Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 78 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Grenell: People of Kosovo and Serbia deserve economic normalization (media)
• Tomash Szunyog starts officially his duty as EU Ambassador to Kosovo (media)
• Hoti and Vucic set for Washington talks (PrishtinaInsight)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo with non negotiable principles at table of talks (media)
• Ex-KLA Commander Agim Ceku summoned by Specialist Prosecutor (media)
• Kosovo Specialist Chambers adopts legal aid regulations (RTK)
• Civil society establishes platform for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• “Washington’s recipe for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, economy in service of politics” (RTS)
• Dacic: Outcome of talks depends on what one expected from them (RTS)
• Djuric in Washington: We have prepared wide range of projects (Radio KIM)
• Godfrey: Grenell won’t limit talks (Kosovo-online)
• UNESCO: We closely monitor situation around Visoki Decani Monastery (Kosovo)
• Abbot Janjic worried about Serbian monasteries in Kosovo (Nova.rs, N1)
• Brnabic: Jeremic and Tadic make comments, and did nothing regarding Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Serbian Assembly MPs give support to President Vucic ahead of Washington meeting (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Trump Has a Fix for Kosovo. He’s Ignoring It. (Foreign Policy)

International:

• 2020 elections in Serbia most controversial in last 20 years, new report finds (EWB)
• Latest US-EU Discord Bodes Ill for Balkan Stability (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• No test or quarantine: Serbian citizens can travel freely to 18 countries (B92)
• More companies opened than closed in Serbia in first half of 2020 (BETA, N1)

 

 

Albanian Language Media

 

COVID-19: 78 new cases, nine deaths (media)

78 new cases of coronavirus and nine deaths have been recorded in Kosovo over the last 24 hours, the National Institute for Public Health announced yesterday.

Meanwhile, 190 recoveries were confirmed over the same time period.

There are currently 3,130 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Grenell: People of Kosovo and Serbia deserve economic normalization (media)

The U.S. Special Presidential Envoy on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell, said Kosovo and Serbia deserve economic normalization and the chance to create a vibrant economy.

Grenell in a Tweet said that he is focused on the young people who want a career, a good job and a connection to the West.

“The people of Kosovo and Serbia deserve economic normalization and the chance to create a vibrant economy. Today I am focused on the young people who want a career, a good job and a connection to the West. I’ve heard you. And I will push hard for you. Let’s put politics aside!,” Grenell wrote.

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci reacted to this tweet, writing “I applaud the leadership of the #WhiteHouse, President @realDonaldTrump & Amb @RichardGrenell to bring #Kosovo & #Serbia together again, in pursuit of a peace deal. I encourage the Kosovo delegation to make courageous steps twds peace, reconciliation & economic prosperity.”

On Friday Kosovo and Serbia leaders will meet at the White House at the invitation of the U.S. National Security Advisor, Robert O’Brien. Parties are expected to discuss economic issues without excluding discussions on outstanding political issues.

Tomash Szunyog starts officially his duty as EU Ambassador to Kosovo (media)

The new EU Ambassador to Kosovo Tomash Szunyog issued today a statement about his priorities during his mandate in Kosovo. 

He said the EU will continue to support Kosovo institutions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to him, the EU has so far allocated 168 million euros to address social-economic aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Together with assistance related to COVID-19, I will continue to promote the well-established and long term priorities of the EU: better education for all, more legal certainty, support to economic growth, and improved investment climate. It is crucial that people have confidence in the institutions and know that their advancement in life is the result of their work and their merit. I will continue to call for an effective fight against corruption and organized crime,” Szunyog wrote. 

“I want Kosovo people to be able to travel visa free as soon as possible. The European Commission and the European Parliament have said that Kosovo has met all the conditions and recommended that the visas be lifted for Kosovo. A final decision now needs to be taken by the EU Member States,” he added.  

Read more at: https://bit.ly/31RrpLQ

Hoti and Vucic set for Washington talks (PrishtinaInsight)

Delegations from Kosovo and Serbia will meet at the White House today at the invitation of US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Richard Grenell. 

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will head the two countries’ delegations in a meeting at the White House on Thursday. The meeting will be hosted by US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, with US Special Envoy Richard Grenell also expected to be present.

On the eve of the talks, O’Brien announced on the National Security Council’s Twitter handle that “these important discussions will advance peace through economic cooperation.”

