Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 284 new cases, five deaths (media)
• UNICEF: Over 100,000 vaccines from COVAX dedicated for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: No one can question my government’s decisions (media)
• Kurti and Osmani promise a governance free of corruption (media)
• Hoxhaj discusses foreign investments with head of World Economic Forum (media)
• Haradinaj vows to defend Kosovo’s sovereignty and independence (media)
• CEC: Votes for uncertified candidates will not be included in result forms (RFE)
• Kurti pledges to bring social and legal justice (Prishtina Insight)
• Rohde: Parties to agree on president’s post, not head to new elections (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: Vote for number on LV’s ticket will not be invalid (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to idea of moving Kosovo’s embassy from Jerusalem (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: I have strong support from EU members for the plan implementation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Dacic: Pristina doesn’t respect what has been signed and agreed (Tanjug)
• Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic: Laws to Pristina as a “Buffet table” (Vecernje Novosti)
• Petar Petkovic: Haradinaj would like to win some votes for his party by attacking President Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia’s Vucic & EU’s Fabrizi: Belgrade must continue toward EU (N1)
• Preparatory hearing in Oliver Ivanovic’s case, defendants pleaded not guilty (Radio KIM)
• The process of vaccination of the population from Kosovo continues in Kursumlija (KiM radio)
• Decreased number of polling stations, voting only with Kosovo ID (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Macron doesn’t impose France’s stances, wishes to hear Serbian side (TV Most)

International:

• Six Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician Ivanovic’s Murder (Balkan Insight)
• Ties That Bind, Ties That Break: The Future of Israel-Balkan Relations (themedialine.org)
• Democracy Index 2020: Albania moves up, Serbia achieves the lowest score since 2006 (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia sees production of Sputnik V by the year-end – president (Reuters)
• Air Serbia moving to JFK Terminal 1 (N1)

Albanian Language Media  

COVID-19: 284 new cases, five deaths (media)

284 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, Kosovo recorded 224 recoveries during this time.

UNICEF: Over 100,000 vaccines from COVAX dedicated for Kosovo (Telegrafi)

UNICEF office in Kosovo took to Facebook to announce COVAX’s forecast on early distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“100,800 doses of vaccine will be procured for Kosovo through the Unicef Kosovo Programme for 3% of the population, enough doses to protect the most vulnerable,” UNICEF wrote on social media. 

The move was hailed by the British Embassy in Kosovo: “Great Britain are proud to be the biggest bilateral contributor to the #COVAX initiative. Good to see the first Covid-19 vaccines are arriving in Kosovo soon.”

Hoti: No one can question my government’s decisions (media)

Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti said today that the decisions taken by the government of Kosovo under his lead cannot be questioned by anyone.

In response to comments made by the Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti who said that a government led by him would review all decisions taken by the preceding one and invalidate the vast majority of them, Hoti said: “First, this is only his fixation because there is no chance he will ever manage to come to power. We only gave him power once for 52 days in which time he twice violated the Constitution. The decisions I have taken cannot be disputed by anyone.”

Hoti noted that the decisions taken by his government were of “state importance” and mentioned in this respect the Washington agreements, principles of the dialogue process, as well as the decision to sack the Kosovo Police director which he recalled was commended for his performance by Kurti. 

Kurti and Osmani promise a governance free of corruption (media)

Leader of the Vetevendosje Movement Albin Kurti and acting President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met today citizens of the municipality of Obiliq and sought their support in upcoming elections.

Kurti and Osmani pledged to have a government that will be free of corruption. “The big win will be a change for all of you without discrimination against anyone,” Kurti said.

“The change will be sealed on February 14. We have an historic opportunity to put Kosovo on the right track with a clean governance and honest people,” Osmani said. 

Hoxhaj discusses foreign investments with head of World Economic Forum (media)

Acting leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Enver Hoxhaj had a virtual meeting with President of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende to whom he presented the party’s plan for Kosovo’s economic recovery.

“We agreed to work together for creation of a cooperation framework that would turn Kosovo into a main centre for investments from countries and major global corporations,” Hoxhaj wrote on social media.

He said the World Economic Forum is ready to support Kosovo’s presence in major global events and present investment opportunities.

