UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 11, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo proved will for de-escalation, by offering to hold elections in north (media)

Kurti: International soft policy towards Serbia will not work (BBC)

Lajcak on de-escalation of situation in north: We agreed on the first steps (RTK)

Bislimi confirms they agreed with Lajcak on steps for de-escalation (Reporteri)

Germany: We don’t need tensions in the Balkans (Deutsche Welle)

Kurti and Hovenier meet representatives of businesses in Kosovo (RTK)

Hovenier: Tensions, instability negatively affect investment climate (Reporteri)

Mehaj expresses regret for Hungarian soldier: criminals should be punished (RTK)

Kusari-Lila: Wiretapping, an attempt to tarnish the government (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Lajcak, Bislimi agree steps for de-escalation (N1)

Office for KiM on returnee’s house arson: An attempt to prevent return of displaced persons (Radio KIM)

Vucic: We are trying to make relations with Montenegro incomparably better (Tanjug)

Milatovic: My visit turns new page in Serbia-Montenegro relations (Tanjug)

Moliqaj on situation in north, says Bislimi announces ‘withdrawal’ and Kurti ‘battles’ (Kosovo Online)

KoSSev on conversation between Simic and Kusari (KoSSev)

International Media:

Assembly of Kosovo honors victims of Srebrenica genocide (euronews.al)

Kosovo Indicts Roma Ex-Member of Serbian Forces for War Crime (BIRN)

Dismissal of Police Special Investigations Director Raises Political Concern (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Kosovo proved will for de-escalation, by offering to hold elections in north (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, after meeting German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde on Monday, said that Kosovo has proved its will for de-escalation by offering to hold elections in the north and that it will overcome current challenges together with its partners. The meeting focused on the security situation in Kosovo, with special emphasis on the north and the engagement of Kosovo’s institutions for de-escalation.

Kurti: International soft policy towards Serbia will not work (BBC)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in an interview with the BBC on Monday that the international factor is engaged in soft policy towards Serbia in order to distance it from Russian influence, a policy that according to him will not work. He said that Kosovo should not pay for this. "In my opinion, what they are trying to do is to be soft on Serbia in an attempt to remove it from the influence of the Kremlin, and I think that this policy will not work. I have no other explanation why they are tolerating so much. I don't know how to explain to myself and others how gentle they are with Belgrade. I think they are so worried about the possibility of spreading to the Balkans and this is realistic due to Belgrade's connection with Moscow, but they also know that the Serbian ruler in Belgrade is not democratic and has a lot of power. This kind of hegemonic regional power that can indirectly connect him with Moscow is causing a lot of fear in the West and for which I believe that the Republic of Kosovo should not pay," he said.

Kurti added that what the government is doing in the north is the rule of law. "To a democrat, I am a social democrat. Towards an autocrat, I must also be a sovereignist. What we are doing in the north is the rule of law as sovereignty and sovereignty as the rule of law," he argued.

Regarding the de-escalation of the situation in the north, Kurti said that he offered to hold early elections in the four northern municipalities as soon as possible.

“We coordinate and communicate regularly with the EU and the USA, but then I have to respect and implement the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo".

"We are coordinated, this does not mean that we agree on all issues".

Listen to the interview at: https://t.ly/p675

Lajcak on de-escalation of situation in north: We agreed on the first steps (RTK)

EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, said on Monday that they have agreed with the Kurti government on the first steps to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo. Lajcak shared a photo on Twitter with Kosovo’s deputy prime minister Besnik Bislimi, as he said that everything is in accordance with the June 3 agreement. “Held intense bilateral discussions today in Bratislava with DPM Besnik Bislimi on de-escalation of the situation in north Kosovo, in line with the EU27 statement from 3 June, and the way forward in implementing all Dialogue Agreements. We agreed on the first steps towards this goal,” Lajcak tweeted.

Bislimi confirms they agreed with Lajcak on steps for de-escalation (Reporteri)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi confirmed on Monday that they have agreed with the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak on the steps that lead to the escalation of the situation in the north of Kosovo. “Met with the EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, to discuss the next steps on the full and fair implementation of the Basic Agreement and its Annex. Agreed on the necessary steps to secure effective and as-percribed-by-law de-escalation, focus on normalization and rule of law implementation," Bislimi tweeted.

Germany: We don’t need tensions in the Balkans (Deutsche Welle)

On the eve of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, government circles in Germany have reiterated the importance that the lowering of tensions in the Balkans have for the geopolitical situation in Europe. A senior German government official said in a meeting with reporters in Berlin that Pristina and Belgrade must return to the table of talks.

“Our focus is for both parties to implement what they have pledged, especially in Belgrade, but in Kosovo too,” the official said referring to the French-German plan and the agreement reached in February and March this year. “The next step is for both parties to take part in the EU-led talks and then to constructively negotiate on the Association of Serb-municipalities”.

The official also said: “I believe this [NATO] Summit is a good opportunity for all to think about the geopolitical situation … What we really don’t need during this tense geopolitical situation is tensions in the Balkans and we believe they can be avoided”.

