UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 26, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

KFOR: We have no changes in our presence in the north (media)
EULEX confirms there were armed people during July 31 tensions in the north (Kallxo)
EULEX: We have not seen armed people in the north since July 31 (Gazeta Express)
Contingent of Serbian and Russian forces in Kosovo north, security expert says (EO)
Car of Serb police officer, who was attacked three days ago, set on fire (Kosovapress)
Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, tomorrow in Belgrade (RTK)
Special Prosecution starts investigations into major bribe affair (media)
Kosovo government adopts co-funding agreement for Prizren-Tetovo road (Telegrafi)
Police arrest person for burning Serbian flag in Gjakova sports hall (Koha)
Mustafi accuses Vucic of trying to distort number of Albanians in Serbia (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic scheduled a session of the National Security Council (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
President Vucic will respond to the invitation of the Serbian List within the most urgent deadline, says Petkovic (Kosovo Online)
Serbian List: We demand an urgent meeting with President Vucic (Kosovo Online)
Serbian List and the new KFOR commander on the situation in the north (Kontakt plus radio)
Vucic, Rama and Kovacevski on the energy situation (media)
Brnabic to MPs: Serbia’s interests and independence are the red lines (N1)
Petkovic cuts his visit in Kosovo short, says most of his program not approved (Kosovo Online)
European Commission wants new Frontex agreements in Western Balkans (N1, Tanjug)
Former US ambassador: Serbia seems to be siding with Russia (N1, FoNet, VoA)
IPKO: SMS requested by the Kosovo MIA; The Deputy Ombudsperson demands an investigation (KoSSev)
Vucic: Major military exercise underway in Serbia (Tanjug)
Von Cramon visited Gorazdevac, spoke with local Serbs (Radio KIM)
“In a wave of fake news, Serbian media in Kosovo are more careful” (Radio KIM)
Von der Leyen to visit Western Balkans (N1)

International:

Armed Persons ‘Worryingly Present’ in North Kosovo in July, EULEX Confirms (BIRN)
Rape Used as Weapon During Kosovo War, Says NGO (BIRN)
“The Other Serbia” Srdja Popović (Sbunker.net)
Serbia Shuns Ukraine’s Crimea Summit After Russian Diplomat’s Plea (BIRN)
Why Putin has proposed an energy hub in Turkey (arabnews.com)
Electricity prices in Balkans: highest in Montenegro, lowest in Kosovo* (balkangreenenergynews.com)
Authoritarianism as a Cause of War and a Duty to Resist (EWB)

Albanian Language Media

KFOR: We have no changes in our presence in the north (media)

Asked to comment on the security situation and stability, KFOR officials said that so far there have been no concerns and that their presence in the north remains the same and based on their mandate and mission. “So far we have not seen any facts that may concern and there have been no changes in the NATO-led KFOR mission,” KFOR officials told TV Dukagjini today.

The Commander of KFOR remains in close contact with all key interlocutors, including representatives of institutions in Kosovo, the security organisations of Kosovo and the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces.

On the issue of licence plates, KFOR said it does not have any details yet and that the current situation is characterised by different issues of a political nature. “We all know that all parties are working hard to resolve this issue, but we don’t have any details yet,” KFOR said.

KFOR also said that it conducts its mission based on UNSC Resolution 1244, monitors the situation on the ground closely and that they are prepared to react if the stability, security, and freedom of movement are threatened. “It is crucial to avoid unilateral actions and initiatives that may lead to unnecessary escalation or violence,” they added.

EULEX confirms there were armed people during July 31 tensions in the north (Kallxo)

The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) confirmed that there were armed people during the tensions in the north of Kosovo on July 31. EULEX told the news website that they noticed a considerable and concerning presence of armed persons in the barricades in the north of Kosovo. “On July 31, EULEX noticed a considerable and concerning armed presence in the barricades in the north of Kosovo,” the mission said. It also said that due to the situation that was created, they decided to step up patrols in the north of Kosovo. In four days, three months will pass since the tensions and fortunately, according to EULEX, there has been no similar situation to that of July 31.

EULEX: We have not seen armed people in the north since July 31 (Gazeta Express)

The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) told the news website today that 105 police officers from Poland currently patrol in the north of Kosovo, several days before the deadline for converting licence plates expires. EULEX confirms that they noticed a considerable and armed presence in the north on July 31. “Fortunately, EULEX has not noticed any similar presence since then,” the mission said.

