UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 7, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

EC writes to EU member states about visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Radio Free Europe)
Osmani: Membership in Council of Europe, a necessity (RTK)
Tahiri: After teachers’ salaries are paid, we will return to normality (Nacionale)
Finance Ministry will process teachers’ salaries today if lists are reconfirmed (Koha)
Citaku: Kosovo deserved visa liberalisation since adopting demarcation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

PM Brnabic: Vucic to announce strategic decisions (N1, Beta, TV Prva)
Vucic: Decision on Russian oil imports postponed until December 1 (Tanjug, media)
Plenkovic from Prague: Vucic did not fight for a delay (N1)
Von Cramon says EU cannot tolerate Serbia’s behaviour, Selakovic responds (N1, nova.rs)
Poll: The majority of respondents believe that local institutions in K.Serb communities are not transparent (KoSSev)
Vucic to address the nation tomorrow (Politika, Tanjug)
Another monument in Klokot desecrated (KiM radio, RTV Puls)
Petkovic reaction to Osmani’s statement in Prague (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
Osmani: Albanians are not the problem of Serbs in Kosovo, but "gangs paid by Vucic'' (KoSSev, N1, Beta)

Opinion:

Preliminary reflections on the Bosnian elections (EWB)

International:

Serbia welcomes EU delay to decision on Russian oil ban exemption (BIRN)
Protest in support of Republika Srpska opposition over alleged vote rigging (N1 Sarajevo)
Introducing the European Political Community (Emerging Europe)
European leaders giddy with new forum — as long as they overlook lingering tension (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

RTK1 and RTK2 channels available in the north of Kosovo since this year (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media

EC writes to EU member states about visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Radio Free Europe)

The European Commission has sent a detailed technical document to EU member states in the Council confirming that Kosovo has met all the requirements for visa liberalisation and that the Commission confirms that the proposal to the EU to give visa liberalisation to Kosovo remains in force. The news website has seen a copy of the document which will serve as the basis for discussions in the working group on visas in the Council on October 13. The document was sent as an update to inform the member states and it is not a formal report for the implementation of the roadmap because such a report was issued earlier and there is no need for another one.

The document, which was sent as a non-paper, describes in detail examples which prove that even after 2018 when the Commission had confirmed that the criteria were met, Kosovo continued to make progress in all areas included in the visa liberalisation roadmap.

“Kosovo has established a strong legal and operational framework to combat corruption, organised crime and to confront security threats and those from migration. This was confirmed also in the annual reports of the Commission within the enlargement package,” the conclusions of the document note.

The document also confirms that Kosovo has continued to consolidate progress in key areas identified in the roadmap. “As a result, the basis for the Commission’s recommendation in 2018 to exclude Kosovo nationals from short-term visa requirements remains completely valid,” it notes.

According to the experts of the European Commission, in the last couple of years Kosovo has strengthened its legal and institutional framework for areas such as document security, border management and migration, public order and security, basic rights related to freedom of movement, and approximated them with EU standards.

The report confirms that Kosovo’s Ministry of Interior Affairs has ensured that all travel documents, passports, are biometrical and in line with international and EU standards. It also notes that Kosovo has further approximated its legislation with the EU in the area of integrated border management and has made substantial progress in the functioning of the judiciary, including efficiency, professionalism, responsibility and integrity.

Osmani: Membership in Council of Europe, a necessity (RTK)

President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said today that membership in the Council of Europe is necessary to protect the rights of all Kosovo citizens regardless of their ethnicity. She made these remarks during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrin Jakobsdottir, in Prague. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, inclusion in the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme, and strengthening cooperation based on shared values.

Osmani thanked Jakobsdottir for Iceland’s support to Kosovo especially in international consolidation. “President Osmani asked for Iceland’s continued support for membership in the Council of Europe, and in other international organisations, being that from November Iceland will have the presidency of the Council of Europe,” she said.

Tahiri: After teachers’ salaries are paid, we will return to normality (Nacionale)

Head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Abelard Tahiri, called on the government to reflect and pay the salaries of teachers for September. He said that PDK MPs would not vote on international agreements in the Assembly until the salaries are paid. “You simply have to fulfil a legal obligation. I hope you will reflect and pay the salaries and we will return to normality,” he said.

