Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 632 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• AAK demands complete recount of votes, Kurti’s LVV opposes request (media)
• Haradinaj has not given up his candidacy for president (Kallxo)
• Mustafa: Besian Mustafa did not submit his candidacy to LDK bodies (Telegrafi)
• Supreme Court receives 15 appeals against ECAP decisions, rejects nine (RTK)
• 16-year-old becomes Kosovo’s youngest coronavirus victim (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities 46 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Those interested to receive Pfizer vaccine can register at Gracanica Health House (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Egypt recognized Kosovo, but did not vote for it in international organizations (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Garipi: Annulment of votes that Roma initiative won is pure racism (Kosovo Online, Kosova press
• Demostat: Kurti spoils model of two Germanys as a solution for Kosovo (Danas)
• 10 years of the Brussels dialogue: EU tracks positive changes, experts in Kosovo more cautious and critical (KoSSev)
• 40 years since demonstrations in Kosovo: The breakup of Yugoslavia began in a student cafeteria (KoSSev)
• Varhelyi: EU demonstrates solidarity in fighting coronavirus consequences (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo Exhibition Commemorates Historic 1981 Student Protests (Balkan Insight)
• Cyber-Attacks a Growing Threat to Unprepared Balkan States (Balkan Insight)
• European Parliament Declares Whole of EU an ‘LGBT Freedom Zone’ (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Regression on ‘virtually every indicator’ of progress for children: UNICEF (news.un.org)

Albanian Language Media  

COVID-19: 632 new cases, eight deaths (media)

632 new cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. 397 persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 10,318 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

AAK demands complete recount of votes, Kurti’s LVV opposes request (media)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) demands a full recount of all polling stations of the February 14th elections. However, this request was opposed by the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV).  The chairwoman of the Central Election Commission, Valdete Daka, indicated that a legal justification is required for the complete recount.

AAK’s request comes after allegations of vote rigging, and after recount of some of the votes of the AAK candidates, at the request of the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel.

“We are also concerned about the abuses that have occurred in some cases by some unscrupulous commissioners or observers and we demand from the law enforcement agencies to send the vote criminals of all parties in prison,” said the leader of the AAK Ramush Haradinaj, adding that his political party demands complete recount of votes in the presence of the investigation and police.

The representative of AAK in the CEC, Ibrahim Selmanaj, said that there were irregularities among other political parties. According to him, only a complete recount would clean up the entire election process.

Haradinaj has not given up his candidacy for president (Kallxo)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said that their offer for his candidacy for the next president of Kosovo still stands. Asked by journalists after the meeting of the leadership of his party, Haradinaj said ‘We went to the polls with an offer, we have the same offer, if someone requests a partnership with us, if not, we help the country from the position of the opposition.’

Asked if he accepts another position apart from the post of president, if offered by Levizja Vetevendosje (LVV), Haradinaj said ‘We are not talking about positions, the Alliance went to the polls and there was an offer. If anyone is interested in discussing this with us, we are open.’ He added that no one can take their position in opposition and being in service of the country.

Mustafa: Besian Mustafa did not submit his candidacy to LDK bodies (Telegrafi)

The acting Minister of Agriculture, Besian Mustafa yesterday through a post on Facebook, announced his candidacy for leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

Commenting on the recent candidacies, the resigning chairman of the LDK, Isa Mustafa told the news portal that Besian Mustafa did not address his candidacy in the bodies of the LDK but in the media.

“There are three people who have announced to the LDK bodies that they will present their candidacies for the leader of the LDK. I also read yesterday about an announcement, which was not addressed to the LDK bodies but to the media. However, the candidacies are presented in the Assembly, through the Candidate Commission,” Mustafa said.

Asked about where he sees the LDK after this convention, Mustafa said that this party should remain the center-right, conservative and belong to all generations. “A state-building party not rapt by populism and leftist propaganda.”

He further added that LDK should remain a party that will not allow to see its reflection in LVV or PDK, but will fight for support while maintaining its foundation. ‘I am very convinced that it will return strongly with even greater civic trust,” Mustafa said.

On Sunday, March 14, the LDK will hold the convention where the chairman and other bodies of the party will be elected.

Supreme Court received 15 appeals against ECAP decisions, rejects nine (RTK)

The Supreme Court has received a total of 15 appeals of political entities and candidates for MPs at the Assembly of Kosovo, filed against the decisions of the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP).

