Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Association can be addressed within French-German plan (Klan)
• Chollet: Association guarantees voice of Kosovo Serbs is heard (Koha)
• Kurti: I wonder why the Ahtisaari agreement should not be enough (Klan)
• Rohde: I agree with Chollet on establishment of Association in accordance with Kosovo’s Constitution (media)
• Chancellor of Austria: Kosovo is determined to be part of the European family (Klan)
• The relevant EP committee votes in favour of visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Kallxo)
• “Drafting statute on Association according to court decision is necessary” (Telegrafi)
• Hovenier: Our partnership with Kosovo is strong (media)
• Vacancy to replace police that resigned in north; Govt: Don’t exclude anyone (Telegrafi)
• Customs Director: We believe there was increased smuggling during barricades (Kallxo)
• Krasniqi: HRW report proves in detail the government’s incompetence (media)
• LDK: A state hostile to journalists – the last thing Kosovo needs (media)
• Tahiri: Time has come for U.S. to lead the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Relations with US on rise, but we shall not change stances on Kosovo and sanctions on Russia (RTS, RTV)
• Chollet in Belgrade, Franco-German plan for Kosovo also on agenda (BETA, N1)
• SRSG Ziadeh met COM KFOR, discussed situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Gathering of support to Sladjan Trajkovic held in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Serbian policemen south of Ibar River to be deployed in northern municipalities (Radio kontakt plus)
• Kosovo government to finance US diplomat’s book (N1, BETA) 

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: Association can be addressed within French-German plan (Klan)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, during his official visit to Austria, said that the issue of the Association of Municipalities with a Serb Majority can be addressed in the French-German plan, but in the spirit of the constitution, which does not allow a mono-ethnic association.

Kurti said that the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, is insisting that the French-German plan be called an EU proposal, supported by Germany and France. “On September 9, we accepted this proposal and I believe that this proposal is a good basis to proceed with.”

“So, we are at a moment when we are talking about an agreement for the full normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and there the issue of association can be addressed, however, the Constitution of Kosovo, which has given many privileges to the Serb minority, in its spirit does not allow mono-ethnic association,” Kurti said.

Further, he said that in the first sentence of Ahtisaari’s Plan it is stated that Kosovo should be a multi-ethnic society. “So, the mono-ethnic association is not in the spirit of that plan or our constitution,” he said.

Chollet: Association guarantees voice of Kosovo Serbs is heard (Koha)

Counsellor to the U.S. State Department, Derek Chollet, said on Wednesday during his stay in Pristina, that the formation of the Association of Serb-majority would guarantee that the voice of the Kosovo Serbs is heard. During a meeting with media representatives, Chollet said that another “Republika Srpska” would not be allowed to be formed in Kosovo.

Chollet had discussions on Wednesday with representatives of the Serbian List and also with representatives of civil society. “We heard today that the Association is very important for the Serb community in Kosovo. It is a way to ensure that their voices are heard, and their rights are fully protected. The formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is something that we have advocated for in all levels of governments, we have discussed it with all stakeholders, and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Chollet said the time has come to close “the cycle of stagnation”. “It is time to deal with the work ahead and one of the messages we are conveying here and in Belgrade is that we want to expand our energy, the diplomatic energy of the U.S., toward a Euro-Atlantic future for Kosovo. We want to spend less of this energy in crisis management, or in moving from one crisis to another. For this reason, our message here and in Belgrade is that there should not be any provocative acts, we must aim for de-escalation, and we need to focus on the work ahead,” he said.

Kurti: I wonder why the Ahtisaari agreement should not be enough (Klan)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said again that the Constitution of Kosovo does not allow the formation of associations on an ethnic basis.

In an interview with the Austrian “Der Standard” published on Wednesday he also mentioned the Ahtisaari Plan when he was asked about the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority.

Kurti emphasised that: “the first paragraph of Ahtisaari’s plan says: Kosovo must be a multi-ethnic society.”

“So, unification can be requested along the Rugova mountains or the Sharri mountains, but it should not be based on national identity. I also wonder why the Ahtisaari agreement should not be enough – it contains many protections for the rights of Serb minorities.”

“When it comes to the Association of Serb Municipalities, I also want to refer to Bosnia-Herzegovina. On April 26, 1991, 14 Serb-majority municipalities there joined and founded an association; on January 9, 1992 they declared independence and on February 28, 1992 they approved the constitution, on February 14, 1992”.

Kurti has added that he has created the impression that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic does not want the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority.

“You cannot love the Association of Municipalities and say every week: I will not recognize the state of Kosovo. You can’t serve a macchiato without a cup of coffee. But minority rights are a very important part of the full normalisation of relations with Serbia. So when we get to that point, Serbia can make a proposal on how to solve it. In the same way, we will be able to make proposals on issues that we consider important for the minorities in Serbia,” Kurti said.

