Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• To date, over 16,000 Kosovo citizens got vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Almost half of Kosovo businesses declare unsatisfactory situation (media)
• Bars and cafes reopen as COVID-19 measures eased (Prishtina Insight)
• PM Kurti urges Slovakia to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)
• On anniversary of Kosovo-Serbia agreement, KDI tackles its implementation (media)
• Szunyog: Government to take concrete steps to attract foreign investors (EO/Koha)
• Legislation committee approves draft law paving way for trial in absentia (media)
• SPO argues for extending detention to Gucati and Haradinaj (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says he never saw alleged non-paper on redrawing borders in WB (Beta, N1)
• Serbia’s FM: Iran supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Dacic on alleged non-paper on WB: We do not support ideas that cause instability (FoNet. N1, TV Prva)
• Bishop Teodosije warns of aggressive pressure and negative media campaign against SOC and Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Djuric: Brussels agreement enabled years of peace (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Disrespect of Brussels agreement indicates what attitude Pristina or EU would have on some other reached agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Bogujevci: The issue of the missing both a human and a political issue, but it should be a humane (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)
• EU: Brussels agreement must be implemented, agreement on ZSO has never been recalled (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
• Gracanica: “Police are asleep, blow the horn to wake them up” (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Entry door of Serbian school in Obilic damaged (Radio KIM)
• Tamara Grujic denies that she was detained; Kosovo Police said it was just an identity check (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)

Opinion:

• It’s time for transparency in Kosovo’s COVID-19 numbers (Kosovo 2.0)
• Palokaj: Border changes, Belgrade’s attempt to implement Milosevic goals (Koha)
• The Abbot today, Kosovo tomorrow (KoSSev)
• DW: Serbia’s Vucic not in pre-election mode only when in deep sleep (N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s New President Has Major Crises To Take On (theowp.org)
• Hague Tribunal Urged to Report Serbia to UN Security Council (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vucic announces new shipments of vaccines to Serbia (RTS)
• Loncar: Serbia avails itself at disposal of WHO, will help immunization in Europe (N1)

Albanian Language Media  

COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)

277 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths have been confirmed in Kosovo over the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, 411 recoveries from the virus were also recorded during this period.

There are currently 13,024 active cases of coronavirus in Kosovo.

To date, over 16,000 Kosovo citizens got vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)

The Ministry of Health has announced that up to now, 16,1320 citizens received the COVID-19 vaccine through the donation distributed by the WHO-led COVAX initiative.

The Ministry said that the vaccination of chronically-ill people in the 75-79 group age will continue this week.

Meanwhile, Koha quotes the coordinator of the “1 Tetori” vaccination centre in Prishtina, Niman Bardhi, saying that in the last three days, 827 persons suffering from chronic diseases got vaccinated ouf the total of 1,180 elderly people. 

Almost half of Kosovo businesses declare unsatisfactory situation (media)

Chairman of the Kosovo’s Chamber of Commerce Berat Rukiqi presented the findings of a survey involving 358 Kosovo businesses covering the last quarter of 2020.

Rukiqi said that 45 percent of businesses included in the survey declared an unsatisfactory situation but that the findings show a slight improvement compared to the figures from the third quarter of 2020. 

At the same time, only around 12 percent of businesses have positive expectations for the coming period, compared to 23 percent of the previous quarter. 

Rukiqi said the findings are a result of the pandemic with companies experiencing less investment and slowing down of many of their ongoing projects. “Nevertheless, the figures are better than in the previous cycle, there is an increase in the employment expectations,” he said at a press conference today. 

Rukiqi said he expects Kosovo to suffer a 6 percent economic decline which is in line with the International Monetary Fund forecast. 

Bars and cafes reopen as COVID-19 measures eased (Prishtina Insight)

A government decision has allowed gyms, shopping centres and gastronomic businesses to reopen after the recent shutdown with the number of active coronavirus cases standing at over 12,000.

After being ordered to close for 11 days between April 7-18, shopping centres, indoor gyms and gastronomic businesses, including bars, cafes and restaurants, were allowed to reopen on Monday. 

Gyms and gastronomic businesses, however, will now operate under new restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

At gyms and fitness centres, a maximum capacity of one client per eight square metres will be in force, with business owners required to ensure that a safe distance is maintained, especially at peak times.

