Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Recognition by the five states facilitates the EU membership process (RTK)
• PM Kurti, government ministers react to Rada Trajkovic’s detention (media)
• Specialist Chambers finds Mustafa guilty, sentences him to 26 years in prison (media)
• Acting Specialist Prosecutor welcomes verdict in Salih Mustafa trial (media)
• Reactions to Specialist Chambers’ verdict against Salih Mustafa (media)
• Reports that request for return of Serbian troops was delivered to KFOR (RFE)
• Shea: Serbia’s request to send forces to Kosovo will be rejected (RFE)
• Docherty: Kosovo long-term strategic partner of the United Kingdom (RTK)
• Rizvanolli on paying electricity for north: Can’t continue this in time of crisis (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Gov’t has adopted decision to request return of Serbian forces in Kosovo, handed over it to KFOR (Tanjug, Novosti)
• Dacic: Firm assurances from the five EU members who did not recognize Kosovo that they will not change their position (Danas, Beta, FoNet, Blic)
• Petkovic: Another former police officer arrested (KoSSev, RTS, N1)
• Arrests of Serbs in north continue, day seven at barricades (RTS, Tanjug, Blic)
• Serbian List reacts to latest arrest in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic again held at Merdare crossing, waiting to be let into Serbia (N1)
• Serbian ambassador blasts Kurti, Osmani over “Greater Albania” map (Tanjug)
• Serbian DefMin to UK Ambassador: Deeply concerned over Kosovo (N1)
• Brnabic speaks with her Romanian counterpart, expresses gratitude for principled stance on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Houses broken into and looted, and the church of St. Nikola in the hamlet of Bogosevce, near Prizren (Kontakt plus radio)
• Gujon to Pristina authorities: Be consistent in your stances, allow me entry in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Stano: European Union continues working on de-escalation in northern Kosovo (RTV)

Opinion:

• What Must Be Done to Finally Bring Justice to Kosovo? (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Convicted of War Crimes by Hague Court (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: Recognition by the five states facilitates the EU membership process (RTK)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti spoke in today’s meeting of the government about the visa agreement, Kosovo’s application to the EU and about the approval of the Kosovo budget for 2023. Kurti said that the recognition of Kosovo by the five EU states, would facilitate the EU membership process.

According to Prime Minister Kurti, integration means recognition, integration and acceptance also means interdependence. “Besides our merit, the recognition of the five EU countries, which have not yet recognized us, would certainly facilitate the process of accelerating the membership, recognition that enables membership and international integration,” said Prime Minister Kurti, among other things.

Speaking about the approval of the budget by the Assembly of Kosovo on Thursday, which is over 3.2 billion euros, Prime Minister Kurti said that it will enable the development of education, in the economic and cultural spheres, as well as in the field of the army. He thanked the MPs of Kosovo for their contribution in this matter.

PM Kurti, government ministers react to Rada Trajkovic’s detention (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti took to Twitter to comment on the detention of Kosovo Serb politician Rada Trajkovic by Serbian authorities. “Serbian autocratic regime’s 10-hr border detention of Dr. Rada Trajkovic, advisor to Kosovo Minister Nenad Rasic and a diabetic, for the second time this week, is a gross violation of human rights and typical retaliation against law-abiding Kosovo Serbs,” Kurti tweeted.

Telegrafi reports that Rada Trajkovic, advisor to Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, upon entering Serbia at the Merdare border crossing was stopped by Serbian authorities and is still being kept there. 

