• Kurti: They put up barricades themselves, removing them themselves (media)
• Borrell praises leaders; “diplomacy prevailed in removing barricades” (Klan)
• EU wary of further Kosovo-Serbia tensions as it pushes final deal (Politico)
• Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss latest developments (media)
• NATO: We expect all parties to adhere to their commitments (media)
• KFOR: All parties should avoid any triggering rhetoric (media)
• Hill: Lucky that barricades are being removed, we want political solution (Klan)
• Rama on barricades: Nothing new, in the end everyone returned home (media)
• French Embassy comments on removal of barricades (Kallxo)
• Haziri on removal of barricades: Decision was neither Kurti nor Vucic’s (media)
• Fake News Spikes Amid High Tensions in the North (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo: Serbs agree to dismantle barricades after talks (BBC)
• Kosovo-Serbia tensions: Mood on the ground, possible scenarios (Al Jazeera)
• Kosovo Reopens Main Border Crossing With Serbia (VoA)
• In northern Kosovo, conflict is avoided, for now (Emerging Europe)
• Hoax Bomb Threats Leave Balkan Region Frustrated, Unnerved (BIRN)
• Serbia Investigates Kosovo Albanian for Alleged Arms Trafficking (BIRN)

Kurti: They put up barricades themselves, removing them themselves (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti commented on the removal of the barricades in the north of Kosovo on Thursday, saying that Serbia got tired of putting up barricades in vain, and that those that put up the barricades were the same that removed them in the end. He also welcomed the reporting of journalists in the north of the country.

“Dear journalists, I welcome you to this year-end meeting, especially for journalists from Ukraine, in which case we reiterate that it is an honor and a pleasure to be able to help them as with their struggle in Ukraine they are helping freedom, democracy and security not only in our European continent. Thank you all for the public reports and for the professional research that you have done, for the criticisms, for the remarks, and for the suggestions that you have given us. As the government, we are still not in the middle of our mandate, halfway through the mandate, but our progress and challenges are evident.”

“The year 2022 was a year of multiple crises, but in the Republic of Kosovo, it was also a year of growth in the economy, legality and democracy within our country, as well as the image of Kosovo abroad in the world. In particular, allow me to greet the journalists, your colleagues, who are today in the north of Iber, reporting from there.”

“They are not here with us today, but we are with them there forever. The barricades are being removed. On Sunday we said that it is a matter of days before they will leave. Even better that this is done without the intervention of our police. They put up the barricades themselves, they removed them themselves. In other words, those who blocked themselves have tried in vain.”

“In the year that we are leaving behind, the opposition has not given us any idea on the issue of justice, while on the issue of the economy they have only one idea: the abolition of VAT. We thank them. Now the year 2023 should be the year of vetting for justice and even greater development in the economy. Our work, your information, and citizens’ well-being. Thank you and happy new year!” Kurti said.

Borrell praises leaders; “diplomacy prevailed in removing barricades” (Klan)

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, praised the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, for doing well to remove the barricades in the north of Kosovo.

“Diplomacy prevailed in the de-escalation of tensions in the north of Kosovo. Violence can never be a solution. I welcome the reasonable leadership of President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti. An excellent EU-US-NATO teamwork. Thanks to all involved. We now need urgent progress in dialogue,” Borrell wrote on Twitter.

EU wary of further Kosovo-Serbia tensions as it pushes final deal (Politico)

Repeated border roadblocks, shootings and attacks on journalists have imperiled months of EU-led negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia.

In the past week, a long-running dispute between the two countries once again reached a tipping point, with new barricades going up and Serbia moving its troops to high readiness after Kosovo deployed police to its northern, Serb-majority areas.

While Serbia announced late Wednesday that the fresh barriers would be taken down within 48 hours, the sources of friction remain — and doubts are growing that an EU-facilitated agreement between the two countries will get finalized before a tentative March 2023 deadline.

“I believe it has solved the problem, but tensions remain high. The level of mistrust is higher than ever before,” Miroslav Lajčák, the EU special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and Western Balkans issues, told POLITICO.

“What is really important now is to not allow the situation to backslide into another crisis, and it is important for the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to start creating an atmosphere conducive to productive discussions on normalization of relations,” added Lajčák, who is working with the U.S. and NATO on the diplomatic efforts.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3hSYeD2

Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss latest developments (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Thursday with the US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier. Osmani and Hovenier talked about the latest developments in the north. A press release issued by the Office of the President notes that possibilities of intensifying bilateral cooperation between the two countries in 2023 were also discussed.

“President Osmani received in a standard meeting the US ambassador, Jeffrey Hovenier, with whom she talked about the latest developments in the country. The meeting discussed the possibilities and importance of intensifying bilateral cooperation in 2023, while President Osmani once again confirmed the commitment of the institutions of the Republic for continuous coordination with the United States and other allies”, the announcement states.

