Series:IFIMES Research Papers

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2021 Bosna and Herzegovina: Russia establishes its modus operandi in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2021 Bosna and Herzegovina: Russia establishes its modus operandi in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: 2021; BiH; Russia; presence; modus operandi; politics; security;

The latest session of the UN Security Council only reaffirmed once again the crisis caused in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the actions of the Serb Member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik (SNSD) with the assistance of the Russian Federation. At the same time, no concrete solutions and conclusions were offered nor attempts made to prevent separatist actions aimed to annul the Dayton[2] peace agreement and destroy the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a silent generally accepted opinion that “an armed conflict of low intensity is possible in BiH”, which is an indication that the strongest global powers have already developed their military plans as well. Once again, aconflict in BiH would be an international conflict- this time with the assistance of NATO and the Russian Federation. In fact, the prolongation of introduction of concrete measures that would provide for political elimination and criminal processing of Milorad Dodik and several of his “executors” is a proof of the seriousness of the situation. Bosnia and Herzegovina could become a new hotspot, which could endanger the security of entire Europe.

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The role of Open society foundation in putting the justice system under the control of the Albanian socialist party through the judicial reform

The role of Open society foundation in putting the justice system under the control of the Albanian socialist party through the judicial reform

Author(s): Sali Berisha / Language(s): English

Keywords: Albania; Socials party; justice system; judicial reform; 2021;

July 2021 marks five years since the approval by Parliament of the constitutional package for the Reform of the Judiciary in Albania. It is a body of legislation that brought about a judicial system under the total control of the executive. Despite efforts to deny, the reform is the brainchild of the Open Society Foundation (OSF), which initiated, promoted and financed the process. OSF associates drafted its legislation. Following its failure and the dramatic collapse of public support for the reform and the judicial system[2], prominent OSF representatives in Albania and Europe have tried to deny the role of OSF as the crucial driving force of the reform[3].

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2021 Local Elections in North Macedonia: Election with historic consequences

2021 Local Elections in North Macedonia: Election with historic consequences

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: North Macedonia; 2021; local elections; politics; historic consequences;

On 17 October 2021, seventh local elections since its declaration of independence will be organized in North Macedonia. The second round of elections is scheduled to take place on 31 October 2021. The National Election Commission (DIK) announced that 303 lists for mayors and 567 lists for municipal councillors had been verified. The parties and independent candidates have 19 days for their campaigns and presentation of their programs.

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The Western Balkans between democratic challenges and European aspirations: what role for the Council of Europe?

The Western Balkans between democratic challenges and European aspirations: what role for the Council of Europe?

Author(s): Josip Juratović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; Europe; challenges; EU; Council of Europe;

Unfortunately, the policies of the international community also made serious mistakes during the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, from which we must learn today. The agreement in the Helsinki Act on the right of self-determination of peoples was a blessing for the reunification of Germany - but disastrous for the former Yugoslavia. Self-determination of peoples without adherence to the Charter of Human Rights prevents democracy and creates nationalism and thus the terrible consequences we know from the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia.

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2021 Local Elections on Kosovo: A sort of defeat of international community

2021 Local Elections on Kosovo: A sort of defeat of international community

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: Kosovo; local elections; international community; 2021;

On 17 October 2021, Kosovo will hold its fourth local elections since its declaration of independence on 17 February 2008. In Kosovo, heads of municipalities and municipal councilors are elected at local elections. The Kosovo Central Election Commission (CEC) verified participation of 90 political subjects. Specifically, 32 political parties, 34 civic initiatives, one coalition and 23 independent candidates. There are 1,885,448 voters eligible to vote at the local elections.

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2021 EU – West Balkans summit: EU Credibility in Western Balkans undermined?

2021 EU – West Balkans summit: EU Credibility in Western Balkans undermined?

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: EU; Western Balkans; 2021; EU credibility; politics;

The EU and Western Balkans countries summit scheduled to take place on 5 and 6 October 2021 in Brdo pri Kranj, Slovenia is a part of strategic cooperation between the European Union and Western Balkans. The European Union was established as a peace project after the end of World War II and it facilitated establishment of enduring peace and long-term stability in Europe. In the recent history, the Western Balkans region experienced a number of wars, after which fragile and peace and latent stability was established.

