The EU is Our Only Future, says Kosovo’s Deputy PM
Kosovo’s future is as a full member of the European Union, Deputy Prime Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila said during a visit to London, this week. “Kosovo sees no other future apart from EU integration,’ she told an audience of academics and diplomats at the London School of Economics.
After the latest progress report was delivered earlier this week, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule visited Priština to confirm to Kosovo that the path to Brussels is theirs for the taking. He told Prime Minister Hashim Thaci that there are no legal obstacles to prevent Kosovo joining the EU and, if they knuckle down to institutional reform, talks on the EU’s Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) could begin as early as the first half of next year.
“Kosovo is still firm and determined towards its EU integration path,’ said Mrs Kusari-Lila. “What is very important is that objectives on this are clear.
Serbia’s Trade With Kosovo in Decline, Leaving Balkan Neighbours To Step In
Serbian imports to Kosovo have dropped by a quarter and the country is no longer seen as a principal trading partner, Kosovo’s Trade and Industry Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila told academics and diplomats at the LSE in London. But declining imports from Serbia have not left shelves empty as neighbouring states moved fast to benefit from Serbia’s 25% drop in exports to Kosovo.
“We have increased our trade exchanges with Albania, with Turkey and with Croatia because we were getting space left by Serbian products when we stopped the flow of goods from Serbia into Kosovo,’ said Mrs Kusari-Lila, adding that Macedonia is now Kosovo’s biggest regional trading partner.
“Serbia is not a principal trade partner to Kosovo. But we do need the Serbian territory for our trucks to pass through because it is the easier access to the EU market. Trade with Serbia has declined and, to be honest, I thought it was about time.
“It was about time to have this kind of consequence to the negative policy they had towards Kosovo.”
Government Ban Cannot Silence Pride
The Serbian Orthodox Church and right wing extremists have had their way: Belgrade Pride Parade has been banned by the Serbian Government for the second year running. Belgrade Pride has attracted a great deal of attention again this year, and not for good reason. Even before the Serbian Minister of the Interior knelt down to the church and extremists and banned the Parade, fear was mounting that alleged security issues would be used as justification for the government’s submission.
As well as the Church and some family groups who are vehemently opposed to a gay lifestyle, right wing extremists had been making their jaundiced opinions and intentions entirely clear. But threats of demonstrations should not be justification for a government ban on people exercising their legal rights to gather peacefully in a parade – a rights that has been recognised by the Serbian Constitutional Court.
Marcella Detroit Records Song to Inspire Love, Faith & Hope for Belgrade Pride
American singing sensation Marcella Detroit has written a song to raise awareness and support for Belgrade Pride. The successful solo performer, who achieved international fame with the million-selling band Shakespear’s Sister, was so moved by the theme for this year’s Pride events that she penned a song called Love, Faith and Hope [listen here].
The potential for empowerment that can be found within these words inspired Marcella to pick up her guitar and compose an original song as a heartfelt message of encouragement and support to all those who live in fear or prejudice just because of how they live, love or look.
Marcella took inspiration for the song, Love, Faith and Hope, from the courage of the LGBT community in Serbia and the Western Balkans and their hopes for a better future. Click here to listen.
