Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo, reliable partner of its friends, Serbs should not abandon institutions (media)
• The U.S. ambassador to UN speaks about developments in north of Kosovo (TV Klan)
• Musliu: The security situation is calm, let us be careful in our actions (RTK)
• Haxhiu about past governments: They indulged Belgrade by saying “yes” to everything (Koha)
• Svecla to the French delegation: Kosovo has met the criteria for visas (media)
• Abdixhiku: Leaving Kosovo without allies is treason (Albanian Post)
• Poland opens consulate in Pristina (media)
• Exclusive: Three-point proposal of internationals to exit current situation in the North (Albanian Post)
• Tahiri: Increasing presence of EULEX risks turning the north into protectorate (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to meet Macron, Lajcak, says it is your turn to fulfil agreement (N1)
• Officials of the municipal election commissions in the north of Kosovo submitted their resignations (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Employees of Kosovo institutions in the north of Kosovo submitted their resignations (RTK2)
• Ten Serbs left KSF (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian President decorates Kosovo Serb police officers (N1)
• Strpce Mayor: If Pristina continues with violence, the Serbs south of the Ibar should also leave the institutions (Danas, euronews.rs)
• Dacic: Greece will not yield to pressure and surprise Serbia (Tanjug)
• Romania confirms it will not recognize Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Preteni: Resignations of Serbs create problems in functioning of basic prosecution in Mitrovica (Kosovo Online)
• NATO official calls for restraint in Kosovo (N1, FoNet)

Opinion:

• For Kosovo Serbs, It’s Not Just About Licence Plates (Balkan Insight)
• After K.Serbs left the institutions: Kurti in the 1990s, Serbs in the 2000s (KoSSev)

International:

• LEAK: Franco-German plan to resolve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute (EURACTIV)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: Kosovo is reliable partner of its friends, Serbs should not abandon institutions (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has said that his government is responsible and belongs to everyone.

Kurti said on Wednesday at the beginning of the government meeting that those who order the abandonment of Kosovo’s institutions are those who are hindered by legality and constitutionality. The Prime Minister said that Kosovo is a “reliable partner of its friends.

He once again called on the Serb officials not to abandon the institutions of Kosovo.

The Serbs, he said, have problems with the attacks, bombs, pressure and threats they are facing, stressing that they are being ordered from Belgrade.

“We are everyone’s government, against criminals,” Kurti said.

“We are a responsible government, of all, against criminals, dedicated to development, integration, equality for all, respect for the rights of minorities and service to citizens without distinction or discrimination. Those who are ordering the abandonment of Kosovo’s institutions are those who mind legality and constitutionality, the fight against criminality and corruption in our country,” Kurti said.

He added that until Wednesday morning, 1,012 notices were issued for licence plates.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN speaks about the developments in north of Kosovo (TV Klan)

The U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told TV Klan that an agreement accepted from both sides is what Kosovo and Serbia need. She added that both sides should continue towards peace because there is no other alternative.

“For years we have supported moving forward and establishing stability in this region and we will continue to work towards stability. We had this discussion today with the Albanian government on how we can better communicate about these issues and what additional actions we can take to ensure that stability is established and that the country does not end up in conflict again,” she stated.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said she doesn’t think anyone wants to see another conflict.

“Solution? You know, I think an agreement between both parties is an agreement that both parties accept. It is needed. It’s still a problem after 23 years. But we have not given up and neither should they. They must continue towards peace because there is no alternative. I don’t think any of us want to see them return to conflict again,” she said.

The ambassador of Albania to the UN Ferit Hoxha said that there will be no solution if there is no agreement between the two parties.

“Achieving such agreements between opponents and considering what happened in Kosovo, as we know, is not easy. That’s why it took so long. But this time something different is happening and we need to understand and communicate about it. It is the first time that we have not only an EU special envoy, but also the U.S. special envoy and the special foreign policy advisers of the French and German governments. So, we have four people. We have so much power combined that it has never happened before with a concrete proposal on the table. And this is something that neither Kosovo nor Serbia should harm. It is a unique moment to encourage it strongly,” Hoxha said.

He stressed that there will be no solution in any of the issues if there is no agreement. And for agreement, two parties are needed.

“I think we can deal with all these technical issues, and they have their importance. Nothing, not even licence plates, have that kind of importance, meaning, as trying to really move forward because it’s the only way to move forward. There will be no resolution of any of the issues unless there is an agreement. And for an agreement, two parties are needed,” he told TV Klan.

Musliu: The security situation is calm, let us be careful in our actions (RTK)

The security situation in the north is calm, but with the possibility of escalation. This was the conclusion of the Parliamentary Committee for the Supervision of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, after today’s report to this committee by the director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) Petrit Ajeti. As usual, the report of the director of the KIA was held behind closed doors, as the security situation especially in the north after the resignations of Serb policemen and judges from the institutions was discussed.

After this meeting, PDK MP Ganimete Musliu spoke to the media on behalf of this commission. “Based on what we heard from the director of the KIA, the security situation in the north and in general in Kosovo is calm, but always with the possibility of escalation. The country’s security institutions are on top of their duty and ready for any possible provocation of the situation and for any action required based on the circumstances,” Musliu emphasised.

She further said that in this situation cooperation and coordination of actions between institutions is required, while there was also an appeal to the media. “I appeal to you to avoid as much as possible the misinformation that comes out of the hostile media. We very often fall prey to fake news and propaganda, which harms the scope of security institutions in the country,” Musliu said.

She said that as a parliamentary committee they are united in their positions, as they offered full support to the director of the KIA for the situation created in the country. “Given the sensitivity of KIA and this commission, we will be careful in our statements so as not to damage the ongoing processes. However, we must be vigilant and cautious in every action we take there, so as not to provoke the situation. Until now, everything is under control and functioning,” Musliu underlined.

Asked about the situation in the north after the resignation of the Serb policemen, if the stations in the north were left with only two Albanian policemen, Musliu said that ‘it is true that the stations there are empty, but the Kosovo Police is in head of duty and is taking care of maintaining order and peace.”

Haxhiu about past governments: They indulged Belgrade by saying “yes” to everything (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu blamed the previous governments for spoiling Serbia, by saying “yes” to everything. Haxhiu, in a press conference today after the government meeting, said that the current government is suffering the consequences of the actions of past governments in relation to Belgrade.

“The approach that the previous governments have had is now a problem for us too because they have spoiled Serbia as whatever Serbia and Belgrade have said they have said “yes”, therefore it is a challenge until we have the extension of the rule of law in every corner of Kosovo. For the first time, the position of Kosovo in negotiations with Serbia is dignified because the Government of the Republic of Kosovo has not allowed the holding of Serbian elections in Kosovo, has not allowed the referendum, and also, now we are establishing the measures of reciprocity that each normal country does,” Haxhiu said.

 Talking about the burning of the two cars with RKS licence plates so far in the north, Haxhiu said that these cases will not stop being pursued. She also spoke about the resignations of Serb judges and prosecutors, saying that they cannot return to work. 

“Persons who resign cannot return to the system. As it is a blow to the justice system that a prosecutor or judge resigns because of the directives given to him by Vucic,” Haxhiu said.

“Institutions in the north of the country are functioning, work is continuing, and citizens are receiving their services. The KJC, as announced, has made a plan. In this regard, it belongs to me to say that the courts and the prosecution in the north are working. The cases are being handled; the citizens are receiving the services. The first days were a challenge, but these places have been filled and the situation is continuing, as is the detention centre in Mitrovica, which is functioning normally,” Haxhiu said.

Svecla to the French delegation: Kosovo has met the criteria for visas (media)

The Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla, hosted today a delegation from France. Among other issues, they discussed the liberalization of visas for Kosovo.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this meeting took place on the occasion of meetings and regular exchanges within the framework of bilateral agreements with the state of France. “This time the delegation from France was composed of senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europe and the Ministry of the Interior, in which case technical working meetings were held with our respective ministries in the field of police cooperation, the fight against organized crime and terrorism, migration management, asylum, visa liberalization, francophone and bilateral relations,” the announcement states.

Abdixhiku criticises government: Leaving Kosovo without allies is treason (Albanian Post)

According to the chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku, Serbia’s biggest investment has been the creation of the belief that Kosovo should proceed without allies, and in particular without coordination with the United States of America. He alluded that the government of Kosovo not coordinating with the western community on the issue of licence plates is contributing to Belgrade’s investment.

According to him, leaving Kosovo without an ally is treason. 

“Who would have thought of such a victory for Serbia?! Even in their best dreams, it was not imagined that Kosovo would normalise the distancing from our allies so easily and so quickly. Even in the best dreams of Serbia, this end of Kosovo with the states that have given it freedom, democracy, and independence, was not expected,” Abdixhiku wrote on Facebook.  

“Time to reject and confront this influence in state decision-making and public discourse. We should not dare to allow a group of miserable people to bring us to this position,” he wrote.

Poland opens consulate in Pristina (media)

Poland has opened for the first time a consulate in Kosovo. The news was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Poland, noting that the Government of Poland and that of Kosovo have concluded an agreement in the form of an exchange of notes for the establishment of consular relations on November 8, 2022.

“The agreement implements Resolution no. 184/2022 of the Council of Ministers dated September 5, 2022, for the establishment of consular relations between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Kosovo,” the communiqué states.

Furthermore, it was clarified that consular protection in Kosovo will also be increased through this agreement. “The agreement reached today will enable Polish citizens to have an optimal level of consular protection in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.”

It has also been emphasised that Poland continues to support all European integrations of all countries of the Western Balkans and to make contribution to ensuring stability and security in the region. “Including through the Polish military contingent as part of KFOR and the EULEX police mission in Kosovo, in which we have been the biggest contributor for many years.”

Exclusive: Three-point proposal of internationals to exit current situation in the North  (Albanian Post)

The news portal claims to have seen an international proposal, a three point exit strategy from the situation created in Kosovo after the resignations of Kosovo Serbs from the institutions of Kosovo in the north. 

The first point is that “both sides must confirm their commitment to the French-German plan and both sides return to negotiations.”

In point two, an explicit request is made to the government of Serbia. “Serbia agrees that the request for the Association of Municipalities with a Serb Majority should be discussed only within the entirety of the French-German plan – that is, as part of the overall structure of the plan,” says the international proposal to which AP had access.

The third point is a request for Kosovo: “Kosovo agrees to soften the measures in relation to the licence plate issue,” the proposal states.

The aim of these three points in the form of requests from internationals is to calm the situation on the ground, return to normality and create the possibility for continuation of the dialogue in Brussels. “This should form the basis for a return to dialogue and the gradual return of Serbs to institutions,” the proposal states.

Tahiri: Increasing presence of EULEX risks turning the north into protectorate (media)

The former negotiator of Kosovo for the talks with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, has requested explanations from the government of Kosovo for the increased presence of EULEX in the north of Kosovo. 

“Increasing the EULEX presence in the north serves peace and security, but this risks turning the north into a protectorate, which Serbia is aiming for. The government must explain how EULEX’s presence in the north increased, was the government asked for permission, or perhaps this government so easily surrenders sovereignty in the north, which we achieved with so much effort in Brussels.  

We, the previous governments, extended sovereignty to the north, we established the state police in the north and the northern border, we established the institutions of justice and others, while we wiped off the Serbian parallel structures. It is urgent to protect the north and restore the sovereignty of the state of Kosovo in the north'” she wrote.

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic to meet Macron, Lajcak, says it is your turn to fulfil agreement (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he will meet in Paris French President Emanuel Macron, EU Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks, Miroslav Lajcak and EU High Representative Josep Borrell in the upcoming days, N1 reports. Talking about the Brussels agreement, Vucic said Serbia honoured its word and obligations, and the time has come for the EU and Pristina to do the same.

Speaking in a press conference, Vucic said he cancelled trips to Egypt and Catar, adding he will spend the next two days in Paris at the Peace Forum, where aforementioned meetings will take place. He said reactions of Pristina officials indicate that they planned everything and they wanted incidents, clashes and humiliation of the Serbian people.

Asked by reporters to comment on Pristina PM Albin Kurti’s announcement that Serbs who have resigned from their positions in Pristina’s institutions would be replaced and that elections would be called in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, Vucic responded he would speak more about the topic at the weekend.

“They still do not give up on their illegal activities related to licence plates, it doesn’t even cross their minds to take part in establishing a Community of Serb Municipalities. And it is now crystal clear that those institutions which existed – existed because we honoured our word and our signature”, Vucic added.

He said Serbia never gives up and never revokes its signature, however, there are two more signatures on the Brussels agreement, and not only one.

“One belongs to the prime minister Ivica Dacic. There are two more, one belongs to the Albanian representative and the other one belongs to the EU. Dacic’s signature we all in Serbia honoured and carried out everything we should do. The time has come for the other two to materialise”, Vucic said.

He added it means establishing a Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and not interpreting rules in a fake manner.  

“Now nicely, it is your turn, fulfil the Brussels agreement. And worry not for the Serbs, our word has meant more than signatures of Pristina and the EU. Our signature and our word have values in international law”, Vucic said.

He also said the Serbian state will take care of all Serbs who have left Kosovo institutions, around 3.500 of them and it will be done in one month’s time.

Officials of the municipal election commissions in the north of Kosovo submitted their resignations (Danas, Kosovo Online)

In the north of Kosovo, more and more people are resigning from their jobs and turning their backs on Pristina institutions, following Pristina’s unilateral decision on licence plates, the dismissal of Nenad Djuric, the construction of bases in the north of Kosovo, and the violation of the rights of Serbs and the Brussels Agreement, reported Danas, citing portal Kosovo Online.

After the political representatives, police officers, judges, and prosecutors, on November 9, senior officials of the municipal election commissions also submitted their resignations.

In the wake of the announcement from Pristina that extraordinary elections for mayors and the Assembly will be held in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok, the heads of the municipal election commissions resigned from their positions this morning. 

This was confirmed to Kosovo Online by Slobodan Dimitrijevic, who held the position of a senior MEC official for North Mitrovica.

“We decided to take such a move following the  announcement of the Kosovo government that extraordinary elections will be called in our municipalities without political agreement and the will of the citizens in the municipalities of Leposavic, Zvecan, North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok. We have been placed in a situation where we are being asked to conduct an election process that is impossible to conduct. We believe that conducting such an election process without reaching a political agreement and the consent of our citizens is an impossible mission,” he said.

As he added, such an election process would be contrary to their moral, professional, and democratic principles and convictions.

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow citizens and resign from our positions,” said Dimitrijevic, reported Danas daily, citing the portal.

Employees of Kosovo institutions in the north of Kosovo submitted their resignations (RTK2)

Over 200 Serbian workers, from the north of Kosovo, engaged in various positions in the Kosovo institutions, submitted their resignations in the North Mitrovica municipality building, reported RTK2.

The guards of the prison in North Mitrovica, employees of the fire service and other persons also submitted their resignations, reported RTK2.

Ten Serbs left KSF (Kosovo Online)

Ten Serbs from Zubin Potok, members of Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) have resigned today from their duties at Kosovo Security Forces, Kosovo Online portal reports.

They told the portal this was a moral act and a token of support to the Serbs in Kosovo. One of them said he had no dilemma after hearing that Serbs in the north were leaving Kosovo institutions.

“We were following the situation and developments over the last days, and out of personal reasons we have decided to show solidarity and leave Kosovo security forces”, a former member said. 

Serbian President decorates Kosovo Serb police officers (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic decorated two former Kosovo police officers on Wednesday.

The medals were presented to Nenad Djuric who was suspended by the Kosovo government from the post of chief of the Kosovo police Region North and police Captain Aleksandar Filipovic who headed the Mitrovica North operational directorate. Djuric was suspended for refusing to issue warnings and fines to drivers with Serbian-issued licence plates following the October 31 deadline set by the government for re-registration with Republic of Kosovo plates. Several hundred Serb officers resigned from the Kosovo police after the suspension.

Djuric received a Medal for services in defence and security while Filipovic received a medal for courage. “You obeyed your state even when you didn’t agree with its decisions. You did what your heart told you and acted honourably when you were prevented from doing your duty,” Vucic said at the ceremony. He said that both men would get state administration jobs.

Strpce Mayor: If Pristina continues with violence, the Serbs south of the Ibar should also leave the institutions (Danas, euronews.rs)

The current situation in Kosovo is worse compared to the period when the Serbs announced their exit from the Kosovo institutions, and all this is the result of the irresponsible policy of the Kosovo government, assessed Dalibor Jevtic, mayor of Strpce and vice-president of the Serbian List. He adds that, if Pristina’s attitude does not change and the institutional violence against Serbs continues, those south of the Ibar should also leave Pristina’s institutions, reported Danas, citing Euronews Serbia. 

Speaking about the conditions under which the Serbs would return to the Pristina institutions, Jevtic reiterates that the Serbs do not want to be in them just for the sake of alleged multiethnicity, and that they want to discuss overcoming the current situation if the current government retracts certain decisions.

“The answer was given to the question of whether and when, and if the Serbs would hypothetically return primarily in the north of Kosovo and Metohija to the institutions – the moment when the decision is changed, the decision regarding the re-registration of the car to postpone, and when the formation of the CSM (ZSO) starts concretely”, says Jevtic in an interview with Euronews Serbia.

Referring to Albin Kurti’s announcement that the contested decisions will not be changed, Jevtic states that with his attitude he once again showed all his stubbornness and insistence on the wrong policy. This, he adds, shows that he himself is not ready for any compromises.

Great responsibility of the international community

Jevtic said that the international community has a great responsibility, commenting Kurti’s statement that there is no great pressure, besides EU and US statements on Serbs to return to institutions and Pristina to postpone the decision on plates and start with the formation of the CSM (ZSO). 

“When Kurti says that, and the international community is silent on it, it is a sign of approval. In the conversations that my colleagues and I had with the representatives of the international community, we did not get such an impression, because we received assurances from them that the decision on re-registration would be postponed, that specific processes would be started that specifically entail the formation of the ZSO and that they had assurances from the Prime Minister in Pristina. However, all that did not happen. This is just a confirmation of the fact I am saying, which is that Kurti not only has a dishonest and irresponsible attitude towards the Serbian people and Serbian political representatives, but this incorrect and irresponsible attitude is towards the representatives of the international community as well. Then the main question arises whether the international community will use its mechanisms and prevent Mr. Kurti from further worsening the already difficult situation in the area of Kosovo and Metohija by acting in such a way,” says Jevtic.

When asked whether the international community has mechanisms for such a thing, he answers affirmatively.

“If they are the ones who helped Kosovo reach the certain status it has today, and still continue to help that process, and if they used certain mechanisms through such a process, I believe and I am sure that they also have mechanisms to stop anyone’s action, which would contribute, make us really after this current crisis that we have today, to deepen the crisis day by day”, says Jevtic.

He repeats that Kurti “is not a man of solutions, but a man of problems, who at every opportunity looks for a way to create additional problems, which is very dangerous”.

“Anyone who says and wants to say that the problem we have today was caused by Belgrade or Aleksandar Vucic, that is not true, and I can responsibly claim that, because we warned some time ago that we could end up in this situation,” he recalls. 

The situation south of the Ibar also worsened

He states that the citizens’ reaction, to the fact that there are no Serbian police officers after they resigned from the Kosovo police, will be distrustful.

“KFOR and EULEX are certainly missions that need to take responsibility now in this situation and, in their capacity, take care of public safety until this whole situation is overcome,” says Jevtic.

He points out that the situation south of the Ibar when it comes to the safety of Serbian citizens is difficult, and that the latest decisions and actions have made it even worse, and that “Serbs south of the Ibar have been under the institutional violence of Pristina for a long time”.

When asked if he thinks that the Serbs south of the Ibar should also leave Kosovo’s institutions, he answers in the affirmative.

“That is my position, which is the position of my colleagues. I personally informed the president of the Serbian List, Mr. Rakic, in writing, that I believe that the political representatives of the Serbs, that the Serbs in general south of the Ibar should leave the institution, and that is an issue that is still current and open. If the situation does not change, if there is no change in the course and attitude of the official Pristina and the institutional violence against the Serbs is not stopped, I am almost certain that the Serbs south of the Ibar will also make the same decision”, says Jevtic.

“Kurti’s excuse for incompetence”

Jevtic calls Kurti’s statement that the Kosovo Serbs made decisions under the influence of Belgrade and that it is Belgrade’s effort to avoid accepting the Franco-German proposal as an excuse for the inability to respond to some other problems that exist in Kosovo.

“Facing the coming winter, the potential energy crisis, in the face of other economic challenges, he looks for excuses in others. Therefore, I responsibly claim, I know, I was at those meetings, that President Vucic asked us, on several occasions not to make such a decision. Even now the last time he said again ‘come on, think, don’t immediately leave the institutions, wait a little, let’s give compromises a chance’. However, my colleagues from the north were of the opinion that we had simply tried many times in that way, and we had given a chance, we extended a hand of cooperation, and now we are pushed, with this latest action and decisions, against the wall, and we had no choice. I responsibly claim that President Vucic was not the one who told the Serbs to do this, but he, as a true president and statesman, stood behind the decision of the Serbs,” stated Jevtic.