The case was discussed in today’s meeting of the Kosovo government, with Rasic saying that he is concerned because Trajkovic has diabetes, and her condition may not be good. “Yesterday, my advisor was stopped … and held for four hours,” he said. Rasic said that Trajkovic was later released and held several meetings in Kosovo, including with U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier. When she went back to Serbia around 19:00 she was stopped again by the authorities there and is being held in custody. “I feel bad about Trajkovic, a woman of high morale who helped a lot of people, and for her to get this treatment … I know it is not in our competency today but if we can send a note to the QUINT countries so that such cases don’t happen because I am concerned … people with diabetes must get their regular treatment,” he said.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said: “I feel very bad that we are faced with this situation. I will see what I can do this morning so that Trajkovic can enter Kosovo”.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, said: “Upon receiving information this morning from our office in Belgrade, we took all official steps to inform the EU Office which in a way is a guarantor for the free movement of Kosovo citizens … Our office is working on this. I also know that the QUINT embassies, whom I have contacted, are also working on this, both in Belgrade and in Pristina. We hope that within a short period of time Trajkovic will be able to travel”.

Koha reports Kosovo’s Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, told a press conference in Pristina today that the stopping of his advisor Rada Trajkovic by Serbian Police at the Merdare border crossing is a shameful act. “Her stopping is a shameful act. She is old and suffers from diabetes and needs regular doses of insulin, and this is why I have asked the Kosovo border police, they went to Podujevo, bought her the insulin, and I want to thank them sincerely for this. This is a very good gesture from their side,” he said.

Rasic said he too was stopped on several occasions in the past but that he was not held overnight like Trajkovic. He argued that he and Trajkovic are stopped because they think differently from the government in Belgrade. “Since the arrival of new representatives at the BIA agency [Serbian Intelligence Service], there will be a new doctrine that will be applied against us who have a free opinion and who think differently from the current regime in Belgrade,” he said.

Rasic also said he asked the government to call on QUINT to talk to their colleagues in Belgrade.

Specialist Chambers finds Mustafa guilty, sentences him to 26 years in prison (media)

The Special Court found Salih Mustafa, a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army, guilty and sentenced him to 26 years in prison. He has been found guilty of the following crimes: unlawful killing, torture and arbitrary detention. This is the first decision of this institution regarding the investigations of war crimes in Kosovo. Summarising the verdict, Chief Judge Mappie Veldt-Foglia said that the witnesses’ testimonies were clear, coherent and consistent.

Acting Specialist Prosecutor welcomes verdict in Salih Mustafa trial (media)

Most news websites cover a press release issued by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office welcoming the verdict in the trial of Salih Mustafa “as one that provides justice to victims and hailed the courage of witnesses who testified at the Specialist Chambers”.

“Today’s judgement represents a victory for justice and, in particular, for the victims of Salih Mustafa and their families, all Kosovar Albanians, whose personal tragedies have been at the heart of this case and who have suffered more than two decades on account of Mr Mustafa’s actions,” Acting Specialist Prosecutor Alex Whiting said in response to the Trial Panel’s guilty verdict.

“The testimony of witnesses, who put their faith in the Specialist Chambers to provide justice, was critical to the judgement and I applaud their extraordinary courage in coming forward to give evidence in court,” the Acting Specialist Prosecutor continued. “The creation of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has made it possible for these victims to tell their stories and obtain justice.”

Mr Mustafa was found guilty of three counts of war crimes – arbitrary detention; torture; and murder – and has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

The victims were all Kosovar Albanians, some of whom had volunteered for service with the KLA because they believed strongly in the fight for Kosovo’s independence.

“The Court has ruled that Mr Mustafa used his authority to victimise and brutalise fellow Kosovar Albanians,” Mr Whiting said.

Mr Mustafa was arrested on 24 September 2020 by the SPO, pursuant to an arrest warrant, transfer order and confirmed indictment issued by a pre-trial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

The trial began on 15 September 2021 and the SPO closed its case on 4 February 2022. The SPO presented rebuttal evidence on 1 June 2022 and evidentiary proceedings were closed on 20 June 2022. Closing statements were made between 13 and 15 September 2022. The SPO presented 14 witnesses in total.

“With today’s verdict, the Specialist Chambers has shown that it is a court for and about victims and that there is no expiration date on accountability,” Mr Whiting concluded.

