UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 21, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

COVID-19: 5 new cases, no deaths (media)
Government convinced it will immunise 60% of population (media)
Abazi: Non-recognition of Kosovo is a threat to the EU security umbrella (media)
KDI: Assembly should ratify four international agreements (media)
Assembly without quorum, agreement with European Bank postponed (media)
Hoti reacts to Murati on budget review: do not deceive the MPs (media)
Who and what loses from the failure of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE Albanian media)
Srpska Lista re-elects ‘North Kosovo’s real ruler’ Radoicic as VP (Prishtina Insight)
A greater involvement of women in decision-making is required (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian areas without new Covid-19 cases (Radio KIM)
Why did Erdogan start the "battle for Kosovo" from Cyprus? (B92, Sputnik)
Vucic reacts to Erdogan’s statement on working to increase recognitions of Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
Miftaraj: Borrell and Lajcak are unable to control the dialogue process (KoSSev)
Mrdalj: Vucic’s concern over position of Kosovo Serbs could encourage new attacks (KoSSev)
Serbian List with the same leadership in the next four years (RTS)
Dacic: Recognizing Kosovo is red line Serbia won’t cross (N1)
SOC Patriarch Porfirije congratulates Eid al-Adha: Holidays should bring us closer (N1)
Risto Jovanovic sentenced to six months in prison, can be released on EUR 6.700 bail (Kosovo-online)
Srboljub Veselinovic, an IDP from Prizren, detained at Jarinje crossing (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)

Opinion:

Greece and Kosovo’s budding relationship (Prishtina Insight)
“Erdogan doesn't say anything by accident, such as lobbying for Kosovo independence” (B92, Kosovo-online)

International:

What Progress Has the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Made? (Balkan Insight)
Second Vucic-Kurti meeting ends with no agreements (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

The Kosovar scientist at the cutting edge of architecture (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media

COVID-19: 5 new cases, no deaths (media)

Five new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. Eight persons recovered from the virus during this period. There are 104 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Government convinced it will immunise 60% of population, opposition skeptical (media)

Fatmire Kollqaku from the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) said today that 60 percent of Kosovo's population will be vaccinated by the end of the year. However, Kosovo opposition parties are considering the entire vaccination process against COVID-19 a failure.

According to the former Minister of Health, the goal of vaccinating 60 percent of the population is impossible as so far not even 10 percent of citizens have been immunized against COVID-19.

These disagreements were reflected today at the meeting organized by the Forum for Parliamentary Transparency, with the support of the NDI, on the topic “COVID-19 Pandemic: Vaccination process in Kosovo,” organized within the activity “Assembly Days”.

Abazi: Non-recognition of Kosovo is a threat to the EU security umbrella (media)

Non-recognition of Kosovo by five countries of the European Union poses a risk to the security of the EU itself. This was said at the meeting of the parliamentary commission for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, as political unity and a national strategic plan were requested in the representation of Kosovo abroad.

The chairman of the committee Haki Abazi said that the open dialogue process has created the justification of the five EU member states to postpone the recognition of Kosovo.

"Everything that concerns recognition must be a priority. What I am taking over is to talk to the minister to see what has been done in the past in this regard. This is not being done for criticism of the past. What I can share with the committee is that not recognizing Kosovo's independence is a threat to the European Union's security umbrella. Our aspiration is to take the seat at the UN," he said.

KDI: Assembly should ratify four international agreements (media)

Today, when the continuation of the plenary session started on Friday is expected, the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) has requested from all Kosovo Assembly MPs to vote for the four international agreements which failed to be approved in the previous sessions due to lack of quorum, even though 93 MPs were present in the hall.

As the ratification of an international agreement requires two thirds of the votes of the MPs, this means that a broader agreement between the parliamentary groups is needed to approve them.

Given that the parliamentary majority does not have the votes to endorse these agreements, it is up to the parliamentary majority to try to find a common language with the opposition, in order to reach an agreement on their approval.

KDI considers that a cooperative approach between the parliamentary majority and the opposition, promoted and cultivated by the majority, should prevail in the joint commitment to issues that go beyond party interests and contribute to increasing the well-being of citizens.

Assembly without quorum, agreement with European Bank postponed again (media)

The Assembly of Kosovo once again lacked quorum for the ratification of international agreements.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo Saranda Bogujevci said that the item on "Ratification of the amendment of the international agreement with the European Investment Bank on the financing of the project for the rehabilitation of the railway line 10” will be postponed.

