UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 15, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

U.S. will consult EU partners on next step toward Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Reporteri)
EU denies that Kurti’s proposal was the only one on the table (RFE)
US$34.7 mil grant agreement signed with USAID (Koha)
Zvecan too votes in favor of joining Association of Kosovo Municipalities (Koha)
World Democracy Day; Konjufca: Transparency, one of the key elements (KSP)
After Radoicic threats, persons with Russian symbols place Serbian flags in north (KSP)

Serbian Language Media:

Stano: A round of dialogue without progress, the EU did not see a willingness to compromise (FoNet, N1, Kosovo Online)
Vucic meets Sarrazin (Tanjug, RTS)
Petkovic: The EU said for the first time that Kurti is to blame for the failure of the dialogue in Brussels (RTS)
Serbian List: Kurti sent a threat (KiM radio)
Radakovic: Kurti’s message to Serbian List shameful, new type of threat (Kosovo Online)
Gracanica: Serbian youths ordered 48 hours detention (KiM radio)
Petkovic: Reckless beating of brothers Andrija and Mihajlo M. by the Kosovo police (Kosovo Online)
Bus company owner: Pristina banned our vehicles from entering Kosovo – it’s discrimination (KoSSev)
Serbian national interests in Kosovo - survival, normal life, and existence (KiM radio, KoSSev)

International:

Struggle for Acceptance: Kosovo Societal Stigma Challenges LGBT Community’s Mental Health (BIRN)
David Albahari, in memoriam (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media

U.S. will consult EU partners on next step toward Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Reporteri)

The United States has expressed disappointment over the failure to reach an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. They also call on Kosovo to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, the news website notes.

A U.S. spokesperson told Reporteri that the U.S. will consult with their European partners on the next steps – what needs to be done after the failure to reach an agreement yesterday in Brussels, and that the EU-facilitated remains the only way to reach a solution between Kosovo and Serbia. “We are closely engaged with Kosovo, Serbia, and our partners in the EU on the EU-facilitated dialogue. We thank and appreciate the tireless efforts of the EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak. We are disappointed that progress was not made. As we have said repeatedly, the EU-facilitated Dialogue is the only way forward for Kosovo and Serbia,” the spokesperson said. “We expect both countries to seriously consider their obligations according to the agreement on the path toward normalisation which was reached early this year. Time is running out. We want to see progress in the existing and previous obligations, according to the Dialogue and the Ohrid agreement, including the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities”.

The spokesperson also said that “we are fully united with our QUINT partners, in support of the EU-facilitated dialogue. We will consult with our European partners on the next steps”.

EU denies that Kurti’s proposal was the only one on the table (RFE)

Sources in the European Union denied claims made by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti according to whom in yesterday’s meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels, only Kurti presented a sequenced proposal for the implementation of the agreement on the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The sources said that the EU presented to the parties its plan for the sequenced implementation.

The sources also said that in June, the EU Special Representative for the dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, had presented a sequenced plan and that so far there have been seven rounds of separate meetings with the parties to discuss the plan. This is why, according to the sources, Kurti’s claim that his was the only proposal on the table is “simply inaccurate”.

US$34.7 mil grant agreement signed with USAID (Koha)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and acting director of the USAID in Kosovo, Kerry Monaghan Hogler, signed today a grant agreement for development objectives worth US$ 34.7 million. U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier also attended the signing ceremony.

The Office of the President said the agreement was signed based on the 5th amendment of the grant agreement for development objectives. Following the signing ceremony, Osmani said that “the agreement is proof of support for our people and country. One of the key objectives of the agreement is to secure better services for our citizens. This agreement will help the continued reduction of corruption”.

Hovenier said that the agreement confirms the long-term partnership of the United States with the people of Kosovo. “I think it is right to confirm once again the sustainable and long-term partnership of the United States with the people of Kosovo. This fund will support the strategic objectives of the U.S. for Kosovo such as: advancing Kosovo’s integration in European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, efforts to promote economic growth and efforts to develop good governance,” Hovenier said.

Zvecan too votes in favor of joining Association of Kosovo Municipalities (Koha)

The municipal assembly of Zvecan voted today in favor of joining the Association of Kosovo Municipalities. The decision comes one day after the municipal assemblies of Leposavic and Zubin Potok voted in favor of joining the association. The Vetevendosje Movement said in a statement: “Following the initiative of the municipal councilors of the Vetevendosje Movement, same as Zubin Potok yesterday, today the municipal assembly of Zvecan voted in favor of this municipality joining the Association of Kosovo Municipalities”.

