Albanian Language Media:

• Another patient succumbs to the coronavirus at Prishtina hospital (media)
• Ahmeti: Situation in the capital under control (Klan)
• LDK’s Hoti criticises PM Kurti of “partial legal initiatives” (media)
• German diplomat: U.S. need to be fair on Pristina-Belgrade dealings (Express)
• Kurti: Institutions to step up reactions against domestic violence (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Irinej: We can pray to God from home too, follow experts' advice (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• “Decisions of government and ministries must be available in Serbian language as well” (Radio KIM)
• 11 new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns UN about coronavirus press freedom violations (Beta, AFP, N1)
• EFJ warns of reporting restrictions during coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• US Ambassador to Serbia: We’ll write down new chapter of our friendship (FoNet, N1)
• Detention of Marko Rosic extended for two more months (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Pandemic Adds Fresh Uncertainty to Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue (Balkan Insight) 
• Why the EU should lead talks between Kosovo and Serbia (ecfr.eu)

International:

• Balkan Economies Expected to Contract in Pandemic, IMF warns (Balkan Insight)
• Várhelyi: New methodology has put the enlargement policy back on track (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Staying at home increased cases of domestic violence (RTK)

 

 

Albanian Language Media

 

Another patient succumbs to the coronavirus at Prishtina hospital (media)

Most news websites report that a 73-year-old woman has succumbed to the coronavirus at Prishtina Hospital today. The Ministry of Health said in a statement that this marks the tenth fatality from COVID – 19 in Kosovo so far. The patient was reported to have other underlying conditions.

Ahmeti: Situation in the capital under control (Klan)

Pristina Mayor, Shpend Ahmeti said today that a difficult economic situation has been created due to the Covid-19. He added that political parties should sit and reach a compromise in order to reach a solution.

“There is nothing worse in times of the panic for citizens to hear voices who make different decisions. They are irritated with politics today. This should not continue,” he said.

“There is loss of jobs and there is less trade. It is required from us as a state to invest in the economy. We have undertaken some measures at the municipality. We have gastronomy as priority. There are many cafeterias that we immediately shut down, and we have to see how we can help them.”

Ahmeti said he is very pleased with awareness of the citizens at the time of pandemics.

“Number at the capital is manageable, we have 50 infected in total. We are working these days to look after the self-isolated people. With the measures that we undertook, starting from disinfection of entrances and streets, I believe we kept cases under control,” Ahmeti said.

“Decisions had their own effect. I do not remember seeing Pristina with less people than yesterday. I am happy to be mayor of Pristina,” Ahmeti said.

LDK’s Hoti criticises PM Kurti of “partial legal initiatives” (media)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) deputy leader, Avdullah Hoti, took to Facebook today to accuse Prime Minister Albin Kurti of what he called “partial legal initiatives aimed at covering the violation of human rights”. According to Hoti, Kurti is taking Kosovo’s economy to bankruptcy and is derailing the Kosovo Assembly. 

“Kosovo needs a government with full constitutional competencies; a legitimate government that assumes the responsibility to create the required societal consensus for mobilising all the potential, in and outside Kosovo, to overcome the economic and social consequences from the pandemic,” Hoti said.

German diplomat: U.S. need to be fair on Pristina-Belgrade dealings (Express)

Necessity of a closer coordination between the U.S. and the EU with regards to Kosovo, was stressed by Boris Ruge, deputy chair of the Munich Conference and German diplomat. Commenting on the recent letter of U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel and Senator Bob Menendez, sent to U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which they expressed concern about Administration’s heavy-handed tactics with Kosovo, Ruge wrote:

“Important points made by @RepEliotEngel and @SenatorMenendez on need for close coordination between #US and #EU efforts regarding #Kosovo and the need for the US to be balanced & fair in its dealings with Pristina & Belgrade,” Ruge tweeted. 

Kurti: Institutions to step up reactions against domestic violence (media)

Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, through a video message on Facebook today, condemned the increasing number of cases of domestic violence, several news websites report. He said domestic violence must be reported and that state institutions need to step up their reaction to such cases.