Nine appeals have been completed, while another six are pending. The judicial panels of the Supreme Court are expected to decide on the remaining appeals within the legal deadline of 72 hours.

Media report that the Supreme Court has not decided yet on the appeals of the minority communities. 

Telegrafi reports that the Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) for verification and counting of about 9 thousand diaspora votes.

16-year-old becomes Kosovo’s youngest coronavirus victim (Express)

A 16-year-old from Vitia has died of COVID-19 complications Thursday. He is the youngest person in Kosovo to die from COVID-19 and had other underlying diseases.

The news has been confirmed to Gazeta Express by Director of the Regional Hospital of Gjilan, Nisret Hajrullahu. He said the teenager had other underlying conditions. “The patient came to the hospital ten days ago. He had other underlying diseases, and his health condition was serious since he was admitted to the hospital. The COVID-19 virus has just deteriorated further his condition,” Hajrullahu said.

Kosovo health authorities continue reporting a high number of new infections and COVID-19 related deaths. On Wednesday, the National Institute of Public Health recorded six deaths in 24 hours from COVID-19 bringing the death toll to 1,674. According to the official data the number of COVID-19 cases in Kosovo has reached 74,748. Of these cases 62,983 have recovered and according to the official data there are 10,091 active COVID-19 cases in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

In Serbian communities 46 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)

In the Serbian communities in Kosovo, according to the latest data, one person died as a result of Covid-19, and 46 new cases of infection were registered, the Crisis Staff of the Municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica announced.

Out of 131 processed samples, positive cases were recorded in the municipalities: North Mitrovica (16), Zvecan (10), Zubin Potok (5), Strpce (5), Gnjilane (4), Kamenica (3), Leposavic (2) and Prizren (1).

764 cases are currently active.

15 cases of Covid-19 registered in Gracanica municipality

Gracanica Crisis Committee said 15 more cases of Covid-19 were registered in the territory of this municipality over the last 24 hours.

48 persons are currently hospitalized, while families’ members of infected persons were told to remain in self-isolation.

The municipal inspection said in a press release they are intensively controlling whether the measures to curb spread of Covid-19 are respected. It added anyone found to violate the measures would be sanctioned. 

Those interested to receive Pfizer vaccine can register at Gracanica Health House (Radio KIM)

The Health House in Gracanica called on citizens interested to receive Pfizer-Biontech vaccine to register at this health facility by Friday, February 12, Radio KIM reports.

Those interested for vaccination can provide their personal data to the patronage or field services and after that a call for vaccination would follow. The vaccination will take place next week, at the center for vaccination in Kursumlija town, Health House said.

Meanwhile, vaccination with Chinese vaccine Sinopharm continues in line with the planned vaccination and revaccination schedule.

The Health House expressed gratitude to the citizens for their interest in vaccination against Covid-19. Particular gratitude goes to those older than 60 years, as the majority of them got vaccinated. At the same time, those older than 18 were informed the vaccination is ongoing urging them to massively register for vaccination.

At the end, the Health House also appealed to the citizens to respect all the measures aiming at preventing the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Dacic: Egypt recognized Kosovo, but did not vote for it in international organizations (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic said today that Egypt had recognized Kosovo’s independence verbally during the last days of Mohamed Morsi’s rule, but that the country had not voted for Kosovo’s membership in international organizations since 2015, so it can be said that it was “frozen” a recognition, reported Belgrade based agency Tanjug.

At the beginning of the parliament session, in the part for questions, Dacic said on the statement of Unite Serbia MP Zagorka Aleksic, that the president of that party Dragan Markovic, during his stay in Hurghada, received information that there was no document in Egypt that the country recognized Kosovo’s independence but that Pristina counts Egypt among the countries that recognized it, based on a statement by former President Morsi, which he gave three weeks before leaving power.

“It is true that it was announced that Egypt recognized Kosovo and Metohija in the last days of Morsi. Since the Minister of Foreign Affairs did not want to do that, a government spokesman stated that Egypt recognized Kosovo. However, there is no formal written decision for that,” said Dacic, who was the foreign minister.

Dacic stated that Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shukri during last visit to Serbia, told him that Egypt did not want to withdraw recognition and enter into those issues, but pointed out that the country had not voted since 2015 for Kosovo in international organizations.

