Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Five new cases, no deaths (media)
• Deputy PM Bislimi reveals details from meetings in Brussels (media)
• Kurti in Greece: We need help to fight corruption (media)
• Former EULEX judge reports to Assembly Committee for Legislation (media)
• Thaci asked to be sent in house arrest in Slovenia (Indeksonline/Necenzurirano)
• Cakolli: Reporting on dialogue should happen at Assembly, not on social media (Koha)
• US Embassy urges redoubled efforts to find perpetrators of wartime sexual violence in Kosovo (media)
• Ramosaj: There are suspicions that water poisoning may be intentional (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Tanin: Unresolved situation of Kosovo Serb returnee in Djakovica, rights of all returnees must be protected and promoted (KoSSev, media)
• OSCE condemns incidents against Dragica Gasic, says return process should continue (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM enabled food delivery for Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic: ”The reactions of the international community to the case of Dragica Gasic ‘lukewarm’, better not to have them” (RTS, TV Pink, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Gracanica Mayor on the “the latest provocation”: KFOR to increase patrols (Kosovo Online, KiM radio, RTS)
• Vucic to athletes: Feel free to compete against Kosovo judo team (KoSSev)
• Dveri Movement asks Orban to withdraw Hungary’s recognition of Kosovo (N1)
• Brnabic: No place for us in Srebrenica until attack on Vucic is resolved (N1)
• Petkovic in two-day visit in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Ambassador says Spain’s decision not to recognize Kosovo is state policy (N1, Srna, Vecernje Novosti)
• Dragica Gasic: Brave and alone (Danas)

Albanian Language Media  

COVID-19: Five new cases, no deaths (media)

Five new cases of COVID-19 and zero deaths have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. Six persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 132 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo. 6,361 vaccine doses have been administered in the last 24 hours. To date, 260,955 vaccines have been administered in Kosovo.

Deputy PM Bislimi reveals details from meetings in Brussels (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi revealed details today from recent meetings with the EU and the Serbian delegation in Brussels. According to Bislimi, the issue of the Association of Serb-majority was not mentioned in the meeting he had with EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak. On the tripartite meeting Kosovo-Serbia-EU, Bislimi said that the Serbian delegation raised five concerns, with a special focus on the Association. He said in his reaction to the Association, “I initially noted the lack of moral credibility by Serbia to ask for any implementation by the Kosovo side, for as long as they have not implemented any agreement which according to them did not benefit Serbia”. “I then mentioned all of Serbia’s illegal parallel structures in Kosovo, in the areas of politics, security, education, healthcare, economy and finances, and proved that Serbia not only failed to work on their dissolution but also empowered them … I mentioned the enterprises that operate illegally in Kosovo as well as the mayors of some municipalities which have resulted from the local elections in Kosovo and are funded by the Kosovo budget but at the same time are also appointed as heads of Serbia’s ‘provisional institutions’ in Kosovo. I also noted that Serbia is trying to legalise these structures through the association. I also added that only when every Serb parallel structure in Kosovo stops functioning; when Serbia stops its illegal financing and when no one in Europe disputes Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we can sit and seriously discuss the most appropriate modalities for protecting and promoting minority rights, certainly if the minorities too deem this necessary, mentioning the fact that after the Constitutional Court of Kosovo ruled out the association, no Kosovo Serb reacted, only Belgrade did,” Bislimi wrote.

Kurti in Greece: We need help to fight corruption (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti last week participated in the opening of the 23rd edition of the Symi Symposium in Athens, Greece, which is taking place according to Chatham House Rules.

Kurti has published his full speech at this symposium where he says that this symposium gives the opportunity to meet great minds, academics and politicians, artists and activists, people with different experiences and profiles dedicated to the issue of progress.

In his speech, he said that Kosovo is recognized by 117 countries and that it has already started to improve relations with countries like Greece.

He said that if their governing program for work and justice in Kosovo is implemented, then they will succeed in convincing the citizens to pursue their happiness by staying in their homeland.

Kurti, among other things, said that more investments are needed to create jobs and that ‘we need a state that protects the interests of its citizens and gives a sense of democracy.’

See his speech in Albanian and English at: https://bit.ly/3ebuagD

Former EULEX judge reports to Kosovo Assembly Committee for Legislation (media)

Kosovo media widely reported today on the reporting of the Former president of the Assembly of EULEX Judges Malcolm Simmons to the Kosovo Assembly Committee for Legislation.

