Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Zemaj: No lockdown, we will take tough measures to combat COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• Osmani slams Lajcak's statement calling it 'concerning' (media)
• Tahiri: Serbia to change its Constitution, not Kosovo (Klan/Kallxo)
• CDHRF: Lajcak inciting another war in Kosovo (media)
• Draft law on KLA values, dialogue resolution fail to pass Assembly (media)
• New U.S. troops to join NATO in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo to ban use of 5G equipment from untrusted sellers (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Tahiri can change the constitution if she wins the elections in Serbia (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Petkovic with Bocan-Kharchenko on Belgrade - Pristina dialogue (RTS)
• Petkovic with Lajcak: European Union's ability as a mediator being tested (RTS)
• "If true, it was done behind Belgrade's back and means betrayal by the EU" (B92, Sputnik)
• Vucic: This is a plan that is little talked about in the Serbian public (Tanjug, B92)
• "For eight years I have been listening about Vucic preparing to betray Kosovo" (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
• Father Sava: The priest from the video has nothing to do with the Diocese (KiM radio)
• Redzepi: I expect elections in a month and a half (RTK)
• EIB helping revive Serbian railways, regional office chief says (Beta, N1)
• Unclear whether Bosnian Presidency voted against recognition of Kosovo (N1)

Opinion:

• Pribicevic: Albanian side missed its momentum in dialogue with Serbia (N1, Kontakt plus radio)
• Thousand Days After: Why the Murder of Oliver Ivanovic Should Be Brought to an International Tribunal? (KoSSev, zorancicak blog)

International:

• Brussels Vows to Settle Kosovo Serb Municipal Association’s Status (Balkan Insight)
• The EU needs a step-by-step integration plan for the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)
• Serbia expects Russian foreign minister’s visit soon — president (TASS)

   

Albanian Language Media 

  COVID-19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health announced today that 104 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

42 persons have recovered from the virus during this time. The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (32).

Zemaj: No lockdown, we will take tough measures to combat COVID-19 (Telegrafi)

Kosovo's Minister of Health Armend Zemaj announced a meeting of the advisory board on COVID-19 to review the current measures in place aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the board members will be looking at the current situation and while they will consider taking on a tougher stance on COVID-19, "we will do everything to avoid another lockdown."

Osmani slams Lajcak's statement calling it 'concerning' (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani has reacted to EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak saying that Kosovo should change its Constitution in order to enable the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. She said such a proposal is not grounded on reality and is concerning.

Osmani also said that she never said in her meeting with Lajcak that the Association would have to be established in line with the Brussels agreement of 2015 and that she in fact stressed that the ruling of the Constitutional Court should  be upheld. 

In his visit to Belgrade, Lajcak is quoted as having said that the Constitution is not a Bible and that Kosovo should change it to accommodate the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

Tahiri: Serbia to change its Constitution, not Kosovo (Klan/Kallxo)

Former Kosovo chief negotiator Edita Tahiri reacted to the statements of the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak about the need to change Kosovo's Constitution to make way for the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities saying the Government of Kosovo should in fact demand Serbia change its Constitution by removing Kosovo from its text. 

"However, we have not heard our government making any such demand."

"During my time as chief negotiator in the Brussels dialogue, I have consistently asked and even sent a memorandum to the EU calling for removal of Kosovo from the Constitution of Serbia by underlining that this would be a starting point towards mutual recognition and not through the change of the Constitution of Kosovo," she said. 

CDHRF: Lajcak inciting another war in Kosovo (media)

The Kosovo-based Council for Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) has reacted to the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak's statement about Kosovo having to change its constitution.

In a statement to the media, CDHRF said Lajcak is evidently siding with Serbia and has many times in the past come out against independence of Kosovo. "In his current post Lajcak is neither just nor impartial as required from a mediator but is very biased, hypocrite and a person that cannot and should not be trusted. No Kosovo politician should agree to meet him because he is openly siding with Serbia," CDHRF said.

It added that statements, like the one from Lajcak, openly incite a new war in Kosovo. 

Draft law on KLA values, dialogue resolution fail to pass Assembly (media)

The draft law for protection of Kosovo Liberation Army values, initiated by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), did not receive enough votes to pass first reading with 36 MPs voting in favour, one against, and no abstentions. 

