UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 8, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti, Escobar deny claims of deadlines for proposals on situation in north (Koha)
Escobar: For Euro-integration, Kosovo should give more autonomy to Serbs in north (media)
Kurti replies to Escobar: Kosovo has not written a Draft for the Association (Express)
S. Senators call for calm between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
Kurti at Camp Belvedere: Amazing successes on law and order in north (media)
Durmishi: We’ll never compromise with sovereign and territorial integrity (Koha)
“Kosovo, not Kurti and Osmani, to pay price of breaking relations with US” (media)
Begaj: Violence is not a solution, sovereignty is indisputable (media)
Grenell: I’ve seen the consequences, it isn’t pretty (media)
Vucic promises envoy he will convince Serbs to take part in elections (Koha)
World Bank affirms Kosovo’s 3.7% GDP growth forecast for 2023 (SeeNews)

Serbian Language Media:

PM Brnabic, President Vucic addressed public last night (N1, RTS)
Vucic, Peach discuss developments in Kosovo (Tanjug)
Drecun on plan for de-escalation, Pristina acts (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
Grenell: Severe consequences for Kosovo if Kurti refuses US and EU demands (Danas, social media)
Petkovic conveys concerns for safety of Kosovo Serbs to German ambassador (Tanjug)
Srdjan Sentic appointed deputy Ombudsman in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
President of India visits Serbia (RTS)

International Media:

Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
Kosovo PM slams 'Belgrade's intrusion', welcomes elections once 'fascist militia' brought to justice (France 24)
US Balkan envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions or jeopardize progress toward EU (AP)
US envoy urges Kosovo to grant Serbs autonomy (DW)
Belgrade To Prod Ethnic Serbs In North Kosovo To Vote In Elections (RFE)
To join EU, NATO, Kosovo needs to give Serbs more autonomy: U.S. envoy (tvpworld)
EU, US want Serb-Kosovo spat resolved, demand new elections, dialogue (Euractiv)
In North Kosovo, Expect the Expected (BIRN)
Decades-old tensions drive escalating conflict in northern Kosovo (Courthouse News Service)
Insights of an Adventurous Political Tour to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti, Escobar deny claims of deadlines for proposals on situation in north (Koha)

U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, denied the reporting about an ultimatum made by some media, whose representatives he met in Pristina. Escobar, but also Prime Minister Albin Kurti denied that Kosovo was given time until Wednesday to respond to the international proposal for de-escalating the situation in the north. The Prime Minister also revealed his position in relation to the demands of the international community.

Escobar denied the report during a press briefing in Belgrade. "I did not give a deadline. What I was asked in Pristina was what the next steps were. Both, me and Mr. Lajcak said that after this visit I will be asked by the White House on Friday to give an update on what is happening. I need to report whether we are making progress or not. He would have to go and report to Mr. Borrell to give the same report. It's not a deadline, but these are the next steps for me, and based on my reporting, we'll make some decisions moving forward. But it is not a deadline for anyone", Escobar said.

Prime Minister Kurti, during a judo activity in Mitrovica, after saying that he had not received any ultimatum from the emissaries Escobar and Lajcak, revealed his position in relation to the international demands.

"There is no democratic state-building, there is no institutional, political, state stability without the rule of law. The second is that in accordance with the removal of these groups and the end of all violent disturbances, we should reduce the presence of the Police in the municipal buildings in the three municipalities in the north and then we would be able to engage in a fair, democratic election process for early elections because we are aware that the turnout was very low last time", Kurti said.

In Mitrovica, Kurti admitted that there are challenges with the emissaries, but expressed his conviction that they will clarify the ambiguities they have. He also gave a response to the U.S. and EU warnings.

"I don't think that these things are solved with pressure and mentioning consequences and maybe even sanctions of the most democratic and progressive state in the Western Balkans", he said.

According to Kurti, a distinction should be made between international requests within the framework of bilateral relations, as well as those when they are made within the framework of mediation in Kosovo-Serbia relations.