Reactions to Specialist Chambers’ verdict against Salih Mustafa (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defence, Armend Mehaj, told reporters today that the verdict by the Specialist Chambers against Salih Mustafa, a former KLA unit commander, is unfair. 

According to head of LVV parliamentary group Mimoza Kusari-Lila, the position of Vetevendosje in relation to the Special Court is already known, and that LVV was the only parliamentary group that had opposed its establishment, but had not managed to stop it.

“These are the consequences of an action that took place in the Assembly of Kosovo, but the consequences are being faced by others and the country will bear them in relation to those who make such decisions, while even today in Kosovo those who committed war crimes against the civilian population are being arrested,” she said. 

The Chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi expressed his indignation and said that the decision should be improved.

“Today’s sentence to Salih Mustafa, as it was announced, is a severe sentence that incites indignation in every Albanian. We hope that today’s decision will be corrected in the second instance, to prove the seriousness and impartiality of the Court. We have always trusted justice and justice, inevitably, sometimes, must and will find its true path”.

Krasniqi emphasised that no one can change the just war of the Kosovo Liberation Army, recalling Mustafa’s words in front of the court.

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Ganimete Musliu, said she was shocked by the verdict and thanked people who supported her when she voted against the formation of the Specialist Chambers. 

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the future of Kosovo (AAK) said ‘I firmly believe in the innocence of the KLA. Kosovo has accepted justice as a mechanism for removing all dilemmas that the KLA’s fight for the country’s freedom was a clean fight.’

“Today’s sentence of Sali Mustafa is only one degree of justice, and I hope his case on another degree gets another epilogue for his freedom, as has happened in many other cases, that draconian punishments have returned to innocence,” he said. 

Senior member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Besnik Tahiri, said the verdict must be appealed and that the decision was absurd. He also argued that Mustafa and his comrades “fought a fair war”.

Acting leader of the KLA War Veterans Organisation, Faton Klinaku, said in his reaction: “If the Special Court was based in Kosovo, you would’ve seen our steps. But we cannot do anything as long as its headquarters are in the Hague”. “It is shameful for us that former world leaders accuse the Special Court of being a political court, whereas the Kosovo Assembly and our politicians are not doing anything about this. This is absurd,” he said.

Director of Pristina-based Kanal10 TV station, Arben Ahmeti, reacted to the verdict saying that Mustafa was convicted for “a murder that was committed by Serbian forces”. In his reaction Ahmeti used the hashtags “selective justice” and “legal monster”.

Lajmi news website covers the verdict under the headline “Paradoxical: For thousands of murders in Kosovo, Milosevic’s men were convicted less than Salih Mustafa”.

Reports that request for return of Serbian troops was delivered to KFOR (RFE)

Citing a report by the Radio Television of Serbia, the news website reports that the NATO-led mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has been delivered the request for the deployment of Serbian security troops in the territory of Kosovo. According to reports, the request was delivered at Merdare, one of the border crossings between Kosovo and Serbia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that the Serbian government would send the request to KFOR electronically. He said this includes the return of 100 to 1,000 troops of Serbian army and police to Kosovo. He also said that the request would be delivered today at the border with Kosovo. 

The news website also notes that Belgrade made the decision after the increased presence of Kosovo Police in the north of Kosovo. Belgrade justifies the request referring to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Shea: Serbia’s request to send forces to Kosovo will be rejected (RFE)

Former NATO official, Jamie Shea, is convinced that Serbia’s request for the return of soldiers and policemen to Kosovo will not be approved, however, he is pleased that at least Serbia has decided to make a request and not to act on it unilaterally.

“It is better that Serbia, publicly and transparently, has asked KFOR to return the troops to Kosovo and not to do so unilaterally or secretly, as this would be extremely provocative under the current circumstances,” Shea told Radio Free Europe.