"Due to the lack of quorum, decision 08 / L006 on the ratification of the amendment of the international agreement with the European Investment Bank for the financing of the project for the rehabilitation of the railway line 10, we will postpone this point for later," said Bogujevci.

Hoti reacts to Murati on budget review: do not deceive the MPs (media)

With the revised budget for 2021, the expenditure will be in total 2 billion and 516 million euros, while the revenues will be 2 billion and 43 million euros.

The Committee on Budget, Labor and Transfers with six votes in favor, two against has approved the textual content of the Draft Law on amending and supplementing the Law on Budget Appropriations for the Budget of Kosovo for 2021.

With this review, it is foreseen to make an international agreement in the form of a loan to cover the consequences caused by COVID-19, but which has been opposed by the opposition MPs.

The member of the Committee from the ranks of LDK Avdullah Hoti has requested a review of Article 15 of this draft law, as according to him this loan is not necessary.

The Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfer, Hekuran Murati reacted to this, assessing Hoti’s request as political.

Former Prime Minister Hoti replied to this assessment briefly: "Do not talk nonsense, you are deceiving the MPs."

The Assembly approved in the last parliamentary session with a majority of votes the motion proposed by Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) to review the budget for 2021 with an accelerated procedure.

The parliamentary session for the approval in the second reading of the budget review is expected to be held on July 28 at 10:00 hours.

Who and what loses from the failure of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE Albanian, media)

Prior to the start of the meeting between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia on July 19 in Brussels, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell said that the duration of this meeting will depend on the atmosphere that prevails during the talks.

The atmosphere that followed the meeting became known during the statements of the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia. It was clear that the second meeting within a month, failed.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic have accused each other of lacking the will for the dialogue process to move forward.

However, despite differing views on the future of the dialogue, both sides agree on one thing: that the dialogue should continue.

What is Serbia risking?

Serbia, along with Montenegro, are the countries of the Western Balkans that have advanced the most in the negotiations for membership in the European Union.

However, unlike other countries that are in the process of membership talks, Serbia has a heavy burden "around the neck", Chapter 35, which in the general negotiating framework of the EU is called "other issues".

This is a space where member states can, but not necessarily, present one of the issues they consider important, and which can also be discussed in the European Union membership talks. It is also possible for a chapter to be left blank and to be officially opened and closed.

In the case of Serbia, Chapter 35 is essential because the whole EU has included in it the normalization of relations with Kosovo.

This issue is considered a key issue in resolving the Western Balkans issue and normalizing the situation after the end of the wars during the 1990s.

Serbia has been without new chapters for a year now

In previous years, for a positive report by the Office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Serbia's constructive approach to dialogue, the physical presence of the parties in the EU building was sufficient for the member states to open chapters.

Since the start of EU membership negotiations in 2012, Belgrade has opened 18 of the 35 chapters. Two chapters have been successfully closed. However, Serbia has not opened a new chapter for more than a year due to a lack of progress in the area of rule of law. However, the rule of law situation was almost identical to before and the EU allowed the accession process to continue due to the "positive atmosphere" that was said to reign in the dialogue.

The latest report on the rule of law in Serbia showed a gloomy picture of the situation in this area and negotiations stalled. Therefore, withdrawing from the dialogue with Kosovo is not an option for the Serbian side because in the absence of progress in Chapters 23 and 24, the only way out for Belgrade is to have a constructive approach to the process of normalizing relations with Kosovo.

Serbian President Vucic on Monday, July 19, reiterated the position that Serbia does not intend to give up this process, but warned that the strategy of the Kosovar side is to make it” meaningless (dialogue) and give an end” to the talks.

What is Kosovo risking?

Both in the dialogue and in the process of European integration, Kosovo has an unequal status with other Western Balkan countries. Not only is Serbia challenging Kosovo's independence, but so are five EU member states (Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus and Spain). The two European mediators (Josep Borrell and Miroslav Lajcak) participating in the dialogue come from countries that have not recognized Kosovo (Spain and Slovakia).

Despite the non-unique approach to Kosovo's status, all EU member states consistently reiterate the view that Kosovo also has a European perspective (but not the prospect of full EU membership).

For this reason, Kosovo ranks last in the list of countries that want to join the EU.

In 2014, the EU "negotiated" a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo, based on the legal opinion of European experts, according to which the EU can enter into trade relations with non-state entities, including the Chinese entity of Hong Kong or Macao.

