Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani on European modalities for minorities: Kosovo has the best (Koha)
• Kurti: The implementation plan should probably not be discussed only in Ohrid (Koha)
• Germany expects agreement in Ohrid on implementation of European proposal (RFE)
• Von der Leyen: Kosovo, Serbia to use momentum and accept EU plan (Koha)
• Caplan: Kosovo refusing Association would give arguments to Serbia (Albanian Post)
• Another two months of house arrest for former police officer Dejan Pantic (Telegrafi)
• Shqipe Mjekiqi and Sibel Halimi resign from LDK (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Lajcak: CSM before normalisation (N1, media)
• The opposition after the meeting with Lajcak: What answers did they get, what did they say (KiM radio, N1)
• People’s Party official: Vucic should call for referendum or elections, and not establish movement (FoNet, Euronews)
• Lawyer: KSF member suspected of wounding Serb youth charged with causing general danger and not aggravated attempted murder (KoSSev)
• Dacic says SPS against sanctions on Russia (BETA, RTV)
• Lawyer: Pantic receives decision on house arrest extension with five days of delay (Kosovo Online)
• Lajcak for RTS: If there is no ZSO, there is no agreement either (RTS)
• Vucic to meet Escobar tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media  

Osmani on European modalities for minorities: Kosovo has the best (Koha)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said today that the model of respecting minority rights in Kosovo is better than all the models mentioned by EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak. She said that Kosovo is ready to discuss European elements but not those that fall in opposition with its constitution.

Osmani said she doesn’t expect Serbia to change its approach in the dialogue with Kosovo and according to her Serbia’s only contribution in the process was setting obstacles. She said she expects the international community to put pressure on Serbia and convince it that the “meeting in Ohrid is exceptionally important and that this solution helps resolve many issues that pave the way toward mutual recognition”.

“As far as the European modalities that have been presented, all 15 of them don’t have to do with associations. They are modalities for minority rights. Some of them foresee more rights, and some others less rights than what Kosovo currently gives to non-majority communities. We have analysed all of them and there are elements that can be taken from each of them, but I would say that the best model, by far better than all 15 of them, is the one that Kosovo currently has. We are in favor of discussions on such elements, so that we can have inclusiveness, diversity and multiethnicity … Kosovo rejects something that threatens the functioning of our democratic system”.

Commenting on the European proposal that Kosovo and Serbia agreed to on February 27, Osmani said that Article 7 is the concession that Kosovo accepted.

Kurti: The implementation plan should probably not be discussed only in Ohrid (Koha)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has stated that the implementation plan of the European proposal should probably not be discussed only in Ohrid.

Speaking to journalists after the tenth edition of “Women’s Week”, Kurti expressed optimism that there will be an agreement between the parties at the Ohrid meeting on March 18.

“The implementation plan should be discussed in Ohrid, and maybe not only in Ohrid. I am optimistic, but now whether it will succeed or not, you know very well that it does not depend only on me. I have offered to sign the agreement on February 27. If there was a failure, it was never my fault because I was dedicated, constructive and creative,” Kurti said.

According to him, together with the conclusions that were made in Brussels, it turns out that from July 2, 2011 to August 25, 2015 there are 39 agreements in total and that the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority constitutes the first six points of a 15-point agreement which is the 16th of 39 agreements.

Germany expects agreement in Ohrid on implementation of European proposal (RFE)

Germany expects the parties to reach an agreement on the implementation of the European proposal for the normalisation of relations during the new round of dialogue that will be held in Ohrid on March 18.

The German Embassy in Belgrade told Radio Free Europe that progress toward the European integration of the Western Balkans countries is the objective of the Berlin Process, but that in the case of Kosovo and Serbia there is an obstacle on this path. “The unresolved relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain an obstacle. The new high-level meeting in Ohrid marks an important step toward overcoming this obstacle and advancing on the European path,” the embassy said.

Von der Leyen: Kosovo, Serbia to use momentum and accept EU plan (Koha)

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said in an interview with reporters at European Newsroom, that Kosovo and Serbia should use the momentum and accept the EU Plan for the normalisation of relations which is key for the stability of the whole region.

“I think it is an opportunity for both sides to use the momentum because the normalisation is of key importance for the security, stability and prosperity of the region … I have high hopes that both parties will be constructive in the coming discussions,” she said.

Caplan: Kosovo refusing Association would give arguments to Serbia (Albanian Post)

Richard Caplan, professor at Oxford University, said in an interview with Albanian Post that if Pristina refuses the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, this will give arguments to Serbia and that it would accuse Kosovo saying that “it cannot be trusted in negotiations”.