“As heads of institutions we are concerned by the fact that there has been an increase in domestic violence as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Violence has never been an excuse. We find it unacceptable and we condemn it. Our government has increased the budget for €900.000 for safe houses for the survivors of violence. We are looking into other ways of increasing program funds against domestic violence in all its forms: physical, mental or sexual,” Kurti said. “Domestic violence must be reported, and the respective institutions must step up their reactions to such cases. Every case of violence is an emergency case. The virus cannot prolong the prevention and condemnation of violence for later.”

 

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Irinej: We can pray to God from home too, follow experts' advice (Tanjug, B92, RTS)

The patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej instructed the believers to accept what the medical experts say and to follow these instructions

"It's nice to come to church for the holiday, but we can pray to God in our home, too," he stated.

He urged believers to respect the decisions of the medical profession.

"I encourage our people to embrace what people from the medical profession say, who know the problem that has come down to us. To adhere to these instructions. It's nice to come to the big holidays at church, but this is an exceptional moment in our lives. We can pray to God also in our homes, in our home church. Because, it is better at home to direct your thoughts and your desires and your heart towards the church than to be in the church, and I do not know what else to think. The latter is much better", he said. Patriarch of Serbia Irinej said that this year we will celebrate Easter in special conditions.

"Therefore, to pray to God, to think about the feast and its significance, we can do it in our own home. Of course, all this will pass, so we will pray to God in our home and in the churches," Irinej said.

The Serbian Patriarch shed light on the dilemmas and reflections of the Holy Synod of the SPC regarding the Easter celebration under COVID-19 contagion, but reiterated that the SPC would respect the advice of experts.

"It is difficult to maintain order when the great mass of people come to the churches. But we would be able to do that, given that the people have accepted the invitation to refrain from communication, so there may not be so many worshipers. It is perfectly possible to carry out this to make the distance satisfactory, and those who are in crowds should remain outside, as is the case with Russians and some other peoples. So, both sides are satisfied," he said.

"However, we accept the standpoint of the people who are involved in the matter (concerning the coronavirus infection), and we will respect it," the Patriarch said.

https://bit.ly/2KeNwSx

“Decisions of government and ministries must be available in Serbian language as well” (Radio KIM)

The latest decision of the Kosovo Ministry of Health on measures to restrict the movement that entered into force on April 15 was published in the Albanian language only, without translation into Serbian which is also an official language in Kosovo, NGO Aktiv said, Radio KIM reports.

Aktiv, an NGO from northern Kosovo, said that due to the lack of official version of the translation, contradictory information started circulating in the public regarding movement restrictions and foreseen financial fees for its violation.

“Unfortunately, members of the Serb and other non-majority communities in Kosovo do not have verified information about the measures in place due to the lack of the official translation of the decisions into Serbian language. Announcing the measures to restrict the movement in the Albanian language exclusively represents a violation of the right to official use of the Serbian language and equality of the citizens before the law,” Aktiv underscored.

In addition to this, by being deprived of the translation into Serbian language of the Ministry of Health decision to restrict the movement, members of the Serbian community are at risk to be punished for violating the measures they could not be timely and correctly informed about.

“NGO Aktiv calls upon the Kosovo Government to ensure translation into Serbian language within the shortest deadline of all decisions of the Ministry of Health related to the restriction of the movement, valid since April 15. The Kosovo police is urged to cease issuing punitive measures for eventual violation of the new movement restrictions until the translation of all decisions into Serbian language is ensured.”

Aktiv also underlined that the Kosovo Government should make sure that all future decisions related to fighting spread of Covid-19 should be published at the same time in Albanian and Serbian languages, as official languages that have equal status in Kosovo.   

11 new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

11 new cases of Covid-19 infection were registered in northern Kosovo today, and one person was healed, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Out of 11 new registered cases, 4 are in Zubin Potok, 3 in Zvecan, 2 in Mitrovica North and 2 in Leposavic.

The patient who has recovered is from Mitrovica North, epidemiologist Aleksandar Antonijevic said.

Since pandemic started in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo there were 69 infected persons. Out of this number 29 cases are in Mitrovica North, 18 in Zvecan, 13 in Zubin Potok, 8 in Leposavic and 1 in central Kosovo.

