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21 June, 2025
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  • OP/ED

    Elite Purges: Internal Conflict or External Design?

    Trump’s Threat of U.S. Intervention in Iran Exposes Roots of Critics’ Fears

    Crisis-Born, Purpose-Seeking: Can the EPC Define Europe’s Strategic Future?

    Serbia’s Request to the ICJ Turned Resolution 1244 into a Closed Chapter and Kosovo’s Independence into an Internationally Recognized Reality

    Unpredictable world

    Promoting Arab Culture and Language in the Framework of Cultural Diversity and Dialogue.

    ‘A Tragic Circus’: Albanian PD Figures Lash Out After LaCivita-Backed Campaign Collapses

    Erosion of Liberal Democracy in Europe Complicates Canada’s Search for Like-Minded Allies

    The single biggest treat to Europe’s security still not (adequately) tackled by the OSCE

  • Interview

    The Conclusion of the Diplomatic Mission / Ambassador Dancho Markovski: Strengthening Albania-North Macedonia Relations for a Shared European Future

    A Century of Diplomatic Relations Between Albania and Russia: Exclusive Interview with the Russian Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Alexey Zaytsev

    Exclusive/ The chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta: “The will of the citizens will triumph in Albania, as it did in North Macedonia”

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

    Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Anar Huseynov: President Aliyev’s visit to Albania opened a new page in our relations through the specific accords reached

    Macedonian Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski: Open Balkans and Berlin Process are complementary processes for progress of cooperation among WB countries

  • Realpolitik

    Chancellor Merz passed “the exam”! Political stupidity! 5 per cent or study Russian! The Firing East!      

    A top phone call as disappointment! Exit from Brexit! Germany at the helm! End this political shame up!

    That’s it! The quartet of hope! Shame on Kosovo! The Summit of a Community without Identity!

    Only praises and prolises for Meloni! Facts versus untruths! Immediate ceasefire and genuine peace, no deal for new occupation! Back after 60 years !

    US nuclear tariff bomb!! Europa fires back! NATO ok, but with or without Article 5? Kallas urges reforms!

    Europe riarmed! Germany’s epochal shift! Spoiled soup! EU Commissioner Kos demands reforms!

    Europe tightens the ranks! The Euro-Atlantic Alliance in danger! USA-1945!! A true Peace, not new occupation!

    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.  Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    The law of force over the force of law! Multilateral diplomacy is the victim! Euro-Atlantism in danger! Munchen split the West!

    Packages with gifts  for extremism! A major bonus for  Giorgia Meloni! The head, then the feet! A great step to the long – awaited peace!

  • Current Events

    Geneva meeting begins in bid to halt escalating Israel-Iran conflict

    From Donetsk to Northern Kosovo: Geopolitical Games with the Kosovo Precedent

    G7 leaders fail to reach ambitious joint agreements on key issues after Trump’s exit

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia in the Western Balkans, Written by Dragan Šormaz

    Serbia’s Campaign to Rebrand Itself as Heir to the Illyrians/ A direct challenge to historical truth and Albanian heritage

    10th OSCE RFoM South East Europe Media Conference concludes with call for co-ordinated action to strengthen media viability

    Russia Proposes Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul on June 2

    Charlemagne Prize/ Von der Leyen honoured for advancing European unity

  • Top News

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia Proposes Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul on June 2

    International leaders congratulate Prime Minister Rama after his victory in the parliamentary elections, securing a fourth term.

    Albania’s parliamentary elections competitive and well run but lacked level playing field, international observers say

    Top Ukrainian delegation arrives in Paris for talks with Western officials

    Marta Kos: Albania Making Rapid Progress Toward EU Integration

    Duro Macut takes office as Prime Minister of Serbia

    Polish Cultural Week Kicks Off Today

    59 dead and more than 150 injured in nightclub fire in North Macedonia

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  • Home
  • OP/ED

    Elite Purges: Internal Conflict or External Design?

    Trump’s Threat of U.S. Intervention in Iran Exposes Roots of Critics’ Fears

    Crisis-Born, Purpose-Seeking: Can the EPC Define Europe’s Strategic Future?

    Serbia’s Request to the ICJ Turned Resolution 1244 into a Closed Chapter and Kosovo’s Independence into an Internationally Recognized Reality

    Unpredictable world

    Promoting Arab Culture and Language in the Framework of Cultural Diversity and Dialogue.

