Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti’s interview for La Repubblica (media)
• Kusari-Lila: First time a government is fighting organised crime (Klan Kosova)
• PDK invites Kurti and Gervalla to parliamentary debate on foreign policy (Klan Kosova)
• AAK: Only beautiful words, no concrete actions from Kurti government in one year (Zeri)
• COVID-19: 26 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU Delegation: There are no plans to impose whatsoever sanctions on Serbia (KoSSev)
• N1: Vucic rejects N1’s invitation for a TV presidential duel
• Vucic at SNS rally: I expect ‘strong, impossible’ pressure because of Kosovo (N1)
• A total of 6,501,689 eligible voters in Serbia (N1, KoSSev)
• Rakic Andric: No reaction of international community to video against Serbian products (Nova.rs)
• Djoric: Increased negative rhetoric against Serbian products has impact on security situation (Kosovo-online)
• SPS: Serbia to care about relations with Russia and continue along European path (N1)
• Vucic convenes National Security Council session tomorrow (B92)
• Selakovic: Serbia-Austria relations very good, stable (Tanjug)

International:

• Propaganda and Hysteria Flourish in Russo-Ukrainian War (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Pacolli writes to ministers on road maintenance, environmental protection (Zeri)
• Report: Over half of businesses say corruption present in public procurement (Telegrafi)
• “Preventing Serbs to return, owners of properties in Kosovo facing major troubles” (Radio kontakt plus)
• More than 20 doctors left Kosovo in a month (KoSSev)  

Albanian Language Media  

Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti’s interview for La Repubblica (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said in an interview for La Repubblica that the Serbian President is a puppet of the Kremlin, and that Serbia is imitating Russia. Read the full interview at: https://bit.ly/36wFRxu

Kusari-Lila: First time a government is fighting organised crime (Klan Kosova)

Head of the Vetevendosje parliamentary group, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, presented to the media today the achievements of the Kurti-led government, arguing that this is the first time that a government is combating crime and corruption and restoring economic activity.

“Tomorrow we will mark one year since the Kurti-led government assumed its governing mandate. It has been a dynamic year, characterised by the effects of the pandemic. There has been progress in terms of economic growth. This year we have restored economic activity and have opened new possibilities for decisions and investments. The government has faced a series of chronic problems from the past years, and this was especially noticeable in the completion and changing of boards of different agencies. The government has also submitted a record-setting number of draft laws in one year,” she said.

Kusari-Lila said the government was especially focused on advancing gender equality. “There has also been exceptional progress in law and order, namely in uncovering criminal groups. This is the first time that a government is combating organised crime. We have seen continuous actions,” she added.

Kusari also said that one cannot ask for solutions within a year for problems that have accumulated in decades and that Vetevendosje will cooperate with the opposition and remain open to the requests and problems of the people.

PDK invites Kurti and Gervalla to parliamentary debate on foreign policy (Klan Kosova)

Head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, Abelard Tahiri, has invited Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla to a parliamentary debate on foreign policy this Thursday. 

Following today’s meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency, Tahiri said Kurti and Gervalla need to be part of the debate and face the arguments of the opposition. “It would be good for Kurti and Gervalla to face the arguments of the opposition about the government’s lack of engagement … There needs to be reflection on developments in foreign policy,” he said.

Tahiri also said that on Thursday the PDK will submit a request to establish an investigation committee into the increased electricity tariffs. “We think that someone should be held accountable for this,” he said.

AAK: Only beautiful words and no concrete actions from Kurti government in one year (Zeri)

Head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) parliamentary group, Besnik Tahiri, told a press conference today that the Kurti-led government is failing to seriously address economic problems. He argued that there were only beautiful words and no concrete actions from the government this year.

Tahiri called on the government to increase the minimum wage to 400 euros and said that it is very concerning that the government is failing to reflect on topics that relate to the well-being of the people, the economy and poverty.

COVID-19: 26 new cases, no deaths (media)

26 new cases with COVID-19 have been confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. 45 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 632 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

EU Delegation: There are no plans to impose whatsoever sanctions on Serbia (KoSSev)

There are no sanctions of the European Union against Serbia and there are no plans to impose whatsoever sanctions on this country, EU Delegation to Belgrade said, reacting to various information and statements heard recently in the Serbian public, KoSSev portal reports.

The EU Delegation told the FoNent news agency that “EU sanctions regarding Russian invasion on Ukraine are directed against the two countries clearly responsible for it – Russia and Belorussia, as well as a certain number of individuals and companies in those countries”.

