• Kurti to Kosovo Serbs: Do not be influenced by Belgrade’s authoritarian regime (media)
• Szunyog: Practice of OSCE collecting ballots should have continued (media)
• UK envoy comments on Serbia’s elections in Kosovo, dialogue process (media)
• “No easy discussions” between Lajcak and Bislimi (Koha)
• Kosovo President Osmani attended Doha Forum (media)
• Kosovo reburies remains of seven persons from Krusha e Vogel (media)
• Smuggling of Novoberde castle artifacts to Serbia confirmed (Koha)
• Kosovo Ministry reacts after citizen arrested by Serbia’s authorities (media)
• Kosnett: It seems Vucic chose Putin over the West (Express)
• Abazovic: There is no issue that will not be discussed with Kosovo (Klan)
• Last group of Afghan citizens depart Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 37 new cases, no deaths (media)

Kurti to Kosovo Serbs: Do not be influenced by Belgrade’s authoritarian regime (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti delivered a video address shortly after the protests in Mitrovica North and Gracanica by Kosovo Serbs against the decision not to allow the Serbian elections taking place in the territory of Kosovo. Speaking in Serbian, Kurti called on Serbs in Kosovo not to fall under the influence of the Government of Serbia and “have more faith on the Government of the country where you live”.

Kurti said it is his Government’s constitutional and democratic duty to keep powers separate, adding that he is not behind the decision of the Kosovo Judicial Council in suspending the head of the Basic Court in Mitrovica. “I thank the citizens for peacefully protesting. In a democratic society and legal state people should be free to publicly express their views. But, I have to say, it would be more convincing had they protested, for instance, for social justice, faster development and war against crime and organised corruption.

At the same time, on Twitter, Kurti said he does not suspend judges and prosecutors. His comments came in response to the demands presented by Serb protesters on Friday calling for the revoking of the suspension measure towards the head of the Basic Court in Mitrovica, Ljiljana Stevanovic, after she attended a meeting in Belgrade by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

“I’m neither chairman nor member of Judicial Council. Judiciary is independent from Government. Maybe in Serbia the president suspends and removes judges and prosecutors. That’s not the case in Kosovo or with Judge Stevanovic. We’re the most democratic country in Western Balkans, fully aligned with the EU and NATO,” he wrote.

Szunyog: Practice of OSCE collecting ballots should have continued (media)

Several media outlets carry a statement made by the head of the EU Office in Kosovo Tomas Szunyog to BBC in Serbian where he argued that while there is no agreement within the dialogue process to enable Serbia’s elections taking place in Kosovo, the two sides have so far applied a practice whereby the OSCE carries out the collection of ballots in the territory of Kosovo.

“The European Union believes that the established practice, according to which the OSCE is organizing an operation to collect votes in Kosovo, should continue, with certain adjustments to the current situation.”

Szunyog stressed that the decision not to allow the elections “is contrary to Kosovo’s commitment to the European future and the principles of protecting the democratic rights of all citizens, including non-majority communities.”

UK envoy comments on Serbia’s elections in Kosovo, dialogue process (media)

United Kingdom’s special envoy to the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach, spoke about Serbia’s elections in Kosovo in an interview with Montenegrin daily Vijesti, noting that while Kosovo has a sovereign right to decide not to allow Serbia’s elections taking place in its territory, “the failure to use the opportunity to find a practical solution offered in this case puts into question Kosovo’s commitment to the fundamental values of inclusiveness and democratic rights for all the citizens living there.”

Peach further said that the EU-facilitated dialogue is the only way through which Serbia and Kosovo can reach agreement on normalisation of relations. “The United Kingdom has always supported this process, and I personally, as an envoy, work closely with EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak.” He added that Kosovo and Serbia should cooperate in the interest of their people in reaching a comprehensive, final, legally binding and sustainable agreement, which would also be acceptable to the international community. “I appeal to the leaders of both sides to engage in the negotiations wholeheartedly and constructively,” he said.

Asked what was his position on the Open Balkans initiative, Peach said: “We welcome initiatives aimed at supporting regional cooperation, economic integration and open markets, but it is important that new processes complement existing initiatives instead of clashing with them, and that they are inclusive and open to all six Western Balkan countries, on equal terms.”

