UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 20, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)
License plates’ reciprocity, Svecla provides details on increase of police forces (RTK)
Citizens block the roads to Brnjak and Jarinje (media)
Kurti on action in the North: Serbia agreed to this as well (Ekonomia Online)
MIA: Do not use Brnjak and Jarinje border points (Koha)
The road to the Jarinje and Brnjak border points, continues to be blocked (Kallxo)
EU: Kosovo and Serbia to immediately reduce tensions (RTK/Klan)
KFOR: The situation in the North is stable (media)
Serbian media: Vucic to gather National Security Council following Kosovo decision on license plates (Express)
LDK's Gashi: PM Kurti putting on a 'show' with license plates (Kallxo)
PDK and LVV clash over Kurti’s role in the KLA (Telegrafi)
Kurti to undertake U.S. visit in November (Kosovapress/Klan)
Albanian Assembly Speaker Nikolla to visit Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

38 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
Stano: Lower tensions immediately, sides to refrain from unilateral actions (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
KFOR on events in northern Kosovo: Security situation stable (Kosovo-online)
Vucic convened an emergency session of the Security Council (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
ROSU at Jarinje and Brnjak, confiscation of vehicle plates commenced, Rakic urges Vucic to react (RTS)
Simic called for the restraint of the citizens (B92, TV Prva, Tanjug)
Issuance of trial RKS vehicle plates has started (KiM radio)
Replacement of Serbian registration plates started in Gorazdevac (Radio KIM)
Andric: 9,500 vehicles with Serbian license plates captured in Kosovo (Beta, Danas)
Stefanovic: ''Explain to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija how you ‘defend’ them '' (Kosovo Online)
Rada Trajkovic accuses Vucic of misinforming Serbs (Kosovo online)
Petkovic: Pristina to start issuing temporary license plates for cars with Serb plates as of Monday (KoSSev)
Milivojevic: By introducing reciprocity, Kurti practically abolishes dialogue (Kosovo-online)
Lajcak on two-day visit to Belgrade (Radio KIM)
Lajcak canceled a meeting with civil society in Belgrade (Kosovo Online, Danas)
Petkovic: Either Brussels agreement will be respected or it shall not exist (Radio KIM)
Vucic, Erdogan: Friendship with Turkey is guarantee of peace in region (N1)

Opinion:

Janjic: Vehicle plates are just the beginning of Kurti's measures of reciprocity, Lajcak does not understand, and that leads to war (Kosovo Online)

International:

Tempers Flare At Serbia-Kosovo Border As Pristina Presses 'Reciprocal' Move Over License Plates (RFE)
Kosovo deploys police, Serbs protest amid border tension (AP)
Kosovo Deploys Police as Serbs Protest in Licence Plate Dispute (Balkan Insight)
Tensions as Kosovo begins removing Serbian licence plates at border (Euronews)

Albanian Language Media

COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)

Six deaths from COVID-19 and 48 new cases from the virus were recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 903 persons recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 8,903 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Reciprocity of license plates, Svecla provides details on increase of police forces (RTK)

The Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla has announced that the increase of the police forces in the north of Kosovo is in the framework of the implementation of the agreement for free movement - specifically the license plates of vehicles.

"On this occasion, the Ministry of Interior, in order to enable the free movement of citizens even after the expiration of the agreement of September 14, 2014, has issued a decision that arranges and obliges the provision of temporary license plates for all vehicles with license plates of Serbia that enter the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, at all border crossing points. And at the same time, it has taken all the necessary measures to reduce to the maximum waiting time at the border crossings.

We inform the public that from September 15, there is no car in circulation equipped with valid license plates "KS" and consequently the only legal and valid plates issued by officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are those with the denomination "RKS" Svecla wrote.

Citizens block the roads to Brnjak and Jarinje (media)

Large police forces went this morning towards the Jarinje border, in support of the reciprocity process against Serbia that is expected to begin today, in terms of vehicle license plates.

