UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 15, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani and Pendarovski with opposite stances on Open Balkans (RTK)
Prime Minister Kurti received the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski (media)
Kurti: Footnote does not reflect the reality of independent and European Kosovo (media)
Peach comes to the region for the first time: Britain wants a secure Western Balkans (Klan)
Donika Gervalla prohibited from entering Serbia (Express)
COVID-19: 11 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Problems, fears, and stances of Serbs in Kosovo, including on Kurti’s government (Radio KIM)
UNS and UNS in Kosovo protest over mistreatment of Radio Gorazdevac crew at Rugova Valley (Radio KIM, media)
Serbian Ministry of Culture condemned the intimidation of Radio Gorazdevac journalists (Kontakt plus radio)
Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo again (Radio KIM)
Christopher Hill: Attitude toward BiH crucial for US – Serbia further relations (Beta, N1)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Trade with Serbia could reach 4 bln dollars (Tanjug)
Vucic: Pristina has announced that it will not allow a referendum in Kosovo (KiM radio, FoNet, N1)
Jevtic: Osmani talks about discrimination, without mentioning Serbs is example of discrimination (Kosovo-online)
“Pendarovski on importance of regional cooperation, Osmani on dangers from Serbia and Russia” (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

My grandmother, Yugo-Nostalgia and an unfinished tale (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

Bulgaria Again Blocks North Macedonia, Albania, EU Accession Talks (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

WHO: ‘Omicron spreading at rate not seen with previous variants’ (Euronews)
Western Balkan countries play a valuable role in partnering with EEA to tackle environmental and climate challenges (eea.europa.eu)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani and Pendarovski with opposite stances on Open Balkans (RTK)

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani reiterated the position of Kosovo institutions towards the Open Balkans initiative, saying that it serves the interests of Serbia both politically and in terms of security and economy.

Osmani made these statements during a joint conference with the President of Northern Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski, after the latter gave his position on this initiative.

"We have already made our position on the Open Balkans initiative known. It is not built in accordance with the principles of neighborly cooperation: inclusiveness and does not accept the principle of equality. As long as Serbia does not recognize Kosovo and is not ready to treat it equally, and of course Serbia wants to use such an initiative for its hegemonic interests, Kosovo has great reservations in terms of political aspects," Osmani said.

"There are reservations regarding economic, security and last but not least, because the aim is to be used as a kind of antechamber which delays the process of European integration of Kosovo. We continue to see the Berlin Process as the same process of pushing our countries forward," she said.

However, Pendarovski said that despite his initial skepticism, his country's prime minister Zoran Zaev had eliminated his doubts about the initiative of the Western Balkan states.

"I was the first politician to express reservations about this. This initiative lacks something because instead of all the countries from the Western Balkans participating, only half participate. Until this initiative includes the six countries of the Western Balkans it will not succeed and my position and that of my country is that the "Open Balkans" can only be one of the instruments for improving regional, economic and trade cooperation and not political. It can be treated like this, and it will be treated like this. It will be just one aspect of the Berlin Process with a tendency to expand," Pendarovski said.

Prime Minister Kurti received the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti received today the President of the Republic of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski and his associates.

Good interstate relations between Kosovo and North Macedonia and their further advancement and good neighborliness were the main topic of the meeting.

There is a clear political will on the part of Kosovo to increase inter-institutional coordination and to further deepen our bilateral relations, said Prime Minister Kurti.

“He stressed the interest of the government of Kosovo to coordinate policies in the field of security, defense and foreign policy in line with the Euro-Atlantic orientation and in line with excellent trade relations.

President Pendarovski congratulated Prime Minister Kurti on ongoing reforms and Kosovo’s democratic progress.

He expressed concern about the rise of authoritarian tendencies in the Western Balkan countries, as well as the European Union’s approach to enlargement. The EU should reward democratic reforms, President Pendarovski stressed.

The Prime Minister raised concerns about the militarization of Serbia, which, as he said, poses a threat to the region and peace and stability in the Balkans.