Finance Ministry will process teachers’ salaries today if lists are reconfirmed (Koha)

The Ministry of Finance said today that it has asked the budget organisations again to reconfirm the lists of salaries given the new school calendar that was adopted by the Ministry of Education, and which foresees the compensation of classes that were not held in September. The statement notes that if this is done and after the reconfirmation of lists, the salaries of teachers will be processed today. “The budget organisations need to decide if they will process the salaries as advance payment for the September classes that will be compensated according to the new school calendar adopted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, otherwise they need to act according to Article 18 of the Law on Strikes. After procedures are completed and lists are reconfirmed by the budget organisations for the advance payment to be processed in line with the new school calendar, the treasury will proceed with executing the salaries today,” the statement notes.

Citaku: Kosovo deserved visa liberalisation since adopting demarcation (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Vlora Citaku, said today that Kosovo has deserved visa liberalisation since the adoption of the border demarcation with Montenegro. “Ever since the day the Kosovo Assembly adopted the demarcation with Montenegro (a decision that was delayed by the teargas), the European Union has had no valid reason not to give visa liberalisation to Kosovo. Not a single reason. Citizens from Venezuela to Taiwan travel without visas in the Schengen zone. Every delay has threatened the credibility of the EU in Kosovo. The EU must end the unjust isolation of the citizens of Kosovo,” Citaku said.

Serbian Language Media

PM Brnabic: Vucic to announce strategic decisions (N1, Beta, TV Prva)

European Union’s (EU) announcement that Serbia has not been granted an exemption from the eight package of sanctions on Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, that is, that it did not get an exemption from the EU ban on Russian oil imports “practically means sanctions against Serbia,” said Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

“If this happens, it will definitely have serious consequences for our economy,” Brnabic told Prva TV, adding that “it is relatively good news that the final decision has been postponed for December 1.”

“There will be many more difficult talks. (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic will announce some strategic decisions at a press conference tomorrow,” said Brnabic.

The decision to ban the import of Russian oil, initiated by Croatia, “is obviously an open act of aggression against Serbia,” one showing that “they are prepared to use anything against Serbia, even the energy crisis,” said Brnabic adding: “We will have to position ourselves differently.”

Asked if Serbia can cope without Russian oil, the Prime Minister said, “we can do without Russian oil completely,” but added that oil from other sources would be more expensive.

Brnabic explained there has been “no time or room” to set up a new government. “There were also some fires that needed to be put out, some priority situations that needed to be resolved,” she said, adding that the new government will be formed soon.

Vucic: Decision on Russian oil imports postponed until December 1 (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Thursday an EU decision on a ban on Russian crude oil imports to the Western Balkans had been postponed until December 1.

"The decision has been postponed until December 1 - the day until which the old decision that is not affected by the derogative norm is to remain in effect. It also applied to countries in our region, so unless there is a change of the decision, the old one will remain in place, and we will have no right to import Russian oil," Vucic told reporters in Prague, where he is attending a European Political Community summit.

"Of course, we can import (Iraqi) oil from Kirkuk, but at this time, it is not just about paying 20 pct more," Vucic said, adding that Serbia would be able to manage the price increase, but that the essence was something else.

Noting that crude oil prices would see an enormous rise, he added that "Ukraine used to be a huge electricity exporter thanks to its nuclear power plants, and Zelenskyy says they will not be able to export energy".

"It will all end up hitting the European single market, creating countless problems for all us, so I now ask you: how will we survive if we in Europe are going to obstruct each other for bilateral reasons, because a man named Vucic wanted to lay a wreath in Jasenovac (a WWII death camp run by Croats)," Vucic explained, referring to Croatia's decision to halt crude oil exports to Serbia via the JANAF oil pipeline, built by the former Yugoslavia.

Tanjug agency reported yesterday that Serbian President Vucic, speaking at a European Political Community (EPC) summit in Prague, issued a renewed plea to the EU to reconsider a decision to ban imports of Russian crude oil to Serbia.

At a panel on energy, economy, and climate change, Vucic presented Serbia's problems regarding a decision not to exempt the country from sanctions on Russian oil.

Tanjug source said that Vucic's request was strongly backed by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz listened attentively.

