laws and their implementation. Miscevic informed Braathu about the priority activities in the process of European integration in the coming period, such as the assessment of the level of achievement of transitional criteria in Chapters 23 and 24. Also, as she pointed out, the Ministry of European Integration is working on the preparation of comprehensive activities so that by 2030 Serbia will be ready to accept the obligations of EU membership, especially in terms of legislative harmonisation, then on programming and management of funds from EU funds, along with the development of a state development plan.

 

Serbia Against Violence: 2,200 controllers ready for Belgrade, another 20,000 acors Serbia (Beta)

 

Members of the Republic Election Commission and the City Election Commission for Belgrade, and their deputies, appointed on behalf of the list of candidates “Serbia against Violence” promised on 22 November that until the election day on 17 December they would hold regular press conferences to inform Serbian citizens about the developments in the Republic and City Election Commissions, as these bodies wouldn’t do it. A member of the City Election Commission “Belgrade” Sofija Mandic said at a press conference in the offices of the “Serbia against Violence” that “citizens fear” that the opposition would not be able to defend their election choice in Belgrade and Serbia, promising that her peers would “do absolutely everything” to protect it, and to react to any sign of manipulation by the authorities. Mandic said that on behalf of “Serbia against Violence” 2,200 controllers would be defending the election will of citizens in Belgrade, and another 20,000 across Serbia. A member of the Republic Election Commission Tanasije Marinkovic said that the Commission “does not address the public often enough,” suggesting that it should do so regularly ahead of the election. Marinkovic said that to ensure better communication with the citizens, the Republic Election Commission should have a spokesperson and its own web page.

 

Veselinovic on elections: We will guard every ballot (Beta)

 

Dobrica Veselinovic, who is heading the “Serbia Against Violence” ticket at the elections in Belgrade, stated yesterday that this coalition would guard every ballot cast at the 17 December elections. Veselinovic told Beta that “Serbia Against Violence” had no information about a large number of voters from Serbia’s interior and Republika Srpska, who do not live in Belgrade, having been added to the voters’ registry in the capital. “We have no information to verify that with certainty. It is more likely that this pressure is coming from the regime in an attempt to de-motivate the opposition voters into thinking that change is impossible. Do you honestly believe that, in a system where every word in the media is controlled, the head of a municipality from the Progressive Party could say (in the media) that they can relocate 100,000 people?” Veselinovic stated, assessing that relocating the population for elections was an impossible operation. “Just imagine what Belgrade would look like with 2,000 buses which would bring all those people on election day. I assure you – if all those who are not satisfied with this bad and corrupt regime turn out (on election day), no tactics or election engineering can pass. Every one of us, who turn out and vote, protect democracy and the election will of all others. Change is possible,” he stated.

 

Analysts: Stoltenberg’s visit to Belgrade confirms partnership between Serbia and NATO (N1)

 

The editor of the New Serbian Political Thought portal Djordje Vukadinovic and a military analyst Aleksandar Radic said yesterday that a visit to Belgrade by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that the relationship between Serbia and the North Atlantic Alliance could be described as a “partnership,” but that a completely different perception thereof had been offered to the local public for political reasons. The two guests at TV N1 said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other top-ranking state officials had established a partnership with NATO, while using pro-regime tabloids to promote the idea of Serbia’s “neutral military status” and ability to “make independent decisions as to where to deploy the Army of Serbia.” Vukadinovic said that Vucic shared two pieces of information during a joint press conference with Stoltenberg – first, that a decision not to hold joint military exercises with the Alliance had been cancelled, and that those responsible for an attack by a group of armed Serbs on the Kosovo police in the northern Kosovo village of Banjska, on 24 September, would be processed. Radic said that Stoltenberg’s visit was very important from NATO’s point of view, as the Alliance was “sending a message the Balkans wanted.” The military analyst said that “everything the Alliance wants to say, particularly since Russia invaded Ukraine, is that it does not want any destabilization in the Balkans”.

 

Court extends pre-trial detention of a war crimes suspect (Beta/Politika/Radio KiM)

 

A court in Pristina has decided to extend for another two months the detention of Dragisa Milenkovic, living in Kisnica, near Gracanica, charged with a war crime against civilians in Kosovo, a 22 November release says. Milenkovic was arrested in Kisnica, on June 21, on suspicion of having harassed Albanian inmates in a detention center in Lipljan, from 1998 to 1999, when he worked as a prison guard. His lawyer, Jovana Filipovic, appealed the court decision to extend the detention. “Milenkovic has been detained in Podujevo for five months, and the defense is unaware of a single investigative action taken with a view to shedding light on the offenses he was charged with. Not a single witness has been heard, and the Basic Court in Pristina dismissed a request by the defense to hear Prime Minister Albin Kurti as a witness for the defense, explaining that he may testify at a later stage in the proceedings,” Filipovic said in a comment for Radio KiM. Kurti was a prisoner in the detention center where Milenkovic worked as a prison guard. Milenkovic’s lawyers believe that Kurti must possess information about possible harassment of inmates. The Kosovo prime minister had said earlier that he would testify if the court subpoenaed him.

