Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Fighting in the street doesn’t lead to normalisation of situation (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon: Restoration of peace and stability must be a priority (media)
• Escobar, Chollet expected to meet opposition leaders tomorrow morning (Telegrafi)
• Chollet’s visit to Kosovo postponed, infected with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• German diplomat reiterates: Serbia is responsible for the situation in the north (RTK)
• Musliu: Police officers in Jarinje for 55 hours; food supplies running out  (Nacionale)
• Rama: Kosovo has understanding and support of Albanian government (KP)
• Serb schools in north of Kosovo closed (RFE)
• Trajkovic: My children too are being threatened; responsibility falls on Vucic (media)
• Two reporters threatened in the north (Gazeta Metro)
• Ukrainian MP expresses support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Grenell: Europeans must change their directions on Kosovo-Serbia strategy (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Pristina and EU officials: Which of the five agreements will you respect (N1)
• Dacic reveals what Annalena Baerbock told him (Danas)
• Rakic in Rudare: We want peace and an end to hunting of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade liaison officer sent request to Pristina to visit Dejan Pantic (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Serbs to respect KFOR and EULEX (KiM radio, Beta, RTS)
• Vucevic: I hope that KFOR and EULEX will not allow the violent removal of the barricades (KiM radio, Beta, TV Pink)
• Northern Kosovo still blocked, peaceful night at barricades (N1)
• Primary and secondary schools in northern Kosovo closed until further notice (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: We have assurances EULEX, KFOR will not take violent action (Tanjug)
• Vucic: We have taken measures to protect our homeland, we call for peace (N1)
• Petkovic: Kosovo special forces entered Gazivode (N1)
• New reports of Kosovo special police mistreating local Serbs in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun claims Pristina eavesdropping on communications (Kosovo Online)
• Tadic: International public must know Serbs are exposed to Kurti’s violence (Kosovo Online)
• Jeremic says Kurti the most responsible for escalation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic reacts to Baerbock’s remarks, terms it ‘stunning level of absurdity’ (Kosovo Online)
• Grenell reacts to Baerbock’s remarks on tensions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Branbic reacts to Borrell’s remarks on barricades in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Check Foreign Minister reacts to situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo Serb Barricades Remain up Despite Calls for Removal (BIRN)
• EU’s Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes (Reuters)
• EU Urges De-Escalation In Kosovo, U.S. Sends Envoys To Pristina After Latest Clashes (RFE)
• Kosovo calls for NATO intervention after weekend of violence amid rising ethnic tensions (CNN)
• Serbia’s president says Belgrade seeks to deescalate situation in Kosovo (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Municipality of Pristina allocates €500 per month to victims of violence (Klan)

Albanian Language Media  

Borrell: Fighting in the street doesn’t lead to normalisation of situation (Telegrafi)

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, commenting on the situation in the north of Kosovo, said that street clashes do not contribute to finding a compromise. He said that EU foreign ministers will discuss today about the situation in the north of Kosovo. “We thought we had reached an agreement, but Kosovo Serbs responded to the arrest of a former Kosovo Serb police officer with riots on the streets, and even threw shock bombs against our police officers. This is unacceptable. I know that the two parties are willing to de-escalate but you need to understand that fighting in the street does not lead to reaching an agreement and they are not the right way to normalise the situation,” Borrell said.

Von Cramon: Restoration of peace and stability must be a priority (media)

European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, said today that “restoration of peace and stability in the North of Kosovo must be a priority”. “Especially the attacks on EULEX and the & the announcement of Serbian soldiers are completely unacceptable. I do expect Kosovo Serb barricades to be dismantled as deescalation. Full support for #EU-led #Dialogue,” she tweeted.

Escobar, Chollet expected to meet opposition leaders tomorrow morning (Telegrafi)

U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and Counselor to the U.S. State Department, Derek Chollet, will meet tomorrow morning with leaders of opposition parties in Kosovo, the news website learns. Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, has confirmed his participation. LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku and AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj are also expected to attend.

Chollet’s visit to Kosovo postponed, infected with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)

The news website learns that the visit to Kosovo by the Counselor to the U.S. State Department, Derek Chollet, has been postponed as he has been infected with COVID-19. Chollet is expected to visit the region early next year.

German diplomat reiterates: Serbia is responsible for the situation in the north (RTK)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock spoke to the media about the situation in Kosovo, before the meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs of the EU. In addition to the situation in Iran and the war in Ukraine, Minister Baerbock was also asked by the media about the tensions in the north of Kosovo.

