Albania
Prime Minister Rama criticized the EU for the accession procrastination, former Deputy Interior Minister Rovena Voda under house arrest, and Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj commemorated the Turkish coup’s 5th anniversary. Rama blamed the EU’s more powerful member states’ nationalism for the lack of the country’s integration progress. Voda is facing corruption charges for taking a bribe to hire employees in the civil administration. On this occasion, Veliaj and Turkish Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yoruk planted 251 trees in the capital.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia and China want to abolish the High Representative, Intelligence Chief Mehmedagic detained for fraud and money laundering, and a coal-fired power plant in Tuzla has funding problems. A draft U.N. Security Council resolution proposes to remove the High Representative powers and eliminate the position in one year. Mehmedagic is under investigation regarding the validity of his university diploma and purchasing a house in Sarajevo. US conglomerate General Electric has withdrawn from the project, worth over 931 million euros ($1.1 billion).
Croatia
European Parliament adopted a Schengen-visa-free-related resolution, EU about to grant 200 million euros ($236 million) to Rimac Automobili to develop driverless taxi, and MPs passed a civilian war victims-related Law. European Parliament urges the country to provide border staff with training and persist in fundamental rights respects assessment. The funds will arrive from a 6.3 billion euros ($7.4 billion) aid package. The Law will grant welfare benefits to civilian victims of the 1991-95 war, of the limit to those who “did not resist the aggressor.”
Kosovo
Trade Minister Hajdari on restoring 100% tariff policy against Serbia, Deputy Prime Minister Beslimi accused Serbia of maintaining financial and political influence in Serb-dominated areas, and the Government is about to file a compensation request to Serbia for “the destruction of Kosovo’s cultural heritage during the 1998/99 war. “ The measures are about to come as a part of Vetevendosje’s pre-election promise. Serbia’s Ministry of Culture and Information described the accusation as “a farce and the escalation of nonsense.”
Montenegro
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on the dept trap accusations, Chinese loan interest rate reduced from 2% to 0,88% with help from two American and one French bank, and the country about to initiated transition to IPv6 Internet Protocol. Lijian dismissed the accusation, which he sees as an attempt to create division between the two countries. The process is supported by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), providing technical assistance for an easy transition.
North Macedonia
Request for Gulen supporters extradition, an agreement to protect Lake Ohrid signed, and pandemic-related tender procedures under scrutiny. Official Ankara wants 86 members of the Gulen movement extradited. Minister of Culture Irena Stefoska and her Albanian counterpart Elva Margariti have signed a joint agreement to preserve Lake Ohrid. The state audit office, DZR, stated that direct deals with companies carried out nine out of ten procurements related to the health crisis.
Serbia
Sinopharm vaccine production agreement signed, Government prepares 17 billion euros ($20 billion) investment plan for mining, and a Memorandum of Cooperation signed with Egypt. Prime Minister Brnabic signed an MoC with China and the United Arab Emirates to produce the vaccine domestically. Energy Minister Mihajlovic said that the plan would, among others, include investments in power transmission corridors, hydropower, and wind power plants. Defense Minister Stefanovic signed MoC with Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, improving future defense relations between the two countries.