Haradinaj vows to defend Kosovo’s sovereignty and independence (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said in a meeting with party supporters in Vitia that he would act as protector of Kosovo’s sovregnity and independence if he gets to become the future president. 

“I will clean our way to NATO and the EU. Membership in NATO means security but also a call and guarantee for foreign investments and economic growth,” he wrote on Facebook.

CEC: Votes for uncertified candidates will not be included in result forms (RFE)

The Central Election Commission confirmed for Radio Free Europe that possible votes for the candidates not certified to run in elections will not be included in the final results of the candidates.

As a consequence, RFE reports, regardless of how many votes a certain uncertified candidate can receive they will not be legally formalised. The printed voting ballots include not only the names of political parties but also the numbers from 1-110 for individual candidates. 

CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi, explained that the result sheets for candidates will include all votes but that those for uncertified candidates will not be transferred to the final result forms. “These forms will only show votes for certified candidates.”

Vetevendosje insists voters can choose to vote for number one on their ticket – Albin Kurti – although he has not passed certification.

Meanwhile Arton Demhasaj from an anti-corruption NGO said Vetevendosje’s call to vote for Kurti despite him not being certified is more a way to get moral legitimacy. “There will be no legal legitimacy because he is not certified. We are dealing more with moral legitimacy before the public.”

Kurti pledges to bring social and legal justice (Prishtina Insight)

On Thursday night, BIRN’s Jeta Xharra hosted Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurt and a team of senior officials to discuss the party’s governance plans, less than two weeks before Kosovars head to the polls to vote in parliamentary elections on February 14.

Kurti stated that one of the key priorities for a Vetevendosje government would be to examine actions taken by the previous government led by Avdullah Hoti. “One of the first decisions is to review all the decisions made in the last six months and reverse them,” he said.

The party’s candidate for prime minister stated that the biggest issue currently affecting Kosovo was justice, both in the legal system and in the economy. “When we say justice we do not mean only in the courts, but social justice and justice in employment,” Kurti said. “When we say employment, we mean employment with dignified working conditions, without risks and any form of discrimination.”

Kurti added that it was crucial to connect the job market with the education sector, and with vocational education in particular. “Half of our youth are unemployed, while the majority of those who work are not employed in their trained profession,” he said.

Deputy Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly Arberie Nagavci stated that a Vetevendosje government would provide subsidised social housing – offering 4,000 apartments to young couples with mortgage payments of 150 euros per month over a period of 150 months.

Nagavci said that families with lower incomes will also be supported through a number of education schemes, including 1,000 scholarships for young women, with a focus on the natural sciences. 

Vetevendosje MP Mimoza Kusari stated that financing for these social schemes can be created by freeing up capital from large-scale investment projects, many of which she said need to be reviewed. “

Xharra asked Kusari to identify the party’s position on the much debated Dukagjini Highway specifically, which the MP has often criticised in the past. “The Dukagjini highway, which was proclaimed by the PAN government, is not necessary, we need to widen the road but not to build a highway,” she said.

In terms of foreign policy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Glauk Konjufca pledged to review all foreign policy decisions taken by the Hoti government, and use reciprocity as a guiding principle in relations with Serbia. 

“Vetevendosje will apply the language of reciprocity in all spheres,” said Konjufca, adding that the party would also seek to protect rights for the ethnic Albanian minority living in Serbia. “It will be a state policy that the rights of Albanians living in Presevo, Medvegja and Bujanovc should be equal to the rights of Serbs living in Kosovo Republic,” he pledged.

Xharra pointed out that if reciprocity was to be applied consistently, then Kosovo Serbs would not be able to use their own textbooks in primary and secondary education, and whether a Vetevendosje government would translate state textbooks into Serbian.

“In fact, under a second Kurti government, universal education will be applied across the Republic of Kosovo,” Konjufca replied. “In terms of curricula and content, there will be no differences on subjects such as history.”

Konjufca added that a Vetevendosje government would not be committed to all aspects of the agreements made by the Hoti government in Washington DC under the auspices of the Trump administration. 

The former foreign minister argued that Serbia has been violating the agreements constantly, pointing to Serbian officials continually opposing recognition for Kosovo, despite pledging to halt its derecognition campaign. “We cannot be overly polite to Serbia, whose aim is to deny the existence of Kosovo statehood,” he said.

