Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Greece is near recognising Kosovo (media)
• “U.S. will continue to support advancement of Kosovo stability and prosperity” (media)
• Osmani meets Quint permanent ambassadors at NATO (media)
• Police at Zubin Potok factory; Elshani: We assisted privatisation agency (media)
• Ex-police officer in north arrested, suspected of taking bribe and abuse of duty (Sinjali)
• Gjoshi: We won’t overthrow Kurti government with votes of Serbian List (Koha)
• Biserko: Serbia is not giving up on idea of Greater Serbia (media)
• Haxhixhemajli: Through Northern Brigade, Vucic tries to incite tensions in north (KSP)
• Construction of houses in north, VV MP emotional: Tears of joy (Nacionale)
• Osmani congratulates Pendarovski on North Macedonia Independence Day (media)
• Lutfi calls on internationals: Albanians in Serbia are being discriminated (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Pristina shows that their power has no limits (RTS)
• Radio KiM: Privatization Agency and the police at the factory in Zubin Potok (N1)
• The trial in the case of Dusko Arsic for war crimes continued in Pristina (Beta, N1, Kosovo Online)
• Stoltenberg: KSF deployment in the north requires prior concurrence of KFOR; Osmani: The north will always be part of Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Poll: The majority would sign the petition to remove the mayors; a part if the conditions are met or Belgrade request it (KoSSev)
• Starovic: Stoltenberg implicitly admitted that the KP is a destabilizing factor in the north

Opinion:

• Fajon: Full speed ahead to 2030 (media)

International:

• Kosovo’s Blueprint for Mayoral Dismissals Meets Scepticism From Experts (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s Beloved Hardh Fest Shuts Its Doors on a Spectacular Season (BIRN)

 

 

Albanian Language Media  

 

Kurti: Greece is near recognising Kosovo (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in an interview with TVP World that Kosovo will eventually manage the five non-recognising member states of the European Union to recognise Kosovo. Kurti pointed out that in recent years Kosovo has made some diplomatic progress in terms of communicating and cooperating with the non-recognizers, in particular Greece, who is near to recognizing Kosovo. He further added that his country’s desire to enter the EU is not fueled by mere self-interests, but that the country would like to contribute to the EU, which is the most important political project for peace since WWII. He also said Kosovo, given its low operation costs in terms of renting premises and labor, can be an ideal destination for foreign investors. He also addressed the subject of digital recognition and the spread of disinformation across Europe.

Watch full interview here: https://shorturl.at/bjqBC

“U.S. will continue to support advancement of Kosovo stability and prosperity” (media)

U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, after her meeting with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, wrote on X: “In my meeting with Vjosa Osmani, I reiterated that the United States will continue to support the advancement of stability and prosperity in Kosovo, as it moves towards its goal of Euro-Atlantic integration, and in the Western Balkans as a whole”. Smith’s post was shared by the U.S. Embassy in Prishtina with the hashtag “Stronger Together”.

Osmani wrote on X after the meeting that she thanked Smith “for the pivotal U.S. role in Kosovo’s freedom, statehood and its Euro-Atlantic future”. “As enduring allies, we are committed to both regional and global peace & security, as well as to strengthening our partnership,” she said.

Osmani meets Quint permanent ambassadors at NATO (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, during her stay in Brussels, met today with the Quint Permanent Representatives at NATO. “Discussed security challenges in the region and Kosovo's constructive role. Jointly explored creative opportunities for real time progress and Euro-Atlantic integration,” she wrote on X after the meeting.

Police at Zubin Potok factory; Elshani: We assisted privatisation agency (media)

Spokesperson for Kosovo Police for the north region, Veton Elshani told Radio KIM details about the presence of Kosovo Police units at the Ivo Lola Ribar factory in Zubin Potok. Elshani said they assisted the Privatisation Agency of Kosovo and that they went there following their request. “They asked for our assistance and went there to see what was happening with their building and our units and intervention police provided support,” Elshani said. He also added that police units are no longer on the ground but that the privatisation agency staff are still there.

Citing unnamed sources, Klan Kosova reports that regular police, and not special units, went to the factory. The source also said that the operation is related to the latest developments in the north and the confiscation of weapons there.

Ex-police officer in north arrested, suspected of taking bribe and abuse of duty (Sinjali)

A Serb former member of Kosovo Police was arrested today in Leposavic. Kosovo Police deputy director for the north, Veton Elshani, confirmed the arrest and said the suspect was being sought since 2021 and is suspected of taking bribes and abuse of duty. “The indictment for taking bribes and abuse of duty was submitted in 2020, but police have been looking for him since 2021, according to an order from the court in Mitrovica,” Elshani said.

Gjoshi: We won’t overthrow Kurti government with votes of Serbian List (Koha)

Organisational secretary of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Betim Gjoshi, said this party would not overthrow the Kurti-led government with the votes of the Serbian List. “We won’t overthrow the government with the votes of the Serbian List even if they remain in power for 20 years. Kurti has a childish behavior. He walked away from the scandals of [Trade Minister] Rozeta Hajdari and he escaped to the Tetovo-Prizren road where even the feasibility study was completed by the Thaci government,” he said.

Biserko: Serbia is not giving up on idea of Greater Serbia (media)

Sonja Biserko, President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, said in an interview with Radio Kosova that Serbia is not accepting the reality of an independent Kosovo and that this directly affects the way that relations between Kosovo and Serbia are built and also the lives of Serbs in Kosovo.

“The problem is quite apparent so far. First, Belgrade has not shown any willingness and readiness to enter dialogue by accepting the reality, and that is recognising the independence of Kosovo, because as we are seeing this fact and many other agreements are being challenged. For example, there is the agreement on licence plates, or the withdrawal of Serbs from all institutions, the erection of barricades and so on. So all the issues that Kosovo has tried to implement from those agreements were harshly rejected by Serbia continuously asking for their postponement and similar things. There is no willingness for the dialogue to end and to accept this new reality in the region. Belgrade holds the main responsibility here,” Biserko said.

Commenting on the Serbian List, Biserko said this party does not represent the interests of Serbs in Kosovo and that it is an instrument of Serbia aimed at destabilising Kosovo. “Unfortunately, the local Serbs suffer the consequences the most because they are an instrument of Belgrade since 2012 when the Serbian List was created. Since then, it was clear that it [the Serbian List] would be in Serbia’s function by destabilising Kosovo also through agreements in the parliament, because Serbs have the right of veto on several key issues. They don’t represent the interests of Serbs and I think this is their problem, because their interests and governance is managed by Belgrade, which in fact follows its own interests rather than those of the local Serbs and in doing so blocks their integration. There are several positive examples of the integration of Serbs but unfortunately our media do not cover them, they usually cover only negative issues, saying that Kosovo is a mafia state or that Prime Minister Albi Kurti is radical or similar things,” he said.

Biserko suggested to local Serbs to take part in the new local elections in the four municipalities in the north whenever they are held. “The international community first guaranteed to the government of Kosovo that the local Serbs would take part in the elections, but they did not, meanwhile there was a need to fill this legal vacuum which was a characteristic for the north of Kosovo, because the judiciary does not function in the north, neither that of Kosovo nor of Serbia, but the north is I would say a haven of crime,” she said.

Biserko also said that the idea of a Greater Serbia was never defeated but only silenced. “The problem is in Belgrade. I am not saying that these countries do not have their own internal problems, which can also be a source of tensions, but the main fact is that Belgrade is not accepting the new reality in the region. The same rhetoric is used by Russia in the war in Ukraine today, and unfortunately the international community has not learned the lessons from the wars in the former Yugoslavia, that the Serbian world is very close to the Russian world. They have failed to understand that the idea for a Greater Serbia has not been defeated, but it was only silenced for some time, and the entire official policy of Belgrade is still led upon this issue. The webpage of the Government of Serbia for example includes the Strategy for the Diaspora in the Region or the Charter for the Serbian Cultural Space, through which there are ambitions to turn this into a political space for Serbs in the region one day. Serbs in the region are absolutely not allowed to be independent in their decisions, or in the countries where they live,” she said.

Haxhixhemajli: Through Northern Brigade, Vucic tries to incite tensions in north (KSP)

The threats that the “Northern Brigade” has made against Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Interior Affairs Minister Xhelal Svecla are believed to be aimed at inciting tensions in the north of Kosovo. The Pristina-based Octopus Institute claims that the organisation is “an instrument” of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and that the attacks are intentional on the eve of the meeting between Kosovo and Serbia. 

Arta Haxhixhemajli, a senior researcher with the institute, said in an interview with the news agency that the latest threat by the Northern Brigade was more direct against Prime Minister Kurti. “Usually tensions in the north are incited on the eve of important meetings. We know that the next meeting between the Serbian President and the Prime Minister of Kosovo will be held soon. Their objective is always to incite tensions in the north. This is why there is the terrorist organisation ‘Northern Brigade’ which is an instrument of Vucic to achieve his goal, by causing tensions,” she argued. According to Haxhixhemajli, the threats could also relate to internationals with the aim of applying increased pressure.

Construction of houses in north, VV MP emotional: Tears of joy (Nacionale)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Arjeta Fejza, published a video today showing the reconstruction of houses of Albanians in Mitrovica North, the news website reports. “Emotional sights from the start of reconstruction of houses in the north of Mitrovica! Tears of joy among Albanians who are returning to their place of both after decades!” she wrote.

Osmani congratulates Pendarovski on North Macedonia Independence Day (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani congratulated her North Macedonian counterpart Stevo Pendarovski today on the Independence Day of North Macedonia. “I look forward to continue working together to take our partnership to new heights and to jointly contribute to a brighter Euro-Atlantic future for both of our democratic countries,” she wrote on X.

Lutfi calls on internationals: Albanians in Serbia are being discriminated (Koha)

The Albanian National Council in Serbia called on the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs to respect the Constitution. Through a symbolic action in front of the police station in Bujanovac, council leader Nevzad Lutfiu said the authorities must adhere to what the Constitution says about the employment of minority communities. “The call that we made today to the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs was ‘respect the Constitution’. Article 77 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia notes: ‘On the employment in state bodies, public enterprises, the mechanisms of the province, local self-government, the national constitution and proportional representation of national minorities must be taken into account,” Lutfiu said.

Lutfiu also said that the number of Albanian police officers is really small and that many of them in Bujanovac are close to retirement. “Not a single police officer from the Albanian community has been recruited in the last couple of years. We call on the international community to pay attention to the situation of Albanians in Serbia, because discrimination is now bordering racism,” he argued.

 

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Vucic: Pristina shows that their power has no limits (RTS)

President Aleksandar Vucic, at the beginning of his address to the citizens of Serbia, congratulated the basketball team on their placement in the finals of the World Cup. Regarding the upcoming high-level negotiations in Brussels, he said that problems are piling up. Pristina shows that their power has no limits and that they can do whatever they want, Vucic said among other things, reported RTS.

"Kurti doesn't want reasonable solutions, he doesn't care how much worse the people of Kosovo will live"

Vucic, answering the journalists' questions, said that for a long time he did not believe that Albin Kurti wanted reasonable solutions or a rational approach.

'' Our goal'', as Vucic said, ''is for our people to be protected, but for the Serbian economy to move forward, while Kurti has no such worries and is not worried about how much worse the people of Kosovo will live''.

There is a mood for elections in the ruling parties, important the talks on Kosovo and the session of the UN SC to take place

Regarding the demand of part of the opposition to hold extraordinary parliamentary elections, he says that he spoke with representatives of political parties in power and that there is a mood to come out and meet "representatives of the former regime".

"The technical details of how and at what point to carry it out remain," adds Vucic. 

However, he points out that it is important that ''the talks on Kosovo and Metohija and the session of the UN Security Council take place''.

Then, he adds, he will hold joint meetings with the representatives of the authorities to ask them to consider all the "demands and threats of the representatives of the former regime", and to make a decision accordingly.

It is important for democracy in Serbia, he said, that we are ready to respect the rights of the minority.

"Stocks of goods in KiM are coming to an end"

Vucic warned that supplies in Kosovo are starting to run out and that he will ask representatives of the international community to deliver medicines to health facilities in Kosovo. 

"Food and other necessities are starting to run out and the end of supplies is approaching," he said. 