He believes that even the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is aware that this request will not be approved, but says that this is a “political action, because maybe he [Vucic] feels that he can achieve a victory in the relationship with the public, without really changing the situation on the ground”.

Docherty: Kosovo long-term strategic partner of the United Kingdom (RTK)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met with the Minister for Europe of the United Kingdom, Leo Docherty.

“Minister Docherty emphasised the commitment to Kosovo as a long-term strategic partner, based on common values. They discussed regional security, the energy situation in Kosovo and beyond in Europe, and the importance of rapid progress in the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia dialogue,” said the announcement of the British Embassy in Kosovo posted on Facebook.

Rizvanolli on paying electricity for north: Can’t continue this in time of crisis (EO)

Kosovo’s Minister for Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, commented today on the request of KOSTT for additional funds to cover electricity expenses in the north. She confirmed the request and said that this situation cannot continue in this time of energy crisis. She said Kosovo’s institutions were doing their best to solve the problem. “Yes, KOSTT made a request for additional funds. We did our best from the highest level in Brussels and with our institutions to meet the points of the agreement that foresees the solution to this problem. This situation cannot continue in this time of crisis. The citizens must pay for the services they get. We will look into all possibilities to solve this problem as soon as possible,” Rizvanolli was quoted as saying. 

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: Gov’t has adopted decision to request return of Serbian forces in Kosovo, handed over it to KFOR (Tanjug, Novosti)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening the Serbian Government had adopted a decision to request from KFOR a redeployment of up to 1,000 Serbian army and police personnel to Kosovo and Metohija under UN SC Resolution 1244, Tanjug news agency reports.

In an interview for RTS, Vucic said the government had decided to send the request in electronic form this evening while the Serbian Armed Forces chief of general staff would present it to the KFOR commander at an administrative crossing on Friday morning.

He said the decision had been unanimous and that Serbia wanted nothing more than respect of international law.

“That would be important right now for protection of the Serb population, and for the reason it is envisioned by the resolution – control of administrative crossings, especially at Jarinje and Brnjak, which would dramatically reduce tensions. That would be a good decision”, he said.

“Based on what we have heard, we are almost certain it (the request) will not be accepted”, Vucic noted.

“Had they considered it better, it would contribute to peace, a reduction of tensions, a completely different vision of the future and possibilities for some compromise solutions, but they did not want to even hear of that because it means poking a finger in the eye of those who want to decide about us without us and to have a right to decide without law, not to mention justice”, Vucic said.

He also said no one would be able to convince him a French-German plan for resolving the Kosovo issue was status-neutral, and noted that a recognition of Kosovo and its membership in the UN were unacceptable to him.

Meanwhile, Novosti reported that members of the Serbian Army handed over a request to KFOR at Merdare today. 

Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic said today he has informed Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic that Commission for implementation of Kumanovo Military-Technical Agreement today slightly before 11.00 hrs handed over to KFOR a request in writing to return Serbian security personnel to Kosovo and Metohija. 

Dacic: Firm assurances from the five EU members who did not recognize Kosovo that they will not change their position (Danas, Beta, FoNet, Blic)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today that Belgrade has strong assurances from the five EU member states, which do not recognize Kosovo independence, that they will not change that position, reported daily Danas. 

Dacic told Blic daily that he and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, are in constant contact with those countries and that, as he said, their position is as firm as it has been until now.

Asked about the recent statement by European officials that the new version of the Franco-German plan has the support of all 27 EU members, he replied that he would not go that far and, as he said, and not that fast.

“There were many versions of that so-called French-German plan, and I cannot know at what stage it is, but I know for sure that it is premature to count how much support it has within the EU,” said Dacic.

Petkovic: Another former police officer arrested (KoSSev, RTS, N1)

Another former member of the Kosovo Police, of Serbian nationality, was arrested this evening in the northern part of Mitrovica, according to unofficial information, reported KoSSev portal. 

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, came out with the same allegations.

