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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 28, 2020

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Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19 report: 239 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Thaci: Healthcare workers are the heroes of our time (media)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs against government-proposed measures (media)
• “Unforgiving for government to treat this as a normal situation” (media)
• Health Minister: These public institutions can be used as hospitals (media)
• Hoti: EU-facilitated dialogue is fully coordinated with United States (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Gracanica municipality (Radio KIM)
• Gnjilane Health Center: Out of one hundred tested, 40 positive cases of coronavirus (Kontakt plus radio, RTV Puls)
• Talks in Brussels on Thursday? (Tanjug, B92)
• Dacic: Serbia to continue the action of withdrawal if Pristina continues lobbying (Kontakt plus radio, TV Pink, Vecernje Novosti)
• Atlantic Council to host Western Balkan online summit (N1)
• Djuric with Botsan-Kharchenko on dialogue with Pristina (Radio KIM)
• “Only Serbs did not get the right to self-determination” (Politika, B92)
• “There is only one independent Serbian state in the Balkans, and that is…” (Dnevni Avaz, B92)
• Spiric on construction in northern Kosovo: Policy of Serbia is responsible and peaceful (Kosovo Online)
• Specialist Prosecutor Smith: The investigation I am leading is not a challenge to any particular historical narrative (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Robelli: A national coordinator to fight violence against women (Koha)

International:

• Kosovo wants Apple to correct country’s borders on its maps (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A new WHO warning – Emergency Commission is being convened (Tanjug, B92)
• Global air pollution correlates with COVID-19 worldwide mortality rate, UN says (TASS)

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Albanian Language Media:

  • COVID – 19 report: 239 new cases, seven deaths (media)
  • Thaci: Healthcare workers are the heroes of our time (media)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs against government-proposed measures (media)
  • “Unforgiving for government to treat this as a normal situation” (media)
  • Health Minister: These public institutions can be used as hospitals (media)
  • Hoti: EU-facilitated dialogue is fully coordinated with United States (media)

Serbian Language Media:

  • No new Covid-19 infection cases in Gracanica municipality (Radio KIM)
  • Gnjilane Health Center: Out of one hundred tested, 40 positive cases of coronavirus (Kontakt plus radio, RTV Puls)
  • Talks in Brussels on Thursday? (Tanjug, B92)
  • Dacic: Serbia to continue the action of withdrawal if Pristina continues lobbying (Kontakt plus radio, TV Pink, Vecernje Novosti) 
  • Atlantic Council to host Western Balkan online summit (N1)
  • Djuric with Botsan-Kharchenko on dialogue with Pristina (Radio KIM)
  • “Only Serbs did not get the right to self-determination” (Politika, B92)
  • “There is only one independent Serbian state in the Balkans, and that is…” (Dnevni Avaz, B92)
  • Spiric on construction in northern Kosovo: Policy of Serbia is responsible and peaceful (Kosovo Online)
  • Specialist Prosecutor Smith: The investigation I am leading is not a challenge to any particular historical narrative (KoSSev)

Opinion:

  • Robelli: A national coordinator to fight violence against women (Koha)

International:

  • Kosovo wants Apple to correct country’s borders on its maps (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

  • A new WHO warning – Emergency Commission is being convened (Tanjug, B92)
  • Global air pollution correlates with COVID-19 worldwide mortality rate, UN says (TASS)

 

 

Albanian Language Media

 

COVID – 19 report: 239 new cases, seven deaths (media)

239 new cases of COVID – 19 have been confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. Seven people have died from the virus in this period. The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (82). There are currently 3,950 active cases in Kosovo. The total number of deaths from the virus so far is 203. 102 patients have recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours. 

Thaci: Healthcare workers are the heroes of our time (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said today that healthcare workers are the heroes of our time. During a meeting with the heads of the Kosovo Hospitals Services, the National Institute for Public Health and the clinics of the Kosovo University Clinical Center, Thaci promised that state institutions will provide all the necessary support to healthcare workers.