It was stressed that both countries remain committed to common Euro-Atlantic goals and to preventing the influence of external destabilizing actors for the region, primarily from the malignant influence of the Russian Federation in the Western Balkans and elsewhere on the European continent and economic and trade influence of the People’s Republic of China, which aims to create financial dependence and through it influence political decision-making in the Western Balkan countries.

They discussed the importance of co-operation and co-ordination between the two countries with the US, the EU and other allies to prevent such an impact.

Interstate relations have significantly improved, as evidenced by the meeting of the two governments, held on September 16 in Skopje, where 11 new agreements were signed, bringing to 50 the number of agreements between the two countries.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti raised the issue of the “Kumanovo Case” in a meeting, in which case he expressed the concern of the families and requested information on the progress of the process that is now in the Supreme Court,” reads a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

Kurti: Footnote does not reflect the reality of independent and European Kosovo (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has expressed dissatisfaction with the reference to Kosovo in a footnote in the report "Promotion of local democracy," which was published today by the Congress of Regional and Local Authorities of the Council of Europe in Pristina.

He said that the use of the footnote about Kosovo in international forums bothers him, despite the fact that it is a bitter legacy from previous governments.

He said that the footnote does not represent the reality of the recognition of Kosovo's independence and its use in reports in Kosovo is a misuse and a misquotation, which should be corrected.

"We know that in various international and European forums we are annoyed by the footnote, this asterisk that is attached to the name of our country. We also know that it is a bitter legacy from previous governments but let me express my dissatisfaction with the way the asterisk is used because it does not reflect the reality of an independent and European Kosovo, recognized by most of the Council of European states, and neither that of the agreements inherited from the dialogue in Brussels on regional representation. In the report, an asterisk is used each time the name Kosovo is used, while there is only one reference at the beginning of the report where it explains the asterisk which is different from any other reference we have encountered. This is more serious, as it is happening in Kosovo and not somewhere in the international arena. I believe that this misquotation and misuse should be addressed and improved," Kurti said.

Speaking about local democracy, the head of government said that municipalities enjoy a high level of self-competence and good governance.

But he said the level of democracy in the municipalities in the north is more vulnerable, as citizens are under constant pressure. He added that they will improve this through the rule of law and dialogue with communities.

"Local democracy in Kosovo is going well. In general, municipalities in Kosovo enjoy a higher level of decentralization and better governance, compared to some EU member states, let alone the region. Our municipalities enjoy extensive competencies that are not found even in EU countries and have generally learned to manage their own affairs. On our part, we are committed to the fourth guarantee for municipalities, which enables greater autonomy for capital investments and implementation of projects for overall development, which should result in better performance," he said.

Through a video link, the Secretary General of the Council of European Congress Andreas Kiefer said that one of their tasks is to re-evaluate the standards of local democracy.

"One of the tasks of the congress is to re-evaluate the standards of local democracy. The key instrument is the European Charter and the creation of standards to protect local and regional rights. One of the main provisions is Article 3, which is the friendship of local authorities to regulate and manage a good part of public relations and under their responsibility, which is in the interest of the population," he stressed.

Part of this activity was also the Minister of Local Government Administration Elbert Krasniqi, who said that under the Kurti government, local self-government has received the attention and focus it deserves.

"Local self-government has finally received the attention and focus it deserves, both from the government and from international organizations. Such a thing is also a responsibility and requires maximum commitment and dedication to advance this field and improve the lives of our citizens," he said.

Whereas, the President of the Association of Municipalities in Kosovo Imri Ahmeti said that such projects are of special importance for municipalities.

"This project is of special importance to us, because among other things, it compares the legislation in force in Kosovo with the European charter for local self-government. It is important to emphasize that the congress is the drafter of the European charter for local self-government, therefore we believe that this institution is the authority that can make a credible and competent assessment," Ahmeti said.

The Congress continued its work in the second session where the challenges of local self-government were discussed in detail.

Peach comes to the region for the first time: Britain wants a secure Western Balkans (Klan)

The UK's special envoy for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, visited Sarajevo following his nomination by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He addressed the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina through a video, saying that the Prime Minister had appointed him to support Bosnia and the region.

