• In visit to Kosovo, Lajcak and Escobar meet institutional leaders (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo's territorial integrity, sovereignty, functioning not to be undermined by anyone (media)
• Osmani: Serbia blocking progress in dialogue (media)
• Kosovo's DPM Bislimi meets U.S. and EU envoys, Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Vela: Escobar's positions in line with those of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Experts: Almost impossible to reach Kosovo-Serbia agreement in 2022 (VOA)
• COVID-19: 1,593 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Fejzullahu: Energy in the north is a political issue (KTV)
• Balkan parties join rightist summit in Madrid to “Defend Europe” (BIRN)

In visit to Kosovo, Lajcak and Escobar meet institutional leaders (media)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar and the EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak spoke to reporters together with Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti following their meeting.

Lajcak said that European Union and the United States are working alongside one another and share the same vision for Kosovo and for the dialogue process. At the same time, Escobar confirmed the U.S. support for independence of Kosovo and its territorial integrity.

"The United States fully supports Kosovo's independence, its territorial integrity. You have shown that you are a solid partner, a good friend and we thank you for that. For Kosovo and the region, we see extraordinary opportunities. You are European, you are economically, culturally and historically European. We have worked with European colleagues to recognize the Western Balkans as an extraordinary opportunity, not a threat," Escobar said. He added that all parties should view the Western Balkans as a potential future member.

"The dialogue process has our full support and should be led by the EU, because it is about the EU. But as you move towards the EU, you also need to be close friends with the United States, because it is a transatlantic friendship and the dialogue process will be in full support of the United States and close to the United States," Escobar noted.

Lajcak said that by Wednesday they will have a clearer picture on what to expect in the dialogue process in the coming weeks and months. "This is my seventh visit as EU representative for dialogue, but we are here this time together with my colleague Escobar to give a very clear message that the EU and the US work side by side and share the same vision for Kosovo, for the dialogue process, for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and for the future of the region."

Kurti: Kosovo's territorial integrity, sovereignty, functioning not to be undermined by anyone (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti addressed the media together with the EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar after their meeting in Pristina yesterday.

Kurti said he briefed his interlocutors on the reforms underway in economy, justice and the efforts on the rule of law which, he noted, remains a priority of his government. He also spoke about the measures Kosovo authorities are taking to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, underlining that over 60 percent of persons over the age of 16 are now fully vaccinated. On the issue of economic growth, Kurti said that the Kosovo Central Bank projects a 9.9 percent annual growth.

Stating that the Government of Kosovo is committed to serving all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, Kurti also expressed support for the process of dialogue with Serbia "from which the citizens of both countries should benefit". He also said Kosovo Government is determined to preserve the territorial integrity, sovereignty, state functioning, constitutionality and lawfulness at all times.

"I am a Prime Minister of all citizens without distinction, therefore I am ready to respond to all the requests and needs of the citizens of Kosovo, including Serb citizens, in which case we will take the current best practices of Kosovo, but also of the European Union and also bearing in mind the practices and ways Serbia applies because we should not have citizens or communities who are privileged in one place and discriminated in another. We are also committed to regional cooperation, we strongly support the Berlin process and the common regional market, and I reiterated that European and Euro-Atlantic integration has no alternative," Kurti said, as quoted in the statement issued by his office.

Finally, Kurti underscored that the Europe is Kosovo's continent and EU and NATO its 'destiny'. "In this sense we seek European Union's assistance, an assistance that will encounter in our country the utmost respect for European values. We see European funds, therefore, as inextricably tied."

Osmani: Serbia blocking progress in dialogue (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met yesterday the EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar. They discussed the process of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

President Osmani stressed that Kosovo is committed to a dialogue that focuses on mutual recognition and said that Kosovo has demonstrated this through its active commitment and with proposals submitted throughout the process. She also reiterated Kosovo's position that the agreement on mutual recognition should not affect Kosovo's sovereignty, territorial integrity and its constitutional order. “It is already clear that Serbia is blocking the progress in the dialogue through its unconstructive approach,” she is quoted in a statement issued by Kosovo presidency.

