Albanian Language Media:

• Recak Massacre commemoration (media)
• Kurti meets Walker; “one of key voices calling massacres what they were” (media)
• Bislimi and Von Cramon discuss Visas and dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Szunyog and Cramon talk about political and security situation in Kosovo (RTK)
• Cramon: Want to see more progress in dialogue before EU elections (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Vetevendosje will not form government after next elections (media)
• Albares: Recognition of passports doesn’t mean recognition of Kosovo (media)
• Albania’s Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: UNSC Resolution 1244 foresees demilitarization, part of international community creates Kosovo army (media)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy: Bishop Teodosije informed von Cramon about problems of SOC and Serbs in Kosovo (media)
• Von Cramon on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, position of Serbs, visa liberalization (Kosovo Online)
• Ambassador: Vatican’s stance on Kosovo unchanged, Osmani’s statement pompous (Tanjug)
• Dacic: SOC must work with Vatican, interest to have Pope on Serbia’s side (KoSSev, Tanjug)
• Collection of signatures to recall Mitrovica North mayor to take place at Sports Hall (media)
• Petkovic receives former judge Marinkovic who carried out investigation in Racak (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Kosovo’s problem with people leaving, not with visa liberalization (Koha)

International:

• Investigating Arkan: How Serbian Warlord’s Death Ended Kosovo Murder Probe (BIRN)

   

Albanian Language Media  

  Recak Massacre commemoration (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani paid homage to the victims of the Recak massacre today and thanked former OSCE Verification Mission chief William Walker for echoing what happened in 1999. “We are here to thank Ambassador Walker again for becoming the voice of the victims at a time when we unfortunately had no voice. At a time when we needed the protection of the democratic world it was precisely the Recak Massacre that raised the Kosovo issue at the international level and through the voice of Ambassador Walker was heard the echo of thousands and thousands of Albanian victims from all over Kosovo”.

Former OSCE Verification Mission in Kosovo chief William Walker said that thanks to the sacrifice of people from the village of Recak, Kosovo today enjoys a fully functioning democracy. He said his visit to Recak was very emotional. “The people of this village unfortunately had to sacrifice many of their young men. You now have the Republic of Kosovo, a President, a Prime Minister, a fully functioning democracy, and I am very proud to be with you today in a place that means a lot to me,” Walker said.

Kosovo Assembly President Glauk Konjufca said the massacre in Recak was “one of the biggest atrocities of Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo”. “After Recak, the whole democratic world realized that the only language that Serbia understands is the language of force, because otherwise the war in Kosovo would have stopped or the massacres that were being committed all over Kosovo,” Konjufca said.

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said today in the ceremony commemorating the Recak Massacre that no one should forget or deny what happened in Recak, “or why the United States and our allies came to the defense of the people of Kosovo. I remember that day well. As the officer at the U.S. Mission to the OSCE responsible for Kosovo at that time, I received a call from then-Kosovo Verification Mission Head Ambassador William Walker just after he departed the scene of horror, already focused on his recommendations for the OSCE in response to the brutal murder of defenseless civilians. In response to this atrocity and others, the United States, together with our NATO Allies, acted to protect defenseless civilians in the name of peace, freedom, and stability. These goals reflect deeply held American and Western values. We believe that all people, regardless of ethnicity or religion, deserve the dignity of living in freedom and security. We are aware of attempts to rewrite the well-documented history of this massacre and to downplay or misrepresent the facts about these atrocities. Let me be clear about the United States’ commitment to the truth. As President Clinton said then, we reaffirm now: “This was a deliberate and indiscriminate act of murder designed to sow fear among the people of Kosovo”. Read Hovenier’s full address at: https://shorturl.at/qSWX3

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said at the ceremony that Kosovo and its people will never forgive “the crimes that Serbia committed during the war” and that the crimes cannot be outdated. “The people and the Republic of Kosovo will not forgive the crimes committed by Serbia in Recak and other places. Crimes committed in war are never outdated, the same way that these crimes cannot be erased from the history of Serbia and the history of Kosovo and its people who experienced so many losses and suffering,” Kurti argued. 

Kurti also said that “25 years ago, Serbia activated its entire state apparatus in an attempt to deny the massacre”. “At the time of the massacre in Recak, Aleksandar Vucic who was the Minister of Information and is now President of Serbia, continues to deny the crime that was committed by the state of Serbia,” he said.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo said in a Facebook post that “today marks the 25th anniversary of the Reçak/Račak massacre. We remember and honour the victims and extend our heartfelt condolences to their families in their inconsolable grief. The Mission is committed to supporting efforts to build a future of peace and prosperity.”

