Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: If KFOR does not remove the barricades, we will remove them (Koha)
• Two new barricades in the north (RFE)
• Svecla: We are not interested in war, but we are committed to fighting crime (media)
• Kusari-Lila: The barricades must be removed as soon as possible (ekonomia online)
• The EU invites Kurti and Vucic to personally contribute to calming of tensions (media)
• Albanian judges move from north to south Mitrovica (Kosovapress)
• Rohde condemns the attack on journalists in Zupc (media)
• Gjoshi: Prime Minister Kurti is serving Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Day 18 at barricades, new barricades erected (RTS, media)
• Petkovic: Raising combat readiness a response to the immediate threat of war (RTS, Beta, NMagazin)
• Vucic on Instagram: Difficult situation; we do our best to preserve peace and stability (N1, RTS)
• Patriarch Porfirije after meeting Vucic says peace to be preserved at any cost (RTS, media)
• Pristina bans Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo, returns him from Merdare crossing (media)
• Reactions to Pristina’s ban of Patriarch Porfirije visit (media)
• What do laws and Brussels agreement say on Serbian Orthodox Church (KoSSev)
• KFOR after meeting Kurti, EULEX head, says they discussed security situation (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Crisis Committee in northern Kosovo: Serbs do not attack KFOR and EULEX (N1, Danas)
• Rakic: No attack on KFOR, Pristina media spreading disinformation (Tanjug, media)
• RTS journalist Svetlana Vukmirovic banned from entering Kosovo twice (RTS, media)
• Grenell on situation in north, Pristina’s decision to ban Patriarch Irinej from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Wife of Dejan Pantic says they had brief phone conversation on Friday (Kurir)

International:

• Kosovo: Serbia puts troops on high alert over rising tensions (BBC)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Heroes of 2022: People Who Made a Difference (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: If KFOR does not remove the barricades, we will remove them (Koha)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has said that the institutions of Kosovo will remove the barricades in the north of Kosovo, if KFOR cannot do it.

In an interview conducted on Saturday for the Bosnian medium “istraga.ba” and published on Monday evening, Kurti said that the time has come for KFOR to prove itself on the issue of freedom of movement. He said that he regrets that KFOR is postponing the removal of the barricades.

“But I know that this cannot last long. We will have a meeting with KFOR to clarify everything. And if KFOR is not able to remove the barricades, or for reasons unknown to me, will not remove them, then we will do this,” he said, adding that the barricades mainly block the Serbs in north and that they are a violation of the constitutional order and laws of Kosovo.

Kurti’s statement was made before the meeting he had on Monday with KFOR leaders. The meeting called for the removal of the barricades, but two more barricades were added to the north on Tuesday morning.

“For the last 23 years, KFOR has said that it stands for peace, security and freedom of movement. Well, now it has to prove itself in action. I think the time has come to do so. If it does not prove itself, we will have to deal with them,” he said.

Kurti refused to give a time limit for the removal of the barricades, but said that “this cannot last for months or weeks.”

He said that as far as Kosovo is concerned, the barricades can be removed without incident.

Two new barricades in the north (RFE)

Kosovo Police confirmed to the news website that two new barricades have been erected in the north of Kosovo, one in Mitrovica North and another one in Zvecan. “In the north of the country, during the night, criminal persons/groups have continued to erect barricades by further impeding the freedom of movement. According to official information, another two barricades with heavy machinery have been erected,” police said.

Svecla: We are not interested in war, but we are committed to fighting crime (media)

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, took to Facebook to write that Kosovo does not have an aggressive approach with conquest aspirations like Serbia. He said that Kosovo aims at peace and stability, while Serbia aims at destabilization and war. He said that the claims that Kosovo has raised a state of readiness are part of the propaganda of the Serbia-Russia duo.