A maximum capacity will also be applied to gastronomic businesses based on the size of the area in which food and drinks are served, with 40 customers permitted per 100 square metres (or four customers per 10 square metres). Customers must be seated at tables at least one metre apart and are obliged to remain seated unless entering, leaving, paying or visiting the toilet. 

Other measures applied on April 7 were also relaxed, with many schools and universities resuming teaching in person on Monday, after education had moved online for older schoolchildren and university students in recent weeks.

At the borders, Kosovo citizens are no longer required to provide a negative PCR test on re-entering the country after leaving for more than 24 hours. However, other border restrictions are still in force, with citizens from countries designated as high risk by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control requiring a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old.

The night time curfew also remains in force but has been pushed back by 30 minutes, now applying between 22:30 and 05:00. 

All but essential workers are still obligated to work from home. However, the number of people permitted at gatherings such as seminars, meetings or training sessions has been increased from 10 to 30. 

Cultural institutions operated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are also permitted to continue activities with attendance at 30 percent capacity, increased from 20 percent.

Speaking to Prishtina Insight, Hana Xhemajli, an independent researcher on health policies, described the new measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus as “minimal.” 

The Association of Kosovo Gastronomers reacted angrily to suggestions that cafes and restaurants were the main source of infection and promised protests if the closure did not end on Sunday.

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

PM Kurti urges Slovakia to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met today the head of Slovakia’s Liaison Office Rastislav Kostilnik.

Kurti thanked Kostilnik about his country’s support towards visa liberalisation for Kosovo and urged Slovakia to join the EU group of countries that have recognised independence of Kosovo. “Kurti welcomed Slovakia’s interest for dialogue and underlined that it needs to be well prepared, with a transatlantic and transformative approach, guided by democratic values,” a statement issued by the Government of Kosovo reads. 

On anniversary of Kosovo-Serbia agreement, KDI tackles its implementation (media)

Today is the eighth anniversary of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia for normalisation of relations, reached in Brussels under the EU facilitation.

In marking the occasion, Kosovo Democratic Institute issued a report noting that so far, seven points of the 2013 agreement have been implemented, two have seen partial implementation while six still remain on paper only. 

The Brussels agreement set out to regulate a number of issues in the field of tax collection, energy, telecom, justice, dissolution of the civil protection and finally, the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, KDI recalls. “This last one is also the main issue of the 19 April Agreement which still remains unimplemented. Since the achievement of the specific agreement on this matter in August of 2015 and the Constitutional Court ruling, consecutive governments in Kosovo have taken steps towards its implementation,” the think tank said mentioning in this respect efforts to draft the Association’s statute which is not certain whether it was finalised and/or sent to the EU. 

KDI further noted that with the fall of the former government led by Avdullah Hoti, it remains unclear how the Association issue will be tackled by the new government led by Albin Kurti. “What is clear is that the dialogue will also be a challenge for the new Government which needs to swiftly articulate a clear position towards the topics of the dialogue and the agreements reached thus far, including the 19 April Agreement, which has been ratified at the Assembly of Kosovo.”

Szunyog: Government to take concrete steps to attract foreign investors (EO/Koha)

The European Investors Council held a conference to mark the fifth anniversary of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entering into force in Kosovo.

Head of the EU Office Tomas Szunyog said in his remarks that the agreement holds a great importance not only for Kosovo but for the EU as well. “The Government needs to take concrete measures to attract foreign investors,” he said, adding that SAA helps Kosovo strengthen its democracy and ensure stable institutions. 

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi at the same time noted that while the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is the immediate priority for the Government, the focus will also remain on the economic recovery efforts. 

Legislation committee approves draft law paving way for trial in absentia (media)

Kosovo Assembly’s Legislation Committee approved today a draft law for amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code which will pave way for trials of war crimes taking place in absentia.

Chairman of the committee, Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) MP Adnan Rrustemi, said it was important for the war crimes to be tried and justice be delivered. “This change has to do with elimination of some obstacles for the Special Prosecution that relates to the trial in absentia for war crimes in Kosovo,” he said. 

