Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We had 17 bilateral meetings at Munich Security Conference (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to discuss the dialogue on Thursday (Koha) 
• “Decision on energy tariff increase could end up at Constitutional Court” (EO)
• Kosovo continues preparations for “Dynamic Front 22” (media)
• Ukraine – Russia conflict doesn’t dim interest in Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Hoxhaj: Kosovo is first line of aggressive Russian campaign in the Balkans (media)
• COVID-19: 101 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Visoki Decani Monastery: SOC will use all legal means to protect its identity (Radio KIM)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese: Unacceptable that Kurti violates court’s verdicts (RTS)
• Google Maps once again shows the wrong location of Visoki Decani (KoSSev)
• Tourist panel in centre of Decani without photo of monastery (Kosovo-online)
• Slovakian Minister of Defence: Stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic thanks President of Iran over stance on Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Everybody knows our stance on Ukraine crisis (N1)
• Media: Russian official and Vucic to discuss recruitment of warriors from Balkans (N1)
• Vucic calls National Security Council session (RTS)
• EU: Belgrade-Pristina negotiating teams to meet in Brussels on Tuesday (N1)
• “Kurti accuses Serbia at Munich conference; Petkovic reminds him of crimes against Serbs” (RTS)
• Investigation against ten Serbian List officials over not reporting assets launched in Pristina (RTS)
• Ponos: Kosovo inalienable part of Serbia, to find solution for people living there (KoSSev, Nova TV)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Bosnia, as a warning for EU and Kosovo (Koha)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Hate speech can lead to tragedy (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: We had 17 bilateral meetings at Munich Security Conference (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that during the Munich Security Conference, together with Deputy Prime Minister Gërvalla, he held 17 bilateral meetings and talks with leaders and political representatives from Europe and the world.

Kurti wrote in a Facebook post:

“We talked about bilateral relations and areas of cooperation with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kiri Petkov, and with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimistar Kovacevski. Together with President Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, we met with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where we stressed the importance of the recognition of the state of Kosovo by Greece, as a natural next step towards further deepening of relations between our two countries.

In separate meetings with the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, and with the Special Representative of the European Union, Miroslav Lajčák, we discussed the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia. Meanwhile, in the meeting with the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, we asked for and received a promise for more financial and technical support in the field of education and employment of young people.

We also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Marise Payne, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ann Linde, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, one of the first Middle Eastern countries to recognize our Republic, Ayan Safadi and the German Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Ozdemir. We thanked them all for the good relations and exchanged our commitments for their progress.

We started the second day early with a meeting with the US Senator of the State of Iowa, Kosovo’s friend, Joni Ernst, to whom we expressed our gratitude for the continued support from the United States of America.

We also met with Deputy Prime Minister Gërvalla and with the leaders of German political entities, the chairman of the German SPD, Lars Klingbeil, the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Friedrich Merz, and the co-leader of the German Green Party, MP Omid Nouripour.

We also met with Belarus’s opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt.

I presented the opportunities and potential for investment in Kosovo during a working lunch with foreign entrepreneurs and investors within the Engaged Policy and Innovation Forum.

As part of the panel entitled “Lost in Transition: Challenges and Prospects of Accountability and Transitional Justice”, I reiterated the need to open state archives in Serbia, as crimes committed in Kosovo were crimes committed by the state of Serbia. Whereas in the panel “Battlefield resistance? Reserve Forces as a necessary support for the Armed Forces” I spoke about our increased budget for the Kosovo Security Forces and the commitment of the Government to modernize the Army.

The issue of missing persons during the recent war in Kosovo was the topic of a meeting with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer.”

Kosovo Assembly to discuss the dialogue on Thursday (Koha) 

The Kosovo Assembly will meet on Thursday to discuss the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Abelard Tahiri, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, argued that the Kurti-led government lacks transparency for the dialogue and that it has yet to present a draft agreement. “I cannot talk today about a draft agreement that we haven’t seen. But we will see in the future a document that the government will share with the MPs. On Thursday we will discuss the process of dialogue. What is most concerning is the lack of transparency in the process,” he said.