NATO: We expect all parties to adhere to their commitments (media)

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said on Thursday that they welcome news about the removal of the barricades in the North of Kosovo. “NATO welcomes efforts to de-escalate tensions in northern Kosovo. We expect all parties to stick to their commitments. NATO KFOR is closely monitoring and stands ready to intervene if necessary, in line with its UN mandate to maintain freedom of movement,” she tweeted.

KFOR: All parties should avoid any triggering rhetoric (media)

KFOR has welcomed the decision to remove the barricades in the north of Kosovo after 20 days that had blocked traffic on several main roads. In a press release, it is stated that the removal of the barricades must be done quickly and safely so that there are no incidents or risks. KFOR says it will intervene if necessary. “All parties should avoid any rhetoric or actions that can cause further escalation. KFOR is closely monitoring developments. We remain extremely vigilant and ready to intervene, if necessary, in line with our mandate based on the UNSCR 1244 of 1999,” the statement notes.

Hill: Lucky that barricades are being removed, we want political solution (Klan)

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, says on Thursday he is concerned and that they want a political way to calm everything down in Kosovo. “What we want to see is a political way to calm everything down, to return it to a normal situation. These are big challenges and meanwhile we have a crisis,” he said.

“The problem when you have a crisis is that it is more and more difficult. It could end up being very unexpected events and that’s usually bad for a crisis, so I’m very worried,” Hill said.

Regarding the removal of the barricades in the north of Kosovo, Hill said that he sees it as a positive signal and that the point has been reached where those who have placed them themselves are removing them.

He added that he understands the high degree of frustration in the Serbian community in Kosovo and that he thinks that all this with barricades is precisely the result of those frustrations.

“But we’re getting to the point where those who put them up now have to take them down. People need to be talked to and that’s what’s happening,” Hill said, adding that he always “felt that the most sustainable and best solution is for the barricades to be removed by the people who put them up.”

“And that’s what ended up happening. So I think in that regard we’re very fortunate that the barricades are being removed,” Hill said.

Rama on barricades: Nothing new, in the end everyone returned home (media)

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted to the removal of the barricades in the north of Mitrovica on Thursday. “Nothing new, the show lasted a little longer, the tension rose a little higher, the words were exchanged with a little more fire, the military maneuvers had a little more flair, but the end was the same and everyone went home, someone with his victory with him as always” – wrote Rama on Twitter.

“Ah yes, something unheard of happened! The new meaning of the barricade came out, which after 434 years entered the list of peaceful protest tools with the blessing of the EU and the USA! We hope for the understanding of our strategic allies to disagree on this point. Yes at all” – wrote Rama.

“The question remained the same as before these peaceful barricades of hostile declarations! And until the different answers start the same way from the past, the question will remain there even after the next show, when the barricades peacefully break the monotony of no solution” – he wrote on Twitter.

French Embassy comments on removal of barricades (Kallxo)

The French Embassy in Kosovo has welcomed the beginning of the removal of the barricades in Rudare. “We welcome the announcement of the rapid removal of obstacles in the north of Kosovo and the efforts of the European Union and the United States to achieve this result” – the announcement states. In the reaction of the Embassy, they call on the Serbian and Kosovar authorities to continue their constructive commitment to reduce tensions on the ground and to reach an agreement for the normalization of their relations within the dialogue facilitated by the European Union.

Haziri on removal of barricades: Decision was neither Kurti nor Vucic’s (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lutfi Haziri has said that the north of Kosovo is moving towards normal as a result of diplomacy and patience.

According to Haziri, the decision to go towards the normal state was neither in the hands of Kosovo’s prime minister Albin Kurti nor in the hands of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic.

“They caused the chaos of anger, but the partners of the people of Kosovo, with patience and diplomacy, started normalization until the next crisis they will produce again,” Haziri said.

Further, he added that barricades, as a means of pressure, are unacceptable and that dialogue is the tool that solves problems.

Fake News Spikes Amid High Tensions in the North (Prishtina Insight)

The tense situation in the north of Kosovo in recent days has prompted many media in Kosovo and in Serbia to spread fake, inaccurate and context-less reports.

Some relate to the issue of illegal car license plates in the north, or the burning of cars, the demand for the formation of an association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, official visits to the northern municipalities, the presence of police units and other developments.

BIRN Kosova, through its “Krypometer” platform, has identified some of the articles that have false or inaccurate content in their reporting.

In relation to the burning of a car with Serbian license plates in the north in November, a kosovo-online.com article said the arrested person was a former citizen of Kosovo.

In fact, the Kosovo Police announcement did not state that the arrested person was a former citizen of Kosovo.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Q0QBGY

Kosovo: Serbs agree to dismantle barricades after talks (BBC)

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo appear to have eased following a decision to remove barricades blocking the main border crossing.

