Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 33 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Varhelyi: All EU states need to be convinced Kosovo has met visa liberalisation criteria (media)
• Hoti: If no agreement, Kosovo and Serbia will remain independent neighbouring countries (Koha)
• Osmani: Kosovo should be granted visa liberalisation, all criteria met (media)
• Economic recovery draft law fails to be adopted, yet again (media)
• Draft law on KLA values fails to pass Assembly (media)
• Civil society activists protest against KLA values law (media)
• Greek FM Dendias to visit Kosovo tomorrow (Klan)
• Hoti rejects reports about establishment of new ministry (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Godfrey: Solution of the Kosovo issue possible in a year or two (media)
• Bilcik: European Commission report on Serbia objective (N1)
• Serbia sends protest note to Albania (media)
• Empirika on MIA decision relating to “KS” registration plates (media)
• Police arrested suspect for shooting in Donja Brnjica (Radio KIM)
• Harassment of girl in Babin Most (RTS, Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Jevtic: Stop pandemic of intimidation of Serbs (TV Most)
• Spahiu: ”Constitution should be amended regarding the election of President” (Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: Most EULEX documentation in Pristina’s hands (Radio Mitrovica Sever, TV Prva)

Opinion:

• ‘Scientific’ views on sexual harassment in Kosovo (and why it matters) (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Várhelyi: Kosovo has fulfilled the conditions for visa liberalization (EWB)

Albanian Language Media 

COVID-19: 33 new cases, no deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said today that 33 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

46 persons have meanwhile recovered from the virus during this time and no deaths were recorded.

The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (14).

Varhelyi: All EU states need to be convinced Kosovo has met visa liberalisation criteria (media)

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, is visiting Kosovo today as part of his tour of Western Balkans. The visit comes at the wake of the publication of the European Commission’s recent enlargement package where Kosovo has been found to have made ‘limited progress’.

Varhelyi said he is visiting the Western Balkans to share good news in terms of the investments that the European Commission has pledged for the economic recovery of the region.

At a joint press conference with Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, the EU commissioner said Kosovo has met all the necessary criteria for visa liberalisation but that all member states need to be convinced of this.

“There is no single meeting where we haven’t discussed this issue. I am trying to help in convincing member states of the need to offer visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Our assessment remains that you have met all the criteria but this is not enough as the European Union Council is the one that decides,” Varhelyi said.

He noted that this can be achieved by Kosovo making progress on the ground. “Give us time and space to achieve this and we will.”

In his remarks to Kosovo MPs, Varhelyi said that this year’s Progress Report on Kosovo was not ‘favourable’ due to the political situation. He said that early elections and the change of governments during the pandemic period played a role in the report’s conclusions.

Varhelyi also stressed that there is no doubt about the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

Hoti: If no agreement, Kosovo and Serbia will remain independent neighbouring countries (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti said today at a joint press conference with European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi that the agreement on economic normalisation with Serbia is a step towards the final agreement.

Hoti said he recognised the difficult task of EU facilitators in bringing the dialogue to a successful conclusion “but there is a momentum that has started to build up.”

“I hope we will make it in the not so distant future,” Hoti said, noting that the full normalisation of relations is only possible through mutual recognition. “We are committed to dialogue, one month, two, or one year. If no final agreement is reached there is nothing left to do but continue as two independent neighbouring countries that do not recognise one another.”

Speaking about Varhelyi’s visit, Hoti said the EU Commissioner brought ‘fantastic’ news, that of the European Commission’s plan to allocate a total of €28 billion in terms of investment to the Western Balkans region to help the process of economic recovery.

“We have received the Commission’s report on challenges the country faces but also on the determination of this government to move forwards with the reforms and address main challenges from the EU’s viewpoint. In the four months of our governance, we have managed to remove the word ‘corruption’ from the public discourse and [shown] great commitment in fighting organised crime,” Hoti said.

He noted that visa liberalisation remains a very important concern of the citizens of Kosovo. “We have fulfilled the conditions in 2018 and I am pleased to see this mentioned in the report. I hope the EU member states will move in this direction.” 

Osmani: Kosovo should be granted visa liberalisation, all criteria met (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani said in the opening remarks for the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi’s address to MPs that his visit comes at a time when the debate on European integration has been ignited following the publication of the most recent Progress Report. 

Osmani said Kosovo has met all criteria to be granted visa liberalisation and the failure of the positive decision on the issue “does not do honour to the EU.” “The marathon that began in 2008 should come to an end.”