Meanwhile, citizens with trucks have blocked the road in two locations leading to the Brnjak border, respectively in Zubin Potok and in Gazivoda.

Citizens have blocked the road with trucks in the direction of the border of Jarinje, respectively in Leposavic.

Express reports that one of the members of the police addressed the Serb protesters in Albanian, telling them that "Nobody stops the protest, but the road must be cleared".

In a video published by the Serbian media, a member of the Kosovo Police is heard addressing the protesters in Albanian.

"Either continue this way or go back. No one is stopping the protest, but the road must be cleared. Just clear the way and continue with protest. I believe we are clear," he said.

Koha Ditore reports that Igor Simic from the Serbian List has called on his fellow citizens not to fall prey to Pristina’s provocations.

"We call on our citizens to be restrained and not fall prey to provocations, because this is a provocation of Pristina, we assume that Serbs would be restricted in their freedom of movement by confiscating their license plates from Serbia," Simic said.

A helicopter was seen in the airspace above the border point between Kosovo and Serbia in Jarinje, which seems to be patrolling in the area where some Serbs have left their vehicles on the road protesting. They were joined by the Minister of Communities and Returns in the government of Kosovo, Goran Rakic.

A T7 team, which is staying at the border crossing in Jarinje, was not allowed to shoot.

The convoy of the vehicles blocking the road is longer than one kilometer, while the Kosovo Police is not allowing any vehicle departing from Serbia to Kosovo to cross the border points, without being equipped with temporary license plates of the Republic of Kosovo.

Kurti on action in the North: Serbia agreed to this as well (Ekonomia Online)

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today at the Kosovo Assembly session that the placement of "test signs" for vehicles entering Kosovo from Serbia is not intended to destabilize the situation.

Kurti told the MPs that all plates will be replaced, explaining that the actions are not against the northern Serbs.

This entire action, he said, is only an implementation of the agreement that Serbia itself has accepted.

On this occasion, he called for calm and prudence from everyone.

"September 15 of this year, was the last date that cars with KS license plates will enter Kosovo from Serbia. Five days from this date, the Ministry of Interior today took action to confiscate these signs. Regardless of the nationality, those signs must be confiscated and temporary plates will be provided."

"As prime minister, I assure you that the actions in the north are not aimed at Serb citizens, nor is it related to any destabilization…Nothing illegal is happening today, except that the implementation of an agreement that has been accepted by Serbia itself, is starting," Kurti said.

MIA: Do not use Brnjak and Jarinje border points (Koha)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has called on citizens not to use the Brnjak and Jarinje border crossings in Mitrovica, as roadblocks may occur.

Through a communiqué, MIA informs that citizens moving at the exit of Kosovo in the direction of Serbia, can use Serbian license plates, but at the entrance in Kosovo, Kosovar ones must be used.

"The situation is calm. Kosovo Police has taken all necessary operational and logistical measures so as not to hinder and delay the movement of people and goods," it is further stated.

According to the decision issued by the MIA, it is obligatory to provide temporary license plates for all vehicles carrying Serbian license plates and entering the territory of Kosovo

"Equipping with temporary license plates is done at all border crossing points of the Republic of Kosovo, vehicle drivers are obliged to place temporary license plates in visible places, front and back of the vehicle, the validity of temporary license plates is 60 days," it is said in the points of the decision.

The road to the Jarinje and Brnjak border points, continues to be blocked (Kallxo)

Many citizens are still staying near the Jarinje border crossing as a sign of protest after the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to replace the license plates of Serbian cars with temporary license plates of Kosovo. Numerous private vehicles are put on the road creating a total blockage of movement in the direction of Leposavic and other areas of northern Kosovo.

The road blockage near Jarinje started from 9 o'clock in the morning, and it has not been released even now after more than five hours.

The KALLXO.com team is staying at the scene and has reported on the presence of Kosovo Police forces in Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Jarinje. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has invited citizens not to use the two border crossings in Jarinje and Brnjak due to the created situation.

EU: Kosovo and Serbia to immediately reduce tensions (RTK/Klan)

Spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy and security, Peter Stano, spoke about the recent developments in the north of Kosovo following the Government of Kosovo's decision to begin implementation of reciprocity measures on license plates.

He said both sides need to de-escalate tensions and that the process of dialogue should be used to resolve such disputes. "We are following the situation closely and I wish to underline that the freedom of movement is a fundamental condition of the EU and we expect Kosovo and Serbia to promote it. We call on both sides to demonstrate restraint and reduce tensions. Immediately and without delays," he said.

Stano noted that Kosovo and Serbia need to use dialogue as the only platform for resolving all open issues, including freedom of movement. He said that the EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has arrived in Belgrade and this afternoon will meet President Aleksandar Vucic and address the situation.

"We as EU expect the two sides, Kosovo and Serbia, to create a favourable environment to achieve reconciliation for which the citizens on both sides would benefit. "This is crucial in the achievement of a comprehensive and legally binding agreement that we are trying to facilitate because this would ultimately make normalisation of relations possible," Stano said.

KFOR: The situation in the North is stable (media)

NATO's mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has assessed the situation in Kosovo as stable, as reciprocity with the temporary RKS plates has started to be implemented at the borders for vehicles with plates from Serbia entering the territory of Kosovo.

KFOR spokesman Antonio Minutella has said that NATO's mission is continuing its activities in line with its mandate from the UN.

"The security situation is stable. KFOR is continuing its activities in accordance with its mandate by the UN, deriving from UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, to ensure a secure environment as well as freedom of movement for the benefit of all communities living in Kosovo," Minutella stated for Reporteri.

The Kosovo Police has begun to apply the placement of temporary license plates 'RKS' for vehicles with license plates from Serbia, since the early hours of this morning, on the borders of Kosovo with Serbia.

As a result, the presence of the Kosovo Police and also of KFOR members increased in the North, since Monday morning. Serbian drivers of vehicles with license plates of their state have protested against the placement of RKS test plates in order to be allowed to enter the territory of Kosovo.

Members from the Serbian List also joined the protesters, while media in Belgrade reported that President Aleksandar Vucic had called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council.

Serbian media: Vucic to gather National Security Council following Kosovo decision on license plates (Express)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic has called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council of Serbia for Tuesday at 10 am, media close to the Serbian head of state report.

According to "Novosti", the main topic of the meeting will be the events in Kosovo, emphasizing the recent decision of the government of Kosovo to implement reciprocity for license plates.

This morning, the Specialized Units of the Kosovo Police are positioned at the border point Kosovo - Serbia, in Jarinje.

Dozens of Kosovo Police armored vehicles are positioned there to ensure the implementation of the latest decision of the government of Kosovo.

No vehicle departing from Serbia to Kosovo can cross the border without being provided with temporary license plates of the Republic of Kosovo.

The decision on this was signed today by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Svecla.

Meanwhile, the first vehicles from Serbia have already started to enter Kosovo, to which temporary signs are being placed at the border crossings.

At the Jarinje border crossing, some Serbs blocked the road and are protesting.

LDK's Gashi: PM Kurti putting on a 'show' with license plates (Kallxo)

Head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group Arben Gashi said at the Assembly session today that the action of banning 'KS' license plates underway as of today is nothing more than a "show".

"It is not that we don't agree with the law and order but we need to know first of all why Mr. Prime Minister chose today to act with special units, was there any awareness-raising campaign. The citizens of this country, be it Serb, Albanian, or other communities, should be aware why such a decision is being taken and what are the repercussions. The show that Prime Minister put on by displaying license plates is something that was done by PM Thaci before," Gashi is quoted. He added that the decision on license plates should be implemented by the border police.

PDK and LVV clash over Kurti’s role in the KLA (Telegrafi)

The statement of the head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, Abelard Tahiri, directed at Prime Minister Albin Kurti that he would have liked to have been fighter for the Kosovo Liberation Army but is instead "only a victim of the Serb regime" sparked reactions on the part of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) at the Assembly session today.