Besnik Tahiri, head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) parliamentary group, said the dialogue needs to conclude. He argued that Kosovo did not have any benefits from the process. “We have asked for the Prime Minister to report before the MPs, and for the Kosovo Assembly to have oversight in a crucial process for Kosovo that has mobilised the international community,” he added.

“Decision on energy tariff increase could end up at Constitutional Court” (EO)

Abelard Tahiri, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, said today that the decision of the Energy Regulatory Office to increase the energy tariffs could end up at the Constitutional Court. After the meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency, Tahiri said that the Constitutional Court is one of the options they are looking into to address the energy tariff increase. “We are doing what an opposition party does. We are addressing topics that we believe are important. These prices are unaffordable for the citizens of Kosovo and we will use all possible mechanisms, and one of them is the Constitutional Court,” he added.

Kosovo continues preparations for “Dynamic Front 22” (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defence, Armend Mehaj, said today that Kosovo is continuing preparations “for the participation of our troops in the multinational exercise with allied forces “Dynamic Front 22” which will be held in Germany with the leadership of the U.S. Army in Europe”. “This exercise is designed to improve the ability of Allied and Partner countries to improve and advance their long-range fire capability. We continue to work together with US forces and other allies, united and determined, to defend continental and global peace, security and stability,” Mehaj wrote in a Facebook post.

Ukraine – Russia conflict doesn’t dim interest in Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (RTK)

The news website quotes political commentators in Prishtina as saying that an eventual conflict between Ukraine and Russia is not expected to dim the interest of the international community in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and that it could even lead to increased attention for a quicker final settlement between the two sides.

“Relations between Kosovo and Serbia are certainly in the interest of the European Union, NATO and the United States of America. I think this may have a positive effect, especially with these three parties, to intensify their interest and to conclude the issue as soon as possible,” Afrim Hoti, a professor of international relations at Prishtina University, told RTK.

Valon Murtezaj, political commentator, argues that “it is likely that the situation in Ukraine and Russia will resort to diplomacy, and this will then have an impact on other issues, especially on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, because this is a very important process for both countries. Both the U.S. and the European Union want to see progress in dialogue”.

Hoxhaj: Kosovo is first line of aggressive Russian campaign in the Balkans (media)

Kosovo’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, said today that “Russia is ready to start another war against Ukraine” and that “Kosovo is the first line of the aggressive Russian campaign in the Balkans, where only last week Kosovo was hit three times directly!”

“Earlier in the week, Putin blamed NATO for bombing Serbia. But, he received a response from Chancellor Scholz who told him that NATO stopped the Serbian genocide in Kosovo! Late last week, Lavrov accused Albania and Kosovo of recruiting mercenaries for the war in Ukraine! In the end, a pro-Russian French MEP also lied against Kosovo!”

“This shows that Kosovo is already part of the propaganda battle of the war in Ukraine! This is where Kosovo is hit, but also our western partners! A structured blow to Kosovo and by no means an isolated case, but this is not the end!”

COVID-19: 101 new cases, one death (media)

101 new cases with COVID-19 and one death from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. 758 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 3,883 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Visoki Decani Monastery: SOC will use all legal means to protect its identity (Radio KIM)

Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) will use all legal means to protect its identity amid aggressive behaviour of the Kosovo Albanians leaders, Visoki Decani Monastery wrote on Twitter account, Radio KIM reports.

#Serbian #Orthodox #Church will use all legal means to protect its identity, freedom & property amid aggressive behaviour of #Kosovo Albanian leaders who completely destroyed in one year all efforts so far in establishing at least a minimum of normal contact w/ the Serb community.”, Monastery wrote on Twitter.

In a series of other posts, the Monastery also said that “#Serbian #Orthodox #Church in Kosovo-Metohija made many efforts in the last 2 decades to establish normal relations with all in Kosovo, our monastery sheltered K/Albanian refugees & all this was documented by intl sources. 22ys after we are being exposed to open discrimination”.