She repeated once again what she said a day before, clarifying that in this case, there are two parties who are performing different actions.

“On one side is the government of Kosovo, which has postponed the holding of local elections there, putting the safety of the citizens as a priority,” Baerbock said.

“We have the other side, the Serbian side which continues to maintain this situation,” she explained. That’s why it is more responsible,” Minister Baerbock said and appealed to Serbia to do everything to protect the citizens.

“It is the job of politics to create security for citizens and this situation is the responsibility of the Government of Serbia”.

Musliu: Police officers in Jarinje for 55 hours; food supplies running out  (Nacionale)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Ganimete Musliu said in a Facebook post today that according to her information, members of the Kosovo Police have been at the Jarinje border crossing for 55 hours now without any shift changes. “Based on information I have from the ground, Kosovo police officers have been in Jarinje for 55 hours now without any shift changes, because the road has been blocked for 48 hours. In addition to exhaustion, they are now nearing the end of their food supplies,” she said.

Musliu said the Kosovo government must be transparent and inform about the state of the police officers. She also called for an urgent solution to change the shift and to provide food supplies.

Rama: Kosovo has understanding and support of Albanian government (KP)

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that the Kosovo Government has all the solidarity, understanding and support of the Albanian Government. During the presentation of a project for the new trade port in Durres, Rama said that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti could not attend the event. “In the case of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, you can imagine that the inability to attend here is related to the recent situation in the north of Kosovo, a situation for which the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Kosovo have all the solidarity, understanding, and support of our government and the Republic of Albania,” Rama said.

Serb schools in north of Kosovo closed (RFE)

Elementary and secondary schools in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo will not work until further notice, because of the current security situation, director of the elementary school “Sveti Sava” in Mitrovica North, Miodrag Jovanovic, told Radio Free Europe today. 

Jovanovic did not say until when pupils will not go to school but added that the decision was made on Sunday evening. “Most probably” it was taken by the competent authorities, he said.

The news website notes that schools in Serb settlements in the north of Kosovo function under the Serbian system.

Trajkovic: My children too are being threatened; responsibility falls on Vucic (media)

Kosovo Serb politician, Rada Trajkovic, said in a social media post today that her children too are receiving threats. Trajkovic, who was recently appointed as advisor to Minister for Communities and Returns Nenad Rasic, wrote in a Twitter post: “another announcement for the public: since yesterday, there have been threats not only against me, but against my children too. The location of those sending the threats has been identified. Let it be written here: full responsibility for the safety of my family and I is on Aleksandar Vucic”.

Two reporters threatened in the north (Gazeta Metro)

Two reporters were threatened on Sunday morning in the village of Rudare in the north of Kosovo. According to a report by Kosovo Police, the reporters were threatened as they were filming the barricades set up by Serbs in the village of Rudare. Police said they were investigating the case.

Ukrainian MP expresses support for Kosovo (RTK)

Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, Inna Sovsun, expressed support for Kosovo amid tensions in the north. “In these tense moments, when Serbia is once again escalating the conflict with Kosovo, I clearly express my support for Kosovars. Mimoza Kusari, Vjosa Osmani, Ukraine stands with Kosovo. Your sovereignty must not be violated. Don’t succumb to imperial blackmail,” Sovsun tweeted.

Grenell: Europeans must change their directions on Kosovo-Serbia strategy (media)

Former U.S. Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, Richard Grenell, said in a Twitter post “I call upon the Europeans to change directions on their Kosovo-Serbia strategy. They are NOT helping the Balkan crisis – they are making it worse with their one-sided and erratic interventions. And release Hashim Thaci immediately from The Hague.” 

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic to Pristina and EU officials: Which of the five agreements will you respect (N1)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that the key question is which of the five signed agreements Pristina and “those who help it” will respect, reported N1.

He emphasised that the day before the arrest of former police officer Dejan Pantic, Kurti stated that the requests to form the ZSO were ‘childish’.

“(Annalena) Baerbock said that someone lowered tensions because they postponed the election, imagine the hypocrisy. That night you invaded with special forces and wanted to seize the municipal election commissions… You knew there would be no elections, but you wanted to attack the Serbs by force… That’s how they destroyed the Republika Srpska because it suits them,” said Vucic, reported N1.

He emphasised that the key issue is related to the signed documents:

“I will present five important documents in front of them, say which ones you want us to respect, here is the buffet – choose whether you want to respect the Kumanovo Agreement, the UN Charter, Resolution 1244, the Brussels or Washington Agreement. Tell us, what do you want to respect, none of it was respected by Pristina or those who helped them, not even one,” said Vucic. 

