Albanian Language Media:

• Biden invites Osmani to second Summit for Democracy (media)
• Kurti: Normalisation of relations with Serbia, with mutual recognition as a central part (Koha)
• Kurti thanks the United Nations agencies for their cooperation (RTK)
• Gjoshi: Article 7 of the agreement, dangerous for Kosovo (Nacionale)
• Entry into force of ETIAS postponed, liberalisation of visas no later than January 1, 2024 (media)
• SPO publishes names of victims that allegedly disappeared or were killed (Koha)
• KLA War Veterans: Another scandal and humiliation (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to RTS: We can discuss everything, except the recognition and membership of Kosovo in the UN (KiM radio, N1)
• Tadic: This is not agreement offering compromise, but exclusively in Pristina’s favour (Danas)
• Vucic speaks with von der Leyen: Serbia for compromise solution with clearly stated limitations (Kosovo Online)
• The verdict against Todosijevic confirmed in Pristina; It’s contrary to Brussel agreement, says Petkovic  (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Defence lawyer of Todosijevic says he learnt about verdict from media (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List extends support to Vucic (Kosovo Online)
• Party of Kosovo Serbs calls for resistance against Vucic (Radio KIM)
• Jaksic, Stojanovic on latest meeting in Brussels, fears of Serbs in Kosovo (N1) 
• Vucic, Aliyev speak about Brussels dialogue (Tanjug) 

Opinion:

• Marc Weller: The Brussels Agreement on the Path to Recognition (Koha)

Albanian Language Media  

Biden invites Osmani to second Summit for Democracy (media)

Several news websites report that U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani to the second Summit for Democracy. Parts of Biden’s letter note:

“On behalf of the Summit’s co-hosts, I would like to invite you to attend the virtual Leaders’ plenary session on March 29, 2023, to have a candid conversation about democracy’s power and potential around the world. Additionally, on March 30, 2023, your government is invited to participate in a minister-level, regional gathering to discuss how the public and private sectors can work together to advance our shared democratic values and vision for the world.”

“Most importantly we look forward to working with you and the people of Kosovo to continue building on the progress we made during the first Summit for Democracy in December 2021. Together we can continue to uphold human dignity, unleash human potential, and deliver peace and prosperity for all our people. Because, as democracies, if we work together, nothing is beyond our reach.”

Kurti: Normalisation of relations with Serbia, with mutual recognition as a central part (Koha)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has said that the normalisation of relations with Serbia can only be done through mutual recognition.

“Kosovo is a normal democratic country, but we must admit that our relations with Serbia are not normal. So, relations between our two countries should be normalised. Normalisation can only be done with mutual recognition as a central part. It was said by President Biden, by Secretary Blinken, by Chancellor Scholz. We are trying hard to achieve this normalisation,” Kurti said at the Economic Forum in Skopje.

He added that both Kosovo and Serbia accepted the text of the EU Plan for the normalisation of relations on Monday in Brussels.

Kurti spoke about the importance of North Macedonia for Kosovo and also the next meeting he is expected to have with the president of Serbia, Alekandar Vucic in North Macedonia.

“Let’s not forget that on June 9, 1999, the capitulation of Milosevic’s Yugoslavia and the entry of NATO forces were signed in Kumanovo. I think that these symbolic elements of North Macedonia were important for the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, to invite us to Macedonia for the next high-level meeting”, said Kurti.

Kurti also spoke about the three agreements signed within the Berlin Process last year. Free movement with identity cards between the six countries of the Western Balkans, recognition of diplomas and professional qualification, were the agreements reached.

“Kosovo is the first country in the Western Balkans that in the Assembly ratified the agreements from the Berlin Process. I would appeal to all the leaders of the region to ratify the agreements as soon as possible and start implementing them, as they are beneficial to all citizens,” Kurti said.

Kurti said that today he also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic. He says they discussed regional cooperation.

Meanwhile, he said that they are making plans with North Macedonia to make common border points in Han te Elezit/Bllace and in Gllobocice/Jazhince. He also said that they are planning to build an infrastructure to connect Prizren with Tetova, mentioning the construction of a tunnel.

“We are ready to share the necessary means for these big projects. We have also agreed with Prime Minister Kovacevcki to have a Business Forum between Kosovo and North Macedonia, as there is an extraordinary exchange of goods and investments between the two countries,” Kurti said.

Kurti thanks the United Nations agencies for their cooperation (RTK)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti was part of the workshop of the leaders of the United Nations agencies in Kosovo.