Unlike other SAAs, which have all the countries of the region, in the preamble of the agreement with Kosovo, there are no formulations that provide for possible, full membership in the EU. In addition, the signatories of the SAA are all EU member states together with the state with which the agreement is signed, but in the case of Kosovo, the text was signed only by representatives of European institutions (European Commission and European Council).

With the completion of the SAA in 2014, Brussels has practically nothing to offer Kosovo in terms of integration, based on the current circumstances regarding the status.

The issue of visa liberalization

Kosovo is the only country in the region that does not have visa liberalization and citizens of all other Western Balkan countries enjoy this privilege since 2009, respectively 2010.

Since 2018, the European Commission has consistently said that Kosovo has met all the conditions for visa liberalization, however, the decision at the political level has so far been impossible due to internal issues of some member states.

Countries that are hesitant about the issue of liberalization are also countries that were among the first to recognize Kosovo's independence, such as France and the Netherlands.

During the first meeting between the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, a meeting held in late April, the senior European official warned that dialogue has no alternative and that reaching a comprehensive agreement, legally binding on the normalization of relations with Serbia is essential for progress towards a European perspective.

"Without an agreement, this road is blocked," Borrell warned.

However, in the current circumstances, where Kosovo does not have a prospect for membership, but only a "European perspective", Brussels lacks the power to force the authorities in Pristina to be constructive in dialogue, for the sake of European integration.

Visa liberalization, as the only carrot, could become a new kind of blackmail, to force the government of Kosovo to approach the process of normalization of relations with Serbia differently.

What has changed with Vucic and Kurti?

During the ten years of talks, there has been a tendency to blame, but no accusation has been more serious than those made on July 19th.

Kurti said that Vucic had "lied", while the Serbian president said that Kurti was "irrational".

However, no one in public appearances talks about leaving the process. If such a thing were to happen, it would be to abandon the European integration process.

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in EU foreign policy is one of the most important projects. The whole region is surrounded by EU member states and a possible destabilization in the region would be reflected in the territories of the member states of the European bloc.

Although the region is said to be part of the European bloc in the future, there are still criteria for admitting new members to the EU.

Therefore, in 2018, during the drafting of the enlargement strategy, it was clearly stated that all countries that want to join the EU, must first resolve all open issues they have with their neighbors.

"EU enlargement policy must continue to bring stability. Therefore, the EU cannot and will not import bilateral disputes," reads the EU enlargement strategy.

Srpska Lista re-elects ‘North Kosovo’s real ruler’ Radoicic as VP (Prishtina Insight)

The Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb party has re-elected as its vice-president a controversial businessman once indicted over the murder of the Kosovo Serb opposition politician Oliver Ivanovic.

Members of the assembly of Srpska Lista, the Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb party, on Tuesday re-elected Goran Rakic as president and Milan Radoicic as a party vice-president by unanimous decision. The assembly also elected Igor Simic and Dalibor Jevtic as vice-presidents.

Srpska Lista is the main Kosovo Serb party and is perceived as the arm in Kosovo of Serbian’s ruling Progressive Party.

Radoicic, who is widely seen as the real power-holder in Serb-majority northern Kosovo, became vice-president of Srpska Lista in July 2018.

The indictment for the murder of Kosovo Serb opposition politician Oliver Ivanovic, filed in December 2019, said that Radoicic and another prominent Kosovo Serb, Zvonko Veselinovic, were leaders of the criminal group responsible for the killing, and accused several policemen of aiding the crime.

Radoicic, who fled to Serbia, has denied wrongdoing.

Not long before his death, Ivanovic claimed in an interview with BIRN that Radoicic was the key figure and real power-holder in the north of Kosovo, even though at that time Radoicic was not involved in politics.

In March 2021, the Pristina Basic Court withdrew the warrant for the arrest of Radoicic. The prosecution declined to comment on the reasons for this, saying only that “this is an internal issue”.

Both Radoicic and Veselinovic, who have developed a strong business empire in the meantime, were under investigation by the Serbian police and state intelligence agency, BIA, which suspected them of smuggling drugs, weapons and oil, as well as money-laundering and loan sharking, the investigative website KRIK revealed.

Both also have high-profile political ties in both Serbia and Kosovo. In Serbia, they have numerous construction companies working on many state-backed projects.

In 2019, BIRN published photographs of Radoicic and Veselinovic with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s best man Nikola Petrovic, and of Veselinovic with Vucic’s brother Andrej at the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s premises.

