Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani received by the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop (media)
• War in Ukraine – NATO says engagement in Kosovo has not changed (Kallxo)
• Hoti: Kosovo needs to join NATO and the EU through accelerated procedures (Koha)
• Mehaj with a request for citizens for the campaign ‘Kosovo in NATO’ (media)
• Haradinaj addresses Kurti with five requests after the situation in Ukraine (RTK)
• Doris Pack: Kosovo should be immediately recognized by the five EU countries (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 61 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: We will join the UN decisions related to violations of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, not the ones on sanctions (Beta, NMagazin)
• Selakovic: Serbia regrets erupting of crisis and conflict in Ukraine (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia ready for Ukrainian refugees, Red Cross opens account to help Ukrainians (N1)
• Selakovic: ”Separatism is contagious’’ (media)
• Grubjesic: Pristina’s request to join NATO encouraged from outside (RTS)
• Serbian Atlantic Council chairman on Pristina’s request to join NATO (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo Media Weigh Solutions to Boom in Fake News (Balkan Insight)
• BIRN Fact-Check: Do Serbia and Kosovo Really Cooperate on Court Cases? (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Stories of coexistence: Three awards for journalists and media from Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• BiH, Kosovo*, North Macedonia in breach of rules on air pollution from thermal power plants (balkangreenenergynews.com)

Albanian Language Media  

Osmani received by Turkey’s Speaker of Parliament and Foreign Minister (media)

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani and Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gervalla met during their official visit to Ankara with the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop.

Part of the delegation was also the the Commander of the KSF Bashkim Jashari and the chairman of the Friendship group of the Kosovo Assembly for Kosovo-Turkey, Enis Kervan.

They assessed during the meeting that the relations between Kosovo and Turkey are good and with continuous advancement. According to President Osmani, these relations are multidimensional and are strengthened by cooperation with Turkey in many areas, considering this country as a partner in many processes. She praised the role that Turkey has played in the process of liberation, independence and state building in Kosovo. President Osmani has requested that within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy, Turkey be the voice of Kosovo in international organizations in which this country is represented and to advance the process of Kosovo’s membership in these organizations.

 “Accelerating our membership in NATO is necessary to guarantee peace and stability, not only in Kosovo, but in the Western Balkans in general,” said President Osmani, emphasizing that parliamentary diplomacy can push forward Kosovo’s membership in organizations, such as NATO and the Council of Europe.

 Speaking about the dialogue process with Serbia, President Osmani stressed that the dialogue should focus on mutual recognition and that Serbia has so far proved to be blocking in this process, by not implementing a series of signed agreements.

Osmani and Gervalla, met also with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

They discussed cooperation in the field of foreign policy, defense, security, trade, health and other areas of mutual interest. Osmani stressed that relations with Turkey have the potential to expand and deepen further, in particular by encouraging more investment in Kosovo and increasing Kosovo’s exports to Turkey. She further stressed the importance of Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, as a process that will benefit all citizens of Kosovo, regardless of ethnicity.

In this context, President Osmani stressed that together with the allies, they will not allow the destabilization of the Western Balkans region. According to Osmani, peace and a secure future of the region is possible with the membership of Kosovo and the Western Balkan countries in the EU and NATO.

War in Ukraine – NATO says engagement in Kosovo has not changed (Kallxo)

The news portal reports that military and security experts predicted that the security of Kosovo could be compromised after the war in Ukraine. The critical point according to them is the northern Kosovo.

On Tuesday, in a response to KALLXO.com, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO said “NATO’s engagement in Kosovo has not changed.”

Furthermore, this organization reaffirmed its support for Kosovo and its security organizations.

“In addition to KFOR, NATO through the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team – continues to carry out capacity building activities in support of Kosovo’s security organizations, within. We remain committed through the NATO-led and UN-mandated KFOR, which contributes to a secure environment and wider stability in the Western Balkans,” is stressed in the response.

The position of the KFOR mission in Kosovo, according to NATO, is not influenced by time but by conditions.