The Monastery also added that “With their ethnocentric & discriminatory behavior, opposite to principles of Western democracy, #Kosovo Albanian leaders have antagonised ALL Kos/ Serbs who rightfully request efficient protection from ethnic and cultural cleansing, disrespect of laws and institutional pressures”.

“That is why the already agreed in Brussels fully meaningful Community of Serb Municipalities and the efficient protection of #Serbian #Orthodox #Heritage in #Kosovo is considered by all Kos/Serbs as a 1st step in the continuation of the Belgrade-Priština dialog on normalisation”, the Monastery underlined. 

Raska-Prizren Diocese: Unacceptable that Kurti violates court’s verdicts (RTS)

Serbian Orthodox Church Raska-Prizren Diocese expressed protest over the latest statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, by which, the Diocese underlines, he once again “openly undermines decision of the Kosovo Constitutional Court regarding 24 hectares of land recognized as property of Visoki Decani Monastery”, RTS reports.

They also urged the international community “to use influence so that such unprecedented behaviour ends”.

The Diocese said in a statement that persistent violation of the rule of law and opposition to the Constitutional Court decision regarding Visoki Decani Monastery’s land, made after 15 years of detailed court discussions under full international monitoring and finally resolved in 2016, is more applicable to autocracies, than to the society that declaratively calls for the rule of law and democracy.

“Political rhetoric that creates ethnic and religious antagonism further deepens the gap between institutions of the Kosovo Albanians and Serbian people, and Serbian Orthodox Church in particular and demonstrates that this area instead of moving into direction of democracy and peaceful coexistence of all communities goes to the direction of a legal lawlessness and creation of an ethnically pure Albanian territory, in which all traces of the Serbian history, property and everything linked with the Serbian people are attempted to be brutally erased, despite all legal provisions and international guarantees”.

The Diocese said it expects decision, given that it was supported on several occasions by the EU representatives, OSCE, UNMIK, and ambassadors of the leading western countries will finally be executed after six years of an open and legally unsanctioned obstruction and pressure on Visoki Decani Monastery, and that the monastery’s land which the monastery uses continuously will be registered in the cadaster record.

“Out-of-court commenting on the verdict, which is fully fledged and final, is politically irresponsible and dangerous because it draws a target on Visoki Decani Monastery, our monasticism and UNESCO cultural heritage and creates a space for violence to which the Monastery has been exposed before and that is why it is under KFOR protections”, Diocese said in a statement.

It also said that the Raska-Prizren Eparchy remains open for normal communication with local institutions, within its own legal and church authorities. 

Google Maps once again shows the wrong location of Visoki Decani (KoSSev)

If you had plans to travel to Visoki Decani Monastery with the help of Google Maps – you won’t be reaching your destination. The monastery’s marker on Google Maps has been moved once again, which is why the application will now lead you to the roundabout in Decani, a few kilometres from the monastery, KoSSev portal reports.

The marker of the Visoki Decani Monastery, which is part of the UNESCO cultural heritage in danger list, on Google Maps has been moved several times in the past, which is why numerous visitors who used the app had trouble finding the exact location of the monastery.

In July 2016, the monastery was temporarily marked as a hotel “Kalaja e Decanit“ on Google Maps.

At the time, together with the monastery’s marker, many photos of the site were temporarily removed.

The monastery of Visoki Decani was also “moved“ to a non-existent location in the vicinity of Leskovac, 200 km east of Decani.

The IT team in charge of the Google account of the Visoki Decani Monastery told KoSSev that such situations may have occurred in the past after a large number of users reported that the monastery’s location was incorrectly marked.

After the monastery reacted, Google sent them verification to their home address. After they confirmed the location, the monastery’s marker on Google Maps was fixed. Google also apologized and assured the monastery that additional protection algorithms were added so that similar problems would be avoided in the future.

However, new issues emerged in the meantime.

If you were to search for the Monastery Visoki Decani on the Google map, you would see that the location has been moved to a roundabout in Decani and that there is a question mark next to it.

“This happens because the location has been verified, the pin cannot be moved much, i.e. it has been moved by the maximum distance allowed by the system”, the IT team told KoSSev.