Member of the committee from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Blerta Deliu-Kodra said that an accelerated procedure is not the right way to go about the issue. Driton Selmanaj from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) also argued against haste. 

Following the debate, all members of the committee voted in favour of the draft law, except for the Serbian List representative who left the meeting before the vote took place.

SPO argues for extending detention to Gucati and Haradinaj (Klan)

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in a document to the pre-trial judge in the case against KLA War Veterans Association leaders Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj said that extending the detention period for the two men is necessary. 

SPO noted that the circumstances have not changed and that Gucati and Haradinaj continue to present a flight risk if granted conditional release. 

Gucati and Haradinaj were arrested and transferred to the Specialist Chambers detention facility at The Hague and are accused of offences against the administration of justice, namely intimidation of witnesses, retaliation and violation of secrecy of proceedings. 

Serbian Language Media

Vucic says he never saw alleged non-paper on redrawing borders in WB (Beta, N1)

Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, said on Saturday that he never saw the alleged unofficial non-paper on redrawing borders in the Western Balkans and that Serbia has nothing to do with it.

Vucic was commenting on the controversial document that was published on Thursday by the Slovenian news portal necenzurirano.si, which allegedly proposes Kosovo joining Albania and including parts Bosnia’s Serb-dominated RS entity into Serbia while the country’s mostly Croat-populated parts would be annexed to Croatia.

According to the Slovenian news portal, the country’s PM, Janez Jansa, sent the document to Brussels.

Jansa, however, denies this.

The Serbian President stressed that he never saw such a map and that “the fact that some want to blame Serbia for it only speaks about them,” referring to “certain groups in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Zagreb.”

“I can not agree to the unification of Kosovo and Albania, I must respect the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Vucic said.

He said he advocates for the “existing borders of Serbia, with Kosovo and Metohija included” and the border with “Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Republika Srpska included.”

“Peace and complete stability is the most important thing for us,” Vucic said.

See at: https://bit.ly/2QzsVPp

Serbia’s FM: Iran supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1)

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Iran, Nikola Selakovic and Mohammad Javad Zarif, discussed in Tehran forms of cooperation between the two countries that would benefit their economies and citizens.

Selakovic arrived in Tehran after visiting Moscow.

He thanked Zarif for „the principled and continuous support of Iran to the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija.“

He stated that Iran supports Serbia ”in its efforts to stop Pristina” when it tries to become a member of certain international organizations.

Selakovic noted that he discussed potentials for economic cooperation with Zarif, especially in the agriculture sector and food industry, but also on modern technology, wood processing, the automobile and furniture industries and production of agricultural machines.

See at: https://bit.ly/3sE88rv

Dacic on alleged non-paper on WB: We do not support ideas that cause instability (FoNet. N1, TV Prva)

Commenting on the alleged non-paper on redrawing borders in the Western Balkans, which was recently published by Slovenian media, Serbia’s National Assembly President, Ivica Dacic, said on Sunday that his country opposes any ideas that would produce instability in the region and respects the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The document, published on Thursday by the Slovenian news portal necenzurirano.si, proposes Kosovo joining Albania and annexing parts of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) entity to Serbia while the country’s mostly Croat-populated parts would be annexed to Croatia.

According to the Slovenian news portal, the country’s PM, Janez Jansa, sent the document to Brussels. Jansa, however, denies this.

Dacic told TV Prva that he has not seen the document, but argued that, while the idea in the controversial documents on Bosnia’s RS entity joining Serbia was widely condemned, there was little reaction to it proposing the idea of a ‘Greater Albania’.

”We do not support ideas that would cause additional instability, we respect the integrity of BiH, as long as Dayton (Peace Agreement) is respected,” Dacic said.

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

Bishop Teodosije warns of aggressive pressure and negative media campaign against SOC and Decani Monastery (KoSSev)

“An aggressive institutional and political pressure of Kosovo institutions is taking place, as well as the negative media campaign against the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) in Kosovo, and in particular against Visoki Decani Monastery”, Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije said in a statement, KoSSev portal reports.

Bishop added “behavior of the Kosovo institutions which deny the endangerment of the Monastery with their letter is worrisome, as well as the factual baselessness of a letter of Albanian civil society organizations in Kosovo”.