“Our Specialised Police Unit, which consists of 105 police officers from Poland, is conducting daily observation patrols in the north of Kosovo to have a better understanding of the situation”.

“As the second security responder in Kosovo, EULEX is in close coordination with Kosovo Police and KFOR … If requested by Kosovo Police, EULEX stands ready to act decisively as the second security responder to lower tensions and protect everyone from any threat – regardless of ethnicity, age, or gender.”

Contingent of Serbian and Russian forces in Kosovo north, security expert says (EO)

Bedri Elezi, a security expert, said in an interview with Ekonomia Online today, that according to his information, a contingent of Serbian and Russian forces have arrived in the northern part of Kosovo and that they are trying to use Prime Minister Kurti’s decision not to extend the deadline for licence plates, to destabilise the situation in Kosovo and the region.

“According to the information we have, in the last couple of days, in the northern part of Kosovo have arrived a contingent of Serbian security structures, namely the Serbian Intelligence Service, and the military intelligence service, and also a considerable number of Russian FSB forces who want to take advantage of Kosovo Prime Minister’s decision not to extend the deadline. Serbia is trying for Kosovo to have to pay the bill for regional destabilisation by using the Prime Minister’s current stubbornness. The international community will not allow the security that has been built for 20 years to come under threat,” he argued.

Car of Serb police officer, who was attacked three days ago, set on fire (Kosovapress)

A car with KM licence plates was set on fire early this morning in a place called Kajkovo in the municipality of Leposavic. Citing unnamed sources, the news agency reports that the owner of the vehicle is a sergeant with Kosovo Police of Serbian nationality, D.N. According to the same sources, the same person was beaten by three unknown persons three days ago in the Boem restaurant in Leposavic. The sources said that the suspects are M.Ll, Ll.S. and M.S. The motives behind the beating and the burning of the car are unknown. The news agency tried to contact the police spokesman in the north to learn more about the case but he was not available for comment.

Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, tomorrow in Belgrade (RTK)

The first Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, in charge of European Integration, Development and Dialogue and the head of the Kosovo team for talks with Serbia Besnik Bislimi, will visit Belgrade tomorrow, October 27. He will participate in the conference on European integrations.

Bislimi will be in Belgrade on Friday to make a contribution as a keynote speaker at the conference of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, where the European integration of Kosovo and the region will be discussed.

According to the announcement from the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi will participate in the discussion within the "Diplomatic Dialogue" with the topic "Kosovo and the European perspective of the region".

"The main goal of the discussion is a comprehensive look at the situation, challenges (favorable opportunities, but also obstacles) for improving the integration process in the EU of Kosovo and the region," announces the Forum.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations based in Serbia, representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia, political parties and civil society organizations, experts and well-known public personalities are invited to the discussion.

The Forum for Ethnic Relations announced that the "Diplomatic Dialogue" began in 2008 as a framework for the mutual exchange of views between representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations with experts, politicians and diplomats from Serbia and the region.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Besnik Bislimi will be visiting Belgrade just a few days before the deadline for registering vehicles with RKS license plates.

This is the first visit of a Kosovo official of this high level, staying in Belgrade.

Special Prosecution starts investigations into major bribe affair (media)

Several news websites report that the Special Prosecution of Kosovo said in a statement today that it has analysed material published by Kallxo news website about the involvement of the former Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals in a major bribe affair. The prosecution said it will investigate all persons involved in the case. “Immediately after the program was aired, the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo analysed all the information that was broadcast in this media investigation and will undertake all necessary investigative measures in line with legal and constitutional competencies, for all persons involved in this case,” the prosecution said in a statement.

Kosovo government adopts co-funding agreement for Prizren-Tetovo road (Telegrafi)

The Kosovo government adopted today the initiative for a co-funding agreement for the construction of the Prizren-Tetovo road. Deputy Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Linda Cavdarbasha, said the construction of the road, which is an agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia, “will help the sustainable development of both countries”.

Police arrest person for burning Serbian flag in Gjakova sports hall (Koha)

Kosovo Police have arrested a person for burning the Serbian flag during a basketball match in Gjakova on Sunday night. Serbian media in Kosovo and in Serbia reported about the case calling it a scandal. Kosovo Police said early on Tuesday that it had initiated investigations into the case and later in the day confirmed that it had arrested a person. The case has been qualified as “inciting division and intolerance”. Police confirmed investigations are ongoing and the suspect was sent to 48-hour detention.

Mustafi accuses Vucic of trying to distort number of Albanians in Serbia (Koha)

Leader of the Albanian National Council in Serbia, Ragmi Mustafa, took to Facebook today to accuse Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic of trying to distort the accurate number of Albanians at the end of the census in Serbia. Mustafi reacted to Vucic’s statement that “after the census, the accurate number of Albanians in Serbia will not be known because many families in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja, are registering members that no longer live in Serbia”. Mustafi argued that such statements do not help the census but on the contrary incite tensions. He also added that Vucic’s statements is a prelude to the new wave of disputing the accurate number of Albanians living in Presevo Valley.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic scheduled the National Security Council session (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic urgently reacted to the letter sent to him by representatives of the Serbian List, and scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council, it was confirmed to Belgrade based daily Vecernje Novosti, reported Kosovo Online.

The portal recalled that earlier today the Serbian List requested an urgent meeting with the President of Serbia.

The session will be held tomorrow at 10 am.

Previously, at 9.00 as Kosovo Online portal reports Vucic will meet Serb representatives from Kosovo in the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade. Following the talks, there will be statements to the media.

President Vucic will respond to the invitation of the Serbian List within the most urgent deadline, says Petkovic (Kosovo Online)

Director of the Office for KiM, Petar Petkovic told reporters during his visit today to Pasjane that Vucic ''has done everything and is doing everything through diplomatic channels to reach an agreement on the issue of licence plates'', reported portal Kosovo Online.

Petkovic recalled that ''we have seen that Kurti refuses to talk about the plates and that President Vucic has repeatedly said that we have not moved even a millimetre on the issue of plates".

"KM plates issued by the Republic of Serbia are legal and legitimate plates used by the Serbian people in the north of the KiM. Our people feel that they are citizens of the Republic of Serbia, and they have the absolute right to use KM plates and that is not in contradiction with the agreements. What is in contradiction with the agreement is Kurti's decision to abolish neutral status plates a year before the deadline and now through text messages and video clips he wants to force the Serbs to do something that is illegal, and nobody wants that,'' said Petkovic to the gathered journalists in Pasjane.

He said that only two Serbs re-registered their cars out of a total of 9,000 vehicles with KM plates.

"It clearly shows what the Serbs in the north of Kosovo think about that unilateral decision by Kurti".

When asked to comment on the appeal of the Serbian List addressed to President Vucic earlier today, Petkovic stated that it speaks of the seriousness of the situation.

"Given that the deadline set by Albin Kurti is approaching, our people, especially in the north of KiM, are fully aware of Kurti's intention to cause a crisis in the southern Serbian province, while on the other hand, President Vucic, who is working day and night to solve numerous problems and preserve peace in KiM'' and added that ''Vucic is more than aware of everything that can happen precisely because of Kurti's unilateral decisions. He said that Vucic will certainly respond to the Serbian List's request for a meeting within the most urgent deadline, reported the portal.

Serbian List: We demand an urgent meeting with President Vucic (Kosovo Online)

On behalf of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija and regarding announcement of Albin Kurti that as of November 1, will start with confiscation of the properties of our citizens and vehicles with Serbian registration plates, we political representatives of the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija request an urgent meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic - reads the statement of the Serbian List, Kosovo Online portal reports.

As the statement further says “announcements of violent actions against our people by Albin Kurti, in particular in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, create fear and uncertainty and therefore it is needed to meet most urgently and agree how to preserve peace and safety of the citizens, but also vital interests of our people, as it is clear to everybody that our people do not agree to unilateral acts of Pristina which aims at expulsion of everything Serbian from those areas”.

“The latest statements of Albin Kurti clearly demonstrate there is no willingness in Pristina to find solution and compromise, but exclusively desire to generate the crisis and tensions, in particular in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija believe in the state of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic that we will jointly respond to the challenges ahead of us”, the Serbian List statement added.

Serbian List and the new KFOR commander on the situation in the north (Kontakt plus radio)

The newly appointed commander of KFOR, Italian Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, Minister for Communities and Return in the Pristina government Goran Rakic and the mayors of Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and North Mitrovica talked today about the security situation in the north, and the issue of re-registration of vehicles, reported Kontakt plus radio.

In the announcement of Rakim’s cabinet, it was stated that "the meeting in Zvecan was also an opportunity to introduce the commander to the problems of the Serbs in Kosovo, with special reference to the recent illegal construction of bases of the Kosovo Police in the north", cited Kontakt plus radio.

The representatives of the political party told the interlocutor that "the security situation is unstable and that everything should be done to resolve the open issues between Belgrade and Pristina exclusively through dialogue, because that is the only way their implementation will be supported".

"What is most important for us at this moment is that KFOR must remain the only guarantor of peace and stability in this area. We ask KFOR to take all measures to provide a safe environment and freedom of movement. Provocations and mistreatment of Serbs must not be allowed; and we see that something like that is already happening and that the special unit of the Kosovo Police does that in many situations without any reason. We are a peaceful nation, but we will not tolerate such and similar provocations," said the Serbian List.

The meeting was also attended by the commander of the "Bondsteel" base, Christopher Samulski.

Vucic, Rama and Kovacevski on the energy situation (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a video conference with the prime ministers of Albania and North Macedonia as part of the Open Balkans initiative, reported Serbian media.

Vucic announced that he spoke with the prime ministers of Albania and North Macedonia, Edi Rama, and Dimitar Kovacevski, about the energy situation before the coming winter and joint steps regarding the upcoming meeting within the Berlin process.

"I spoke with Edi Rama and Dimitar Kovacevski about joint steps to ensure a safe winter for all our citizens, as well as about the upcoming meeting within the Berlin process," Vucic announced on the Instagram account buducnostsrbijeav.

When it comes to the Open Balkans, Vucic said that this initiative means "peace, prosperity and a more secure future for the people of our region, because together we are always stronger", cited Serbian media.

Brnabic to MPs: Serbia’s interests and independence are the red lines (N1, Tanjug)

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told parliament on Tuesday that Serbia’s interests and its decision-making independence are the red lines which are clear to everyone, N1 reports.

She said during the presentation of her cabinet and its program that Serbia’s interests are its full independence in deciding on all questions of internal and foreign policy in line with its national interests and the principles of international law, preserving its vital interests and the security of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. She added that the new government will face much more demanding challenges than her cabinet did two years ago.

Brnabic also said that energy will be her government’s top priority and that some EUR 12 billion will be invested in that industry as part of the Serbia 2025 plan.

She said that expectations of stability, peace and prosperity after the COVID pandemic were shattered by the Russian attack on Ukraine and added that Ukraine and attitudes towards Russia became dominant in foreign policy.

“The two sole economic topics are energy and inflation. The world is slowly slipping into a third world war with increasing sabre rattling with nuclear weapons and less and less chance of peace in the short term”, she said. Brnabic opined it seems that emotions have overpowered reason and predicted that energy and food will be the biggest problems in future.

“Serbia has to position itself in that world, maintain its stability and continue growth and development which is, in simplest terms, the main job of the future government”, she noted.

“We will continue to make all efforts to support our people in Kosovo and Metohija and invest in them. We will continue to preserve the unity of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and provide full support to the Serbian Orthodox Church and invest in reconstruction, renovations and preservation of our religious and cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija", she added.

Brnabic also said Serbia would continue to fight for its territorial integrity, and noted that, in the past two years, eight more countries had handed official notes on derecognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.

She also announced her new government would continue to assist and help Serbs living in countries in the region, noting that the support would mostly focus on the preservation of the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script - which she said was substantial for preservation of their national identity - as well as on improvement of living standards.

Petkovic cuts his visit in Kosovo short, says most of his program not approved (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic who was paying a two-day visit in Kosovo said he is cutting his visit short because Pristina banned 80 percent of the planned program, Kosovo Online portal reports.

He told the journalists his visit was fully approved on Wednesday, however around midnight he received an email with information that a vast part of his program visit was not allowed.

