UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Kosovo is a good example of democracy (RFE)
Blinken congratulates people of Kosovo on 15th anniversary of independence (media)
EU: Kurti and Vucic will meet in Brussels on February 27 (media)
Hovenier congratulates Kosovo on 15th anniversary of independence (media)
Sandulovic: On behalf of Serbia, I apologise for the crimes against you (Kosovapress)
Germans imply talks on French-German plan at Munich Security Conference (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

EC says Vucic, Kurti confirmed meeting in Brussels next week on 27 February (N1)
Vucic: We will announce good news on Kosovo-Metohija today and in seven days (Tanjug)
Pristina authorities marked the 15th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence (N1)
Dalibor Jevtic: The position of Serbs in Kosovo has never been worse (RTS, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
Rasic: Agreement soon, Belgrade and Pristina have little room for "no" (N1, KoSSev, KiM radio)
Amendment by the Greens: EULEX to become a response unit in the north of Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)
Rama: Kurti and I have the same goal - for the Albanians to unite and they must, but we have different approaches to get there (KoSSev, Danas, Blic)

International:

It’s Official: One Serbian diplomat per year to join the State Department for up to 12 months (thepavlovictoday.com)
Week in Review: Spies, Coups and Earthquakes (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Kosovo is a good example of democracy (RFE)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on the 15th anniversary of independence saying that Kosovo is a good example of democracy “in this problematic region”. “Our main duty when the 20th anniversary comes is to multiply the reasons for young women and men to choose Kosovo for a better professional future and for a better life,” Kurti told the government meeting today.

Kurti said that Kosovo is a project of peace and that it contributes and guarantees peace. He mentioned two responsibilities that every citizen of Kosovo should have: legacy and creating a better country for the new generations.

“Today on the 15th anniversary of independence, it is appropriate to take pride in something that Kosovo does very well, and this concerns the rights we give to the ethnic minorities. Nowhere in Europe do minorities enjoy rights at every level as in Kosovo. It is our duty to make sure that this balance is not ruined by experimenting with formulas that have not produced good results wherever they were tested,” Kurti said.

Blinken congratulates people of Kosovo on 15th anniversary of independence (media)

All news websites cover the statement by U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony J. Blinken, congratulating the people of Kosovo on the 15th anniversary of independence.

“On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Kosovo as you celebrate your fifteenth anniversary as a sovereign, independent state. This year the United States and Kosovo reaffirmed our strong partnership and shared commitment to Kosovo’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity as we meet new challenges in the European security environment. Kosovo’s progress over fifteen years of independence is remarkable for its great strides in developing a stable, multiethnic, inclusive democracy.”

“Kosovo is one of the youngest countries in the world; its citizens are rightly proud of the progress Kosovo has made in promoting and advancing democratic values and strengthening institutions to deliver good governance, rule of law, and economic opportunity for all Kosovans. We are deeply grateful for Kosovo’s generous hosting of relocated Afghans, Kosovo’s firm response to Russia’s brutal, unprovoked war against Ukraine, and for assisting journalists and others who sought refuge in your country.”

“The enduring partnership between the United States and Kosovo is rooted in the mutual understanding, values, and friendship between our people. I look forward to continued collaboration on our shared priorities to strengthen security and stability in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. Normalization of relations with Serbia, centered on eventual mutual recognition, remains essential to this. The agreement recently proposed under the EU-facilitated Dialogue has our strong support and will greatly advance your country toward greater regional stability and European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Congratulations again to all the people of Kosovo—our friend, partner, and ally—on this important day. I wish you a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.”

EU: Kurti and Vucic will meet in Brussels on February 27 (media)

The high-level meeting within the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will take place on February 27 in Brussels, the European Union (EU) has confirmed.

This was announced in a notice released on the EU website. There it becomes known that both Kurti and Vucic have already confirmed their participation.

As announced, Borrell together with the European mediator, Miroslav Lacak, will first hold separate meetings with the leaders, followed by a joint meeting.

The focus of the meeting will be the EU's proposal for the normalization of relations.

"On Monday, February 27, High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell will convene a high-level meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Brussels.

Hovenier congratulates Kosovo on 15th anniversary of independence (media)

United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, said in a Twitter post today “Happy Independence Day, Kosovo! I’ve had the privilege & honor to be a part of our shared history, watching Kosovo make great strides over the past 15 years. The United States is proud of our early and enduring support for & partnership with the Kosovan people.”

