UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 6, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

International requests: Calm situation in north, elections, return to dialogue (media)

Escobar, Lajcak to meet President Osmani and opposition parties today (media)

State Department again calls on Kurti and Vucic to reduce tensions (Koha)

Rohde: Fulfillment of EU requirements to begin urgently (Koha)

Opposition: OSCE intervention in elections in north, backtracking (Klan)

British Parliament debates on situation in north of Kosovo (Koha)

Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (Reporteri)

Svecla speaks about Police actions in north of Kosovo (Koha)

“Mayors taken by police, sent to offices, not knowing where they’re going” (media)

Kurti in Pride Week: Freedom to love is a universal right (Koha)

Gervalla attends SEECP Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Budva (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbs continue gathering in northern Kosovo, voice same demands (RTS, media)

London calls on Pristina to withdraw special police forces from north (N1, SRNA)

Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (KoSSev, media)

Vucic to meet Lajcak and Escobar this evening (media)

Moliqaj criticized Kurti for making list of Serbs (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

I won’t appease friends of Putin, says Kosovo PM (The Times)

US commander describes attack on troops in Kosovo by Serb ‘agitators’ after elections (Stripes)

Serbia’s cunning Kosovo deflection (IPS Journal)

Ethnic Albanian journalists attacked, vehicles vandalized during Serb protests in northern Kosovo (CPJ)

Turkish forces arrive in Kosovo to bolster NATO-led peacekeepers after recent violence (AP)

UN Expert Assails Serbia For Using Mass Killings To 'Stir Up Hatred,' Attack Rights Defenders (RFE)

International requests: Calm situation in north, elections, return to dialogue (media)

The leading story in all media this morning is the visit to Kosovo by U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, and their meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Monday evening. Most media highlight in their headlines that the international requests to Kurti are to calm the situation in the north, quick elections there and return to the dialogue on normalisation.

After meeting Escobar and Lajcak, Kurti said he has "unreserved readiness and unshakable good faith for intensive and joint engagement in improving the situation and normalizing relations”. He said the way forward is “to stop attacks by violent extremists and criminal groups and that only the rule of law can pave the way for early elections in the northern municipalities”. A press release issued by Kurti’s office notes: “The Prime Minister said that the way forward is to immediately stop attacks by violent extremists and criminal groups against local and international security bodies and journalists. He invited Brussels and Washington to call for an end to the violence and the prosecution and punishment of its perpetrators. Only the rule of law can pave the way for early, free, democratic, and fair elections. Such should be the pre-election campaign. Candidates and voters in the new elections must compete and participate without fear or threats. Order and legality would certainly proportionally reduce the number of police officers in the municipal buildings in the three northern municipalities”.

Kurti also posted on Twitter that in his meeting with Escobar and Lajcak, he expressed “unreserved commitment to de-escalation. Essential steps forward are an immediate end to attacks on security forces by violent extremists and criminal groups, and the rule of law to ensure free and fair campaign and elections.”

Lajcak said after the meeting that there was a long and difficult discussion. “Unfortunately, we have returned to Pristina to deal with crisis management instead of normalizing relations. This is not good news, and we are here on behalf of the European Union and the USA together with my colleague Gabriel to help find a solution to the situation in the north,” Lajcak told reporters.

He also said that a three-point proposal was presented to overcome the created situation in the north. “The first is de-escalation, the second is quick elections in the north and the third is the return to the dialogue for normalization. We had a long, honest, and difficult discussion with the Prime Minister about these points. Our mission has only just begun,” he said.

Asked by reporters if an agreement was reached with Kurti, Lajcak said “if we had reached an agreement, I would say so.”

Lajcak also said he will continue the mission together with Escobar for two days. “There will be other meetings in Kosovo, including with President Vjosa Osmani, and we will also meet with the leaders of Serbia,” he said.

“It is in the interest of Kosovo and everyone to have legitimate mayors,” Lajcak said adding that the sanctioning of Kosovo was also mentioned in the declaration of the 27 EU states. “I can tell you that the member states are waiting for our report.”

Lajcak posted on Twitter this morning: “DAS Escobar and I met with PM Kurti and first DPM Bislimi. We are deeply concerned about the situation in the north and call for immediate de-escalation on the ground, early elections with the participation of Kosovo Serbs and return to Dialogue on normalisation.”