“You see how far Albin Kurti goes, to strike Saint Guardian celebrations’ cakes and candles. Not only has he banned me from visiting monasteries in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, but he is now banning my presence at any religious ceremony. Let them first agree among themselves in Pristina what email they send to me. If the first one was sent by Kurit and the second one by Bislimi, because they are obviously very nervous every time I should come to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. Obviously they are not sleeping at night, because they send me emails around midnight at no time when all normal and decent people are resting”, Petkovic said.

He further explained that upon marking Saint Guardian Day in Pasjane, he was supposed to visit the Serbs in Gornje Kusce village and attend a ceremony there and on Thursday attend Saint Petka celebration and a cake cutting in Leposavic.

“Unfortunately I am cutting my visit short here and going back to Belgrade but I am glad I was with our people in Pasjane and that we jointly celebrated this great holiday today. I conveyed the message and greetings of Aleksandar Vucic that Serbia will even more strongly continue helping Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and investing in our stay and survival in the southern Serbian Province”, Petkovic added.

European Commission wants new Frontex agreements in Western Balkans (N1)

The European Commission recommended opening negotiations to allow Frontex deployment on the borders of four Western Balkans countries, a press release said.

“The Commission adopted a recommendation to the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations of upgraded European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) status agreements between the EU and Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” it said and added that the Commission adopted a new assistance package worth 39.2 million Euro under IPA III to strengthen border management in the Western Balkans.

It quoted Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson as saying that the EU is committed to strengthening cooperation on migration management with those countries. “We propose to negotiate status agreements under the new legal framework that would allow for the deployment of Frontex to all four partner countries with the full power of its mandate, to ensure that their borders continue to be respected and protected in line with European best practices,” she said.

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi is quoted as saying that the EU is focusing on strengthening border protection, fighting the smuggling networks and stepping up returns from the region because of the increased migratory pressure in the region. “Between 2021 and 2024, we intend to increase our funding by 60% to at least €350 million euro for our Western Balkan partners. …We count on the commitment of our Western Balkan partners to make these actions a success,” he said.

The press release said that existing status agreements between Frontex and Albania, Serbia and Montenegro allow deployment only take place at those countries’ borders with the EU without executive powers but that new status agreements will allow Frontex to deploy both at the EU border and at the borders with third countries with executive powers.

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

Former US ambassador: Serbia seems to be siding with Russia (N1, FoNet, VoA)

A former US Ambassador to Serbia said that Belgrade seems to have sided with Moscow.

From afar it seems that Serbia has chosen to side with Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war, Ambassador Michael Kirby told the Voice of America.

Kirby said he believes that the fact that Serbia is not taking part in the Crimea Platform in Zagreb is linked to Moscow’s expectations of Belgrade. A note on the meeting between Serbian parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlic and Russian Ambassador Alexander Botsan-Harchenko said that the ambassador expects Serbia not to take part in the summit in Zagreb despite being invited. The International Crimea Platform was launched by Ukraine in 2021 to address the Russian occupation of the Crimea.

Ambassador Kirby, who was in Belgrade from 2012 to 2016, said that he sees significant Russian influence in important institutions in Serbia as well as the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He warned that the Serbian authorities seem to be acting contrary to the expressed commitment to go down the European path. Bearing in mind Serbia’s opposition to the independence of Kosovo it seems that Serbia is accepting Russia’s land grab under double standards, he said.

See at: https://bit.ly/3f9gIO6

IPKO: SMS requested by the Kosovo MIA; The Deputy Ombudsperson demands an investigation (KoSSev)

Some users of the IPKO network received a text message from the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs yesterday, reminding them that the deadline for re-registration of vehicles with Serbian markings of towns in Kosovo to RKS ends on October 31. While IPKO claims that the messages were sent at the request of the Kosovan MIA, this Ministry underlined that they were sent as part of the re-registration campaign. The Deputy Ombudsperson confirmed for KoSSev that she requested an investigation be opened due to a “potential violation of human rights”.

Six days before the end of the two-month deadline for the re-registration of vehicles with Serbian markings of towns in Kosovo to RKS, the Kosovo Ministry of Interior sent a call for re-registration to some users of the IPKO mobile network.

“Register your vehicles to RKS, with financial and procedural benefits until October 31st, 2022. Anywhere, regardless of your place of residence. 0800 GO-RKS” – reads the text message sent by the Kosovan MIA.

