• COVID-19: 2,957 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo implements stricter measures as daily cases surpass 2,900 (Exit News)
• Assembly to meet today over possibility of increased energy prices (Koha)
• B2 block resumes operation; Kurti calls it “great news” (media)
• U.S. Department of State: Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize dialogue (RFE)
• Joseph: Ideally, the Association would be negotiated as a final status issue where Serbia recognizes Kosovo (Express)
• Pro-Ukraine positioning; risk of Russian scenario unfolding at Kosovo-Serbia border (Koha Ditore)
• Serb MP challenges Kosovo institutions with public position in Serbia (Koha)

COVID-19: 2,957 new cases, one death (media)

Kosovo has recorded 2,957 new cases with COVID-19 and one death from the virus in the last 24 hours. 458 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 17,743 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo. Telegrafi news website reports that over 15,000 new cases with COVID-19 were confirmed within a week in Kosovo.

Kosovo implements stricter measures as daily cases surpass 2,900 (Exit News)

Kosovo has tightened its pandemic measures as the country recorded an unprecedented 2,943 daily cases on Friday (21 January). Between 22 January and 4 February, curfew will begin at 10 p.m. and last until 5 a.m. Restaurants and cafés will also be required to close at 9 p.m. Gyms will shut down until further notice. Anyone entering Kosovo will be required to show proof of vaccination, including boosters. Alternatively, they can show proof they have received two doses of the vaccine and a negative PCR test taken no later than 48 hours before entering Kosovo. Unvaccinated Kosovo citizens who enter the country are required to quarantine for seven days. Vaccination or a negative PCR test has also become mandatory for all employees, including those employed in the private sector.

Assembly to meet today over possibility of increased energy prices (Koha)

The Kosovo Assembly will hold an extraordinary session today to discuss the possibility of increased energy prices. The session was called by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) in coordination with the other two opposition parties, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK).

B2 block resumes operation; Kurti calls it “great news” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that block B2 of the Kosova B power plant has returned to work on Sunday morning increasing local energy production capacities by 250 megawatts. Kurti said in a Facebook post that this is good news and that this will help Kosovo save around €50,000 which would have been used for importing electricity every hour.

U.S. Department of State: Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize dialogue (RFE)

The United States calls on Kosovo and Serbia to engage in a European Union-mediated dialogue in the "spirit of necessary compromise" to reach an agreement on the normalization of relations.

"We continue to call on Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize the EU-mediated dialogue, to work to minimize tensions and to pursue negotiations with the flexibility and compromise needed to reach a comprehensive normalization agreement that will "enable their respective European path," a State Department spokesman told Radio Free Europe.

The Department of State responded to RFE's questions about a report recently published by the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Foreign Policy (SAIS) and the Wilson Center, which recommended that the U.S. administration impose sanctions on politicians in Kosovo and Albania that promote the unification of both countries with their statements.

"We appreciate the academic and organizational perspective on these issues. The United States is committed to a sovereign, independent, multi-ethnic Kosovo, as enshrined in its Constitution," said the Department of State spokesman, without commenting on the report.

One of the contributors to the report, entitled "From Crisis to Convergence - Strategy to Tackle Instability and Its Source in the Balkans," Lulzim Peci told Radio Free Europe that he sees the U.S. as a real opportunity to sanction politicians who promote the "union" of Kosovo and Albania.

"In the near future, if the main political actors do not change their political positions, I think this option is very real, because, practically, such rhetoric hinders the stabilization of the Balkans, but also the achievement of a solution between Kosovo and Serbia," Peci said.

But the imposition of sanctions on this issue does not seem like a real measure for the expert on political issues, Agon Maliqi.

"The United States has no practice of sanctioning opinions. In such cases, the avoidance of visits or political isolation is practiced," he said.

Recently, the United States has imposed sanctions on politicians in the Western Balkans over allegations of their involvement in corruption.

In May 2021, the former president of Albania, Sali Berisha, was declared 'persona non grata' due to, as Washington said, involvement in widespread corruption.

Meanwhile, on January 5, 2022, the U.S. expanded sanctions against the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, for involvement in corruption and undermining the stability of Bosnia and the region.

Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar has warned that the United States will impose sanctions on other politicians in the region.

The Department of State said the United States is committed to the success of the entire Western Balkans region and the integration of these countries into the EU, including Kosovo "as an independent, sovereign and democratic state."

"The United States is deeply committed to the success of the region and to the Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The Special Envoy for the Western Balkans [Gabriel Escobar], together with the U.S. Ambassadors to Pristina and Belgrade "remain key US interlocutors on these issues," said a State Department spokesman.

Joseph: Ideally, the Association would be negotiated as a final status issue where Serbia recognizes Kosovo (Express)

Edward P. Joseph, professor at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, in an exclusive interview with Gazeta Express explains in detail some of the issues covered in the Report titled: “From Crisis to Convergence: A Strategy to Tackle Instability in the Balkans at its Source,” and the letter that US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, addressed recently to Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.

Edward P. Joseph reveals why the Report recommends sanctioning leaders in Albania or Kosovo who promote any ‘union’ between the two independent countries and appointing a special US envoy for Kosovo recognition by the five EU member states which have not recognised Kosovo so far.

Joseph in his interview also explains in detail the conclusion of the Report about Kosovo Government’s ambiguity related to its geo-strategic orientation, mentioning Trans-Adriatic pipeline. Further Joseph in his interview comments the main messages of US Secretary of State Blinken letter addressed to Kosovo PM Kurti, and Kurti’s announced visit to the US and what should happen with the Agreement on establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities and the issue of Decan Monastery land dispute.

When you talked about sanctions, what exactly did you mean? Ex. Because if there will be sanctions for Prime Minister Kurti from the US,he would have to resign, and that would likely cause another stalemate in the dialogue process.

The proposed sanctions in the report are coupled – intentionally and clearly – with a wider commitment from the US to achieve full international recognition for the Republic of Kosovo – not the Republic of Kosovo and Albania, or similar. Why should the US appoint a Special Envoy for Kosovo Recognition, among other steps in this direction, if Kosovo is working to undermine the concept for Kosovo that the US and its allies hold for the country?

The point is that recognition of Kosovo means Kosovo as a unitary, functional country within its present borders – not in federation or confederation with Albania. Neither ‘Greater Albania’ and ‘Greater Serbia’ is in US interests; it is against US interests.

Nor is it in Kosovo’s interests. For example, Greek recognition could be transformative for Kosovo and the region. But it is clear that Athens – like Washington – does not see stability emerging from any ‘union’ or partition of Kosovo. As we cite in our Johns Hopkins SAIS-Wilson Center report, influential Greek commentators expect a treaty between Pristina and Athens ruling out such adventures.

The threat of sanctions is important for all parties:

For Pristina to understand the principle and vision for Kosovo that attracts US and allied support.

For Athens and other non-recognizers to understand that the US commitment is about backing Kosovo’s sovereignty – not backing dreams of national consolidation of the Albanian people.

For Serbia and its backers in Russia, China and elsewhere to see that the US has a strategic approach, grounded in democratic, multiethnic coexistence – not favoring Albanian national ambitions over Serb national ambitions.

The report also specifies an ambiguity of Kurti regarding the strategic orientation of Kosovo. You mentioned the issue of the US-backed pipeline. So you imply that the issue of the pipeline is not just a matter of “pipes” as Prime Minister Kurti said, but it is a matter of strategic orientation that would repel Russian influence in the region.