Hoti: Kosovo needs to join NATO and the EU through accelerated procedures (Koha)

Avdullah Hoti, MP of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said that Kosovo should join NATO and the European Union with accelerated procedures.

He said that the situation in Ukraine proves the urgency of Kosovo’s membership in NATO and the EU.

Hoti wrote on Facebook that NATO and EU members who have not yet recognized Kosovo should change their position based on the situation, as well as the Opinion of the International Court of Justice, adding that there is no room for political stance, that create ambiguity and leave the door open for instability.

He further said that Kosovo should take the initiative in the new situation and that the Assembly should urgently adopt a resolution, where:

(i) NATO and the EU are required to consider Kosovo’s membership;

(ii) the Government of Kosovo is obliged, in consultation with NATO, to review and shorten the deadlines for the advancement of the KSF into a regular army foreseen in the 10-year plan of 2018, including the provision of financial support to necessary for this purpose; AND

(iii) the remaining EU countries are required to recognize Kosovo.

Mehaj with a request for citizens for the campaign ‘Kosovo in NATO’ (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense Armend Mehaj has asked his compatriots living in Europe to invite their Spanish, Greek, Romanian, Slovak and Cypriot friends to hear the truth about Kosovo.

He also demanded that calls for Kosovo’s membership in NATO and the EU be posted on social media profiles.

“I call on you as a fellow citizen, compatriot and friend of yours, to invite, wherever you are and from whatever position you have, your Spanish, Greek, Romanian, Slovak and Cypriot friends, to hear the truth of Kosovo and our people: – Republic of Kosovo and our people, share common Euro-Atlantic values ​​of freedom, peace and democracy. – The Republic of Kosovo is a reliable partner, and we have proven this continuously in every joint project in the function of humanity, peace, security, stability and democracy. – The Republic of Kosovo, historically and culturally, is an integral and natural part of the European family. All together, in our social network profiles to put: #KosovoInNATO #KosovoInEU “, Mehaj wrote.

Haradinaj addresses Kurti with five requests after the situation in Ukraine (RTK)

Following the situation in Ukraine, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj, has asked the Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, to act on national security.

Through a Facebook post, Haradinaj submitted five requests to Kurti.

The requirements include the issue of Kosovo’s security strategy, the Law and the KSF fund, the US pipeline and the dialogue with Serbia.

Haradinaj tells Kurti that it is time for action.

“Complete the Security Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo; Bring to the Assembly the amendments to the KSF Law, with the article on donations; Bring to the Assembly the draft law on the Donation Fund for the KSF; Review your decision on the US pipeline project and approve the same, as it is not only an economic project but also a security project; Give up the dialogue of the technicians and determine in the process of the final agreement for mutual recognition within the existing borders”.

In the end, Haradianj said that any hesitation and delay to act in this direction, is a threat to the security of Kosovo, for which the government will be held accountable.

Doris Pack: Kosovo should be immediately recognized by the five EU countries (Kallxo)

Former member of the European Parliament Doris Pack has demanded the recognition of Kosovo by the five countries which have not yet done so. According to Pack, the recognition of Kosovo by Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus should be done immediately.

“This war against Ukraine is a wake-up call for a more committed, more effective EU enlargement policy with the countries of the Western Balkans. Dictator Putin is using his influence in some of these countries to weaken the EU. Recognition of Kosovo by the remaining 5 member states Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus must be done immediately,” wrote Doris Pack, calling for the European Union to engage in the Western Balkans.

COVID-19: 61 new cases, one death (media)

61 new cases with COVID-19 and one death from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. 241 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 1,696 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: We will join the UN decisions related to violations of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, not the ones on sanctions (Beta, NMagazin)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic stated today that Serbia will join all the decisions of the UN General Assembly on the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, but that it will reject all those related to sanctions against Russia, reported Beta news agency.

At the beginning of the construction of the road Sremska Raca-Kuzmin, Vucic told reporters that there was a vote on nine decisions at the UN General Assembly on Monday on the Ukrainian crisis, of which Serbia joined one, and that today will join another. 