“Highlighting Kosovo's constructiveness, the President also made it clear that the list of agreements that have not been implemented by Serbia is long and needs to be addressed urgently if we are to restore confidence in the dialogue process. She said that Serbia not only continues not to implement previous agreements but it also places visible obstacles whenever it participates at meetings organized in the framework of the dialogue process in Brussels. In this regard, the President said that she expects equal treatment of the parties in this process by the European Union, as a dialogue mediator. The President also emphasized once again the absolute importance of bringing to light the fate of the forcefully missing as a priority of the dialogue process.”

Kosovo's DPM Bislimi meets U.S. and EU envoys, Escobar and Lajcak (media)

Kosovo's First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue Besnik Bislimi also met the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar and the EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.

According to a press release issued by Kosovo Prime Minister's Office, the focus of the meeting was the progress of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the future steps in the process. Bislimi is said to have underlined that the dialogue is in the service of citizens and overall peace and security and should conclude in a sustainable and implementable agreement which is centred on mutual recognition. "The inviolability of the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order were also emphasised."

Lajcak commented on the meeting on Twitter saying it was "a good opportunity to continue our intense conversation about practical issues of the Dialogue aimed at benefiting the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia. We also discussed preparations for the next Dialogue meetings."

Vela: Escobar's positions in line with those of Kosovo (Telegrafi)

Blerim Vela, advisor to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, said that the position of Kosovo institutions, to a large extent, is in line to those of the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar.

"Escobar's positions are to a large extent, if not 100%, the same as those of Kosovo's institutions. The EU representative has a slightly more specific situation and all his investment is for Kosovo and Serbia to reach some agreements in specific areas and this is intended to be achieved in the coming months or weeks," Vela told RTV Dukagjini. He added that the United States does not want an Association of Serb-majority municipalities that would have executive powers.

Experts: Almost impossible to reach Kosovo-Serbia agreement in 2022 (VOA)

The dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is not expected to bring results even during 2022. Experts on developments in the Western Balkans say that given the different positions of the two sides, it is almost impossible to reach a final agreement. Experts say the crisis in Ukraine could also affect developments in the Western Balkans.

The opposing positions of Pristina and Belgrade regarding the association of Serb-majority municipalities continue to widen the gap in talks on the normalization of relations between the two countries, which have made little progress in recent years, the news agency reports.

Pierre Mirel, an expert from Brussels, part of the EU mediation team during 2011-2013, told the VOA that this situation puts the Kosovo government in front of two possibilities.

"My first remark is that in most of the meetings, the parties were not prepared, especially that of Kosovo. You go to Brussels, accept something, which in this case is the establishment of this association, then say we cannot implement it because it is not constitutional. You need to know this in advance. However, what needs to be done now. There are two solutions. Either change the constitution or renegotiate an acceptable form of association for both parties," Mirel said.

Analysts think it is almost impossible to reach a final Kosovo-Serbia agreement by 2022.

"The number one reason is the lack of trust on both sides. Two, dialogue was removed from the priorities of the Kosovo government. Third and perhaps most important, is the lack of a European perspective. We hear everyone say that the parties should speak for their own good, not for the sake of others. But there are many compromises and difficult decisions that need to be made. The concrete benefits for these countries would help their leaders secure the right support for the difficult decisions you have to make," Maja Piskevic of the Atlantic Council told VOA.

The United States and its allies are focused on tensions in Ukraine over fears of possible Russian aggression.

Dalibor Rohach, an expert at the American Institute of Enterprise, says a lack of American and European engagement could change the course of developments in the Western Balkans.

"If you are left in a gray area between the west and the revisionist autocratic powers of the east, you will have an unstable environment where it is very difficult to build liberal democracy, economic development and an advanced society of political pluralism. The Western Balkans is not close to the outbreak of a conflict by a major power. But Serbia can play this role, disrupting political developments in the surrounding countries, as Russia did in the region," said Dalibor Rohac of the American Enterprise Institute.

According to expert Mirel, as uncertain as the future of Kosovo-Serbia relations is also Russia's position in case the two sides reach an agreement.

