Albanian Language Media:

• Lajcak: There is either normalisation or conflict (media)
• Kurti: EU should hold Serbia responsible for ongoing violations of Agreement (Koha)
• The Iber Bridge discussed during the Hamza-Lajcak meeting (media)
• Lajcak crosses Iber Bridge on foot to meet local Serbs (Dukagjini)
• KDI: Court ruling should be basis for drafting statute of Association (Koha)
• Kurti meets UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Western Balkans (media)
• Haziri: Kurti has excluded Konjufca and Osmani from dialogue (Nacionale)
• Ambassador Hovenier calls for increased cyber and information security (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: Decision on Ibar River bridge opening should be made within dialogue (Tanjug)
• Visoki Decani Monastery reacts to Osmani’s remarks on monastery land court decision (media, social media)
• Serbian List reacts to decision on land expropriation in north (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Bilcik and von Cramon worried about Pristina’s decision on land expropriation (KiM radio, Beta, Kosovo Online)
• Possible re-elections in North of Kosovo: Difficulties in confirming mandate of newly elected mayors (Danas)
• Dacic, Szijjarto: Level of Serbia-Hungary ties highest in recent history (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Chief negotiators in Brussels on Monday (FoNet, N1)
• Dacic: Constant pressure over Russia sanctions (Prva TV, BETA, N1)

International:

• Petition Urges Kosovo Govt to Cut Period Products Tax (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media  

Lajcak: There is either normalisation or conflict (media)

EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has discussed this morning with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti normalisation process and the next steps after the meeting in Brussels. Lajcak has said that there is an agreement on the steps to be taken further, while adding that he will be in Belgrade on Friday.

He said that there should be clarity about the next steps. “We had a very intense, but very important and useful discussion with Prime Minister Kurti.”

Lajcak has said that during the day he will also be in the north of Kosovo, to understand and see “the situation there himself”, hoping that “there will be a political solution to focus on normalisation and agreement.”

“We can have either normalisation or conflict. Of course we want to focus completely on normalisation, that’s why we want to avoid any escalation, it’s not in anyone’s interest”.

Lajcak also said that Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic, will meet in Brussels on Monday.

The EU’s special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak, has been asked about the European Union’s position on the Croatian minority model, if it can also work in Kosovo.

“For the EU, what is acceptable is what is based on the norms and values of the EU, and which is in accordance with the existing European models”, he said.

Kurti: EU should hold Serbia responsible for ongoing violations of Agreement (Koha)

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asked the European Union to hold Serbia responsible for violating the Agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia. In the meeting he held with the EU envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, Kurti emphasised the need for the agreement to be implemented in its entirety.

“I emphasised the need for the Basic Agreement to be implemented in its entirety and the need for the EU to hold Serbia responsible for the ongoing violations of that agreement,” Kurti wrote on Twitter.

Mustafa criticises “undiplomatic” statement by Lajcak (Gazeta Blic)

Former Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, criticised today what he called an undiplomatic statement by EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak. Mustafa said that between normalisation and confrontation there are many roads, variants and alternatives. “The draft statute presented in Brussels is not a basis for normalisation. It is a pamphlet that has nothing to do with the agreement in 2013 and the document on principles in 2015,” he argued in an interview with the news website.

The Iber Bridge discussed during the Hamza-Lajcak meeting (media)

The mayor of Mitrovica, Bedri Hamza, received in a meeting today the European Union emissary for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

After the meeting, Hamza announced that the issue of the opening of the Iber Bridge was one of the topics of discussion.

“In any case, the issue of the Ibri bridge and the need to respect and implement the Constitution and all the laws in force that guarantee the freedom of all citizens, goods and everything else were discussed. We also talked about the progress achieved during these years, but also about the sensitivity that is in this part and is present in this part of Kosovo”.

When asked about the draft vision that was presented by Kurti at the May 2 meeting, Hamza said that he has some questions.

“There was little change in the question, because an agreement took place in Brussels, it took place in Ohrid, it is public. To be honest, draft vision I don’t know, draft statute yes. Now a draft statute has been presented, which in all probability is a document that is discussed, but nothing more. There are different options and of course these issues will be resolved in the coming days and in the future. So a document was presented, now to tell the truth, was it the right way to get there, I have my questions. It is something that is happening and in progress,” he said.

