Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Government cannot be expected to subsidise electricity in the north (media)
• Peach: Kosovo-Serbia agreement necessary as soon as possible; regional initiatives to be inclusive (Klan)
• German MEP: To enter the EU, Kosovo and Serbia must recognize each other (Reporteri)
• Simmons replies to Cramon: Words are not enough, people of Kosovo are tired (Reporteri)
• Government aims to draft law on staple products’ prices by August (Koha)
• Construction in Decan zoning area led to indictment of municipal officials (Indeksonline)
• 50 kg of marijuana seized and 6 people arrested at discovered lab in Zubin Potok (Telegrafi)
• Alarming figures; two deaths and 1,793 new cases with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• President of Egypt welcomed with military and state honours in Belgrade (N1, RTS)
• Selakovic: We are grateful to Egypt for understanding Serbia’s position on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Statistics Office official says population census in Serbia in October (N1)
• Drecun: Opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania good news (Kosovo Online)
• NADA Coalition: Serbia to condemn Edi Rama’s statements on organ harvesting (Kosovo Online)
• Bogdanovic: Serbs in northern Kosovo still don’t know what to do regarding Serbian licence plates (Danas)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo with draft law on sanctioning foreign human rights offenders (RFE)
• Serbian passport visa free in 134 states (N1)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: Government cannot be expected to subsidise electricity in the north (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said the Government of Kosovo cannot be expected to provide subsidies for payment of electricity in the north. 

“It is clear to everyone that there will be no subsidising. Brussels has noted Serbia’s behaviour as responsible for the failure of the implementation of the roadmap for energy in the north. ERO (Energy Regulatory Office) concluded the licensing of the company in the north in two days while they have not yet provided the consumer list. We expect Brussels to react on this issue,” Kurti is quoted in RTK.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the government today, Kurti said: “We are constructive and committed but Belgrade is on the other side of our approach. There was supposed to be a meeting this week between the Serbian president and me in Brussels but they requested postponement. It is them that are not positively responding to meetings. Any pretext they use is not genuine,” Kurti is quoted in Koha. 

Klan Kosova meanwhile quotes Kurti as saying that the reason behind the failed high-level meeting in Brussels is Serbia’s decision not to impose sanctions on Russia and that this is also why authorities in Belgrade are delaying the formation of the new government.

Asked about the announcement of the European Union’s special emissary for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak that Kosovo and Serbia are only “two words close or two words away” from finalizing the agreement on missing persons, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the term “enforced disappearing” is the difference between the parties.

“There are some issues that have remained without agreement. I would have emphasized a main difference that exists regarding the naming of persons forcibly disappeared during the war. Belgrade insists on only ‘missing persons,’ we ask to be emphasized that it was done by violence. They are not people who disappeared from floods or earthquakes. We have family members who know that a certain person, in uniform or not, took their son or daughter, father or mother, and so on. It is about kidnappings, abductions that were done with violence. Our insistence is that this is done. Of course, they are missing persons, but they cannot be compared to someone who disappears in the mountains while hiking. These persons can be considered part of the Serbian genocide in Kosovo. This is a conceptual difference which we will see if we will be able to improve it,” Kurti said.

Asked about his visit to Greece, Kurti said that that this country has advanced in the discourse

“I believe that Greece has advanced in the discourse, but we cannot say now how close we are to the day when Greece will also recognize Kosovo. I believe that it is the Greek Foreign Minister Dendias who, in legal terms, has opened the way for a change of attitude. It is a tectonic shift towards recognition that it is not known when it will come,” Kurti said.  

He stressed that during his visit to Greece, he made sure to meet businessmen to invite them to invest in Kosovo. 

Peach: Kosovo-Serbia agreement necessary as soon as possible; regional initiatives to be inclusive (Klan)

United Kingdom’s envoy to the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach, said that the continuation of the no-solution situation between Kosovo and Serbia damages both sides and only benefits those who want stagnation.

