Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo marks slight progress in anti-corruption fight (RFE/media)
• KDI recognises Kosovo’s progress but notes that a great deal of work remains (media)
• Kosovo’s progress in fight against corruption hailed (media)
• Kurti says justice institutions to deal with Serbian List officials, not Government (Telegrafi)
• Northern municipalities not included in energy price increase proposal, ERO head says (Kosovapress/media)
• GAP: Kosovo to increase minimum wage to mitigate price increase impact (media)
• COVID-19: 2,707 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian communities in Kosovo: 192 people infected and one death recorded (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic: Preventing Serbian elections in Kosovo would have consequences (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency launches proceedings against Serbian List officials (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic holds bilateral meetings with Varhelyi, Borrell (Tanjug)
• Corruption 2021: Serbia at its lowest score in decade for second year in a row (N1)
• Petkovic, Selakovic with Davenport on situation in Kosovo, rights of Serbs (Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Do not assume COVID pandemic reaching ‘end game’, warns WHO (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media  

Kosovo marks slight progress in anti-corruption fight (RFE/media)

Kosovo has made slight progress in the fight against corruption, with 39 points – up by three points compared to last year – in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, compiled by Transparency International, Radio Free Europe reported. 

The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

In the region, North Macedonia has also made progress with 39 points, four more than last year. Albania meanwhile has one point less than in 2020, scoring 35. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia fared the same as last year, with 35 and 38 points respectively. The best-placed is Montenegro with 46 points, one point more than last year. 

KDI recognises Kosovo’s progress but notes that a great deal of work remains (media)

Kosovo Democratic Institute recognised Kosovo’s progress in the fight against corruption noting however that a great deal of work still remains. KDI is a member of the global anti-corruption movement, Transparency International.

In commenting on the 2021 Transparency International report, KDI said in a statement: “Transparency International report states that there was a peaceful transfer of power in Kosovo between governments in recent years and Kosovo is the only country in the region and one of only five countries in Europe that, during the pandemic period, did not transfer decision-making powers to the executive but retained them with the parliament. The fact that efforts have been made to reflect the will of the citizens even in the most difficult times, is a responsible decision on the part of the government and in our opinion it is very important that even in exceptional circumstances the institutions continue to perform their role. Kosovo in this regard has been a very good example, leaving the parliament to perform its duties during the pandemic.”

KDI urged Kosovo institutions to continue the justice system reform, fight against corruption and increase transparency and accountability in public procurement procedures and appointments to the boards of public companies.  

Kosovo’s progress in fight against corruption hailed (media)

Kosovo’s progress in the Transparency International’s report on anti-corruption fight was hailed by the German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde, European Parliament’s rapporteur, Viola von Cramon, and the French Embassy.

Rohde said this was “good news”. “Kosovo makes visible progress in fighting corruption! In TI’s @anticorruption index Kosovo improved 17 places, now ranks at 87,” he wrote on Twitter. He added that it was encouraging to see that “Kosovo finally starts to walk the talk in seriously fighting corruption”. He concluded by saying that Kosovo has Germany’s full support. 

EP’s rapporteur for Kosovo, von Cramon, echoed the sentiments. “Small award for everyone in Kosovo,” she commented in reaction to Rohde’s post.

The French Embassy meanwhile said: “Good news. Kosovo makes progress by climbing 17 places compared to last year in the corruption perception index. This progress needs to be kept up. France fully supports Kosovo in the continuous fight against corruption.” 

Kurti says justice institutions to deal with Serbian List officials, not Government (Telegrafi)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti was asked by reporters today to comment on the anti-corruption agency opening an investigation into Serbian List officials for not accurately declaring positions they hold. 

“The justice sector is independent from the executive branch in the Republic of Kosovo. We are a democratic state where the powers are divided and therefore the Government does not interfere in the eventual violations of the law and the Constitution in Kosovo. This is a task carried out by the prosecution, the judiciary and other enforcement mechanisms.”

Northern municipalities not included in energy price increase proposal, ERO head says (Kosovapress/media)

Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office, Ymer Fejzullahu, is reported to have said at the meeting of the Kosovo Assembly economy committee that four northern municipalities with Serb majority have not been included in the Office’s report which includes the proposal to increase electricity tariffs. 

Fejzullahu said this is due to the ongoing legal proceedings that ERO has launched regarding energy consumption in the area. 

Speaking about the ERO’s proposal for increasing energy tariffs, Fejzullahu rejected claims by the opposition MPs that the Government interfered in the drafting of the report.  He explained that the categories that would be affected by the price increase include consumers of more than 600 kWh a month but noted that these categories will also benefit from government subsidies.

GAP: Kosovo to increase minimum wage to mitigate price increase impact (media)

Kosovo-based Institute for Advanced Studies, GAP, issued a report on price increase and measures that could mitigate the effect of inflation. 

