Albania
Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha will enter the Parliament, American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) on current business confidence, and 1,200 Afghan refugees already in the country. Declared persona non grata by the US, Berisha will act as the Democratic Party’s Deputy. ACC Business Index for 2020 revealed that business confidence in Albania dropped by 0,5 % to 37.6 out of 100. Interior Minister Olta Xhaçka stated the Afghan citizens could choose to stay permanently.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
High Representative Schmidt stated that Croats are underrepresented in the central institutions, Croat Presidency Member Komsic disagreed with Schmidt’s statement, and Serb Presidency Member Dodik noted that the constituent peoples’ principle irritates Komsic. Schmidt expressed concerns over the country’s electoral law, which allowed Komsic to be elected as the Croat Presidency Member by Bosniak votes. Komsic called Schmidt’s statement wrong as “in Germany or any other civilized country there are no special ballot boxes for Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims.” Dodik said each constituent people’s group should elect their Presidency Members.
Croatia
The country is about to enter Eurozone, Census first phase begins tomorrow, and Croatia Airlines thinks of expanding to the North Macedonian market. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis stated that the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the practical steps to allow the beginning of euro coins production. Citizens will be able to fill in their details online via the e-Citizens system. The company is thinking about opening Split-Ohrid.
Kosovo
President Osmani asked India for recognition, the EU deployed Election Observation Mission (EOM), and no renewal for the License Plates Agreement with Serbia. Osmani stated that Kosovo is not Kashmir. EOM will observe the local elections scheduled for October 17th, 2021. Starting from September 15th, the country will only accept number plates that begin with the letters RKS, the initials of the Republic of Kosovo, and reject the Serbia-recognized KS ones.
Montenegro
The government pledged to hold a census by the end of this year, the EU’s Tonino Picula and Vladimir Bilcik released a joint statement on the current situation, and Prime Minister Krivokapic to probe the Police role in the recent Cetinje Monastery incident. The government plans to discuss a Population Census Law and send it to parliament for adoption. Picula and Bilcik stated that they “condemn all violent acts that occurred on both days in connection to the inauguration of Joanikije II.” Krivokapic announced an investigation into whether police failed to stop violence at protests.
North Macedonia
The county celebrated 30 years of independence, the U.S. Army and Department of Justice to boost regional counternarcotic efforts, and President Pendarovski warned of refugee influx from Afghanistan. A military parade in Skopje and ceremonies all around the country marked Independence Day. The Gjorce Petrov Police Compound in Skopje will improve training capacity for counternarcotics law enforcement professionals throughout the region. Pendarovski stated that the Taliban regime would spark an influx of refugees to Europe.
Serbia
President Vucic laid the foundation stone for the Sinopharm vaccine factory, the government likely to purchase Spike LR2 missiles, and Greece reassures it will not recognize Kosovo. The factory is a joint venture between Serbia, China, and the United Arab Emirates worth 30 million euros ($35 million) and is present in the Zemun settlement of Soko Salas. The regional director for the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ regional director, Al Zaher, stated the talks over the purchase are ongoing. Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Varvitsiotis said that official Athens “has pursued a constructive approach towards Pristina, in line with our strategic goal for reinforced stability and security in the Western Balkans.”