“The Association of Serb-majority municipalities is a provision in the 2013 Brussels Agreement, which was negotiated and signed by Serbia and Kosovo. While there are some risks with creating an Association, in my opinion, these are manageable risks. It would not be prudent for Kosovo to refuse this provision because this would allow Belgrade to argue that Kosovo cannot be trusted in negotiations,” Caplan said.

On the threat of Kosovo Serbs being orchestrated through the mechanism, Caplan said that “Kosovo Serbs have been instrumentalised by Belgrade for decades”.

He said that “the Association would not change anything in this respect” and that he would expect “Belgrade to try to use every possibility to assert pressure through the Association too”. 

Caplan also said that the French-German (European) plan, as was said earlier, is similar to the plan for the normalisation of relations between the two Germanies in 1972. “Similar results could be reached for Serbia and Kosovo with the French-German proposal, thus paving the way toward mutual recognition. A critical change is that this would not necessarily make the road to EU membership for Kosovo easier,” he said.

Another two months of house arrest for former police officer Dejan Pantic (Telegrafi)

The Basic Court in Pristina has extended for two months the house arrest order for former police officer Dejan Pantic who is accused of terrorism. A spokeswoman for the court confirmed the information to the news website. “On 08.03.2023, the Special Department approved the request of the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo to extend the house arrest measure against the defendant D.P. …,” the spokeswoman said.

Pantic was arrested in December last year under the suspicion that he attacked officers of Kosovo Police and members of the Election Commission in Mitrovica North.

Shqipe Mjekiqi and Sibel Halimi resign from LDK (Klan Kosova)

Shqipe Mjekiqi has resigned her posts as deputy leader and member of the presidency of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Klan Kosova learns that Sibel Halimi, political spokesperson, has also submitted her resignation to party leader Lumir Abdixhiku. Citing unnamed sources, the TV station reports that among the reasons for their resignations are internal disagreements.

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic to Lajcak: CSM before normalisation (N1, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told European Union Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak on Monday that the Community of Serb Majority Municipalities (CSM) has to be formed before Belgrade and Pristina can normalise their relations, N1 reported.

A press release issued after their meeting in Belgrade said that other conditions for normalisation include security and the protection of the rights of the Kosovo Serbs. It said that they discussed the EU proposal to normalise relations, the forming of the CSM.

It quoted Vucic as saying that Serbia is committed to the talks and investing effort to reach a compromise and sustainable solutions needed for normal life and a better future for everyone with clearly defined limitations.

Lajcak also met with officials of six opposition parties – the Democratic Party, Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)own, Zajedno and the People’s Party (NS).They said he informed them of the Belgrade-Pristina talks to date and future steps.

An Instagram post quoted Vuic as saying that the talks with Lajcak were hard and comprehensive. 

“We will continue the talks on Kosovo and Metohija and Serbia’s European future tonight and tomorrow. Long Live Serbia!,” he wrote in the post.

The opposition after the meeting with Lajcak: What answers did they get, what did they say (KiM radio, N1)

Six representatives of the opposition attended the meeting with the EU representative for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak. According to them, Lajcak informed them about the current course of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as about the next steps, reported KiM radio, citing N1.

The President of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP), Dragan Djilas, said that Lajcak informed them about the progress of talks and negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and the preparations for the Ohrid talks, which will be followed by meetings of foreign ministers and EU leaders in Brussels.

“He emphasised the importance of how it will all proceed, he said that the basis for all this is the implementation of previous agreements and the acceptance of the status of the CSM (ZSO), that if there is no such thing, then de facto there is no agreement either,” said Djilas. 

He added that he expressed the position of his party on expectation from Europe’s clear path for Serbia towards the EU.

“How can we get there as soon as possible and when it could happen? I informed him that we, as a party, will adopt the Serbia in Europe plan by 2030. We mentioned again the idea that we put forward as SSP, that candidate countries should also get EP deputies, he said that he had discussed it in Europe and that, as far as I understood, he supports such a proposal,” said Djilas.

As for the agreement itself, the SSP did not consider it good, especially Article 4, said Djilas and added that they were aware that the agreement rejection, which has already been accepted, would have disastrous consequences for Serbia.

The leader of the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), Pavle Grbovic, said that he presented PSG’s position that the framework was acceptable to them and that what was crucial was how it would be implemented.