At the same time, the draft resolution for dialogue with Serbia, sponsored by the Vetevendosje Movement, also failed to pass the Assembly after receiving 24 votes in favour, none against, and no abstentions. 

New U.S. troops to join NATO in Kosovo (media)

A new contingent of U.S. Army troops is expected to join NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo, online media report quoting a statement from the U.S. Mission to NATO on Twitter:

"Our @USArmy soldiers are mission-ready! Troops have finished preparations in Iowa, USA and are moving out to participate in a @NATO peacekeeping deployment to #Kosovo. @NATO_KFOR continues to maintain a safe & secure environment for Flag of Kosovo Kosovo. #WeAreNATO."

Hoti: Kosovo to ban use of 5G equipment from untrusted sellers (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti met today representatives of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (ARKEP).

"Kosovo will ban the use of 5G equipment, secured through untrusted sellers, in its communication networks. Where there may be such equipment, the country's relevant institutions will engage in taking it down," Hoti said.

Hoti's statement echoes the commitment Kosovo and Serbia pledged to on September 4 in Washington.

The White House agreement stipulates that both parties will prohibit the use of 5G equipment supplied by untrusted vendors in their communications networks. "Where such equipment is already present, both parties commit to removal and other mediation efforts in a timely fashion," the agreement reads.

   

Serbian Language Media

  Djuric: Tahiri can change the constitution if she wins the elections in Serbia (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)

Former head of the negotiating team of Pristina, Edita Tahiri, can change the Constitution of Serbia only if she runs and wins the elections in Serbia, to which she has the right as a citizen of our country, former head of the negotiating team of Belgrade Marko Djuric told news agency Tanjug today.

"If it wants comprehensive normalization, Pristina will have to implement the agreement on the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which envisages changes in Pristina's regulations, including the so-called constitution," Djuric said. 

He reminded that Tahiri participated in negotiating that part of the agreement, and that she knows well what Pristina's obligations are.

"Obligations cannot be escaped," Djuric said.

Petkovic with Bocan-Kharchenko on Belgrade - Pristina dialogue (RTS)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic today also met the Ambassador of Russia Alexander Bocan-Kharchenko.

RTS reported that Petkovic informed the ambassador about the course of the dialogue with Pristina, taking place with the mediation of the European Union, emphasizing that Belgrade was consistently determined towards resolving disagreements and open issues through talks and added that it was also against any prejudging of the dialogue's outcome and imposition of solutions.

According to Petkovic, Belgrade was firmly determined to defend Serbian state and national interests in the dialogue, and in that sense, Russia's support and help is very valuable.

Petkovic expressed the expectation that Serbia and Russia, when it comes to Kosovo, would continue to cooperate in the United Nations and in all other important international forums in the fight for respect for international law, reported RTS.

Petkovic with Lajcak: European Union's ability as a mediator being tested (RTS)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic talked with the special representative of the European Union for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak about the continuation of the dialogue, goals and ways to solve the problem of Pristina's refusal to enable the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (ZSO), reported Radio television of Serbia (RTS). 

Petkovic said that the ZSO must be formed immediately and with the competencies that belong to it according to the Brussels agreements.

"Now, on the test is not only Pristina's will to solve the problems through dialogue, but also the ability of the European Union as a mediator in the dialogue to guarantee the implementation of the agreement," said the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

According to him, the ZSO had only one goal - to protect the position and rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo. 

"In recent weeks, we have witnessed that neither the rights nor the security of Serbs can be protected in the current political and legal framework in our southern province," Petkovic said.

He pointed out that Belgrade, in the interest of the entire region, wanted to continue the dialogue and resolve open issues by peaceful means, but that constructiveness and credibility must be also demanded from Pristina, because this was a process that must be based on  readiness and good faith of both sides, reported RTS.

"If true, it was done behind Belgrade's back and means betrayal by the EU" (B92, Sputnik)

Democratic League of Kosovo's (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa disclosed a letter from the then EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, from 2015, regarding the ZSO (CSM). As it was reported in Pristina, the letter stated that the Community of Serbian Municipalities would not have executive powers.

MP Milovan Drecun told Russian Sputnik in Serbian language that this was something new for Serbia, and estimated that '' it was done behind Belgrade's back ''. 