“Practically, it can be said that the recognition is frozen. Egypt did not withdraw the recognition, but it no longer votes for Kosovo in international organizations, which is important. Of course, we would also like them to withdraw the recognition,” said Dacic.

Garipi: Annulment of votes that Roma initiative won is pure racism (Kosovo Online, Kosova press)

The Roma Initiative filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Kosovo after the decision of the Electoral Panel for Appeals and Petitions to annul 830 votes, which the initiative won in the Serb-majority areas. 

Member of the Roma Initiative Sunaj Garipi sees racism and violations of the Constitution in the decision of the Electoral Panel for Complaints and Petitions, reported Kosova Press, quotes portal Kosovo Online. 

“Not only the decision made by the Election Panel, but the entire procedure regarding the appeal and criticism that was addressed to us, is pure racism. When the Roma voted for Serbs or Albanians, then there was silence and everything was fine, but it is a nightmare if the representatives of other communities vote for the Roma,” Garipi reacted sharply.

Garipi considers the accusations that they received the votes with the help of the Serbian List as insane and ill-intentioned. He reiterated that the Roma Initiative is independent and that the fact that a Serb neighbor decided to vote for a Roma neighbor does not automatically mean that the Roma Initiative cooperates with Serbs. He points out that he is convinced that there are Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani and Bosniaks among the votes won.

“They accuse us of getting more votes than there are Roma in municipalities such as Ranilug, Partes and Klokot,” Garipi explained.

Demostat: Kurti spoils model of two Germanys as a solution for Kosovo (Danas)

Western diplomats and analysts on the chances of reaching an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina this year

Some deadlines are constantly being set, which are then not met. This process of negotiations can last, not ten years, but decades, which can be seen in the examples of the Palestinian issue, the Cyprus problem, Western Sahara, Transnistria, Ossetia and Abkhazia, warn some representatives of Western diplomatic circles.

The problem with the agreed in principle, but unsigned and unpublished agreement between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti is that Hoti will soon not be prime minister in Pristina, and his successor, Albin Kurti, will demand that the negotiation process with Belgrade start from the beginning, without Pristina’s concessions, and for that he will have the support of the US, some representatives of diplomatic circles from the West told Demostat, commenting on the repeatedly expressed wish of official Brussels to finally unravel “Kosovo knot” by the end of this year. 

Demostat sources confirm the claims made by the EU Special Representative for Dialogue on Kosovo Miroslav Lajcak in a recent interview with Belgrade based daily Danas that in July 2020 the Union reached an agreement “on all parameters and elements with President Vucic and Prime Minister Hoti”, and that ”what we need to do right now is to negotiate the substance”.

According to unofficial Demostat’s information, the agreement mentioned by Lajcak would be like the model of two Germanys, a proposal that was in play before the idea of demarcation, i.e. division of Kosovo, was “on the table”. According to diplomats, after the division was removed from the “Brussels table”, largely due to German opposition, the mentioned plan was “put into play” some time ago, which in practice would mean that Belgrade and Pristina normalize relations, but that Serbia does not officially recognize Kosovo, and that the Serbian authorities stop “blocking” Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, including the United Nations. In return, Pristina should fulfill its long-standing obligation to form a Community/Association of Serb Municipalities. But, as it is pointed out, the mentioned idea was seriously questioned after the victory of the Self-Determination, led by Kurti, in the recent parliamentary elections in Kosovo.

“It will be much harder to reach a compromise and an agreement with Kurti, than with Hoti, who was a much softer negotiator,” Demostat sources say, while some of them remind that Kurti “openly” advocates the unification of Kosovo with Albania, “and it is hard to expect that he would agree to an agreement that does not contain a clause under which Serbia explicitly recognizes Kosovo as a state”.

Commenting on the messages that often come from the EU headquarters these days that it is necessary to find a solution for Kosovo after a decade of negotiations, and that it would be good for that to happen as soon as possible, diplomats state that it is a “Brussels mantra that is often repeated.”

“Some deadlines are constantly being set, which are then not met. This negotiation process can take, not ten years, but decades more, as seen in the examples of the Palestinian question, the Cyprus problem, Western Sahara, Transnistria in Moldova, Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and some other neuralgic disputes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. If there is no will, ideas and readiness for concessions, the Kosovo knot will not unravel so quickly. Croatia has been admitted to the EU, and at that time has not resolved territorial disputes with three neighbors: Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro. Cyprus, although divided, was also admitted to the EU,” Demostat sources specify.

