UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 24, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Vetting is gaining ground, this process is a necessity (RTK)
Czech Minister: Kosovo’s integration into the EU is closely related to the dialogue (media)
Osmani to Czech minister: Membership in CoE, interest of citizens without distinction (media)
Bislimi: It is important to separate dialogue process from that of EU integration (Koha)
Rohde demands implementation of decision for Decan Monastery (media)
Serwer: No one believes there will be final agreement before U.S. elections (media)
LKD's Rukiqi on government: Incompetent and proud (media)
Albanians of the Valley to be allowed to buy property in Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Dvorak: Further European integration of Kosovo closely related to dialogue with Belgrade (Kosovo Online)
Bislimi: EU to insist on all decisions of Constitutional Court to be implemented (Danas)
State Department calls upon Kosovo to revisit Central Bank’s decision on suspension of dinar (Kosovo Online, The Pavlovic Today)
Ugljanin: Tomorrow we will submit petition for dismissal of Mitrovica North mayor to CEC (N1)
Gogic: It is absurd that those who won few hundreds votes refuse to resign after several thousand people signed petition for their replacement (Kosovo Online)
Andric-Rakic: As it seems now, mayors will not resign (media)
Barbano: Fully supporting importance of upholding Constitutional Court independence, implementation of its decisions (media, social media)
Trial of Zlatan Arsic continues by interviewing defense witnesses (Radio KIM)
KoSSev: ''The government in Serbia prohibits agencies from transporting passengers with Kosovo passports'' (N1)

International:

EU, US, Voice Unease Over Euro-Only Rule’s Impact on Kosovo Serbs (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo’s Vetevendosje Dips Toe in North Macedonia’s Elections (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Vetting is gaining ground, this process is a necessity (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti spoke today at the government meeting about the plans of the government for 2024. He said that the government will continue with pension reforms, with the aim of inclusiveness and justice. He said that the reform will also continue in justice. "Vetting is taking its course, this process is a necessity", Kurti said.

"During this year, the crimes committed during the war will continue to be addressed. The Ministry of Justice will continue to focus on fighting domestic violence," he said.

Kurti added that the development of the Kosovo Security Force remains a priority. "We allocated the highest budget for farmers, at the beginning of the month we announced the program for direct payments", said Kurti.

He also mentioned the Mediterranean Games that will be organized in Kosovo. "During this year, work will be done on a special law, the organizational committee and master plan will be established to host the countries participating in these games", Kurti said.

“Full membership in the Council of Europe remains the main priority, while we will continue to buy the facilities for the establishment of our embassies around the world,” he said.

Education will also remain a priority, said the Prime Minister. "Increasing access to early childhood education as well as digitalization of schools are the main focus in education".

Kurti also spoke about infrastructure projects. "The year 2024 will be the year of the start of some new projects and the year of the completion of some projects in development".

Czech Minister: Kosovo’s integration into the EU is closely related to the dialogue (media)

The Minister for the European Affairs of the Czech Republic, Martin Dvorak, during the joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, emphasized that the road to Kosovo’s membership in the EU goes hand in hand with the dialogue with Serbia.

“An expression of friendship also includes being open and honest. The further integrations of Kosovo in the EU are closely related to Belgrade and the dialogue. The question of closing the bond of good neighborliness and the integration process concerns all the countries of the Western Balkans,” he said.

He said that Kosovo should be constructive in the dialogue with Serbia and show a positive approach.

"Kosovo is doing its best, but the best way to be closer to the EU is to open talks with Serbia, despite the fact that this is difficult. From the Czech side, we believe that all our members in the parliament will vote for the membership of Kosovo", said the Czech minister.

Further, the Czech minister said that the country he represents will continue to support Kosovo.

"I am glad that the citizens of Kosovo can travel to the EU countries as easily as I came to Kosovo. The continuous support of the Czech Republic in international organizations, including membership in the Council of Europe, are some of them. The Czech Republic has been and continues to be a close friend of Kosovo", Dvorak said.