According to Drecun, ''if the letter is correct, it will turn out that we have been deceived not only by the Albanians, but also by the European Union''.

Drecun said that the special envoy of the EU for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, should clarify the new situation.

"I think that Lajcak should clarify that situation, because Mustafa says that he informed him about it. It turns out that we were deceived not only by the Albanians, but also by the EU, if it turns out that the letter is true," Drecun added, portal B92 quoted Sputnik. 

Vucic: This is a plan that is little talked about in the Serbian public (Tanjug, B92)

The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated that he had a good conversation with the EU envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak.

"We had a good, rational and serious meeting on the future of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. What is important is that we agreed to continue the dialogue and Serbia's full commitment to that dialogue. We also made a joint assessment of economic developments between Belgrade and Pristina, which is satisfactory. That is one of the most important things. Third, the European future is important for Serbia and it is not a phrase. It is important because of more investments and because the position of Serbia will be stronger the closer we are to the EU and that is full implementation of the Brussels agreement ", Vučić said, thanking Lajčák.

He added that it is always better to have any dialogue than not to have a dialogue.

Lajčák stated that the EU has only a mediating role in the dialogue, while the main burden is on the two sides participating in the talks.

"The goal of my talks with President Vučić is to talk about the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština. The goal is to normalize relations, and it is not up to the EU to decide. It is up to the two sides to agree. The EU is here to help, we are not here to impose any solution. We cannot want normalization more than Serbia and Kosovo", Lajčák said, adding that a significant progress had been made compared to his last visit four months ago.

"We also deal with issues that were not in the negotiations, but also those that were, but were not fulfilled. It is important that everything that was agreed must be realized. I came to Belgrade from Pristina, and the main conclusion is exactly that - the process of the dialogue continues, and everything that has been agreed must be fulfilled", Lajčák added.

He also referred to the agreement on the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

"As far as the CSM is concerned, everything has been agreed, signed and should be realized. The next step is to negotiate the status of that community. The place where we will have these talks will be Brussels," Lajčák said.

Vučić then showed the plan for the implementation of the agreement on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština, which, as he says, is little talked about in the Serbian public.

"Now I will give you an act that is little talked about and that no one has seen in the Serbian public so far. This is a plan to implement the agreement on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which consists of six elements. Point one - adjusting the legal framework, point two - association and community, point three - police, point four - judiciary, point five - local elections, point six - general provisions", Vučić said.

Miroslav Lajčák denied that messages about non-fulfillment of obligations were coming from Pristina.

"Before my arrival to Pristina, there were a lot of announcements. None of my interlocutors said that they would not fulfill their obligations, it was clear that everything must be fulfilled. Second - the question of the Constitution: it is logical that the constitution will have to be changed. Moreover, no one said it was impossible. I agree with the president that we want a normal situation and it is in the interest of every person. An abnormal situation is a problem," Lajčák said.

“We are negotiating a normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. My mandate says normalization, but I can’t put limits on normalization. We are here to find that normalization and I am here to make the process easier,” Lajčák concluded, adding that a normalization of relations through a legally binding final agreement, solving all disputes once and for all would bring Kosovo and Serbia closer to the EU and help stabilize the region.

See at: https://bit.ly/3lUvPc6 "For eight years I have been listening about Vucic preparing to betray Kosovo" (B92, Vecernje Novosti)

Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej stated he had been listening for eight years that the President of Serbia was "preparing to betray" Kosovo.

He also asked if it made sense to "convict a man for something he did not do, just because some think he will do it."

"Vucic has tackled the numerous problems of Kosovo. He has shown himself to be a responsible statesman on many national issues. The citizens gave their opinion on his work in the elections," Irinej told Vecernje Novosti.

He added that he thinks that Serbs and Albanians should be left to agree on everything on their own without imposing a "solution" in favor of only one side. "In that respect, the United States can play a great and historical role," the patriarch said.

He also said that he spent a large part of his life in Kosovo. 

"I was first a student at the Serbian Orthodox Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius known as the Prizren seminary, and then a professor and rector. When I first came to Prizren, there were about 16.000 Serbs living there. How many Serbs are there today? I always said that the first condition in solving problems in Kosovo and Metohija should be the safe return of some 250.000 Serbs expelled between 1999 and 2004. The international community should help, first on the issue, and only then proceed in organizing talks on other topics," Irinej underlined.