Konjufca added that any document that violates Kosovo’s sovereignty will not be accepted by a Vetevendosje led government, and that the party would not accept sharing natural resources, such as the Ujmani lake, with Serbia.

Addressing Kosovo’s recognition by Israel last week, Konjufca stated that it was an important step, but added that the decision to locate Kosovo’s embassy in Jerusalem was “not a wise policy.” He conceded that if the EU insisted on relocating the embassy in order for Kosovo to accede to the union, the decision “would have to be reviewed.”

Former Minister of Health Arben Vitia was also present at the debate  and promised that a Vetevendosje government would try to vaccinate a minimum of 50 to 60 percent of the population against COVID-19, and promised that all essential medicines would be provided to the public free of charge under a Vetevendosje-led government.

See more at: https://bit.ly/371PVw3

Rohde: Parties to agree on president’s post, not head to new elections (Kosovapress)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde said it is crucial for Kosovo to have a stable government following February 14 elections that would ideally manage to remain in power for the full mandate. 

“The last thing people in Kosovo need would be another set of elections later this year, if the parties don’t agree on the issue of the country’s president.”

In an interview, Rohde said that apart from the agreement on who will be the future president of Kosovo, the priority of the new government should be to address the economic and social devastating consequences brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the new government should demonstrate concrete results in the fight against crime and corruption. “There is a need for a strong political will to address corruption issues,” he underlined. 

The German diplomat said Kosovo-Serbia dialogue should also be treated as a priority. “A new and stable government with strong parliamentary backing needs to invest political capital and political will in the dialogue facilitated by the EU – which is what Serbia needs to do too – to achieve the necessary progress for a comprehensive agreement that aims full normalisation of relations.”

Rohde reiterated the call for a free, fair and peaceful process: “We urge all to refrain from personal attacks that incite tensions and speculations. While the people of Kosovo weighs its options, it deserves to listen to detailed proposals from the politicians, accompanied by arguments in the spirit of informative debate.”

Rohde said that the Central Election Commission needs to ensure a transparent electoral process, free of political interference: “It is essential to respect legal decisions and pursue legal means without interference.”

Haxhiu: Vote for number on LV’s ticket will not be invalid (media)

Albulena Haxhiu from the Vetevendosje Movement said that any vote for number one of the party’s election ticket will not be invalid despite what she called an unjust decision to barr Albin Kurti from running for MP.

“All votes for number one on the LV ticket will be counted,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “Every vote for number one is a vote for Albin Kurti. It is a vote against the injustice done by captured institutions.” 

“Certain leaders, through the control over the CEC and other institutions, did this to prevent what is known, that is that Kurti will be legitimised this time with a record high number of votes. They fear legitimacy and support for Kurti because they know he will use this legitimacy to fight corruption and develop the country,” Haxhiu continued.

Haxhiu, along with Albin Kurti, have not been certified to run for election by the Central Election Commission on the grounds of a previous court conviction. 

Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to idea of moving Kosovo’s embassy from Jerusalem (Lajmi)

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla has reacted to the statement of her predecessor, Glauk Konjufca from the Vetevendosje Movement, saying that the decision to open embassy in Jerusalem could be reviewed if the EU conditions it with progress on European integration path.

“With regards to the opening of the Embassy in Israel, the Republic of Kosovo did not previously have a diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv so there can be no talk of relocation from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Kosovo respects practices and laws of the host country during the process of establishing a diplomatic mission but also takes pride in aligning with the American foreign policy,” she wrote. 

Serbian Language Media

Lajcak: I have strong support from EU members for the plan implementation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)

Miroslav Lajcak, the special envoy for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, presented to the ambassadors of the EU member states the results of his work in the previous year, as well as the plans for the coming weeks and months, reported Kosovo Online portal.

Lajcak announced on Twitter last night that he received strong support from all EU members for the realization of the plans.

“Today, I submitted a report to the EU ambassadors and the delegates of the Council of Europe on the results of the work in the last year. I also presented a work plan for the coming weeks and the next few months. I am encouraged by the fact that I received strong support from all EU members for the realization,” stated Lajcak.

Dacic: Pristina doesn’t respect what has been signed and agreed (Tanjug)

Serbian Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic said today Serbia moved its relations with France to the right path, adding it is important to continue a good course of improving relations, particularly strengthened with the meeting of two presidents, Tanjug news agency reports.