World Democracy Day; Konjufca: Transparency, one of the key elements (KSP)

On World Democracy Day today, the Kosovo Assembly opened its doors to all citizens that want to visit it. On the occasion, Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca said that transparency is one of the key elements for democratic governance, and that this year the World Democracy Day is celebrated differently as Kosovo has joined the Open Government Partnership initiative. “We are marking this important day together which once again reminds us of the importance and values of a democratic system of governance but also the challenges that threaten the health of democracy, and the tendencies to undermine it … Transparency is one of the key elements for democratic governance. It increases the public and society’s trust in our institutions and at the same time it makes the citizens shareholders in decision-making and participation in the democratic process,” he said.

Arbereshe Kryeziu-Hyseni, head of the Assembly’s Forum for Transparency, said marking the World Democracy Day is an important moment as Kosovo has achieved great progress in democracy.

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and member of the Forum for Transparency, Blerta Deliu-Kodra, said that Kosovo is a good example of building independent and democratic institutions.

After Radoicic threats, persons with Russian symbols place Serbian flags in north (KSP)

The news agency reports that unknown persons wearing shirts with the Russian symbol “Z”, have placed Serbian flags at the student campus in Mitrovica North on Thursday. The flags were reportedly placed at the same location where slogans were painted calling for the return of the Serbian army to Kosovo. The news agency has learned that the persons are not known to locals in Mitrovica North. “This happened immediately after the threats that Milan Radoicic, who is sanctioned by the U.S., made against Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, after the meeting in Brussels on Thursday,” the news agency notes.

Serbian Language Media

Stano: A round of dialogue without progress, the EU did not see a willingness to compromise (FoNet, N1, Kosovo Online)

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said that the latest round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina did not bring progress, because the EU did not see the willingness of the parties to find a compromise, and the member states will be informed about this, and they will be asked for guidelines on how to further approach partners and what measures, "which are available", will undertake, reported N1.

Stano, at a regular media briefing, emphasized that EU High Representative Josep Borrell did not say that the dialogue was unsuccessful, but that the round of dialogue on Thursday did not bring a result because the parties failed to reach an agreement.

The parties were not ready to overcome their differences. The EU is not a party to the dialogue, but a mediator, the parties are Kosovo and Serbia, Stano said.

According to him, the EU is helping Serbia and Kosovo to bridge their differences, but it cannot be successful in this if the parties refuse to follow the path of compromise and if someone does not want help.

"We are in a serious situation and the high representative clearly said that Serbia and Kosovo are at risk of falling behind the rest of the region in the process of European integration, because progress in that process is closely linked to dialogue," Stano emphasized.

He said that the special envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak informs the member states about the round of dialogue and then the 27 states will decide how to proceed.

The Union is a mediator and we can achieve as much as the parties are ready to accept, said Stano.

Asked if Borrell believes that effective restrictive measures have been applied to Kosovo, Stano said that no significant steps have been taken in terms of de-escalating the situation, although there have been some steps, and there is still potential for the situation to worsen.

The measures against Kosovo are temporary and they will be in force as long as the EU members consider it necessary, he stated and pointed out that these measures can be softened and strengthened, as the situation requires.

When asked whether the measures can be applied to the other side, Serbia, Stano said that it is the decision of the 27 EU members in relation to which side does not do enough to calm down or encourages escalation.

"They can be introduced for the other side as well if it is a joint assessment of the 27 EU members. It is a process that is under the constant supervision of member states. They are not satisfied with the outcome of the round, they had different expectations, and the partners know that," concluded Stano.

Vucic meets with Sarrazin (Tanjug, RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the German government's special Western Balkans envoy Manuel Sarrazin on Friday to discuss the situation in the region and, among other topics, the outcome of Thursday's Brussels meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

Vucic noted that Belgrade remained committed to the EU-facilitated dialogue with Pristina, the presidential press office said in a statement.

He reiterated Serbia's position on all Western Balkan issues - preservation of peace, further strengthening of trust and more versatile regional cooperation.

Vucic noted that the EU integration path was one of Serbia's foreign policy priorities and said he hoped Sarrazin's engagement would contribute further to renewing the enthusiasm for EU enlargement.

The parties also discussed economic cooperation and, in particular, investment potentials opening up in the context of EXPO 2027, a prestigious event to be hosted by Serbia.

Vucic expressed interest in an expansion of German investments given Germany's significance as Serbia's economic partner.

