Kosovo is expected to be "isolated" from the Open Balkans

Montenegro has confirmed its participation in the next meeting of the Open Balkans, while it has been warned that Bosnia-Herzegovina will do the same. However, Prime Minister Kurti has refused the invitation to participate in this meeting and has given the reasons for this. Political analysts from the region warn of consequences for Kosovo, if it remains alone outside the Open Balkans.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, is expected to be the only leader of the countries of the region, who will not participate in the "Open Balkans" summit, which Kosovo refuses to join.

For the summit that will be held in Ohrid next week, Prime Minister Kurti has received an invitation from his North Macedonian counterpart, Dimitar Kovacevski.

Kurti has justified the negative answer he gave to this invitation.

"The Western Balkans is open to NATO, to the EU, to the United Kingdom. I do not believe that we should open ourselves up to any northeastern or eastern interference. We are OK. And we rely a lot on the Berlin Process 2.0 already, with a fresh start by Chancellor Scholz, we support the EU initiative with European values ​​inside and the EU to help us, but not outside the EU", he said in Kurt answered.

Political analysts in North Macedonia estimate that the results expected in the region after the implementation of the Open Balkans will also attract other countries, such as Kosovo.

"These results will also determine the decision or will determine whether the Government of Kosovo had the right not to be involved in this initiative or not. But I think that the purpose of this cooperation is good and in terms of removing various border barriers between countries to circulate freely such as people, goods, services, the labor market and so on", said Xelal Neziri.

According to Neziri, the open issues that Kosovo has with Serbia should not be an obstacle to this regional cooperation.

also Arberi June 7, 2022 Kosovo, alone against the "Open Balkans"

The professor of international law, Enver Hasani, says that Kosovo may have consequences from not being included in this regional initiative.

"If I stay outside, make a proposal that the dialogue also stops, then you isolate yourself, and if you isolate yourself, you have a serious problem with doing business with the world around you," said Hasani.

Montenegro has warned to join the initiative of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania for the Open Balkans at the Ohrid summit, while warnings have been given that Bosnia-Herzegovina will do the same.