Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We will establish the Commercial Court (Kosovapress)
• Thaci to meet Macron, will speak about visa liberalisation (media)
• Kosovo Foreign Ministry reacts to Dacic’s claims: Filthy propaganda (media)
• Missing persons families: New government to condition talks with Serbia (Koha)
• Serbian officials threaten state of Kosovo (Zeri/Gazeta Express)
• Lushi: Those who want Kosovo to join Mini-Schengen are fools (media)
• ECAP gives right to NISMA requests recount of votes at over 1400 polling stations (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ghana: Decision to recognise Kosovo was premature (Tanjug)
• Ghana revoked recognition of Kosovo (B92)
• Ohrid Agreement: Open borders, labor and student exchange, travel with ID cards only (B92, Tanjug)
• RCC welcomes idea of creating a single market in the region (Beta, N1)
• Matthew Palmer: "Mini Schengen has US support" (B92)
• Officials in Pristina, Belgrade trade insults (N1, KoSSev)
• Billboards on Armistice Day placed in northern Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti)
• Assistant Director of the Office for KiM: Kosovo Government cannot be formed without the Serbian List (Radio Beograd, Radio Mitrovica Sever) 
• New EC President: Keep enlargement in Western Balkans sustainable (SRNA, N1)
• "EU's decision is a disaster" (Tanjug, B92, Blic)

Opinions:

• EU's 'no' to Western Balkans could spark conflict (DW)
• "As for Macron, we knock on an open door and there is no dilemma" (B92, Tanjug)

International:

• Macron questioning NATO in Economist interview raises eyebrows about his methods (euractiv.com)
• Europe risks losing strategic clout in Western Balkans (euractiv.com)

Development/Humanitarian:

• Kosovo miners on strike over conditions and pay (Beta, KoSSev, N1)
• Nobel laureate commends Kosovo for addressing conflict-related sexual violence (media)

 

 

Albanian Language Media

  Kurti: We will establish the Commercial Court (Kosovapress)

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti said in an interview with the news agency on Sunday that the new government he plans to lead will make the diaspora a part of planning and decision-making processes in Kosovo. 

Kurti, who won the highest number of votes in the recent parliamentary elections, said the new government will bring members of the diaspora in state institutions in Kosovo to help develop the economy. “We will make plans and decisions together with them, as we believe that their skills, their working habits, their experience in the West is irreplaceable,” he said. 

Kurti said Kosovo needs production in the economy and employment in society primarily for young people and women. He also argued that so far, the diaspora did not have the right conditions to make investments in Kosovo but that this situation will change with the new government which will focus on the rule of law and an uncompromised judiciary.

“We cannot expect capital foreign investments while we have not created conditions for our own diaspora to invest in Kosovo. We will do exactly this, through the rule of law and an uncompromised judiciary. We will also establish the Commercial Court. We will also put an end to corruption in government, and we will fight corruption in all areas, both in institutions and society. We will reduce the unemployment rate … We will also try to make access to funds easier, through a Development Bank with soft and long-term loans,” Kurti said. 

In his address to the second economic congress of the Union of Business in Frankfurt, Germany, Kurti said the new government he will lead will provide security for businesses in Kosovo and create bridges for German and other investments in Kosovo.  

Thaci to meet Macron, will speak about visa liberalisation (media)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, in France for the Peace Forum, is expected to meet tonight President Emmanuel Macron at a dinner he is hosting at the start of the event.

According to Kosovo President's Office, Thaci will meet Macron prior to the dinner and will discuss Kosovo's European perspective, "in particular the need for an immediate and deserved decision for visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo." 

Thaci is also scheduled to speak tomorrow at one of the forum's panels about sustainable peace in Kosovo.  