Sarrazin expressed a desire for stronger engagement of the entire Union in terms of the enlargement policy and giving the Western Balkans a new impetus on the European path, the statement also said.

Petkovic: The EU said for the first time that Kurti is to blame for the failure of the dialogue in Brussels (RTS)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, told RTS that, although the talks in Brussels failed, Belgrade could at least be a little satisfied, because in the reports after the meeting it was written that Belgrade was not to blame, it showed constructiveness and that Albin Kurti was responsible for the failed dialogue, RTS reported today.

Petkovic congratulated all citizens on the Day of National Unity and underlined that this day has a special significance for the people in Kosovo.

"Yesterday in Brussels we tried to preserve peace and people's lives, we had a difficult day. In Brussels, there are no technical negotiations taking place, but negotiations in impossible conditions. Vucic is talking to Kurti, who is refusing everything," says Petkovic, referring to yesterday's dialogue in Brussels.

Petkovic emphasised that the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, clearly said that Kurti is not ready to form the CSM.

"Belgrade is a side that is oriented towards compromise, but the EU always said after the dialogue that both sides must move towards a compromise, but now the EU has said for the first time that Kurti is the one who caused the dialogue to fail," said Petkovic.

The Director of the Office for KiM said that yesterday Kurti brutally threatened the Serbian people with the words that they will suffer and pay.

"This statement is very dangerous, it shows the true nature of Albin Kurti's violent regime," says Petkovic.

He noted that Serbs are still being arrested, that since June 3, there have been 22 escalating moves by Pristina in the north alone.

"These negotiations are not over; we are fighting to preserve peace and stability. The EU has said on which side is the problem, how many times have we returned from Brussels and heard that statement about two sides," recalled Petkovic, adding that a compromise on Kosovo means life and that all agreements from 2013 and 2015 must be respected.

When it comes to the elections in Kosovo, Petkovic says that, although Kurti rejected the formation of the CSM, normalisation and de-escalation, Vucic still said that he would talk to the Serbs about the elections.

"The West created the independence of Kosovo, and as much as Kurti is a naughty boy, they will try to keep that independence, and we will fight against it because we have no other option," Petkovic emphasised.

Serbian List: Kurti sent a threat (KiM radio)

The Serbian List believes that by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti saying that this party "should pay and suffer", he sent a threat to the Serbian people and the Serbian List, reported KiM radio.

The Serbian List says that with this statement, Kurti showed the "true face of the aggressor", accusing him of harbouring hatred "for everything Serbian".

They point out that this threat should not be taken lightly, because it comes from someone who is at the head of Kosovo's institutions.

"If in the two years of Kurti's regime we had the shooting of Serbs and even Serbian children, the beating, arrest and imprisonment of our fellow citizens without any evidence, the seizure of Serbian land through false expropriation, ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs and the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout Kosovo and Metohija, the ban on treatment, vaccination, but also the ban on holding Serbian elections, the question arises what Kurti is promising us with the words that we will pay and suffer, with which he plans to further threaten the survival and stay of the Serbian people and what can be expected in the coming period".

They state that they expected an answer from Kurti yesterday "when he will de-escalate the situation in the north, form the Community of Serbian Municipalities, release unjustly arrested Serbs, when he will withdraw the illegally present special units and fake mayors from the north".

They also say that these threats come at a time of fragile peace and require a clear condemnation of international actors.

Radakovic: Kurti’s message to Serbian List shameful, new type of threat (Kosovo Online)

Commenting on the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti “that people from the Serbian List will suffer and pay for the mistake they have made”, executive director of Mitrovica North-based Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC) NGO Dusan Radakovic said this statement was shameful, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Radakovic told the portal he was concerned that the Kosovo side headed by Albin Kurti will not accept the EU proposal for de-escalation of the situation.

“Kurti’s statement about the Serbian List is yet another type of pressure and it is a shame that a prime minister says something like that. Serbian List is a party which was part of the Kosovo system and I do not understand why someone has to threaten that something will be “paid for”. We play like kids. I truly think that some things need to be placed on the right path because with this direction and by such an attitude it is a shame, primarily of the Prime Minister Kurti towards one political party, which is also the biggest minority party in Kosovo”, Radakovic said.

“I am also concerned by Kurti’s statement that everything returns to April 2013, then what those all agreements were about, 39 of them we had so far, and relate to our life and security in the north. I hope that soon some things will change but without serious negotiations and without pressure on the Kosovo side, I think we will only have bigger escalations, arrests and pressure”, Radakovic said.