“I feel the need to speak publicly and express the deepest concern, as a campaign of desecration and destruction of the Serbian Orthodox cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija that has been ongoing for years, now continues with an aggressive institutional and political pressure of Kosovo institutions, as well as negative media campaign against our Church, and in particular against Visoki Decani Monastery”. Bishop Teodosije said in a statement.

He recalled that Decani Monastery for 21 years has been under strong protection of KFOR international forces, and the only religious object and UNESCO monument in Europe under such military protection. Decani Monastery was included by Europa Nostra on the list of seven the most endangered localities in Europe primarily having in mind that UNESCO itself recognized endangerment of the Monastery, he added. 

“The aim of such a decision was not politically motivated, but an honest intention to encourage better protection and more tolerant stance towards this monument of significance and the shrine of the SOC”, Bishop Teodosije stressed.

However, an organized campaign by Kosovo institutions, Albanian civil society organizations and part of the media is underway, aiming to present Europa Nostra as an organization allegedly instrumentalized by the Serbian Government and the SOC, the Bishop said, adding that by doing this shrines in Kosovo, in particular Visoki Decani are getting even more endangered.

“Decani monks and also Eparchy’s priesthood do not feel safe and protected in a situation like this and have no trust in Kosovo institutions. Intolerance towards Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija is on an alarming rise as well”, Bishop Teodosije warned.

“Due to daily violation of the laws, human and religious rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, frequent robberies and desecration of our temples, cemeteries, prevention of return of our expelled population, disabling access of our pilgrims to some of our religious sites, we must emphasize that under current circumstances we can have no trust in Kosovo institutions and their supposed protection”, Bishop Teodosije said.

He also listed attacks or attempted attacks against the Monastery, security threats over the last two decades and initiatives to improve its protection, including several attacks by mortar shells in 2000, 2004 and 2007, attempt to organize a physical attack against the Monastery in 2004, launching initiative to protect the Monastery at UNESCO in 2004, testimony of the-then Senator Joseph Biden and now US President at the US Senate in 2005, ISIS and KLA graffiti inscription in 2014, arrest of four armed Albanians in front of the Monastery in 2016 and their possible link with ISIS due to literature that was found.

The Bishop also mentioned a list of legal obligations towards the Monastery that Kosovo institutions failed to implement, including their attempts to reconstruct Decani-Plav highway, something that the Monastery is opposing as it violates the Law on Special Protective Zones, refusal to return the land to the Monastery five years since the decision of the Constitutional Court, as well as attempts to dispute the identity and SOC ownership in Kosovo.

At the end Bishop Teodosije concluded that the only guarantor of the safety is continuous international civilian and military presence, and intensification of such protection. He also said that additional institutional measures to protect the SOC shrines and Serbian people in Kosovo should be considered in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

Full statement of Bishop Teodosije in Serbian is available at: https://bit.ly/3n1BKhi

Djuric: Brussels agreement enabled years of peace (Radio KIM, Tanjug)

Eight years after the signing of Brussels agreement, current Serbian Ambassador to the US Marko Djuric said this document enabled years of peace and stability, during which Serbia established a brand of a state strongly advocating for the interests of Serbian people in Kosovo and pledging for reaching a just and compromise solution that would not imply trampling over its state and national interest, Radio KIM reports.  

In a statement to Tanjug, Djuric said Serbia in April 2013 made two strategic decisions that endured the test of time, although they were not easy to make.

“First to dismiss unfavorable demands put before Serbian side by which Serbia would without any service in return for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija accepted the membership of the so-called Kosovo tin the UN and other international organizations was not an easy decision to make at all for the state delegation head by Aleksandar Vucic”, Djuric said.

He recalled at that moment Serbia was by far economically, militarily and in foreing policy aspect in a much worse position than it was today.

The fact, as he said, that the Serbian President had “political courage” not to accept such demands, made that in few weeks later, more favourable conditions were put before the Serbian delegation.

As Djuric further said this included a political dialogue, with the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities as a center of it, and without Kosovo membership in the UN. And the second decision to accept this strategic agreement proved to be the right one.

Djuric also said that eight years since the Brussels agreement also enabled Serbia to start pragmatic relations with those who traditionally didn’t support Serbia’s position regarding Kosovo, aiming to strengthen the stability and open up the entire region. 

