UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 2, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Political historical mistakes of previous governments won’t be repeated (Koha)
Kurti: Serbia has two choices, to recognize Kosovo or align with Putin - I believe it will be the first (Shenja, media)
Vela reacts after Vucic said he will not agree to Kosovo UN membership (media)
Bislimi: Kosovo cannot form Association with executive competencies (media)
Konjufca will travel to U.S., to attend Summit for Democracy (Express)
Haradinaj: Association not product of Kurti; two signing parties responsible (Kanal 10)
Krasniqi to Kurti: No reason to flee or fear the MPs (Koha)
Abdixhiku: Kurti didn’t confront Serbia; with piece of paper overcame crimes and massacres committed in Kosovo (Gazeta Blic)
Dodik implies he will block removal of visas for Kosovo, Von Cramon reacts (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Stano: The European proposal should not be signed (Kosovo Online, RTS, RTV)
Drecun says European plan is not agreement but proposal, de facto recognition means nothing (N1, Kosovo Online)
Vucevic on European proposal: Nothing has been signed, Brussels agreement in force (Vecernje Novosti, media)
Peoples’ Party mobilises resources to oppose acceptance of European plan (social media, media)
Serbian List reacts to verdict against Todosijevic (TV Most, media)
Dacic thanks NAM member states that stand with Serbia (Tanjug, RTV)
Why are young people leaving north of Kosovo? (KoSSev)
The CEC has again announced a competition for municipal election officials in the North (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Tanjug: Pristina's Interpol membership request taken off agenda
Office for KiM submits guarantees to EULEX for Adzic and Trajkovic (Kosovo Online)
Dacic meets with FMs of Sudan, Yemen, Uganda and Ethiopia in Baku (Tanjug, media)

International:

Bosnian Serb Leader Blocks Regional Kosovo ID Travel Deal (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Political historical mistakes of previous governments won’t be repeated (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in the Assembly session today that in his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels, he was ready and offered to sign the European plan, but that Vucic categorically refused. “At the trilateral meeting, I offered to the EU my official signature to the basic agreement as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, and which would be signed by EU High Representative Borrell and by Serbian President Vucic and which would then be adopted by the Summit of the EU Council. My proposal was immediately refused by Vucic, and categorically. He made this public even after the meeting. Borrell’s position is that the document will not be discussed. It has a finalised format, and it was published on the EU webpage; both parties agreed to this, but it does not imply that they have officially accepted the agreement. The acceptance is done through the signing of all parties. Serbia refused to show that it does not agree with the agreement,” he said.

Kurti said the implementation plan of the agreement has yet to be negotiated. He said that if the agreement is damaging then “you should tell us why Vucic is not signing it”.

Kurti said the agreement is an important step in regulating relations between Kosovo and Serbia, that it talks about equality, respect for territorial integrity, independence and removing obstacles to memberships in international organisations, it also includes exchanging diplomatic missions, recognition of state symbols, and passports.

“The agreement paves the way for the membership of our Republic in many international organisations, most importantly by accepting the legal capacity for membership in NATO, singing the Partnership for Peace with NATO, whereby for the first time the Army of Kosovo will become a partner ally of NATO … the candidate status for EU will also follow,” he said.

Kurti argued that he would never agree to something that goes against the Constitution of Kosovo. “Allow me to reiterate that as Prime Minister I would never allow to negotiate on something that is not in line with our constitutional and legal system or something that aims at territorialization, monoethnicity or creating bridges for Serbia’s interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Kosovo. None of this, ever. The political historical mistakes of previous governments will never be repeated. I will do my best to eliminate or at least substantially reduce those mistakes so that they do not obstruct the sustainable, democratic, and unitary character of Kosovo,” he added.

Kurti said that he cannot talk in much detail but that the only problematic article in the agreement is the one that talks about inherited obligations and for which there is international consensus that they need to be implemented.

Kurti: Serbia has two choices, to recognize Kosovo or align with Putin - I believe it will be the first (Shenja, media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has said that Serbia has two options: Either recognize Kosovo, or line up with Putin.

"Will Serbia recognize us? It has two options: either go after Putin or recognize us. And, actually, I think it's only one realistic option: for it to recognize us. In Serbia, I am convinced that there is a mass of citizens who want normal neighbourly relations, development, and progress towards a united Europe. So, a group that wants and accepts the recognition of Kosovo. But, currently, the other part rules there, the one that is strongly connected with Russia, with the Balkan underground, with the oligarchs, with the autocracy. I think that even in Serbia, in the end, the democratic side will win, and Serbia will recognize Kosovo and we will have a good neighbour," Kurti told the North Macedonian magazine "Shenja".