Commenting on an earlier statement by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama that if Kosovo continues to self-isolate by not meeting the demands of the EU, a KFOR republic can be created in the north, the German official said that “these visions of the Albanian Prime Minister are very far-fetched”. But he said that the German Chancellor is “in intensive communication with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, on overall issues of stability in the Balkans”. The official also called for the implementation of the Ohrid agreement: “it is time for all the parties involved to implement what has been agreed upon.”

The news agency asked the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs if Berlin intends to introduce penalty measures against Serbia for refusing to sign the Ohrid accord. The Ministry said that “as with Kosovo, we expect Serbia too to contribute actively in the de-escalation of the situation. Serbia needs to engage clearly in the implementation of the Ohrid accord, which it agreed to early this year and it should not question the validity and its binding nature”.

“Given the tense situation – as we have done with Kosovo – we are considering, not only within the EU, but also on the bilateral plan, what measures can be taken towards Serbia, for example by suspending projects and formats of cooperation,” the Ministry said.

Kurti and Hovenier meet representatives of businesses in Kosovo (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, together with U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier, held a joint meeting with representatives of Kosovo businesses on Monday. A press release, issued by Kurti’s office notes that they discussed opportunities and challenges in the private sector, with an emphasis on the financing of business expansion and the workforce, as well as ways to attract even more direct foreign investments in Kosovo. "The purpose of this meeting was to advance communication between the government and the private sector, as a step towards strengthening cooperation with the private sector for sustainable economic development of the country,” the press release notes.

Hovenier: Tensions, instability negatively affect investment climate (Reporteri)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier gave details about the meeting that he and Prime Minister Albin Kurti held on Monday with the business community. "Participated in an important conversation today between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and business leaders on the need to strengthen cooperation and enhance dialogue between the government and the private sector. We also discussed how increased tensions and instability negatively impact the investment climate," Hovenier wrote on Twitter.

Mehaj expresses regret for Hungarian soldier: Criminals should be punished (RTK)

Kosovo Minister of Defense, Armend Mehaj, has expressed regret for the Hungarian soldier who was injured in the north, whose leg was amputated. "I express my regret upon receiving the information that the Hungarian KFOR soldier, injured by Serbian criminal groups during the protests in Zvecan, had to have his leg amputated by the doctors due to his serious health condition at the National Institute of Medical Rehabilitation in Hungary. I wish that the other 26 wounded Hungarian soldiers recover as soon as possible, and continue their engagement within the KFOR mission,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Mehaj also said that "criminal groups responsible for the attack on KFOR members must receive the deserved punishment, because violence is unacceptable and no form can repel the exercise of law and order, indisputable democratic means, rightful and necessary for the security of the country and of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo".

Kusari-Lila: Wiretapping, an attempt to tarnish the government (RTK)

After Nacional news website published on Monday a recorded conversations between Vetevendosje parliamentary group chief Mimoza Kusari-Lila and then-MP from the Serbian List Slavko Simic, Kusari-Lila said that it has been 15 months since the Serbian List has not been part of the Assembly, while the communication at that time, according to her, was entirely based on communication within the Assembly and within the session agenda.

"There have been three agendas continuously that have conveyed this communication. There was the Law on Official Holidays, the Law on Religious Freedoms as well as the requests that they have put forward from time to time in relation to the means of transport, be they mortuary or ambulatory, and the Law on Local Self-Government,” Kusari-Lila said.

Nacionale claims that the recordings were made in June of last year in Kusari’s office. At the beginning of the conversation, former MP Simic mentions to Kusari-Lila a conversation that the latter had with Milan Radoicic, who is on the U.S. blacklist, suspected of murdering Oliver Ivanovic and suspected of the Brezovica case.

Kusari-Lila said that her only contacts from the Serbian List were the two representatives in the Assembly of Kosovo, the SL parliamentary group chief Igor Simic and the then vice-president of the chairmanship, Slavko Simic, “who have now shown that despite the efforts for any normality in the sense of representing interests, they have abnormal communication and behavior, even these claims or assumptions of a portal in particular, show their desperate attempt to show a different view of what is happening on the ground”.

Kusari-Lila argued the recording is an attempt "to tarnish first the government, the Prime Minister and then the government". "To me the manner is a bit too absurd, but I'm still here for anyone who has questions or comments on the matter. No, in fact, I have neither a number nor communication with Milan Radoicic. I mentioned them, there were two institutional representatives here, while all the time I refused or resisted communication with him, and the communication that the Serbian List had with Milan Radoicic is their matter, they have him as deputy leader,” she said.

‘The Kurti government has returned the indictment and the arrest warrant, therefore even at the moment when he will be caught, wherever he will get caught, he will be arrested. Therefore, there is no space here for any other communication in relation to this person,” Kusari-Lila said.