“A possible agreement on the implementation annexes was expected on March 18. I conveyed to Lajcak our hope and requests to be familiar with those annexes sooner. I also appeal to the President of the Assembly of Serbia, Vladimir Orlic, to use his position to schedule a collegium of the National Assembly before March 18, to which he will also invite the President, who will have the proposal of the annex in front of him at that moment, to come and familiarise us with the content, I think that it would give a new dimension to this process,” Grbovic said.

Grbovic added that they believed it was important for Serbia to catch up with Europe.

“This agreement is a step in that direction, a chance to end the thirty-year period of national defeats. All we have on the table now is paying the price for those defeats. I think it is time to end that streak, for Serbia to turn towards Europe. Otherwise, we will enter a new vicious circle,” he said. 

Stefan Jovanovic from the People’s Party said that he reiterated the party’s position regarding the agreement.

“I do not think that it will lead to normalisation, an agreement like this violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia. I also expressed my concern that if the agreement is accepted, during the implementation period, Europe will turn its head to all the destruction of freedom, democracy, and human rights in Serbia,” said Jovanovic.

Democratic Party (DS) President Zoran Lutovac said that the conversation was conducted on the initiative of Lajcak and his associates.

“He briefly presented to us what has been done so far, we do not have the opportunity to hear from Aleksandar Vucic what is being discussed, only when the international representative comes, we sometimes hear something about what is being discussed. Even though I am a member of parliament and vice-president of the Assembly, I have to hear from Lajcak what it is about,” he said. 

Lutovac adds that they heard in which direction the whole process was going and said what was unacceptable for them.

“The manner in which a conversation is conducted with only one person is unacceptable. Even if we were to get support for a change of status and among citizens and institutions, several content questions are raised, which is a kind of autonomy for the community of Serbs, which should include all competences and possibilities and the right of veto and proportionality, and affect its own a position without the opportunity to be outvoted from Pristina, that is, to decide independently in areas that are of vital importance to them,” said Lutovac.

Co-president of the party Zajedno (Together) Nebojsa Zelenovic said that the meeting was open.

“I presented the positions of the Zajedno party, they did not change much, we are asking for protection for our people in Kosovo, the highest possible level of guarantees for their safety, we are asking to openly talk about peace in the region, and not to arm ourselves, to see if there is any what a hint of a European perspective for both Serbia and the region,” said Zelenovic.

Radomir Lazovic said that for the Green Left Front, and Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)own, the main question was what the CSM (ZSO) would really look like and whether we could expect people to really be protected and have powers in the areas provided for in previous agreements.

“It was presented to me that there are 15 models on the table, which will be used as inspiration for what should be the CSM (ZSO) model. We asked for greater involvement of the opposition in the negotiations, because until now we had a situation where secret negotiations were held behind closed doors,” he said. He also told N1  “wouldn’t it be great if we could hear what those proposals are”, explaining that Lajcak mentioned South Tyrol and similar but that he did not present them.

Lazovic opined that it was Lajcak’s mistake that he did not meet with the right-wing opposition, which was against the European plan. 

He added that they believe that this proposal could be a step towards the reconciliation of the people, but that the people, the Serbs in Kosovo, would have to be protected.

“That their rights not only be as provided for in previous agreements, but also improved, that is our concern,” Lazovic said.

He added that they were assured that he (Lajcak) had heard them and that he would look for a way to involve the opposition more.

People’s Party official: Vucic should call for referendum or elections, and not establish movement (FoNet, Euronews)

Serbian People’s Party (NS) spokesperson and MP Stefan Jovanovic said last night Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic if he wants to ask citizens of Serbia what they think of the Franco-German proposal on Kosovo should call for referendum and not to establish a new movement, FoNet news agency reports.

Jovanovic told Euronews he is confident large percentage of Serbian citizens would say “no” to this agreement, adding Vucic is deceiving the people and promotes his new movement, which is not a state organisation with the funds from the budget, and attempts to hide behind strong phases while he is accepting an agreement based on which Serbia will nurture good neighbourly relations with its province.  

Jovanovic also asked “what else but treason” was it to accept an agreement by which Serbia is permanently renouncing Kosovo and Metohija, noting that no authorities in Serbia were ready to accept it, and that however, Vucic’s authorities and SNS are ready to it, People’s Party said in a statement.

According to him, normalisation of relations between Serbs and Albanians was necessary, but not in a manner by which Serbia will accept Kosovo independence.

He also warned that acceptance and signing of the Franco-German agreement would mean that the EU would turn a blind eye on all violations of the freedoms, human rights and democracy in Serbia during implementation of that act. 