Speaking about the expectations of the EU, including messages sent to the public by Miroslav Lajcak, Franz-Lothar Altmann, a German university professor and politician, told Demostat: “I am afraid that such statements are just an empty wish at the moment.”

– I say “empty wish” because a final agreement should have been reached a long time ago, but I do not see, neither in Belgrade nor in Pristina, the necessary readiness to move in the direction of an agreement. It would be necessary for the EU to “press” President Vucic harder, which means that they should let him know again that at the end of the day a final agreement is necessary for gaining membership in the Union, but there are many voices in the EU that doubt that Serbia under Vucic could be an exemplary member, which will accept all the basic values and rules of this community. Such skepticism is not useful for those politicians who want to “push” Serbia in the direction of the agreement on Kosovo, which would then open the door for further progress of Serbia towards the EU. Therefore, Brussels and most EU member states expect two things from Belgrade – first, substantial improvements in terms of implementing the necessary reforms in the judiciary and freedom of expression, which, firstly, means freedom of the media, and secondly – a clear will to finally accept that Kosovo is lost to Serbia. It is illusory to expect that Pristina will return under any kind of hegemony of Belgrade! So, if it wants to join the EU, Serbia must reach a final agreement, Altman believes.

In Altmann’s opinion, we must also wait and see what the new government in Pristina will respond to the call of Brussels and Washington for “essential talks with Belgrade”.

– I repeat, Pristina will never accept a return under the “rule” of Belgrade, and the prime minister-designate for the composition of the new government, Kurti, has already announced that in the current circumstances, talks with Belgrade are not at the top of his government’s list of priorities! The recent Serb manipulations during the early elections in Kosovo, which concerned the Bosniak community in Kosovo, have certainly strengthened the feeling in Pristina that Belgrade is not willing to “play fair” with its former province – the German professor concludes.

Gregory Raymond, an American university professor and political scientist, told Demostat that in theory it is possible to reach an agreement on Kosovo this year, “but I doubt that will happen because a lot of things would be at stake.”

-Negotiations usually take place through a series of phases. The first phase is a diagnostic one, where the parties investigate whether there is any real chance that some kind of agreement will be reached through negotiations with the other party. The second phase is usually called the formulation phase, which involves reaching a common framework for negotiations, and this is what Lajcak calls an “agreement on parameters”. The third phase is the harmonization of details, in which negotiators on both sides begin the difficult work of drafting the agreement. This is usually called “diplomatic arithmetic”. Sometimes more different issues are added that together form a package that political leaders then consider as a whole. In some cases, this means postponing talks on certain problematic issues, in order to make progress on other topics first, but the process is certainly long and difficult. As the old saying goes: “The devil is in the details.” Lajcak’s comments suggest that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is entering a phase of details. But, as it is a difficult phase, I would be surprised if a final agreement is reached as soon as the EU thinks. But, again – nothing is impossible, Raymond notes.

“Side channels” in the negotiations

Gregory Raymond points out that Miroslav Lajcak is “a skilled and very experienced diplomat”. In that context, he does not rule out the possibility that Lajcak will use some kind of “side channel” in the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, which would be “productive”, but which is not known about. “In that case, it is clear why Lajcak is an optimist,” said the interlocutor of Demostat.

10 years of the Brussels dialogue: EU tracks positive changes, experts in Kosovo more cautious and critical (KoSSev)

”Ten years ago, delegations from Belgrade and Pristina sat down for the first time to leave the past behind and to find ways forward for cooperation. The goal remains today: achieve progress on their respective European Union path and improve the lives of the people.” 

What do experts from the field say about this estimation of the EU, and do they agree with Miroslav Lajcak’s assessment that the agreements reached in the dialogue have made real changes for the citizens and the stability of the Western Balkans?

When we spoke to the citizens of North and South Mitrovica on Tuesday, they told us that there was no change, or that the changes were only minimal. While the citizens south of the Ibar accuse Serbia and call on Belgrade to give up on Kosovo, their neighbors from the north believe that Pristina should form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities and fulfill what was agreed. However, some revealed that they want to live as they ”once did” – together.

Now the experts, those who deal with the issue of dialogue in various fields and who live outside the Mitrovica region, reveal their opinion of this topic.

