UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

EC adopts reforms agenda of Kosovo and four countries of region (RFE)
Kurti: The Berlin Process was crowned successfully (Gazeta Express)
Krasniqi: Iber bridge should be opened, no reason for it to remain closed (media)
Aliu: I have no official information from the Special Prosecution (media)
Stano: Focus of the meeting, urgent need to implement the agreement (media)
Svecla hails police operation that seized over 10 kilos of cocaine (media)
Haradinaj meets Kasanof, asks for speedy NATO membership for Kosovo (media)
Slovakia to close its liaison office in Kosovo by December 31 this year (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Belgrade today (RTS)
A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina tomorrow in Brussels (RTS, media)
Lajcak, Lorkowski on WB integration to EU in context of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug, Blic)
Silent protest in North Mitrovica: University students march with mouths taped (KoSSev, media)
First hearing in throwing tear gas in Kosovo Assembly case, Konjufca and others were not present (Kosovo Online)
ARTICLE 19 launches news fact-checking campaign (N1, KoSSev)
EC approves reform agendas of Serbia, other W Balkan partners (Tanjug)
EP Rapporteur Picula insists on Serbia meeting EU accession criteria (N1, Hina)

International:

IMF keeps Kosovo's 2024 GDP growth projection at 3.8% (Seenews)
Biserko: Vucic has given up on Kosovo (Albanian Daily News)
'Feces Everywhere': Balkan lake must clean up or lose UNESCO status (RFE)
Balkan criminals planned murders using encrypted phones from Canadian startup Sky Global (OCCRP)

Albanian Language Media

EC adopts reforms agenda of Kosovo and four countries of region (RFE)

The European Commission has made the key step to enable the first payments for the countries of the Western Balkans and the Growth Plan and reforms, by adopting in its meeting today the reforms agendas of Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The Commission said it made the decision after EU member states gave their approval for the agendas.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country whose reform agenda has not been adopted yet as it did not deliver it on time. “In their ambitious reform plans, the five governments of the countries of the Western Balkans express their commitment to fundamental and socio-economic reforms that they will implement to ensure growth and convergence with the EU as part of the Growth Plan, during the 2024 – 2027 period,” the EU said.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the adoption of the reform agendas. “I am impressed with the work that our partners in the Western Balkans have done with their reform agendas. This proves that they are committed to the success of the Growth Plan. This is our roadmap to get closer to us the economies of the Western Balkans and to enable their enterprises to have access and funds to compete in our common market. Everyone benefits and this is a major step towards the EU,” she said.

The reform agendas focus on priority areas such as the rule of law, basic rights, governance, digital and green transition, human capital and developing business environments.

Kurti: The Berlin Process was crowned successfully (Gazeta Express)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti informed the government today about his participation at the Berlin Process and the agreements that were signed there. “The Republic of Kosovo has been greatly engaged for ten years in the Berlin Process and to crown it successfully, as we did. It turned out to be a successful process which has brought the countries of the region closer together and all of them closer to the European Union,” he said.

“In Berlin we signed the fifth agreement in the three summits of the process. Meanwhile, we announced our decision to end the nearly two-year wait for Bosnia and Herzegovina to ratify the agreement on free movement which was signed in Berlin on November 3, 2022, and we enabled the citizens of Bosnia to travel with ID cards to Kosovo starting from January 1, 2025”.

Kurti also said that the agreement on higher education that was signed between countries of the region will facilitate application procedures for students. “A student that just finished high school or a student that applies for a masters degree will more easily begin studies in a higher education institution in one of the six countries of the Western Balkans,” he said.

Kurti mentioned the declaration signed for the Common Regional Market 2024-2028 and “we adopted a new action plan which is now the pillar for the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans from which our Republic will benefit up to €882 million”. He said that the implementation of these measures could bring a growth of 10 percent to the economy of countries in the region and bring the region closer to a common EU market.

Kurti mentioned the joint declaration for good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. “We have been, and we will always be an unwavering supporter and a very active member of the Berlin Process that openly promotes and advocates for greater regional cooperation based on the values and rules of the European Union,” he said.

Kurti also said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kosovo on Saturday. “This weekend we will host the President of the European Commission precisely to discuss the implementation of the reforms and growth plan, and the benefits for Kosovo and our citizens,” he said.

