VOA: Critics say that Serbia will benefit the most from the 'Open Balkans'

The meeting in Belgrade of the Open Balkans initiative, which was again held without Kosovo, was permeated by concerns about the coming winter, facing threats from the lack of energy and food due to the situation created in the world with Russia's war in Ukraine.

The participants put their signatures on agreements related to food security, understanding in the field of cinematography and audio-visual activities in the Western Balkans, cooperation in the field of mining and energy, as well as an operational plan in the field of civil emergencies.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said that the success of the Open Balkans project depends a lot on how much peace and stability in the region will be strengthened.

"The Open Balkans initiative brings hope to this part of the world which has always been fraught with misunderstandings and conflicts at the best of times," said the Serbian president.

The initiative gathered the day before in Belgrade at a wine fair. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that yesterday was the most beautiful day in the Open Balkans.

"It could have been a typical bad day for the Balkans as a whole and instead of opening our doors to the people of work, to the people of the land, to the people of production, to the people of food and to many others from all over the world, we could We had opened the doors to another bad news, for tension, for conflict, for the risk of war and all in a row. Fortunately, the first happened," he said.

Prime Minister Rama referred to the beginning of the implementation of the agreement on free movement between Kosovo and Serbia, which since Thursday recognize each other's identification documents.

On this occasion, he evaluated the actions of the Serbian president, stressing that he "gave a very clear sign to everyone that the first choice is peace and the solution for the people", while underlining that there would have been no need to spend all that energy and all that time would be wasted if both Kosovo and other countries were in the Open Balkans.

Kosovo refuses to join the initiative in the first place because of the approach of Serbia, which does not recognize its independence, but also so that it does not become part of the initiatives that, as its leaders say, aim to replace the European integration processes.

The United States supports the initiative and has called on Kosovo to become part of it, but has underlined that it is an economic initiative that can only succeed if it includes all six Western Balkan states on the same level.

Takimeve të fundit në cilësinë e vëzhguesve u janë bashkuar përfaqësuesit e Bosnjës dhe Malit të Zi.

Presidenti serb, Vuçiç, kryeministri shqiptar Rama dhe kryeministri i Maqedonisë së Veriut, Dimitar Kovaçevski thanë se dimri që po vjen do të jetë një periudhë e vështirë, madje kryeministri Kovaçevski tha se do të jetë më i vështiri që pas Luftës së Dytë Botërore.

Ata u pajtuan të formojnë një komision të përbashkët për të ndihmuar njëri-tjetrin përballe kërcënimeve nga mungesa e energjisë dhe ushqimit, duke e cilësuar shumë të rëndësishme marrëveshjen për sigurinë ushqimore sipas së cilës çdo vendim i mundshëm për ndalimin eksporteve të drithërave dhe prodhimeve bujqësore, nuk do të përfshijë vendet anëtare të nismës. Po ashtu ata vunë theksin tek shkëmbimet energjetike.

The Open Balkan initiative, which until July of last year was known as the "Balkan Mini-Schengen", has provoked many reactions and evaluations from the most diverse, its critics put emphasis on the assertion that it is Serbia that is economically more powerful will benefit the most from this initiative. VOA