• Kosovo agrees to delay new rules after tensions rise at Serbian border (RFE)
• Kurti: Reciprocity will be postponed if all barricades are removed (media)
• Svecla: Decision is being implemented except in Jarinje and Bernjak (RTK)
• Roads in the north of Kosovo remain blocked (RFE/Koha)
• Borell welcomes decision to move measures; “roadblocks to be removed” (media)
• Lajcak welcomes decision to postpone implementation by 1 month (media)
• Osmani: Vucic’s efforts to destabilise Kosovo will fail (media)
• Vela: Repetition of Putin’s playbook by Vucic’s regime (media)
• UNMIK chief Ziadeh calls for calm amid developments in the north (media)
• LDK leader Abdixhiku condemns attack of local Serbs against police (media)
• Turkish FM: Peace, stability in Balkans, always a priority for Turkey (media)
• Russian Foreign Ministry reacts to development in the north (media)
• Nearly 10,000 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

Kosovo agrees to delay new travel rules after tensions rise at Serbian border (RFE)

Kosovar authorities said early on August 1 that they had agreed to delay implementation of two regulations regarding automobile license plates and travel documents for visitors from Serbia after consultations with U.S. and European Union representatives. Officials said the new regulations would be postponed for 30 days once barricades set up at border crossings by ethnics Serbs in Kosovo were removed. Kosovar leaders “have held contacts and meetings with American and European international factors,” a government statement said. “Following this, the Kosovo government has given a pledge to postpone the implementation of the two decisions dated June 29, 2022, until September 1, 2022…from the moment when all barricades are removed, and full freedom of movement is established on all roads in northern Kosovo”. Government officials added that the new regulations would continue to be implemented until the barricades were removed by protesters.

Late on July 31, U.S. Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier had urged Kosovo to postpone implementation of the regulations for 30 days “because there seems to be disinformation and misunderstanding of these decisions”. “We hope that we will work with this government and colleagues from the European Union to ensure that these agreements are better understood and thus lower tensions,” he added. Hovenier also called on protesters to remove the blockades and allow traffic to move smoothly, adding that “the right path is through civil dialogue”.

The NATO-led mission in Kosovo also said on July 31 that it was monitoring the “tense” situation in the northern municipalities and that it was “prepared to intervene if stability is jeopardized”.

On July 31, ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo blocked roads near two key border crossings with Serbia as tensions rose in the region a day before the two government regulations involving Serbian-issued license plates and ID documents were to come into force.

The Kosovar government had said that starting on August 1 travelers arriving from Serbia would have their Serbia-issued documents exchanged for new entry-exit identification documents issued by Pristina, valid for three months. The policy matches a long-standing practice in place by Belgrade for Kosovo citizens visiting Serbia.

In addition, a new regulation regarding license plates was also scheduled to come into effect on August 1.

Kurti: Reciprocity will be postponed if all barricades are removed (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said in a Twitter post that the postponement of the implementation of decisions on license plates and reciprocity for identity cards will be done only on the condition that all barricades are removed from the north of Kosovo and freedom of movement is restored. “In cooperation with our international allies, we pledge to postpone the implementation of decisions on car plates and entry-exit documents at border crossing points with Serbia for 30 days, on the condition that all barricades are removed and complete freedom of movement is restored,” Kurti wrote.

Kurti also attached the following press release from the government of Kosovo.

“The Government of the Republic of Kosovo strongly condemns today’s blocking of roads in the north of Kosovo and the shooting by armed people of illegal structures there. It is about the tendency to destabilize Kosovo and endanger the peace and security of citizens and our country. There have been numerous aggressive acts this afternoon and evening, incited and prepared by Belgrade.”

“Prime Minister Kurti together with President Osmani and Deputy Prime Ministers Bislimi and Gervalla have held meetings with American and European international factors. On this occasion, the Government of Kosovo pledges to postpone the implementation of the two decisions dated June 29, 2022, until September 1, 2022, from the moment on Monday, August 1, 2022, when all barricades will be removed and complete freedom of movement will be restored on all roads in the north of Kosovo.”

“We thank international partners, in particular US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier, for their commitment and contribution.”

Svecla: Decision is being implemented except in Jarinje and Bernjak (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs Xhelal Svecla said that at all border points, with the exception of Jarinje and Bernjak, the implementation of the government’s decision to equip the citizens of Serbia with a document for entry and exit has begun.

“All persons who possess documents issued by the authorities of Serbia will be provided with the entry-exit document, which has a validity period of 90 days within the territory of the Republic of Kosovo,” Svecla wrote on Facebook. “This decision will continue to be implemented until all the barricades are removed and the freedom of movement of citizens and goods is ensured. When all barricades and obstacles are removed, this decision will be suspended until September 1, 2022.”