He expressed his gratitude for the continuous support over the years to Kosovo and for the cooperation so far and expressed his readiness for this relation to continue even further.

Prime Minister Kurti singled out the cooperation and coordination between the government and United Nations agencies in several key areas of common interest, such as the implementation of the National Development Plan, the response to floods and the implementation of the population census project.

Gjoshi: Article 7 of the agreement, dangerous for Kosovo (Nacionale)

Secretary of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Betim Gjoshi, argued in a Facebook post that Article 7 of the EU agreement accepted by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, is dangerous for Kosovo as it creates conditions for the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

“By surrendering before an ‘agreement’ that is not in Kosovo’s favour, Article 7 of the agreement is a gift full of poison by Prime Minister Albin Kurti for our Republic. This article was never part of negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, before Albin Kurti came to power. This article is a result of Albin Kurti’s secret negotiations with Aleksandar Vucic. Article 7 is dangerous for Kosovo, and this should be said openly. Through the article, Albin Kurti has agreed to the creation of conditions for the autonomy of the Association. Surprisingly, the ‘self-management’ accepted by Kurti is the same with the name of his party, Self-determination. So, what he never managed to accomplish for Albanians, Self-Determination, he gave as a gift to the Serb community in Kosovo,” he said.

According to Gjoshi, “unfortunately this is not the only damage he inflicted on Kosovo and our citizens by accepting the proposal. Knowingly and with certain steps, Albin Kurti is becoming another Dritan Abazovic, by working for the Serb Orthodox Church to get the special status for extraterritoriality … Kosovo and our citizens don’t deserve this Prime Minister!”

Entry into force of ETIAS postponed, liberalization of visas no later than January 1, 2024 (media)

The European Union has postponed the operationalization of the ETIAS system to 2024, although it is expected to enter into force on November 1 of this year.

The entry into force of this system has become an important topic for the citizens of Kosovo, because the liberalization of visas for the citizens of Kosovo is connected with it.

However, in the decision on visas for Kosovo, it is stated that if the ETIAS system does not enter into force until November of this year, the liberalisation of visas for Kosovo will enter into force on January 1, 2024.

On the ETIAS website, no reasons were given for the postponement of this decision.

It is precisely the possibility of blocking the visa process for Kosovo that has pushed some EU countries to insist on having a date for this process, even if there will be delays for ETIAS.

Several diplomatic sources have told Radio Free Europe that the position that “no later than January 1, 2024 does not mean that [liberalisation] cannot happen earlier”.

Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans that does not enjoy free movement with the countries of the Schengen area.

SPO publishes names of victims that allegedly disappeared or were killed (Koha)

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) of the Specialist Chambers has submitted a public and less-redacted version of the amended indictment in the case against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi. The indictment contains the names of some victims that were allegedly killed and some others that allegedly disappeared by force. 

Read the indictment at: https://bit.ly/3KHHdYk

KLA War Veterans: Another scandal and humiliation (Telegrafi)

Acting head of the KLA War Veterans Organisation, Faton Klinaku, reacted to the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) publication of the names of victims that were allegedly killed or disappeared by force in the case against Thaci and other leaders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army.

Klinaku argued in a Facebook post that with this action, the SPO was endangering the witnesses for the second time, and that the first time this happened was “with the scandal of leaked files from their offices in The Hague”.

According to Klinaku, the SPO “is a divider of the Albanian people”. “They are not to blame, but since we don’t have a state, this office that divides the Albanian people can continue with these scandals,” he said.

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic to RTS: We can discuss everything, except the recognition and membership of Kosovo in the UN (KiM radio, N1)

“Serbia is ready to work on the implementation of many things from the European plan for Kosovo, but we have expressed one clear and big objection – that there are no talks about mutual recognition, recognition, or Kosovo’s membership in the UN,” said President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic last night. 

“I told that to Macron and Scholz in Munich, and to all the great leaders, Lajcak and Borrell know this too, and repeated just that yesterday. It is about that I do not want and cannot discuss mutual recognition, recognition, and Kosovo’s entry into the UN,” Vucic told RTS, talking about the talks with Kosovo PM Albin Kurti in Brussels, reported KiM radio.

Vucic also said that he was open to discussing everything else.

“Not because it only takes us further in our European path, which is important, but because it is good for the relations between Serbs and Albanians. There are countless points that are important,” said the president, referring to the European proposal for an agreement on the path to the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

Vucic said that the road map was not agreed upon at the meeting in Brussels, but that it is Serbia’s position that recognition and membership of Kosovo in the UN cannot be included in the implementation plan, and that talks on this matter are forthcoming.