Vucic said that Serbia will do its best to preserve peace, but that it will always be firmly with its people.

"Kurti's regime does nothing but mistreating Serbs"

Vucic said that there were discussions with the representatives of the Serbs to accept the holding of the elections in Kosovo, but what there is no compromise on is that they leave their land. 

"They tried yesterday, before they were pressured by the USA and the EU, to bring in their own policemen, to push them out. Every day, the Kurti regime does nothing but mistreat Serbs," said Vucic. 

According to Vucic, ''we are trying to make our response moderate, but also strong, so that our people in Kosovo and Metohija can understand the message of their country''. But said that ''our hands are pretty much tied''.

"The moving out of institutions will probably continue, but our people will see how to oppose it in a peaceful way", says Vucic and points out that the agreements that were signed do not include bases for the accommodation of the police in the north of Kosovo.

''Pristina shows that their power has no limits and that they can do whatever they want''

Vucic said, on the upcoming high-level negotiations in Brussels, that the problems are piling up.

The day after Jens Stoltenberg said that he expects significant consultations from Pristina when it comes to issues that can affect security, ''Albanian police officers stormed the factory in Zubin Potok to show that their power has no limits and that they can do whatever they want'', he pointed out. 

Since Kurti came to power, the president said, 401 attacks on Serbs have been recorded, including 15 attacks on Serbian children.

He announced that he will have several important meetings and discussions in the coming days, the aim of which is to present Serbia in a dignified and appropriate manner, as well as that his request and request is for the international community to look at the situation in Kosovo through arguments.

"On Monday we will have talks in Skopje about the framework of the Brdo-Brioni initiative, a day or two later we will go to Brussels for talks with Albin Kurti, the day before or the day after if we all arrive, we will go to Hungary for the Great Demographic Summit organized by the Hungarian President Katalin Novak. Two days after that, we have a holiday on September 15 - the Day of Serbian Unity, where we will have several important events. After that, two or three days later, we will go to New York, where we have an important session of the UN General Assembly," said Vucic.

Radio KiM: Privatization Agency and the police at the factory in Zubin Potok (N1)

Representatives of the Privatization Agency of Kosovo with the assistance of the Police Intervention Unit and members of the Kosovo Police of the North region visited the "Ivo Lola Ribar" factory in Zubin Potok this morning, reported KiM radio. 

This factory has not been working for years, and the Privatization Agency claims that it is their property, according to Radio Kim.

"They asked for our support from the Privatization Agency, they went there to check what was happening with their facility, and our units and the Intervention Police provided support," Veton Elshani, deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, told KiM radio.

He added that the police units are no longer on the ground, but that the members of the Agency are still there.

As Radio Kim learns, the premises of the factory were empty.

The trial in the case of Dusko Arsic for war crimes continued in Pristina (Beta, N1, Kosovo Online)

Before the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina, the trial in the case of Dusko Arsic from Maticane, who is charged with an alleged war crime committed in Kosovo in 1999, continued with the examination of witnesses.

"The hearing of one prosecution witness and two defense witnesses is scheduled for today," lawyer Jovana Filipovic told Kosovo Online before the start of the trial.

Arsic was arrested on December 8, 2021 at the Jarinje crossing, in the presence of two minor children, after he came to solve problems regarding usurped property in the village of Maticane, near Pristina. The prosecution accuses him of having committed a war crime in 1999 in the village of Butovac, in Kosovo.

Arsic previously filed a lawsuit for the usurpation of his property, only to be arrested afterwards.

Stoltenberg: KSF deployment in the north requires prior concurrence of KFOR; Osmani: The north will always be part of Kosovo (KoSSev)

Any deployment of special forces requires the concurrence of KFOR and there is a need for coordination and close consultation between the authorities in Pristina and the KFOR commander regarding any deployments that may affect security in Kosovo. We expect consultations for any actions of the KFS, but also for the actions of the Kosovo Police that could affect the security environment, said the NATO Secretary General at a joint conference in Brussels with the president of Kosovo yesterday. Stoltenberg added that KFOR is ready to react, if necessary, while at the same time calling on the parties to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric and fulfil their obligations.