Insajderi news website reports that prior to his reporting, Simmons sent a 25-page document to the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti.

“Prior to my appointment as President of EULEX Judges, I was aware of the discussions within EULEX regarding the transfer of files to the Serbian prosecutorial authorities. This includes EULEX files obtained from UNMIK. I was also aware of the ongoing talks between EULEX prosecutors and Serbian prosecutors. In fact, EULEX prosecutors have traveled to Serbia on many occasions to discuss cases with Serbian prosecutors,” is written in the letter.

During his address today, Simmons said that very little has been done to investigate war crimes against the citizens of Kosovo committed by people of Serbian ethnicity. He said that the EU did not want to investigate cases of crimes committed by Serbs in Kosovo at all, regardless of what evidence they have, which according to him best shows the cases when the Serbian authorities in 10 years have sentenced only one person on a mission that has cost millions of euros.

Simmons claimed that in 2014, he discovered that EULEX provided Serbian prosecutors with many documents related to war crimes in Kosovo, adding that there was also information on witnesses to those crimes.

He stated that EULEX and the European Union have never denied his allegations, and added that instead, they have responded with personal attacks.

Simmons said EULEX had political objectives in Kosovo, stressing that there were directives for the judges of this mission to remove politicians who were considered “big fish” from the political scene and convict them.

According to Simmons, the Special Court was the mechanism that the EU and Serbia used in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, stressing that the internationals did not trust the courts of Kosovo. He added that the Special Court is a mono-ethnic court and is not interested in achieving justice. “It is a court that controls both the process and the result,” he said.

“I have as much confidence in the Special Court as I would have in a court in Russia or Iran. This is the level of trust that I have in the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo,” Simmons said.

According to him, the case of Drenica, Klecke and some other cases bring shame on the international community. He said that the “Klecka” case should never go to trial, adding that there is no doubt that Serb and Albanian prisoners were killed in Klecka, but according to him, there is no evidence.

“This is a case of how the EU demanded for these people to be punished. I am shocked by the comments made by several thousand colleagues about the people of Kosovo and Albania,” he added.

“In EULEX there are honest and open people who do their job and who have come to Kosovo with the intention of doing good. But unfortunately, there are many officials out there who want to fill their pockets. They see this as an opportunity to make money and have no interest in Kosovo and the people of Kosovo,” Simmons said.

See the video at: https://bit.ly/2TT24A5

Thaci asked to be sent in house arrest in Slovenia (Indeksonline/Necenzurirano)

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has asked to be sent to house arrest in Slovenia for the remainder of his trial at the Specialist Chambers where he faces charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Kosovo. Reporters with the Slovenian media Necenzurirano said the information was confirmed to them by several sources in Slovenia and abroad. The Specialist Chambers have yet to comment on the issue but documents of the court which are public note that Thaci had asked for release on bail in December last year. He reportedly agreed with the possibility of being in house arrest during the trial in a third country and one that does not border Kosovo. According to the article published in Necenzurirano, Thaci has reportedly contacted people in the Slovenian government to look into the possibility of him being sent to Slovenia and to make sure that the Slovenian government will offer guarantees.

Cakolli: Reporting on dialogue should happen at Assembly, not on social media (Koha)

Eugen Cakolli from the Democratic Institute of Kosovo (KDI) said that reporting on the dialogue with Serbia should not be limited to “reporting” on social networks.

Cakolli underlines that the Assembly of Kosovo is the place where one must first report and be accountable.

“Reporting on the dialogue with Serbia should not be limited to ‘reporting’ on social networks. The Assembly of Kosovo is the place where one must first report and offer an account!” Cakolli wrote on “Facebook”.

Meanwhile, KDI through a public letter has requested transparency from the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kuri about the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process.

US Embassy urges redoubled efforts to find perpetrators of wartime sexual violence in Kosovo (media)

“The United States Embassy in Kosovo has demanded that justice be done to the victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo. Through a Facebook post, they stressed that it is time to redouble efforts to search for the perpetrators.

“All victims deserve justice. We commend Kosovo’s commitment to delivering justice for victims of wartime sexual violence. Time to redouble efforts and hold all perpetrators accountable, regardless of background, ethnicity, or political connections,” the Embassy wrote on Facebook.