Two patients passed away, from Leposavic and Mitrovica North, while four patients were healed.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns UN about coronavirus press freedom violations (Beta, AFP, N1)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wrote to two UN’s special rapporteurs asking them to formally condemn governments that were violating the right to information during the coronavirus epidemic and putting public health and lives in danger both in their own countries and the rest of the world.

In the letters sent to the special rapporteur on the right to health, the Lithuanian Dainius Pūras, and to the special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the American David Kaye, RSF asked them to condemn governments that had either used the epidemic as grounds for violating the right to information or had done so in spite of it.

The facts reported in the letter have been gathered by a new RSF tool called Tracker-19, which aims to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic’s consequences for journalism, document state censorship and deliberate disinformation, and their impact on the right to reliable news and information.

The tool also revokes the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The RSF letter lists cases of censorship, arbitrary detention, harassment or violence against journalists, and disturbing legislative development in a total of 38 countries. The list is not exhaustive.

RSF asked the special rapporteurs to issue a warning and an “urgent appeal” to each country where press freedom violations jeopardising the right to health have been observed.

The aim is to obtain concrete measures, such as the release of imprisoned journalists. The organisation recalls a joint statement by David Kaye, Harlem Désir (the OSCE representative on freedom of the media) and Edison Lanza (the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights special rapporteur for freedom of expression) about the COVID-19 pandemic issued on 19 March, stressing the importance of truthful information by governments, protecting the work of journalists, and combatting disinformation.

RSF’s letter also calls on the special rapporteurs to publicly proclaim that the right to information is “inherent” to the right to health, that the former is an essential component of the latter, that they are necessarily and closely linked and inseparable.

It adds that recognising the right to information as inherent to the right to health would extend the former’s scope, especially when safeguarding public health is at issue, and would help to combat both disinformation and arbitrary restrictions on information more effectively.

RSF quoted its secretary-general Christophe Deloire as saying that “the coronavirus epidemic requires respect for the principles of press freedom and the right to information.”

He added that “as the Declaration on Information and Democracy says, ‘the right to information consists of the freedom to seek, receive and access reliable information.’ Violating this right endangers the health and even the lives of human beings. We call on the UN’s institutions to publicly denounce governments that violate this right.”

https://bit.ly/2xBNPV1

EFJ warns of reporting restrictions during coronavirus pandemic (N1)

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) warned on Thursday of problems journalists are facing while reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, adding that restrictions are being imposed for news conferences under the pretext of ensuring the safety of journalists.

“There are still problems in some European countries. In Serbia for example, journalists have to send their questions in writing beforehand. This is not an acceptable alternative to physical press conferences. Once again, we remind governments that the pandemic must not be used to restrict the free flow of information,” EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez is quoted as saying in a press release. 

He added that “governments are obligated to provide reliable information in accessible formats to all. The right of access to information means that governments must be making exceptional efforts to protect the work of journalists”.

See at: https://bit.ly/2K6f1xI

US Ambassador to Serbia: We’ll write down new chapter of our friendship (FoNet, N1)

The US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey tweeted on Wednesday that he had "a great meeting" with several country’s officials about Washington – Belgrade relationship, FoNet news agency reported.

Godfrey talked with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and Minister of Administration Branko Ruzic as well as with Vladimir Marinkovic, a Parliament deputy speaker, on the occasion of the opening of Serb-American Academy for Leaders.

"We’ll together be stronger than COVID-19 and will proudly write down a new chapter of our friendship,” the ambassador said.

"My thanks to the Serb-American Friendship Association for the opportunity to address the Academy attendees,” he added.

See at: https://bit.ly/34JX41p

Detention of Marko Rosic extended for two more months (Kosovo-online)

The Special Court in Pristina has extended detention of Marko Rosic from Mitrovica North for two more months, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Rosic is accused of involvement in the murder of the leader of Civic Initiative Freedom, Democracy, Justice (SDP) Oliver Ivanovic.

Rosic’s defense lawyer Mahmut Halimi said he will file a complaint regarding the decision, adding that “judging on the previous experience he has no expectations that decision would change.”

