• COVID-19: 812 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Health-Care Workers From Kosovo Receive COVID-19 Vaccines In Albania (RFE)
• Still no vaccines in Kosovo, Zemaj criticizes the EU (al)
• KBA: Around 20,000 Kosovo businesses closed due to COVID-19 (Klan)
• Kosovo Assembly to hold constitutive session today (media)
• PDK meets ahead of the constitutive session of the Assembly (Klan)
• Von Cramon speaks of EU expectations for Osmani and Kurti (RTV Dukagjini)
• Association of Serb-majority communities, challenge for incoming government (KP)
• Borrell to report on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• German ambassador to Serbia calls for sustainable Kosovo-Serbia solution (Koha)
• LDK elects party leadership, snub Veliu, Rugova (media)
• Balje: With Kurti, Kosovo-Albania unification idea being revived (media)
• New head of OSCE for Kosovo assumes post (Koha)
• Kosovo Court Reopens Sensitive Murder Trial Following BIRN Findings (Balkan Insight)
• Arrests Shake Up a Soccer Scene in Serbia Ruled by Gangsters and ‘Gravediggers’ (NYT)

COVID-19: 812 new cases, eight deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 812 new cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths in the last 24 hours. 352 persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 13,341 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Health-Care Workers From Kosovo Receive COVID-19 Vaccines In Albania (RFE)

About 250 Kosovo health-care workers traveled from Kosovo to the Albanian city of Kukes on March 20 to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a health official in Kosovo said.

Health-care workers were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which Albania secured on March 12. The shots were administered in Albania because Kosovo has not yet formally begun its own vaccination program.

“It’s a very good feeling. We are a first group to be vaccinated, and we are honored to come to Albania for a vaccine,” Hamide Miftaraj, a doctor at the family medical center in Drenas, said in a statement to RFE/RL’s Balkan Service.

See more at: http://bit.ly/3r5joMx

Still no vaccines in Kosovo, Zemaj criticizes the EU (euronews.al)

The acting Minister of Health in Kosovo, Armend Zemaj, has thanked the Albanian government for the opportunity it has given to their medical staff to get their vaccine in Kukes.

“In the name of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kosovo, we thank the government of the Republic of Albania and their Ministry of Health and Social Protection, especially PM Rama and Minister Manastirliu for the opportunity they have granted us and a number of health professionals from Kosovo to get their anti-COVID vaccine in Kukes,” stated Zemaj in a letter expressing his thanks.

Zemaj hasn’t spared the critiques directed at international institutions and their “nationalization” of the vaccines.

“At a time when various international institutions, which through the entire pandemic have kept many speeches regarding the countries of the Balkans, talking about the “equal approach and opportunities” and at a time, when their “solidarity” for the procurement of anti-COVID vaccines has faded because of the “nationalization” of the vaccine, the help Albania has shown Kosovo carries much more weight and shows that the “small powers” have values and can make it on their own, when they work together,” added Zemaj.

KBA: Around 20,000 Kosovo businesses closed due to COVID-19 (Klan)

Chairman of the Kosovo Business Alliance (KBA), Agim Shahini, told Klan that around 20,000 businesses are not longer operating in Kosovo due to the COVID-19.

“We may never know the exact number of closed or ceased businesses during the pandemic because this requires a detailed research on the ground and it also required time and money. However, according to estimates from the KBA, the number of inactive businesses during 2020 reaches around 20,000,” he said.

Shahini said the KBA figures don’t match the official ones from the Ministry of Trade and Industry but insisted they are genuine and come from information gathered on the ground by activists and KBA staff.

Kosovo Assembly to hold constitutive session today (media)

The constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly is expected to take place today at 10:00hrs, media report.

Ahead of the session, the Assembly has published the agenda for today which includes three items: establishment of a provisional committee for verification of quorum and mandates of MPs; swearing of the oath by MPs; election of the Assembly Speaker and deputy speakers.

Kallxo is reporting quoting sources that Glauk Konjufca remains the party’s candidate for Assembly Speaker.

PDK meets ahead of the constitutive session of the Assembly (Klan)
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) met on Sunday to discuss the constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo.

A source within PDK told Klan Kosova that PDK’s position not to vote Vjosa Osmani for the President, was confirmed once again. They also discussed election of the PDK caucus at the Assembly and the proposal for the deputy speaker from this political party.

Von Cramon speaks of EU expectations for Osmani and Kurti (RTV Dukagjini)

The European Parliament Rapporteur for Kosovo Viola von Cramon understands Albin Kurti’s and Vjosa Osmani’s priorities, however she stressed that Brussels expects the matter of the dialogue with Serbia to be treated seriously as well.