Ramosaj: There are suspicions that water poisoning may be intentional (media)

Kosovo media reported today that about 400 dwellers of Decani municipality have sought medical assistance due to their poisoning symptoms.

The mayor of Decan, Bashkim Ramosaj, said that this is the second time in a month that there is water poisoning and this has made them suspect that this may be intentional. However, he added that this must be confirmed by the competent authorities.

Ramosaj said that they initially suspected that it is a seasonal disease, but after the increase of patients there were assumptions that it is from water. According to him, all measures have been taken to find the cause.

“Water in the 10 villages supplied by the same pipe should not be used,” he said, adding that the first results have shown that the water has been chemically pure, but that they are still waiting for the biological analysis from the laboratory.

Ramosaj said that if it is proven that there was water poisoning, then legal and administrative measures will be taken against the water company.

Serbian Language Media

Tanin: Unresolved situation of Kosovo Serb returnee in Djakovica, rights of all returnees must be protected and promoted (KoSSev, media)

“Facilitating the safe, dignified, and sustainable return and reintegration of all returnees is essential to ensuring Kosovo’s future as a democratic, multi-ethnic society,” the Special Representative of the Secretary General and the Head of UNMIK, Zahir Tanin, said Saturday, KoSSev portal reported.

While recalling the recent developments related to the “unresolved situation” of the Kosovo-Serb returnee in Djakovica, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, Zahir Tanin, highlighted the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of all returnees and facilitating their sustainable return and reintegration into local communities.

Tanin called on central and local institutions, in cooperation with civil society and local communities, to provide an enabling environment for all returnees.

“Facilitating the safe, dignified, and sustainable return and reintegration of all returnees is essential to ensuring Kosovo’s future as a democratic, multi-ethnic society founded upon human rights and the rule of law, and is vital to advancing broader inter-community trust building and reconciliation efforts”, Tanin said.

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

OSCE condemns incidents against Dragica Gasic, says return process should continue (KoSSev)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemns the incidents directed against Dragica Gasic. It is unacceptable to attempt to intimidate someone who is seeking to return to their home and live in peace with their neighbors, the OSCE Mission said in a statement for KoSSev.

OSCE also underlined that the legal framework in Kosovo is clear regarding the right to return, encouraging all stakeholders to uphold the rule of law.

Dragica Gasic is the first Serb returnee to Djakovica. In late June, eleven NGOs in the municipality of Djakovica announced that they would be filing a petition to the Kosovo government, demanding that Gasic move out as soon as possible. The municipality of Djakovica filed a lawsuit earlier this week, requesting that “Dragica Gasic’s contract on leasing an apartment be annulled with a request for an interim measure.”

The OSCE Mission told KoSSev today that they have been in contact with Gasic since her return, noting that they are closely monitoring and following the case.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3r5P7z2

Office for KiM enabled food delivery for Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)

“Dragica Gasic will not remain hungry, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija will enable food delivery for her”, Office Director Petar Petkovic wrote on Twitter.

Petkovic added that the Office for KIM had arranged food delivery for Dragica and her friend Vuksan Gojkovic.

“Horrible and inhuman pressure on Dragica Gasic to leave Djakovica. How far the hatred could go, so the owner of the market banned workers from selling her groceries and bread because she was a Serb”, Petkovic wrote in a post.

Meanwhile, humanitarian organization “Serbian Solidarity” delivered to Dragica Gasic household appliances to help her refurbish her apartment, Radio KIM reports.

The aid includes a boiler and TV set, while Branko Antic from the organization said they would help her pay electricity bills as well.

Radio KIM reported that two days ago Dragica Gasic was banned from entering the nearest shop, while tires of Vuksan Gojkovic’s vehicle, who is helping her, have been slashed.

In addition to the opposition of the local Albanians that she remains living in Djakovica, Gasic is also facing negligence of the local authorities, that are now attempting to contest her ownership over a flat where she lives.

Brnabic: ”The reactions of the international community to the case of Dragica Gasic ‘lukewarm’, better not to have them” (RTS, TV Pink, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)

The Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic assessed that it was better that the reactions of the international community to the case of Dragica Gasic, who returned to Djakovica after 22 years, were completely absent, than that lukewarm reactions were sent, reported Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). 

Brnabic stated that these lukewarm reactions are more insulting because in the case they were none, one could think that they have not reacted yet and that they would do so, reported RTS.