Vucic pointed that ”you ask us to talk, negotiate” but then, he added, they say the Brussels agreement is not valid, the part that the Albanians will not implement, so Baerbock said that ‘there is no government in Pristina that will create the ZSO’.

He did not want to comment on the statement of the EU’s special representative for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell, who called on Belgrade and Pristina to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo, where Kosovo Serbs have been blocking roads since Saturday due to the arrest of former policeman Dejan Pantic.

“I’m afraid that this reaction is a consequence of the attack he experienced when he marked the culprit for the collapse of the negotiations in Brussels,” said Vucic. 

He emphasised that Serbia is doing everything to preserve peace and that yesterday at the session of the National Security Council, they worked all day until it was ensured that they would not come in to tear down the barricades.

We appeal that the innocent Serbs be released, not to send the police with long pipes, they have no right to do so, we don’t want any conflict, we don’t need that, said Vucic, according to N1.

“I believe that we will preserve the peace and we will do our best to make it so,” said the president.

He called on the Serbian people not to endanger KFOR and EULEX in any way, “not to give ammunition into the hands of those who would portray them as guilty of anything.”

Vucic announced that on Thursday, after the Government session, a request will be sent to the KFOR commander to enable the return of Serbian military and police forces to Kosovo and that this is the reason he has not yet talked about it. 

N1 reported that Vucic also emphasised that after yesterday’s Council session, he was proud of the armed forces of Serbia in their decision to make themselves available to the homeland. 

“We expect in a time of crisis that we will have four percent of those who ‘dismiss’ themselves from the armed forces,” said Vucic and added that this was done by individuals who used the high salaries in certain special units to be able to live well.

“This time yesterday, looking at the members of the armed forces, I almost cried… It has nothing to do with Kosovo and I don’t know why, I was overjoyed when I saw that kind of unity, determination, and desire to carry out any task that the state leadership set before them. I want to say a big thank you to them,” he added, reported N1.

Vucic, responded to journalists’ questions after meeting Srdjan Petrovic today, a winemaker from Velika Hoca, after 42,000 litres of wine was seized from him by the police and customs of Kosovo at the end of last week.

The President of Serbia told Petrovic not to worry about the loss and promised help.

Dacic reveals what Annalena Baerbock told him (Danas)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, opined this morning that the German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock is impossible to change and that she is popular because of her rhetoric towards Russia, reported daily Danas. 

“It is impossible to change Annalena Baerbock,” Dacic said in TV K1 morning show “Uranak”, according to daily Danas. 

“Of course, we are interested in what she says, she is the Foreign Minister of Germany, but you know what she said to me? That not a single Prime Minister of Kosovo will accept the Community of Serbian Municipalities. I asked her: are you aware of what you are saying, they have already accepted it. Then why did you force me to sign the Brussels Agreement? She doesn’t say anything to me, she just listens to me. She is similar to Kurti,” Dacic said, reported Danas daily. Dacic added that she must be aware that Angela Merkel supported the CSM (ZSO).  

Rakic in Rudare: We want peace and an end to hunting of Serbs (Kosovo Online)

Serbian List President Goran Rakic said today in Rudare settlement, Zvecan municipality, where barricades were erected, that last night went peacefully adding Serbs only want peace and release of unjustly arrested Serbs as well as that Albin Kurti retreats units he sent to the north, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“On behalf of Crisis Headquarters I wish to inform the public that the night went peacefully foremostly thanks to our brave people determined to remain in those areas, preserve their homes and safeguard peace. We wish only one thing, we wish peace. We wish nothing that belongs to someone else, we want to safeguard our ones and our families”, he said.

He added this is not about actions of the Serbian people, but rather about reactions to “unilateral acts of Pristina”.

“What we ask for is peace, reason for all sides, foremost for Pristina, to release our unjustly arrested citizens and that Albin Kurti retreats all units he sent to the north, therefore to stop mistreatment of our children and an end to hunting of the Serbs”, Rakic said.  

Belgrade liaison officer sent request to Pristina to visit Dejan Pantic (Kosovo Online)

Belgrade liaison officer in Pristina Dejan Pavicevic sent an official request to Pristina to enable him to visit Dejan Pantic, arrested on December 10, by Pristina authorities, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Since then, neither family nor a lawyer have information about arrested Pantic.

Also, EU representatives in Belgrade and Pristina were informed about this request.

Pantic, former member of the Kosovo police in northern Kosovo, was arrested on December 10, Friday at Jarinje crossing point upon returning from Raska with his family. Following his arrest, Serbs in Leposavic and Mitrovica North erected barricades on the main road.  

Petkovic: Serbs to respect KFOR and EULEX (KiM radio, Beta, RTS)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, said that Serbs must not “fall for provocations” and that they must respect KFOR and EULEX, which are obliged to protect them, reported KiM radio.

“It is relatively calm, but the situation is tense to the point of incandescence because of (Kosovo PM) Kurti, who wants to reckon with the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija,” Petkovic told RTS.

He repeated that the Serbs have set barricades due to the arrest of former member of the Kosovo police Dejan Pantic, emphasising that an innocent man was arrested, who was imprisoned “who knows where, for no reason”.

“It is about a violation of the human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Serbs at the barricades want to defend the Brussels Agreement, because Kurti does not respect any agreement,” said Petkovic.

“Serbs are humiliated and suffer Karti’s violence every day,” Petkovic emphasised.

“God forbid war, we are doing everything to preserve peace and stability and we must not fall for provocations,” he concluded, reported KiM radio, citing RTS.

Vucevic: I hope that KFOR and EULEX will not allow the violent removal of the barricades (KiM radio, Beta, TV Pink)

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said that he hopes that there will be “enough wisdom and determination” in KFOR and EULEX not to allow the violent removal of the barricades in Kosovo, because, as he emphasised, that would be a path that he is not sure where it would lead to, reported KiM radio.

“We are ready (for Serbia to send a request to KFOR for the return of security forces to Kosovo) and the Government will decide on it during the week. This did not occur to us out of desperation, but following the legal forms from Resolution 1244, because apparently there are not enough security capacities,” the minister told TV Pink.

He added that Serbia will try to do everything it can to preserve the peace and that it will seek a political agreement, but that it requires the will of both sides, namely Belgrade and Pristina.

Asked how he understood the statement of German FM Baerbock, who said that the return of the Serbian Army to Kosovo was unacceptable, Vucevic said that he “was not aware” that the minister had assumed the role of KFOR.

“We didn’t know that she (Baerbock) replaced the Security Council and KFOR, she gave herself the right to prejudge the decision of those who should do it,” he said.

He said that according to the statements of the Quint countries, it seems as if the Serbs are to blame for not leaving the places where they live in Kosovo, but that the statements of the ambassador of the United States of America, Christopher Hill, “are correct, this should be said, it would not be fair to keep quiet about it”.

Northern Kosovo still blocked, peaceful night at barricades (N1)

The north of Kosovo is still blocked by the citizens and the police. It is impossible to cross the Jarinje and Brnjak crossing points either on foot or by car, N1 reporter said. Traffic is closed on the main roads, and one can only move on secondary roads. The night at the barricades was peaceful.

More barricades were set in the place called Rudare, where the first barricade was set up from the direction of Pristina towards Raska all the way to Lesek, i.e. the point of Jarinje.

A barricade was also placed on the road Mitrovica – Zubin Potok, towards the point Brnjak.

There are police at all crossings, in Mitrovica North and Zubina Potok. This morning there were more of them in the Bosnjacka Mahala settlement. KFOR soldiers, as well as EULEX members, were also seen near the barricades.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, said last night that he informed international partners about the recklessness of Pristina, regarding the arrest of a former Kosovo police officer Dejan Pantic. He also said that the text of the request that will be sent to the KFOR Commander for the return of a certain number of members of the Serbian army and police to the territory of Kosovo as was agreed upon in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Primary and secondary schools in northern Kosovo closed until further notice (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online portal reports that because of the current situation in northern Kosovo primary and secondary schools operating there within the Serbian system will not work as of today. Serbian List President Goran Rakic said last night tensions on the ground were still high and that because of the complexity of the situation a Crisis Headquarters has been established which will report on the situation on the ground.

Rakic urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, not to fall prey to provocations, because, as he said, the aim of Pristina is to cause reactions from Serbs so to accuse them of “being disruptive and destructive factor”. 

Vucic: We have assurances EULEX, KFOR will not take violent action (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday evening Belgrade had received assurances from EULEX and KFOR that they would not take violent action against Serb protesters at barricades in the north of Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reports.

The barricades were put up on Saturday after Pristina’s police arrested Serb Dejan Pantic – a former police officer- at the Jarinje administrative crossing.

Vucic was speaking to the RTS after a National Security Council session.

Asked to comment on reports that Pristina’s special police forces would enter the north of Kosovo on Sunday to remove the barricades, he responded he hoped EULEX and KFOR would stand by the assurances.