He assessed that it will be very difficult to withstand the pressure of the West on Serbia’s decision on the Ukrainian crisis, but that “Serbia already has its chair”.

“Tonight, I had talks with the representatives of several countries until late, today all day. Just that much about the great respect for the independence, and the right of other countries to decide independently,” the president said.

When asked how he commented on the requests of individuals for Serbia, like the EU, to ban the Russian channels “Sputnik” and “Russia Today”, Vucic said that “some” in Serbia would like to ban all media that speak differently.

“When they talk about media freedoms, they think that media freedoms should be that only they exist, and no one else,” Vucic said.

The President of Serbia did not state whether he was considering a possible ban on the Russian media but added that the opposition could decide on that if it wins the April elections.

Selakovic: Serbia regrets erupting of crisis and conflict in Ukraine (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic met today head of EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret and ambassadors of EU states accredited to Serbia, and informed them about conclusions of the Serbian National Council on the situation in Ukraine, that Serbian Government adopted on February 27, Kosovo-online portal reports.

On this occasion, Selakovic said that Serbia sincerely regrets the eruption of the crisis and conflict in Ukraine. He also said that Serbia respects territorial integrity and sovereignty of every state, including Ukraine. With this in mind, Selakovic stressed that Serbia clearly calls for the respect of the principles of international law, adding this is a base of its foreign policy.

He underlined that Serbia extends full support to the negotiations of the two sides and all credible international efforts to find a peaceful and political solution to the crisis in Ukraine. 

Serbia ready for Ukrainian refugees, Red Cross opens account to help Ukrainians (N1)

Serbian Red Cross (SCC) has opened an account to help the population of Ukraine, while the Commissariat for Refugees and Migrants has said it has facilities ready to accept refugees from Ukraine if needed, N1 reports.

In a statement, the SCC said it was deeply concerned over the extremely serious humanitarian consequences of the escalating conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, the Commissariat said it would “as in 2015, together with other state bodies, international organisations and partners, do everything to accept those who need help, following the decisions of the Serbian Government“, the statement said.

In the meantime, the Montenegrin Red Cross said that some Ukrainian refugees have arrived in the tiny Adriatic republic.

The SCC added that as part of the global humanitarian network of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it was ready to “support people in need in a structured and organised manner“.

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

Selakovic: ”Separatism is contagious’’ (media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said that MEP Viola von Cramon decided to use the events in Ukraine and the fear of European countries of a wider scale destabilization to radicalize her lobbying efforts to secure to “self-proclaimed Kosovo a membership in international organizations”, Serbian media reported, citing the Ministry’s statement.

In his statement, Nikola Selakovic points out that ”Viola von Cramon’s commitment to the admission of self-proclaimed Kosovo to the Council of Europe, but also the growing demands for Pristina to join NATO, not only do not contribute to the stability of Europe, but on the contrary threaten to destabilize political and security conditions in our region.

“Pristina, through UNMIK and in accordance with international law and UNSCR 1244, has effective channels of communication with international organizations; any attempt to gain membership in a multilateral forum for a self-proclaimed ‘Kosovo’ by overvoting not only would it not contribute to stability in the Western Balkans, but it would have quite the opposite effect,” Selakovic said in a statement

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia reminds MEP von Cramon and, as he says, ”other lobbyists who are continuously working on consolidating the self-proclaimed independence of the so-called state of Kosovo” that Belgrade and Pristina have been trying for years to overcome disagreements by peaceful and political means, with the mediation of the EU.

He emphasises that this is the only way to normalise these relations in accordance with European values and international law.

“In the days when international law and the international order we know are on the exam due to events that have nothing to do with the Western Balkans, I believe no one needs to give legitimacy to separatists in the southern Serbian province by imposing solutions and dangerous political moves, because separatism, as Serbia was warning for years, is contagious and can spread around the world as domino effect,” Selakovic said in a statement.

Grubjesic: Pristina’s request to join NATO encouraged from outside (RTS)

Amid the situation in Ukraine, Pristina requests immediate accession to NATO, while four EU states, members of NATO, which do not recognize Kosovo are under strong pressure to do so, Serbian national broadcaster RTS reports today.