 

Office for Kosovo and Metohija representatives banned from entering province (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)

 

Pristina and its PM Albin Kurti last night banned two assistant directors of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija from entering the province, the Office has confirmed to Tanjug. Svetlana Miladinov and Igor Popovic were to attend Municipality Day celebrations in Kosovska Mitrovica on Thursday. The Office's Head Petar Petkovic, who is also Belgrade's chief negotiator in the dialogue with Pristina, has been denied entry to Kosovo and Metohija for months now, and two of his other assistants, Jelena Stojkovic and Milena Parlic, suffered the same treatment on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Stojkovic was scheduled to visit two underprivileged families in the province. All four of Petkovic's aides were told the ban would remain in place until 31 December but no explanation was provided. Under a Brussels agreement on freedom of movement, assistant directors of the Office may visit Kosovo and Metohija without prior notification to Pristina.

 

Barbano: Some arrests in N. Kosovo were not in line with law (KoSSev/N1)

 

EULEX assessed that some arrests carried out in the north of Kosovo were not fully in line with the law, but that “this practice was thereupon modified,” said EULEX chief Giovanni Pietro Barbano at the UNMIK Trust-building Forum held in Thessaloniki, Greece. “A commitment to return, restitution of land, protection of cultural heritage, prevention of discrimination, upholding freedom of speech and a degree of self-governance helps rebuild the social fabric and instills a sense of trust in the legal system,” KoSSev quoted Barbano as saying. He highlighted a case when the decision of the Kosovo Constitutional Court on Visoki Decani land was not respected. “Such trust is supported by -for example- a strict adherence to Cultural Heritage protection and Language laws, which needs to remain in focus in Kosovo. It is undermined, however, by for example the longstanding failure of Kosovo authorities to implement their own 2016 Constitutional Court decision assigning ownership of land to the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Visoki Decani,” said Barbano, KoSSev reported. Likewise, he said, the often-heated debate in Kosovo about the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities could be served by an increased focus on community rights in the light of trust-building and reconciliation. Barbano noted that EULEX remains concerned about the ongoing expropriation procedures in northern Kosovo. Barbano claimed that the Mission also followed up on all arrests following the Banjska events on 24 September and monitored the Kosovo Police search operations in and around the Banjska Monastery and in several private properties to ascertain strict adherence to procedure and respect for human rights. “Sadly, though, the sustained series of security crises in northern Kosovo have forced both EULEX and law enforcement into continual crisis management at the expense of more community-oriented policing. Following the retreat of all police officers that represented the majority community in the North, community policing has become even more challenging but remains essential for trust-building,” stressed Barbano. He noted that it “remains imperative” that the Kosovo Serb community in northern Kosovo re-engages with the Kosovo institutions and contribute to law enforcement that “clearly prioritizes the protection of communities over exerting control through force”.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Dodik responds to Stoltenberg: There is no secessionist threat in B&H, but there is devastation of constitutional order with goal of forced unitarization (RTRS)

 

There are no secessionist threats in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claims, the devastation of the constitutional order with the aim of forced unitarization is on the scene in B&H, said Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik. “Any opposition to unitarization is declared secessionism. Given that it was not possible to hear the voice of the RS at the meetings in Sarajevo, with the exception of Serb member of the B&H Presidency Zeljka Cvijanovic, such statements by Stoltenberg are not surprising”, Dodik wrote on social media. As Dodik points out, it is incomprehensible that Stoltenberg himself missed the opportunity to hear the voice of ministers from the RS at a meeting of the B&H Council of Ministers (B&H CoM), which is not the government. “Then he would not have left B&H misinformed. If the behavior of a part of the international community continues in the direction of devastation of the Constitution of B&H, and Muslims do not understand that the Constitution is a guarantee of the survival of this B&H, not even NATO will preserve it”, Dodik wrote on X platform.

 

Dodik meets with representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary (RTRS)

 

RS President Milorad Dodik was in an official visit to Hungary. In Budapest, he spoke with representatives of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The topic of the meeting was the projects of the RS and Hungary. It was agreed that the Hungarian government would allocate additional funds to subsidize the purchase of agricultural machinery in the RS. The government of Hungary will provide additional EUR 5 million to support farmers in the RS, so instead of the planned 19, that amount will be EUR 24 million. The Hungarian government recognized the potential of RS as well as the great interest of farmers in subsidies, Dodik said after Wednesday’s meetings. “So, we were assured that the Hungarian side will provide additional EUR 5 million, so the total arrangement will be EUR 24 million. Which says that here in Hungary they really understood all our projects. Secondly, there were issues related to infrastructure, to industry and everything that we initiate and do”, Dodik stated. Cooperation with Hungary is of strategic importance for the RS, which is confirmed by numerous projects that have been implemented and will be implemented in the future, said Dodik and on that occasion announced the meeting of the delegations of Hungary and the RS, which is planned for January next year. Dodik used his stay in Budapest to visit the largest synagogue in Europe and the Holocaust Memorial Center in Budapest. The experiences transferred will be important during the construction of the Memorial Center in Donja Gradina, which the RS and Serbia will build together. “We will have to develop cooperation with other organizations, Yad Vashem and others, in order to ensure a complete exchange of data and to be informed about it, because for many years, regardless of the fact that it lived in our nation, the suffering in Jasenovac remained suppressed”, Dodik emphasized. For the sake of spreading the truth and awareness about the Holocaust and the genocide against Serbs, Jews and Roma in the Independent State of Croatia during the World War II, the RS and Hungary agreed on numerous activities in the field of culture and education. Hungary is a sincere friend of the RS both politically and economically, said Dodik. For this reason, he says, it is necessary to use every opportunity to meet with Hungarian representatives in order to further strengthen that friendship. Dodik and reminded that the trial against Dodik in front of the Court of B&H was supposed to start on 22 November, but that his defense team requested the trial be delayed due to Dodik’s scheduled visit to Hungary, which was approved by the Court of B&H and the start of the trial was delayed for 6 December.

