UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 11, 2021

Kurti meets new U.S. Ambassador: We will stand in unshakable alliance (media)
Hovenier's mission in Kosovo, to complete unfinished business (Koha)
Kurti: We will take Kosovo Telecom out of the crisis and put it on the development tracks (media)
European Parliament President David Sassoli dies at 65 (media)
Can Serbs from Kosovo vote in Serbia's referendum? (RFE)
Specialist Chambers confirm Kadri Veseli was granted custodial visit to Kosovo (Express)
Under tight security measures, Veseli concludes visit to Kosovo (media)
COVID-19: 236 new cases, no deaths (media)
Great Britain’s Special Envoy, Stuart Peach: We support ‘Open Balkan’ (euronews.al)
Kosovo protesters urge Serbia to free war crimes defendant (BIRN)
‘Active Citizens’ Charge Officials With Destroying Mirusha Waterfall (BIRN)

Kurti meets new U.S. Ambassador: We will stand in unshakable alliance (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti this Monday held the first meeting with the new Ambassador of the United States of America in Kosovo Jeffery Hovenier.

Kurti said on Twitter that "our nations will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder in an unshakable alliance based on history and our mutual pursuits of democracy and justice.”

Hovenier meanwhile tweeted: "In my first meeting with PM @AlbinKurti as @USAmbKosovo, I committed to lead a whole-of-government approach to advance shared U.S.-Kosovo priorities. The U.S. and I personally treasure this country, its people, and our relationship."

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffery Hovenier was also received by the President Vjosa Osmani yesterday and said that the United States would support the government of Kosovo in the rule of law and the development of institutions. He also met with Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla.

Hovenier's mission in Kosovo, to complete unfinished business (Koha)

On the day he presented credential papers to President Vjosa Osmani, the new U.S. Ambassado Jeffrey Hovenier, put the focus of his engagement on unfinished work Kosovo has, Koha Ditore reports on the front page. It adds: Aftere meeting President Osmani, Hovenier paid his respects to Ibrahim Rugova by visiting the monument erected in his honour and concluded his meetings with Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

The paper also notes that Hovenier returned to Kosovo as he was involved in negotiations that led Kosovo towards declaration of independence. “I want to thank the people of Kosovo for their work in building a successful state. It has been an honor for me to have worked in processes related to Kosovo and it will be an honor to work here. There is a lot of work to be done, same as in every other country. The United States is a stable partner of Kosovo. President Biden entrusted me with this job at a time when there is still unfinished business,” Hovenier said.

Kurti: We will take Kosovo Telecom out of the crisis and put it on the development tracks (media)

We are interested in making Telecom, Vala a leader in Kosovo, as it has been, said the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti during his visit to Telecom of Kosovo. He stressed that for this reason the government has provided financial support in the year we left behind.

“For 2022, we are interested that together, both the Government and Telecom of Kosovo finally bring Telecom out of the crisis and put it on the development tracks for the benefit of the citizens of the Republic as consumers and the state of Kosovo,” he said.

“The board, management and employees of Telecom of Kosovo were congratulated by the Prime Minister for the work and commitment they have done during 2021, but also earlier. Many of the workers here have recovered Telecom of Kosovo, after the liberation of the country, while more than a decade ago they brought dividends of millions to the budget of Kosovo,” said the Prime Minister as quoted by a press release issued by the Government of Kosovo.

Together with the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, the Minister of Finance, Labour and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, the Prime Minister Kurti met the board members and management of this public enterprise, and visited the plant, where he met the engineers who enable the operation of Kosovo Telecom.

The Government’s commitment to support public enterprises, and in particular Telecom of Kosovo, was reiterated, with high expectations from the new boards and new management structures, in particular for enforcing the law and stopping the abuses that have characterized the enterprises in the past, increasing performance and competitiveness, as well as reducing operating costs.

In the meeting, the Chief Executive of Telecom of Kosovo, Mrs. Burbuqe Hana, was thanked for her efforts in putting the Telecom of Kosovo back to “where it belongs, as the epicentre of telecommunications in Kosovo.”

European Parliament President David Sassoli dies at 65 (media)

Kosovo-based media quote international news agencies reporting that the president of the European Parliament David Sassoli has died at the age of 65 following hospitalisation.

"The president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, passed away at 1.15 a.m. on January 11 at the hospital in Aviano, Italy," his spokesman, Roberto Cuillo said on Twitter.

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti tweeted: "We are sad to learn of the passing of David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, a friend to Kosova and a man who truly brought European values into EU institutions. We will miss him terribly."