Osmani said the dialogue with Serbia cannot end in any territorial changes. “This Assembly has made it clear border changes will not be allowed in this process or other such ideas that could lead to the creation of a Republika Srpska in our country.”

Economic recovery draft law fails to be adopted, yet again (media)

For the sixth time, the draft law on economic recovery failed to be voted by the Kosovo Assembly due to the absence of quorum.

Only 58 MPs voted for the draft law while opposition parties – the Vetevendosje Movement (VV) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) – did not take part in the vote. 

Chairperson of the session, Arberie Nagavci, concluded no decision making is possible with only 58 MPs willing to vote.

Draft law on KLA values fails to pass Assembly (media)

The draft law on Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) values, initiated by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Gazmend Bytyqi, failed to be adopted at the Assembly for the lack of quorum.

Bytyqi said the draft law aims to recognise a part of Kosovo’s history and dismissed criticism that it undermines freedom of expression. “We want to legally acknowledge the contribution of the people towards freedom under the KLA emblem,” he said.

Head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group Arben Gashi said the party would not support the law which he said, instead of unifying, is causing more divisions. “This makes it impossible for the law to be supported.”

Meanwhile, head of the Vetevendosje parliamentary group Rexhep Selimi said the proposed legislation abuses the true virtues of the KLA and is politicised. “Our rejection is not about being against the KLA but against its name being abused.”

Civil society activists protest against KLA values law (media)

While the Kosovo MPs were debating on the draft law for protection of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) values, a group of activists from the Youth Initiative for Human Rights protested against the proposed legislation in front of the Assembly building. 

The protesters, holding banners calling for the law to be withdrawn, said the draft not only undermines freedom of expression but is also in violation of the Constitution of Kosovo. Furthermore, they argued, it does not help the justice process for victims of the Kosovo war. 

Greek FM Dendias to visit Kosovo tomorrow (Klan)

Foreign Minister of Greece, Nikos Dendias, is expected to pay a visit to Kosovo tomorrow, Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.

“The visit of the Greek minister is of special importance being that Greece is among five European Union member states that has not yet recognised Kosovo but is a country that has demonstrated high political and practical constructivity in support of Kosovo on its Euro-Atlantic path,” the statement reads.

Hoti rejects reports about establishment of new ministry (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti dismissed media reports stating that the Ministry of European Integrations will be reintroduced after the Government decided to invalidate a previous decision to establish the Agency for European Integration.

Speaking to reporters after meeting EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, Hoti said: “There will be no new Ministry of Integrations. There will only be an office functioning within the Office of the Prime Minister.”

Serbian Language Media

Godfrey: Solution of the Kosovo issue possible in a year or two (media)

Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey said that the Kosovo problem was not small, but he was still optimistic, reported Serbian media.

He stated that it was possible to find a compromise solution between Belgrade and Pristina in a year or two.

In an interview with Belgrade based daily Kurir, Godfrey said that the attention paid by US President Donald Trump to the signing of the agreement on normalization of economic relations between Belgrade and Pristina, combined with the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic and his openness to new ideas, gave new energy and new impetus to US and Serbia relations. 

“Both leaders saw that it was time to do something bold, new and exciting,” Godfrey said.

He believed that the best chapter in the history of Serbian-American relations was beginning, which, he said, was logical, because we have so much in common and so many common experiences from the past.

The American ambassador also pointed out that the list of US priorities included helping Serbia to become a member of the European Union.

“We are continuing intensive cooperation with Brussels on that, and there is no change in our position that the EU should lead an energetic and purposeful dialogue with Serbia and Kosovo on resolving political issues,” Godfrey said.

According to him, the United States believed that it could play a significant role in improving the economic conditions in the Western Balkans, thus giving direct support to joining the European Union.

“Our engagement on this issue is not new, nor is it related to the election campaign (in the United States). We believe in the importance of regional stability and prosperity. That priority will not change even after the November elections,” Godfrey said when asked whether the US, in a way, competed with the EU in its engagement in finding a compromise solution between Belgrade and Pristina, and whether that engagement was actually in the service of Trump’s election campaign.

He expressed satisfaction that the American International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) opened an office in Belgrade.

He stated that the DFC immediately started compiling a list of priorities and projects for its first office in Europe, and that it showed that the United States believed in the economic potential of this region.

Bilcik: European Commission report on Serbia objective (N1)

The European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik told N1 on Wednesday that the European Commission was objective in its annual report on Serbia’s progress towards European Union membership.