Kosovo Foreign Ministry reacts to Dacic’s claims: Filthy propaganda (media)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted today to claims made by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic that Ghana has revoked its recognition of Kosovo’s independence, several news websites report. Jetlir Zyberaj, advisor to Kosovo’s outgoing Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli, said “this is continuous and filthy propaganda by Ivica Dacic”. “This is the latest lie. Every UN member state supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The majority of UN member states have voted in favor of the UN General Assembly’s resolution for the start of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. This is continuous and filthy propaganda by Ivica Dacic and dealing with him is just a waste of time. Ghana has an accredited ambassador in Kosovo. Ghana also has an honorary consul in Kosovo that represents them. Minister Pacolli has recently met with Ghana’s Foreign Minister at the United Nations in New York,” Zyberaj added.

Missing persons families: New government must condition dialogue with Serbia (Koha)

The news website reports that families of missing persons are not satisfied with the work of Kosovo’s institution in resolving the fate of missing persons. Most of them want the Kosovo Government to demand the inclusion of the issue of missing persons in the dialogue with Serbia. Bajram Cerkini, from the Pristina-based Missing Persons Resource Centre, argues that families of missing persons must be involved in the talks with Serbia. Kushtrim Gara, from the Kosovo government’s committee for missing persons, told Koha that the new government should address the issue of missing persons with priority. Besnik Bislimi, deputy leader of the Vetevendosje Movement which is expected to form the new government with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), did not rule out the possibility of including the families of missing persons in the dialogue with Serbia. Koha notes that there are 1,650 missing persons even 20 years after the end of the war.

Serbian officials threaten state of Kosovo (Zeri/Gazeta Express)

Serbia’s highest-ranking officials have left open the possibility of Serbs in Kosovo rebelling to the point of unrest and warned that the northern municipalities could break away from the Kosovo system and fall under the leadership of “provisional authorities” if the Serbian List is not included in the new government of Kosovo, the news outlets report.

Serbian flags and other symbols of the Serbian state could be seen in every corner of the north on Friday when Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, was visiting Mitrovica North and Leposavic. Anyone that crossed the Ibar bridge was under the impression that they were in a Serbian city also because of the loud music from the bars in Mitrovica North, Zeri reports. 

The paper also notes that several Serbian flags in the hands of the monument of King Lazar near the main bridge, are the best indicator that the majority of Serbs living in the north want the city to remain divided and that they don’t want to have anything in common with the Albanians.

Lushi: Those who want Kosovo to join Mini-Schengen are fools (media)

Uk Lushi, an Albanian publicist based in the U.S., said today that political commentators calling for Kosovo to join the so-called Balkans Mini-Schengen, without resolving first disputes between Kosovo and Serbia, “are either fools or anti-Albanian”, several news websites report. “The Republic of Albania has no reason to rush into such regional initiatives while there is increased engagement to finalise the division between Kosovo and Serbia … Two issues are crucial: first, state issues between Kosovo and Serbia must be resolved. And second, there needs to be regional cooperation, but no regional project can substitute the process of the Balkans countries joining the European Union,” he argued.

ECAP gives right to NISMA requests recount of votes at over 1400 polling stations (media)

The Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has come up with decisions on all appeals submitted by political parties and candidates for deputies, filed following the announcement of the final election results by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The Complaints Panel has decided as follows:

The ECAP has received 53 grounded complaints and based on them the Panel has decided in relation to 52 complaints to order the CEC to recount ballots at 1472 polling stations.

ECAP has decided to accept the complaint submitted by the NISMA - AKR - PD Coalition, as grounded and has ordered the CEC to remove from the final election result the ballots of voters outside Kosovo coming from Serbia.

23 complaints were dismissed as untimely and inadmissible. 25 complaints were rejected as ungrounded. 1 complaint is found to be withdrawn.

   

Serbian Language Media

  Ghana: Decision to recognise Kosovo was premature (Tanjug)

Serbian news agency Tanjug reports that the government of the Republic of Ghana has decided to withdraw Ghana's recognition of Kosovo as an independent state as the recognition was in contravention of the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, says a Ghanaian diplomatic note to Belgrade.