Roads in the north of Kosovo remain blocked (RFE/Koha)

Radio Free Europe reports that the roads in the north of Kosovo leading to two border crossing points with Serbia remain blocked. Kosovo Police deputy director for the north, Besim Hoti, confirmed the information. “The situation has not changed. The situation is calm, and nothing has happened. The barricades are still there, but let’s see today what will happen after the decision that was made,” Hoti told the news website.

Koha reports that this morning in the four northern municipalities are seen billboards with the message “Welcome the Association of Serb Municipalities”.

Borell welcomes decision to move measures; “roadblocks to be removed” (media)

The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, said on Sunday he welcomed Kosovo’s decision to move measures to September 1 and that he expects all roadblocks to be removed immediately. Borrell also said that “open issues should be addressed through EU-facilitated Dialogue and focus on comprehensive normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, essential for their EU integration paths”.

Lajcak welcomes decision to postpone implementation by 1 month (media)

The Special Representative of the EU for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said on Sunday he welcomes the decision by Kosovo to accept EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s proposal to postpone the implementation of decisions by one month. “EU expects all roadblocks to be removed immediately. HRVP Borrell invited Kosovo & Serbia to engage in dialogue on way forward. Grateful to the US Ambassador in Kosovo for strong support,” Lajcak tweeted.

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, retweeted Lajcak’s post with the following message: “Facts remain facts: Kosovo agreed to a US proposal. in line with THE European Union. We agreed on a pause until Sep 1, 2022 – but only if blockades are being removed by Aug 1. Reciprocity will remain the reality. Kosovo has not “postponed” anything, ID card regulation has been enacted by midnight.”

Osmani: Vucic’s efforts to destabilise Kosovo will fail (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani said on Sunday that the measure of reciprocity is not directed against anyone and that it is in the favor of all citizens of Kosovo. “Therefore, I call on the Serb citizens of the Republic of Kosovo not to fall prey to Belgrade’s propaganda. Kosovo Police and all security institutions are working hard to guarantee the respect for the rule of law and the freedom of movement. We are coordinated and working uninterruptedly with our international partners. Vucic’s efforts to destabilise Kosovo, and him using the methods of his mentor Putin, will fail,” Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Vela: Repetition of Putin’s playbook by Vucic’s regime (media)

Blerim Vela, Chief of Staff of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, said that the barricades placed on several roads in the north were made by Vucic’s direct order. “We are witnessing in north Kosova a textbook repetition of Putin’s playbook by Serbia’s Vucic regime: Information space flooded with lies that seek to spread fear; Claiming falsely that Kosovo Serbs are being persecuted; Ramping up militaristic rhetoric. He will fail,” Vela tweeted.

UNMIK chief Ziadeh calls for calm amid developments in the north (media)

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo and chief of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh said on Sunday she is following developments in northern Kosovo with concern. Ziadeh called for calm, restoration of freedom of movement and avoiding further escalation. “I urge all to address issues in good faith through the EU-facilitated dialogue, to strengthen stability and security for all,” she added.

LDK leader Abdixhiku condemns attack of local Serbs against police (media)

Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has condemned the attack with firearms on Kosovo Police officials by local Serbs in the north of Kosovo. “We condemn the attack on the Kosovo Police and the security forces that exercise their constitutional duty in the north of the country. Support for them is a must,” Abdixhiku wrote on Facebook. “We support the commitment of the institutions of Kosovo for the extension of legality throughout the territory of the Republic. Reciprocity is the right of every sovereign state.”

Abdixhiku also said that “coordination with international allies in preventing any provocation from Serbia within the territory of Kosovo is essential”.

Turkish FM: Peace, stability in the Balkans, always a priority for Turkey (media)

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu took to Twitter on Sunday that he spoke with his Serbian and Kosovar counterparts regarding the recent tension in the north of Kosovo. “Peace and stability in the Balkans have always been a priority for Türkiye. New tensions will not help anyone. Türkiye is ready to do whatever is necessary to reduce the tension,” he tweeted.

Russian Foreign Ministry reacts to development in the north (media)

Maria Zakharova, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Sunday that “the decision of the ‘authorities’ in Pristina to start applying unreasonable discriminatory ‘rules’ on the forced replacement of personal documents and numbers of local Serbs from August 1 is another step towards the expulsion of the Serbian population from Kosovo”. She added that “Kosovar leaders know that the Serbs will not remain indifferent when it comes to a direct attack on their freedoms, and they deliberately escalate in order to launch a military scenario. Of course, Belgrade is also at the forefront of the attack, which the West wants to additionally ‘neutralize’ with Kosovo Albanian hands”.

Nearly 10,000 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

All news websites report that there are nearly 10,000 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo. 918 new cases and one death from the virus were confirmed in the last 24 hours.