“It is precisely Serbia, influenced by Russia, that has raised a state of military readiness, is ordering the erection of new barricades, in order to justify and protect the criminal groups that terrorize citizens of Serb ethnicity living in Kosovo, in particular. We are not interested in war, but we are committed to fighting crime and terrorism within our country. This hinders Serbia because over the years, it has supported criminal groups in the north of the country in all its forms,” Svecla wrote.

He went on to say that the institutions of Kosovo want the issue of the barricades to be resolved without any escalation.

“The institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are in close coordination with international partners so that this issue is resolved without any possible escalation. This fact is clearly hindering Serbia, which is doing its utmost to ensure that the barricades produce even human casualties, and this is evidenced by the successive armed attacks against police officers, EULEX members and recently against KFOR. With the barricades as a tool, Serbia is fighting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighboring state, Kosovo, while we are interested in fighting crime and criminal gangs, within our state, whoever they are,” Svecla added.

He also said that ‘whenever the fight against crime reveals that the legitimate exercise of powers in our country is to the benefit of every citizen regardless of ethnicity, Serbia, led by Vucic, is trying at all costs to violate the democratic values that our country has promoted and will continue to defend’.

“Therefore, we will not stop at protecting these democratic values and being close to all our citizens without distinction, despite the threatening trends,” he  concluded.

Kusari-Lila: The barricades must be removed as soon as possible (ekonomia online)

The head of the Parliamentary Group of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) Mimoza Kusari-Lila said that the barricades in the north should be removed as soon as possible. According to her, this situation does not suit anyone except those who want the destabilization of Kosovo.

 “The events that are happening in the four municipalities of the north of Kosovo are those that are being directly provoked by Serbia to cause instability and to blur focus from that responsibility which already belongs to Aleksandar Vucic and the government in Serbia”.

 “I would not get into details of giving dates, they should be removed as soon as possible. Such a situation does not suit anyone except those who want instability in Kosovo,” she said.

Speaking about the Draft Law on the Civil Code, which is being opposed by a number of MPs of this party, she added that she hopes it will pass next year.

 “As for the Civil Code, it is in the process for 2023, there have been numerous discussions. I am convinced that we will have a successful process,” she said.

The EU invites Kurti and Vucic to personally contribute to calming of tensions (media)

Although the barricade of the Serbs in the North has entered its third week, the European Union has requested that the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, personally contribute to a political solution in a manner that would de-escalate the situation in this part of Kosovo.

According to the EU, Kosovo must guarantee full freedom of movement for all citizens, including religious leaders.

“The European Union strongly condemns the attacks against EULEX, KFOR and the Kosovo Police and calls for maximum restraint and immediate action to unconditionally de-escalate the situation, which includes restraint from provocative actions, threats or intimidation,” said the spokeswoman for the EU’s foreign policy, Nabila Massrali.

“We expect that Kosovo and Serbia will return to efforts to create an environment suitable for dialogue and regional stability”.

Albanian judges move from north to south Mitrovica (Kosovapress)

Albanian judges and the entire staff of the criminal division of the Basic Court of Mitrovica, who served in the building of this court in Mitrovica North, have moved today to the building of the civil division of the court, which is located in the southern part of Mitrovica, because of lack of security and lack of freedom of movement after the erection of new barricades in the north.

Rohde condemns the attack on journalists in Zupc (media)

The German ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde has condemned Monday’s attack on a television crew in Zubin Potok’s Zupc, by masked persons. 

Through a post on “Twitter”, Rohde requested that the media be left free to do their work.

“The German Embassy in Pristina strongly condemns once again the violence against journalists. The media must be allowed to work freely and without fear of violence. I wish the television team of Klan Kosova a speedy recovery,” Rohde wrote.

Gjoshi: Prime Minister Kurti is serving Serbia (media)

Member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Betim Gjoshi, said today that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, with his discourse against the irreplaceable allies and friends of the Albanians, is serving Serbia. “We need to say it without hesitation and repeat it everyday that the way he is treating the highest officials of the United States of America, is serving Serbia in a way that even Aleksandar Vucic cannot. The aggravation of relations between Kosovo and the U.S. serves Serbia the most,” Gjoshi writes in a Facebook post.