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline is part of wider strategy to diversify energy sources in the region. Given the current threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine – where Moscow uses the implicit threat of cutting off energy supplies to Europe – the need to diversify is obvious. The electricity crisis in Kosovo, and the hike in prices, makes the case for the TAP even more logical. It was good that Kosovo Foreign Minister Gervalla discussed the pipeline among other issues, in her meeting yesterday with Greek Foreign Minister Dendias. This meeting was another good sign for the ‘convergence’ approach that we recommend in our SAIS-Wilson Center report.

How long has this whole report taken you, has there been an issue that you did not agree with the co-authors. If yes, on what issues? And Have you sent this report to important addresses of international political decision-making?

This report is the result of lengthy reflection, initiated by me in the fall of 2020 with the anticipated election of Joe Biden as President. I have worked in and on the region almost since war broke out in Bosnia (I arrived in August, 1992, three months after the start of the war.) I’ve served in all conflict areas during the wars: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. I also served as Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, including in 2012. I negotiated the agreement to hold Serbian national elections in Kosovo in May, 2012.

As we write in the report, the alarming deterioration in the region is a ‘voluntary.’ The US, EU and NATO hold the strategic advantage over the entire region (unlike in Ukraine.) It is simply unfathomable that thirty-years after war broke out, there is again talk of war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, confrontation in Kosovo and unprecedented tensions in Montenegro.

The report tackles the core question: why are the Balkans still in such disarray after so many years and so much effort? We identify the source: Serbia’s inability to accept the Western order. We identify the reason for this inability: the leverage that Serbia holds over Kosovo – and the US and EU. We identify the solution to this condition: erode, and eventually eliminate Serbian leverage over Kosovo. This is done through change in the positions of the four NATO countries that don’t recognize Kosovo: Greece; Spain; Slovakia; and Romania. We spell out how this can be accomplished in a very practical way, working principally with Greece and principally within NATO.

Did you have the chance to read the letter from Secretary Blinken to Prime Minister Kurti, and what are your conclusions for that letter?

Yes, I read the letter and it’s very clear: it’s a positive, supportive letter from Secretary Blinken, aimed at reinforcing the efforts of the two named US diplomats, Ambassador Hovenier and Special Envoy Escobar. Secretary Blinken is setting the expectation of cooperation on the specific issues cited in the letter. The letter is drafted diplomatically.

Starting by the end of last year, PM Kurti mentioned a possible visit to the US. Last time when Kurti talked about this possible visit to Washington said that he may will travel to DC on the beginning of 2022. Do you see this letter of Secretary Blinken as a sign “cancelation” of this possible visit of PM Kurti to Washington? I mean do you see any reason for Kurti to visit Washington after that letter which contains everything?

This letter has no such connection to a visit, and the word ‘cancellation’ should not be used in connection with this letter. It represents the expectations of the US on key American priorities. Of course, whether such a visit happens and at what level is another matter. Such visits are always linked to the state of relations and developments. No doubt Washington is looking for progress on the issues cited in the letter, and that could indeed be a factor.

Do you believe that PM Kurti will fulfill those US requests on Blinken’s letter, based on Kurti’s past and political stands and activity (Association of Serbs municipalities and Decani’s Monastery).

I won’t predict what PM Kurti will do. I can state that I see the ‘Association/Community of Serb Majority Municipalities’ as a distinct matter from Decani Monastery and related judicial rulings. Kosovo, unlike Serbia, is a democracy headed in the right direction, with growing respect for rule of law. Respecting the rulings of the Constitutional Court is an ironclad obligation for Prime Minister Kurti – or any Kosovo Prime Minister. The ‘Association/Community’ is an obligation of a different sort; this is a political matter linked to a wider process with Serbia. Ideally, the ‘Association/Community’ would be negotiated as a final status issue, as part of the settlement wherein Belgrade recognizes Pristina. Putting this ahead of final status creates complexities in the EU-led Dialogue, where Belgrade already holds the strategic advantage. (Belgrade is satisfied if nothing happens in the Dialogue, leaving Kosovo in its current limbo position.)