Can Serbs from Kosovo vote in Serbia's referendum? (RFE)

Members of the Serb community in Kosovo will be able to vote in Serbia's referendum through mail or through Serbia's Liaison Office in Kosovo, officials from the Government of Kosovo told Radio Free Europe.

Kosovo Government officials said that there will be no polls opening at Serb-majority areas in Kosovo for the referendum. "We have offered the opportunity to vote by mail or through the Liaison Office of Serbia in Kosovo, which is also a result of the agreement reached in Brussels in 2012," the Government said in a reply. "At the same time, there needs to be a distinction between an exclusively internal issue of a country and elections. In the specific case, Serbia is organising a referendum on Serbia's state system and order, namely the justice system, as part of Vucic's tendency to portray Serbia as a democratic and modern country," the Government added.

Enver Hasani, University of Pristina professor on international law, said that the Government of Kosovo in entitled to not allow Serbia's referendum taking place in Kosovo. "A constitutional referendum is always a manifestation of the state and national sovereignty of a country," he said.

Artan Muhaxhiri, political commentator, meanwhile said: "It [Kosovo Government of Kosovo] stands to gain a great deal if it does not allow the referendum to be held, as this would be the first time that the citizens of Kosovo are shown that such events can be prevented and can be considered as a new stage in institutional relations between Kosovo and Serbia. At the same time, caution must be exercised in ensuring that such a decision does not adversely affect relations with the United States and the European Union."

Specialist Chambers confirm Kadri Veseli was granted custodial visit to Kosovo (Express)

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) has confirmed that due to compelling humanitarian grounds, the Pre-Trial Judge has instructed the Registry to manage a custodial visit of Kadri Veseli to Kosovo to meet family.

The KSC said in a statement that the accused remains in pre-trial detention and in the custody of the Specialist Chambers. “EULEX and Kosovo Police are supporting the Kosovo Specialist Chambers,” according to the KSC statement.

The KSC has not provided additional details on Veseli’is custodial visit. “Due to operational reasons and to respect the privacy of Mr. Veseli we cannot provide additional information for the cuystical visit in Kosovo,” the KSC spokesperson Michael Doyle told Gazeta Express.

Under tight security measures, Veseli concludes visit to Kosovo (media)

After being granted provisional release by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, former Assembly Kadri Veseli concluded his visit to Kosovo following the death of his mother on Sunday. The visit to his family home in Mitrovica was conducted under tight security measures.

Media report that Veseli visited his mother's grave during the visit, his family home, and left under EULEX escort.

Kadri Veseli is in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers detention in the Hague facing war crime charges for his role in KLA during 1998-1999 Kosovo war.

COVID-19: 236 new cases, no deaths (media)

236 new cases with COVID-19 were confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. Eight persons recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 1,780 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Great Britain’s Special Envoy, Stuart Peach: We support ‘Open Balkan’ (euronews.al)

Great Britain’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, visited Tirana early this week. During his meeting with officials at the Ministry for Europe and foreign affairs, the British diplomat praised the role of Albanians in the region.

“I commend the role of Albania as a stabilizing force in the region,” – said Peach.

During a conversation with students and young diplomats, Stuart Peach commented on the Open Balkan initiative, which has been undertaken by Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia, but refused by the rest of the Balkan countries, saying that he supports it, for as long as it doesn’t hamper any other parallel initiatives.

“Based on my role and our experiences, we respect Albania’s government and its sovereignty. These kinds of initiatives complement one another and shouldn’t be seen as rivals, in a race between existing and new endeavors. We honestly do support it, for as long as they don’t become a reason for [unnecessary] rivalry,” – he said.

The goal of Stuart Peach’s visit is regional security, NATO cooperation, the UN Security Council as well as the 100th anniversary of bilateral relations between both of our countries.

Kosovo protesters urge Serbia to free war crimes defendant (BIRN)

Protesters gathered in Pristina to call for the release of Nezir Mehmetaj, an alleged former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter who is on trial in Serbia for alleged killings and looting during wartime.

A group of relatives and supporters of Nezir Mehmetaj, an ethnic Albanian who has been in detention in Serbia for two years and went on trial last year on war crime charges, demonstrated on Monday in front of the government building in Kosovo’s capital Pristina.

Mehmetaj’s relative Verona Mehmetaj said that he was clearly innocent because he was not in Kosovo during the 1998-99 war.

“He has been employed in Switzerland for 30 years, and was not involved in the recent war in Kosovo,” Verona Mehmetaj said at the protest.

Nezir Mehmetaj was arrested two years ago at the Merdare border crossing between Kosovo and Serbia. He has been in detention in Serbia ever since.

He is accused of participation in war crimes against civilians in the village of Rudice in the Klina municipality of Kosovo in June and July 1999.