“You have been a model for the region; you have made quick and precise decisions. You can rest assured that you will have the support of state institutions to overcome this as quickly as possible and with few consequences. You are the heroes of our time. You are fighting a very difficult battle but I have faith in you,” Thaci said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs against government-proposed measures (media)

All media report that Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla, is opposing one of the government’s new measures against the spread of COVID – 19. She said in a Facebook post that it is absurd to ask from Kosovo nationals returning from Albania to have a negative COVID – 19 test.

“Proposals for increased measures, this time asking for a negative test in order to enter from Albania, are absurd, to say the least. Many of our citizens who are already in Albania, and with tests lacking, it is completely absurd to self-isolate around 100,000 citizens, without any basis. The logic of total border isolation has resulted only in damages, especially for those that need medical treatment outside Kosovo! I will vote against this proposal. The measures recommended by the National Institute for Public Health must be maximally respected by the citizens, but not to isolate and further deepen the crisis,” Haradinaj-Stublla said.

“Unforgiving for government to treat this as a normal situation” (media)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) senior official and former Minister of Health, Uran Ismaili, took to Facebook today to argue that it is unforgiving for the Hoti-led government to treat the abnormal situation with the coronavirus as a normal situation.

“Unfortunately, the grave situation is not alarming for the government, which starts its work with some decisions and then concludes with other decisions, none of which is proving successful in the management of the pandemic. It is unforgiving for the government to treat this abnormal situation as a normal situation. It is regrettable and unacceptable how the Hoti-led government decides on measures, lifts measures, limits citizens … regardless of the number of infected persons. We’re seeing a chaos of political decisions in the fight against the pandemic,” Ismaili said.

The PDK MP also criticised the government’s proposed measure for Kosovo nationals returning from Albania to have a negative COVID – 19 test or to go into self-isolation for seven days. “Kosovo needs a national strategy that will clearly outline steps in fighting the pandemic and the roles and responsibilities of central and local institutions,” he added.

Health Minister: These public institutions can be used as hospitals (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Health, Armend Zemaj, said in an interview today that the old terminal of the Prishtina International Airport can be used as a hospital center for treating coronavirus patients. He said the increase in the number of infected persons requires new capacities. “We are currently analysing which public institutions we can use. There is the old terminal of Prishtina Airport, the October 1 Center; we can also use the training and fair center that connects with Obiliq, the Innovation Center in Prizren, and also the new airport in Gjakova. Experts are looking at how quickly these facilities can be used,” Zemaj said.

Hoti: EU-facilitated dialogue is fully coordinated with United States (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said that the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is being conducted “in full coordination” with the United States of America. 

During a visit to the Kosovo Security Force today together with Health Minister Armend Zemaj, Hoti said that healthcare professionals have the final say on the measures against the further spread of the coronavirus.

“The government is considering a new set of measures proposed by the National Institute for Public Health. I have always said together with the Minister that we will fully respect the recommendations coming from healthcare professionals … We will also hold all necessary consultations with all partners in the ruling coalition, but also with other stakeholders, like the Gastronomy Association. They had a protest yesterday; I met with them and we are trying to harmonise all positions for managing the current situation. Healthcare professionals have the final say,” Hoti told reporters.

Commenting on Kosovo’s membership of different international organisations, Hoti said this is done in coordination with international partners and that without their support Kosovo cannot join any international organisation.

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

No new Covid-19 infection cases in Gracanica municipality (Radio KIM)

According to the latest information there is no new Covid-19 infection case registered in the territory of Gracanica municipality, Crisis Team of this municipality announced today. Total number of Covid-19 infection cases in Gracanica municipality is 57, Radio KIM reports.

The Crisis Team said that all persons identified as contacts of infected persons were told to stay in self-isolation.

20 patients are hospitalized at the Infectious Disease Ward of the hospital in Laplje Selo. The Crisis Team also urged residents to adhere to protection measures and not go out without necessary need in order to protect themselves and their family members from coronavirus.

“We kindly request citizens to be disciplined and adhere to protection measures, wear masks and gloves while outside, keep physical distance and maintain personal hygiene”, the statement said.  

Gnjilane Health Center: Out of one hundred tested, 40 positive cases of coronavirus (Kontakt plus radio, RTV Puls)

Doctors at the Gnjilane Health Center have so far examined more than 500 patients with symptoms of the coronavirus. So far, about a hundred samples have been sent to the Public Health Institute in North Mitrovica for testing. 