Meanwhile, a special adviser to US President Donald Trump has told Prishtina Insight that the Trump administration was “solely focused” on “economic normalisation” as well as “implementing the air, rail, and motor agreements that we’ve already agreed on.” 

Earlier this year, Grenell and President Trump hailed the “historic transport agreements” signed between the two countries. However, on obtaining the signed documents, BIRN discovered that what had been signed was merely a ‘letter of interest’ to establish a flight between Belgrade and Prishtina, and a ‘statement of intent’ to develop rail and road connections between Kosovo and Serbia.

Kosovo will be represented in the meeting by eight senior officials. Prime Minister Hoti will be joined by State Coordinator for the Dialogue Skender Hyseni, two of his deputy prime ministers, Driton Selmanaj and Albulena Balaj Halimaj and his chief of staff Ardita Dushi.

Three ministers in the Kosovo Government complete the delegation: Minister of Infrastructure Arban Arbrashi, foreign minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla and Justice Minister Selim Selimi. 

Before departing for the United States, Hoti extended an invitation to opposition parties to form a unified front for the dialogue with Serbia. However, his invitation was rejected by both Vetevendosje and the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK.

In a statement, a Vetevendosje spokesperson said that the government lacked legitimacy, and did not have a clear platform or ‘red lines’ for the dialogue.

In Serbia, President Vucic is reported to have told TV Pink that he “expects surprises” during the talks, adding that he believes a meeting with President Trump will be scheduled for Friday if Thursday’s talks are successful. 

The talks represent a change of location for negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, with the majority of meetings between the two countries since 2011 held in Brussels under the auspices of the European Union. 

The EU-facilitated dialogue resumed in July this year after being suspended for over 18 months following Serbia’s withdrawal from the talks in response to Kosovo’s 100 per cent import tariff on Serbian goods. Discussions between Hoti and Vucic began on 16 July and were followed by a series of expert level meetings.

Speaking at the Bled Security Conference on Monday, Miroslav Lajcak, the EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue said that the atmosphere the talks were being held in was “not easy.” Lajcak also stated that while the help of international partners is useful in the normalisation of relations, holding parallel talks is not helpful for Kosovo or Serbia. 

A second meeting between Hoti and Vucic in Brussels has been scheduled for Monday, 7 September, while EU-facilitated expert level meetings will continue over the weekend.

Haradinaj Stublla: Kosovo with non negotiable principles at table of talks (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla took to Facebook to write that Kosovo has an important day ahead in Washington DC.

"We have been asking for an active American role in the dialogue for a long time. Today, the Kosovo delegation entering the White House has the mandate and good faith to dialogue only as an independent and sovereign state vis a-vis Serbia, which should feel ashamed to sit at the table in front of Kosovo at a disadvantage, without apologizing for genocidal crimes and without bringing the war criminals to justice," Haradinaj-Stublla wrote.

"Everything else outside this framework of principles is in contradiction with the interests of Kosovo and I do not believe we are not in threat to worry. Rather: let us be happy today, and release the breath held within us until now. The road up to here was not easy and without obstacles. We are here because Kosovo did not back down when it was difficult, and remained unvewunshakable in its right," wrote Minister Haradinaj-Stublla.

Former KLA Commander Agim Ceku summoned by Specialist Prosecutor (media)

On September 28, the former commander of the KLA General Staff, Agim Çeku, travels to The Hague.

Ceku confirmed the news that he had received the summons on Wednesday. 

“I received the summons, as a suspect, yesterday. I will travel on 28 September,” Ceku said. 

Kosovo Specialist Chambers adopts legal aid regulations (RTK)

On 3 September 2020, the Registrar of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC), Dr Fidelma Donlon, following consultation with the President, adopted the Legal Aid Regulations before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (Regulations). The Regulations exemplify best practices in legal aid standards, guaranteeing compliance with the fair trial principles enshrined in the Constitution of Kosovo and the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office whilst ensuring the sound financial management of the legal aid scheme’s resources.

Suspects or accused before the KSC who demonstrate that they cannot afford to pay for their defence and who do not receive legal aid through other means will be provided, in full or in part, with legal aid to pay for a lawyer of their choosing who is qualified to be on the KSC list of counsel. The legal aid covers the remuneration of counsel and members of their team and will be paid directly to counsel.

