• Osmani: Kosovo fully implemented agreements signed in Brussels (media)
• Bislimi: There is a tendency for further escalation (media)
• Quiet situation in Bernjak and Jarinje (media)
• Svecla: Decision on temporary license plates is legitimate (media)
• U.S. Embassy calls on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions (media)
• Criminal groups of Radojcic and Veselinovic behind roadblocks (Kosovapress)
• Vucic says he discussed crisis in Kosovo with Lajcak (N1)
• Judah: Serbian military reportedly driving around close to Kosovo border (media)
• Stefanovic: License plates agreement expired, Vucic’s regime lying to Serbs (media)
• “Government decision to be followed up with requirement to fill in forms” (Koha)
• ‘Reciprocity principle’ in Kosovo license plate dispute with Serbia (Euronews Albania)
• Kurti responds to questions on the gas pipeline project (RTK)
• COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)
• First witness at Kosovo guerrilla’s trial recalls brutal beating (BIRN)

Osmani: Kosovo fully implemented agreements signed in Brussels (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani took to Facebook on Monday to issue the following statement with regards to the government decision on reciprocity on the issue of license plates and developments in the north:

Kosovo today has fully implemented the agreements signed in Brussels, which Serbia has ignored and continues to not implement. Reciprocity in the issue of license plates, which was signed by both parties in Brussels, cannot be seen as a tense and unilateral action, but an action towards the implementation of agreements that should be required by the EU itself. Serbia is the one that has acted unilaterally since 2016 and in violation of the Brussels agreements, not Kosovo.

Therefore, Serbian illegal structures, financed and receiving orders from the state of Serbia, are taking actions not only in violation of the Brussels agreements, but also endangering the safety of citizens and the stability of the region. Moreover, Serbia, according to the unchanged logic of the past, is also using Serbian state institutions to threaten our country.

No kind of threat from Serbia stops our determination to implement law enforcement, in accordance with our international obligations, for the benefit of all citizens of the Republic, regardless of their ethnicity.

The decision of the Government of Kosovo to implement reciprocity with Serbia on vehicle license plates was taken as a result of the conclusion of the agreements of 2011 and 2016 on the freedom of movement of citizens between the two countries. Consequently, the decision ensures equal treatment and free movement of citizens of both countries. The decision has been accepted and is being strictly implemented at all border crossings, except for two crossing points in the north, where local Serbs are being abused by the Serbian Government and illegal structures there.

Therefore, I call on the European Union to put pressure on the Serbian government to immediately stop provocations against Kosovo and the misuse for political purposes of Kosovo Serb citizens. Serbia’s destabilizing policy in Kosovo and the region and their hegemonic goals for the so-called “Serbian world” are a return to their ’90s logic, which has brought many victims to our region.

Bislimi: There is a tendency for further escalation (media)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Besnik Bislimi said in an interview with KTV on Monday evening that the government’s decision on reciprocity on the issue of license plates is not directed against Serb citizens and that it relates only to vehicles entering from Serbia. He said the current situation is stable but that he does not know what can happen in the future.

“The decision is not directed against Serbs; it is about the implementation of the agreement. The measure does not affect the citizens of Kosovo but vehicles entering from the neighboring state. We don’t know what is the plan of those orchestrating Serbs in Kosovo. There is a tendency for further escalation. Vucic has not done anything good for the region. Internationals share this opinion too,” Bislimi said.

Bislimi also said that the Kosovo government will not implement the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities as long as it is considered a threat to the institutions and territorial integrity of Kosovo. “The Constitutional Court has said that the Association is anti-constitutional,” he said.

Quiet situation in Bernjak and Jarinje (media)

Citing reports from local Serb media, Koha reports that the traffic at the border crossing points of Bernjak and Jarinje this morning remains blocked but that the situation there is quiet. Around 30 trucks are reportedly waiting in line but the transport of goods has been blocked. There are also reports that buses are driving passengers to the blockade around 800 kilometers from the border and then they are continuing on foot to cross the border. Some Serbs meanwhile are continuing their protest and have put up tents. Kosovo Online reported on Thursday evening that a group of Serb protesters had put up a banner which says “Welcome to the Association of Serb municipalities”.

Svecla: Decision on temporary license plates is legitimate (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said that the decision to have Serbian license plates be replaced with Kosovo temporary ones is legitimate. He said the situation in the north is calm and called on the residents there not to put up roadblocks.

“In order to enable the free movement of citizens and after the expiration of the agreement of 14 September 2016, the MIA has issued a decision that requires temporary license plates for all vehicles with Serbian license plates entering Kosovo. From 21 September, in addition to the possibility of obtaining temporary license plates at all border crossings, citizens can also be equipped in all Vehicle Registration Centers. The security situation is calm. The police have taken all the necessary operational and logistical measures not to hinder the movement of people and goods. The decision is legitimate for the fact that despite Kosovo allowing citizens of Serbia to move freely in Kosovo with their vehicles, Serbia makes the citizens of Kosovo put up temporary license plates to enter Serbia,” Sveçla said in a press conference.