Vela reacts after Vucic said he will not agree to Kosovo UN membership (media)

Blerim Vela, Chief of Staff for Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, took to Twitter today to react to a statement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that he will not agree to Kosovo’s eventual membership in the United Nations. Vela tweeted: “Serbia’s goal is not to normalise relations with Kosovo. It is to normalise its hegemonic and spoiler role in Kosovo & the wider region. That’s why Vucic will do everything to undermine any serious attempt for an agreement with Kosovo. No more appeasing, it’s time for consequences!”

Bislimi: Kosovo cannot form Association with executive competencies (media)

Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, said on Wednesday that the Association of Serb-majority municipalities cannot have executive competencies and that the European Union shares Kosovo’s position on the matter. “There is harmony in the position of the European Union and the institutions of Kosovo, that Kosovo cannot create any Association with executive competencies, and I think that this is clear to Vucic too,” he said.

Bislimi said the association was negotiated by previous governments and that it cannot be a third tier of government. “In fact, it is an obligation accepted by a previous government in the past, it was negotiated. We don’t negotiate on the Association. What we are saying is that there is agreement between us and the international factor, and this was documented in a letter that Mogherini sent to the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo in 2015 saying that there can be no Association with executive competencies,” he argued.

Konjufca will travel to U.S., to attend Summit for Democracy (Express)

Kosovo Assembly President, Glauk Konjufca, will travel to the United States of America where he will attend the second Summit for Democracy, which will be held on March 29-30 in Washington. As part of the activities of the Summit, the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) will organise a reception for the leadership and MPs of countries that are partners with HDP and other countries. Konjufca’s chief of staff, Ilir Kerceli, confirmed the information. “Assembly President Konjufca as a participant in the activities of the Summit will use the platform to hold meetings with different representatives of the U.S. Congress and political representatives of other countries, including those that have not yet recognised the state of Kosovo,” Kerceli said.

Haradinaj: Association not product of Kurti; two signing parties responsible (Kanal 10)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, reconfirmed his support for the French-German proposal accepted by the parties in the dialogue and said that 27 February agreement in Brussels is not a product of Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

During a debate in Kanal 10, Haradinaj revealed why he did not agree to implement the agreement on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities and blamed the previous governments, PDK and LDK, for signing the agreement. “Kosovo did not lack the readiness to conclude an agreement with Serbia, but Serbia was not ready. Now there is a risk, the opposition objected to the Association … During my governance, we prepared several options on how the Association could look like but we feared making steps forward. The idea that if the Association had been concluded earlier and that we would have won time, was dangerous. We were afraid the same way as those that signed the agreement. We were afraid that if we implement the agreement and not for a final settlement, then what would we have to give? We were asked the question ‘what will you give?’ Kosovo did not block the final settlement, but there was no readiness from Serbia and from the international allies,” he said.

Krasniqi to Kurti: No reason to flee or fear the MPs (Koha)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, said that today is the fourth day that Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he accepts the agreement based on the European proposal and that a responsible politician would have gone to report to the Assembly by himself without needing a motion. He said Kurti has no reason to flee or fear the MPs.

“I don’t understand what can be more important to the Prime Minister than coming to the Assembly and addressing the MPs and the citizens. We are talking about an agreement, the preamble of which gives up on mutual recognition; Article 10 specifies that the Association is accepted without mutual recognition. From what we have seen so far is that the agreement cannot enter into force without being ratified in the Assembly. We support the request for debate,” he said.

Abdixhiku: Kurti didn’t confront Serbia; with piece of paper overcame crimes and massacres committed in Kosovo (Gazeta Blic)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, said in today’s session of the Kosovo Assembly, that the agreement accepted by Prime Minister Albin Kurti was not presented to the Assembly. He argued that Kurti kept secret the introduction of the agreement to overcome the past instead of confronting Serbia about the past.

“The agreement that was presented to the Kosovo Assembly, but was agreed in Brussels, was presented on the evening of February 27. This agreement also had an annex that was not made public and which the parties have vowed to respect according to Article 11. This publication confirmed all our concerns raised in the Assembly, that it is not a final agreement and that it does not include mutual recognition … What draws our attention in the agreement is the introduction which Kurti kept secret in his last report to the Assembly. The reason why he kept it secret lies in two scandalous formulations that have historical damages for Kosovo. The first has to do with overcoming the past, and the second has to do with the issue of status. With these two formulations the past between Kosovo and Serbia, including the crimes and massacres, is overcome with the agreement of the parties. Instead of confronting Serbia about the past, Kurti agreed to overcome the past,” Abdixhiku said.