“We will work on the implementation plan of how to arrange regional representation, a very important topic, how to do the customs stamps according to the 2011 agreement of Borko Stefanovic, we will work on how to arrange the freedom and flow of goods, capital and services, we will work on what are the rights of extraterritoriality to special protection for the Serbian Church,” he said.

He explained that the European proposal has de facto become a framework for the negotiation process that cannot be negotiated, but he emphasised that while he is in the position of president he will not sign, nor accept, neither formal nor informal recognition of Kosovo, nor Kosovo’s entry into the UN.

President Vucic emphasised that the first point in the implementation plan must be the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM), and that only after that can other topics be discussed.

Tadic: This is not agreement offering compromise, but exclusively in Pristina’s favour (Danas)

Signing of Franco-German agreement would not be an act of formal recognition of Kosovo, but beyond the doubt it would be an act of official acceptance of Kosovo independence as political reality, former Serbian president Boris Tadic told Danas daily. Tadic added that following the meeting in Brussels, President Aleksandar Vucic simply decided to bypass some of the crucial aspects of the meeting.

“Namely, Vucic is persistently saying that the plan of the implementation is yet to be agreed upon, in order to create the impression in the public that nothing significant happened, and he does not say that he and Kurti accepted the content of the agreement as it was published last night. He attempts to create confusion in the public and to take out citizens slowly “into the called water”, Tadic said. 

According to him, Vucic is preparing the public for signing the agreement which treats Kosovo as independent state and that Serbia will not prevent its membership in international organisations, therefore in the UN as well, adding that the EU donation yesterday for the railway tracks from Belgrade to Nis and its promotion was part of those preparations.

“The manipulations we will witness in upcoming days would elevate the ZSO as a major achievement and also material benefits that Serbia would have because it renounced its legitimate national interests Kosovo”, Tadic said, adding that this agreement is not a compromise, because from its text it is clear it is directed to the exclusive benefits of Pristina as it gets everything, while Serbia gets nothing.

Vucic speaks with von der Leyen: Serbia for compromise solution with clearly stated limitations (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke over the phone with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and discussed the current situation in the region, European integrations of Serbia, necessary reforms and Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

Vucic thanked the European Commission for the help and support to modernise energy and transport infrastructure in Serbia and also for von der Leyen’s personal commitment extended to Serbia’s European path.

Touching upon Belgrade-Pristina talks, Vucic said Serbia remains committed to the talks under EU’s auspices and finding a compromise solution for normalisation of relations, with clearly stated limitations.

The verdict against Todosijevic confirmed in Pristina; It’s contrary to Brussel agreement, says Petkovic  (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online)

The Court of Appeal in Pristina confirmed the first-instance verdict by which the former president of Zvecan Municipality and Minister of Administration and Local Self-Government Ivan Todosijevic was sentenced to one year in prison for inciting national, racial, religious, or ethnic hatred and intolerance, KiM radio reported, citing RTS.

The Basic Court in Pristina, in a repeated proceeding, convicted Ivan Todosijevic on October 19 last year, and his defence attorneys then appealed to the Court of Appeal, recalled RTS. 

According to the RTS, the explanation of the appeal verdict from the Appellate Court stated that the complaints of the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the defence of the convicted Todosijevic, lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic, were unfounded. 

In the explanation of the decision based on the defence lawsuit, for significant violations of the provisions of the criminal procedure, it was stated that it was determined that the judgement was not covered by the mentioned violations that would cause its annulment.

The appeals panel found the defence’s claims as groundless, that in this particular case was not a criminal offence, but a verbal offence, that is, the right to freedom of expression.

“Such statements of the defendant, in the context of the circumstances, fully reflect the intent of hatred,” the court’s decision stated. 

Ivan Todosijevic was first sentenced in the first instance at the end of 2019 in Pristina to two years in prison because of the statement he made at the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the NATO bombing in Zvecan, when he stated that the Racak case was fabricated and used as an excuse for the bombing.

The Court of Appeal in Pristina later confirmed the first-instance decision. Todosijevic’s defence attorneys then filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. The panel of that court decided to return the case for a new trial.

Petkovic: Verdict contrary to the Brussels Agreement 

The latest verdict against Ivan Todosijevic, due to his spoken words, is a direct indicator of the autocratic, undemocratic, and anti-Serb face of the current government in Pristina, the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, said in a statement, reported Kosovo Online.

