UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 28, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

SBASHK: Let’s suspend strike until January, classes to start on Oct 3 (Express)
SBASHK: Strike may be suspended temporarily but not stopped (Koha)
Maragos: EU willing to continue support for Kosovo (RTK)
German MP: Kosovo has deserved visa liberalisation for long now (Telegrafi)
Vetevendosje MP denies reports he has decided to leave the party (EO)
Serious violations suspected in Dehari case; Ministry suspends chief inspector (media)
Police arrest seven people in anti-drug operation in Dukagjin region (Klan Kosova)
Police arrest Russian national at Kulla crossing, had undeclared money (Express)
Haradinaj recalls meeting with former U.S. Secretary of Defence (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic’s public address on all key issues on October 8 (Tanjug, media)
Selakovic on Kosovo’s application to the CoE, Consultation plan signed with Lavrov, Vucic’s meetings (NMagazin, Beta, Kosovo Online, TV Happy)
Russian Embassy: Hill’s statement is inappropriate (N1, FoNet)
Djilas to US officials: Serbia must align its foreign policy with EU (N1)
Drecun: Pristina is trying to destabilize the situation in every way (RTS, Kosovo Online)
Today is the International Day of Bosniaks (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
Deputy PM: 700,000 citizens left North Macedonia in eight years (Beta, N1)

International:

EBRD affirms Kosovo's 2022 economic growth f'cast at 4% (SeeNews)
‘This is a War’: Albania Struggles to Keep Lid on Hacked Data (BIRN)
Two coal plants in Western Balkans go offline due to malfunctions (balkangreenenergynews.com)

Albanian Language Media

SBASHK: Let’s suspend strike until January, classes to start on Oct 3 (Express)

The Strike Council of the Union of Education, Science and Culture of Kosovo (SBASHK) has called on the union’s membership to suspend the strike in education until January and suggested classes to start on October 3.

In a letter to the media, SBASHK said teachers have been ignored since the 1990s and that they have felt the same in the last month. “The stubborn government continues to ignore the teachers, calling us illiterates and claiming that we sold ourselves to hostile agendas and that we have become tools for opposition parties. This is a pathetic attempt. The government showed that its priority is not the development of education through the qualitative and dignifying engagement of the teachers,” the letter notes.

SBASHK: Strike may be suspended temporarily but not stopped (Koha)

The Union of Education, Science and Culture of Kosovo (SBASHK) has implied that the strike in the education sector may be temporarily suspended. The head of the Strike Council of SBASHK, Reshit Kukaj, told Koha that the unionists would not withdraw from the strike until the government meets their demand for an additional monthly payment of €100 until the law on wages is adopted. “We have daily meetings with our members in the municipalities and they too hold meetings at school levels … We can talk with them about temporarily suspending the strike but in no way withdrawing from the strike because our demands have not been met,” Kukaj said.

Maragos: EU willing to continue support for Kosovo (RTK)

President of the Kosovo Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, hosted a meeting today with a delegation from the European Union, led by Vassilis Maragos, Head of Unit for Kosovo in the Directorate for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations in the European Commission. Konjufca praised the good relations between the EU and Kosovo, and commended the EU’s support to the Assembly with funds and development projects. “The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and the European Union have a good tradition of cooperation, as a result of which we have made many achievements in our parliamentary democracy,” Konjufca said.

Maragos said the EU is willing to continue its support for Kosovo’s institutions, including the Assembly, in reforms related to EU integration and membership in other international organisations.

German MP: Kosovo has deserved visa liberalisation for long now (Telegrafi)

German MP Thomas Hacker has reacted to news that the Czech EU Presidency will soon reopen discussions on visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo. Hacke tweeted that the Czech presidency is rightfully committing to the issue. “ … the Commission must not lead to endless discussions. Kosovo has deserved visa liberalisation for long now,” he said.

Vetevendosje MP denies reports he has decided to leave the party (EO)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Visar Korenica, in an interview with the news website, refuted reports according to which he has decided to leave the Kurti-led party. “In my opinion, this is a tendency to divide the Vetevendosje parliamentary group, but they won’t be able to do this with these lies and untrue reports. I regret that our public is faced with such toxic news, and I regret that some of the media here are lacking a true code of ethics … Maybe there can be withdrawals from the party, but I can speak only for myself. I have entered the race with the Vetevendosje list and we are pushing forward the promises we made during the election campaign,” Korenica said.

Serious violations suspected in Dehari case; Ministry suspends chief inspector (media)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice said in a statement today that a disciplinary committee has decided to suspend the chief inspector of the inspectorate, Ylber Topalli, after the findings in the report of the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Justice about the Astrit Dehari case. Dehari, a Vetevendosje activist, who died in prison in 2016. The disciplinary proceedings against Topalli were initiated based on allegations of serious procedural violations related to the Dehari case.

