If there’s one thing I’ve learned at UNDP, it’s that good development projects don’t just happen.
Here at UNDP in Kosovo*, I have seen well-designed and delivered programmes change the lives of people in rural areas. In the last year alone, over 1,100 people found jobs thanks to our projects throughout Kosovo and earn more money than they used to.
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic confirmed on Monday that she would not take Belgrade's letter to the EU to Brussels with her, when she travels there on Tuesday.
The letter regards the European Commission' stance on the recent independence referendum in Catalonia, and on Kosovo.
The statement of the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić on establishment of working group for the second phase of the internal dialogue produces a certain ambiguities in the interpretation of this process, as it is not clear when the dialogue has started and how at all it can reach the second phase, writes daily Danas.
Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, said to RTS today that the letter on Catalonian referendum is prepared, he has signed it, however the PM Brnabic would not take it to Brussels tomorrow, but it would, as per request of Spain, be delivered at a later stage, in order not to deteriorate the situation in this country.
President Vucic, said at the press conference, that the PM Brnabic would sign the letter, seriously and thoroughly prepared, after the visit to Brussels and upon receiving the consent of the government.
Brussels did not provide convincing explanation, and I do not see how membership to the EU could influence international assessment of the declaration of independence, stated Serbian Academic and International Law Professor, Tibor Vardi to Politika daily.
The parallel between Catalonia and Kosovo is not simple, but it is also not without grounds, said Vardi, commenting on the stance of the European Commission saying Catalonia and Kosovo are incomparable, because Spain is an EU member state.
Serbian Foreign Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica Dacic on Thursday ruled out the possibility of Kosovo joining the UN by saying this was "out of the question."
Asked whether he considers the issue of Kosovo's possible "chair" in the UN to be a topic, Dacic replied: "What chair - maybe a wooden footstool. That's out of the question!"
Asked whether it was possible for Kosovo to "get a place in the UN, without Serbia recognizing it," Dacic said this was "impossible without Serbia's consent".
Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, would not give up sending the letter to the European Union and member states that have recognized unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, regardless of huge pressure exercised on him, Novosti daily reports today.
Serbian Ambassador to UNESCO, Darko Tanaskovic assessed that withdrawal of Pristina’s candidacy for the membership in this organization is not unexpected and represents a diplomatic success of Serbia, media reported.
While the referendum in Crimea was an annexation, it is alright when Kosovo becomes independent, contrary to the UN SC Resolution, Czech President, Milos Zeman said, Serbian media reported.
“I have criticized Kosovo’s secession from Serbia, considering it as an obvious violation of the UN SC Resolution that guarantees the territorial integrity of Serbia with Kosovo, Zeman said to the Czech TV station Barandov.
He also added that not the same standards are applied when it comes to the cases of Crimea and Kosovo.
Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Spain and will not accept any unilateral acts by Catalonia, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Thursday.
"We do not want what has been applied to Kosovo to be applied in the case of Catalonia," Dacic told the RTV after a meeting with the Spanish ambassador to Serbia, Tanjug reported.
During the meeting earlier in the day, Dacic underlined that our country "stands firmly by Spain and gives it unreserved support when it comes to the defense and protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity."