Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia increasing aggressiveness, we must understand this as its weakening (Koha)
• Osmani: Iran should be held responsible for the cyber attacks in Albania (Reporteri)
• Svecla: Kosovo Police begins water patrolling on the border with Serbia (media)
• Kurti and Nagavci call for start of classes in schools (media)
• Jasharaj: If Kurti wants schools with students, let him fulfil our demands (media)
• Official: MP Doarsa Kica-Xhelili joins the LDK (media)
• Svetomir Bacevic sentenced to five years in prison for war crimes in 1998 (media)
• COVID-19: 25 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• NGOs express concern over verdict to Nedeljkovic (KoSSev)
• The Nedeljkovic’s verdict made known to Serbs they are unwelcome, says CI “Serbian Survival” (KiM radio)
• Lawyer Vasic on verdict to Bacevic, terms it ‘shameful’ (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s statement (Kosovo Online)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Russia not requesting to set up military base in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Vucic to host Hungarian President Katalin Novak on Friday (Tanjug)
• Jeremic calls for unity on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1, Insajder)
• Vucic: Relations with Turkey at historic high (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council (Tanjug, Politika)
• Commander of Ohio National Guard decorated by Vucic (Beta, N1, RTS)

Opinion:

• ‘Wine Vision’ Offers Taste of Open Balkans in Action (Balkan Insight)

International:

• What is the future of Kosovo-Serbia relations? | A Debrief with Ambassador Christopher Hill (atlanticcouncil.org)
• Serbian president reveals grandfather was murdered in Holocaust (The Jerusalem Post)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: Serbia increasing aggressiveness, we must understand this as its weakening (Koha)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has reacted to the decision of the government of Serbia to sing the Serbian anthem at the beginning of the school year in all schools in Serbia, including the Albanian ones in the Presheva Valley. He said that this is a sign of the weakening of Serbia.

“It is not about any democratic and humane action. On the contrary, the weaker Serbia is against Kosovo, the more it is getting wilder. It is a kind of increased aggressiveness of Serbia. It should be understood within its weakening in general. Kosovo is an independent, sovereign and democratic state. It is committed to all citizens without distinction, but also to Albanians in Serbia. Albanians who are under Serbia are discriminated against, our delegation that visited the Valley this week was a witness to this,” Kurti said. 

“For the first time within this budget, 2 million euros have been allocated for Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc. As the famous poet Esat Mekuli said, oppression breaks out of thin air. This increased violence of Serbia, even towards the Serbs in Kosovo, is coming to an end. As the state of Kosovo is more and more democratic, stronger and more independent, and it is proving this with its reciprocity towards Serbia,” he added.

Asked about the statement of the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Belgrade that he is ready to help in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Kurti said.

“But look, everyone has their own agendas. We have Turkey as a friend and ally. Turkey is a very powerful country in NATO, but the dialogue is between Kosovo and Serbia, now Kosovo is not a topic, but a party. It is being held through the mediation of Brussels and is helped by the USA. Tomorrow the special representatives from Berlin and Paris are coming to accompany Lajcak. The help of all friendly countries is welcome. We cannot fully understand the agendas of state leaders from friendly countries on when and where they visit. This visit had more to do with Bosnia-Herzegovina, as I think, since they consider it a much more endangered country than Kosovo. Serbia and Croatia are influential countries in Bosnia. The visit to the Balkans this time is related to Bosnia. It’s not like we can know one hundred percent,” Kurti said.

Osmani: Iran should be held responsible for the cyber attacks in Albania (Reporteri)

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has condemned the cyber attack against Albania’s critical infrastructure.

“We strongly condemn the malicious cyberattack against Albania’s critical infrastructure.We stand with President Bajram Begaj and the Albanian government and call on Iran to be held accountable for this unprecedented action,” Osmani wrote on Twitter.

Svecla: Kosovo Police begins water patrolling on the border with Serbia (media)

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo Xhelal Svecla, announced that the Kosovo Police, for the first time since the post-war period, has started regular patrolling of the border line between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the entire area of Lake Ujman.

“For the first time since the post-war, after the creation of the water patrol unit, the Kosovo Police today started regular patrolling of the border line between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the entire area of Lake Ujman. Now, the control of the state border is more complete. I congratulate the Kosovo Police for the yet another success,” Svecla wrote.

Kurti and Nagavci call for start of classes in schools (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Arberie Nagavci, have called for classes to start in schools. Kurti and Nagavci in the village of Lluge in Podujeve inaugurated the foundation stone of the new school “Ilir Kunushevci ” in this village.

“We need more education, schools, more teaching and learning. The only way out of the current situation is by starting classes for students, by going to school for teachers and also students, since the country does not develop without education, the economy does not develop without learning and education. We have taken different measures to improve the social position of all citizens, including teachers, as no government before” Kurti said.

Minister Nagavci also said that the school year should start.

“Also from here, as in every presentation I make, I call on the teachers to be close to the students and with the students. Not a single lesson should be lost, as the damage caused is great,” Nagavci said.

Jasharaj: If Kurti wants schools with students, let him fulfil our demands (media)

The head of the United Union for Education, Rrahman Jasharaj, has said that if Prime Minister Albin Kurti wants schools to have students, then he should start implementing their demands.

Jasharaj, through a press conference on Thursday, said that the strike is continuing and is united, while he criticised the government, which, according to him, is wasting time going from one municipality to another and ignoring the dialogue with them.

“We are waiting for the dialogue. Nagavci’s statements that they are ready to meet with the SBASHK are only to create a wrong impression. To meet with us, we must have an invitation because we cannot go to MEST and wait for hours. If she would meet us, let her send us a letter. We expect the letter mostly from Prime Minister Kurti. The government should meet with us. We are on the right path and our demands are legitimate,” Jasharaj said.

The head of the SBASHK emphasised once again that they will not give up the strike until their demands are met, one of them being the distribution of 100 euros for teachers until the Law on salaries is approved.

Official: MP Doarsa Kica-Xhelili joins the LDK (media)

The MP of the Assembly of Kosovo Doarsa Kica-Xhelili, who was member of the Guxo List, has joined the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Kica-Xhelili was one of the most talked about names on Wednesday of this week after she decided to part ways with the party founded by President Vjosa Osmani.

Paparaci news website reports that such a move by the MP has provoked great reactions of Vetevendosje Movement militants, while Guxo party officials mentioned “treason”, or tried to present her as unimportant.

However, Kica-Xhelili’s leaving means one less MP for the governing coalition. Furthermore, Guxo MP Haxhi Avdyli hinted in February of this year that they will aim to create a Parliamentary Group in the Assembly of Kosovo and mentioned that the only obstacle is that they are five MPs and need to become six in order to do so. 

“The parliamentary groups are provided with necessary and proportional spaces, necessary conditions, and equipment, as well as a political staff. The political staff of the parliamentary groups are rewarded for their work in accordance with the Decision of the Presidency,” it is stated in point 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. 

Svetomir Bacevic sentenced to five years in prison for war crimes in 1998 (media)

The Basic Court in Pristina has sentenced the accused Svetomir Bacevic, charged with war crimes in 1998 in Bellopoje in Peja, to five years in prison.

The verdict against the accused Bacevic was announced on Thursday by the president of the trial body, judge Musa Konxheli.

According to the verdict, the accused is found guilty of the criminal offence of “War crimes against the civilian population,” therefore he is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of five years.

The time spent in detention will also be counted in the sentence.

COVID-19: 25 new cases (media)

25 new cases of COVID-19 have been registered in the last 24 hours in Kosovo, out of 229 tests performed, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday. 190 patients have recovered from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, while the number of active cases is 371.

Serbian Language Media 

NGOs express concern over verdict to Nedeljkovic (KoSSev)

Several Serb non-governmental organisations (NGOs) based in Kosovo expressed last night concern and protest over the verdict of the Basic Court in Pristina, handed down to a student from Belgrade, Nikola Nedeljkovic who was arrested on June 28 in Gazimestan. Nedeljkovic was sentenced in the first-instance proceedings to eight months in prison for allegedly “inciting ethnic hatred and intolerance“.

The verdict prompted number of reactions by Serbian officials and Raska-Prizren Eparchy, saying it was discriminatory, not supported by evidence and represents human rights violation.

In a statement issued last night Serb NGOs expressed concern and protest over the verdict of the Basic Court in Pristina.

“Namely, as organisations that, among other things, deal with the rule of law, we are concerned about the unequal application of law to members of different communities in Kosovo”, they said.

While highlighting they respect the independence of the judiciary, these NGOs state that criminalization of the expression of political views, by singing or by concrete actions, is rather alarming.

“In this regard, singing ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ or taking pictures with a flag showing Kosovo in Serbian colours and the message ‘No surrender’ cannot be a criminal offence in any way, but the expression of political views, which is a universal human right guaranteed by international conventions, as well as the constitution and laws of Kosovo”, the statement reads.

Otherwise, they added, anyone who highlights the symbols of the Republic of Albania, writes or sings about the unification of Kosovo and Albania should be prosecuted and convicted.

“We are witnesses that this is a frequent occurrence in Kosovo and that no one was held accountable for such actions, not even for acts that contain an open invitation for violence against non-majority communities, primarily the Serbian one”, it was said. The different judicial practice, that is discrimination on the grounds of the ethnicity or citizenship of the suspect, is concerning – they added.

The NGOs recalled that in the past years, members of the Assembly of Kosovo and other public figures have sent numerous messages that were “evident examples of inciting intolerance towards the Serbian community”, but none of these had a judicial epilogue.

At the end they urged relevant institutions in Kosovo, as well as international organisations and missions, to do everything in their power so that the law in Kosovo is applied equally to everyone.

“We expect all of the above-mentioned to conduct impartial monitoring in this and similar cases, in order to ensure the rule of law in Kosovo”, NGOs concluded. 

See at: https://bit.ly/3x4f99K

The Nedeljkovic’s verdict made known to Serbs they are unwelcome, says CI “Serbian Survival” (KiM radio)

Representatives of CI “Srpski Opstanak” (Serbian Survival) and CI “Za Zubin Potok” (For Zubin Potok) condemned the eight-month prison sentence for “causing ethnic hatred and intolerance” to young man Nikola Nedeljkovic from Belgrade, arrested on June 28 in Gazimestan during the celebration of Vidovdan, reported KiM radio.

They say that the verdict “makes it clear to the Serbs that they are not welcome in Kosovo and Metohija, and that they could go through the same if they try to fight for their human rights”.

“We demand that Nikola Nedeljkovic be released immediately and without delay, as well as that he be provided with adequate financial compensation for the mental pain he suffered before the Basic Court in Pristina, where he was tried because he is a Serb, and not for allegedly inciting ethnic hatred and of intolerance,” the announcement stated.

They point out that “out of about 150 members of the Kosovo Police, as many as were stationed in Gazimestan on Vidovdan, only three allegedly heard that Nedeljkovic chanted what he was accused of”.

They note that “expressing political views is a human right guaranteed by international conventions, Kosovo laws and the Constitution”.

They recalled that Kosovo President and Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani “took photos in public with the iconography of ‘Greater Albania’, and no one from the Kosovo judiciary objected to them”.

Lawyer Vasic on verdict to Bacevic, terms it ‘shameful’ (Kosovo Online)

The Basic Court in Pristina sentenced today Svetomir Bacevic, accused of allegedly committing a war crime against the civilian population in the village of Belo Polje near Pec, to five years in prison, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Bacevic’s defence lawyer, Dejan Vasic told Kosovo Online that such a shameful verdict was rendered despite the testimony of the only witness in this case that Svetomir Bacevic was not a man who kidnapped her.

“After the witness and affected party B.K. was interviewed and said that she does not know Svetomir Bacevic and that he is not the man who allegedly kidnapped her from the house, Bacevic was sentenced to five years in prison by the first instance verdict. I do not know what to say more regarding the trials of Serbs for war crimes in Kosovo. The woman said “he didn’t kidnap me and I do not know him” and yet Bacevic was convicted”, Vasic told Kosovo Online portal.

He also said he will file an appeal on the verdict to the Court of Appeals . 

Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s statement (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said today Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti should think twice “before attempting to flex the muscles on Serbs in Kosovo and official Belgrade”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“This will bring him nothing good, nor will it solve his problems with electricity restrictions, teachers’ strike, disgruntled people who demonstrate social rebellion across Pristina on a daily basis”, Petkovic said in a statement.  

He added Kurti was strong only “in violating agreements and deals, anti-Serb rhetoric, violation of human rights and political rights of the Serbs, populism and demagogy”, adding that “those are disciplines in which no one sane wishes to compete with him (…)”.

Petkovic also said that Belgrade and Serbia will continue to grow stronger in all possible ways, to remain an economic leader in the region, encourage regional cooperation within the Open Balkan Initiative and continue investing in the Serb areas in Kosovo and Metohija. 

Botsan-Kharchenko: Russia not requesting to set up military base in Serbia (Tanjug)

Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said on Wednesday Russia was not requesting to set up a military base in Serbia and that there were no such offers from Belgrade, Tanjug news agency reports.

“I have never said there was such a proposal from Russia, and I also never said the things some media are reporting. I was responding to a question whether there was such a possibility, and I said we have neither received any offers from Serbia nor are we requesting something like that”, Botsan-Kharchenko told reporters after the opening of a Russia-Serbia business forum in Belgrade.

He said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had made a very clear statement on the matter a few days ago.

Some media have reported Russia could set up a military base in Serbia that would be tasked with various reconnaissance duties.

Vucic to host Hungarian President Katalin Novak on Friday (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will host his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Novak on Friday, September 9, Tanjug news agency reports.

The Hungarian president will be on an official visit to Serbia, the press office of the Serbian president said in a statement.

Jeremic calls for unity on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1, Insajder)

Serbia will achieve “absolutely nothing” if there is no unity on the issue of Kosovo, said opposition People’s Party (NS) leader Vuk Jeremic, adding he hopes it is possible for the Serbian Parliament to adopt a resolution tabled by this party that envisages twenty concrete steps in resolving the Kosovo problem.

“It is very important that we come out of the special assembly session on Kosovo and Metohija as united as possible and that we know what we are to do, because without unity there will be no happiness and everything will remain a dead letter. International representatives and the Kosovo side can take our proposal seriously only if we are united, “ Jeremic told Insajder TV, Beta reported.

He explained that the NS resolution envisages for Serbia to declare the Brussels dialogue unsuccessful if the Community of Serb Municipalities is not formed by year end, in the event of which competencies given to the Pristina authorities in the north of the province under the Brussels Agreement should be returned to the state of Serbia.

“In the nine years of the Brussels process Serbia got absolutely nothing, and the Community of Serb Municipalities is the most important thing that Serbia asked for. That was a relatively modest request, but if we do not even get that, then we really have no place in that process any longer. Then it would be impossible to eliminate the doubt that the Albanians will ever fulfil their obligations,” said Jeremic.

Jeremic, who served as the president of the UN General Assembly and as the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the resolution foresees that the Serbian President sends letters to the presidents of Russia and China, informing them that Serbia will never recognize self-proclaimed Kosovo and urging them to exercise a veto in the Security Council if the issue of Pristina’s membership in the UN is ever raised.

Jeremic said he fails to see why Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic would not send this kind of letter, since he officially proclaims this as his policy.

“If he does send a letter of this kind, Serbia will be in a safer position because, in order for Moscow and Beijing to possibly change their position, someone in Belgrade would have to write a new letter asking them to enable Pristina’s membership in the UN, and no one would send this kind of letter from Belgrade,” said Jeremic.

Vucic: Relations with Turkey at historic high (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday the present level of Serbia-Turkey relations was higher than ever in the modern history of the two peoples and countries and noted that results in bilateral trade were excellent.

At a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Belgrade, Vucic thanked his counterpart for visiting Serbia and noted that Erdogan’s visits were always a great honour and a special privilege for Serbia.

“I believe the results we have achieved demonstrate that we have succeeded in taking our relations to a very high level that I would say is the highest in the modern history of our peoples and countries,” Vucic said.

He said the volume of bilateral trade had increased from significantly below 1 bln euros to nearly 2.5 bln euros and was seeing a major rise this year.

“I believe we are on the right track to accomplishing an objective set by President Erdogan – a volume of trade of 5 bln euros, which we did not believe was possible,” he said.

He said he was especially pleased that Turkish investments kept coming to Serbia and that Turkish companies were employing nearly 10,000 people in the country.

He thanked Turkey for the idea of a joint project to build a Novi Pazar-Tutin Road in southwestern Serbia.

He said a bridge that was being constructed by a Turkish company as part of a Kuzmin-Raca motorway section in western Serbia looked impressive.

Vucic said he expected the 19.1 km section to be finished soon, completing a motorway connection between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He said the many other projects with Turkey were hugely important for Serbia.

He said the meeting with Erdogan had also addressed greater cooperation between the two defence ministries as well as stepped-up military and defence industry cooperation.

“We have made no secret of the fact that we want to buy Bayraktar UAVs. Everyone wants those UAVs; we have queued up to buy them and I believe Serbia can acquire them next year. We are prepared to pay more money than the initially agreed dozens of millions of euros,” Vucic said.

He said they had discussed joint training that would enable Serbian paratroopers to make jumps from as high as 6,000-7,000 m.

The role of the two ministries of foreign affairs is also important and they always hold consultations, Vucic said, adding that FMs Nikola Selakovic and Mevlut Cavusoglu maintained a very fair relationship.

Vucic thanked Turkey for supporting the Open Balkan initiative and for efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

He said they had discussed the situation in Ukraine, the issue of sanctions on Russia, as well as all other important matters, including energy.

Vucic said he had asked Erdogan that Turkey help Serbia with transmission of electricity from Azerbaijan.

He said they had discussed stability in the region and the importance of maintaining peace and added that they had reiterated their positions on the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“And in respect of the Dayton Agreement and the integrity of Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is what I added. We discussed the relations between Serbs and Bosniaks, as well as a trilateral meeting of Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia,” he said.

Vucic also announced the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia would open offices in Istanbul in December or January to further boost bilateral economic ties.

Vucic scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council (Tanjug, Politika)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council for Saturday, at 8 am, the Presidency confirmed to Tanjug.

It is expected that the main topic will be the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and security challenges.

In addition, it should also be discussed about energy security and preparations for winter in the conditions of the energy crisis, reported the agency.

Commander of Ohio National Guard decorated by Vucic (Beta, N1, RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic awarded the Order of the Serbian Flag 2nd Class to the Commander of the Ohio National Guard, American Major General John Harris, for strengthening cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries, Beta reported.

At the presentation of the Order in the presidency building Vucic said that Harris contributed to strengthening the partnership between the two countries’ armed forces, which also boosted the overall relations between Serbia and the USA.

The Serbian President said the 15th anniversary of the successful cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard was marked last year and that this cooperation produced many successful projects.

Major General Harris said it was a great honour for him to receive this order from a man who works tirelessly to make the world a better place for everyone.

In our country we say that trust is built in drops and lost in buckets, said Harris, adding that he wants to continue building that trust, drop by drop.

The Ohio National Guard is committed to continuing to build that trust for our peoples, our troops, for our children and our children’s children, said Major General Harris.

Opinion 

‘Wine Vision’ Offers Taste of Open Balkans in Action (Balkan Insight)

By Ian Bancroft

September’s celebration of the region’s wine and gastronomy was an opportunity to put some meat on the bones of the Open Balkan concept.

The Open Balkan initiative continues to arouse debate and often disagreement across the Western Balkan Six. Some see it as a substitute for ultimate membership of the European Union – a tacit admission that the accession path is permanently blocked and that alternatives must be sought. Others deem it unnecessary, given prior commitments to a common regional market and the principles embodied in the Berlin Process.

Many fear the initiative is a vehicle for stronger economies, such as Serbia’s, to exert influence over the weaker, opening up new markets where the benefits will not be equal to all. Comparisons with the former Yugoslavia can often be heard.

To date, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro sit on the sidelines, while Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia forge ahead. A raft of agreements intend to free up flows of capital, goods, and labour, although doubts remain about the extent and pace of implementation.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3RE8J9y

International 

What is the future of Kosovo-Serbia relations? | A Debrief with Ambassador Christopher Hill (atlanticcouncil.org)

What is the outlook for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia? A Debrief with Ambassador Christopher Hill

Another crisis between Kosovo and Serbia was averted following close involvement of the EU and the US officials in facilitating reciprocal recognition of ID cards. Conversation now moves forward under the auspices of the EU-facilitated Dialogue.

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks to the US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill, about Serbia’s EU path, issues affecting the EU-facilitated dialogue, Serbia’s choice between the West and the East & the US support for the Open Balkan initiative.

See the Balkans Debrief episode at: https://bit.ly/3cWbunL

Serbian president reveals grandfather was murdered in Holocaust (The Jerusalem Post)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he felt as if this part of history is almost buried and not discussed.

For the first time, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic revealed to an international news outlet his personal story about how his grandfather was killed during the Holocaust. “During the Second World War… Croatians joined the Nazis with at the very beginning,” Vucic told The Jerusalem Post in an exclusive Zoom interview.

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