Rohde: I agree with Chollet on establishment of Association in accordance with Kosovo’s Constitution (media)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, has announced that he agrees with the Senior Advisor of the U.S. State Department, Derek Chollet, on the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo.

“Totally agree with the Senior Advisor of the US Department of State, Derek Chollet, that it is high time that all the Brussels agreements be implemented quickly, including the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo. A proposal from Kosovo is still not there,” Rohde tweeted. 

Further, Rohde says that the Serbs should return to the institutions of Kosovo since their withdrawal is not in accordance with the Brussels agreements.

“The withdrawal of the Serbs from the institutions is not in accordance with the Brussels agreements. Immediate return is necessary and should be facilitated by all. I want to underline that the EU and the US are fully aligned here!” Rohde wrote on Twitter.

Chancellor of Austria: Kosovo is determined to be part of the European family (Klan)

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a media conference after the meeting with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti that Kosovo is determined to be part of the European family. He emphasised that Kosovo has taken a long and difficult road to gain visa liberalisation.

“Kosovo has decided to be part of the European family. It has done a lot in the fight against crime and corruption. And it has been a difficult road. What makes me happy is that this journey will be rewarded. Together with Kosovo, we will experience the liberalisation of visas in 2024,” Nehammer said.

“Austria has the largest number of soldiers in KFOR. We have somewhere around 300 soldiers serving in Kosovo. We support the increase of KFOR’s presence in Kosovo and we are ready to send additional troops if officially requested by NATO”, he said.

“We are also ready to support both parties in the dialogue. I am confident that both parties are capable of de-escalating the situation”, emphasised Nehammer.

The relevant EP committee votes in favour of visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Kallxo)

Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs have voted in favour of visa liberalisation for Kosovo. The agreement reached in December between the Representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU was approved with 48 votes in favour, 7 against and 3 abstentions. 

“The tripartite agreement on the liberalisation of visas with Kosovo was approved by the MEPs with 48 in favour, 7 against and 3 abstentions. After that, the plenary session of the EP will vote on this issue” – it is stated in the Commission’s announcement on the official website on Twitter.

“Drafting statute on Association according to court decision is necessary” (Telegrafi)

Head of the Kosovo Assembly Committee for Foreign Affairs, Haki Abazi, said on Wednesday that it is necessary to start drafting a statute for the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo based on the decisions of the Constitutional Court. He argued that this would serve to remove what he called Serbia’s destabilising tendencies. “Starting the drafting of a statute of an Association based on the decision of the Constitutional Court is needed to remove the whole idea that Serbia, by referring to the agreement that was signed then, is erecting barricades, and creating tensions whenever it wants to sabotage the process … I think that here is the rationality within which is also the U.S. request, but also the request from several European countries, including France and Germany, that now is the time to start drafting this statute based on the laws and decisions of the Constitutional Court,” Abazi said during a debate in TV Dukagjini.

Hovenier: Our partnership with Kosovo is strong (media)

United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, said on Wednesday that the partnership between the U.S. and Kosovo is strong. “Pleased to welcome @CounselorDOS to Kosovo yesterday. Our partnership with Kosovo is strong. While here, Counselor Chollet engaged with a wide variety of leaders, government and civil society representatives, and journalists,” Hovenier tweeted.

Vacancy to replace police that resigned in north; Govt: Don’t exclude anyone (Telegrafi)

The Kosovo government said today that it does not aim to exclude any Serb from applying in the vacancy announcement for police officers at the Regional Directorate of Police in Mitrovica North. On January 4, Kosovo Police announced the vacancy for new officers from non-majority communities to fill the vacant posts in the regional directorate. The main requirement is for the applicant to be a national of the Republic of Kosovo and from 18 to 30 years old, the news website notes.

The Kosovo government said in a written response to the news website that the announcement is open for all those that meet the requirements. A government spokesman, Perparim Kryeziu, said there is no attempt to replace Serbs with Albanians. “We don’t want to exclude anyone in principle, and we don’t intend to replace Serbs with Albanians because we want Serbs to be represented in our multiethnic institutions,” he said.

Kryeziu also said that the vacancy announcement is a good opportunity for all those that in the past did not work in Kosovo’s public institutions. He however did not say if the police officers that resigned have the right to apply.

Customs Director: We believe there was increased smuggling during barricades (Kallxo)

Kosovo Customs Director, Agron Llugaliu, said in an interview with Kallxo on Wednesday that it is believed that during the time of the barricades in the north of Kosovo there was an increase in smuggling activities. He said that the terrain in the north is hard to control. “We believe there was an increase in smuggling activities during the time that the roads were blocked. The north has a terrain that is difficult to control and there are many roads, and Serbia has even invested in the infrastructure,” he said.