During the visit, Dodik confirmed that Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Hungary Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto are in Prague, for a meeting of the Visegrad Group, which is why no meetings could be held.

 

Viskovic holds meeting with Sattler in Banja Luka; Viskovic: All 14 priorities must be solved in one package (BNTV)

 

After RS President Milorad Dodik said on Tuesday that the priority is to solve the issue of the Constitutional Court of B&H and then 14 priorities needed for the accession process of B&H to the EU, the RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic said on Wednesday that all 14 priorities must be solved in one package, and not one by one, without mentioning the issue of the Constitutional Court of B&H, noted the presenter. At the meeting in Banja Luka with the Head of the EU Delegation in B&H Johann Sattler and the Ambassadors of the EU countries in B&H, Viskovic said that the RS is determined to move on the path of the EU integration. He also pointed out that media freedoms in the RS are not threatened. Viskovic stated: “I have to say, from my position, as far as media freedoms in the RS are concerned, that they have not been threatened by anything. I do not get into individual, let us say, disagreements or conflicts of some individual, regardless of the position he is in, and with some journalist, etc. Therefore, I am speaking globally from the position of a Prime Minister. I have not had a conflict with anyone, and I will not have one. So, as far as I and the RS government are concerned, media freedoms are guaranteed here. Media freedoms are greater here than in any of the countries that come here, and then they lecture us”. Viskovic once again reiterated the position of the RS to respect the already adopted Coordination Mechanism at the B&H level. Sattler said that the EU member states support B&H on the way to membership and he encouraged to continue with implementation of necessary reforms.

 

Sattler meets with Borenovic, Milicevic (Dnevni avaz)

 

Head of EU Delegation Johann Sattler met with PDP leader Branislav Borenovic and SDS leader Milan Milicevic in Banja Luka on Wednesday evening. The meeting was also attended by Head of EU Delegation’s Political Section Elisabet Tomasinec. Borenovic said that apart from the serious and real challenges which RS and B&H face on the path of the EU integration, there is also the problem of dishonesty and unprincipledness. He emphasized the importance of adoption of the so-called “integrity package” of electoral reform, which is the only way to make sure that the authorities are elected by the will of citizens. Other problems Borenovic highlighted include high-level corruption, economic indicators, rule of law and electoral corruption. He also praised the Growth Package presented by the EU.

 

Kristo informs Commissioner Varhelyi that all leaders of political parties in power at B&H level have expressed their willingness to attend Second EU-B&H High-Level Political Forum in Brussels (FTV)

 

FTV carries that B&H is preparing for the second High-Level Political Forum scheduled for 5 December in Brussels. The second High-Level Political Forum will be attended by leaders of B&H political parties and representatives of all levels of authority in B&H. The Chair of the B&H Council of Ministers (B&H CoM) Borjana Kristo discussed the agenda of the second High-Level Political Forum with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, via telephone. Kristo informed Varhelyi that she sent a letter to all B&H participants of the second High-Level Political Forum, in which she categorically stated all steps and obligations of representatives of all levels of authorities in B&H, in accordance with the European Commission’s report on B&H. Kristo called on all participants of the second High-Level Political Forum to fulfil the Agenda 31, which contains all the required priorities and reforms, which Kristo describes as key steps towards obtaining a final date for opening negotiations for full EU membership by the end of 2023. Kristo concluded the letter by stating that B&H representatives will go to Brussels emptyhanded, if they do not fulfill their obligations.

 

Meeting of representatives of B&H HoR and Czech Republic held in Sarajevo (Hayat)

 

A meeting was held between members of the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Foreign Affairs Commission with the members of the Committee on European Affairs of the Czech Parliament. They discussed the European path of B&H, economic relations, the exchange that B&H has with the Czech Republic, and cooperation on various projects. It was said after the meeting that the Czech Republic supports B&H on its European path. Chairperson of the B&H HoR Foreign Affairs Commission Darijana Filipovic said that it was pointed out several times at the meeting that the Czech Republic's support and determination for B&H to have its European future is unquestionable. Filipovic added that they also discussed cooperation in the field of education. She said they concluded that B&H and the Czech Republic do not have open issues at the moment and that they cooperate well in different areas. Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs of the Czech parliament Ondrej Benesik was quoted as saying: “Accession talks are a very complicated political process that the Czech Republic has been through recently. We have certain knowledge that we acquired on that occasion. We are ready not only to support you politically on the European path, but also to pass on this knowledge to you. We are aware that your primary goal is membership in the EU. There must be a result of that accession process if B&H fulfills its domestic tasks and conditions set by the European Commission”.