In their words, users might have once again reported that the monastery was listed in the wrong location – to which Google does not know how to react, which is why it either removes the monastery from the map or adds a question mark.

They added that for this to happen – a large number of Google users would have to report that the monastery is in the wrong location.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3p2hsWU

Tourist panel in centre of Decani without photo of monastery (Kosovo-online)

Visoki Decani Monastery posted on Twitter a photo of a panel, erected in the centre of Decani, depicting the three most interesting tourist features there, however this mediaeval Serbian Orthodox Church Monastery is not among them, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“When you come to Dečani Municipality you can see what are “the most important tourist features” here in three photos. This panel financed also by international partners (probably not knowing what they pay for) speaks a lot. Photo of the #monastery is missing of course #Kosovo”, Monastery wrote on Twitter. 

Slovakian Minister of Defence: Stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Kosovo-online)

Despite frequent appeals of European Union to its member states (Spain, Greece, Romania, Cyrus and Slovakia) which do not recognize Kosovo, to do so, Slovakia is firm on its position that Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of Serbia, Slovakian Minister of Defense, Jaroslav Nad said this weekend during the meeting with Novi Sad-based Vojvodina Archive Director Nebojsa Kuzmanovic and his assistant Kristian Obshust, Kosovo-online portal reports.   

“The Government and the Parliament of the Republic of Slovakia, and I personally, have absolutely unchanged stance not to recognize Kosovo. This is a permanent stance of the foreign policy of the Republic of Slovakia regardless of the composition of the government”, Minister Nad said, adding that such a stance is based on respecting the basic principles of the international law and derives from the principle of defining the borders in Europe after WWII.

Dr. Kuzmanovic thanked Minister Nad on the principled stance of Slovakia regarding Kosovo, and acquainted him with archive’s documents witnessing suffering of Slovaks in Vojvodina area during WWII, ad well as on decision to erect monument to the Slovakian poet Adolf Svatopluk Osvald, who died as volunteer in the Serbian Army in 1876.

Vucic thanks President of Iran over stance on Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Serbia is interested to develop further cooperation with Iran in the areas of real possibilities and mutual interest, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in a phone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, Radio KIM reports.

During the talks, Vucic emphasised that Serbia was sincerely grateful to Iran because, despite great pressure, it demonstrated its friendship with Serbia through a principled position of non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, as well as through support on the issue.

Raisi said Iran would remain consistent about its respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and continue to support Serbia in international organisations in that regard.

He confirmed Iran’s commitment to develop multi-faceted relations with Serbia and thanked Vucic for his engagement in development of bilateral cooperation.

The two presidents said they hoped planned contacts and exchanges of high-level visits between the two states would take place soon.

Vucic and Raisi also discussed current global political affairs, the statement adds.

Vucic: Everybody knows our stance on Ukraine crisis (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that no one is asking Belgrade to decide on the crisis in Ukraine because “they know our stance”, which is principled and based on respect for international law, N1 reports.

Asked about his candidacy for the new presidential mandate, he said that it was a probable option, but that final decision on it would be made in the next ten days.

Vucic also told Tanjug that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was monitoring the events in Ukraine and reminded that Serbia’s citizens were urged to consider leaving the country.

“If necessary, we will help relocate our citizens. I hope that this will not happen”, he said.

He also said that he does not know whether the information provided by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that “mercenaries from Kosovo, Albania and BiH” are coming to Donbas is correct, and added that he would ask Russia for additional information on the matter.

Media: Russian official and Vucic to discuss recruitment of warriors from Balkans (N1)

The Russian Security Council’s Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic will meet in Belgrade on February 28, according to the Russian portal Balkanist.ru to discuss news on the recruitment of fighters from the Western Balkans to take part in the conflict in Ukraine, N1 reports.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow had information about recruiting mercenaries from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo to be sent to Donbas in south-eastern Ukraine dominated by the pro-Russian people.

Balkanist.ru said that Patrushev and Vucic would also consider cooperation in security issues “in the conditions of constant challenges for the region’s countries, Europe and the world“.