Krasniqi: Iber bridge should be opened, no reason for it to remain closed (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister for Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, said today that the main bridge over Iber River in Mitrovica should be opened and that there is no reason why it should remain closed, Koha reports. He said that Kosovo is ready for the bridge to open, but that it is waiting for its partners to be ready too.

“We are ready for the opening of the bridge. We have no argument that makes us believe that the bridge should not be opened. We are waiting for our partners to be ready for the opening of the bridge too. They said that from their standpoint security is one of the hesitations to open the bridge. We, as institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, are ready. We fully believe that there is no reason why the bridge should not be opened. We strongly believe that there are no capacities within the Republic of Kosovo that could create situations that cannot be managed by our security institutions,” Krasniqi told reporters after today’s government meeting.

Albanian Post notes that at the press conference Krasniqi was asked about the possible closure of Serbian-run institutions of education and healthcare in Kosovo. Krasniqi said that “there is no room for any parallel institution of anyone in the Republic of Kosovo”.

Aliu: I have no official information from the Special Prosecution (media)

Several news websites report that Kosovo’s Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, told reporters today that he has no information from the Special Prosecution that he is part of investigations in the case of water packagers.

“I have no official information. The only information I have is from the news website, from the media, namely that investigations have expanded, including myself, as Minister. Without knowing an official position, I cannot say more from what I have said in a Facebook post, where I expressed my full readiness to cooperate in the enforcement of law and establishing justice. I am in favor of enforcing the law without any hesitation,” he said.

Stano: Focus of the meeting, urgent need to implement the agreement (media)

Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy at the European Commission, Peter Stano, told RTV21 today that the focus of the meetings with chief negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia will be on the urgent need for the implementation of the agreement on the normalization of relations. “The focus of the meeting is the urgent need to start the implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the Path toward Normalization and to help the parties move forward and achieve progress in the dialogue,” he said.

Svecla hails police operation that seized over 10 kilos of cocaine (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, hailed the Kosovo Police for their operation that resulted in the confiscation of over 10 kilograms of cocaine, and the arrest of a suspect who turned out to be involved in many criminal activities. “As I have said continuously, police activities in fighting crimes regardless of the nature of crimes, and national background, will never stop and everyone who is responsible without any difference will be brought before the law,” he said in a Facebook post.

Haradinaj meets Kasanof, asks for speedy NATO membership for Kosovo (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said in a Facebook post that he met with U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans, Alexander Kasanof, and had an open, substantial and friendly discussion about political developments in Kosovo. “At the meeting I highlighted the need for a long-term contract aimed at Kosovo’s speedy membership in NATO, as this is a crucial step for guaranteeing sustainable peace and security in the region,” he said.

Haradinaj also said that “U.S. leadership and engagement are needed for a strategic agreement between Kosovo and the U.S. and for Kosovo’s progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration”. “Kosovo’s achievements since the 1990s, including the liberation war and the state-building process, were in close partnership with the United States of America. Kosovo’s membership in NATO too must be a joint victory,” he said.

Slovakia to close its liaison office in Kosovo by December 31 this year (RTK)

Slovakia, one of the five non-recognizing EU member states, has decided to close its liaison office in Kosovo, the Slovak Ministry for Foreign Affairs told RTK. “Upon the decision of the Government of Slovakia, the Liaison Office of the Republic of Slovakia in Pristina will be closed by December 31, 2024, because of the reorganization of the diplomatic network and budget cuts,” the ministry said.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision is part of Slovakia’s diplomatic reorganization. “Such restructuring of diplomatic networks in line with strategic objectives and limited resources are evident in other countries too. But Kosovo remains committed to maintain and strengthen the relations it has developed with Slovakia,” the ministry said.

Serbian Language Media

Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Belgrade today (RTS)

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis are arriving in Belgrade today and will be guests at a dinner with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, reported RTS, adding that PM Tusk will continue his official visit to Serbia tomorrow.

A one-on-one meeting between President Vucic and Prime Minister Tusk is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., followed by a plenary meeting of the Serbian and Polish delegations led by Vucic and Tusk. There is a media statement by Vucic and Tusk planned after the plenary meeting.

A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina tomorrow in Brussels (RTS, media)

A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will be held tomorrow on October 24, at the technical level in Brussels. During the last meeting held on September 17, there was no tripartite meeting between the delegations of Belgrade and Pristina.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and the chief negotiator of Belgrade, Petar Petkovic, said that the meeting did not take place because the negotiator of Pristina, Besnik Bislimi, refused, because the Belgrade delegation insisted on topics such as the Community of Serbian Municipalities, postal services, the issue of implementing agreements and measures for the protection of the Serbian people.