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Europe is entrapped

Europe is entrapped

Author(s): Blagoje Grahovac / Language(s): English

Keywords: globalisation; monopolisation; security; foreign policy;

It is less important whether in appraisals of the new social-political processes there is more scientific ground or the laic comprehension thereof. It is important that the rate of those processes is far higher than the referent theoreticians have been predicting. Different kind of conclusions can be made today about the world as a “global village”. I am pointing out four of those which can have a great significance in consideration of geopolitical processes. Firstly, new technologies have made all the civilisation achievements in all fields accessible to almost the whole mankind on the planet. Secondly, the achievements in the field of democracy are intriguing to everyone, disregarding of the real value thereof. Thirdly, globalisation side effects are expanding and connecting faster than anything else. Typical globalisation side-effects are organised crime and corruption, neoliberalism as fascism and armed religious fanaticism. Fourthly, in the past times the role-models were in our surroundings. The role-models today are the ones from greater distances. Social networks are becoming the means in this conclusion. All of the aforesaid becomes a parameter of strategic significance in disclosure of geopolitical processes.

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What have we learnt in the past century?

What have we learnt in the past century?

Author(s): J Scott Younger / Language(s): English

Keywords: 20th century; political history; wars;

It is 100 years since we were supposedly getting over the war to end all wars, World War I, and forming the League of Nations with the purpose of preventing such a conflict and slaughter happening again. Regrettably, the only good that came out of it was the proposal to form the League of Nations; it was not much more than an idea though otherwise stillborn and we needed another World War before something solid resulted, the United Nations with some teeth, although they need sharpening. It was the time that the Chinese Communist party was formed and has just celebrated its centenary. What have we done in the time, apart from multiplying ourselves by a factor of 3, and perhaps upsetting the planet on the way. There are exciting scientific advances, of course, some of which we must use to address the wasteful manner in which we live.

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2021 Serbia: ‘Conflict’ of two constitutional concepts

2021 Serbia: ‘Conflict’ of two constitutional concepts

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: Pristina; Belgrade; dialogue; diplomacy; conflict; COVID-19;

The dialogue between the delegations of official Belgrade and Pristina, headed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić (SNS) and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti (LVV), continued in Brussels on 15 June 2021.The continuation of the dialogue mediated by the EU, specifically the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Joseph Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajčak, is a sign of encouragement despite the unpleasant incidents that occurred during the dialogue.

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2021 North Macedonia: Morally humiliated and disgraced EU

2021 North Macedonia: Morally humiliated and disgraced EU

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: North Macedonia; EU; 2021; Western Balkans;

At the EU summit in Thessaloniki in 2003, a clear message on the European perspective of Western Balkan countries was sent. Eighteen years after the EU summit in Thessaloniki, only the Republic of Croatia has been coopted into the EU, two countries have begun the accession talks without much progress, two countries are hoping to get the candidate status, while Kosovo did not even get the visa liberalization regime.

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Persona non grata without single fact or piece of evidence?

Persona non grata without single fact or piece of evidence?

Author(s): Sali Berisha / Language(s): English

Keywords: Sali Berisha; Berish family; Antony Blinken; statement; corruption;

Regarding the decision of May 19, 2021 of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the designation persona ‘non grata’ of Sali Berisha, my wife Liri Berisha, my daughter Argita and my son Shkelzen, on grounds of significant corruption; I declare at the fullest of my responsibility that this unexpected decision against my family and myself – eight years after not holding any public office and after resigning from any political leadership position – is absolutely groundless and purely based on the misinformation provided by the vindictive and slanderous lobbying power of Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and his close friend and protector, billionaire George Soros.

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Will the US - Russia arms control be continued after the Biden-Putin Geneva summit?

Will the US - Russia arms control be continued after the Biden-Putin Geneva summit?

