UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo leaders extend condolences to North Macedonia following tragic bus accident (media)
President of Kosovo Osmani to meet Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau (media)
Parliamentary committee holds meeting with UK ambassador (Kallxo/KP)
Kosovo authorities have paid over €27 million for electricity in the north (Kosovapress/Koha)
Szunyog condemns incidents against non-majority communities (media)
COVID-19: 15 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic with Lajcak on the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS, Tanjug)
Vucic "nearly absolutely certain" Spain will not change stance on Kosovo (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)
Selakovic: Relations with Holy See good, stable (Tanjug)
Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo again (Radio KIM)
Srdjan Popovic appointed new head of Kosovo District (KoSSev)
Dacic on Kurti, number of recognitions (Kosovo-online)
Serbian Assembly President, Ivica Dacic announced a referendum on January 16th (B92, RTS)
Spahiu: Kurti’s statement on unification with Albania is a betrayal and a hostile act against Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Vulin: Kosovo's membership in Interpol will not be considered this year either (Novi Magazin, Beta, N1)
Vucic extends condolences to North Macedonian president and prime minister over bus crash in Bulgaria (Kosovo-online)
Serbia's economic progress also due to ties with Russia, China, said Vucic (Tanjug)
ISAC Fund says majority of Serbians see Russia as ally, oppose NATO membership (N1)
CEC revokes Todosijevic’s mandate in Zvecan (Kosovo-online)

Albanian Language Media

Kosovo leaders extend condolences to North Macedonia following tragic bus accident (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani said she was saddened by the tragic bus accident in Bulgaria in which 46 citizens of North Macedonia lost their lives. "In this moment of deep grief, Kosovo shares the pain with the families of the victims and prays for the survivors," Osmani wrote on Twitter, adding that she extended deepest condolences to the country's President Stevo Pendarovski and the people of North Macedonia.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said: "Horrified and saddened by the news of the tragic accident in Bulgaria. I express my sincere condolences and share the grief with families of the victims, and join prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Difficult times like these become easier by standing beside one another. The Republic of Kosovo sympathises with North Macedonia, its people and all Albanians shook by this dreadful news and expresses full readiness to offer its assistance in every capacity."

Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca also expressed condolences to the families of the victims. "We sympathise and stand with them in this tragedy and pray for the swift recovery of those injured," he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gervalla said she received the news of the tragic death of tens of citizens from North Macedonia with deep sorrow. "I express sincere condolences and pray for the swift recovery of the injured. Kosovo will be alongside the citizens and institutions of North Macedonia in this dreadful moment."

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi said he was deeply saddened. "In face of this tragic event, we pray for a speedy recovery of the survivors and for patience and strength for the families of the victims. On this difficult day, our minds and hearts are with all those affected by this tragedy."

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. "On behalf of the LDK, I expressed this morning condolences to North Macedonia Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev," he added.

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said: "In these difficult times, we stand alongside the families of the victims and pray for the recovery of the injured."

At least 45 people, including 12 children, died as a bus carrying mostly North Macedonian tourists crashed in flames on a highway in western Bulgaria hours before daybreak on Tuesday. The bus was making a return trip from Turkey to Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.

President of Kosovo Osmani to meet Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani is expected to meet today Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon, media report quoting a statement issued by the Kosovo's presidency.

"In the two meetings, President Osmani will inform her interlocutors about Kosovo's progress and at the same time consider opportunities for increasing cooperation in fields of mutual interest. According to President Osmani, meetings with Canadian leadership are a good opportunity for reconfirmation of excellent relations with the Canadian state, and for opening new avenues for cooperation."

Parliamentary committee holds meeting with UK ambassador (Kallxo/KP)

Members of the Kosovo Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs held a meeting with United Kingdom's Ambassador Nicholas Abbott. The meeting was closed to the media.

Chair of the committee, Haki Abazi, said the meeting is expected to focus on the relations between Kosovo and the United Kingdom, in light of Brexit. He said they would also discuss with Abbott the role his country could have in convincing the five EU member states to recognise Kosovo.

Abbott said after the meeting that relations between the UK and Kosovo are strong and will not change. He said he welcomed the discussions with Kosovo MPs.