Serbian Language Media 

Day 18 at barricades, new barricades erected (RTS)

Serbs in northern Kosovo continue protesting at barricades for the 18th day in a row, RTS reports. Their demands remain the same, release of arrested Dejan Pantic, Miljan Adzic and Sladjan Trajkovic, as well as withdrawal of Kosovo special police units from the north.

Meanwhile, new barricades have been erected in Mitrovica North, one at the crossroad near Technical School and another one at the new bridge leading from northern Mitrovica to regional Mitrovica-Raska road.

RTS also reported that posters calling for boycotting Serbian goods appeared in the ethnically mixed settlement of Bosniak Mahala in Mitrovica North. 

Petkovic: Raising combat readiness a response to the immediate threat of war (RTS, Beta, NMagazin)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, said that placing the Army and police units on the highest level of combat readiness is “a response to the immediate threat of war” and what Pristina is doing to “carry out an attack” on the north of Kosovo and Metohija, reported portal NMagazin. 

“Given that Pristina raised the combat readiness of the Kosovo security forces to the highest level, preparing those units, long barrels and armoured vehicles to attack the Serbian people in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, with the intention of attacking our women, the elderly, children, men, our people who are only defending the right to bare life at the barricades,” emphasised Petkovic on RTS this morning.

He added that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is “doing everything to preserve peace and stability”, and that “the services are doing their job seriously and know almost every step of Pristina and their operational plan”, reported the portal, citing RTS.

Vucic on Instagram: Difficult situation; we do our best to preserve peace and stability (N1, RTS)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said last night on Instagram that it had never happened in history that a Serbian patriarch was banned from entering Kosovo and Metohija. “I will take all measures to protect our people and save Serbia,” said Vucic, reported RTS. 

“Dear citizens of Serbia, we are doing all in our power to preserve peace and stability. Unfortunately, they did not want to listen to us, or they were not very interested in hearing us. Today Patriarch Porfirije was also banned entry into Kosovo and Metohija (the official name for what the Serbian authorities consider to be the country’s southern province), this has never happened in history, and they do not care,” Vucic wrote on ‘The Future of Serbia’ Instagram account, reported N1. 

Commenting on the barricades erected in north Kosovo by the Kosovo Serbs, Vucic said they were merely a sign of discontent.

“But they will continue to talk about the Serb barricades, which are a sign of discontent and of the Serb people’s struggle to be where they belong. I wish to inform you that we are in a difficult situation but that we will do all in our power to, in every way possible, preserve peace and stability, and not only that, but also to protect our people in north Kosovo,” said Vucic.

He stressed that, “following the arming of the Albanians and the raising of their combat readiness,” all measures will be taken to protect the people and preserve peace in north Kosovo.

However, the Serbian President offered no specifics as to what measures he was considering.

Patriarch Porfirije after meeting Vucic says peace to be preserved at any cost (RTS, media)

Following the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije said today we must do everything to preserve the peace at any cost, Serbian media report.

He added the situation in Kosovo is very serious and tensions reached the point that could open paths none of us wants and that would not lead to something bringing either peace or balance. He also said yesterday was very sad for him.

“However, it is not important whether it was sad for me, but because it was sad for many people, our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija, for our nuns and monks, priesthood, who were waiting with a joy and impatience that the head and spiritual father of their church come to Pec Patriarchate within part of his regular programs”, Patriarch said.

He said he wanted to pray with them for peace in the world, but foremost for mutual understanding, co-existence and peace between Albanians and Serbs.

Noting that he will not enter into framework of civic rights and religious freedoms, Patriarch said he will say one thing – that Pec Patriarchate for our people, for any leader of our church, is what Vatican is for Catholic Church and now imagine that someone without any reason with, let’s put it mildly, comic explanation, just because he wants it bans pope from entering Vatican”.