Escobar: For Euro-integration, Kosovo should give more autonomy to Serbs in north (media)

U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said on Wednesday that Kosovo must grant greater autonomy to Serb-majority municipalities in the north if it wants to move closer to membership in NATO and the European Union.

Escobar also asked Kosovo to withdraw police and mayors from their offices in Serb-majority areas to de-escalate tensions and then hold new municipal elections in which Serbs would participate, Reuters reported.

Escobar told reporters at the U.S. embassy in Belgrade: "If Kosovo wants to move towards Euro-Atlantic integration, it will have to create an association of (municipalities) with Serbian (majority.)

"This will happen. The question is, will it happen with this (Kosovo) government or with another, future government," he was quoted as saying.

Escobar said that the Kurti Government has a draft for the establishment of the Association of Municipalities with a Serb Majority but will not present it.

"They should immediately submit a draft that will bring it to life. Now, right away and they have one, they just don't want to present it," Escobar said.

Kurti replies to Escobar: Kosovo has not written a Draft for the Association (Express)

U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on Wednesday that Kosovo has a draft for the Association, but that Prime Minister Albin Kurti is not revealing it. Kurti meanwhile said: “there is no point in drafting a long and wide text if the basic principles are not agreed upon. With the United States, we have complete compatibility in terms of basic principles, and this is what Ambassador Hovenier has said. I stated in Ohrid that I write the draft statute with the pillars: EU position, Federica Mogherini's letter, the American position expressed in the text of Chollet and Escobar and the decision of the Constitutional Court”.

He added that on May 2 he proposed a draft vision based on the Croatian model and explained why he chose it as a model. "First, on May 2, I proposed a two-page draft vision to implement Article 7 of the basic agreement related to Article 10, namely the previous agreements. This envisioned a very progressive and positive framework for the self-management of the Serb community inspired by the Croatian model. Why did I take Croatia, because Croatia also came out of the war of violent disintegration of the former Yugoslavia like Kosovo, the second Croatia is an example of success for EU and NATO membership. And thirdly, Serbia has an agreement on normalization with Croatia, we are inspired by it to make an agreement on normalization for us as well, where for good neighborliness the minorities should also be protected", he said.

Kurti further explained that when he said in Ohrid that he could expand the draft even further, President Vucic wanted to leave the meeting. "That is why I made this proposal. I have said that I can expand it even further, with the date of March 18 in Ohrid, I even offered to write a draft statute, but after we agree on the basic principles and that was the moment when the president of Serbia left the meeting", he said.

U.S. Senators call for calm between Kosovo and Serbia (media)

All news websites cover a joint statement by several U.S. Senators “urging calm between Kosovo and Serbia amid deteriorating security conditions between the two nations”.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, led a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senators Murphy (D-CT), Van Hollen (D-MD), Cardin (D-MD), Tillis (R-NC), and Ricketts (R-NE) in a joint statement urging calm between Kosovo and Serbia amid deteriorating security conditions between the two nations:

“As U.S. lawmakers, across party lines, we are increasingly concerned by the fragile security situation in the north of Kosovo. Today, we reiterate that there is broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for the European Union’s efforts, in close coordination with the United States, to mediate a path forward. But for a resolution to be tenable, both Prime Minister Kurti and President Vucic must immediately heed international calls to deescalate the situation, restore popular trust in local institutions in the north and recommit to implementation of the Agreement on the Path to Normalization by establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo. As both leaders consider their next steps, we urge them to choose peace, prosperity and the safety of their respective citizens. Failure to de-escalate the situation would trigger consequences from the West, which has diligently worked to support Kosovo and Serbia on a path forward, and needlessly risks weakening our bilateral relations. That is not in anyone’s best interest. We urge Kosovo and Serbia to work in good faith with the European Union and the United States to find a path forward without delay.”

The statement comes on the heels of a phone call between Prime Minister Kurti and Senators Shaheen, Murphy and Ricketts. Last month, Senators Shaheen and Ricketts issued a statement calling for calm. In March, the Senators issued a joint statement on the interim agreement reached between Serbia and Kosovo. Shaheen visited Kosovo and Serbia last April as part of a congressional delegation visit to the Balkans, which also included a stop in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the urging of Shaheen, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the Western Balkans last month, which came on the heels of Shaheen’s renewed bipartisan push to advance her legislation that would promote cooperation between the U.S. and the Western Balkans.