Vjosa Osmani, however, used this opportunity to share a series of accusations against Serbia – from cooperation with Russia, to destabilization and “violation of territorial integrity” in the north of Kosovo, which “was and will continue to be part of Kosovo”, according to the Kosovo President. Osmani called on official Belgrade to “do its homework” before receiving EU money and offered NATO cooperation to bring “Serb organized crime groups” to justice for the attack on KFOR soldiers, stating that “it is known who ordered the attack”.

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani met with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg in NATO headquarters in Brussels yesterday.

After the meeting, they held a joint media conference.

Stoltenberg confirmed that he discussed the recent tensions in the north of Kosovo with Osmani, while at the same time, he highlighted the importance of the presence of the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

He referred to the May 29 incident in front of the municipality of Zvecan, when, according to the latest KFOR data, 93 members of this mission were injured.

He underlined that what happened was unacceptable, and that the individuals who attacked the KFOR soldiers should be held accountable, noting that the Kosovo authorities are carrying out an investigation.

“The stability of the region and the safety of KFOR troops depend on all actors honoring the existing commitments. NATO considers this to be of the highest importance and expects them to be fully met,” underlined Stoltenberg.

KSF cannot go to the north without concurrence, we are also asking for consultations for KP actions that can affect security 

The Secretary General of NATO also reminded of the agreement that prohibits the deployment of the KSF in the north of Kosovo without the approval of KFOR. At the same time, he requested consultations regarding the actions of the Kosovo Police that could affect security.

“In line with Pristina’s commitment from 2013, any deployment of the KSF to the North of Kosovo requires the concurrence of KFOR, and we expect timely and meaningful consultations for any actions of the KSF, Kosovo Police that could impact the security environment,” Stoltenberg said.

He clarifies that this is not a new condition.

“Any deployment of special forces requires the concurrence of KFOR and there is a need for coordination and close consultation between the authorities in Pristina and the KFOR commander regarding any deployments that may affect security in Kosovo,” the Secretary-General emphasized.

Stoltenberg said that due to the recent unrest in the North, NATO has deployed hundreds of additional troops, and emphasizes that KFOR is monitoring the situation.

“We stand ready to act as necessary to fulfill our UN mandate. To maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement of all communities in Kosovo,” he emphasized, stating that the KFOR commander is in close contact with Belgrade and Pristina.

Stoltenberg, on the other hand, welcomed the steps taken by Pristina to lower tensions, including the reduction of the number of special police, but also the plans to hold local elections.

To avoid new tensions, he called on both sides to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and to act with restraint and in line with their commitments.

Stoltenberg once again supported the EU-facilitated dialogue and welcomed the announcement of the meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Brussels on September 14.

“This requires patience, perseverance and compromise,” he said.

He also pointed out that this is an opportunity for Kosovo to demonstrate that it is “a responsible actor working constructively to the benefit of Euro-Atlantic security”.

Osmani: NATO is our destiny

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, said at a press conference that her arrival in Brussels is a testament to “Kosovo’s strategic orientation”, stating that NATO is “Kosovo’s destiny”.

“We are very much appreciative of NATO’s leadership during this difficult time for our transatlantic community. Allow me to convey the profound appreciation and gratitude of the people of Kosovo and its institutions for the role that NATO has played in saving our lives in 1999 and the role that it is playing today to ensure stability and security in our region,” said Osmani.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3pv44w5c

Poll: The majority would sign the petition to remove the mayors; a part if the conditions are met or Belgrade request it (KoSSev)

In a KoSSev Instagram and Twitter poll, with less than 800 respondents; 44.5 percent would sign a possible petition to remove the four mayors in the North. According to KoSSev, the second place goes to those who would not do it (26 percent on Instagram and 40 percent on Twitter), in total 18.5 percent of those who would do it if the Kosovo authorities had previously fulfilled the conditions of the Serbian List, and that is the withdrawal of special units and the formation of the CSM (ZSO). KoSSev added that, although in a strikingly small percentage, on both social networks, there are those who would sign the petition if Belgrade asked them to. 

The Kosovo Ministry of Local Self-Government Administration published this week an Administrative Instruction that paves the way for the replacement of the mayor in the North of Kosovo, i.e. for new local elections. The signatures of at least 20 percent of voters in one municipality are required as a condition to organize a vote within 45 days, while 50 percent + 1 voter is necessary for the change of mayors. 