Petkovic announced this on Twitter, stating that it was S.T, whose full name he published.

Petkovic assessed the new arrest as an indication that Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, “continues hunting Serbs”, and that he does not want to calm tensions and de-escalate the situation.

“How does evidence suddenly appear against Serbs who left institutions that did not exist while they were part of the Kosovo system,” asked Petkovic, reported KoSSev. 

KoSSev portal wrote to the Kosovo Police about the alleged new arrest in the evening but received no response until the publication of this news. The North Region told KoSSev that they have no information about this case.

This is the fourth arrest in a little over a week in the North, and the second arrest of former members of the Kosovo Police. Previously, Dejan Pantic was arrested last week, which was the official reason for the new barricades that were set up in at least six places in the North, recalled KoSSev.

The arrested man’s wife, S.T., told RTS that she was told that her husband was arrested around 6 pm and that he was accused of war crimes.

“We didn’t have any information until 9:30 p.m. I think it happened around 6:00 p.m. We were only told that he was arrested. I went to the southern part of Mitrovica, in the station, however, they were rude there. I went with my daughter. We waited for more than an hour. First, they yelled at us, they barely let us in, and then they threw us out,” she told RTS, Serbian media cited.  

She mentioned that she was only looking for information on whether it was true that her husband had been arrested and where he was.

“We have information that he was transferred to Pristina, that we cannot see him and that he is accused of war crimes,” S.T. told RTS. She added that she asked what war crimes, after 23 years, given that he was a police employee. 

“As you can see, there is no justice towards the Serbs. This terror can no longer be endured,” she noted.

Kosovo police confirm arrest for “war crime against civilian population” (Radio Mitrovica sever)

In its regular report, the Kosovo police reported that “on the basis of the case files, witness statements, operational information” they arrested a male suspect of Serbian nationality on the suspicion that he was “involved in the aforementioned case”, and that it was a war crime against the civilian population, reported Radio Mitrovica sever.

The police did not provide the initials of the arrested person.

The police report states that it was about “Vucitrn 1999” and that the person was detained by order of the special prosecutor.

Arrests of Serbs in north continue, day seven at barricades (RTS, Tanjug, Blic)

The Serbs’ protest over the arrest of their compatriots by staying at barricades continues for the seventh day in a row, RTS reports, adding that last night S.T. a former member of the Kosovo police was arrested in Bosniak Mahala, RTS reports.

RTS correspondent Andrija Igic said the news of the latest arrest disturbed the Serbs at barricades. S.T. left Kosovo police along with his colleagues once the decision to leave Pristina institutions in northern Kosovo was made. The wife of the arrested person said he is allegedly accused of committing a war crime.

The Kosovo police has not confirmed the arrest yet, Igic added.

The residents continue protesting attempting, as they told RTS, to draw attention to their problems ongoing for months, which have escalated in a new crisis by arrests of Miljan Adzic and Dejan Pantic. Their release, same as withdrawal of Kosovo special police units from northern Kosovo are requests of those staying at the barricades. Given that their stances are different from those of Pristina authorities, they are waiting for a political solution and results of foreign diplomats’ activities, RTS said.

Tanjug news agency, citing Reporteri reported later in the day that Kosovo police confirmed the arrest of a Serb for allegedly committing a war crime in Vucitrn in 1999. 

Blic daily reported that Serbs staying at barricades in Zubin Potok municipality were also concerned over reports on the latest arrest in Mitrovica North. “This means that we all are on some of their lists and that every Serb is a target of Kurti’s police”, one of the protesters said.

Serbian List reacts to latest arrest in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian List in the strongest terms condemned the continuation of repression “by dictatorship and anti-Serbian regime of Albin Kurti who without any evidence arrested S. T. and accused him of committing war crimes”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Serbian List in a statement argued of obvious intentions “(…) to intimidate Serbs through institutional violence given that S.T. was serving as Kosovo police officer for more than eight years, and lived in northern Kosovo for longer than 20 years, and somebody, only now when he left Kosovo police remembered to accuse him of war crimes”.

