Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 372 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Parties in Kosovo to hold final rallies, as Friday marks last day of election campaign (Euronews.al)
• Selimi and Lumezi meet to discuss the flow of the election process (Koha)
• EU expects transparent election process in Kosovo (RFE, media)
• Vetevendosje and LDK split over DC deal (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoxhaj for Die Presse: My government will be pro-Western (RTK)
• LVV claims it has support of the Socialist International (RTK)
• AAK: Vucic gets anxious from Haradinaj’s candidacy for President (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Putin congratulates Serbia’s National Day: Fraternal friendship (N1, RTS)
• “Political options that offer nothing new” (Radio KIM)
• Krasniqi: Voters expect changes and for the old guard to be removed from power (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: No one was held accountable for murders of Serbs, families have been waiting for justice 20 years (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Djokic’s verdict trampling on justice and law (RTS)
• “Convicted along with absence of evidence” (Radio KIM)
• HLC: Amendments to indictment in Djokic’s case submitted to court without elaboration (Radio KIM)
• No political pluralism among Serbs in Kosovo (N1)
• Rakic: Pressures from Pristina will not cut our ties with Belgrade (Politika, TV Most) 
• Rasic: Our task is to bring back the normalcy (RTK2)
• AstraZeneca vaccine in Serbia soon, confirmation awaited, Brnabic says (N1)

Opinion:

• Dialogue, knowledge and social progress (KiM radio)
• Kosovo can thrive with help from Britain (The Times)
• How does Kurti see the dialogue? (EWB, Novi Magazin)
• Key Challenges for the Incoming Government of Kosovo (Democracy Speaks)

International:

• Kosovo heads for political shake-up in elections on Sunday (Reuters)
• Economy, not Serbia, dominates Kosovo election campaign (AP)
• Geoană: The future of the Western Balkans lies with the Euro-Atlantic community (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• RCC and UNDP: Women’s empowerment is essential to Western Balkans’ efforts to build back better from the pandemic (EWB)
• UNESCO: Pandemic Has Worsened Minorities’ Schooling in Balkans, Central Europe (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media  

COVID-19: 372 new cases, six deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 372 new cases of COVID-19 and six deaths in the last 24 hours. 333 persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 7,041 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Parties in Kosovo to hold final rallies, as Friday marks last day of election campaign (Euronews.al)

Friday marks the last day of election campaign in Kosovo, with political parties holding their last rallies across the country.

Citizens of Kosovo will head to the polls on February 14 to decide for the future of their country. The final list of voters within the country contains 1 million 794 thousand 862 voters.

There will be 888 polling stations across Kosovo, while the CEC has approved the application for voting from abroad.

Applications to register as voters outside Kosovo were submitted by Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, Hysni Gucati, Rexhep Selimi, Nasim Harandinaj and Sali Mustafa, who are currently in the detention facility of the Kosovo Specialized Chambers in The Hague.

All applications were personally verified and registered upon notification by the CEC.

The CEC has mobilized teams to making voting possible for all citizens that have tested positive for COVID-19 and those who are self-isolating.

Selimi and Lumezi meet to discuss the flow of the election process (Koha)

The acting Minister of Justice, Selim Selimi, held today a meeting with the Chief Prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi, to discuss the smooth running of the election process.

Selimi called on commissioners and observers to adhere to the principles of administering the voting process and counting of votes.

“Commissioners and observers are the guardians and guarantors of the protection of the free vote and as such should be responsible for the vote of each citizen to go to the destination, ensuring a fair election process,” said in a statement of the Ministry of Justice.

Chief Prosecutor Lumezi stated that the State Prosecutor’s Office is an address for reporting any illegal case, adding that abuses will be prosecuted according to law. 

Furthermore, Democracy in Action today organized a meeting with the Institutions that signed the Memorandum of Cooperation for the electoral process regarding the preparation of the institutions for the smooth running of the electoral process.

EU expects transparent election process in Kosovo (RFE, media)

The European Union expects that the February 14 elections in Kosovo will be organized in a credible, comprehensive and transparent manner throughout the territory of Kosovo, including in the premises where members of the Serb community are running.

This message was given by the EU in response to questions about previous remarks that among Kosovo Serbs in the past there was pressure and intimidation of candidates and supporters who were not from the Srpska List, which is supported by the Government of Serbia.

“Dynamic opposition and an electoral race are part of a pluralistic democracy,” a European Commission spokesman said.

Asked what the European Union has done to ensure that the problems seen in the past are not repeated in the Serb-populated areas of Kosovo, the European Commission said that “the EU regularly discusses all relevant issues, including even when it comes to elections with relevant interlocutors, and underlines the need to implement the recommendations of the EU observer mission ”.

“It is necessary for all voters to be able to exercise their right to a free vote, without political pressure. “All participants, institutions or political parties, are responsible for this,” said the spokesman of the European Commission.

The EU has announced that the representative of the European Union, along with other international actors, will be present on election day at a number of polling stations in Kosovo to monitor the election process. 

Vetevendosje and LDK split over DC deal (Prishtina Insight)

The effects of the Washington agreements divided representatives from LDK and Vetevendosje in a BIRN electoral debate on Thursday.

Kosovo’s decision to establish bilateral relations with Israel and recognise Jerusalem as its capital found itself at the centre of discussions during a BIRN pre-election debate broadcast on Thursday.

The European Union, Turkey and the Arab League have all criticised the outgoing Kosovo Government’s decision to locate Kosovo’s future embassy in Jerusalem. However, LDK’s former deputy minister of foreign affairs Valon Murtezaj stated that Kosovo’s next government should stand by the agreement, stating that any future ramifications are unlikely.

“Kosovo should stick to its agreements and pledges,” Murtezaj said. “I am sure that this will never be a serious issue between Kosovo and the European Union.”