The European mediator in the dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak said from Mitrovica that the issue of opening the Iber Bridge should be resolved through dialogue, ‘where the parties reach an agreement. Everything must be resolved through dialogue.’

Lajcak made this statement from the main bridge over the river Iber that divides the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica.

Lajcak crosses Iber Bridge on foot to meet local Serbs (Dukagjini)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, after meeting Mitrovica Mayor Bedri Hamza, will meet Serb representatives of civil society at the House of the European Union. The European diplomat crossed the Iber Bridge on foot to go and meet them. While crossing the bridge, Lajcak said that the decision to open the bridge should be made in the dialogue process. “I am a strong supporter of agreed decisions, agreed solutions. I believe that anything that involves the two sides should be agreed upon by both sides. The Mitrovica Bridge was part of the dialogue therefore I think that the decision to open it is needed in the dialogue,” he said.

KDI: Court ruling should be basis for drafting statute of Association (Koha)

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) said in a statement today that since the agreement on the path toward the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia in Ohrid in March this year, the process of dialogue has entered a dynamic period of developments and engagement of the parties. KDI said that the readiness of parties to move toward normalisation after agreeing on the Declaration on Missing Persons and the implementation of the agreement on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is very important. Being that the statute of the Association is one of the most acute issues deriving from the dialogue, the KDI considers as unacceptable any model presented in the dialogue that falls in opposition with the Constitution and is not in line with the guidelines of the ruling of the Constitutional Court. “We recall that Kosovo has continuously received guarantees from international stakeholders, especially from the representatives of the European Union and the United States, that the Association will be in full compliance with the Constitution of Kosovo. After proposal on the draft statute and discussions on alternative arrangements of the Association, we remind the Kosovo Government that all actions for the formation of the Association should be based on the ruling of the Constitutional Court, and the implementation of the principle of constitutionality,” the statement notes.

Kurti meets UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Western Balkans (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Wednesday with the Director for the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development of the United Kingdom. Victoria Billing, accompanied by the UK ambassador to Kosovo, Nicholas Abbott and former UK ambassador to Belgrade, Denis Keefe.

A press release issued by Kurti’s office notes that he informed Billing about developments in Kosovo, with an emphasis on the economic and democratic progress in the last two years, and about the close cooperation with the embassy of the United Kingdom in Kosovo, as a result of the excellent relations between the two countries.

“Developments in the region and relations with Serbia were also discussed, with an emphasis on the implementation of the Basic Agreement reached on February 27 in Brussels. Prime Minister Kurti informed Ms. Billing for last week’s high-level meeting, under the mediation of the European Union, also for the vision proposed in that meeting, according to the Croatian model, in relation to Article 7 of the Basic Agreement. He emphasised that the Agreement must be implemented fully and unconditionally, and that the Republic of Kosovo has consistently proven to be a responsible, constructive and creative party,” the press release notes.

Haziri: Kurti has excluded Konjufca and Osmani from dialogue (Nacionale)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lutfi Haziri, said in an interview with the news website on Wednesday that Prime Minister Albin Kurti has excluded President Vjosa Osmani and Assembly President Glauk Konjufca from the process of dialogue with Serbia.

“The opposition too is excluded. The main political parties that have institutional memory and expertise in negotiations and the dialogue have been excluded,” he argued.

Haziri also said that opposition parties are informed about dialogue only from international partners. “The main opposition parties are in close coordination with the EU and with partners that are interested and have close ties with Kosovo. We have active communication. We met Lajcak 11 times, whereas with the Prime Minister we met only three times,” he said.

Ambassador Hovenier calls for increased cyber and information security (Klan)

The U.S. ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier stated that disinformation is increasing day by day in Kosovo.Speaking at the Information Integrity Conference, he added that the country he represents has the main priority of increasing cyber and information security, and this includes the prohibition of disinformation.

Meanwhile, AnnaCarin Platon, head of the Political Sector at the EU Office, has called cyber threats a global challenge, and for this she has asked for the commitment of everyone in this fight.

“The threat to national security is a global challenge and requires us to work together. These cyber threats have increased and are threatening to lead to an escalation of conflict between states”.

