Albania
EU-Western Balkans Summit took place in Tirana, opposition leader Sali Berisha attacked during a protest in the capital, and Bank of Albania Governor General Sejko was optimistic that current inflation does not lead to recession. The leaders discussed migration issues, cybersecurity, diplomatic ties, and the war in Ukraine. The attacker was arrested after he punched Berisha in the face. Sejko stated, “Our commitment to price stability aims to preserve the purchasing power of citizens.”
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Republika Srpska (RS) President Dodik expressed his support for Serbia’s sovereignty under the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1244, the US Secretary of State’s Advisor Derek Chollet would visit the country next week, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian visited Sarajevo. Dodik stated, “We agreed that the unified response of Serbia and the RS guarantees the protection of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, who are daily exposed to the terror of temporary Kosovo institutions.” Chollet’s previous visit reflected the US position against corruption in separatism in the country. Abdollahian met the Deputy Parliament Speaker Bakir Izetbegovic and paid homage to the tomb of Alija Izetbegovic.
Croatia
Prime Minister Plenkovic reiterated the EU’s request to Serbia to join sanctions against Russia, the Council of the European Union confirmed the Schengen border-free area access as of January 1st next year, and President Milanovic called Croat Presidency member Komsic “fraudulently re-elected as a member of the Presidency of BiH, by the votes of Bosniak voters.” Several EU leaders called President Vucic to align with the EU’s foreign policy. Milanovic stated that Komsic’s election was a “special insult” and “insolence,” which caused problems in Croat-Bosniak relations.
Kosovo
Police increased its presence in the North amid Serbian objection, the US asked official Pristina to postpone elections in the Serb-dominated municipalities, and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic accused Kurti of violence against the people’s will. Kurti said he would deploy even more police officers as “gangs have intensified their attacks in the North of Kosovo.” US Secretary of State’s Advisor Chollet noted, “We have clearly said that it is not the right time for elections given the sensitivity of the moment, and we have seen violence in the last 24 hours.” Some citizens rebelled against the members of the Election Commission members escorted by the Police.
Montenegro
Outgoing Prime Minister Abazovic and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed the Joint Declaration on the Ukraine Euro-Atlantic Integration, Special State Prosecutor Sasa Cadjenovic was arrested, and Finance Minister Damjanovic was against abolishing the economic citizenship program. The country is donating 11% of its military budget to Ukraine. The Special State Prosecutor’s Office accused Cadjenovic of alleged abuse of office and for creating a criminal organization. Damjanovic stated that this decision would damage the country as the program’s income would be around 70 million euros.
North Macedonia
The support for EU accession dropped by 25%, average annual inflation slowed to 19.5% in November from October’s 19.8%, and Prime Minister Kovacevski met French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz in Tirana. President Pendarovski stated, “In the last 18 months only, the support for EU integration in my country dropped by 25%, and now we are in the range of 60-62%.” Kovacevski said that the EU is ready for new enlargement amidst the security situation with Ukraine.
Serbia
Prime Minister Brnabic accused her Kosovo counterpart Kurti of bringing the region into a new armed conflict, the Government would reconsider the return of its 1000 troops to Kosovo under the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1244, and the Russian military company Wagner opened a cultural center in Belgrade. Brnabic stated, “Albin Kurti brought all of us, both Serbs and Albanians, to the very edge of war, but he did not do it alone.” She also stated that “KFOR and EULEX are not doing their job.” The Wagner group’s “friendship and cooperation center” would focus on public diplomacy as its mission “to strengthen and develop friendly relations between Russia and Serbia.”