Out of 100 analyzed by PCR test in this region, 40 people are positive, the director of Gnjilane Health Center, Dr. Zoran Peric told RTV Puls.

Another 90 rapid, serological tests were performed in this medical institution, and all of them have been negative so far.

“In some people, tested this way, we also found people with antibodies, which means that they were previously infected with the coronavirus, and now they have been cured,” said Peric. 

In the dispensaries in Ranilug and Pasjane, he adds, an average of 30 to 50 patients are examined every day.

“However, in the last few days, thanks to the measures we have taken and the awareness of our citizens, as well as the work of the crisis headquarters, that number has significantly decreased, to about ten people a day,” points Dr. Peric. 

According to him, the citizens were informed about the coronary virus pandemic, but many did not take it seriously at first, which is why we had a complex epidemiological picture. Now, however, the awareness has increased, and people are better protecting themselves and others.

Talks in Brussels on Thursday? (Tanjug, B92)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric announced to Belgrade based agency Tanjug that talks between Belgrade and Pristina at the level of experts would continue Thursday, July 30, in Brussels. 

The European External Action Service did not want to give more information about the continuation of expert talks, reminding that the first round was “constructive and productive”, and that the next one would “focus on economic cooperation”.

The EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak’s framework plan was that after a high-level political meeting, groups of experts from both sides meet to determine details within the topics raised by the leaders.

However, although during that first physical meeting on July 16 in Brussels, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdulah Hoti discussed missing, displaced and economic relations, Pristina experts did not want to take part in talks on economic relations last week because they tried that issue to ”turn” into a matter of war reparations, so they withdrew after the first day of technical talks, wrote the agency.

Meanwhile from Pristina arrived Prime Minister Hoti’s message that the Kosovo side did not want to “lower the dialogue to the technical level of talks”, and that it would not give up the campaign for recognition of Kosovo and admission to international institutions, which was a promise to the US and EU mediators, but also a precondition for continuing the dialogue with Belgrade, quoted portal B92. 

Director of the Office for KiM Marko Djuric stated, during the first round of talks in Brussels, that representatives of Pristina were repeatedly warned by the EU officials not to deal with “propaganda and fabrication of topics for daily political use, but to approach the talks in a serious way”.

”The serious and responsible approach of Serbia and President Vucic to these talks is appreciated and respected by the EU member states, and Pristina excluded itself from dialogue and talks. We are here to solve problems in a serious, constructive and transparent way, as much as possible, ” concluded Djuric. 

EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak would also participate in the Belgrade-Pristina talks at the expert level.

Dacic: Serbia to continue the action of withdrawal if Pristina continues lobbying (Kontakt plus radio, TV Pink, Vecernje Novosti) 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic today repeated to Belgrade based TV Pink that Serbia will continue the action for withdrawing the recognition of Kosovo if Pristina continues to lobby for recognition and admission to international organizations, Kontakt plus radio quotes.

Dacic told TV Pink that Belgrade was ready for talks and compromise, but that it would defend state interests in the strongest possible way.

“By unilateral acts of Pristina, the dialogue was reduced to a state of reanimation, nothing was happening, there were many unilateral acts that threatened to dangerously endanger peace in this area,” said the head of Serbian diplomacy, adding that there is a continuous political legitimacy crisis in Kosovo.

Regarding the position of the United States on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Dacic said that the position of the current administration of President Donald Trump was that it would support a compromise between the two sides.

“That is enough for us,” said Dacic.

Belgrade based daily Vecernje Novosti unofficially learned that that Serbia had announcements from at least three countries that were ready to reconsider their decisions on the recognition of Kosovo and that Belgrade would direct diplomatic activities towards them if Pristina continued to  lobby for new recognitions and admission to international organizations which directly breaks the agreement of the newly renewed dialogue.