Although in line with the current procedure it will not be possible for Pristina to join the Alliance, the newly created situation changes the image of the world and according to Suzana Grubjesic from Foreign Policy Centre one should not be surprised if that happens.

Should NATO adhere to its own rules and procedures, admission of Kosovo to NATO would not have been possible, because it is not recognized as a state.

“There are four EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo. Those countries are under strong pressure, however, Serbia is under strongest pressure to recognize Kosovo”, she opined.

According to her it is more likely that Pristina would be admitted to NATO, then to the UN, given that there is no one there who could impose veto on it, as Russia and China can do so in the UN, and the influence of the US there is rather strong.   

“Pristina’s request is encouraged from outside as one can judge based on Kosovo lobbyists in US Congress and we should not be surprised with that. We can’t go much apart from firmly keeping our position and to talk to representatives of those four states. One should not forget that without agreement with Belgrade, Pristina has no international certainty”, Grubjesic said.

The Washington Charter from 1949 on establishing NATO doesn’t have a precise obligation that a candidate must be a UN member, however, in international law it goes without saying that a term state refers only to those that are members of the UN.

“Unfortunately, those strict procedures may get relaxed under such a crisis. We could see it already in the example of Ukraine, which submitted a request to join the EU. I can’t claim that would happen, but it is certainly that a new geo-political reality is being created. Also, there is an ‘energy divorce’ taking place between Europe and Russia after 60 years and all those are circumstances some actors may use to pursue their goals”, she opined.

She added that for the first time in history, Burssels is arming a non-member state, by giving Ukraine a fund of 450 million euros to acquire armament.  

Serbian Atlantic Council chairman on Pristina’s request to join NATO (Kosovo-online)

Chairman of the Atlantic Council in Serbia, Vladan Zivulovic said that the intention of Kosovo to join NATO under accelerated procedure is realistically impossible given that Kosovo is not a UN member, is not fully-fledged and lacks basics conditions to be accepted as a member under any procedure, Kosovo-online portal reports. 

He also commented on Pristina’s request to have a permanent US base in Kosovo saying that “the very idea to build a new base in Kosovo was utterly unrealistic” as the US has already built Bondsteel base near Urosevac, adding he sees those attempts in line with the situation “in which Kosovo attempts to prove to the US its loyalty and fidelity”.  

He recalled that even Kosovo Atlantic Council was not able to become a member of Atlantic Treaty Association, adding it was rejected every time it wanted to become part of this non-governmental organisation, not only by Serbia’s friends such as Spain and Slovakia, but also by Scandinavian and German representatives. 

“Condition of all conditions is a UN membership”, he said.

International

Kosovo Media Weigh Solutions to Boom in Fake News (Balkan Insight)

The case of a woman beaten up on the basis of a fake news report has got experts pondering what measures Kosovo should take to counter this increasingly damaging phenomenon.

The case of a Roma woman in Kosovo wrongfully accused by unchecked media reports of kidnapping children is only one of many, underlining the steep price people can pay for fake news.

The story began with a news report published in May 2019, which carried the photo of an unidentified woman with the inflammatory title, “Roma woman is kidnapping children”.

The story went viral quickly and was republished by almost countless news portals, media and social media pages, so that now it is still impossible to determine which media initiated the report.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/345jK0k

BIRN Fact-Check: Do Serbia and Kosovo Really Cooperate on Court Cases? (Balkan Insight)

The figures suggest a significant improvement in judicial cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo since a mechanism was agreed with the EU in 2013. But do they tell the whole story?

When Milan Radojicic turned his car around at the border between Serbia and Kosovo this month, leaving his documents in the hands of the Kosovo border police, the powerful Kosovo Serb businessman-turned-politician did not just evade likely arrest.

