Albanian Language Media:

• Smith: NATO concerned about peace and stability in Western Balkans (RFE)
• Germany initiates extension of military presence in Kosovo (media)
• Protesters demand withdrawal of pension trust funds (media)
• KSC judge admits 12 victims to participate in Thaci et al. trial (media)
• KSF and Albania’s army perform joint exercise (media)
• COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Odalovic: Pristina authorities’ shameful announcement on the Stavalj mine search offends all the victims (Kosovo Online)
• In Davos, Vucic calls for understanding for Serbia’s position (Tanjug)
• Vucic to take oath on May 31, Serbian new parliament in July (N1, media)
• Vucic: Important meetings in Davos, I was open about problems (Tanjug)
• Zakharova to Brnabic: “Such assessments are inappropriate“ (Danas, FoNet, Sputnik)
• Vucic: Talks with Putin on Sunday, topics include gas as well (RTS, N1)
• National Convention on the EU: Minister Vulin insults the dignity of the Albanian national minority and the Albanian people as a whole (Danas, Radio KiM)

International:

• Kandic Faces Life Sentence After Conviction in US for Assisting ISIS (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Ministry allocates funds to municipalities for community projects (media)

Albanian Language Media  

Smith: NATO concerned about peace and stability in Western Balkans (RFE)

Julianne Smith, United States Ambassador to NATO, said that the Alliance was concerned about peace and stability in the Western Balkans in light of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Smith also reiterated the position of the United States on Kosovo joining NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. “The United States supports Kosovo’s integration in European and Euro-Atlantic organisations and institutions. We believe the countries have the right to determine joining and membership. We will certainly support Kosovo’s movement towards the Partnership for Peace programme,” she said, adding that the decision on membership requires the consensus of all 30 member states.

RFE recalls that in March of this year, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani had written to the U.S. President Joe Biden asking for support in Kosovo joining NATO’s PfP. At the same time, the Government of Kosovo set up a working group for the purpose.

Germany initiates extension of military presence in Kosovo (media)

The German federal cabinet initiated the extension of the country’s military presence in Kosovo as part of NATO peacekeeping force – KFOR, for another year, online media report quoting Deutsche Welle.

The federal parliament will consider this request in the coming weeks. The mandate stipulates that up to 400 German soldiers are deployed to Kosovo. Currently, there are around 70 members of the German Armed Forces, Bundeswehr, in Kosovo.

Protesters demand withdrawal of pension trust funds (media)

A group of citizens, joined by opposition MPs, protested in front of the Kosovo Government building today demanding the possibility of withdrawing a portion of their pension trust fund.

Opposition representatives, Bekim Haxhiu from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and MPs from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), also joined the protest.

Head of Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) trade union Nexhat Llumnica said over 90 percent of the company’s employees support withdrawal of funds and called on the Assembly of Kosovo to enable the option. 

Koha reports that the opposition parties support the move whereas the Government insists it would have a negative impact on Kosovo’s economy.  

KSC judge admits 12 victims to participate in Thaci et al. trial (media)

The pre-trial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers issued a decision on victims’ participation in the Thaci et al. case with twelve new applicants being admitted to the proceedings as participating victims, online media report quoting Betimi per Drejtesi legal news website.

The decision states that all applicants are victims of crimes alleged to have been perpetrated at the locations identified in the amended indictment and fall within the timeframe of the allegations specified in the amended indictment.

KSF and Albania’s army perform joint exercise (media)

Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and Albania’s armed forces carried out a joint exercise aimed at increasing skills and capacities for combat operations. 

Kosovo’s Minister of Defence Armend Mehaj commended the activity and congratulated the teams that took part in the exercise. “Stronger together,” he wrote on social media. 

COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)

9 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. There are 127 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Odalovic: Pristina authorities’ shameful announcement on the Stavalj mine search offends all the victims (Kosovo Online)

Veljko Odalovic, president of the Commission for Missing Persons, told Kosovo online that the latest statement from the Kosovo government, which accused Belgrade of being frivolous and lacking in commitment to resolving the fate of the missing, offended the families of Kosovo Albanian and Serb victims.