Kosovo news website Gazeta Express also published a photo in 2017 of Kosovo’s then Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj sitting with Radoicic in a restaurant in Pristina.

Radoicic was accused of kidnapping a Macedonian businessman in 2009. The abducted man suddenly changed his statement on the last day of the trial, resulting in Radoicic being acquitted, according to KRIK.

A greater involvement of women in decision-making is required (Kosovapress)

The involvement of women in decision-making is extremely important and is proof that their participation makes the process more successful and more sustainable. This was said at the conference marking the start of the project “Involvement of Women at the Negotiating Table” by the EU Office in Kosovo. It was emphasized that Kosovo has made progress in the selection of women in senior leadership positions, but it was emphasized that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that women have equal opportunities in decision-making.

The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Thomas Szunyog said that women are taking institutional responsibility in Kosovo, and that he hopes to see such trend at the local level as well. Szunyog stated that the fact that women have taken senior leadership positions in Kosovo is a positive indicator, but that this does not mean that women have equal opportunities in decision-making.

Serbian Language Media

Serbian areas without new Covid-19 cases (Radio KIM)

According to the latest information out of 24 tested samples in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo none was positive for Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced, Radio KIM reports.

According to the Crisis Committee there is one active case in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

A total of 6.307 cases of Covid-19 were registered in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic a total of 149 persons have passed away.

Why did Erdogan start the "battle for Kosovo" from Cyprus? (B92, Sputnik)

Turkish President Erdogan's statement that Turkey works on increasing the number of countries that recognize Kosovo's independence is essentially a repetition.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been saying that for years and decades when it comes to the Balkans and Kosovo, although recently there have been cracks in the relations between Ankara and Pristina, longtime Serbian media correspondent from Ankara Vojislav Lalic told Sputnik about Erdogan's new message that contradicts Serbia's national interests.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attitude towards this topic is not accidental, just as it is not accidental that he mentioned Kosovo before his visit to northern Cyprus.

Turkey has a special relationship with Kosovo and that represents a continuity of Turkish policy, despite recent setbacks. But Turkey does not have the strength to "push" the recognition of Kosovo in the entire Islamic world, let alone in the UN.

"Now 114 countries recognize Kosovo and we want that number to increase. We hope that this year at the United Nations General Assembly, at the meeting I will have with Biden, we will discuss this topic again, that we will work together on the recognition of Kosovo," Erdogan said, among other things, to Turkish journalists before leaving for the Turkish part of divided Cyprus.

Turkey is pushing for Kosovo's independence in the Islamic world

Turkey was the second country in the world to recognize Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence, along with the United States, Albania and Afghanistan, Lalic recalls.

"Turkey is campaigning primarily within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which brings together 57 countries, and Erdogan has repeatedly tried to unanimously recognize Kosovo's independence, but failed, because there are many countries that do not want to join, if not because of anything else, then because of similar problems they have in their territory”, he explains.

Among the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in which Ankara's efforts did not yield results are Algeria, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Morocco, Lebanon…

See more at: https://bit.ly/3rmSHEM

Vucic reacts to Erdogan’s statement on working to increase recognitions of Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today Serbia will oppose new lobbying for recognition of self-declared Kosovo, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Vucic thus commented on the statement of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who said earlier he will work on lobbying to increase recognitions of Kosovo. Vucic said this was realistic to happen, since “Turkey is a major power” and Erdogan “a great leader”.

“I will try to talk to him. In line with the Washington Agreement until September 1 both sides are obliged not to lobby for recognitions and de-recognitions respectively. But should they start on September 1 or before the actions for recognitions we would certainly oppose that”, Vucic said.

Talking about Kosovo, Vucic said “it was not Turkish, didn’t belong to Turkey but to Serbia, and it remains for us to fight for our country and people. We have no reserve fatherland, so we shall see. Erdogan is very powerful, we are not, and I hope he would soften his stance, in case he doesn’t we shall fight for our country. And (I swear) by God, you shall see we are not that small as I used to say”, Vucic said.

Miftaraj: Borrell and Lajcak are unable to control the dialogue process (KoSSev)

Belgrade and Pristina should find a way to continue the dialogue and solve issues, instead of talking so much about the past because we are all, including the EU, very well acquainted with what has happened in the last 100 years, Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Law Institute told KoSSev, following yesterday’s second round of dialogue in Brussels.

