Albanian Language Media:

• Abbott and Hoti discuss dialogue and rule of law (RTK)
• Minister: Kosovo to reopen its airport within 10 days (Radio Free Europe)
• Research: 54% of citizens reject unification with Albania (RTK)
• Mustafa: Decisions of majority in LDK to be respect as basic rule (media)
• Kamberi: If borders change, entire Presevo Valley should be with Kosovo (Koha)
• 23 cases with coronavirus at Infectious Clinic, one in critical condition (Koha)
• Ministry of Education staff infected with coronavirus (media)
• Lajcak meets Montenegrin President, on eve of Kosovo and Serbia visits (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Resolution 1244 has its downsides, but I do not see any other valid document (media)
• “Belgrade never used excuses not to continue dialogue” (Tanjug)
• Dacic: ”If it’s either recognition of Kosovo or nothing – then nothing” (Tanjug, Kosovo Online) 
• How would Serbian politicians solve the Kosovo problem (KIM radio, Tanjug)
• DW: There’s no campaign in Kosovo for Serbian elections, but also no Kosovo in campaign
• “Constructive partners committed to stability” (Radio KIM)
• Montgomery: Only one person in region strong enough to reach Kosovo solution (B92)
• MEPs warn of critical political situation in Serbia (N1)
• No new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• REC confirms two more lists; 7 candidates with Kosovo residence so far (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Trump, elections, and the Balkans (balcanicaucaso.org)

International:

• Lavrov Visit to Serbia ‘Timed to Coincide With Elections’ (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development: 

• ‘Significant increase’ in job seekers following COVID-19 shutdown (Prishtina Insight)
• COVID-19 Pandemic Ebbs and Flows in Balkans, Eastern Europe (Balkan Insight)
• Kon: Two more weeks needed to have zero number of newly infected in Serbia (B92)
• Can Prishtina become a bike friendly city? (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Abbott and Hoti discuss dialogue and rule of law (RTK)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti met today with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo Nicholas Abbott. They discussed the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the rule of law.

Hoti said he welcomes the commitment of the British government and Ambassador Abbott on strengthening the rule of law and the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

Minister: Kosovo to reopen its airport within 10 days (Radio Free Europe)

Kosovo’s Minister of Infrastructure, Arban Abrashi, told the news website today that he expects incoming and outgoing flights from Prishtina International Airport to resume within 10 days. 

Abrashi said he has held meetings with all institutions, including the Civil Aviation Authority, the Prishtina International Airport “Adem Jashari”, airline companies and the Ministry of Health, to resume flights as soon as possible.

“We are trying to resume international flights within 10 days with full respect for security measures to prevent the COVID – 19, issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other measures issued by the Ministry of Health,” he added.

Research: 54% of citizens reject unification with Albania (RTK)

The news portal informs based on today’s presentation of the Research Institute of Development and European Affairs (RIDEA) that 70 percent of the Kosovo population support resumption of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, while 30 percent support the reach of the final agreement with Serbia through correction of the borders.

Based on RIDEA’s Vox Populi on the ‘Grand Finale’ between Kosovo and Serbia (Volume III), 54 percent of the people reject unification with Albania in case of recognition by Serbia, while only 15 percent support the scenario that municipalities with Serb majority population should be given executive competencies in exchange for the recognition by Serbia.

Only 12 percent of the population is pleased with the current status quo between Kosovo and Serbia.

The research included Serb minority in the survey, which was planned to be published in March, but it was delayed due to the global circumstances with COVID-19.

Mustafa: Decisions of majority in LDK to be respect as basic rule (media)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa took to Facebook today to comment on a meeting he had on Monday with heads of party branches. Mustafa said the decisions of the majority in this party must be respected as a basic rule of democracy. 

“It was a general conclusion that the LDK fosters the expression of free opinion, it fosters the battles of individuals that want to secure the majority through their positions and opinions, but also that the decisions of the majority must be respected as a basic rule of democracy in the LDK,” Mustafa wrote.