Serbian Language Media

Lajcak, Bislimi agree steps for de-escalation (N1)

European Union special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Miroslav Lajcak said that he and Kosovo deputy prime minister Besnik Bislimi met in Bratislava on Monday and agreed on the first steps towards a de-escalation of the situation in north Kosovo, N1 reports.

Lajcak said in a Twitter post that he held intense discussions with Bislimi on “de-escalation of the situation in north Kosovo, in line with the EU27 statement from 3 June, and the way forward in implementing all Dialogue Agreements”. “We agreed on the first steps towards this goal”, he added.

Bislimi said in a separate Twitter post that they discussed “ the next steps on the full and fair implementation of the Basic Agreement and its Annex”. “Agreed on the necessary steps to secure effective & as-prescribed-by-law deescalation, focus on normalization and rule of law implementation”, he added.

Office for KiM on returnee’s house arson: An attempt to prevent return of displaced persons (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija said that setting the house built for the returnee Jozic family in the village of Veric, Istok, on fire, has been frequent occurrence unfortunately, which as they said confirms incapability, and lack of willingness on the side of Pristina to create conditions conducive for coexistence in Kosovo, Radio KIM reports.

“Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija face obviously organized attempts by extremists to burden or prevent return of the displaced persons to the most possible extent, and such practise is mostly present in Metohija, where Serbs were forced to the massive explosion”, the Office said in a statement.

It added that the international community, as the responsible party in Kosovo, is obliged to finally invest the most serious efforts in order to restrain “the brutal campaign” of preventing displaced persons to return to their home places.

The Office also said that “silence and lack of decisive reactions also means consenting to the consequences of this tragic ethnic cleansing” and support to extremists.

The Jozic family received the keys of their newly built home on Friday, and planned to move in but waited for the furniture to arrive. The house was set on fire on Sunday evening.

Vucic: We are trying to make relations with Montenegro incomparably better (Tanjug)

Serbia is trying to advance its ties with Montenegro and make them incomparably better, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after meeting with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic in Belgrade on Monday.

"It is my great honor to have the opportunity to host President Milatovic in Belgrade on his first official visit to Belgrade as President of Montenegro", Vucic said at the Palace of Serbia.

He said meetings held on Sunday and Monday had confirmed that a strengthening of bilateral ties and the closest possible cooperation brought huge mutual benefits.

"Our good relations are important for the sake of the citizens of our countries and the citizens must feel those benefits", he said. He said the two countries had a high volume of bilateral trade that was the highest in the world relative to the size of their populations.

"For us, Montenegro is an extremely important partner not only because of the economy and numbers, but also because of the traditional closeness and connections between our citizens, the large number of Serbs living in Montenegro and vice versa. Those are very important things for us, too, and that is why we are trying to advance our relations to make them incomparably better than they used to be", Vucic said.

Milatovic: My visit turns new page in Serbia-Montenegro relations (Tanjug)

Montenegro is a friend to Serbia and Serbia is a friend to Montenegro, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic said in Belgrade on Monday, noting that his visit to the Serbian capital turned a new page in Serbia-Montenegro relations, Tanjug news agency reports.

At a press conference after a meeting with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, Milatovic publicly invited the Serbian President to pay an official visit to Podgorica so that they could again demonstrate they had turned a new page in bilateral relations.

"I welcome any initiative aimed at advancing ties with countries in the region... Serbia and Montenegro are connected by a common history, tradition and lively economic cooperation... With this visit, Serbia and Montenegro turn a new page, Montenegro is a friend to Serbia and Serbia is a friend to Montenegro", Milatovic said.

Moliqaj on situation in north, says Bislimi announces ‘withdrawal’ and Kurti ‘battles’ (Kosovo Online)

President of the Social Democratic Party Dardan Moliqaj reacting to the news that EU special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Miroslav Lajcak and Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi agreed on the first steps for de-escalation in northern Kosovo during a meeting in Bratislava, said it demonstrates as it was the case until now that Prime Minister Albin Kurti “announces the battles” while Bislimi announces “withdrawal”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“Kurti announces ‘battles’ and Bislimi announces withdrawals. It has always been that way, so it is this time as well”, Moliqaj wrote in a post on Facebook.

According to him, the steps go in line with the June 3 request that Lulzim Hetemi (Albanian Leposavic mayor from the ranks of Self-determination) leave the building, police to withdraw and to continue with establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities. He also asked what Kosovo gained from that virtual flame of populism, adding it has received nothing.

KoSSev on conversation between Simic and Kusari (KoSSev)

An audio recording of an alleged conversation that took place last June between the Vice President of Serbian List, Slavko Simic, and the head of the parliamentary group of Self-Determination, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, in her office, captured the attention of the Kosovo public, KoSSev portal writes yesterday.

In what was clearly a recording, which took place in a relaxed atmosphere over coffee, they can be heard exchanging information about Serbian List Vice President Milan Radoicic, with whom Kusari herself reportedly spoke to several times, including in a longer conversation about an agreement concerning electricity distribution in the north, the portal adds.