“At the moment we are in contact with the Serbian authorities to clarify all concerns that may relate to the application of restrictive measures”, the EU Delegation said.  

N1: Vucic rejects N1’s invitation for a TV presidential duel

President of Serbia and leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic said he would not respond to the N1’s invitation to appear in a TV duel with the presidential candidate of the ‘United for the Victory of Serbia’ coalition Zdravko Ponos.

Asked if he would come to the duel, Vucic said that “no one invited him.”

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3CWAgg5

Vucic at SNS rally: I expect ‘strong, impossible’ pressure because of Kosovo (N1)

Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader and President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that he is expecting “strong, impossible pressure” on the country in the coming period because of Kosovo, and not only that, N1 reports.

The pressures on the country are increasing, said Vucic, adding that “they” will be blackmailing us in all possible ways, without specifying whom he was talking about.

Unrelated to Kosovo, “we will face much, much greater torment and problems,” Vucic said at the SNS rally in Raska.

Vucic noted it is therefore necessary more than ever to be united, and “let others have their conflicts, while we need to avoid conflicts, regional, world and others”.

It is important to be strong and united and to let those bad things in the world pass us by, Vucic said and added that Serbia needs years of peace.

As he explained, in the “world of madness” we live in today, the rules are no longer valid, illogicalities happen, and “suddenly everything collapses before us”.

A total of 6,501,689 eligible voters in Serbia (N1, KoSSev)

Serbian Republic Election Commission has stated that a total of 6,501,689 eligible voters has been registered in the country.

As of Sunday at noon, the ballots for the elections scheduled for April 3 are being printed. There are 18 lists participating in the parliamentary election, and eight candidates in the presidential elections. Local elections will be held in two cities and eleven municipalities.

KoSSev portal recalled it remains unclear yet if Serbs from Kosovo would be able to cast their ballots and where. 

Rakic Andric: No reaction of international community to video against Serbian products (Nova.rs)

A group Besa Besë which has 55,000 members on Facebook has launched a campaign calling for boycotting Serbian products in Kosovo. The group also recorded a video entitled “Don’t Buy Serbian Products”, published on social media and some Kosovo media outlets, including libelling and derogatory allegations, Nova TV reports.

Milica Rakic Andric from Mitrovica North-based New Social Initiative (NSI) non-governmental organisation took part in Nova TV morning show “Wake up” and spoke about the message sent by this video and why the authorities did not react.

She said that she and several of her friends were disturbed with this campaign. Rakic Andric added she was not disturbed because of the call to boycott Serbian products which according to her goes for decades, but “what is new in this video were the words said by that girl, who referred to the alleged poisoning by Serbian products, and this presents much serious narrative”.

She recalled that back in 2019, during the elections, there was an affair of the alleged poisoning of Pristina Central Election Commission (CEC) members by mail ballots coming from Serbia, which is the first time in recent years that allegations about poisoning were made.

She pointed out that “we have never heard the results of the investigation” of that case made by the special prosecutor’s office. She recalled another incident that took place in Decani municipality last year, when several thousand of residents also suffered from poisoning due to the polluted drinking water and pointed out that this story had an epilogue, because it was found that the local water company did not treat the water properly to make it safe for consumption. However, the initial media speculation was to blame two Serbs who were spotted in the vicinity of Decani a few days before the poisoning took place. She concluded that this narrative about poisoning by Serbs lasts for quite some time. 

When asked to explain the political timing of this campaign, bearing in mind the war in Ukraine and the upcoming Serbian elections, she pointed out that the calls to boycott Serbian products were frequent and that this video was made by an individual and was not connected with the institutions and therefore she was not sure that it has any connections with current political events. However, she pointed out that in the past few months, and especially since the beginning of the invasion on Ukraine, anti-Serbian rhetoric by Kosovo officials has increased.

She said that she would be surprised to have Kosovo officials react to make a distinction between Serbian people, especially Serbs living in Kosovo and Serbian officials they target in their statements

When asked about reactions to this video, including the charges filed by Aleksandar Arsenijevic, president of CI Serbian Survival, Rakic Andric said that her NGO NSI, along with three other NGOs have filed on Friday a complaint to Ombudsperson and on March 17, they have filed a complaint to the Press Council of Kosovo “against the media which have published that video in a uncritical manner and which have masked the hate speech with claims that this is an awareness campaign”.

“We have requested from the Ombudsperson to launch an investigation, because he has a competence to launch an ex-officio investigation for the causing of discord and intolerance and on Monday, we’re now collecting signatures, so on Monday we will also file charges to the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Prizren against the author of this video who is also a prominent businessman in Kosovo”, she explained. 