Rashiti: Positive changes among citizens, dialogue failed to create normalcy among governments

Naim Rashiti from the Balkan Group, however, observes positive changes in people’s lives, especially when it comes to relations between the north and south of Mitrovica.

”People communicate more freely, have better cooperation. Security for Serbs has increased,” he told KoSSev.

Rashiti also noted that the understanding between Kosovo and Serbia is at a higher level, adding that the key achievement is that the citizens of both Kosovo and Serbia ”do not follow the political narrative of one country about the other”.

”Trust in political stories on all sides is much lower and citizens do not fall as much into the trap of their provocative narratives, ” he points out.

Rashiti also recalled that the agreement on Telekom helped to improve communication between the two peoples in Kosovo, but also between Kosovo and Serbia.

According to him, this was also the case with other agreements, such as the one on IBM.

Rashiti explained that he is aware of the dialogue deadlock.

”Tensions between Belgrade and Pristina have prevented further benefits for the citizens of the two new agreements. The Brussels dialogue failed to create normalcy between the two governments, which was the key purpose of this dialogue. The delay in normalization prevented the success of the early dialogue and agreement, ” he emphasized.

Ahmetaj: Lack of transparency, no visible progress, difficult issues to be addressed sooner or later

The dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo continues, but without any concrete agreements so far, an expert on transitional justice from Pristina, Nora Ahmetaj said.

”I believe that no visible progress has been made in resolving the basic issues that will have to be resolved for the two countries to establish normal relations. In the next round of talks, I believe that the focus must be moved to the most controversial issues, and a controversial issue for me, since I deal with transitional justice, was and still is the issue of missing persons on both sides.”

She noted that the issue of the missing has so far been considered a ”difficult” but humanitarian issue, adding that sooner or later both sides will have to address it.

”In earlier rounds, talks on practical issues somehow served to prepare the ground for a final agreement. But now it seems that the dynamics has been reversed – neither side is really interested in continuing, especially the Kosovo side. Mr. Albin Kurti explicitly said that Kosovo currently has pressing matters over dialogue, such as the fight against corruption and employment, especially of young people. It seems to me that neither side sees that much can be gained from further technical talks,” Ahmetaj stressed.

She added that the ten-year-long dialogue has been accompanied by a lack of transparency from the very start.

”And I blame the EU the most for it, and also the domestic actors. There is also a lack of consensus in the former Kosovo governments on dialogue,” she said, adding:

”We will see if the new Kurti Government 2 will suffer pressure from the EU and the USA to continue the dialogue.”

Dimitrijevic: The citizens saw no good from the dialogue

”Only the names of the negotiators changed, everything else is essentially the same,” the editor of Radio Gorazdevac, Darko Dimitrijevic from Gorazdevac – the largest village inhabited by Serbs in Metohija, underlined.

Even what was agreed in Brussels is not being implemented, such as the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, Dimitrijevic alleged, adding that the unformed organization ”was certainly no guarantor of the rights of the Serb community”.

”Ordinary citizens saw no good from the dialogue so far, the Serb community has remained discriminated against as was the case before the dialogue. By that, I mean their basic human rights, ” Dimitrijevic emphasized, listing those rights:

”The system does not allow displaced persons the right to possess Kosovo documents, as well as property rights, the right to work, and language. Freedom of movement was and remains a problem even after the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. Serbs from Kosovo with Serbian documents are discriminated against, these documents do not guarantee them any rights when it comes to movement. The passport of the coordination administration is worthless. Those who have Kosovo license plates must remove them, and that was the case even before the beginning of the dialogue.”

On the other hand, the example of vaccination against coronavirus speaks about the state of health care, this journalist added.

”Every car trunk is checked in Jarinje by the KP so that no vaccine against coronavirus enters Kosovo by accident.”

”Both nations only lost in the process of this dialogue, the Serbs lost a bit more because they shut down all those institutions that connected them with Serbia in the north of Kosovo, ” he added, alleging that the responsibility for that lies on:

”Both Belgrade and Pristina, mostly the international community and the EU, because for the sake of political goals and ambitions, they neglected the implementation of the law and the ordinary disenfranchised man.”

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

40 years since demonstrations in Kosovo: The breakup of Yugoslavia began in a student cafeteria (KoSSev)

The most important event on March 11th, 1981, in Pristina was a friendly football match Pristina-Partizan. Partizan won, but the local fans were not angry because the only goal that brought victory to Belgrade’s Partizan was scored by Xhevat Prekazi. On that sunny March 11th, 40 years ago, no one suspected that the breakup of Yugoslavia would begin in Pristina, less than a year following the death of the Yugoslav communist leader Josip Broz Tito.

