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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 30, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Serbian Language Media: 

                              Albanian Language Media  

 

EC demands from Kosovo and Serbia immediate implementation of agreement (RTK)

The European Commission has requested from Kosovo and Serbia the immediate implementation of the agreement on the road to normalisation.  In the annual report, the parties are reminded that the Ohrid agreement is legally binding and that the formalities surrounding its approval should not hinder its implementation.

A special chapter of the report is dedicated to the situation in the north of Kosovo, stating that tensions remained as high this year. Kosovo is criticised for having carried out activities in the north which are considered to be contrary to its obligations within the dialogue.

Serbia, on the other hand, is criticised for Serbia's insufficient steps to ensure accountability for the attacks in Banjska. This event, according to the report, "constitutes the most severe escalation in recent years".

Kosovo is also demanded to undertake steps towards the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority, in accordance with the European proposal last year.  Regarding the application for obtaining candidate status, which Kosovo submitted in December 2022, the EC expresses its readiness to prepare an opinion on this application, as soon as the EU Council requests it.

The EC in the document confirms that the punitive measures against Kosovo have remained in force, although it is accepted that the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel has recommended the removal of these measures.

In this year's report, Kosovo was positively evaluated for the fight against organised crime and the improvement of the business climate. Official Pristina is requested to intensify its efforts to strengthen the rule of law and public administration and to protect freedom of expression. The progress report underlines that there are efforts to exercise control over the media. The public broadcaster is also mentioned, which, according to the report, is facing instability due to the resignations of management and board members. It is recommended to review the Law on RTK, in order to ensure sustainable funding and maintain the independence of the medium.

EU: Serbia committed clear violation of dialogue obligations (RTK)

The European Union considers that Serbia has violated the obligations from the dialogue, with the proposed draft law of the government for declaring Kosovo a special protection zone and for the organisation and jurisdiction of the judicial authorities in the prosecution of criminal offences in Kosovo.

Nabila Massrali, spokesperson of the EU, has called on the Belgrade authorities to reconsider the draft law, in accordance with the obligations that Serbia has in the European integration process.

"The EU reminds Serbia that it is bound to all Dialogue Agreements as an integral part of its integration into the EU and calls on Serbia to reconsider the draft laws accordingly," Massrali noted in a written response sent to the media.

She also underlined that the proposed draft law contradicts Serbia's recently reiterated commitment to dialogue.

LVV MPs boycott report of KIA director (Koha)

 Vetevendosje Movement MPs who are also members of the Supervisory Committee of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), boycotted on Wednesday the reporting of the director of this agency, Petrit Ajeti, claiming that there were attempts to exceed the powers of the committee.

The MPs of the government have clashed with the chairman of the Committee, the MP of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Ganimete Musliu, considering that the calling of today's meeting was illegal.

Musliu invited Ajeti to report on "the alarm that has been raised for pursuing journalists by KIA agents".

After they left the hall where Ajeti was reporting, LVV MP Sali Zyba said that Musliu invited the director of KIA to report "without knowing the reasons".

Meanwhile, MP Arber Rexhaj said that the director of KIA should have left the meeting with them. "The meeting should have been called as an ordinary meeting. It was deliberately called extraordinary, and the reasons will be known in the following days. The director stayed inside, but he didn't have to stay," Rexhaj said.

Osmani in Qatar: Family, the strongest nucleus that kept resistance alive (Koha)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, is participating at the 30th Anniversary Conference of the International Year of the Family being held in Doha, Qatar. She gave a speech as part of the panel "Why are family policies important?" where she has said that in the most difficult years for the people of Kosovo, the family has been the strongest nucleus that has kept alive the resistance, high morale and national identity above all. "Even today, the family remains one of the strongest pillars behind every individual and collective success and the basis for successful social and economic policies", she wrote on Facebook.

Osmani also announced that they discussed how demographic changes are shaping family policies. She said that she also spoke about the policies in Kosovo that "empower young families and women".

