• Kurti invites his cabinet to fulfill commitments of government program (RTK)
• Vjosa Osmani to visit the Vatican in a reception by Pope Francis (media)
• Western envoys visit Pristina, Belgrade, part of reconciliation effort (RFE)
• Kosovo-Serbia talks may advance ‘in weeks’, US diplomat says (BIRN)
• Western envoys visit Kosovo, Serbia to defuse tensions (AP)
• West expects more understanding of EU proposal for Serbia, Kosovo (AA)
• EU dialogue envoy makes visit to Serbia and Kosovo amid tensions (TVP World)
• PACE may discuss recent tensions between Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Walker: Serbia invested heavily in propaganda against Recak massacre (media)
• Analyst warns: With or without Association, north is in danger (euronews.al)
• Protest in Pristina today against Kurti’s statement about Ivanovic (EO)
• “Wagner” inscription seen at school and Health Center in Mitrovica (Koha)
• Kosovo’s green transition remains main goal of EU in 2023 (Europe House)
• Serbian president hints that agreement with Kosovo is possible (newsbase)

Kurti invites his cabinet to fulfill commitments of government program (RTK)

The Prime Minister’s Office and the political cabinets of the ministries held workshops, on the achievements so far and the plans for this year were presented. During the two days of this weekend, the Office of the Prime Minister together with the political cabinets of the ministries have held joint workshops.

In these meetings, divided according to the basic pillars of the National Development Plan, the ministries presented their results, achievements and challenges during the past year, as well as plans and goals for 2023.

Prime Minister Kurti thanked the members of the government cabinet and their staff for their work throughout 2022. He invited them for more commitment in 2023 in the realization of the work started and the commitments of the government program for good governance, security and governance law, equal development, and a strong and stable economy.

Vjosa Osmani to visit the Vatican in a reception by Pope Francis (media)

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, traveled on Sunday to visit the Vatican State and Italy. Osmani, together with her husband, Prindon Sadriu and Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gervalla, will be received in the audience by Pope Francis.

“President Vjosa Osmani today traveled to visit the Vatican State and Italy. President Osmani, together with the First Gentleman, Mr. Prindon Sadriu and Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gervalla will be received in the audience by Pope Francis. The President will also have a meeting with the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as well as a series of other meetings and activities. During her stay in Rome, President Osmani will also be met by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, with whom she will discuss the advancement of bilateral cooperation as well as the increase of coordination to overcome the current security challenges in the region and beyond”, it is stated in the notice.

Western envoys visit Pristina, Belgrade, part of reconciliation effort (RFE)

The European Union’s special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue led a delegation of Western envoys to Pristina and Belgrade on January 20 as part of a push by the EU and the United States to spur the process of normalization between them.

Miroslav Lajcak said he was encouraged by what he heard, but it was too early to draw any conclusions from the talks that he and the four other envoys held on an EU proposal submitted at the end of the summer.

The 10-point proposal, which RFE/RL has seen, does not envision mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia but lays out the commitment of each party not to hinder the other in the normalization process.

“It is too early to make dramatic statements because, as you know, we are in the middle of our mission,” Lajcak said in Pristina before departing for Belgrade.

Lajcak and envoys from the United States, France, Germany, and Italy traveled to Pristina for talks with Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Kosovo. They later met in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss possible next steps toward normalizing relations.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/3D8qTv3

Kosovo-Serbia talks may advance ‘in weeks’, US diplomat says (BIRN)

‘Everybody needs to step up and create stability, not just in Europe but in the region,’ Gabriel Escobar, US envoy on Western Balkans, said, urging a quick solution to long-lasting tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.

A United States diplomat said on Wednesday that Kosovo and Serbia have to reach an agreement which will see the two foes finding a way forward in their mediated dialogue, which is designed to normalize their tense relations.

Gabriel Escobar, US Deputy Assistant Secretary and US envoy for the Balkans, told Pristina-based Kanal10 TV on Wednesday that the long-lasting EU-facilitated dialogue needs to come to a conclusion.

