• UN Security Council discusses quarterly report on Kosovo (media)
• LVV, LDK discuss establishing special investigation office (media)
• Reeker: U.S. not focused on border change (media)
• Palmer to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Limaj: There never was worse election administration in Kosovo (Koha)
• Serbian List: Kurti not to deny rights of Serbs and SL’s victory (Zeri)

UN Security Council discusses quarterly report on Kosovo (media)

All news outlets cover the United Nations Security Council session on Kosovo on Thursday. RTK reports that Kosovo was represented by Ambassador Vlora Citaku and Serbia was represented by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. UNMIK chief Zahir Tanin presented the quarterly report about the work of UNMIK. The report welcomes efforts to ensure a greater involvement of broader segments of society in political processes in Kosovo, encouraging especially women and youth to become more involved and to lead the democratic governance of Kosovo. Tanin said building trust in Kosovo requires strengthening the rule of law and a reliable, independent and impartial judiciary. He also said the UN Secretary General welcomed efforts to make sure that victims of sexual violence during the conflict in Kosovo will have the right to compensation but added that the compensation process for the victims was not fully inclusive. “Guterres calls on all respective actors to protect Kosovo’s religious heritage and to make sure that places of worship are safe so that all communities can practice their religion in peace,” the report notes. He also called on Kosovo’s institutions and international actors to continue their support and full cooperation in efforts to investigate crimes committed during the conflict in Kosovo, which he considers crucial for Kosovo’s peaceful future. In the report, Guterres also hailed the continuous efforts of the Missing Persons Working Group and planned amendments to the Law on Missing Persons, saying that shedding light on the fate of missing in Kosovo is crucial to building long-lasting trust. Guterres said he was disappointed by the small contributions to the UN Fund in support of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities affected by lead poisoning in Kosovo, and called on member states, actors and other organisations to contribute to the fund. The UN Secretary General also expressed serious concern over the detention of UNMIK staff members on May 28 and the continued legal proceedings against them by Kosovo authorities, calling on the latter to ensure that privileges and immunity of UN staff members are respected.

Klan Kosova quotes the SRSG as saying that “the international community expects the new leaders to affirm their commitment to the negotiations with Belgrade and ensure that obstacles to dialogue are removed”. Tanin said the Vetevendosje Movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo are exploring coalition options and that “they have pledged to fight crime and corruption”. Tanin hailed international efforts to resume the process of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. He also commented on the Kosovo Police operation in the north in May this year and the detention of two UNMIK staff members, saying that police used excessive force and that those that did this should be investigated.

Koha reports that the UNMIK chief briefed the Security Council on the results of a months-long investigation by UN experts from outside UNMIK that encompassed interviews with more than 50 witnesses and review of extensive photographic and video evidence during a comprehensive review of the events of May 28, when two UNMIK staff members were arrested by Kosovo police during a Kosovo-wide police operation.

SRSG Tanin shared key findings of the investigation, including that it yielded no evidence of any wrongdoing by the UNMIK staff who were on official duty at the time of their arrests and had clearly identified themselves as UN staff. The investigators determined there was “substantial evidence of the use of excessive force by Kosovo Police” that resulted in numerous injuries, including fractures, hearing loss and post-traumatic stress, and that police drove and retained an UNMIK vehicle.

“The use of excessive force, interference with Mission property, and the continuation of criminal proceedings against both staff members are in clear breach of the applicable legal framework… These actions are unacceptable and should not be condoned,” SRSG Tanin stated.

While calling for all criminal proceedings against the staff to be “terminated immediately”, SRSG Tanin also praised the cooperative spirit with which Kosovo authorities received the report findings during recent engagements.

“As long as this Council maintains the mandate for the international presences in Kosovo, I look forward to the institutions of Kosovo and UNMIK operating in full respect of one another. We are proud that UNMIK played a central role in the formation of the Kosovo police and judiciary, and we are hopeful that their intention is to address any failings and to operate in accordance with international norms and standards.”

Under the headline UNMIK chief accuses Kosovo authorities for arresting two UN officials, Pristina-based Telegrafi news website quotes the SRSG as saying that according to an internal UN investigation, the two UN officials were not involved in any wrongdoing and that they were arrested by Kosovo Police after clearly identifying themselves as UNMIK staff members. “We also have evidence of use of excessive force,” the UNMIK chief said. “Kosovo authorities should investigate those Kosovo Police involved in the incidents to ensure appropriate accountability; and steps should be taken by the institutions of Kosovo to ensure that such incidents will not be repeated”.

Kallxo quotes the SRSG as saying that the recent elections in Kosovo marked a major change in Kosovo’s political landscape. Tanin said the elections “were called during a difficult time of internal political division, disunity in the governing coalition and most importantly, the public’s perception of inability to deliver on promises to the people of Kosovo”. Tanin also said he was convinced that “an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina can be sustainable only if it is based on responsible action and local ownership of the process, it is also imperative that during this transition in Kosovo, the international community stands united and firm in its support toward a viable agreement”.

Media outlets give prominent coverage of the remarks of Kosovo’s Ambassador to the U.S. Vlora Citaku who is reported to have spoken about Kosovo’s progress and also responded to the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic who said in his word that Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti does not recognise Kosovo flag.

“I am pleased that my colleague from Serbia defends the Kosovo flag. Kosovo flag will forever sty in the office of Kosovo Prime Minister,” she said adding: “I remind you that Kurti was a political prisoner in Serbia while Dacic was a sitting minister.”