Most news websites highlight Escobar’s remarks that the “U.S. is the biggest supporter of Kosovo” and that he hopes they will be heard. Speaking to reporters after meeting Kurti, Escobar said: “It is a great transatlantic unity, between the USA, the EU and NATO, which has presented the same demands. I hope that we will be heard. We are at the beginning of the mission. I want to say one thing, I came here as a big supporter of Kosovo. I give my best for Kosovo, to achieve all aspirations. We are the biggest supporters of your security, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. I'm just asking to be heard”.

Escobar said he respects the government of Kosovo and the Constitutional structure of Kosovo, but he said that he is trying to find a formula for “harmony between ethnic groups”. He also condemned the attack on KFOR soldiers in Zvecan by violent Serbian protesters.

Escobar, Lajcak to meet President Osmani and opposition parties today (media)

U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, will meet today with President Vjosa Osmani and also the leaders of opposition parties. Following their stay in Pristina, the two international envoys will travel to Belgrade where they are scheduled to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

State Department again calls on Kurti and Vucic to reduce tensions (Koha)

The U.S. Department of State has again called on Kosovo and Serbia to take steps to reduce tensions. Department of State spokesperson Vedant Patel at a press conference on Monday, said that violence against KFOR soldiers, policemen and journalists is unacceptable.

He called on the Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, to take steps to reduce tensions. "The USA condemns the sudden violence against the soldiers of the NATO KFOR mission, against the Police and journalists. We call on all parties to take immediate action to reduce tensions. President Vucic and the government of Serbia should lower the level of readiness of their military forces and call on the Kosovo Serbs not to challenge the KFOR soldiers and to refrain from violence. The decision of the government of Kosovo to forcibly provide access to municipal facilities caused unnecessary tensions. Prime Minister Kurti and the government of Kosovo must ensure that the elected mayors exercise their transitional duties from alternative locations, and also that police units are withdrawn from the municipal facilities. We are deeply engaged in this issue," Patel said.

Rohde: Fulfillment of EU requirements to begin urgently (Koha)

German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde called on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Monday to urgently start meeting the requirements of the European Union. The demands are the extension of the situation in the north, including new elections, as well as the beginning of the works for the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority.

"Prime Minister Albin Kurti presented his view on the current developments in the north and the dialogue. With Ambassador Olivier Guerot we reiterated our clear position in line with the recent QUINT/EU statement. Urgent need to work on the objectives of the EU-27 declaration. Full support for Miroslav Lajcak," Rohde wrote on Twitter.

Opposition: OSCE intervention in elections in north, backtracking (Klan)

International intervention, after the situation created in the north of Kosovo last week, was necessary. The tense situation prompted the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to come up with a 9-point guide for de-escalation and normalization of the situation. What is considered worrying is the 7th point of this proposal, which talks about the new elections in the 4 northern municipalities.

The largest opposition party, PDK, considers this to be a step back and cannot be accepted.

According to the AAK, the organization of elections by the OSCE belongs to the past and the relinquishment of citizenship.

The opposition emphasizes that the organization of any election process in Kosovo is the competence of the Central Election Commission, and that it cannot be otherwise.

British Parliament debates on situation in north of Kosovo (Koha)

The situation in the north of Kosovo was debated on Monday in the Parliament of Great Britain. The British Member of Parliament and the head of the Committee for Foreign Policy in the British Parliament, Alicia Kearns, has raised questions about the issue of tensions in the north of Kosovo. “I want to put in context that Kosovo is not Serbia, but earlier this year, Belgrade orchestrated a boycott of the democratic elections held in the northern municipalities of Kosovo. We have recognised the result of those elections in the West and now we are asking for elections again, only 3 percent turned out. But it was the fault of interference from abroad, and it seems that this is often not mentioned. Last week, the mayors of the municipalities tried to enter their offices, not by violence, but the violence was orchestrated. If our mayors were forbidden to work from their offices and forced to work at home, we would say it is a serious blow to democracy. There was orchestrated violence in the north by the militia and finance from Belgrade, violence against KFOR, the Police, Molotov cocktails were thrown, guns were fired, cars were burned,” Kearns said.