"If in two or three years what the US calls a legally binding agreement is reached, which does not necessarily mean recognition of Kosovo by Serbia, but which would allow Kosovo to become part of the United Nations, which would be Russia's position? A few years ago, Russia had said it would respect any decision by Serbia. I would not be surprised if Russia raises a question about Crimea when that happens. And it would seek compensation, for Crimea to be recognized as part of Russia, in exchange for accepting Kosovo's membership in the UN. This is a big question mark," Mirel said.

Major positive changes in the dialogue are not expected even after the Serbian presidential and parliamentary elections that will be held in the spring of this year, Piskevic says. "It will be easier after the elections, because both leaders will have clear mandates. In this respect, yes, we can expect positive moves. But unfortunately I do not think this will have a big impact on the process. A push from the EU is necessary, as a carrot is said to be at the end of the road," she said.

Analysts believe that the European Union should use new means to entice the parties to reach an agreement.

"Instead of the current approach, which could lead to the integration of the Western Balkans in maybe 20 years, we need a step-by-step approach of including all countries, not just Kosovo and Serbia, in the European internal market. Because the Western Balkans is eager for investment. In other words, do not let these countries wait until they join to benefit the billions, but this should be done now, in a step-by-step process, while the countries carry out the necessary reforms,” Mirel said.

Kosovo and Serbia agreed to normalize economic relations in 2020, through an agreement signed in the White House in the presence of former President Donald Trump.

But looking at the situation in the world, Rohach thinks that similar meetings can hardly be repeated. "What happened in 2020, I would say was almost like a historic accident, for the fact that Richard Grenell thought it was important for the White House to engage in a form different from previous administrations. President Trump saw this as a good opportunity to photograph and gain easy international points. But I do not think we will have this luck one more time," Rohac said.

COVID-19: 1,593 new cases, three deaths (media)

1,593 new cases of COVID-19 and three deaths have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its daily report. 2,433 persons recovered during this time. There are 34,208 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Fejzullahu: Energy in the north is a political issue (KTV)

Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) Board Chairman, Ymer Fejzullahu, said in an interview with KTV on Monday evening that citizens in the north of Kosovo never paid for electricity in the post-war period.

Fejzullahu said the issue was discussed in Brussels and that it is a political issue which is now handled by other instances. “This issue is being addressed in Brussels and I hope it will be closed as soon as possible. The ERO was part of delegations in Brussels. We have yet to reach a final solution. We must also take into account that there is also a category of Albanian consumers there that don’t pay their electricity. It is unjust but this is the reality we are living in,” he added.

Balkan parties join rightist summit in Madrid to “Defend Europe” (BIRN)

Far-right leaders from all over Europe gathered in Spain last week to form a united front – but forging a common platform on issues like Russia is proving tricky.

Under the slogan “Defend Europe”, representatives of far-right nationalist parties in Eastern Europe and the Balkans attended a summit in Madrid late last week aiming to forge a common voice in the European Parliament.

Leaders of parties from Hungary and Poland in Central Europe and from Romania and Bulgaria in the Balkans were present alongside Vox party host Santiago Abascal and including two prime ministers, Viktor Orban of Hungary and Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki.

Representatives from Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Estonia, and Lithuania were also present at the event, as was French presidential candidate Marine le Pen, head of the National Rally.

The co-president of Romania’s right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians, AUR, George Simion, told BIRN he attended on the sidelines but did not participate, as the meeting was primarily for parties with seats in the European Parliament.

“The parties that have MEPs met there. But on the summit’s sidelines, we collaborated,” he said.

Spain is the second biggest destination for Romanian emigrant workers, hosting about one million people from the Balkan country. AUR is currently polling at around 20 per cent of the polls after the party entered Romania’s parliament in December 2020.

Bulgaria was represented in Madrid by European Parliamentarian Angel Djambazki, from IMRO, well known in Bulgaria for his socially conservative and anti-LGBT views, and for his criticism of plans to warm up relationships with neighbour North Macedonia and stop blocking its EU ascension talks.

“There’s a war in Europe against national countries,” Djambazki claimed in Madrid, referencing trends towards multiculturalism. He was joined in Spain by longtime IMRO leader Krassimir Karakachanov, Minister of Defence, between 2017 and 2021, and also known for inflammatory remarks through his time in office.

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