UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 25, 2022

Escobar, Lajcak received assurances there won’t be violence on Sept 1 (media)
Lajcak: Talked with Osmani to avoid any tension in the north (Albanian Post)
EU, U.S. envoys attempt to break Kosovo-Serbia deadlock (BIRN)
US, EU envoys meet Kosovo PM in effort to avert tensions (AP)
PDK’s Krasniqi calls for final agreement that brings mutual recognition (media)
Wisner: More important issue than IDs and license plates is at play (Koha)
Kosovo govt, NATO forces are committed to guaranteeing security (media)
Serbs adopt declaration to leave institutions if solutions are not found (media)
Shea: NATO guarantees security in Kosovo, not Belgrade (RFE, media)
Vucic opposes KFOR’s position that it will not allow barricades in north (RFE)
Cause for optimism in the most recent Kosovo-Serbia crisis (Breaking Defense)
Kosovo government building illuminated with colors of Ukrainian flag (media)

Escobar, Lajcak received assurances there won’t be violence on Sept 1 (media)

Koha Ditore reports in its leading front-page story that U.S. and EU envoys, Gabriel Escobar and Miroslav Lajcak, concluded their intensive meetings with Kosovo’s leaders on Wednesday with an optimism that an agreement will be reached between Kosovo and Serbia which will help avoid tensions in the north. Efforts are underway to find a solution one week before Kosovo starts implementing the reciprocity on license plates and ID cards, measures which are being opposed by the Serbian side. After meeting Prime Minister Kurti and President Osmani, the envoys said they received assurances that there won’t be any violence on September 1.

All news websites cover a press release issued by Prime Minister Kurti’s office after his meeting with Escobar and Lajcak. “The Republic of Kosovo has shown its willingness and readiness to engage in a principled and well-prepared dialogue towards an agreement centered on mutual recognition. Until the agreement on mutual recognition is reached, reciprocity should be the spirit of dialogue. Prime Minister Kurti thanked Escobar and Lajcak for their commitment to avoid artificially created tensions by Serbia and for the full normalisation of relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia,” the press release notes.

The Office of Kosovo President too issued a press release after the meeting with Escobar and Lajcak quoting Osmani as saying that Kosovo is a constructive party, prepared and engaged in the dialogue process, focused on mutual recognition. “Kosovo has never contributed to tensions and has continuously committed itself to peace and stability as well as European solutions,” she said. Osmani expressed Kosovo’s commitment to continue the cooperation and coordination with its partners, stressing that Kosovo’s engagement in the dialogue is based on the protection of sovereignty, constitutional order, and territorial integrity. Osmani also said that Kosovo is built on the principle of a multi-ethnic society where everyone has equal rights, regardless of ethnicity.

In a Twitter post, Osmani noted “European values, and not ideas that lead to separation and segregation, should guide us all.”

Citing a senior unnamed source, Klan Kosova reports that Lajcak and Escobar had a specific request in their meeting with leaders of Kosovo’s institutions. “They asked for the implementation of reciprocity to be postponed for another three months,” the source said.

Several news websites quoted Lajcak as saying, “We had a very long and detailed discussion with Prime Minister and also with the President. But the process continues of course we have couple of meetings here, and we will continue in Belgrade. The most important message is that we are here together with Gabriel Escobar first of all to show that the unity between the EU and US is full and cannot be better and we are working hand in hand when it comes to normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. And second, the international community was very concerned about what we saw on the ground on 31 July, and they expect all of us together, negotiators, leadership of Kosovo and leadership of Serbia not to allow this to be repeated on 31 August 31, and that is why we are here. I just had a very extensive discussion with Prime Minister and [deputy prime minister] Besnik Bislimi and obviously it would be a mistake if I go into details at this point. As I said this was a very important discussion and we are continuing our mission. We are here to make sure that nothing bad will happen. I will not speak about details, and I hope you understand that. I am optimistic, and that is why I am here. If I did not believe that there is a solution I would not even come here. As I said this was an important meeting, but it is too early to make any conclusion at this point.”

