Balkans

NATO Completes Modernization Of Major Airbase In Albania

Albania officially re-opened Kuçova airbase on Monday (4 March 2024), after transforming the decades-old base into a modern hub for NATO future air operations. Located around 80 kilometres south of Tirana, Kuçova airbase will serve Albania and support Alliance logistics, air operations, training and exercises. NATO funded the base upgrade …

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Harmonious Transformation Of Europe: Brussels Agreement Considering The Geopolitical Constellation – OpEd

The EU policy in relation to Kosovo claims to be in accordance with its platform of its harmonious transformation. In this document, the central place is the treatment of this transformation and the motives of overcoming classical geopolitics in accordance with the objectives of critical geopolitical shifts. But a worthy …

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Greece’s Arming Of Ukraine With Russian Wares At The US’ Behest Will Ruin Ties With Moscow

Simply put, the US is setting Greece up to become a long-term vassal, but its leaders either don’t realize it or don’t care. Greek media reported that their country agreed to transfer outdated Russian air defense systems and ammo to Ukraine at the US’ behest in exchange for Washington greenlighting …

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How Europe’s Next War Could Start In The Balkans – OpEd

The situation in Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 and has a substantial ethnic Serb minority, has been complex due to Serbia’s continued claim that Kosovo is its territory in open rebellion. The deadly gunfight between Kosovo police and Serb paramilitaries in April 2023, and the discovery …

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Ethnocentric Yugoslav War Commemorations Taint the Future, Experts Warn

Conflicting ethnically-based commemorations of the 1990s wars mean that even though the fighting ended decades ago, the past continues to burden the present and affect former Yugoslav countries’ futures, an expert report argues. In post-Yugoslav countries, there are often conflicting narratives surrounding events from the 1990s wars, which instead of …

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Serbia, Youth, And The EU – OpEd

“To be credible, I believe we must talk about timing and homework. And I have a proposal. As we prepare the EU’s next strategic agenda, we must set ourselves a clear goal. I believe we must be ready – on both sides – by 2030 to enlarge. This means that …

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The ‘E’ is Missing from North Macedonia’s ‘E-Services’

North Macedonia’s public services have gone digital. Only they haven’t.Digitalisation has become a buzz word in North Macedonia, where for two decades politicians have rolled out digital reforms, opened so-called ‘One-Stop Shops’ and promoted ‘E-services’. Yet public registries remain unconnected, procedures are complicated – bordering on absurd – and the …

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Book Review – Enver Hoxha’s Long Shadow: Travels in Albania

John Watkins’ new travelogue offers an intriguing snapshot of a country still scarred by the legacy of its brutal dictator.Over the past 10 to 15 years, it would be easy for someone with only a passing knowledge of history to think that Albania is just another part of what has …

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Albanians Aren’t Indebted To Italy For Its 1990s ‘Welcome’ – OpEd

Edi Rama’s justification for the migrant deal with Rome – that Albanians owe Italy a historic ‘debt’ to Italy – is based on a misreading of history. The protocols signed by Albanian PM Edi Rama and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni last November by which the government in Tirana will allow Italy …

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Serbia’s Two Traditions Of Freedom – OpEd

Today, Serbia does not enjoy a reputation as a free country. The philosophy of strong hand, top-down organization of society, a socialist understanding of economy, and fierce nationalism are its trademarks. The legacy of socialism with a human face, of which I have written elsewhere, has entrenched a statist mentality …

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