Osmani to Czech minister: Membership in CoE, interest of citizens without distinction (media)

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, during the meeting with the Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic, Martin Dvorak, said that Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, inclusion in the Partnership for Peace, membership in NATO, EU and international organizations, is in the interest of all citizens of Kosovo without distinction,

"The focus of the discussion between Osmani and the Czech minister was the current political and security situation, the strengthening of bilateral relations and regional stability," the announcement of the Presidency states.

Osmani expressed gratitude for the continuous support of the Czech Republic in strengthening the international position of Kosovo.

"President Osmani also said that Kosovo deserves to receive the status of a candidate country in the EU, as a country that has carried out radical reforms", the announcement continues.

In the meeting with Minister Dvorak, Osmani reiterated that the terrorist attack and aggression of September 24 in Banjska, supported and sponsored by Serbia, was an attempt to undermine the peace and stability, not only of Kosovo, but of the entire Western Balkans, the press release reads.

"Furthermore, President Osmani emphasized the need to remove EU measures against Kosovo, which are unfair and create a lack of balance in the dialogue. Highlighting the long-standing positive relations between Kosovo and the Czech Republic, the two interlocutors also discussed the possibilities of expanding cooperation in various areas of common interest", concludes the announcement of the Presidency.

Bislimi: It is important to separate dialogue process from that of EU integration (Koha)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi has said that it is very important to separate the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process from the process of Kosovo's integration into the EU.

He at the joint conference with the Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic, Martin Dvorak said that it is important for the EU to remove the measures it has imposed on Kosovo.

"We have shared many milestones and successes with the Czech government. On December 15, 2022, Prime Minister Kurti presented Kosovo's application for EU membership in Prague. Our work with the Czech Republic has brought results. Due to this excellent cooperation, we have raised the cooperation to the level of ambassadors with full rights. We also talked about the current measures against Kosovo. Our position is that the measures should be removed, but the most important thing is that the dialogue process be separated from the EU integration process", Bislimi said.

EU and Germany ask government not to put pressure on judiciary (Koha)

The European Union and Germany have asked the government of Kosovo not to interfere in the affairs of the judiciary and not to put pressure on the judicial institutions.

In a Tuesday meeting with the president of the Constitutional Court, Gresa Caka-Nimani, the head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, said that "the Court must be independent and free from the influence of political pressure".

"In order to preserve the independence of the judiciary, it is essential that members of the government refrain from statements that risk undermining the authority and independence of the judiciary, as well as the public's trust in it. The decisions of the Constitutional Court must be fully respected and implemented, including the decision of May 19, 2015 in the case of Decan Monastery '', wrote Szunyog on X.

The head of EULEX, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, was also present at the meeting, who said that he supports the independence of the Constitutional Court and the implementation of its decisions.

The ambassador of Germany to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, also has said that he shares the same concern. According to him, "the rule of law 'a la carte' (adaptation: by selection) does not pave the way either to the Council of Europe or to the European Union. The support of Kosovo in its path of European integration is heartfelt, but Kosovo must do its part as well", Ambassador Rohde wrote.

Rohde demands implementation of decision for Decan Monastery (media)

The German ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, has said that Kosovo must implement the decision of the Constitutional Court for the Monastery of Decan.

Rohde said that the rule of law "à la carte" does not pave the way for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe or the European Union.

"Support for Kosovo on its path to European integration is dear to our hearts, but Kosovo must also do its part," Rohde wrote.

The head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, during his visit to the Constitutional Court yesterday, also requested that its decisions be fully implemented.

"The decisions of the Constitutional Court should be fully respected and implemented, including the verdict of May 19, 2016 on the issue of Decan Monastery '', said Szunyog.