On the topic “Cybersecurity: Is disinformation the next threat?”, the 5th edition will focus mainly on Kosovo’s legal framework for cyber security and disinformation as a cyber threat from a global perspective.

Throughout the day, discussion panels will be held regarding this issue. The head of the government, Albin Kurti, is also participating in the conference.

Serbian Language Media 

Lajcak: Decision on Ibar River bridge opening should be made within dialogue (Tanjug)

EU Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak said today a decision on the Ibar River bridge opening should be made within the dialogue, stressing that topics concerning Belgrade and Pristina must have consent of both sides, Tanjug news agency reports.

Lajcak is visiting Mitrovica North today after he walked on the main bridge. He also said he is a committed advocate of agreed decisions and solutions.

“Mitrovica bridge was part of the dialogue, therefore I think that a decision on its opening should be made within the dialogue. Everything is in the hands of both sides. I want bridge opening to contribute to the stability”, he added.

Lajcak is supposed to meet civil society representatives, Serbian List and opposition representatives in Mitrovica North, according to Tanjug. 

The EU envoy said he was in the north of Kosovo to see the situation on the ground for himself following a meeting with Albin Kurti in Pristina on Thursday and prior to his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Friday.

Visoki Decani Monastery reacts to Osmani’s remarks on monastery land court decision (media, social media)

Visoki Decani Monastery said yesterday that former president of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic was not involved in the decision made in 1997 by which 24 hectares of land were given back to the Monastery, adding this decision is based on the right of Visoki Decani Monastery to reclaim at least portion out of 700 hectares of its land, that communist regime confiscated from them in 1946 and the right that this property is returned to its legal owner.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said earlier that returning the land to Visoki Decani Monastery should not be resolved in line with decisions of Slobodan Milosevic.

Reacting to those remarks Visoki Decani Monastery said if all the court decisions of authorities during the Slobodan Milosevic rule are illegal why are the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of court decisions and property contracts in Kosovo made during his government between 1989-1999, which benefited Kosovo Albanians, not equally considered illegal?   

“Why should this discriminatory attitude apply only to the land of the Visoki Decani Monastery? And why the decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo on the land of the Visoki Decani Monastery has not been implemented for seven years, without any legal responsibility of the local representatives”, the Monastery added.

In a post on its official Facebook page Visoki Decani said one should think about the scale of the legal chaos that would arise if all court decisions from the time of Milosevic’s rule in Kosovo from 1989 to 1999 were legally contested.

The Monastery also noted that Kosovo Supreme Court and Constitutional Court deliberated on all the issues related to the land case of the Visoki Decani Monastery, under full international observation, allowing all parties to freely present their arguments.

Recalling that the court proceedings lasted for almost 16 tears, the Constitutional Court made the final and binding ‘res judicata’ decision in 2016. The Monastery stressed that the firm decisiveness of the Kosovo government and Decane municipality not to implement the Constitutional Court decision, and even call it illegal, despite calls by international representatives to do so, runs contrary to the statements of the Pristina government that it guarantees protection of the Serbian Orthodox Church properties in Kosovo.

Read the full statement of Visoki Decani Monastery at: https://bit.ly/3nUfaMj

The Serbian Ministry of Culture also reacted to Osmani’s remarks by saying it “demonstrates that an organised campaign of endangering Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo continues”. 

Serbian List reacts to decision on land expropriation in north (Kosovo Online, social media)

Serbian List said yesterday decision of Albin Kurti-lead government on land expropriation in Leposavic and Zubin Potok municipalities aims at expelling Serbs from northern Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“Aiming at expelling Serbs from northern Kosovo and Metohija, anti-Serb regime of Albin Kurti made decision today by which it wishes to continue confiscation of the Serbian-owned land in Zubin Potok and Leposavic municipalities (…)”, Serbian List said in a statement.

They recalled opposition of the property owners to have their land confiscated and special police bases built there, same as the stances of legal professionals, representatives of the non-governmental sector and political representatives of the Serbian people who all strongly oppose this decision.

Serbian List, on behalf of the Serbian people, urged international representative to react swiftly and “prevent Kurti from intention to generate the conflict and chaos in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, because this is obviously his intention, after he publicly bragged about his wish to use Croatian experiences in resolving the problems in northern Kosovo, alluding to the ethnic cleansing carried out in Croatia (…)”.