“The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked me to take this role in order to support UK’s efforts across the region. The UK government wants to see a safe and secure Western Balkans with strong democratic institutions and robust rule of law,” he said.

Peach served as a high-ranking NATO officer for a long time.

“But in this position, I will be bringing back my personal experience with the best of the UK’s diplomatic, security and trade expertise to support political solutions and promote Euro-Atlantic integration,” he added.

During his visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Peach will be meeting with senior politicians, law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, and young civil society actors.

Donika Gervalla prohibited from entering Serbia (Express)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gervalla has been banned from entering Serbia.

Her planned visit to the Presevo Valley was canceled because the neighboring state did not issue her a visit permit.

The news was confirmed for Express by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We asked for permission. The visit failed due to Belgrade's unfair games. However, we will try to realize the visit on another date," it was said in their response.

Meanwhile, the director of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government Petar Petkovic, has stated that official Belgrade has approved the request of a member of the government cabinet of Prime Minister Kurti to visit Bujanovac and Presevo.

Petkovic spoke from Jarinje about the approval of the request for a visit to the Presevo Valley of a member of the Kosovo government, without specifying who it is about.

"Unlike Pristina, which prevents us from entering, Belgrade is behaving responsibly and we respect all agreements. Today we have approved the entry of a cabinet member of the Kurti government in Presevo and Bujanovac because we respect the agreements and freedom of movement and the agreement on official visits which clearly show that we want normalization of relations, we want to build peace and we want more relations. That is the key to peace and stability in the Western Balkans," Petkovic said.

The Express newspaper sent questions to the government spokesman, Perparim Kryeziu, but he did not answer until the text was published.

Petkovic returned today from the border point in Jarinje and was not allowed to enter Kosovo.

COVID-19: 11 new cases, no deaths (media)

11 new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 11 persons recovered during this time.

There are 314 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Problems, fears, and stances of Serbs in Kosovo, including on Kurti’s government (Radio KIM)

Increased mistrust of Serbs towards Kosovo Government, deteriorated security situation and uncertainty of the citizens, fear from final recognition of Kosovo by Serbia, planned migration of young people, but also insufficient critical thinking present in the media, these are some of stances Serb community expressed as part of annual Trend Analysis report, presented by Mitrovica-based non-governmental organization Aktiv in Gracanica yesterday, Radio KIM reports.

Aktiv representatives were not surprised by such stances of their respondents, in particular the ones regarding planned migration of Serb population from Kosovo. However, what is surprising and concerning was the fact that the largest number of Serbs from Kosovo during the coronavirus pandemic were vaccinated in the towns of central Serbia, instead at places where they live in Kosovo. Aktiv Executive Director, Miodrag Milicevic responsibility for this sees in the Kosovo Government.

“Pandemic was ought to be used aiming at improving general health as response to a global crisis, however, politicization in this process was in fact that big, that even today, consequence of it is that people go to vaccinate at some of the health institutions in central Serbia, instead of doing it in Kosovo”, Milicevic said, adding that the trust of the Serbs to the Government of Serbia has increased exactly because of its stance on the pandemic.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Emilija Rexhepi reacted to the findings of the report, Radio KIM said.

“Discrimination against the Serbs in the process of the pandemic neither existed nor it exists, I say so with responsibility. Same in the former, and current government. The fact that the Serbian List doesn’t cooperate with us, does not mean that Serbs in Kosovo should not cooperate with this government. They are responsible to their people for their political acts, they should raise their voice”, Rexhepi said.

After RTV KIM journalist recalled that in the first months of the pandemic Kosovo Government and the Ministry of Health didn’t send announcements and decisions on introducing epidemiological measures in Serbian language, but only in Albanian, Rexhepi admitted “that discrimination exists everywhere” but there were also issues with translation. And when it comes to vaccination, she said that “It were your presidents of the municipalities in cooperation with the Republic of Serbia to determine that place for vaccination of the population should be in health centers (in Serbia)”.