Police arrest seven people in anti-drug operation in Dukagjin region (Klan Kosova)

The Basic Prosecution of Peja, together with Kosovo Police, carried out an anti-drug operation in the Dukagjin region today. 10 locations were raided and seven people were arrested during the operation. A prosecutor told the TV station that a considerable amount of narcotics and weapons were also seized. “The operation is ongoing,” the prosecutor said.

Police arrest Russian national at Kulla crossing, had undeclared money (Express)

Kosovo Police said in a statement that it arrested a Russian national at the Kulla border crossing point with Montenegro. The arrest took place on Tuesday evening around 20:00, after the suspect who was driving a vehicle with foreign licence plates was stopped for control and during the control in a bag were found US$10,000 and €2,000. The suspect had not declared the funds. The state prosecutor was consulted about the case and he recommended passing the case to Kosovo Customs for further procedures.

Haradinaj recalls meeting with former U.S. Secretary of Defence (Nacionale)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and former Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, recalled today a meeting he had four years ago at the Pentagon with then-U.S. Secretary of Defence, James Mattis. Haradinaj said it was one of the most important meetings in his political career and that it resulted in the formation of the Army of Kosovo. He added that he is forever grateful to the United States and Secretary Mattis.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic’s public address on all key issues on October 8 (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced today that he would make a public address on Saturday, October 8, to speak about Serbia's future moves concerning all major political and economic issues.

Speaking to reporters in Indjija, northern Serbia, Vucic said he would address "all major issues and, comprehensively, all our moves, measures and the economic and energy policies for the winter and food supplies," Vucic said.

He said he would also speak about wages and pensions and other actions the state authorities would take.

"And about what our energy conservation measures are and how we will go through the autumn and winter, about all the things we need to do, as well as about what kind of policy we will pursue in the coming period, in view of everything that is going on," Vucic said.

Selakovic on Kosovo’s application to the CoE, Consultation plan signed with Lavrov, Vucic’s meetings (NMagazin, Beta, Kosovo Online, TV Happy)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selakovic, said that Serbia will vigorously fight against Kosovo's intention to start the procedure for membership in the Council of Europe on October 5, reported Serbian media.

Selakovic said on Happy Television that Kosovo has already applied, that they sent a letter and asked for admission to the Council of Europe, and that they have a majority in that organization for that request.

"The question is whether the CoE will resort to completely trampling on the principles of the Statute of that organization, whether it will lead to a new division among European states or whether it will be a kind of pressure on us," said Selakovic.

According to him, apart from the five EU member states that did not recognize Kosovo's independence, the members of the Council of Europe that did not recognize Kosovo are Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, BiH and Ukraine.

"These are states that have the right to vote, and there are also states that have recognized Kosovo, but are not in favor of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe," said Selakovic.

As he said, Serbia did not break the obligation from the moratorium stipulated in the Washington Agreement, but Pristina did it, thus opening the door to the derecognition policy led by Serbia.

"We will continue that policy and we will try to make that number as high as possible," he emphasized.

The Minister said that he expects that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, will address the nation most likely on October 8 after the important meetings that he will have in the coming period, when he will talk about the political situation and the future political course of Serbia and what, among other things, citizens expect, and that is the formation of the new Government of Serbia.

Selakovic stated that Vucic will be in Bulgaria on October 1 for a meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, that he will also meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"As early as October 3, President Vucic should meet in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehamer," says Selakovic.

The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that President will attend the first summit of the European Political Community in Prague on October 6 and emphasized that he has no doubt that pressure and messages will be sent to Serbia at that summit to change its foreign policy and position, although "they cannot answer us to the question posed by President Vucic, which refers to why the territorial integrity of Ukraine is worth more than the territorial integrity of Serbia, when we draw a parallel and say that what is happening today in Ukraine and what we all stood up against, 23 years ago happened to Serbia".

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic said today that the attacks that followed his signing of the consultation plan between the two ministries with Russian Foreign Minister Segey Lavrov represent "an attempt to discipline Serbia and our principled foreign policy position", reported portal NMagazin, citing Beta agency.

"This signing is not about any political conspiracy or evil intent. It has no legal validity, and we are signing the same with many countries in the world," Selakovic told Happy TV.

When reminded that he stated that Serbia will not recognize the referendums in Ukraine, which have just been held, he stated that international law is "clear".

"If we would change our principled position, we would shoot ourselves in the foot, they would spit on the resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The position is rational, reasonable. How would we then defend our position of Kosovo remaining in Serbia," Selakovic said.