The search for the location of the Stavalj mine was completed yesterday and no remains were found. The Commission for Missing Persons of the Government of Kosovo accused Belgrade of lack of commitment to resolving the fate of the missing and requested the opening of archives and satellite images, wrote the portal.

“I must first emphasise that those who made this announcement do not know anything. Members of both the Belgrade and Pristina delegations were present at the site near the Stavalj mine. There were international representatives, EULEX representatives, as well as archeological experts who are the only ones authorised, after the search, to announce the situation on the ground,” Odalovic explained.

He added that this location was searched at the request of the Pristina authorities, based on the information given to them by a witness who saw some events from a distance of several hundred metres.

“Bearing in mind that this is a very sensitive issue, especially for the families of missing persons, we called Pristina immediately after receiving that information. The agreement was that they would bring a witness who would additionally mark the location. We gave all guarantees for his protection. Unfortunately, that did not happen, the witness was not brought in,” our interlocutor continued.

At the last meeting of the Working Group for Missing Persons, whose members and representatives are Belgrade and Pristina, which was held on April 16 last year, according to Odalovic, the Serbian delegation undertook several obligations.

“Among the commitments was the search of the Stavalj mine, as well as the Krizevak location where seven bodies of Kosovo Albanians were found. When it comes to the Stavalj mine, we called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to help us obtain new information about the location. In their presence, on May 10, the Pristina delegation was handed satellite images obtained by the International Committee,” Odalovic continues.

He added that the satellite images were from the time when it was assumed that the bodies could have been transferred to the location. One recording was from May 30, and the other from June 3, 1999.

“What makes us happy is that NATO has recordings. We also thank the American embassy for mediating in all this,” Odalovic said, adding that they shared that information with the representatives of Pristina.

He added that they spent 13 days together at the Stavalj mine, and that the location was dug up every day in the presence of several representatives of the Pristina delegation.

“More than 7,000 cubic meters of loose soil have been removed from the site and every square meter suspected of being a potential grave has been searched. The requests of both the Pristina delegation and the EULEX representative were respected, so that the statement of the temporary Pristina institutions is not only untrue, but also shameful,” emphasized Odalovic.

As he said, yesterday they all together stated that the location was searched, and that the representative of the Pristina delegation had no objection.

Odalovic told Kosovo Online that he was sure that this statement was not written by people who were on the ground, but by those who wanted to use this case to their advantage.

“It is about abuse for political purposes, a political pamphlet which confirms that Pristina is not ready to cooperate, to fulfil its obligations and to admit that crimes were committed against Kosovo Serbs as well,” Odalovic added.

He said that Pristina refused to search nine locations on the territory of Kosovo, about which Belgrade sent them very precise and detailed information.

“They refuse to do that, even though it is an obligation they undertook through the Working Group. It is a relationship of disrespect towards the victims, their families and additional injury to them,” said Odalovic. 

Odalovic said that every request of the Pristina side and every information, as far as Belgrade was concerned, will be checked in a very responsible and transparent way.

“We are asking the same from Pristina and I insist that an emergency meeting of the Working Group be held in Pristina and that all open issues be discussed, then I will say that we should stay away from such statements, like theirs today, and turn to resolving the issue of missing persons and the problems facing Kosovo Serb and Albanian families,” said Odalovic, stating that this is a humane and civilizational issue and we must do everything to avoid politicisation.

“I am sorry that I had to react on my own, but I will not tolerate this kind of rudeness and lies, nor will I remain silent in front of them,” he added.

Odalovic noted that the Working Group for Missing Persons, which has been functioning within the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for 15 years and which has resolved 1,823 cases of missing persons. Among them were 1,527 Albanians and 296 Serbs.

“So much about what we did, how much we did and what our attitude towards the victims is. We gave them 2,417 documents that talk about missing persons, and we did not get any,” he added.