Serbian List added this ungrounded arrest is yet another step towards destabilisation of the situation and, as they said, part of Kurti’s plan to continue oppressing and persecuting Serbs in Kosovo. 

Trajkovic again held at Merdare crossing, waiting to be let into Serbia (N1)

Leader of the European Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and advisor to Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns Rada Trajkovic is being held, for almost 12 hours now, at the Merdare administrative border between Serbia and Kosovo. Trajkovic was stopped at the crossing point by the Serbian police who are preventing her from crossing into Serbia.

Trajkovic wrote Friday morning in a Twitter post that she is being held at the administrative border crossing “without a reason and explanation”, adding that her documents were taken from her “unconstitutionally and illegally” and that she is denied freedom of movement.

“A young man in his 20s came and said he was from BIA (Serbian Security Intelligence Agency). He won’t introduce himself; he won’t question me; he is not telling me the reason why I am being held but only tells me that he has orders not to give me my documents. It is obvious that he came here just to justify my illegal detention,” Trajkovic tweeted.

She wrote in a Twitter post during the night that she does not have her medication with her.

Trajkovic is known as an opponent and outspoken critic of the current Serbian authorities and the Belgrade-backed Serb List.

She was first held back Thursday at the Merdare administrative border crossing when going to Kosovo and was allowed to cross into Kosovo after a several hours-long wait.

Trajkovic met Thursday in Pristina with US Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier.

Serbian ambassador blasts Kurti, Osmani over “Greater Albania” map (Tanjug)

Serbian Ambassador to Athens Dusan Spasojevic shared on Twitter a photo of the PM and Kosovo president with a map of “Greater Albania”, which also included parts of Serbia and Greece, reported Tanjug last night.

“Opportunists and nationalist populists, the ‘PM’ and the ‘president’ of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani, promoting a mega-nationalist Greater Albania plan involving an annexation of parts of Serbia and Greece,” Spasojevic wrote in the post.

“A leopard never changes its spots,” he added.

In addition to Kosovo-Metohija and parts of central Serbia, the “Greater Albania” map shown in the photo also includes the Greek region of Epirus and the island of Corfu, reported the agency.

Serbian DefMin to UK Ambassador: Deeply concerned over Kosovo (N1)

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic told UK Ambassador to Serbia Sian Mcleod that he is deeply concerned about developments in Kosovo, N1 reports.

A ministry press release quoted him as saying that Belgrade is committed to peace, stability and maintaining the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

The Defense Minister said that the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces into a military force is harmful to the dialogue and will cause destabilisation in the region.

The press release quoted Ambassador Mcleod as agreeing with the importance of continuing the dialogue at a high level. She said the UK is interested in developing defence cooperation with Serbia through joint engagement in multinational operations and in intensifying military medical and education cooperation.

Brnabic speaks with her Romanian counterpart, expresses gratitude for principled stance on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke over the phone with Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciuca and thanked him for the principled stance his country has on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, Kosovo Online portal reports.

During the talks Brnabic also underlined the commitment of Serbia to peace and stability in an entire region. They also discussed continuation of fostering general bilateral cooperation and political relations, as well as touched upon the current situation in the Western Balkans.

Brnabic also said she hopes for a soon visit of the Romanian Prime Minister to Serbia.

Office for KiM: Houses broken into and looted, and the church of St. Nikola in the hamlet of Bogosevce, near Prizren (Kontakt plus radio)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced that houses and the St. Nikola church, in the hamlet of Bogosevce near Prizren, were broken into and robbed, reported Kontakt plus radio. 

The Office for KiM claims that on December 12, during a tour of their property in the mentioned hamlet in Sredacka zupa, the owners found open gates and broken doors on their houses and those of their neighbours.