The government of the Republic of Ghana has decided to withdraw Ghana's recognition of Kosovo as an independent state as the recognition was in contravention of the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, says a Ghanaian diplomatic note to Belgrade.

"In 2012, Ghana decided to recognise Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, leading to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

This recognition was in contravention of the Helsinki Final Act and, more fundamentally, in contravention of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

The decision to recognise Kosovo turned out to be premature in view of paragraph 10 of the UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999), which authorised the Secretary General to 'establish an international civil presence in Kosovo in order to provide an interim administration for Kosovo under which the people of Kosovo can enjoy substantial autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and which will provide transitional administration while establishing and overseeing the development of provisional democratic self-governing institutions to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo.’

The decision of the Government of Ghana at the time must have, however, been inspired by the quest for peace and harmony.

The Government of Ghana has taken into account the on-going dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo aimed at resolving the issue of the latter's quest to be recognised as an independent and sovereign entity and supports the ongoing process to bring finality to the matter," the note said.

Ghana is the 16th UN member state to withdraw its recognition of Kosovo.

https://bit.ly/2NZKpj9 Ghana revoked recognition of Kosovo (B92, RTS)

Ghana became the 16th country that has revoked recognition of Kosovo, B92 reports.

A note arrived from Ghana during the weekend saying the government of this country has decided to revoke recognition of Kosovo, adding the decision made by the previous government was wrong.

B92 said it is the largest country so far that revoked the recognition, adding the negotiations between Serbia and Ghana lasted a year and a half.

“(…) Ghana has 30 million inhabitants and it is three times bigger than Serbia. Ghana was also a traditional ally of (former) Yugoslavia,” Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic said commenting on the decision.

Ohrid Agreement: Open borders, labor and student exchange, travel with ID cards only (B92, Tanjug)

A two-day meeting of three Western Balkans leaders has ended in Ohrid

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reached the agreement on how the so-called "mini Schengen" will look like with Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama, the prime ministers of North Macedonia and Albania. 

The implementation of this agreement will contribute to the development and economic growth of the three countries, as well as other countries in the Western Balkans. Today's meetings were also attended by the BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Denis Zvizdic and Montenegrin Economy Minister Dragica Sekulic. 

At a joint press conference, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev first addressed the public. 

"Today we are going to talk about a dream, the Balkans of the 21st century. We will improve living conditions, help young people stay here, and with this agreement we will find a way to attract foreign investors. We have opened this initiative, or action plan. This Balkans will be a different, better place,” Zaev said, inviting other Balkan countries to join this initiative. 

According to him, borders will only be crossed with an ID card, trucks will not wait for hours at the border crossings. Zaev added that the ultimate goal of the regional initiative is the mutual recognition of all documents, including the documents of food agencies, college degrees and other state documents. 

After Zaev, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic addressed the audience. 

"This is a very important initiative for Serbia. I am proud that in a short time we have been able to agree on something that will mean a lot to our citizens," Vucic said. 

"When we put in place border inspections, a sum amounting to 129 million euros will be saved at individual crossings between countries, not to mention how much easier it is for a tomato grower in northern or southern Albania to export these easily perishable goods to Serbia and will be in a position to make plans for better production facilities. For investors, it would be great to be able to exchange engineers and workers, in two years you will be able to see investment growth in all three countries. You will have free movement. Before the end of the year, we will be able to go to Albania only with an ID card," Vucic emphasized. 

He said that what was agreed in Ohrid would not be popular in Serbia, but that he doesn't care. 

"Many people do not understand this today, I see that Rama is under tremendous pressure. During the election campaign, my opponents attacked me of building a highway for Greater Albania, but they received 11 times fewer votes than me. I am proud of the agreement between North Macedonia and Albania. Maybe we will fail with this initiative, but it will certainly be the future. There are no ‘Yugoslavias’ but only a better and more quality life for our citizens," Vucic said. He also referred to the arrival of foreign tourists, who would be able to travel freely between these countries. 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said it was not the idea to divide the Western Balkans, which is already fragmented, but to cover all Balkan countries with this initiative. 