“There is a window of opportunity and urgent need for something to change. There is a new reality in Europe, created by the war in Ukraine. The solving of long disagreements in the Western Balkans is crucial for the security and welfare of Europe. The leaders in both countries know this and need to work now to resolve outstanding issues and reach a final agreement. I know it will not be easy but Great Britain will continue to support Kosovo, Serbia and the EU in achieving this.” 

“In my view, a comprehensive, lasting and sustainable agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is necessary as soon as possible: as to when this would precisely be achieved is up to the parties,” Peach told Klan Kosova.

Speaking about regional initiatives like the “Open Balkan”, the UK envoy said it was important for all participants to be equal. “I welcome initiatives in support of regional cooperation, economic integration and opening of markets, which offer real benefits for the region as a whole. It is necessary, however, for all these processes to be inclusive and open to all six Western Balkans countries on equal terms. There is also a need for deconflict to ensure new schemes that complement existing initiatives.”

Peach also said that UK support’s Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe and urged all elements of the civil society in the region to “seek ways, small steps and actions to encourage reconciliation, discourage autocracy and protect values we represent: democracy, human rights, and rule of law”. This, he noted, is the path to a better life for all.

German MEP: To enter the EU, Kosovo and Serbia must recognize each other (Reporteri)

Peter Beyer, German MEP, sent a clear message to Belgrade that the European Union does not accept states that have unresolved border or territorial issues. Therefore, he said, Kosovo and Serbia should recognize each other.

Beyer, who in Bundestag is also his part’s SDU rapporteur for the Western Balkans, will compile a report on the region upon his return to Berlin.

Speaking about Germany’s approach to the Western Balkans, Byer said ‘it is not clear to me how the new government will position itself regarding the accession process, or the Serbia-Kosovo issue. I see that the chancellor and the head of diplomacy travel a lot in the region, but now we have to see what content they will offer,” he said.

He also said that the Open Balkans initiative should work as part of the Berlin process.

“I think it is wise that this initiative, if implemented correctly and transparently, continues as part of the Berlin process,” Beyer said.

Simmons replies to Cramon: Words are not enough, people of Kosovo are tired (Reporteri)

The former chairman of the Assembly of EULEX judges Malcolm Simmons says that the people of Kosovo are tired of the endless promises regarding the lifting of visas.

Simmons has responded to the tweet of the rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament Viola Von Cramon requesting visa liberalization for Kosovars.

“The people of Kosovo are tired of endless promises. Only action will restore credibility. Words are no longer enough,” Simmons wrote.

Government aims to draft law on staple products’ prices by August (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said that the draft law for the protection of the supply of staple products should be finalised by August, noting that the law is necessary to address the situation created in the market by the price increase.

“We are updating the legislative agenda to draft rules that will protect the citizens from unaffordable prices in ensuring the supply of basic food products. In order to address the situation created in the market, it is inevitable to draft the law for the protection of the supply of basic products as soon as possible, specifically by the beginning of August,” Kurti said at the meeting of the Government of Kosovo.

Construction in Decan zoning area led to indictment of municipal officials (Indeksonline)

The Basic Prosecution in Peja announced the filing of an indictment against three Decan Municipality officials on abuse of power charges. 

Indeksonline claims to have secured information about the case noting that the three officials are accused of unlawfully issuing construction permits in the zoning area of the Decan Monastery.

50 kg of marijuana seized and 6 people arrested at discovered lab in Zubin Potok (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Xhelal Svecla informed through a Facebook post that another laboratory of narcotic substances was destroyed in Kovaci village near Zubin Potok.  He informed that six people were arrested during the police action.

“From the relevant units, 6 people have been arrested so far (5 of Serbian ethnicity and 1 of Gorani ethnicity) as well as 50 kg of ready-made marijuana and 100 plants being processed,” Svecla said.

He emphasized that the commitment to fighting any type of crime will continue with increased intensity throughout the territory of Kosovo without any distinction.

