UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Roads toward three border crossings with Serbia remain blocked (Telegrafi)

COMKFOR: Situation in North cannot be resolved militarily, but politically (Albanian Post)

Escobar and Lajcak in the U.S. on the resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)

Osmani: Criminal groups in the north must be brought to justice (media)

Svecla says “criminals who receive orders from Belgrade” will face justice (RTK)

Union chief says policemen in Serbia are well and not being mistreated (KTV)

Haxhiu: Serbia should hand over the war criminals (Koha)

Five TV stations stopped broadcast for 5 minutes, solidarity with Klan Kosova (Reporteri)

Ministry: Klan Kosova can perform activities until IMC decision (media)

Hoti: Resignation of Kurti govt would save Kosovo’s economic and political stability (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Arrests of Serbs do not stop, truck drivers and local residents blocked roads after Jarinje crossing and near Kursumlija (RTS)

Another Serb sent to one-month detention (KoSSev)

Ristuccia: Situation in northern Kosovo still tense, we call for dialogue (Tanjug)

Petkovic reacts to Svecla’s remarks on arrests, says arrested Serbs are innocent (Kosovo Online, social media)

Vucic welcomes Hungarian PM Orban (N1, FoNet)

International Media:

NATO Ready to Act to Save Kosovo's Peace, Calls for De-Escalation (Reuters)

Brussels urges Vucic and Kurti to be 'more reasonable' and engage in talks to diffuse tensions (euronews)

Kosovo frustrated over Western threats blames Serbia (Euractiv)

NATO Chief Urges De-Escalation As Serbia, Kosovo Leaders Downplay Crisis Talks (RFE)

EU, NATO urge Kosovo, Serbia talks, de-escalation (Daily Sabah)

How Kosovo’s prime minister became America’s ardent frenemy (politico.eu)

Kosovo Serbs Protest Arrests of Serbs Suspected of Attacking Journalists (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Roads toward three border crossings with Serbia remain blocked (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, the Border Management National Center, said today that the border crossings at Jarinje, Merdare and Bernjak remain blocked, due to ongoing protests on the Serbian side. Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs meanwhile says that due to the protests, buses and trucks from Kosovo cannot pass. A press release by the ministry notes: “If you have entered Serbia, then please use the border crossings at Mutivoda and Dheu i Bardhe, or go through North Macedonia (the Preshevo border crossing) through Skopje. If you have already entered Serbia, please do not travel through Serbia,” a press release by the ministry notes.

COMKFOR: Situation in North cannot be resolved militarily, but politically (Albanian Post)

Commander of KFOR peacekeeping troops, Angelo Michelle Ristuccia, said on Monday that although the situation in the North of Kosovo seems peaceful, it is tense. In order to de-escalate this escalating situation, Ristuccia thinks that Kosovo and Serbia should sit down at the negotiating table and find a solution in dialogue.

"Here we are not dealing with a military solution, but only a political one," he told a press conference, adding that Kosovo and Serbia are facing a major diplomatic offensive to calm the situation and for them return it to normal.

Asked if he thinks that KFOR should take a bigger role in the north of Kosovo, since the Serbs do not trust the Kosovo police, the KFOR commander said "that the mandate of the mission is to ensure that all citizens of Kosovo live in peace".

Escobar and Lajcak in the U.S. on the resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)

U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar and EU special representative Miroslav Lajcak will hold a public discussion today in Washington regarding the resumption of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, at a time when the dialogue is one of their three demands important for both parties.

The announcement issued by the Atlantic Council, states that the recent progress in the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo through the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue facilitated by the EU is threatened by the escalation of tensions in the north of Kosovo.

This discussion will provide insight into how the U.S. and EU intend to help ease tensions and find possible solutions for Serbia and Kosovo to create more stable relations.

Osmani: Criminal groups in the north must be brought to justice (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, hosted on Monday a delegation of the Austria-Kosovo Friendship Group in the Parliament of Austria, consisting of MPs from various political parties in Austria. They discussed the latest developments in the field of security and the situation in the north.

As the Office of the President announces, Osmani has mentioned the continuous destructive actions of Serbia, which have the direct aim of destabilizing Kosovo.

“On this occasion, President Osmani said that dealing with justice of the criminal groups supported by Serbia that attacked the Kosovo Police, KFOR and EULEX members, journalists and citizens is necessary. President Osmani emphasized that Kosovo is committed to contributing to the peace and stability of the country and the region, in coordination with the allies”, she is quoted as saying.

