UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 7, 2023

Kurti: We do accept EU proposal for normalisation of relations (media)
Kosovo says 'yes' to EU's peace deal with Serbia, with caveats – PM (Reuters)
Lajcak: All agreements signed must be implemented (media)
Kurti meets Quint ambassadors; “ready for next high-level meeting” (media)
“By accepting French-German plan, Kurti gave direction to secret deal” (Koha)
Tahiri: Kurti has taken over steering wheel to form the Association (media)
The Americans don’t stop; continue meetings on Association (Gazeta 10)
KSF contingent for humanitarian operations departs for Turkey (media)
Kosovo pledges support for Turkey, Syria after quakes (Prishtina Insight)
President Osmani will meet Montenegrin President Djukanovic today (media)
Two false bomb threats at Pristina International Airport on Monday (media)
Serbian PM apologizes for official reference to ‘Republic of Kosovo’ (RFE)

Kurti: We do accept EU proposal for normalisation of relations (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Monday that Kosovo accepts the EU proposal for the normalisation of relations with Serbia. After meeting EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, Kurti tweeted: “Good exchange with EU special envoy @MiroslavLajcak over a working lunch in Prishtina. We do accept the EU proposal for normalization of relations between Kosova and Serbia and consider it a good basis for further discussion and a solid platform for moving forward. Certain questions on international guarantees, implementation mechanisms and time sequencing will be addressed soon during the Brussels talks ahead. Democratic concepts of European orientation make us hopeful.”

Kosovo says 'yes' to EU's peace deal with Serbia, with caveats – PM (Reuters)

Kosovo's prime minister Albin Kurti said on Monday he accepted a proposed European Union plan aimed at normalising relations with Serbia despite concerns over Western demands to give more rights to local Serbs that have so far hindered a peace deal.

Last month Western envoys told Kosovo and Serbia they should state whether they accept an 11-point plan meant to defuse tensions lingering since the 1998-99 war or face repercussions from the EU and United States.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a decade after a guerrilla uprising against Belgrade's rule. Over the past decade the two have been holding normalisation talks under EU mediation, with their success key for Pristina's and Belgrade's aspirations to join the wealthy bloc.

The 11-point plan calls for implementation of past deals, including the creation of an association of semi-autonomous Serb-majority municipalities that Kurti has opposed, saying it would effectively partition the country along ethnic lines, a criticism rejected by Western mediators.

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3l5DokO

Lajcak: All agreements signed must be implemented (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said the reasons for his visit to Kosovo on Monday is the issue of the European plan and the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, Telegrafi reports. Media report that U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, also attended the meeting between Lajcak and Kurti.

Asked about the formation of the Association, Lajcak said it is known that everything that has been signed must be implemented. “Kurti’s conditions were mentioned too. For us it is important to reach an agreement on the normalisation of relations,” he told the media.

Gazeta Express quotes Lajcak as saying about the six points, “We talked about the issue and I informed the Prime Minister about our position, but I don’t want to make public the legal analysis. It was useful that we discussed this”. Lajcak also said that he discussed with Kurti “preparations for a high-level constructive meeting” with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Radio Free Europe highlights Lajcak’s statement that they discussed everything related to the dialogue and that all agreements signed between Kosovo and Serbia must be implemented.

Lajcak said he will visit Belgrade on Monday evening and that this is his tenth visit to Kosovo since September. After his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Lajcak tweeted: “I travelled to Pristina to meet PM @albinkurti and DPM @BislimiBesnik and to Belgrade to do the same with @predsednikrs @avucic and @PetkovicPetar. I’m glad that Kosovo now also accepted the EU Proposal in principle. We will continue our discussions at a High-level Meeting.”

Kurti meets Quint ambassadors; “ready for next high-level meeting” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, hosted a meeting today with the Quint ambassadors in Pristina. The meeting focused on the process of dialogue, the European proposal, and the way forward, a press release issued by Kurti’s office notes.

Kurti informed the ambassadors about the positions of the Kosovo government, including the six points presented in the Assembly Session last week regarding the Brussels agreement of 2013. He said that Kosovo has proven its commitment to dialogue through a constructive approach and creative proposals. Kurti also expressed his readiness for the next high-level political meetings in Brussels and the intensification of the dialogue process for the full normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia with mutual recognition at the centre.

“By accepting French-German plan, Kurti gave direction to a secret deal” (Koha)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi said on Monday that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accepted the French-German plan without telling the people about the content of the plan. “By doing this, he gave direction of an agreement in secret, without any transparency, leaving many questions that concern our citizens unanswered. What happened to his conditions? Which of them were met and which were not? Have Serbia’s conditions been included in the plan? Is it in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and does it include the formation of the Association? Above all, does it include mutual recognition?” Krasniqi asked in a Facebook post.

Tahiri: Kurti has taken over steering wheel to form the Association (media)

Head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, Abelard Tahiri, argued on Monday that Kurti has taken over the steering wheel for forming the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. He said after the meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency that Kurti’s meeting with Lajcak is “in the series of the Prime Minister’s engagement to form the Association”. “As far the six-point plan is concerned … this plan represents a radical change in the Prime Minister’s position. Today we have a new situation; there is a new engagement in the dialogue by the Prime Minister and his partners to form what was yesterday called ‘Zajednica’ and what we called the Association. Namely, the Prime Minister today has entered an agenda to form this institution,” Tahiri said.

The Americans don’t stop; continue meetings on Association (Gazeta 10)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, will organise another meeting with civil society representatives to discuss on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. This was announced by Kushtrim Sadiku, author of the show “Politiko”. He said that Hovenier has officially sent the invitation and that a series of meetings will be held to hear the opinions of civil society about the agreement on the Association. According to Sadiku, the discussion will be held in Hovenier’s residence.

KSF contingent for humanitarian operations departs for Turkey (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Facebook post on Monday that “with a government decision, a contingent of the Kosovo Security Force for humanitarian operations departed this evening for Turkey, to come to the aid of Turkish institutions and people hit by the earthquake”.

“We stand in solidarity and beside the people and state of Turkey in these difficult tiems. We hope and wish that this tragedy passes with as few victims as possible,” Kurti said.

Kosovo pledges support for Turkey, Syria after quakes (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovo has expressed its readiness to support Turkey and Syria, where at least 2,300 people have been killed after two powerful earthquakes struck within 12 hours.

The government of Kosovo has expressed its condolences to the victims of the two earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday.

“The Republic of Kosovo and the people of Kosovo in these difficult moments are at the highest level of readiness for support and solidarity,” the announcement of the government said.

President Vjosa Osmani said Kosovo is ready to provide support through the Kosovo Security Force, KSF.

“My condolences to all the citizens affected by the devastating earthquake in Turkey. My deepest condolences to all the lives lost and I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured. Full solidarity with the people of Turkey,” Osmani wrote on Twitter.

Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz said that she had contacted her counterpart in Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and expressed her country’s ”deepest condolences for the loss of lives caused by the terrible earthquake.”

“We hope that those still missing will be rescued soon. Kosovo stands ready to help in every possible way,” Gervalla added on Twitter.

Two powerful earthquakes struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing at least 2,300 people.