“It is important to count that also someone in the West, apart from Russia and China, would have understanding for the Serbian interests, in particular regarding resolution of the Kosovo issue”, Dacic told Prva TV.

He also said the main problem was that Pristina has no understanding of the need to find a compromise, since “Pristina has always some excuses for that, and doesn’t respect what has been agreed and signed”.

Recognition of Kosovo by Israel with help of US

Talking about recognition of Kosovo by Israel, Dacic said it was clear it was done, perhaps not under the pressure but with the help of the US.

“Although we have good relations with Israel, we need to be aware that apart from that Israel assesses what this recognition brings to it. At this moment, it was important to them that some Muslim country accepts Jerusalim as capital of Israel, and it was only Kosovo, which perceives itself as a Muslim country, ready to do”, Dacic said.

He recalled US thought it would positively impact other Muslim countries to do the same and that was the main motivation of Israel to recognize Kosovo, despite that, recongtion of Kosovo as he said, does not suit Israel.

Biden sees Serbia at the helm of the region

Asked to comment on the statements of US President Joseph Biden regarding the Balkan region, Dacic said that he and President Aleksandar Vucic “spoke with him several times and didn’t get the impression he was in a negative mood towards Serbia. On the contrary”, Dacic said.

He added Biden wants the issue of our region to be brought to the new beginning successfully for an entire region and that he sees Serbia at the help of that region.

Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic: Laws to Pristina as a “Buffet table” (Vecernje Novosti)

Dalibor Jevtic, vice president of the Serbian List and current minister for return in the Kosovo Government told Belgrade based Vecernje Novosti that entire public must know what was unequivocal: 

-In the political sense, the Serbian list is the house of all Serbs in Kosovo. That is why we must not allow anyone to use the votes of Serbs for their personal interests.  

Jevtic pointed out that Serb political representatives have had numerous opportunities in the past to protect the interests of their compatriots, but that they were all missed due to concern for their own interests:

– I can never forgive those who voted for the “supervised independence” of Kosovo. The moment when the Independent Liberal Party supported that, we lost a significant protection mechanism with international civilian representatives who until then could stop any decision that is not good for non-majority communities – Jevtic said. 

According to him, there will be no serious return of Serbs to Kosovo until there was a legal mechanism for the protection of private property:

– Although the political representatives of the Albanians are in favor of respecting the decisions of the Constitutional Court, they do not respect the decisions even when it comes to the property of the Visoki Decani monastery. They behave towards the law as if it is a “buffet table” – they take only what suits them.

He adds that the greatest responsibility lies with the international community, which has left decision-making to Kosovo’s institutions on political or national grounds.

Speaking about the mass return of Serbs to Kosovo, Jevtic pointed out that the problem must be considered even before 1999, because even then people left because of the unstable situation:

– We will launch an initiative to adopt a law that will enable the hereditary right to return, which means that if the elderly cannot return, their children or grandchildren can.

“Sun Valley” and south of Ibar 

– Those who attack the “Sunny Valley” project, call everything colonization, which is inadmissible. Because, I see no reason why a Serb who lived in Kosovo would not come to live there if he cannot return to Gjakovica or Urosevac – Jevtic said, and added that he advocates the implementation of a similar project south of the Ibar that would contribute to the closure of collective centers of Kosovo.

Petar Petkovic: Haradinaj would like to win some votes for his party by attacking President Vucic (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic reacted to the statement of AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj that President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic was “using Serbs from Kosovo in order to stay in power”, Kosovo-online portal reports.  

“Ramush Haradinaj is hoping that with unfounded accusations and attacks on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, he will gain a few votes more for his party in the upcoming elections, but even Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija, who can only watch Serbia’s economic and political successes with longing, no longer fall for such tricks”, Petkovic said in the statement.

“Citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, regardless of their nationality and religious affiliation, want to live in a safe and prosperous society, and the attacks on Vucic that were already seen, cannot hide the fact that Albanian political leaders in Pristina have no answer to economic, social or to health challenges”, he added.