In Davos, Vucic calls for understanding for Serbia’s position (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday in Davos he had conveyed the message that Serbia could not change its policy “like anyone might think it should” and noted that the country was on the EU path and grateful for the bloc’s support, but that its own position must be understood as well, Tanjug news agency reports.

“If we want to head towards the EU, a two-sided approach is needed and we need to feel respect”, Vucic told Pink TV in Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum.

When asked about the extent of diplomatic dialogue at a session titled Diplomacy and Dialogue on the Western Balkans, he responded that the language at the event had been civil but that many Western officials who had attended had told him the atmosphere had been “quite depressing”.

“Because they expect some kind of enthusiasm and optimism, and there is no such thing”, Vucic said, noting that the EU’s popularity was on a major decline in Serbia, as well as in North Macedonia.

“Someone needs to think about why that is so. We and the Macedonians might be to blame, but someone else, an EU member state, Brussels or some other place must be to blame, too – we cannot be the only ones to blame”, Vucic said.

He added he noted at the session that Serbia was on the EU path even though the majority of its citizens were now against that.

“But Serbia cannot change its policy like anyone might think it should. Serbia is on the EU path, that is the only path Serbia has and we are grateful for all the money and all the support… It is huge and we appreciate that, but… do not make us listen to the same messages every day: ‘Recognize Kosovo as independent, impose sanctions on Russia’. Hang on, we have our own state and our own interests”, he said.

Vucic also noted that recent statements about territorial integrity being the ultimate value which needed to be protected were hypocritical and double-faced.

He said Serbian citizens remembered what had happened 23 years ago, when NATO committed an aggression against Serbia.

“The territorial integrity of a country was not particularly important at the time”, he added.

Vucic to take oath on May 31, Serbian new parliament in July (N1, media)

A senior Serbian ruling party official said on Wednesday that the first session of the new parliament could be held early in July, and Vucic to take oath on May 31, reported Serbian media. 

Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) deputy leader Milos Vucevic told TV Pink that the final results of the April 3 parliamentary elections will be released only after the repeat vote in the village of Veliki Trnovac in southern Serbia on May 27. He said the final results could be released early in June, thus starting the 30-day deadline to constitute the new parliament, N1 reported.

Vucevic said he expected the constitutive session of parliament to be held early in July before internal party and inter-party talks on forming a government. The deadline for a new government is 90 days after the first parliament session.

He said that President Aleksandar Vucic will take oath for his second term in office on May 31 before the outgoing parliament.

Vucic: Important meetings in Davos, I was open about problems (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday he held a series of good and important meetings with many European and international officials in Davos, adding he spoke about problems honestly and openly, Tanjug news agency reports.

“We had many conversations here, with presidents and PMs, from the president of Armenia to the PMs of Liechtenstein and other countries, with everyone from the region who attended, but the discussion topic is always the same thing”, Vucic told reporters in Davos.

He said he had also spoken with representatives of the EBRD, the financial sector, the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and other European officials, as well as from OSCE and other organisations.

“The essence is that I was honest and open and that I spoke about problems and pointed to a different view of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to the views of the majority of those in attendance, as well as to different positions compared to (PM Albin) Kurti”, Vucic said.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/39XvZhR

Zakharova to Brnabic: “Such assessments are inappropriate” (Danas, FoNet, Sputnik)

Comparing Russia’s attitude during the special operation in Ukraine with the behavior of numerous countries towards Serbia in 1999 and 2008, presented by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, was inappropriate, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said yesterday, reported Danas daily. 

“Such assessments are inappropriate, it seems that everything has been said by it,” said Zakharova, Danas reported, citing Sputnik. 

Danas daily recalled that PM Brnabic stated that Serbia has “clearly decided” on the conflict in Ukraine in the political sense, in accordance with the principles of international law, assessing that Serbia has taken the “bravest approach and principled position” on the war in Ukraine, and that ”Russia today does what some other countries did to Serbia in 1999 and 2008”.

