UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 25, 2021

Escobar: ‘Open Balkans’ will not function without involvement of six states (RFE Albanian)
Albanian President criticizes “Open-Balkans” initiative from Prishtina (A2)
Gervalla meets Escobar: Dialogue to aim only mutual recognition (media)
New German government supports visa liberalization for Kosovo (RTK)
Kurti receives Chairmen of the Universal Peace Federation (media)
Konjufca: Consensus with opposition against "Zajednica" benefits Kosovo in dialogue (Koha)
Kosovo and Latvia sign MoU on military and security cooperation (media)
Citaku: PDK to soon form 'shadow government' (Telegrafi)
Police Inspectorate: Interview of Police Director not related to confiscation of drugs (media)
Kosovo man faces terror charges after return from Syria (The Washington Post)
“Rexhep Selimi and Nasim Haradinaj catch COVID-19 at The Hague” (Telegrafi)
COVID-19: Six new cases, one death (media)
With stray dog shelter, Kosovo duo bridge ethnic divide (AFP/France 24)

Escobar: ‘Open Balkans’ will not function without involvement of six states (RFE Albanian)

The U.S. envoy to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said on Wednesday that if the 'Open Balkans' initiative does not include all six Western Balkan countries, then it will not work.

During an online address to the Open Balkans conference held in the Serbian Parliament, Escobar said regional initiatives should be equally open to all states.

The 'Open Balkans' co-operation initiative includes Serbia, Albania and northern Macedonia and envisions the free movement of goods, capital, services and people between the three countries.

Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are not part of the Open Balkans.

Escobar warned that among the challenges of the Open Balkans remain border control after their opening, reducing corruption and reducing state control over the economy.

"In addition, it is important that these three countries that initiated the Open Balkans remain open and talk closely with the other three partners who remain skeptical," Escobar added.

He stressed that there should be equality for all citizens and projects and there should be no discrimination based on ethnicity in the regional initiative.

The U.S. envoy to the Western Balkans added that the U.S. is ready to assist regional initiatives, if they do not hinder European integration.

"We are ready to help them on this path, to achieve international standards, to partner with Europe, to ensure that this region becomes one of the most important economies in Europe," Escobar said.

"It is time to unleash the economic potential of the Western Balkan countries and strengthen their European future," the U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade Anthony Godfrey said.

"We support the plan of the Open Balkans, all-embracing, in order to ensure free movement of goods, people, capital and services," he said.

Albanian President criticizes “Open-Balkans” initiative from Prishtina (A2)

President of Albania Ilir Meta spoke out against the “Open Balkan” plan from Prishtina, where he was invited to an event on the Albanian factor in the Balkans. He called it an exclusionary initiative that benefits Serbia, Tirana-based A2 reports.

It adds that Meta saw the European Union as Albanians’ sole path to integration, while labeling requests for border modifications as nationalist propaganda. Meta urged for less media spectacle and more concrete effort ahead of the joint meeting of the Albanian and Kosovo governments.

Gervalla meets Escobar: Dialogue to aim only mutual recognition (media)

Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla met on Wednesday with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and the overseer of the policies of the Western Balkan countries Gabriel Escobar, on the sidelines of the Partnership Commission meeting of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter, in Zagreb.

During this meeting, Minister Gervalla informed Escobar about the current developments in Kosovo, focusing on the progress made in the field of economy and justice. They also talked about the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, for which Gervalla stressed that can be conducted only on the basis of principles and values embraced by the U.S. and the EU, and with the aim of mutual recognition between neighbouring countries. Speaking about the strengthening of Kosovo's international subjectivity, Gervalla thanked Escobar for the continuous support given to Kosovo in this field as well as in all dimensions of state-building, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora said in a press release.

On Twitter meanwhile Gervalla said: "Today, I talked with US DAS Gabriel Escobar about current threats in the Balkans and the Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo. I expressed the deep appreciation of the people in Kosovo for all the efforts of our great friend and supporter US. We are proud to call the US a true friend!"

New German government supports visa liberalization for Kosovo (RTK)

The new German government supports the European integration of the six Western Balkan countries and the reforms needed to meet all the Copenhagen criteria, RTK reports, adding that this is stated in the document of the agreement for reaching the coalition of the new German government today in Berlin.

"In this context, we will strengthen civil society and support further steps towards rapprochement," the document reads.

The agreement proposes the opening of the first chapters with Albania and Northern Macedonia, visa liberalization for Kosovo, but also the continuation of negotiations with Montenegro and Serbia.

