Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said during the opening of an integrated border crossing point Tabanovce-Presevo that Serbia “would enter bilateral agreements”, as long as CEFTA remains suspended because of irresponsible Pristina’s behaviour, BETA news agency reported.

She opened the border crossing point together with the North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

Brnabic further underlined that regional cooperation faces major challenges because Pristina introduced the tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus suspending the CEFTA agreement.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharachenko and said he does not expect a swift continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, N1 reports. On the other hand, Ambassador Botsan-Kharachenko said Russia is ready to contribute to the resolution of the Kosovo issue within the international law.

Ambassador of China to Serbia Chen Bo said the stance of China on Kosovo and Metohija is clear and consistent, adding that China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia as well as “understands and supports legitimate Serbia’s request in this regard,” Radio KIM reports.

Last year 51.000 persons have left Serbia and went to the EU countries, while the highest number of migrants comes from Albania 62.000 and Bosnia and Herzegovina 53.500. Meanwhile, 34.500 persons have left Kosovo, 24.300 North Macedonia and 3.000 persons left Montenegro, KoSSev portal reports referring to Eurostat data.

The highest percentage of Albanian citizens moved to Italy (23.000), Greece (17.000) and Germany (10.000). People from Bosnia and Herzegovina mainly moved to Germany (16.000) followed by Slovenia and Croatia.

Deputy Mayor of the southern Serbian municipality of Bujanovac, Stojanca Arsic, told FoNet new agency that due to its proximity to Kosovo, his town is often mentioned when attention has to be diverted from other important issues adding it is seen as a bad place to invest in because it is being mentioned in the context of possible territorial exchange.

Russian ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko told N1 on Thursday that Russia sees Serbia as a link between the West and Moscow, adding the free trade agreement between Serbia and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was expected to be signed on October 25.

He added that Serbia’s road to the European Union should not distant the country from EAEU.

Botsan-Kharchenko also said that EU candidates should not face a choice between Brussels or Moscow.

Opposition People’s Party (NS) leader Vuk Jeremic told Belgrade daily Danas that there is no time left to negotiate with the authorities about the elections coming in the spring of 2020, adding that a boycott does not mean running from a fight.

“On the contrary, it is the most honest form of battle for the benefit of the citizens,” he said.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met with U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott to discuss bilateral relations and international affairs.

Dacic and Scott said they were pleased with improved overall bilateral ties, reflected in the recent meeting of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New York.

Russia’s ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said that Belgrade was expected to sign a free-trade pact with the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on October 25, reported Belgrade based agency Tanjug.

“This is a significant event. The media are paying due attention to it,” Botsan-Kharchenko said in a tweet.

Serbian public broadcaster RTS reports that Following a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the State Department issued a statement.

RTS conveyed the whole statement.