Alarming figures; two deaths and 1,793 new cases with COVID-19 (Telegrafi) 

Kosovo’s Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 1,793 new cases with COVID-19 and two deaths from the virus were confirmed in the last 24 hours. 

Serbian Language Media

President of Egypt welcomed with military and state honours in Belgrade (N1, RTS)

President of Egypt Abdul Fatah al Sisi received a ceremonial welcome today, with military and state honours in front of the Palace of Serbia, N1 reports. President Al Sisi is the first Egyptian president to visit Serbia in the last 35 years, Serbian media recalled. In a three-day visit to Serbia, Al Sisi came with a delegation that has 120 members.

During a tête-à-tête meeting with the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, the two presidents adopted a joint declaration of establishing a strategic partnership between the two states.

Also, 13 other agreements were signed, including the ones on abolishing visas for diplomatic, official and social passports’ holders, cooperation in the field of higher education, memorandum of understanding in the field of agriculture as well as cooperation program in the fields of culture and arts.

Addressing the media in a joint conference with President Vucic, President Al Sisi said it was his honour to visit Serbia, adding he hopes “to the good results of this visit and even stronger cooperation in all the fields”. He also said he discussed politics, science, business, investments and exchange of experience in the file of agriculture with Vucic.

On his part, Vucic said it was an honour to Serbia to host a President of Egypt after almost four decades since the last visit of this kind took place, adding the visit was historic. “I am convinced that our talks today provided a strong impetus that will be seen on the international arena and most concretely in the economic area and numerous projects we will work on together”, he said. 

The two interlocutors discussed the war in Ukraine as well, and Al Sisi said the stance of Egypt in this regard is that everything should be resolved peacefully and through agreements.  

Vucic also presented a medal to Al Sisi. Al Sisi was awarded for his exceptional services in developing friendly relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

After visiting Serbia, Al Sisi is due to visit France. 

Selakovic: We are grateful to Egypt for understanding Serbia’s position on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Selakovic met today his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Hasan Shukri in Belgrade, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Selakovic said he is convinced that the visit of the Egyptian President Al Sisi to Serbia represents “a crown in relations between Serbia and Egypt” and would provide crucial impetus to the further development of relations between the two states, as confirmed by adoption of the Joint Declaration on establishing strategic partnership between Serbia and Egypt.

Selakovic also expressed particular gratitude for understanding Serbia’s position on Kosovo and Metohija, and voiced hope that Egypt will continue offering adequate support to Serbian stances in international organisations in this regard.

Statistics Office official says population census in Serbia in October (N1)

An official of the Serbian Republic Statistics office (RZS) said Tuesday that a population census would be organised in October, N1 reports.

RZS Assistant Director Snezana Lakcevic told a news conference that some 15,000 census takers would be engaged between October 1 and 31 after being trained by 2,200 instructors with 74 census commissions to be formed. She said preliminary results would be published by the end of November and final results in April or May 2023.

Lakcevic said that this would be the first time that census takers would be using electronic devices.

“The methodology is completely in line with international standards. The data collected in the census can only be used for statistics and measures are being taken to protect the data”, she said.

Lakcevic  added the census would include foreign nationals living in Serbia for more than a year or who intend to stay for longer than a year as well as migrants in refugee centres.

Drecun: Opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania good news (Kosovo Online)

Chairman of the Serbian Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, Milovan Drecun said it was good news that North Macedonia and Albania after almost two decades opened negotiations with the EU, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“This is good for the entire region, now to close up the story with Bosnia and Herzegovina and then this process will become irreversible. The leadership and citizens of North Macedonia and Albania invested strong efforts. Strong efforts were made also within the Open Balkan initiative and this significantly strengthened their positions”, Drecun said.

He added the problem was that in addition to the states advocating for the enlargement, there is no official stance of the EU on this matter. “(…), there is opposition by a significant number of states to EU enlargement until it gets reorganised. It is important for this region to have the official EU stance on the enlargement, otherwise one may get the impression that what happened was a consequence of the current geopolitical situation caused by the war in Ukraine”, Drecun said. 

