Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly ratifies the energy agreement with the MCC (media)
• President Osmani welcomes adoption of agreement with MCC (media)
• Rizvanolli: More than proud to sign agreement on behalf of Kosovo (media)
• Hovenier happy about the agreement between Kosovo and MCC (media)
• Kusari: Gashi’s statement is speculative; government will not fall (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Assembly ratifies international agreement for IPA III (Kosovapress)
• UEFA disciplinary body fines soccer club from Kosovo (media)
• Two deaths and 1,603 new cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Constitutive session of new Serbian Parliament scheduled for August 1 (N1)
• Vucic: Why did you abolish KS plates, who did you ask? (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Survey: 84 percent of Serbian citizens against imposing sanctions on Russia (N1, Nedeljnik, NSPM)
• Visoki Decani Monastery expresses gratitude to KFOR (Radio KIM)
• Covid-19: 23 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Three days left until August 1: What awaits Serbs in northern Kosovo and what will implementation of new Pristina rules look like? (Kosovo Online)

International:

• High Representative Gives Bosnia Leaders Ultimatum to Change Election Law (BIRN)
• Price Hikes Dent Tourist Industry in Western Balkans (BIRN)
• Montenegro MPs Expected to Condemn WWII Massacre of Serbs as Genocide (Balkan Insight)
• Call to Rebuild Njegos Chapel Divides Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media  

Kosovo Assembly ratifies the energy agreement with the MCC (media) 

With 89 votes in favour, the MPs of the Assembly of Kosovo ratified today the agreement that the government signed a day ago with the Millennium Challenges Corporation (MCC) in the American Congress. The agreement, with a total value of 236.7 million dollars, focuses on energy projects.

President Osmani welcomes adoption of agreement with MCC (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani welcomed the Kosovo Assembly’s unanimous adoption of the agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation. “I welcome the unanimous support at the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, adopting today the agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the United States of America, represented by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for the Compact Program. In addition to confirming our strategic partnership with the United States, the decision of the Assembly today represents our most serious institutional engagement toward energy transition in Kosovo,” Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Rizvanolli: More than proud to sign agreement on behalf of Kosovo (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, said in a Facebook post that the agreement with the MCC will enable the stabilisation of electricity supply, integration of renewable energy resources and preparing the workforce for employment in the energy sector, with a special focus on women. “At a critical time for Kosovo’s energy sector, I am more than proud to sign such an important agreement on behalf of the Republic of Kosovo for the energy sector and the country’s economy. This program will enable the stabilisation of electricity supply, the integration of renewable energy sources and the preparation of the workforce for employment in the energy sector, with a special focus on women. I would like to thank the MCC Director for Kosovo, Sarah Olmstead and the Local Project Development Team Leader, Lum Mita, as well as all the members of my team and Cabinet who have contributed to the development of the program. I am grateful to the Kosovo Government and MCC teams for the great work done to get here, and I pledge that we will continue to work diligently to implement the program as quickly as possible, in accordance with the needs and demands of the sector,” Rizvanolli said.

Hovenier happy about the agreement between Kosovo and MCC (media)

The Ambassador of the United States of America in Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, has reacted regarding the agreement reached on Wednesday between Kosovo and the MCC.

He replied to the tweet of the MCC CEO Alice Albright who wrote that the United States is deepening its partnership with Kosovo by investing in the country’s energy sector. She added that MCC looks forward to working together to build modern, clean energy solutions that will benefit all Kosovans. “Happy to see Kosovo and the U.S. take this next step which deepens our joint partnership. Looking forward to seeing significant results from this. Compact in the coming months and years,” Hovenier commented. 

Kusari: Gashi’s statement is speculative; government will not fall (Telegrafi)

Head of the Vetevendosje parliamentary group, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, reacted today to claims by senior LDK official Arben Gashi who said on Wednesday that the Kurti-led government will fall in autumn. “I don’t believe these allegations because there have been no indications and no one within the parliamentary group has voiced any dissatisfaction. The situation in the parliamentary group is normal, there is a spirit of communication and cooperation. So I think Gashi’s allegations were speculation,” Kusari-Lila said today.

Kosovo Assembly ratifies international agreement for IPA III (Kosovapress)

All parliamentary groups voted today in favour of the agreement for IPA III with First Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi saying that the objective is to create the legal framework for Kosovo to benefit from European Union funds.