“I have heard European colleagues characterizing it as a matter of weeks and not years… for an agreement for the way forward. Beyond that, it is up to two parties and the facilitators to determine a timeline but it should be quick,” Escobar said, asked about the timeframe of a final agreement.

“Realistically, in the context of what is going on, everybody needs to step up and create stability not just in Europe but in the region as well. We would like to see Kosovo more aligned on the questions of regional stability and this is the way they can do it,” he added.

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

Western envoys visit Kosovo, Serbia to defuse tensions (AP)

Western envoys on Friday visited Kosovo and Serbia as part of their ongoing efforts to defuse tensions and help secure a reconciliation agreement between the two former war foes.

Envoys from the United States, the European Union, France, Germany and Italy first met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Kosovo. They later met in Belgrade with President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss possible next steps toward normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia, with support from allies Russia and China, has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood, which is accepted by the U.S. and much of the West. The dispute remains a source of instability in the Balkans amid Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

After more than two hours of “long, … not easy, but … very honest, very open” talks with Kurti, EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak said it was too soon to announce any dramatic developments on a proposal presented to Pristina and Belgrade last year.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/3iUpwJD

West expects more understanding of EU proposal for Serbia, Kosovo (AA)

Western countries expect more understanding of the European Union’s proposal for normalizing ties between Serbia and Kosovo, the EU Special Representative for the region said Friday.

Miroslav Lajcak’s remarks came after meeting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the Kosovan capital of Pristina along with a delegation of representatives from the EU, US, Germany, France and Italy.

”It is too early to make dramatic statements because, as you know, we are in the middle of our mission and will go to Belgrade. So, there isn’t much I can say. I think we expected a great understanding of the possibilities that this proposal offers. I hope that we will reach the goal and we will continue to engage in that direction,” he said.

Lajcak said the meeting with Kurti was not easy but honest and open.

“We spent more than two hours with the prime minister, which tells you that the meeting was long but not easy and very honest and open,” Lajcak told reporters.

The delegation included German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Foreign Policy and Security Advisor Jens Plotner, French President Emmanuel Macron’s Diplomatic Advisor Emmanuel Bonne, Italian Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Advisor Francesco Maria Talo and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar.

The delegation also met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/3QZFMpp

EU dialogue envoy makes visit to Serbia and Kosovo amid tensions (TVP World))

EU envoy for dialogue in Serbia and Kosovo, Miroslav Lajčák, visited Pristina and Belgrade. The aim of the visit is to ease tensions between the uneasy Balkan neighbours.

Lajčák met with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic with hopes to strengthen efforts in attaining understanding between the Balkan countries.

Recently tensions arose in the north of Kosovo between the government and the local ethnic Serb community leading to the erection of roadblocks and discharging of some ethnic Serbs from their jobs in the country’s administration, services and judiciary.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/3Hp3cRI

PACE may discuss recent tensions between Pristina and Belgrade (media)

Several news websites report that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe may discuss today, among other topics, on recent tensions between Pristina and Belgrade.

Walker: Serbia invested heavily in propaganda against Recak massacre (media)

Former Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Verification Mission Ambassador William Walker says Serbia has invested heavily in propaganda to deny the Recak massacre, which was carried out by Serbian police and military forces.

“Since the beginning, Serbia has said that this event is not true. They had many justifications, that I am a CIA agent with international cover from the OSCE, that I was sent here by the CIA or by the State Department or by the White House to somehow destroy Serbia and that I was willing to say every lie to destroy it”, emphasizes the former OSCE ambassador.

“When I know that the Minister of Propaganda at the time of Milosevic was a gentleman named Aleksandar Vucic and that he was spreading all these ridiculous things about me and what I came to Kosovo for, I understand why he still uses the topic of the massacre of Recak and what was the Serbian version of what happened,” adds Walker.

Analyst warns: With or without Association, north is in danger (euronews.al)

Analyst Visar Xhani warns that the north of Kosovo is at risk, regardless of whether or not the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority is formed.

In an interview for Euronews Albania, Xhani said that Serbia is not interested in the Association, but wants tensions in the north.