When asked if he fears from the continuation of the re-registration decision and whether it could lead to a new March 17, Jevtic states that he wants to believe that we will never see such scenes again.

“I think it would really be a defeat not only for the current government, but above all for the international community. Because, if any violence against the Serbian population is allowed, the responsibility lies precisely with KFOR and EULEX. I am afraid that the insistence on the implementation of the government’s decision on November 21, to hand over fines to the Serbs, will cause problems that may be bigger than these problems that we have today, especially in the area of the north of Kosovo and Metohija. That is why Brussels and Washington have the responsibility to prevent such things with their own mechanisms, which, I believe, the representatives of the international community do have. If today Kurti’s policy has set us back ten years, after November 21st we could go two decades back, which would be a big defeat for all the processes and all the sacrifices we have made so far,” Jevtic pointed out. 

Answering the question where he sees the solution, Jevtic repeats – in the dialogue.

“The solution lies in compromises, the solution lies in the international community no longer being silent on such matters, but in concretely doing something. Whether the government will fall or not, that is not a question for us now, it does not interest us too much, because a solution can still be found today if someone in Washington and Brussels very clearly says stop, enough Mr. Kurti, it can’t be done any more like this. We have listened to you enough, you have lied to us enough, you have made many reckless decisions, this is the moment when you must sit down at the table and find a compromise solution,” said Dalibor Jevtic for Euronews Serbia.

Dacic: Greece will not yield to pressure and surprise Serbia (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who was on an official bilateral visit to Athens on Tuesday, said Greece would not support Pristina’s potential bids for admission to international organisations or yield to different forms of pressure over the Kosovo and Metohija issue, Tanjug news agency reports.

Speaking to reporters, Dacic said his visit to Greece had been important to see if there was truth in rumours that Greece was changing its stance on Kosovo-Metohija.

“We absolutely support the principle of the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus and, on the other hand, they (Greek officials) reiterated their position that they respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and that there will be no change in their position. I quote (Foreign) Minister (Nikos) Dendias – he said Greece will never surprise Serbia. In that regard, to me, this visit was a success”, Dacic said. He also met with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras earlier in the day.

Romania confirms it will not recognize Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania said the country will not change its stance on Kosovo, adding that their stance on visa liberalisation for Kosovo was “under internal analysis”, Kosovo Online portal reports, citing Pristina-based Lajmi. The visa liberalisation issue is a topic expected to be discussed in a meeting of the EU Council Working Group today.

“The stance of Romania on visa liberalisation for Kosovo is still under internal analysis, starting from a premise of respecting the EU neutral stance on the status of the province”, reads the response of Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They also said they will not change their stance on not-recognizing Kosovo.

“Romania has not changed the stance of not recognizing unilaterally declared independence by Pristina authorities. At the same time, Romania intends to contribute to strengthening the EU influence in the Western Balkans region”, the Ministry added in a statement. 

Preteni: Resignations of Serbs create problems in functioning of basic prosecution in Mitrovica (Kosovo Online)

Spokesperson of the Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica Valon Preteni said resignations of Serb prosecutors and administrative staff created major problems in functioning of this institution, Kosovo Online portal reports citing Koha.

“Ten prosecutors and 22 administrative staff have resigned. The scope of work increased enormously, because we have only one prosecutor left in the basic department, and he has to lead all the cases. This has created an unfavourable situation in the Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica”, Preteni said.

He added priority is given to urgent cases, the Judicial Council was aware of the difficulties they face as well as that they asked for support.

“The cases of urgent nature, such as detention, confiscation, domestic violence, we are looking for ways on how to deal with those cases so there is no postponement”, he said.

Preteni noted that there is no danger to the prosecution premises.

“Kosovo police continue providing security to the premises of Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica, and at the moment we have no any uncertainty, the work continues normally”, he said. 

NATO official calls for restraint in Kosovo (N1, FoNet)

A senior NATO official called in Belgrade on Wednesday for restraint from all sides in Kosovo following the Serb walkout from institutions, including the police.

NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Javier Colomina told reporters in the NATO liaison office in Belgrade that this is not a full crisis in Kosovo because there are no demonstrations of violent protests which would require a KFOR reaction, adding that the deployment of a group of Carabinieri to reinforce EULEX was an expected step. Colomina said the Serb Kosovo Police officers were being replaced by regular police, not police special forces which he said he discussed with Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Colomina said the Alliance was worried about strong anti-NATO statements but added that it has excellent political and military cooperation within the framework chosen by Belgrade.