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo began erecting the blocks on 10 December in protest at an ex-police officer’s arrest.

The decision to end the blockade was made after protesters held late night talks with Serbia’s president.

However, Aleksandar Vucic has warned that mistrust among Kosovo’s Serbian minority remains high.

He has said that dismantling all the barriers could take days.

However, Kosovo police said that Merdare, Kosovo’s primary border crossing with Serbia, had been reopened after roadblocks came down on the Serbian side.

Nato’s peacekeeping force in Kosovo has welcomed the removal of the barriers, while the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said “diplomacy prevailed in de-escalating tension”.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3I7txEL

Kosovo-Serbia tensions: Mood on the ground, possible scenarios (Al Jazeera)

Analysts say heightened friction in the Balkans may serve the Kremlin’s interests but cast doubt over a show of force by Moscow.

As 2022 winds down, the world is increasingly nervous about Kosovo and Serbia’s sabre-rattling further escalating as ethnic tensions in northern Kosovo continue to flare.

Serbia’s army put its troops on “highest level of combat readiness” six days after Prime Minister Ana Brnabic declared that tensions were “on the brink of armed conflict”.

On Thursday, there were some possible indicators of tensions cooling with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic saying that ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have begun to take down some barricades, but the situation remains a source of significant concern.

In recent months, Kosovo Serbs have set up roadblocks in northern Kosovo, a longtime hotbed for ethnic tensions.

These ethnic Serbs, who account for about six percent of Kosovo’s population, have been protesting what they see as discrimination against them by the Pristina government.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3G4rAGw

Kosovo Reopens Main Border Crossing With Serbia (VoA)

Kosovo has reopened the main border crossing with Serbia, as Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has announced dozens of other roadblocks in Northern Kosovo also would be removed.

Thursday, after days of the crossing between Kosovo and Serbia being blocked by barricades, trucks now can traverse it again. The removal of barricades blocking the main border crossing paves the way for easing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, in a volatile Balkan region.

The blocking in the Merdare border crossing came as a gesture of support for Serbs in Northern Kosovo who had erected barricades for almost three weeks, protesting the arrest by Kosovo authorities of a former Serb policeman.

Kosovo police said the road blocked inside of Serbia’s territory had been “cleared for traffic.” Other roadblocks, according to local media, also are being removed.

The end of the blockade was announced by the President Vucic following his meeting with Kosovo Serbs who erected the roadblocks 19 days ago, in protest over the arrest of a former police officer.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3jD5KlV

In northern Kosovo, conflict is avoided, for now (Emerging Europe)

Armed conflict between Kosovo and Serbia has been avoided. For now, that’s as much as anyone can hope for.

In the end, Prishtina offered the tiniest of olive branches, and Belgrade accepted.

Early on December 29, Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, said that Serbs living in northern Kosovo would end their blockade of roads into and out of the region.

Serbs, who make up the vast majority of northern Kosovo’s population, have been blocking roads for several weeks in protest at the arrest of a former policeman. The blockade has led to the most serious escalation of tensions between the two countries in years. On Tuesday, Serbia said that its army was at its “highest level of combat readiness”.

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

Hoax Bomb Threats Leave Balkan Region Frustrated, Unnerved (BIRN)

Security agencies face growing questions – but also criticism – over the wave of false bomb threats that’s been shaking the region since March

As she prepared her school classes for the winter holiday, Bojana Vujanovic, a teacher from an elementary school in Podgorica, Montenegro, said her pupils spent two stressful two weeks. Since December 12, her school has been evacuated twice after receiving emailed bomb threats.

“There was no panic in the school but we had to end classes, send pupils home and call their parents. The police found the bomb threats were false, but a week later we had to organize online classes because of new bomb threats to schools,” Vujanovic told BIRN.

“It’s not easy for teachers and pupils to focus on lectures when you are expecting a new evacuation at any time,” she added.

Montenegrin teachers and others in the region are frustrated by the fact that only a few investigations into the threats have been launched.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3VxRk3I

Serbia Investigates Kosovo Albanian for Alleged Arms Trafficking (BIRN)

Serbian prosecutors said they are investigating a Kosovo Albanian man for alleged arms possession and trafficking after the Security Intelligence Agency said he is suspected of involvement in terrorism.

The Serbian Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime said on Thursday that Arven Baleri, a Kosovo Albanian detained two days ago, is being investigated for the illegal production, possession, carrying and trafficking of weapons and explosive substances, as well as for associating with others for the purpose of committing criminal acts.

The Security Intelligence Agency, BIA, told media after the arrest of Baleri on Tuesday that he was held on suspicion of involvement in terrorism.

According to the prosecution, Baleri, previously named Rafet Hoxha, was born and has a residence in Podujevo, Kosovo, but is a Serbian citizen.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Iao3Jj