Weekly Brief

Albania
Prime Minister Rama welcomed the US Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) decision to open a forward-based headquarters in the country, Democratic Party’s former leader Berisha stormed the party’s office, and the country holds the youngest population in Europe. SOCEUR’s Major General David H. Tabor said the decision was made for the “ability to rapidly move and train within the Balkans.” Berisha stated that the party’s leader Basha is hostage to Rama. According to Eurostat, 20% of the country’s population is between 15-29.

Bosnia-Herzegovina
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Serb leader Milorad Dodik, Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegovic expects the situation to worsen after the sanctions on Dodik, and Croat leader Dragan Covic commented on the ongoing election legislation negotiation. The financial authority also imposed sanctions on Alternativna Televizija d.o.o. Banja Luka, former president of the High Judicial Council Milan Tegeltija, and president of the Movement for Democratic Action Mirsad Kukic. Izetbegovic expects an expanded sanctioned person list to achieve the desired effect against Dodik. Covic announced a new round of inter-party negotiations held around January 20th.

Croatia
European Commission granted 319 million euros ($362 million) to back the county’s earthquake recovery, the country recorded 9,058 daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, and a dog protected owner for 13 hours from freezing on a snowy mountain. The funds should finance critical infrastructure fields in the Sisak-Moslavina, Karlovac, and Zagreb counties. Croatian rescuers praised the dog by saying that “friendship and love between man and dog know no boundaries.”

Kosovo
Prime Minister Kurti stated that his Government is ready to achieve an agreement with Serbia, the Government banned cryptocurrency mining for saving electricity, and Russia accused the Government of aggression following the expulsion of a Russian UN diplomat. Kurti reiterated that “Serbia wants to advance on its EU path, but it cannot do this without accepting Kosovo’s independence.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the action provocative and “aggravating interethnic relations” and called Russia’s interests in the Balkans “constructive.”

Montenegro
Deputy Prime Minister Abazovic stated that his life is in danger, state-owned power utility company EPCG would bear 4.5 million euros ($5.1 million) cost to lower household electricity bills in the first half of 2022, and January-November budget deficit 59.5% below plan. Abazovic said that the people threatened to have hundreds of millions of euros, bear arms, and are behind numerous murders. The Government reported a budget deficit of 76.2 million euros ($86.4 million) in the first eleven months of 2021, compared to a deficit of 397.3 million euros in the same period of 2020.

North Macedonia
Prime Minister-designate Kovacevski expects a growth of over four percent this year, opposition VMRO-DPMNE’s leader Mickoski stated every family in the country has a new debt of 1250 euros ($1420), and a soldier died as a peacekeeper in Kosovo. Kovacevski noted that “the economy and the state are ready to help citizens and companies.” Mickoski said the Government increased the debt by about 5.14% (630 million euros) in the year of local elections. The Kosovo Force mission said the soldier died in Pristina in the circumstances unrelated to combat.

Serbia
President Vucic stated that the Government would not impose sanctions on Dodik, Parliament Speaker Dacic said there would be consequences for the relations with Australia over the Novak Djokovic visa denial case, and 5G network auction likely around mid-2022. Vucic said he is “very concerned over the sanctions against Dodik and others in the Republika Srpska (RS) because of the way they were imposed.” Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications Tatjana Matic stated that the sale of 5G frequencies could bring approximately 150 million euros ($169.4 million).