• Osmani: Criminal gangs trying to destabilise Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo government doesn’t bargain or tolerate criminal gangs (media)
• Svecla: Election officials and police were attacked with shock bombs (media)
• Police: No one injured during incidents; election offices demolished (media)
• Explosions heard in Serb majority areas in Kosovo, no injuries reported (Reuters)
• Citaku about developments in north: Govt keeping us in the dark (media)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Do you want to endanger the north at any cost? (media)
• Radoniqi: Elections cannot be held by force (media)
• PDK candidate for Zubin Potok says he received threat in Serbian (T7)
• EU drafts new proposal for Kosovo-Serbia ties – senior EU diplomat (Reuters)
• US Special Envoy Escobar to visit Kosovo on Monday (Kosovapress)
• State Department Counselor to visit Kosovo this week, sources say (Nacionale)
• “One sentence” is blocking resolution of fate of forcibly disappeared (AP)
• European Commission admits mistakenly asking Montenegro and North Macedonia to issue visas to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Heritage heist: Kosovo, Serbia fight over ‘loaned’ museum exhibits (BIRN)
• Solidarity Stories #6: Serb Monastery Shelters Kosovo Albanians (BIRN)
• Love divided: Kosovar-Serbian Couple Struggle to Build a Home in Disapproving Society (Prishtina Insight)

Osmani: Criminal gangs trying to destabilise Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani commented on reports about explosions in the north of Kosovo on Tuesday, saying that the situation there becomes tense “because criminal gangs, supported politically and financially by [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic want to escalate the situation and destabilise all of Kosovo”.

“Consequently, they want to destabilise the Western Balkans and in doing so implement Russian-Serbian agendas. We need to do everything, through Kosovo’s security institutions, to establish law and order in every part of our country, but also to defend the lives of every citizen of ours, regardless of their ethnic background,” Osmani told a press conference in Tirana, Albania, after the EU-Western Balkans Summit.

Blerim Vela, Chief of Staff to President Osmani, wrote in a Twitter post: “Serbia incited its illegal structures to attack Municipal Election Office in North Mitrovica. This is an attack on democratic process and the rule of law, coupled with aggressive intimidation campaign against K-Serbs that have registered to run for elections in north Kosovo.”

Kurti: Kosovo government doesn’t bargain or tolerate criminal gangs (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that “criminal gangs have stepped up attacks in the north of Kosovo. They know their end is coming. The Government of Kosovo does not bargain with them or tolerate them. The bombs they throw, the bullets they fire and the masks they wear show their political and popular powerlessness. After these crimes and armed attacks north of Iber, we will certainly have a greater Kosovo police presence there. Because there will be investigations and prosecution of these criminals who are paid by Serbia and directed by its President. The numerous violations of the law will not be pardoned and the tendencies for criminal instability will fail”.

Kurti also said that “in the four northern municipalities there is no division between Serbs and Albanians, but between criminal gangs and citizens. I call on all citizens of Kosovo to support the state and police of Kosovo, all our officials who are defending the constitutionality and lawfulness, the republic and democracy”.

Svecla: Election officials and police were attacked with shock bombs (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said that Kosovo Police officers and municipal staff of the Central Election Commission (CEC) were attacked with shock bombs and shots in the air in the north on Tuesday by masked persons.

“By organised groups, including several masked individuals, the municipal election officials and police officers were attacked with shock bombs and shots in the air, to prevent them from performing their official duties,” Svecla wrote in a Facebook post.

“Kosovo Police have already launched investigations to identify and bring to justice all criminals involved in today’s attacks. Police will continue its engagements according to its mandate throughout the Republic of Kosovo in offering security, guaranteeing order and the rule of law.”

Svecla said that such attacks, which are aimed at blocking the election process, are unacceptable. “Organising elections is a constitutional obligation, whereas the participation in elections is a civic right that no one can violate. Elections are a basic right of every citizen in a democracy country,” he said.

Police: No one injured during incidents; election offices demolished (media)

Kosovo Police issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the Central Election Commission, based on the Constitution and legislation, asked police to provide them with assistance in preparing the local elections in the four northern municipalities. The statement notes that in some areas in Zubin Potok and Mitrovica North, several incidents were recorded (suspected shots and explosions) but until now no injuries have been reported from these incidents, and it is reported that protesters have demolished the offices of municipal election committees”.

“Kosovo Police continues to monitor and assess the security situation in the country and undertakes necessary measures for the enforcement of the law and the decisions of Kosovo’s state authorities,” the statement added.

Explosions heard in Serb majority areas in Kosovo, no injuries reported (Reuters)

Kosovo police said explosions were heard and shots fired on Tuesday as it escorted a state election commission delegation to visit municipalities in the Serb majority areas in the north, but no injuries were reported.

“The Central Elections Commission (KQZ) has requested the Kosovo Police to assist in the preparation of local elections in municipalities across the country,” the police said in a statement.

The police said in some areas of Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica, visited by the election commission on Tuesday, some “incidents” had been recorded.

“We suspect gunshots and explosions occurred, but until now no injuries have been reported from these incidents,” the police said.

Kosovo media reported that protesters had demolished the offices of the election commission in Zubin Potok.

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3W0wN8n

Citaku about developments in north: Govt keeping us in the dark (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Vlora Citaku, said on Tuesday that the Kosovo government is not giving any information on reports about explosions in the north. “The government is keeping us in the dark. The only news about developments in the northern part of the country, we are getting from the media. Prime Minister, what is happening? Have there been explosions? Were the staff of the Central Election Commission chased away?” Citaku asked in a Facebook post.

Haradinaj to Kurti: Do you want to endanger the north at any cost? (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, slammed Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Tuesday saying that Kosovo is losing as a result of his actions. Referring to reports of explosions in the north when CEC officials went there to prepare for the extraordinary mayoral elections, Haradinaj said: “What is the rush, Albin Kurti, with all your plans, works and actions you are undertaking, by trying to hold fictional elections in the north, appointing ministers urgently, and opposing licence plates … and then always backing down by putting Kosovo in a losing position! Do you want to endanger the north at any cost, or you are not smart and there is no one to teach you”.

Radoniqi: Elections cannot be held by force (media)

Head of Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC), Kreshnik Radoniqi, said on Tuesday that after getting a report from Kosovo Police about the security of the election process in north of Kosovo, the CEC will come out with a recommendation “because elections cannot be held by force, risking the lives of CEC officials”.

PDK candidate for Zubin Potok says he received threat in Serbian (T7)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) candidate for mayor in the municipality of Zubin Potok, Izmir Zeqiri, told T7 on Tuesday that a person called him on Tuesday and threatened him in Serbia. “There are tensions, and this was expected. We are aware that criminal groups will try to obstruct the elections … I received a threat today, in Serbia. He threatened me saying ‘there’s nothing for you in the municipality of Zubin Potok’. I think the threats are more form criminal groups. I reported the case to the police,” Zeqiri said.

EU drafts new proposal for Kosovo-Serbia ties – senior EU diplomat (Reuters)

The European Union has drafted a new proposal for normalisation of ties between Kosovo and Serbia with a clear timeline of actions, according to a senior EU diplomat, speaking on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans summit on Tuesday.

The draft proposal was sent to both parties on Monday, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. They added that they expected the two parties would reach a final agreement in less than a year.

“There are a lot of things that make it a big step forward with respect to the current situation…. It’s not full recognition …but it is a full normalisation of relations,” the diplomat said.

Belgrade and Pristina committed in 2013 to an EU-sponsored dialogue to resolve outstanding issues, but little progress has been made. Agreement with Kosovo remains one of the main pre-conditions for Serbia joining the EU.

“After listening to both parties, we redrafted the proposal,” the diplomat said. The proposal contains an annex “with a clear calendar of actions – when and how things have to happen,” they said.

The diplomat urged Pristina and Belgrade “to continue in their constructive engagement, and focus on making irreversible progress in normalisation.”

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3P8EFTp

US Special Envoy Escobar to visit Kosovo on Monday (Kosovapress)

United States Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, is expected to arrive in Kosovo on Monday for a meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

State Department Counselor to visit Kosovo this week, sources say (Nacionale)

Counselor to the U.S. State Department, Derek Chollet, will visit Kosovo this week, the news website reported on Tuesday citing unnamed sources. It also noted that Chollet’s visit will be the most important visit by a senior U.S. official since the visit by Assistant Secretary Karen Donfried in April.

“One sentence” is blocking resolution of fate of forcibly disappeared (AP)

The news website reports on the possibility of an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on the forcibly disappeared persons during the war in Kosovo, saying that ironically the agreement is blocked around a single sentence. Pristina and Belgrade are failing to agree on the terminology of the text of the agreement. Kosovo wants the text of the agreement to include the words “forcibly disappeared” while Serbia is insisting on the words “missing persons”.

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said on Tuesday he was concerned about the delay. “We have wasted a lot of time on this issue. We are very very close close to an agreement; we are one word away,” he said, adding that he is optimistic that it will be resolved soon.

European Commission admits mistakenly asking Montenegro and North Macedonia to issue visas to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

The European Commission has accepted that it mistakenly asked North Macedonia and Montenegro to issue visas to citizens of Kosovo and other countries in a report published on December 5.

The European Commission said on Tuesday that it mistakenly asked North Macedonia and Montenegro to issue visas to people from Kosovo and other countries in line with EU policies in a report published on December 5.

European Commission officials at a media conference emphasized that they have not changed their position on liberalization of visas for Kosovo and that they support the free movement of citizens as a priority.

The European Commission said the mistake will be corrected in a new version of the same report.

Kosovo’s ambassador to Brussels, Agron Bajrami, tweeted on Tuesday that the Commission had announced that it will correct the report, which mistakenly implied that Montenegro and North Macedonia should impose visas on Kosovo nationals.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Y0BT6A

Heritage heist: Kosovo, Serbia fight over ‘loaned’ museum exhibits (BIRN)

In 1998, when war was raging in Kosovo, some 1,200 priceless artefacts were moved from Pristina to Belgrade. Kosovo wants them back, but Serbia is refusing.

In May this year, to mark International Museum Day, the National Museum of Kosovo opened an unusual exhibition of black-and-white photographs.

The event was not showcasing what the museum has to offer, but what it does not – 1,200 archaeological and ethnological artefacts loaned to Belgrade in 1998, when war was raging in the former Serbian province, and never returned.

Under the title ‘Return Us Home’, the photographs of the artefacts marked the latest attempt to highlight what Kosovo says is the theft of its cultural heritage.

Since the war, when majority-Albanian Kosovo broke away with the help of NATO air strikes, only one item has been returned, and that at the insistence of then UN overseer Michael Steiner.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3iwYfw7

Solidarity Stories #6: Serb Monastery Shelters Kosovo Albanians (BIRN)

In June 1999, when paramilitaries were marauding in the town of Decan/Decani as the Kosovo war came to an end, the abbot of the local Serbian Orthodox monastery sheltered ethnic Albanians inside the 14th-century building’s walls.

The Kosovo war was almost at an end in early June 1999, as NATO’s campaign of air strikes on Yugoslavia forced President Slobodan Milosevic into withdrawing his troops.

But as Yugoslav soldiers, police units and Serbian paramilitaries prepared to pull out, the situation in the western town of Decan/Decani deteriorated. Local resident Shaban Bruqaj and his family witnessed ethnic Albanians being killed and houses being looted by paramilitaries.

On June 9, after Milosevic accepted the terms of an international peace plan, armed Serbs broke into the homes of the remaining ethnic Albanians in Decan/Decani, robbing them, assaulting both women and men and threatening the women with rape at gunpoint.

“Paramilitaries entered our house,” Bruqaj told BIRN. “They started to beat us. I was afraid they would kill my children. I begged them not to kill them.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3FvA0aS

Love divided: Kosovar-Serbian Couple Struggle to Build a Home in Disapproving Society (Prishtina Insight)

Legacy of Kosovo war and continued tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have not stopped two young people from building a life together in Prishtina.

For two young people from enemy countries who were two years old during the Kosovo war, the painful past, bad relations between the two countries and ongoing tensions have not stopped their love for one another.

For Suzana Maric, 25, from Novi Sad, Serbia and Gent Sejdiu, also 25, from Ferizaj, Kosovo, centuries-old enmity and a bloody war have not been an obstacle to living together.

On the contrary, they consider that these issues have helped them learn more about both narratives about the war.

“I am not very typical, I will not defend the [Serbian] regime. The regime of the 1990s, Milosevic’s regime, for me was like Hitler’s regime in Nazi Germany, a regime that brought a lot of terror, a lot of bad things,” Maric said.

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