 

Head of OSCE Mission to B&H Aggeler calls on B&H authorities to amend Election Law (BNTV)

 

The Head of the OSCE Mission to B&H Brian Aggeler said that B&H Election Law does not ensure fair elections, and the necessary amendments to the law have been repeatedly emphasized. He appealed to the authorities to take concrete steps to ensure the transparency of the local elections in 2024. Aggeler was quoted as saying: “Due to systemic deficiencies in the law, by-laws and existing practices, which the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) identified and stated in its reports, a certain number of irregularities constantly appear before, during and after the elections. Although these irregularities do not necessarily call into question the overall validity of the elections, their repeated occurrence can clearly affect the outcome of election races where the margin of votes is small. It also undermines public trust in elections, politics and institutions in general, casting doubt on the overall process. Politicians can no longer afford to sit back and do nothing while this level of public confidence deteriorates. It is time to do the right thing. On behalf of the OSCE Mission in B&H, I call on the state authorities to quickly amend the Election Law, fully in accordance with international standards, which include transparency and inclusiveness. After the introduction of appropriate amendments, the Election Law must then be properly and fairly implemented”.

 

Members of B&H CEC and representatives of non-governmental organizations discuss amendments to B&H Election Law (BHT1)

 

Members of the B&H Central Election Commission (CEC) and representatives of non-governmental organizations gathered around the Declaration on Constitutional and Other Reforms of B&H on the Path to the EU discussed amendments to the B&H Election Law on Wednesday. B&H CEC President Suad Arnautovic pointed out that the B&H CEC will not enter into political issues, i.e. into solutions that are necessary through the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and other political issues. Arnautovic stressed that the B&H CEC insists on technical changes to the B&H Election Law. “What the Central Election Commission believes is necessary are technical changes which should enable the entire series of bodies for the implementation of elections from the bottom, that is, the polling station committees, to the CEC, and vice versa, from the CEC to the polling station committee, to be in the function of implementing the law, in the function of the state. So, these are state bodies. These cannot be political bodies,” Arnautovic said.

Secretary General of the Council of the Congress of Bosniak Intellectuals Emir Zlatar said that the basic directions and requirements of non-governmental organizations gathered around the Declaration on Constitutional and Other Reforms of B&H are aimed at complying with and implementing the judgments of the ECHR and the 1513 Resolution of the Council of Europe from 2006. At the same time, as BHT1 reminded, HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic announced the intensifying of talks on amendments to the B&H Election Law, first with partners from the Federation of B&H (FB&H), and then from Republika Srpska (RS). “There are several directions in which we want to act, but we have estimated that we cannot touch the Constitution,” Covic said. SNSD leader Milorad Dodik said that the electoral process and the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H will be the priority of the talks. “Speculation in Sarajevo that the High Representative, the alleged fake high representative, could impose a law on the electoral process is something that is unacceptable, that absolutely, definitely desecrates the most important thing that we have come to in B&H, which is that we have free and democratic elections,” Dodik said. PDP Secretary General Nenad Vukovic, on the other hand, said that PDP primarily insists on the introduction of electronic technologies within the framework of amendments to the B&H Election Law. “First of all, when it comes to the identification of voters and the scanning of ballots. This is a crucial step forward when it comes to the electoral process so that we can say that we have regular elections,” Vukovic said.

 

Western Balkan allies gather for informal NATO meeting in Skopje (HRT)

 

Southeastern Europe is strategically important for NATO and there are currently no direct armed threats to members of the alliance in this region, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after Wednesday’s meeting with the heads of state and government of four allied Western Balkan countries in Skopje, North Macedonia. Stoltenberg stressed that ending secessionist rhetoric would boost stability and enable reforms in B&H and he called for Belgrade and Pristina to reengage with the EU-facilitated dialogue. The meeting marked the end of Stoltenberg's four-day visit to the Western Balkans. "This region is strategically important to NATO. But there are reasons for concern. We see secessionist threats in B&H. A fragile security situation in Kosovo and a stalled normalization between Belgrade and Pristina. On top of all that authoritarian states like Russia seek to undermine our democracies with cyber and hybrid threats,” said Stoltenberg. The meeting marked the end of Stoltenberg's four-day visit to the Western Balkans. “In every stop I underscored that peace and stability in the Western Balkans depends on all sides choosing dialoged and diplomacy over conflict and chaos,” said Stoltenberg. President Zoran Milanovic said that the discussions among the allies on security in the region, Ukraine, and the Middle East, had been productive. He also backed a proposal by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to establish a forum of SE Europe nations that would include non-NATO countries – B&H, Kosovo, and Serbia. "It's a step beyond the Brdo-Brijuni Process, which has been going on for ten years and has proven that calm and productive dialogue is possible and effective,” said Milanovic. Stoltenberg said he would consider the idea.

 

Resulbegovic elected as seventh Constitutional Court judge (CdM)

 

MPs of the new convocation of the parliament of Montenegro elected Faruk Resulbegovic as the missing seventh judge of the Constitutional Court. A total of 56 MPs voted in favor of Resulbegovic, while 21 abstained. After the election, Resulbegovic took the oath. The parliamentary session was marked by a stormy discussion between members of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the For the Future of Montenegro coalition, Jevto Erakovic and Milan Knezevic, respectively. Knezevic said that DPS was defending the Kavac clan, and Erakovic stated that DPS was advocating for justice to come to light. Resulbegovic, who is a prosecutor at the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Ulcinj, needed 49 votes from MPs to be elected. In the first round of voting, in February, he did not receive a two-thirds majority of 54 MPs.