Serwer: No one believes there will be final agreement before U.S. elections (media)

The U.S. expert on Western Balkans issues and lecturer at Johns Hopkins University in Washington has said that the European Union and the U.S administration are carefully trying to ignore unfair elections in Serbia. Speaking about the post-election crisis in Serbia, Server said that international observers have concluded that the election results do not match the electoral will of the voters.

Asked if he thinks this will hurt Vucic's political standing, Serwer says he doubts it.

“The current processes in Serbia and what is happening is that the European Union, the Commission, the American administration, are carefully trying to ignore election fraud,” Server said.

“I think they are counting on Vucic to offer some things, such as agreement on license plates in Kosovo. They are ready to turn a blind eye to serious violations of the democratic process and in return take the small steps forward that Vucic is making,” he assessed.

"He (Vucic) addressed Moscow and Beijing. He ignores the need to create a democratic society in Serbia. He has nothing to gain from democracy in Serbia and is not ready to organize it," Serwer said.

He pointed out that the European and U.S. administrations are aware of this, but they have chosen to turn a blind eye to Vucic's turn to the East in exchange for some small things, like license plates, and see no alternative.

"But it's sad, because there is an alternative in Belgrade, to fight again. But they are not ready to insist, it is a policy of turning a blind eye", he emphasized.

According to him, the citizens of Serbia can expect some help from Brussels and Washington. In Washington, as he said, the problems of the Balkans are invisible and have little political resonance.

"Honestly, no one believes that there will be a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia before the American elections," he said.

LKD's Rukiqi on government: Incompetent and proud (media)

Berat Rukiqi, member of the leadership of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has said that the government led by Albin Kurti is translating the failures it is making in many areas as record successes. He said that for this reason they have decided to call it "Incompetent government and proud of it".

Rukiqi said in a press conference that Kurti is continuing to present as success the failures with Inflation, where according to him, on an annual basis inflation has increased by 4.9%.

"The source of the failures we are talking about is this government, the important thing is that they are coming with an expensive bill that is being paid by the citizens of the country".

"Inflation was inevitable as a result of global changes, but it would be different in the country if the government had the will to address it", he said.

Rukiqi further said that 100 euros in 2024 is worth 81.65 euros today, media reported.

He listed the trade deficit with an increase of 56.5%, and the export with 101 euros more than last year, as other failures.

Albanians of the Valley to be allowed to buy property in Kosovo (RTK)

The government of Kosovo has proceeded to the Assembly with the Draft Law for the amendment of the Law on Property Rights of Foreign Nationals, which will enable the Albanians of the Presheva Valley to buy property in Kosovo.

The Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, said that with this draft law, the Albanians of the Valley will be exempted from the restrictions for foreign citizens to be holders of property rights.

"With the current provisions in force of the Basic Law, given the circumstances and the lack of bilateral relations between Kosovo and Serbia, it becomes impossible for the citizens of the Albanian community in the Valley to acquire property rights, that is, the possibility of buying property in Kosovo becomes impossible, due to the lack of reciprocity", she said.

Therefore, she added that the government has undertaken a legal initiative to amend the basic law, where the citizens of the Albanian community from the Valley will be exempted from the restrictions of reciprocity and can be holders of property rights in Kosovo according to the conditions defined by the basic law.

The draft law on the amendment of the Law on the Property Rights of Foreign Citizens will be voted on by the Assembly, before it enters into force.

Serbian Language Media

Dvorak: Further European integration of Kosovo closely related to dialogue with Belgrade (Kosovo Online)

Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvorak says that Kosovo is under pressure to show positive and constructive developments in the dialogue with Serbia, reported Kosovo Online, citing Klan Kosova.

Dvorak said he hopes that Kosovo will soon become part of the Council of Europe and the EU but added that further European integration is closely related to the dialogue with Belgrade.

"I just have to repeat that the Czech Republic is Kosovo's closest ally in European ambitions, and we really want to see Kosovo in the EU as soon as possible. On the other hand, of course there is a lot of work to do, and we are ready to support and help a little more with your homework," Dvorak said.