Three international agreements postponed for another session (RTK)

The session of the Assembly of Kosovo has begun with the unfinished items from the plenary sessions of September 12 and 26 and October 10. However, although the opposition is present in the Assembly, it is not participating in the vote.

Speaker Glauk Konjufca, in the absence of the will of the opposition to vote, has said that the three previous international agreements should be postponed for another session. "I see that there is no atmosphere for voting and I request from the Assembly's secretariat that points 6, 7 and 8, the three international agreements, be carried whenever the Assembly has the opportunity to deal with them in a future session", Konjufca said.

Maqedonci meets Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense (Klan)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, was received at the meeting by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Qatar, Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah.

According to the press release, Maqedonci has thanked his counterpart for the support from the state of Qatar, as well as for his personal commitment to deepening relations from the previous position as Qatar’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. He informed Al Attiyahn about the security situation in the European region, especially in the Western Balkans, as well as about the development of the defence capacities of Kosovo.

They also discussed establishing bridges of cooperation in the field of defense and agreed on cooperation in the field of training and military education, as well as the possibility of joint investments in the field of military production.

Minister Al Attiyah offered 6 quotas for the education of Kosovo cadets in Qatar's military academies, including the Qatar Air Force Academy.

LDK to start next week "Tournament of Change": Elections determine Kosovo's own destiny (media)

Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has announced that from next week he will start the cycle of pre-electoral gatherings with residents.

“Dear citizens, the next election determines more than the fate of a government. They determine Kosovo's own destiny; as a country of free people who work and live well, or of a closed state, in emptiness and endless tension clashes! I have chosen change! And from Prishtina, on November 7, together with my team, we are starting the cycle of pre-electoral gatherings with citizens from all sides. We are starting the 'Tour of Change'! Come, everyone, to our gatherings in your cities. Come, let's join together in defining the future we deserve! Be part of our journey full of hope! Be the difference,” Abdixhiku wrote. 

 

Serbian Language Media 

 

Guterres on Kosovo report: Potential for escalation, safeguarding rights of non-majority communities vital (N1, media)

The atmosphere in northern Kosovo remains tense, and the potential for escalation persists. I call upon the parties to reaffirm their commitment to the European Union-facilitated dialogue and to fully implement existing agreements, said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his report, N1 reported.

“Unilateral actions, including the closure of institutions financed by Serbia and steps towards reopening the Mitrovica bridge, as well as restrictions on Serbian goods and the implementation of the new currency regulation, heighten tensions and erode trust among communities and between communities and institutions”, reads the latest report by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, reported KoSSev.

Such actions not only disrupt the daily lives and socioeconomic rights of those affected, but also jeopardise the collective progress and stability that are crucial for a peaceful and prosperous future shared by all, said Guterres.

“Concerns from non-majority communities over potential actions affecting Serbia-run education and healthcare institutions, following the closure of institutions providing essential services, must be fully addressed. Safeguarding the economic and social rights of non-majority communities, including for the most vulnerable, is vital. The need for renewed trust-building and inter-community engagement is thus an urgent priority”, reads the report.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/yvWYy

EC: Cluster 3 ready for opening, Belgrade and Pristina must implement agreements (Tanjug)

In its 2024 draft report on Serbia, the European Commission says Cluster 3 on Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth in Serbia's EU accession talks is technically ready for opening, and notes that the overall pace of the negotiations will continue to depend on rule of law reforms and normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations, reported Tanjug agency. 

The report will be unveiled in Brussels on Wednesday, after which it will be presented to Serbian PM Milos Vucevic in Belgrade by the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret.

The draft report analyses Serbia's progress on Cluster 1, which deals with the fundamentals of the EU accession process, as well as its progress on good-neighbour relations and regional cooperation, normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations and the ability to undertake obligations issuing from EU membership.