“The objective of the agreement is to create the necessary legal basis for Kosovo to benefit from funds of the European Union offered within the Pre-Accession Instrument, or IPA III funds, for IPA 2021 – 2027 annual programs. The agreement as such is a framework agreement, and for special annual programs we will reach individual financial agreements for every program. We will then specify projects, sectors, funds and implementation modalities. This also paves the way to other agreements for getting funds from the European Union,” Bislimi said.

UEFA disciplinary body fines soccer club from Kosovo (media)

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) decided to fine the Llapi soccer club from Kosovo over a match played against a soccer club from Podgorica, Montenegro, on July 14. The decision reads that Llapi will be fined with €50,000 and will play its next two UEFA competition matches as host club behind closed doors, the second of which being subject to a probationary period of two years from the date of the present decision, for the violations of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, i.e. the racist behaviour of its supporters, invasion of the field of play, throwing of objects, lighting of fireworks and provocative messages (i.e. illicit banners). The soccer club is also ordered to implement the following directive at the next UEFA competition match it plays as host club: to display a banner with the wording “#NoToRacism”, with the UEFA logo on it.

Two deaths and 1,603 new cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

1,603 new cases with COVID-19 and two deaths from the virus were confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. There are 10,639 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media 

Constitutive session of new Serbian Parliament scheduled for August 1 (N1)

Outgoing Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic has scheduled the constitutive session of the new parliament for Monday, August 1, at 10 am, N1 reports.

A Serbian Parliament press release said that Dacic has convened the first sitting of the National Parliament of the Republic of Serbia, 13th legislature, and set the following agenda: verification of mandates of MPs, election of the National Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speaker, nomination of the National Parliament Secretary General, election of parliamentary working bodies’ members and election of members of standing parliamentary delegations to international institutions.

Once it is constituted and MP mandates verified, the Parliament has 90 days to elect the Government.

Vucic: Why did you abolish KS plates, who did you ask? (Kosovo Online, Danas)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke with journalists in Belgrade today regarding the licence plates issue saying Pristina got that right out of nowhere.

“It’s obvious they want to make trouble, I’m worried and we’ll see how things go”, he added.

Pristina announced earlier that the replacement of licence plates bearing the names of towns in Kosovo with that of “RKS” will begin on August 1.

“I have a question, that’s an annex to the Brussels Agreement… If that’s the case, why do you then abolish KS plates? Who did you ask? Nothing has ever broken out because of the licence plates; the issue here is the recklessness of one side and of its supporters. They are not interested in the licence plates, but rather in having the KM plates exist nowhere. When you talk about reciprocity, where is it written? It is written in the head of Albin Kurti and the Quint countries”, Vucic said during a tour of the works on the Belgrade Tower part of Belgrade Waterfront construction project.

He noted that when someone wants to always find the culprit in Belgrade, he does it with ease and half-truths.

“When they talk about KS and “RKS” plates – even if we leave aside that they don’t want to fulfil the six points of the Brussels Agreement, which are the essence, about A/CSM (ZSO), it’s a very simple counter-question – and why did you abolished KS plates and left only “RKS””, Vucic asked.

Speaking about reciprocity, he asked what the basis for the introduction of that reciprocity is?

“Where is it written, except in the head of Albin Kurti and the Quint countries-since for them Kosovo is a state, so they have the right to do to central Serbia what Serbia, as internationally recognized, can do to them”, Vucic said.

Survey: 84 percent of Serbian citizens against imposing sanctions on Russia (N1, Nedeljnik, NSPM)

An overwhelming majority of Serbian citizens are against imposing sanctions on Russia, against membership in NATO and against European Union (EU) membership if it is conditioned by the recognition of Kosovo, show the results of a survey conducted by the New Serbian Political Thought (NSPM) published in the weekly Nedeljnik, N1 reports.

As many as 84 percent of citizens are against imposing sanctions on Russia, 60 per cent say this should not be done even if the EU threatens Serbia with sanctions while 19 percent of respondents say that, in this case, sanctions against Russia should be approved.

When asked who should be Serbia’s main foreign policy partner and support, 35 percent of respondents did not know what to say, roughly 25 per cent said Russia, while 21.4 percent chose the EU, that is, Germany.