Konjufca sends constitutional amendments for vetting to Constitutional Court (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Assembly President, Glauk Konjufca, said today that he has sent the constitutional amendments about the vetting in the judiciary to the Constitutional Court to see if they are in line with Chapter II of the Constitution of Kosovo. “I am pleased that the reform in the judiciary is on the right track. Only through this, the Republic of Kosovo will be a state of law and the trust of the citizens in judicial institutions will be restored,” Konjufca wrote on Facebook.

Dodik implies he will block removal of visas for Kosovo, Von Cramon reacts (Koha)

The news website reports that President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has implied it will block the ratification of agreements signed within the Berlin Process, among which is the travel with ID cards between the countries of the Western Balkans, including Kosovo. The Kosovo Assembly has ratified the agreements. Dodik however, in interviews with Bosnian media, said he will obstruct the ratification of agreements.

European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, reacted saying that the “BerlinProcess is there to make people move freely, work and trade in the WesternBalkans. Blocking of ratification & preventing Kosovo citizens to travel freely is unacceptable. I urge Milorad Dodik to keep his word and to ratify it! Such blockades are preventing the EU path.”

Serbian Language Media

Stano: The European proposal should not be signed (Kosovo Online, RTS, RTV)

EU foreign policy spokesperson, Peter Stano said today that the European proposal, which was discussed in Brussels on Monday by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, is not a text that should be signed, reported Kosovo Online, citing RTV.

Stano, answering the question about whether the European proposal is final or whether there are possibilities for its amendment, emphasised that it is clear from the text of the proposal itself that it was never about signing that document.

"It is clear from the text that it was never about signing. Last Monday's meeting was dedicated to the discussion of the European proposal. It was approved by both sides that new discussions are not needed regarding the European proposal, which is now an agreement on the way to the normalisation of relations," said Stano.

He stated that on Monday there was an agreement among those present that the work on the proposal will be deepened.

"Regarding the discussion about implementation, it should be ensured that there are concrete steps towards the normalisation of relations," said Stano.

He refused to comment on the leaders' statements, but emphasised that the statement of High Representative Giuseppe Borrell, which he made after the meeting with Vucic and Kurti, was agreed upon by both sides before it was publicly presented.

Drecun says European plan is not agreement but proposal, de facto recognition means nothing (N1, Kosovo Online)

Serbian Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Chairman Milovan Drecun said Serbia accepted to talk about European proposal as a concept, noting those proposing it would like it to be identical with the eventual agreement, however, according to him the main battle would be related to the plan of implementation, that would make precise what will be implemented from that proposal.

According to him Belgrade will not agree to Kosovo membership in the UN and its recognition, neither de facto or de jure and it will be written in the implementation plan.

“This is a proposal, the agreement is something else. I accept the proposal to talk about it, but I do not want this proposal to be a final agreement. It is obligatory only what has been signed”, he said.

According to him, what was written in the proposal does not mean Serbia will accept everything.

“De facto recognition in essence means nothing, it is for internal political use of Kosovo and (Albin) Kurti. There absolutely will not be de jure recognition, there will neither be de facto recognition. However, if we wish to make any agreement, then we must make some compromise”, he said.

Vucevic on European proposal: Nothing has been signed, Brussels agreement in force (Vecernje Novosti, media)

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic says the European proposal has not been accepted since nothing has been signed, but it is only a matter of a platform for the continuation of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, Vecernje Novosti daily reports.

"I would say it’s clear that it was not accepted, since it was not signed, there is no big dilemma, it is not a question of interpretation, but a question of whether you signed a document. It was accepted that there should be a continuation of the conversation on that platform. We think it is good for Serbia to stay at the table, and not be at the table", he said.

He added there are still "red lines" for Serbia, that are unacceptable and that is why nothing has been signed yet.

"It was accepted that it would be a continuation of the conversation on that platform and that we would talk about the implementation plan, let's see what can be accepted and what we can implement in the future. What is much more important, in my opinion, is the media cannonade that February 27, 2023, is the 'judgement day' in Serbia, that treason is being prepared, it is known that Vucic will sign something. But he did not sign, and then nothing happens", he said.

Commenting on the statements of the European Union High Representative Josep Borrell that both sides have agreed on the content of the proposal and that they will no longer deal with it, Vucevic said that he doubts that claim.

"If they won't deal with it, then I don't know, it's easier for everyone. I would say that it will be dealt with and that it has been accepted as a concept, as President Vucic said. What will be implemented and signed, whether anything will be signed at all, I don't think anyone knows at this moment", he said.

Vucevic noted formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM), based on the Brussels Agreement, is crucial for all further negotiations.

"CSM was foreseen in the previous agreement from Brussel in 2013. No one has told us that the agreement is not in force, on the contrary, they confirmed the day before yesterday in Brussels that the “Brussels Agreement” is in force and that there are obligations of the contracting parties", he stated.