After being asked by RTV KIM journalist “why Kosovo police then was looking for “the vaccines from Serbia” in Strpce and does she think that Serbs from Kosovo wished to travel all the way to Kursumlija or Raska to be vaccinated, instead of doing it at their respective health houses in Kosovo”, Rexhepi responded that “at that moment our state was not ready for the vaccination of an entire population in Kosovo. We may not forbid a single citizen to go and get vaccinated”. However, she didn’t respond to the question why the Kosovo Government didn’t allow distribution of the vaccines from Serbia to the health institutions in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

“Kosovo Government is ethnocentric”

The data from analysis, at least those relating to the trust of the Serbian community in Kosovo Government came as no surprise for KoSSev Editor-in-Chief Tatjana Lazarevic. She underlined there is a high degree of segregation of the Serbian community, adding it is particularly noticeable, as she said, in “Kurti’s II government”.

“This is a government which says for itself it is democratic, but one people see it as ethnocentric, in a sense that its acts are perceived as utterly hypocritical. A populist (government). This has become already a standard word when someone from the north wishes to be police and describe what at the moment Mr. Prime Minister and Madam President are doing in Pristina. They use the word as if one would say ‘good afternoon’ and that it is a populist one, politics and government. They often describe rhetoric as nationalistic. I am telling you this based on my daily experience. Nor my personal perception runs contrary to this. Often I am even harsher, often to me what is nationalistic resembles chauvinistic, and this is what scares me very much. Alienated. A rather alienated government and threatening, and that is one of the crucial reasons why Serbs at this moment feel rather segregated in relation to the rest”, Lazarevic said.

Role of Serbian List

Radio KIM also said representatives of the Serbian List and Pristina chief negotiator in Brussels talks with Belgrade, Besnik Bislimi were invited to the presentation of the analysis concerning lives and problems of the Kosovo Serbs, but none of them were present.

Nenad Talic, former adviser in the Ministry for Communities and Return, justified inactivity of the Serbian List, saying that they do not have large influence over what was happening.

“Serbian list is a legitimate and legal representative of the Serbian people in Kosovo. Mistrust in the Serbian List, unfortunately, lies in its total marginalization to change anything on the ground”, Talic said.

Lazarevic, on the other hand, thinks the Serbian List could and must do more. “I really think there is room for meanuvaring, even when it seems to us there is none. If they were honest and wanted to do their job, they could do a lot, to change a lot for their people primarily, and also improve relations with partners with whom they are in the government all the time”, she said.

Emilija Rexhepi also criticized Serbian List, recalling that it has left government several times, but also due, as she said, its non-participation in the processes relating to the Serb community.

Trend Analysis – Serbian Community Stances indicated that almost half of the respondents said they do not see themselves in Kosovo in three years’ time. Mostly the youngest respondents gave such responses. High number of respondents, above 40 percent, think the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities will not be established, and a high percentage of respondents, 75 percent of them, fears possibility of delineation.

Trend Analysis report is available at: https://cutt.ly/dYCG9zJ

UNS and UNS in Kosovo protest over mistreatment of Radio Gorazdevac crew at Rugova Valley (Radio KIM, media)

Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) and its branch in Kosovo protested over obstruction of the work and unauthorized legitimization of Radio Gorazdevac crew, and demanded from the police to find persons who mistreated journalists, Serbian media report.

Editor-in-Chief of Radio Gorazdevac and recently elected president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia branch in Kosovo, Darko Dimitrijevic said that he and his colleague Milic Petrovic were mistreated and verbally harassed by two unknown persons in Rugova Valley, near Pec.

The Radio Gorazdevac team was there to do reportage on environmental pollution and had clear markings on their vests and vehicle indicating they are media workers. They also said they recorded in the valley earlier and there were no problems.

Dimitrijevic said that while recording at waterfalls in the valley, a vehicle stopped and a man wearing camouflage trousers got out of the vehicle. “He asked us in a loud voice and in Albanian who we are, and we told him - Radio Gorazdevac journalists. Then he became aggressive. Another man got out of the vehicle and stayed a few meters away from us. The man in camouflage trousers asked for our personal documents, and I refused to show them to him. I also told him I will call the police because he didn’t want to tell who he was (on what basis he asked them to show documents). Colleague Milic Petrovic came and showed him press card. We had visible press markings on the vehicle, vests and camera. I have asked him repeatedly to tell us who he was, but he refused. Based on his reaction, I had the impression he was going to hit me. It lasted for a couple of minutes, after that they slammed the door of the car angrily and left”, Dimitrijevic said.