"Our declaration, the agreement at the summit was written down and adopted in the six countries at the meetings we had carried out. The key feature is that this document is an internal desire, not patronized externally," Rama said. 

He announced that the next meeting would be held in Durres on December 21st, with EU foreign policy representative Joseph Borrell attending the summit. 

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdic, said that Bosnia-Herzegovina still does not have a defined position on this regional initiative. 

"Bosnia-Herzegovina will adopt its position in accordance with the procedures after a serious analysis of institutions, business community and experts. We have received some guarantees that the initiative does not attempt to substitute for Euro-integration or derogate from existing regional agreements such as CEFTA," Zvizdic said, adding that Euro-integration remains the "primary focus" of Bosnia-Herzegovina. 

He stated that it is necessary for Bosnian institutions to be formally aware of the "content and expected benefits" of the initiative and models for removing customs barriers. 

Zvidic also said that it is good that meetings of regional leaders are no longer held only in European capitals but also in the region itself. According to him, it is necessary to work on economic cooperation in the region as it contributes to political cooperation. 

Montenegrin Economy Minister Dragica Sekulic said that Montenegro would consider an initiative on the so-called "Mini Schengen", depending on to what extent such a move could bring benefit to the country. 

"Every initiative related to the economic cohesion of the region in Montenegro went through an analysis - whether it accelerates the country's European integration and what benefits it brings to citizens and the economy. So, this initiative will also be analyzed at the level of institutions and experts, so if proven to meet both conditions, we will discuss," Sekulic concluded, pointing out that the opportunity for doing this will be presented in Durres in December.

With less "paperwork" across the border

These are the concrete measures on the free movement of people, goods, services and capital among the three countries, agreed upon in Ohrid: 

-Travel of citizens of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania within the territories of the three countries with ID card only, to Serbia and Albania starting at the end of the year; 

-"Mini Schengen" opens the possibility for foreigners, so the citizens of the initiative countries could travel without additional visas. This will increase the number of foreign tourists and enable the establishment of joint tourist offers and routes; 

-Joint work permits and recognition of qualifications and diplomas, without additional procedures, which would provide the possibility of labor movement, which would in turn increase the availability of workforce and thus the attractiveness of the whole region for foreign investors; 

-Student exchange; 

-Joint Research & Development projects; 

-Introducing 24-hour working time for all border inspection services, with a focus on phytosanitary and veterinary inspection, which will shorten the waiting time for goods trucks and the free movement of goods will have multiple effects and increase the competitiveness of the entire region with about 12 million inhabitants; 

-Unique "package" of documentation required for transit of goods, with an emphasis on introducing a system with as little "paper" as would be consistent with the digital development strategy; 

-Amendments to the laws in the field of the capital market, tax and financial system in all three countries, in order to create conditions for smooth flow of capital; 

-Further strengthening cross-border cooperation in the field of combating transnational crime and terrorism, through cooperation in the field of migration and emergency assistance; 

-Defining its own rules in many areas, in order to improve the attractiveness of the three countries and cooperation, and this initiative can thus become the most important political initiative in the 21st century. 

-This is part of the measures that will be defined precisely in the Action Plan, until the next initiative meeting in Durres, Albania, at the end of December takes place. 

The initiative is reportedly open to all countries in the region.

https://bit.ly/2X3WV4Y RCC welcomes idea of creating a single market in the region (Beta, N1)

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supports all initiatives that contribute to the creation of a single market in the region modelled on the European Union (EU) market and on the grounds of four fundamental freedoms of movement, Majlinda Bregu, the Council’s Secretary-General, said in North Macedonian resort city Ohrid, which hosted the meeting of the Western Balkan leaders this weekend.