The LDK leader also said that all heads of party branches expressed their unconditional support to the new Kosovo government led by Avdullah Hoti.

Kamberi: If borders change, entire Presevo Valley should be with Kosovo (Koha)

Shaip Kamberi, leader of the Democratic Action Party in Presevo Valley told Belgrade based daily Politika that they are not interested for a position of a state secretary or a minister without a portfolio, but to act at regional and local institutions and increase Albanians’ participation based on the Constitution and laws.

He considers that participation in the work of institutions is the best way of presenting problems that Albanians face, but also a manner to resolve them through cooperation.

Asked about his statement that Presevo, Bujanovc and Medvegje should unite with Kosovo, Kamberi said that the idea for exchange of territories does not derive from his political entity, but that Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, talk about this for several years now.

“We only mentioned it as an eventual scenario of an inter-state agreement between Pristina and Belgrade, if both parties agreed on change of the borders,” Kamberi said.

“If this happens, our demand is for the Presevo Valley to be whole, and not divided into several villages, which would cause humanitarian catastrophe,” Kamberi said. 

23 cases with coronavirus treated at Infectious Clinic, one in critical condition (Koha)

The news website reports that 23 persons with COVID – 19 are currently being treated at the Infectious Clinic in Prishtina. A doctor at the clinic told Koha that 15 out of the 23 cases are in stable condition. “Five cases are being treated with oxygen therapy and are under intensive care,” she said. Two cases are in very grave condition and one case is in critical condition. “We are also waiting for the test results of another seven cases,” she added.

Ministry of Education staff infected with coronavirus (media)

Several news websites report that an official of the Ministry of Education has been infected with the coronavirus. A senior official of the Ministry confirmed the information. “Yes the information is correct. The official has tested positive. He was at work this whole time. We have notified the Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Public Health. The infected person is now in self-isolation,” the official added.

Lajcak meets Montenegrin President, on eve of Kosovo and Serbia visits (Lajmi)

The European Union’s Special Representative for the Kosovo – Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has commenced meetings with leaders from the region of the Western Balkans, the news website reports. Lajcak met with Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic in Brussels today. “Very pleased to meet President Djukanovic in Brussels today to continue our in-depth discussion on the developments in the region and Montenegro’s European integration process,” Lajcak tweeted after the meeting.

Lajcak is expected to visit Kosovo and Serbia soon. His visits have been confirmed by the EU, whose officials said Lajcak’s tete-a-tete meetings with leaders in the region will take place immediately after airline restrictions are lifted. “Such meetings are the best way for diplomacy to function and are part of the daily work of every diplomat and representative of the European Union,” EU officials told Lajmi.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Resolution 1244 has its downsides, but I do not see any other valid document (media)

The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated on the occasion of the anniversary of the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement and the adoption of Resolution 1244, that the resolution has both good and bad sides, but that there is no other valid document, nor has anyone proposed anything else, Serbian media reported.

“We are ready to talk, but I can only smile at the ultimatums from Pristina that the only condition for that is the recognition of Kosovo or some additional territorial aspirations. I will never show arrogance towards very powerful countries, but we will always be able to gain strength to say ‘No’ to the menace of our vital interests, with the hope that a solution will come by, to which we could say ‘Yes’. But I have not seen that yet,” Vucic told reporters today in Nis during the opening of the Science and Technology Park in Nis. 

Vucic said that it was the obligation of the Serbian leadership to provide the best possible conditions for preserving peace and stability and that he had invested a lot of effort to bring Serbia into the current position, unlike 21 years ago when the country was in a hopeless situation and in which it could only lose.

“It will not be an easy fight in the coming months. But it will not be easy for them with us, or as they planned seven or eight years ago,” Vucic added.

He confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Belgrade on June 18th and added that he believes he will come with friendly messages, in line with good relations between the two countries.