Petkovic also pointed out that “these days, it was not Aleksandar Vucic who sent extremists to write KLA graffiti in Serbian villages in Kosovo and Metohija, put up KLA billboards at the entrances to our settlements and provoked and intimidated our people by announcing a referendum on the creation of a “Greater Albania”, but precisely those who incite hatred towards Serbs and Serbia”.

“President of Serbia was and remains the most sincere and consistent fighter for peace and stability in the region, and only those who want conflicts and bloodshed can see him as an enemy. I am convinced that only a negligible minority wants such a dark future in Kosovo and Metohija, whom Haradinaj was courting”, Petkovic said.

“Albanian participants in the pre-election race in Kosovo and Metohija must, in the interest of a common future, stop stoking the flames of hatred and intolerance, because mutual respect, understanding and dialogue is the only thing that can bring a better and more prosperous future to Albanian and Serbian people, while inflammatory messages can only bring misfortune to everyone”, the statement concluded. 

Serbia’s Vucic & EU’s Fabrizi: Belgrade must continue toward EU (N1)

The agenda of Thursday’s meeting between Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of the European Delegation in Belgrade Sem Fabrizi included the country’s European path, fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of political and economic reforms, especially those related to the rule of law.

Vucic’s office statement cited him as saying his country had to continue its road to the EU and needed the bloc’s support to implement the reforms necessary for all citizens’ benefit.

„We’ll continue to work intensively on the European agenda so that we open new chapters (in the accession negotiations with the EU) and progress faster toward the full membership,“ Vucic was quoted as saying.

Fabrizi and Vucic discussed Serbia’s judicial reforms to adjust its legislation to the EU.

The two agreed Serbia should work more on the rule of law, including the fight against corruption, media freedom and the renewal of the inter-party dialogue and the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina talks on the normalisation of relations.

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

Preparatory hearing in Oliver Ivanovic’s case, defendants pleaded not guilty (Radio KIM)

A preparatory hearing in the case of Oliver Ivanovic’s murder started today at the special department of the Pristina Basic Court, Radio KIM reports. Defendants – Marko Rosic, Nedeljko Spasojevic, Rade Basara, Silvana Arsovic, Dragisa Markovic and Zarko Jovanovic pleaded not guilty regarding the charges that they took part in the murder.

The presiding judge read the indictment in both, Albanian and Serbian languages, Radio KIM added.

The indictment says that Rade Basara as a police officer didn’t carry out his duty and acting as a member of a criminal group cooperated with Zeljko Bojovic. It was said he received an order to hide details from the investigation spot.

Silvana Arsovic is charged with abetting the murder by creating conditions for it. It was also said she knew surveillance cameras were switched off at the time of the murder.

Dragisa Markovic, as a police officer, was accused of revealing information relating to the official secret, and that he passed them to the officials of the Republic of Serbia.

It was also said that Markovic and Jovanovic misused their official authority, and didn’t secure the place of the murder appropriately.

Nedeljko Spasojevic possessed the weapon without permission, the indictment said.

Following the reading of the indictment all defendants pleaded not guilty relating to the charges that they took part in the murder of Oliver Ivanovic.

Nedeljko Spasojevic and Zarko Jovanovic earlier pleaded guilty on the charges they possessed weapons.

Lawyer of Marko Rasic, Faruk Korenica asked his client to be released from detention under bail.

“There is no reason that the defendant avoids the court’s summon. It has been more than two years, the length of the court process is not our fault, but rather the fault of the prosecution”, he said.

Lawyer of Rade Basara, Tom Gashi asked the measure of detention be revoked for his client as well. Lawyer of Rade Basara, Tom Gashi asked the measure of detention be revoked for his client. Commenting on the indictment he said it doesn’t say what concretely Rade Basara and others did in the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, adding the prosecution assumes they were members of the group that organized Ivanovic’s murder. He also asked that the indictment against his client should be dismissed as it was about, as he said, eight sentences his client said, and for what he is spending more than 16 months in detention. 

The prosecution raised an indictment also against Milan Radoicic and Zvonko Veselinovic saying they were leaders of a criminal group. However, they are not available to the court in Pristina.

Leader of Civic Initiative, Freedom, Democracy, Justice (SDP) Oliver Ivanovic was murdered on January 16, 2018, in front of his party premises in Mitrovica North.   

