UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 24, 2022

Quint countries issue statement on Serbia's elections in Kosovo (media)
Lajcak: Kurti and Vucic will meet when they agree on something (RFE)
No Serbian Polling Stations in Kosovo after Talks Fail (Exit)
Vucic Meets Kosovo Serbs Alongside Wanted Radoicic (BIRN)
Supreme Court to look into Mitrovica court president attending meeting with Vucic (RFE)
German envoy: We expect Serbia to introduce sanctions to Russia (RFE)
Kosovo leaders saddened by the death of former U.S. Secretary, Madeleine Albright (media)
Kosovo plans to build 200 MWh battery storage facility (Reuters)
KSC appeals panel denies amendment of indictment against Thaci and others (RTK)
KFOR drone crashes in a house yard in Mitrovica (media)
RTK Cancels Director’s Election After BIRN Voices Suspicions (BIRN)
COVID-19: 40 new cases, no deaths (media)

Quint countries issue statement on Serbia's elections in Kosovo (media)

The Governments of the United States of America and France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on allowing eligible Kosovo citizens vote in Serbia's elections.

"We acknowledge that it is the Kosovo Government’s prerogative to decide whether or not to permit facilitation of voting in another country’s elections. While we appreciate Serbia’s availability to find a solution, it is with great disappointment that we take note of Kosovo Government’s decision to reject a constructive proposal presented by the Quint. With this decision, Kosovo’s Government failed to demonstrate its commitment to the principle of protecting the civil and political rights of all its citizens, including of members of minority groups. Such an attitude of the Kosovo Government is not in line with our values and principles and will undermine its European aspirations," Quint said.

The five countries said they expect the Kosovo Government to "act in the interests of all its citizens, to work to decrease tensions and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue on normalization of relations with Serbia. This is crucial to achieve progress towards a comprehensive normalization agreement that will ultimately unlock the EU perspective of Kosovo." They also urged Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from any actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and may lead to incidents.

See the full statement: https://bit.ly/3iwTOye

Lajcak: Kurti and Vucic will meet when they agree on something (RFE)

The EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, said that a constructive and peaceful atmosphere is needed before a third meeting of Kosovo and Serbia leaders takes place.

Speaking to Radio Free Europe, Lajcak said the dialogue has not stalled but that it is mainly taking place at the level of chief negotiators. Meetings of chief negotiators, he said, are happening to prepare the ground for a meeting between Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic. Nevertheless, a Kurti-Vucic meeting may happen only when the two leaders can agree on something. Lajcak also said that dialogue is the only platform where Kosovo and Serbia are treated as equal parties.

Asked to comment whether he thought that the impossibility of Kosovo Serbs to vote for Serbian elections in the territory of Kosovo would freeze the dialogue, Lajcak said he didn't believe this would be the case. "At least I hope not." "But, of course, we were involved in efforts to facilitate an agreement on elections, because any decision that would be taken would have an impact on the situation on the ground. For me, as a facilitator [of the dialogue], it is extremely important that the atmosphere remains constructive, so that we can continue our meetings and have two parties ready to agree on things. So there has been an effort - led by Quint and with the active involvement of the European Union for almost two months - to find a formula that would accommodate the sensitivities of both sides. But in the end, Quint's proposal was not accepted by the Government of Kosovo. So, there is no agreement and there will be no [Serbian] elections in the territory of Kosovo."

Lajcak said that the proposal put forth suggested that the only official channel of communication between governments of Kosovo and Serbia, namely liaison officers, are used to forward Serbia's request for elections with Kosovo's authorities. "However, this is not seen as being satisfactory or sufficient by the Government of Kosovo, which has requested direct communication between governments. But, as I said, there are sensitivities on both sides. Liaison offices are the only channel of communication that exists between the two governments. If we had normal inter-state communication between Serbia and Kosovo, there would be no need for dialogue. Dialogue takes place to normalise the relations."