Petkovic: Disrespect of Brussels agreement indicates what attitude Pristina or EU would have on some other reached agreement (Kosovo-online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said the fact that Pristina for 2.922 days refuses to implement the provision of the Brussels agreement and establishes Community of Serb-majority Municipalities “have nothing to do with who is in power at provisional institutions”, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“It is not only about almost 3.000 days of the violation of agreement, but also this number demonstrates how long the European mediators in the dialogue are not able to ensure a complete respect of the agreement.  Belgrade has fulfilled all its obligations and continues taking part in the dialogue in a good faith that we need a joint solution and compromise”, Petkovic said.

He also added that disrespect of the Brussels agreement indicates what attitude Pristina or the EU would have towards some other reached agreement.

“A joint future and trust cannot be built upon lies and deceptions, and this is exactly what Pristina has been doing for eight years”, Petkovic concluded.

Bogujevci: The issue of the missing both a human and a political issue, but it should be a humane (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)

The Vice President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Saranda Bogujevci said in the show Slobodno srpski that the issue of missing persons is a priority for the new Government of Kosovo and that this should also be the topic of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, reports KiM radio. 

“This issue builds on the issue of dealing with the past and it is difficult to move forward if we do not face the past we had. The dialogue started the way it started, after that it was transferred as a political dialogue, and only now the opportunity has been created for the issue of missing persons to enter as part of the dialogue. The issue of missing persons is a human issue, but at the same time we cannot deny the fact that these persons disappeared due to the political situation, so in that element it is a political issue , but the treatment of the issue of missing persons, of course should be humane.”

Saranda Bogujevci, who was in the group of people who were shot at in 1999 in Podujevo by members of the “Scorpions” police reserve, believes in reconciliation and normalization of relations between Serbs and Albanians, but points out that this is a process, which will last a long time.

“It is an issue that requires time and without facing the past, we can hardly move forward, so it is important that we work on it. It is very important what we leave for the future and for young people, and it is very important that they go through these processes, to create opportunities to meet the needs and requirements of family members of the missing. This will create a relief for them as well, and I especially think that we have an obligation towards our youth, so we can create a better future for them”.

Speaking about the Serbian List and its participation in the Kosovo Parliament, Bogujevci believes that its representatives did not sufficiently represent the interests of the citizens in the previous mandates.

“Based on my experience, this is now my third term and I am sincerely sorry that we had various engagements either through commissions or other forms in the Assembly, where we had a part for the Serb community in Kosovo, and we did not have Serbian List engaged there”.

The Vice President of the Assembly of Kosovo expects the Serbian List to change its approach and be more active in presenting and resolving the problems of all citizens of Kosovo, especially Serbs in Kosovo.

“I believe that because it refers to the representation of the Serbian community, that it will in fact be more active in the treatment of the problems of the citizens of Kosovo. So far, I have not seen that part and I hope that there will be less focus on the interests of Belgrade, and more on the interests of the community within Kosovo, which I think is very important. Honestly, I think it is important that there is a focus on the Serbian community, but also on other communities in the country and the treatment of the interests and needs they have,” said Saranda Bogujevci, Vice President of the Assembly of Kosovo, in the show Slobodno srpski.

EU: Brussels agreement must be implemented, agreement on ZSO has never been recalled (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)

By signing the Brussels agreement eight years ago Belgrade and Pristina undertook international obligations and everything that has been agreed upon must be implemented, the EU’s Spokesperson Peter Stano said, Tanjug news agency reports.

Stano in particular stressed that the EU expects Kosovo to respect the obligations it undertook and that it would implement what has been agreed by this agreement.

“Kosovo entered the agreement on establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities. The agreement on that was reached in a good will of all the parties and has never been recalled”.

Stano added that the Brussels agreement was ratified by the Kosovo Parliament in 2013 by two-third majority.  

“The EU and member states expect dialogue to continue swiftly and for Belgrade and Pristina to engage seriously in the process. We expect implementation of all by now reached agreements and we continue working towards comprehensive normalization that would include all the open issues between Serbia and Kosovo”, Stano said, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Gracanica: “Police are asleep, blow the horn to wake them up” (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)

In front of the police station in Gracanica, signs were placed yesterday with the inscriptions “Police are sleeping, blow the horn to wake them up” and others, in protest of the attack on the young man Luka Dimitrijevic, reported Kontakt plus radio. 