Speaker Glauk Konjufca reprimanded Tahiri for the statement saying he should not be making such distinctions. "It is shameful to hear such distinctions being made at the Assembly of Kosovo. This should not be uttered by any member of the parliament elected by the people. Of course we were victims of the Milosevic's regime, there are also fighters and martyrs and you should know where the rightful place of each of them is," Konjufca said to Tahiri.

Tahiri responded by calling on Konjufca not to misinterpret his statements. "I sympathise and feel bad for our prime minister being a victim of that regime. I am not abusing that. As a high school student in 1999, I also protested for his release. Don't misuse my statement."

Prime Minister Albin Kurti also joined the debate saying: "The people cannot be divided as you think. You cannot divide the people into relentless fighters and victims, this is not right. If Adem Demaci was in KLA, I was his secretary. You can ask Sylejman Selimi and Rrustem Mustafa and they will tell you but stop with these ideas of division and friction."

Tahiri in turn said that he has never seen Kurti in a KLA uniform or in war zones. "You translated for a great man to whom we all bow," he told Kurti.

Kurti to undertake U.S. visit in November (Kosovapress/Klan)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti announced that he will travel for an official visit to the United States in November.

In response to the questions from the MPs as to why he did not travel to the U.S. to attend the annual session of the UN General Assembly, Kurti said that his plan was not to go there at this time but that he will visit the country soon. "This is part of internal coordination which is right and good for our country. And with regards to the friendship with President Biden, you know that I was the only leader of a political party that publicly endorsed him at a time when the rest of you were waiting to see who would win. I came out publicly and called on Albanian Americans to vote for President Biden."

Albanian Assembly Speaker Nikolla to visit Kosovo (Koha)

Speaker of the Assembly of Albania, Lindita Nikolla, will pay a visit to Kosovo on Wednesday, at the invitation of her Kosovo counterpart, Glauk Konjufca.

"The Assembly of Albania and Kosovo share many common priorities, such as protection and end of the pandemic, acceleration of the pace of development, increase of welfare, the European integration process and increase of the role of the Albanian factor in the region and beyond, to strengthen the economy by increasing investment, always in line with the vision and the support of our strategic partners, the U.S. and the EU," Nikolla said in her letter to Konjufca.

Serbian Language Media

38 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)

Out of 120 tested samples in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo 38 were positive for Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced on Saturday, Radio kontakt plus reports.

The new cases were registered as follows: ten in Leposavic, nine in Zubin Potok, seven in Mitrovica North, four in Gnjilane three in Zvecan, three in Strpce and one each in Kamenica and Gracanica.

Currently there are 286 active cases of Covid-19 in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

A total of 165 persons have died since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Stano: Lower tensions immediately, sides to refrain from unilateral actions (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)

European Union spokesman for foreign policy and security Peter Stano said that the EU is closely monitoring the situation regarding the establishment of reciprocity for license plates for vehicles coming to Kosovo from Serbia and called on both sides to reduce tensions and refrain from unilateral moves, reported Kosovo Online, citing Tanjug agency.

"We call on both sides to refrain from unilateral actions and to lower tensions, immediately. We also call on both sides to address all issues through dialogue in Brussels and to use it as a platform to resolve all open issues they have with each other, including freedom of movement and vehicle plates," Stano said at a news conference.

He stated that the EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, is currently in Belgrade, where he will meet with President Vucic at 2 pm, as well as that Lajcak spoke with political leaders in Kosovo about the situation in the last hours.

Answering Tanjug's question about the situation at the administrative crossings, Stano said that freedom of movement is one of the foundations of the EU and that Belgrade and Pristina are expected to promote that freedom in the region.

As he stated, the EU expects Kosovo and Serbia to build an atmosphere suitable for reconciliation, regional cooperation and the well-being of citizens.

"That is the key to reaching a comprehensive legally binding agreement, which we are mediating, and which will enable the final normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo," he said.