Plenkovic from Prague: Vucic did not fight for a delay (N1)

In Prague, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic is participating in the first meeting at the summit of the European Political Community and the informal meeting of the European Council, reported N1.

EU leaders in Prague are discussing three of the most urgent and interconnected issues facing the EU – Russia’s war in Ukraine, energy, and the economic situation.

Prime Minister Plenkovic made a statement from Prague, commenting on the statements of the Serbian political leadership on the ban on the import of Russian oil.

“Yesterday, I immediately reacted to what the Serbian president, prime minister, and minister have said. Let’s put things on the table as they are. Together, the EU, not just Croatia, adopted the package of sanctions against Russia. Serbia has not proved in any way that it has any kind of energy threat, that the import of Russian oil is the last option for them. Secondly, this decision has not been delayed but will come into effect for everyone in December. Vucic did not fight for any delay. It will enter into force on time,” Plenkovic said.

He added that Serbia can import any oil, except for Russian oil.

“If Serbia can get any oil, but it is not Russian, then what is the problem? No problem. Janaf is here, Krk is there, Croatia is there,” he added. “These statements are ridiculous, offensive, inaccurate, and rude theses. It is clear that Serbia understands the message – if it wants to join the EU, which implies some principles and some package of sanctions”, said Plenkovic. As for exceptions, the Prime Minister stated that extraordinary circumstances must be proven.

“If the Pancevo refinery cannot process any oil other than Russian, then I guess the EU could give it to them.”

See at: https://bit.ly/3T2Gz8D

Von Cramon says EU cannot tolerate Serbia’s behavior, Selakovic responds (N1, nova.rs)

Viola von Cramon MEP told Nova.rs on Thursday that the European Union can no longer tolerate official Belgrade’s behavior in terms of the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, drawing a fierce reaction from Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic.

Von Cramon is a member of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.

She said that Belgrade’s failure to align with EU sanctions policy and the deepening of its relations with Russia was what caused the EU to take its latest decision. She said that Serbia’s attitude towards Russia during the brutal aggression on Ukraine is viewed as an open, unnecessary provocation by Belgrade.

According to her, the policy of sitting on two chairs is practically at an end and Serbia could be the collateral damage of its own position. She said she expects Serbia to align with the EU.

Von Cramon’s words drew a fierce reaction from Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic who said her words showed the senselessness of the policy of pressure and punishment of Serbia.

Selakovic said in a written statement that the words collateral damage used by Von Cramon’s political fathers for Serbian civilians killed in the NATO air campaign against Serbia “have reared their heads in the European political vocabulary again”.

He said that state neutrality was respected even in WW 2 with no pressure exerted on the countries that chose not to be involved in the conflict “and Von Cramon’s state respected the neutrality of Sweden, Spain and Switzerland… with some exceptions because the military of the country Von Cramon comes from bombed Belgrade after its residents dared express their freedom-loving and anti-fascist views,” he said.

“Serbia is neutral and freedom-loving and is proud of it, but Von Cramon is not neutral when she lobbies for Albanian separatists in Kosovo or when she deliberately uses cynical and provocative language to insult the citizens of this country and advocate sanctions on Serbia,” the statement said.

See at: https://bit.ly/3rIi5pq

Poll: The majority of respondents believe that local institutions in K.Serb communities are not transparent (KoSSev)

The majority of respondents believe that the work of mayors and municipalities in Serb-majority areas is not transparent – read the results of online polls carried out by the KoSSev portal.

The issue of (non)transparency when it comes to the work of the municipalities in Serb-majority areas came to the fore once again after the Municipality of Gracanica made a Decision on the exchange of immovable municipal property for private property, only to seven days later, that is, last night, initiate the procedure to annul this decision.

The new move was made following intense pressure from the public and the media, protests by citizens disgruntled with the decision of the local leadership, i.e., as they stated, the disproportionate land swap in favor of a private citizen.

In recent days, accusations have also been made against other municipalities in Serb-majority areas, that is, their decisions on the exchange or donation of land to private citizens.

On this occasion, we asked KoSSev readers to share their opinion of the (non)transparency of local authorities in Kosovo Serb areas.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3ynwIlS

Vucic to address the nation tomorrow (Politika, Tanjug)

President Aleksandar Vucic will address the nation tomorrow, the Presidency of Serbia announced, reported Serbian media.