“No easy discussions” between Lajcak and Bislimi (Koha)

“Our discussions on important Dialogue topics were not easy,” said the EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajcak at the conclusion of his meeting with Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator Besnik Bislimi in Brussels.

At the same time, Lajcak said via Twitter that he appreciated Bislimi’s constructive approach and readiness to find solutions.

Kosovo President Osmani attended Doha Forum (media)

President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, attended the Doha Forum which this year is being held under the slogan “Transformation for a New Era”.

At the sidelines of the event, Osmani met John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State and currently President Biden’s special envoy on climate affairs. “The President and Mr. Kerry also discussed developments in Europe and the region as a result of the Russian aggression on Ukraine and mentioned the efforts of the Republic of Kosovo to come to the aid of the Ukrainian people. President Osmani stressed the risk of destabilization of the region by Russian satellites and the need for Kosovo’s membership in NATO as the best guarantee for peace and stability in the region,” a press release issued by Osmani’s office stated.

Osmani also met with the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani as well as Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani whom she thanked him for the support to Kosovo. She expressed readiness to deepen cooperation and commended Qatar’s role in supporting Kosovo’s joining international initiatives.

Kosovo reburies remains of seven persons from Krusha e Vogel (media)

Remains of seven men, killed and disappeared along with more than 100 others in the village of Krusha e Vogel by Serb armed forces, were reburied on the 23rd anniversary of their deaths.

“The history of our state cannot be written without Krusha e Vogel and Krusha e Madhe. It cannot be written without addressing the pain and horror experienced. Damages and suffering caused. Our history is written with over 400 massacres committed during 1998 and 1999 in Kosovo. This story can not be rewritten or forgotten. Never changed,” Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said at the reburial ceremony, also attended by Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjuca, Deputy Speaker Saranda Bogujevci, Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu, and head of Government Commission for Missing Persons Andin Hoti.

Smuggling of Novoberde castle artifacts to Serbia confirmed (Koha)

Koha reports on the front page today that ever since the restoration work on Novoberde Castle began – for which UNESCO commissioned a Serbian company – Kosovo archaeologists have voiced suspicion that the artifacts could be misused and that now, these suspicions have been confirmed by a scientific work funded by the Serbian state, which examines the artifacts found in the castle.

As the authors thank those who enabled the research, it turns out that they are in Belgrade, Koha says, adding that the restoration project was funded by the EU, and the implementation and supervision done by UNESCO. In addition, the work has resulted in many defects, which have not yet been repaired, the paper notes.

Kosovo Ministry reacts after citizen arrested by Serbia’s authorities (media)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has reacted to the detention of a 66-year-old Kosovo man by Serbia’s authorities at the border crossing with Hungary. The Ministry said that Kosovo’s Liaison Office in Belgrade has established contact with Serbian authorities and is trying to obtain clarification about the case.

On a different occasion, Serbia’s authorities arrested a father and son from Kosovo over the weekend on allegations of illegal wood cutting. They are said to have been issued a 30-day detention period.

Kosnett: It seems Vucic chose Putin over the West (Express)

Former U.S. ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett commented on Twitter over Serbia’s position on Ukraine. “So it seems Serbia’s Vucic has chosen Putin over the West – while claiming his hands are tied by public opinion and hiding behind the Church. That’s not leadership; it’s moral cowardice.  EU, U.S. please take note,” he wrote.

Abazovic: There is no issue that will not be discussed with Kosovo (Klan)

Dritan Abazovic, candidate for prime minister of Montenegro, said that the relations with Kosovo are very good and that regional cooperation is one of the leading principles of the Montenegrin foreign policy.

Abazovic was asked to comment by Klan Kosova on the issue of border demarcation with Kosovo to which he replied: “There will be no issue that will not be at the table. When the new government comes in, we will open all questions at the table, we have to have transparency in our work. At the same time, everyone needs to be aware that the former government in Kosovo decided together with the former government in Montenegro. Therefore, if a mistake of error is identified, that cannot be attributed to the current governments.”

Last group of Afghan citizens depart Kosovo (media)

The last group of Afghan citizens departed Kosovo, months after being granted temporary shelter, media report. The news was announced by Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla who thanked the United States, NATO, and Kosovo allies for “successful finalisation of this process”.

COVID-19: 37 new cases, no deaths (media)

37 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health confirmed. 32 persons recovered during this time. There are 659 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.