I am saying this because I am sure that the entire world would stand up, he added, and that no one having any deciding power would not protect the right of the head of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Pristina bans Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo, returns him from Merdare crossing (media)

Pristina authorities have banned Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije from visiting Pec Patriarchate and returned him from Merdare crossing point, after a 40-minute wait on Monday slightly after 14.30 Serbian media extensively reported.

Patriarch Porfirije said Monday that the door of his home was locked to him after Pristina authorities banned him from entering Kosovo earlier that day.

“As the Patriarch, I set off to the first and foremost seat of my church. As a priest, I set off to be with my people ahead of the most joyful holiday. As a citizen, I set off to my house, to my home. From the moment I have set off on this path, I have been repeating: Wherever I have been outside of Kosovo and Metohija, I have been in foreign land. It is only in Kosovo and Metohija that I am at home”, the Patriarch wrote in an Instagram post.

“Today, the door of my home was locked to me, and I pray to God that he unlocks the hearts of those who have locked it and that the love of Christmas and the birth of the Savior touch the minds and the conscience of all people”, he added.

Raska-Prizren Eparchy reacting to the ban said that the “Diocese with its clergy, monks and faithful people received with astonishment and deep disappointment the news that the authorities in Pristina today did not approve the planned visit of His Holiness the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch to Kosovo and Metohija in the period between 26-28. December”.

It added that “this is a discriminatory decision that once again confirms the threat to the human and religious rights of our people in this region”, and that “unfortunately, the authorities in Pristina have been continuing for weeks with rhetoric aimed at criminalising the entire Serbian people, and even harassing the Church, although the Church only went public with calls for peace and demands for the respect of its rights”.

“Recent interviews of Mr. Kurti in which he openly attacked and unfairly accused the Serbian Orthodox Church, various proscription lists published by members of the Kosovo Assembly in which the Serbian Orthodox Church is mentioned as a kind of extremist organisation, as well as constant attempts to drag our Church into the political narrative, cause serious concern”, the statement further reads.

Read the full Raska-Prizren Eparchy statement at: https://bit.ly/3VoEGnG

Reactions to Pristina’s ban of Patriarch Porfirije visit (media)

Pristina’s decision to ban Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo and visiting Pec Patriarchate caused numerous reactions by Serbian officials and from different fields, Serbian media report.

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said Monday a decision by the Pristina authorities to ban the movement of Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church “was impermissible, disgraceful and demonstrated their brutality and lunacy”.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said that for the first time in history a patriarch is banned from entering Kosovo and Metohija and visiting Pec Patriarchate, a centuries-old set of the Serbian patriarchs.

“By this ban we could see how far the chauvinism of Albin Kurti goes and what are proportions of his politics and anti-Serbin actions”, Petkovic said. He added by doing so, Kurti wishes to “abolish the right and freedom of religion to the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”.

Serbian List in its reaction said the decision to ban Patriarch Porfirije from visiting Pec Patriarchate represents “a shameful act of a dictatorship regime in Pristina”, adding the Serbian List condemns it in the strongest terms.  Serbian List also said “that anti-Serb regime of Albin Kurti in Pristina, after abolishing all the rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and continuous repression against the Serbian people, went one step further and prevented Serbian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Porfirije to be with his faithful people and at his church”.

Former Mitrovica mayor Milan Radojevic said the decision to ban Patriarch Porfirije from visiting Pec Patriarchate indicates the level “of democracy” in Kosovo, adding the silence of the international community demonstrates either powerlessness or indifference, which in both ways is concerning and dangerous.

Religious analyst Drasko Djenovic said Pristina with this act has violated “Article 18 of the UN Charter and Article 8 of the European Convention guaranteeing freedom of religion”.