Several residents of north Kosovo, including members of our editorial staff, as well as some who live in the south – all users of the IPKO mobile network, confirmed for KoSSev that they received a message yesterday morning from the Kosovo Ministry of Interior.

It remains unknown whether the SMS was sent only to ethnic Serbs or to all citizens, and how exactly the Kosovo MIA obtained the citizens’ phone numbers.

KoSSev contacted the IPKO company regarding the matter, and they said that the messages were sent at the request of the Kosovo Ministry of Interior.

“Please note that IPKO sends these messages as per the request of the Ministry of the Interior. If you require additional information, contact the competent persons in this Ministry,” their response to KoSSev read.

KoSSev sent another query to IPKO regarding the nature of the request itself from the Kosovo MIA, i.e. who received the messages, based on what criteria, how was the selection made, and does the Kosovo ministry have access to the database of users of this company?

However, our questions remained unanswered.

Kosovo MIA: SMS messages are part of the registration campaign

The Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed for Pristina-based Koha that they sent the text messages, and started handing out flyers, as part of the information campaign.

The deputy ombudsperson seeks an investigation into the potential violation of human rights

The Deputy Ombudsperson of Kosovo, Marija Radulovic, told KoSSev that she learned about the text messages from the media, and that she had taken the first step within her competencies.

“I immediately, in accordance with my powers, forwarded it to the Ombudsperson and requested the opening of an ex officio investigation because I believe that there is room for investigation,” said Radulovic.

She indicated that the next step depends on the Ombudsperson.

“The Ombudsperson decides whether an investigation will be opened or not,” she added.

The Deputy Ombudsperson specified that such an investigation should, as a first step, determine whether the text messages were actually sent by the Kosovo MIA or not.

“If this is confirmed, then the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs needs to specify to whom these messages were sent, on what basis, selection type, whether the messages were sent only to Serbs or not, who gave them numbers,” stressed Radulovic.

The Deputy Ombudsperson says that she believes that there is room to open an investigation.

“I believe that there is a potential violation of human rights. I can’t say that it is a violation (of human rights), but that an investigation should be opened,” explained Radulovic.

The two-month deadline for the re-registration of vehicles with Serbian markings of towns in Kosovo to RKS plates ends in five days. The US, the Quint countries, as well as the European Union have all recently called on the Kosovo government to extend the deadline for the implementation of its decision on re-registration by 10 months.

The Prime Minister Albin Kurti, announced yesterday, however, that there will be no extensions.

See at: https://bit.ly/3gKYy5P

Vucic: Major military exercise underway in Serbia (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday one of the largest-ever military exercises in Serbia - Manoeuvres 2022 - was underway in areas across the country, involving thousands of troops, Tanjug news agency reports.

Responding to questions from reporters in Vlasotince, southern Serbia, Vucic said state officials had not wanted to discuss this in public but that the drill was standard practice and that he was familiar with all details.

"We have exercises every year, but we got more people involved to see all our capacities and what we have, as well as all our weaknesses", Vucic said.

He said the riverine navy, the air force and anti-aircraft defence and land forces were all involved in the drill, which he noted was taking part near Sombor, northern Serbia, on the Pester Plateau in southwestern Serbia, on the Pasuljanske livade training range in central Serbia and near Leskovac, southern Serbia.

He also said he had spoken with outgoing Defence Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic and his successor Milos Vucevic in the morning, and announced fresh investments in the defence industry.

He said they would be no "waste of money", but serious innovations in technology that would also include major purchases of drones, kamikaze drones, and UAVs. Vucic also said work on transferring technology was also underway to enable Serbia to produce such weapons on its own.

Von Cramon visited Gorazdevac, spoke with local Serbs (Radio KIM)

European Parliament Special Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon visited Gorazdevac village, in Pec municipality and spoke with group of local Serbs there, strawberries producers and Pec mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri as well as Radio Gorazdevac editor-in-chief, Darko Dimitrijevic.

In a post on Twitter, von Cramon said that her visit to the Serbs in Gorazdevac and other areas south of the Ibar River where they live proves the need they should be listened to and to hear what their needs are, because they feel left out by all.

She also commended Pec mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri over his good relations with Serbian and other non-Albanian communities in this municipality, which she said should serve as an example to other places across Kosovo.

