Albania
Russian Foreign Ministry sent a letter asking about the Government’s position on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings marked the county’s long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings at B+/B, and Constitutional Court members met to discuss judgment on President Meta’s Parliament’s impeachment. Prime Minister Rama confirmed that the US and Albania would co-chair the Ukraine issue in the UN Security Council. The court’s verdict would be the final step in ruling whether Meta will remain in office until his term ends in July.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
SNSD’s Nebojsa Radmanovic announced that Serb officials would end state institutions’ work blockade, SDA’s leader Izetbegovic stated that the election reform negotiations failed as HDZ’s leader Covic refused US envoy Palmer’s and EU envoys Eichhorst’s proposal, and Covic spoke in front the Republika Srpska Parliament. The Republika Srpska Parliament members voted to allow Serb representatives to participate in the central institutions. Covic said that precondition for holding the 2022 general election “remains unfulfilled.” Covic welcomed Serb representatives’ decision to return to the central institution by saying that the best way to protect the Republika Srpska is “by defending it from within B-H institutions.”
Croatia
President Milanovic expects the Government to fall under the pressure of the latest scandal with a state property management company, industrial output up 6.7% in 2021, and the US donated UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters worth 52 million euros ($60 million). Milanovic said this should be the case if anything of what whistleblower Maja Djerek says about favoring via Drzavne Nekretnine proves to be true. The donation contributes to Croatia’s growing defense capabilities and military preparedness in support of NATO.
Kosovo
US and EU envoys Palmer and Lajcak asked Prime Minister Kurti to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities, the opposition AAK’s leader Haradinaj met with Palmer and Escobar, and Kurti met the Director of the International Republican Institute Marta Onorato. Kurti stated that “the Constitutional Court has stated that none of the chapters of the Association is in line with the Constitution of Kosovo.” Haradinaj reiterated his position that mutual recognition comes before any other agreement with Serbia. Onorato praised Kurti as a champion in the participation and involvement of women in decision-making.
Montenegro
The Government collapsed after the no-confidence motion was supported by all opposition parties and the position URA movement, former Prime Minister Krivokapic stated that this action marks DPS leader Djukanovic’s return, and URA’s leader Abazovic announced the beginning of bilateral consultations for establishing a new government. Abazovic said there would be elections if the ongoing government negotiation failed. Krivokapic stated that “citizens must be aware that the fall of the government means that political power will be handed over to the Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, and their leader, Milo Djukanovic.” Abazovic said he would take a significant step towards forming a government by the end of next week.
North Macedonia
Bulgarian President Radev described Bulgarian Prime Minister Petkov’s visit to Skopje as hastily, Prime Minister Kovacevski met NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg in Brussels, and industrial production dropped 4.9% year-over-year in December 2021. Radev stated that it is “important that Bulgarian diplomacy fully realizes its professional capacity, does not trust external expertise and does not succumb to external pressure.” Stoltenberg thanked Kovacevski for North Macedonia’s efforts to promote security, stability, and progress in the Western Balkans while discussing Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine. Industrial production in North Macedonia rose by 1.4% in 2021, dropping 9.5% in 2020.
Serbia
President Vucic met Chinese President Jinping, the Government expects 4.5% GDP growth in 2022, and construction of a gas link with Bulgaria commenced. Jinping reiterated that the two countries are “ironclad friends,” with Vucic stating that “the steel-like friendship between the two countries will never change, nor will the friendly sentiment the Serbian side holds toward the Chinese people.” Prime Minister Brnabic stated that the 109 km Nis-Dimitrovgrad pipeline, with a capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters of gas annually, will be ready for operation by October 2023.