“We will continue to talk to them, that is our job and we will do everything to maintain peace and stability”, Vucic said.

Commenting on Pristina PM Albin Kurti’s statement that Pristina is making decisions and acting in an agreement with EULEX and KFOR, Vucic responded ironically – “I thank him for that, because we believed it is only him who is a bit crazy and wants an expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija – it is good that he has shown us he is not alone”.

Asked whether KFOR presence should worry the Kosovo and Metohija Serbs or make them feel safer, Vucic said the Serbs should trust KFOR until that was proven otherwise on the ground.

“By virtue of a UN decision, KFOR is the security force that must guarantee security to the Serbs. We hope that will be so, but in case it is not, everything will be clear to us immediately”, Vucic said.

He also said Serbian authorities had undertaken measures to protect the fatherland and that he had issued the most significant orders accordingly. He said his orders had been accepted by the Council and that he was proud of Serbian soldiers and police officers.

Vucic: We have taken measures to protect our homeland, we call for peace (N1)

A special session of the National Security Council was held on Sunday evening in Belgrade to discuss the security situation in Kosovo and further steps that are to be taken by Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said, N1.

Vucic added that the Council calls for peace and talks as well as requests the release of an innocent man (former Kosovo Police member Dejan Pantic who has been arrested in Kosovo) and asks everyone to refrain from attacking KFOR and EULEX. Vucic said measures to protect Serbia have been taken and that he has issued orders which the Council for National Security has accepted. However, before any orders, we will try to preserve peace, he noted.

He also said those are dramatic days for which Serbia bears no responsibility, and insisted that putting up the barricades in Kosovo was not ordered by anyone in Belgrade.

Vucic said he was very disappointed by the statements of the US and UK embassies, adding he has a question for the international community: What legal act (in the case of Kosovo) do you honor: the UN Charter, UN Resolution 1244, the Brussels Agreement, or the Washington Agreement?

The Serbian President stressed that Kosovo police have no right to be present in north Kosovo and noted that the current situation is an attempt “to try to end the Serbian problem in Kosovo, which Kurti is taking part in but also of course a good portion of the international community, which is pretending not to see what is actually happening”.

“Certain European officials said ‘the barricades are horrendous’ – firstly, no one from Belgrade ordered these barricades, so do not attack Serbia. You know, they say – depending on what suits them and when – when something happens in the north – it is Serbia’s fault, and when the Albanians do something in the north, they say – what has that got to do with Serbia, it’s a different state”, Vucic said, adding that Kosovo special forces invaded the north over the past few days.

The President said the Council discussed Serbia’s further actions. “For us it is important to call on the Serbs and Albanians to preserve peace and calm the situation. I call on the Serbs in north Kosovo to remain calm, and not to fall for the provocations. The Serbs say that some from the international community made up the story of the attack on EULEX. We do not have a single piece of evidence that there was an attack on EULEX, but attacks on EULEX and KFOR must not happen, because the Albanians would insist on that, make a story out of it, because they have nothing to show the world”, Vucic said.

The Serbian President said he has been in touch with European Union (EU) representatives and that he is to have talks on December 17 with EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and US Special Envoy for the Balkans Gabriel Escobar.

Vucic said he was certain that the international community is not happy about Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s behavior, but that it would be naïve and stupid of him to think that they cannot force him “to behave decently and in accordance with international law”.

Petkovic: Kosovo special forces entered Gazivode (N1)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic said yesterday he has informed the EU special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, that the special forces of the Kosovo police illegally raided Gazivode, N1 reports.

“I have just informed Miroslav Lajcak about the armed and illegal incursion of Kurti’s special forces Rosu in Gazivode! They took away the guard’s keys, tore up the flags of Serbia“, Petkovic wrote on Twitter.

“The EU must restrain the bully and usurper Kurti from his unilateral and armed actions with which he wants to provoke a war!“, he added.

The leader of the “Za Zubin Potok“ Initiative, Milija Bisevac, assessed that the situation in that municipality is tense due to the entry of the Kosovo special forces in the facility on the Gazivode lake dam.

“The people are upset and scared but determined to defend their homes, and that’s why the barricades are being organised“, he said.

New reports of Kosovo special police mistreating local Serbs in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online portal reports that on December 10, on the road Lucka Reka-Gazivode, in a place called Ribnjak, Kosovo special police forces stopped and for more than an hour mistreated D.M and his son A.M. from Zubin Potok. Both received medical treatment in Zubin Potok health house over head injury, experienced shock, and trauma.