President Ekaterina Trendafilova lauded the adoption of the Regulations, noting that they “encapsulate the core principles set forth in our Law and the universal standards in criminal justice, ensuring the right of an accused to a fair trial, which includes the right to effective counsel”.

The legal aid is calculated by the Registrar, in consultation with the competent panel and counsel, taking into account the complexity level of the case and the services to be provided by counsel during each stage of the proceedings, which include Pre-Indictment, Pre-Trial, Trial, Second Instance Appellate, and Third Instance Appellate Stage. Additionally, any costs that may arise during the course of investigations or as a result of the need for translations may be covered up to a certain amount.

The Regulations transparently set out how to apply for legal aid and which documents will have to be provided to the Defence Office. More specifically, a declaration of means will have to be submitted as part of a request for legal aid. The Defence Office will conduct a thorough assessment of the financial means of the applicant to decide whether full or partial legal aid should be dispensed. Where an applicant does not cooperate or provides false information, the request for legal aid will be denied. If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision of the Registrar, he or she has the right to appeal that decision before a panel of judges.

The Regulations specify the maximum fees and other eligible costs that may be paid upon presentation of an invoice. The procedure for oversight and monitoring by the Defence Office of the spending of the legal aid is also contained in the Regulations.

“The legal aid regulations are a cornerstone of the legal aid scheme essential to the rights of accused and participating victims. They will ensure that those who can show that they are unable to pay for their defense in whole or in part are eligible to receive legal aid and that victims’ counsel can perform their functions,” said Registrar Dr. Fidelma Donlon.

“Critically, to ensure the sound management of the money provided in the KSC budget for legal aid, the regulations also provide a transparent system for the calculation of the legal aid fee and payment of other approved costs upon the presentation of invoices.”

Civil society establishes platform for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha)

Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) has issued a press release which says that the coordinated role of civil society is needed to serve as a catalyst for the process of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

At the same time, according to KDI, joint advocacy at home and abroad, through actions aimed at positively influencing the dialogue process, is more than necessary.

“Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is one of the most important processes of consolidating the state of Kosovo and advancing its Euro-Atlantic orientation. The normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, as a long-term process, which goes beyond reaching agreements between the parties, requires the building of political and social consensus, as a starting point towards achieving any result in this regard.

Despite the resumption of dialogue under a new mandate of the EU High Representative, and with the direct involvement of the US, the lack of transparency, accountability and political consensus continues to characterize the process. In the context of current and future developments, a coordinated, harmonized and common role of civil society representatives remains important to serve as a catalyst for the process. At the same time, joint advocacy internally and abroad, through actions aimed at having a positive impact on the dialogue process, is more than necessary.

Therefore, the following civil society representatives decide to create a common platform for cooperation and coordination of NGOs in Kosovo, which have developed and are developing expertise in the field of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. In order to promote transparency, accountability and inclusiveness, civil society representatives aim to play a more proactive and organized role, becoming a more influential factor in the dialogue and normalization process.

Aiming at impartiality in the process, the members of this Platform aim to contribute to the process, through joint actions, on the basis of their expertise, but by not becoming part of political teams within the dialogue. The signatory members aim to promote a structured and constructive public dialogue regarding the dialogue process and related topics. Within the operation of the Platform, they aim to bring the citizen closer and acquainted with the dialogue process, advocating for greater participation of citizens and other stakeholders in this process with domestic and international actors, reads the press release, listing also the names of the civil society organisations and individuals that found the joint platform. 

Founding organizations of the Platform:

– Democracy for Development (D4D)

– Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS)

– Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC)

– New Social Initiative (NSI)

– Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI)

– Prishtina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS)

– Kosovar Institute for Research and Policy Development (KIPRED)

– Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR)

– NGO ‘Aktiv’

– NGO Opportunity (MDA)

– Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN)

– S’BUNKER

– Donika Emini

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

One new case of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

One new case of Covid-19 infection was registered in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo over the last 24 hours, while seven persons have recovered, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced in a press conference today, Kosovo-online portal reports.

According to the epidemiologist Desanka Novakovic out of 37 tested samples, one was positive. The case was registered in Leposavic.

At the moment 52 persons are staying in house-isolation, while 25 persons are staying in hospitals, including 21 in the Clinical Hospital Center in Mitrovica North, one in Belgrade and three in Nis. 