It further supports the EU-sponsored dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as efforts to maintain long-term peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina based on preserving territorial integrity and overcoming ethnic differences.

It adds that in parallel with accession negotiations, the EU's capacity to accept new members needs to be improved.

Germany's new chancellor will be the leader of the Social Democrats Olaf Scholz, while the Foreign Ministry is expected to belong to the Greens.

Kurti receives Chairmen of the Universal Peace Federation (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti received on Wednesday the chairmen of the Universal Peace Federation, Katsumi Otsuka and Jacques Marion, a statement issued by the Kosovo Prime Minister's Office announced.

On this occasion, Kurti stressed the government's focus on economic growth and economic development, as well as the intention to attract direct foreign investment. He informed them of the increase in tax revenues by about 1/3 and double-digit economic growth. Speaking about the pandemic situation, the Prime Minister said that so far over 64 percent of the population planned for vaccination have been vaccinated with one dose, while over 56 percent with both doses.

The chairmen of the Universal Peace Federation announced that the Prime Minister of Cambodia will soon send an official invitation to Prime Minister Kurti for the next peace summit in Seoul.

Konjufca: Consensus with opposition against "Zajednica" benefits Kosovo in dialogue (Koha)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca said there is consensus between the ruling and opposition parties in Kosovo on the issue of dialogue with Serbia. He said a unified position of the Kosovo political spectrum against the Association of Serb-majority municipalities would benefit the government at the negotiating table with Serbia.

"There was a type of a silent consensus on this issue, I don't know how it came about but on two important points there was an agreement with the opposition. The first is the fact of having the government represent us there, not a broader forum. I didn't see it as a position in the Assembly, but more of a position of the new leaders of LDK and PDK in interviews where they had the opportunity to present their stances. The second relates to the avoiding of a topic on which we are facing pressure, the association of Serb-majority municipalities. The mere fact that the opposition has been positioned against the 'Zajednica' is a great help to the government," Konjufca said in an interview with KTV. "This is the reason why the 'Zajednica' in the eyes of the international community is diminishing as an option," he added.

Kosovo and Latvia sign MoU on military and security cooperation (media)

Ministries of Defence of Kosovo and Latvia signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to cooperate on the military and security fields.

The news was announced by the Kosovo's Ministry of Defence while reporting on Minister Armend Mehaj's official visit to Latvia where he met the country's Defence Minister Artis Pabriks. "The two ministers also agreed to intensify cooperation between the two ministries and forces through the exchange of personnel, joint trainings and exercises, as well as other activities in the common interest," the Ministry added.

Citaku: PDK to soon form 'shadow government' (Telegrafi)

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Vlora Citaku said the party would soon form a "Shadow Government" which would not only, as she said, focus on criticising the current Government of Kosovo but also offer alternative solutions to various issues.

Speaking to students of a private college in Pristina, Citaku added that the PDK has expressed strong support to the Government in concluding the dialogue with Serbia noting that the ruling and opposition parties should speak in one voice when it comes to Kosovo's foreign policy.

Police Inspectorate: Interview of Police Director not related to confiscation of drugs (media)

The Kosovo Police Inspectorate (KPI) has come up with a clarification after the published articles regarding the interview of the General Director of the Kosovo Police. The Inspectorate confirmed that the General Director of Kosovo Police Samedin Mehmeti has been invited for an interview based on the legal mandate of Kosovo Police Inspectorate.

Mehmeti was interviewed by KPI investigators as a witness regarding the case where one of his subordinates is suspected of the criminal offense "Exercise of influence" and "Disclosure of official secrecy", it is said in the explanation.

It is further emphasized that there was a press release on September 20, 2021 with regards to this matter.

According to the KPI, his interview has nothing to do with the case of confiscation of the suspected narcotic substance, which is being investigated by the Kosovo Police.

“The Kosovo Police Inspectorate, thanking them for the continuous cooperation, encourages the media to address the KIP Division for Cooperation and Information to clarify information and obtain accurate information prior to publishing information, in order to correctly inform the public opinion," the communiqué reads.

Kosovo man faces terror charges after return from Syria (The Washington Post)

Kosovo’s prosecutors on Wednesday brought terror charges against a local man who had allegedly joined the Islamic State group in Syria and was recently repatriated.

A statement from the prosecutor’s office said the suspect only identified as S. Q. allegedly joined IS fighters in the Syrian city of Raqqa, after entering through Turkey. He allegedly received training in Syria and took an active part in fighting.

He was handed over to Kurdish forces and was finally repatriated to Kosovo in July this year.