Human rights activist, lawyer and former head of Open Society Foundation, Milan Antonijevic said Prisitna’s decision to ban Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo runs contrary to human rights and violates religious freedoms. He added that conditioning the Patriarch’s visit by “any stance on barricades is additionally absurd and speaks more that this is aimed at raising the tensions that suit no one, except extremists”.  

Prince Filip Karadjordjevic appealed to the international community to intervene so the ban can be revoked immediately. He termed Pristina’s decision as “shameful and impermissible”.

What do laws and Brussels agreement say on Serbian Orthodox Church (KoSSev)

In an article dedicated to Pristina’s decision to ban Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo and visiting Pec Patriarchate, KoSSev portal looked into provisions of the specific laws relating to the Serbian Orthodox Church as well as Brussels agreement on freedom of movement.

It says the law provides for respect for the hierarchy of the SOC and stipulates no arbitrary ban on entry to priests. Kosovo Law on Amendments to the Law relating to the conclusion of international monitoring of Kosovo independence (from 2012), Article 7A regulates the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church, i.e. amendments were made to the then existing law on religious freedom.

The first paragraph of this article stated that the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo is considered an integral part of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the portal writes.

“The name and internal organisation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including its hierarchy and activities, will be respected“, reads paragraph 2 of this article.

While third paragraph 3 states – “There will be no arbitrary ban on entry into Kosovo or residence within Kosovo for priests, priest candidates, monks, nuns and visitors”.

The Brussels Agreement provided for the submission of notification on the visit of religious leaders, the same as the procedure for the visit of the public officials, the portal added.

The religious leader is not included in the first category but in the second. For this category, the notification must be done at least 48 hours directly to the liaison officer in Pristina and any objection must be raised within the first 24 hours, the portal recalled.

KFOR after meeting Kurti, EULEX head, says they discussed security situation (Kosovo Online, social media)

Following a trilateral meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and EULEX Head, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, KFOR said in a post on Twitter that they discussed the security situation in Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“Today, the Commander of the #NATO-led #KFOR mission, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, met with Mr. Albin Kurti @albinkurti and Mr. Lars-Gunnar Wigermark @LarsGWigemark (HoM @EULEXKosovo) to discuss the security situation in Kosovo”, KFOR wrote in a post on Monday. 

Crisis Committee in northern Kosovo: Serbs do not attack KFOR and EULEX (N1, Danas)

Crisis Committee in northern Kosovo said that Serbs do not attack KFOR and EULEX and they see them “as protection from repression of (Albin) Kurti’s regime and his special police forces”, Danas daily reports.

They added that Pristina’s regime propagates the false news on attacks against KFOR aiming to drag Serbs into conflict with KFOR, which is the only legal armed formation in line with UN SC Resolution 1244.

“Refusal of KFOR and EULEX to be in the service of the dictatorship and anti-Serb regime of Albin Kurti is the reason why Kurti attempts to invent lies about attacks against those organisations. We recall that political representatives of the Serbian people and members of the Crisis Committee called publicly many times on citizens to cooperate with KFOR and EULEX”.

They, on behalf of Serbian people, urged KFOR and EULEX to be increasingly vigilant, because, “there is a serious concern that Kurti is ready to organise attacks against members of those missions and accuse Serbs for it”.  

Rakic: No attack on KFOR, Pristina media spreading disinformation (Tanjug, media)

Serbian List leader Goran Rakic has dismissed reports by Pristina media that a KFOR unit had been attacked in Zubin Potok, a Serb-majority municipality in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, late on Sunday.

“That is another in a series of disinformation being pushed by Pristina with the aim of dragging KFOR into its dirty games and a conflict with Serbs”, Rakic told Pink TV late on Sunday.

“Therefore, there has been no attack on KFOR. The Serbs respect KFOR because it is deployed in Kosovo-Metohija under UN SC Resolution 1244. The current situation is calm and the people are at barricades”, Rakic said.

Earlier that evening, Pristina-based Koha reported a KFOR unit had been attacked in Zubin Potok.