Kearns asked why there was such a disproportionate reaction from allies. "It is wrong that the USA and the EU decided to criticize Kosovo, and there was no criticism of the armed militia,” she said, adding that the imposition of measures against Belgrade is failing, while she spoke how citizens in the north are threatened by criminal groups.

The British Foreign Minister, Andrew Mitchell, has said that he is working with international partners to reduce tensions. "On May 18, together with the USA, France, Germany, Italy and the EU, we requested that a long-term solution be found for the work of the municipalities in the north. We warned against the use of force or actions that could increase tensions. On May 26, we expressed concern about the forceful placement of mayors in municipal facilities, as well as Serbia's action to increase the readiness of military forces around the border of Kosovo. We call on the government of Kosovo to remove the Special Police Units from the municipalities, and the mayors to exercise their duties from alternative locations. Emissary Sir. Stuart Peach visited Kosovo on May 30, he met with the heads of the institutions there and also with the commander of KFOR," Mitchell said. He added that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani on June 1 and talked about this issue.

Mitchell said that Britain supports the calls of international allies made on June 1 for new elections in the north, to work also for the creation of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority. He also said that he welcomes the visits of the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, and the U.S. emissary for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar.

Other British MPs have also spoken in this debate. One of the questions asked was how the internationals will be assured that the Serbs will participate in the elections if they are organized again.

"We are working closely with our partners for a quick calming of the situation. As Sir. Peach has said, Britain stood by Kosovo in good times and bad, and will continue to do so. And with the elections that were held in the north, we can say that they are legal, but the legitimacy is somewhat lacking," said Mitchell. He has said that Britain supports Kosovo's application to join the Council of Europe.

Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (Reporteri)

Sladjana Pantovic was appointed deputy mayor of the Municipality of Zvecan on Monday. The decision was signed by the mayor of the municipality, Ilir Peci.

According to the decision, Pantovic will hold office until the end of the term of office of the mayor. Pantovic was the only one from the Serb community to compete in the extraordinary elections in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo on April 23. She ran for mayor of Zvecan.

Pantovic was offered police protection due to threats she received, the news website notes.

Svecla speaks about Police actions in north of Kosovo (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of the Interior Xhelal Svecla said on Monday that in the last two days, the Kosovo Police has undertaken several operations in the north, including against smuggling, and seized an internationally wanted car.

"Our dedication remains the same: constitutionality and legality throughout our country, for a safe environment for all citizens," Svecla tweeted.

“Mayors taken by police, sent to offices, not knowing where they’re going” (media)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Rashit Qalaj, said in an interview with Kanal 10 on Monday that the two PDK mayors in the north, Ilir Peci and Izmir Zeqiri, were allegedly taken by Kosovo Police and sent to their offices in municipal assemblies without knowing where they were going. According to Qalaj, the same happened with the new mayor of Leposavic, Lulzim Hetemi, who is still inside the municipal building. Qalaj blamed Prime Minister Kurti for these actions. “I don’t want to think that the Prime Minister did something intentionally. This is more a result of lack of knowledge. We should not forget that this is the first time that Vetevendosje is governing the country, and Prime Minister Kurti doesn’t have skilled people to lead the ministries. And when he tries to control everyone, it is normal to make such mistakes,” he argued.

Kurti in Pride Week: Freedom to love is a universal right (Koha)

At the official opening of Pride Week, organized under the auspices of the Office for Good Governance, Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination - Office of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that love is a unifying power, which cannot be achieved if there is no freedom.

"At the beginning of Pride Week, we remember that the freedom to love is a universal right. With that in mind, love is a unifying force. Love is a condition of freedom, it can only be achieved by having freedom... Without love, love is lacking and suffering. This year, Pride Week is being marked with important events in our history. I congratulate you that Pride Week is focused on love. I think that more than that and better than that was not possible," Kurti emphasized.

President Vjosa Osmani said that Kosovo has made progress in respect of the rights of the LGBTI community.

"It is an honor to open the Pride Week this year, an excellent opportunity to address the challenges faced by the LGBTI community. Over the past year I have been able to talk to each of you to talk about the challenges you face ... sexual orientation is not to belittle the other. Kosovo has made progress regarding the LGBTI community. We have a lot of work to do on this road to full equality. LGBTI people are the target of violence," Osmani emphasized.