“The initiatives should fully mirror the EU models and in such a way represent a stepping stone to our full EU integration,” said Bregu following the meeting held within the ‘mini Schengen’ initiative, adding that resolute dismantling of the barriers within the region is urgently needed.

She recalled that the RCC, presented in July this year an idea of free movement inside the region using only the ID cards and that it welcomes all genuine initiatives towards the liberalization processes, be it in transport, trade, digitalization or any other sectors.

https://bit.ly/2ND17pr Matthew Palmer: "Mini Schengen has US support" (B92)

"Mini Schengen is a promising initiative and has our support,” Matthew Palmer said in Geneva on Friday.

"The European perspective of the Western Balkans, which has been the basis of US engagement in the region for more than 20 years, has not changed and will not change," Matthew Palmer, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Special Representative for the Western Balkans said. 

"That is exactly why the European Council's failure to reach consensus on opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania has been so deeply disappointing, but it issue is not resolved yet. We hope that the European Council will be able to revise its stance and make progress at the leaders' meeting in Zagreb, reach the necessary consensus and begin this important process, sending an important signal to the region," Palmer said. 

"Meanwhile, as the US takes on a larger role in the Western Balkans and the EU is at risk of being perceived in the region as withdrawing, the region itself is taking over the initiative. Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia's commitment to improving co-operation through an initiative called 'mini Schengen' show that leaders in the region are taking responsibility for their own destiny, controlling their own future," a US official noted. 

According to him, the structure of this initiative is open, there is room for Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. 

Officials in Pristina, Belgrade trade insults (N1, KoSSev)

Officials in Pristina and Belgrade traded harsh words on Friday with an advisor to Kosovo’s foreign minister calling Serbian official Marko Djuric “nationalist scum” and the government’s Office for Kosovo responding with claims of hatred towards Serbs in general.

“Marko Djuric is nationalist scum,” the outgoing foreign minister’s advisor Jetlir Zyberaj told the media in Pristina. He confirmed the statement for the KoSSev news portal: “Yes he is nationalist scum”. 

Earlier, Zyberaj told Pristina’s Gazeta Express daily that the European Union “should not pressure us in future to allow visits by a Serb nationalist scum like Djuric”.  

Djuric heads the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo and as a government official he must inform the authorities in Pristina of visits to Kosovo in advance. He has been refused entry and was arrested once for crossing the border illegally.  

His deputy at the Office for Kosovo Dusan Kozarev responded saying that Zyberaj was “Serb-hater”. 

“Jetlir Zyberaj is one of the greatest Serb-haters in Kosovo and his hate speech today was just a reflection of his most intimate and sickest chauvinist feelings,” he wrote in a statement released to the media. Kozarev said that Zyberaj was not alone in his views. 

“It seems that the entire Albanian so-called political elite in Kosovo will have to undergo treatment and de-Nazification,” Kozarev wrote.  

Djuric was in northern Kosovo for North Mitrovica Saint ‘s day celebration. Zyberaj confirmed that he had been given permission for the visit in line with the Brussels agreement.

https://bit.ly/2p70o6x Billboards on Armistice Day placed in northern Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti)

The billboards and posters expressing gratitude to the victims of WWI were placed this morning on the occasion on Armistice Day in the four northern municipalities in Kosovo, Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti reports.

The billboards and posters are dedicated “to the 1,300,000 Serbs who paid the highest price for freedom in WWI and laid down their lives”. They also include the purple flower of “Natalia’s Ramonda” and the following message: “1,300,000 names in one - eternal glory and gratitude”, Vecernje Novosti added.

Assistant Director of the Office for KiM: Kosovo Government cannot be formed without the Serbian List (Radio Beograd, Radio Mitrovica Sever) 

Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Sunday that ''as long as Albin Kurti and others who would form the future Kosovo government does not respect the Serbian List and properly treat its representatives, nothing will come off that government.''