They also said that Serbian people will not allow confiscation of their forefathers’ land and will use all democratic, legal and legitimate means available to oppose this decision. 

Bilcik and von Cramon worried about Pristina’s decision on land expropriation (KiM radio, Beta, Kosovo Online)

The rapporteurs of the European Parliament for Serbia and Kosovo, Vladimir Bilcik and Viola von Cramon, expressed yesterday their concern about the decision of the Kosovo government on the expropriation of land in the north of Kosovo, reported KiM radio.

“That is absolutely unacceptable. That is one of the reasons why when I go to Kosovo, I will also go to the north”, said Von Cramon at the press conference after the reports on Serbia and Kosovo were adopted in the European Parliament.

She said that she will talk to the citizens in the north of Kosovo and find out more about it, and then report to the government in Pristina about the situation on the ground.

“That is what worries me the most at this time, because we see that the stability in the north is very fragile,” von Cramon said.

Kosovo government adopted the draft preliminary decision on the expropriation of land in the municipalities of Leposavic and Zubin Potok.

The reporter for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, said everything authorities in Pristina do should be done in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, and that this should also apply to land expropriation attempts.

Bilcik pointed out that the normalisation of relations means that people in the region should live a normal life, and that “now many Serbs in the north cannot live a normal life”.

“This means that a person can go out and feel safe, go to public institutions and do everyday things as he could a few years ago”, said Bilcik. 

He added that when adopting all measures, Pristina should keep in mind that normalisation must be for the sake of the people.

“We should avoid tension and look for solutions for the people on the ground, because this is about the European future, which is equally deserved by all the ethnic groups living there”, said Bilcik.

Possible re-elections in North of Kosovo: Difficulties in confirming mandate of  newly elected mayors (Danas)

Danas daily reported last night it is still not certain that the newly elected mayors of northern municipalities will assume their functions, citing the example of Zubin Potok municipality. The Serbs boycotted the elections, the daily recalled. 

Given that according to Kosovo laws, their assumption of office must be confirmed by the municipal assemblies in which they were elected, it is possible that in some of the four municipalities there will be no majority in favour of such a thing. If this does not happen within a month from the announcement of the winner in the elections, citizens will have to go to the polls again, wrote Danas.

On April 23, elections were held in Leposavic, Zvečan, Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica, with the difference that in Leposavic and Zvecan, in addition to mayors, citizens also elected local councillors. 

North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok voted only for the position of the first person of the municipality, given that there are municipal assemblies that continue to function even after the exit of the Serbian List from the institutions in the north of Kosovo.

This is most evident in the municipality of Zubin Potok, where the chairperson Slavisa Bisevac from the opposition Citizens’ Initiative “For Zubin Potok” resigned the post, and all he did was to prevent the newly elected mayor Izmir Zeqiri, from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, from being elected.

After this resignation, before scheduling the session where Zeqiri’s mandate would be confirmed, a new chairperson must be elected. It can be the deputy chairperson who comes from the ranks of Self-Determination, a rival party to the Democratic Party of Kosovo. If he also refuses to call that session, a new chairperson and his deputy will have to be elected among the councillors. This further slows down the appointment of a new mayor.

The councillors of this local initiative, the opposition to Serbian List and the current local government, are also ready to resign with the same goal, if, in addition to the resignation of chairperson Bisevac, if a session is convened.

Slavisa Bisevac resigned after receiving an invitation to organise a session where the election of the new mayor should be confirmed. But the session, as they say from this initiative, will be held with or without Bisevac’s participation.

“We wanted to stop the new mayor from taking office, by resigning from the position of chairman, who should convene that assembly. In this way, we want to prevent the new mayor from taking office in Zubin Potok, where the absolute majority of the population is Serbian”, they said.

As they add in the announcement, with this move they want to “make it clear” that they will continue to use all democratic means “in the fight for the rights of the local population until realistic conditions are created to hold legitimate and democratic elections in which the residents of our municipality can express their political views and elect a government that will work in the interests of the citizens”.

They indicated once again that they believe that the new mayor was not elected by the will of the citizens of Zubin Potok, and that, as they claim, his election is therefore illegitimate. The statements of the newly elected mayor Zeqiri are also disputable for this initiative, concluding that he did not want a compromise with the Serbs, but to continue implementing Pristina’s unilateral decisions.