“In a wave of fake news, Serbian media in Kosovo are more careful” (Radio KIM)

Over the last 11 months, five independent media reporting in Serbian language in Kosovo, including RTV KIM, Radio kontakt plus, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev and Radio Gorazdevac worked on debunking fake news. On this occasion, Radio KIM organised a conference titled “Role of Independent Media in Fighting Fake News” at Civic Energy Center in Gracanica.

RTV KIM Executive Director Isak Vordgucic said that “every published news was once inviolable truth”, adding that however in present days, ever since Facebook was created there has been information and disinformation, and that is neither new nor specific for the times we live in.

“Important difference compared to previous times is that it is much easier and cheaper to distribute the news now, and no one bears responsibility or consequences for it”.

Darko Dimitrijevic, Radio Gorazdevac Editor-in-Chief, said that the ones dealing with the media know how difficult it is to discover fake news. He recalled an example of Belgrade-based TV Pink reporting during the crisis in northern Kosovo in July saying that the war started in the north, aired dramatic footage and saying that wounded people started arriving at the hospital in Mitrovica North. “I think in this regard it is important to debunk fake news”, he said, adding “not only because of what is happening on the ground but also because of future times”.

NGO Aktiv said it was involved in a media literacy project and published a manual dedicated to the young population, who in particular do not follow traditional media, but rather social media. Miodrag Milicevic from Aktiv said it is difficult today to control the flow of information run on social media, such as Tik Tok and Instagram but it was important to reach out to the young people.

KoSSev Editor-in-Chief Tatjana Lazarevic said that media in Serbian language in Kosovo were more careful in the wave of fake news than media reporting in Albanian language or Serbian tabloids.

“Media took over, not that much the role of being primarily informative, but rather the role of propaganda, politicians are the first ones to reach networks, media chew it, give priority to the lies, run brutal propaganda (…)”, she said, adding that “there is an unresolved issue, decades long problem and two political narratives. Media are, that is certainly confirmed, a striking fist of the authorities in Serbia, but also of those in Pristina. With all due respect, there are major differences, the same as politicians misuse the media, along with social media”.

She recalled that good journalists ask the questions, however journalists currently are not able to ask questions.

Von der Leyen to visit Western Balkans (N1)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit the Western Balkans this week to discuss energy security with the region’s political leaders, N1 reports.

A press release said that the visit comes amid “Russia’s energy blackmail and manipulation of the markets which is not sparing the Western Balkans”. “The European Union is determined to support our partners in coping with high energy prices and improving their energy security in the long term”, it said.

The press release added Von der Leyen will travel to North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania on Thursday to meet top officials and address the media.

She is scheduled to visit Sarajevo and Belgrade on Friday. Von der Leyen will also visit the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The European Commission President will travel to Montenegro on Saturday where she is scheduled to visit the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor: Grid Section in Montenegro project.

International

Armed Persons ‘Worryingly Present’ in North Kosovo in July, EULEX Confirms (BIRN)

The EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, has said armed persons were present in Serb-majority northern Kosovo in late July, when locals erected barricades to block two border crossing points, protesting the Kosovo government’s “reciprocity measures” against Serbia on the issue of car license plates and IDs.

“On 31 July, EULEX noted a significant, and worrying, armed presence at the barricades erected in northern Kosovo,” EULEX told BIRN.

It added that “in response, EULEX further increased its reconnaissance patrols in northern Kosovo and fortunately has not encountered a similar presence since then”.

The EULEX Formed Police Unit, the second security responder in Kosovo, consists of 105 police officers. “Our ‘Quick Reaction Force’ is on standby 24 hours a day in [the town of] Mitrovica and has very short response times,” EULEX told BIRN explaining they carry out daily patrols in northern Kosovo.

“If needed, the Mission can deploy an additional Reserve Formed Police Unit to further enhance its forces on the ground and operational capacity,” EULEX told BIRN.

In late July, local Serbs again erected barricades on roads leading to two border crossings with Serbia, at Jarinje and Bernjak. They were protesting a June decision by the Kosovo government that every person presenting themself at the state border using personal IDs issued by Serbian authorities would now be issued temporary declaration forms valid for 90 days that replace the Serbian-issued document.