He said the case was reported to the police station in Pec.

“The police took our statement, and informed the basic prosecution in Pec. However, the prosecutor in Pec said that since we were not physically assaulted there are no elements for proceeding, there was no harassment of the journalists and there was no obstruction of our work”, Dimitrijevic added.

UNS and its branch in Kosovo also requested prosecution to reconsider their decision not to investigate the case, adding that this is about an attempt to intimidate journalists by persons whose identity must be determined by the police.

Serbian Ministry of Culture condemned the intimidation of Radio Gorazdevac journalists (Kontakt plus radio)

The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia condemns the obstruction of work and intimidation of radio Gorazdevac journalist team, which included the editor-in-chief of this media, Darko Dimitrijevic, and cameraman Milic Petrovic, reported Kontakt plus radio.

"Such actions of harassing journalists, endangering their safety and obstructing them in the performance of their duties are just another in a series of pressures on the Serbian-language media in Kosovo and Metohija, who face numerous problems every day," the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Government of Serbia said in a statement.

The Ministry emphasizes that it is necessary to determine the identity of persons who obstructed journalists and appeals to international institutions in Kosovo to condemn such phenomena and make additional efforts to improve the protection of Serbian media journalists in Kosovo, who are doing their job in a constant atmosphere of pressures and threats, cited the radio.

Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo again (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic was banned from entering Kosovo by Pristina authorities again, Radio KIM reports.

This is the sixth time since the beginning of the year that Petkovic is banned from entering Kosovo.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija reacting to the ban said that this time “Pristina authorities went a step further in violating the agreement as they didn’t even by email inform Belgrade that the visit was not possible, but did it at Jarinje crossing point”.

RTS earlier said it has learnt that Belgrade approved today’s visit to Bujanovac to the minister from Kosovo Government.

Kosovo-online portal later reported that Kosovo Foreign Ministry confirmed Petkovic’s visit was not allowed.

Christopher Hill: Attitude toward BiH crucial for US – Serbia further relations (Beta, N1)

Christopher Hill, the nominee for US Ambassador to Serbia, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee late on Tuesday there were many issues he worried about Serbia and the Balkans, adding that Belgrade's attitude towards Bosnia and Herzegovina would be crucial for future relations between the US and Serbia and added that mutual recognition between Belgrade and Pristina was the best way for solving the issue, reported N1.

“Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has clearly said that there will be no changes (in Belgrade’s position). He absolutely supports the continuation of the work of these institutions (at the level of BiH),” the American diplomat said.

Hill added he thought the US should work closely with Serbia on the issue of BiH and said he expected “significant talks” in Belgrade on the common interests of the two countries to make BiH a successful state, adding “we should clearly say that the future of the Republika Srpska is in BiH. I think we can find a common language with Serbia’s government and leadership”.

Regarding the Kosovo issue, Hill said there was a “frustrating lack of progress in the negotiations” and added that Serbia should normalise relations with Kosovo to become an EU member.

“Mutual recognition is the best way to progress, as President Joseph Biden said,” Hill said, adding “the EU has clearly told Serbia that it does not want to import the problems that the candidates have with their neighbors and that good neighbourly relations are necessary”.

Hill also said he would support Serbia’s efforts to implement reforms, fight corruption and strengthen democratic institutions.

He added he would “try to help Serbia build resistance to malignant external influences”, including Russian and Chinese.

“The United States does not want to see the strengthening of Russian influence in Belgrade. Serbia is buying military equipment and that is necessary, but it is worried that it is procuring weapons from Russia. Also, in order to satisfy the great infrastructural needs, Serbia is turning to China. We need to show Serbia that we offer a better model, that we are a better alternative than Russia and China,” he said.