Drafting of this instruction was completed in the midst of the crisis in the North of Kosovo, which entered its fourth month, i.e. in accordance with the agreement on the de-escalation of the situation between Pristina and the EU, which, apart from the withdrawal of part of the police from municipal buildings, includes the holding of new elections in four municipalities in the North.

The EU,  however, demands that the electoral process be organized as soon as possible, and asks the Serbs to participate without preconditions.

Although they did not advertise in connection with this administrative instruction, several parties in the North of Kosovo, both the largest - Serbian List, as well as certain opposition civil initiatives, condition their participation in the elections - namely the formation of the CSM (ZSO) and the withdrawal of all special units from the North of Kosovo.

What do the citizens say?

Kossev reported that on its X and Instagram networks published a 24-hour survey, asking readers whether they would sign the petition for the removal of four mayors in the North of Kosovo, that is, whether they would sign if the conditions were met or if Belgrade asked for it.

Our one-day survey on Instagram received 708 responses, out of which, 309 or 44 percent, would sign a possible petition for the removal of the mayor.

Also, an additional 177 (25 percent) of them would do the same, but if Pristina met the conditions previously set by the Serbian List - the withdrawal of special forces and the formation of the CSM (ZSO).

The lowest percentage are of those who would do it if Belgrade asked them to, regardless of the conditions - 41, that is, 5 percent of the respondents.

Finally, those who would not sign the petition are in second place by the number of votes received. There are 181 of them, or 26 percent.

Network X, formerly Twitter, received 78 votes. 44.9 percent of this number would sign a possible petition for the removal of the mayor in four Northern municipalities.

11.5 percent of the respondents would do so under the condition that the Kosovo authorities fulfill the conditions previously stated by Serbian List - to withdraw special units from the North and start forming the CSM (ZSO).

An additional 3.8 percent would also sign the petition if Belgrade asked them to do so.

Finally, 39.7 percent of others who participated in the X Network survey would not sign it, reported KoSSev.

Starovic: Stoltenberg implicitly admitted that the KP is a destabilizing factor in the north

State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence of Serbia, Nemanja Starović, welcomed yesterday’s statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and opined that with that statement he implicitly admitted that the militarized forces of the Kosovo Police in the previous period were a factor that influenced destabilization.

Starovic said that Stoltenberg’s statement after the meeting with “Ms. Vjosa Osmani from Kosovo”, as she was officially presented at the NATO headquarters, indicated two important things.

“The first is that according to the valid agreements from 2013, the so-called Kosovo Security Forces cannot enter the north of Kosovo without the explicit consent of KFOR, and the second is that special militarized monoethnic police forces cannot be deployed in the north without timely and meaningful consultations with KFOR,” Starovic said.

He opined that this represents a positive step forward in relation to what has been the usual communication of the NATO alliance until now, where it was constantly pointed out, he added, that the KFOR mission represents only the force of the third responder to the security challenges and threats after the Kosovo Police and EULEX.

“In this way, Stoltenberg implicitly admits that precisely those special militarized forces of the Kosovo Police represented in the previous period a factor that influenced the destabilization of the situation on the ground and that there is no freedom of action for them in the north, certainly not in the way that the representatives of the administration want to present in Priština,” Starovic pointed out.

He said that this statement is welcome and represents a step in the right direction, as well as that he hopes it will be accompanied by further, concrete measures.

These measures, he added, should enable KFOR to contribute to the complete withdrawal of all militarized monoethnic forces of the Kosovo Police from the north.

“Without something like that, we cannot talk about full and essential de-escalation on the ground, and without de-escalation, there will be no continuation of the political process of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and that process cannot produce the full and expected results,” he concluded. 

 

 

 

Opinion 

 

Fajon: Full speed ahead to 2030 (media)

Several news websites cover an opinion piece by Tanja Fajon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Slovenia, titled “Full speed ahead to 2030”.