    ‘A Tragic Circus’: Albanian PD Figures Lash Out After LaCivita-Backed Campaign Collapses

    Erosion of Liberal Democracy in Europe Complicates Canada’s Search for Like-Minded Allies

    The single biggest treat to Europe’s security still not (adequately) tackled by the OSCE

  • Interview

    The Conclusion of the Diplomatic Mission / Ambassador Dancho Markovski: Strengthening Albania-North Macedonia Relations for a Shared European Future

    A Century of Diplomatic Relations Between Albania and Russia: Exclusive Interview with the Russian Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Alexey Zaytsev

    Exclusive/ The chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta: “The will of the citizens will triumph in Albania, as it did in North Macedonia”

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

    Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Anar Huseynov: President Aliyev’s visit to Albania opened a new page in our relations through the specific accords reached

    Macedonian Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski: Open Balkans and Berlin Process are complementary processes for progress of cooperation among WB countries

  • Realpolitik

    Chancellor Merz passed “the exam”! Political stupidity! 5 per cent or study Russian! The Firing East!      

    A top phone call as disappointment! Exit from Brexit! Germany at the helm! End this political shame up!

    That’s it! The quartet of hope! Shame on Kosovo! The Summit of a Community without Identity!

    Only praises and prolises for Meloni! Facts versus untruths! Immediate ceasefire and genuine peace, no deal for new occupation! Back after 60 years !

    US nuclear tariff bomb!! Europa fires back! NATO ok, but with or without Article 5? Kallas urges reforms!

    Europe riarmed! Germany’s epochal shift! Spoiled soup! EU Commissioner Kos demands reforms!

    Europe tightens the ranks! The Euro-Atlantic Alliance in danger! USA-1945!! A true Peace, not new occupation!

    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.  Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    The law of force over the force of law! Multilateral diplomacy is the victim! Euro-Atlantism in danger! Munchen split the West!

    Packages with gifts  for extremism! A major bonus for  Giorgia Meloni! The head, then the feet! A great step to the long – awaited peace!

  • Current Events

    Geneva meeting begins in bid to halt escalating Israel-Iran conflict

    From Donetsk to Northern Kosovo: Geopolitical Games with the Kosovo Precedent

    G7 leaders fail to reach ambitious joint agreements on key issues after Trump’s exit

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia in the Western Balkans, Written by Dragan Šormaz

    Serbia’s Campaign to Rebrand Itself as Heir to the Illyrians/ A direct challenge to historical truth and Albanian heritage

    10th OSCE RFoM South East Europe Media Conference concludes with call for co-ordinated action to strengthen media viability

    Russia Proposes Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul on June 2

    Charlemagne Prize/ Von der Leyen honoured for advancing European unity

  • Top News

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia Proposes Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul on June 2

    International leaders congratulate Prime Minister Rama after his victory in the parliamentary elections, securing a fourth term.

    Albania’s parliamentary elections competitive and well run but lacked level playing field, international observers say

    Top Ukrainian delegation arrives in Paris for talks with Western officials

    Marta Kos: Albania Making Rapid Progress Toward EU Integration

    Duro Macut takes office as Prime Minister of Serbia

    Polish Cultural Week Kicks Off Today

    59 dead and more than 150 injured in nightclub fire in North Macedonia

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Home ENGLISH

COVID-19 in the Western Balkans

18 April, 2020
in ENGLISH, English Top News
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According to data available so far, the region reported a total of 9297 confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus infection and 247 deaths. Western Balkans governments are taking the sharper measure before Orthodox Easter.

Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski on Thursday summoned the National Security Council to make a decision on whether to extend North Macedonia’s state of emergency for another 30 days amid the coronavirus pandemic. The country proclaimed the state of emergency on March 18, when a total of 41 people were infected with the disease.

Despite the threat of the coronavirus spreading, the Macedonian Orthodox Church has decided to keep its churches open for the Orthodox Easter this weekend and to allow communions for believers. The Orthodox Church said religious artefacts used in the Easter ceremony will be disinfected and has advised the people who wish to attend masses to wear face masks or scarves to protect themselves.

