• Escobar, Kurti, Lajcak call for normalization of situation (media)
• U.S. categorically against return of Serbian forces to Kosovo (RFE)
• Lajcak: Much better ways to remove barricades than with bulldozers (Telegrafi)
• U.S., EU envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia not to fuel violence (Reuters)
• Stoltenberg: NATO is very focused on Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Barricades still up in north despite calls for removal (Pristina Insight)
• Sarrazin: Crisis in north of Kosovo should be used to advance dialogue (RTK)
• EU congratulates Kosovo on reforms (media)
• EULEX: Security situation in north of Kosovo is worrying (Klan)
• Kovacevski: Kosovo-Serbia agreement guarantees peace in the region (RTK)
• Kosovo, facing some opposition, to apply this week to join EU (Reuters)
• Far-Right Protesters Rally In Belgrade In Support Of Kosovar Serbs As EU Urges De-Escalation (RFE)

Escobar, Kurti, Lajcak call for normalization of situation (media)

The Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said in a statement on Tuesday that the latter hosted a meeting with EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, EU Head of Office Tomas Szunyog, US Deputy Assistant Secretary and envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier.

“They discussed the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia and the next steps, the latest developments in the country and current issues. In the meeting, there was a common agreement that the barricades in the north, which prevent freedom of movement, should be removed.

Through the readiness for meetings and discussion, the Republic of Kosovo has continuously proven to be a constructive party committed to reaching a legally and internationally binding agreement for the full normalization of mutual relations with Serbia with mutual recognition at the center,” informs the Office of the Prime Minister.

U.S. categorically against return of Serbian forces to Kosovo (RFE)

U.S Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said that Kosovo has very strong security guarantees from the United States. The US, he said, categorically opposes and rejects Serbia’s request for the return of its forces to Kosovo.

Speaking to Radio Free Europe in Pristina, Escobar said that the barricades in the north of Kosovo should be removed by the people who erected them but asked the government of Kosovo to find ways to address the concerns of the Serbian community in the north.

Escobar also said that the formation of the Association of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo is an obligation, both for Kosovo and Serbia, as well as for the EU, which mediated its negotiation.

“We will have the Association, we will be part of the process, and that process must include the government of Kosovo. If not, we can develop that discussion with alternative partners, with civil society, with youth groups, with the business community, with everyone who would like to see Serbia and Kosovo emerge from this cycle of instability,” Escobar said.

Find the interview here: https://bit.ly/3HzvmtS

Lajcak: Much better ways to remove barricades than with bulldozers (Telegrafi)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said on Tuesday after meeting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and US envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, that he prefers the diplomatic way to remove the barricades in the north of Kosovo, and not that through bulldozers.

“We are not satisfied with the situation in the north. I don’t want to point the finger at the culprit. Tensions help no one. We are committed to finding a solution to the situation,” he said. “I am a diplomat and there are much better ways to remove the barricades than with bulldozers,” he added.

“I had a long discussion with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti. I will not make the details public, because I am in the middle of the mission and will continue the visit tomorrow in Belgrade. I will meet with the commander of KFOR and EULEX tonight, to see their assessment of the situation on the ground, and then we will try to find possible solutions, because this is not good. I don’t think we can afford to wait for something bad to happen. Tensions don’t help anyone, and I don’t think any normal person is happy with this situation in the north,” Lajcak said.

U.S., EU envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia not to fuel violence (Reuters)

Envoys from the European Union and the United States have called on Kosovo and Serbia to remain calm and not fuel an ongoing ethnic crisis in Kosovo’s north where local Serbs have erected barricades to prevent police movement.

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3j0WasC

Stoltenberg: NATO is very focused on Kosovo (Telegrafi)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking about the recent tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, said that NATO is monitoring the situation with great attention.

Stoltenberg, in an interview for “France 24”, commented on the situation related to the war in Ukraine and the tensions that have escalated in Kosovo in recent days.

“NATO is very focused on Kosovo, in the Western Balkans. We have a long history, we helped stop two ethnic wars. First in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later in Kosovo. Of course, we are still present there, the KFOR forces number more than 4,000 soldiers and have a key role in stabilizing the situation,” Stoltenberg said.

“Our forces are capable and prepared, but also on alert. They are monitoring the situation very closely. NATO and the EU cooperate very closely and my message to both sides is to refrain from further escalation and provocative rhetoric. I call on them to reduce tensions in Kosovo,” he said.

Barricades still up in north despite calls for removal (Pristina Insight)

Despite international demands for their removal, barricades erected by protesting Kosovo Serbs are still standing in Jarinjë and Bërnjak.

Amid high tensions in the north of Kosovo, barricades erected by Serbs remain up in Jarinje and Bërnjak, despite EU and the US calls for their removal.

Meanwhile, Dejan Pantic, a former ethnic Serbian policeman, has been detained for one month on suspicion of having committed a terrorist crime, the spokeswoman of the Basic Court in Prishtina, Mirlinda Gashi, told BIRN.