The process of vaccination of the population from Kosovo continues in Kursumlija (KiM radio)

Today, about 110 residents of Gracanica, Caglavica, Laplje Selo, Preoce, also Strpce went to Kursumlija to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The coordinator for vaccination in Kursumlija, Dragan Dimitrijevic, told RTV Kim that people apply for vaccination voluntarily.

“Today, we had about 110 people vaccinated. People volunteered at the Health Center, a phone number is available for people to register. The first tour was for those older than 65, now everyone who wants to receive the vaccine can apply,” said Dimitrijevic.

The citizens point out for KiM radio that they could hardly wait for the first dose of the vaccine to reach them. While some point out that it is important which vaccine is in question, others say this is not an issue for them. 

“I think I have no other choice in the current situation, and I think that the vaccine is my only chance to stay healthy, not to get infected with the virus, in whatever form it is. I could hardly wait to have a chance to be vaccinated at all, and the Chinese vaccine is the first thing I could get, that is the only reason why I chose it. Otherwise, I have nothing against the Russian or Pfizer vaccine,” said Aleksandra Rakic.

“We expect improvement, because we are tired of this situation with the coronavirus. I will be vaccinated with the Chinese vaccine, and that is important to me, because it is made of dead cells, and I am a diabetic,” said Dragoljub Ivic.

Health insured persons of the Republic of Serbia living in Kosovo are not able to be vaccinated against coronavirus in local health institutions, since the Ministry of Health of Kosovo does not allow the distribution of vaccines from Serbia. However, citizens who want to do so must travel to Kursumlija, Bujanovac, Vranje and Raska, reported KiM radio.

Decreased number of polling stations, voting only with Kosovo ID (Kontakt plus radio)

In the upcoming early parliamentary elections on February 14, citizens will be able to vote solely with Kosovo documents, primarily a Kosovo ID card. More than 145 thousand people were removed from the Voter List, of which a smaller part are deceased persons, and a larger one, are those with UNMIK ID cards, so there was a reduction in the number of polling stations within certain polling stations.

Dusan Radakovic, regional coordinator for northern Kosovo of Democracy in Action, a coalition of NGOs that will observe the upcoming Kosovo early parliamentary elections, confirmed to Kontakt plus radio that only persons with Kosovo documents would be allowed to vote on February 14.

-That is also the reason why more than 145 thousand people were removed, if I’m not mistaken 145,763, don’t hold my word for it when it comes to the exact number, but I know that more than 145 thousand people were removed from the list, a smaller part of those that died, most of people with UNMIK ID cards, where it is indicated  that they cannot vote. Although the same ten-digit number is on both UNMIK and Kosovo’s ID card. But, when a Kosovo ID card is taken, a person enters the system and gets an Extract, and as soon as he/she takes those two documents, he/she is immediately on the Voter’s List. So, for that reason, although it is the same number, until a person gets a Kosovo ID card, he/she is not on the Voter List. That is why, for example, over 5,400 people were removed from the list in Leposavic. 

Radakovic said that the number of the polling stations was reduced due to the removal from the Voter’s List of persons who do not have a Kosovo ID card, as well as the deceased ones.

As for the polling stations, in Leposavic the number was reduced from 31 to 25, North Mitrovica from 27 to 23, Zubin Potok from 15 to 14 and Zvecan from 13 to 12 polling stations, Radakovic specified.

Citizens can only vote in the February 14 elections with a Kosovo ID card, driver’s license or passport. But mostly they should come with a Kosovo ID card.

This is the first parliamentary election without the presence of OSCE Mission. Radakovic said he might be satisfied about it.

-Let’s see the municipal election commission carries that burden, and that the CEC finally shows its importance and organizes the elections itself. We are here, there will be two more smaller missions – the mission of the British Embassy and the EU mission, which will monitor the elections. And of course, Democracy in Action in full, which has been there from the beginning in every election. And of course, the municipal and Central Election Commission. Let’s show real knowledge for once, first of all I mean the municipal election commission, to organize and show that they know how to deal with that burden, to show the integrity of being able to organize elections in the best possible way – said Radakovic. 

The votes will be counted at the polling stations and then transported to the Kosovo Polje Counting Centre, Radakovic said.

Vucic: Macron doesn’t impose France’s stances, wishes to hear Serbian side (TV Most)

France recognized Kosovo but what was important for Serbia is that its president has no desire to impose such a stance, but he wants to hear the Serbian side, which is not usually the case with many countries that have recognized Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said, TV Most reports.

