As Albania was engulfed in flames, the agreement signed in Skopje a few weeks ago under the framework of the Open Balkan initiative seems not to have translated into real action. Rama, Vucic, and Zaev vowed to help one another in case of natural disasters, but it seems that the only country that really came to the rescue during the dire situation was neighbor Kosovo.

Since in its first test, when a real need arose for the implementation of what was agreed by the three Wester Balkan leaders, did not yield any efficient results.

At the summit held in Skopje, Edi Rama, Aleksandar Vucic and Zoran Zaev signed 2 memorandums and 1 cooperation agreement.

Apart from the two memorandums aimed at facilitating trade and employment among the three states, the only agreement signed was over the protection and rescue in case of natural catastrophes.

Right after the vows were put into the paper, came the time when Albania needed this agreement to be put into action.

As it battled with flames across the flames, firefighter squads needed help from their neighbors. However, the aid did neither come from Serbia, nor from North Macedonia.

As in North Macedonia, even Kosovo struggled to tackle some minor wildfires, which they were able to put down. While in Serbia, there have been no reports of any fire outbreaks.

Although opposing the Open Balkan initiative, on August 9 the government of Kosovo signed an order to send 43 firefighters to extinguish the flames near the Kalimash tunnel. Their troops joined forces with the aid previously arriving from the European Union.