But for former Vetevendosje deputy prime minister Haki Abazi, the subject is open to debate. Abazi stated that the incoming government needs to review the issue, and should coordinate with the EU on any future decisions.

“It is a complex issue that needs to be discussed at a diplomatic level, as the EU’s stance on where the embassy is located is very important,” Abazi said.

He added that a new government led by Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti would sit down to talks with both the state of Israel and the EU, in order to “find a solution to this knot that was created without any reason by the former government.”

Abazi went on to say that all of the promises that Kosovo signed up to in Washington DC last September should be reviewed by the incoming government. 

The former deputy prime minister highlighted Kosovo’s agreement to a moratorium on seeking membership to international organisations, as well as its pledges to rename Lake Ujman after former US president Donald Trump and join the so-called ‘mini-Schengen’ area as policies that should be scrapped.

Murtezaj also argued that joining the so-called mini-Schengen area, an economic zone proposed by leaders from Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia in October 2019, is something which needs to be reviewed by the next government. He stated that a breakdown of any future agreement to join the initiative is required, in order to ensure that Kosovo’s national interest is protected.

The former deputy foreign minister also argued that the feasibility study on Lake Ujman outlined in the Washington agreements does not bind Kosovo to sharing its resources with Serbia. “Nothing will happen after the feasibility study,” Murtezaj said, adding that Kosovo does not need to “make compromises” on this issue.

For Abazi, any compromises made in Washington DC should not guide the incoming government in any way. 

“I think we need to make it clear that any concessions, particularly those relating to the mini-Schengen area and the withdrawal of Kosovo seeking membership to international organisations for a year, cannot be taken into consideration by the new government,” he said.

LVV claims it has support of the Socialist International (RTK)

On the last day of the campaign, Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) received yet another significant international support.

LVV announced that Luis Ayala, Secretary General of the Socialist International, the world organization that counts over 100 parties and social democratic organizations within itself, yesterday sent a letter to the Vetevendosje and the candidate for prime minister, Albin Kurti.

Ayala writes that “while the country will vote this Sunday, February 14, I am very happy to send you my best wishes for your success on behalf of the Socialist International, the world organization of social democratic, labor and democratic socialist parties, convinced that your party and you personally will make a great contribution to the future of Kosovo and its citizens, at a time when our common values ​​and ideals are essential in this time of political, economic and social crisis,” reads the letter.

On behalf of the member parties, he wished LVV “success in these elections, convinced that you will make a difference at home and abroad, and that the expectations and hopes of the people of Kosovo will find in you and your party a credible partner in achieving the priorities and goals you have presented throughout the campaign.”

Hoxhaj for Die Presse: My government will be pro-Western (RTK)

PDK candidate for prime minister, Enver Hoxhaj, categorically rules out the possibility of a coalition with Vetevendosje after the elections.

In an interview with “Die Press”, Hoxhaj stated that they participate in a government only if it is led by him and in any case it should be pro-European and pro-Western. Regarding the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Hoxhaj said that if he becomes a prime minister, he would not participate in a slow technical process, but only in a large meeting, which would be attended by the U.S., EU, Belgrade and Pristina, with a key theme: mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo.

Asked about Serbia’s recent initiative to vaccinate citizens in northern Kosovo, Hoxhaj said that vaccines are required for all citizens of Kosovo, not just Serbs.

“Vucic is not interested in helping. He does politics with that. He already tried it even with Corona tests. Just like Russia and China, he wants to abuse humanitarian aid for geopolitical purposes. We cannot accept this,” he said.

Asked about his expectations from the new U.S. President Joe Biden, Hoxhaj said that President Biden knows very well the problems in the Balkans. “I also met with him several times as Kosovo’s Foreign Minister. With Biden in Washington, there may be a new diplomatic momentum. This should be used by the EU, but also by Kosovo and Serbia. When Americans and Europeans are on the same side, they can make the most of this situation. This is one of the last chances to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.”

Speaking about the agreement between Serbia and Kosovo reached at the White House, Hoxhaj said that the agreement was very important.

“Trump wanted to make diplomatic progress by normalizing economic relations. The agreement also aims to stop Russia’s influence in the field of energy in Serbia and that of China in 5G. This is also geo-strategically important for the EU. What the agreement lacks is mutual recognition of Serbia and Kosovo.”

Asked how this could be achieved, Hoxhaj said that it will be ten years in March, since the dialogue with Belgrade started, and there is no need for additional ten. “As Prime Minister, I would not take part in a slow technical process, but I would ask our friends if they could organize a big meeting in which the US, EU, Belgrade and Pristina would take part, with a main subject: mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo and that’s it. All other topics have already been discussed,” he said

Hoxhaj considers that Serbia should agree to this due to its European future, adding that Serbia cannot become a member of the EU if it does not know where its borders are. “This is essential for Serbia and Kosovo. Belgrade cannot turn back the time. We are and will remain an independent state.”

Hoxhaj criticized the European Union for not keeping its promises for visa liberalization to Kosovars, claiming that Kosovo has met more standards than the other countries of the region.

Speaking about the Specialist Chamber’ decision to try former President Hashim Thaci and former party leader Kadri Veseli, Hoxhaj said ‘this has hit us hard, not only as a party, but also as a country. At the same time, we showed that we are working with the international judiciary. Both Thaci and Veseli will testify before the court in The Hague that the Kosovo Albanian Liberation Army, KLA, has fought an honest war.”

AAK: Vucic gets anxious from Haradinaj’s candidacy for President (RTK)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) emphasizes that immediately after the announcement of Ramush Haradinaj’s candidacy for President of Kosovo, a different behavior was felt in Belgrade by the authoritarian leader Aleksandar Vucic, who began to express his discomfort with statements against Kosovo.

AAK stresses that the Russian state also expressed its discomfort.

