Vol. 3 - Issue 26
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ISSN: 2654-0304 1 JUNE 22 - 28, 2020 – VOL. 3 - ISSUE 26 SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE AT A GLANCE SOUTHEAST EUROPE DIRECTORATE PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE TO THOSE WHO SHAPE THE FUTURE “SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE AT A GLANCE” (ISSN: 2654-0304) is a weekly review of the most significant current political, economic, energy, defense, and security news of Southeastern Europe. It covers 14 countries; Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey. However Greece enjoys its own weekly review for a more detailed presentation of its current affairs (GREECE AT A GLANCE). This ambitious newsletter aspires to become an informative “tool” for anyone who is interested in the region and wishes to have knowledge of the non-stop current developments and challenges. “HERMES” Institute is not a news agency and it is not one of its ambitions to become one but it is strongly believed that today’s events provide the necessary material to understand the future and to analyze situations that may affect in peace, stability, and growth of the region. “HERMES” I.I.A.S.GE “HERMES” Institute of International Affairs, Security & Geoeconomy (“HERMES” I.I.A.S.GE) is an independent, non – governmental, non – profit organization, consisting of scholars dedicated in the research and analysis of international affairs in regional and global level. The Institute aims at providing objective, scientific, and reliable research analysis through a variety of studies contributing effectively and constructively in the public dialogue and the evolution of scientific knowledge. Copyright © 2020 “HERMES” Institute for Foreign Affairs, Security & Geoeconomy All rights reserved ISSN: 2654-0304 1 part of Turkish influence in the Balkans and that rd ALBANIA: June 23 , ethnic Turkey has strong ties to the “radical part of minorities in Albania that make up 20% or more Kosovo.” He also drew attention to the kidnap and of their municipalities of residence will be able to extradition of five Turkish teachers in Kosovo and use their language in Government offices. one in Albania. “Albania has the right to have The draft-decision prepared by the Albanian good relations with Turkey, but we do not think Government stipulates that ethnic minorities must that the policy chosen at the moment in this file a request with the municipality and the regard is in line with European standards,” he municipal council will rule on it within 60 days. said. German MEP Zimnok Berhard said that The request must be signed by at least 1% of the Turkey is using Albania as a base for expansion ethnic minority population. If the request is towards Europe. “Turks are working towards a approved, the municipality will provide new Ottoman Empire. They are doing this translations into the language of the requesting through increased armaments and through ethnic minority for ethnic minority legal rights, religion…I see it as a problem,” Berhard said. He transparency program access, public consultation also said he does not believe that Albania will sessions, requests and complaints filed with the implement the necessary reforms as “they are not municipality, citizen initiatives. Additionally, the a part of our European values.” Berhard called municipality will install road signs translated into for a stop to the “flow of money into Albania, and the ethnic minority’s language. The draft-decision the accession process.” He said that “Albania in comes within the framework of the 15 conditions the EU will bring big and unnecessary problems.” set out by the EU, which Albania must meet Hungarian MEP Katalin Cseh called the before it can hold the first intergovernmental relationship between Albania and Turkey conference. One of the conditions is the approval “disturbing,” particularly in the way it developed of bylaws on the Law on National Minorities. after the failed 2016 coup d’etat. Cseh also (www.exit.al) mentioned the extradition of perceived Gulenists who risk persecution and arrest if they enter - June 24th, Turkish influence in Albania has Turkey. “I want to talk about one last case, a begun to raise concerns in EU institutions. During well-documented case. Turkish citizen Selami a discussion session on Albania that took place on Simsek was arrested at Tirana airport and Friday in the European Parliament’s Foreign imprisoned for using forged documents. Although Affairs Committee, a number of MEPs criticized he was released on March 9th, 2020 Police held the close relationship between the Albanian and him for hours before sending him to a center for Turkish Government. These concerns were in the illegal immigrants. Although Mr Simsek applied context of Turkish influence in the Balkans and for asylum, the status of his application and his the persecution of those accused of being whereabouts are being kept secret by the involved in the Gulenist movement. Three MEPs Albanian authorities,” Cseh said. In response to from the Committee expressed doubts about their concerns, Angelina Eichhorst, the Director Albania’s will and desire to join the EU. French for Europe