Petkovic said that under ''the so-called Kosovo Constitution, as well as all internal regulations that were binding for Albanians, without a minister coming from a parliamentary group in the Assembly representing the Serbian community, the government cannot be formed''.

''Kurti first said he did not want to have anything to do with the Serbian List, because according to him, that list does not recognize an independent Kosovo, and then he changed his statement and said - well, one minister representing the Serbian List is okay, but we will not be in coalition with them,'' Petkovic said.

He stressed that in the end, however, it will be by the regulations.

“And the fact that they say one thing and do another, only illustrates the fact that they are now in a kind of political problem because they don’t know how to get out of that situation. They said that they did not want the Serbian List, they were misleading the public, and without the Serbian List, no government could be formed. What Kurti is saying - we will take one Serb, which the Serbian List should agree to that - these are stories for small kids,'' Petkovic said.

He reminded that the second conclusion from the meeting that was held between the political representatives of Kosovo Serbs and Director of the office for KiM Marko Djuric, was that no one can determine for the Serbian List who should represent the Serbian people.

New EC President: Keep enlargement in Western Balkans sustainable (SRNA, N1)

European Union enlargement in the Western Balkans will have to be sustainable and accelerated in the next five years but also grounded on the assessment of readiness to objective criteria for every country, European Commission's incoming President Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to new Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, SRNA news agency reports.

In a letter sent on November 7, Von der Leyen said the enlargement process must maintain its credibility and that her Commission will support the current Commission's proposal to start accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

She also noted that the European perspective for the Western Balkans helped to overcome the historic divisions and to start essential political and economic reforms.

“You should work on accelerating the structural and institutional reforms, keeping the strong focus on the foundations of the rule of law, economic growth and the public administration reform. I expect you to support all efforts in the fight against corruption in the whole region and all the efforts towards the good neighbourly relations and solving the mutual disputes,” the Von der Leyen was quoted as saying.

"EU's decision is a disaster" (Tanjug, B92, Blic)

"The EU’s recent decision not to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania is a disaster", Wolfgang Ischinger said, B92 reports.

Ischinger is a Chairman of the Munich Security Conference and German diplomat with extensive experience.

"The political costs of this decision are already evident: North Macedonia faces a political crisis and — not inconceivably —long-term destabilization. Other Western Balkan states will conclude: You cannot rely on the EU, and even if we engage in difficult reforms, we will remain second-class Europeans", Ischinger stated for "Politico".

He considers that the void the EU has torn open will not remain unfilled: "Others — Russia, China, and Turkey in particular — will be eager to fill it".

"It is highly unlikely that this will serve the greater goal of democracy, peace and stability in the EU’s immediate neighborhood", German diplomat said and daily "Blic" carried out.

He regards as the greatest stumbling block on the path towards a durable Euro-Atlantic security order the following fact: "the dismal state of relations with Russia".

"It is a pity that the vision of a 'Common European Home', as expressed by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, never materialized — a home to all including Russia. Quite the contrary: With Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and its intervention in Eastern Ukraine, this prospect has dimmed even further", Ischinger concluded.

   

Opinions 

  EU's 'no' to Western Balkans could spark conflict (DW)

The EU's fatal decision to block Albania and Macedonia's path to membership will destabilize the Western Balkans. The EU is lacking clarity when it comes to its interests, writes Christian Schwarz-Schilling, former German minister and high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"There is a real danger that the failure of the EU-led negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo will result in open conflict. This would have dire consequences for Bosnia-Herzegovina — particularly for the district of Brcko, geographically situated between Republika Srpska and Serbia, which would play a decisive role in any conflict," Schwarz-Schilling warns. 