He stated that Serbia did not impose sanctions on Russia because it has its own rational approach.

When asked about the possibility of Russia being kicked out of the UN, or its right of veto being taken away, he said that not a few people talked about it, which means that "someone probably has that idea in their head", reported the portal.

"It is essential for us that Russia is in the UN Security Council, which defends our interests regarding Kosovo. Without it, it would be a disaster for us," said Selakovic, stating that he hopes and believes that this will not happen and that peace between Ukraine and Russia will come as soon as possible.

Russian Embassy: Hill’s statement is inappropriate (N1, FoNet)

The Russian Embassy in Belgrade said it was shocked by US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill’s inappropriate statements on Russia-Serbia relations.

This time he really outdid himself, wildly demanding, as if he had such a right, explanations from the authorities of the host country regarding the signing of the consultations plan between the foreign ministries of Serbia and Russia for 2023 and 2024, said the Embassy.

It is sad to see how low American diplomacy can fall in order to carry out the tasks of imposing on sovereign states Washington’s position on “unity in Russophobia,“ replacing international law “with an order based on rules favorable only to the USA,” and expanding the market – on the basis of unfair competition – for American energy products, said the Embassy.

We have no doubt that many in Serbia, which was a victim of the American and NATO aggression in 1999, categorically refuse to accept this approach, said the Embassy.

The Russian Embassy said it will continue its efforts to consistently strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including the dialogue between the foreign ministries on a wide range of issues.

It added that it “advises” Hill to get acquainted with the Vienna Convention which is easy to follow “because all one needs to do is to respect other states’ right to an independent policy.”

See at:https://bit.ly/3SCOjhj Djilas to US officials: Serbia must align its foreign policy with EU (N1)

A delegation of the Serbian opposition Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), which is paying a visit to the US, met Tuesday at the State Department with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried and US Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, said the SSP, reported N1.

The delegation comprises SSP leader Dragan Djilas and deputy leaders Borko Stefanovic and Marinika Tepic.

Djilas informed the American officials about his party’s position that Serbia needs to align its foreign policy with that of the European Union (EU), but assessed that Europe’s attitude towards Serbia is wrong, as well the threats of freezing the European integration process that are coming from Brussels, adding that this will not help increase support for the EU in Serbia or contribute to our citizens’ better living conditions, said the SSP.

“Political and economic relations with the United States are of priority importance for Serbia’s future, even though we do not always agree on all issues. However, I have no dilemma that, historically, economically, and security-wise, Serbia belongs to Europe and to the democratic world. We are aware that this is the time when we have to make a choice and that is why Serbia must not make a mistake by which it will marginalize itself and exclude itself from courses of modern civilization,” said Djilas.

Borko Stefanovic told the American officials that, as soon as the Serbian Government is formed, as the chairman of the Serbian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee he will put on the Committee agenda the issue of aligning Serbia’s foreign policy with the EU and added that “peace, renunciation of the use of force, honouring of international law and dialogue on all outstanding issues are the postulates that the SSP policy is based on.”

Marinika Tepic talked about human rights violations, media freedom, crime, and corruption, and presented the party’s proposal for the formation of a regional center for the fight against organized crime in Belgrade which she said was necessary because “crime does not recognize national borders, so an efficient fight against it requires a regional approach and cooperation.”

Drecun: Pristina is trying to destabilize the situation in every way (RTS, Kosovo Online)

Milovan Drecun, President of Serbian Parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, told RTS that “Pristina undertakes daily provocations against the Serbian people and tries in every way to destabilize the situation in the southern Serbian province”.

Drecun assessed that the ninth ban on Petar Petkovic to visit Kosovo yesterday is a hindrance to freedom of movement and non-compliance with agreements regarding visits.

“They impede in every way the director of the Office to communicate with the Serbian people on KiM and to provide them with all the necessary help without which our people could not survive,” said Drecun.

“These are almost daily provocations, which Pristina undertakes against the Serbian people and the officials of the Serbian state, and which are reflected in the prohibition of visits, arrests, through daily attacks and provocative statements to classic military actions in the north of the province,” said Drecun.

Drecun stated that “Pristina completely surrounded the north through numerous armed military formations”.

“With the construction of new bases”, Drecun points out, “we have a completion of a military occupation of the territory”.

“It is worrying that nothing happens without the knowledge of the Quinte countries,” Drecun said.

Today is the International Day of Bosniaks (KoSSev)

Members of the Bosniak nationality are celebrating the International Bosniak Day today, reported KoSSev portal.

The International Day of Bosniaks is celebrated on the day when the II All-Bosniak Assembly, held on September 28, 1993, in Sarajevo, decided on the use of the terms "Bosniak" and "Bosnian language", or as the Bosniaks themselves point out, "returning their national name Bosniak", recalled the portal.