“They noticed that their household appliances, wardrobe and other items were stolen. In the same village, the church of St. Nikola, which was built in the 16th century, was also broken into. The thieves broke the lock of the front door of the church, ransacked it and took away the money left by the faithful on the icons”, the office stated.

The statement reads that “this is already the fourth time that the homes of the residents of the hamlet of Bogosevce have been systematically and massively broken into and robbed”.

Gujon to Pristina authorities: Be consistent in your stances, allow me entry in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Director of the Administration for Cooperation with Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, within Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arno Gujon asked Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to allow him to enter Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Gujon made those remarks in a post on Twitter, reacting to Kurti’s statement that rights of Rada Trajkovic, an adviser to Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, who was kept at Merdare crossing point by Serbian police, have been violated.

“So please be consistent Mr. @albinkurti and allow me to enter Kosovo in the name of the same human rights you denied me 4 years ago when your special forces arrested me, detained me, threatened me and then deported me. Thank you in advance. @MiroslavLajcak @JosepBorrellF@StateEUR”, Gujon said.

Stano: European Union continues working on de-escalation in northern Kosovo (RTV)

EU Spokesperson Peter Stano said the EU continues working on de-escalating the situation in northern Kosovo, RTV reports.

“The EU together with partners continue working on de-escalation in particular in northern Kosovo, so that a safe environment and free movement can be ensured for all people”, Stano told a news conference in Brussels.

He noted that EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak are in permanent contact with interlocutors in the region and EU member states, as well as with all important actors and the work continues.

Opinion 

What Must Be Done to Finally Bring Justice to Kosovo? (BIRN)

Opinion piece by Amer Alija, coordinator and legal analyst at the Humanitarian Law Centre Kosovo.

Over 20 years after the Kosovo war, there are several practical steps that can and must be taken urgently to ensure that perpetrators of atrocities are brought to trial, writes legal analyst Amer Alija.

As a result of the 1998-99 Kosovo war, about 13,535 people were killed, according to data from the Humanitarian Law Centre Kosovo, HLCK, and the Humanitarian Law Centre, HLC.

About 80 per cent of them were civilians who did not participate in the armed conflict, and about 1,600 of these victims are still missing.

More than two decades after the end of the war, which lasted from February 28, 1998 until June 20, 1999, many families of victims still seeking justice for their relatives who were killed.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY (which was operational from 1993-2017) and domestic courts in Kosovo, including the UN mission UNMIK (2000-2008) and the EU rule-of-law mission EULEX (2009-2018), have all been involved in the investigation and trial of war crimes in Kosovo.

From June 2014, the transfer of competencies from the EU’s mission EULEX to local prosecutors gradually began. In May 2015, within the framework of the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo, the Department for War Crimes was created.

Under a new Law on Courts in Kosovo, since January 2019, special departments have been created within the Basic Court of Pristina and the Court of Appeal, which are able to judge cases of war crimes at the national level.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3W1GkwE

International 

Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Convicted of War Crimes by Hague Court (BIRN)

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague found former Kosovo Liberation Army unit commander Salih Mustafa guilty on Friday of three war crime charges including the arbitrary detention and torture of at least six detainees, and the murder of one prisoner.

The verdict is the first war crimes judgment to be handed down by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

“In the name of the people of Kosovo in the reasons set out in the judgment… the panel finds you, Mr. Mustafa, guilty of count three, torture as a war crime as part of a joint criminal enterprise in its basic form… count one, arbitrary detention as a war crime as part of a joint criminal enterprise in its basic form… count four, murder as a war crime as part of a joint criminal enterprise,” said presiding judge Mappie Veldt-Foglia.

Mustafa was found “not guilty of the war crime of cruel treatment”, the judge added.

Mustafa, known during the 1998-99 conflict by his KLA nom de guerre Commander Cali, was sentenced to 26 years in prison “with credit for the time [already] served [in detention]”.

The verdict can be appealed.