He says it is of immense importance for NATO  to step up its military presence in the Western Balkans region and prevent a possible escalation of tensions. "And, in light of these developments, Europe needs to finally wake up." 

https://bit.ly/2Q5QuNu "As for Macron, we knock on an open door and there is no dilemma" (B92, Tanjug)

There is no doubt that Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania will have full support of French President Emmanuel Macron when it comes to "mini-Schengen" concept

This is the opinion of the Director of the Center for Globalization, Dejan Miletic. 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is meeting with Macron, from whom, as he announced, will seek support for "mini-Schengen", as well as answer to the question of what the future of the region is when it comes to European integration. 

Miletic believes Macron is "the right address for it when it comes to the EU". 

He stated that he was convinced that Germany's position on the regional initiative was positive, bearing in mind that through the Berlin Initiative it supported the rapprochement in the region, as well as being very economically active in Serbia, and counted with the expansion of the market for German companies that do business in our country. 

"However, in that context, France is very important because of the political dimension and the desire to be more economically present in Serbia, and that means in the region. I have no doubt in Macron's support and his understanding of the concept," Miletic said. 

He adds that he has no doubt that Macron understands that "mini-Schengen" is a good way for everyone in the region to show a desire to integrate into a much broader community such as the EU, adapting their systems of capabilities for stronger economic cooperation in the region and later with the EU. 

"On this point, we are knocking on an open door with President Macron and there is no dilemma, there will be no disagreement," according to Miletic.  

He points out that he expects the French President to give some concrete guidance on what to expect from the EU, i.e. how the conditions of accession of Serbia and other countries in the region will change, what the criteria will be, whether the funds will be more flexible. 

Miletic also expects bilateral relations to deepen in the right direction from the meeting of the two presidents, because, as he says, it builds trust and a relationship that will mean a great deal in the strategic sense, first of all to Serbia, of course, but also to France, since, as she says, it counts on Serbia as the leader of this region. 

Miletic underlines the moment when the two presidents meet, when Macron announces the start of a different, active role for the EU, which, he believes, is important message saying that the EU is moving much more dynamically to engage on issues of its future, and in this context, the Western Balkans and the negotiations between the so-called state of Kosovo and Serbia, and that those Macron's announcements will also be the basis for President Vucic's discussing with him on all other aspects. 

"I am sure that France wants development and peace in the region, and in that context, Serbia is the key to it and it is behaving in the same way as Serbia is constructive in its attitude", Miletic said. 

Former Serbian Ambassador to France, Radomir Diklic, points out that Serbia cannot count on the "individual support" from France when it comes to European integration, but on a kind of encouragement that applies to the whole region. According to him, Macron is likely to explain in greater detail the idea of internal EU reform and the future enlargement policy in the meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic. 

"We cannot get a date in this period. This is unrealistic to expect, but certainly President Macron will provide some clarifications", Diklic concluded. 

However, he believes that the very fact that President Vucic meets with the French President on Tuesday is positive, because it is about "maintaining the continuity of mutual dialogue” but adds that he does not believe that Serbia can receive support individually. 

"We can get the encouragement that already exists throughout the Western Balkans. Macron is a firm supporter of reforming the European Union first and then receiving other members. Of course, he does not decide alone, but certainly France's position is highly regarded within the EU", Diklic said for Tanjug. 

He estimated that recent events, when North Macedonia and Albania were denied a date for the start of negotiations at the European Council, indicate a crisis in EU decision-making process and that the delay in enlargement is somehow a turning point in the creation of a new EU profile. 

Professor on the Faculty of Political Sciences, Slobodan Samardzic points out that after Macron's statements, it is necessary to see in what direction the EU's goals will change. 

Serbia and the region on the whole must accept the new reality - that there is no EU accession, and that a new model of cooperation is needed, a new type of contractual model between the EU and the countries of the region, because, as Samardzic reminds, the existing Stabilization and Association Agreement was aimed at the system of introducing full change within the candidate countries, prior to their being ready to join the EU.

https://bit.ly/36SDdxQ    

International

    Macron questioning NATO in Economist interview raises eyebrows about his methods (euractiv.com)

French President Emmanuel Macron presented his geopolitical vision in an interview with The Economist on Thursday (7 November), and it once again attracted a wide range of criticism. By speaking of a “NATO brain death”, this recent diplomatic blunder is putting the French president’s partnerships at risk.