 

Ibrahimovic: Election of Resulbegovic destroys multi-ethnic harmony and country’s EU path (MINA)

 

Bosniak Party (BS) did not vote for the election of Faruk Resulbegovic as the missing seventh judge of the Constitutional Court, because this violates the Constitution and destroys the civic concept of Montenegro and its European path, BS leader Ervin Ibrahimovic announced. At the press conference in the parliament, Ibrahimovic said that “someone wants to simulate European integration” by electing the seventh judge. “You can’t talk about integration without including a third of the people in Montenegro”, said Ibrahimovic. He stated that they had previously warned that dialogue was needed, that they could not exclude the Bosniak people from the agreement. “And the new majority will turn a deaf ear to the Bosniak people”, said Ibrahimovic, among other things. He added that there was no dialogue or broad consensus regarding the election of the missing judge of the Constitutional Court. He stated that BS called for dialogue and consensus in order to elect the Supreme State Prosecutor and the Judicial Council.

 

Fajon: The election of the seventh judge of the Constitutional Court is an important step in the right direction (MINA)

 

The election of the seventh judge of the Constitutional Court in Montenegro is an important step in the right direction, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Tanja Fajon. On Wednesday, at the session of the parliament of Montenegro, Faruk Resulbegovic was elected as a judge of the Constitutional Court. "Great news from Montenegro. I welcome the appointment of the remaining judge of the Constitutional Court. It is an important step in the right direction," Fajon said on Twitter. She said that she is looking forward to the continuation of reforms that will bring Montenegro even closer to the European Union.

 

Varhelyi: Appointments in the Constitutional Court completed with an impressive qualified majority (CdM)

 

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi welcomed the appointment of the seventh judge of the Constitutional Court. "We received excellent news from Montenegro. The long overdue appointments to the Constitutional Court have finally been completed, with an impressive cross-party qualified majority. We look forward to further decisions on key judicial appointments and other pending reforms," Varhelyi wrote on Twitter.

 

Stoltenberg: Important of choosing dialogue and diplomacy over conflict and war in the Western Balkans (MIA)

 

The Western Balkans are strategically important to NATO, and even though there is no direct military threat against any of the countries in the region, there are still reasons for concern due to the rising tensions, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the joint press conference on Wednesday following the informal leaders meeting of NATO Allies from the region. “We see secessionist threats in B&H, a fragile security situation in Kosovo. And stalled normalization between Belgrade and Pristina. On top of this, authoritarian states like Russia seek to undermine our democracies with cyber and hybrid threats, Stoltenberg said after the meeting attended by PM Dimitar Kovachevski, Presidents of Albania and Croatia, Edi Rama and Zoran Milanovic, as well as Milos Spajic, the Prime Minister of Montenegro. According to Stoltenberg, there is concern within NATO regarding the developments in certain countries in the Western Balkans, and therefore, the strength and importance of the Alliance in the region must be acknowledged. “NATO has been present in this region for many years. In Kosovo, we have already increased our presence with around 1,000 extra troops and also with some heavier armor. We are vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation. And we will always do what is necessary to protect and defend all our allies,” Stoltenberg said. He emphasized that for NATO, the ways of cooperation with partners in the region are crucial in stabilizing the Alliance's neighbourhood. “But this more about how to work with our partners in the region, how to help to stabilize our neighbourhood, because when our neighbours are more stable, we are more secure. And therefore it has been very useful for me to sit down with other leaders from the region to improve our analysis and to share our assessments because that helps us to get a better common understanding all the way forward,” Stoltenberg said, adding “The Western Balkans are core business for NATO, we are allies and partners in the region, we have history here, we have presence here, and we have a responsibility to help to ensure peace and prosperity and therefore this meeting was important.” “I have just completed a tour of the region. In every stop, I made clear that stability in the Western Balkans depends on all sides choosing dialogue and diplomacy over conflict and chaos. Ending secessionist rhetoric would boost stability and enable reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Re-engaging in the EU-facilitated dialogue is essential to Belgrade’s and Prishtina’s path to peace and prosperity. The latest proposals for the establishment of the association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo could be an important step forward. It is time to overcome regional conflicts that have continued for far too long,” Stoltenberg noted. In this regard, Stoltenberg said that Republic of North Macedonia is a valued NATO Ally, making important contributions to our shared security. “North Macedonia also leads by example as a successful multi-ethnic society. Demonstrating how people from different ethnic and religious groups and backgrounds can live together in peace. And build a country together,” he added. “We also discussed Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. There are no signs that Putin wants to negotiate or stop fighting. So, I commend NATO Allies present here today for providing vital support to Ukraine. This is even more important when the situation on the battlefield is so difficult,” Stoltenberg said. “In a few months’ time, we will mark NATO’s 75th anniversary. And at our next Summit in Washington, we will continue to adapt our Alliance for the future. We will strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence. Address growing geostrategic competition. And maintain momentum in NATO’s support to and relations with Ukraine,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