Since December 10, Serbs have erected barricades and blocked roads leading to the border points with Serbia at Jarinje and Bërnjak. The barricades were erected after the Police arrested Pantic on suspicion of being involved in an attack against Central Election Commission CEC officials.

Taking into account the tensions in the north, on Monday the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, met Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani in Prishtina.

“It was emphasized that the barricades on the road should be removed immediately. The meeting also discussed the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the dialogue process and the way forward towards the full normalization of relations between the two countries,” the government announced.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3UW9MCA

Sarrazin: Crisis in north of Kosovo should be used to advance dialogue (RTK)

Special Representative of the German government for the Western Balkans Manuel Sarrazin, said during a virtual discussion organized by the Atlantic Council in Washington, that the crisis in the north of Kosovo should be used to further promote the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

“Let’s use this crisis as an opportunity to move the dialogue forward, taking into account the European proposal that Mr. Lajcak, Mr. Borell and the German chancellor are working on together with the French president. This is a great opportunity that must be used, instead of these countries opening pits for each other, risking that the entire region falls into them,” he said.

“Perhaps we have managed to revive the Berlin process, and we should continue it, but I was hoping that this positive atmosphere would bring more results regarding hot topics. But we still have time, so let’s stay optimistic and faithful to the idea that sometimes we have to take small steps, like the one with free movement or the prices of ‘roaming’ phone calls that were reached in Tirana, and don’t forget to implement these small steps,” Sarrazin continued.

In the discussion on “The way forward on regional integration initiatives in the Western Balkans” there were no guests from Kosovo. The Serbian Minister for European Integration Tanja Miskevic said that in her country it is very difficult to talk about European integration when the topics that dominate are developments in the north of Kosovo or relations with Russia.

EU congratulates Kosovo on reforms (media)

The meeting of the Council of General Affairs at the level of ministers of the European Union discussed on Tuesday about the enlargement process and about the progress of the Western Balkan countries in this process.

According to the text of the conclusions approved by the ministers, the progress that Kosovo has made in the process of reforms in strengthening democracy and the rule of law, as well as in the fight against corruption, has been welcomed. It has also been requested that Kosovo continue its efforts in the fight against organized crime and in reforms related to the European agenda.

They also expressed gratitude for Kosovo’s supporting the common positions of the European Union in foreign and security policy, especially in the positions regarding Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, including the sanctions against Russia. The conclusions also expressed support for the liberalization of visas for Kosovo.

Kosovo and Serbia have been requested to increase the efforts within the dialogue for the normalization of relations, with, as it is said, good faith and a spirit of compromise. Both sides have been asked to fully respect all the obligations that have emerged from the dialogue in the past without delay and to refrain from actions or statements that could incite tensions.

The European Union, in Tuesday’s meeting, has expressed its disappointment with Serbia for the backward step that this country has taken in adapting its positions to those of the EU regarding sanctions against Russia.

EULEX: Security situation in north of Kosovo is worrying (Klan)

Ioanna Lachana, spokeswoman for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), described the situation in the north of Kosovo as worrying. She appealed for an end to violence and disruption of public order.

“During the last few days, we have seen an escalation with a series of attacks, including against the Kosovo Police, an EULEX observation patrol and journalists. During these days, we have also witnessed a disturbing armed presence in the northern part of Kosovo, often by masked individuals and groups. This is unacceptable. Disruption of public order and violence must stop now.

Also, we witnessed the erection of barricades. As High Representative/Vice President Borrell has said, they must be removed immediately. The most important thing now is for the situation to de-escalate immediately, to restore calm and to refrain from other provocative actions. This is primarily for the benefit of the local population, whose peace and security are at risk due to the current situation. EULEX will continue to contribute to the peace and security of all communities in Kosovo and the Mission will continue to closely monitor the security situation in the northern part of Kosovo in close cooperation with the Kosovo Police and KFOR,” Lachana said.

Kovacevski: Kosovo-Serbia agreement guarantees peace in the region (RTK)

North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said that he is worried about the situation in the north of Kosovo. He said that Kosovo and Serbia will have to seek a peaceful solution.

“Such tensions in that part can also cause negative effects in the region and I think that the solution should be sought through the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which has started, and which is internationally mediated,” he said.

Kosovo, facing some opposition, to apply this week to join EU (Reuters)

Kosovo will apply to join the European Union this week, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Tuesday, a process that is expected to take years if not decades and is dependent on its normalising relations with Serbia.

Albanian-majority Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with the backing of the West, following a 1998-1999 war in which NATO intervened to protect the territory.

Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations and five EU states – Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus – refuse to recognise Kosovo’s statehood.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3VTH5b5

Far-Right Protesters Rally In Belgrade In Support Of Kosovar Serbs As EU Urges De-Escalation (RFE)

Hundreds of supporters from Serbian rightist and ultranationalist organizations, some waving Russian flags, rallied in downtown Belgrade in support of Kosovar Serbs, demanding the Serbian government intervene in Kosovo. Protesters waved flags and chanted “Kosovo is Serbia.” Tempers are flaring again between Serbia and Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence. Tensions have simmered ever since the 1998-99 war in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives and left over 1 million homeless.

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