''The only outcome I can speak of today is that the dialogue will continue,'' EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak said after the talks in Brussels and after the leaders of the two delegations – Vucic and Kurti – presented a series of accusations against the other side.

Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Law Institute notes that Miroslav Lajcak’s statement is one of the most important messages after the latest round of dialogue, but also an indication that Lajcak is unable to facilitate the dialogue between the two sides in the right way.

Lajcak should, therefore, change his approach – Miftaraj adds.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3ivv1Ks

Mrdalj: Vucic’s concern over position of Kosovo Serbs could encourage new attacks (KoSSev)

“Kurti tried to take some attention off the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities with a moral racket about three genocides against Albanians, which is why he is to blame for the negotiation deadlock“, political scientist Mladen Mrdalj told KoSSev portal, commenting on the latest round of BG-PR dialogue in Brussels.

In his words, Kurti is thus trying to create a reason for the EU and the USA to shift the responsibility for the negotiations deadlock to Serbia.

Mrdalj also commented on the President Aleksandar Vucic’s statement that he is now even more worried about the position of Serbs in Kosovo, due to the alleged refusal of Albin Kurti to refrain from actions that could lead to destabilization on the ground.

According to Mrdalj Vucic’s statement could have a counter-effect.

“It could encourage attacks on Serbs, if Albanian extremists determine that Vucic would agree to further concessions in the name of the security of Serbs in Kosovo“, Mrdalj estimated.

He underlined that Serbia should make it very clear it cannot conduct any negotiations as long as attacks on Serbs continue, noting that this would consolidate the responsibility of the Albanian side as the main topic of Serbia’s talks with the EU and the USA.

See at: https://bit.ly/3hTrq9Z

Serbian List with the same leadership in the next four years (RTS)

At the regular election assembly of the Serbian List, Goran Rakic was re-elected its president, and Milan Radoicic, Igor Simic and Dalibor Jevtic as vice-presidents, reported Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

The Serbian List announced that according to its statute, the mandate of the president and vice president lasts for four years.

It is added that at the assembly in North Mitrovica, the president and vice presidents were elected by a unanimous decision of all members of that body.

Dacic: Recognizing Kosovo is red line Serbia won’t cross (N1)

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic said Tuesday that recognizing Kosovo is a red line that official Belgrade will not cross, N1 reports.

Dacic told TV Happy that Serbia’s delegation to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will always have the interests of the state in mind and will not cross any red lines.

Commenting European Union envoy Miroslav Lajcak’s statement that very little progress was made during Monday’s meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Dacic said that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will be hard to continue without any tangible results.

Dacic said it was told by Lajcak recently that no meetings would be organized if they don’t yield results. “He obviously has patience and I think it’s good that he does since it’s better to sit and talk than to create problems on the ground, but it’s a question of perspective because Kurti evidently does not want to tackle the issues on the agenda”, Dacic said.

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

SOC Patriarch Porfirije congratulates Eid al-Adha: Holidays should bring us closer (N1)

Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Porfirije congratulated all Muslims on the great Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, wishing them to spend it in health, peace and love, N1

“In the spirit of nurturing good inter-religious and good-neighborly relations, we congratulate all Muslims on the great Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha“, the Patriarch Porfirije said.

He added that on this holiday, Muslims around the world remembered the sacrifice of the ancestor Abraham, and their customs about the importance of mercy, benevolence and philanthropy.

“Let the celebrations of our religious holidays be occasions to get to know each other and get closer to testify in a dignified way that we are descendants of the same ancestors“, Patriarch Porfirije said.

Risto Jovanovic sentenced to six months in prison, can be released on EUR 6.700 bail (Kosovo-online)

The Court in Pristina convicted Risto Jovanovic, from Podgorica arrested on June 28, at Gazimestan, to six months in prison over alleged “incitement to discord and intolerance”.

The court also agreed to substitute the sentence with a fine in the amount of EUR 6.700 to which Jovanovic agreed, Kosovo-online portal reports.

The time Jovanovic spent in detention would be included in the sentence.

He is also banned from entering Kosovo for five years.

Srboljub Veselinovic, an IDP from Prizren, detained at Jarinje crossing (Kosov Online, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)

''Members of the Kosovo Police arrested today at the administrative crossing Jarinje Srboljub Veselinović (80), an internally displaced person from Kosovo, residing in Kragujevac'', the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced, reported Kosovo Online.