When asked by Tanjug why the EU always uses the wording "both sides" when it calls for abstention from unilateral actions, when it is obvious who is carrying out such actions, the EU spokesman said that every tension arose as "an action or reaction to something".

"Throughout the history of dialogue and relations between Belgrade and Pristina, we have seen mutual accusations. That is why we emphasize that all open issues are resolved through a dialogue mediated by the EU, and that applies to both sides. That's one way forward. Contrary, there will be a constant confrontation, and we do not want that in our immediate neighborhood," concludes Stano.

KFOR on events in northern Kosovo: Security situation stable (Kosovo-online)

Asked by Kosovo-online portal regarding the latest events in northern Kosovo “whether KFOR monitors the current situation and will they, if necessary, deploy their units to calm down the situation”, KFOR responded that “security situation is stable”.

“Security situation is stable. KFOR continues to implement its activities in line with its UN mandate, deriving from UN SC Resolution 1244 from 1999 in order to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement to the benefits of all communities living in Kosovo”, KFOR told the portal.

Kosovo-online recalled that Kosovo special police units ROSU were deployed across northern Kosovo this morning, which caused strong distress of Serbs living there.

Vucic convened an emergency session of the Security Council (B92, Vecernje Novosti)

President of Serbia, Alesandar Vucic, scheduled an emergency session of the National Security Council for Tuesday at 10 am, reported B92.

The main topic of the session will be the events in Kosovo, Belgrade based Vecernje Novosti learned.

As it is stated, ‘’the analysis of the latest attacks on Serbs in our southern province will be on the table, as well as the latest decision to remove license plates from Serbian cars by which the government of Albin Kurti brought Kosovo and Metohija to the brink of new conflicts’’, B92 reported, citing Vecernje Novosti..

‘’Also, the obstruction of Pristina to implement theBrussels, and the agreement from 2011 will be discussed, i.e. the implementation of these acts only in the part that suits the Albanians. According to unofficial information, it is expected that the withdrawal of Belgrade and all previous agreements will be considered, because the Pristina side has practically not fulfilled any provision or obligation,’’ B92 reported, citing Vecernje Novosti.

According to sources of Novosti, the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Army, Milan Mojsilovic was invited to tomorrow's session, as well as the heads of all special units of armed forces, reported B92.

ROSU at Jarinje and Brnjak, confiscation of vehicle plates commenced, Rakic urges Vucic to react (RTS)

Confiscation of vehicle plates bearing markings of towns in northern Kosovo has started this morning, while vehicles with plates from central Serbia must take temporary plates and pay the fee, RTS reporter said this morning from Jarinje crossing point.

RTS also added Kosovo special police forces ROSU were deployed this morning at two crossing points in northern Kosovo, Jarinje and Brnjak. Media reported that Serbs from northern Kosovo have blocked Jarinje crossing point in both directions, and police were requesting them to disperse.

The citizens said they came to peacefully express their dissatisfaction, and it were ROSU units in fact to block the road first and intimidate citizens with long barrels along Mitrovica North-Jarinje road.

Serbian List President Goran Rakic urged the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, to help Serbs in Kosovo, following the arrival of ROSU units and confiscation of vehicle plates. He called on Vucic to help people and react in accordance with possibilities. Rakic also said this was not action, but rather reaction to Pristina’s acts.

“I call upon all gathered people to exercise restraint, but also on Pristina not to cause provocations. This is a direct threat to the people worried how they will provide food for their children. We have informed EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak and sought help from the EU. I call upon the state of Serbia and President Vucic to help us. We are in this now, however I am convinced President Vucic will find a solution and help our people”, Rakic said at Jarinje crossing point. He added people feel disturbed and anxious.

Also, mayors of Leposavic and Mitrovica North, Zoran Todic and Milan Radojevic were at Jarinje crossing point, along with Rakic and gathered residents.

Later in the day, Rakic told the media that they were in contact with Belgrade. “We spoke with Mr. Lajcak. We told him as well that the situation here is very tense. People are distressed, and not only distressed but anxious as well”, Rakic said.