Lajcak, Lorkowski on WB integration to EU in context of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug, Blic)

The EU's special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, spoke with the director of the international organization Energy Community, Artur Lorkowski, about the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU, in the context of the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

- I had a meaningful meeting with the director of the Energy Community Artur Lorkowski today in Brussels. We discussed the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU in the context of the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. I informed him about the current situation in the dialogue - Lajcak wrote in a post on X.

The Energy Community is an international organization with the aim of bringing the countries of the Western Balkans, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine closer to the European Union, in order to create an integrated European energy market.

Silent protest in North Mitrovica: University students march with mouths taped (KoSSev, media)

In a striking display of silent resistance, students from the University of Pristina, headquartered in the northern part of Mitrovica, marched through the city today with their mouths taped shut and index books held high. The unusual protest took place without prior announcement or a clear explanation for its purpose, KoSSev portal reported.

Around 100 students gathered near the student cafeteria at precisely 12:44 PM. The exact motivation behind the protest remains unclear. Efforts to obtain information from the students themselves proved futile, as they arrived with their mouths taped, deliberately refraining from speaking to the media. “We remain silent”, was the only message repeated by the students.

Despite their vow of silence, the students responded visibly to the presence of Kosovo police officers, raising their student index books in unison whenever a police vehicle or officer appeared on the street. The protest remained entirely peaceful. The procession moved from the student cafeteria to the city’s main promenade, where they walked to the end of the street before turning back. Along the way, locals watching from nearby cafés greeted the group with nods and applause.

At least two police officers monitored the march, following the students as they continued their silent protest. The demonstration culminated with the students walking past the local police station, after which they returned to the student dormitories and quietly dispersed.

First hearing in throwing tear gas in Kosovo Assembly case, Konjufca and others were not present (Kosovo Online)

Due to absence of the Kosovo Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca, MPs Pal Lekaj and Time Kadrijaj, as well as former MPs, Besa Baftiu, Aida Derguti and Teuta Haxhiu, the first hearing in the case of throwing tear gas at Kosovo Assembly in 2015 has concluded unsuccessfully, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The judge said there is no evidence that Konjufca was invited regularly. He also said Konjufca’s defense lawyer Isak Hoxha requested the first hearing to be postponed for some other date, as he already has another hearing scheduled previously.

According to the indictment of the Basic Prosecution in Pristina from February 22, 2016 it was said that Glauk Konjufca, Pal Lekaj, Besa Baftiu and Aida Derguti used weapon (tear gas) contrary to the law, on December 14, 2015, at around 10 a.m. upon opening of a plenary meeting in the Assembly, while Derguti at 11.00 activated the device for discharging gas, at the plenary session of the Assembly Presidency, during which the tear gas was discharged, and MPs left the halls.

They are accused of criminal acts of using dangerous weapons or tools, as per Article 357, paragraph 1 of Kosovo Criminal Code.

In the second provision of the indictment it was said that Glauk Konjufca, Pal Lekaj, Besa Baftiu and Aida Derguti, on December 14, 2015, around 10 a.m. after the use of tear gas described in the first point of the indictment, prevented the deputies from staying in the hall of the Assembly and the Presidency in order to adopt the law according to the agenda, against the will of the deputies who could not resist the created atmosphere, due to which work was interrupted and the deputies of the plenary hall moved out.

These actions are also charged with the criminal offense of obstructing an official person in the performance of official duties as per Article 409, paragraph 1 of Kosovo Criminal Code.

According to the indictment, in the last provision it is stated that on December 15, 2015, Teuta Haxhiu and Time Kadrijaj had a weapon - tear gas in their possession. When the meeting opened in the hall of Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Haxhiu was first given tear gas by Kadrijaj, who handed it over to Lekaj, who then used it as described in the first count of the indictment.

For these actions, Haxhiu and Kadrijaj are charged with the criminal offense of unauthorized possession, control or possession of weapons as per Article 374, paragraph 1 of Kosovo Criminal Code, the portal added.

ARTICLE 19 launches news fact-checking campaign (N1, KoSSev)

ARTICLE 19 launched its #CheckitFirst campaign in the Western Balkans, the international human rights organization said. The campaign is intended to raise awareness about the need to verify the news coming from the region. The organization also launched its DALIL Western Balkans AI-powered fact-checking platform, N1 reported.