“Washington’s recipe for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, economy in service of politics” (RTS)

Economic topics Belgrade and Pristina delegations would discuss in Washington are in the service of politics, however, there would be no talks on the status issues, Serbian diplomat Zoran Milivojevic told RTS.

The whole concept of the talks in Washington is political while the economy is there in the service of politics, which has marked American initiative, Milivojevic added.

“One should bear in mind that the US administration is in a pre-election campaign and it is in their interest to make a breakthrough in a political plan which is in the interest of the US and it is mutual recognition. However, Belgrade clearly said it won’t talk about it. I do not believe the US would exert pressure to that extent but an agreement on some already opened issues could be made”, Milovijevic said.

According to him, recognition is a political platform of the Albanians; however, maximalist demands of Pristina can’t lead to any progress.

“That is why the US insists upon everyday life issues. The Pristina delegation has a problem because it neither has support nor consensus about the topics of the talks. The talks in Washington would be about what is possible, and these are not status issues”, Milivojevic assessed.

Commenting on continuation of the Brussels dialogue Milovijevic opined current composition in Brussels unlike the previous one, may offer more convincing mediation and determination to implement what has been agreed already.

“Serbia would keep these issues high on the agenda. Brussels can’t act like a fan, it must keep in mind Serbia’s position and formulate its demands more clearly”, he said.

Dacic: Outcome of talks depends on what one expected from them (RTS)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said the outcome of the talks in Washington depends on what one expected from them, RTS reports.

“In preparation for this meeting, as much Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told me, there were always talks about shaping some economic framework only. Respectively, what in this regard could come within the normalization of our relations, concerning everyday life of people, infrastructure, road infrastructure, railway, establishing free flow of goods, people and capital”, Dacic told RTS morning news program.

He added the US would not organize the meeting if they didn’t have agreement from Pristina’s side.

“If one expects it to be a spectacular meeting where instead of that (economy) some political framework would appear, respectively to talk about the status, then the things in this regard are completely unprepared”, Dacic said.

He said if somebody thinks to exert pressure on Serbia by some hidden agenda and make it give up and recognize Kosovo, he remains convinced Vucic would respond to it in a manner that fits the highest national and state interest of Serbia.

Commenting on the changed position of Serbia in the international arena, Dacic said that “when we went to Washington earlier it was only about the pressure to recognize Kosovo, and now we are looking for a compromise”.

He also said the EU countries do not benevolently look at what the US is doing, thinking it should be done by the EU.

Djuric in Washington: We have prepared wide range of projects (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Marko Djuric said that the Serbian delegation and President Aleksandar Vucic would present in Washington an agenda of economic cooperation between Belgrade and Pristina that could completely change the paradigm of Serbian-Albanian relations, Radio KIM reports.

The two-day talks between Serbian and Pristina delegations are due today, as it was announced, they would focus on economic cooperation.

Djuric pointed out the talks would neither be simple nor easy, since, as he said, Albanian media are dominated with the topic as if it were a “Judgment Day”, adding their representatives announced they would talk about connecting Kosovo and Albanian as well as North Macedonia. 

Godfrey: Grenell won’t limit talks (Kosovo-online)

The US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfey said topics of discussion in Washington today would be about the economy, adding that the US Presidential Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Richard Grenell will not limit the talks, Tanjug news agency reports.

“I believe the talks would be fruitful and would bring results”, he said. Asked if he expects the US President Donald Trump to attend the meeting, Godfrey recalled that Grenell clearly said that President Trump closely follows that theme.

“I hope he will take part, but I can’t tell you any details on what would really happen on Friday”, Godfrey said.  

UNESCO: We closely monitor situation around Visoki Decani Monastery (Kosovo)

UNESCO “took note” of Serbia’s concern regarding the issue of endangerment of the Visoki Decani Monastery, as a site under UNESCO’s protection, while it has received confirmation from UNMIK that the works on Decani-Plav road, passing through special protective zone, have been suspended meanwhile, the Serbian Ministry of Culture said last night, referring to the letter it received from UNESCO, KoSSev portal reports.

Assistant Director General for culture, Ernesto Otone sent the letter on behalf of Director General Odri Azule to the Serbian Minister of Culture and Information Vladan Vukosavljevic as response to his previous letters sent in June and August regarding Decani-Plav road reconstruction in the protective zone around Visoki Decani Monastery.