Djoric: Increased negative rhetoric against Serbian products has impact on security situation (Kosovo-online)

Recently a group Besa Besë launched a video campaign to boycott Serbian products in Kosovo, however, the campaign didn’t target the products only but contained libelling statements and hate speech as Serbian civil society activists said, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Gordana Djoric from Businesswomen Association Avenija pointed out that the negative rhetoric against Serbian goods has intensified and that this could lead to the deterioration of the security situation.

Pointing out that the video aired against the purchase of Serbian products in Kosovo contains hate speech, Djoric also warned about the absence of reactions from both Kosovo and international institutions, primarily by those organisations responsible for the wellbeing of minors, because the girl in the video, as she said, was abused for political purposes.

A journalist from Gracanica, Ivan Miljkovic, recalled this is not the first time that children were abused for political purposes.

Representatives of the Serbian civil sector in Kosovo also said a campaign against Serbian products has been going on for years. They recalled overturning of the trucks transporting Serbian goods, calls for boycotting “Plazma” biscuits and burning of Serbian products in downtown Pristina as well as introduction of 100 percent tariffs on goods from central Serbia. 

SPS: Serbia to care about relations with Russia and continue along European path (N1)

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) candidate for prime minister, Ivica Dacic said Monday his country should lead “a balanced” foreign policy which would take care of its relations with Russia, but at the same time continue along its road to the European Union, N1 reports.

Speaking to Happy TV, Dacic who is the leader of SPS, key coalition partner of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the outgoing Parliament Speaker, said Belgrade “should not overemphasise its role in every crisis“.

“We have neither provoked the war nor can we stop it“, he said.

Dacic also said that Serbia took a stance to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea because this way it protects its interests in Kosovo and Metohija.

Dacic noted Serbia didn’t impose sanctions on Russia, because economic sanction or any other sort or pressure, can’t be a manner to resolve international problems and do not bring political results, but rather cause detriments to the citizens.

“Our stance is reinforced by the fact that not much long ago we were exposed to economic sanctions and we know very well that this measure affects citizens only and doesn’t bring political results. Our position regarding Ukraine remains unchanged, even today when there are clashes there. As was the case over the last eight years, also today, we have received full understanding for our stances both in West and East, thanks to consistent responsibility of our foreign policy we pursue for years”, Dacic said. 

Vucic convenes National Security Council session tomorrow (B92)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has convened a National Security Council session tomorrow starting at noon, B92 reports.

“Refusal of Albin Kurit to (allow) holding of elections in Kosovo and Metohija, threats of imposing sanctions on Serbia, attitude towards NIS (Serbian oil industry company), purchase of oil for the Serbian market, analysis of all events, in particular having in mind crisis in supply with basic living commodities in Europe” will be topics of the session according to a source close to Blic daily. 

Selakovic: Serbia-Austria relations very good, stable (Tanjug)

Serbia-Austria relations are very good, developed and stable and greatly contributed to by regular meetings of top officials of the two countries, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said after a meeting with Austrian Ambassador to Belgrade Nikolaus Lutterotti on Monday, Tanjug news agency reports.

Selakovic said last week’s visit to Belgrade by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer showed that Serbia and the Western Balkans were the focus of Austria’s foreign policy. He also extended an invitation to his Austrian counterpart to visit Serbia after the upcoming elections.

The minister said Austria was one of Serbia’s leading economic partners as well as one of the largest investors in the country, with investments worth over 2.5 bln euros.

He also thanked the Austrian foreign ministry for assisting the organisation of polling stations for Serbian expats in Austria for the April 3 Serbian elections.

International 

Propaganda and Hysteria Flourish in Russo-Ukrainian War (BIRN)

The conflict is stimulating propaganda, misinformation and mass hysteria all over the region, with cybercrimes and routine violations plaguing many online environments.

The beginning of March saw numerous digital violations, mainly related to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion of its neighbour has electrified the digital environments in the region, and pro-Russian propaganda, misinformation and fake news are skyrocketing. The conflict has also inspired hysteria and panic among the public in North Macedonia and Romania related to energy fears.

Cybercrimes and online fraud confirmed their endemic nature, with Hungary and Croatia remaining at the top of the list of countries where such violations occur most often. Routine digital violations continued to weigh on the Serbian, Macedonian and Bosnian digital environments.

One-sided war narratives, disinformation, and fake news

The Ukraine conflict continued to provoke a wave of disinformation and fake news across the region. And the hostilities will, most likely, continue to have a huge impact on the online environments for some time. Pro-Russian propaganda, partisan manipulative episodes and massive disinformation campaigns are now at a high level in several countries following the outbreak of the war.