Last week, Slovenia hosted the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), a conference known for its traditional discussions about the Western Balkans. Although this year the discussions clearly exceeded the regional focus and had a global scope, the greatest interest was directed to the future of the Western Balkans within the EU. The idea presented by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, that the EU and the Western Balkans should be ready for enlargement by 2030, resonated greatly. The so-called "Bled promise" did not leave anyone cold-hearted, but raised a question mark for everyone whether both sides can really be ready for the expansion by that date.

My answer to all these questions is clear: the opportunity is here and we must seize it at full speed. We must work towards finding sufficient political will in the Western Balkans for reform and political will in the EU to enlarge. We must focus on the final destination, but we must not overlook the journey.

When it comes to the European Union, EU enlargement is undoubtedly back on the agenda. The geopolitical landscape makes it clear that EU enlargement has no alternative. The war in Ukraine has increased the appetite for enlargement, as well as affirmed the notion that enlargement is a strategic necessity for the EU. In simple words – it's now or never.

This, of course, does not mean that the EU enlargement criteria will be removed and that the Western Balkans can enter the Union without meeting them. This means that more political attention will be given to the region and that the countries of the Western Balkans will be asked to do so appropriately.

For the EU this means a commitment to reform its decision-making process and to prepare, institutionally and financially. The EU with more than 30 member states at the table simply cannot be as efficient as it should be. Such reform will not be an easy task, but it is necessary. And it is of strategic importance for the EU, on the same level of importance as enlargement.

Skeptics would argue that all these tasks look very difficult until 2030. But realistically there will not be a better offer on the table for the Western Balkan countries and a better opportunity for the Union to improved and adapted to new global realities.

In Bled I unveiled a formula for the future EU in 2030, called in English "3E by 3E", which includes these goals. The EU of 2030 should be more engaged with the world, be enlarged with the Western Balkans and with our partners in the East, and should have evolved the decision-making process to become more efficient. The EU must approach these processes with eagerness, expedience and experience. I believe there is nothing to add.

The years to come will be neither about perception nor deception. They will be about the hard work on both sides: the Western Balkans and the EU, in order to prepare both sides for EU enlargement by 2030.

These difficult times will require courageous leaders on both sides. Leaders who will look to the future. Leaders who would be willing to put enlargement at the top of their agenda and make the necessary decisions to enable enlargement. Therefore, the European elections will be an important historical moment for the 2030 objective.

Regardless of the elections, the Western Balkans can always count on Slovenia's support. We will remain a staunch supporter of the EU enlargement process at full speed. A friend of the region for better or for worse. For example, Slovenia already advocates opening Bosnia-Herzegovina's EU accession negotiations by the end of this year.

Time will tell if President Michel delivered a historic speech in Bled. I hope that Bled's promise will materialize also because of our magical Bled. The place where the beautiful alpine mountain scenery meets the crystal clear lake water is the best place where miracles can happen.

 

 

 

International 

 

Kosovo’s Blueprint for Mayoral Dismissals Meets Scepticism From Experts (BIRN)

After Kosovo authorities disclosed a long-awaited document on ways to dismiss mayors through petitions, experts doubt it will break the ongoing deadlock in the Serb-majority north.

After Kosovo’s Ministry of Local Government published an Administrative Instruction, in an attempt to ease the way for new elections in four Serb-majority municipalities in the north, experts have cast doubt over whether it will work.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/jzazjn84

Kosovo’s Beloved Hardh Fest Shuts Its Doors on a Spectacular Season (BIRN)

Hardh Fest, the most popular wine grape harvesting festival in Kosovo, closes its curains after a successful season, marking a record number of visitors. 

For another year, the wine capital of Kosovo, Rahovec, gathered citizens from all over Kosovo and other countries to experience the best wines that this region has to offer.

First, second, and third of September were designated as the grape harvesting festival days, and during these days plenty of activities and attractions were organized for visitors.

This year’s festival has set a record in terms of the number of wineries exhibiting, while the program has expanded with other activities. 

A tractor ride, starting from the location where Hardh Fest was held, continued through the vineyards of the region, giving visitors an impression of the richness of Rahovec. The ride continued to three of Rahovec’s tekkes [Dervish prayer centers], a unique building used by this religious community. There, representatives of this faith demonstrated many different traditions that community members perform during various days of the year.

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