Ambassadors and Quinta representatives, EU, KFOR and OSCE in Pristina have called last week for strict adherence to the Law on Special Protective Zones, and requested Kosovo authorities to implement without delay decision of the Kosovo Constitutional Court on registering, respectively returning 24 hectares of land to Visoki Decani Monastery, KoSSev portal recalled.  

Abbot Janjic worried about Serbian monasteries in Kosovo (Nova.rs, N1)

The Abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery Father Sava Janjic told the Nova.rs portal that he is seriously worried about Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) monasteries in Kosovo, N1 reports.

“We are seriously concerned for the SPC monasteries in Kosovo because 150 of our churches and monasteries have been destroyed in the past 20 years of ‘peace’ despite the international presence”, Abbot Janjic said. 

Commenting on the dispute over the construction of a road through Visoki Decani Monastery special protective zone, Janjic recalled that the work on the road had been stopped twice after ambassadors and international officials intervened but were continued even though the construction is in violation of Kosovo laws. 

Asked to comment on attempts to present SPC monasteries as part of Albanian heritage, Janjic said he is worried and warned that laws adopted under international pressure to protect them were being ignored.

“Attempts to present our heritage as part of Albanian history are continuing and are evident in the media, education system and social networks. I keep asking why these churches were attacked and torched over the past 20 years if they are Albanian”. he said.

Janjic added that both local and foreign documents, including Ottoman, exist proving whose monasteries they are. 

He also said that under Kosovo law, the monasteries belong to the SPC and are part of global heritage. 

See at: https://bit.ly/32PVtGZ

Brnabic: Jeremic and Tadic make comments, and did nothing regarding Kosovo (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said today some opposition parties’ representatives should refrain from commenting on the resolution of the Kosovo and Metohija issue, adding while in power they showed no responsibility or contributed to the resolution of some issues.

Asked to comment on the statement of Vuk Jeremic, leader of Peoples’ Party (NS) that “the team who would take the power” is not ready to deal with the problems related to Kosovo, Branbic responded that during the times of Jeremic being Foreign Affairs Minister, Kosovo issue was transferred from the UN to the negotiations under the EU.

“We have seen how the-then authorities reacted when Kosovo declared independence, how they fought that some countries do not recognize Kosovo, how they reacted when our churches, monasteries, and holy shrines were burned down, as they understood it in a relaxed manner”, Brnabic said. 

Commenting on the meetings in Washington she said the political topics are not on the agenda, but they seem inevitable, adding she does not expect any ultimatums to be presented to Belgrade. She recalled that economic topics are on the agenda, including infrastructural projects such as Belgrade-Pristina flight, and “highway of peace” that should be reconstruction and is very important to central Serbia, Kursumlija, Prokuplje and the Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija. 

Serbian Assembly MPs give support to President Vucic ahead of Washington meeting (Radio kontakt plus)  

In a press communiqué issued yesterday by MPs from Kosovo in the Assembly of Serbia “on behalf of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, whom they represent in the Serbian Parliament, expressed full support  for the Serbian national team led by President Aleksandar Vucic before the upcoming meeting in Washington”, Radio kontakt plus reports.

In a joint statement, MPs Danijela Vujicic, Ljubomir Maric and Milan Savic said the upcoming period would be very complex and difficult for the defense of Serbia and Serbian national interests regarding Kosovo issue due to increased pressure from international factors to resolve it to the detriment of Serbs and Serbia. 

They also recalled that Pristina had not fulfilled its obligation to form the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities for seven years. 

 

 

Opinion

 

Trump Has a Fix for Kosovo. He’s Ignoring It. (Foreign Policy)

"The White House is hosting the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo this week for what is billed as a major negotiation. The outcome, however, is likely to be underwhelming. Even if the Trump administration manages to broker a deal on mutual investment and economic cooperation, the heavy burden of convincing Serbia to normalize relations with its bitterly departed former province is left to the EU. The current negotiation is essentially posturing: Serbia pretends to engage in earnest and Kosovo pretends to have an avenue toward recognition.  Much-needed economic growth, if it comes, will not alter that," writes Edward P. Joseph who teaches at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and served for a dozen years in the Balkans, including as Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

"Without a course correction, the talks will ultimately devolve to the same question of “compensating” Belgrade for the loss of Kosovo that led to the destabilizing land swap the administration backed until last year. Fortunately, a completely new approach is available, inspired by the recent UAE-Israel breakthrough."

