Albania
State Police Head Ardi Veliu resigned, Parliament Speaker Nikolla met Lebanon Security Director Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and National Security Council (NSC) overruled President Meta’s Foreigners Law veto. Prime Minister Rama has appointed Gledis Nano as the new State Police Head. Nikolla thanked Ibrahim for his contribution in repatriating Albanian children and women from Syria. The Law would make it easier for foreigners to apply for Albanian residency.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Croat Presidency Member Komsic on Serb Presidency Member Dodik’s rhetoric, Dodik on Komsic’s participation in the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Slovenia, and Bosniak Presidency Member Dzaferovic on the present situation in the country. Komsic stated that Republika Srpska could lose international financial support as a result of Dodik’s behavior. Dodik said the Presidency “has not made a decision to participate in this gathering, nor has it appointed a delegation and defined a platform.” Dzaferovic characterized the current situation as “dangerous and worrying.”
Croatia
Police officers filmed beating migrants suspended, Prime Minister Plenkovic on Serbian textbooks’ negation of the existence of Croatian language, and Parliament Speaker Jandrokovic on the 30th anniversary of the independence decision. EU urged investigation on illegal migrant pushbacks as President Milanovic asked for more assistance in protecting the Schengen zone. Plenkovic stated the negation of the Croatian language in a grammar book for eighth-graders is outrageous and unacceptable. Jandrokovic said the Sabor (Parliament) had fulfilled all its critical tasks “always defended the interests of the Croatian people.”
Kosovo
The license plates agreement into effect, the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission took over the border crossing area, and Parliament should approve a law on cryptocurrency by 2022. Police put white stickers over the state symbols of Serbian license plates, while the Serbian Police officers do the same for vehicles registered in Kosovo. The Chairman of the Committee on Economy, Ferat Shala, said that most activities related to cryptocurrency are reported in the northern part of the country. (More on the crypto issue here: https://balkanbrief.com/legal-vacuum-allows-criminals-terrorists-to-stay-undetected-in-kosovo-while-investing-in-crypto-mining/)
Montenegro
President Djukanovic appeared in the Pandora Papers, Prime Minister Krivokapic proposed that the reshuffled Government have sixteen ministries, and DF’s Mandic on the ongoing negotiations. Swiss fiduciary firm helped Djukanovic create Victoria Trust and Capecastel Trust in the British Virgin Islands. Krivokapic proposed the division of four departments among the coalition partners. Negotiations continue as Mandic wants DF’s Nebojsa Medojevic to become the new Security and Defense Committee’s Chair.
North Macedonia
USAID allocated additional 3 million euros ($3.5 million) anti-corruption funds, a diplomat declared as persona non grata in Russia, and Bulgarian Macedonians complained about the Census results. The funds should strengthen economic competitiveness and fight against corruption. The decision was a tit-for-tat response after a diplomat of the Russian embassy in Skopje was declared persona non grata. The Centre of Culture Ivan Mihailov’s representatives sent a letter to the OSCE Mission claiming that members of the Bulgarian Macedonian community were not given a chance to identify.
Serbia
Finance Minister Mali appeared in the Pandora Papers, Defense Minister Stefanovic rejected the coup accusations, and India’s Covid Vaccine Certificates were accepted. The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office stated it would not investigate the allegations on Mali from Pandora’s papers. Stefanovic noted that the accusations were false and that he is ready to go to a polygraph to confirm his claims. Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that “traditional friendship with Serbia translates into mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates!”