“The whole problem is that Serbia, of its own volition, has removed the establishment of the Association from the table. The association, according to the agreement reached in Brussels, does not enjoy executive rights and they are not expected. They are trying to raise tension and make rhetoric. It should not be seen too much in the sense that, if the Association is created, it will be dangerous. We must understand that the process in the North of Kosovo is dangerous, both with the Association and without the Association”, he stressed.

Protest in Pristina today against Kurti’s statement about Ivanovic (EO)

The news website reports that a protest will be held in downtown Pristina today against Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s statement about the late Kosovo Serb political representative Oliver Ivanovic. The protest was called by a group on Facebook, saying they are the children of martyrs of the former Kosovo Liberation Army. The group said they were outraged by Kurti’s actions which according to them “are efforts to pardon a war criminal”.

“Wagner” inscription seen at school and Health Center in Mitrovica (Koha)

The inscription “Wagner” is written on the walls of the “Aziz Sylejmani” school and on the walls of Health House in “Kodra e Minatoreve” in Mitrovica.

The Director of the School, Flamur Gacaferi, told the news website on Sunday night that the inscription was noticed at noon by the technical worker, while he notified the Directorate of Education in Mitrovica.

“Yes, around 14:00 hours the technical worker sent me a picture of this inscription. I found out that this ‘Wagner’ was a Russian military group. I have informed the Directorate of Education in Mitrovica about other procedures,” Gacaferi said. He added that the inscription will be removed during Monday.

Koha has asked the Kosovo Police about the case, but until the moment of reporting, it has not received an answer.

Kosovo’s green transition remains main goal of EU in 2023 (Europe House)

Kosovo’s air pollution continues to remain a major concern for the country, not only for the environment but for the health and the general well-being of the citizens. To decrease further the country’s dependency on coal and greenhouse emissions, the European Union and Europe House Kosovo will continue to support the country’s green transition, as foreseen by the EU’s Green Agenda.

The end of 2021 marked the launch of the biomass heating plant in the city of Gjakova/Djakovica.

Biomass heating plant in Gjakova/Djakovica

The modern plant built by the EU became the first heating plant with biomass in the region and is successfully producing heating from clean energy sources, lowering pollution by 90%.

This is only one of the success stories in Kosovo’s journey towards clean and sustainable energy supported by the EU. By the end of 2022, the European Union in Kosovo, together with KfW and EBRD announced the “Solar for Kosovo – District Heating District” project, making Kosovo the first country in the region to use solar energy to generate heating.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3J8yw8O

Serbian president hints that agreement with Kosovo is possible (newsbase)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hinted on January 21 that an agreement on the normalization of Belgrade’s strained relations with Kosovo is possible, but he admitted to reservations on “one important issue”.

Giving the statement after meeting representatives of the EU, US, France, Germany and Italy the day before in Belgrade, Vucic did not elaborate, but he has repeatedly said in the past that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo as long as he serves as a president and will not accept it joining the UN or the EU.

Vucic said on Instagram that the talks with international representatives focused on the French-German proposal for a solution to the long-standing conflict, were very difficult, but that he did his best to protect Serbian interests.

“We are ready to accept the concept and to work on the implementation of the proposed agreement, with the fact that I made one thing very clear and expressed concerns and reservations on one important issue, but I cannot talk about it, because the proposal is not public,” Vucic said.

Vucic pointed out that everyone at the meeting agreed that a frozen conflict is not a solution.

“When you have a frozen conflict, it is only a matter of time when someone will unfreeze it and when irresponsible individuals will trigger a collapse of the peace and stability of the entire Western Balkans,” said Vucic.

“Yesterday (January 20) was one of the most difficult days for our country and I have never hidden from people in Serbia when such things happen. We will have many hardships and problems that we will face in the future, that’s why we need unity,” Vucic said in an address to the people via Instagram.

In the meantime, the government called a special session on Kosovo for January 23, which Vucic will attend.

At the beginning of Friday’s meeting, Vucic posted a joint photo on Instagram with the EU’s special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, the US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, the foreign policy advisers of the French president and the German chancellor, Emmanuel Bonne and Jens Plotner, as well as diplomatic adviser to the Italian prime minister, Francesco Talo.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Wt1ZNp