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BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Balkans warn Ukraine over EU illusions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jun 2022 16:14
3 Min Read

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama praised Ukraine's possible inclusion in the EU but cautioned against unrealistic expectations of a quick process.

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  • Balkans warn Ukraine over EU illusions
    Balkans warn Ukraine over EU illusions

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama praised Ukraine's probable inclusion as a candidate for European Union membership on Thursday but cautioned against unrealistic expectations of a quick process.

Arriving at an EU summit with Western Balkan countries, Rama said “North Macedonia is a candidate for 17 years if I have not lost count, Albania since eight, so welcome to Ukraine."

Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia were unanimously accepted as EU candidates by the European Parliament on Thursday.

In all, 529 votes were cast in favor of deferring the status of the three nations, while 45 votes were cast against the plan. 14 more MPs voted no.

“It’s a good thing to give Ukraine the status. But I hope that Ukrainian people will not make many illusions.”

The Balkan leaders are highly dissatisfied with their delayed EU ambitions, with Bulgaria preventing discussions with Albania and North Macedonia over a dispute with Skopje.

“It’s a disgrace that a Nato country, Bulgaria, kidnaps two other Nato countries, namely, Albania and North Macedonia, in the midst of hot war in Europe’s backyard with 26 other countries sitting still in a scary show of impotence,” Rama explained.

Rama and the presidents of North Macedonia and Serbia threatened to skip the EU summit in protest of the lack of progress but ultimately chose to attend.

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Bulgaria's EU rivals have been pressuring the country to accept a compromise settlement in its long-running historical and cultural conflict with North Macedonia in order to pave the way.

However, the collapse of the Bulgarian government following a no-confidence vote on Wednesday has cast more doubt on the plan.

According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, “The states and citizens of the Western Balkans have been waiting for almost 20 years for the possibility of becoming members of the European Union."

“In my view, it is of the utmost importance that this promise becomes credible.”

EU chief Charles Michel said there was “a will to re-energize” the accession process for the Balkan countries.

However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated unequivocally that he expects "nothing" from Thursday's meeting of the EU's 27 leaders.

Brussels is concerned that the Balkans' lack of development would drive the region closer to Russia and China.

Some EU members have attempted to exploit the campaign for candidate status for Ukraine — and its neighbor Moldova — to re-energize efforts to bring the Balkans on board.

However, Serbia has expressed dissatisfaction with the EU sanctions imposed on its partner Russia in response to the war in Ukraine.

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