UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 15, 2022

Kosovo Leaders Sign EU Candidacy Application (BIRN)
Kurti hails agreement on visa liberalisation (media)
EU Parliament, Council reach agreement on Kosovo visa liberalisation (media)
Escobar calls for removal of barricades and formation of Association (Koha)
Lajcak: Vucic understands seriousness of situation in the north (RFE)
NATO: Barricades in the north should be removed immediately (Koha)
Bislimi: Barricades not placed by local Serbs but by a radical group supported by Belgrade (BBC)
US expects govt proposal for Association, implies to do it with civil society (Koha)
Mandl for Kosovo's EU application: Important step at the right time (Koha)
Kosovo Albanians Take Serb-Vacated Council Seats in Divided Town (BIRN)
Albin Kurti, the most liked leader, poll shows (Klan Kosova)
Konjufca: We aim to be leaders in region for parliamentary transparency (Koha)
Krasniqi: No more Serbian soldiers in Kosovo, this was closed in ’99 (Koha)
First Kosovo Guerrilla Verdict Due at Hague ‘Special Court’ (BIRN)
Serbian Ex-Policeman Pleads Not Guilty to Kosovo War Crimes (BIRN)
Why tensions have flared up between Kosovo and Serbia (TRT World)

Kosovo Leaders Sign EU Candidacy Application (BIRN)

Three main Kosovo leaders have signed the application for EU membership, a process which is not expected to go smoothly because of political complications stemming from five EU members not yet recognising its independence.

At a ceremony held on Wednesday, three Kosovo institutional leaders signed the application for European Union candidacy in a move considered as taking the country a step closer to the 27 member-state organisation.

Calling it an ‘historic moment’, President Vjosa Osmani said Kosovo is taking a crucial step toward its ambition to become a full member of the EU family.

“For Kosovo and its citizens there has never been an alternative, but dreams become reality only when you work for them,” Osmani said.

In its latest progress report on Kosovo, the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, commended Kosovo’s progress, saying it had “strengthened its capacities to coordinate the implementation of the commitments and obligations arising from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA, and ERA II [European Reform Agenda phase 2], and has improved reporting mechanisms.”

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3j2rHKW

Kurti hails agreement on visa liberalisation (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Twitter post on Wednesday that “as the Republic of Kosova took its first step toward EU membership, the Council and Parliament of the European Union reached agreement on visa liberalization for our citizens by January 2024 — more confirmation of our progress on EU reform agenda.”

EU Parliament, Council reach agreement on Kosovo visa liberalisation (media)

The representatives of the Parliament and the European Council reached an agreement on visa liberalization for Kosovo on Wednesday.

"On Wednesday, the negotiating teams of the Parliament and the Council reached the long-awaited agreement on the liberalization of visas for Kosovo", it is stated in the press release of the European Parliament.

"The lifting of visas will come into force when the European travel system, ETIAS, is operational, in any case no later than January 1, 2024," this announcement states. ETIAS requires that foreign citizens, who travel without a visa to the territory of the EU, register their data in this system before travel.

On behalf of the EP, the negotiations with the Council were conducted by the rapporteur on the issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo, Dutchman Thijs Reuten.

"Finally, citizens of Kosovo will be able to travel for vacations, family visits or for business reasons in the EU, without having to apply for visas. This is a very important moment for the European future of this country," he said.

Now the agreement must be voted on in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in the European Parliament, and then in the plenary session. After that, it is confirmed by the Council of the EU. After completing these procedures, citizens will be able to travel to the EU on January 1, 2024 at the latest.

Escobar calls for removal of barricades and formation of Association (Koha)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said that the barricades in the north of Kosovo should be removed by those who have placed them, peacefully. He has opposed the move of the Serbian army to the north of Kosovo, because he is against, as he says, the militarization of the problem.

In an interview for RTS, Escobar said that "there is progress and there are reasons for optimism".

"I don't want to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations, but I want to say one thing - in the context of this crisis, I think we can see not only the beginning of a solution, but also an opportunity for a new dialogue," he said.

He reiterated that Washington is advocating for the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, as well as that they are looking for ways to implement this point of the Brussels Agreement.

"To the U.S., it is a legally binding agreement between Serbia, Kosovo and the European Union. For us, it is an obligation because we have supported that process and a political party cannot unilaterally withdraw from it, so we will ask the way to make this idea a reality," Escobar said, adding that the deadline for this is "immediately."

Escobar said that there have already been talks with representatives of civil society, business organizations, youth leaders "who want this community to work not only for Serbs, but for Kosovo and the entire region."

"Imagine the possibilities that exist within a community that is at the intersection of four important countries - Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania and to create a free trade area, a distribution center for the Open Balkans or a market for common regional in the context of the Berlin process," he said.

"We are categorically against the idea that leads to the militarization of the problem. The Serbs must return to the institutions, we want them there, we need them there, and the barricades must be removed by the people who erected them, after their concerns are heard," he said.

He added that he listened to them and emphasized that their concerns are "legitimate and in many cases justifiable". Asked if the US is taking a leading role in resolving relations between Belgrade and Pristina, Escobar answered negatively, explaining that most of the negotiations are technical.

Lajcak: Vucic understands seriousness of situation in the north (RFE)

The envoy of the European Union for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia Miroslav Lajcak said that he had a sincere conversation with the president of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, "to find a political solution that would reduce tensions and enable the removal of the barricades in the north of Kosovo."

"He understands the seriousness of the situation," Lajcak said through a post on Twitter. He stated this after a meeting he held in Belgrade with Vucic and the United States envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar.