“His statement that he will take down the flags from the Municipality and everything else says this”, they noted.

Such a situation in this municipality occurred after the aforementioned elections, which were also boycotted by the CI “For Zubin Potok”. Elections, by their nature extraordinary, were called after Serbs from the north of Kosovo left all Pristina institutions there. The mayors and councillors of the Serbian List resigned from their positions in four municipalities, and the councillor of the mentioned initiative, Milija Bisevac, did the same. Until he left the Assembly, he was the only opposition councillor in all four local communities.

After the resignations of councillors from the Serbian community, parliamentary seats were “filled” with candidates for councillors from other lists. CI “For Zubin Potok” received three council seats and the position of chairperson. Those three councillors are the only councillors of Serbian nationality in this majority Serbian municipality, reported Danas.

Dacic, Szijjarto: Level of Serbia-Hungary ties highest in recent history (Tanjug)

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic spoke on Wednesday with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who was in Belgrade for the 13th session of a bilateral commission on economic cooperation, Tanjug news agency reports.

In a very friendly and cordial atmosphere, the ministers noted that comprehensive bilateral relations between Serbia and Hungary were at the highest level in recent history, as confirmed by an intergovernmental agreement on friendly relations and cooperation on a strategic partnership, which took effect in January this year, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

In the spirit of partnership and existing strategic relations, the ministers also discussed upcoming bilateral activities at the highest level, scheduled for June, and said they were aimed at advancing further the good-neighbourly relations and successful cooperation.

On behalf of the Republic of Serbia and the Serbs, Dacic thanked Hungary for its position in a recent vote on Pristina’s application for Council of Europe membership.

Lajcak: Chief negotiators in Brussels on Monday (FoNet, N1)

European Union Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak said in Pristina on Thursday that chief negotiators from Belgrade and Pristina would be in Brussels on Monday.

Lajcak said that Kosovo deputy prime minister Besnik Bislimi and the head of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic would hold a new round of the technical dialogue.

Speaking after a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Lajcak said that they discussed the next steps in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, including the forming of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM), adding that he would discuss the same issues with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Friday.

We have an agreement and an annex and we have to realise that more steps are coming, he said , adding that his talks with Kurti were intensive and important. He said that the focus is on normalisation to avoid confrontation. According to Lajcak, he told Kurti about how the European Union sees the process to draft a CSM statute. I believe we have an agreement on the process … and we need clear ideas for the next steps, he said.

Dacic: Constant pressure over Russia sanctions (Prva TV, BETA, N1)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told TV Prva that Belgrade is under constant pressure to impose sanctions on Russia.

“We are constantly under pressure to impose sanctions. When you are under great pressure for a long time you get used to it. I don’t know what international officials would be doing if they weren’t exerting pressure, that’s their job”, he said.

According to Dacic, the West is exerting pressure because it wants everyone involved in politics in Belgrade to have the same attitude towards Russia.

“Our position is delicate because we have the issue of sovereignty and integrity and Russia is helping us defend that”, the Foreign Minister said.

International 

Petition Urges Kosovo Govt to Cut Period Products Tax (Prishtina Insight)

An online petition in Kosovo calling for the lowering or removal of VAT on menstrual products such as menstrual pads, tampons, cups and underwear, has received over 5,600 signatures in just three days.

The petition, organised by the women rights NGO Center for Information, Criticism and Action, QIKA, says many Kosovo women cannot afford to buy menstrual products for financial reasons, leading them to being “forced to use unsafe materials for their health during the menstrual cycle”.

Currently, Kosovo taxes period products at 18 per cent VAT. The activists want the government to tax period products the same way it taxes essential goods such as bread – at 8 per cent – or scrap the tax altogether.

They say the 18 per cent Value Added Tax levied on these items is an extra discriminatory burden on financially vulnerable women, leading to a phenomenon known as “period poverty”.

Leonida Molliqaj, from QIKA, told BIRN they expect to gather around 10,000 signatures soon, considering the petition has been well received in less than a week.

“After we have a considerable amount of signatures, we will sit with representatives of institutions to request the removal of the tax,” Molliqaj said, expressing concern that no political figure or important government official had given any statement regarding the issue.

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