 

 

 

Opinion 

 

Pandemic Adds Fresh Uncertainty to Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue (Balkan Insight) 

As Kosovo leaders wrestle for control over stalled talks with Serbia, analysts see no room for the dialogue process to resume until the COVID-19 outbreak is over.

While all eyes remain fixed on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Kosovo has not left its political uncertainties – and battles – behind for a second since the health crisis started.

First came the collapse of Albin Kurti’s government after just 51 days in office, leaving many important processes hanging in the balance.

Then came the appointment of Slovak diplomat Miroslav Lajcak as the EU’s envoy to the Kosovo-Serbia talks last week.

This latest development has locked President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Kurti in another tug-of-war.

Meanwhile analysts see no actual likelihood of a swift resumption of the stalled dialogue process with Serbia.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2Va2m3c

Why the EU should lead talks between Kosovo and Serbia (ecfr.eu)

An escalation of disagreements over the proposed Kosovo-Serbia land swap could take on a regional dimension and pose a security threat to Europe.  

The covid-19 pandemic has not spared Kosovo or the wider Western Balkans. The country’s government initially handled the crisis in an efficient and timely manner, giving citizens relative confidence that they might avoid disaster. But many had not counted on the emergence of obstructionist political parties backed by an even more uncooperative president. And the pandemic is not the only crisis that looms large in the minds of Kosovo’s citizens. They also have to contend with a fierce internal political conflict and a state-building dispute that has deepened the divide in the transatlantic relationship.

The newly formed governing coalition of Vetevendosje and the Kosovo Democratic League (LDK), led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, came to power earlier this year hoping to implement an ambitious reform agenda that focused on jobs and justice. Yet it also had to deal with several controversies, not least an effort to remove a 100 percent tariff on Serbian imports – which its predecessor imposed in response to Serbia’s non-recognition of Kosovo, leading to the collapse of an EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2VvVnkc

International

 

Balkan Economies Expected to Contract in Pandemic, IMF warns (Balkan Insight)

Economies in the region will likely decrease by between 3 and 10 per cent as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with Greece suffering by far the biggest fall, IMF report says. 

The “World Economic Outlook”, the latest report of the IMF about the global economic situation, predicts sharp contractions in most Balkan economies as a result of the pandemic in line with the severe downturn expected in the rest of the European and world economies.

See at: https://bit.ly/2VDJh8K

Várhelyi: New methodology has put the enlargement policy back on track (EWB)

Following the successful conclusion to the first phase of the accession process of North Macedonia and Albania, Commission is now working on the Enlargement Package for the Western Balkans, which is expected in June, as well as economic plan for the region, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi says for our portal.

Previous weeks have been packed with events for the enlargement wing of the European Commission: during what now seems to have been the worst week for the continent hit with the Coronavirus, EU Member States gave the green light for the beginning of accession talk with Albania and North Macedonia. The Commission deserves most of the credit for this success, with its proposal for the new enlargement methodology and updated reports on the progress of Skopje and Tirana widely seen as instrumental for the final compromise.

Meanwhile, the “geo-political Commission” seems to be facing renewed challenges in the region it wants to integrate at the time when medical assistance is being increasingly politicised. In his first interview for EWB since becoming Commissioner, Mr Várhelyi answers our questions on the recent developments in the relationship between the EU and the Western Balkans.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2K79bvV

Humanitarian/Development

 

Staying at home increased cases of domestic violence (RTK)

The campaign “If you are a victim of domestic violence, do not remain silent, report it,” has started in Kosovo.

Albulena Haxhiu, Acting Minister of Justice said legislation in power penalizes domestic violence and all those who use violence will be punished.

“Institutions have called for us to stay at home these days. Their call must be respected. On the other hand, under these circumstances the heaviest burden may fall on girls and women. Being locked up with the abuser is worse than imprisonment, because they can take advantage of the situation created so as not to allow their partners to go out and ask for help,” Haxhiu said through a video message.

According to Vlora Nushi, Director of the UN Women, there is a thirty percent increase of violence during the isolation.

She said domestic violence cases are more reported in urban areas. “In rural zones, they do not have the possibility to report. We will help in this direction,” Nushi told RTK.