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier, said that they encourage Kosovo to continue its efforts to work for the rights of the LGBTI community.

"Pride is not only pride and diversity. We must point out that the fight for universal rights is a continuous fight. LGBTI rights are human rights. We encourage Kosovo to continue its efforts for LGBT+ rights. An 85-year-old woman who has a gay son, said be kind, love each other as you are," he said.

Frank Power, from the Council of Europe in Pristina, said that silence in the face of injustice is acquiescence to aggression.

"It does not mean that the situation for the LGBTI+ population in Kosovo is that easy. We see examples of hate speech against the LGBTI+ community every day, silence in the face of injustice is consent to aggression, but there is still a lot of work to be done," he said.

Gervalla attends SEECP Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Budva (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, is attending the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Budva, Montenegro. “Today in Budva for the #SEECP Ministerial. We have a long road ahead. The Republic of Kosova is here to engage in serious dialogue and reinforce Kosovo’s commitment to regional cooperation, stability, and development,” she wrote on Twitter.

Serbian Language Media

Serbs continue gathering in northern Kosovo, voice same demands (RTS, media)

Serbs continue gathering also today near municipal buildings in northern Kosovo, unable to access their working places ever since Kosovo special police units took over those premises, RTS reports this morning.

They have the same demands, Kosovo special police units to leave the buildings, Albanian mayors, they deem illegitimate because of low turnout, not to come to those premises, Serbs arrested in Zvecan Rados Petrovic and Dusan Obrenovic to be released and to put an end to persecution of the citizens who protested over the last years.

London calls on Pristina to withdraw special police forces from north (N1, SRNA)

London calls on the Pristina government to withdraw special police forces from the municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija, and that newly elected mayors perform their functions at alternative locations, British Minister of State Andrew Mitchell said at the British Parliament, N1 reports.

He also said that London with international partners works closely on easing the tensions.

“On May 18, we requested along with the US, France, Germany, Italy and the EU to find a long-term solution for the work of municipalities in the north. We warned about use of force or actions that could increase tensions, and on May 26 we expressed concerns over violent installment of mayors to the municipal premises, and about the act of Serbia to raise combat readiness of military forces around Kosovo borders”, he said.

Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (KoSSev, media)

Sladjana Pantovic, from Zvecan was appointed yesterday deputy mayor. The decision was signed by the newly elected Albanian mayor of this municipality, Ilir Peci. According to this decision, she will perform the function until the end of the mandate of the mayor.

Pantovic is the only member of the Serbian community who took part in snap elections on April 23 and ran for a mayor in Zvecan.

At the April 23 elections in Zvecan Pantovic won five votes in total.

Vucic to meet Lajcak and Escobar this evening (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet today the EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina talks Miroslav Lajcak and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar at 18.30 in Belgrade, Serbian media report.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret and US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill will also attend the meeting.

Lajcak and Escobar will travel to Belgrade from Pristina, where they met last night with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and presented an international community proposal containing three points – de-escalation on the ground, holding of elections in the north and return to dialogue and normalization process.

Lajcak and Escobar prior to coming to Belgrade, should also meet Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and opposition representatives, and it is also expected that they will visit northern Kosovo.

Moliqaj criticized Kurti for making list of Serbs (Kosovo Online)

President of Social Democratic Party Dardan Moliqaj criticized address of Prime Minister Albin Kurti at Kosovo Assembly last week, during which Kurti mentioned the names of 28 Serbs accusing them of “organizing and taking part in riots” in northern Kosovo, adding it is not up to the prime minister to conduct an investigation, Kosovo Online portal reports citing Pristina-based Lajmi.

Moliqaj said something like that had not happened “in any democratic state” without prior assessment whether persons who are mentioned are guilty or innocent.

He also said it is not the job of a prime minister to carry out an investigation. “Where did you see the prime minister carrying out an investigation? He raises indictments against every man, and it was not told whether they are true or not”, he said, according to the portal.

International Media

I won’t appease friends of Putin, says Kosovo PM (The Times)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo has the hurt look of a new boy at school who thinks he has done everything right to fit in, and still finds that nobody likes him.