• COVID-19: 740 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Berlin: We’re aware of Open Balkan; we support Common Regional Market (media)
• Vaccination of groups over 12, allowed (RTK)
• Kosovo Government decides to shelter Afghans (Telegrafi)
• 94 political entities applied for local elections (Koha)
• LDK with three women mayor candidates for first time in Kosovo (Koha)
• Hoti reacts to Odalovic: Desire for massacres still runs in your blood (Zeri)
• 250 Afghan refugees to arrive in Albania this week (Voice of America)

COVID-19: 740 new cases, two deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 740 new cases with COVID-19 and two deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours. 48 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 8,544 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Berlin: We’re aware of Open Balkan; we support Common Regional Market (media)

The German government considers the signing of the Common Regional Market Action Plan agreements as an "urgent task" and demands that the agreements be signed by October.

The German government considers it an "urgent task" to implement the agreements of the Regional Common Market Action Plan, adopted at the Sofia summit in 2020. In a written response to Deutsche Welle, a German government spokesman recalled that "the leaders of the states and governments of the six countries of the Western Balkans, at the last summit of the "Berlin Process", on July 5, at the invitation of the Federal Chancellor, reaffirmed their efforts to implement this important project. "

He added that the four freedoms agreements should be signed by October 6 this year, when the next EU summit with the Western Balkans takes place, in order to "achieve tangible improvements for the citizens of the six Western Balkan countries".

The Action Plans for the Regional Common Market have been approved in principle by the six countries of the Western Balkans and aim to regulate the freedom of movement with identity cards, entry, movement and stay for third country nationals, recognition of licenses for doctors, dentists and architects as well as recognition of university degrees.

Asked by Deutsche Welle in what manner does the German government support the "Open Balkans" initiative, the spokesman responded briefly: "The German government is aware of the Open Balkans initiative. From the point of view of the German federal government, any regional cooperation in the Western Balkans is to be welcomed."

In a written response, the German government leaves unanswered Deutsche Welle's questions about how Chancellor Merkel evaluates the Open Balkans initiative and what role the "Open Balkans" plays in implementing the Regional Common Market Action Plan.

With this statement, the German government implies that its priority is the implementation of the agreements resulting from the comprehensive forum of the Berlin Process. Experts on the European integration processes of the Balkans consider this forum as the only platform that accompanies the process of integration of the region towards the European Union and gives a chance to all Western Balkan countries to express their priorities.

Vaccination of groups over 12, allowed (RTK)

The Ministry of Health has announced that in order to complete the vaccination plan, recommended by the professional body for immunization against coronavirus, the vaccination of persons over 16 years of age with the Pfizer vaccine, and the vaccination of 12-15 year olds has been approved.

For the latter, vaccination will be done with priority and according to health indications.

“The Minister of Health of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Arben Vitia, has approved the recommendation given by the competent professional body - Committee for immunization against COVID-19, for the completion of the State Vaccination Plan against COVID-19," it is said in the announcement of the Ministry of Health.

Kosovo Government decides to shelter Afghans (Telegrafi)

The Kosovo Government has approved the proposal of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla for the immediate accommodation of Afghan refugees in Kosovo.

Svecla announced the news through a post on Facebook, saying that this decision "is not only based on the spirit of common interests in the framework of cooperation with the United States of America, but also an effort of the Republic of Kosovo to provide assistance respecting the principles of international law for providing assistance to the category of persons who are or may be at risk, their fundamental rights have been violated due to the war and conflict in Afghanistan ”.

"The images we are seeing today, not so long ago were the images we lived ourselves and the protection we proposed to offer today, was presented and implemented as a concept for the exodus of Kosovar refugees in the 90's to come out to help Kosovo, which today has the will to return this good," Svecla wrote.

He added that "this decision opens the way for this category to a place where they will be temporarily safe, enjoying all the fundamental rights under our legislation and the institutional support until a lasting solution is found in the United States.”

"This effort to save lives is a moral obligation of our country, and a human principle which is being given an institutional character and is an uninterrupted cooperation with the American state, as an ally in this process and in all important processes developed in Kosovo," Svecla wrote.

94 political entities applied for local elections (Koha)

The Central Election Commission has announced that 94 political entities have applied to participate in the local elections of October 17, of which 32 parties, 1 coalition, 35 civic initiatives and 26 independent candidates.

CEC spokesman Valmir Elezi announced that the total number of candidates who have applied is 4,920, of which 165 for mayors and 4,757 for municipal assemblies.

"The commission will review these materials to make the certification of the candidates further," Elezi said.

The CEC will decide whether or not to certify candidates or political entities by 1 September. The process is scheduled to be completed by September 6th. The deadline for drawing lots for the ranking of political entities on the ballot is September 8.

LDK with three women mayor candidates for first time in Kosovo (Koha)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will run with three women candidates for mayors in the upcoming October local elections. This is the first time in Kosovo that a party nominates three women candidates to lead in municipalities. Sibel Halimi will run for mayor in Ferizaj; Hyrie Dobrunaj will run for mayor in Decan and Anduena Gllareva will run for mayor in the municipality of Gllogoc.

Hoti reacts to Odalovic: Desire for massacres still runs in your blood (Zeri)

Andin Hoti, head of the Kosovo Government Committee for Missing Persons and head of the Kosovo delegation for talks on missing persons with Serbia in Brussels, reacted on Monday evening to a provocative statement by his Serbian counterpart, Veljko Odolavic. The latter said that “wherever Americans were, they left after some time, and Prishtina should think about this”, in reference to the latest situation in Afghanistan. Hoti took to Facebook to react saying that Odalovic’s mindset is an open threat and that if it were not for the United States, the Serbian state would continue to commit atrocities against the Albanian people.

“You dare to show your true face openly because although 22 years have passed, your mindset has not changed and the desire for massacres still runs in your blood,” Hoti said.

250 Afghan refugees to arrive in Albania this week (Voice of America)

250 Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Albania this week. The group will include interpreters and various collaborators who have worked with the US presence in Afghanistan. They will be provided shelter along with their families.

Albania is one of 61 countries to sign a joint statement calling “all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country.”

On Sunday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed that Albania would accept the US’s request to provide temporary housing to Afghan refugees as they wait for their US visas.

Rama wrote that Albania had already agreed to take in hundreds of vulnerable Afghan citizens, including as women and civil society members, at the request of various institutions.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani also confirmed Kosovo’s decision to serve as a transitional place for Afghan refugees headed to the US.