Brnabic recalled that she mentioned the cases of attacks on Serbs in Kosovo, and especially the case of Dragica Gasic, at the meeting with Philip Reeker. 

“Those reactions are so lukewarm that it is better not to have them,” the Prime Minister said on Pink TV, adding that she did not want to say what Reeker said about that, because Serbia cultivates and builds relations with the United States and some things must be kept to themselves. 

She reminded that against Dragica Gasic, a 59-year-old woman who returned to Djakovica on her own after 22 years, there were constant threats, but also petitions signed by ”non-governmental organizations that would have to fight for her to feel safe, to bring her bread, milk, cheese…,” she pointed out. 

“Civil society in Kosovo and Metohija is signing a petition that a woman who does not pose any danger should be expelled. In that way, they legalize violence, instead of being a balance,” said Brnabic, adding that many of those signatory organizations are funded by international organizations.

The international community was also criticized for the fact that it turns out that it is completely okay that only 1.9 percent of Serbs returned to Kosovo. 

PM Brnabic pointed out that ”the territory of Kosovo and Metohija is still a post-conflict zone with the fewest returnees”, reported RTS.

Gracanica Mayor on the “the latest provocation”: KFOR to increase patrols (Kosovo Online, KiM radio, RTS)

Gracanica municipality filed a report for the destruction of public property against unknown perpetrators who repainted the inscription of the Gracanica board on the Pristina-Gnjilane regional road during the Saturday night, reported media.

Mayor Srdjan Popovic said that the Kosovo police, by failing to uncover the perpetrators of the previous incidents, opened the space for the continuation of provocations of the Serbian population.

The municipality filed a report for the destruction of property after the locals reported on Sunday  morning that inscription of the Gracanica board was repainted black at the exit from Gracanica, while Popovic said that it was inadmissible not to know still who was destroying the public property during the night, thus bringing the unrest among the Serbian population, media cited the statement.

“This is the fourth incident on the territory of our municipality in less than a month. We still don’t know who constantly roams the municipality during the night, destroying public property, breaking the flags of the Serbian Orthodox Church and writing graffiti with KLA slogans. The police are obviously not able to do their job properly, and the institutions in Pristina and the international community remain silent over the increasing pressure,” Popovic said

He recalled that the inscription Gracanica was repainted black in a place that was very close to the one where a billboard with the inscription “Freedom has a name – KLA” was placed a few months ago at the entrance to Kisnica, where, as he stated, a dozen remaining Serbian families live in constant fear. Popovic also said that a week ago, he requested increased KFOR patrols and increased police work, in order to better protect the Serbian population. He added that despite the appeals, incidents and provocations continued.

Popovic once again appealed to the police to do their job responsibly, and KFOR to strengthen patrols on the territory of the municipality of Gracanica, it was concluded in the press release issued by the office of the mayor.

Vucic to athletes: Feel free to compete against Kosovo judo team (KoSSev)

The Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, told the Serbian judo fighters Saturday that they should feel free to compete against Kosovo in the upcoming Olympics, KoSSev portal reported.

“Let me be frank, I want to shoulder those problems and all those who want to say something against someone since you will have competitors from so-called Kosovo so that you don’t need to worry. You play sports, regardless if you win or lose, we will stand with you. You play sports, you just do your job, and you don’t worry about anything else“, Vucic said.

He added Serbian leadership “will not force them to participate in any political acts and anything“.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3AR3FqD

Dveri Movement asks Orban to withdraw Hungary’s recognition of Kosovo (N1)

The Serbian opposition Dveri Movement called on the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his country to withdraw the recognition of Kosovo, arguing this would show that he is a “sincere friend of Serbia”, N1 reports.

In a letter to Orban, Dveri assessed that the withdrawal of recognition for the citizens of Serbia is a “much more important act“ than Budapest’s lobbying for Serbia’s membership in the EU.

“In order for relations between Serbia and Hungary to really be on the highest level of mutual respect and friendship, as provided for in the Agreement on Eternal Friendship and Peace of 1940, please withdraw the recognition of the false state of Kosovo because it would show recognition of integrity and sovereignty of our country“, Dveri said in a letter.

Brnabic: No place for us in Srebrenica until attack on Vucic is resolved (N1)

Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, said Sunday that “a terrible crime took place” in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995, but that there is no place for “Serbian officials” at the commemoration for the victims until those who attacked Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, during his 2015 visit are prosecuted, N1 reports.