In an interview with Le Monde on Friday (8 November), the new High Representative of the European Union for External Affairs, Josep Borrell, urged people to refer to the entire Economist interview with Macron published on Thursday, rather than to the shock formula referring to “NATO brain death”, which has been causing trouble across European capitals.

Borrell, who will take office on 1 December, nevertheless justified Macron’s statement, which in his opinion “also reflects the urgent need for Europe to move forward with determination in the development of its defence capabilities, to be able to deal with the conflicts that affect it most closely”. He defended the French president for having dared to address the ‘elephant in the room’, by taking shots at NATO and calling for “lucidity”.

https://bit.ly/2X4P1Zk

Europe risks losing strategic clout in Western Balkans (euractiv.com)

Trouble spots and tensions surrounding the European Union are continuing: Syria, Iraq, Libya, Ukraine, Eastern Mediterranean. In the south of the European Union, an arc of geopolitical instability is being formed and we must not allow it to expand, ten former foreign ministers warn in an open letter.

*The signatories are listed at the bottom.

Stability, democracy and prosperity in Southeast Europe are directly linked to the consolidation of the European project and the completion of the reunification of our continent with the accession of Western Balkan countries, a process that started 30 years ago.

The obstinate opposition to opening EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, despite the recommendation of the European Commission and the will of the vast majority of the member states and European Parliament, has put in jeopardy the EU’s remaining influence on its own doorstep and its ability to shape strategic developments and stability in Southeast Europe.

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Development/Humanitarian

  Kosovo miners on strike over conditions and pay (Beta, KoSSev, N1)

Miners at the Trepca complex in Mitrovica have gone on strike protesting bad working conditions and failure to get paid, Pristina media reported on Monday.

A spokesman for the miners told Radio Free Europe that they had not received their wages for October. “The miners are on strike. There are three main demands. Wages should be paid by November 11 and they haven’t been paid, the food is very bad, and the miners have not been issued gloves and boots,” union representative Gani Osmani said.  

He said the miners would remain on strike until their demands are met, adding that the Trepca company is in bad shape financially because of bad management.  

Trepca is a shareholder society with 80 percent of shares owned by the Kosovo government and 20 percent by its employees. Trepca is also the subject of a dispute between Pristina and Belgrade, both of which claim ownership.

https://bit.ly/36VZz1e Nobel laureate commends Kosovo for addressing conflict-related sexual violence (media)

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege met in Pristina today members of the Kosovo Government's Commission for Verification of the Status of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the Conflict.

"The Government Commission expressed high appreciation for the visit of Dr. Mukwege to Kosovo as a direct support for the survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo and the efforts of the Kosovo state to address this means of war. The Government Commission also commended the relentless efforts of Dr. Mukwege in raising the awareness and providing support and assistance to survivors all over the world," a press statement issued by the commission reads. 

Dr. Mukwege is said to have presented an insight into how the issue of conflict-related sexual violence is addressed in other countries and commended the Kosovo commission for its work. 

Dr. Mukwebe and his team are in Kosovo on the invitation of the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), a non-governmental organisation celebrating 20th anniversary of establishment. KRCT is part of SEMA, a global network of victims and survivors to end wartime sexual violence. 

At a conference organised to mark the anniversary, Dr. Mukwege said he looked forward to come to Kosovo. "20 years after the war in Kosovo no one has been convicted and this is a negative message for survivors of sexual violence," he said. 

"Justice's role is not only to punish but to make sure things are not repeated and intervene in recovery of the victims," Dr. Mukwege said and went on to encourage survivors to come forward and approach the Kosovo Government's commission.