Albania
The Democratic Party is holding internal local elections, the European Parliament (EP) confirmed the country’s EU negotiation readiness, and the Freedom House report sees Albania as a “hybrid democracy.” The election’s results of 70% of offices countrywide would lead to new party leadership. EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee cast 66 votes in favor, four against, and three abstentions. The country scored 3.75 out of 7 points, lacking credible political opposition.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Germany suspended four infrastructure projects in Republika Srpska (RS), RS sold 17.8 million euros ($19,2 million) of five-year treasury notes, and Russia suspended its financing of the High Representative Office. The projects for rehabilitation of the Trebinje hydropower plant, the Hrgud wind farm, and the Gradiska wastewater treatment plant will halt until the RS Parliament withdraws transfer of powers decisions. A Peace Implementation Council member, Russia refuses to consider Schmidt a High Representative as he lacks the UN Security Council approval.
Croatia
President Milanovic conditioned Ukraine’s EU candidate status with the one for Bosnia-Herzegovina (B&H), Prime Minister Plenkovic against the pardon requests for Josip Perkovic and Zdravko Mustac, and Jews organizations boycotted an official commemoration for the victims of the WWII Jasenovac camp. Milanovic stated that B&H’s candidate status is a “security, emotional matter” for Croatia. Perkovic and Mustac were Yugoslav and Croatian intelligence officials. Earlier this month, a Government envoy said Croatia “would not exist if there was no April 10, 1941,” when the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia was founded.
Kosovo
Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz accused Serbian Foreign Minister Selakovic at a UN Security Council session of “manipulating facts” on Serb rights being threatened in Kosovo, the license plates agreement expired on April 21, and official Pristina and Belgrade agreed to exchange archival data. Gervalla-Schwarz stated that the war of 1999 “started by creating a perception that the Serb minority was endangered, that Serbia’s intervention was required, accompanied by propaganda and fake news.” Official Belgrade stated the temporary solution should remain in place for the time being. The agreement should help find missing persons on both sides.
Montenegro
Former Supreme Court head Vesna Medenica was arrested for the drug trade, Russia expelled one diplomat in a tit-for-tat move, and a Croatian minority representative should join the new Government. Europol provided transcripts of encrypted phone conversation implicating Medenica and her son, where the latter said his mother would protect him and his Colombian drug partners. Prime Minister-elect Dritan Abazovic is likely to present a new Government on April 28, including a member of the Croatian Civic Initiative.
North Macedonia
Prime Minister Kovacevski sees teachers’ demands as unacceptable, President Pendarovski is not in favor of including Bulgarians’ rights in the Constitution, and Bulgarian President Radev asked the Government to stop “the Anti-Bulgarian Ideology.” Kovacevski stated that, since 2017, salaries in education have increased by 21%. Pendarovski expressed concerns that official Sofia would not stop on this request. Radev accused official Skopje of trying to build an identity based on “the falsifications of the Communist International.”
Serbia
A majority of Serbs are against joining the EU, the Army has successfully tested the M-19 missile for multiple rocket launchers (MLR), and a delegation of US senators urged Government to impose sanctions on Russia. As Tanjug reports, an IPSOS survey found that 44 percent of citizens are against European integration, 35 percent are in favor, and 21 percent declined to answer or said they don’t know. Defense Minister Stefanovic said that Serbia improved its rocket artillery capacities to around 40km. President Vucic disregarded calls to align Serbia’s foreign policy with the EU defense policy over his meeting with senators Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen, and Thom Tillis.