RTS journalist Svetlana Vukmirovic banned from entering Kosovo twice (RTS, media)

Svetlana Vukmirovic, Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) journalist was not allowed to enter Kosovo and Metohija on Monday, she wanted to visit as part of her journalist assignment, RTS reports.

She was not elaborated as to why she could not enter Kosovo, while the rest of the team could pass. She was supposed to do the regular show, “Right to Tomorrow” featuring the lives of Serbs and their problems in Kosovo.

President of the Journalists Association of Serbia (UNS) Zivojin Rakocevic said the UNS and he personally condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence against profession, truth and right of professionals to do their work.

He added the entry ban now spreads as “pandemic” from a patriarch, ordinary citizens and journalists.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said with this latest ban (PM) Albin Kurti will not prevent the voice about Serbian people to be heard, asking if condemnation of this act from the international community will follow now. 

RTS also reported later today that the same journalist was again banned from entering Kosovo. Svetlana Vukmirovic again attempted to cross Merdare today in order to complete her journalist assignment but was not allowed by Kosovo police to enter Kosovo. 

Grenell on situation in north, Pristina’s decision to ban Patriarch Irinej from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)

Former US presidential envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Richard Grenell took to Twitter to comment on the latest situation in northern Kosovo and Pristina’s decision to ban Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo.

“The latest violence in Kosovo is unacceptable. @albinkurti continues his unilateral actions in the North in violation of international agreements – @ABlinken must demand: Kurti release the Serbian prisoners and refrain from arresting peaceful protesters, and… stop sending special forces to the North – while at the same time demanding the barricades be removed.

All of this should be done at the same time”, Grenell wrote in posts.

“It’s also the holiest time for Christians – @albinkurti should not be asking the Serbian Patriarch to first make political statements before he gets to enter. This is a direct violation of religious freedom – and the  @USAmbKosovo should already be publicly condemning it”, he added. 

Wife of Dejan Pantic says they had brief phone conversation on Friday (Kurir)

“On Friday, for the first time after 14 days we briefly spoke over the phone. I managed to talk to him, and he is not well at all, psychologically he is bad. He is anxious, afraid, he does not know what is going on, he has no information, he spoke with the lawyer after 13 days. He spoke very loudly with me, this doesn’t seem like him”, Suzana Pantic, wife of Dejan Pantic, former Kosovo police officer arrested at Jarinje on December 10 and kept there, told Kurir daily.

Apart from telling her that he does not know the level of his blood pressure, and that he experiences occasional stifling she linked with him being closed in a single room, she added he told her the attitude of the police towards him was “correct” for the time being, he is getting therapy and has regular meals.  

Meanwhile, head of EULEX, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark said in a post on Twitter on December 25, that the medical team of this organisation examined Pantic for the second time.

“At the request of the responsible Kosovo authorities, an EULEX medical team yesterday evening examined Mr D.P. who is detained by the Kosovo Police. This is the second medical exam of Mr D.P. conducted by an EULEX medical team. The first one took place a week ago”, Wigemark said.

International 

Kosovo: Serbia puts troops on high alert over rising tensions (BBC)

The Serbian army says it is at its “highest level of combat readiness” after weeks of escalating tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

President Aleksandar Vucic says he will “take all measures to protect our people and preserve Serbia”.

The sabre-rattling is louder than ever and follows some media claims in Serbia that Pristina is preparing “an attack” on ethnic Serb areas in north Kosovo.

The government in Pristina has made no comment about the allegations.

Read more at: https://bbc.in/3Wt7a0E

Humanitarian/Development

Heroes of 2022: People Who Made a Difference (Balkan Insight)

From extending humanity to the homeless and refugees and keeping the marginalised in the focus to fighting prejudice and fighting for truth, BIRN honours those who rose to the challenge in 2022.

Read more at:https://bit.ly/3PS7wLX