According to Colomina, there is no problem with Serbia buying weapons but warned that a problem would arise if they were used. He said the Serbian military is efficient, professional and meets NATO standards.

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

Opinion 

For Kosovo Serbs, It’s Not Just About Licence Plates (Balkan Insight)

Serbs in north Kosovo have a litany of justified grievances against the Kosovo government; they are not quitting Kosovo’s institutions just because of a car licence plate.

On November 3, 2013, Serbs in north Kosovo turned out in underwhelming numbers for the first time in Kosovo local elections.

Most voted under duress to give legitimacy to the establishment of Kosovo institutions in the north and what was the beginning of a nine-year-long process of disintegration of the Serbian system and its integration into Kosovo’s.

They struggled to accept the new reality; most boycotted the elections; all were afraid of the uncertainties ahead. As if in a bad dream, they screamed, but no-one could hear them; everyone who mattered, and whose reports verified the constructed political truth, hailed the day as a festival of democracy.

Serbian local assemblies were replaced by Kosovo local assemblies, presidents of municipalities became Kosovo mayors; the police, the civil protection judiciary, and the prosecution all began implementing Kosovo law. Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence had arrived in the north, with a five year delay.

It took persuasion, pressure, threats and bribery to convince Serbs that they would find their place in Kosovo’s system and society, all delivered by Belgrade, which negotiated in their name.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3DUn38w

After K.Serbs left the institutions: Kurti in the 1990s, Serbs in the 2000s (KoSSev)

By Dragutin Nenezic (Text written on Monday morning)

Many questions are being raised after Saturday’s events, some of which I will try to answer in this text. At the same time, I have to say that this is a very changeable situation, with plenty of unknowns and events that will inevitably occur after this text is published. We know that an (essentially political) decision was made for the Serbs – mainly in northern Kosovo – to withdraw from the institutions of the Pristina legal system, but we still do not fully know how that decision will be implemented, nor how long it will last, especially bearing in mind the term „suspension” – used in the text of the conclusions. Therefore, this text should be viewed as an initial reflection of the possible legal consequences of such a decision, one that will require an update over time.

Legal consequences – institutions

For starters, the Serbs did not decide to leave all institutions they participate in within the Pristina legal system, but „the Assembly, the Government and four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, but also to leave the judicial bodies, the police in the north of Kosovo and administrative sector in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo“, so I will briefly analyze the possible legal consequences for each institution individually.

With all 10 Serbian MPs stepping down from their posts, the Assembly will be completely paralyzed when it comes to the adoption of acts for which the Pristina constitution requires a majority of votes of MPs from the so-called non-majority communities. This includes, among other things, amendments to the constitution itself, as well as laws regulations, among other things, territorial arrangement, the rights of the so-called communities, use of language, local elections, protection of cultural heritage, and freedom of religion, as well as agreements with religious communities. Although it is possible to replace these MPs in theory, the current political practice does not allow this. Therefore, parliamentary elections are the only way to do it.

The government can continue operating without a Serbian representative without major complications, so I will skip that – especially since the formation of Kurti’s government already set a precedent as a Serb was not appointed as the deputy prime minister at the same time. Therefore, the role of the Serbs, even before their withdrawal, was primarily limited to Ministry for Communities and Returns.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3UG1oaL

International 

LEAK: Franco-German plan to resolve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute (EURACTIV)

A recent Franco-German proposal for a new dialogue framework between Kosovo and Serbia, which EURACTIV has obtained from a trusted source,  reveals indirectly, based on the text’s interpretations, how little synergy exists between the two sides to solve the issue.

Following the brutal Kosovo war between 1998-1999, and Pristina’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, with US and EU backing, the relationship between the two states has remained strained. Attempts under the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue have yielded little tangible progress since its launch in 2011.

Since September, rumours have swirled that a new framework has been drafted by recently appointed envoys to the region from Paris and Berlin, indicating a new will to tackle one of the crucial issues in the region, whose six countries have set their sights on EU membership.

Officials in Belgrade and Pristina confirmed the existence of a new German-French proposal for a deal on Kosovo’s final status but disagreed about what the document actually says.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3EcUe7x