The European Union’s Office in Kosovo said in a Facebook post: “On the anniversary of the Reçak/Račak massacre, we joined the families and the people of Kosovo in commemorating the victims whose lives were cut short 25 years ago. Justice for this heinous crime must be served and perpetrators held accountable.”

Kurti meets Walker; “one of key voices calling massacres what they were” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Sunday with Ambassador William Walker, former head of the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosovo. Kurti said in a post on X that “Walker, 25 yrs ago, was one of the key voices calling the massacres he witnessed in Kosova, like the one in Reçak, what they were: 'crimes against humanity.' It is a pleasure to welcome him back, even if the memory of the crimes committed is ever-present.”

Bislimi and Von Cramon discuss Visas and dialogue with Serbia (Koha)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi and the Rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, discussed on Monday the dialogue process with Serbia, visa liberalization and European integration.

The Prime Minister's Office announced that they discussed Kosovo's determination and commitment to European integration, issues related to the dialogue process, as well as developments in Kosovo, region and beyond. ‘In conclusion, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the role and commitment of Mrs. Cramon in the European Parliament and the continuous support to Kosovo", reads the announcement.

Szunyog and Cramon talk about political and security situation in Kosovo (RTK)

Tomas Szunyog, head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, has announced that he has met with the MEP and at the same time rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, and with the head of EULEX in Kosovo, Giovanni Pietro Barbano.

In a post on “X” platform, Szunyog said that in this meeting they exchanged views on the political and security situation in Kosovo and the region. 

Cramon: Want to see more progress in dialogue before EU elections (Telegrafi)

The European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, at the end of her visit to Kosovo today, congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on visa liberalization. “We have all fought for this. We all had the impression that it was a discriminatory situation, in which citizens from all countries of the region could travel freely, except for the people of Kosovo, and I congratulate all of you for this,” she said.

Von Cramon said the fight against corruption in Kosovo is continuing. 

She said in her meetings with leaders and stakeholders she has asked for a bigger budget for the public broadcaster. “I have also heard a lot of complaints concerning the dialogue between the government and civil society organizations,” she added.

On the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Von Cramon said “things are very dynamic, but we have seen little progress”. “As a friend of Kosovo, I would like to see progress before the [EU] election campaigns, because Brussels will close and they will deal with the elections there,” she argued.

Tahiri: Vetevendosje will not form government after next elections (media)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group chief Abelard Tahiri said today that the PDK is ready for early general elections and argued that the current opposition will form the new government after the elections. Following today’s meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency, he said that the Kurti-led Vetevendosje will no longer be in power after the elections.

“We are exceptionally ready and we are certain that the new elections, whenever they are held, the Vetevendosje Movement will no longer be able to form the government and that the opposition will form the government,” he said.

Tahiri also said that with the support of 40 MPs they have called for an extraordinary assembly session about increased energy fees. “No topic is more important than this one. You know the concerns of the citizens. Today we submitted the request [for the session] and we have also proposed a resolution to lower energy prices,” he said.

Albares: Recognition of passports doesn’t mean recognition of Kosovo (media)

Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, said in an interview with Spanish media, that Spain’s recognition of Kosovo’s passport does not mean that it recognizes Kosovo’s independence. 

Albares said that with visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens entering into force, Spain needs to adjust with other non-recognizing countries. “Spain too needs to adjust just like the other countries that don’t recognize it. This is why we started recognizing Kosovo passports. Let me repeat again that this doesn’t imply the recognition of Kosovo or its sovereignty. There are five EU member states that don’t recognize Kosovo and all five of us recognize their passports,” he said.

Albares also said that Spain will never be an obstacle in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade or “Pristina’s approximation with the European Union”.

“We cannot pretend as if it doesn’t exist. But this doesn’t mean that we recognize its sovereignty,” he said.

Albania’s Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo (RTK)

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, will pay a three-day visit to Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro from January 16 to 18.

The visit aims to make the cooperation between the countries more substantive, to deepen and further concretize, as well as develop further good neighborly relations. The visits will focus on bilateral relations, security issues and the future of the region in the European Union.

According to the agenda, his first stop will be Kosovo, where Minister Hasani will be met by Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla, with President Vjosa Osmani, Speaker of the Assembly Glauk Konjufca, Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi and representatives of political parties.

   

Serbian Language Media

  Vucic: UNSC Resolution 1244 foresees demilitarization, part of international community creates Kosovo army (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Saturday that UNSC Resolution 1244 foresees demilitarization of Kosovo Albanians, however, part of the Western international community creates Kosovo army, Tanjug news agency reports. He also said Serbia is not as powerful as the US, Great Britain, Germany or Turkey but can point out to the entire world about the brutal violation of the international public and legal norms.