Telegrafi quotes Escobar as saying, “I am here to give my support to find a way forward on all the difficult issues. Details on how to move forward are about the dialogue, but I would like to make sure that the people here understand that my visit here is really to show the full support for the EU-facilitated dialogue. Both sides have assured us that they don’t want any escalation, and that they don’t want violence on September 1. So we are here to make sure that all the good wishes and all the optimism is translated into a concrete proposal”.

Lajcak: Talked with Osmani to avoid any tension in the north (Albanian Post)

The EU Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has tweeted that during the meeting with the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, they talked about avoiding any tension in the north of Kosovo.

“Started my joint mission with DAS Escobar to Kosovo today with a substantive discussion with the President VjosaOsmani. We spoke about the importance of avoiding any renewed tensions in the north of Kosovo,” Lajcak wrote.

EU, U.S. envoys attempt to break Kosovo-Serbia deadlock (BIRN)

As EU and US envoys arrived in Pristina in an attempt to find a compromise solution to a dispute with Belgrade over vehicle licence plates and ID documents, both sides insisted that they will not back down.

EU and US envoys Miroslav Lajcak and Gabriel Escobar landed in Pristina on Wednesday in an attempt to bridge differences between Kosovo and Serbia ahead of September 1, when the Kosovo authorities intend to bring in regulations on vehicle licence plates and ID documents for border crossing which Serbs strongly oppose.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Wednesday that he is ready to find a solution with Serbia but there must be equal treatment for Serbs and Kosovo Albanians.

“We will either have entry-exit papers for both sides or for none. Any option is acceptable for us. We want reciprocity,” Kurti told journalists in Pristina.

The Kosovo government wants Serbs entering the country to be issued an entry-exit document as Kosovo Albanians have to do when entering Serbia and cease the use of Serbia-issued licence plates.

Kurti said that when he met Serbia’s President Aleksander Vucic last week in Brussels, he declined a Serbian suggestion of returning to the use of ‘status-neutral’ licence plates which were issued by the UN’s UNMIK mission until 2008 when Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, and which were used by Kosovo Serbs until 2020.

“The asymmetry where Kosovo is more an issue than a side will not happen anymore… the Republic of Kosovo does not produce UNMIK plates,” he added.

Read more at: https://abcn.ws/3pIf5sg

PDK’s Krasniqi calls for final agreement that brings mutual recognition (media)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, said on Wednesday that Kosovo’s priority should be engagement in reaching a final settlement that brings mutual recognition with Serbia and membership in the UN, NATO and the European Union. “Downgrading the dialogue to a technical level does not help us achieve these state objectives. The PDK will always be engaged in protecting Kosovo’s interests, the sovereignty of our country and the implementation of the constitution throughout our territory,” Krasniqi said after meeting U.S. and EU envoys in Prishtina.

Krasniqi also said any escalation in the north must be avoided and that this requires the engagement of all sides. “Kosovo needs to have constant coordination with its international partners,” he argued.

Wisner: More important issue than IDs and license plates is at play (Koha)

Former special representative in the Vienna talks between Kosovo and Serbia, Frank Wisner, said in an interview with KTV on Wednesday that it is fully legitimate for Kosovo to insist that all residents in its territory to have the right ID cards and license plates. But the U.S. diplomat also said that the issue is not about vehicles and ID cards, but rather about the future relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Wisner said he agrees with the position of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that dialogue should be aimed at full recognition between the two sides and that this was the engagement of everyone since Kosovo declared its independence. Wisner is however skeptical that this can happen soon because of the public opinion in Serbia and because the international community has not managed to find a solution.

Kosovo govt, NATO forces are committed to guaranteeing security (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti together with the Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla received in a meeting the Commander of NATO Peacekeeping Forces in Kosovo (KFOR), Major General Ferenc Kajari.

According to the announcement of the government, they emphasized the commitment to engagement and coordination between the government, the institutions of Kosovo and the NATO Peacekeeping Forces in Kosovo, to guarantee security and free movement.