Kurti at Camp Belvedere: Amazing successes on law and order in north (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the Belvedere Police Camp in Mitrovica on Wednesday, where he met the police officers. Kurti said that he was informed there about the actions, operations and activities and achievements of the police, and added that their successes on law, order, and constitutionality in the four municipalities in the north are amazing.

"Their motivation and morale are high, and their professionalism and discipline are unparalleled. Our support for them is guaranteed", Kurti said.

He said that together with the Minister of the Interior, Xelal Svecla, and the director of the police, Gazmend Hoxha, and everyone else enjoyed the warm meals in the new canteen of the camp.

Durmishi: We’ll never compromise with sovereign and territorial integrity (Koha)

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Hysen Durmishi, said on Wednesday that the Kosovo government listens to every friendly advice and rational request coming from its international allies. “For more than two years, we have combated crime and corruption throughout the territory of Kosovo, especially in the municipalities in the north, and we have been commended for this. We will certainly not give up in the face of criminal groups be they in the south or the north. In the north today there are criminal groups organised and incited by Serbia. We will not surrender in front of them, because it is a state and patriotic duty to fight these criminals,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Durmishi argued that in the north “when the criminal groups leave, so will the police”. “When an environment for free and democratic elections and political pluralism is created there, the elections will be held, and the majority will rule. We are working and engaged on this since the beginning of our governance. The people have voted for us to fight crime and corruption and for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will never make compromise on these points,” he added.

“Kosovo, not Kurti and Osmani, to pay price of breaking relations with US” (media)

Kosovo’s former Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said on Wednesday that in 2020 his party had broken the coalition with the Vetevendosje Movement to avoid Kosovo's confrontation with the United States of America.

"LDK in 2020 broke the coalition with LVV to avoid Kosovo's confrontation with the USA. It paid the most expensive price with about 100 thousand votes! But at that time LVV was supported by the diplomats of the USA, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament and... They brought him to power together with functional illiterates", Mustafa said.

"Today, I am afraid that the price of breaking relations with the USA and the EU will not be paid by LVV with Kurti and Osmani, but by the entire Kosovo. The only consolation remains that the Democratic League of Kosovo had correctly assessed the risk and acted well in the interest of Kosovo", Mustafa wrote.

Begaj: Violence is not a solution, sovereignty is indisputable (media)

Albanian President Bajram Begaj commented on the situation in the north of Kosovo during a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart, saying that since the start of incidents, he has been in constant communication with the authorities there, the commander of KFOR and other presidents of the region.

"My communication with Kosovo is continuous, with the highest authorities, with the commander of KFOR and with the regional presidents. I expressed Albania's support for Kosovo and emphasized the implementation of publicly agreed agreements, I repeat that for me the sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo is indisputable and the building of democratic institutions there is necessary".

"I made a fraternal appeal to the Kosovo authorities to have patience, prudence and coordinate with our strategic partners. Violence is not the solution, violent conflict should never be an option, the only option should be dialogue", Begaj said.

Grenell: I’ve seen the consequences, it isn’t pretty (media)

Former U.S. Presidential Envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Richard Grenell, argued in a Twitter post on Wednesday that Kosovo Prime Minister “Kurti doesn’t get what is happening to Kosovo”. “The international community has given him a deadline of Friday to abide by the commitments his country previously made. My friends in Kosovo must brace for severe consequences if Kurti doesn’t comply. I’ve seen the consequences and it isn’t pretty,” Grenell tweeted.

Vucic promises envoy he will convince Serbs to take part in elections (Koha)

The daily reports on its front page today that U.S. and EU envoys, Gabriel Escobar, and Miroslav Lajcak, have received pledges from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that he will try to convince the Kosovo Serbs to take part in elections for mayors in the north. This was one of the requests that the two envoys presented to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti during their stay in Pristina. In addition to new elections, the U.S. and EU also asked for the withdrawal of Kosovo Police special units from the north, and the freeing of municipal buildings which until April 23 were managed by the Serbian List.