It said that as the economic activity in Kosovo increased, so did the prices. “Based on the data of the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the report shows that in 2021 there was an increase in consumer prices, production prices, import prices, and construction costs. According to the data presented in the report, in 2021, in addition to an increase in the Consumer Price Index by 3.1 percent, there is also an increase in the Producer Price Index by 4.2 percent, in the Import Price Index by 8.3 percent, and in the Construction Cost Index by 10.9 percent.” 

GAP said that as the average wage in Kosovo changed over the years, the minimum wage remained unchanged. “Therefore, some of the potential recommendations to mitigate the effect of price increases are the following: increase in minimum wage, increase in payments to beneficiaries of social assistance schemes, and step-up market monitoring by the Kosovo Competition Authority to detect ‘collusion.’”

Read the full report at: https://bit.ly/3Ixzx6A

COVID-19: 2,707 new cases, two deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 2,707 new cases with COVID-19 and two deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours. 556 persons recovered from the virus during this time. 

There are 21,668 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo. 

Media reported today that due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, 27 schools across Kosovo, of the total of 780, have switched to online classes. 

Serbian Language Media

Serbian communities in Kosovo: 192 people infected and one death recorded (Kontakt plus radio)

According to the latest official data of the Crisis Staff of the Municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica published today, in Serbian communities in Kosovo one person died from coronavirus. 

The report states that out of 282 samples tested, new 192 cases of Covid-19 were registered in the following municipalities: North Mitrovica (71), Zvecan (51), Gracanica (29), Leposavic (21), Priluzje (13), Zubin Potok (4) and Strpce (3).

Currently, 997 cases are active, and 138 people have come out of isolation, the report said.

Petkovic: Preventing Serbian elections in Kosovo would have consequences (Beta, N1)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija director Petar Petkovic warned on Monday that Pristina’s ban on conducting Serbian elections on April 3 on Kosovo territory would lead to “unforeseeable consequences” for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, reported N1.

He did not specify what consequences he had in mind.

“(Kosovo Prime Minister Albin) Kurti’s destructive intention to annul and trample on all agreements reached so far is obvious, but the question is whether the international community will calmly watch Albanian politicians play with the normalisation of relations again or will it this time move from words and statements to concrete actions,” Petkovic said.

Pristina banned the voting in Serbian referendum on Constitutional changes on the part of its territory populated mainly by local Serbs on January 16 and announced the ban could be in place for the forthcoming presidential and early general elections in April.

The international community asked Kosovo authorities not to ban the vote in the referendum. Still, Pristina was adamant that no other country’s voting would be allowed on their territory.

Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency launches proceedings against Serbian List officials (Radio KIM)

Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency has launched investigative proceedings against Serbian List officials, Radio KIM reports.

The reason for proceedings, as Radio KIM further said citing Radio Free Europe, was that Serbian List officials holding various positions at central and local levels in Kosovo institutions have not regularly reported their properties or incomes they have.

Those involved in the proceedings include high Serbian List officials, Kosovo MPs, mayors, a municipal councilor and few more.

The Agency said they are undertaking investigative acts related to gathering and analysing relevant information. RFE in August last year reported on “double salaries” given that most Serbian List officials hold at least one position in the both Kosovo and Serbian systems. 

Brnabic holds bilateral meetings with Varhelyi, Borrell (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi in Brussels on Tuesday, Tanjug news agency reports.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss Serbia’s progress on EU reforms, in particular when it comes to rule of law and a recent referendum on constitutional amendments concerning the judiciary.

Brnabic and Varhelyi also reviewed further steps on Serbia’s path to EU membership and preparations for opening new clusters in the accession talks. Last December, Serbia opened Cluster 4 on the Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity. With Cluster 3 on Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth ready for opening in 2022, preparations are also underway for opening Cluster 5 on Agriculture, Resources and Cohesion.

Brnabic also met with EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell before a sixth EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council meeting chaired by Borrell. A Serbian delegation at the meeting is headed by Brnabic and European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic.

Brnabic, Borrell and Varhelyi are expected to hold a joint press briefing after the meeting at around 2 pm.

Following the meeting with Borrell, Brnabic wrote on Instagram that they had a good meeting and “discussed activities and reforms Serbia undertakes foremost in the rule of law area. Serbia is committed to continuing the process of European integration”, she said. 

Corruption 2021: Serbia at its lowest score in decade for second year in a row (N1)

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Serbia ranks 96th out of 180 countries and territories, with 38 points, recorded for the second year in a row, which is also its lowest estimate so far, according to the Global Corruption Perceptions Index 2021 published by the International Transparency (IT) on Tuesday. 

Serbia has not made any progress and, with 38 points as in previous years, remains at its lowest result since 2012, when the data were comparable, the latest CPI’s report says.