Author(s): Alexander G. Savelyev,Olga M. Naryshkina / Language(s): English

Keywords: arms control; nuclear weapons; the New START; negotiations; nuclear warheads; nonstrategic nuclear weapons; missile defense; strategic precision-guided non-nuclear weapons; space weapons;

The article provides an analysis of the likely goals and positions of Russia and the United States on nuclear arms control. The U.S. administration aims to reach an agreement with Russia to control all of the parties' nuclear arsenals, including non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNW), as well as China's involvement in nuclear arms negotiations bilaterally or multilaterally in order to establish control over China's nuclear arsenal. Russia's likely position in the negotiations is a solution of the problem of missile defense, strategic high-precision non-nuclear weapons and space weapons. The authors believe that without a high level of trust between the parties, there are rather few good prospects for the continuation of the arms control dialogue for the foreseeable future.

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Biden-Putin summit, surprising or long-awaited

Biden-Putin summit, surprising or long-awaited

Author(s): Arben Cici / Language(s): English

Keywords: Biden; Putin; summit; security; conflict; politics;

The White House has prepared for President Joe Biden's first international trip since he was elected the 47th President of the United States. He started his first visit in Europe, where the welcoming climate seems, for many reasons, more positive than that to his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, but also more challenging, despite rising expectations. Anyway, this agenda will be not only busy, but also heated, like a geopolitical clash of Summits in Europe. It began with the G-7 Summit, continues on June 11-13 in the United Kingdom, then with the NATO Summit in Belgium, on June 14, and culminates and come to the end with the high-stake meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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2021 Serbia: New internal and external challenges

2021 Serbia: New internal and external challenges

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: Serbia; 2021; internal challenges; external challenges; COVID-19;

In its response to the Covid-19 pandemic the Republic of Serbia introduced state of emergency on 15 March 2020 and then terminated it on 6 May 2020. From the start of 2020 until the declaration of state of emergency around 400,000 persons entered Serbia, of which around 40,000 persons in the week before the introduction of state of emergency. Majority of them came from high-risk countries affected by the Covid19 pandemic, such as Italy. This required quick decisions of the authorities with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic in order to prevent a collapse of the health care system and a health disaster like the one in Bergamo, Italy. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world in many aspects. As the pandemic gained pace, Serbia modified its response and calibrated itself to the newly emerged circumstances. The key actors on the international stage used soft power to pursue their foreign policy and geopolitical interests and goals. During the pandemic the European Union was slow and cumbersome, as a result of what other countries tried to seize and fill the created gap. Serbia managed to turn the crisis caused by the Covid19 pandemic into success. In addition to the assistance it provided to other countries at the outbreak of the pandemic, particularly Italy, Serbia also led the mission of saving of human lives in the region. It assisted all the countries in the region, and later embarked on production of vaccines.

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2021 North Macedonia: Is EU heading towards its next historical mistake?

2021 North Macedonia: Is EU heading towards its next historical mistake?

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: North Macedonia; 2021; EU; historical mistake; politics;

Since the fall of the VMRO-DPMNE regime and the Nikola Gruevski - Saso Mijalkov duo, the Republic of North Macedonia has made historical steps forward in its national and social-political development. Upon their arrival to power, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and the Social-Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) had to face the problems of inherited crime and corruption, which were present in all pores of life. Zoran Zaev pursued the policy of having “zero” problems with the neighboring countries. As a result, North Macedonia and Bulgaria signed the treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation. Later, on 17 June 2018, North Macedonia signed an agreement with Greece (“Prespa Agreement”) on modification of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia. After that, the Republic of North Macedonia became a full-fledged member of NATO on 27 March 2020. The law on the use of languages, which promotes use of languages of other ethnic communities, was adopted. This provided for fulfillment of the all the key goals set by the new Macedonian government headed by Prime Minister Zaev- except one. Specifically, the opening of accession talks with the EU. In the meantime, North Macedonia achieved another major foreign-policy milestone-chairmanship of the OSCE in 2023.