They told the portal they were on their way back from the village and the special police stopped them. “(…) Without any reason they pushed us down to the asphalt and A. hit his head. Then they put us in a channel next to the road full of mud and water. They kept us there longer than an hour”, D.M. told the portal. According to him, while they were in a channel, shooting from armoured vehicles towards surrounding hills occurred.

“They shot in the direction of the villages above. They kept us in that mud. They took off our boots and socks. They hit us on the legs. I am in shock. I have high pressure. My son is injured, the pressure of my wife upon hearing what has happened was 200”, he added.

He also said special police officers had some lists with the names on them, adding they asked for some Serbs and whether we knew them.

Meanwhile V.K. a worker on a Gazivode dam, where special police forces entered, said he went to the dam to check the level of the water, following rain falls and saw some four, five special police members breaking into a premise there and breaking the gate on a dam.

He told the RTS that police pointed the guns at him, interrogated him, tore the Serbian flag up and then told him to leave.

He said he tried to explain to them that as a staff there he was responsible for measuring the level of the water. He also said they asked him whether there were surveillance cameras on a premise, to which he replied that “he doesn’t know”.

“After that they asked me if this was Kosovo or Serbia. I only told them I was born here, then they took the Serbian flag to tore it up. After they tore it up they gave it back to me, told me ‘dismissed’ and to get away from there”, he told RTS.  

KoSSev portal reported that Kosovo police denied its members mistreated a worker of a dam in Gazivode and that they entered the Gazivode dam, adding they only asked for identity documents of the person. 

Drecun claims Pristina eavesdropping on communications (Kosovo Online)

Chairman of the Serbian Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, Milovan Drecun said it is not in the interest of Serbs to cause any conflicts, in particular with international security forces such as EULEX and KFOR.

“Serbs want peace and dialogue, however, provocations are possible in mixed areas such as Brdjani, Three Towers settlement, Bosniak Mahala. An environment is being created as the war is flaming up, and that Serbs are causing it. Barricades are not a cause, they are consequences of everyday terrorizing of the Serbian people”, Drecun said.

He also said (…)Pristina has an eavesdropping centre in Mitrovica South and from there listens in the conversations of Serbs from northern Kosovo, and that Serbs should be cautious in their communication”, Drecun said. 

Tadic: International public must know Serbs are exposed to Kurti’s violence (Kosovo Online)

Former Serbian president and leader of opposition Social Democratic Party (SDS) Boris Tadic said the international public must know the fact that Serbian population in Kosovo “is mistreated and subjected to violence and intimidation by Albin Kurti”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“International public opinion must be made aware of the fact that the Serbian population in Kosovo is being mistreated and subjected to violence and intimidation by Albin Kurti!”, Tadic wrote in a post on Twitter.

“The absence of strong Western condemnation carries responsibility for the outcome of this dangerous harassment”, he added. 

Jeremic says Kurti the most responsible for escalation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Leader of the Serbian opposition Peoples’ Party (NS) and former President of UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic said without any dilemma Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti “was the most responsible for the latest escalation in Kosovo, where Serbs are in extremely difficult situation and under tremendous pressure”, Kosovo Online reports.

Kurti’s rating is much lower now that it was when he was elected for the second time as prime minister and thus he decided to return to the game by resorting to a radical approach, and all this because there is a possibility that new elections could held in Kosovo, Jeremic told N1.

He also said that the manner by which Belgrade and state leadership communicated about the crisis in Kosovo was not encouraging nor did it make Serbs in Kosovo feel safe and secure.

“On our side, the situation is narrowed down to preparation for a major trade, which according to foreign media, should take place next year and by which we would come to the final solution of Kosovo and Metohija status, and within this context only one thing yet remains unclear – the seat of Kosovo in the UN”, Jeremic said.

He also said “he would not get much excited” over announcement to demand return of 1000 Serbian security personnel in Kosovo, because Vucic by this announcement wanted to present himself to the public “as a tough player” which in reality he is not, and that is why in the same sentence he added he knows it will not happen.

Commenting on German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s remarks on return of Serbian army terming it as “unacceptable”, Jeremic said it was part of a performance and a stage, adding she is not asked much about that, because this is the matter linked to KFOR, respectively NATO “and there are more consequential players there than Germany”.  