See at: https://bit.ly/2T1qS4O

Father Sava: The priest from the video has nothing to do with the Diocese (KiM radio)

Today, KiM radio portal writes about a video published by the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, which shows an unknown priest removing the Albanian flag from the Kosare watchtower. According to the portal KiM radio, this video caused a lot of attention in both Serbian and Albanian media, but also on social networks.

The Diocese of Raska and Prizren says that it has nothing to do with that act, the radio reports.

Namely, Vecernje Novosti announced that during the celebration of the All Souls Day on October 10, a "priest from the vicinity of Belgrade" arrived at Kosare on foot with two friends, and that "after commemorating all the heroes" he climbed to the floor of the building and took down the Albanian flag.

The abbot of the Visoki Decani monastery, Father Sava Janjic, reacted in the meantime, emphasizing that the "alleged priest" from the video has nothing to do with the Diocese of Raska and Prizren.

"Our Diocese distances itself from any activity that in any way endangers relations between ethnic and religious communities," Father Sava wrote on Twitter.

He pointed out that "any irresponsible behavior of individuals who come to Kosovo and Metohija just to record sensationalist videos causes damage primarily to our people who stayed to live here."

"We sincerely hope that those who cannot help us at least not to retaliate with irresponsible behavior," wrote Father Sava, and told the media, which placed and promoted this video, that they were equally irresponsible.

Redzepi: I expect elections in a month and a half (RTK)

"The situation on the political scene in Kosovo is quite fragile and I think that in the coming period there will be a lot of challenges and problems that must be solved. The people are living hard, unemployment is high, nepotism still reigns," said President of the New Democratic Party Emilija Redzepi to RTK2. 

Redzepi believes that every government in Kosovo must fulfill everything that was agreed in Brussels, because the stubbornness that exists now does not lead to anything and does not bring good to Kosovo.

"I think that some things had to be thought about earlier, because what was signed must be fulfilled. Both Kosovo and Serbia are too small players for both Europe and America, as an unstable entire region that must calm down," Redzepi said.

"Personally, I expect that there will be early elections in a month and a half, but everything at this moment depends on the PDK, how it will play out, whether it will join this government or not. I don't believe much in that, because they were in the previous government and the point is not to overthrow the government, but to create one that will work. We should not go back to something bad but go for the better. I repeat, Kosovo is too small so that it creates nationalist, extreme phenomena, Serbia also," Redzepi told RTK2.

EIB helping revive Serbian railways, regional office chief says (Beta, N1)

The revival of the Serbian railways is one of the strategic goals of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank’s regional office chief Dubravka Negre said on Friday.

She told the Beta news agency that the goal is to get young people to use that safe and ecologically friendly form of transportation which, she said, has been neglected for decades. “There are plans to finance the rehabilitation of the railroad on the Corridor 10 to the borders with Croatia and North Macedonia,” Negre said.  

She added that a significant part of the aid package for the Western Balkans will be invested in a number of sectors in Serbia. “We will continue investing in road infrastructure,” she said adding that the investments will be in the Nis-Merdare highway and reconstruction of roads which are important for local communities.  

According to Negre, the EIB will help micro enterprises and technology start-ups. “The idea is to provide support to innovation and digital society initiatives” she said. She added that the bank will invest some 200 million Euro in science and development projects.

Negre recalled that the EIB has financed 84 projects worth six billion Euro in Serbia to date, with 40 percent of that amount invested in transport and 35 percent in supporting small and medium companies through credit lines with local banks.

See at:https://bit.ly/31eN1RA Unclear whether Bosnian Presidency voted against recognition of Kosovo (N1)

Bosnia's tripartite Presidency failed to even agree on whether they voted on the recognition of Kosovo or not during the Thursday session after the Croat member tried to withdraw that item from the agenda, but the Serb member still decided to vote on it.

Following the Presidency session, Bosniak Presidency member Sefik Dzaferovic said that the item was not even on the agenda and that Kosovo will not be recognized until this institution reaches a consensus on the matter.

“I didn't include the item on today's agenda because it's absolutely clear that Kosovo won't be recognised until we reach a consensus. It is evident that Bosnia will not pass that decision. Mr Milorad Dodik (Bosnian Serb member of the Presidency) insisted that we include that item but Zeljko Komsic (the Croat member who proposed the item) asked that it be withdrawn, but Dodik asked that we vote on it. In the end, Dodik voted against the recognition of Kosovo and Komsic and I didn't even vote,” Dzaferovic said.