Although there was no gathering in front of the police station in Gracanica yesterday, a group of young people put up signs with slogans in protest: “Police are asleep, blow the horn to wake them up”, “Come on, admit it, and Djura will forgive you for beating you”, “Don’t be stubborn people, neighbors’ hands hurt when they beat”.

Media recalled that according to the claim Dejan Dimitrijevic, the father of the beaten young man, three Albanians attacked his son because he allegedly committed a violation with his girlfriend and a female friend by entering their property in Gracanica.

Shortly after the installation, the signboards were removed.

Entry door of Serbian school in Obilic damaged (Radio KIM)

Unknown persons have broken glass on the entry door of the Primary School “Branko Radicevic” in Obilic, Radio KIM reports.

The school maintenance worker noticed the broken door, school director Aleksandar Popovic told Kosovo-online.

“This is not happening for the first time. Over the previous years the school was the target of vandals several times”, he said.

“Branko Radicevic” school is located in the center of Oblic, in the vicinity of the police station. 21 pupils attend the school within the Serbian Ministry of Education system.

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija reacted to this incident by saying “that the list of demolished buildings in Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija has been too long only since the beginning of the year, after the churches, health institutions, Albanian extremists are now also targeting an educational institution”, the Office said in a statement.

It recalled that eight years ago the Brussels Agreement was signed; stressing that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities should already have been established.

“ZSO would bring a more stable and peaceful life to our people in Kosovo and the protection of Serbian properties, and we are witnessing demonstration of gross intolerance towards everything that is Serbian”, the statement added.  

Tamara Grujic denies that she was detained; Kosovo Police said it was just an identity check (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)

Police in Vucitrn found several people who took photos of the fortress, escorted them to the police station, and then released them, according to a statement from the Kosovo police. Tamara Grujic said for the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) that this was a misunderstanding and that she and her team were not detained.

The Kosovo police announced that they found several people who took photos of the fortress in Vucitrn Sunday afternoon near the city fortress.

“For the purpose of verification, eight persons, citizens of RS Serbia were taken to the Police Station, and the prosecutor was informed about the procedure. After the check, the persons were released,” the police said in a statement.

Earlier, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced that journalist Tamara Grujic had been detained.

RTS contacted Grujic, who briefly commented that there was a misunderstanding.

Opinion

It’s time for transparency in Kosovo’s COVID-19 numbers (Kosovo 2.0)

The current data is incomplete and lacks relevant context to be meaningful, writes Jack Butcher.

On February 14, then Minister of Health Armend Zemaj announced that day’s COVID-19 figures on his Facebook page. He proudly revealed that there had been a record number of tests conducted, the test positivity rate was the lowest yet and there had been zero deaths for the first time in months.  

A look at the broader official daily figures showed that the number of new reported positive cases — which had been rising steadily — had now plateaued, while the number of reported deaths was in decline. According to the numbers, things were looking up. 

But Zemaj’s post was met with widespread derision and scorn.

That’s because — as most people reading this will know — the account above omits some fundamentally important contextual information. 

February 14 was not just any old day, it was election day. The preceding weeks were not regular weeks, they contained official and unofficial election campaigning with political parties gathering hundreds of people, often indoors with limited physical distancing and with few masks in sight. The apparent improvement in the data wasn’t coming at a time of enhanced restrictions or increased caution, but at a moment when restrictions had been eased and bars were full. 

Later that day, Zemaj would find himself faced with more record-breaking numbers, as the incoming election results revealed a humbling defeat for his party and Vetëvendosje swept to a landslide victory.