“Many challenges expect the new government, normally the priority of this government will be the war against crime and corruption, as Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani have stressed continuously. But on the other hand, we in Brussels expect for the process of the dialogue to be treated seriously,” von Cramon said.

She further hailed the letter that the U.S. President Joe Biden sent to the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, saying that it is a good signal for the European Union.

“You saw the letter that President Biden sent to the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and he made it clear what he expects from this dialogue. This direct support of the U.S. is a good signal for the European Union, but let us not forget that Kosovo party and the Serbian one are dialoguing, and they should be committed,” she said.

Von Cramon claimed that Kosovo was under major pressure by the United States of America, therefore it did not have any other option but to establish its embassy in Jerusalem. She does not expect the future government to change this.

“The past government made this deal, in which they decided to open the embassy of Kosovo in Jerusalem. It is more than understandable if the future government feels obliged to respect this agreement, because they cannot throw away all the works that were reached by the previous government. It was a major pressure by the United States of America, therefore, to some extent, the decision Kosovo made is to some extent also understandable, but the position of the European Union is different on this matter,” von Cramon said.

Association of Serb-majority communities, challenge for incoming government (KP)

Kosovapress reports that the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be one of the challenges awaiting the new government of Kosovo and that the EU is calling for its formation noting that arrangements stemming from the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue have to be implemented.

EU’s foreign policy spokesperson Peter Stano told the news website that the ruling of the Kosovo’s Constitutional Court on the issue of the Association is being misinterpreted in Kosovo and that the verdict has not stipulated that the mechanism should not be established.

“Kosovo entered into an agreement to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities. This agreement was concluded in good faith by all parties involved. It has never been retracted. In fact, the 2013 agreement was ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo by a 2/3 majority. In doing so, Kosovo undertook an international obligation to implement this agreement. The 2015 ruling of the Constitutional Court regarding the Association is constantly being misinterpreted. The Court has never said that the Association cannot be established. Therefore, we expect Kosovo to respect the commitments it has undertaken in the Dialogue “, said Stano.

Arton Demhasaj from the Cohu NGO pointed out that the Association can be formed but not based on the 2013 agreement. “No one can create an association linked to the Brussels agreement that violates the ruling of the Constitutional Court,” he said.

Albert Krasniqi from Democracy Plus meanwhile noted that the statute of the Association ought to be sent to the Constitutional Court for interpretation beforhand.

Borrell to report on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will present on Monday a report of the foreign ministers of the EU member countries about the dialogue situation between Kosovo and Serbia.

Borrell is to inform the EU about the latest moves of the European Union in cooperation with Western Balkans partners.

According to the officials of the EU Council of Ministers, Borrell will present a report due to the latest visit of the EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak to Pristina and Belgrade.

They added that discussion of the foreign ministers of the EU member countries on the dialogue and developments with regards to the implementation of the Stabilisation-Association Agreement, are not foreseen however they are not excluded.

The agenda of the ministerial session includes also relations with Russia, after latest European sanctions against Moscow, efforts to stabilize relations with Turkey without imposing sanctions, Covid-19 pandemics and other world matters.

EU sources also confirmed that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Borrell will discuss with the U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who will be visiting Brussels for a meeting with foreign ministers of NATO member countries.

According to the U.S. State Department, Blinken will be discussing with his NATO colleagues the steps that Atlantic partners are trying to stop the corona pandemic and support sustainable recovery of world economy as well as exchange opinions on resolving climate crisis and strengthening democracy.

German ambassador to Serbia calls for sustainable Kosovo-Serbia solution (Koha)

The German Ambassador to Serbia Thomas Schieb said a sustainable solution for all open issues between Kosovo and Serbia is in the interest of all, especially for the interests of the citizens of Serbia.

In an interview for the Belgrade daily Blic, Schieb said that it would be good for Serbia and the region to as soon as possible resolve existing problems relating to normalisation of relations. “I am convinced that dialogue for normalisation will resume soon. However, we have to wait for the formation of the Government in Pristina,” Schieb said adding that the common goal of the EU and the U.S. is to see full normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

LDK elects party leadership, snub Veliu, Rugova (media)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has elected the chairmanship consisting of 33 members as well as deputy leaders: Lutfi Haziri, Gazmend Muhaxheri, Anton Quni, and Shqipe Mjekiqi.