Just over 36 per cent of respondents are in favour of Serbia’s membership in EU, 44 per cent are against it, however, if recognizing Kosovo is a condition, then 82 per cent of respondents are against.

A vast majority of respondents, 88 per cent, do not support membership in NATO, with over 55 per cent of respondents in favour of the Open Balkan initiative.

When it comes to political parties’ ratings, the survey results show that over 42 per cent of respondents would now vote for the governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), 9.4 per cent for the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and about eight per cent would support the opposition parties. 

Visoki Decani Monastery expresses gratitude to KFOR (Radio KIM)

A Transfer-in-Command ceremony of the Regional Command (RC) West was held yesterday in KFOR base near Pec with attendance of Visoki Decani Monastery monks as well, while Abbot of the Monastery, Father Sava Janjic hosted on the same day Admiral Valter Zeppellini the Italian Army Chief of Staff of the Operational Command of the Joint Forces, outgoing Commander of KFOR RC West, Colonel Marco Javarone and his successor Colonel Ivano Marotta, Radio KIM reports.

“Abbot of Decani, Father Sava expressed gratitude to KFOR for permanent protection of the Monastery and in particular thanked Admiral Zeppellini for a strong commitment of the Italian Army and other contingents in KFOR in protection of this UNESCO protected site, from XIV century”, Monastery wrote on Twitter.

Decani Monastery was placed on UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 and then on UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List in 2006, and has been under strong KFOR protection since 1999. The Monastery was target of four armed attacks – two involving mortar shells in 2000 and 2004, a grenade attack in 2007 and attempted terrorist attack, Radio KIM recalled.

During its recent history, since 1999 and onwards Monastery in particular nurtures friendly relations with Italian KFOR members who are guarding the Monastery, as well as with officials and intellectuals from this country.

Covid-19: 23 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo Online)

Out of 39 samples tested over the last 24 hours in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, 23 persons tested positive with Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced today, Kosovo Online portal reports.

New cases were registered as follows: 15 in Mitrovica North, five in Leposavic, two in Zvecan and one in Priluzje.

Currently there are 80 active cases in the Serbian areas in Kosovo. 

Opinion

Three days left until August 1: What awaits Serbs in northern Kosovo and what will implementation of new Pristina rules look like? (Kosovo Online)

In an analysis published today, Kosovo Online portal writes that three days prior to August 1, a date set to start implementing Pristina’s decisions on Serbian ID cards and licence plates, Serbs in northern Kosovo still do not have concrete information about the manner by which Pristina will attempt to implement this decision and what does it exactly entails in the practise.

Kosovo police issued a statement earlier saying that all preparations needed to issue entry/exit document sheets at all crossing points have been completed. The document, replacing the Serbian ID card, will last 90 days, it was also said. 

Kosovo Online further writes it remains unclear what would be the rights of those receiving this document sheet upon their entry in Kosovo. The portal said it attempted to get clarification from relevant institutions, adding no response was received by the time of publishing the news. Kosovo police main spokesperson, according to the portal, didn’t reply to their calls, while northern police stations have not received any instruction.

The portal listed number of issues that may arise and affect the Serb population in Kosovo, including the following:

•       Serbs in Kosovo born in central Serbia have difficulties in obtaining Kosovo documents, and many marriages registered in the municipalities in northern Kosovo are not recognized by institutions in Pristina. For example, spouses married in the system of the Republic of Serbia in order to obtain Kosovo documents, the portal says, need to submit confirmation that they are not married. The only thing left to them is to get divorced in the Serbian system and then apply to get married in Kosovo.  
•       Serbs who obtained driving licence in the Serbian driving schools over the last eight years do not have the right to apply for Kosovo driving licence, the deadline for those who have Serbia-issued driving licence to obtain Kosovo ones expired in 2014.
•       The new decision of the Kosovo authorities on Serbian ID cards doesn’t explain what will happen after 90 days and validity of the sheet document expires and how that will affect the lives of people with Serbian documents and their ability to continue their lives in Kosovo. The portal also asked where they will be able to obtain documents or will be deported to Serbia, given that they are “not citizens of Kosovo”.