He also highlighted the difficulties still dogging cooperation between judicial authorities in Serbia and its former southern province despite an EU-brokered mechanism designed to ease the process.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/35yOxD3

Humanitarian/Development

Stories of coexistence: Three awards for journalists and media from Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)

At the Belgrade Media Center, a jury consisting of Jelena Obucina (Newsmax Adria), Tamara Skrozza (FoNet) and Milivoje Mihajlovic (RTS) presented awards to the winners of the competition for contributions in depicting multiethnic coexistence. Three awards were given to journalists and media in Kosovo and Metohija, reported Kontakt plus radio.

“As it was written in the invitations, whenever and however the Kosovo knot unravels one day, one thing will never change, and that is that Serbs and Albanians will always be each other’s neighbors. We hope that they will be good neighbors, ready to come to each other’s aid, when they need to, and share moments of joy, when there are any,” said Nenad Sebek from the Peaceful Change Initiative. 

Working with the media, a study was made which was preceded by media dialogues, he explains and says that all pointed out the serious lack of media content that speaks of ordinary life, as well as positive examples of coexistence.

Awards in Serbian for audio-visual content were given to: Zorica Krstic Vorgucic (RTV Kim, first prize), Tatjana Manojlovic (RTS, second prize) and Aleksandra Nicic (RTK2, third prize).

Awards in Serbian for written content were given to: Jelena Jorgacevic (VREME weekly, first prize), Bojan Cvejic (Danas, second prize), while the third prize was not awarded.

The media awards were given to Vreme and RTV Kim.

Zorica Vorgucic won the first prize for the TV report “Why is it important to speak the language of our neighbors?”.

Mihajlovic explains that the title said “everything”, and that it encourages a “new reality” and a “new need”.

“I think stories like this are important, because they speak of the need for understanding and reconciliation twenty-something years after the conflict,” he added.

Vorgucic said she was honored and added that there are positive stories,  although news from Kosovo were not always positive. She hoped that awards such as these would encourage her colleagues, above all, colleagues in Kosovo, to deal more with positive examples of cooperation between Serbs and Albanians. 

RTK2 journalist Aleksandra Nicic was awarded the third prize for the story of coexistence in Kamenica.

It is a “market barometer”, explained Mihajlovic.

“It is a barometer that assesses a sensitive, simple life that cannot be found on the front pages of Kosovo and Serbian media. This is a story about a life that politics has pushed to the margins, a story on the price of Kosovo and Balkan paradoxes – life in Kosovo Pomoravlje. Very realistic and professional,” said Mihajlovic.

Nicic thanked the organizers and the jury for recognizing the work and effort of the team. She said that they will continue to report in an objective way, as well to be a window to the world for all people. 

Speaking about the awards to the media, Mihajlovic especially pointed out that RTV Kim is one of the media through which he informs himself about the events in Kosovo. 

RTV KiM director, Isak Vorgucic said that one of the points of RTV KiM’s mission was to build peace and trust between communities adding that this award now is a confirmation of their 21 year long work. He pointed out that what is important is that the language used is cleansed of hatred, misinformation. 

“With such an approach we respect the neighbors we live next to,” said Isak Vorgucic.

He also thanked those who write about coexistence but did not receive the award, adding that every article and every report that talks about the possibility of a better life for Serbs and Albanians helps those who live and work in Kosovo.

Authors of Albanian-language stories will be awarded in Pristina on Thursday.

The 2022 Multiethnic Coexistence Award for shows and texts dealing with the coexistence of Serbs and Albanians is being presented for the first time.

BiH, Kosovo*, North Macedonia in breach of rules on air pollution from thermal power plants (balkangreenenergynews.com)

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and North Macedonia surpassed the ceilings for air pollutants in 2018 and 2019 that they determined in their national emission reduction plans, the Energy Community Secretariat said as it opened cases against them.

National emission reduction plans or NERPs are an instrument to comply with the requirements of the Large Combustion Plants Directive by providing the reduction of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and dust emissions – particulate matter. North Macedonia failed to meet the ceilings for sulfur dioxide and dust, while BiH and Kosovo* failed to meet the ceilings for all three pollutants, the Energy Community Secretariat said.

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