In the section on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the approx. 100-page draft report, seen by Tanjug, says both parties are expected to meet commitments from an agreement on the path to normalisation of relations, including the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities.

The EC says Pristina is expected to launch a process that will lead to the establishment of the Community based on an EU proposal presented on October 21 last year, while Belgrade is expected to, in parallel, start meeting its commitments under the agreement by launching a process of recognising "Kosovo documents, symbols and institutions."

The draft report also notes that, since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Serbia has aligned with some of the EU positions in international forums, including the UN General Assembly, and that it has continued to cooperate with the EU on the bypassing of sanctions and on providing financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

It also says Serbia has still not aligned with any restrictive measures against Russia or with the majority of statements made by the EU High Representative on that issue, maintaining high-level relations with Russia and stepping up its relations with China.

This raises questions about Serbia's strategic direction, the EC said.

Serbia is expected to gradually align its policy on third countries with the policies and positions adopted by the EU, including with restrictive measures, the document adds.

Petkovic: Laws Serbia adopts as support to Serbian people in Kosovo unrelated to obligations from dialogue (Kosovo Online, media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said in a statement today that laws Serbia adopts as a sort of support to the Serbian people in Kosovo have nothing to do with Belgrade’s obligations deriving from the dialogue, Kosovo Online portal reported.  

As he said, the laws are direct consequence and reaction to the oppression of the Serbian people by Kosovo Government and lack of visible reactions from EULEX Mission to protect the Serbian people and ensure rule of law as well as prevent humanitarian disaster caused by unilateral acts of Pristina and its violence against the Serbs.

He said the EU, instead of dealing with double-standards policy, should respond to the following questions:

1.    “Is illegal and unilateral abolishment of Serbian dinar and evoking humanitarian disaster by Pristina a violation of the dialogue?

2.    How come that violent closure of 10 Serbian municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija is not a violation of the agreement?

3.    Is it the best European practice that Serbs because of closure of the institutions cannot register their newly born children?

4.    Is it in the spirit of the rule of law and dialogue the fact that no one was ever held responsible for incidents in which seven Serbs, including two children, were shot at and wounded?

5.    Is it in the spirit of the dialogue, the fact that Azem Kurtaj, member of Kosovo Security Forces, who shot at two Serbian children at Christmas Eve, is a free man?

6.    Is violent closure of Postal Savings Bank and Serbian Post Offices branches violation of the agreement?

7.    Are those European values that most vulnerable Serbs, pensioners, persons with disabilities have to go to the administrative crossing points to withdraw their remittances and payments, because Albin Kurti abolished any other possibility for them to do it?

8.    Is it in line with dialogue the fact that 86 Serbs were illegally detained and remain in Kosovo casemates ever since?

9.    Is the ban on the Belgrade liaison officer to visit illegally arrested Serbs and get acquainted with their health condition a violation of the agreement?

10.   Does the ban on the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije to visit Pec Patriarchate represent a violation of the dialogue?

11.   How come that the presence of Kurti’s monoethnic police, which has nothing to do in the north of Kosovo and carries out terror on a daily basis is not a violation of the agreement?

12.   Is massive and unpunished sexual harassment and intimidation of the Serbian women in the north of Kosovo and Metohija rule of law?”

Petkovic also said that since Albin Kurti took power in Kosovo “555 ethnically motivated incidents have been registered, and 127 escalatory moves by the Pristina regime”.

“Since the call of 27 EU members states on June 3, 2023, to Pristina to immediately de-escalate the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, almost 20 percent of Serbs have left the north of Kosovo and Metohija, because of Albin Kurti’s terror and unbearable living conditions for the Serbs created by Pristina regime. That is why, I will remind you, a session of the UN Security Council was held {...}”. Petkovic also said that because of all those issues Belgrade cannot sit idle and allow Pristina to continue with persecution of the Serbs in Kosovo.