“And this judgement of the Appellate Court, in the repeated trial, was made in contradiction to the Brussels Agreement, which stipulates that the composition of the panel of judges for cases coming from Serbian communities must be majority Serbian. The fact that neither Todosijevic or his defense attorney have not been officially informed of the verdict yet but the media in Pristina are, shows that the whole farce process is calculated to try Serbs without rights and justice with the aim of stigmatizing them in the public,” said Petkovic, reported Kosovo Online, citing the statement from the Office for KiM. 

Petkovic added that “the lawyer hired by the Office for Kosovo and Metohija will continue the fight for justice for Ivan Todosijevic and use the possibility of an extraordinary legal remedy and the protection of legality”. The statement added that Petkovic informed Brussels and Miroslav Lajcak about ”this outrageous move by Pristina, demanding full compliance with point 10 of the Brussels Agreement, which refers to the manner of trial in cases coming from Serbian communities” read the statement among other things.

Defence lawyer of Todosijevic says he learnt about verdict from media (Kosovo Online)

Nebojsa Vlajic, defence lawyer of Ivan Todosijevic whose one-year prison sentence over statements on Racak case was upheld by Court of Appellate in Pristina, said he learnt about the verdict from the Albanian media, adding it has not been delivered yet either to him or his client, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Vlajic told the portal the fact he learnt about the verdict from the media speaks for itself.

“The verdict has not been delivered to Todosijevic or me, as his defence lawyer, the verdict was distributed in the Albanian press and we all have seen it. It speaks to whom this verdict is intended for, and it is intended for the wider public and to discipline and silence entire people, and not only individuals”.

He said such occurrences have become an impermissible judicial practice in Pristina, adding that there is no example in European history of somebody getting convicted to one year in prison because of the statement.

He argued this verdict was also a message that people are not entitled to their own opinion, stressing that freedom of speech and expression are suffocated in Kosovo.  

Serbian List extends support to Vucic (Kosovo Online)

Serbian List in a statement yesterday said the hopes of Serbian opposition that President Vucic will “sign capitulation and surrender Kosovo and Metohija” were in vain, adding the attacks on Vucic continue “while not a single word has been told about Albin Kurti or those who have created independent Kosovo”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

The Serbian List also said that the opposition instead of supporting the Serbian state and their people opted to look at how to get in power and place additional burden on President Vucic.

They also criticised the opposition for saying that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities was a defeat and presenting it as something that Serb community in Kosovo does not need.

“Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija and Serbian List as legal and legitimate representative extend full support to the President to continue struggle to establish Community of Serbian Municipalities in line with the agreements from 2013 and 2015 in order to have an umbrella institution of the Serbian people that would protect individual and collective rights of the Serbs and create conditions for survival, remain and return of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Serbian List said in a statement. 

Party of Kosovo Serbs calls for resistance against Vucic (Radio KIM)

Party of Kosovo Serbs (PKS) following the meeting in Brussels said President Aleksandar Vucic “no longer can be called President of Serbia, but exclusively a traitor of Kosovo and Metohija”, Radio KIM reports.  

According to PKS, the Constitution of Serbia recognizes Kosovo and Metohija, but “does not recognize the right of a fake patriot” to decide about the destiny of Serbs and their future in Kosovo.

The party also called upon Serbs in Kosovo to unite and offer resistance to President Vucic, who as they said “attempts to trade Kosovo for his remain in power”. 

Jaksic, Stojanovic on latest meeting in Brussels, fears of Serbs in Kosovo (N1)  

Former member of the Civic Initiative Freedom, Democracy, Justice (SDP) Marko Jaksic from Mitrovica North and representative of the Serbian National Movement Branimir Stojanovic from Gracanica told N1 last night that the European proposal for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is bad for Serbs in Kosovo and will lead to emigration of the remaining Serbs from Kosovo.

“This one, same as all the previous agreements, is bad for Serbs in Kosovo. What we saw on Monday was actually a final de facto recognition of Kosovo by Serbia, the agreement definitely contains nothing good for the Serbs in Kosovo. If the First Brussels Agreement from 2013 led to the emigration of a third of the population, this one will lead to the fact that there will be no Serbs left in Kosovo, except for those old people who will stay here to die”, Jaksic said.

He also told N1 television that the Serbs in Kosovo used to exhume and move the remains of their family members from a cemetery in Pristina to the cemetery in Gracanica, or from the South to North Mitrovica, and he opined that now those who would move away to live in central Serbia will also “take” with them their dead ones to “rebury” them there.

Stojanovic: Serbia will make political concessions for nothing

Stojanovic argued that if there is anything good in the agreement, it is the mention of the Serbian Orthodox Church – that it should be additionally protected.