He stressed the situation on the ground “exceeded their capabilities”, and urged all the sides to get involved, including Belgrade, Pristina, Quint states, Miroslav Lajcak and in particular Aleksandar Vucic and find a solution.

Rakic noted he has nothing new to add to the statement he made earlier today, stressing that the Brussels agreement was “not a buffet table” and urged people “not to fall prey to provocations”.

RTS reported that President Vucic scheduled an urgent session of the National Security Council in Belgrade tomorrow, and the main topic would be events in Kosovo and Metohija.

Simic called for the restraint of the citizens (B92, TV Prva, Tanjug)

Igor Simic from the Serbian List told in the morning program of TV Prva that ''Serbs from Kosovo are deeply upset because Pristina sent over 20 vehicles of special forces units, armed to the teeth''. According to him, they are angry and are currently moving towards the administrative crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak, Serbian media cited.

According to the latest information transmitted by Simic, there are currently about 300 Serb vehicles in Jarinje and more than 100 at the Brnjak administrative crossing. "Both traffic lanes are blocked, and the traffic is blocked," he said, adding that urgent consultations of the members of the Serbian List were held this morning.

"We call on our citizens to be restrained and not to fall prey to provocations, because this is a provocation of Pristina, we assume that Serbs would be restricted in their freedom of movement by confiscating license plates from Serbia," Simic said.

Issuance of trial RKS vehicle plates has started (KiM radio)

At the administrative crossings between Kosovo and Serbia, this morning at 8 o'clock, the issuance of trial registration plates of RKS to drivers whose vehicles are registered in the cities of central Serbia began, KiM radio reported.

This morning, on the way to Merdare, the RTV Kim crew met several vehicles that were issued test RKS license plates.

As KiM radio learns, the trial plates will be valid for 60 days, and 5 euros will be paid for their issuance.

This is a reciprocal measure issued by Kosovo Government due to, as they say, the fact that the Serbian authorities have been issuing test plates to vehicles with RKS license plates at the entrance to central Serbia for years. Those vehicle plates are also valid for two months, but the cost is 450 RSD.

KiM radio reports that with these decisions of the Government of Serbia and the Government of Kosovo, which concern the Brussels agreement on "freedom of movement", the Serbs from Kosovo who pay duties and who most often travel to central Serbia are the most affected.

According to the journalist of RTV Kim, there are no special units of the Kosovo Police on Merdare, and the procedure for issuing license plates is proceeding peacefully.

However, the police do not allow journalists to film at the crossing.

Kosovo police for Kosovo Online: Plates with KM, PR and GL no longer possible in the north of Kosovo

The application of temporary registration plates for vehicles with Serbian registration plates will be carried out on the entire territory of Kosovo. Today, the police will warn drivers who drive vehicles with registration plates of Serbian cities and who entered Kosovo before the introduction of reciprocal measures, that they are obliged to take temporary license plates, Kosovo Online learned from the Kosovo police.

With the decision on reciprocal measures, the validity of KS plates as well as registration plates of cities in Kosovo issued by the police administrations of the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia, which were relocated from Kosovo to the cities of Serbia, ceases.

Only RKS marks are valid. Vehicle plates with KM, PR, GL, with the new decision of the Government of Kosovo, are no longer possible to have in the north of Kosovo, it was said for Kosovo online in the Kosovo police.

Due to the large number of vehicles with vehicle plates from central Serbia in Gracanica, Strpce and Kosovo Morava basin, there is a possibility of considering the option of issuing temporary plates in municipal registration centers.

Since this morning, the police have been informing drivers that they can pick up temporary license plates exclusively at the crossings between Kosovo and Serbia.

Replacement of Serbian registration plates started in Gorazdevac (Radio KIM)

Kosovo police station in Gorazdevac village, Pec municipality, has started preparing a list of residents having Serbian registration plates, so they can go to Kula crossing point to take probationary “RKS” plates, Radio KIM reports.