 

Kovachevski: No alternative but to work until full EU integration (MIA)

 

Our homework is to continue to work swiftly and with dedication until full EU integration, as we did with our integration into NATO. Membership into the European Union is our goal, and we have no other alternative, stressed Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski at a press conference Wednesday after the conclusion of an informal meeting of allied NATO leaders from the region. Kovachevski said at the meeting they spoke about current issues in the region and the Alliance’s commitment to the region’s stability and security. He stressed that they discussed challenges related to regional security, as well as cybersecurity. “We also discussed the regional security in detail. The NATO member states are fully ensuring the security of the region. The security and stability of the country and the region additionally contribute to economic prosperity, which we also discussed at today’s meeting,” said Kovachevski. According to the PM, investors from European countries and the United States see North Macedonia and the region as a destination for their investments. “This is a fact, and it is made possible because the countries of the region, including North Macedonia, as NATO member states, guarantee the security of this part of the world. North Macedonia and the countries of the region that have proven to be valued, trustworthy allies, deserve to be a part of the EU as well, and we will fully utilize our potential for economic progress. It will mean an increase to the living standard of the citizens, advancement of democracy and the rule of law,” added Kovachevski. The PM said North Macedonia serves as an example for co-existence and peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue. “As allies, as democrats, as progressive leaders, we are building a new region and we are constantly improving it. This definitely applies to North Macedonia as well, which has long served as an example for co-existence, for peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, by reforming and practicing democracy and inclusivity in the decision-making process,” said Kovachevski. That’s why, according to the PM, the continuation of the country’s Euro-integration is of “exceptionally great importance”. “Our homework is to continue to work swiftly and with dedication until full EU integration, as we did with our integration into NATO. EU membership is our goal and we have no other alternative. Whether we will be there soon, depends solely on us now, and on the decisions that we have to make in our Parliament,” said Kovachevski.

 

Security situation is stable, PM says (MIA)

 

The country's security situation is stable, and there are no signs it would be jeopardized, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Wednesday in response to reporter's question during the press conference held on the informal leaders' meeting of regional NATO allies held in Skopje. "We have been a member of NATO for three years, two of which I have been Prime Minister," Kovachevski said. "The information at the disposal of our country's security services — which are part of the NATO security services and share information with the partner security services of NATO member countries, including the most developed countries in the world with the most developed security mechanisms — regarding any individuals, groups and organizations wanting to jeopardize security in any NATO member country in the region, including ours, is at a level unimaginable to those who are not involved in these matters in detail," Kovachevski said. He said the country had access to extremely detailed, timely and systematic intelligence information from the NATO headquarters through the diplomatic mission in Brussels. "The system of prevention, the system of cooperation with the NATO headquarters in Brussels through our diplomatic mission, but also through our direct cooperation with NATO member countries, is working at an impeccable level. "So, our citizens should be happy and proud to live in a NATO member country with an exceptional level of security compared to any other country that is not a member of the largest military and security alliance in the world," the prime minister said.

 

Rama: Necessary to increase number of NATO troops in Kosovo (MIA)

 

It is necessary to increase the number of NATO troops in Kosovo and to guarantee the border between Kosovo and Serbia, a border which is out of control and used for illegal activities, arms trafficking, narcotics, and activities that are then involved in political activities, with an ultranationalist background, which cause great disruptions, said the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, at a press conference in Skopje after the informal meeting Wednesday of allied NATO leaders from the region. Rama voiced concern that despite repeated attempts to increase both attention and the number of troops, the event in the village of Banjska occurred, which, he said, “should serve as a hint and shouldn’t be seen as a sporadic event”. “This event exposed the enormous potential of destabilization and escalation of a conflict which can only be solved and treated through dialogue and negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia,” said the Albanian PM. In response to a journalist’s question, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said that after the incident in the north of Kosovo, he remained very reserved regarding the introduction of sanctions on Belgrade. “I was very reserved in terms of the necessary reaction to Belgrade and the introduction of sanctions that many were advocating for. I think that as a foreign policy instrument, sanctions are wrong. And I didn’t do that in order to free Croatia from any responsibility for any inadmissible behavior, I did it out of my own conviction, without expecting any favor in exchange,” said Milanovic. The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, earlier on Wednesday said there is concern in NATO over the development of events in certain Western Balkan countries, which is why the strength and importance of the Alliance in the region must be recognized. “NATO has been present in this region for many years. In Kosovo, we have already increased our presence with around 1,000 extra troops and also with some heavier armor. We are vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation. And we will always do what is necessary to protect and defend all our allies,” Stoltenberg said.

 

President Pendarovski meets Croatian counterpart Milanovic (MIA)

 

President Stevo Pendarovski met Wednesday with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, who participated in the informal meeting of allied NATO leaders from the region held in Skopje. At the meeting, according to a press release from President Pendarovski’s Office, opinions were exchanged about the overall relations between the two countries, cooperation on a regional and multilateral plan, the country’s European perspectives and the situation in the Western Balkan region. “To that end,” said the press release, “information was exchanged over security issues in a broader context, including the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and activities in the region”. Pendarovski and Milanovic reaffirmed their commitment to the enhancement of friendship and regional cooperation, and voiced readiness to continue constructive cooperation within the frameworks of NATO. “President Pendarovski voiced gratitude over Croatia’s principled support for the Macedonian Euro-integrations,“ said the press release.