With regards to the Kosovo Police operation where two UNMIK employees were arrested, Citaku said the police acted professionally. “What would happen if someone here would prevent a police operation against criminals in New York, Berlin, Moscow, Paris… The police operation is on tape and has been presented to the public in entirety. The footage shows that UNMIK officials have refused to cooperate with the police and show their IDs,” Citaku said.

She underlined that Kosovo is an independent state and will remain as such while with regards to dialogue, Citaku said Pristina authorities are ready to resume it but the Serbian side has to first show it is serious.

On recent elections, Citaku said they took place in a fair and democratic atmosphere. She also mentioned the case involving members of the Central Elections Commission (CEC) who ended up in hospital after suffering allergic reaction while counting ballots from Serbia and the intimidation of Serb voters for which she accused authorities in Belgrade.

Citaku also spoke about Serbia’s campaign against Kosovo’s membership in international organisations, most notably in Interpol, saying that Kosovo will reapply next year. “Kosovo has already demonstrated it is a factor of stability.”

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic meanwhile said his country is ready to restart dialogue with Pristina if the latter rescinds the tax on Serbian imports. “Despite the international community’s condemnation, it has been in force for a year. The damage has reached several million dollars and is increasing by the day,” he said.

Zeri and Indeksonline at the same time report that during his remarks, Dacic held up a document he said was Vlora Citaku’s birth certificate in Serbian language. “You are still a citizen of Serbia,” Dacic is reported to have told Citaku.

Citaku later on responded to Dacic on Facebook: For some unfathomable reason our Serbian colleagues thought it was a good idea to dig up a copy of my ‘birth certificate’ & present it before the #UNSC. While I do appreciate their interest in #Kosovo political figures, I must say it is borderline obsessive. P.S Serbia stole civil registry, cadastral records, artifacts etc. They have no shame and they don’t hide it.”

The media also report that the German Ambassador to the UN, Christoph Heusgen in his word at the Security Council rejected the statement of the Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya that there is no room for optimism in Kosovo. “I want to say to my Russian colleague that Kosovo has free and democratic elections and is now in a transition stage of power change. I can say with this that Kosovo is a wonderful democracy,” he said.

You can access the full text of SRSG Zahir Tanin’s statement at UN Security Council session on Kosovo here: https://unmik.unmissions.org/election-momentum-can-advance-renewal-dialogue-between-belgrade-and-pristina-srsg-tanin-tells

LVV, LDK discuss establishing special investigation office (media)

Representatives of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) met yesterday to discuss modalities of a coalition agreement and focused this time on the rule of law and security.

“We discussed harmonisation of our programmes. The topics discussed relate to security, external security, Kosovo Army, building capacities of the Kosovo Army and preparing it to join NATO in optimal time, internal security that deals with safety in traffic, public security and that of property,” LDK’s Arben Gashi said after the meeting.

Gashi noted that LVV and LDK also discussed the setting up of a special investigation office that would focus on fight against organised crime, investigating old crimes and particularly political crimes, as well as on the rule of law in the anti-corruption aspect and on the verification of assets of suspected officials. “There is still no final position but there is agreement on issues we spoke about,” Gashi said.

Reeker: U.S. not focused on border change (media)

Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker said in an interview with Radio Free Europe that the U.S. has supported Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and EU efforts to secure an agreement between the parties. “We tried to be a partner in that effort,” Reeker said adding that the appointments of Matthew Palmer and Richard Grenell as special envoys are a sign of the U.S. focus on the region.

Reeker said he believed there are real chances for Kosovo and Serbia to reach a peaceful agreement. “We believe there is will on both sides. Most importantly, there is broad desire for all the people in the region to live peacefully, to find ways to move forward towards integrating more fully to European Union and transatlantic institutions and to finding ways to better deliver security, stability and prosperity to all people in the region and I believe that is what the leaders both in Serbia and in Kosovo want to see happen.”

Asked about the idea of border changes, Reeker said the parties need to look what they can do to move forward and not having preconceived notions of what a broader peace agreement may be and these can include ways to increase trade and opportunities and attract foreign investment. “The United States supports the two countries working together through dialogue to find a way forward out of this which would present better opportunities for the people in Serbia, people in Kosovo.”

Pressed by the journalist on whether the U.S. would support a possible border change, Reeker said: “I think you are obsessing on the ideas of changes of borders. That’s not what we’re focused here. We’re focused on the two countries finding ways forward and to preconceive notions of what may be a way to find a resolution to establish this is not the way to go about doing that.”

Palmer to visit Kosovo today (media)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer will visit Kosovo today and address a group of students and representatives of the civil society at the National Library of Kosovo. Palmer will also take questions from the audience, the U.S. Embassy said.

Deputy Assistant Palmer is also expected to meet President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, RTK reports.

Limaj: There never was worse election administration in Kosovo (Koha)

Leader of the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) Fatmir Limaj criticised the entire recent electoral process saying “there was never a weaker election administration in Kosovo”.

Limaj said the Central Election Commission (CEC) has lost integrity of organising elections. “When it was in the hands of the citizens everything went the best way possible but problems appeared during the administration of the voting process. One of the problems was the ballot, it has serious flaws and created chain problems. Because of this the CEC decided to recount over 800 boxes and we demanded a complete recount to close this issue. The CEC was more concerned with the integrity of the institution than the election process and this put the entire process into question.”

Serbian List: Kurti not to deny rights of Serbs and SL’s victory (Zeri)

Serbian List issued a press release saying that Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti “can say goodbye to forming a new government if he continues denying the rights of Serbian people and the victory of the Serbian List.”

Serbian List accused Kurti of ignoring the will of the Serb community. “The aim of the contender for forming the new government in Pristina is to ignore election results and the decision of the Serbian people to elect the Serbian List as representative of their interests in Kosovo institutions,” the statement says.