He will address the citizens at 10:00 a.m., in the Palace of Serbia, it was stated in the announcement.

President Vucic previously announced that on October 8, he will speak about the steps the state will take in relation to all important political and economic issues, as well as what kind of policy Serbia will lead in the coming period, recalled Tanjug.

Another monument in Klokot desecrated (KiM radio, RTV Puls)

At the Orthodox cemetery in Klokot, another tombstone was desecrated, reported KiM radio, citing RTV Puls.

According to RTV Puls, this was the third time that this monument was damaged, and the perpetrators have not been found.

"We want to call on the International Community to pressure Pristina to just do its job. Nothing else. To find the perpetrators, no matter who did it," says Srdjan Nikolic, president of the Provisional Body of the Municipality of Kosovska Vitina.

Two days ago, recalled KiM radio, Milan Nisic's grave was desecrated, also in Klokot. The Office for KiM condemned the act.

Petkovic reaction to the Osmani’s statement in Prague (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic reacted to Vjosa Osmani’s latest statement in Prague, and said that “it is absurd and corny that Vjosa Osmani is attacking President Aleksandar Vucic, when the only real factor of instability in Kosovo, but also beyond, is Albin Kurti who threatens war every day, is sabre-rattling and building illegal bases in the north of Kosovo”, reported Radio Mitrovica sever.

“If those in Pristina really want normalization of relations, peace, and stability, they should have formed the Community of Serb Municipalities a long time ago, which guarantees collective rights to Serbs, instead of having the number of attacks on Serbs, their property, and even their graves increase daily. Instead of respecting the agreements stemming from the dialogue, Osmani wants to present the construction of illegal bases, along with the seizure of land from Serbs in Zubin Potok and Leposavic, as the rule of law? Only in Pristina the usurpation is being presented as the rule of law, and compliance with the agreement as lawlessness, because this is exactly what Osmani is doing, saying that she will never form the CSM (ZSO)” Petkovic stated.

“We expect that due to such glorification of violations of the agreement by Pristina, the international community will react clearly and condemn statements that are not in the spirit of dialogue and normalization of relations. There is not a single reason why Vjosa Osmani is so afraid of the journalist’s question about the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, because it is an obligation that she will have to fulfil and in accordance with what was agreed in Brussels in 2013 and 2015, and not as she would have liked to convince herself and the Western embassies. And finally, if the so-called Constitution is the alpha and omega of the so-called Kosovo, as Vjosa Osmani claims, why hasn’t the decision on the return of 24 hectares of monastery land to Visoki Decani been implemented yet? I will remind her that the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia is our only alpha and omega and our only framework of action,” Petkovic noted.

Osmani: Albanians are not the problem of Serbs in Kosovo, but "gangs paid by Vucic'' (KoSSev, N1, Beta)

"Today's challenge for the Serbian community is not that the Albanians are causing problems, but in the criminal gangs in the North that Vucic pays, supports and encourages. Models like Republika Srpska create more problems than peace and stability," Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said yesterday from Prague, reported portal KoSSev.

The first summit on the initiative to establish the European political community began yesterday in the Czech capital and will continue today. It brought together 44 officials with the aim of promoting political dialogue and strengthening cooperation in order to solve, as announced, the most urgent issues of security and stability of the European continent.

Among them, Aleksandar Vucic and Vjosa Osmani are attending the Summit. Both, in a series of meetings and meetings during yesterday, held trilateral meetings with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

At the press conference last night, Osmani said that, in addition to discussing visa liberalization and Kosovo's membership in international organizations, she presented the two officials at the meeting with "red lines" that Kosovo cannot cross.

According to her, when "red lines are mentioned, it means the protection of territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutionality so that Kosovo remains a functional state".

In this regard, she spoke about the possible formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, saying that, when it comes to that body, ''the constitution of Kosovo is the alpha and omega of such actions''.

"The modality is the constitution of Kosovo; it is the alpha and omega of every action. It is the decision of the Constitutional Court that paves the way forward, which establishes that such mechanisms cannot be unnational, nor have executive powers, nor can we create an intermediate layer of government that would contradict the constitution. Those are our principles," said Osmani.

She added that she believed that another Republika Srpska was not in the interest of anyone, not even Kosovo, because according to her, such models create more problems than peace and are not functional.

"We constantly explain to our partners how important it is not to go further than this because it is not in anyone's interest, least of all Kosovo, nor the region, nor the EU, to have a Republika Srpska or similar models that have not worked and will not, because they create more problems than calmness, peace and stability," she emphasized.

Apart from the ZSO, Osmani also spoke about the problem that Pristina allegedly has with Belgrade, which was related to the rule of law.

She believed that Serbs in Kosovo do not have a problem with Albanians, but with "gangs paid by Vucic".

"We are for all minorities in Kosovo to realize their guaranteed rights. Today's challenge for the Serbian community is not that the Albanians are causing problems, but the criminal gangs in the north that Vucic pays, encourages, and supports. Our confrontation with Serbia is not only political, but also a confrontation about the rule of law. We will not surrender to the gangs," said Osmani, reported the portal.

Opinion

Preliminary reflections on the Bosnian elections (EWB)

While official results of the Bosnia and Herzegovina elections will be tabulated in the coming weeks – due to the delayed vote counting of votes from the diaspora; the Central Election Commission’s slow handling of the process; and irregularities that have delayed elections in some localities – the majority of votes have nonetheless been counted, and punditry speculating on their repercussions is abound.

The campaign season was marked by the highest political party spending to date, misuse of public funds, and nationalist rhetoric. A transitory look at campaign materials predominately provided biographical information on candidates, including marital status and number of children, in an affirmative nod to the patriarchal structure of Bosnian society, rather than their views on relevant political issues and plans for governing, with a few exceptions.

The biggest upset in the elections can be attributed to the country’s High Representative, a Dayton Peace Accords mandated position that has been embodied by the erratic Christian Schmidt since August 2021. Shortly after the polls closed, he imposed changes to the election laws, and the constitution of the Federation, one of two of the country’s entities. His actions will likely result in a cementing of politics based on ethnonationalism and will ultimately push parties in a more conservative and nationalistic direction. Rather than strengthening state institutions and helping to ensure greater transparency, his actions are an effort to stifle reform efforts that reflect a less ethnicized future for the country. This is even more tragic at a time when the appetite for the potential of a citizen-centered BiH is seemingly growing, as evidenced by protests that broke out over the summer when plans by the Office of the High Representative to impose new election laws were initially introduced.

International

Serbia welcomes EU delay to decision on Russian oil ban exemption (BIRN)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Thursday that the European Commission had postponed a decision on exempting Western Balkan countries from the EU ban on imports of Russian crude oil.

“We haven’t solved the problem, but it’s not bad news that the decision has been moved, postponed for some time,” Vucic told media in Prague after the first meeting of newly established European Political Community.

He said the decision about Balkan countries being excluded from the EU sanctions package from June was withdrawn on the initiative of Croatia.

“Yesterday at that [EU] meeting, when everything should have already passed, on the initiative of Croatia and supported by two countries … the derogation from the norm for the Western Balkans was removed from the agenda”, Vucic said.

On arrival at the Prague meeting, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told media that “this is not our position, it is the position of European Union”.

“Every country that comes here, at this event, at this point of time of European history should respect the sanctions regime against Russia and show solidarity with Ukraine,” Plenkovic said.

“Serbia can any time import any oil, except from Russia, bring it to the Croatian port of Krk then send it through our pipeline system to Serbia,” he added.

Humanitarian/Development

RTK1 and RTK2 channels available in the north of Kosovo since this year (KoSSev)

Two Kosovan public service channels – RTK1, which broadcast programming in Albanian and RTK2, broacasting in the Serbian language, have become available to all citizens of the north of Kosovo this year who use the services of the company MTS doo.

The broadcast of the RTK2 program, as part of the Kosovan public service broadcast, began with the Central Information Show, which aired at 7:00 p.m. on June 4th, 2013.

For almost nine years, these TV channels were unavailable to citizens in the north of Kosovo. In the first years following the signing of the Brussels Agreement, several attempts were made to make the channels visible in the north. All of them, however, were unsuccesful.

As the Kosovo Public Service confirmed for KoSSev, RTK2 and RTK1 became available to the citizens of the north of Kosovo in April this year.