“Until everyone who attacked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, then Prime Minister who went to Srebrenica to express respect for the victims and the Bosniak people, is brought to justice, I do not see that we officials have a place there“, Brnabic told Prva TV.

She also spoke about the dialogue with Pristina, saying that it “has never been more difficult“ because there are people there with “zero pragmatism“ who are only interested in Serbia recognizing “the so-called state of Kosovo“.

“But we have to be at the table, in dialogue. There are ideological fanatics in Pristina who do not want to talk“, she said.

Petkovic in two-day visit in Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic would be on two-day visit in Kosovo. Radio KIM reports.

On July 12, Petkovc will attend a ceremonial academy to mark three decades of Zvecan municipality establishment. Prior to the academy, Petkovic would also meet women helping elderly people in the municipality.

Later in the day, Petkovic would visit a 12-member Vukovic family in Zitkovac village, Zvecan, and along with Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije present Ana Vukovic, mother of ten children, with “Majka devet Jugovica” award and financial aid. Afterwards he would continue the tour in Zvecan. 

Meanwhile, the Belgrade-based Kurti reported that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will be declared an honorary citizen of Zvecan today “due to his commitment to the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija and numerous investments in the Province, especially Zvecan”.

Ambassador says Spain’s decision not to recognize Kosovo is state policy (N1, Srna, Vecernje Novosti)

Spain’s Ambassador in Belgrade Raúl Bartolomé Molina said on Monday that his country has not recognized Kosovo as independent because it strictly adheres to international law.

He told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti that Madrid’s stand on Kosovo creates problems for Spain in international organizations, adding that the stand is official state policy regardless of who is in power. According to the Ambassador, Spain bases its decision not to recognize Kosovo on the basic tenets of international law such as respect for territorial integrity, a principle which was violated when the authorities in Pristina unilaterally declared independence. Molina said that Madrid has not come under pressure to change its stand.

The ambassador said that a possible decision to open Spain’s liaison office in Pristina would be taken with Serbian partners and would not mean that Madrid had changed its position.

See at: https://bit.ly/36wwwTe

Dragica Gasic: Brave and alone (Danas)

Two days ago, Dragica Gasic, the first Serbian woman to return to Djakovica in June, was banned from entering the nearest grocery store, owned by an Albanian, and prevented from buying bread and other groceries. And that was only a few days after she praised the employees in that store to the media and stated that there were no problems with the procurement of groceries, wrote daily Danas. 

The ban on entering the store is just one in a series of misfortunes facing this Serbian woman who returned to Djakovica after twenty-two years of exile, where she had lived for twenty years before.

In the whirlwind of war in 1999, she left Djakovica with her sons aged seven and 10 for Smederevska Palanka.

She went to her hometown several times in the past couple of years to visit her sick father, and then at the age of 59 she decided to spend her retirement days where she grew up, not realizing that she would face a huge amount of hatred.

“They treat me like a war criminal, even though the police checked me to see if I had anything to do with the war. I don’t have any, nor anyone of mine have, and the municipal authorities allowed me to return. I have all the papers. But they don’t even let me change the old, worn door, because I allegedly need the permission of the municipal authorities for that,” said Dragica, who claims that she is under constant stress, and that she cannot even sleep because she receives threats.

Neighbors, Albanians, as she claims, throw stones at her, enter the building, knock on her door, leave threatening messages, threaten to slaughter her.

That is why Gasic does not go anywhere, not even to the store, without a police escort.

She also says that she did not expect such a “welcome” and does not know why she is undesirable, because she worked in the Serbian police before the war, but only as a cleaner and that she did not do any harm, and even less responsible for the fact that more than a thousand Albanian civilians were killed in Djakovica during the war years of 1998 and 1999. 

Gasic does not intend to leave her apartment, even though eleven non-governmental organizations from Djakovica asked the local authorities to move her out as soon as possible and announced the submission of a petition to the Kosovo government.

Despite the fact that the municipality of Djakovica also filed a lawsuit requesting the annulment of the contract on renting an apartment with a request for a temporary measure with Dragica Gasic.

Although Gasic receives support from Serbia, the OSCE, the Kosovo Humanitarian Law Center and the Kosovo Youth Initiative for Human Rights, the only Serb woman in Djakovica is still alone and scared, due to the hostile environment. Therefore, it is not surprising that to the simple question – how do you feel, she answered briefly – sick.