“The reason why Serbs and Russians are so worried is Haradinaj’s past. He is one of the most prominent generals of the KLA, who with his soldiers managed to carry out many successful attacks against Serbian forces…” reads an AAK statement which further emphasizes Haradinaj family’s sacrifices and ‘unstoppable efforts for Kosovo’s liberation and independence.

According to the AAK, when someone like Haradinaj talks about national unification, this is a blow to Serbia and Russia, because it goes without saying that the goal is serious, as was the fight for the liberation of Kosovo.

“Haradinaj entered the political scene as a candidate for President of Kosovo, saying that his priority will be security, an area that Kosovo is most affected by Serbia.

“Haradinaj, in his statements, emphasizes more and more often that his goals as President will be NATO membership as the main priority and further professionalization of the Kosovo Army, which was done during his term as Prime Minister.”

And if the western world does not accept Kosovo in its security cradle, due to blockades by Serbia and Russia, then – he says – Kosovo is forced to move towards the creation of a joint Union with Albania.

“If by 2024 it is not proven that Kosovo is a member of the UN and no progress has been made towards accession to the UN – 25 years after the war, we have given a quarter of a century to our allies to finalize Kosovo’s international status as a member of the UN, NATO and towards EU integration – then let the citizens decide in a referendum for unification with Albania, but in the Union”, says Haradinaj.

President Vucic had reacted immediately to these statements, saying that Haradinaj’s statements about Greater Albania threaten the region and the world.

“We must not back down from threats. Let the Albanians tell you what they want, we will give them a good and adequate answer,” Vucic said.

According to the AAK, Moscow, under the name of its Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, reacted to the statements of the candidate for President Haradinaj.

“This is another provocation, implicated in the ideology of Greater Albania, which has recently progressed more and more intensively in the region and directly threatens the territorial integrity of the Balkan states,” the Ministry’s response read.

But the AAK says Haradinaj always has the right answers for Serbo-Russian politicians.

“When I become president, with God’s help and with your help, we will say goodbye to Vucic. So, go ahead Kosovo, do not delay it anymore, because we do not have time to wait, because we have already created an army and independence energy, we are paving the way for unification with Albania. “Elections, do not be late, because we are doing our job,” read Haradinaj’s response.

Serbian Language Media

Putin congratulates Serbia’s National Day: Fraternal friendship (N1, RTS)

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated on Friday his Serbia’s counterpart Aleksandar Vucic the country’s February 15 National day, saying Moscow highly appreciated the relations with Belgrade, based on “historical tradition of fraternal friendship, culture and spiritual closeness”, N1 reports.

A statement from Vucic’s office quoted Putin’s message as saying he was convinced “that further development of the bilateral strategic partnership, constructive cooperation in different areas in the interest of our nations will continue as a process of securing safety and stability in Europe.”

He wished Vucic good health, welfare and prosperity to Serbia’s people.

Meanwhile, RTS reported that President Vucic met with the Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko and kindly asked him to convey the gratitude over the letter of congratulations on Serbian Statehood Day to the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vucic said Serbia and Russia have strong, friendly relations, proven at many challenging situations, also now at the times of Covid-19 pandemic. He also expressed gratitude over Sputnik-V vaccine delivery to Serbia, noting it contributed to Serbia advancing in inoculation of its population.

The two officials also discussed the possibility that Serbia, with the help of Russian experts and based on the Russian technology, starts production of the vaccine independently. 

“Political options that offer nothing new” (Radio KIM)

Election campaign for upcoming snap parliamentary elections in Kosovo, apart from the current pandemic, does not differ in any other way from the previous ones, at least when it comes to Serbian communities, Radio KIM reports.

“None of the existing political options offer anything new to the voters”, Miodrag Milicevic, NGO Aktiv Executive Director told RTV Kim.

Representatives of the Serbian List are the most represented on the ground, using all existing resources to convince voters to vote for them, while the other two initiatives are barely visible. When the media give them a chance to speak, they don’t seem to have much to say, the Radio further said.

“As far as Serb political parties taking part in this elections were concerned, Serbian List is in the most favorable position, it has at disposal all resources of the Serbian state, and in this sense, positions of political subjects are not equal and this makes campaign meaningless if we knew in advance who the winner would be”, Editor-in-Chief of Radio Gorazdevac, Darko Dimitrijevic said.

Director of NGO Center for De-Politicization of Kosovo Society, Nebojsa Simic also believes that out of the three Serb political entities taking part in the elections, only the Serbian List has support of the Serbian state.

“We depend upon Serbian state, therefore chances are rather great that only them (Serbian List) would be the winners. The two other parties, we know some people there who were in power before, and I do not know where they got courage from to appear at all, compared to the previous elections. But, I also want to believe they wish good to the Serbs”, Simic said.

Milicevic, also agreed that the Serbian List completely dominates in relation to other opponents.

“There are some individuals that stand out occasionally, experienced politicians, such as Rada Trajkovic and Nenad Rasic, who is not a candidate in this election, but is actively involved in the campaign and is trying to give impetus to the new political option formed, I would say, exclusively for this election”, Milicevic said.

None of the existing political options offers anything new to the constituencies, he added. According to Milicevic Serbian community is in stagnation when it comes to political actions since the murder of Oliver Ivanovic.

“We do not see some significant new political options appearing on the scene, so they could eventually offer something new to the Serbian constituencies. I would say that we look at the copy-paste campaign from previous 2019 elections”, Milicevic noted.

Dimitrijevic said that citizens are tired from frequent elections in Kosovo.

“My impression is that citizens are tired from promises that last as long as campaign itself, and after that when MPs are elected and the government formed they do not respond to the media inquiries and those of the public”, he added.

Krasniqi: Voters expect changes and for the old guard to be removed from power (KoSSev)

Calm, without any major incidents, door-to-door meetings, lack of women during campaigns and lack of respect of Covid-19 measures – by political subjects and citizens alike, said Rezarta Krasniqi. The executive director of the D4D Institute, who is closely monitoring the election campaign ahead of Kosovo’s extraordinary elections on Sunday, revealed in an interview for KoSSev that the mood of the voters mainly is skewed to vote for a party that they believe will bring a change to the system and their life and remove the old guard from power.

