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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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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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New constructivism needed towards Europe's East

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

On the historic date of 0March 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 event titled: “Europe – Future – Neighbourhood at 75: Disruptions Recalibration Continuity”. The conference, jointly organized by four different entities (the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies IFIMES, Media Platform Modern Diplomacy, International Scientific Journal European Perspectives, and Action Platform Culture for Peace) 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.

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2021 North Macedonia: Increased Security Challenges and Threats

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

After long and difficult negotiations in June/July 2015 the political leaders in North Macedonia brokered the Przino agreementand agreed to overcome the deep multiyear political crisis, which was caused by the illegal tapping of more than 20,000 citizens and the plunder by the regime in the amount of more than 5 billion Euros of public money, and then organizedearly parliamentary elections in December 2016 after the fulfillment of specific preconditions. The electoral rolls were “cleansed”as they included a “surplus” of no less than 330,000 voters and appropriate media regulations were established. Specifically, instead of the complete media hegemony of VMRO-DPMNE and the Nikola Gruevski - Sašo Mijalkov duo, all political subjects participating in the elections were given equal access and treatment in the media.

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The East European fire arc - an actual danger Romania should take into account

Author(s): Teodor Palade,Corneliu Pivariu / Language(s): English

We are an uncaring people. And, as a people, we are uncaring for we have repeatedly elected the wrong leaders. Moreover, it is widely known that Romania did not come up in the last decades with a single high standard politician. Not a single one! Beguiled by the petty indigenous bickering raised by the stakeholders to frightening dimensions and blinded by meaningless appearances, we do not care we are surrounded by complicated conflicted situations, dormant or active, each of them with real potential of generating at any moment devastating armed clashes.

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Turkey 2021: Is Turkey returning to the old electoral system?

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

President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated at the press conference on 1 February 2021 that preparations have started to draft the new constitution. “It is time for Turkey to discuss a new constitution again,” he said noting that “the source of the problem in Turkey since 1960 is the constitution made by putschists.” All political parties agree that the 1961 and 1982 constitutions were written after bloody military coups in 1960 and 1980 and do not accommodate for the current problems Turkey is facing. However, the opposition also demands early parliamentary elections.

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Improving human rights through empowering citizens and rebuilding trust across Europe

Author(s): Chloé Bernadaux / Language(s): English

“2020 has been a disastrous year for human rights in Europe,” commented Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at a speech in front of the Council of Europe at the end of last year. In an unprecedented fashion, the COVID-19 pandemic (C-19) has brought to fore a tremendous increase in human rights violations in 2020 throughout the world. According to Reporters Without Borders’ tracker 19 mapping human rights cases of abuse worldwide, Europe is no exception to the rule. While it contains one of the most advanced human rights protection systems globally, the old continent has seen itself prey to governmental and media attempts to erode democracy and human rights.

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2021 Early Elections on Kosovo: Chance for New Beginning?

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

For Kosovo, 2021 is a year of elections. The fifth parliamentary (early) elections will be held on 14 February 2021. After establishment of the parliamentary majority the next President of Kosovo will be elected, after what regular local elections will follow. In such a situation there is no ambiance for serious work, particularly with respect to combating the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as strengthening civic and other freedoms. The entire social-political life revolves around the elections and election campaigns.

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2021 Early Elections in Kosovo: End of an era

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

The fifth parliamentary (early) elections in Kosovo, since its declaration of independence on 17 February 2008, will take place on 14 February 2021. The Kosovo Assembly has 120 representatives, with 20 mandates reserved for members of minority communities. Specifically, the Serb community gets 10 mandates, while the Bosniak community gets three, Turkish two, RAE (Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian) four and Goran community one mandate.

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Lessons learned after the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement

Author(s): Mirko Pejanović / Language(s): English

Over the past two and a half decades multiple problems have been identified in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. The process of development of the BiH society has generated some visible achievements that could lead to a stable development of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, at the same time, some halts in development of the BiH society and state are also notable. These halts have led to the deepening of the crisis in economic development, particularly since 2015. Namely, since 2015, several dozen thousands of young people have left Bosnia and Herzegovina and went to European counties in pursuit of economic prosperity.