He added that the desire of the Czech Republic is to see Kosovo in the European family as soon as possible and that, according to him, all Czech deputies in the parliament will vote for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe.

He pointed out that he is satisfied that the citizens of Kosovo can travel to the Czech Republic and other countries as easily as he came today.

Bislimi: EU to insist on all decisions of Constitutional Court to be implemented (Danas)

Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, at today's conference with Czech Minister Martin Dvorak, replied to the European Union that they should insist that the decisions of the Constitutional Court be implemented in all cases, and not ‘pick a cherry’, reported Danas daily, citing Koha.

The EU and Germany have recently criticized the government for putting pressure on the judiciary, stressing that the decisions of the Constitutional Court must be enforceable, including the decision of May 19, 2015 in the case of the Visoki Decani Monastery.

Bislimi added that ‘the same friends’ say that Article 11 of the Constitution, which states that only one currency circulates in Kosovo, should not be applied. The Central Bank of Kosovo has decided that the euro will be the only currency in Kosovo, which has caused international criticism for shutting down the dinar.

"The Constitution must either be implemented in its entirety, or it is not implemented. In one decision, there is an insistence of the EU to fully apply the Constitution, as is the case with the Decani monastery, and in the case of Article 11, which states that there is only one currency in circulation in Kosovo, the same friends say that this not to be applied. The Constitution is either sacred and must be implemented, or we are ‘cherry picking’.''

State Department calls upon Kosovo to revisit Central Bank’s decision on suspension of dinar (Kosovo Online, The Pavlovic Today)

The State Department called upon Kosovo to revisit the Central Bank’s decision on suspension of dinar in payment transactions, expressing concern that regulation adopted on December 27, will negatively impact Serb community in Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reports citing US-based The Pavlovic Today.

“We urge the Kosovo Government to revisit this decision, consult with the affected communities, respond to the concerns expressed by the international community and provide ample time for its decisions to be implemented in order to mitigate the impact those decisions will have on its citizens”, the State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying. The spokesperson added they are “concerned that regulation adopted on December 27 will negatively impact the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo”.

As the portal further reported, the State Department underscored that, in accordance with Kosovo law and the commitments made under the Ahtisaari Plan, Serbia “has the right to provide financial assistance to members of the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo”. Key settlement provisions in the Ahtisaari’s Plan stipulate that the “Serb-majority communities will have extensive financial autonomy and will be able to accept transparent funding from Serbia and to take part in inter-municipal partnerships and cross-boundary cooperation with Serbian institutions”.

The statement also reminded Pristina of legally binding obligations that Kosovo undertook. “This is why we continue to urge Kosovo to fulfill its commitment to establish an Association of Serb-majority Municipalities (ASM)”, the spokesperson said.

“The ASM is the primary mechanism through which Serbia could transparently provide financial support to institutions and individuals under Kosovo’s legal framework”, the spokesperson further clarified according to the portal.

The State Department emphasized that individuals in Kosovo who “legitimately receive financial assistance from Serbia need access to a functioning, legal mechanism through which they can receive that support”. The spokesperson concluded by emphasizing that institutions delivering vital services, such as education and health, “must be able to continue their operations”.

Ugljanin: Tomorrow we will submit petition for dismissal of Mitrovica North mayor to CEC (N1)

The President of the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, Nedžat Ugljanin, said that the handover of the petition for the dismissal of the mayor of the northern part of Mitrovica, Erdan Atiq, from the initiative group was in the best order.

"Even though in the very start there was a bit of non-constructiveness and destruction on the part of the initiative group, I, as chairman, worked in accordance with the law. Records were made by the initiative group, a record was made from the position of the chairperson of the assembly,'' Ugljanin said.

According to him, 4,148 signatures were collected, which is more than what was needed.

"Now the process is in the final stage. Tomorrow we will submit a petition to the CEC," he said.