"In both situations, a common threat—Iran in the Middle East, and Russia, China, and Turkey in Europe —can convert an intractable problem into a unifying solution. Moscow’s violations of sovereignty from the Baltics to the Balkans, from Ukraine to the United Kingdom, have turned the Kosovo case into a catalyst. The alarming prospect of pro-Russian forces sharing power in a NATO ally, Montenegro, after this week’s stunning elections reinforces the urgency of finally breaking Moscow’s chokehold over Kosovo and the region. A standing US-EU-NATO dialogue on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and human rights would strengthen international norms against secession, creating space for full recognition of Kosovo by all EU and NATO members. This would open the door for Pristina’s accession to NATO, circumventing the Russo-Chinese UN Security Council veto and closing the Kosovo question."

Read more at: https://bit.ly/32ZknEe

 

 

International

 

2020 elections in Serbia most controversial in last 20 years, new report finds (EWB)

BELGRADE – Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, in cooperation with the Centre for Contemporary Politics, has published an analysis of the electoral process in Serbia 2020, which assesses that it was the most controversial election in Serbia since the democratic changes of twenty years ago, as well as that the mediation of the European Parliament was not successful.

In the text, titled “Serbian Election 2020: Erosion of Trust in the Democratic Process“, it is stated that numerous irregularities, which greatly influenced the electoral outcome, were documented on election day and during the electoral campaign, which unofficially continued during the State of Emergency declared due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“Almost all the mentioned deficiencies were not the result of technical errors or imperfections of the electoral process, rather an evident result of the lack of political will to hold free and fair elections”, the report stresses.

See at: https://bit.ly/2YZuJ5O

Latest US-EU Discord Bodes Ill for Balkan Stability (Balkan Insight)

S-EU differences over Belgrade-Pristina talks are adding fresh fuel to regional tensions in the Western Balkans – and opening up more space for other foreign influences.

Amidst the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic and the Balkan region’s lingering ethnic, political and economic tensions, the beginning of September also brings the resumption of the US and EU initiatives for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

As a part of the initiative led by the special US Balkan envoy Richard Grenell, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdulah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are to meet in the White House on September 4.

Three days later, Brussels is due to host Kosovo and Serbian delegations as a part of its own initiative, led by the EU special envoy for the Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak.

With the two initiatives run in parallel, with little or no coordination between Washington and Brussels, already slim chances of substantial success seem even smaller.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/31RITYl

 

 

Humanitarian/Development

 

No test or quarantine: Serbian citizens can travel freely to 18 countries (B92)

While some countries are closing their borders, others are opening them, so without mandatory tests or isolation, Serbian citizens can travel to 18 countries.

With the decision of Bulgarian Ministry of Health, Serbian citizens don’t need negative PCR tests for coronavirus to enter that country. Until now, Serbian citizens had to have negative PCR tests, not older than 72 hours, to enter Bulgaria, but that decision is annulled.

Bulgaria and Sudan have put Serbia on the “green list“, but Egypt has made the rule that to enter this country you must have a negative PCR test.

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

More companies opened than closed in Serbia in first half of 2020 (BETA, N1)

The National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) said on Thursday that more new companies were formed than closed in the first half of this year, BETA news agency reports.

18,214 new companies had been registered and 11,811 had been closed in that period despite the coronavirus pandemic and the state of emergency, NALED said in its semi-annual report prepared with support of German GiZ and Republic Secretariat for Public Policies. The report, based on data from the Tax Authority and Business Registers Agency, said there are 389,644 active companies and entrepreneurs in the country.

“The coronavirus pandemic has caused a drop in economic activity,” it was said, adding that the number of new companies opened in the first six months of 2020 is almost 20 percent lower than in the same period over the past five years while the number of companies closing down has dropped by almost 10 percent. At the same time, 25,000 entrepreneurs, employing some 17,300 people, temporarily shut down in the period, most of them (10,000) in March and added that those jobs are not necessarily lost since most entrepreneurs closed down only during the state of emergency.

See at: https://bit.ly/3jI3XH0