Vetëvendosje’s winning campaign, which saw it secure more votes than any party in Kosovo’s electoral history, promised a new way of governing with accountability, rule of law and justice at its heart. Newly elected officials have regularly repeated grandiose statements about serving the citizens who have placed so much trust in them and how they will bring transparency to institutions.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3akKeL4

Palokaj: Border changes, Belgrade’s attempt to implement Milosevic’s goals (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj argues in an opinion piece that regardless who presents the idea, be it through a non-paper or at a table, the idea for border changes in the Balkans originates in Belgrade. Palokaj writes that the objective behind the initiative for border changes “is not to unite Albanians or Croats in bigger states, but rather to consider Kosovo’s independence as ‘border changes’, and to break the principle that has been upheld so far that all states created in the territory of the former Yugoslavia were created in the borders they had as units in the disbanded Federation, unfortunately through bloody wars, crimes and genocide. This idea is surfacing now because the circles promoting it are preparing for the post-Merkel period and these circles in the European Union are way bigger than the public thinks”. He further adds that “there is no doubt that such ideas do exist and that they are very dangerous. But there is a change that does not favor the supporters of these ideas. This is the change in the U.S. administration which is strongly against these ideas because it doesn’t want everything that has been achieved so far in the Balkans to be jeopardised. If there is agreement to enter into such deals, this would mean accepting Serbia’s mindset of achieving with ‘different methods’ what Milosevic failed to achieve through war. The more the EU runs late in rejecting these ideas … the more it will encourage those that want to draw new borders in the Balkans, which would again lead to ethnic cleansing, be it even in the form of ‘human displacement’.” 

The Abbot today, Kosovo tomorrow (KoSSev)

By Dusan Janjic

The decision of the NGO ”Europa Nostra”  to include the Visoki Decani monastery in its list of the most endangered monuments was used by the Kosovo authorities (Kurti and Osmani) and some Albanian CSOs as a reason to ”get some other work done”.

In their letter, Osmani and Kurti seek to strengthen the well-known position of all Kosovo governments that Visoki Decani is part of Kosovo’s cultural heritage. They even failed to notice that ”Europa Nostra” practically included the monastery on the list as Kosovo’s heritage, although the organization confirmed that it is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Their ‘responsibility’ lies in the fact that they respected the Brussels agreement and used the term ”Kosovo*”. However, Europa Nostra thus distanced itself from the currently valid designation of the monastery – as Serbia’s cultural heritage – in UNESCO’s documents.

In that regard, it may be an opportunity to question the behavior of the Kosovo authorities, but also the mediators – the EU and the USA – regarding the undertaken obligations. Therefore, it would be more desirable for Kurti and Vucic to discuss this issue at their meetings, with Lajcak’s  ”facilitation” , and contribute to creating an atmosphere of a possible agreement. This attack on Europa Nostra is therefore not surprising, as it is just another alarm that indicates that those who believe in the intentions and abilities of the parties to resolve their disputes peacefully and democratically are suffering.

From the mid-1990s until the attack on Abbot Sava Janjic, whenever Halit Berani and his CDHRF became involved ought to be considered as a ”trigger case ” that encouraged and justified extreme nationalist moves by the Kosovo-Albanian right. Reading the OSCE report on ethnic violence in March 2004, as well as the minutes of the discussion in the Bundestag about that event, would be enough. Perhaps those NGOs that supported it could get acquainted with these documents and ask themselves whether the continuation of hatred and persecution is the way to achieve the goals of the Albanian movement and create the state of Kosovo as a democratic society.

What was Sava Janjic’s sin? Probably that he gained an indisputably noteworthy reputation and support in the public and international centers of power by testifying about the suffering of Serbs and Albanians, and, for example, together with Bishop Artemije, being the first to alert German and world decision-makers about police violence against Albanians. I personally attended such performances of both of them in Belgrade and Berlin. Berani and his supporters should ask themselves what got them so close to the claims of Vojislav Seselj and radical ethno-nationalists among Serbs. They also demanded that the Abbot be tried for the same event, but according to them, he protected Albanians and did not allow Serb military, police, and paramilitary units to enter the monastery. According to them, he acted as a ”CIA agent ” and a ”locator” of the KLA army.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3mWL8me

DW: Serbia’s Vucic not in pre-election mode only when in deep sleep (N1)

As far as the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is concerned, the pre-election campaign is in full swing, and there is no shortage of enemies the Kingdom of Darkness ahead of the announced dialogue on elections’ conditions, according to Dragoslav Dedovic, a Deutsche Welle (DW) journalist has said on Monday.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic probably isn’t in the pre-election mode, only in his deep sleep, he adds.