When asked how that was even possible, he added:

“I repeat, as Chairman, I did not include that item on the agenda. It was included in the extraordinary session. Then Mr Dodik insisted we include it in the regular procedure and Komsic said that we should withdraw it, so we decided to include it after all, but when we were about to vote, Komsic asked to withdraw that item. That's when Dodik voted against the recognition and Komsic and I didn't want to vote because there was nothing to vote on.”

Moments later, Bosnian Serb leader and Serb Presidency member Milorad Dodik came out and said the decision is final – Bosnia voted against the recognition of Kosovo as an independent country.

“After Komsic attempted to withdraw that item from the agenda which was impossible at that time because it wasn't in the form of a proposition but in the form of in which the Presidency was set to pass a vote. We had to vote because it was earlier decided to include it,” Dodik said and added:

“This formally means that Bosnia did not recognise Kosovo, by the decision of its Presidency – meaning it rejected to recognise it. This is a formal and legal fact which will be binding for the future actions of all state institutions.”

Dodik expressed gratitude to Komsic on behalf of all the Bosnian Serbs, saying they have finally made it – they finally got to have Bosnia's formal position on the matter.

Zeljko Komsic's cabinet, however, firmly denied Dodik's claims.

“There's no such decision. If there is, let Dodik show it. He won't show it because it doesn't exist,” his Cabinet told N1.

With three different interpretations, it is now up to legal experts to determine Bosnia's official position of Kosovo, and whether the Presidency voted or not.

See at:https://bit.ly/3lTuiCQ    

Opinion

  Pribicevic: Albanian side missed its momentum in dialogue with Serbia (N1, Kontakt plus radio)

Former Serbian ambassador to Berlin and London Ognjen Pribicevic believes that the key message of the EU is to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but says that the Albanian side missed its momentum, because "they had much better positions 10, 15, 20 years ago."

"They did not use it, because they requested everything. And (EU special representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav) Lajcak said that if you expect something, then you must give something," Pribicevic told TV N1. 

"Politicians in Pristina do not understand that the environment has changed, that their position has changed for the worse. I think that the frozen conflict does not suit anyone, let alone solving a problem indefinitely. If it could, it would have been solved the previous 20 years. Some issues are going on for a long time," he added, about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Pribicevic believes that '' the will of both sides is necessary, but with Pristina, it seems to me, it does not exist."

"It is a process, and I agree with Lajcak that dialogue needs to continue. I have known him for 20 years and he is a great diplomat but at this moment we should not expect much," said the former ambassador.

He adds that the agreement in Washington showed that the United States is the one that "can make a passage, a breakthrough and a solution, but a little rougher".

"It's typically American. (US Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Richard) Grenell is Holbrooke squared. These are new times, and the things, if they are to be solved, they need to be solved this way. The time of strategic solutions has passed. How to solve one strategic issue in a time which is everything just not strategic," asks Pribicevic. 

Answering the question how much the coronavirus pandemic affected the solution of the Kosovo issue, he points out that "there is no doubt that the corona did not create any new problems, but it aggravated all the existing ones".

"Things cannot be resolved online. Physical contact must be made, conversations must be made. Everything will be delayed and tightened," he estimates.

Commenting on the upcoming elections in the USA and the impact on the political situation in Serbia, he says "we will see what will happen in the elections".

"If (current US President Donald) Trump wins, that's one situation, and if (his Democratic opponent Joseph) Biden wins, what will happen - nothing. America will not return to liberal politics, because America is facing internal problems, poverty and economy," Pribicevic estimates and adds that it is important how Trump or Biden will treat the EU, but he states that "it is difficult to reach long-term conclusions before the elections in the USA".

He also believes that Germany lost the geopolitical power it had in 2011, that is, "the main players have left German politics, so you have noticed that it is less present than it was five years ago".

"Merkel, like Trump, reflects this time. Neither Trump nor (British Prime Minister Boris) Johnson made this time. It is not a question of personality; it is a question of time. Merkel is one of the best advocates of that (liberal) politics, which had both good and bad sides, but it passed," Pribicevic points out.