He said that he thinks the report clearly points out the areas where progress has been achieved, especially the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. In general, Serbia’s economic indicators are good news but in the long-term the main issues such as justice, rule of law, basic liberties and rights demand reform and those are issues that the Commission pointed out, listed the facts and was critical on, the MEP said.

He said that the new Serbian government should finally take decisive steps on reforms because the future of expansion will be resolved in the region, on the ground with the candidate countries. Bilcik said that the European Union is there to encourage and help but can’t do the job instead of those countries. You have to take the decisive steps yourself in Serbia with a new government which has a very strong mandate, he said.

According to Bilcik, the Commission report clearly states what should be changed, what should be improved and adds that reforms have to be implemented. He said that means that progress is needed on the ground in terms of concrete problems.

“We need results and they can be achieved, the reforms, relatively quickly, he said, adding that a legal framework can be made within months. He said that at least one country in the region could be ready to become an EU member within the four years in office of the European Commission. I think that is realistic but can be done if the government and politicians in Serbia are fully committed to accession to the EU, he said, adding that Serbia has to fully align with EU foreign policy and achieve progress in relations with Pristina.

It’s important for the new government to show that EU membership is a priority, he said. Bilcik said that the European Parliament is ready to engage with the Serbian parliament as soon as it is formed. He expressed regret at the fact that part of the Serbian opposition boycotted the elections because the parliament might have been different. We have the good will to have a dialogue with everyone, but we have political players who stood in the elections, won votes and have the support of the people and were elected and those are our key partners for a dialogue, Bilcik said.

See at: https://bit.ly/3d71uDV

Serbia sends protest note to Albania (media)

The Serbian Foreign Ministry summoned Albanian Ambassador in Belgrade Ilir Bocka to hand him a protest note over recent statements which the Serbian authorities see as advocating for “Great Albania”, N1 reports.

The protest comes after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke at a joint session of his government and the Kosovo government about abolishing the border between Kosovo and Albania on October 2. 

“Statements like that which invoke a union of Albania and Serbian Province of Kosovo and Metohija and the creation of “Great Albania” are justified cause for concern for both Serbia and the other states of the region which are determined to preserve stability and intensify cooperation in the region”, the protest note said. It added that Serbian top officials are investing effort to develop bilateral political and other relations with neighboring countries and resolve issues which they are not in agreement on. The protest note also expressed the expectation that Albanian top officials will refrain from statements which affect bilateral relations and could destabilize the region. 

The note said that Serbian Charges D’Affaires in Tirana had been summoned to the Albanian Foreign Ministry to be handed a protest note which he refused to accept because of the views expressed in it.

Empirika on MIA decision relating to “KS” registration plates (media)

Non-governmental organizations and media advocacy platform Empirika in reaction to the announcement of the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) that vehicle owners bearing “KS” registration plates are obligated to replace them with “RKS” registration plates requested that the decision be revoked “until the validity period of the Brussels agreement expires”.

The MIA earlier announced that owners of the vehicles while extending the registration of their vehicles would have to replace “KS” plates with “RKS” registration plates.

Emprika noted that in line with the Brussels agreement on Freedom of Movement signed in September 2016, Kosovo is obliged to extend the validity of “KS” registration plates for a period of five years. That same agreement requires the signatories to re-consider the issue after 14th September 2021, under the supervision and mediation of the European Union.

Empirika further warned that Kosovo Serbs, as a community for whom the possession of “KS” registration plates is of great importance, see their right to freedom of movement restricted by this decision, particularly due to their connection with central Serbia. For the same or comparable reasons, Kosovo Albanians and other communities will see their movement between Kosovo and Serbia similarly compromised.

Emirika also said “the decision of the MIA is problematic because it was made in the absence of consultation with the wider community or professionals, thereby leaving owners of “KS” registration plates with “a fait accompli”. Moreover, the lack of a timely reaction on the part of intermediaries (in this case the European Union) that could have otherwise benefited those affected by the decision, as well as Belgrade’s passivity regarding this unilateral action, contributed to the fact that this problem has been left by the wayside”.

It also said it was of utmost importance that already agreed upon principles are upheld by both parties. “In practice, this would mean that the Interior Ministry should rescind the above-mentioned decision and coordinate any changes to the existing arrangement with Brussels and Belgrade, as is required by the agreement itself.  Vehicle owners who are in possession of “KS” registration plates are directly discriminated against by the Ministry’s decision and do not have access to mechanisms and/or the right to appeal”.