Svecla says “criminals who receive orders from Belgrade” will face justice (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of the Interior, Xelal Svecla, reacted after the arrest of a Serb in the north, suspected of attacking journalists. He said that anyone responsible for violence and criminal acts against journalists will be arrested.

"In the last three days, three people were arrested for brutal and criminal attacks on journalists reporting from the north of the country. The third arrested in the row is Uros Vukasinovic. These criminals, who are receiving orders for these attacks from Belgrade, will now face justice. We will not stop, anyone responsible for violence and criminal acts against journalists will be arrested,” Svecla wrote on Facebook.

"The Republic of Kosovo is an example of the functioning of democracy, and we will not allow anyone, at any cost, to attack citizens, intimidate journalists' reporting and violate our constitutional order," Svecla wrote.

Union chief says policemen in Serbia are well and not being mistreated (KTV)

Head of the Union of Kosovo Police, Imer Zeqiri, said in an interview with the TV station on Monday evening that the three Kosovo police officers taken by Serbian forces are in good health and that according to his information they were not mistreated during the detention. “The information we have from the local and international liaison bodies, their condition is good. There is no information that they were mistreated except for the images that were published during their kidnapping. The families are extremely concerned because they are in the hands of someone that does not wish us well,” he said.

Haxhiu: Serbia should hand over the war criminals (Koha)

On the International Day Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu wrote on Facebook on Monday that the world should speak even more about the violence inflicted on the civilian population during the war in Kosovo.

"On the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, the world should speak even more about the violence that was inflicted on the civilian population during the war in Kosovo, and even loudly request from Serbia to hand over the war criminals held in Serbia. Serbia is the address where the call for justice should be addressed by the democratic world that is based on freedom and human rights," Haxhiu wrote.

The Minister of Justice noted that about 20,000 sexual violations during the war can neither be forgotten nor forgiven. "We will work every day to bring the criminals to justice," she added.

Five TV stations stopped broadcast for 5 minutes, solidarity with Klan Kosova (Reporteri)

The five main television stations in Kosovo, T7, RTV Dukagjini, RTV 21, ATV and Kanal 10, are in solidarity with Klan Kosova, after the Ministry of Trade decided to suspend this medium's business certificate. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) has also indicated this.

"As a sign of solidarity with the colleagues of Klan Kosova, after the decision of MINT to suspend the business certificate of this medium, some of the main media in the country: RTV Dukagjini, T7, RTV21, ATV, Kanal10, tonight at 20:00, have set for five minutes on their screens the motto "Democracy dies in the dark!"

Ministry: Klan Kosova can perform activities until IMC decision (media)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MINT) said in a statement on Monday that Klan Kosova can perform their activities until a decision by the Independent Media Commission (IMC). The latter is expected to decide on the matter within 30 days.

With regards to the Business Registration Agency, MINT said they suspended the business certificate of Klan Kosova because they found that in their documentation, the cities of Peja and Gjakova were referred to as cities within Serbia.

MINT also said that it is the obligation of all public bodies to help the media for a more democratic society.

Hoti: Resignation of Kurti govt would save Kosovo’s economic and political stability (media)

MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Avdullah Hoti argued on Monday that the resignation of Albin Kurti is a salvation for the economic and political stability of Kosovo.

"These data prove the poor economic performance of this government. Spending on economic issues during 2022 has fallen significantly compared to 2019, which is the year before the pandemic. This substantiates the argument that the economy of Kosovo lacks about 500 million euros in capital investments, which have produced negative multiplied effects on income and economic growth. The resignation is salvation for the economic and political stability of the country,” Hoti wrote.

Serbian Language Media

Arrests of Serbs do not stop, truck drivers and local residents blocked roads after Jarinje crossing and near Kursumlija (RTS)

RTS reports this morning that arrests of Serbs in northern Kosovo do not stop, mentioning the latest case of Uros Vukadinovic arrested by Kosovo police near Leposavic yesterday morning. Truck drivers and local residents blocked Mitrovica-Raska road after Jarinje administrative point and the road is also blocked in a place called Rudare near Kursumlija, after Merdare crossing point.

Chairman of the Serbian Government Commission for Missing Persons, Veljko Odalovic said it had been more than a year since Kosovo PM Albin Kurti started doing what he does and since the escalation and terror of his special police forces in the north started.

“Serbs protest peacefully. They reacted peacefully to all his decisions – blockades, protests, addresses, calls, appeals ... .However, Kurti ignores all of that, he has his goal and is acting upon it”, Odalovic said.