Referring to the Article 9 of the UNSC Resolution 1244, and related sections B and 15, on demilitarization of KLA and other armed Albanian groups in Kosovo, Vucic said that there should be no any armed Albanian groups, and instead they created an army for Kosovo. He added states from this part of the international community are not telling the truth when they say they advocate for the UN order, assessing that they were never interested in the UN order, but exclusively about how to fulfill their own interests.

Vucic opined that destruction of the international public and legal order by further armament of Kosovo so-called army contrary to the UNSC Resolution 1244 “aims to completely erase any traces of the existence of the Republic of Serbia, and Serbian people there”.

“Statements of some so-called Kosovo officials unequivocally say about their aim to destroy the Serbian people”, Vucic said. “When they brag about each police patrol being armed with long barrels, they are sending a clear message that there is no place for Serbs, because only certain units have the right and possibility to carry such armament. Now heavily armed police with long barrels will be present only to make Serbs feel insecure and leave Kosovo as soon as possible”, Vucic added.

Unhidden goal of Pristina is to expel, persecute and mistreat Serbs

Commenting on Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla’s announcement that all Kosovo police patrols will have assault rifles, Vucic said it was nothing unusual as far as Svecla is concerned.

“Their unhidden goal is to expel, persecute and mistreat Serbs. They will obviously continue with that, not only under patronage and protection from one part of the international public, but also with their support. They got these rifles from Croatia, therefore from the European Union and NATO”, Vucic said.

Raska-Prizren Eparchy: Bishop Teodosije informed von Cramon about problems of SOC and Serbs in Kosovo (media)

Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije during the meeting with EP member and rapporteur for Kosovo Viola von Cramon at Gracanica Monastery on Sunday, informed her about the problems Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) and Serbian people are facing in Kosovo, Eparchy said in a statement.

Bishop Teodosije also informed von Cramon about the history of the SOC in those areas, and the history of Gracanica Monastery inscribed on UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, the statement added.

Von Cramon said yesterday during her visit to Gracanica Monastery that attempts by Pristina to declare Serbian Orthodox Church objects as Catholic ones, can not be successful and urged for reason and rationalism. 

Von Cramon on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, position of Serbs, visa liberalization (Kosovo Online)

European Parliament member and rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon told a media conference in Pristina today there was progress in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and there are concrete proposals on the table by Pristina’s side, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“We had meetings with the Serbian community in the north and in Gracanica and we called for internal dialogue. They stressed that they feel like second-class citizens. In Gracanica I met with local Serb representatives and SOC Bishop and he gave me a few examples of discrimination”, von Cramon said during her address. She added that representatives of the Serb community told her they are suffering from constant pressure. “It was said that constant pressure is exerted upon Serbs through war crimes indictments and that pressure is created to leave Kosovo, this is what they presented to us”, she said.

Speaking of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue she said there is progress, and “there are concrete proposals on the table by the Kosovo side and I think this is a positive signal”.

Talking about elections in northern municipalities, she said the procedure in this regard is clear, adding the initiators of the petitions should collect 20 percent signatures of eventual voters and that she thinks it is possible to do.

She congratulated Kosovo on visa liberalization. Asked about holders of the Serbian passports residing in Kosovo and whether they will be enabled to travel freely, von Cramon said that “holders of Kosovo passports can travel freely, and those, who did not have Kosovo passports for some reasons, Commission decided not to discriminate against, and upon procedures free travel should be enabled. All Kosovo citizens should be enabled to enjoy visa liberalization, I see there are many requests for passports”.

Ambassador: Vatican’s stance on Kosovo unchanged, Osmani’s statement pompous (Tanjug)

Ambassador of Serbia to the Vatican, Sima Avramovic said today that “the stance of the Vatican regarding the status of so-called Kosovo has remained absolutely unchanged”, Tanjug news agency reports.

Avramovic made this statement to Tanjug in relation to the announcement of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on opening of “Special Mission Office” at the Holy See, adding that this statement was pompous and it was about opening a Kosovo liaison office at the Holy See.

According to him, the Embassy of Serbia had discussions with Vatican’s high officials several times during the last year on this matter and it was explained then that this was about opening a liaison office.

Dacic: SOC must work with Vatican, interest to have Pope on Serbia’s side (KoSSev, Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister in technical mandate of the government, Ivica Dacic said last night it was necessary to clearly say if Kosovo was a national project or not, adding it was important that Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) works on relationships with Vatican, because, as he said, it is in interest of Serbia to have the Pope on the side of Belgrade, KoSSev portal reports.