Asked whether he openly sided with US President Donald Trump regarding the situation in the United States, Vucic said: 

“I do not openly side with any political side, I was asked a question, and I answered what I think.”

He also said that he knew Joe Biden better, the candidate for the presidency of the USA, than the current president of the USA, Donald Trump. He added that Biden visited Serbia several times.

Vucic referred to the Kumanovo Agreement, more precisely the 21st anniversary of its signing, which ended the bombing of the FRY, regulated the withdrawal of the then FRY army and police from Kosovo, and a day later the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1244.

Vucic pointed out that it is important to look to the future now, in order to preserve peace and stability. Asked whether Serbia would have done better if it had accepted the package from Rambouillet, Vucic said that it was easy to be a general after the battle, because then everyone knows everything.

– I saw experts who would have done differently, and if anyone had tried to accept the package from Rambouillet, he would have been declared, as we Serbs say, the worst traitor – said Vucic. 

He also said that at that time, Serbia was in a situation in which, whatever was done, it would be guilty and could only lose.

– I think that the wiser Serbian policy could and should have been to lose fewer Serbian lives, and to provide somewhat better conditions for preserving peace with a stronger political position in the world – he said. 

However, he says that it was easy now for him to speak from this angle, stating that he invested a lot of work and effort to put Serbia in a position to be able to speak like that.

– It is good to make analyzes, but it is important to look to the future, to keep peace and stability and security for our citizens – said Vucic. 

“Belgrade never used excuses not to continue dialogue” (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said Belgrade never used excuses not to continue the dialogue, on the contrary it was always ready to talk and fulfilled its obligations, unlike Pristina, Tanjug news agency reports.

This way, Brnabic commented on a statement Kosovo President Hashim Thaci made yesterday that he is “grateful to the government for removing excuses Serbia used to avoid the dialogue.”

“The truth matters. Belgrade never used excuses not to continue the dialogue. Belgrade has always been for dialogue and it has implemented all reached agreements and deals,” Brnabic said.

On the other hand, she underlined, Pristina was talking, but when something got agreed under the EU’s auspices, it did not implement it.

She noted Serbia will insist on the implementation of the Brussels agreement, but at the same time it would continue to talk although she cannot say we are talking “with a partner of a notable credibility.”

She also thanked US and Richard Grenell for, as she said it, making conditions for dialogue to continue and to the EU for appointing a special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

“Belgrade is ready for the dialogue. We will start. Just don’t say it over again every day now, as since November 2018 we have kept saying what it takes for the talks to continue. We are ready for the dialogue, wait that we complete our priorities now, and these are citizens of Serbia, the Constitution, and elections due in less than 14 days and then we continue the dialogue. No problem at all,” Branbic said.   

Dacic: ”If it’s either recognition of Kosovo or nothing – then nothing” (Tanjug, Kosovo Online) 

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said that Belgrade wants a dialogue with Pristina with a result that would guarantee lasting peace and stability, reports Belgrade based agency Tanjug.

Responding to the statement of Hashim Thaci, who said that he wanted a dialogue, but that the result would be the recognition of Kosovo or nothing, Dacic said:

“If it is either recognition or nothing, then nothing. Let’s be completely open,” Dacic told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said that it was unrealistic and indecent to enter into a dialogue in that way, as Thaci sees it, reported portal Kosovo Online, quoting Tanjug.

How would Serbian politicians solve the Kosovo problem (KIM radio, Tanjug)

The election campaign in Serbia is in full swing, and the speeches of politicians, with a few exceptions, do not have Kosovo on the list of priorities, reports KIM radio. 

The corona crisis imposed completely different topics, so the “hot potato” of every previous government was left for after the elections, the winner of which is known in advance. 

The rest of the opposition, in the rush for the census, turned to other problems: standard, health, here and there to the European Union.

When asked how some would solve the Kosovo problem, it seems that, at least according to what was told to Belgrade based agency Tanjug, the majority of participants in the election race do not have a concrete answer. 