He stressed that Kurti constantly attempts to criminalize the Serbs and has no intention of stopping. “He keeps saying he will do this until, as he says, criminals are either expelled or arrested. Obviously he has created a list that is wider from the one he implemented”, Odalovic said.

He added KFOR must order Kosovo special police forces to leave northern Kosovo because it is special police forces constantly causing incidents and attempting to cause conflicts of wider proportion.

RTS further said that the road has been blocked in the place called Rudare near Kursumlija by truck drivers and residents. They said this is reaction to the decision of the Pristina government that for days is keeping trucks at crossings carrying Serbian goods and does not allow them to enter Kosovo.

Another Serb sent to one-month detention (KoSSev)

Dalibor Spasic arrested on June 17 at Jarinje crossing point upon returning from central Serbia with his wife and a small daughter has been sent to one-month detention as per decision of the Basic Court in Pristina, his defense lawyer Srdjan Mitrovic told the media, KoSSev portal reports.

He is charged with two criminal acts: “attack on journalists” and “hooliganism”, and he is currently staying at a prison facility in Podujevo.

“The only evidence they have against my client is a video recording published by Kallxo portal, that he allegedly attacked a Teve 21 journalist from Pristina, although it can be clearly seen in the recording that he only approached the journalist and that he was holding his phone in his hand. Also, his nationality is mentioned in the decision, which I find very strange”, Mitrovic said.

He announced appeal to this decision. Spasic is a medical technician working at Mitrovica North Clinical Hospital Centre.

Ristuccia: Situation in northern Kosovo still tense, we call for dialogue (Tanjug)

KFOR Commander Major General Michele Ristuccia said yesterday the situation in northern Kosovo is still tense, despite the seemingly calm environment, Tanjug news agency reports.

He said KFOR remains committed to fulfilling its mandate within UN SC Resolution 1244 adding NATO sent additional troops in order to be better prepared to face challenges.

“We are here to prevent the situation from deteriorating. All people in Kosovo regardless of religious or ethnic background do not want the situation to deteriorate, they want to live in peace”, Ristuccia said.

He added dialogue is the way to resolve the problems, and urged both sides to sit at the table and de-escalate the situation.

He said there is no military, but exclusively political solution to resolve the problems, noting that a strong diplomatic offensive was underway in order to calm down the situation and return it to normalcy.

Petkovic reacts to Svecla’s remarks on arrests, says arrested Serbs are innocent (Kosovo Online, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic reacted to the announcement of Kosovo Interior Minister Xhellal Svecla on the arrest of Uros Vukadinovic in Leposavic yesterday by saying that arrested Serbs in northern Kosovo are innocent and that “the only criminals here are Xhellal Svecla and Albin Kurti”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Svecla earlier said police will arrest everybody, who according to his words, is responsible for violence against journalists.

“The only criminals here are Svecla and Albin Kurti, whose terror police arrests and kidnaps innocent Serbs in KLA style and beats up Serbian children”, Petkovic wrote in a post on Twitter.

He added Serbs arrested recently in northern Kosovo are innocent, because there is, as he said, not a single evidence to prove their guilt, but only evidence proving that they are innocent.

Referring to Svecla, Petkovic also said that “we did not forget how you were overturning EULEX vehicles and your patron Albin Kurti threw tear gas and stun grenades in the assembly and at police. Look who's talking, criminal Svecla about decency”, Petkovic said.

Vucic welcomes Hungarian PM Orban (N1, FoNet)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic welcomed Monday in Belgrade Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Along with photos posted on his Instagram profile, Vucic wished Orban a warm welcome.

“With true partners and friends anything is possible and every plan is achievable, while the projects we are working on will best show that nothing can stop the fast growth of both countries”, Vucic wrote.

International Media

NATO Ready to Act to Save Kosovo's Peace, Calls for De-Escalation (Reuters)

NATO forces in Kosovo are ready to face any situation if acts of violence similar to recent encounters threaten the peace, the NATO commander in Pristina said late on Monday.

Some 30 NATO peacekeeping soldiers defending three town halls in northern Kosovo were injured in clashes with Serb protesters late on May. Fifty-two protesters were wounded.

NATO, what has been guarding Kosovo since the war ended in 1999, decided to deploy an extra 700 troops and put another battalion on high alert, bringing its force to about 4,511.

"We plan to face any kind of circumstances. That's the reason why we received additional forces. We do not react, we act," the commander of NATO troops, known as KFOR, Angelo Michele Ristuccia told a group of journalists from his headquarters in the outskirts of Pristina.