Empirika members are Aktiv, Advocacy Centre for Democratic Culture (ACDC), Centre for the Rights of Minority Communities, EMEG, Forum for Development and Multi-ethnic Cooperation (FDMC), Gračanica online, Humani Centre Mitrovica, Communication for Social Development (CSD), Media Centre, New Press, Radio Kontakt Plus, RTV Kim, RTV Mir and Sinergija.

Police arrested suspect for shooting in Donja Brnjica (Radio KIM)

Kosovo police arrested yesterday Kosovo Albanian, suspected of shooting that took place in a school yard while Serbian children were there, four nights ago in the village of Donja Brnjica, near Pristina, Radio KIM reports. Kosovo police confirmed that the arrested person was sent to 48-hour detention.

Commander of police station in Pristina Isak Ejupi also told Kosovo-online portal that the perpetrator was identified and arrested. He added the weapon was confiscated and the police considered this case concluded.

“The perpetrator is Albanian, who often spent time with these youngsters. He is from Brnjica and he confessed the act he is suspected of”, Ejupi said.

He also said following 48-hour detention, the prosecutor in charge would deal with the case. 

Harassment of girl in Babin Most (RTS, Radio KIM, KoSSev)

Unknown persons have harassed T.D. who attends fifth grade of primary school, in the village of Babin Most, near Obilic, by inviting her to get into their vehicle, school director Zarko Petrovic told RTS.

Petrovic told RTS he was accompanying a group of pupils, including T.D. for medical check-up. When he returned pupils home, he left the girl a few hundred meters away from her house. On the way home, she takes every day with other children while going to the school, T.D. saw a black vehicle and a man getting out of it. He was inviting her using hand gestures as well. The girl ran to the nearest yard, while unknown persons also went away.

The parents reported the case to the police and the girl made a statement in their presence at the police station in Obilic. It was also reported that the girl was stressed and the parents took her for a medical examination.

Petrovic said people in the village feel distressed over this latest case, adding it represents yet another case of intimidation against the Serbs in this and surrounding villages. He recalled the case that took place recently when a group of Albanians attacked Serb boys in the same village, the case in Plemetina involving intimidation of a young boy, as well as shooting in the school yard in the village of Donja Brnjica while Serbian youngsters were there.

Meanwhile, Kosovo police, regarding the case in Babin Most told KoSSev portal there are no elements of criminal acts there, and it is believed that a vehicle pulled over 20 meters away from an underage girl while she was walking on the street and she got scared because of that. It was also said the investigation continues, the prosecutor was informed, but so far there are no criminal elements.

Jevtic: Stop pandemic of intimidation of Serbs (TV Most)

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic said on Thursday that an urgent reaction of the competent institutions was needed in order to stop the “pandemic” of intimidation and attacks on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, TV Most reports.

“Robberies, arsons, shootings, attempted kidnappings … The urgent reaction of all competent institutions is the minimum of what we expect in order for this “pandemic” of intimidation and attacks on Serbs to stop immediately”, Jevtic wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Marko Djuric called on the international community, primarily the countries that have the strongest political and security influence in Kosovo and Metohija, to stop the violence, because, as he stated, this was the moment for reaction without delay.

“In just ten days, we witnessed an attempt to kidnap a Serbian child in Plemetina and an armed attack on Serbian children in Donja Brnjica”, Djuric recalled.

“Today, according to the same scenario, with the same and recognizable handwriting, another Serbian child was attacked, in a village which in recent months, due to a series of attacks on Serbs and their property and holy shrines, is a strong candidate for the most insecure environment in Europe”, Djuric said yesterday reacting to the case of harassment against the young Serbian girl in Babin Most village.   

He stressed “the goal of the organizers of these incidents is obviously to cause fear and panic among Serbs in this part of Kosovo and Metohija, with a clear intention to force our people to leave their homes”.

Spahiu: ”The constitution should be changed regarding the election of the president” (Kosovo Online)

Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu says that every time when the time comes for the election of the President, Kosovo enters a political crisis, which is why, in his opinion, the constitutional provisions should be amended, Kosovo media reported. 

“Kosovo must amend the Constitution regarding the election of the President. Every time this moment comes, we will enter a political crisis,” Spahiu told T7.  

In Spahiu’s opinion, there would certainly be “American interference in the election of the President”. 

“American intervention on this issue is inevitable,” Spahiu said. 

He added that the Constitution should be amended so that the President of Kosovo would be elected by the citizens. 