“When it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, firstly we must not encourage fake hopes of our people and tell them how wonderful things in Kosovo were. They weren’t and will not be. The one saying they are, is a layer. We must fight for the interests of our people, fight for their safety and fight to preserve the interests of Serbia”, Vucic said.

He also added that those criticizing the policy of the current authorities on Kosovo issue, spoke with a different tone with Western representatives, asking them only to postpone recognition of Kosovo due to elections in Serbia.

“It was okay to recognize the independence of Kosovo, but only postpone it a bit until we win elections”, Vucic said.

He noted he is not interested in such a policy, and that he will fight for Kosovo, however he doesn’t want to lie to the people.  

International

Six Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician Ivanovic’s Murder (Balkan Insight)

Six suspects accused of involvement in the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, the leader of the Freedom, Democracy, Justice party, was gunned down outside his office in January 2018, pleaded not guilty at Pristina Basic Court on Friday.

Nedeljko Spasojevic, Dragisa Markovic, Zarko Jovanovic, Rade Basara, Marko Rosic and Silvana Arsovic are charged with participating in or organising a criminal group, misuse of office, assisting in a murder, possession of illegal weapons, disclosure of official secrets and misuse of evidence in relation to the Ivanovic case.

Basara, who is also suspected of tampering with evidence, gave the court an alibi claiming he was in Croatia on January 16, 2018, the day of the murder.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3tt65Ic

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break: The Future of Israel-Balkan Relations (themedialine.org)

Strengthening bonds may harm the Jewish state elsewhere, with implications beyond Europe and the Mideast

If foreign policy were a for-profit business, Israel-Balkan ties would be a growth industry.

Earlier this week, Israel announced its recognition of the disputed southeastern European state of Kosovo. Not only are Israel’s relationships with the West Balkan countries tightening, particularly with Albania and the countries that made up the former republic of Yugoslavia, but the region is a training ground for the Jewish state to strengthen its diplomatic skills and become a peace broker on the world stage.

Last September, then-US President Donald Trump recognized Israel as being crucial to the agreements on economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia, as each signed parallel documents with the US.

“Israel was able to provide something to make that deal happen,” Dr. Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told The Media Line. “That shows the growing diplomatic power Israel has.”

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

Democracy Index 2020: Albania moves up, Serbia achieves the lowest score since 2006 (EWB)

LONDON – According to the 2020 Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Albania is the only country that has managed to improve its democratic status, while most of other Western Balkans countries experienced backsliding. Serbia has achieved the lowest average score since the launch of the Democracy Index in 2006 (6.22).

This index measures the state of democracy based on the electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties. The observed countries are then classified in four categories: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime or authoritarian regime.

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Humanitarian/Development

Serbia sees production of Sputnik V by the year-end – president (Reuters)

BELGRADE, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Serbia will invest as much as necessary to start domestic production of Russia’s Sputnik V by the end of the year, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday.

A group of Russian experts is expected to visit Serbia next week for talks about local production of the Sputnik V vaccine by the end of the year.

Vucic said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin made an initial agreement about the launch of the production procedure which he described as “complicated and difficult.”

With over 530,000 people, or around 7.5% of its population, inoculated against COVID-19, Serbia globally holds the fourth highest vaccination rate per 100 people, behind Israel, Britain and the United States.

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Air Serbia moving to JFK Terminal 1 (N1)

Air Serbia said on Friday that it would be moving from Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 at New York’s JFK International Airport as of June 3 this year, adding that the terminal is only for international flights, N1 reports.

It said that Terminal 1 will be the biggest and state of the art terminal at the airport following reconstruction, four times bigger than now.

“We are proud to join the home of all main international airlines. Our passengers will be able to enjoy more space and smaller crowds, and in the near future, once the reconstruction is finished, Terminal 1 will be the most luxurious one in the whole of New York and the surrounding area“, the press release quoted George Petkovic, VP Americas, Air Serbia as saying.

Air Serbia started informing passengers about the change in terminals by text message, on its website and social media accounts. The Serbian national air carrier operates two weekly flights to New York, on Thursdays and Saturdays, with plans to increase the number once the pandemic stabilizes.

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