The American diplomat also said that he would support Serbia in the implementation of important reforms, that he would insist on the importance of media freedom and support civil society and strive to encourage transparent and fair elections in April next year.

“If elected, I will try to emphasise the importance of media freedom and support the key role of civil society in Serbia. A diverse political scene and free and independent media are key to Serbia’s success as a European democracy,” Hill said.

“Serbia is key to stability and progress in the Western Balkans. Serbia’s progress is key to achieving the US strategic goal of the revitalisation of our European alliances,” he added.

Hill said that the US would remain committed to deepening bilateral relations with Serbia through further political, economic and security cooperation, at a time when the two countries are marking 140 years of diplomatic relations.

“The United States and its European partners continue to support the development of Serbia as a modern, prosperous European country. The US supports Serbia’s strategic priority, its membership in the EU, but Belgrade must accelerate reforms to meet EU standards,” he said.

He added that Serbia, with the support of the USA, “made big steps”, especially in the economy and fiscal policy, but that there is still something to do, adding he would “continue to help American companies explore these possibilities”.

Hill also said that Serbia was a US important partner in security, especially through a 15-year partnership with the Ohio National Guard.

“Although not a member of NATO, Serbia contributes to global security through the Partnership for Peace,” said the nominee for US ambassador to Belgrade.

Hill said that he would insist on a full investigation into the killing of the Kosovo-American Bytiqi brothers in 1999, by keeping up the pressure on the Serbian government to bring those responsible to justice.

See at: https://bit.ly/3IQqn62

Botsan-Kharchenko: Trade with Serbia could reach 4 bln dollars (Tanjug)

Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko on Tuesday said the more than satisfactory relationship between Serbia and Russia was still not on the desired level and added that their annual bilateral trade volume would soon reach the pre-pandemic level of over 3 bln dollars and could realistically rise to 4 bln dollars.

As a result of cooperation with Moscow, Serbia has become a gas transit country, which has boosted its authority, reputation, and economic opportunities in Europe, Botsan-Kharchenko said in an on-line lecture titled The Russian-Serbian Strategic Partnership and the Situation in the Balkans.

He said the two countries also maintained a special friendly relationship with "a special character" in culture and when it comes to cherishing common historical values and actively preventing a rewriting of WWII-related facts, which he said was "a part of a Western geopolitical project aimed at reducing Russia's global influence and authority."

Serbia's support is also important to us, Botsan-Kharchenko said, noting that the cooperation with Serbia, as well as joint bilateral activities in the international arena, were significant as well.

"We are together in the UN; we always provide full support to Serbia in prevention of various resolutions that are attempts of rewriting history and aim to distort the past. We protect the UN's principles, and we disagree with the practice of rules being made up by several states to define international law and activities, rather than follow the UN Charter," the ambassador said.

He said friendly and brotherly cooperation with Serbia also existed when it came to the Kosovo issue.

See at: https://bit.ly/3s90qJi

Vucic: Pristina has announced that it will not allow a referendum in Kosovo (KiM radio, FoNet, N1)

At the session of the Government of Serbia, Vucic said that Belgrade would talk to Brussels to convince Pristina to enable citizens of Serbian nationality to vote, reported KiM radio.

He emphasized that the Kosovo authorities "reject any kind of dialogue" and any idea to implement the Brussels Agreement, especially when it comes to the Community of Serbian Municipalities, and that they are not allowing officials from Belgrade to enter the territory of Kosovo.

He assessed that this encounters with growing condemnation from the international community, but that it is not enough, "because it is still their child, who must be guarded, rocked and taken care of.

He said that the region is following Serbia's progress with special attention, and that the progress and the growing economic strength, and GDP growth are watched with "partial desire not to go at that speed, especially when it comes to strengthening our army".

Due to that strengthening, he assessed that Zagreb, Pristina and "parts of political Sarajevo" express dissatisfaction.

Vucic said that it is important for Serbia to adhere to its policy, to respect the Dayton Agreement, the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the integrity of the Republika Srpska within BiH.