Odalovic: Most EULEX documentation in Pristina’s hands (Radio Mitrovica Sever, TV Prva)

The chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons of the Serbian government Veljko Odalovic said that according to the latest information, most of the EULEX documentation regarding the missing in Kosovo now was in the hands of Pristina institutions, reported Radio Mitrovica Sever. He added that it was important that the issue was discussed both, in Washington and Brussels.  

He told Belgrade based TV Prva that EULEX, which was the last in charge of investigations and gathering evidence, handed over the documentation to the Pristina judicial authorities.

He stated that there are numerous videos that have been published in recent days and from which it could be seen that there was a video archive that could also help in resolving the fate of the missing.

He said that there was also documentation in the archives of international organizations that took out their documentation from the territory of Kosovo, such as KFOR, UNMIK, OSCE and some non-governmental organizations, quoted the radio..

He stated that a lot of hope was placed in satellite images, on the basis of which certain information about events can be obtained and on the basis of precise data of when and where someone disappeared, and the circumstances of the disappearances.

“Now we are trying to alert the international public and the international community to help us,” Odalovic said.

Asked about the formation of a joint commission, which was agreed upon in the agreement from Brussels, Odalovic said that just it would be the support that would enable valuable information to be obtained.

“We also expect that the archives of the Hague Tribunal will be opened to the full extent,” said Odalovic, adding that he expected that the US can obtain faster, better and more information than others. 

Odalovic said that according to the records of the International Committee of the Red Cross, in the period 1998, 1999 and 2000, a total of 6,025 missing persons were reported, and that today 1,643 people were listed as missing, and that mostly crimes were often behind those disappearances.

“The documentation created by UNMIK, KFOR, later EULEX, all those who were in Kosovo and Metohija, can help a lot in searching for the missing, but also in prosecuting those responsible for the crimes that were committed,” Odalovic said.

He stated that Serbia gave more than 2,500 documents related to the missing, and that no documentation was received from the other side so far.

“This controversy, which often takes place over whether there is a KLA archive or not, I still claim that it exists and I still believe that there is a lot of evidence and information about the fate of the people we are looking for,” says Odalovic.

He stated that a lot of quality information was provided by the families of the missing.

“We persistently repeat and ask that the investigative bodies process the identified perpetrators of crimes, which are most often part of Pristina’s institutions today,” says Odalovic.

Opinion

‘Scientific’ views on sexual harassment in Kosovo (and why it matters) (Prishtina Insight)

Given recent history of Kosovo’s higher education system, perhaps it is unsurpring that a paper co-authored by a professor claims that one of the main causes of sexual harassment is women dressing provocatively, but it is still completely unacceptable, writes Adea Kondirolli, project manager and researcher at the Organisation for Improving the Quality of Education – ORCA.

“The opening sentence of a 2015 paper, titled “The Phenomenon of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace in Republic of Kosovo”, claims that “sexual harassment at the workplace is among the oldest phenomenon of the society, from the ancient times to the present.” 

This ‘scientific’ assertion from Kosovo researchers Ferdi Kamberi and Besim Gollopeni makes one wonder whether sexual harassment of women in the workplace is a tradition that goes all the way back to Ancient Illyria.

Kamberi and Gollopeni’s paper is very poorly written, with broken English, and nonsensical sentences. Just to provide one example, the authors claim that: “Sexual revolution of the 70’s of the last century, made this phenomenon to be expand due to the fact that in the name of the sexual freedom they made many things to be imposed starting from harassment in the street up to the conditioning to offer sexual pleasures on exchange for other favors such a job or promotion, money and other forms.”

The paper’s methodology is almost as puzzling as its language. It is based on interviews conducted by the authors with 47 respondents who work in both the private and public sector.”

See more at: https://bit.ly/36HEgCX

International

Várhelyi: Kosovo has fulfilled the conditions for visa liberalization (EWB)

PRIŠTINA – EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said that Kosovo has fulfilled the conditions for visa liberalization, but that now EU member states must be convinced in that, during his official visit to Pristina, after a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, FoNet reports.

“When it comes to visa liberalization, there is no meeting where we have not discussed this issue. I am trying to persuade EU member states to offer visa liberalization for Kosovo. Our assessment is that you have met all the conditions, but this assessment is not enough, we have to convince the EU member states,” Várhelyi highlighted.

He added that from day one “we have committed to helping change the reality in this region, such as the economy for businesses and citizens”.

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