Sandulovic: On behalf of Serbia, I apologise for the crimes against you (Kosovapress)

Nikola Sandulovic, candidate for President of Serbia, who is staying for an official visit to Kosovo, paid homage at the memorial in Prekaz today. Accompanied by Kosovo’s leaders, Sandulovic said he will do everything to make sure that the perpetrators of this atrocity against the Albanians are brought to trial.

“It is a difficult day and a great honour that was given to me by this government, with your honourable President and Prime Minister, to enable me on behalf of the honest Serbia to apologise for all crimes that Milosevic committed against you … God give us all the deserved peace, thank you,” Sandulovic said.

Germans imply talks on French-German plan at Munich Security Conference (Express)

The Press and Information Office of the German Federal Government said in a statement to the news website that seeing the latest reactions to the French-German proposal, Berlin looks forward to discussions on moving forward with the proposal during the Security Conference in Munich. “Seeing the latest reactions to the proposal, we look forward to pushing forward the initiative through discussions on the margins of the Munich Security Conference,” they said.

The spokesperson said that “the objective is to hold talks for the fast implementation of the agreement”. It was also added that the escalation in the north of Kosovo in the last months has shown that “there is an urgent need to change the dynamic between Serbia and Kosovo”.

“A new sustainable basis is needed for relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The European proposal for a ‘Basic Agreement’, based on the French-German initiative, provides this basis,” the spokesperson added.

Serbian Language Media

EC says Vucic, Kurti confirmed meeting in Brussels next week on 27 February (N1)

Top state officials from Belgrade and Pristina have accepted an invitation to a meeting in Brussels from the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell on Monday, the European Commission said in a press release on Friday.

It said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti both confirmed their participation in the high-level meeting to be convened by the High Representative on Monday, February 27.

“The High Representative, supported by EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, will hold separate meetings with the leaders, followed by a joint meeting. The meeting will focus on the EU Proposal on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia,” the press release said.

Vucic: We will announce good news on Kosovo-Metohija today and in seven days (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has arrived in Munich for the 59th Munich Security Conference, said a hectic day full of surprises was ahead of him but that he believed he would succeed in a fight for Serbian interests and be able to announce good news on Kosovo-Metohija during the day and in seven days, reported agency Tanjug.

In a video posted on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram profile, Vucic noted that February 17 marked 15 years since the so-called Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

He announced he would meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Munich during the conference.

He said he would also hold a series of meetings with international officials including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borell, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Pristina authorities marked the 15th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence (N1)

The authorities in Pristina marked the 15th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence with two separate ceremonies led by the president and prime minister, reported N1.

President Vjosa Osmani attended a flag-raising ceremony in front of parliament with other state officials and visiting Albanian President Bajram Begaj. Osmani published a picture of the ceremony on her Instagram profile with the caption: "The Republic of Kosovo is eternal!"

Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government held a formal cabinet meeting to mark the anniversary with Kurti saying that Kosovo is an example of democracy in the Balkans. “Kosovo is a democratic example in a region as problematic as the Balkans thanks to you. Our Kosovo is modeled by its citizens. Our independence is the outcome of centuries of history, we have a long history of co-existence,” he added.

Kosovo Serbs who spoke to N1 said that their living standards have grown worse since Pristina declared independence in 2008 with a loss of many rights, including freedom of movement.

Kosovo was under UN administration following the end of the NATO air campaign in 1999 and the signing of the Kumanovo agreement to withdraw all Serbian military and police forces from the southern Serbian province. The Kosovo Parliament declared independence on February 17, 2008 with all 109 MPs present at the sitting voting yes. Kosovo was recognized that day by the United States and several European countries.

Dalibor Jevtic: The position of Serbs in Kosovo has never been worse (RTS, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

The vice-president of the Serbian List and the Mayor of Strpce, Dalibor Jevtic, said on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence, said that the position of the Serbs has never been worse and that Pristina’s policy was aimed at denying those rights prescribed by the laws of Kosovo.

Fifteen years later, Serbs still live isolated in their communities, with great institutional discrimination, with the rights of second-class citizens, even though their rights are guaranteed on paper. Jevtic told RTS this morning that when it comes to the position of Serbs, the situation was never worse.

“Everything that has been happening since the moment when Albin Kurti came to power, is aimed at denying those rights that are prescribed by the laws in Kosovo.” Jevtic pointed out.

