UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 6, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)
Lajcak: There is nothing technical in dialogue (media)
Lajcak raises 'status' of dialogue from that of Pristina-Belgrade to Kosovo-Serbia (Klan)
Association at the centre of dialogue (RFE)
Andin Hoti appointed head of Kosovo's committee on missing persons (media)
The Netherlands: Kosovo-Serbia agreement would contribute to Western Balkans stability (Klan)
Romanian authorities have not yet replied on killing of Balaj, Xheladini (Koha)
Assembly committee approves draft law on commercial court (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

Three weeks without new Covid-19 cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
Serbian analysts on incidents against Serbs in Kosovo, nationalist rhetoric (Danas)
Trial for murder of Oliver Ivanovic begins (KiM radio)
Ursula von der Layen: Supporting Western Balkans to achieve reforms (N1, Beta)
Belgrade: Pristina judiciary biased, denies right to fair trial to a Serb (N1, Radio KIM)
Vucic: Serbia wants good relations, neighbors haven’t reciprocated (N1)
Spanish Ambassador to Serbia: We do not recognize Kosovo (Blic, Tanjug)
Merkel: EU backs solving problems in W. Balkans; cancelling roaming success (N1)
Von Cramon: Berlin Process was another missed opportunity (N1)
Vucic: Gratitude to Angola over support to Serbia’s territorial integrity (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

Abolishing visa regimes is not only about traveling, but also about basic human rights (EWB)
The First Meeting between Kurti and Vučić in Brussels: A Dynamic Status Quo? (KoSSev)

International:

Kosovo needs evidence for genocide lawsuit against Serbia (Euractiv)

Humanitarian/Development:

Kosovan youngsters have high hopes for their most famous judoka at Olympics (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media

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

Ten new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours and no deaths. 16 persons recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 152 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

13,397 vaccine doses have been administered in the last 24 hours. To date, a total of 219,885 vaccines have been administered in Kosovo. 52,975 persons have received both doses of the vaccine.

Lajcak: There is nothing technical in dialogue (media)

EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, met in Brussels Kosovo's Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.

"Welcomed Besnik Bislimi, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, for a discussion today ahead of tomorrow’s Dialogue meeting on Chief negotiators’ level. Everything in the talks on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is highly political, nothing is technical," Lajcak wrote on Twitter.

Lajcak raises 'status' of dialogue from that of Pristina-Belgrade to Kosovo-Serbia (Klan)

Klan Kosova reports that the EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, "has made a step forward towards the status of Kosovo as a country."

This is based on a recent tweet where Lajcak speaks about the meeting he had with Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi and where he refers to the parties in dialogue: Kosovo and Serbia.

Klan reports that Lajcak did the same when he reported on a meeting he had with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Brussels. He wrote on Twitter then: "We spoke about the EU engagement in the Western Balkans, and in particular about the Dialogue on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia."

This change is in contrast to previous practices where the EU would refer to the dialogue as being between Pristina and Belgrade.

Association at the centre of dialogue (RFE)

Arsim Bajrami, law professor at the University of Pristina, and Dusan Janjic, from the Belgrade-based Forum for Ethnic Relations, said for Radio Free Europe in Albanian that the statements from EU and U.S. officials urging the Government of Kosovo to seriously approach the issue of establishing the Association of Serb-majority municipalities are pragmatic and well-intended.

Bajrami notes that the majority of U.S. and EU officials who have called for the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities have underlined the need for it to be in line with the Constitution of Kosovo. "I think the Kosovo side should, before the issue of the Association is put on the table, fulfill its obligations in relation to the Association. To review the statute, harmonise it according to the findings of the Constitutional Court, decree it and with that revised version head to the final talks, because I am sure that there will be immense pressure, especially from the office of Mr. (Miroslav) Lajcak, but also from the EU to go beyond the decision of the Constitutional Court and form an Association above the existing constitutional order of Kosovo."

Janjic, at the same time, said the 2013 Brussels Agreement on the Association does not explicitly state it needs to be in line with the Constitution of Kosovo and its legislation but added that this is self-implied. Meanwhile, this wording was included in the additional agreement of 2015. This is the reason, according to Janjic, that Serbia insists on the implementation of the 2013 agreement on the Association, which was ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo as an international agreement. International agreements, he says, are more powerful than the Constitutional Court's conclusions.