The website added that one of the meeting topics would likely be “speculations of Serbia’s opposition media about wiretapping and monitoring of Russian opposition activists during their stay in Belgrade last year, and handing over information to Russian security services“, N1 reports.

Vucic calls National Security Council session (RTS)

Session of the National Security Council chaired by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was held today at the presidency building in Belgrade, RTS reports. The situation in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans were the topics of the session.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Minister of Defence, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Justice Minister Maja Popovic and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali were in attendance.

Serbian Army Chief of Staff, General Milan Mojsilovic, director of Security and Infromative Agency (BIA) Bratislav Gasic, Commander of Special Anti-terrorist Units Spasoje Vulevic and Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic were also present.

There were no statements following the session, and a press release will be issued later on conclusions of the session, RTS said. 

Kosovo-online portal reported during the day that three agreements were made during the session and include agreement on preserving peace and stability in the region, improving and increasing the level of security of Serbia and its citizens, as well as agreement on analysing and concrete actions in purchasing commodities and important goods that may become deficit due to world crisis.

EU: Belgrade-Pristina negotiating teams to meet in Brussels on Tuesday (N1)

The next meeting of the heads of the Belgrade – Pristina negotiating teams will be held on February 22 in Brussels, EU spokesperson Peter Stano told N1 late Friday.

He specified that the host of that meeting would be Miroslav Lajcak, the EU special envoy for the dialogue on normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

“The next Dialogue meeting at the level of chief negotiators will be held in Brussels on February 22, hosted by EUSR Miroslav Lajcak. This round of meetings will continue to discuss issues related to the implementation of past agreements and the next steps in the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia”, Stano said.

“Kurti accuses Serbia at Munich conference; Petkovic reminds him of crimes against Serbs” (RTS)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a conference in Munich called upon Serbia to open its state archives, adding that “crimes committed in Kosovo were state crimes”, RTS reports. Kurti also said that “past is not over yet, because war crimes and genocide are still being negated”.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petovic reacting to his statements said that “the past can’t be forgotten because of thousands of expelled Serbs from the province and those killed and missing”.

“You have forgotten to say that past shall not be over as long as there are thousands of expelled Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, burned houses and churches, missing and murdered people”, Petkovic wrote on Twitter reacting to Kurti’s stamement.

Pegkovic also asked Kurti why he refuses a search for missing persons at nine locations in Kosovo, and why he conceals KLA archives, he admitted that they exist.

“Stop inventing non-existent genocide, but get involved in a search for missing persons”, Petkovic added.

Investigation against ten Serbian List officials over not reporting assets launched in Pristina (RTS)

The Anti-Corruption Agency in Pristina has opened an investigation against ten Serbian List officials over not reporting their assets, RTS reports.

The Agency runs an investigation into five active Serbian MPs, saying they will focus on their multiple functions within the Kosovo system. The investigation also includes one former and two active mayors, one former MP and a minister.  

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic reacting to the investigation opening wrote on Twitter that “the act Pristina initiated against Serbian List representatives, is in fact a new pressure by Kurti on Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Kosovo-online portal reports.

He also added it is about an attempt “to weaken the defence bastion of the Serbian national interests”.

“The attempt of Albin Kurti that instead of the Serbian List he can’t break down, to bring Serbs loyal to him, will not discourage representatives of the Serbian List, who will fight even stronger for the interests of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Petkovic wrote. 

Ponos: Kosovo inalienable part of Serbia, to find solution for people living there (KoSSev, Nova TV)

Kosovo is part of Serbia, inalienable and there will be neither discussion to recognize it nor accept any sort of independence that would enable Kosovo joining United Nations, Serbian opposition candidate at upcoming Serbian elections, retired Army of Serbia general, Zdravko Ponos said in “Utisak nedelje” (Impression of the Week) talk show on Nova TV, KoSSev portal reports.

“I also think that Kosovo is an issue that can’t be resolved within one mandate and certainly can’t be resolved in a way to take it as an electoral gift to Trump at the times of his electoral campaign, nor can it be resolved within the mandate of one government, and perhaps not even during one political generation because it is such a complex issue”, Ponos underlined.

