• Palmer: Kosovo – Serbia agreement is possible; Russia wants a troubled Balkans (Telegrafi)
• Palmer in Podgorica: U.S. renewed focus in the Balkans (Koha)
• German idea on final Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Zeri)
• Serbian List accused of threatening SLS officials (Bota Sot/RTK)
• CEC certifies 21 entities and 685 candidates for upcoming elections (media)
• Abuses with millions in the name of the integration of the north (Koha)
• Restoration works at Novoberdo suspended pending report (Zeri)
• Human remains discovered in Zhabar village of Mitrovica (media)
• Montenegrin President meets Kosovo Ambassador (Indeksonline)

Palmer: Kosovo – Serbia agreement is possible; Russia wants a troubled Balkans (Telegrafi)

The U.S. special representative for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, said in an interview to Montenegro’s public broadcaster that he was confident an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina can be reached and that the U.S. will support a government in Pristina that is committed to dialogue. “One of our key objectives is to support the formation of a government in Kosovo that is committed to dialogue, which means suspending the customs tariffs and returning to the table of talks,” he said. Palmer said talks between the two sides must be more serious and lead to a comprehensive agreement for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. “It would be ideal for this to happen based on mutual recognition. Only after the parties return to the table of talks, we will be there as partners in search of an agreement that is acceptable for all, sustainable, and which will help Serbia in its path toward the EU,” he added. Palmer also said that “Russians have power in the Western Balkans” and that the U.S. have a totally different position on the region compared to Russia. “We see the Western Balkans as a member of the family of Western countries, integrated in Euro-Atlantic institutions, as countries that cooperate based on rules and norms. Russians have shown that they want a region based on unrest and lack of trust. I think this was evident in Montenegro, when Russians supported a coup plot in 2016, which was an aggressive act aimed at preventing Montenegro from moving toward NATO and the West”.

Palmer in Podgorica: U.S. renewed focus in the Balkans (Koha)

Matthew Palmer, the U.S. special representative for the Western Balkans, said during a visit to Podgorica, Montenegro, that his appointment marks a renewed focus by the U.S. in the region. Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said after meeting Palmer that his appointment marks a real opportunity for the region to speed up the implementation of strategic objectives and contributes to the stability of the whole region. Palmer also met with Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and informed him about the priorities of his mission: the start of EU membership talks for North Macedonia and Albania, the restart of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and a solution for the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

German idea on final Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Zeri)

Peter Beyer, German MP from the ruling CDU/CSU coalition who visited Kosovo and Serbia last week, said that the model of two Germanys is something that is worth being looked at as a possible option for the Kosovo-Serbia agreement. “This is a concept we had once between the two Germanys which resulted in the reunification which is not what we want in the case of Kosovo and Serbia. East and West Germany coexisted in the aspect of international organisations but did not recognise one another. Such coexistence would be possible between Kosovo and Serbia,” Beyer is quoted.

Beyer at the same time reconfirmed the position of the German government against territorial exchanges and that recognition of Kosovo is a condition for Serbia’s EU membership.

Serbian List accused of threatening SLS officials (Bota Sot/RTK)

Serb Liberal Party (SLS) has accused the Serbian List for running an intimidation campaign against SLS officials.

Leader of SLS, Slobodan Petrovic, said at a press conference that an employee of the healthcare centre in Shterpce was fired because he refused to leave SLS. “Viewed from our perspective and our community, we are completely certain that  the Serbian List is in full panic and they’re doing what only cowards do,” Petrovic said.

CEC certifies 21 entities and 685 candidates for upcoming elections (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has certified 21 political entities and a total of 685 candidates running for election on 6 October. “I confirm the certification of 18 political parties, 2 coalitions and 1 independent candidate,” head of CEC Valdete Daka said yesterday following the meeting of the CEC.

Daka also said there has been misunderstandings in the past as to what personal documents can be accepted for voting and that to this end the CEC has decided to issue an administrative instruction for Municipal Election Commissions and polling councils informing them that identification documents according to article 90 of the Law on Elections include “a valid personal ID card, valid passport, valid travel document, valid driving license of the Republic of Kosovo. To be more exact, an item has been added stating that valid document are all documents of the Republic of Kosovo, as set forth by Article 90.”

Daka said caution needs to be exercised regarding persons who still appear in the lists with UNMIK documents which she said can be used for possible manipulations.

The CEC also announced that it has received over 15,000 applications to vote from Diaspora. The deadline for Diaspora voters to register with the CEC expires today.

Abuses with millions in the name of the integration of the north (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that millions of euros have been spent in the name of the integration of the four Serb-majority northern municipalities. The main sources of funding for Mitrovica North, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok are from the Kosovo budget, donations from the European Union and financial aid from Serbia “which continues to keep alive the parallel structures there”. A Development Fund for the northern municipalities was set up following an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia in 2013. After a long period of income collection, the fund has marked a drastic fall in the last couple of months. The European Union has asked for inquiries into the matter. According to the paper, the main reason is fewer imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result of the 100-percent import tariff. The paper also notes that the funds that were allocated to the accounts of the northern municipalities have been divided in different projects. “But their expenditures have been characterised by abuses and lack of transparency,” the paper notes.

Restoration works at Novoberdo suspended pending report (Zeri)

The restoration works at the Novoberdo fortress have been suspended since last week following concerns that heavy machinery was used in the process. Kosovo’s acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Kujtim Gashi, said the restoration works will not be resuming until a detailed report is presented. “I expect the report by the end of this week,” Gashi said adding that based on this outline, they will determine the future course of action.

Meanwhile, George Papagiannis from UNESCO said the restoration works were in line with the project. “The work was carried out on our request, based on the approved intervention plan and authorization for works dated 16 July 2019,” he said.

Human remains discovered in Zhabar village of Mitrovica (media)

Media report that remains of one person have been discovered at the cemetery in the village of Zhabar, Mitrovica municipality, during a burial ceremony.

Head of the missing persons association “Voice of Parents” and head of Missing Persons Resource Centre Bajram Cerkini told Kosovapress that the remains are thought to be from the Kosovo conflict.

The police have sealed the site and forensic teams are expected to conduct an examination of the remains.

Montenegrin President meets Kosovo Ambassador (Indeksonline)

The news website covers a meeting between Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and Kosovo’s Ambassador to Podgorica, Ylber Hysa on Monday. Djukanovic highlighted the progress in relations between Montenegro and Kosovo, increased cooperation and strengthened trust through common strategic objectives and interest and the resolution of the inter-state border issue. Djukanovic also said Montenegro closely follows developments in Kosovo related to the restart of dialogue with Serbia and the importance that the resolution of this issue has for regional stability. He also said he expects the upcoming parliamentary elections in Kosovo to mark another step forward in terms of strategic interests. Hysa said Kosovo relies on the support and experience of Montenegro as a champion country in European and Euro-Atlantic integration.