The Albanian government reviewed lockdown rules on Monday as the country enters in the fifth week of lockdown since the first case of coronavirus. New measures enter in force and stay-at-home directive continues to be the main rule. As the Orthodox Easter is expected to be celebrated this weekend, the new order extends the total lockdown not only Sunday but starting from Friday 17:30 to Monday 5:00 am no one is allowed to leave home for any reason.

As Prime Minister Edi Rama said last week, the first phase of the lockdown is expected to finish in the end of May, when many activities could cautiously turn to “the new normal state” and many could go back to work. Albania is meanwhile pondering the partial reopening of economic activity and cross-border travel in line with some other countries in Europe.

The most complex measures were introduced in Kosovo starting from Wednesday – every citizen will have 90 minutes a day to go outside, and when they will be able to do so depends on the next to last number of their ID card. People with numbers 0 and 1, for example, can go outside from 7 to 8:30 am, while people with number 9 can do so from 21 to 22:30.

In Serbia President Aleksandar Vučić announced earlier in the week that curfew for the coming weekend in Serbia will be extended to Tuesday.

“I think the decision will be to start – so that people can get everything they need on Good Friday – on Friday at 5 pm until Tuesday at 5 am, Monday is in any case a non-working day”, Vučić told public broadcaster Radio Television Serbia on Tuesday evening.

He also said that children with disabilities and their parents are allowed to go out for a walk whenever they want – reversing an earlier decision to let them go out between 6 pm and 8 pm – and that people older than 65, who have been under a total movement ban for a month, will also be able to go for a walk starting next week.

The Republika Srpska Crisis Staff has decided to impose a ban on outdoor movement over much of the Easter weekend in the Serb-led entity. The ban will last from 3 pm on Friday to 5 am on Saturday, and then from 3 pm on Saturday from 5 am on Monday. This measure is designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Republika Srpska. It applies to all citizens except for medical workers, police and security agency workers, as well as people who urgently need medical care.

Albanian Parliament adopts harsh prison sentences for violating isolation

On Thursday, the Albanian Parliament has approved the government’s proposal to make changes to the Criminal Code by introducing harsh prison sentences for violators of the COVID-19 measures. The draft law was approved by 88 votes during a special parliamentary meeting, while 13 voted against it and one abstained, Tirana Times reported.

The draft law was approved with several modifications since it was first proposed by the government last week, taking into consideration recommendations by the Legal Affairs Committe and President Ilir Meta. The latter sent a modified version of the draft of the proposed changes to the parliament, calling for milder sentences for violators, so as not to conflict with the Constitution.

Opposition MP Rudina Hajdari said that she welcomes these improvements, but stressed that it is not the right time to change the Criminal Code as it is a time of pandemic. According to her, more time is needed for reflection so that the changes do not conflict with the Constitution and human rights.

North Macedonia puts three ministers in isolation

North Macedonia’s caretaker Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski, Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani, Health Minister Venko Filipce and Education Minister Arber Ademi will be put in home isolation for 14 days, the government told Deutsche Welle on Thursday.

The move comes after the ministers had a meeting with the local authorities in the town of Kumanovo, one of the country’s COVID-19 hotspots. Following the meeting, Kumanovo’s mayor, Maksim Dimitrievski, said that he has been diagnosed with the Coronavirus.

The minister’s isolation will not hamper the normal functioning of the government, the authorities insisted, as government sessions will be held via videoconferencing calls.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the three affected ministers did not attend Thursday’s Security Council meeting at the presidential office, after which President Stevo Pendarovski said that the state of emergency in the country will be extended for another 30 days.

Kosovo Criticised for not Publishing COVID-19 Decisions in Serbian

Kosovo’s Ministry of Health has been criticised for publishing information on the new COVID-19 movement restrictions only in Albanian, the language of the majority community.

Government websites in Kosovo are trilingual, with every update published in Albanian, Serbian and English.

By not publishing the latest COVID-19-related rules and decisions in Serbian, members of the ethnic Serbian community will lack proper information, a local NGO Activ, which works to increase the involvement and participation in active citizenship of Kosovo Serbs, wrote on Twitter.

It said that Kosovo Serbs were “in a position where they can be penalised for violating rules that they were unable to familiarise themselves with”, due to not having access to official information in their own language./EWB

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