 

Stoltenberg: Corruption is extremely dangerous and it's important to fight it at all levels (MIA)

 

Corruption is extremely dangerous, it undermines democratic institutions, it undermines the trust in the state, and it also makes it harder to do business. So, it’s extremely important to fight corruption at all levels, at all times, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told MIA in a video interview. On whether his address to parliament was an attempt to encourage lawmakers to adopt the constitutional amendments as a condition for the continuation of the country’s path to the EU, Stoltenberg did not comment directly, but noted that it would be good for the entire region to have North Macedonia make progress on the path to EU membership. Below is the full interview with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who visited North Macedonia for the first time since the country became a NATO member as part of his Balkan tour. In it, he talks about regional security challenges, the situation in Ukraine and support from the Alliance, as well as the biggest test ahead of the largest military and political alliance.

 

Mr. Stoltenberg, what is your impression of the country after the accession to the Alliance?

North Macedonia is a highly valued NATO ally. North Macedonia contributes to our shared security, and NATO membership is good for North Macedonia, and it is also good for NATO. I am impressed by the progress I have seen, I have also seen that NATO membership has enabled more investments, more foreign investments, and more jobs and more growth. Because when you have security guaranteed by NATO then, of course, it is easier for private investors to invest and to help promote economic growth in your country. So, I am glad to see a very committed NATO ally in North Macedonia.

 

Was your address to parliament yesterday an attempt to encourage lawmakers to adopt the constitutional amendments?

It is not for me to go into those specific issues, because they are also related to your process towards EU membership. But my message is that NATO membership has very often paved the way for EU membership, and it would be good for the whole region also to have North Macedonia making progress on the path to EU membership. Of course, that will require some decisions by North Macedonia, but it is not for me to go into the specific proposals on the paper.

 

Can you comment about the situation with corruption in the country and in the region? Can we say it contributes to the destabilization of the region?

Corruption is a disease, corruption is extremely dangerous, corruption is undermining democratic institutions, corruption is undermining the trust in the state, and it also making it harder to do business. So, it’s extremely important to fight corruption at all levels, at all time, and I welcome the commitment of the Prime Minister, we had a meeting, and he reiterated his strong commitment to fight corruption, this is extremely important. It makes any country which suffers from corruption poorer, more vulnerable, because you have weakened state institutions, so corruption is extremely important to fight.

 

You stated no military threat would come from Russia against any NATO ally from the region, while adding that Moscow will be closely followed. Can we expect further enhancement of NATO presence in the region, and is there a risk of new tensions in Kosovo?

Well, my message is that we don’t see any imminent military threat against any NATO ally in this region or any other NATO ally for that sake. But what we see is instability in this region, particularly increased violence or serious violent incidents in Kosovo. Instability has increased also in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina risks a total stall. Therefore, we need to focus on how can we help to stabilize our neighborhood. Because, when neighbors of NATO are more stable, we as NATO allies, North Macedonia and the rest of the Alliance, we are more secure. We have already increased our presence in Kosovo, with a thousand troops. Of course, we will always assess what is necessary, but our aim is, of course, not to stay with troops in Kosovo forever, our aim is to help to facilitate, support a normalization that enables to reduce our presence. But obviously now [there] is actually less stability, or instability, and therefore we have increased our presence. But then, when it comes to protecting NATO allies, most NATO allies don’t have large numbers of NATO troops deployed, but NATO has the ability to quickly reinforce, to deploy troops and forces if needed, and of course, if we see any direct threat against a NATO ally we are ready to deploy forces, but we don’t see that kind of threat against North Macedonia or any other NATO ally.

 

It seems that the Israel-Hamas war has diverted the attention of the global public from the war in Ukraine. Is there a threat of fatigue among NATO members regarding the support to Kiev or a possible disruption of the Alliance’s unity around this issue?

What you have seen recently is that allies continue to provide significant military support to Ukraine. Just over the last few days, the United States made a big new announcement of additional support, more ammunition, more weapon systems. Germany made a big announcement just a couple of days ago, and other allies have also made announcements. I think, actions speak louder than words, and the actions of NATO allies, actually continuing to provide concrete military support to Ukraine is the best message to President Putin that he will not win on the battlefield. He has to accept that Ukraine will prevail as a sovereign, independent nation, and if he wanted to negotiate a peaceful settlement to this conflict, the war against Ukraine, the best way of achieving that is to convince President Putin will not win on the battlefield, because then he has to sit down and agree an agreement that ensures that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation in Europe.

 

NATO will mark its 75th anniversary next year, what will be the biggest test for the future of the Alliance?