“But it’s not very precise either, and it’s worrisome. All these broad definitions are always problematic in implementation, because the Pristina side will try to create an empty shell from all the competencies that should be in Serbian hands. These wordings are worrisome, what is also characteristic of this agreement is that it deals with people the least, it arouses a lot of fears”, he said.

According to him, the annex or rather the roadmap, is very worrisome.

“It is worrisome that the CSM is being included in this package, and it should have been formed before any discussion on a new agreement, which fulfilled the request of (Kosovo Prime Minister Albin) Kurti, which is unrealistic and irrational”, he warned.

He added that what was forgotten when the CSM was negotiated is that in parallel with the formation of the Community under Kosovo laws, a Community will also be formed under Serbian laws in order to preserve the possibility that the financing of Serbian institutions in Kosovo can function.

“What worries people the most is that after the implementation of this agreement and the formation of the Community according to Kosovo laws, there will be an end to the financing of our life and the institutional connection, thanks to which we have been surviving for 20 years. I would like to hear those who spoke about the Community mention that it would have to be formed according to Serbian laws”, he opined, adding that “with this agreement, Serbia does not get anything except the promise that it will get some money”.

He pointed out that it is important that in the coming days all the most relevant people in Serbia publish their stance about the agreement.

Stojanovic also said that people in Kosovo are most worried about how their lives will function after the implementation, and whether this means the end of financing according to the Serbian model and whether institutional ties will disappear.

“What is clear to us is that Serbia will have less influence, fewer arguments and cards to throw – that they will not get anything in return. This agreement will not solve the relations between Serbs and Albanians, it will create a break in mutual conflicts”, Stojanovic opined.

Vucic, Aliyev speak about Brussels dialogue (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke by telephone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday to inform him of the course of the Brussels dialogue and the necessary further consultations, Tanjug news agency reports.

Vucic said that would prevent him from attending a Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group Summit in Baku, but that Serbia would be represented by its foreign minister.

Vucic noted that Serbia attached great significance to comprehensive bilateral relations with friendly Azerbaijan, based on mutual respect, understanding and mutual support, said a statement released by the press office of the Serbian president.

Aliyev said he highly appreciated the Serbia-Azerbaijan strategic partnership that was on a strong upward trajectory thanks to the excellent personal relationship between the two presidents, and expressed the expectation that this year, too, would be successful for Serbia-Azerbaijan bilateral relations.

The discussion topics included plans in the energy sector and other areas of mutual interest.

Opinion 

Marc Weller: The Brussels Agreement on the Path to Recognition (Koha)

The rules of the international system are made by governments. Governments normally see it as their first duty to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of the state they represent. Hence, the international system is stacked against those seeking independence without the consent of the central government. The history of the destruction of secessionist Biafra by Nigeria from 1967-70, or the fate of the Catalans in Spain more recently, amply demonstrate this fact.

Hence, it is not surprising that Kosovo has faced a massive uphill struggle in obtaining, and then consolidating, its independence in the face of opposition from Serbia. This was demonstrated in the pressure cooker that was the Rambouillet conference, in the Ahtisaari negotiations that followed, and in the subsequent negotiations led by Brussels. At each step, there was a strong sense that Serbia would have to be compensated for concessions relating to Kosovo and, eventually, for the actual loss of Kosovo.

Thus far, Serbia has tried to exploit this phenomenon, seeking to extract more and more concessions, first from the mediators, and then from Kosovo, at each stage, without in the end committing to anything in return. Kosovo, in turn, has pointed to the fact that it has already made ample provision for ethnic Serbs in Kosovo, and other issues of legitimate concern for Serbia.

Indeed, in the Ahtisaari process that led to Kosovo’s declaration of independence, Kosovo was compelled to make important compromises. Some argued at the time that these amounted to a derogation from Kosovo’s sovereignty at the moment sovereignty was finally achieved. In reality, though, these were not really concessions to Serbia, or to Serbia alone. These were part of a compact with the organised international community as a whole, before Kosovo could seek admittance to the circle of sovereign states. There would have been no acceptance of Kosovo among the community of states had it not freely entered into commitments concerning its minorities and other issues addressed by the Ahtisaari document.

This strategy paid off. Despite Serbia’s increasingly desperate campaign against recognition, the situation remains that over half of the states of the world have recognized Kosovo. Moreover, the concessions made at the time were not as dramatic as is sometimes portrayed. Most, like advanced standards for the treatment of minorities, have proven to be good practice in any event.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Zn4pzm