“There has been smuggling all the time. Along the border zone, the residents themselves are involved in smuggling, this is low-rate smuggling. According to our information, after law has been enforced and the barricades were removed, the smuggling has been largely stopped,” Llugaliu said.

Krasniqi: HRW report proves in detail the government’s incompetence (media)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, commented today on the findings on Kosovo in latest report by the Human Rights Watch, saying that “chaos, lack of competency, bad governance and social and political uncertainty created in 2022 in our country has been evidenced in the latest report on Kosovo by the Human Rights Watch”.

“Violence and the killing of women, threats against reports by institutional officials, and the discrimination of all marginalised communities, prove in detail the incompetence of this government”.

“The lack of basic institutional responsibility last year is a clear indicator what awaits the people of Kosovo this year with this government: Abuse of their basic rights!”

LDK: A state hostile to journalists – the last thing Kosovo needs (media)

Sibel Halimi, spokesperson of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said that the Human Rights Watch report on Kosovo for 2022 is disturbing.

“The ‘Human Rights Watch’ report for Kosovo for 2022 is disturbing. In just seven months, 22 cases of attacks, threats and intimidation against journalists have been registered. There have been threats recently in the north of the country. But unfortunately, such have also come from high government officials, with an unacceptable language of hatred; and which violates public trust in the media.”

“While there has been a weak reaction of the competent bodies to this language. State institutions hostile to journalists are the last thing our country needs,” Halimi said.

Tahiri: Time has come for U.S. to lead the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)

Kosovo’s former chief negotiator in talks with Serbia in Brussels, Edita Tahiri, argues in a Facebook post today that the time has come for the United States of America to lead the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “We cannot expect sustainable peace or a final agreement, as long as Serbia remains pro-Russian. It is time for the U.S. to take a leading role in mediating the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, with the support of European partners,” Tahiri writes.

Serbian Language Media 

Dacic: Relations with US on rise, but we shall not change stances on Kosovo and sanctions on Russia (RTS, RTV)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic told Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) that Serbia-US relations are on rise, however, there will be no changes in Serbian crucial stances related to recognition of Kosovo and imposing sanctions on Russian Federation.

Speaking of Pristina membership bid to join international organisations, Dacic said Pristina in essence does not meet criteria to join the Council of Europe, but has a majority for it, therefore Serbia does not have the possibility to prevent it, if someone thinks it was necessary. He said in this case the overvoting would take place for the first time at this organisation.

Commenting on upcoming meetings the US State Department officials Derek Chollet and Gabriel Escobar will have with top Serbian officials in Belgrade today, Dacic said he will also meet them, adding that relations between the two states are on rise. He explained this relates to the fields undisputable for the both countries, including economy, culture, scientific cooperation, energy.

Asked to comment on earlier Escobar’s statement that “Serbia will wake up one morning and realise that Kosovo is independent”, Dacic responded that “he would not talk much about who will get more surprised after waking up one morning”.

“They will realise that Kosovo is not really that independent”, he said, noting that Belgrade will hardly change its stance.  

“We are ready for compromise, and for plans”, however, there are red lines for Serbia when it comes to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, he said.

Underlining that Serbia will not impose sanctions on Russia, Dacic said the issue of Kosovo and Metohija on one side, and sanctions on Russia on the other were interlinked, and asked “if those requesting Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia will change their stances on territorial integrity of Serbia”?

He also said the stance of Serbia when it comes to territorial integrity was always the same, while in the West and the East it changes in accordance to the needs.

Chollet in Belgrade, Franco-German plan for Kosovo also on agenda (BETA, N1)

US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet is visiting Belgrade today for talks with the highest Serbian officials.

Chollet will first have a working lunch with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic following which he is to have separate meetings with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic.

One of the topics on the agenda will be the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, including the Franco-German plan for Kosovo.

It has been announced that Chollet will also discuss with the officials in Belgrade energy security, regional economic integration, Serbia’s progress on the European path and its role in strengthening regional peace and security.

Chollet’s visit was announced last week by Vucic, who described him as “an extremely important man” for Serbia.

“Chollet is a serious, dedicated, young, smart man. I believe in creating better relations with the USA, we will see how it goes. It won’t be an easy conversation, but I believe we can talk”, Vucic said on January 4.

Chollet is coming to Belgrade during his Western Balkans tour that began with a visit to Skopje, followed by a visit in Pristina.

The US Department of State earlier announced that Chollet will visit Skopje, Pristina and Belgrade to underscore the enduring US commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Western Balkans.