Veselinovic, a displaced person from Gornje Selo near Prizren, is accused of alleged property and legal issues, the statement said.

"This morning, he went to Kosovo and Metohija with his son, but he was first detained in Jarinje, and then taken to Pristina, where he should be questioned before the prosecutor. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija immediately provided defense counsel for Veselinovic and will address all relevant international actors concerning his case," said from the Office.

As they add, the continuation of persecution and revenge against Serbs from Kosovo is in progress, "who are arrested without any legal basis, under false accusations and fabricated testimonies".

"Related to that is today's verdict against Risto Jovanovic, who was sentenced to a shameful sentence of six months in prison, just because he opposed the illegal search and harassment of a nun in Gazimestan and showed affection for Serbs and Serbia. Now it is clear why Albin Kurti in "Brussels did not want to agree with the EU's proposal for both sides to refrain from actions that could cause destabilization on the ground," the Office for KiM said.

According to the Office, everything Pristina is doing is intended to cause destabilization in Kosovo.

"The increase in the number of serious incidents in the province speaks for itself, and the arrest of Veselinovic, along with the shameful verdict against Jovanovic, is the most vivid testimony to the persecution and retaliation faced by Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, or those who are inclined towards Serbia," the statement concluded.

Opinion

Greece and Kosovo’s budding relationship (Prishtina Insight)

Frequent visits to Prishtina and Athens by Greek and Kosovo officials have left many wondering if recognition is on the horizon, writes Klarisa Fetahu, a law graduate from the University of Prishtina who has worked in Kosovo civil society and is currently a foreign policy researcher.

Interactions between Kosovo and Greece have become increasingly frequent in the first half of 2021. Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s visit to Greece last week, during which he was received in Athens by his Greek counterpart, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, came after a series of mutual visits between officials of the two countries. As part of his week-long stay Prime Minister Kurti met a long list of Greek officials, including the Minister of National Defence and leader of the opposition Alexis Tsipras.

This budding bilateral relationship has left room for many to wonder whether Greece is close to formally recognising Kosovo, which may come as something of a surprise considering the two countries do not exactly share a history of close diplomatic ties. In fact, Greece’s position has always been stuck in something of a status quo regarding Kosovo’s independence and its subsequent international recognition.

As an EU Member State, Greece has stated that it is open to recognising Kosovo only after the conclusion of the EU-brokered normalisation agreement with Serbia, which had created problems with moving forward in terms of forging partnerships and cooperation. A combination of Greece’s hesitation and Kosovo’s passive engagement and inert foreign policy have resulted in stagnant relations between the two states for a while.

International

What Progress Has the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Made? (Balkan Insight)

After another meeting between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia ended in mutual recriminations, BIRN asks how much real progress the EU-facilitated dialogue to normalise relations between the two foes has made since 2011.

For the second time this summer, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic traded accusations of intransigence after their seemingly fruitless second meeting in Brussels on Monday, part of the ongoing EU-facilitated dialogue to normalise relations that began in 2011.

Humanitarian/Development

The Kosovar scientist at the cutting edge of architecture (Kosovo 2.0)

Imagine you are just waking up from anesthesia after surgery. You open your eyes in a state of confusion and you start taking in your surroundings. What are the first things you see, and how do they make you feel?

Does a cool, unfeeling light bulb hang clinically from a low ceiling, so bright that it burns your eyes, adding to the disorientation and perhaps making you feel anxious? Or maybe you find yourself in a spacey, naturally lit room with subtle wood detailing on the walls, as the shadow of a tree’s branches sways to the rhythm of the breeze outside.

Soon enough a caretaker’s face might enter your field of vision and the physical symptoms you might be having will turn your attention inwards — nevertheless the way you experience those initial moments of coming round has a role to play in your recovery.

Knowing this, don’t you wish that someone was laying the groundwork that in the future might inform those in charge wanting to make similar experiences as comfortable as possible? Rest assured (pun unintended), someone is on it, or will be soon enough.

Dea Luma is one of the world’s leading neuroarchitects and is currently heading up a brand new neuroarchitecture lab at the University of Tokyo, Japan. Photo courtesy of Dea Luma.

Dea Luma, a Prishtina-raised scientist in her early 30s, is the person entrusted with establishing the University of Tokyo’s neuroarchitecture laboratory, a multidisciplinary area of research focusing on the brain and the human experience of architecture. Given that we spend most of our time indoors, the newly-established lab is set to find out ways in which architectural design impacts us, its users.