• U.S. Assistant Secretary Karen Donfried’s interview with T7
• Russia Fears Better Kosovo-Serbia Relations, US Officials Warn (BIRN)
• In meeting with UN SG Guterres, Russian President Putin invokes Kosovo (Koha/Express)
• Von der Leyen, Trudeau thank Kurti for support to Ukraine (media)
• Gervalla meets Varhelyi at the EU-Western Balkans forum (media)
• OSCE, Germany condemn yesterday’s attack on Kosovo Police (media)
• Kosovo and Denmark sign prisoner transfer treaty (media)
• Ukrainian women training in Kosovo to demine their country (media)
• COVID-19: Seven new cases (media)

U.S. Assistant Secretary Karen Donfried’s interview with T7

The Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried gave an interview to T7 at the conclusion of her visit to Kosovo. She underlined the importance of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia moving forward.

“In my view it is clear that Kosovo’s future is as a member of the European Union and NATO and critical to move forward towards those goals is a comprehensive agreement that seeks to normalise relations with Serbia centered on mutual recognition and we see this EU-facilitated dialogue as a key part of that and this is why we are so eager to see progress,” she said.

Donfried said that in the meetings with President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti she got the clear sense that there is willingness to engage seriously and creatively in the dialogue. “There were no conditions that were voiced for that.”

She further said that the geopolitical context has changed because of Russia’s war against Ukraine and this has reinforced the importance of regional stability. “I also think we have the benefit today of an electoral pause,” Donfried noted, adding: “This mix of urgency and opportunity leads me to be hopeful about the dialogue moving forward.”

See the interview: https://youtu.be/1GWgI99D85w

Russia Fears Better Kosovo-Serbia Relations, US Officials Warn (BIRN)

Kremlin moves to foment chaos in the region will be limited if Kosovo and Serbia resume dialogue, US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried told leaders in Prishtina.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu on Monday held separate meetings with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, and with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar.

Donfried said better relations between Kosovo and Serbia would limit Russia’s ability to divide, create fear and incite chaos in the region.

“The best way to counter the Kremlin’s flagrant attempts to destabilize the region is simple: Kosovo and Serbia must urgently unite and re-engage in the EU-facilitated dialogue, with strong US support,” Donfriend said.

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

In meeting with UN SG Guterres, Russian President Putin invokes Kosovo (Koha/Express)

President of Russia Vladimir Putin met in Moscow the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and is reported to have mentioned Kosovo in an attempt to provide a legal justification for Russia’s offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

Noting that Kosovo had declared independence in 2008 without consulting Serbia, Putin asked the UN chief whether  that provided a precedent for the Donbas regions to declare independence without permission from Kyiv, and for Moscow to recognize them. Guterres noted that the UN did not recognize Kosovo.

Putin went on to say: “I have personally read all the documents of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo. I remember well the decision which states that to exercise the right to self-determination a certain territory is not obliged to seek permission from central authorities to declare sovereignty. This is what was said about Kosovo in the decision of an international court.”

Von der Leyen, Trudeau thank Kurti for support to Ukraine (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti received appreciation letter from the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau for Kosovo’s support to Ukraine.

“In addition to providing much-needed resources for the people impacted by the invasion, the participation of 40 governments and institutions, as well as the private sector and civil society, also sent a strong message of unity and solidarity with Ukraine,” the letter reads.

Gervalla meets Varhelyi at the EU-Western Balkans forum (media)

The European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi met Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gervalla at the sidelines of an EU-Western Balkans conference in Sofia.

“Preserving peace & security of WB, using opportunities offered by EIP & making progress on Belgrade – Pristina Dialogue are our common objectives as we tackle the effects of the war in Ukraine,” Varhelyi said on Twitter.

OSCE, Germany condemn yesterday’s attack on Kosovo Police (media)

The OSCE mission in Kosovo has condemned the attack on a police border patrol unit in the municipality of Zubin Potok where shots were fired at the police car causing material damage. It called on relevant institutions to investigate the attack.

“Rule of law must be respected by all and those responsible brought to justice, while public messages should defuse tensions and encourage better communication,” the OSCE said on Twitter.

German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde joined the condemnation. “We condemn this fifth despicable attack on the KP in just a few weeks. Full support to Kosovo’s law enforcement authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

Kosovo and Denmark sign prisoner transfer treaty (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu and Denmark’s Nick Haekkerup signed the treaty for the transfer of prisoners from Denmark to Kosovo to reduce overcrowding in the Scandinavian country.

According to a statement from the Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice, a detention facility in the municipality of Gjilan is expected to accommodate 300 prisoners from Denmark for the ten coming years, at least.

Ukrainian women training in Kosovo to demine their country (media)

Several media outlets carry a report taken from international media about a demining training delivered in Kosovo for six Ukrainian women.

The women are said to the first group of Ukrainian deminers to be trained by private company MAT Kosovo.

COVID-19: Seven new cases (media)

Seven new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported. 13 persons recovered during this time. There are 428 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.