According to Dedovic, Vucic is a politician who functions the best in an aggressive atmosphere. When there is no drama, he must create it. Coup d’etat, assassination attempts, world conspirancy… The coronavirus pandemic brought him to natural operating temperature, DW has said.

“Shouting at journalists, opposition and non-existent enemies, violation of the Constitution, ubiquity on pro-regime TV channels – all that is a recognisable style of – I am a party. The party is the state. l’état c’est moi, “governing style, Dedovic wrote.

He added that the criminals who butchered people spoiled the SNS ideal image since they were linked to the top leaders and wiretapping of people under surveillance and who Vucic talked to politely.

There is a rift between Vucic and the Defence Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, and SNS, worried about the local election’s result in the eastern town of Zajecar, started to patch the hole.

Zajecar election was a mistake in the SNS system in the local elections, although everything was done according to a tested recipe: jeeps, a functionary campaign denied by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and endless ignorance of the facts.

Despite the victory in Zajecar, SNS is worried about an increased number of people who trust an honourable man than their combination of pressure and fairy tales, the journalist has written.

“That announces the patch of the hole, and leaking wounds will be followed by a show of media freedom and pluralism simulation and an open start of the campaign for still uncalled elections,” he added.

See at: https://bit.ly/3e9LCkS

International

Kosovo’s New President Has Major Crises To Take On (theowp.org)

Kosovo elected reformist lawyer Vjosa Osmani as its new president in early April. President Osmani will serve alongside Prime Minister Albin Kurti as part of the ruling Vetëvendosje party, a reformist social-democratic organization. However, Kosovo is currently facing several challenges, ranging from a public health crisis to unresolved disputes with Serbia. If Osmani hopes to steer her country in the right direction, she will have to do more than simply propose solutions.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3x5r8m3

Hague Tribunal Urged to Report Serbia to UN Security Council (Balkan Insight)

A judge at the UN tribunal said Serbia should be reported to the Security Council for failing to comply with requests to arrest two Serbian Radical Party politicians and send them to The Hague to stand trial for contempt of court.

Judge Liu Daqun of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague issued a ruling on Friday calling on the president of the court to “notify the [UN] Security Council of Serbia’s failure to comply with its obligations” for failing to arrest wanted Serbian Radical Party politicians Petar Jojic and Vjerica Radeta.

Jojic and Radeta, both former Serbian MPs, are charged with contempt of the Hague court during the ultranationalist Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj’s trial.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3eew3ID

Humanitarian/Development

Vucic announces new shipments of vaccines to Serbia (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday that 100.000 of the first component of Russian Sputnik V vaccine would arrive in Serbia on Monday, as well as 30.000 of the second component, RTS reports.

As he said after that a shipment of 211.000 Pfizer vaccines would follow, as well as a large amount of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

“In the next 15 days we are getting ready for a strong attack against coronavirus, and the best attack is by vaccinating our population. It means we aim at 500.000 newly vaccinated people and of course we have ensured re-vaccination for all people”, Vucic said in a video clip posted on his Instagram account. 

Loncar: Serbia avails itself at disposal of WHO, will help immunization in Europe (N1)

Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar said the immunization remains a priority for Serbia, adding the country undertook an obligation to avail all its resources to the disposal of the World Health Organization as well as that it would help immunization be carried out in the entire Europe, N1 reports.

Loncar also said that Chinese Sinopharm and Russian Sputnik V vaccines would soon be registered.

Following the meeting with WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, Loncar said as far as Russian and Chinese vaccines were concerned “there is no reason to look at politics” but one shold do what Serbia was doing so far, to place interest on the health and lives of the people.   

Kluege praised efforts of Serbia in the fight against Covid-19, recalling that two specialized Covid-hospitals have been reconstructed and a third one is expected, adding thanks to that approach the mortality rate was kept “relatively low”.

He stressed Serbia perceived the vaccine as “a product that saves lives, and not as a geo-poliital affair” and congratulated the country on that approach, also thanking Loncar for Serbia’s donations of the vaccines to the countries in the region.

He also said the WHO organization along with Chinese and Russian authorities “intensively works on the approval of those vaccines at European level”, adding a fast progress on that matter is being achieved.