What is your impression of the campaign so far?

The atmosphere of the election campaign of political subjects so far is generally calm, without any major incidents and is mainly focused on small gatherings and door-to-door meetings in the more rural areas of municipalities. There is still a lack of women during campaigns and a small number of them representing their political subjects in TV debates. Another challenge we have encountered is the disregard by political subjects for respecting anti-COVID-19 measures. Most gatherings exceed the limit of 30 (indoor) and 50 (outdoor) people per event.

Is it different from others? If so, what is different?

Overall, the flow of the election campaign is the same with a small difference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as there are measures in force that need to be followed by political subjects and citizens alike (although they aren’t being followed thoroughly by anyone). There is a much lower number of big gatherings held by political subjects, with small groups of citizens, and there is a trend of moving their main campaign online rather than in the field.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2Z70h9v

Petkovic: No one was held accountable for murders of Serbs, families have been waiting for justice 20 years (Kosovo-online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic asked Kosovo Foreign Minister Mimoza Haradinaj-Stubla why she did not praise Kosovo judiciary when it comes to the verdicts against Albanians, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“She can’t, because there aren’t any. For 20 years Serbian families have been waiting for justice, for massacres in Staro Gacko, Gorazdevac, Velika Hoca. No one was held accountable yet for the murders of the Serbs”, Petkovic wrote on Twitter in response to a comment Haradinaj-Stubla made relating to the verdict of Zoran Djokic from Pec.  

Petkovic added that “the justice was slow, but sure. Her colleagues in The Hague know that”.

Office for KiM: Djokic’s verdict trampling on justice and law (RTS)

Verdict of the court in Pristina, by which Serb Zoran Djokic was sentenced to 12 years in prison over alleged violation of the customs of the war, represents the most flagrant example of how the laws and justices are trampled on in Kosovo, Office for Kosovo and Metohija said, RTS reports.

The Office added in a statement that “the first-instance verdict, unsubstantiated with the evidence and testimonies of the witnesses, given that not a single witness identified Djokic as a perpetrator of an act, demonstrates the bias and ferocity of the court”.

The Office recalled that “Pristina prosecution, five days prior to the verdict, expanded the indictment, which was “procedurally inadmissible” as during the trial not a single evidence against Djokic was found”.

That is why, the Office added “this shameful verdict can’t be interpreted otherwise than as a trial based on ethnic background, ahead of law and justice”.

The defense lawyer of Zoran Djokic will appeal the verdict, RTS reported. 

“Convicted along with absence of evidence” (Radio KIM)

Day after Zoran Djokic, displaced person from Pec, was sentenced to 12 years in prison over the war crimes, his defense lawyer Ljubomir Pantovic told RTV KIM that such a court decision runs contrary to the principle of a right to fair trial.

“The main witness in the indictment and the only eyewitness of the war crime Zoran Djokic was accused of, has identified a completely different person, with different personal records as a perpetrator of this war crime. Under normal circumstances, Zoran Djokic would have not been indicted as there was no doubt whatsoever, let alone a reasonable doubt, as a cause to raise the indictment. Unfortunately, circumstances here are as such that anything is possible, and also to be convicted with the absence of the evidence pointing out his responsibility”, Pantovic said.

He recalled that during the trial, a representative of the affected families, beyond the legal deadline, proposed the hearing of three more witnesses. They were alleged eyewitnesses of the second war crime Zoran Djokic was accused of and remained silent to their detriment over the last 21 years, Pantovic said. When asked why they didn’t report Djokic, the two witnesses said they saw the news on his arrest but didn’t report him as “they even didn’t know they should report”, Pantovic added. 

“This trial was a farce, and I can say there is really no justice for the Serbs when it comes to such criminal acts in Kosovo”, Pantovic said.

“No one, even minister, can call him genocidal”

Reacting to the post of Kosovo Foreign Minister Mimoza Haradinaj-Stubla on Twitter referring to Zoran Djokic as “genocidal criminal” Pantovic said, that on one, ever in Kosovo, was convicted of genocide.

“Even if Zoran Djokic was convicted, this verdict was not enforced, we have the right to appeal, and the presumption of innocence still applies, he is not guilty yet. No one, also not Kosovo Minister, may call him a genocidal criminal. But this is our reality”, Pantovic said.

As media reported commenting on the verdict earlier, Haradinaj-Stubla wrote on Twitter that “#Kosovo has taken justice in its own hands. Convicting genocidal criminal Gjokiq is just a start & it’s not enough, not even 12 years, not just 1 person. #Serbia and all its criminals WILL be held accountable for the crimes against humanity in ‘98-‘99 #Kosovo”.

“Serb is guilty once accused, without evidence”

Reacting to the verdict of Zoran Djokic, Rada Trajkovic, an MP candidate for the Kosovo Assembly, told RTV KIM that since departure of the international missions, the justice system in Kosovo has an ethnic approach in resolving the court processes.

“A Serb is guilty once accused, without evidence. Many Albanians accused in Kosovo could evade justice or while serving their sentences do so in stadiums, watch football games, live completely free lives. At the end, we see (the situation) with the court’s decisions regarding Decani Monastery. We have a problem with the justice system, because responsible people who live in Kosovo didn’t have their say on it. We are constantly facing something which in essence is inflicting injustices to those of Serb ethnicity, and one can’t prove innocence in this system because of the ethnic moment”, Trajkovic said. 

HLC: Amendments to indictment in Djokic’s case submitted to court without elaboration (Radio KIM)

Reacting to the verdict of Zoran Djokic, the Kosovo Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) reproaches the fact that the prosecution amended, respectively extended the indictment after the end of the evidentiary procedure, contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, Radio KIM reports.