Atlantic Council to host Western Balkan online summit (N1)

The Atlantic Council said that it is hosting an online summit of political leaders from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia later this week to promote regional economic integration to help the Western Balkans recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Building on its efforts and extensive networks in Southeastern Europe, the Atlantic Council convenes this Western Balkans Partnership Summit to facilitate and promote concrete steps among the leaders toward regional economic integration that can stimulate post-COVID-19 economic recovery, boost the region’s long-term competitiveness, and strengthen its attractiveness for investors,” a press release said. “This agreement will demonstrate leaders’ commitment to foster economic growth by pursuing the free movement of goods, persons, and services across the region’s borders. The measure will also set in motion a significant plan for attracting foreign investment and accelerating the effective deployment of COVID-19 recovery funds,” it added.

It added that “the tangible measures agreed at the Summit—linked to and embedded in existing regional initiatives and dialogues—will send an important political message about the Western Balkans’ Euro-Atlantic future at a time of heightened uncertainty”. The bold, practical actions to advance regional economic cooperation that are expected to be agreed at the summit will help the region emerge from the devastating impact of COVID-19 with greater economic development opportunities, the press release said.

The Atlantic Council said that the expected economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Balkans demand urgent regional action to avoid sustained economic stagnation and the potential instability that comes with it.

The press release said that the speakers at the online summit include North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers Zoran Tegetlija and Montenegrin Economy Minister Dragica Sekulic.

See at: https://bit.ly/2P1Bu1l

Djuric with Botsan-Kharchenko on dialogue with Pristina (Radio KIM)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Marko Djuric met yesterday with Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko and informed him about Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, both on political and expert levels, Radio KIM reports.

Djuric voiced hope that Serbia will continue having support of Russia on the international scene when it comes to Kosovo.

Djuric also said that Belgrade remains committed to the dialogue as a way to normalize the situation in the region and create conditions for economic development, however, it will not allow anyone to humiliate Serbia and deliver to it demands to disregard its fundamental state and national interests.

Djuric once again on behalf of the Government of Serbia and Serbian people thanked Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko over the valuable support Russia provided to Serbia to curb coronavirus pandemic.  

“Only Serbs did not get the right to self-determination” (Politika, B92)

Zivadin Jovanovic, former Foreign Affairs Minister of the-then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ)   says he doesn’t know whether the USA was really close to the idea of recognizing the Serbian people’s right in Republic of Srpska (B&H) to independence in the mid-1990s and merging with Serbia. He added that the then Yugoslav leadership had asked for it.

He noted that Serbia must advocate for Kosovo and Metohija primarily through UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Constitution, Belgrade-daily Politika writes. 

“The position of the policy of the then leadership and all those who participated in the negotiations was that, like other nations when the breakup of Yugoslavia began, the Serbian people should exercise their right to self-determination. There was resistance because Yugoslavia was disintegrated in order to break up the compactness of the Serbian people. The Germans and the British were especially engaged in that. “The same Germany that is rightly criticized for arming Kosovo Albanians now, and we remember that it was secretly arming Croatia in the early 1990s,” Jovanovic pointed out. 

BiH presidency member Milorad Dodik said recently that he would present to the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the position of Republic of Srpska that “it is impossible to discuss the possible separation of Kosovo or some special status, without considering special status of RS.”

Zivadin Jovanovic opined it was not good to connect the rights of the Republic of Srpska and Kosovo and Metohija, because the Serbian people of RS, regardless of everything, including the status of Kosovo and Metohija, have an inalienable right to self-determination and no one can take away that right.

The right can be challenged in various ways and even prevented by force, but the principled right to self-determination cannot be denied to the Serbian people in RS.

Martti Ahtisaari wrote in his book “Mission in Belgrade”: “We must not support the secession of Kosovo Albanians from Serbia, because then Serbs from Bosnia-Herzegovina will naturally ask to join Serbia.”

This is pragmatic from the point of view of geopolitics, but we in Kosovo and Metohija must strive to preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, our Constitution and international law, and that is independent of any other issue, Jovanovic said, adding that the West could consider trade or territorial swap, but Belgrade should not accept that.

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

“There is only one independent Serbian state in the Balkans, and that is…” (Dnevni Avaz, B92)

American analyst  Daniel Serwer stated that there was one independent Serbian state in the Balkans, the Republic of Serbia, wrote portal B92.

Serwer reacted to the statement of the Serbian member of the Presidency, Milorad Dodik, that it was not possible to discuss the status of Kosovo without discussing the status of the Republika Srpska.