Major General Kajari informed Prime Minister Kurti about the presence, commitments and additional preparations of KFOR to guarantee peace and security in the north of River Iber.

Serbs adopt declaration to leave institutions if solutions are not found (media)

In a joint session of the municipal assemblies of the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo on Wednesday, a statement that foresees Serbs’ leaving the institutions of Kosovo, if a compromise is not reached to find a solution for the license plates. and entry/exit documents, was unanimously approved.

"If a compromise solution is not reached, we, the political representatives of the Serbs, together with our collaborators, will start the process of leaving all the institutions of Kosovo at all levels, starting from the central and local institutions, up to the courts, the police and the prosecution, which completely destroys the Brussels process," said the chairman of the Municipal Assembly of Zvecan, Srdjan Milosavlevic.

This meeting was attended by the leaders of the Serbian List - the leading party of the Serbs in Kosovo - Goran Rakic, Igor Simic, Slavko Simic, the mayors of the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo according to the Kosovo system, and the heads of the four temporary municipal bodies that function according to the Serbian system.

The meeting discussed the security and political situation, namely the "unilateral decisions of the central authorities in Pristina".

The statement reads that the government of Kosovo is violating the rights of the Serb community, is violating the Brussels Agreement, and is preventing the creation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority.

It was also emphasized that the Kosovar side is violating the peace and security of the members of the Serb community.

Shea: NATO guarantees security in Kosovo, not Belgrade (RFE, media)

At a time of high tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, former senior NATO official Jamie Shea calls on both sides to drop inflammatory rhetoric and focus on finding a solution to freedom of movement.

Shea, the former deputy assistant secretary general of NATO, instructs Belgrade that the NATO mission, KFOR, which cooperates with the Kosovo Police, is responsible for security in Kosovo.

Commenting on the statement by the president of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, that if NATO does not do its job, Belgrade will intervene "to protect" the Serbs in Kosovo, Shea said:

"I think that NATO should show Belgrade that it is fully capable of continuing its mandate, which is to maintain security, including the Serbs, and that Belgrade has no role in Kosovo in this regard."

Shea expressed hope that there will be no escalation of the situation. "We are dealing with a diplomatic war, not a military war," he said.

Vucic opposes KFOR’s position that it will not allow barricades in north (RFE)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday that he will soon send a letter to the NATO mission in Kosovo – KFOR – regarding their announcement that they will not allow barricades in the north of Kosovo. “Your goal should be the protection of the Serb population, they are a minority. Why are you helping the Albanians to oppress this minority? Why together with the Albanians, you are mistreating the Serbs, is it your duty or not to help the Serbs,” Vucic said during a meeting with his party in Belgrade.

Vucic also said he will send the letter after his talks with U.S. envoy Gabriel Escobar and EU special representative Miroslav Lajcak on Thursday.

Cause for optimism in the most recent Kosovo-Serbia crisis (Breaking Defense)

In a region that seems to always be on the brink, former US defense attache in Kosovo Jeffrey Fischer writes in this op-ed that odds are in favor of peace.

Trouble is brewing once again in the Balkans, where a return of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia could spiral into fresh fighting. But in the op-ed below, Jeffrey Fischer, who served as defense attache in Kosovo not long ago, explains why he thinks the current crisis will blow over, rather than blow up.

In January 2022, I traveled to Kosovo. Upon landing, one friend said, “You’re just in time, tomorrow, Serbia may be invading us.” He was serious, as there was an ongoing Kosovo-Serbia dispute about a pending Serbian election, but we both chuckled and got into his car. As a former US defense attaché there from 2016 to 2018, I’d learned that nearly every quarter, there is a “crisis de jour” in the Balkans.

Currently, many global media outlets are reporting about the potential for increased violence between Serbia and Kosovo. In this crisis, Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, demanded ethnic Serbs across Kosovo transition to Kosovar official documents and license plates. This issue has been percolating for weeks and seems to have gained traction due to reported gunfire in the northern city of Mitrovice earlier this month.