Bajrami added that the statute of the Association has space to accommodate broad cooperation between municipalities with Serb majority and at the same time avoid any executive powers being granted to this mechanism.

Janjic said it was reasonable to expect that in the upcoming meeting in Brussels, the two parties present draft statute of the Association.

Andin Hoti appointed head of Kosovo's committee on missing persons (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has appointed Andin Hoti as the chairman of the Government's Committee on Missing Persons, online media report.

"The issue of missing persons is one of the priority issues of the Government of Kosovo and today's appointment shows this topic goes beyond politics. The pain and anxiety that families have been experiencing for 23 years is growing by the day and it is therefore our obligation as a Government to do the best we can to alleviate this situation by engaging more to shed light to the fate of their loved ones. It is important for the Government of Kosovo to have a united front vis-a-vis Serbia, in our demands for dealing with the past," the Government said in a statement.

Andin Hoti is the son of Ukshin Hoti, arrested by Serbian forces as a political prisoner and missing since 1999. Andin was a member of the Kosovo Assembly from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) in the previous legislature.

The Netherlands: Kosovo-Serbia agreement would contribute to Western Balkans stability (Klan)

Spokesperson for the Dutch Foreign Ministry Tessa van Staden said that an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is of special importance for the whole region and that it would contribute to the stability of the Western Balkans.

"Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, facilitated by the EU, is of crucial importance not only for Kosovo and Serbia but for the whole region. We are encouraged that talks between parties have re-launched and we hope this leads to a comprehensive, legally binding agreement that would contribute to the sustainable stabilisation of the Western Balkans and the European integration of the two countries. Even though the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and the visa liberalisation remain both very important, for the Netherlands they are separate processes."

On the issue of visa liberalisation, van Staden said that the Council of the European Union decides on the matter. "So far, there is no sufficient support for visa liberalisation at this Council. As you know, visa liberalisation is a technical process, guided by standards, whereby a country needs to meet all in a sustainable way before the Council decides to lift visas. When the European Commission reported last time on this, the Netherlands found that the conclusions of the Commission on Kosovo's track record in the fight against high level corruption and organised crime was not very convincing."

The Dutch official also said that the Netherlands is encouraged by the Government of Kosovo's plans to fight organised crime and corruption and that it was looking forward to the results. "We need to see a structural improvement over a longer period of time. Kosovo can count on our support through projects, advice and experts to achieve these sustainable results."

Romanian authorities have not yet replied on killing of Balaj, Xheladini (Koha)

Kosovo's Ministry of Justice, through two letters, one sent last year and one this year, has asked the Romanian authorities for information regarding the investigation procedures in the case of the murder of Vetevendosje activists, Mon Balaj and Arben Xheladini in 2007. But, in a reply to KOHA, the Ministry said that they did not receive a reply to any of the letters.

Balaj and Xheladini were killed with rubber bullets by Romanian police officers operating within the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on February 10, 2007 during a Vetevendosje protest against the Ahtisaari package and negotiations with Serbia. In a letter, in February of last year, the Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu addressed the Romanian Ministry of Justice, requesting information on the investigation procedures against the Romanian police officers who committed the murders.

Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Law Institute, states that one of the reasons why this issue has not been addressed has to do with the immunity of the police officers. Miftaraj said these are not the first letters sent to Romania for this case which have not been replied to.

He noted that the handling of this case by the judiciary in Kosovo has been impossible, since at that time the exclusive competence to investigate, prosecute and try such a case was with UNMIK authorities. "Almost any request sent to the Romanian authorities will have no effect on the criminal proceedings, because the Romanian police officers who are involved, first, have immunity from prosecution and trial, and it would also be nonsense for Romania in some way to hand them over to Kosovo to face criminal proceedings ", he said.

Miftaraj argued that one of the ways for Kosovo to tackle such a case would be for its authorities to be in communication with the UN in New York regarding the stripping of immunity for police officers.

Assembly committee approves draft law on commercial court (Kosovapress)

Kosovo Assembly's legislation committee has approved the draft law for establishment of the commercial court.

Chair of the committee, Adnan Rrustemi from the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV), said a commercial court would play an important role in the economic development of Kosovo.

Members of the committee from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) also supported the draft, stating that it was an initiative undertaken by the previous justice minister Abelard Tahiri, now head of the PDK parliamentary group.

Driton Selmanaj from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said the party needs more information on the draft law while Besnik Tahiri from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) supported the motion but accused LVV of supporting right-wing policies.