He told Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz that the Republika Srpska was not independent, but a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that its eventual declaration of independence would primarily mean a tragedy for the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I think that the secession of RS from Bosnia-Herzegovina for Aleksandar Vucic would soon turn into a nightmare that would jeopardize Serbia’s ambition to become a full member of the European Union,” Serwer said.

He also says that it was high time for the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, to react and tell Dodik to do his best to ensure the best possible status of RS within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serwer estimated that Brussels and Washington should have reacted a long time ago to the rhetoric that Dodik “has been cherishing” years ago.

According to Serwer, Kosovo was a case in itself and cannot be used as a precedent for the eventual secession of RS from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, as he stated, was also confirmed by the International Court of Justice.

See at: https://bit.ly/2CXJUo1

Spiric on construction in northern Kosovo: Policy of Serbia is responsible and peaceful (Kosovo Online)

Acting Mayor of North Mitrovica Aleksandar Spiric reacted on Monday to Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti’s statement that there were difficulties with the implementation of Kosovo laws in northern Kosovo and that a proof was the realization of Serbian government projects, and told Hoti “that the state of Serbia pursues the policy which is responsible, whose goal is to establish peace and stability in the whole area”. 

“By building many housing units, we clearly show that we want to live in peace and harmony in the future. Confirmation of that is the fact that out of 586 apartments, more than 30 percent were distributed to people who are not members of the Serbian community, which indicates a peaceful policy of extending a hand and reaching an agreement led by President Aleksandar Vucic and Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric,” Spiric told portal Kosovo Online. 

He emphasized that the Serbian people in Kosovo were more than aware and respect all the measures that are in the interest of all citizens. 

“Our policy is exclusively to protect every person living in the north of Kosovo, regardless of nationality or religion. I want to underline that we are making maximum efforts with the state of Serbia to maintain the health care system, which is stable for now and our priority is to protect the lives of citizens,” Spiric said. 

Spiric pointed out to portal KoSSev that the facilities in the North of Kosovo were built with a construction permit and in accordance with the law.  

Specialist Prosecutor Smith: The investigation I am leading is not a challenge to any particular historical narrative (KoSSev)

“The sole focus of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office’s work is accountability – individual accountability for crimes proven beyond reasonable doubt. The investigation I am leading is not a challenge to any particular historical narrative, but seeks only to hold individuals accountable for their actions during the period of the SPO’s mandate,” the Specialist Prosecutor, Jack Smith wrote in the preface of the annual report of the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo.

In the course of 2019, Smith added, “the staff of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) has taken the investigation to the point where charging decisions can begin to be made.” The Specialist Prosecutor also underlined that all charging decisions will be “based solely on the law and the facts.”

“The SPO is an independent institution. It does not make political calculations and conducts its work objectively, professionally and impartially,” reads the preface written in February 2020, recently published in the KSC’s annual report.

Over the course of 2019, SPO prosecutors and investigators interviewed victims, witnesses and suspects in Kosovo, the wider region, the Netherlands and third countries – the report reads.

In addition to collecting testimony, the SPO has also been reviewing evidence gathered since the beginning of the investigation to assess its value and relevance, as well as to ensure it will be admissible in court.

The part of the report related to indictments reads that, in accordance with Article 38(4) of the Law and pursuant to Rule 86 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the Specialist Prosecutor must be satisfied that “there is a well-grounded suspicion that a suspect committed or participated in the commission of a crime within the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers” before an indictment can be filed.

See at: https://bit.ly/32X66tc

 

 

Opinion

 

Robelli: A national coordinator to fight violence against women (Koha)

Publicist Enver Robelli argues in an opinion piece that Kosovo needs a national coordinator to fight the violence against women. “Women are subject to physical, sexual and emotional violence. According to a study by the United Nations, in 2017 in Europe at least 3,000 women were killed by their husbands, partners or other family members. Unfortunately, there are such terrible cases in Kosovo too. It is a national and state duty to fight this violence with all legal means. Especially police officers that do not seriously consider the aid calls of women when they are threatened by their husbands, must be severely punished.”