Lawyer: KSF member suspected of wounding Serb youth charged with causing general danger and not aggravated attempted murder (KoSSev)

The first hearing related to the incident in Gotovusa on Christmas Day when two Serb youths were wounded was held on March 9th. According to the legal representative of S. S. (11), Milos Delevic, the accused A. K. is charged with “causing general danger“ and “possession of a firearm.“ “Not attempted murder, which we all expected“, Delevic told KoSSev portal.

A young boy S.S. (11) and a young man M.S. (21) of Serbian ethnicity were wounded on Christmas Day in the village of Gotovusa near Strpce when they were shot at from a passing car.

Immediately after the incident, a thirty-three-year-old Albanian, A.K. a member of the KSF, was detained. The custody request of the Basic Prosecutor’s Office states that A. K. was suspected of “aggravated attempted murder“ in addition to causing general danger and use of a dangerous weapon.

Although A.K. was initially also suspected of “attempted murder“, Delevic said that based on what the judge and the record said, the indictment charges A.K. with “causing general danger“ and “use of firearms.“

Delevic told KoSSev that he demanded from the chief prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office in Urosevac to evaluate the work of the prosecutor in this case and the prosecutor’s council. He also called on EULEX to monitor this case, because of the “too mild“ indictment.

Earlier yesterday, the KoSSev portal reached out to the Basic Prosecutor’s Office for confirmation that A.K. is charged with causing general danger, along with more details regarding the case. However, as of the time that this story went to press, no response was forthcoming.

Dacic says SPS against sanctions on Russia (BETA, RTV)

President of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic said his party firmly supports conclusions of the National Security Council and condemns violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but the party is against imposing sanctions on Russia, BETA news agency reports.

“President Aleksandar Vucic clearly leads and expresses this policy, and SPS firmly supports it, by respecting the stance that national interests of Serbia are the most important and its future is our priority”, Dacic also said.

Minister of Economy, Rade Basta, elected as a member of United Serbia (US) a party that run in coalition with SPS at the last elections, called yesterday on other members of the Serbian Government to declare themselves on sanctions against Russia, as according to him, Serbia is already paying high price for its decision not to impose them.

Leader of United Serbia (US) Dragan Markovic Palma said Basta expressed personal stance and not that of his party, adding the US is against imposing sanctions on anyone.

Leader of opposition Dveri Movement Bosko Obradovic called on the Serbian Government to dismiss Minister Basta and proves this is not the new foreign policy it is pursuing. He added Serbia already faces pressure to accept Franco-German proposal on Kosovo, and it now faces a second ultimatum to impose sanctions on Russia, adding Serbia has no single reason to do so.  The Dveri Movement also said its MPs met with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and told her that the movement strongly opposes imposing sanctions on Russia.

Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the Serbian Minister has expressed some strange stances. She said the minister instead of calling for the stance on sanctions on Russia, should have better “decisively declare against pressure on his own country”.

“Russia, unlike the US, has always respected Serbia and its people. However, the point is not in the historic truth only but in an obvious fact – by introducing sanctions on Russia, the pressure of the US on Serbia will not stop, it will only grow stronger”, she said.  

Lawyer: Pantic receives decision on house arrest extension with five days of delay (Kosovo Online)

Dejan Pantic received today a decision on extending his house arrest for two more months with five days of delay, his lawyer, Ljubomir Pantovic told Kosovo Online portal. He added he as Pantic’s defence lawyer is yet to receive that decision.

Kosovo special prosecution charges Pantic of allegedly committing “a terrorist act”.

Pantovic said he will appeal this latest decision, noting it is absolutely impermissible to receive a decision as this one with five days of delay.

Pantic, former Kosovo police officer, was arrested on December 10 at Jarinje crossing point and, as media reported back then, kept in a police base until 28 December when decision was made to send him to house arrest. 

Lajcak for RTS: If there is no ZSO, there is no agreement either (RTS)

EU Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Miroslav Lajcak told RTS Oko (An Eye) broadcast due to be aired this evening at 18.25, that the basic precondition for the implementation of the European plan was Community of Serb Municipalities.

According to him, if one looks at the proposal it speaks about normalisation and not about some sort of capitulation.

RTS quoted him as saying several times that the Community of Serb Municipalities must be established and “if there is no ZSO there is no agreement either”.

According to him the aim is not that some lose and some win. “The aim is to look for a win-win situation and to open the European door”.  

Vucic to meet Escobar tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet tomorrow US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Gabriel Escobar, Vucic’s press office said, Kosovo Online portal reports.

The meeting will take place in Belgrade, starting at 15.15. Press statement will be issued following the meeting.