“We all have to decide together if Kosovo and Metohija are our national project or not, it can not be that only the President or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs take part in it”, Dacic told TV Pink last night. He also spoke about armament of Kosovo with Javelin anti-tank missiles, which is, he stressed, contrary to the UNSC Resolution 1244 and an act that does not contribute to peace, but is detrimental and counterproductive.

He also recalled that Kosovo for some time had been maintaining informal connections with the Vatican. “I think it is the time that SOC works on that”, Dacic said, adding that former President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic invited the Pope to visit Serbia, but the invitation was canceled as per request of, as he said, some bishops.

“Is it important to us that the Vatican recognizes Kosovo or not….are we going to do something or will still remain in some trenches that are not practical. It is our interest that the Pope is on our side as he was regarding (Alojzije) Stepinac”, Dacic said, adding it is not simple if the Vatican will recognize Kosovo or not, because it is known how big part of the world is under Vatican’s influence.

“Patriarch, bishops, Synod, they all must immediately react regarding the Holy See, same as Serbian Academy of Art and Science (SANU) with their colleagues across the world, same as sports associations and all others”, Dacic said.  

Collection of signatures to recall Mitrovica North mayor to take place at Sports Hall (media)

Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly councilors approved in a session today a request from a group of citizens to use a sports hall in this town in order to collect signatures to recall the mayor, Serbian media reported.

Sanja Lazarevic Krtinic, one of the initiators of a petition to recall Mitrovica North mayor, told Tanjug news agency they have been informed of permission to use the sports hall to collect the signatures.

Mitrovica North MA deputy chair, Skender Sadiku said yesterday the deadline for collecting signatures is January 22, but if the initiators group does not manage to collect the signatures timely then the Ministry of Local Government Administration will extend the deadline by two more weeks.

Petkovic receives former judge Marinkovic who carried out investigation in Racak (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic received today former Serbian investigative judge Danica Marinkovic, who on January 15, 1999 carried out an investigation of Racak case, and thanked her “because despite numerous pressure, she bravely presented to entire world the truth based on scientific expertise and evidence”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

"I thank judge Marinkovic for steadfastly persevering in the fight for truth, justice and freedom. Her professional and methodical investigation contributed to the establishment of irrefutable facts about the events in Racak, and her evidence will remain a legacy for future generations”, Petkovic said.

He added that the facts preserved for history by Danica Marinkovic “dismantle any attempt to fabricate the events in Racak, which served as an incoherent justification and reason for the illegal aggression of part of the international community on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”.

"Judge Marinković's courage and professionalism teach us that the truth must be defended firmly, unwaveringly and with arguments, because Serbia is also today often a victim of propaganda and the special war waged against it, which can only be answered with the truth and no other way", he emphasized.

   

Opinion 

  Palokaj: Kosovo’s problem with people leaving, not with visa liberalization (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj argues in an opinion piece that “it is somewhat surprising how easily different analysts forecast how many people will leave Kosovo as a result of visa liberalization. There was a relatively large migration of people even before the liberalization. Therefore, this phenomenon will continue, and perhaps will increase, but this does not make visa liberalization the cause”.

According to Palokaj, it is wrong to forecast that “around half million people will leave [Kosovo] in the first quarter of the year”, because he adds Kosovo’s citizens are better informed than others in the region that visa-free travel in Western Europe does not imply getting a job. “In fact the consequences will be very dire if they abuse this.”

Palokaj also notes that “demographic problems are and will remain a serious challenge for many countries, especially for Kosovo, with or without visa liberalization. Kosovo is among the few countries in Europe that despite a decrease, still has a high birth rate. And despite this, the number of residents in Kosovo has reduced dramatically. It is wrong now to blame this too on visa liberalization”.

   

International 

  Investigating Arkan: How Serbian Warlord’s Death Ended Kosovo Murder Probe (BIRN)

In 1999, two UK forensics experts were asked to make a secret trip to examine the bodies of a Kosovo Albanian family allegedly killed by paramilitary boss Zeljko ‘Arkan’ Raznatovic. On the 24th anniversary of Arkan’s own murder, the crime remains unsolved.

On December 9, 1999, Robert McNeil, a prominent British forensic technician, was called at his home by Bill Hunt, one of the UK’s most eminent forensic anthropologists.

Hunt asked McNeil to accompany him to the country then known as Macedonia, where he had been tasked by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY, to carry out an important covert forensic mission.

“Bill Hunt didn’t want to tell me too much over the phone. It was a secret that only he and I could go to North Macedonia. And he just gave me some very sketchy outline of the mission,” McNeil told BIRN in an interview from his home in Glasgow.

“He had been told that Arkan was responsible for the death of an entire family from Kosovo. And I’m sure it was a family of four – I don’t know the names, didn’t know the ages either,” he said.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/ijLNV