This amendment was submitted to the court without explanation, i.e. without elaborating the reasons and evidence that influenced the amendment of the indictment, HLC said.

The HLC added they do not want to engage in the analysis of the sentence until the processing of the written verdict, and pointed out that with the amended indictment, the prosecution in addition to the first charges, also charged the defendant that on the same day, in the same settlement, he in complicity with other persons, in addition to expelling the civilian population from their family homes, by shooting with a firearms inflicted bodily injuries to the two boys aged three (3) and nine (9), who were leaving the settlement with some members of their families.

The HLC also found that criminal proceedings against the defendant during the main trial was conducted in line with the legal provision. However, the main hearing against the defendant, who was in detention, lasted too long (from December 4, 2019 to February 11, 2021) although the law clearly says the proceedings before the Trial Chamber may last 120 days. 

The HLC added that by regular monitoring of Djokic’s trial, it deems the proceedings against the defendant during the main hearing were in line with legal provisions. 

No political pluralism among Serbs in Kosovo (N1)

On Thursday, editor-in-chief of KoSSev portal, Tatjana Lazarevic, and former MP in the Assembly of Kosovo, Petar Miletic, agreed in the “360-degree” talk show of N1 TV that there was no political pluralism among Serbs in Kosovo, while their views on Belgrade’s attention differ. “It seems to me that the state leadership is making very concentrated efforts, even in public, to call on Serbs to vote. The government of Aleksandar Vucic has previously called on Serbs to vote for the Serbian List, but this time it seems to me that the call is more concentrated,” Lazarevic said. 

N1 reporter Zana Cimili reported from Priština and reminded that these were third elections in four years in Kosovo, which, in her view, indicates political instability. She said that the focus of the campaign was on the economy, especially the recovery from the pandemic. There were some mutual accusations of political parties, but she said that despite that, the campaign was conducted quite peacefully. 

Sanja Sovrlic, N1 reporter reported from North Mitrovica, and reminded that there are three Serbian political entities in these elections, but that the main favourite was the Serbian List, which has the support of official Belgrade. According to her, a more active door-to-door campaign was noticeable this year. “For years, we have been watching campaigns in which there are no concrete plans and programs, but more campaigns with general slogans” she pointed out.  

Asked whether Belgrade seems to be “less interested” in these elections, Miletić said he would say there are two reasons for that. 

“The first is that these are the most certain elections in Kosovo since they were held, and the second is that political pluralism practically does not exist among Kosovo Serbs anymore. There is only one list, there are two more formally, I think it is a pity that there is no political pluralism among Kosovo Serbs,” he said. 

Lazarević disagreed and said that she even had the opposite impression. 

“It seems to me that the state leadership has made very concentrated efforts, even in public, to invite Serbs to go to the polls. The government of Aleksandar Vučić has previously called on Serbs to vote for the Serbian List, but it seems to me that this time the call is more concentrated,” she opined. 

Lazarević added that “there is no potential for political pluralism among the Serbian people at the moment”. 

“…Kosovo Serbs are strictly dependent on Belgrade, above all in that economic sense. Serbs in Kosovo do not have the potential for political pluralism, but we do not differ much from Serbs in central Serbia,” she said. 

Miletić added that Albin Kurti was very strict in his views. 

“Ultimately, that brought him to this position where he is, and that is that he will fight to form the Government himself. He will have to take the Serbian List into the Government, because that is a constitutional obligation. I sincerely hope that he learned something in the 50 days he was PM, that he will have to lower the bar for the compromise a little, because it turned out that if he would behave like he did, I believe that those who are most powerful in Kosovo, the US Embassy would bring him down,” he said. 

Lazarević said that if Serbian List would be part of the new government led by LVV, then the Serbian List would want to be a disruptive factor. “Vetevendosje is not their cup of tea. There are many obstacles that can be set before the government,” she said. 

Rakic: Pressures from Pristina will not cut our ties with Belgrade (Politika, TV Most) 

President of Serbian List Goran Rakic  spoke to Belgrade daily Politika  about the upcoming elections in Kosovo and pointed out that Pristina was constantly trying to reduce the strength of Serbian people through attempts to weaken the Serbian List in institutions at the central and local level, as shown by the decision to deny  the right to vote for thousands of Serbs throughout Kosovo. 

“By working on the ground with the citizens, but also by analysis, we received data that a certain number of citizens were denied the right to vote even with the possession of Kosovo documents, because they are not on the Voter’s List. I will remind you that the Law on General Elections guarantees that refugee IDs as well as ID cards of displaced persons can be used in the elections, and this is ignored on the ground. Here we speak about thousands of our fellow citizens who were banished and who are today denied the right to vote”. 

After the new decision of Priština, is it possible for SL to win all ten mandates? 

“This decision of the Central Election Commission will be an additional incentive for all our compatriots to show on February 14 how many of us there are, how much they support the policy of Serbian List based on maintaining strong ties, more precisely the umbilical cord between Belgrade and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija”. 

It is estimated that a post-election Kurti-Haradinaj coalition could be formed. They are at the forefront of advocating a “Greater Albania”  

“Because of the responsibility of the job I do, I don’t like to deal with predictions. It is up to us to work hard, which is very difficult within the institutions of Priština, but we know that we have no other way but to fight with political means to protect our people, their property, but also our Serbian Orthodox Church. With the policy of Aleksandar Vučić, we managed to preserve peace and the people in this area, and we will continue to do so with the support of our people. Unlike the Albanians, we never interfered with who would represent them. They are now openly taking with them some Serbs who are suitable and who will not be in service of the people, but in service of the Albanian goals. However, whoever is elected by the Albanians must keep in mind the fact that he must show respect for the Serbian people if he wants any cooperation with the Serbian List”. 

Almost no one mentions the point of the Brussels Agreement on the Community of Serbian Municipalities anymore. Do you think it will be just another dead letter? 