“We cannot and must not allow further persecution and disfranchisement of our people. And for the end one more question for the EU representatives. How come you first supported and welcomed the measures that were publicly and officially presented by Belgrade in September and then after Kurti’s yesterday’s attack on the law, you suddenly changed your stance and opinion? Is that credibility”, Petkovic said. 

EU: Serbia has clearly violated its dialogue obligations with proposed law on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

The European Union (EU) considers that Serbia has clearly violated its obligations from the dialogue by proposing the law from the Government that declares Kosovo a zone of special protection and regarding the organisation and jurisdiction of judicial bodies for prosecuting criminal acts in Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reported citing Pristina’s public broadcaster RTK.

EU Spokesperson Nabila Massrali called on the authorities in Belgrade to reconsider the proposed law in line with Serbia's obligations in the European integration process. "The EU reminds Serbia that it is obligated to respect all agreements from the dialogue as an integral part of its EU accession process and calls on Serbia to reconsider the proposed law accordingly", Massrali is quoted as saying in a written statement. She also said that the proposed law contradicts Serbia’s recently reaffirmed commitment to dialogue.

Nabila Massrali reminded official Belgrade that, since the Brussels Agreement of 2013, Pristina and Belgrade have clearly defined obligations regarding their respective jurisdictions.

Starovic: Serbia not violating any agreement within the dialogue, instead trying to help its population in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Nemanja Starovic pointed out, in response to criticism from the EU, that Serbia, by adopting the Bill on the declaration of Kosovo as an area of special social protection, did not violate any agreement reached within the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the auspices of the European Union, reported Kosovo Online. 

He clarified that the Bill envisaged the introduction of social benefits for unemployed persons, as well as for persons older than 65 who have not acquired the right to a pension, which, he added, did not violate either the letter or the spirit of any existing agreement.

"By adopting the Bill on the declaration of the AP Kosovo and Metohija as an area of special social protection, Serbia did not violate any agreement reached within the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the auspices of the EU. The draft law provides for the introduction of social benefits for unemployed persons, as well as for persons older than 65 who have not acquired the right to a pension, which does not violate either the letter or the spirit of any existing agreement," said Starovic.

''Serbia's right to materially and financially help the population in Kosovo is not questioned even in Ahtisaari's plan, which Pristina applies unilaterally,'' said Starovic.

He believes that the EU should pay attention to the behavior of Pristina, which permanently and systematically threatens the rights of members of the Serbian community.

"Instead of pointing out the non-existent violation of the agreements reached by Belgrade, it would be far more meaningful if the spokeswoman of the EU would at least refer to the permanent and systematic denial of basic human, political and economic rights to the members of the Serbian community that the Albin Kurti regime is carrying out, which really, openly and brazenly violates the agreements reached in Brussels," concluded Starovic.

Kosovo Police Inspectorate recommends suspension of two police officers in relation to Milos Subotic’s case (KoSSev)

Kosovo Police Inspectorate (PIK) has recommended suspension of two Kosovo police officers at Mitrovica North regional police directorate in relation to the case from October 26, involving Mitrovica North resident Milos Subotic and reports of his mistreatment by the police, KoSSev portal reported citing PIK’s announcement.

As PIK said the recommendation for suspension was made because it is in the interest of the investigation, and over suspicion that those two police officers were involved in mistreatment of Milos Subotic. One of them is a police officer and the other one is a police sergeant.  

PIK also said it would continue the investigation aiming to shed light on all circumstances of this case. 

Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, AfD's Chrupalla discuss situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)

Serbian Minister of Family Welfare and Demography Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski met with Alternative for Germany (AfD) Co-President Tino Chrupalla on Tuesday and informed him of the difficult situation Serbs face in Kosovo Kosovo as well as of the challenges her ministry was facing on a daily basis while trying to perform its competences in this area, Tanjug news agency reported.