He called on Serbs not to block roads, adding: “Let’s work together for the good of all.”

Svecla also said that the international partners were informed in advance about the police operation. “Let us not forget that Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi in a press conference on 9 September announced this move and it is known that the agreement expired on 15 September.”

U.S. Embassy calls on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions (media)

The United States Embassy in Kosovo has joined the EU in calling on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions following the Government of Kosovo’s decision to begin implementation of reciprocity measures on license plates.

“We join the European Union in calling on Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from further unilateral actions and reduce tensions – immediately, without delay,” the Embassy said.

Earlier, the EU through its foreign policy spokesperson Peter Stano said both sides need to de-escalate tensions and that the process of dialogue should be used to resolve such disputes. “We are following the situation closely and I wish to underline that the freedom of movement is a fundamental condition of the EU and we expect Kosovo and Serbia to promote it. We call on both sides to demonstrate restraint and reduce tensions. Immediately and without delays,” he said.

Criminal groups of Radojcic and Veselinovic behind roadblocks (Kosovapress)

The introduction of reciprocity measures towards Serbia regarding license plates did not go well with two Serb criminals of the north, Zvonko Veselinovic and Milan Radojcic, who use this part of Kosovo for their criminal activity.

Kosovapress sources inside security institutions said the activity carried out today by the Kosovo’s Ministry of Internal Affairs did not raise negative reactions of the citizens in the north but that they are being intimidated by criminal groups in blocking this process, for Serbia’s own interests.

“These organized criminal groups are using Serb citizens, residents of that area, by pressuring them to go out and protest and by blackmailing them with halting the payment to the Serb community in the north if they do not support Serbia’s agendas,” sources said.

Milan Radojcic, accused for the murder of Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic and Zvonko Veselinovic, known as smuggling boss and who continues to win tenders worth millions from the Government of Serbia, are suspected of also using their trucks as roadblocks and using Serbian List MPs to provoke and cause deterioration of the situation.

The news website also notes that Serbia’s actions to destabilise Kosovo come shortly after such acts in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vucic says he discussed crisis in Kosovo with Lajcak (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that he discussed the crisis in Kosovo with European Union special envoy Miroslav Lajcak.

Lajcak is in Belgrade to discuss the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on a comprehensive normalization agreement with Serbian officials. The EU Delegation in Serbia said that he will also meet with “the international community based in Belgrade, representatives of the business community and civil society… and plans to discuss the state of play on implementation of Dialogue agreement and the way forward in the negotiations of the comprehensive normalization agreement”.

Vucic said in an Instagram post that they “discussed the serious crisis in Kosovo”. “I will inform the public about everything happening in the north of the province soon,” Vucic said. Serbian state officials typically use the terms Kosovo and Metohija and province.

Judah: Serbian military reportedly driving around close to Kosovo border (media)

Tim Judah, Balkans correspondent for The Economist, said in a Twitter post on Monday evening that “Serbian military reportedly driving around close to Kosovo border and Kosovo police deploying to the north. All after Kosovo government imposes same rules on Serbian licensed vehicles as Serbia imposes on those from Kosovo. Vucic – Kurti arm wrestling but could get dangerous.”

Stefanovic: License plates agreement expired, Vucic’s regime lying to Serbs (media)

Borko Stefanovic, Serbia’s former chief negotiator in dialogue with Kosovo, said that the agreement on license plates has already expired.

“An agreement was reached in 2011 for citizens with Kosovo license plates using temporary ones when entering Serbia. In 2016 [Aleksandar] Vucic and [Ivica] Dacic admitted that this is valid for five more years. This agreement has now expired,” Stefanovic said.

He also accused President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic of lying to the Serbs in Kosovo. “The regime is lying to you,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Government decision to be followed up with requirement to fill in forms” (Koha)

Kosovo Democratic Institute has called on the Government of Kosovo to follow up the decision on the use of provisional Kosovo license plates for Serbian vehicles with other provisions of the agreements on freedom of movement, namely the requirement for Serbia’s nationals to fill in entry/exit forms when travelling to Kosovo which is something that Serbia applies towards Kosovo citizens.

“KDI considers that the way to normalisation of relations and a final agreement for mutual recognition with Serbia can be achieved only if the two countries show commitment to the implementation of the agreements reached in Brussels, which essentially aim to facilitate and improve the lives of citizens in Kosovo and Serbia,” the Kosovo-based think tank said.

Violeta Haxholli from KDI said that the Kosovo Government’s move yesterday is in line with the 2011 agreement on license plates. “We have urged the Government to go one more step forward by issuing temporary documents just like Serbia does with identification documents that are valid for 90 days.”

‘Reciprocity principle’ in Kosovo license plate dispute with Serbia (Euronews Albania)

‘Reciprocity requirements for entry to their respective jurisdictions, or the reciprocity of license plates’ is an issue that has been stirring up the waters for both Kosovo and Serbia.

The new guidelines introduced today, by Albin Kurti’s government, require all Serbian drivers to get a hold of temporary registration plates, upon entry to Kosovo.