“Of course, the Albanians, with the tacit consent of the European Union, are pushing aside all those points of the Agreement that are in the interest of Serbian people. And the most important thing is the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, so it is necessary for all 10 mandates to be in the hands of Serbs in order for us to continue to insist on the implementation of the agreement and remind the European Union that the Community of Serbian Municipalities is an obligation of Priština. We will never give up on that”. 

Can Rašić, Petković, Rada Trajković threaten the Serbian List, and the candidates are on February 14? 

“Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija can very well be endangered by people who work openly in the interest of Albanians. And they are proud because they are being patted on the shoulder by Albin Kurti, who announced the formation of the so-called Greater Albania, but also the deprivation of rights of Serbian people. This is not a danger to the Serbian List, but to our people and our national interests. As a people, we must support our candidates on February 14, who are loyal soldiers of their people and their country”. 

Are you familiar with the stances of the international community that leans towards the Albanian side and whether they eventually changed course on the issue of Serbian return, security and protection of cultural assets of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as on other issues that do not help Serbs? 

“I would not deal too much with high politics. The most important thing for us is the cooperation with those international organizations that are primarily in charge of security, where I primarily mean EULEX and KFOR. We have regular meetings with them, we are active in our work and we demand from them to protect our people, property, and also our churches and monasteries, which are often targeted by vandals and extremists, through preventive action, especially in the areas south of the Ibar. 

However, the fact is that the two pillars of our survival in this area are the support of our state and Office for Kosovo and Metohija, headed by director Petar Petković, as well as the unity of our people that will be tested in this week’s elections”. 

Rasic: Our task is to bring back the normalcy (RTK2)

“To restore normalcy and prevent the created divisions and hatred, will be the first task of the Civic Initiative “For Freedom, Justice and Survival”,” said Nenad Rasic and pointed out that he expected that this entity would be part of the future parliament. 

“Our people, regardless of the difficulties, is maturing and starting to understand, that in fact, the most important and best thing here is to have your kin here, in the sense of your environment, people who are responsible, who live at full capacity with their families there and who accept responsibility, because of course this manipulation is very extreme, especially with due respect for all the inhabitants of northern Kosovo, but these representatives from the north never came to the south and did nothing for our people in the south. I think that the people and the citizens, who I think are smart, have realized that in fact such politicizations, and not politics, lead nowhere and that they should turn to themselves, which I say in a humorous way. ‘You ought to stand on your own two feet’, even if your feet are slightly limping are not strong, but they are still yours, and would probably serve you better than any other,” Rasic said. 

Speaking about the program of the Civic Initiative “For Freedom, Justice and Survival”, Rasic said: “Our first task is to restore normalcy, to overcome our divisions and even the hatred that, unfortunately, was created, we all know that there is that degree of hatred that has been created between us and we must prevent that, and then strategically arrange what we will work on. I have talked about our program before, but I will repeat it once again, especially about that part of the economic sector, economic and social, which should be focused on young people, to be focused on the normalization of relations, on creating hope, which would be created by investing the funds which government would have at its disposal as well, and I hope that we will be there,” he concluded. 

AstraZeneca vaccine in Serbia soon, confirmation awaited, Brnabic says (N1)

Serbia expects between 120-150,000 Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines (AZD1222) by the end of February, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said Friday, adding a confirmation on delivery is awaited for, N1 reports.

Brnabic also told TV Pink that re-inoculation with AstraZeneca vaccine should be after 12 weeks.

The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine will be the fourth anti-coronavirus shot along with Pfizer, Sputnik V and Sinofarm, available to Serbian people, the media recalled.

Opinion

Dialogue, knowledge and social progress (KiM radio)

By Dr Aleksandar Corac

Almost all social relations, just opposite of the needs, are based on untruth and ignorance. In such a society, it is impossible to reach the truth, and without knowing the truth and facing it, it is impossible to move on. It remains in a frenzy, in which Albanians and Serbs are, for the most part, ready only for their own vision of the truth. Instead of fighting against ignorance at all levels, those in power abuse the ignorance present in the masses for their daily political (often mundane) interests. Unfortunately, this situation corresponds to quasi-elites, including the international community, writes Dr. Aleksandar Ćorac in his OpEd within the KFOS project titled “Democracy, openness and perspective of the Serbian community in Kosovo“.

Since my arrival to study, already in the first year of my stay in Pristina, now as far back as 1989, I have encountered conflicts and attempts at dialogue between Serbs and Albanians. It was a time of boiling in society.  There were four of us in dormitory room no.2: Afrim (Albanian) Ahmet-Meto and Almaz (Muslims from Novi Pazar) and me (Serb). Albanian students organized a demonstration “for the Republic of Kosovo” between the dormitories in the student center. After the conflicts with the police, which would occur regularly, the police threw tear gas. As our room was on the ground floor, it seemed to me that all that tear gas was coming right at us. We all swallowed it together. Often to the vomiting. I watched through the window how my Albanian colleague fell to the ground. I asked my older colleagues to come out and help. One of them (a Muslim) told me to wait. The falling protesters were picked up and carried by other protesters in a “semi-conscious” state. Western media cameras filmed everything neatly. They carried them to the store near the dormitory no.3, where they would suddenly get to their feet and re-enter the crowd on the other side of the store. An older colleague told me, “Do you see why we had to wait?” After a while, protests by Serb students began. “We’re not going to swallow tear gas.” “We want normal learning conditions.” “Let the state solve the problems, but we will not be victims.” “We want separate rooms.” During the protest, a colleague told me: “Just to transfer us to the dormitory no. 5, it is the best, let them give them the worse ones.” I realized that then (as now) interests are superior to truth and that they are most easily hidden behind slogans. No matter what nation you belong to.