Brnabic reacts to Baerbock’s remarks, terms it ‘stunning level of absurdity’ (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic reacted to the statement of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock that “Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing elections. Recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite. Suggesting sending Serbian forces to Kosovo is completely unacceptable. So are the attacks on @EULEXKosovo. All my support goes to the EU-led dialogue @Miroslav Lajcak”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“In the last Foreign Ministers’ Communique of G7 countries (14 May 2022), in addressing each and every problem or crisis in the world (Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, etc.) they’ve asked for a strict implementation of the respective UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR)”, Brnabic said in a post on Twitter. “Now, surprisingly, the MFA of Germany is explicitly saying that the UNSCR 1244 – which stipulates that Serbia has the right to ask for the return of certain number of its security forces to Kosovo* – should be ignored, because it is “unacceptable””, she added.

“In terms of international law and stability, based on which criteria do you decide which UNSCR must be respected, and which must be ignored – e.g., in case of Libya, UNSCR 2571 must be respected, but in case of Serbia, UNSCR 1244 must be ignored? Stunning level of absurdity”, Brnabic argued.

“What Serbs in Kosovo* long for, is peace & stability. We, also, wouldn’t mind seeing some respect for international law, UN Charter, UNSCR…One last thing: there wouldn’t be tensions that needed to be reduced if Kurti respected agreements and didn’t breach them unilaterally”, she concluded. 

Grenell reacts to Baerbock’s remarks on tensions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Former US presidential envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Richard Grenell in his reaction to German Foreign Minister Annalena Bearbock statement that “Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing local elections and recent rhetoric from Serbian did the opposite” said that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue lead by the EU has failed and the main culprit for the escalation of the situation in Kosovo was Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“Your dialogue has failed. We went from economic normalization to chaos because you aren’t really watching the situation. You’ve failed to call out @albinkurti for the past year! He’s rejected everything you and the US has offered. (By the way, pay your NATO obligations)”, Grenell wrote in a post on Twitter.

“@albinkurti created the chaos. He unilaterally moved troops into the North, mocking the Brussels Agreement. He unilaterally created the license plate crisis, too. You shouldn’t get overly complimentary when he finally relented to postpone elections – he created the problem!”, Grenell added.

He also said detained Serb should be released. “@albinkurti should release the detained Serb, all crossings should be opened, and all barricades removed – simultaneously.  And if Kurti doesn’t do this immediately then the U.S. must stop all assistance. We should not support someone who creates terror”, Grenell said. 

Branbic reacts to Borrell’s remarks on barricades in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic took it to Twitter to react to the statement of EU High Representative Josep Borrell that “Serbs must remove barricades immediately” by saying that “apparently, the Quint, along with the EU@JosepBorrellF say that barricades in the north of Kosovo and Metohija must be removed as they are illegal”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“Interestingly, they aren’t so vocal about the illegality of arresting Serbs, e.g. Dejan Pantić, arrested y/day without any evidence, or when the Brussels Agreement is breached by Kosovar police entering Serb-majority municipalities in the North armed with rifles/long barrels”, Brnabic wrote in a post on Twitter. “Those people on the barricades are clearly voicing their protests, and they are doing it peacefully. The only way for them to be heard, unfortunately, is on the barricades”, she argued.

“Have you heard them when their right to vote was taken away in January this year? No, not really. Have you heard them 3 months ago when their property was confiscated by Priština to build illegal military stations? Absolutely not. Have you heard them 136 times when different Serbian families were attacked only this year (50% increase since Kurti came to power in Pristina)? No. You are paying attention only when they are on the barricades”, she said in a series of posts.

“The barricades are a call for peace and ALSO call for action by international community to start doing its job! So, yes, help Kurti remove the barricades and, along with him, you will be removing all that has left of your authority and credibility”, she concluded. 

Check Foreign Minister reacts to situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

“Alarmed by recent deterioration of the situation in the north of Kosovo with members of EULEX being attacked. I urge Kosovo Serb protesters to refrain from violence and dismantle barricades. I call on Kosovo authorities to show restraint”, Jan Lipavsky wrote in a post on Twitter. 

International 

Kosovo Serb Barricades Remain up Despite Calls for Removal (BIRN)

Kosovo Serb barricades set up in northern Kosovo on Saturday in protest against the arrest of a former Kosovo policeman, Dejan Pantic, suspected over the attack on municipal election commission offices in North Mitrovica, remained up on Monday, despite international calls for their removal.

Local media said elementary and secondary schools in the north are also not working. 

The Head of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovc, told Serbia’s public broadcaster RTS on Monday that, beside Pantic’s arrest, there are “dozens and dozens of reasons [for protests] in recent months and years that Belgrade and Serbs from the north of Kosovo and Metohija have been warning about.