“I have put forward different ideas, but so far this topic has not been discussed, because the Albanians do not want to discuss a compromise, they think that everything has been resolved. The matter has not been resolved,” said leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic. 

Marko Djuric, on behalf of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), also points out that the Progressives believe in a compromise solution – which one, he did not name. 

“It must be based on the Constitution of Serbia, Resolution 1244 and the desire to achieve lasting peace in the region,” said Djuric. 

Zoran Zivkovic of the New Party also advocates a “permanent solution”. 

“The way to do it is to set standards first not status. The other thing is that war criminals from Pristina and war instigators from Belgrade, who did not become war criminals just because they were not brave enough to put on a uniform and take rifles, to stop talking about the future of Kosovo. “

Aleksandar Seselj from the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) believes that “anything that would be in the interest of Serbia” could not be achieved if the negotiations continue in the European Union, and they should be returned to the United Nations. 

For Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic, the first step after the elections should be to formulate a clear policy, which does not exist at the moment. 

“At the moment, it does not go beyond Vucic’s cabinet. Some say that it must be so that the cards are not put on the table, but I think that there are no hidden trump cards when it comes to Kosovo. I think that a compromise should be reached at the level of societies, and that trust should be instilled in those forces in Pristina that want a joint agreement,” Jovanovic points out.

For Milos Jovanovic, President of Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the solution is the reintegration of Kosovo within Serbia. As he points out, that requires a special strategy, but which, it is unknown. 

On the other hand, Marko Djurisic from the United Democratic Serbia (UDS) advocates for any solution that will be a product of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. 

“The solution must be supported by the citizens and the international community. That is the only way we can move forward, ” says Djurisic. 

Petar Miletic from the Free Citizens Movement (PSG) says that he is in favor of opening all documents concerning Kosovo Serbs, so that they can see “what is written there, what is the legal protection of Kosovo Serbs, protection of property” and only after that, the status of Kosovo can be discussed.

Aleksandar Sapic, from Serbian Patriotic Union (SPAS) points out that if there is an ultimatum of “some great power”, the people should be asked.

DW: There’s no campaign in Kosovo for Serbian elections, but also no Kosovo in campaign

Deutsche Welle (DW) in Serbian reports on Monday nothing indicates on the streets of Mitrovica North that campaign for the parliamentary elections in Serbia has begun. Kosovo is not the heart of the election campaign either. This is likely to change immediately after the election.

DW pointed out ever since the end of the conflict in Kosovo, Serbian elections there have been conducted in co-operation with the Organization for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE).

However, there is still no official confirmation that there would be elections on 21 June in Kosovo. “We are in communication with the authorities and we will act accordingly” OSCE Mission in Kosovo Spokesperson Senad Sabovic told DW, answering the question whether the OSCE had made contact with the new government regarding the organization of the Serbian parliamentary elections.

Shpetim Gashi, from Kosovo Council for Inclusive Governance opined that unlike Albin Kurti (LVV), who opposed several times to the organization of Serbian elections in Kosovo and announced he could ban it, his successor, Avdullah Hoti (LDK), would not do that. 

“The Kosovo Government will not do anything that could anger Belgrade, and it is very likely it would enable the voting process, either through the OSCE or in some other way” Gashi told DW.

DW pointed out the government of Avdullah Hoti, which was declared the “government of dialogue” in the Kosovo media even before the vote in the Assembly, is the first to decide to lift all restrictive measures related to trade and has thus opened the way for the continuation of the dialogue.

According to DW, this is not the only reason why this government is already unpopular, but also because of the fact it was voted with the minimum required 61 votes, and is widely criticized for being dependent on ten Serbian List MPs.

“Hoti cannot afford to anger the Serbian List and question the organization of the elections” Gashi said, but added that, “despite earlier announcements, Kurti, from his new-old role as an oppositionist, would not disrupt the voting process for the Serbian elections. He would only issue a statement in which he would criticize the fact that voting is enabled”, Gashi said.