The next step is the verification of the petition by the CEC in a period of 30 days.

Gogic: It is absurd that those who won few hundreds votes refuse to resign after several thousand people signed petition for their replacement (Kosovo Online)

Political analyst Ognjen Gogic told Kosovo Online portal that Pristina entered the whole story on replacing mayors in northern municipalities through local referendum, without valid legal framework having been in place previously.

He added there were some calls that prior to holding referendum on ousting mayors in northern municipalities this legal framework be amended and applicable law on it passed.

"They are defining some things along the way, which is calculated with the fact that then in the process, legal loopholes will emerge that allow obstruction. Fact that the Pristina side is only now thinking about a legal framework for referendum shows that it did not want it ever to happen. At the same time, I think that the whole process will be monitored very strictly from the Pristina side. Every signature, every comma will be checked and there will be objections from them. We really expect a long and arduous process until the change of authorities in northern Kosovo", Gogic said.

He added that Serbs by swift collection of signatures to recall mayors they consider illegitimate demonstrated that they want not only their replacement but also to return to Pristina institutions, which is the act that Pristina should take into account and make gesture to speed up the process of holding new elections with current mayors and MA councilors resigning.

He also said that Serbs by giving up on requests to return to Pristina institutions also made one big concession which Pristina should appreciate, adding what everybody needs in the north are de-escalatory steps.

“It is really absurd that some who received a few hundred votes now refuse to submit resignations after several thousand people in those municipalities signed petitions for their replacement (…)”, Gogic said.

Instead of lengthy and legally uncertain process resignations of mayors would be a way to speed up the entire process, Gogic said, expressing concerns that Pristina will attempt to sabotage and obstruct the process.

Andric-Rakic: As it seems now, mayors will not resign (media)

Milica Andric-Rakic, New Social Initiative program manager told Kosovo Online that collected signatures to recall the mayors in four northern municipalities were sufficient evidence of citizens’ will that they do not want current mayors, but that they, however, will most probably not resign. In the upcoming period attempts to dispute the petition or insistence on referendum could be expected, she added.

As she said the turnout to sing petitions and last year’s boycott of local elections in northern Kosovo showed that those were not candidates citizens were interested in, adding it is also evidence that citizens are not satisfied with the mayors.

“(…) It is clear that there is a certain level of tension between citizens in the north and mayors as well as general administration in the Kosovo system. It is not a secret. There have been many unpopular acts, in particular in Mitrovica North, when it comes to halting the works on the university building, and at few more locations, but also other decisions which were not received well from citizens. There is also a decision of Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly to allocate to the Ministry of Interior, without any concrete explanation why, a larger land parcel in the town. There are many problematic decisions which create tension between citizens and administration”, she said.

She concluded it has become clear there is no willingness that the system functions in a manner that legitimate authorities should function.

Barbano: Fully supporting importance of upholding Constitutional Court independence, implementation of its decisions (media, social media)

Head of EULEX Giovanni Pietro Barbano said the Mission remains committed to its mandate to support rule of law institutions in Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“Very pleased to meet with the President of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, Gresa Caka-Nimani. I fully support the importance of upholding the independence of the Constitutional Court and the implementation of its decisions. ½”, Barbano wrote in a post on X platform.

He added rule of law is important for EULEX in order to ensure respect of human rights standards and everything else that it entails.

Trial of Zlatan Arsic continues by interviewing defense witnesses (Radio KIM)

The trial of Zlatan Arsic, former police officer accused of allegedly committing war crimes, continued at the Basic Court in Pristina, by interviewing defense witness Boban Tasic from the village of Ajnovce, Radio KIM reports.

Tasic said that accused Arsic since 1998 was in Kragujevac, at regular army service, as a member of the army and then dispatched to Kosovo, at Prizren barracks. Asked by the lawyer, “if Arsic was a member of the police?”, Tasic responded that “he knows for certain Zlatan Arsic was never a member of the (Serbian) Ministry of Internal Affairs”.