“The Serbs on the barricades are sending their cry to the international community, which cannot hear them, about what is happening in Kosovo and Metohija,” Petkovic said.

The UK and US embassies in Belgrade and Pristina have both called for barricades to be removed.

“Along with the United States and the EU, we express our deep concern about the current situation in the north of Kosovo following the detention of an individual suspected of involvement in an attack on Kosovan authorities,” the embassies said in a joint statement on Sunday.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3HtH4pD

EU’s Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes (Reuters)

Kosovo and Serbia must de-escalate a tense situation in the region, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Monday, after Serb protesters in northern Kosovo blocked main roads for a second day on Sunday.

In recent weeks Serbs in northern Kosovo have responded with violent resistance to moves by Pristina that they see as anti-Serb.

“I know the two parts are willing to de-escalate and I strongly call on the two of them to do it,” Borrell said as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers. “They have to come back to the dialogue, they have to overcome this tendency to fighting in the street.”

The latest protests were triggered by the arrest of a former police officer on Saturday. He was part of a mass resignation of Serbs from the force last month, after Pristina said it would require Serbs to scrap Serbian licence plates dating to before the 1998-99 Kosovo War that led to independence.

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

EU Urges De-Escalation In Kosovo, U.S. Sends Envoys To Pristina After Latest Clashes (RFE)

The European Union on December 12 urged Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate the tense situation in the region as U.S. envoys headed to Pristina after Serb protesters in northern Kosovo blocked main roads for a second day on December 11.

The latest protests were triggered by the arrest on December 10 of ethnic Serb police officer Dejan Pantic, who was part of a mass resignation of Serbs from the force last month.

The move came after Pristina said it would require Serbs to scrap Serbian license plates dating to before the 1998-99 Kosovo War that led to independence.

Kosovo, which used to be part of Serbia, fought a war against Belgrade in 1998-1999, and eventually declared independence in 2008, a move quickly endorsed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and most major European powers, but rejected by the Serbs and their ally Russia.

Ethnic Serbs in the north of Kosovo have been using car plates issued by Serbian institutions since the end of the war, plates regarded as illegal by the Kosovo government but tolerated until now in four northern municipalities with Serb majorities.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3uItW8I

Kosovo calls for NATO intervention after weekend of violence amid rising ethnic tensions (CNN)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister urged NATO peacekeeping troops to intervene after minority Serb protesters blocked roads and unknown gunmen exchanged fire with police over the weekend amid rising ethnic tensions in the country’s restive north.

At a news conference in Kosovo’s capital Pristina on Sunday, Prime Minister Albin Kurti asked the Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led international peacekeeping force, to guarantee “freedom of movement,” as he accused “criminal gangs” of blocking roads.

A fragile peace has been preserved in Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008 following the 1998-99 war in which NATO intervened to protect Kosovo’s Albanian majority. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

In recent weeks, minority Serbs in northern Kosovo have responded with violent resistance to moves by Pristina that they see as anti-Serb.

On Saturday, Serb protesters blocked main roads after the arrest of a former Serb policeman. Kosovo police later came under small-arms fire in several locations and fired back in self defense, the force said in a news release.

Meanwhile, a stun grenade was thrown at a car belonging to EULEX, the European Union mission in Kosovo. There were no injuries.

Read more at: https://cnn.it/3hd6Pjz

Serbia’s president says Belgrade seeks to deescalate situation in Kosovo (Reuters)

Serbia demands the release of all arrested Serbs from northern Kosovo, but also seeks to defuse tensions there following tensions in the restive region, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday.

After a meeting of the National Security Council, Vucic said Kosovo Serbs must not engage in violence against NATO troops and members of the European Union mission there.

“No one, under no circumstances should be involved in attacks … on Eulex and KFOR,” he told Reuters in his office in Belgrade.

Vucic declined to elaborate on the steps the National Security Council adopted. Asked whether Belgrade would seek to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo, he replied: “Absolutely.”

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3FKX8ly

Humanitarian/Development

Municipality of Pristina allocates €500 per month to victims of violence (Klan)

The municipality of Pristina will grant €500 per month to victims of violence, €250 for housing, 150 for food and €50 for children.

According to Adelina Sahiti, director of social welfare, this assistance will last from 6 months to 2 years.

In order to receive help, victims of violence must submit several documents, one from the police that the applicant is a victim of violence, so there is an open case in this institution, another document that proves the protection order issued by the relevant court, the identity card, child’s certificate, residence certificate and a document issued by the Center for Social Work and Housing. The granting of this aid will start at the beginning of 2023.