and Central Asia in the European MEP Thierry Mariani said that Albania is a key Commission said that the concerns of MEPs are ISSN: 2654-0304 2 somewhat exaggerated and should be seen in prosecution, and proliferation finance sanctions. context, emphasizing that some 90% of Albanians While in June 2019, the Government enforced are in favor of EU membership. She claimed that legislation to combat this, the report said further the Commission is monitoring the relationship regulations and actions need to be taken so it can and would report on it if there were any real actually be implemented effectively. concerns. Eichhorst did not address the (www.exit.al) extradition of Turkish citizens to Turkey without following due process. (www.exit.al.com) COUNTRY ASSESSMENT : - June 25th, the US State Department has noted The Government tried to downgrade the 15 that “corruption and barriers to information conditions Albania should meet before starting of sharing among Government agencies, insufficient accession negotiations on first quarter of 2021. intra-agency coordination, and a poorly The fact is that Albania should fulfill them and functioning judicial system, continue to hinder there is a lot of work ahead if it really seeks to Albania’s law enforcement efforts at all levels. reach the deadlines. It is assessed that under The remarks were made as a part of the current political instability it is rather difficult the 2019 Country Report on Terrorism, compiled by Government to accelerate reforms on minority the Department. Despite these issues, they found rights, media freedom, fight against corruption that law enforcement had increased efforts to and organized crime, justice, public counter potential terrorist threats through close administration and economy. Social and political cooperation with US agencies and INTERPOL. unrest could erupt at any time. Albania is in a There were also “several successful interdictions long constitutional and institutional crisis and of known or suspected terrorists.” It noted the this situation strengthens political instability and alleged foiling of a potential attack planned by uncertainty. Above all, it should be underlined Iranian agents against MEK members living in that corruption, organized crime (and especially Albania. Current threats to the country include links of state’s politics with organized crime), FTFs returning from Syria and Iraq, Albanian money laundering and smuggling remain as youth being radicalized, and the threat of Iran “open sores” for the country. Turkish influence in against the controversial residence of Iranian Albania is under the EU microscope as a opposition group MEK in Manze near Durres. potential challenge of its cohesion and regional The Department noted that Albania was stability. continuing to take steps to enhance border security, to detect and deny entry to terrorists and BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: comply with international standards to improve June 22nd, the only necessary and swift measure the screening of air passengers. In terms of concerning migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina Countering the Financing of Terrorism, the is extraditing them to their countries of origin as Department reported that Albania has scored “low soon as their identities are confirmed, Bosnia’s effectiveness” in three immediate areas including Serb Presidency member Milorad Dodik said on confiscation, terrorist finance investigation and Sunday, following the session of his Alliance of ISSN: 2654-0304 3 Independent Social Democrats (Savez Nezavisnih authority of the competent state institutions, and Socijaldemokrata - SNSD) executive board. “We to facilitate their activities and those of demand full sterilization from migrants on our international partners. This is the only way to territories and securing a full safety of our ensure the security of citizens of your Canton in people,” Dodik told the reporters, adding that the current situation. Should this not be the case, Republika Srpska, Bosnia’s Serb-majority region, the Commission will reconsider its assistance in will not allow any reception centers for migrants the area of migration management that Bosnia to be set up on its territory. “It is unacceptable and Herzegovina and in particular the Una-Sana that some western institutions send demands more Canton have been benefiting so far,” said a letter and more often to have the migrant issue that the EC’s Commissioner Christian Danielsson distributed across Bosnia and Herzegovina. We wrote to the Head of USK Government, Mustafa reject that and we will not take part in that,” he Ruznic. (www.ba.n1info.com) underlined. Dodik’s statement comes amid a new - June 25th, the Republika Srpska (RS) bought wave of migrant arrivals to Bosnia, in the wake of three Russian “ANSAT” helicopters for the needs the relaxed coronavirus restriction measures of its Police, and the first will be delivered to RS across the region and end of the lockdown. After in September, announced member of Presidency entering the country’s eastern border, the migrants of BiH, Milorad Dodik, The Srpska move to its northwest hoping they would cross the Times reports.