From the refugee crisis to security threats, Europe’s biggest challenges pass through the Western Balkans. But officials worry that Brexit will see the EU turn inwards just as Russia’s influence in the region is on the rise.
An incident has occurred at a Prague Process ministerial conference, after which the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo's interior minister walked out.
This has been reported by the daily Vecernje Novosti.
In an interview for Radio Free Europe in Albanian, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade will continue in the same format as until now but that the government of Kosovo hopes doe a more creative approach to the process “to know what are the exact parametres of the dialogue and the final objectives”. Hoxhaj said there needs to be a clear timeframe of the dialogue process and should end in mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia. “A dialogue whose goal is not recognition is senseless and objectiveless to us,” said Hoxhaj.
The technical dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is expected to continue today with focus on cadasters and recognition of diplomas. It is reported that the main issues discussed yesterday among the technical teams were implementation of the agreement on freedom of movement and the issue of the use of license plates for Kosovo vehicles. Neither parties gave details about the meeting. In the last day of discussions, the delegations, mediated by the EU, will discuss the border between the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica.
Serbian PM Aleksandar Vučić on Tuesday received European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, highlighting the significance of transport projects for the development of Serbia and noting a commitment to establishing cooperation aimed at connecting the entire Western Balkans through a transport network.
Vucic said a motorway connecting Niš, Merdare, Pristina, Tirana and Durres was a priority, as were other projects agreed as part of the Berlin Process, the Serbian government press office said in a statement.
As Dnevnik learns, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn will arrive in Belgrade on Friday. The source of Dnevnik says that one of the main themes of Serbian officials in talks with Hahn will be progress made in Chapter 35 regarding the normalization of relations with Pristina.
Chief of school administration in Mitrovica, Predrag Stojčetović says he has serious problems when it comes to the entry of textbooks to Kosovo.
"The entry of textbooks for primary and secondary schools from central Serbia is banned at the administrative crossings," said Stojčetović.
The outgoing EU Special Envoy for Kosovo Samuel Žbogar says that his aim was to assist in promoting a peaceful, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and in this sense he is leaving the position pleased.
He, however, says in an interview for daily Jedinstvo, that there are still a lot of open issues for the multi-ethnic Kosovo, but that the EU sees the multi-ethnic Kosovo as the only possible variant of Kosovo and is working to strengthen it.
Veton Surroi considers that renegotiation of the agreement for the demarcation of the border between Kosovo and Montenegro is an interest of Kosovo, because, according to him, this would create an internal consensus. He also considers that it is an interest of Kosovo and Montenegro for the demarcation to happen based on the consent of both parties. Currently this is not possible being that one of the parties is not unanimous, he writes.
Both Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs are reportedly concerned about Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's planned visit to the upcoming economy and security summit in Belgrade.