Read full article at: https://bit.ly/3CWvZco

Humanitarian/Development

Pacolli writes to ministers on road maintenance and environmental protection (Zeri)

Leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Behgjet Pacolli, wrote a public letter to Minister for Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, and Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, complaining about the bad conditions of roads, lack of investments and environmental protection. 

“Although I don’t know the plans of the government, from what can be seen for a year now, there are no infrastructure projects especially on roads, and there is almost no maintenance of roads,” he said.

“Urgent reaction is also needed to protect the environment. Riverbeds are being turned into waste deposits, forests are being cut down and there is ongoing environmental degradation. This letter has no bad intentions and should not be seen in any other way except as a call to intervene as soon as possible.”

Report: Over half of businesses say corruption present in public procurement (Telegrafi)

A report about “Perception about Public Procurement” by Fol Movement notes that impunity, delays in court proceedings and failure to report corruption are some of the factors that businesses in Kosovo say they have noticed in their work. According to the report, 56 percent of businesses in Kosovo say that corruption is present in public procurement. Around 50 percent of businesses interviewed for the report also said that public procurement is conducted in line with the interests of the ruling party. The report also notes that among negative practices that influence the public procurement process adjusting tendering specifics for certain companies, unclear information in tenders, abuses with legal provisions for profit and conflicts of interest.

“Preventing Serbs to return, owners of properties in Kosovo facing major troubles” (Radio kontakt plus)

Serb houses and properties in Kosovo and Metohija have been destroyed since 1999. This way the return of the Serbian population is being prevented, and their properties appropriated, Radio kontakt plus writes. At the same time, heads of the Serb families are being accused of committing criminal acts which, they say, they have not committed.

The Jokic family with five children from Rausic village near Pec is living in Vranesi near Vrnjacka Banja (central Serbia). They had a large house in Rausic village and didn’t sell their property in Metohija. They have no intention to sell it either.

“We had a house 22 metres by 12 metres wide, two floors. It had four corridors and four bathrooms. It took nine years for me and my brother to build it. And my brother had another house, two floors as well, and that house is also destroyed”, Slavko Jokic said.

Ranka Jokic said it was very difficult when they left Kosovo since their children were small. She added they went to work in the field to earn some income and survive.

Slavko Jokic added he doesn’t go to Pec at all.

“They say we are war criminals. I would like to go, but I can’t go there at all, neither me nor my brother. We have not sold anything, and we do not intend to do it”, he says.

Slobodan Savic from Kosovo Polje lives nearby Jokic family.

“We came here in 1999. It was very difficult to be a refugee with four children. We had nothing. Until we managed somehow. You needed to pay monthly bus tickets (for children attending the school), electricity. No one was asking if you can do it or not”, Slavica Savic said.

Slobodan Savic said they have not sold their property. They are building the house in the current place of residence, adding it can be achieved even without selling your property in Kosovo.  

Several thousands displaced persons from Kosovo live in Vrnjacka Banja and surrounding places.

According to Marina Stankovic from Commissariat for Refugees in this city they are actively working to help displaced persons resolve their residential issues, buy households located in the villages and support their economic empowerment.

Still, the best solution for displaced persons, she says, would be to return to their places of origin in Kosovo and Metohija and reclaim their properties. Two decades after the conflict the problems are additionally getting bigger, and owners of the properties face stronger and stronger problems to repossess what belongs to them.  

More than 20 doctors left Kosovo in a month (KoSSev)

Experts deem migration of doctors from Kosovo as rather concerning phenomenon. They say medical professionals are forced to choose migration aiming at better life because of low salaries, KoSSev portal reports citing Pristina-based media outlets.

Armend Zemaj, former health minister said doctors are leaving Kosovo because of work and dignified life. “Over the last couple of months 48 doctors left Kosovo. They leave because of conditions and lack of support by the government, they leave because of work and dignified life”, Zemaj said.

Chairman of the Chamber of Medics Pleurat Sejdiu said that in ten years the hospitals will start to close down.

“The number is not only concerning, because more than 20 doctors left this month only but there is a higher number of those waiting to leave. More than half of them undergo specialist studies and are not satisfied with what state offers them for education”, he said.

“We are left without doctors and in ten years our hospitals will start to close down. In ten years 1.300 persons will retire. We have a system that doesn’t offer sufficient conditions for proper work of doctors and security at their work”, Sejdiu added.

AAK MP, Shemsedin Dreshaj said the lack of salaries doctors deserve lead to such a high number of doctors leaving Kosovo.