Media highlight that some of the senior party officials have remained outside the chairmanship, namely now former deputy leaders Agim Veliu and Haki Rugova. Notably absent from the chairmanship are also former members: Ismet Beqiri, Muharrem Svarqa, Skender Hyseni, Arban Abrashi, Naser Osmani, Florian Dushi.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the party’s steering council, Abdixhiku said that the LDK will remain in the opposition. “The LDK chairmanship has supported the initiative proposed on yesterday’s meeting for the LDK to continue discussions and talks only with Ms. Osmani,” Abdixhiku commented on the position about Osmani’s candidacy for Kosovo president’s post. “I expect during the week for Ms. Osmani to set the date and place of the meeting,” Abdixhiku added.

He said LDK wants to avoid a possible institutional crisis but pointed out that they would only support a consensual and unifying candidate for president. He noted that the party’s position on the president will be decided after further discussions with Osmani in the coming period.

“We have continuously said that we need a president that represents all political parties. We need a unifying president and this is what we demand. We will present all details of discussions to Ms. Osmani in the next meeting whenever it takes place.”

Koha comments on developments in LDK saying that the party has elected new leading structures but the view on a ‘unifying president’ remains the old one.

Political analyst Vigan Qorolli said Abdixhiku’s plan to have talks only with Osmani is aimed at splitting her MPs from the Vetevendosje group in the Assembly and having the seven MPs join the LDK group. “This way, the LDK would achieve a victory without a war: a number one opposition party in the Assembly with more MPs than the PDK,” he wrote on Facebook.

Driton Selmanaj, LDK MP, slammed the LDK’s approach to continue meetings with Osmani. “Any attempt to separate or differentiate Vjosa from Albin and the Vetevendosje is an attempt to deceitfully transfer the votes to this binomial’s harmful political project,” he wrote on Facebook. He said the ‘rush’ to meet Osmani is nothing more than ‘rush to bring LDK even further down.”

Anton Quni reacted by saying that Abdixhiku was in fact the last political leader to be meeting Kurti and Osmani. “LDK’s dignity is being restored with very certain steps,” Quni responded to Selmanaj.

Balje: With Kurti, Kosovo-Albania unification idea being revived (media)

Duda Balje, Kosovo Bosniak MP, told Al Jazeera Balkans service that the outstanding issues between Kosovo and Serbia will be resolved via a mutual recognition agreement and that her work will focus on addressing problems the Bosniak community in Kosovo faces.

“Mutual recognition will happen sooner or later. There is no other option, realistically. With or without the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo is an independent country and a process that cannot be reversed back,” she said.

Balje was asked to comment on what was described as increasingly vocal calls for unification of Kosovo with Albania, saying that this constitutes a real fear. “The idea has existed for many years. It has always been defined as radical but now with Kurti it is becoming increasingly alive,” she said.

New head of OSCE for Kosovo assumes post (Koha)

Michael Davenport, will take on the post of the head of the OSCE in Kosovo today, Koha reports quoting sources. It adds that Davenport was selected to the post in February and his first day in the new job will be 22 March.

Davenport served as United Kingdom’s ambassador to Serbia and in OSCE succeeds Norwegian ambassador Jan Braathu.

Kosovo Court Reopens Sensitive Murder Trial Following BIRN Findings (Balkan Insight)

After BIRN Kosovo published a photo of the prosecutor in a murder case chatting with the defendant’s lawyer in a restaurant at a resort, the prosecutor has been changed and the investigation reopened.

The Basic Court at Peje/Pec in Kosovo has ordered the reopening of the trial for the murder of a 29-year-old following a series of dramatic developments in recent days that caught public attention.

“The main trial is reopened,” Presiding Judge Violeta Husaj Rugova declared on Friday, explaining that further completion of “the criminal proceedings” was now necessary.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2NFjI7d

Arrests Shake Up a Soccer Scene in Serbia Ruled by Gangsters and ‘Gravediggers’ (NYT)

A reputed gangster and leader of an “ultras” fan group, who also reportedly had ties to the government, has been arrested following a series of gruesome murders connected to a Belgrade soccer stadium.

Shortly after arresting a man suspected of leading a criminal gang last month in connection with a series of killings involving beheadings and torture, Serbian police officers raided what they believe was the band’s secret lair: a bunkerlike room in the bowels of a stadium used by Partizan Belgrade, a storied soccer team in the Serbian capital.

The room, located in a defunct restaurant under the stands, has been sealed off as a crime scene after investigators hunting for evidence of ties between soccer hooligans and organized crime found weapons there.

See more at: https://nyti.ms/2ND7XOr