Serbian Language Media

Three weeks without new Covid-19 cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)

According to the latest information out of 28 tested samples in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo none was positive for Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced, KoSSev portal reports.

A total of 6.036 cases of Covid-19 were registered in the Serbian areas in Kosovo since the outbreak of the pandemic.

At the same time, a total of 148 persons have died due to Covid-19 related complications.

Since March 12, 2020 up to date a total of 20.560 persons have been tested at the Institute for Public Health in Mitrovica North.

Serbian analysts on incidents against Serbs in Kosovo, nationalist rhetoric (Danas)

In an article published today Belgrade-based daily Danas argues that the threats against Dragica Gasic, who returned to Djakovica after 22 years, the beating of a 13-year-old boy and arrest of a young man (from Podgorica) who opposed the search of a nun at Gazimestan were the latest in a series of attacks against the Serbs in Kosovo to which there were no reactions, neither from Kosovo or Serbian authorities or by the non-governmental organizations.

The Youth Initiative for the Human Rights (YIHR) of Serbia was the only NGO reacting, demanding that the Kosovo Government and international missions in Kosovo do everything possible to prevent a further wave of violent incidents directed against the Serbian community in Kosovo.

“Instead of keeping silent about the graffiti directed against Serbs at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Pristina, burning of the flag of Gracanica Monastery and the lynching of the returnee Dragica Gasic in Djakovica, the Government of Kosovo must clearly condemn and stop this wave of violence. The continuation of these incidents without prosecution and clear condemnation will only be a new reason for violence and hatred within Kosovo, but also within the Belgrade-Priština relations”, YIHR said in a statement.

They added that the unprocessed war crimes and the unresolved fate of the missing Albanians, as well as the political struggle for local elections in Djakovica, “must not serve as an excuse for revenge violence against one woman”.

Marko Jaksic, former member of Civic Initiative Freedom, Democracy, Justice (SDP) told Danas daily that in Kosovo, after Kurti’s left-wing government returned to power that has “elements of very blatant nationalism", there was a harsh deterioration of the position of Serbian community.

“Attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Church have intensified, ethnically motivated attacks are more frequent, such as the last one a few days ago in Gojbulja, and all this is accompanied by stronger institutional pressure and covert discrimination, which can be seen through court proceedings and detention of this unfortunate guy at Gazimestan, who was detained only because he verbally addressed the police (…).The culmination of all this is what is happening to Dragica Gasic, the only returnee to Djakovica after the war”, Jaksic pointed out and added that “her only problem is that she is a Serb”.

He also opined that not only Dragica Gasic’s future in Djakovica was under question mark, but the future of all Serbs in Kosovo, “because the wave of this pressure and violence is reminiscent of the period before March 2004, as well as the ambivalent and disinterested behaviour of the international community”.

Ognjen Gogic, a political analyst from Mitrovica North said for him this “wave of hostility” towards the Serbian community in recent months was not so unusual for Kosovo.

“I would connect the last series of events with the coming to power of the Kurti-Osmani duo who promoted nationalist rhetoric to a new normalcy. All these incidents, from the physical attacks on the boys Luka Dimitrijevic in Gracanica and Nikola Peric in Gojbulja, through the vandalism against the SOC facilities, to the persecution of the returnee Dragica Gasic in Djakovica, represent isolated incidents. It cannot be said that this is persecution that is orchestrated from one centre. However, what unites all these perpetrators is the atmosphere that has emerged in recent months that the time has come to end “excessive” tolerance towards Serbs”, Gogic underlined.

According to him, such an atmosphere is directly generated by Prime Minister Kurti and President Osmani with their discourse, which seeks to revive the past and return Kosovo to the period immediately after the war. Many actors feel encouraged that the time has come to “settle accounts with the Serbs”, Gogic told Danas daily.

He emphasized that this was a problem that requires long-term work on overcoming ethnic stereotypes and animosities, as well as a more efficient reaction of Kosovo institutions.

“Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani are the first to remind of the violence to which Albanians have been exposed in the past, but they do not have a single word of condemnation regarding the incidents that occur at the time when the two of them are in power. In addition to condemnation, they are expected to stop using rhetoric that dehumanizes Serbs and makes them a legitimate target of attacks. However, it should be reminded that Belgrade officials often worsen the relations between the two communities with their rhetoric. Nationalisms always feed each other”, Gogic said.

Regarding the fact that 11 non-governmental organizations opposed the return of Dragica Gasic to Djakovica, Gogic opined that, unfortunately, part of the civil sector does not nurture civic values. He recalled that a similar thing happened in connection with the inclusion of Visoki Decani Monastery on the list of the most endangered cultural sites in Europe.

Trial for murder of Oliver Ivanovic begins (KiM radio)

The trial for the murder of the leader of the CI "Serbia, Democracy, Justice" (SDP) Oliver Ivanovic is scheduled for today and tomorrow in the Basic Court in Pristina, according to the indictment of the special prosecutor's office, reported KiM radio.

"The Court of Appeals in Pristina recently rejected as unfounded the defense attorneys' requests to dismiss the indictment and challenge the evidence for defendants N. S., M. R., S. A., D. M. and R. B. in the case of Ivanovic's murder," said lawyer Jovana Filipovic, defense attorney of one of the accused.

The Special Prosecutor charges the accused with a number of criminal offenses related to the participation or organization of an organized criminal group, aggravated murder, abuse of official position or authority, and unauthorized possession, control or possession of weapons.

Oliver Ivanovic was killed on January 16, 2018 in north Mitrovica, in front of the headquarters of CI SDP, which he founded and led.

Since the murder and after the investigation, the trial has not moved away from reading and confirming the indictment, repeated several times, until the verdict of the Court of Appeals, recalled KiM radio.

Ursula von der Layen: Supporting Western Balkans to achieve reforms (N1, Beta)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the virtual Summit of the Berlin Process on Monday that the EU's priority is to "accelerate the enlargement agenda across the Western Balkans and support partners from the region to achieve the necessary reforms to advance on their European path".

The Summit focused on the region’s progress in economic integration within the Joint Action Plan for Regional Markets adopted at the Sofia Summit in 2020 and the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan adopted by the European Commission last autumn.

Also, following the EU’s decision to consider lifting travel restrictions for the Western Balkans, a package of financial and technical assistance will be provided to the region to join the ''digital EU COVID-19 certificate '' and facilitate travel between the region and the EU.

''But our engagement in the Western Balkans goes beyond and the Berlin Process has served as an incubator for many initiatives that have now become an integral part of EU policy towards the region. Together, we have set the direction for a more sustainable, digital and resilient Europe,'' Von der Leyen said.

Opinion

Abolishing visa regimes is not only about traveling, but also about basic human rights (EWB)

For the past seven years, I studied and worked in seven countries across three continents. This would have never been possible without institutional and financial support provided by the EU governmental institutions and the freedom to travel without restrictions. During my Erasmus+ exchange semester at the Free University of Berlin in 2014, I met two people: Dušica and Sahit, both Erasmus+ students with whom I built long-lasting friendships. Dušica, a Belgrade-native, taught me how to write a perfect CV, and Sahit, who comes from Prishtina, helped me learn how to cook, which made my mum delighted.

Seven years later, meeting my Erasmus+ friend Dušica is easy and only one bus ride away from Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, meeting Sahit is a nightmare – not because we are not friends anymore, but because every time I want to go to Prishtina, as a Bosnian citizen, I also need to go through a kafkaesque process of obtaining a visa for Kosovo. Erasmus+ has brought us together, but the Bosnia-Kosovo visa regime has been separating us for years now.

International

Kosovo needs evidence for genocide lawsuit against Serbia (Euractiv)

Kosovo will have to provide strong evidence if it decides to sue Serbia for genocide, warned the special US State Department envoy for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, exit.al reported.

“First thing, they need to have standing, and so that’s an issue that would need to be addressed before a suit could be filed,” Palmer said.

The diplomat stressed that the US would like Kosovo to focus more on the future rather than looking back to the past, and to identify points of commonality with Serbia.

Humanitarian/Development

Kosovan youngsters have high hopes for their most famous judoka at Olympics (Reuters)

Hundreds of youngsters in the Kosovan town of Peja are looking forward to watching the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and hoping that their hero Majlinda Kelmendi will win the country’s second Olympics gold medal in judo.

Kelmendi, aged 30, became an inspiration for many in Kosovo, which has suffered years of warfare, when she started to bring back trophies to her hometown.

After becoming the best world judo player in her 52 kg category she won the gold medal in Rio 2016 Olympics.