"If the gap between rich and poor in the United States and Britain (the two leading world powers in his opinion) is not resolved soon, who knows what will happen," he concludes.

Thousand Days After: Why the Murder of Oliver Ivanovic Should Be Brought to an International Tribunal? (KoSSev, zorancicak blog)

First Murderer: Where is thy conscience now?

Second Murderer: In the Duke of Gloucester’s purse.

First Murderer: So, when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies out.

Second Murderer: Let it go; there’s few or none will entertain it.

(William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of Richard the Third”)

On Tuesday 16 January 2018 Oliver Ivanovic, leader of small Serbian political party in northern Kosovo*, left his home as he did every morning: shortly after 8 am. Kosovska Mitrovica is not a big town, streets were still pretty empty so local policeman, Dragisa Markovic, noticed him approaching. More or less at the same time, he also saw green Opel Astra, with dark glasses but without license plates, slowly driving down the street. Under normal circumstances, Markovic should stop the car and check the driver; he should also exchange few words with his neighbour. But, on that particular morning, he did neither but entered into a nearby shop instead.

A minute later or so, when Ivanovic was about to enter his offices, Opel Astra stopped just behind him. The window opened and co-driver fired six bullets in his back. Policeman Markovic left the shop and slowly walked to the crime scene: just on time to see the green vehicle disappearing and Ivanovic dying.

Exactly thousand days after that grim morning, this case is still in the middle of nowhere: the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo* in early December 2019 filed an indictment against six persons (including policeman Markovic) as accomplices in this crime. It also named two controversial Serbian businessmen, Zvonko Veselinovic and Milan Radoicic – both with long and deep criminal links – as „organizers“ of the murder. None of them is, however, available to Kosovo* authorities, so technically they couldn’t be indicted – at this stage at least.

Furthermore, neither names of hitman and his driver, nor those of the masterminds are present in this document. The indictment also lacks a clear motive: it does vaguely say that the murder was political, but it fails to identify clear benefactors and establish their links with the local criminal network.

See at:https://bit.ly/2HaA4kE    

International

  Brussels Vows to Settle Kosovo Serb Municipal Association’s Status (Balkan Insight)

The EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, on Thursday said the final status of the long-promised Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo will be negotiated and settled in Brussels, as everything else about it had already been agreed. 

“Everything has been agreed, signed and should be realised. The next step is to negotiate the status of that community, and the place where we will conduct those negotiations will be Brussels,” Lajcak said after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday in Belgrade. 

Lajcak arrived in Belgrade after an earlier visit to Pristina, where he expressed satisfaction with the results of meetings with Kosovo leaders at a press conference before continuing to Belgrade.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3k5vpiu The EU needs a step-by-step integration plan for the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)

With the European Commission last week releasing its 2020 Enlargement Package and an investment plan for the Western Balkans, European integration has once again risen to the top of the region’s agenda. But has the EU’s strategy so far produced any tangible results, and are the countries themselves genuine in their stated desire to join?

Regional economic cooperation seems to be the cornerstone of the Western Balkans transformation into suitable candidates for EU accession, but political issues, poor standards in democracy and rule of law, corruption, state capture, and the Kosovo-Serbia territorial dispute stand in the way.

These were the conclusions of the Looking Back, Looking Forward: Regional Cooperation in the Western Balkans, a webinar held this week by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) and Bertelsmann Stiftung following the release of their new study, Pushing on a String: An evaluation of regional economic cooperation in the Western Balkans study.

See at:https://bit.ly/3nUOgis Serbia expects Russian foreign minister’s visit soon — president (TASS)

Belgrade is also still waiting for a response about Russian president's visit

Serbia expects Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to pay a visit to the country soon, President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on Thursday.

"Minister Lavrov will come to Belgrade in any case. Serbia has kind, wonderful relations with the Russian Federation, but Serbia had assumed the European path, and Serbia is independent and free, which is I am proud of and which is respected by [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, [French President] Emmanuel Macron, [German Chancellor] Angela Merkel and [Chinese President] Xi Jinping," he said.

When asked about the previously announced visit by Putin, Vucic said that Belgrade was still waiting for a response from the Russian leader and hoped that the visit would take place despite difficulties caused by the unfavorable situation with the novel coronavirus.

See at: https://bit.ly/3539YZ4