The Serbian president also wrote on Instagram that the conversation was "honest and correct".

A day earlier, the two Western diplomats met the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti in Pristina.

NATO: Barricades in the north should be removed immediately (Koha)

The President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam, has expressed her concern over the developments in the north of Kosovo, saying that threats and attacks by armed individuals are unacceptable.

“I am deeply concerned by the recent developments in the North of Kosovo. The renewed threats and acts of intimidation and violence by armed individuals including this weekend’s attack on a European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo) reconnaissance patrol are unacceptable. Those responsible must be held accountable. Barricades and roadblocks erected in the north of Kosovo must be removed immediately.

She further asked the parties to refrain from violence and provocative actions and to work towards de-escalation of the situation.

"The way forward must be defined through continuous and constructive negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. All parties must remain committed to EU-facilitated dialogue. I welcome the recent decision of the authorities in Kosovo to postpone the local elections in the four northern municipalities as a constructive step given the current context," she said further.

Garriaud-Maylam expressed her gratitude to the KFOR and EULEX employees in Kosovo in support of peace and stability.

"I note that NATO has made it clear that KFOR remains extremely alert and fully capable of carrying out its United Nations mandate in Kosovo," she said.

Bislimi: Barricades not placed by local Serbs but by a radical group supported by Belgrade (BBC)

Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, said in an interview for BBC on Wednesday that barricades in the north of Kosovo were not set up by local Serbs there. “The situation in the north is really tense, but I will refrain from attributing this to the Serbs in the north because apparently the barricades were not set up by the Serbs in the north but by a very small group of radicals who are supported by Belgrade,” he said.

Bislimi said that the deployment of Kosovo Police in the mainly Serb-inhabited area should not be seen as a message against Serb citizens in Kosovo. “We are fully aware of the problems that the citizens in the north are currently facing, and this is why we have instructed the police to do everything to show professionalism, and the message has been clearly sent to the local Serbs that the Kosovo Police has nothing against them … We are interested in removing the barricades and calming down the situation. We have strong cooperation with KFOR troops and EULEX police and in no case have we sent wrong signals to the local Serbs.”

US expects govt proposal for Association, implies to do it with civil society (Koha)

After the visit of the special emissary for the Western Balkans, the United States expects the government of Kosovo to present proposals for the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. Gabriel Escobar implied that if the government does not establish the Association, they will establish it with civil society actors. But, according to the lawyers, the Association cannot be established by bypassing the government

A spokeswoman of the U.S. Embassy in Pristina told Koha that they expect the government to put the proposals on the negotiation table.

"It is important that Kosovar leaders respect their commitments. This means dealing with the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASK) and choosing a model that works—one that empowers and balances community voices while preserving Kosovo's multi-ethnic democratic foundations and that is fully consistent with the Kosovo Constitution. Kosovo must be proactive and consult for a workable solution, and we call on Kosovo's leadership to do so. We think it is important for the government of Kosovo to be responsible to its voters. KAS has been identified by the Kosovo Serb community as a way to ensure that their voice is heard, and their rights are fully protected. We expect that the government of Kosovo will put some proposals on the table," said Katherine Judd - spokeswoman for the US Embassy.

Prime Minister Kurti’s office did not offer clarifications regarding the request of the Americans and the possibility that the Association could be established even without the involvement of the government.

As part of his visit to Pristina, Escobar also met representatives of civil society on Monday. One of the participants of this meeting said that they were asked not to talk about the topics that were discussed.

While the former president of the Constitutional Court, Enver Hasani, has said that the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority cannot be established by bypassing the Government.

"This effort, without any doubt, aims at the amnesty of the current government, because it tends to accompany a constitutional competence of the government. Citizens and civil society have no constitutional competence to propose and implement the country's foreign policy. What is intended to be done, destroys the constitutional order, sends to the populist sphere a clear constitutional competence of the country's executive," Hasani said.

Mandl for Kosovo's EU application: Important step at the right time (Koha)

Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl said after Kosovo signed the application for membership in the European Union that Kosovo has taken this important step at the right time.

"The free world must move together like never before against all kinds of hateful ideologies and their formation in authoritarian systems. Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina were granted candidate status. In the process of European unification, the old accession procedure was more of a hindrance than a help. The EU and its parts must show their colors of freedom and peace, human dignity, democracy and the rule of law," Mandl said.

He added that Kosovo belongs to Europe, while its citizens live the values of the EU.

Kosovo Albanians Take Serb-Vacated Council Seats in Divided Town (BIRN)

Twelve Kosovo Albanians, two Bosniaks and one Serb were sworn in on Wednesday as local councilors on the assembly of North Mitrovica, the predominantly Serb half of the divided Kosovo town of Mitrovica, after a mass Serb walkout in November.

Council member Nedzad Ugljanin, who now chairs the assembly, noted the irony of the situation created by Serbs quitting Kosovo’s public bodies en masse in a row over vehicle licence plates and an unfulfilled promise by Kosovo to create an association of Serb-majority municipalities in the former Serbian province.

“We came to a house without a host,” Kossev quoted Ugljanin as telling reporters. “We know that the majority community should be the host, but we are not to blame for this situation and I said in my presentation before the councillors that we will deal with political issues as little as possible.”

North Mitrovica assembly members from the Belgrade-backed Srpska lista party quit their posts in November alongside fellow local councilors, mayors, judges, police officers, prosecutors and other Kosovo Serb public sector employees in four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo.