Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti in Albania for an unexpected meeting with Rama (media)
• Meeting between government and strike council ends without results (Koha)
• Kurti: I presented three offers to the strikers, they insist on the strike (Koha)
• AAK’s Tahiri: Kurti misused the readiness of the unions (media)
• People’s Attorney: Both sides must reflect for the good of the pupils (RTK)
• Bislimi: We’re confident in a final solution for visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)
• Szunyog: Kosovo’s integration in EU is linked to Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Kosovapress)
• Basic Court in Prishtina orders arrest of former EULEX prosecutor Bamieh (Sinjali)
• Albanian PM to address Council of Europe on October 12 on Marty’s report (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Serbia will not recognise Kosovo directly or indirectly (Tanjug, N1)
• Two Serbs wounded in Babin Most, attackers arrested (Radio KIM)
• Office for KIM: Attack on Mitrovic consequence of anti-Serb politics (Radio KIM)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: Lack of security undermines minimum trust Serbs have in Kosovo institutions (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic to submit today a report on the negotiations with Pristina to the MPs (NMagazin, media)
• Stefanovic: Parliamentary group ‘Ujedinjeni’ will not vote for Vucic’s report on Kosovo (Beta, NMagazin)
• Jeremic: The Parliamentary debate on Kosovo must not end without a resolution (Beta, NMagazin, Politika)
• Dacic: We will vote for report, recognition of Kosovo out of question (N1)
• Vucic invited to funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (Tanjug)
• Prosecutors: “Many important witnesses loyal to Thaci, or afraid to testify” (Beta, KoSSev)
• German envoy says EU could fail in Western Balkans (N1, TV Prva)
• EC spokeswoman says no room to glorify war criminals (VoA, N1)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti in Albania for an unexpected meeting with Rama (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has arrived in Tirana, where he is holding a one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, in the government villa 31, in the block area. Media report.

Details on the surprise visit of Prime Minister Kurti have not yet been announced, nor have the topics to be discussed.

The last meeting Between Kurti and Rama was the one of the two governments in Pristina, where the two parties signed a series of agreements on cooperation between them.

Novak: We want the visas for Kosovo to be removed as quickly as possible (media)

The President of Hungary Katalin Novak and the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani held a joint press conference after their meeting today. Novak said that in order to have peace and security in the world, work must be done in the Western Balkans region. According to her, Kosovo should also be supported for membership in the European Union.

“We have been for the abolition of visas and we want them to be lifted as soon as possible. You can count on us for visa waivers. We support the process of integration into the Euro-Atlantic alliance of the Western Balkans,” she said.

Novak also said that it is very important opportunity for Hungarian soldiers to serve in Kosovo. “I think we can contribute even more. It is very important that the contingent is led by a Hungarian,” she said.

Speaking about the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, Novak said that ‘it is very important that this does not stop, and the parties must find common ground.’

Novak said that women who, in addition to the family, can also create a career, should be encouraged. She added that there are not many female presidents and this should change.

Osmani on the other hand said that Kosovo has a vision and is working for membership in international organizations.

She said that Hungary has helped Kosovo in many processes, and expressed appreciation for the scholarships offered to students.

Osmani has said that she expects Hungary’s support in ranking Kosovo among European countries, where it belongs.

“I want to thank you that Hungary has continuously supported the liberalization of visas. I encourage you to continue to support us. It is high time for the EU to keep its word. Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe is in the interest of all our citizens,” she said.

Osmani: Germany and France play an important role in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)

Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani Kosovo is a constructive party in the dialogue process with Serbia facilitated by the European Union.

During a press conference, after meeting with the Hungarian President Katalin Novak, Osmani was asked about the recent visit of the two advisers of France and Germany, Jens Plettner and Emmanuel Beaune.  have played an important role in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process.

“The dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia is facilitated by the European Union, therefore, any of the EU states is more than welcome. France and Germany have played an important role in this process, so we thank them. Their very arrival in Kosovo had a purpose and proved to our partners inside and outside the EU, the USA, that we are constructive party in this process. Any solution must be for long-term stability and peace. Kosovo’s position remains the one we have heard repeatedly, the one that has been confirmed in President Biden’s letter,” sha said.

Osmani finally said that mutual recognition is the solution that brings long-term peace. “This our focus, our concentration and our work,” she said. 

Meeting between government and strike council ends without results (Koha)

Rrahman Jasharaj, leader of the Union of Education, Science and Culture (SBASHK), said there was nothing positive from today’s meeting between the strike council and Prime Minister Kurti, Education Minister Nagavci and Finance Minister Murati, implying that the strike will continue. Jasharaj said the meeting was held but that a solution was not found. He said both sides presented their positions and that it is positive that the dialogue has started. The news website notes that since August 25, the public administration and educational staff are on strike and are demanding an additional monthly payment of €100 until the law on wages enters into force. The government, on the other hand, has offered an additional payment of €50 for three months.

Kurti: I presented three offers to the strikers, they insist on the strike (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti told reporters today that in his meeting with the strike council he presented three more offers in addition to the previous offer of paying €50 euros for three months. He said that although the strike council promised him that they would discuss his offers with the union membership, immediately after the meeting SBASHK leader Rrahman Jasharaj said that the strike would continue. 

“We told another three things to the strikers, and they promised us they would ask their membership about them. But as soon as they came out of the meeting, they told the media that the strike continues. So, when did they talk to their membership? Our additional offer was this: for them to become a substantial part of public discussions on the law on wages. Because the preliminary discussions are ending. The other two offers were to implement together with the Trade Workers Union the reform of the pension system and to remove the notorious threshold of 15 years of working experience, and we also pledged to add another €10 million to the essential medical products,” he said.

According to Kurti, the problem between the government and the Union of Education, Science and Culture (SBASHK) is not the lack of dialogue. “It is not true that there was no communication or dialogue. That is not the problem. At the meeting, they told me several times, let us emerge from this situation, both the government and SBASHK. Neither SBASHK nor the government are faced with a difficult situation, the educational system is. I cannot engage in social discussion with priority for the union representatives,” he added.

Kurti argued that the union’s demands for an additional €100 until the law on wages is adopted, is blackmail and a call to make deals. “They have asked for €100, we said €50, but then they said either all or nothing at all. This mindset of blackmail and making deals is not right. The Prime Minister does not make deals … The state should not be silenced by someone who is the loudest, and not about working conditions but for money. I want the wages of teachers to be translated to smart pupils that graduate from our schools.”

AAK’s Tahiri: Kurti misused the readiness of the unions (media)

Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) parliamentary group chief, Besnik Tahiri, told a press conference that Prime Minister Albin Kurti misused the readiness of the unions and failed to offer a solution. Tahiri said no one cares what Kurti discussed with the strike council and that the only important thing is for school classes to start as soon as possible. “For the AAK parliamentary group, Kurti’s meeting with the union today should have offered a solution and classes should have started tomorrow. Today the Prime Minister misused the readiness of the unions by failing to offer a solution and tried to cause division among the unions … A solution was not offered today and once again we witnessed the arrogance of power and the ego that characterises this government,” Tahiri said.

People’s Attorney: Both sides must reflect for the good of the pupils (RTK)

The People’s Attorney of Kosovo has reacted to the situation created with the strike in the educational sector, saying they are following the course of events with great concern. “The right to education is a constitutional right and it must not be violated or denied under any circumstance, with special emphasis on the best interest of the children and right to education as a guaranteed right,” the statement notes. 

The People’s Attorney also said it respects the rights of workers for union organisation and strike, but that in the current situation both sides must reflect and undertake careful measures and actions so as not to threaten the rights and best interests of the children.

Bislimi: We’re confident in a final solution for visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, said today that Kosovo authorities are in close cooperation with all governments of EU member states and that they are addressing any concerns they may have with regards to visa liberalisation for Kosovo. “We have close cooperation with every government in the EU and we are addressing any concern and we are very confident this issue will have a final solution,” Bislimi was quoted as saying.

Szunyog: Kosovo’s integration in EU is linked to Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Kosovapress)

Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, said today that the process of Kosovo’s integration in the EU is linked to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “It is clear that the process of EU integration is linked to the dialogue, and the only way for Kosovo to enter the European Union is by negotiating and ratifying the agreements for the normalisation of relations,” Szunyog told reporters in Prishtina today.

Basic Court in Prishtina orders arrest of former EULEX prosecutor Bamieh (Sinjali)

The news website learns that the Basic Court in Prishtina has issued an arrest warrant for Maria Bamieh, a former prosecutor with the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) for abuse of power or official capacity. Citing unnamed sources, Sinjali adds that the warrant was issued in coordination with the EU mission. The news website has published the warrant which was reportedly issued several days ago. The court orders Bamieh to be stopped and arrested as she has failed to respond to the prosecution’s invitation for an interview.

Albanian PM to address Council of Europe on October 12 on Marty’s report (Nacionale)

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, will address the Council of Europe on October 12 about Dick Marty’s report and allegations of organ trafficking during the war in Kosovo. On August 13, Rama said Albania has officially asked the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to review Resolution 1782 (2011) and to declare unfounded the allegations of organs trafficking. The news website also notes that several months ago, 125 members of the Parliament of Albania voted in favor of a resolution that rejects Marty’s report. The report was then officially submitted to the CoE Parliamentary Assembly.

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: Serbia will not recognise Kosovo directly or indirectly (Tanjug, N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in the parliament on Tuesday Serbia would not recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo directly or indirectly, Tanjug news agency reports.

“Nor will it give up on its legitimate fight for its state and national interests and the fight for respect of international law”, Vucic said at a special parliament session at which he is presenting a report on the negotiation process with Pristina authorities in the period from June 15, 2021 to September 1, 2022.

“It is not always possible to reverse the course of history, but it is not impossible either, and we should not give up on that fight and ambition”, Vucic said.

“I have sworn on the Constitution – and I have been given the greatest trust – that, for as long as I have influence on that, Serbia will not recognise the unilaterally declared independence of our southern province directly or indirectly”, Vucic added.

During the address to the parliamnet Vucic also said that the eighth state was ready to revoke recognition of Kosovo and Metohija, and that all those papers are at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding the number of states in the world which do not recognize Kosovo was much higher from those that do.

Talking about attempts to change political aspects of ‘new framework’ of negotiations, Vucic said there were several reasons for it, and the first one was that no one wishes opening of a new conflict in Western Balkans and the second one was to strip Russian President Vladimir Putin of his argument to use Kosovo case when it comes to the war in Ukraine.

“They want to make us move towards informal, but essential recognition of Kosovo. It would be presented as a gift from heaven and whatever we say we will face difficult situation”, Vucic said.

Touching upon Belgrade-Pristina negotiations he said he doesn’t believe in any agreement with the current Albanian leadership because they wish to hear of nothing else but of the argument of force used against Serbia in 1999. He called NATO to respect its mandate, which is to take care of the security of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and not to implement decisions of Pristina authorities.

He also opined that the crucial reason for the crisis in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue derives from a fact that Western world does not want to respect the UN Charter and UN SC Resolution 1244 in the case of Serbia, nor are they interested in respecting agreements reached in dialogue.

“Talks are held under the EU’s auspices and we are on a European path. However, you must have in mind that the most powerful EU states recognized Kosovo, just as the US did. They accept Kosovo statehood and they will always stand by Albaninas. I do not wish you to have any illusions about that. There is no politics that can undo it”, Vucic said.

Vucic also said that since Albin Kurti came to power, Serbian people in Kosovo face the most difficult things, adding the great success was that unity of the Serbian people, both south and north of the Ibar River has been preserved.   

He termed the danger in Kosovo and Metohija as near, objective and serious, adding Serbia in no way took part in generating the crisis there.

We are at the times when Serbia is exposed to significant security challenges because of Pristina’s acts, he added. He also pointed to increased presence of Pristina special police forces in northern Kosovo, their armament, and armoured vehicles. Vucic said there is no artificial creation of the crisis by the Serbian side as “some irresponsible politicians and media here and in Kosovo are saying”.

Despite everything, Vucic said, Serbia remains committed to the dialogue, well aware that peaceful resolution of the problems is the only reasonable way. “Everything else leads to escalation and potential conflict, that would be disastrous for the entire country”, Vucic said, adding that Serbia was not weak as it was in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2008. 

Two Serbs wounded in Babin Most, attackers arrested (Radio KIM)

A father and a son, from Babin Most village, in Obilic municipality have sustained severe bodily injuries after an Albanian from the same village attacked them with a knife, Radio KIM reports. Both Serbs were admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and are out of life danger.

As Sasa Mitrovic said, the attack took place near their house last night. He said that several younger Albanians gathered there and waited for his son Nemanja to get out. After he got out they first threw a cigarette butt at him and then attacked him. Mitrovic also said the same person threatened his son earlier yesterday.

“I called his father and told him that his son threatened my child. The father came to us and told us not to worry and nothing is going to happen. Then the night came and they were there again. And that was not the first time”, Sasa Mitrovic said.

According to police, two Albaninas, including the attacker have been arrested and sent to 48-hour detention.

Nemanja and Sasa Mitrovic were first transferred to Pristina hospital where they were medically treated and from there to Clinical Hospital Center in Mitrovica North. The surgeon on duty, Ljubisa Milosevic said they have severe bodily injuries, including a punctured pleura sustained by Nemanja.

Nemanja Mitrovic was attacked by the same Albanian on Easter this year. He didn’t report the attack, as the parents of the attacker promised it would not happen again.

Radio KIM further reports that residents of the village said the very same group was making problems in the village also before.

“Over the last four or five years this group of young men constantly creates the problems in Babin Most, not only to the Mitrovic family but also to other Serb families in this village. Unfortunately, there was no proper reaction neither by police nor by judiciary and that led to the attack last night. This is the most serious incident, after the murder in 2000, and it makes our people anxious”, Goran Dancetovic of the Obilic Municipal Provisional Authority told Radio KIM.

The day after the attack, Radio KIM visited the village and reported that the situation there was calm with the presence of Kosovo police and Italian Carabinieri. 

Office for KIM: Attack on Mitrovic consequence of anti-Serb politics (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija reacting to the attack against Mitrovic family in Babin Most last night, said the attack was a consequence of “anti-Serb politics and irresponsible, inflammatory statements uttered every day by Pristina and Albin Kurti, who this way draws the target on foreheads of the Serbs”, Radio KIM reports.

The Office added this very concerning incident made the Serb population in this village feel anxious and unsafe even at their homes.

The Office also said that the Albanian who attacked Mitrovic family was known “for mistreating Serbs and banditry in this place but went unpunished for years. It is obvious that there are no adequate sanctions for the attackers against the Serbs and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija demands the most severe punishment for the perpetrator”, the statement reads.

The Office also said it requests international missions in Kosovo to put an end to the violence of Albanian families directed against the Serbian people and implement without delays adequate measures deriving from their mandate and authority, as well as offer full protection to the Mitrovic family.   

Visoki Decani Monastery: Lack of security undermines minimum trust Serbs have in Kosovo institutions (Kosovo Online)

Lack of security and absence of institutional protection of Serbs in Kosovo undermines the minimum trust Serbs have in Kosovo institutions, Serbian Orthodox Church Visoki Decani Monastery said on Twitter in reaction to last night’s attack against Mitrovic family in Babin Most village, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“The lack of security & absence of institutional protection of #Kosovo Serbs despite legal provisions seriously undermines the minimum of Serb confidence in local institutions & inflicts damage to Kosovo as a society due to permanent 23ys of ethnic violence on non-majority population”, Monastery wrote on Twitter.

Vucic to submit today a report on the negotiations with Pristina to the MPs (NMagazin, media)

A special session has been scheduled in the Serbian Parliament for today, where the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, will present the “Report on the negotiation process with the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina”, from June 15, 2021, to September 1, 2022, portal NMagazin reported.

The official document states that the submitter of the report is the Government of Serbia, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and the Office for Coordination Affairs in the negotiation process with the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina, the portal cited. 

The 50 pages report also stated “activities within the framework of the preparation and realization of negotiations”, from the Community of Serbian Municipalities, the police, the judiciary, energy to the dialogue of the chambers of commerce, the transport of dangerous goods and missing persons, which is the last chapter.

The report, which is available on the website of the Serbian Parliament, lists the attacks that took place during the “reporting period”, as well as the actions taken by the Pristina government in its, as stated, “anti-Serb activities” with descriptions of “anti-Serb terror”.

It was explained that, despite this, Belgrade stands for peace, as well as that ”the most deserving for the verbal agreement on the simplified use of personal documents from August 27, was president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic”, NMagazin cited. 

The report also contains numerous technical data on the number of meetings, conversations and translated documents.

The President of Serbia last submitted a report to the Parliament on June 22, 2021, and it was then adopted with 210 votes in favour, recalled the portal.

Stefanovic: Parliamentary group ‘Ujedinjeni’ will not vote for Vucic’s report on Kosovo (Beta, NMagazin)

Member of Parliament of Serbia Borko Stefanovic said today that the parliamentary group “Ujedinjeni” (United) will not vote for the Report on negotiations with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina, which will be presented in parliament by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

Stefanovic, who is also an official of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), said at a press conference in the House of the National Assembly that the report was “another confirmation that the politics of one man was conducted in Serbia”, and that no unity was created, or the broadest political consensus.

“This report is a collection of ten years of the government’s travails, a report of retreating and yielding under pressure. The report does not show the way to the future and how much it cost to falsely proclaim victory,” said Stefanovic.

He added that the parliamentary group “Ujedinjeni” submitted an initiative to the Serbian Parliament “which answers the question of where to go next”, and that the essence of that proposal is the formation of a special parliamentary body, a commission in which all parliamentary groups would have their representatives, as well as non-governmental organisations, university, and church.

“Our initiative represents respect for the Constitution of Serbia and Resolution 1244 (of the United Nations) and the necessity of continuing dialogue and resolving through dialogue all unresolved issues with Pristina, except for the recognition of Kosovo’s independence,” said Stefanovic.

According to him, the task of the parliamentary commission would be to “shape a platform” for further negotiations on the Kosovo issue in 30 days.

“It is an opportunity for the assembly to be involved in the negotiation process for the first time and for Serbia to get the broadest consensus on this issue. We will present solutions, we will not engage in bare criticism and this assembly session will not turn into mutual attacks and a circus about who is good, and who did what wrong,” said Stefanovic.

Jeremic: The Parliamentary debate on Kosovo must not end without a resolution (Beta, NMagazin, Politika)

The President of the People’s Party, Vuk Jeremic, said that today’s session of the Serbian Parliament on Kosovo and Metohija “must not be reduced to a mere exchange of accusations between the government and the opposition”, nor that it should end without the adoption of a document that will clearly define the framework and guidelines for the state in the future, reported Serbian media citing Politika.  

“The People’s Party proposed the adoption of the Resolution on Kosovo and Metohija. We propose twenty specific steps, including that after more than nine years since Pristina committed to it, a deadline for the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM) is set,” Jeremic said in an interview for the Belgrade based daily Politika.

“If this does not happen by December 31, the ‘Brussels dialogue’ should be declared a failure. Serbia would then form independently, in cooperation with the representatives of our people in the province, the ZSO and proceed with the establishment of administrative, security, judicial and other competencies that were abolished by the ‘Brussels Agreement,'” Jeremic said.

Jeremic pointed out that ”the resolution proposed by the People’s Party mandates that the President of the Republic to send a letter to the Presidents of Russia and China in which he officially informs them that Serbia opposes the admission of the self-proclaimed Kosovo to the UN, and that on behalf of Serbia he requests that Beijing and Moscow use their right of veto in the Security Council, if the matter is brought up for consideration by that body”, reported the media.

“This is of great importance, bearing in mind the increasingly frequent messages of high officials of the USA and Europe that the ‘normalisation of relations’ between Belgrade and Pristina must end with mutual recognition, with insistence on speeding up the process. The resolution also defines other steps in the state, parliamentary and economic diplomacy, as well as the measures that should be taken urgently to protect and support our people and the holy places in the province,” said Jeremic.

Asked if Belgrade would be declared the main culprit for the failure of the negotiations with Pristina if it declared the Brussels dialogue unsuccessful, Jeremic replied that “he has no doubt that such a decision would initially cause dissatisfaction in the Western capitals, because they were accustomed to get everything they want from Belgrade without much difficulty in the previous ten years”.

“If we are united and determined, it won’t take long until everyone starts to take this new circumstance into account. In the resolution, in good faith, we give the Albanians a chance to form the CSM (ZSO) by the end of this year. If, despite Belgrade’s clear position that we will not accept any further humiliation, their Western partners do not pressure them to fulfil what they promised back in 2013, one should not expect that they will ever do it,” Jeremic said.

When asked about the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the question raised by Serbia when he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeremic replied that “it was not at all as unfavourable for Serbia as the Albanians and their allies try to present it”, reported Serbian media, citing the interview.

“The court clearly pointed out that the final status of the territory must be decided by the UN Security Council. Thanks to that, 12 years later, Pristina’s position in the UN has not changed. In the meantime, there was no new wave of recognition, and as many as 22 countries withdrew their earlier decision about recognition,” Jeremic said.

Jeremic stated that he would do the same as in 2008, which is to “leave the wording of the question to the experts”.

“At that time, it was done by the legal team of the Government of Serbia, which represented us before that court in the proceedings against Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and which consisted of the most eminent domestic and international legal experts. I do not believe that the outcome would have been significantly different and that they had approached the issue differently,” said Jeremic.

Jeremic added that judges, given that political influence is an integral part of the functioning of the ICJ, would certainly “find a way to emphasise in their opinion something that could be interpreted in a favourable way for the Albanian side”.

“It is regrettable that, for internal political reasons, our government emphasises the interpretation that favours Pristina, which undermines our position,” concluded Jeremic in his interview to daily Politika.

Dacic: We will vote for report, recognition of Kosovo out of question (N1)

Leader of Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic said today his caucus members support everything the party “did over the last ten years with Aleksandar Vucic”, N1 reports.

“I am confident that the politics those authorities are guided with will not overstep positions which Serbian Assembly underlined in 2013 and that is in no case, either formally or informally recognition of Kosovo is out of question”, Dacic said.

Dacic also recalled it was him who led the negotiations in Brussels at the beginning.    

“Later on Vucic continued. I think we had a unique approach that enabled Serbia not to get to an even more difficult position and at the same time protect our interests (…)”, Dacic said.

He also said Serbia needs to be aware of the situation it is currently in.

“We need to look at this situation realistically, not to talk about possibilities of honourable defeats, but rather try to achieve politics with results. In this regard, I wish to express support for everything we did with Aleksandar Vucic and SNS over the last ten years”, Dacic added. He noted that dialogue with Pristina must continue.

“We must continue dialogue, as there is no other way to resolve the Kosovo issue. There is a war, but I am not sure who would really take part in that war. I want to say that I condemn all those who were saying that human rights and freedoms were the problems in Kosovo and Metohija. No, the problem has always been separatism and creation of ‘Great Albania’, Dacic said. 

Vucic invited to funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has been invited to the funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, the president’s office confirmed to Tanjug on Monday.

Depending on Vucic’s upcoming trip to New York for a UN General Assembly session, the September 19 funeral in London will be attended by the president himself or by PM Ana Brnabic.

Prosecutors: “Many important witnesses loyal to Thaci, or afraid to testify” (Beta, KoSSev)

The prosecution of the KLA war crimes court in The Hague warned that “many important witnesses” are either “scared to testify” or “loyal” to former KLA commander Hashim Thaci and three co-accused of crimes in Kosovo and Albania in 1998-99, reported portal KoSSev, citing Beta news agency.

“Many key witnesses in this case are loyal to the defendants or are anxious and afraid to testify. It is inevitable that certain witnesses will be hesitant or unwilling to confirm the statements they made earlier,” prosecutors said in a submission published on the court’s website, cited the agency.

During the last procedural hearing, the defendants’ defense attorneys strongly denied that the witnesses were intimidated or harassed, suggesting that the prosecutors were justifying their failure in advance with that claim.

Thaci’s lawyer, Greg Kehoe, called the prosecutors’ claim that the witnesses were scared “completely false”.

Ben Emmerson, the defense attorney of the second accused Kadri Veseli, said that the prosecutors’ claims about intimidated witnesses are “without evidence”.

Emmerson recalled that Veseli, before surrendering, publicly called on KLA supporters to “cooperate with the court”.

“Veseli told me to emphasize again that he calls on all witnesses to cooperate in every way,” said Emmerson at the status conference on September 8.

Prosecutor Alan Tieger countered that “from the beginning, the climate of witness harassment and intimidation in Kosovo has been part of this case”.

“Loyalty to defendants, and witness intimidation pervade the evidence we disclosed to the defense,” Tieger said.

According to the prosecutor, this will be seen at the trial, as well as the fact that the top of the KLA led by the accused imposed “silence in the face of crimes”.

“The scope of the crimes committed is proof that it existed, and was applied a policy of persecution of the KLA’s opponents, be it Albanians, Serbs or Roma,” underlined Tieger, adding that “that’s why this case is extensive”, reported KoSSev.

In the written submission, the prosecutors also indicated that, during the trial, it would be a “special challenge” for them to prove that the accused, as members of the General Staff, had “command and control” over the KLA, which is the essence of the entire case.

As one of the reasons for this, the prosecutors cited a “conspiracy of silence that was instilled over time” among KLA members and witnesses in Kosovo.

“The defendants dispute and minimize the importance of key facts about their role in the KLA, although they used the success of the KLA as a springboard for taking positions in the government in Kosovo, during and after the war,” the prosecutors emphasized.

In addition, the defendants “deny that the KLA had any authority or structure”, which, according to the prosecutors, will necessarily prolong the prosecution’s evidentiary proceedings.

According to the latest list, which they submitted to the pre-trial judge Nicolas Guillou, the prosecutors plan to present 319 witnesses during 709 working hours of the trial.

The defenders assessed as excessive, and the reduced number of witnesses, and the shortened time for questioning them. 

According to the defense, the prosecution’s evidentiary proceedings will last “several years”.

Veseli’s defense attorney, Emmerson, repeated his request that the court set one calendar year for the prosecutors to present their evidence.

According to that proposal, the defenses of all the accused together would have one year for the evidentiary proceedings.

According to Emmerson, this is the only way to make the trial “feasible”, that is, to make the process manageable.

The defense attorneys again requested that the prosecutors provide them with a list of the first thirty witnesses, but Prosecutor Tieger refused, arguing that the rules do not provide for it.

When the trial of Thaci and the co-accused will begin has not yet been determined, but it is unlikely that the trial will begin before the end of the year, reported KoSSev, citing Beta.

Judge Guillou will hold the next hearing on the state of the proceedings, as he indicated, in mid-October.

The date of the start of the trial is not determined by the judge for the preliminary proceedings, but by the trial panel that will lead the process. Judge Guillou will hand over the case to that panel when he has completed all preparations.

The members of the trial panel will be appointed by Ekaterina Trendafilova, the president of the court, which official name is the Specialized Chamber of Kosovo.

Along with Tachi and Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi were also accused.

Tachi, Veseli, Selimi, and Krasniqi are accused of crimes committed in 42 illegal KLA detention centers in Kosovo and Albania against at least 407 detainees, of whom at least 98 were killed, from March 1998 to September 1999, recalled the agency citing and other details of the indictment, reported the portal.

German envoy says EU could fail in Western Balkans (N1, TV Prva)

German special envoy for the Balkans Manuel Sarazzin said on Tuesday that the European Union will fail unless its policies succeed in the Western Balkans, reported N1.

He told the pro-government TV Prva that the EU will not be taken seriously at global level if it fails. According to him, it will be hard to integrate the region without Serbia which enjoys Germany’s support. We want Serbia to abide by criteria on rule of law, democracy, freedom of the media and of expression, he said.

Sarazzin said Serbia should be a member of the EU because anything else would mean failure for the Union. We made mistakes and want Serbia and Kosovo to learn from our good experiences and mistakes, he added.

The German special envoy said his job in Belgrade and Pristina is to see which parts of the Brussels Agreement are not being implemented which, he said, does not mean that both sides are equally to blame.

See at: https://cutt.ly/HCBsdRm

EC spokeswoman says no room to glorify war criminals (VoA, N1)

The Voice of America quoted a European Commission spokeswoman as saying that there is no room in Europe to glorify war criminals.

There is no room in Europe for genocide denial, revisionism and the glorifying of war criminals, EC spokeswoman Ana Pisonero said in a written reply commenting the fact that convicted war criminal Vojislav Seselj received a decoration from a Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) bishop.

Our stand is clear, attempts at redrawing history are unacceptable, Pisonero is quoted as saying. She added that religious leaders and communities have a responsibility to show leadership in overcoming difficult heritage and being constructive in nurturing mutual trust, dialogue, and tolerance all of which are required for stability, a peaceful future and progress.

See at: https://cutt.ly/gCBs62N