What's new: in Kosovo, the end of the political crisis and the resumption of dialogue with Serbia?

Text by: Courrier des Balkans Follow | Florentin Cassonnet

A press review presented in partnership with Le Courrier des Balkans.

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Green light for a new government in Kosovo . The Constitutional Court delivered its verdict: President Hashim Thaçi acted in accordance with the Constitution by proposing to Avdullah Hoti, of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), to form the next government. The Court considers that the vote of no confidence against the government of Albin Kurti, on March 25, does not necessarily involve the dissolution of the Parliament. A decision challenged by supporters of Vetëvendosje, who gathered in the center of Pristina.

The resumption of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia was suspended until the resolution of this internal political crisis in Kosovo. US Special Envoy Richard Grenell said he was looking forward to the upcoming dialogue debate, "as  soon as the composition of the new Kosovar government is confirmed  ." Since taking office in October 2019, American diplomacy has been proactive on the Serbo-Kosovar "front", overshadowing a European Union that is very much absent. Like the United States, the EU wants to find a “  final agreement  ” between the two countries. My means to achieve this goal is radically different from the American approach. In an open letter, Germany and France have reaffirmed their position and want to return to the heart of the process .

Diplomacy always, but "  Covid-diplomacy  ": itself hard hit by the coronavirus, Turkey has multiplied its aid throughout the world, and in particular in the Balkans where it has often appeared as more effective and more united than the European Union ... Enough to revive the "neo-Ottoman" vision of former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Meanwhile, for the refugees on the “Balkan route”, it is still the reign of violence and silence . The pandemic has transformed a serious situation into a catastrophic one. Exiles are killed in EU-funded camps, or mistreated and branded with paint by Croatian police ... And the International Organization for Migration (IOM) remains silent on violations of the human rights of refugees and migrants, denounces journalist and activist Nidžara Ahmetašević.

Montenegro also has a refugee problem, but that dates back to 1992. At the time, dozens of Bosnians who took refuge in Herceg Novi to flee the war in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina were handed over to the army of Radovan Karadžić. Many were executed and some bodies have still not been found. Almost thirty years later, no one responsible for this deportation has been convicted. Associations are fighting to put the Montenegrin authorities face to face with their responsibilities.

Silence finally, or rather omerta around the illegal cuts which decimate the forests of Romania which count among the last great virgin forests of Europe. Each year, thousands of hectares disappear illegally and those who oppose it on the ground risk their lives. The European Commission seems to have realized that this is a problem not only Romanian, but which concerns all European citizens: it has launched an infringement procedure against Romania, urging Bucharest to propose an action plan . Romanian civil society is mobilizing, relying on a few committed but minority elected officials to pass a law aimed at protecting "the lungs of Europe".

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