He said that he was against any sanctions against anyone in the Republika Srpska and that he would suggest that the Government officially come out with such an attitude, adding that there would never be a blockade on the Drina River again

He pointed out that sanctions have never brought anyone any good and that, if the Government agrees, Serbia will not impose sanctions on anyone from Republika Srpska.

"There will never be a blockade on the Drina again, as there were, and we will not treat the leadership of the Republika Srpska as 20 and more years ago. The Government decides on that, but for me, such sanctions, if there are any, will not exist," said Vucic.

Jevtic: Osmani talks about discrimination, without mentioning Serbs is example of discrimination (Kosovo-online)

Strpce mayor and Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic reacted to the statement of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani that there are many cases of discrimination against Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo, without mentioning Serb community living in Kosovo, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Jevtic wrote on Twitter, this is yet another concrete example of discrimination by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.

“Specific example of discrimination by @VjosaOsmaniPRKS: Talking about discrimination against minority communities and not mentioning the Serb community is another picture of the attitude of institutions in Kosovo towards Serbs and ignoring the fact that Serbs live in Kosovo!”, Jevtic wrote on Twitter.

“Pendarovski on importance of regional cooperation, Osmani on dangers from Serbia and Russia” (Kosovo-online)

North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski who is officially visiting Kosovo called today for continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, adding his country supports a mutual solution that will contribute to regional stability and will not jeopardize security of neighboring countries, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Speaking in a joint press conference with his Kosovo counterpart, Vjosa Osmani, Pendarovski said that regional cooperation was very important, and North Macedonia was ready to actively contribute to the development of the region, infrastructural and economic prosperity as well as that it supports accession of Kosovo to regional initiatives and forums.

He also underlined that “Open Balkan” initiative was not an alternative of Western Balkans accession to the EU, and it can be successful only if, as he said, all the countries get involved in this process, as well as that he was reserved towards this initiative ever since it was launched in 2019.

On the other hand, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said she expects further support of North Macedonia in strengthening international subjectivity of Kosovo, adding there is a strong willingness of the side of Kosovo to boost cooperation with North Macedonia, aiming at further deepening relations.

“Kosovo and our region are still facing major security challenges because of Russian destabilizing tendencies through Serbia. We are committed to working with all our international partners in order to prevent such destabilizing influences. Our region should undertake concrete steps towards European integration and peace, but this can’t be achieved if the influence of Russia penetrates through Serbia as its springboard (…)”, Osmani is quoted as saying by the portal.

Opinion

My grandmother, Yugo-Nostalgia and an unfinished tale (Kosovo 2.0)

Coming of age in post-war Yugoslavia, my grandmother had seen herself as an intrinsic part of the socialist social fabric. How do I make sense of her world today?

By the time I came to know her, my grandmother had become a difficult woman. She came across as stern: She had a serious look about her, a woman not to be messed with. In Albanian we have an expression, ‘zonjë e randë,’ a miserly translation of which would be ‘a heavy lady,’ but a closer approximation would be a dignified lady. That is what my grandmother was: A difficult, dignified, proud woman; prim and coiffed even as she led the life of a recluse.

International

Bulgaria Again Blocks North Macedonia, Albania, EU Accession Talks (Balkan Insight)

Instead, by the end of this year, the EU's General Affairs Council expects the start of long-awaited EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia to happen “as soon as possible”.

Dashing hopes that a date for the start to EU accession talks for North Macedonia and Albania could be set before year’s end, EU Foreign and European affairs ministers on Tuesday again failed to set a date, and did not give a specific time frame for when it might happen.

“The Council looks forward to the holding of the first intergovernmental conference [with Albania and North Macedonia] as soon as possible,” read the vaguely worded conclusions on enlargement from Tuesday’s General Affairs Council, which took place ahead of the European Council due on Thursday.

Humanitarian/Development

WHO: ‘Omicron spreading at rate not seen with previous variants’ (Euronews)

The World Health Organization has warned Omicron is “spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant”, as it called on the world to use all tools available to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at a media briefing WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. It’s not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well.”

He once again highlighted vaccine inequity, with many Western countries racing to roll out vaccine booster jab campaigns while much of the poorer world still hasn’t gotten a first jab to much of the population.