However, even in such a situation, there were people on both sides who wanted to be better. We managed to organize a meeting (dialogue) of two groups of students – Albanians and Serbs. It was the first such dialogue that I can personally witness. And we managed to agree that “we” should not ask for separation, and that “they” should remove the protests from the circle of the student center. Successful dialogue. But?! The deal lasted until morning. Someone’s interests toppled it. 

How many such dialogues and attempts at dialogue have taken place at different places and levels. Until the latter, the dialogue through negotiations within the so-called. Brussels process. And what is their result? We all see that. For Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, the results are mostly negative. There is no return, no freedom, no justice, no dignity… In a conversation with people over 50, it will be difficult to find someone, regardless of whether an Albanian or Serb, who will not tell you that he can only dream of his former quality of life. For the younger ones, the negotiations also brought something – a departure, or better to say escape.

And why is so and how to make the dialogue process and its results different – fruitful?

The influence of education and the profession we practice inevitably affects our perception of the society that surrounds us. That is how I often look at my environment from the angle of my profession. As a doctor who specializes in preventive medicine, I know that it is best to prevent diseases. But, when that fails and the disease still occurs, we must fight against it. In order to fight the disease, we must first prove the truth about its existence, that is, diagnose it. Only when a diagnosis is made, the treatment can start. The condition for both is that we have the necessary knowledge. Knowledge is the only way to heal. If we look at the current society in Kosovo *, we cannot avoid the conclusion that it is seriously ill. It is based on many things, but it is hardly based on knowledge. This whole area of the “region”, and Kosovo and Metohija in particular, is exposed to extreme degradation of knowledge. Education, most often, is not a path to knowledge, but only a path to a diploma, which value (valorized in knowledge) in some cases is not greater than a blank piece of paper. Societies formed in this area become trapped in their ignorance. The society in Kosovo and Metohija probably the most.  Wherever you turn, you meet people who present themselves as experts in various fields. Never more experts, never less knowledge. Almost all social relations, just the opposite of needs, are based on untruth and ignorance. In such a society, it is impossible to reach the truth, and without knowing the truth and facing it, it is impossible to move on. It remains in a frenzy, in which Albanians and Serbs, for the most part, are ready only for their own vision of the truth. Instead of fighting against ignorance at all levels, those in power abuse the ignorance present in the masses for their daily political (often mundane) interests. This situation, unfortunately, suits the quasi-elites, including the international community, from which mandates we expected the path to social recovery and progress through truth and knowledge, and received (with honorable exceptions) hypocrisy and colonialism.

Even in ancient Greece (whence the notion of dialogue originates), it was known that dialogue serves to find out and discuss problems, through presenting a thesis and antithesis. Only in this way is it possible to create new autonomous ideas for solving problems. The precondition is, of course, that the process be willing, that is, the parties must be willing to accept a reasonable response to the topics of dialogue. Only such a dialogue can give a result that will be sustainable.

Societies buried in their ignorance and unprepared to receive knowledge, which sometimes does not suit them, have no chance of success in dialogue. For that reason, for an effective dialogue, it is first necessary to meet the standards. That is why I believe that one of the key mistakes in the development of society in Kosovo and Metohija was the abandonment of the then generally accepted approach “Standards before status”. It is obvious that the society in Kosovo and Metohija needs to achieve and reach certain values. The path to achieving these values is, as in any successful society, the only path to knowledge. Otherwise, we are left with what we have today, and that is semi-colonial status, with all its consequences.

It is clear that without achieving the appropriate level (standard) of knowledge, both among Serbs and Albanians, there is no possibility of a true dialogue, without the results of which, in turn, there will be no progress in society. Only knowledge-based social progress can lead to the facts being accepted as they are, and not as we want them to be. Otherwise, it is possible to conduct negotiations, as before, but they will not represent a true dialogue, so the results of such a dialogue will be flawed and will cause problems for generations to come. At least to those who still stay in the area.

A society without knowledge is doomed to only one path, the path of ruin. Sooner or later. And where this path of ruin leads is well known to all of us in this area.

Kosovo can thrive with help from Britain (The Times)

By Vjosa Osmani 

Growing up in Kosovo was not easy. One of my earliest memories, at the age of seven, was being slapped across the face by a Serbian policeman for carrying an Albanian history book. Carrying a textbook in my own language was seen as an unacceptable act during a time of systematic oppression by the then Serbian government.

While today’s children in the Republic of Kosovo may be able to read about their history and speak the Albanian language freely, they face their own challenge: a future with few prospects in their homeland.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3piC36x

How does Kurti see the dialogue? (EWB, Novi Magazin)

Biden’s victory was welcomed by political actors in Kosovo, with many pointing out how the Trump administration was favoring Belgrade. Albin Kurti before all, as it was Trump’s envoy Grenell who contributed to his removal. The leader of Self-Determination Movement also recorded a short video before the November elections, in which he wished success to Biden and his team.

When it comes to Serbia and Kosovo, goals of the new administration will not change: economic normalization and mutual recognition. What is “new” seems to be returning to the principle of territorial integrity. Meanwhile, the dialogue was “restarted” last July, with the support of Germany and France and a new European Union (EU) special representative, Miroslav Lajčák; and, on September 4, the “Washington Agreement” was signed, which, despite dismissals and criticisms, has been producing practical consequences for several months now – from the opening of the US “development bank” (DFC) office in Belgrade, over the “investment incentive agreements” signed with government representatives in Belgrade and Prishtina, to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Kosovo on 1 February.

Last move was welcomed by the State Department’s spokesman, meaning it has the support of the new administration. Assuming he is the likely winner of upcoming elections, Kurti will have to decide on how to position himself towards both processes.

He will certainly form a new negotiating team and insist, once again, on the principles he announced in 2019: that there should be “no agreement without dialogue” (not clear what he means by this); that there can be no talk of exchanging territories; and that presidents cannot be included in such talks (referring to Vučić and Thaçi).