The topic of the elections, i.e. their legitimacy and security of voting due to coronavirus pandemic, dominates the public discussions regarding this year’s elections, while the campaign itself has no topic, Dusan Milenkovic, Chairperson of the Board of the Center for Social Dialogue and Regional Initiatives (CDDRI), told DW.

“Kosovo is not a topic in this campaign, because there is simply no topic in this campaign. The elections were decided in advance, and although one opposition organization decided to give up the boycott of the elections and still take part, they have not tried to impose a topic so far because they were busy collecting signatures”,  Milenkovic told DW.

In addition, he pointed to the certainty of the election result and that the party of the President of Serbia (Serbian Progressive Party) would probably win a two-thirds majority, adding the campaign on Kosovo, i.e. the agreement that should be reached, would start only after the election.

“If Kosovo is really ready for an agreement, I think that Vucic’s campaign for media coverage of what he will sign will start immediately after the election day, where he will, triumphantly with parade and fireworks of power, announce great successes and difficult cuts, as always” Milenkovic explained.

“Constructive partners committed to stability” (Radio KIM)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Goran Rakic and Minister for Communities and Returns Dalibor Jevtic met yesterday US Ambassador in Pristina Philip Kosnett and discussed economic development, fight against corruption and continuation of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, Radio KIM reports.

During the meeting, Rakic and Jevtic noted that “they would be constructive partners in the new Kosovo Government in developing institutional mechanisms to fight corruption, strengthen the rule of law and economic development in Kosovo. Stability is something that we all very much need at this moment and we will be committed to this goal,” the press statement issued by the ministers reads.

The interlocutors also discussed protection of the rights of non-majority communities in Kosovo.  

US Ambassador Kosnett expressed full support of the US Embassy to the two ministers, the press release added.

Meanwhile Ambassador Kosnett wrote on Twitter yesterday that two productive meetings took place “first with DPM Tahiri, then with DPM Rakic and Min Jevtic, to discuss the new government’s plans on anti-corruption, economic development, Dialogue, community relations, public safety. Lots of challenges – and opportunities – ahead”.

Montgomery: Only one person in region strong enough to reach Kosovo solution (B92)

Former US Ambassador to Serbia William Montgomery said he was pessimistic when it comes to reaching an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, B92 reports.

According to him, he believes that it is questionable whether international powers and internal Kosovo-Albanian divisions will enable that.

He pointed out that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is the only person in the region who has the strength and desire to reach a good solution to this problem.

“Your president is a strong leader who understands international politics very well and he is the only person in the region who has the strength and desire to reach a good solution to this problem. The question is whether international powers and internal Kosovo-Albanian divisions will enable it. I am pessimistic,” Montgomery told Tanjug news agency.

He also notes that he has great respect for the EU Special Envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, who, as he says, he has known for more than 20 years.

“If any envoy has a chance to reach an agreement, it is him,” Montgomery said.

Asked how he sees the role of the United States in the process of reaching a final solution and whether the White House will cooperate with Brussels, as well as if some independent initiatives from the White House could be expected, Montgomery responded: “Thank God, the current US administration will accept the agreement that Lajcak will reach”, he said, noting that it should be borne in mind that the US foreign policy community strongly supports the Kosovo Albanians and will do everything it can to prevent any mutual agreement.

See at: https://bit.ly/3cHzWTz

MEPs warn of critical political situation in Serbia (N1)

A group of social-democrat MEPs sent a letter to European Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi warning that the political situation in Serbia is critical.

“Democracy, strongly promoted by the European Union and its member states, is now endangered by Serbian leaders and their statements,” the MEPs said in the letter which N1 had access to. The letter called for a fairer electoral process with greater scrutiny in order to prevent corruption and falsified results.