“There are unnecessary positions in every government. Kosovo used to have a government with nearly 90 deputy ministers. That government also had national coordinators for different issues, namely useless things. The current government too has appointed dozens of deputy ministers, most of whom are either social cases or primitive hardliners of parties involved in crime and corruption. There are so many officials that get paid without doing anything.”

“If a new position is needed, it is the position of the national coordinator to fight violence against women. The recent case in Kamenica only extends the chain of crimes against women. Following such cases, the reactions usually consist of outrage on Facebook by a group of girls and women (rarely by a man), and then faced with public pressure female and male politicians react too, with the same messages, some of the reactions even being sterile and stereotypical. The wave of rage goes down quickly, while the judiciary and police promise to conduct investigations. The murderer will one day probably be sent to jail.”

“This is not the way to fight violence against women. A national coordinator should have a team that documents the cases of violence, applies repeated pressure on the authorities, monitors the work of the police and the prosecution, organises national awareness-raising campaigns against the discrimination and violence against women. There needs to be a totally different approach in fighting domestic violence, the main victims being women. Police officers that do not seriously consider the aid calls from women after they are assaulted by their husbands, must be faced with consequences – even fired from work.”

“When a woman calls the police for aid because she feels threatened by a violent husband, the police should act with the speed of firefighters. The same goes for the prosecution and social and other relevant institutions. There must also be consequent education starting from elementary schools for respecting gender equality and for resolving problems without violence.”

“On August 1 is the sixth anniversary of the Convention of the Council of Europe (known as the Istanbul Convention) which highlights the specific violence against women and girls and calls for this violence to be fought with concrete measures: equality in the Constitution and before the law and also care and shelter for the victims. To date, over 40 countries have adopted the Convention of the Council of Europe. Kosovo has initiated the procedures to adopt the Convention, but the Assembly surprisingly has yet to adopt it. The U.S. embassy, over a year ago, has called for the Convention to be adopted”.

“It is clear that with laws and conventions alone the violence against women cannot be fought as they suffer from a triple violence: physical, sexual and emotional. A long-term strategy is needed and also a courageous woman that is known for denouncing the crimes of men, and in her capacity as national coordinator should continuously alarm the public and not only when cases of domestic violence occur.”

 

 

 International

 

Kosovo wants Apple to correct country’s borders on its maps (Associated Press)

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s foreign minister said that she asked Apple to correct her country’s borders in its maps.

Meliza Haradinaj posted in her Twitter page on Sunday that she had written a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook “to take immediate steps to correctly present Kosovo’s internationally recognized borders in its AppleMap Service.”

On those maps, Kosovo is shown as part of Serbia, something the minister said was in “in direct contradiction of the political and legal realities.”

Kosovo seceded from Serbia after a 1998-99 war that ended with a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops.

See more at: https://bit.ly/30QLuQA

 

 

Humanitarian/Development

 

A new WHO warning – Emergency Commission is being convened (Tanjug, B92)

The director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating.

According to the WHO, the number of cases of infection has doubled over the past six weeks.

Ghebreyesus will convene the WHO Commission for Emergency Situations this week, six months after the WHO declared a state of emergency in public health on the international level on January 30, AP reports.

The commission will give advice on further fight against the pandemic.

“COVID-19 changed our world, it separated people, communities and nations,” Ghebreyesus told reporters.

He cited certain factors that have proven successful in some countries, such as political leadership, education, increased testing, hygiene and physical distancing measures.

See at: https://bit.ly/39DuW2r

Global air pollution correlates with COVID-19 worldwide mortality rate, UN says (TASS)

Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen sharply due to COVID-19 pandemic impact, according to the UN report

UN, July 28. /TASS/. Global air pollution and greenhouse emissions correlate with the worldwide fatality rate caused by the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus, the United Nations said in a report published on Tuesday.

“Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen sharply,” according to the UN report on COVID-19 pandemic impact in regard to major cities across the globe. “Evidence suggests poor air quality is correlated with higher COVID-19 mortality rates.”

“But environmental gains could be temporary if cities reopen without policies to prevent air pollution and promote de-carbonization,” the report continued.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was quoted as saying by the report: “We must pursue a green, resilient and inclusive economic recovery.”

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

 

 

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