Several broken plates in the student cafeteria ”drove” hundreds of students to the streets, who marched through the city center – Marshal Tito Street, at around 9 pm, shouting slogans demanding better conditions in the student city.

All the side streets were soon blocked by groups of policemen wearing helmets. Flabbergasted regular visitors quickly disappeared from Pristina’s promenade, and the  ”dialogue” between the police and the demonstrators ended at around 5 am, with the help of tear gas, billy clubs, stones, and a few shots fired.

That evening, a visibly excited JNA (Yugoslav National Army) officer rushed into the gym of the  ”Dom armije” in the center of Pristina, interrupting the training session of about fifty karate fighters, and told us to pack up quickly and go home. The main street was full of protesters and police.

”There are a lot of injured students and police officers. Two police officers were injured. One was shot at from a handgun and one was hit by a rock in the eye. Some people were arrested,” my neighbor, a police officer who took part in the clashes, told me that morning. There was no news in the media. In the following days, this event was only whispered about in Pristina.

Beneath that silence, tensions in colleges and high schools were at boiling point. Approximately 100 participants and organizers of the protest were identified, as was later claimed, 80 of whom were from Kosovo and 20 students who were from abroad (mostly from Albania).

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

Varhelyi: EU demonstrates solidarity in fighting coronavirus consequences (Kosovo-online)

EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varhelyi said that Serbia, Albania and Montenegro may expect good news, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“Important news for #Albania, #Montenegro & #Serbia!@EU_Commission proposes to mobilise Solidarity Fund to support emergency measures against the coronavirus pandemic – #EU solidarity in action! https://t.co/BzNH4yfMOw #StrongerTogether”, he wrote on Twitter.

The EU Commission said that mobilization of almost EUR 53O million has been proposed as an emergency measure against Covid-19 consequences. 

Out of this proposed fund, Serbia should receive EUR 12 million, Tanjug said it has learnt in Brussels.  

International

Kosovo Exhibition Commemorates Historic 1981 Student Protests (Balkan Insight)

A new exhibition showcases photographs and media reports from historic student demonstrations in 1981 which led to a chain of protests calling for Kosovo to be given political autonomy within socialist Yugoslavia.

Kosovo’s State Agency of Archives opened the exhibition ‘Vullkani i Republikes’ (‘Volcano of the Republic’) on Thursday, the 40th anniversary of the start of demonstrations by ethnic Albanian students demanding the upgrade of Kosovo’s status from province to republic within the Yugoslav federation.

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

Cyber-Attacks a Growing Threat to Unprepared Balkan States (Balkan Insight)

Balkans states might be prepared on paper, but in practice they are struggling to confront the growing threat from cyber-attacks. Bosnia doesn’t have a state-level strategy.

It wasn’t voting irregularities or the counting of postal ballots that delayed the results of last year’s parliamentary election in North Macedonia, but an audacious denial-of-service, DDoS, attack on the website of the country’s election commission.

Eight months on, however, the perpetrator or perpetrators behind the most serious cyber attack in the history of North Macedonia have still to be identified, let alone brought to justice.

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

European Parliament Declares Whole of EU an ‘LGBT Freedom Zone’ (Balkan Insight)

In a direct response to Poland’s anti-gay measures, the European Parliament is set to pass a resolution on Thursday declaring the whole of the EU “an LGBTIQ freedom zone”.

The European Parliament is set to pass a resolution on Thursday declaring the entire EU “an LGBTIQ freedom zone”, in what is primarily a response to Poland, where municipalities across a third of the country have declared themselves “zones free of LGBT ideology”.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3t9wZUB

Humanitarian/Development

Regression on ‘virtually every indicator’ of progress for children: UNICEF (news.un.org)

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has gone backward across virtually every key measure of childhood, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday, revealing a “devastating and distorted new normal” for the world’s children. 

“The number of children who are hungry, isolated, abused, anxious, living in poverty and forced into marriage has increased. At the same time, their access to education, socialization and essential services including health, nutrition and protection has decreased”, Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, said. 

“The signs that children will bear the scars of the pandemic for years to come are unmistakable.” 

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