“At the age of 20 he went for regular military service. There was a procedure to enter the police, either completed military service or secondary school. Upon leaving the army in June 1999 and later, after the conflict, I was seeing him in Kosovo police uniform”, Tasic said.

Arsic’s lawyer said the prosecution did not present a single material evidence on which indictment was founded.

“We insist from the very beginning that this indictment does not have material evidence and is based solely on the statements of some witnesses, who are also contradictory in this entire proceeding. Even the witnesses of the prosecution proved with their statements that indictment is not founded, there is no material evidence”, lawyer said, adding defense, including also today’s testimony, has solid material evidence proving that Arsic was at a different place when the event allegedly occurred.

The prosecution accuses Arsic that he allegedly in March 1999 as an official person, together with other Serbian police officers, allegedly beat up Albanian B.M. at the police station in Kamenica, inflicting serious bodily injuries to him. The prosecution also said that Arsic allegedly took part in violent deportation and displacement of Kamenica Albanian residents in February and March 1999.

KoSSev: ''The government in Serbia prohibits agencies from transporting passengers with Kosovo passports'' (N1)

''Official Belgrade continues to discriminate against Serbs from Kosovo. In addition to denying them the opportunity to take standard Serbian passports for which visa liberalization applies, this government prevents them from coming to the European Union through Serbia with Kosovo passports. With these passports, it is possible to enter the Schengen zone as of January without obtaining a visa,'' reported N1, citing portal KoSSev.

''For the first time in five years, my mother tried to visit me in Germany after visa liberalization for Kosovo passports, but the regime in Belgrade and this time set a new ramp for Serbs from Kosovo after visa liberalization for Kosovo passports,'' writes Ivana Vukasinovic Jovanovic for portal KoSSev, who is a native of Leposavic and lives in Germany.

''Serbian tourist agencies are verbally prohibited from transporting passengers of Serbian nationality who have Kosovo passports to the countries of the European Union,'' reported the portal.

Serbs from Kosovo have been denied the same since 2009, when Serbia received visa liberalization.

Since that same year, they have been issued special passports of the Coordination Administration that are not visa-free.

Due to the given circumstances, as well as the continuation of life in Kosovo, Serbs from Kosovo are forced to use Kosovo documents. Especially now that visa liberalization has been granted to Kosovo, that is, after the holders of the passports of the Coordination Administration remained the only Europeans who were denied the right to visa-free travel to the Schengen countries.

''What happened to my mother, Dragana Vukasinovic, shows the extent to which Serbs are disenfranchised and the extent to which their lives are difficult''.

''My mother, who is a citizen of Serbia with a residence in Kosovo and Metohija, cannot travel with a passport of the Republic of Serbia - that is, the Coordinating Administration for Kosovo and Metohija - without first obtaining a visa. That's why it was logical for her to come to me through an agency from the nearby city of Novi Pazar and on a visa-free Kosovo passport''.

''However, when she was supposed to book a ticket yesterday, she was told that they were prohibited from doing so.''

''I had several conversations with the director of the Garo Reisen agency and the drivers of this and Pejic Tours agencies. Both agencies are from Novi Pazar.''

''It was directly confirmed to me that they have a verbal order that they may not transport Albanians or Serbs traveling with a Kosovo passport,'' Vukasinovic Jovanovic stated for the portal, reported N1.

International

EU, US, Voice Unease Over Euro-Only Rule’s Impact on Kosovo Serbs (Balkan Insight)

The EU Office in Kosovo and US embassy in Serbia both express concern about new regulation on the euro as Kosovo's only official currency – and how it will affect Serb-majority areas that still use the Serbian dinar.

The EU and US have expressed concern over the timing of the enforcement in Kosovo of a regulation reinforcing the euro as the only official currency, especially in Serb-majority municipalities that use Serbia’s dinar on a daily basis.