Vucic: Talks with Putin on Sunday, topics include gas as well (RTS, N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced he will talk on Sunday at 11.00 with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, and one of the topics will include the gas contract, RTS reports. Talking about supply of food and other necessities Vucic said there was no need for the population in Serbia to feel distressed because of that as there were no problems in this regard.

He also said he expects the talks with Putin to be correct, and in addition to the gas contract include cooperation and all other issues. Talking about sanctions against Russia, Vucic said the position of Serbia remains unchanged.

“We have the same position as 90 days ago, the only state in Europe that fully maintains the same, just position and the one aligned with the highest interests of the Serbian state. This is a serious, accountable position, the one that respects international public law and that is the position of Serbia”, Vucic added.

Commenting on the initial announcement of the talks between two presidents earlier this week, as N1 reported, Kremlin Spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said there were no concrete plans for the talks between Putin and Vucic to be held, adding the talks may be held if there was need for them.

“Those talks are not on the agenda of upcoming days, but this does not mean they can’t be scheduled quickly. You know that contacts with Belgrade are a priority for us, those are contacts between the allies, friendly ones and if there is a need, the talks will be held”, Peskov is quoted as saying on N1 web portal on May 24.

Last week Vucic said the talks with Putin may take place on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, N1 recalled. 

National Convention on the EU: Minister Vulin insults the dignity of the Albanian national minority and the Albanian people as a whole (Danas, KiM radio)

The Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union for Chapter 35 strongly condemns the public appearances of Minister Aleksandar Vulin in which he continuously calls Albanians “Shiptars”, insulting the dignity of the Albanian national minority and the Albanian people as a whole.

“Such statements by a high-ranking official of the Republic of Serbia violate the dignity of the institutions of the republic, primarily the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on whose official page the speech of Minister Vulin was published,” the NCEU said in a statement, reported dailly Danas.

The Convention points out that despite the stalemate in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, inappropriate messages from the current government in Pristina, but also the use of offensive terms in the political space of countries in the region, this in no way justifies open discriminatory language by Minister Vulin which he as a representative of the authorities violates domestic and international practices.

“It is the obligation of all public deputies, especially public office holders, to respect the laws, norms, dignity of all, both the majority people and national minorities, as well as to promote tolerance, a culture of dialogue and a policy of reconciliation,” the statement added.

NCEU calls on the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Serbia, as the main negotiator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, to declare on open forms of discrimination and hate speech against the Albanian people that permanently vulgarize and primitivize the political space in the country and condemn them. 

“Minister Vulin’s inappropriate statements seem to be irreparable damage not only to the domestic public, but also to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Serbian-Albanian relations and the country’s regional and international reputation. In the end, the message is sent that there is no sincere desire of the political elite in Serbia to reach reconciliation and a lasting compromise solution regarding the status of Kosovo and Metohija, “the National Convention on the EU concluded in a statement.

International 

Kandic Faces Life Sentence After Conviction in US for Assisting ISIS (Balkan Insight)

Kosovo-born Mirsad Kandic faces up to life in jail for fighting for, recruiting for, and materially supporting ISIS in Syria – following his conviction in the US on Tuesday.

Kosovo-born New Yorker Mirsad Kandic, 40, faces up to life imprisonment for becoming an ISIS fighter, recruiting other ISIS fighters, and providing weapons, equipment, and battlefield intelligence to ISIS, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday.

“Kandic faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on the two counts of the indictment resulting in death, and 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the other four charges,” the press release said.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/38JhWfX

Humanitarian/Development

Ministry allocates funds to municipalities for community projects (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Local Government Administration Elbert Krasniqi signed memorandum of understanding with 20 beneficiary municipalities of the programme for support of infrastructure projects for communities in Kosovo.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, €1 million have been set aside for a total of 28 projects. “MLGA will continue support to municipalities for infrastructural projects in the future too so that they help in improving the life quality of all citizens,” the Ministry said.