Peoples’ Party mobilises resources to oppose acceptance of European plan (social media, media)

Serbian opposition Peoples’ Party (NS) headed by Vuk Jeremic, former foreign affairs minister and president of UN General Assembly said in a statement that the presidency of the party has unanimously decided its absolute priority of actions in the upcoming period would be the fight against signing the so-called Franco-German plan for Kosovo. The party said in a statement “that signing of this document would be a national disaster and a treason”.

“The Peoples' Party calls on everybody to overcome all political and ideological divisions at this important moment for the people and the state.

We are open for cooperation with all those opposing the signing of this humiliating agreement. We demand the resignation of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vuicc and support the initiative to call an extraordinary session of the Serbian Assembly on Kosovo and Metohija.

As of today, the Peoples’ Party will engage all its resources and strength in preventing treason through engagement with the people, political and social actors.

We must provide decisive opposition to the treason because accepting self-declared “Kosovo” as a neighbouring state brings into question survival of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, acceptance of the secession of a part of the state territory and consent that NATO aggression in 1999 against our state was justified. By signing this agreement a door to creating “Greater Albania'' would be open and also to the new conflicts in the Balkans.

Everything that we do over the coming days would be left for generations ahead of us and would permanently shape their attitude towards us”, he party said.

Serbian List reacts to verdict against Todosijevic (TV Most, media)

Serbian List reacting to the second-instance court upholding the verdict against Ivan Todosijevic over his statements on Racak case said that “disgraceful, illegal, anti-Serb decision of the Court of Appeals, by which the member of the Serbian List Presidency, Ivan Todosijević, is sentenced to one year in prison for his publicly stated position, is the best proof of the poor conditions in which Serbs live in Kosovo and Metohija, which borders on apartheid under the leadership of Albina Kurti’s regime”, TV Most reports.

Serbian List also said the international community is silent while Pristina is introducing a verbal offence in the XXI century, against the Serbs only.

“Of course, for the thousands of heinous insults and threats which Serbs in the area hear every day, on the streets, from the media and public institutions, and from the leaders of Kosovo institutions who declare that the Serbian people are criminals, murderers, rapists, genocidal people, there are neither court proceedings, nor sentences because attacking Serbs is apparently allowed in Kosovo and Metohija”, SL added.

It requested international community, primarily the European Union, the Quint embassies, OSCE, EULEX and UNMIK to react as soon as possible and point out the violation of the rights of the Serbian people and Ivan Todosijevic, arguing it is their duty to ensure respect for the rights of all people living in Kosovo and the rule of law.

Dacic thanks NAM member states that stand with Serbia (Tanjug, RTV)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic thanked on Thursday in Baku the numerous Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states that stood with Serbia and were consistent with the principles of respect of international law by not recognising the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reports. Dacic was speaking at a NAM Contact Group Summit.

"Serbia is fully committed to peace and the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina", he said.

Based on the well-known "pacta sunt servanda" principle, Serbia will continue to insist on implementation of past agreements to make the process credible and enable it to continue in good faith, he added.

"We are pursuing a responsible policy and doing everything to ensure Serbian interests, as well as regional peace and stability, are protected", Dacic noted.

He said the NAM could and should always count on Serbia's friendship and partnership.

"We firmly believe in a world governed by dialogue and cooperation based on equality, a desire for compromise and an aspiration to maintain peace", Dacic said.

He said the UN objectives and principles defined in the UN Charter were the backbone of the fight for peace and a better world.

"Equality of states, respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes and respect of diversity are, without a doubt, in circumstances of major changes in the international arena, even more current and more necessary today for achieving the most valuable objective - peace", Dacic said.

Why are young people leaving north of Kosovo? (KoSSev)

A lack of opportunities for livelihood and unemployment are the main reasons why young people are increasingly deciding to leave Kosovo. In addition, they also make the decision to leave in order to continue their education, as they expect to find a job upon completing their studies – as a sort of reward for their efforts. The uncertainty caused by the unstable political situation is also a factor, as are the frequent tensions, especially over the past year. According to the citizens of North Mitrovica, this trend can only be stopped by improving living standards, but also by “all of us becoming better people.“ “I support the young people in leaving in case nothing happens“, said one local resident.

International

Bosnian Serb Leader Blocks Regional Kosovo ID Travel Deal (Balkan Insight)

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has vowed to block the agreement allowing visa-free travel for citizens of Bosnia and Kosovo, referencing the alleged plight of Kosovo's Serb minority.

The freedom of movement agreement between the six Western Balkans countries, signed on November 3, 2022, as part of the Berlin Process has hit a wall in Bosnia thanks to the Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.

The German-led initiative is designed to facilitate regional cooperation between the six Western Balkans countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia – known as the WB6.