• Borrell briefs EU foreign ministers on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)
• Escobar: Kosovo has full U.S. support; we will reach our objective (media)
• Lajcak meets foreign ministers of Spain and Slovakia (media)
• U.S. Embassy to organise discussion on Association of Serb municipalities (KTV)
• One injured after Kosovo police open fire in hit-and-run incident (Reuters)
• Kosovo Police gives details about incident in Leposavic (media)
• Svecla reacts after incident in north on Monday (media)
• Osmani hosted by Italian President Mattarella (media)
• Hundreds homeless in wake of Kosovo floods (RFE)
• UN willing to help families and people affected by floods (media)
• Police arrest one person suspected of attacking a juvenile in Suhodoll (Kallxo)
• Vucic: EU will halt talks if we refuse to normalise ties with Kosovo (RFE)
• Kosovo Serbs angered with Vucic, call protest on Wednesday (Gazeta Express)

Borrell briefs EU foreign ministers on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)

EU High Representative Josep Borrell briefed EU foreign ministers on Monday about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the discussions that EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak had in Pristina and Belgrade in the last few days.

Borrell said after the meeting: “I briefed the ministers on the mission of the special envoy Miroslav Lajcak, who was there on my behalf, along with the US envoy, [Gabriel] Escobar, and the foreign policy advisers to the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy … They went together to continue discussions on the proposal for the normalisation of relations. Moving forward on this proposal will bring significant benefits for both sides. This is the only way to break the vicious cycle of crises on the ground and reduce the risk to further escalation. We expect serious commitment and willingness for constructive engagement to ensure progress on this proposal.”

Escobar: Kosovo has full U.S. support; we will reach our objective (media)

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on Monday he believes that the objective in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia can be achieved. In an interview for a Croatian newspaper, he said that he saw positive reactions to the proposal for the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

“We are still at the start. I see some positive reactions from both capitals. The reality is that in the current crisis it is not a good idea for Europe to have a frozen conflict within its borders. We are using this proposal as a platform to find a solution that would function for both countries. And these are solutions that open the Euro-Atlantic path, protect the minority communities, and really create opportunities for economic ties. And this is why I think there is room for optimism,” he said.

Asked to comment on reactions in Pristina to the proposal for an agreement, Escobar said: “they have their concerns. I think there is more work to be done, but I believe we will reach our objective. Kosovo has the full support of the United States; they are a good partner and I see no doubt. I believe we will achieve what we want”.

Lajcak meets foreign ministers of Spain and Slovakia (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, met on Monday with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. “Updated him on the state of play in the Dialogue. We need quick progress towards normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia at this critical juncture. Grateful for Spain’s strong support to the EU-facilitated efforts. Gracias,” Lajcak tweeted after the meeting.

Lajcak also met with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Rastislav Kacer. “I briefed him on my recent visit and our efforts on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. I appreciate Slovakia’s strong support to the region’s EU future,” Lajcak tweeted.

In their coverage of the meetings, several news websites in Kosovo note that Lajcak is on a new “mission” and meeting EU member states that don’t recognise Kosovo.

U.S. Embassy to organise discussion on Association of Serb municipalities (KTV)

The United States Embassy in Pristina will organise a discussion on January 31 on the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, bringing together leaders of civil society, government officials, political leaders, and diplomats, the TV station reported on Monday. It also claimed to have secured a copy of the invitation from U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier, which notes: “on 31 January, the US Embassy will organise a discussion on the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. You are cordially invited or a representative that you assign to join the discussion, which I will host … Our objective is to hear directly from various stakeholders about the commitment towards the Association, in support of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. We are organising this discussion in line with our long-term goals to advance integration of Kosovo into the Euro-Atlantic structures and as a reflection of our old friendship and support for the citizens of Kosovo. Discussions take place according to the Chatham House Rule”.

One injured after Kosovo police open fire in hit-and-run incident (Reuters)

Kosovo police said one person was wounded when it opened fire on Monday at a car that failed to stop at a checkpoint and struck a police vehicle, in what marked another violent incident in the country’s ethnically divided and volatile north.

It took place in the town of Leposavic near the border with Serbia at one of the checkpoints set up following a flare-up in tensions late last month. Serbian authorities said both the driver and the injured passenger were Serbs.

“The police unit, which was at the checkpoint, while performing its police duties was trying to stop a car, which … hit the Kosovo police vehicle, endangering the lives of the officers,” Kosovo police said in a statement.

It said the car left the scene and an investigation into the incident was under way.

Head of the Serbian government office for Kosovo Petar Petkovic said that the incident occurred around 11.30 a.m., identifying the injured man as Miljan D. and the driver as Dusan S.

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3wlRFfP

Kosovo Police gives details about incident in Leposavic (media)

Kosovo Police issued a statement on Monday regarding the incident in Bistrica, the municipality of Leposavic, when a car that police were trying to stop for control, hit a police vehicle threatening the lives of police officers and then the latter fired shots at the car which fled the scene. Police said that after investigations, it found out that the two suspects were involved in different criminal activities. “Kosovo Police remains committed to implementing its legal duties and authorisations in the interest of maintaining public order and safety, providing security for all citizens without any difference, as well as preventing different criminal activities,” the statement notes.

Svecla reacts after incident in north on Monday (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said on Monday that he was “deeply concerned about the incident in Leposavic. Two persons with a vehicle, attempt to evade a police checkpoint. They hit the Kosovo Police car intentionally and put the lives of police officers in danger. KP officers were forced to fire at vehicle’s direction to neutralize situation. An investigation is underway & the Kosovo Police Inspectorate is actively involved. I want to be clear: any form of violence against our police will not be tolerated. Protecting citizens and law enforcement is our top priority.”

Osmani hosted by Italian President Mattarella (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Monday with Italian President Sergio Mattarela. Osmani said in a Facebook post that the meeting “confirmed the friendly relations between the two countries and we discussed many opportunities for furthering bilateral cooperation”.

“Above all, we are united by our shared orientation, peace, democracy, and the rule of law. Therefore, we discussed opening new chapters of cooperation and also our shared contribution to peace and stability in the region,” Osmani wrote.

Hundreds homeless in wake of Kosovo floods (RFE)

Heavy rains caused rivers in Kosovo to breach their banks recently, filling streets and homes with water in several towns. The floodwaters have now receded, but hundreds of residents remain homeless with recovery efforts in the South Mitrovica area focused on restoring power and finding those who went missing.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3wqDxlf

UN willing to help families and people affected by floods (media)

United Nations Development Coordinator in Kosovo, Arnhild Spence, met today with Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, and discussed the recent floods. Svecla briefed Spence about the general situation in the municipalities mostly affected by the floods and the actions taken by Kosovo’s central and local institutions. He said that fortunately there have been no victims but that there are major damages. Spence expressed the readiness of the United Nations to come to the aid of families and people affected by the floods.

Police arrest one person suspected of attacking a juvenile in Suhodoll (Kallxo)

Kosovo Police arrested a person on Monday who is suspected of physically attacking a Serb youth in Suhodoll on Sunday. Police investigators from the Mitrovica South station arrested the 22-year-old, suspected of the criminal offence – causing minor injury. The suspect was placed under 48 hours detention.

Vucic: EU will halt accession talks if we refuse to normalise ties with Kosovo (RFE)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on January 23 that European and U.S. diplomats had warned him that if he does not accept a French-German proposal to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo, EU accession negotiations with his country as well as Western investments will be halted. Vucic made the comments after meeting with a group of U.S. and European envoys in Belgrade on January 20. The EU proposal was presented to Serbia and Kosovo in December. Earlier this month, U.S. State Department counselor Derek Chollet said that the EU proposal was a good basis for conversation between Belgrade and Pristina

Kosovo Serbs angered with Vucic, call protest on Wednesday (Gazeta Express)

The news website reports that a Serb civic initiative has called all Serbs in Kosovo to join a protest on Wednesday in Mitrovica North, against what it called the weak political negotiations of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the unconditional acceptance of a new agreement with Kosovo. The organisers said they will also protest against “frequent ethnically-motivated attacks against Serbs, the usurpation of private property by the government through irregular expropriation and the presence of Kosovo Police special units”.