The portal also said that presence of Kosovo police special units for a longer period of time is causing tension among the Serbian population in northern Kosovo, adding there is concern among the population how this could impact security of all in northern municipalities given that the period of starting implementing new Pristina’s decisions is approaching.   

International 

High Representative Gives Bosnia Leaders Ultimatum to Change Election Law (BIRN)

Amid three days of protests in Sarajevo supported by the main Bosniak parties, the international envoy to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, on Wednesday only partially imposed changes to the election law in time for the October elections despite protests mostly by Bosniak parties.

Schmidt said he will give politicians in the Federation entity a new timeline to find their own solution but will impose significant changes to the election law, if they fail to reach an agreement.

“Today, I impose a package of transparency that guarantees a free and fair campaign,” he said. “Today I also spoke very clearly with the leaders of the main parties from the Federation. I await results. I expect them to do something for the country and for the people of the country where they live. This is not a friendly suggestion, this is their obligation. If they fail to do that, I will take responsibility based on the Dayton Peace Agreement [of 1995], given to me by those who signed it,” Schmidt said.

Amid protests (link to protest news) that started in Sarajevo on Monday and ended on Wednesday, leaders of parties in the Federation met the German diplomat on Wednesday, most of them voicing optimism.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3S9g69E

Price Hikes Dent Tourist Industry in Western Balkans (BIRN)

While Montenegro and Albania blame a fall in tourist numbers on price rises, Greece is stimulating its industry by giving lower-income families vouchers to spend in resorts.

Sitting at a half-empty terrace by the beach, 60-year-old Suad Tuzovic, owner of a hotel in the Montenegrin resort of Dobre Vode, fears this summer could be tough for his business.

Tuzovic says only half of his hotel rooms are booked and the summer season has already reached its peak.

“Last summer, the beaches were overcrowded and the hotels full of regional tourists. Now it’s almost August, there are a lot of empty rooms, and the tourists are not spending much money in restaurants either,” Tuzovic told BIRN.

“If the number of tourists from the region doesn’t increase in August, this season could be disastrous,” he adds.

For years, the money spent by tourists flocking to Montenegro’s Adriatic coastline has been a mainstay of the former Yugoslav republic’s economy, accounting for roughly 21 percent of its GDP last year.

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

Montenegro MPs Expected to Condemn WWII Massacre of Serbs as Genocide (Balkan Insight)

The Montenegrin parliament is planning to vote on a resolution condemning World War Two massacres of Serbs by Nazi troops in the villages of Velika and Piva as genocide.

Parliament is to vote this week on a resolution condemning two massacres by the Nazi SS in the Montenegrin villages of Velika and Piva almost eight decades after they were committed. The resolution is expected to be adopted by MPs.

Democratic Montenegro, a pro-Serb party which is part of the ruling coalition, proposed the parliamentary resolution classifying both massacres as genocide and calling on the authorities to build memorial centres in both villages.

Democratic Montenegro MP Momo Koprivica said that the authorities also should form a commission to investigate the historical facts about the massacres.

“We should establish days of remembrance for the victims in Piva and Velika, and plan the construction of memorial centres. Those massacres should be in school programmes because the victims of Velika and Piva went through suffering and crucifixion,” Koprivica told parliament.

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

Call to Rebuild Njegos Chapel Divides Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

An appeal to reconstruct a long-ago demolished chapel on Mount Lovcen, linked to Montenegro’s most famous historical figure, has split opinion on now familiar fault lines, pitting pro-Serbian and pro-Montenegrin factions against one another.

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro and Prince Filip Karadjordjevic, a descendant of the last Yugoslav king, Petar II, on Wednesday called for the reconstruction of the chapel on Mount Lovcen, which has been a disputed issue for years in Montenegro.

The so-called Njegos chapel was built by King Aleksandar of Yugoslavia on mountain Lovcen in 1925 on the site of an earlier 19th-century church but was demolished by the Yugoslav communist authorities in 1970.

“We are obliged to fulfil the will of Petar Petrovic Njegos and raise the Church on Lovcen. This is not a political issue, but the duty and responsibility of all of us,” Prince Filip wrote on Twitter.

On July 27, the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro’s top bishop, Metropolitan Joanikije, said the chapel had to be reconstructed but stressed that Montenegro also had to repent for the chapel’s deconstruction.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3J9I1m0