NADA Coalition: Serbia to condemn Edi Rama’s statements on organ harvesting (Kosovo Online)

Serbian opposition coalition NADA, consisting of New Democratic Party (DSS) Movement for Serbian Kingdom Renewal (POKS) and 25 civic associations requested Serbian state authorities to react and condemn statements of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who recently said, as media reported, that there were no war crimes in Kosovo committed by KLA nor was there organ harvesting.

NADA said it demands resolute and sharp Serbia’s response on those allegations.

It said that despite numerous evidence on war crimes against the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija committed by KLA, and on organ harvesting “(…) The Albanian prime minister dared to say something like that. This tells us, Serbia should change its policy, abandon defensive diplomatic position, and engage in offensive toward Albanian officials and be less tolerant towards their Western mentors”, NADA said in a statement. 

Bogdanovic: Serbs in northern Kosovo still don’t know what to do regarding Serbian licence plates (Danas)

“Although only ten days are left until the beginning of the mandatory re-registration of vehicles with Serbian licence plates (bearing the names of towns in Kosovo) to “RKS” plates, Serbs from the north of Kosovo still do not know whether they will re-register their cars according to the regulation of Kosovo Government”, former Minister for Kosovo and Metohija in the Serbian Government Goran Bogdanovic told Danas daily.

Bogdanovic, who lives in Leposavic, also said that Serbs from northern Kosovo are “crazed”, both because of the regulation of Kosovo Government on mandatory re-registration and because of the announcements by the Serbian leadership that there will be a war and a new “Storm” (Croatian military operation that led to massive expulsion of Serb civilians) in Kosovo.

“Serbs from the north of Kosovo are in doubt and are waiting to receive instructions from Belgrade whether to re-register their vehicles. Currently, about 20-30 percent of vehicle owners already have “RKS” plates. All Serbs from the north of Kosovo who work south of the Ibar River have cars with “RKS” licence plates”, he added.

He also alleged that in the last month, a large number of Serbs deregistered their residence from the north of Kosovo and registered their residence in Raska, Kragujevac and Belgrade, in order to re-register their cars in those cities. He added that Serbs are moving out of Kosovo every day, because, as he said, there is no security and perspective.

“Many parents will enrol their children for further education in central Serbia after completing primary or secondary school. At the University in North Mitrovica, the most students are from Montenegro and central Serbia, and the least from Kosovo and Metohija. With threats of war and the ‘Storm’, the authorities in Belgrade are abusing the misfortune of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and causing the large number of people to emigrate. When the President of Serbia announces ‘Storm’, every normal person asks: “What am I doing in Kosovo”, Bogdanovic said.

Humanitarian/Development

Kosovo with draft law on sanctioning foreign human rights offenders (RFE)

The Government of Kosovo adopted the draft law for sanctions against foreign human rights offenders, known as the Magnitsky Act.

RFE notes that Kosovo is the first in the region to adopt such a measure. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the draft law in question protects democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights in line with the principles of international law.

Serbian passport visa free in 134 states (N1)

According to the Arton Capital Index which takes into consideration passports of 193 UN member states and six territories including Kosovo, Serbian passports are placed on 26 place, while Kosovo one is on the 82 place, N1 reports.

Japan, Singapore and South Korea are considered the states with the strongest passports, as their citizens may travel to all world countries without visas.

Citizens of Serbia may travel to 134 states without visa, those of North Macedonia and Montenegro to 124 states, and those of Bosnia and Herzegovina to 116 states.

Germany and Spain have the strongest passports in the EU, as their citizens may travel to 190 states without visas, followed by Finland, Italy and Luxembourg whose citizens may travel to 189 states without visas.

Citizens of Afghanistan are again on the top of the list of weakest passports, since they may enter only 27 states after applying for a visa, N1 reports.