On this day, KoSSev recalled one of its stories on the coexistence of Bosniaks and Serbs in Leposavic, published this spring as part of the series "Howdy neighbour?", supported by UNMIK.

"There were also wars, there was everything, and we had good cooperation, communication, which is still being carried out today. We go to each other's houses, and for Eid, and for celebrations, and unfortunately for mourning; we also share those common moments with each other, and we help each other as much as possible and that it is a good cooperation and a good relationship," interlocutor Mirsad Huskovic told the portal.

Stanislav Colovic had a similar message saying that in a mixed place, where ''neighbours, Muslims and Serbs live, we get along well, we go to each other's houses, they come to us, and we go to theirs'' sharing good and bad moments.

Today, the Deputy Mayor of North Mitrovica Municipality, Adrijana Hodzic, congratulated all Bosniaks in this region and beyond the “Day of the Bosniaks”, stressing her concern for the position of the Bosniak community, reported Kosovo Online.

“In the desire to celebrate this, for us, historically important date, September 28, the Day of Bosniaks, as it should be, precisely because of the bad position of Bosniaks in Kosovo, unfortunately, it is difficult for me to find the meaning of any kind of celebration and festivity,” said Hodzic in a press release.

She added that apart from the warmest congratulations, she has a moral obligation to point out that the Bosniak community is currently one of the most vulnerable communities in Kosovo.

“Today is the day when I must remind the central authorities, all relevant authorities, as well as the international community, that there is also a Bosniak community in Kosovo! Today we do not celebrate the “Day”, peace, and respect for democratic principles,” said Hodzic. She thanked all Bosniaks for striving to preserve their identity, nurturing their uniqueness, perseverance, and tolerance.

Deputy PM: 700,000 citizens left North Macedonia in eight years (Beta, N1)

North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, coordination of economic sectors and investments Fatmir Bytyqi said 700,000 North Macedonians left the country between 2011 and 2019, N1 reported, citing Beta news agency.

Bytyqi told the media that the mass emigration from the country created a vacuum in the labour market and that this is a problem for the whole society.

“Even though this trend slowed down in the coronavirus period, unfortunately it is still a serious problem not only for public office holders and policy creators, but also for the whole society, because there is a vacuum in the labour market,” said Bytyqi.

He explained that there are several reasons why people are departing, but they all stem from the people’s lack of trust in the institutions.

“High corruption and great political instability, the desire for a better standard of living, problems in education, healthcare, lack of perspective for children, are only some of the reasons that force primarily young higher education staff to make their dreams come true abroad,” said Bytyqi.

Because of the vacuum in the labour market, North Macedonia is starting to import the labour force, Bytyqi explained.

“Our people are leaving for Germany, but we are also attractive to people from other countries. Salaries here are more competitive than in the countries they come from. There is a large number of Turkish citizens in construction because salaries in this sector are about 50 percent higher than those in Turkey. In the IT sector we have people from India and Pakistan. We are looking at importing the labour force,” said Bytyqi.

International

EBRD affirms Kosovo's 2022 economic growth f'cast at 4% (SeeNews)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Wednesday it expects Kosovo's gross domestic product (GDP) to increase by 4% in 2022, keeping unchanged its May forecast.

Kosovo's economic growth is seen slowing down to 3.7% in 2023, the EBRD said in the September edition of its Regional Economic Prospects report.

In the May issue of the report, the EBRD projected an economic growth of 4% for Kosovo in 2023.

Lower gas supplies from Russia and rising inflation on a global level is expected to further slow economic growth in 2023 in the regions where EBRD works, the bank said.

The EBRD forecasts economic growth of 3.2% in 2022 and 3% in 2023 for the Western Balkans region. However, projections are subject to major downside risk should Russia’s war on Ukraine escalate or the volume of its gas exports decline even more, the EBRD added.

Kosovo's economy grew by 10.5% in 2021, after shrinking by 5.3% in 2020.

‘This is a War’: Albania Struggles to Keep Lid on Hacked Data (BIRN)

Albania is fighting a losing battle in trying to halt the spread of data hacked from state servers by a group with clear ties to Iran.

Albania might have banned media from republishing information hacked from state servers over the past few months, but the fruits of the hack remain just a click away on the website of Homeland Justice or a Telegram group of the same name when the site goes down.

The government of Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused Iran of being behind the cyber-attacks it has suffered since June, but while the content of Homeland Justice’s communications would appear to support this, there is a Russian connection too.

Besides the URL, homelandjustice.ru, the group’s contact details run through Russian tech provider Yandex.