As Thaçi is indicted with war crimes, the third principle is no longer relevant. At a webinar organized by Harvard University on May 18, 2020, Kurti rejected partition as a “dangerous” and “racist” idea dating back to the conflicts of the 1990s. Instead of discussing territories, he is “open to economic co-operation, education and development”, but in the context of a “mini-Marshall Plan” for the Western Balkans to “break away from foreign influences”. He believes that such a plan can only become a reality if the EU and the US work together. (Who will finance such a plan, when the EU has already promised 9 billion euros to the Western Balkans?)

Judging by its first term, Kurti’s government could once again insist on “reciprocity” and treat Belgrade (Serbia) the way it treats Pristina (Kosovo), first in terms of recognizing labels and certificates displayed on products. In practice, that could turn into a new embargo on Serbian goods, just as the exchange began returning to levels before November 2018. However, the risk of something like this happening is still small; it would make far more sense, and be more constructive, to support expert teams working on harmonization of the remaining 37 certificates. Furthermore, de-recognition of diplomas obtained in the Serbian education system would directly affect Serbs who want to live and work in Kosovo, and as such would be criticized by the international community.

It remains unclear whether the campaign for new international recognitions – or membership in key international organizations – would continue. A year ago, Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca had to admit defeat in this long and difficult fight that Kosovo and Serbia have been waging “behind the scenes”. Recognition granted by Israel might change that dynamics.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2Z9IsXh

Key Challenges for the Incoming Government of Kosovo (Democracy Speaks)

On February 14, citizens of Kosovo will take to the polls in a high-stakes election to determine the parliament responsible for addressing the country’s democratic and governance shortcomings. Managing a public health and economic crisis, overcoming extreme polarization and improving Kosovo’s relationship with Serbia are just a few tests for the incoming government. And while addressing the public’s concerns and creating unity within Kosovo will not be easy, it is critical to protecting the country’s fragile democracy. Only stable democratic institutions will be able to deliver sustainable solutions.

Here are three key challenges Kosovo’s new government will face after Election Day:

An ongoing pandemic and economic recession

Like for all countries, 2020 was a difficult year for Kosovo. In a country of just 1.8 million people, COVID-19 has taken the lives of 1,500 and infected more than 61,000 in total. While the healthcare system has survived so far, new mutations of the virus and a limited supply of vaccines threaten its collapse. On the financial front, the country is suffering from its worst economic downturn in years, with the economy expected to decline by 7.2 percent according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo. Responding to the fallout, Kosovo’s political parties have focused their platforms on health and economic issues, but the incoming government will need to swiftly put their campaign promises to action and address citizens’ most pressing concerns.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2LIL778

International

Kosovo heads for political shake-up in elections on Sunday (Reuters)

The Vetevendosje party’s growing popularity has shifted the political balance in the small Balkan state, which declared independence from Serbia nine years after NATO bombing ended a crackdown on separatists by then-Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Opinion polls predict it will win between 45 and 55 percent of the vote among ethnic Albanians, who make up 90 percent of the 1.9 million population. That would be nearly double its score in 2019 although it may still need a partner to govern.

See more at: https://reut.rs/3jKFyl2

Economy, not Serbia, dominates Kosovo election campaign (AP)

Kosovo, one of Europe’s poorest and youngest countries, is set to hold an early general election Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic, an economic downturn and stalled negotiations with wartime foe Serbia.

Reducing unemployment and fighting organized crime and corruption remain the biggest challenges facing the next government. The national statistics agency said nearly one-quarter of Kosovo’s workers were unemployed at one point last year, while the pandemic slowed the country’s growth by 4.5% in 2020, according to the World Bank.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3qjjIb8

Geoană: The future of the Western Balkans lies with the Euro-Atlantic community (EWB)

EWB interviewed Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General, about NATO’s role in the future, the implications of the Biden’s presidential term on the relations between NATO and United States, NATO’s role in the Western Balkans, cooperation between Serbia and NATO, as well as KFOR mission in Kosovo and the transformation of Kosovo Security Forces into Kosovo Armed Forces. Geoană became NATO Deputy Secretary General in October 2019, after a distinguished domestic and international career. He is the first NATO Deputy Secretary General from Romania and the first from any of the countries that joined the Alliance after the end of the Cold War.

See more at: https://bit.ly/376d4NL

Humanitarian/Development

RCC and UNDP: Women’s empowerment is essential to Western Balkans’ efforts to build back better from the pandemic (EWB)

SARAJEVO – COVID-19 did not create gender inequality but reinforced it, said in a joint text Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Mirjana Špoljarić, Regional Director for UNDP’s Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, FoNet reports.

Women lost their business and jobs or working hours just as men did, but they continued to take on most of the care of children and the elderly without pay, Bregu and Špoljarić stated and added that those who remained home also bore the brunt of the sharp increase in domestic violence, an all-too-common life story of Balkans’ women.

And, as shown by the UNDP and UN Women COVID-19 Gender Response Tracker in the Western Balkans and Turkey, only 18 percent of labour market and 21 percent of social protection measures adopted in response to the pandemic target the needs of the majority of women employed in the informal sector or in high risk businesses, reads the article.

See more at:https://bit.ly/3qh51Fj

UNESCO: Pandemic Has Worsened Minorities’ Schooling in Balkans, Central Europe (Balkan Insight)

New report says the rate of children with disabilities or from certain minorities missing out on mainstream schooling remains high in Balkans and Central European countries – and the pandemic has made matters worse.

Children with disabilities are more likely to be out of school and excluded from mainstream education in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia than elsewhere, a new analysis by UNESCO shows.

The UNESCO report, “All Means All”, published on Friday, covers 30 education systems from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, Mongolia, the former Yugoslavia and the former Soviet Union – with the exception of isolated Turkmenistan.

Produced by the Global Education Monitoring Report at UNESCO, the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education and the Network of Education Policy Centers, it deals with how educational systems treat children with disabilities and from national, ethnic, sexual and other minorities.

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