World Bank affirms Kosovo’s 3.7% GDP growth forecast for 2023 (SeeNews)

The World Bank sees Kosovo’s gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 3.7% in 2023, affirming its January forecast. Kosovo’s economic growth is projected to speed up to 4.4% in 2024 and then slow down to 4.2% in 2025, the global lender said in its June 2023 Global Economic Prospect published on Wednesday. In 2022, Kosovo’s economy grew by 3.5%. Recent tensions between Kosovo and Serbia after the election of Albanian ethnic mayors in Serbian-dominated areas in Kosovo present political uncertainty and a risk to a European development of the countries’ relations, the report says. An unexpectedly steep slowdown of the euro area could also pose risks for the economy of the Western Balkan countries, as their export heavily relies on it, the World Bank said.

Serbian Language Media

PM Brnabic, President Vucic addressed public last night (N1, RTS)

“Count on my resignation, you have it on the table”, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said in a public address last night, adding she believes that parliamentary elections by year end are a way out of the crisis in Serbia, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said it is now clear that Serbia will have early parliamentary elections, N1 reports.

“As Prime Minister I told the people that I am prepared to resign at any time, it is my greatest honor to perform this duty, my greatest happiness is that I had the opportunity to work for my country”, she said.

President Vucic said they will keep “waiting for some people to come and talk”.

“But it is clear to us that they are hoping for some other things, which will never happen. This country has seen too much violence since the 1990s. We will continue to wait for those who will show a little responsibility and I believe that we will find counterparts among those who should show more seriousness. If not, we will have elections”, Vucic said.

He added that they are prepared to agree “on the date of the elections and whether they should be held at the same time as some others”, but that this is not a matter of a party’s will.

RTS reported that Vucic also announced an increase in wages in the education and medical sectors, possible increase by 11 percent in salaries for doctors, military and others in the public sector, increased pensions, and decreased price of bread as well as possible talks with the IMF to postpone increase in electricity price.

Talking about the situation in Kosovo, he thanked Serbian people for a dignified fight, adding it was important to preserve peace and demonstrate that we can talk to everyone. He also announced that he will continue talks with the Serbs in Kosovo as of Friday.

International Media

Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)

Kosovo could trigger new elections in Serb-majority municipalities rocked by violent protests if 20% of voters sign a petition asking for them, the president told Reuters.

In an exclusive interview in her office, President Vjosa Osmani said she believed a petition was the most "democratic way" to proceed to new elections.

"In this way, I think we would ensure the participation of Serbs because the request would have come from them to begin with, from citizens," she said.

Listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3WQVo1n

Kosovo PM slams 'Belgrade's intrusion', welcomes elections once 'fascist militia' brought to justice (France 24)

A US envoy for the Balkans urged Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate simmering ethnic tensions in the former Serbian province, or both states could jeopardize their proclaimed goal of one day joining the European Union. Gabriel Escobar and EU mediator Miroslav Lajcak have been holding talks with the Serbian and Kosovo leaders on how to resume negotiations. Meanwhile, Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz says they're open to holding new elections in four northern municipalities that suffered multiple days of violent clashes and general unrest at the end of May. Amid all of the renewed tensions between the two former wartime foes, FRANCE 24 is joined by Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo.

Listen to interview here: https://bit.ly/3Cjc9bQ

US Balkan envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions or jeopardize progress toward EU (AP)

A U.S. envoy for the Balkans urged Kosovo and Serbia on Wednesday to deescalate simmering ethnic tensions in the former Serbian province, or both states could jeopardize their proclaimed goal of one day joining the European Union.

Gabriel Escobar and EU mediator Miroslav Lajcak have been holding talks with the Serbian and Kosovo leaders on how to resume negotiations between the two former wartime foes. Tensions flared anew late last month in Kosovo, including violent clashes between Kosovo police and NATO-led peacekeepers on one side and local Serbs on the other, leaving dozens injured on both sides.