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Balkan 2021: Who jeopardizes Balkans?

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

It will be recorded in the history of international relations that all countries of the Balkans peninsula, starting from Slovenia to Bulgaria had or have officially applied for membership in the EU and NATO, except for Serbia which has declared military neutrality, but is still a candidate for membership in the EU. Throughout the history, by means of public or secret agreements, international conferences, particularly in the case of the ending the two world wars, as well as the local wars in the Balkans and broader region, the major powers have always brokered agreements on their respective spheres of influences, which as a rule, did not respect the wills of those affected the most by such agreements- the states and peoples of the Balkans.

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Montenegro 2020: Đukanović's war with the USA (and the West)

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

On 30 August 2020, Montenegro held the 11th parliamentary election since the first multi-party election in 1990, and the fifth since Montenegro gained independence in 2006. The turnout was as high as 76.65%. The elections brought an end to the longest-running regime in Europe. After 31 ears, the citizens overcame their fears and renounced obedience to the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and its leader, the incumbent President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

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Time for clear words and actions

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

With the Polish and Hungarian veto on the so-called Multi-year Financial Framework, the lingering conflict between the EU and its member countries that would like to enjoy the economic benefits of the EU without respecting the values of the rule of law and democracy, has recently escalated to a new level. In sign of protest against the proposed new clause regarding the rule of law, at the negotiations marathon that took place this summer heads of states and governments have already demonstrated their significantly “softened” approach with respect to the previous proposals of the European Commission and the European Parliament. Namely, what happened is that Warsaw and Budapest had blocked not just the European budget for the next seven years, but also the assistance for economic recovery of member countries, which have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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2020 Albania: Edi Rama takes Albania closer to Latin America not EU

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

On 28 November this year Albania marked the 108th anniversary of its proclamation of independence from the Ottoman Empire. Ever since it became a sovereign and independent state Albania has been marking this day as the “Flag Day”, which symbolizes the unity of all the Albanians. However, the situation in Albania is a far cry from any unity, and the country lumps together with politically unstable and underdeveloped European countries.

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2020 Bosnia and Herzegovina- Croatia: Relations in the shadow of recent history

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

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the seventh local elections since the signing of the Dayton peace agreement were held on 15 November 2020. The elections brought about tectonic changes on the political scene and are a prelude to the announced political changes at the parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place on 2 October 2022. Political changes had also led to success in North Macedonia, with the arrival of Zoran Zaev (SDSM) to power. Zaev took his country to membership in NATO and it is expected that Macedonia will soon open the accession talks with the European Union. The Brussels Dialogue between the official Belgrade and Priština is entering its final phase. In Montenegro, the recent parliamentary elections resulted in the fall of the 31- years long regime headed by Milo Đukanović (DPS), which was an introduction into groundbreaking political changes and stabilization of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina 2020: There will be no rule of law without comprehensive judicial reform - Fadil Novalić case illustrates the state of the BiH judiciary

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

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the judiciary is an obstacle to any progress in the country. Domestic and international experts have identified the situation in the judiciary but it is necessary to take a step forward, with strong international support and leadership. Without cleaning up the judiciary, the country’s overall progress and profound political changes will remain impossible.

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

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

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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2020 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Stumbling judiciary is the cancer of BiH Society

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

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the elections of local authorities were held on 15 November 2020. The results of the local elections are a prelude into tectonic changes on the political scene of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The wave of political changes has shifted from Montenegro to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was most prominent in the entity of Republika Srpska were the ruling regime headed by Milorad Dodik and his Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) suffered a strong political blow from the opposition, primarily in Banja Luka, the largest city in Republika Srpska, but also in major economic centers in the entity such as Bijeljina, Derventa i Brod. After the fall of the regime of Milo Đukanović (DPS) in Montenegro, the fall of Dodik's regime has become inevitable. Dodik displayed humility and attempted to curry favor with the Vice President of the European Commission and High Commissioner for Foreign and Security Policy Joseph Borell during his recent visit to Sarajevo when he requested financial support from the EU, which could prolong his regime for a short period of time. Hence, the question to be asked is will, this time as well, the international community financially support Dodik and save his regime from financial collapse?

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