In a statement to Tanjug after the meeting, held at the Palace of Serbia, Djurdjevic Stamenkovski said she had told Chrupalla Serbia was ready for compromise on the Kosovo issue, adding that a compromise solution implied respect of the Constitution of Serbia, UNSCR1244 and the UN Charter.

"We are ready to discuss all other modalities of cooperation while, of course, noting the fact that Albin Kurti's regime is ignoring the need to establish a Community of Serb Municipalities, conducting a policy of ethnic cleansing against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and creating unsustainable and unbearable conditions", she said. She also warned that “Pristina was trying to ethnically cleanse the north of Kosovo and Metohija of the local Serb population”.

She added that Germany, as the "engine of Europe's political system", bore the greatest responsibility for adequate future reactions when it comes to the position of Serbs in Kosovo and in general, when it comes to establishing peace and stability in the Balkans. She also said the AfD, the leading opposition party in Germany, had on several occasions demonstrated a readiness to respect Serbian state and national interests, in particular when it comes to the Kosovo issue.

Vucic extends condolences to Spain over deadly flooding (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday extended condolences to the people of Spain over the deadly floods that have hit the country's Valencia region.

"I extend the deepest condolences over the tragic consequences of the floods that have hit Valencia. Serbia is showing solidarity with the people of Spain in these difficult times, and it is ready to provide any form of support and assistance", Vucic wrote in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Spanish authorities said flash floods in the eastern Valencia region had killed at least 51 people. 

 

                                                                            Opinion

 

On the five points of Belgrade: laws against independence (KoSSev)

By Dragutin Nenezic

A few days ago, the Government of the Republic of Serbia approved two draft laws implementing the second and fourth points of the “plan“ outlined in September this year: the Law on Designating Kosovo and Metohija (KiM) as a Region of Special Social Protection and the Law on the Organization and Jurisdiction of Judicial Authorities in the Prosecution of Crimes Committed in the Territory of KiM.

In this article, I will briefly review both proposals, as well as a few related events that have occurred since my last text on this topic. Given that both draft laws are relatively short and straightforward, making them easy to read, I will focus this analysis on the key provisions and their relationship to the “plan“.

The First Proposal

The first draft law declares the territory of KiM as a special social protection region, defining the categories of individuals eligible for benefits under this designation and outlining those benefits - financial assistance for unemployed and elderly persons, along with other benefits the government may establish through special programs.

Conditions for accessing these benefits are specifically outlined, including the process for determining and granting them, alongside other standard provisions for laws that govern social protection and the budgetary system. One immediately noticeable provision is Article 3, which defines when an individual is considered to be residing in KiM:

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/rUcVM

Ninic claims Serbia’s Kosovo legislation is a ‘Lex Specialis’ for Milan Radoicic (KoSSev) 

The Serbian Government recently passed a law designating Kosovo as a region of special social care, allowing for new employment opportunities, financial support for various demographics, and investment in infrastructure like “modern offices” near crossing points. This legislative move, expected since President Aleksandar Vucic’s announcement two months ago amid an escalating crisis in Kosovo, represents a significant financial commitment from Serbia - reportedly over €120 million annually - towards support for Kosovo Serbs. According to legal expert Ivan Ninic, this development raises constitutional concerns, as it involves spending substantial state funds on a territory constitutionally defined as indivisible under Serbian law, reported KoSSev in English yesterday. 

In a statement for KoSSev, Ninic criticises this policy as the final phase of implementing the Brussels Agreement, accusing Vucic of devising a “legal basis” to channel budgetary resources to Kosovo while technically separating it from Serbia’s governance.

He argues that dissenters may be labelled as “state enemies,” with any questions about the necessity of special laws for Kosovo met only with claims that Vucic is looking out for the people.

Additionally, the government introduced a law expanding the jurisdiction of Serbian judicial bodies to prosecute crimes committed in Kosovo. Ninic denounces this as unconstitutional, suggesting it is tailored to handle cases like that of controversial figure Milan Radoicic. 

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yxz9hvun