Several residents, owners of vehicles bearing Serbian registration plates, confirmed this news to Radio Gorazdevac. They went to Kula crossing point with Montenegro to take probationary plates.

Police spokesperson for Pec region, Fadil Gashi briefly told Radio Gorazdevac he is not familiar with procedures relating to the vehicle plates and he would get back to them after getting more information.

Andric: 9,500 vehicles with Serbian license plates captured in Kosovo (Beta, Danas)

The decision of the Kosovo government to ban Serbian license plates is one-sided and is an unsolvable problem for the owners of 9,500 cars registered in central Serbia, said today Milica Andric from the NGO New Social Initiative based in the north of Kosovo.

"Currently, there is no traffic on Jarinje and Brnjak, while other crossings are passable. Only this morning, the Ministry of the Interior of Kosovo announced that the plates issued in the relocated Kosovo police administrations in central Serbia, of which there are about 9,500, are not valid," Andric told Beta agency.

She emphasized that the MIA of Kosovo will not issue test plates for those vehicles, and the existing Serbian plates will be confiscated.

"So, according to the unilateral decision of the Ministry of the Interior of Kosovo, 9,500 cars marked PR, PE, PZ, KM, UR and DJ will no longer be able to be driven. According to the valid legal regulations, those vehicles will not be able to be re-registered," Andric explained

She added that the Kosovo government did not explain what would happen to these cars with Serbian license plates.

"It is unknown at this time whether those vehicles will be confiscated. Until now, those vehicles had limited mobility, they could only move in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo and cross only Jarinje and Brnjak," said Andric.

She stated that freedom of movement was mostly negotiated in Brussels, and that today's decision of Kosovo's MIA is a consequence of not extending the agreement on the use of license plates.

Stefanovic: ''Explain to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija how you ‘defend’ them'' (Kosovo Online)

Deputy President of the Party of Freedom and Justice Borko Stefanovic said, on the occasion of the introduction of reciprocity of Pristina towards Serbia, that the agreement on Kosovo license plates with Pristina has expired and called on President Aleksandar Vucic, and Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic to explain this to citizens.

Stefanovic reminded on Twitter that an agreement was reached in 2011 that citizens with Kosovo plates, with the coat of arms and the flag of Kosovo "must place test plates if they enter central Serbia".

"Vucic and Dacic accepted in 2016 that this was valid for another five years. Now, it has expired. The regime is lying to you. Explain to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija how you are ‘defending' them," Stefanovic wrote on twitter, reported Kosovo Online.

Rada Trajkovic accuses Vucic of misinforming Serbs (Kosovo online)

The president of the European Movement of Serbs from Kosovo, Rada Trajkovic took to Twitter on the occasion of the latest events in the north of Kosovo, accusing "the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic of misinforming the Serbs in the north", reported portal Kosovo Online.

"You signed an agreement on vehicle plates with a deadline of five years, which has just expired. That agreement was signed as part of the Brussels negotiations, the results of which you have been implementing non-transparently since 2013, through criminogenic elements on the ground, and your political "satellite" Serbian List. I appeal to you Vucic, to learn statehood for once and stop misinforming Serbs in the north but to tell them the truth in person. Today's events are a consequence of your actions that Pristina is using now. Enough of destabilizing our community with intrigues and lies," Rada Trajkovic wrote on Twitter.

Petkovic: Pristina to start issuing temporary license plates for cars with Serb plates as of Monday (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal reported last night, citing the Office for KiM, that ‘’Albin Kurti and the Pristina authorities are planning to start removing Serbian license plates at administrative crossings tomorrow and replacing them with so-called temporary Pristina license plates’’. For days now, the Pristina authorities have been announcing reciprocity for Serbian license plates. KoSSev, however, was unable to obtain any information about these announcements from the Kosovo government.

Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi announced that reciprocity for Serbian license plates will be introduced starting from September 15th. Bislimi said that Kosovo would not accept an extension of the provisional license plate agreement after September 15th. He also stated Kosovo would behave in the same way as Serbia regarding cars with Kosovo license plates (RKS).