“It’s not easy to report the truth in the Western Balkans. A significant proportion of the media here is either a mouthpiece for the ruling parties or a vehicle for other powerful elites determined to push their own agendas. This results in media that is riddled with disinformation powered by foreign and domestic political forces”, ARTICLE 19 said on its portal.

It warned of disinformation spreading across the Western Balkans at an alarming rate. “Foreign and domestic powers with their own agendas are trying to influence public opinion through fake, manipulative stories”, it said.

ARTICLE 19’s portal includes a guide to countering disinformation as well as several case studies.

EC approves reform agendas of Serbia, other W Balkan partners (Tanjug)

The European Commission on Wednesday approved the reform agendas of five Western Balkan partners including Serbia, paving the way for disbursement of funds from a 6 bln euro Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans.

"Today, the Commission approved the Reform Agendas of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia following the EU Member States' positive opinion. In their ambitious Reform Agendas, the five Western Balkans governments commit to socio-economic and fundamental reforms they will undertake to spur growth and convergence with the EU under the Growth Plan during the period of 2024-2027. This step was key to allow payments under the EU's 6 bln euro Reform and Growth Facility, that will be made upon completion of agreed reform steps", the European Commission said in a statement.

EP Rapporteur Picula insists on Serbia meeting EU accession criteria (N1, Hina)

The European Parliament’s new Rapporteur for Serbia Tonino Picula MEP said that he will insist on Serbia meeting the criteria needed to become a member of the European Union.

A press release quoted him as saying that one of the challenges Serbia faces is the willingness to stick to EU policies on Russia.

Picula is a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. He chaired the Working Group for the Western Balkans and was co-rapporteur on IPA III and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the Hina news agency said and added that he has headed EP delegations on relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and served as Rapporteur for Montenegro in the past 11 years.

“I have developed a sort of resistance to unjust criticism and to ideologically tainted criticism,” his press release said, commenting on claims of bias in some Serbian media.

“My job is primarily to hold talks in a certain country with representatives of that country’s institutions which are supposed to conduct the largest share of the tasks, as it is the government that is most responsible for a state of affairs in a country. I will convey our expectations, and I will analyze the progress in meeting the target,” he said, adding that the process will be complex regarding Serbia.

One of the main challenges for Serbia will be the adjustment to the EU acquis and, as he said, its readiness to embrace EU values and to follow the EU policies concerning Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

According to Picula, recognition of Kosovo will show that Serbia is changing its attitude towards political processes which are important for that country and its neighbors. He added that Serbia has to implement specific policies which are not limited to just a few important elements.

International

IMF keeps Kosovo's 2024 GDP growth projection at 3.8% (Seenews)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday it expects Kosovo's economy to grow by 3.8% this year, after expanding 3.3% in 2023, maintaining its previous forecast for 2024 made in April. The IMF also maintained its previous gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection for 2025, at 4%, it said in the October edition of its World Economic Outlook report. Kosovo's average consumer price inflation is seen slowing to 2.1% in 2024 from 4.9% last year, before easing further to 2% in 2025, the IMF said. The country's current account deficit, which stood at 7.7% of GDP in 2023, is expected to increase to 10% of GDP in 2024 before declining to 9.1% next year. The economy of the Emerging and Developing Europe area is expected to grow by 3.2% in 2024, the IMF said, increasing its April forecast by 0.1 percentage points. The economic output of the region grew by 3.3% last year.

Biserko: Vucic has given up on Kosovo (Albanian Daily News)

President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Sonja Biserko, in an interview with the Albanian Daily News, said that “the Western effort aims to draw Serbia closer to the West, a priority in the region, especially following the Banjska case. Serbia, with its geostrategic non-alignment, remains the only country in the Balkans that maintains strong ties with Russia and is resisting the imposition of sanctions. Consequently, the Western policy of appeasement continues unabated. However, I am uncertain whether this approach will yield the expected results, particularly in light of the upcoming US elections. Serbia is hoping for a Trump victory, which would significantly impact current regional efforts”.

Biserko also said that “Kosovo is currently on its way to fully asserting control over its territorial integrity. I believe that President Vucic has given up on Kosovo, but it remains to be seen how willing the Serbian community in the north will be to integrate. Due to the turbulence in the Middle East, security concerns in the Western Balkans are directly linked to it. A partition of Kosovo would open a Pandora’s box, potentially triggering massive upheaval in the wider region”.