Milorad Dodik declared President of the Republika Srpska after recount

Former Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik was declared President of the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Central Election Commission announced after the recount of the votes. “I strongly believe in the idea of an independent Republika Srpska”, Milorad Dodik told supporters. The Central Election Commission decided to recount the ballots cast at the October 2 elections amid suspicions of electoral fraud. Meanwhile, thousands took to the streets in support of Milorad Dodik, including renowned Serbian Director Emir Kosturica. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sent a congratulatory message to Milorad Dodik on his election as President of the Republika Srpska. “You can always count on Serbia’s sincere friendship, as well as on our selfless support and cooperation in fostering cultural, economic, political and spiritual ties”, President Vucic wrote.

Dodik was the President of the Republic of Srpska between 2010 and 2018. “The conflict in Ukraine is a direct consequence of the expansion of the Alliance to the east, and the real target is Russia, its thorough containment and finally its destruction”, Milorad Dodik said in an interview for “Russian Gazette”, published on October 27, 2022.

Deputy Premier of Kosovo prohibited from visiting Belgrade for “security reasons”

Kosovo Deputy Premier Besnik Bislimi was not allowed to participate at the Belgrade Security Conference. “This is a signal that Serbia is not ready to work for the normalization of relations between the two countries”, Kosovo’s Deputy Premier Beslimi, Chief Negotiator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, said at the border checkpoint in Merdare. Bislimi said his vehicle was pulled over by the police about 85 kilometers from Belgrade and he was told that Serbia cannot provide security. He added that “it was a little absurd” that security has been compromised. Bislimi also said he wanted to offer Kosovo’s version both for current developments and for the dialogue process, kosovarpress.com said.

Emanuele Giaufret: The enlargement of the European Union is an investment in security

Russian aggression calls into question European security and the entire international order. The European Union’s enlargement policy is more than ever a strategic investment in long-term security, stability and progress of the European continent, said the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret, blics.rs reported. In his view, the Western Balkan countries should seize the moment to advance on the European path. “The future of the Western Balkans is in the EU. That is why the region is already involved in various initiatives and programs, such as the green transition and the EU Energy Platform”, Emanuele Giaufret said.

Recep Erdogan to meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Istanbul on November 4

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Istanbul on November 4, TRT Haber reported, referring to sources of the Turkish Presidency. Recep Erdogan and Jens Stoltenberg are expected to discuss NATO-related topics, options for resolving the Ukrainian crisis and the possibility of extending the agreement on grain exports from Ukrainian ports. Jens Stoltenberg said this week that he was planning to speak with Turkey’s President about the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO.

Greece proposes a list of 50 basic goods with zero or low price hikes

The Greek Parliament has fixed the prices of 50 items from the so-called household shopping basket. The prices of these items should remain unchanged or increase insignificantly. The decision was adopted with the support of the ruling party New Democracy and the opposition PASOK, Greek media informed. Any shop with an annual profit of more than EUR 90 million will have to draw up a list of products “necessary for a decent life”, the price of which will remain reasonable. According to Greek media, the measure will come into effect next week. However, it will not be mandatory for smaller shops, the BNR’s Horizont channel informed.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English version Kostadin Atanasov