The number of incidents, he said, has doubled since Kurti became Prime Minister, which describes the attitude of the current authorities in Pristina towards the Serbs.

“At the central level, there are no political representatives of the Serbs, which also speaks of the relationship. All this completes the entire picture of the problem in which the Serbs find themselves today and of living in conditions that are unsafe, with very weak economic prospects, and all since the current government does everything to humiliate the Serbs and put them in a difficult position,” Jevtic said.

However, Jevtic pointed out that there was no alternative to dialogue and that it was necessary to talk to avoid conflicts.

“Unfortunately, on the other hand, Kurti and the government in Pristina are not ready for dialogue, because for them dialogue is something that will deprive them, as they think, of some rights,” he opined.

“The international community should not tolerate institutional violence against Serbs”

He pointed out that Serbs are subjected to unjust detention, and that those who want to reclaim their property are accused of alleged war crimes.

“I always insist that a large part of the responsibility lies with the international community, which should not tolerate institutional violence against Serbs at all levels” Jevtic stressed.

He confirms that 80 percent of cases of violence against Serbs occur South of the Ibar, but that in Strpce they do not have a problem with local Albanians, but with those who do not live in that municipality.

“Albanian people accept rhetoric that is very harsh towards Serbs. Serbs are constantly spoken of as criminals,” Jevtic pointed out.

About CSM: This time, the US is ready to approach the problem in a different way

When it comes to the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, Jevtic said that the fact was that Washington has finally seen that Kurti was not only not ready to form the CSM, but was also not ready to provide any rights to the Serbian people.

“The stance of the official Washington is that everything should be done to avoid any conflict in this part of Europe,” Jevtic said, but he noted that some in Europe that are not part of the EU, such as Great Britain, approach the entire problem in a different way.

He said that he saw in the USA the determination of the official Washington to really approach the problem in a different way this time.

He was certain that there are some deadlines and that they are very determined to form the Association/Community of Serb Municipalities.

Rasic: Agreement soon, Belgrade and Pristina have little room for "no" (N1, KoSSev, KiM radio)

Nenad Rasic, a minister in the Kosovo government, told N1 that due to the strong diplomatic activities, one gets the impression that Belgrade and Pristina have very little room to say "no" to the continuation of negotiations on the resolution of the Kosovo issue, as well as that "some agreement" will be reached soon.

"I don't know what it will be like, but we will get to it,'' Rasic was convinced.

Are there internal conditions in both Belgrade and Pristina to make a step forward and accept the plan of the West, and are protests against the plan more dangerous than the West's pressure to accept the plan for both authorities?

As a guest on the N1 show "Behind News'' (Iza vesti), Rasic said that "there is good will".

"Knowing the circumstances here (in Kosovo) better than in Belgrade, I think there is good will, my personal opinion is that it will not be a final agreement, but a process of final agreements, moving to the second level of those consultations, talks and possible agreements, and each of those agreements will be a step forward," he said.

He added that, despite the protests, an agreement was possible on both sides, because the parties with a strong majority are in power.

"Both in Belgrade and Pristina there are parties that have a strong majority, so from the technical side it is possible, there are certain demonstrators, but honestly speaking, I think that in a way it is democracy... A reason more to establish that this direction (agreement) can be the only possible one," said the minister in the Government of Kosovo.

When asked if Kurti said in his last statements that Kosovo accepted the Franco-German plan, Rasic said:

"He accepted the plan in principle. This means that it is a good basis for further discussions, that the plan as such is acceptable. I think Kurti will fight to make some changes and additions to it. So, I repeat, it will be a process".

When asked to clarify whether this means that the PM of Kosovo accepted the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, Rasic told N1 that he thinks that "additions and changes are quite normal in any negotiations."

"I consider them normal in the technical sense... But you always look at it from your own angle. I know that the persistence of the West will be at a high level. We will have a lot of meetings that will lead to a final agreement," said Rasic.

''The influence of Kosovo Serbs is negligible''

Speaking about his personal influence, as well as the influence of the Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija, on the decisions that will be made, Rasic said that it is - small.

"Unfortunately, we have been suffering since 2013 and earlier, the Kosovo Serbs were completely sidelined in all processes, I always asked Mogherini, Hahn, and Juncker, but neither Belgrade nor Pristina, and unfortunately neither Brussels, they did not accept our people who could be part of the decision-making process. That didn't happen," he said.

He also referred to the activities of the Serbian List.