“It is crucial that the European Commission is not perceived to be active during the electoral campaign and thereby in support of any political party. As such, we would suggest that there are no more public signing ceremonies by EU officials of grants, loans or opening of new projects with members of the Serbian government in the pre-electoral period,” it said.

The MEPs warned that the Serbian authorities took advantage of the coronavirus situation to reschedule the parliamentary elections without consulting the opposition and that there will be no European Parliament observers with only a limited OSCE mission.

The letter said that the information currently presented by the Serbian government and other institutions paints a distorted image of the election process. It recalled that the majority of the “relevant opposition” is going to boycott the elections adding that a just agreement with the government could have prevented this and warned that of almost complete control of the media by the ruling parties.

“We cannot neglect the strategic and geopolitical role of Serbia, crucial for the stability of the entire Western Balkan region and need to act on the front line to restore a functioning democratic system in Serbia,” the MEPs said.

See at: https://bit.ly/2XIbY6y

No new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)

There were no new cases of Covid-19 infection recorded in northern Kosovo, the Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North said today, adding there were no cured or patients who passed away either.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a total of 118 patients have been recorded in northern Kosovo, 106 patients have been cured and 10 have passed away. Out of the two active remaining cases, one patient is hospitalized at the Clinical Hospital Centre in Mitrovica North, while the other is treated at Clinical Centre in Kragujevac.

The breakdown of cases is as follows: Mitrovica North 44 patients (three died, 40 cured), in Zvecan 25 patients (one died, 24 cured), in Zubin Potok 25 patients (two died, 22 cured) and in Leposavic 24 patients (four died, 20 cured).

REC confirms two more lists; 7 candidates with Kosovo residence so far (KoSSev)

The Serbian Republic Electoral Commission (REC) confirmed two more electoral lists during last session and rejected two electoral lists. There are currently 20 confirmed lists for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June 21, KoSSev portal reports.

Speaking about MP candidates with Kosovo residence, thus far there are seven. Three are on the President Aleksandar Vucic – “For our children” electoral list. One is on the list of Socialist Party of Serbia and United Serbia. Two are on the list of Serbian Radical Party and one is on the list of the Monarchist Movement.

At its Sunday session, the REC decided to open 8,386 polling stations for the upcoming elections, about 130 more than for the 2017 presidential elections. According to the REC’s decision, there will be 90 polling stations in Kosovo, and 43 abroad.

See at: https://bit.ly/2XKkWA8

Opinion

Trump, elections, and the Balkans (balcanicaucaso.org)

Elections for the US presidency are approaching and Donald Trump is determined to score some foreign policy success for his election campaign. He failed with Kim Jong-un and North Korea. Why not try the agreement between Serbia and Kosovo?

The last enlargement of the European Union dates back to 2013 when, on July 1st, Croatia made its official entry becoming the 28th member country. Then nothing more, in fact Great Britain’s egregious defection with the 2016 referendum that brought the number of members at twenty-seven. Yet the EU’s enlargement policy must be counted among the few successes of the common foreign policy. It was not at all easy to bridge the political, economic, social, and cultural cleavage that separated the countries of the former Warsaw Pact from the others of the old continent.

Brussels has been able to steer the process that has transformed the states of Central and Eastern Europe into liberal democracies and market economies with huge investments in both human and financial resources. Not everything went smoothly, though. The cases of Poland and Hungary, in fact, remind us that in order to complete the democratic metamorphosis we need a set of values that cannot take in a few years. Not all butterflies that come out of the cocoon take flight. This is what has cooled the European public opinion’s enthusiasm for a process of enlargement that is still formally underway but actually delayed instrumentally beyond all measures. The victims of this rethinking in progress are the countries of the Western Balkans, or the republics of the former Yugoslavia plus Albania. The last Balkan war in 1999 led to the secession of Kosovo, but after 20 years the political configuration of the region still appears too fragile.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2Yfl5e6

 International

Lavrov Visit to Serbia ‘Timed to Coincide With Elections’ (Balkan Insight)

The announced – but still unconfirmed – visit to Belgrade by the Russian Foreign Minister on the eve of Serbia’s parliamentary elections is widely seen as a move to boost the turnout for Serbia’s ruling parties.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will start a visit to Serbia on June 18, according to his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic. The visit appeared timed to coincide with the end of the election campaign in the strongly pro-Russian country.