Gracanica: Serbian youths ordered 48 hours detention (KiM radio)

KiM radio reported that Serbian young men from Gracanica A.M. and M.M. who were ''beaten last night by members of the Kosovo police'' in this place, are charged with assaulting an official and obstructing him during the performance of his official duties. They were remanded in custody for 48 hours.

"Two suspected Kosovo men were arrested for obstructing and physically assaulting two policemen while they were on duty, during which the two policemen sustained physical injuries and received medical attention," the Kosovo police report said.

They note that by the prosecutor's decision, the suspects were detained for 48 hours, and the case is under investigation.

KiM radio recalled that according to eyewitnesses, A.M. and M.M. were stopped last night for a routine control, members of the Kosovo police wrote them a ticket for not wearing seat belts.

"After they asked for their sentence to be translated into Serbian, the policeman asked him: ``Do you know where you live?'', after which they hit him," KiM radio was told by an eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous.

One of the two young men, M.M., has a shoulder injury and was in the hospital in Gracanica, while A.M. after giving a statement to the police, was also referred for hospital treatment.

About a hundred citizens gathered in front of the police station in Gracanica last night, demanding an end to police brutality against the locals. The Gracanica Mayor Ljiljana Subaric was among those gathered.

Petkovic: Reckless beating of brothers Andrija and Mihajlo M. by the Kosovo police (Kosovo Online)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, assessed Serbian young men, brothers Andrija and Mihajlo M., were recklessly beaten by the Kosovo Police last night in Gracanica, due to a traffic violation, reported Kosovo Online.

"Reckless beating of the brothers Andrija and Mihajlo M. last night in Gracanica by the KP for a traffic violation! Instead of the policemen being held accountable for the use of excessive force, charges are filed against the Serbs. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija provided the young men with lawyers to protect their rights," Petkovic wrote on X, reported Kosovo Online.

Bus company owner: Pristina banned our vehicles from entering Kosovo – it’s discrimination (KoSSev)

Buses belonging to the ‘Joe Travel’ firm have been banned from entering the territory of Kosovo, claimed its owner, Goran Antic, announcing that the company will most likely stop operating, at least for the time being. Antic says that the ban was imposed because the company’s license under the Kosovo law expired and is therefore not allowed to provide regular transportation services on the account of the buses having Serbian license plates. On the other hand, he emphasized that the company is registered in Novi Pazar.

While not ruling out the possibility that the decision was made in accordance with Kosovo laws, Antic believes that he is being discriminated against, because only his buses were banned. “If it is forbidden to carry out regular transportation service with non-Kosovo license plates, then this must apply to everyone,” he stressed.

Antic states that a bus in his ownership was banned from entering Kosovo via the Jarinje crossing yesterday, resulting in the vehicle being left stranded on the other side of the crossing.

The vehicles of this company, which operate on the routes between North Kosovo and Serbia proper, are allowed to leave the territory of Kosovo – but not to return.

“Due to the new situation, transportation will be reduced in the coming days, and maybe even completely suspended,” Antic said, while issuing an apology to the passengers.

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

Serbian national interests in Kosovo - survival, normal life, and existence (KiM radio, KoSSev)

"The Serbian community in Kosovo is very aware of its position, its status and knows very well what the national interest is, and that interest is the survival of the Serbs, a normal life, a normal existence, and that both Belgrade and Pristina have an obligation to ensure such a status," said Stefan Surlic, an assistant at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade and one of the authors of the research "Interests of Serbs in Kosovo in the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina", reported KiM radio.

The NGO Center for Affirmative Social Actions (CASA), together with six co-authors, has been conducting research for the past few months, trying to answer the question: "What is actually the Serbian national interest in Kosovo?"

Presenting his part of the research, Surlic talked about security and economic aspects, but also the need to preserve cultural heritage. He also stated that this survey shows that the majority of Serbs in Kosovo are in favor of reconciliation with the Albanians, but that they do not trust the current Kosovo government. One of the problems plaguing the Serbian community is departures from Kosovo.

"They are aware of the dangers such as large-scale departures, especially of young people, unemployment, corruption, nepotism and that these are some problems that are systemic and last for years and that must be solved. A burning problem is discrimination, which is conducted in all fields, and which makes a normal life impossible. Here, first of all, I am thinking of the government in Pristina, which, from the use of language, through the usurpation of property, the use of extraordinary and illegal means against Serbs, arrests without any evidence, expropriation of property for the sake of building police and military bases, systematically endangers what is a vital interest for all Serbs, and that is further life on the territory of Kosovo".