Serbia shares 96th place with five other countries: Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Lesotho, and Turkey. Serbia and other countries from the Western Balkans are classified in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The report recalls that Serbia is no longer considered a democracy but a hybrid regime. The Government has become notorious for its strong influence on the media, harassing independent critics and holding unfair elections.

The Government’s lack of transparency over significant foreign investment is a widespread concern, reflected in a recent wave of public protests against a controversial lithium exploration project.

The country-level movement has forced the President and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party to amend the referendum law and repeal laws that would make it easier for the state to expropriate the country.

The CPI report stresses that throughout the Western Balkans and in Turkey, which has an index of 38, the concentration of power in autocratic leaders and their parties has undermined judicial independence, which helps maintain the capture of the state.

Authoritarian governments are said to have spied on, harassed and attacked activists, journalists, opposition leaders and ordinary citizens across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Only three countries in the region have an index above the global average of 43: Georgia 55, Armenia 49 and Montenegro 46.

The region’s governments reportedly used COVID-19 as a pretext to further suppress critical voices, passed restrictive laws, stifled freedom of speech and access to information, and undermined an independent judiciary.

In the Western Balkans, Montenegro has an index of 46, Northern Macedonia and Kosovo 39, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania 35. Slovenia is 41st with an index of 57, and Croatia is 63rd with an index of 47.

The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide according to the level of corruption in the public sector, and the results show a scale of zero, which means high corruption up to 100 when it comes to a spotless country or territory in terms of corruption.

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

Full CPI 2021 report is available at: https://bit.ly/3H1BXKs

Petkovic, Selakovic with Davenport on situation in Kosovo, rights of Serbs (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic met with the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport and discussed with him situation in Kosovo, with a particular focus on recent Pristina’s ban to hold Serbian referendum in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, Kosovo-online portal reports citing the statement issue by the Office for KiM.

The statement added that Petkovic informed Davenport “about continuous attempts of Pristina to fully annul and abolish all political and civic rights of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, as witnessed on January 16, when provisional institutions of the local self-governance in Pristina made decision to ban holding of referendum on constitutional amendments in the Serbian areas in Kosovo”.

Petkovic also stressed that everyday statements of Pristina politicians that Serbs will be banned from voting on elections called by Serbia in the future, in particular at the upcoming elections on April 3, cause additional concern and threaten to lead to “unforeseeable consequences on the normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations”.

Petkovic also pointed out attacks against Serbs in Kosovo, their properties, cultural and religious heritage, seeing the latest events, as he said, as yet another in a series of pressure that should discourage Serbian people to fight for survival and their rights.

He also recalled that Serbs in Kosovo until now, with the support of the OSCE had the right to vote on Serbian elections, noting that “it was responsibility of the OSCE Mission to organise voting in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija on April 3, and enable Serbs to exercise their civic and democratic rights”.

Petkovic assessed that “OSCE in Kosovo and Metohija has a significant role in establishing the rule of law and safe environment for all people, voicing expectations that this Mission will continue acting in line with its mandate”.

“On the contrary, the latest events threaten to completely annul the achieved progress in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, but also to lead to a serious jeopardization of peace and dangerous destabilisation of the region, something that Belgrade doesn’t want at all”, he said. 

Head of the OSCE Mission also met Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Selakovic, who said he expects that Serbs in Kosovo, with the assistance of the OSCE, will be enabled to vote at the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. He assessed Pristina’s ban on holding referendum in Serbian areas in Kosovo “as limitation of fundamental human rights”.

Selakovic also said Belgrade remains committed to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, however, Pristina was not ready to deliver on earlier undertaken obligations, adding that “such unilateral approach makes the dialogue difficult”.

He also noted the issue of the return of displaced Serb and other non-Albanian populations was particularly important, recalling that 22 years after the end of the conflict in Kosovo and presence of the international community there, only 1.9 percent of displaced persons made sustainable returns.

Selakovic said engagement of OSCE Mission in Kosovo in the cases of human rights violations affecting returnees was of particular importance, as well as regular reporting about those cases. He warned that incidents and provocations, such as the case of Dragica Gasic in Djakovica or those in the north of Kosovo from September and October last year, have potential “to destabilise the fragile security situation in Kosovo”. Selakovic also voiced concern that 136 ethnically motivated incidents targeting Serbs, their properties and Serbian Orthodox Church property in Kosovo took place during the last year.  

Humanitarian/Development

Do not assume COVID pandemic reaching ‘end game’, warns WHO (Reuters)

GENEVA, Jan 24 (Reuters) – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that it was dangerous to assume the Omicron variant would herald the end of COVID-19’s acutest phase, exhorting nations to stay focused to beat the pandemic.

“It’s dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant and that we are in the end game,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a WHO executive board meeting of the two-year pandemic that has killed nearly 6 million people.

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3G0Vyca