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Vienna Process 2021: Re-visiting and Re-thinking the Euro-MED

Vienna Process 2021: Re-visiting and Re-thinking the Euro-MED

Author(s): Nora Wolf / Language(s): English

Keywords: 2021: Vienna Process; Euro-MED; cooperation;

On the historic date of March 08th – International Women’s Day, a large number of international affairs specialists gathered for the second consecutive summit in Vienna, Austria. This leg of the Vienna Process titled: “Europe – Future – Neighbourhood at 75: Disruptions Recalibration Continuity”. The conference, jointly organized by the Modern Diplomacy, IFIMES and their partners, with the support of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, was aimed at discussing the future of Europe and its neighbourhood in the wake of its old and new challenges.[2] Along with the two acting State Presidents, the event was endorsed by the keynote of the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Excellency Olivér Várhelyi. The first, of the three-panel conference, entitled “Revisiting and Rethinking Euro-Med: Fostering dialogue and a cooperative approach to addressing common challenges” was brilliantly conducted by the OSCE Sec-General (2011-2017), current IFIMES Euro-Med Director, Amb. Lamberto Zannier. Among his speakers were academics, government and IGO representatives of different yet complimentary backgrounds.

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President of Malta at the Vienna Process 2021: No Europe without its Neighborhood

President of Malta at the Vienna Process 2021: No Europe without its Neighborhood

Author(s): Eugene Matos de Lara / Language(s): English

Keywords: Malta; president; Vienna process; 2021; Europe; neighborhood; foreign policy; cooperation;

On the historic date of March 08th – International Women’s Day, a large number of international affairs specialists gathered for the second consecutive summit in Vienna, Austria.[2] Along with the two acting European State Presidents, the event was endorsed by the keynote of the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Excellency Olivér Várhelyi. Still, one of the most anticipated talks was that of the President of the Republic of Malta, Dr. George Vella. In his highly absorbing keynote, Excellency President focused on the Euro-Mediterranean and its promising prospects: President Vella covered a wide array of issues concerning the Mediterranean region, including prospects for and improvement of existing channels of dialogue and cooperation, the ever-changing dynamics of the region, an assessment of the developments in the Western, Central and Eastern parts of the region, and the roles of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) in addressing the Mediterranean’s challenges. This text is a brief recap highlighting the key points of the Maltese President’s intervention at the Vienna Process March’ event.

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French Senator Allizard attending the Vienna Process: Mediterranean – Theatre for future Europe

French Senator Allizard attending the Vienna Process: Mediterranean – Theatre for future Europe

Author(s): Dayana da Silva / Language(s): English

Keywords: French Senator; Pascal Allizard; Vienna Process; Mediterranean; Europe; future; cooperation;

As 2021 is the ten-year anniversary of the Arab spring, Senator Pascal highlights that a decade later, the events of the Arab Spring are crucial to the problems of today. Europe should revaluate the region through European lens. Excellency Alizard criticizes Europe, due to the fact that it tends to take a step back from the region of the North African affected area of the Arab Spring conflict as there is an abundance of issues which are unlikely to be solved with ease. One must still do its duties difficult or not to question the region. Turning a blind eye to the problems there is something that Senator says Europe tends to do to elevate their consciousness.

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2021 Elections in Albania: Edi Rama's political capitulation?

2021 Elections in Albania: Edi Rama's political capitulation?

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: Albania; 2021; elections; Edi Rama; politics;

Albania has entered the final phase of the election campaign for the parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place on 25 April 2021. Once again the elections will be a confrontation between two old rivals. Specifically, the Socialist Party (PS/S&D) headed by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the opposition group led by the Democratic Party (PD/EPP) headed by Lulzim Basha, which also includes the Movement for Socialist Integration (LSI) headed by Monika Kryemadhi.

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2020 Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict: Return of Russia to Caucasus - end of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan

2020 Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict: Return of Russia to Caucasus - end of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: 2020; Azerbaijan; Armenia; conflict; Russia; Caucasus; war;

In Moscow, on 9 November 2020, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed the peace agreement that ended the six-week war in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The agreement is a victory for Azerbaijan, which after 26 years has returned its occupied areas (Kalbajar, Lachin, Qubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Agdam) that have been controlled by Armenia ever since the ceasefire agreed by the Bishkek Protocol[2]in 1994. The Protocol that ended the previous war was also agreed under the mediation of the Russian Federation.

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