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Kosovo’s official positions on the conflict between Israel and Palestine are fully aligned with those of the European Union and the United States. However, many Kosovars identify with the Palestinians, drawing parallels with the suffering endured by Kosovo in the 1990s. Decryption.
A pillar of the non-aligned movement, Yugoslavia was one of the main supporters of Palestine, but this tradition seems well forgotten in the region. Milorad Dodik, the Serbian leader of Bosnia-Herzegovina, cultivates the friendship of the Israeli far-right, while spin doctors Israelis advise several Balkan governments. Case.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was in Beijing for the 3rd summit of “ Belt and Road ». The opportunity to sign a free trade agreement between Serbia and China, four billion euros in contracts and to meet Vladimir Putin, for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
EU-Balkans Summit in Tirana
Albania hosted Monday October 16 the first summit of the Berlin Process organized outside the European Union. It was a very successful communication operation for Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, but little concrete progress has emerged for the Western Balkans. On the other hand, Emmanuel Macron’s official visit made it possible to celebrate good relations between France and Albania.
On the other hand, the French president reiterated his blackmail against Kosovo on visa liberalization. After years of waiting, Kosovars must finally be able to travel freely as tourists within the EU from January 1, 2024. But from Tirana, Emmanuel Macron has threatened to oppose this if Kosovo does not show itself no more ” responsible » in the dialogue with Serbia.
Serbian mercenaries in Ukraine
Two battalions of Serbian mercenaries would fight with Russian forces in Ukraine. The leader of one of them, Aleksandar Velimirović, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, says: ready to travel to Kosovo in 24 hours to fight the Albanian mafia “.
Moldova is almost freed from Russian gas. She has not imported any since December 2022, although she was totally dependent until then. Gas served as a pressure lever for the Kremlin to keep Chișinău within its fold. But Moscow pulled the lever in October 2021, forcing Moldova to diversify its supplies, which it managed to do with the help of the EU. The fact remains that Moldova still buys electricity from the separatists of Transnistria, who continue to receive free Russian gas.
Ongoing ecological disaster in the Neretva
The water is white and the fish are dying: the Neretva river is polluted by the construction of a hydroelectric power station by Serbian electricity magnate Vuk Hamović. The project is led by a Chinese company blacklisted in many countries. Three groups of ultras and fascist activists united to form a “ Nationalist bloc », riding on the rising popularity of George Simion and his AUR movement. Long spared, Romania is affected in turn by the far-right wave.