Kurti came out with a statement earlier today saying that this decision “isn’t meant to provoke destabilization” and that it was “not a personal decision but rather a decision imposed onto Kosovo, by none other than Serbia”.

Kurti also called on all Serbian citizens to not have any fear that their rights are going to be taken away from them and he urged them to go on with their days, as usual.

In addition, the head of Kosovo’s Serbian Lists, Goran Rakic, called this an outrage and a “direct threat to Serbs in Kosovo”. Rakic also demanded Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, to react to the issue with urgency.

Faced with the present situation, the EU has also made a declaration today calling for both sides to “reduce tensions” while sending EU’s special envoy to mediate and attempt to resolve the issue.

But what is the principle of ‘reciprocity of license plates’ and where does it originate from? Euronews Albania is bringing you a short account that will help put things into context.

Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence and sovereignty. As a result, it doesn’t recognize its vehicle registration plates – with the acronym RKS (Republic of Kosovo) – either.

Parallel to this, for several years, Serbia was involved in issuing a large number of license plates for the Serbs of Kosovo, which only carried the acronyms of their own cities. These plates were then considered illegal by the authorities in Kosovo.

This was enough to put the issue on the table back in 2011, when the dialogue meant to normalize the countries’ bilateral relations began, in Brussels.

The sides were able to meet halfway at the time and come to an agreement, which said that vehicles in Kosovo would travel with temporary license plates in Serbia and that Serbian vehicles would have to cover their plates with a sticker, covering their national symbols, when traveling to Kosovo.

The agreement was reviewed back in 2016, when the stickers that were to be used on such occasions were agreed on. However, once again, implementation was delayed.

Serbia on Kosovo’s license plates:

Vehicles registered in Kosovo are allowed to travel around Serbia, only if they’ve been issued a set of temporary plates by Serbian authorities (carrying the acronym KS).

These temporary plates cost 3.5 euros (420 dinar) and are valid for 60 days.

These plates can be picked up at all border-crossing points in Kosovo.

Kosovo on Serbia’s license plates:

Vehicles registered in Serbia are allowed to travel in and around Kosovo only if they’ve been issued a set of temporary plates by Kosovo authorities (carrying the acronym RKS).

These temporary plates cost 5 euros and are valid for 60 days.

These plates can be picked up at all border-crossing points in Kosovo.

Representatives of the opposition in Kosovo have been raising concerns regarding the penalties that are being suffered Albanians in Preshevo, Medvegje and Bujanovc.

Kurti responds to questions on the gas pipeline project (RTK)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti commented yesterday on the natural gas pipeline project saying that the construction of such an infrastructure is something that requires a careful analysis. Kurti said that so far around ten meetings and workshops were held with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) which has pledged USD 200 million for the project.

“We have discussed in detail the designing of the projects that would partially support the construction of the gas infrastructure but also other options such as investment in the distribution and accumulation capacities in development of skills. In all these meetings we asked about and discussed the investment preliminary analysis, in particular what would be the total cost, what part would have to be a guarantee and how much loan would we as a country need to take,” Kurti said during the Assembly session.

Kurti noted further that there are no delays on the issue and no funds are risking being lost. He added that reports that the pipeline would be used to bring in Russian gas through Serbia are untrue: “In terms of building the infrastructure in collaboration with MCC, we are not talking merely about American gas, but simply about building of the infrastructure. If we were to build a gas power plant, the operators would buy gas in the new market. It could be American, but not necessarily so. We are considering all these many factors. It should also be noted that this has nothing to do with the request of American stakeholders, the MCC is an American organization which is supporting the energy sector in Kosovo, we are grateful for this and we are grateful for the cooperation so far… As for the construction of the pipeline through Serbia, there is nothing true there.”

COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)

Six deaths from COVID-19 and 48 new cases from the virus were recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 903 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 8,903 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

First witness at Kosovo guerrilla’s trial recalls brutal beating (BIRN)

A protected witness told the trial of Salih Mustafa at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on Monday that he was detained in 1999 in the village of Zllash/Zlas, some 30 kilometres east of Kosovo’s capital Pristina.

Mustafa is accused of involvement in murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detentions during the Kosovo war in April 1999 at a KLA-run detention compound in Zllash/Zlas, which was allegedly run by a unit that he commanded. He is the first ex-KLA fighter to be tried by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and has pleaded not guilty.

The anonymous witness said he was taken to the detention site in Zllash/Zlas by people who were carrying light weapons.

“After entering, they ordered us to lower our heads. I did not dare to raise my head. I did not know who they were and what they were wearing,” the witness told the court.

“They immediately took me out, dragging me for several metres, and there they started beating me with sticks, kicking me… I lost consciousness two or three times. I have a broken finger. I also have broken teeth,” he added.

He said that after he was beaten, someone put a pistol to his head.

“I was laid down, one of them took out his gun… I heard it and I knew he was going to kill me. At one moment he pulled the trigger, but it didn’t fire. He said they should let me go because ‘he is lucky’,” the witness said.

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