Dacic announced the visit on Sunday during a rally by his Socialist Party in Belgrade. There are no official confirmations yet on either Serbian or Russian ministerial websites, however, and Serbian officials did not respond to questions by BIRN on the visit by the time of publication.

President Aleksandar Vucic met the Russian ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, on Sunday. According to the press release, the diplomat invited Vucic to attend the postponed Victory Day parade in honour of World war II in Moscow on June 24. It said the two of them, “expecting the arrival of a high-ranking Russian official in Belgrade soon, discussed bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia, as well as the issue of Kosovo and Metohija”.

See at: https://bit.ly/3dO6vR5

Humanitarian/Development

‘Significant increase’ in job seekers following COVID-19 shutdown (Prishtina Insight)

The number of people registered as job seekers in Kosovo jumped from 872 in March to over 32,000 in April, a GAP Institute report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market reveals.

The number of people in Kosovo seeking employment is now 40 times higher than in March following the mass shutdown of economic activity in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a report published by the GAP Institute on Monday states. 

The report reveals that the amount of people registered as seeking employment with the Employment Agency of the Republic of Kosovo jumped from 827 in March to 32,377 in April. Between January and April 2020 the total number of registered job seekers was 37,392, compared to just 6,882 in the same four month period in 2019.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2XOTTUx

COVID-19 Pandemic Ebbs and Flows in Balkans, Eastern Europe (Balkan Insight)

While some countries in the region seem to have the virus under control, the health situation in others risks worsening once again – due to what some fear is the premature lifting of protective measures.

Some Balkan and Central European countries are facing the risk of a second big wave of COVID-19 cases after lifting restrictive measures imposed to curb the pandemic – some say prematurely.

Moldova has registered the most worrying situation in the region regarding COVID-19, with new records being set almost every week in terms of infections, following the lifting of restrictions and a general failure of the public to follow medical recommendations and maintain social distancing.

See at: https://bit.ly/3f3Ibeo

Kon: Two more weeks needed to have zero number of newly infected in Serbia (B92)

Epidemiologist Predrag Kon said today it would take at least two more weeks for the number of newly infected with coronavirus in Serbia to be zero, B92 reports.

Commenting on the slight leap in the number of new patients in the previous days, Kon said that hotspots had appeared in Novi Pazar and Tutin.

“The appearance of new cases on respirators does not confirm the assumption that the virus has weakened. If it attacked someone who is chronically ill, it would be very dangerous,” Kon said.

He assessed that the easing of restrictive measures in Serbia was not premature, but timely.

“With the lifting of the state of emergency, the epidemic is over. It is very likely that the epidemic will hardly subside soon, i.e. we will have 28 days without new cases. We will wait for that zero day for at least another two weeks, if not more”, Kon concluded. 

Can Prishtina become a bike friendly city? (Balkan Insight)

Cycling exploded in popularity after public transport was halted and most sporting activities were banned during the lockdown. But with cars flooding back to the streets of Prishtina, the city needs to make itself safer for people hoping to continue using more sustainable transport.

Bekim Bilalli’s bicycle repair shop, just around the corner from Sami Frasheri High School in Prishtina, has been overwhelmed over the last couple of months.

Open since 1996, Bilalli’s shop has never been so inundated with people hoping to fix up their old bikes, and he and his two assistants are struggling to meet demand. “This spring has been unbearable!” he tells Prishtina Insight, as around seven people line up with their bikes waiting for his help.

See at: https://bit.ly/30pmgKs