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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 9, 2022

  • President Osmani, CEC chief discuss elections in northern municipalities (media)
  • Konjufca: French-German plan, biggest step to solve problem since ‘99 (media)
  • Price: Kosovo to form the Association; situation in north can escalate (media)
  • U.S. call for formation of Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Klan)
  • Italian Carabineri deploy in Kosovo after tensions in the north (Express)
  • Osmani briefed on latest developments in the north by intelligence chief (media)
  • Bogujevci: Deadline for licence plates won’t be postponed (A2 CNN)
  • Kosovo Serb MPs’ Mass Resignation Causes Constitutional Dilemma (BIRN)
  • Opposition Urges Kurti to Listen to International Community (BIRN)

President Osmani, CEC chief discuss elections in northern municipalities (media)

President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, met on Tuesday with the head of the Central Election Commission, Kreshnik Radoniqi, and discussed the announcement and organisation of extraordinary elections in the four northern municipalities after the resignation of elected officials, and also the replacement of Serbian MPs that resigned.
A press release issued by Osmani’s office notes that she emphasised the necessary steps that are being taken to announce the date for early elections in the north, in line with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Kosovo. Osmani also said she will soon invite the political parties to hold consultations before an election date is set within the legal deadline.
Konjufca: French-German plan, biggest step to solve problem since ‘99 (media)
President of the Kosovo Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, said in an interview with Klan Kosova on Tuesday that the essence of the French-German plan is for Serbia to give up on its claims on Kosovo. He argued that Kosovo does not have the luxury of refusing the plan. “The basis of the plan is healthy to move forward and because of Article 2 which is the core of the agreement,” he said.
“Since September when I saw it, I think that we don’t have the luxury to refuse it. The plan is built on three principles: the equal right between countries, respect for sovereignty and the right of parties for self-determination,” Konjufca said.
Konjufca argued that the plan is a good basis until the full recognition in relations between Kosovo and Serbia. He however said that it is not known what will happen with the plan after Serbia has rejected it. “I don’t see any reaction from the international community to Serbia’s rejection of the plan,” he said.
Konjufca also said that the French-German proposal is the best since 1999 to resolve the problem. “The plan does not resolve the problem the way we see it, but it is the biggest step since 1999 to resolve the problem with Serbia,” he added.
Price: Kosovo to form the Association; situation in north can escalate (media)
Spokesman for the U.S. State Department, Ned Price, told a press conference that Kosovo and Serbia need to implement the agreements that were signed in the process of dialogue, including the start of talks by the Kosovo side to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. “We call on both sides to implement their obligations that they signed in the EU-facilitated dialogue,” he said.
Price also said that “the withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from the institutions is not a solution for the current disagreements and has the potential of further escalation of tensions on the ground. All sides need to make steps to reduce the tensions and to ensure peace and stability”.
According to Price, the current rhetoric about the north of Kosovo threatens the lives of people. “Actions and rhetoric that increase the possibility of violence puts innocent lives and the lives of international peacekeeping forces in unnecessary risk,” he said.
Price also said that “the United States of America agree with the European Union that the latest developments are concerning and jeopardise the important progress achieved so far in the EU-facilitated dialogue”.
U.S. call for formation of Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Klan)
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, said on Tuesday that Kosovo and Serbia need to make steps to calm the situation and to maintain peace. She said the withdrawal of Serb representatives from all institutions is concerning.  “The withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from Kosovo’s institutions is not a solution to the current disagreements and has the potential of further escalation of tensions on the ground. We believe that all sides must make steps to reduce tensions and ensure peace and stability,” she said.
“Both countries, Kosovo and Serbia, need to implement the agreements they have signed in the process of dialogue, including the start of negotiations to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.”
Italian Carabineri deploy in Kosovo after tensions in the north (Express)
EU High Representative Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that additional forces were deployed to Kosovo to guarantee the rule of law, the news website reports. “At these tense times in Kosovo, EU’s Rule of Law Mission #EULEX fulfils its duty to ensure stability: @Eurogendfor gendarmes from @_Carabinieri_ landed tonight to temporarily reinforce @EULEXKosovo's Formed Police Unit. EULEX will continue supporting a safe and secure environment,” Borrell tweeted.
Osmani briefed on latest developments in the north by intelligence chief (media)
President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, met on Tuesday with the head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency Petrit Ajeti to discuss the latest developments in the north of the country. “Ajeti informed President Osmani with the current national security situation. The continuation of the coordination of all security institutions in the country to guarantee a safe environment for all citizens of the Republic was also discussed at the meeting,” a press release by the President’s Office noted.
Bogujevci: Deadline for licence plates won’t be postponed (A2 CNN)
Vice President of the Kosovo Assembly, Saranda Bogujevci, said in an interview with A2 CNN that the situation in the north of Kosovo did not become tense because of Albin Kurti’s governance. She argued that the situation in the north was provoked by Belgrade and that the issue of licence plates is the starting point of wielding sovereignty throughout Kosovo’s territory.
“The government is in communication with partners, the United States, the Quint … The decisions that were taken earlier were postponed several times. The deadline cannot be postponed now. We need to safe in the north and wield our sovereignty. There are criminal groups in the north and a political party that is controlled by Belgrade. We need to act and make sure that there is safety for the citizens,” he said.
Bogujevci said that the vehicles of owners that converted licence plates were burned to instill fear and that now is high time for the Kosovo government to deal with the security in the north.
Kosovo Serb MPs’ Mass Resignation Causes Constitutional Dilemma (BIRN)
The Kosovo authorities must replace ten MPs from the Srpska Lista party with others from the Serb community after they resigned in protest against government measures intended to make Serbs start using Kosovo vehicle registration plates.
The mass resignation was part of a wider protest which started on Saturday and also involved the resignation of Serb police, mayors and judicial officials. Many police officers handed over their weapons and handcuffs on Monday.
The MPs’ resignations, which came after a meeting organised by Srpska Lista, could lead to the first parliament without the Belgrade-backed Srpska Lista representatives since the party’s establishment in 2013.
“I believe that what has happened is quantitatively the largest resignation [in the Kosovo parliament’s history] because we have never had such a resignation in the Assembly,” head of parliament Glauk Konjufca told media on Monday.
Opposition Urges Kurti to Listen to International Community (BIRN)
After PM Albin Kurti met opposition leaders to discuss the situation in the North, they requested a concrete plan from the government and better coordination with international allies.
Following the withdrawal of Serbs from institutions in the North, Kosovo opposition leaders held a meeting with PM Albin Kurti on Monday.
The three leaders of the main opposition parties expressed concern that Kurti is damaging relations with international allies, and over the lack of a concrete plan to act in this situation. Kurti denied these claims.
Kurti told the media he considered the meeting positive,”very good, informative about the political and security situation, with open and serious conversation; my impression is that the opposition leaders are more discontented rather than dissenting.”
Regarding LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku’s remarks, Kurti told a press conference that it is not true they did not know which way they were going.
Abdixhiku said after the meeting that Kurti did not present a concrete plan to get out of the situation.
PDK leader Memli Krasniqi said after the meeting that he came out not sure that the government knew what path it had taken and how it would get out of the situation.