SRSG Ziadeh met COM KFOR, discussed situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh met yesterday KFOR Commander, Italian Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“Head of @UNMIKosovo, SRSG Ziadeh, paid a visit to #KFOR Commander, MG Ristuccia, at Camp Film City in Pristina. They discussed the general situation in the area & KFOR’s continued efforts to ensure a safe & secure environment & freedom of movement for all the people in #Kosovo”, KFOR said in a post on Twitter.

Gathering of support to Sladjan Trajkovic held in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)

In anticipation of a court decision on detention measure for Sladjan Trajkovic, former Kosovo police officer, arrested mid-December and charged by Kosovo prosecution for allegedly committing war crimes in 1999 in Vucitrn, his family, neighbours and friends gathered today at the main square in Mitrovica North, KoSSev portal reports.

Trajkovic resigned from Kosovo police along with his colleagues in November last year, following the decision of the local Serbs to leave all Pristina institutions in the north.

Gathered people carried slogans “Arrest me, I am Sladjan too”, in Serbian and Albanian languages, “Justice for Sladjan”, “My father is not guilty”, “Am I not entitled to medical care just because I am Serb”, and others.

Among the 30 present people was Dejan Vasic, defence attorney of Sladjan Trajkovic. Vasic said the intention of today’s peaceful gathering was to demonstrate to the world that Sladjan Trajkovic is a decent man, a good host, a man who took care of equality and lived in peace with his neighbours, both Serbs and Albanians.

“They are all together today and came to extend support to him (…)”, Vasic said.

Vasic added that the health condition of his client significantly deteriorated. “Due to inadequate conditions for his treatment while in detention, the space and inadequate medical personnel, his condition drastically deteriorated. I think he should be urgently transferred to the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica, foremost because of doctors who treated him thus far and are familiar with his condition. This way, I could freely say, his life would be saved”, Vasic said.

Suzana Trajkovic, wife of arrested Sladjan, appealed to KFOR and EULEX to help in her husband’s case. She said the charges are unfounded, and that a background check of her husband was done prior to his admission to Kosovo police in 2013 and found nothing.

One of his Albanian friends and neighbours said he has known Sladjan for 23 years and thinks he is innocent. He said many people both among the Serbs and Albanians share that opinion but do not have courage to say it in public. 

The gathering ended peacefully. 

Serbian policemen south of Ibar River to be deployed in northern municipalities (Radio kontakt plus)

Kosovo police deputy director Dejan Jankovic told KIM Radio that police officers from the Serbian community working south of the Ibar River will be deployed in four northern Serbian municipalities, Radio kontakt plus reports.

Janković did not give more details about this deployment, adding “it is not spectacular news” and that in addition to Serbs, police officers from Bosniak, Albanian and other communities will also be deployed in the four municipalities with Serbian majority in northern Kosovo.

Previously, the president of the Serbian National Movement, Branimir Stojanovic, announced on Facebook that members of the Kosovo police from the Serbian community in the south will work in the north of Kosovo, saying representatives of the Serbian List were also aware of this and asked why no one from this party reacted to it.

He stressed this must stop for several reasons including, as he said, that none of these people want to go to work in the north because they do not want to obstruct the protest expressed by the Serbian policemen there. He further noted that these people are put in a situation where they enter conflict with their compatriots, and this puts additional pressure on them to leave the Kosovo police. And thirdly, he argued, their relocation directly threatens the safety of the Serbian population south of the Ibar, because the number of members of the Kosovo police of Serbian ethnicity is below the law guaranteed minimum. “And insecurity is especially felt after the attempted murder of Serbian boys in Strpce and other attacks and incidents on Christmas”, Stojanovic wrote.

Stojanovic added Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti wants to further increase the sense of insecurity among the Serbian population with this action.

Kosovo government to finance US diplomat’s book (N1, BETA)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Wednesday that his government decided to finance former OSCE mission chief William Walker’s book about an event which is believed to have triggered the 1999 NATO intervention against Serbia, N1 reports.

Walker, a former US diplomat, headed an OSCE verification mission in Kosovo before the conflict broke out. He was the first head of an international organisation to report the killing by Serbian forces of 45 Kosovo Albanians in the village of Racak early in 1999. Walker claimed that the Albanians were unarmed when they were killed, a claim rejected by the Serbian authorities who said that Racak was the site of a battle between the police and armed rebels. Walker was also accused of being a CIA operative sent to Kosovo to supply an excuse for the NATO air campaign. Finnish pathologist Helen Ranta who examined the bodies from Racak accused Walker of pressuring her to blame the Serbian security forces. Walker was decorated by the Kosovo government in 2009 and a statue of him was erected in Racak in 2017.

Kurti told a cabinet meeting that 70,000 Euro have been earmarked to publish Walker’s book which he termed as historically significant.