Surlic added that this research crystallized two demands of the Serbs.

"The first is to preserve their identity, the right to use their language, the right to enjoy their cultural heritage and their uniqueness, and the existence of autonomous institutions. The second request is to maintain the connection with Belgrade, especially in the sphere of health, education system and social protection, because they believe that this is a prerequisite for any idea of long-term survival of Serbs in Kosovo. Therefore, these are demands that must be on the table in the dialogue process. Any form of CSM (ZSO) must mean effective self-government, autonomy for the Serbs in Kosovo, the right to organize their own lives according to their own measure".

However, the opinion of the respondents of this research is that they have no confidence in CSM (ZSO). Surlic says that this result is not surprising because they do not even know what the Community of Serbian Municipalities will actually look like.

"When they hear messages from Belgrade and Pristina, and also from experts who deal with the subject, from the idea of some sort of Republika Srpska in Kosovo, to the fact that it is a non-governmental organization, I understand the complete confusion and, of course, this rezervation about how the CSM (ZSO) will end up looking like. But, when you offer them concretely what will be the responsibilities, what they can be entitled to, to have their own institutions, to have their own educational system, health system, social protection, to be able to contact the local institution in their own native language, then you see what they want and what they mean by the CSM (ZSO)", said Surlic after the presentation of the report at the Civic Energy Center (CEC) in Gracanica.

One of the key topics addressed in this research is autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo. Milica Andric Rakic, a researcher at the New Social Initiative (NSI) was dealing with it.

"The Serbian community in Kosovo is in a major crisis and the only way out of that crisis is an institutional framework that will include autonomy. Autonomy primarily in matters of local interest, which will mean the impossibility of interference in decisions made by that institution on the part of Pristina. So, the idea is for it to be an institution that will be co-financed from Serbia. It would be ideal if it were recognized in both the Kosovo and Serbian constitutions so that its financing would not depend on the change of government in Belgrade," she said.

According to her, that institution would do two key things.

"The first would legitimize the existing educational, health, and other systems that provide support to the Serbian community of Kosovo in the form of services, and the second would ensure this type of independence from the decisions of the central authorities and guarantee the Serbian community, of course, with the guarantees of the international community, that type of local functionality and enabled it to see the future in Kosovo," said the co-author of the research, Milica Andric Rakic.

The research also offers certain recommendations to official Belgrade.

"The time has come for (Belgrade) to act responsibly. The time has come for it to neglect and put aside all those methods of party supremacy ruling in Serbia, and which it tries to replicate here. The time has come for Belgrade to have a responsible policy towards the Serbian community in Kosovo, the time has come that if it invests, that those factories should be seen, the time has come to bring back young people, the time has come to subsidize private companies, to create jobs in Kosovo," stated the director of the Center for Affirmative Social Actions, Miodrag Marinkovic.

Marinkovic points out that the government in Serbia must lead a realistic and responsible policy. He also says that research shows that local Serbs do not expect miracles from Belgrade to happen within the framework of the agreement, but that the government will be responsible.

The research "Interests of Serbs in Kosovo in the process of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina" was supported by the British Embassy in Pristina, and its presentation was attended by representatives of other diplomatic missions in Kosovo.

International

Struggle for Acceptance: Kosovo Societal Stigma Challenges LGBT Community’s Mental Health (BIRN)

A patriarchal mindset and strong societal stigma mean many LGBT community members don’t accept themselves – leading to isolation, depression and even attempted suicide.

Whenever Teo – not his real name – went shopping with his mother, he would be pushed to buy from the women’s section, but his eyes were frozen on the men's section.

“I just kept wondering why the boys’ clothes are so much cooler than the girls’ ones. I felt out of place and very isolated,” Teo, who was born with a female name in a small village in Kosovo, recalls.

While he always knew he did not fit in with his girl friends, when Teo first learnt about the LGBT community, aged about 18 at university, he felt “disgusted” because at the time he was “very religious”.

“Luckily for me, my new circle of friends at university was open-minded and it was a blessing for my little closed-minded self,” Teo told BIRN, explaining that it took around seven years to come to terms with himself.

LGBT persons in Kosovo often grow up with patriarchal mindsets and throughout their lives face societal stigma. It can cause them to struggle to accept themselves, leading to depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts – far more than the rest of the society.