While aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kosovo is faced with a situation where the dialogue process had largely stalled and efforts to find a durable solution had seemingly collapsed as the United States and the European Union competed for influence in Kosovo.

The dialogue on economic normalization between Belgrade and Pristina led by President Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell, was not a serious process nor did it produce breakthrough agreement. As pointed out during the Mitrovica Social Club debate, the agreement on economic normalization that was signed in the White House by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and the Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti, is not taken seriously by anyone. Moreover, it will quickly be forgotten in the US itself regardless of whether Joseph Biden or Donald Trump wins the election in November.

Respect for language rights in Kosovo is always a pertinent issue.

It is with great pleasure that NGO Aktiv invites you to a webinar debate to be held by the Mitrovica Soial Club entitled Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process: A Triangle of Constructive Ambiguities. The webinar’s theme will be the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations in Washington and Brussels, with a particular focus on the agreements reached, the implications of the presidential elections in the United States for the region, and opportunities for advancing the Western Balkans as it moves towards the European Union.  The Webinar will be held on the 23^rd of September fro 16:00.

Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, in partnership with the Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) from Pristina, TransConflict from Belgrade, Democracy for Development (D4D) from Prishtina and NGO Aktiv from North Mitrovica, are bringing the online forum “Changing Minds: Trust through Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, with the support of the European Commission, on September 4th.

Call for internships at NGO AKTIV

By: Petar Đorđević

I believe that Kosovo Serbs are the most tolerant people in the world, very adaptable and very lenient. They are the same when it comes to the use of language. They will not rebel as long as they can somewhat understand what it is all about. And even when they do not fully know what’s it all about, they will still be mild to institutions or officials and may ask for help from some Albanian-speaking friends to briefly translate what is written. This often happens when the police officer writes them a fine for a traffic violation, for example. It often happens that the description of the situation is not very accurate, but people find that out only when a friend translates to them why they were fined, and then it is too late because they have to pay that fine. And again, that Kosovo Serbs’ indulgence and tolerance – “it is better to pay the fine within two weeks while it is half less, than to be “dragged” through the courts”.