“Kosovo is an issue that must be resolved so that every next solution is better than the previous one foremost for the people living there”, he added.

Opinion

Palokaj: Bosnia, as a warning for EU and Kosovo (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj writes in an opinion piece about the fragile situations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Kosovo. He argues that both states were created and developed with a strong international role and with international missions which had, and in some areas still have, executive competencies. 

“So, in the cases of Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina responsibility cannot be limited only to ‘local political leaders’ and the international community, including EU and NATO, cannot be amnestied. Now the situation is getting out of control precisely because a lot has been invested in local political leaders believing that stability would be secured through them. For this reason were sacrificed democracy, freedom of the media, the rule of law, the efficiency of the judiciary and even the fight against corruption and organised crime. For several years now, this has been called stabilocracy, and it describes the approach of the EU when it works with those political leaders which assure that there won’t be conflicts, while meanwhile the latter are tolerated for their misdoings and are strongly supported by Brussels”.

Palokaj notes that this wrong approach has been going on for so long that it can no longer be changed without consequences, “because those that were in power for long periods of time, have a hold on many things and can cause unrest that would not suit the international community”.

Palokaj further writes that “when Kosovo became a state, it was insisted that it should be ‘multiethnic’.” “Kosovo was not allowed to have a single Albanian ethnic element in any of its symbols. But the European Union, through the dialogue, proved that it has not learned the lesson from Bosnia, and it allowed for an agreement to be reached according to the ethnic key. Namely, a political agreement determined what nationalities a judge, prosecutor, police chief and so on, should have in certain parts of Kosovo. The EU even said that the agreement was violated when a verdict was reached against a Serb from the north of Kosovo because the panel of judges included two Albanians,” he writes.

According to Palokaj, “Bosnia should definitely serve as a warning for Kosovo and the European Union. Because if it has become so difficult to turn Bosnia Herzegovina into a functional state, although its international subjectivity is not contested, how can Kosovo become functional when its statehood is contested not only by Serbia but also by the European Union and NATO, as these are organisations where decisions are made by consensus”.

Humanitarian/Development

Hate speech can lead to tragedy (Kallxo)

In an analysis of the situation created during the March 2004 riots, the Prishtina-based Humanitarian Law Center has concluded that hate speech and inaccurate information published in the media can have irreparable consequences in society.

The report elaborated on the narrative and hate speech used before and during the March 2004 riots in which more than 20 people died and dozens were injured. According to the report, the March riots started as a result of the tragic loss of life of three Albanian children in the Ibar river, in Caber, near Zubin Potok, on March 16.

“The media reported that the children ended up in the Ibar / Ibar river, because they were attacked by Serbs who also had a dog with them. In the absence of evidence, the HLC does not address the issue of whether children lost their lives as a result of Serb persecution or not, although an international prosecutor, Peter Tinsley, has closed the investigation into the case, concluding: ‘No suspects have been identified despite considerable efforts,” the report notes.

The analysis focused only on media reports and statements which according to the report contained elements of hate speech and which greatly contributed to the start of the March riots. “On the night of the tragic event but also the next day, the media were overwhelmed with unprofessional reporting, which is believed to have helped the situation worsen further,” the report notes.

As a result of the tragic loss of children’s lives, the report explains that large riots began in most areas of Kosovo and with grave consequences. “In addition to the loss of human lives, damage was also caused to homes, and at the same time a large number of religious sites were damaged, demolished or even burned,” the report notes.

HLC analysis, says that according to an OSCE report which refers to the report of the Secretary General of the United Nations Interim Administration, Mission in Kosovo, it is stated that as a result of the riots, 19 people were killed, of which 11 Kosovo Albanians and 8 Kosovo Serbs, more than 900 people were injured, including 65 international police officers and 58 Kosovo Police officers, and more than 800 buildings were destroyed or damaged, including 29 Orthodox churches or monasteries. 

The HLC report states that the report conducted by the OSCE, titled “The role of the media in the events of March 2004 in Kosovo”, states that even in societies that do not have ethnic conflicts, the correlation of media reporting with the losses of lives represents a thin line between freedom of speech and hate speech.