The relations of the Kosovo Serb community as a bloc – and with Belgrade – are directly linked to Kosovo’s sovereignty and internal functionality. At the same time, formally Kosovo is obligated on the ‘Association/Community.’ The US and EU should find ways to address this negotiating challenge. In our report, we recommend advancing Kosovo’s relationship with NATO, for example, bringing Kosovo into NATO’s Partnership for Peace, among other steps. This can solidify Kosovo’s position making some progress on the ‘Association/Community’ possible, although final negotiation awaits a final settlement.

Pro-Ukraine positioning; risk of Russian scenario unfolding at Kosovo-Serbia border (Koha Ditore)

The daily reports on its front page this morning that Kosovo’s positioning in Ukraine’s side, amid threats of war from Russia, is seen as a natural and geostrategic decision. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani lately shared a post by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking for help in the face of the Russian threat, saying that “the Republic of Kosovo stands with Ukraine”.

Daniel Serwer, US analyst on the Balkans, said this is a natural position of Kosovo. “As a country with a Western orientation and with aspirations to join NATO, Kosovo naturally considers that a Russian aggression against a sovereign country would be bad,” Serwer told Koha.

The daily recalls that Kosovo stood with Ukraine, which doesn’t recognise Kosovo’s independence, even in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. The government in Prishtina at the time even joined the West in imposing sanctions against Moscow. But this did not change Ukraine’s position on Kosovo.

Driton Arifi, a professor of international relations in Prishtina, said now is not the time to seek recognition from Ukraine. “As far as Kosovo’s positioning about the situation in Ukraine is concerned, this is more about Kosovo’s geostrategic position toward the Western world, namely toward NATO and U.S. foreign policy interests. Whether Kosovo can ask for more in exchange for its support, I don’t think this is the right time. The situation in Ukraine is very serious and with high danger,” he said.

Serb MP challenges Kosovo institutions with public position in Serbia (Koha)

Koha reports that the Serbian List MP Igor Simic is identified as the head of the Republican Disability Pension Fund of Serbia for Kosovo. His position does not only appear on its official website, but also in the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency, where he has declared income from this position.

It has been 10 years since the beginning of the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, which are not only expected to abolish the parallel structures, but also to resolve the Pension Fund of contributors before the war.

The government of Kosovo has not indicated whether they have at least asked the member of the Assembly of Kosovo about the parallel fund he leads, and it remains unclear whether the pre-war contributions were managed there.

Retirement representatives seek urgent solutions to these contributions, especially knowing that there are retirees who have died without ever enjoying them.

"It is an extremely high priority, because there are let us say some 30-40 thousand pensioners who were retired before the war. If they had received those pensions now in Serbia with the amount they received them then, a pension would have been much higher than the €100 in our country. It would have been 300, 200 or 500," Ramiz Mustafa, chairman of the Association of Pensioners said.

According to Mustafa, Kosovo and Serbia did not reach an agreement the last time they discussed the issue of the Pension Fund in 2013. Meanwhile, at least during the Kurti 1 Government, it was said that the issue of the Pension Fund should be resolved through dialogue.

The EU Office in Kosovo has not provided a clear answer regarding the inclusion of this issue in the dialogue.

"We expect Kosovo and Serbia to make rapid progress in the negotiations for the legally binding normalization agreement, which should address the key unresolved issues between the parties in a consistent manner. The specific topics and elements of this agreement, as well as the pace of negotiations, are determined by the parties - but from the EU point of view the issue is urgent, as the status quo is not stable for either party," the EU Office in Kosovo said in a statement.

By formalizing his position in parallel structures in the state documentation of Kosovo, MP Simic has challenged the institutions, but the government has not commented on this.

Government’s Media Office has not responded to Koha’s insistence on addressing these issues in dialogue, but also on the challenge from the MP.

Neither MP Simic himself nor the Pension Fund of Serbia responded, the article notes.