According to the agreement, all vehicles with KS license plates, which are no longer in use, from Kosovo can enter Serbia, while those with RKS have to replace these (license plates) at the border if they receive temporary license plates issued by the Serbian side. On the other hand, cars with Serbian license plates enter Kosovo freely with no additional procedures.

Despite Bislimi’s announcements, cars with Serbian license plates continued to enter Kosovo unimpeded even after September 15th.

In the meantime, the KoSSev portal contacted the Pristina authorities – namely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Kosovo government – on the issue but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Opinion

Janjic: Vehicle plates are just the beginning of Kurti's measures of reciprocity, Lajcak does not understand, and that leads to war (Kosovo Online)

Pristina's decision to introduce reciprocity in the case of license plates is not the end, but only the beginning of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's measures towards Serbia, and reciprocity is dangerous and not a policy of normalization, which unfortunately is not understood by EU Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, analyst Dusan Janjic told portal Kosovo Online.

He told the portal that wherever the policy of reciprocity was pursued in Europe it ended in wars.

"The policy of reciprocity is the policy of the government of Albin Kurti. Obviously, both Belgrade and Brussels must understand that. He announced that in the first and now in the second mandate," Janjic said.

He states that Pristina announced this concrete measure, in preparation for the meeting a week ago in Brussels, as well as in the Pristina media.

"No one is surprised about the date and the concrete measure," Janjic said, adding that he was sure that Belgrade would not enter the conflict and that it was known that if Serbia took the path of reciprocity, it would lose Kosovo economically and politically.

He stated that it is not a policy of normalization.

"The dialogue is about the policy of normalization and that is how it is defined by the positions of the UN General Assembly," Janjic stated.

He says that he is one of those who tried to explain to Lajcak from the first day of his mandate that this is not a bureaucratic game.

"On the contrary, he not only did not understand that, but he also enabled Borrell to come and attend the opening, that is, the merging of the border on Merdare, and both declared last year that Pristina had suspended taxes. Pristina did not suspend taxes last year. Pristina has completely removed the taxes for BiH, and temporarily to Serbia and announced a whole package of reciprocity measures to Serbia in the economy as well," says Janjic.

He believes that this is not the end, but the beginning of Albin Kurti's measures, when he says that he obviously wants to win the elections in this way.

"Serbia tolerated and went into dialogue, if Aleksandar Vucic had not appeared at the negotiations, he would have been found guilty. Serbia rightly did not warn Lajcak, because his job is to know what reciprocity means; on the other hand, he has the opportunity to use this temporary crisis in the north to put more pressure," Janjic said.

He believes that by shortening the program of the visit to Belgrade, Lajcak shows that he does not understand the problem he is dealing with, and that by that, as well as by omitting meetings with business people in Serbia who could tell him what is happening with the policy of reciprocity, he shows unequal treatment of Serbia and Kosovo.

"In Serbia, he is satisfied with the meeting with the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic and Vucic, and thus additionally burdens them, and when he goes to Kosovo, he makes 20 meetings and helps Kurti to have the illusion of some consultations. Consultations are necessary. Lajcak should need to hear many others in Belgrade and learn something," says Janjic

Janjic says that he is sorry that Lajcak showed, regardless of his experience, that he did not live up to the crises that will open in Kosovo, reported portal Kosovo Online.

International

Tempers Flare At Serbia-Kosovo Border As Pristina Presses 'Reciprocal' Move Over License Plates (RFE)

Frictions rose at Kosovo's border with Serbia on September 20 as Kosovar authorities deployed special police units to enforce a policy of removing Serbian license plates from vehicles entering Kosovo.

The tensions are part of a spat between the two former Yugoslav neighbors over reciprocal recognition of license plates in the context of a wider dispute over sovereignty.

Serbian authorities for years have insisted on the removal of Kosovar license plates that cross their mutual border.