The biggest test for NATO is always our unity, and for all those 75 years we have been united around our core task, to protect and defend each other, one for all and all for one, and we have ensured this unity despite differences. We are 31 different allies, almost 32 with Sweden, from both sides of the Atlantic, and of course there are differences, we don’t agree on all issues, but we agree on the core issue, to protect each other. And by doing that we preserve peace, because the purpose of NATO is not to provoke a conflict, it’s to prevent a conflict by sending a clear and strong message to any potential adversary that we are there to protect each other. By doing that, we are pursuing peace and preventing war. This is also the case in the Western Balkans, the Western Balkans is core business for NATO, we have history here, we have presence here, we have responsibility to work with allies and partners in the region to ensure peace and stability, and that’s exactly what we do. That’s also the main message during my tour in the region, and my main message here in Skopje. And I have a close relationship with this region partly because I had the privilege of being the Secretary General of NATO when North Macedonia became a member, and it was courage and political vision, all the political leadership in North Macedonia that made that possible, the Prespa Agreement was really statesmanship, it was leadership that enabled you to become a member of NATO, which is good for North Macedonia, your security, and also for your economy. But I also have a very close relationship to this region, because when I was a child, my father worked at the Norwegian Embassy to Yugoslavia, and we traveled a lot in this region, and I have fond memories from my visits to Skopje in the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s great to be back.

 

You are heading NATO amid the most challenging period of the Alliance. But you said that you would not run for a third term as a Secretary General. What are the most important lessons you would share with your successor?

The most important lesson and the most important message is that NATO has to be united and to keep North America and Europe together, I don’t believe in North America or America alone, I don’t believe in Europe alone. I believe in North America and Europe together in NATO, because then we are safe, then we are able to protect each other. I don’t know what the next crisis will be, but I do know that whatever happens, we are safer when we are together. So, unity, is the first and most important lesson. The second lesson is that we need to change – when the world changes, NATO has to change. That’s exactly what has happened since 2014, when Russia illegally annexed Crimea, and went in eastern Donbas. Since then, NATO has implemented the biggest adaptation, the change of our alliance in a generation, so change and unity are the two main tasks for any NATO leader.

 

Skopje meeting, Rama proposes a NATO summit with the Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)

 

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced, from Skopje where the meeting of the leaders of the five NATO member countries from Southeast Europe was held, that he has proposed a format for a NATO Summit involving the Western Balkans. At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski of North Macedonia, along with President Zoran Milanovic of Croatia and Prime Minister Millojko Spajic of Montenegro, Prime Minister Rama stated, "The NATO Secretary General welcomed with interest the proposal to establish a NATO Summit format involving the Western Balkans. This format aims to include not only NATO member countries in the region but also partner countries. Thus, it would encompass other Western Balkan nations not represented here today, as well as member countries bordering the region with a direct stake in its stability and democratic advancement." Moreover, Rama emphasized, 'I regret that despite repeated appeals to significantly bolster not only attention but also troops, ensuring absolute stability and inviolability in Kosovo, a tragic event occurred. This incident should serve as a warning rather than a sporadic occurrence and must be prevented from recurring at all costs in the future. Hence, Rama stressed, "During today's meeting, I underscored the critical need to bolster NATO forces in Kosovo and to secure the Kosovo-Serbia border, which is currently uncontrolled and exploited for illegal activities like arms and drug trafficking. These unlawful acts often intertwine with political endeavors rooted in ultra-nationalism, leading to severe consequences, such as the tragic loss of a Kosovo Police officer in Banjska. This incident underscores the high risk of destabilization and conflict escalation. As the Secretary General mentioned, the resolution of such issues must occur at the dialogue table, facilitated by the EU, involving Kosovo and Serbia."

 

Meeting with Stoltenberg, Rama: To secure the Kosovo-Serbia border, to proceed more quickly with the naval base in Porto Palermo (Radio Tirana)

 

After the meeting with the NATO Secretary General and the leaders of the other 4 member countries of the alliance in South-Eastern Europe, Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama announced that he requested an increase in the number of alliance forces in Kosovo. In his speech, during the joint press conference in Skopje, Rama considered the attack in the north of Kosovo as tragic, as he said that it must be ensured that such a thing does not happen again. According to the head of the Albanian government, it is necessary to guarantee the border between Kosovo and Serbia since, according to him, it is out of control and at the service of illegal activities. "In the north (of Kosovo), a tragic event which should be considered a warning and not a sporadic event and should by all means not be repeated. That's why I emphasized in the meeting the necessity of increasing the number of NATO forces in Kosovo and the necessity to guarantee the border between Kosovo and Serbia, which is out of control and is at the service of illegal arms and drug trafficking activities, activities that then get confused with political activity of an ultra-nationalist background that causes serious deviations such as the one in Banjska where a Kosovo Police officer lost his life in the line of duty and where the high risk of destabilization and escalation of a conflict that has only one way to be addressed, which is at the dialogue table mediated by the EU," Rama underscored. Likewise, the Prime Minister emphasized that he has requested to proceed as soon as possible with Albania's application to co-finance the NATO naval base in Porto Palermo. According to Rama, this new naval base of NATO would strengthen the common defense strategy. "I also want to emphasize the request that Albania's application to co-finance the NATO naval base in Porto Romano be processed as soon as possible because we believe that everything that happens reinforces the strategic value of such an investment, not simply for Albania or the region, but also for NATO itself, which will gain quick access to every part of Europe in respect to the common defense strategy. We will continue to be very engaged and dedicated to strengthen our capacities and increase the efficiency of the Armed Forces and remain a responsible and unwavering NATO member country in all common challenges," declared Rama.