"If the Serbian List continues to do what it does best, which is the emigration of Serbs, in three to five years there will be a turning point, when we will all decide to leave. The Serbian list, either intentionally or out of ignorance, leads to a drastic reduction in the number of Serbs," Rasic emphasized.

But, when asked whether it would be a good solution for the Serbs if Serbia recognized Kosovo and allowed a "seat" in the UN, Rasic did not give a concrete answer.

"The institutions of Kosovo exist and function regardless of the actions of Belgrade... I do not believe that Serbia will ever recognize Kosovo, I think that it will not be done 'de jure', even Vucic will not do it, but certainly the functionality 'de facto' on the ground is different. You see that Kosovo looks different from Belgrade, and different from Gracanica, you have to be a pragmatic part of the system to be able to realize your rights," he explained.

EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell said that there was a possibility that a meeting between Vucic and Kurti will take place in a few weeks. When asked if there is information from Pristina that this could happen, Rasic said:

"I am sure, as far as this side is concerned, and those circumstances that were mildly imposed, that both sides will be ready to continue this process of dialogue, because the stakes are high... I did not get to the plan (of the West), Kurti told me that he promised not to share it, that it remains a secret, but it is certain that both sides have very little room to say 'no' to the announced negotiations. We will reach an agreement soon; I don't know what it will be, but it will be reached," Rasic concluded.

Amendment by the Greens: EULEX to become a response unit in the north of Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)

The political grouping of the Greens in the European Parliament proposed that EULEX in Kosovo become a unit for immediate response in the north of Kosovo, which would thus take over the tasks of the local police.

"We are strongly in favour of EULEX becoming a unit for immediate response in the north of Kosovo, including patrolling, as long as the Kosovo Police lacks manpower on the ground," states the amendment proposal signed by Green MP Viola von Cramon, in which N1 had insight, reported KoSSev.

In the amendment submitted to the draft report of EP rapporteur Vladimir Bilcik on Serbia, the deployment of additional forces within the EULEX Police Unit was welcomed and additional strengthening of those units was requested, especially in the north of Kosovo.

The amendment was submitted to ensure the safety of citizens in the north of Kosovo in the period from the mass resignation of Serbian police officers until the filling of those units with new personnel.

More than 480 amendments were submitted to the report on Serbia, which will be harmonized at meetings of political groups in the coming period. The agreed amendments will be put to a vote, first within the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament at the end of April, and then in the form of a Resolution at the plenary session of the European Parliament in May.

KoSSev recalled that Viola von Cramon presented a similar proposal three days ago during the reporting of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee. At the time, she emphasized that "a strong reinforcement of EULEX troops and a stronger deployment in the North of Kosovo, including patrolling, is very necessary".

Rama: Kurti and I have the same goal - for the Albanians to unite and they must, but we have different approaches to get there (KoSSev, Danas, Blic)

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that he and Albin Kurti have a different approach to Serbia, but that they have the same goal. Rama stated that Serbia should recognize Kosovo and "ask for forgiveness", and that at the end of the dialogue process with Serbia, Albanians "should unite", reported Serbian media.

"We really have a very good relationship, our meetings are inspiring, great humour, we laugh a lot. We have different approaches to Serbia, but the same goal," underlined Rama.

He said this on the Albanian Television Klan, after only a day before the Kosovo Prime Minister said that he should not put his hopes in Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, reported KoSsev.

When asked by a journalist "will Albanians unite", Rama claimed that they must do so.

"Albanians must unite. Yes, of course that Albin wants the same thing, but I think differently about the way to get there, Allbin thinks differently. But Albin is the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and he has to choose. I wish him all the best and success and let him understand that I might be wrong".

International

It’s Official: One Serbian diplomat per year to join the State Department for up to 12 months (thepavlovictoday.com)

The Pavlovic Today has learned the details of a Memorandum of Understanding the US and Serbia signed to create an opportunity for Serbian diplomats to serve within the US Department of State.

US-Serbia relations are on the up and up. Following Secretary Blinken’s announcement that the US and Serbia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create liaison positions for Serbian diplomats at the Department of State, a State Department spokesperson revealed for The Pavlovic Today on Thursday the details of this new and unique program.

As a result of a Memorandum of Understanding, Serbian diplomats will have an opportunity to come to Washington DC and serve within the US Department of State.

“This program will not only foster a better understanding of our respective foreign policy goals and objectives but will forge new channels of communication and build lasting partnerships,” a State Department spokesperson confirmed to The Pavlovic Today.