Non-governmental organization “No Kosovo UNESCO” initiated a second campaign against an announced initiative that Kosovo becomes member of UNESCO.

This organization stated that similar initiative two years ago was prevented and the same will happen this time too.

“Two years ago, we have defeated them. We have decided to once again initiate our campaign “No Kosovo UNESCO” and once more prevent Kosovo become a member of the UNESCO,” its press release stated.

Mimoza Ahmetaj: Establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities in line with Kosovo laws (Blic, Beta)

Kosovo Minister for EU Integration, Mimoza Ahmetaj stated yesterday afternoon that the Kosovo Government remains committed to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and that the Community of Serb Municipalities would be done in line with Kosovo Constitution and laws.

Our priority will be dialogue with the Serbs from Kosovo, we have an economic and social plan for the northern municipalities of Kosovo and we are not against the Serbs, but Serbia is against us, said leader of the Self-Determination Movement Albin Kurti. Belgrade based daily Danas published a summary of Blic newspaper interview with Albin Kurti.

The previous dialogue held with Serbia in Brussels did not set any conditions for Serbia, and internal issues of Kosovo were discussed, which is why the outcome could not have been just, Kurti believes.

Pristina at session of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly without right to vote (Vecernje Novosti)

Vecernje Novosti reported that the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly holds session this week in Strasbourg without participation of the Serbian delegation as MPs would attend the Assembly of Serbia session on the new government formation.

Serbia hardly has a progressive track record on gay rights. So when President Aleksandar Vucic announced this month that he was nominating Ana Brnabic, a 41-year-old, openly lesbian, woman as prime minister, he stunned Serbians and outside observers alike.

See more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/opinion/gay-rights-serbia-ana-brnabic.html

Deputy Assistant of NATO Secretary General for Operations, John Manza stated that NATO will keep its presence in the Western Balkans region as it has strategic importance to the Alliance.

As it was posted on the KFOR web-site, security in this region contributes to the stability and safety in entire Europe, Manza stated, adding that NATO will stay present and focused on the Western Balkans.

The candidate for Prime Minister from the Vetevendosje movement, Albin Kurti, told Serbian weekly “Vranjske” that if he becomes the new Prime Minister of Kosovo, he would propose creation of a parliamentary commission which would consider the Brussels agreements reached between Pristina and Belgrade. Kurti said that an internal dialogue in Kosovo and in Serbia is required and added that he is not against reconciliation.

One of the problems that emerges when U.S. officials and the news media are focused on a small number of foreign-policy issues is that troubling developments can occur below the radar in other areas. That appears to be happening in the Balkans, a region that was a foreign-policy priority of the Western powers in the 1990s, but which has faded to near invisibility in recent years.

The bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was "NATO's experimental war."

This is according to retired Italian general and NATO military diplomat Biagio di Grazia.

In addition, Di Grazia says he saw parallels between the 1999 bombing, and the atomic bomb the US used against the Japanese town of Nagasaki.

STRASBOURG, June 15, 2017 - The European Parliament adopted the progress reports of three countries in the Western Balkans, which are key for keeping the stability in the region. Though Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo are in different phases on their European path, it is important to continue the reforms in order to meet EU’s democratic and economic criteria.

http://www.diplomaticintelligence.eu/european-union-news/2551-macedonia-serbia-and-kosovo-key-players-for-stability-in-the-western-balkans