No Serbian Polling Stations in Kosovo after Talks Fail (Exit)

Kosovo refused to allow the opening of Serbian polling stations in its territory for Serbia’s April 3 elections, drawing criticism from the Quint (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy). Serbia denounced the neighboring country for lack of cooperation, and announced that its Serbs will be able to vote in polling stations in Serbia.

On Tuesday, Peter Stano, the European Commission Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, blamed Kosovo for the failure of talks facilitated by the EU, arguing that Serbia had been open to the Quint proposals.

Serbia has been able to regularly hold elections in Kosovo – a neighboring country it refuses to recognize since Kosovo declared independence in 2008 after a brutal war waged against it in 1998-1999.

Previous governments had allowed polling stations to open in Kosovo’s north where Serbs reside, while the OSCE took care of collecting ballot boxes after Kosovo citizens voted in Serbia’s elections.

In January, the parliament of Kosovo approved a resolution calling on the government to prevent Serbia from ever holding elections in the country.

It stated that Serbian elections held in Kosovo “violate the sovereignty and constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo, are contrary to the Constitution, the laws of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as international norms and practices.”

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3NdZ5sx

Supreme Court to look into Mitrovica court president attending meeting with Vucic (RFE)

President of Kosovo's Supreme Court, Enver Peci, has notified the Kosovo Judicial Council that he is looking into the issue of president of the Basic Court in Mitrovica, Ljiljana Stevanovic, attending a meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

Earlier yeasterday, Kosovo's Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu said she regrets participation of Stevanovic in the meeting of Serbia's Security Council and called on the Judicial Council to take adequate measures. "Judges and presidents of courts in the Republic of Kosovo need to display a high moral and professional integrity. Any participation in such a meeting undermines this integrity," Haxhiu said at a news conference.

German envoy: We expect Serbia to introduce sanctions to Russia (RFE)

Manuel Sarrazin, Germany's special envoy to the Western Balkans, said that the foreign policy of the Western Balkans countries should align with that of the EU, particularly at the time when Europe needs to be united in face of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"The aligning of Western Balkans foreign policy with that of the EU on this issue, is of a crucial importance - including sanctions. We welcome [the fact] that the majority of the Western Balkans countries have already done this. But, we expect Serbia to do the same. It is not possible to keep away on this matter. Non-imposing of sanctions does not mean neutrality but support for Russia," Sarrazin said.

Kosovo leaders saddened by the death of former U.S. Secretary, Madeleine Albright (media)

Kosovo leaders said they were deeply saddened by the passing of the former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, remembering her contribution to Kosovo.

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani said Kosovo lost an 'invaluable' friend. "We’re saddened beyond words by the passing of the formidable & inspiring Secretary Madeleine Albright. Her contribution to our freedom & democracy will never be forgotten. With her work, she left this world a better place," she wrote. "Saddened to hear of the passing of Madeline Albright, a remarkable woman with uncompromising morals for the United States, a friend of Kosova to the end, and a partner with all who pursued peace, freedom and democracy," said Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Former prime minister and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said Kosovo and its people will never forget Albright's efforts "for consolidation of the state of Kosovo." Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku called Albright "a true champion of democracy" and "a fundamental and iconic supporter of our aspirations for freedom, independence and democracy" while Memli Krasniqi from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said Madeleine Albright will "forever remain dear in the hearts of each citizen of Kosovo."

Kosovo plans to build 200 MWh battery storage facility (Reuters)

Kosovo’s government said on Wednesday it will build a battery storage facility with capacity of 200 MWh in to help cope with the country’s energy crisis.

The new project will be financed from a United States grant which is part of the Millennium Challenge Corp that aims to help poorer countries.

“This project is worth more than 200 million euros and for Kosovo this is the biggest investment that is done in the energy sector since the liberation” in 1999, said Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti during a government session.

Part of that money will be spent also on some other smaller energy projects.

Initially the donation was planned to be used in constructing a new gas pipeline with neighboring North Macedonia and building a gas-fired power plant. But Kurti’s government said the project was not worth it because of high gas prices.