- Kosovo government lifts ban on imports from Serbia.
Pristina imposed the restriction after Serbian police arrested three Kosovo cops claiming they had illegally crossed the administrative line. Even after the three were released, the ban remained in place. After some time, the ban amended as Pristina allowed the import of raw materials, leaving finished products barred.
The decision to unblock the import of Serbian goods will remain in effect for the time being at one border crossing, Merdare, where goods will undergo tougher inspection. At other border crossings, the ban on goods coming from Serbia will remain in place until scanning equipment is installed to ensure comprehensive checks. “Scanners will be installed at all border crossing points as soon as they arrive, but for now Merdare will be opened under tougher controls,” Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on October 7.
The decision to partially lift the ban on imports from Serbia comes ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process, which aims to ensure the free movement of goods, services, and people in the Western Balkans, and ahead of a planned CEFTA meeting. (CEFTA, Central European Free Trade Agreement (Central European Free Trade Agreement) is a deal signed by the countries of South East Europe that are not members of the European Union, aiming to bring the nations across the region closer to the EU through developing trade relations).
As an incentive for unblocking Serbian imports, Pristina received a promise that Kosovo, as a country, would be able to be represented within CEFTA. Currently, Kosovo is represented by the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK.
Commenting on Pristina’s decision, German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde called it is a significant step towards unblocking CEFTA.
The U.S. Embassy in Pristina welcomed the decision of the Kosovo government, stressing that it is a step in the right direction, strengthening both regional economic integration and Kosovo’s path toward the EU.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stressed that Pristina’s move is important for the Serbian economy, adding that he expects the Kosovo authorities, despite their decision to lift the ban on the import of Serbian goods through the Merdare crossing point, to “do everything possible to actually prevent the free flow of goods and services”. “On day three they might stop someone for unknown reasons, on day four they will close the checkpoint, on day five they will announce that they found ‘two 7.62mm cartridges, which they will plant themselves, and then say: ‘We are closing [the border] for the next 11 months until we find the scanners.” But despite this, it is always better that some goods pass than not pass at all,” Vucic said on October 7.
- Catastrophic floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings deaths, economic devastation
After heavy rains on the night of October 3 to 4 in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, catastrophic floods and landslides unfolded.
The cantons of Yablanica, Konica, Kiseljak, Fojnica were affected the most. Dozens of buildings were destroyed, the M17 highway, rail tracks, enterprises, and infrastructure facilities.
More than 20 people died. Most of the victims were confirmed in Donja Jablanica, where a stream with a huge amount of stones literally engulfed the village. It is believed that the disaster was due to the proximity of a stone quarry located above the settlement. An investigation has been launched.
Rescuers are still looking for those missing. Several rescue teams from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Turkey arrived to provide assistance. Other types of aid were provided by Albania, Hungary, and Romania.
Emergency support was provided through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
On October 7, the governments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the Brcko District declared a Day of Mourning.
The economic consequences of the natural disaster are still being assessed. It is already clear that the state-owned company “Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina” suffered losses of about 270,000 convertible marks per day due to the full stoppage of cargo shipments from the Croatian port of Ploče to businesses across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- After local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, no significant changes in local government
Tentative results of local elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 6 indicate that the largest national parties in BiH mostly retained their positions in local authorities and control over most municipalities and cities. It is about three political forces:
SDA, Stranka Demokratske Akcije (Party of Democratic Action) – the leading party of Bosniaks in BiH,
HDZ BiH, Hrvatska demokratska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine (Croatian Democratic Commonwealth of Bosnia and Herzegovina) – the leading party of the Croats of BiH,
SNSD, Savez nezaznivnih socijaldemokrata (Union of Independent Social Democrats) – the leading party of the Serbs of BiH.
The positions of HDZ BiH and SDA have slightly weakened as a trend of decreasing popularity of these political forces has been recorded, but still these parties remain among the undisputed leaders in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Milorad Dodik’s SNSD dominance among Serbian voters is almost overwhelming. According to the elections’ outcome, the party secured about 80 percent of the mayors’ posts in Republika Srpska (51 out of 63 municipalities and cities according to tentative data) and two mayors’ positions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Turnout in Sunday’s election was just above 47 percent, the lowest in 20 years.
Elections in Jablanica, Konica, Kresevo, Kiseljak, and Fojnica were postponed as these municipalities were affected by floods and landslides on October 4.
The Central Election Commission has 30 days to decide when the elections will be held in these areas.
- “Action of civil disobedience” in Albania’s capital
Organized by the opposition Democratic Party, the protest started on October 7 with a march from the Headquarters of the Democratic Party to the Prime Minister’s Office, Headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party, Tirana City Hall, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Parliament. During the rally, protesters threw Molotov cocktails at government buildings while riot police used tear gas to stop the unrest. Several policemen and activists were injured.
The October 7 protest was preceded by a stunt in parliament on September 30 where opposition MPs first blocked the rostrum and threw various objects at the speaker and government officials before taking chairs out of the session hall and setting them on fire at the entrance to the building.
The leadership of the Democratic Party decided to launch the civil disobedience action w after the Court of Appeal sentenced one of DP leaders, Ervin Salianji, to 12 months in prison on charges of “false reporting”. The opposition dismissed MP’s arrest and conviction as “a blind act of revenge and political terror against the Democratic Party,” accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of complicity.
In 2018, Ervin Salianji demanded the resignation of the then interior minister over allegations of his brother’s involvement in drug trade. However, the audio recordings he had made public turned out to be doctored.
The main demand put forward by the organizers of the latest civil disobedience action is the resignation of the Socialist government led by Edi Rama and the formation of a technocratic interim cabinet until the parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. The Democrats accuse Rama’s government of manipulating the previous votes.