Kosovo authorities have paid over €27 million for electricity in the north (Kosovapress/Koha)

The Government of Kosovo and Kosovo’s Electricity Network System Operator (KOSTT) have so far paid 27.7 million euros for electricity spent in the north of Kosovo, said KOSTT Board Chairman Jeton Mehmeti, Kosovapress reports.

Speaking at the meeting of the Kosovo Assembly's Committee for Economy, Industry, Entrepreneurship, Mehmeti said that KOSTT has allocated €17.7 million for the year 2021 which also covers energy losses.

Member of the committee, Mimoza Kusari-Lila from the Vetevendosje Movement, said that the issue regarding the unpaid electricity bills in the north is weeks away from being resolved. "For us it is very important that this government for nine months is intensively dealing with the issue and it is a matter of weeks before a decision is taken whereby a resident is delivered with a bill," she is quoted in Koha.

Szunyog condemns incidents against non-majority communities (media)

The head of the EU Office in Kosovo Tomas Szunyog condemned acts of dicrimination and mistreatment targeting non-majority communities in Kosovo.

"@EUKosovo strongly condemns recent incidents in Gjakove/Đakovica & Prizren involving public discrimination, mistreatment & intolerant behaviour of non-majority community members. We call for respect, tolerance & peace & strongly encourage Kosovo authorities to take legal actions," Szunyog said.

COVID-19: 15 new cases, no deaths (media)

15 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. Eight persons recovered during this time.

There are 330 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic with Lajcak on the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS, Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Belgrade with EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other regional issues in the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak.

Lajcak's visit to Belgrade, and then to Pristina, comes after the debate of the EU Council on dialogue, but also after another unsuccessful round of talks between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels, reported RTS, citing Tanjug.

As Tanjug was told in Brussels, Lajcak will try to assess the possibilities for progress in the dialogue and a purposeful meeting between President Vucic and PM Kurti by the end of this year, and to convey the message of what the EU and member states expect from continuing talks on normalizing relations.

Lajcak spoke with Kurti in Vienna on Monday about the current situation and the progress of the EU-assisted dialogue.

"We had a detailed conversation about the situation and further steps in the dialogue mediated by the EU," Lajcak wrote on his Twitter account.

Last week, EU ministers called on Belgrade and Pristina to "constructively engage" and achieve "positive results", insisting on "implementing the still unfulfilled obligations from the dialogue".

On that occasion, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, invited Vucic and Kurti to a "meeting at a high political level before the end of the year", recalled RTS.

Vucic "nearly absolutely certain" Spain will not change stance on Kosovo (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on Monday in Novi Sad that he was nearly absolutely certain that Spain would not change its stance on Kosovo, reported Serbian media.

"I am not someone who is in the Spanish government. I recently spoke with PM Sanchez in Glasgow and previously also with their king and I know our Spanish friends, I know how firm the PM is (on the issue), and I am certain they will not change their stance on Kosovo," Vucic told reporters.

Asked by Tanjug whether a potential opening of a Spanish commercial office in Kosovo would lead to a change in Madrid's position regarding Serbia's southern province, Vucic responded that this was "not realistic and not possible" and that he was "nearly absolutely certain Spain will remain firm in its respect of international public law, international legislation and norms prescribed by the UN".

When asked about ''new provocations'' by Albin Kurti and the lack of reaction from the EU, and about the statements of the European Parliament envoy for Kosovo Viola von Cramon, Vucic said that he did not react, but PM Brnabic did.

"Then the PM Ana Brnabic reacted and asked Europe if anyone would say something. It is not about an MP, an ambassador, but the prime minister of the temporary institutions in Pristina, who is directly threatening unification with Albania. I asked an ambassador, whom I met over the weekend, what it would be like if I talked about unification with someone, would you hang me. All world media would buzz and make incredible stories out of it, they would scare the world with the Greater Serbia hegemony," said Vucic.

On the other hand, when it comes to “Greater Albanian” ideas and “Greater Albanian” hegemony, it does not cause any fear or suspicion among them – the president underlined.

“It is a regular thing for them, maybe in some monthly, nonsensical report they will note that it was not a smart statement and that would be all,” the President of Serbia said, reported KoSSev.

"I assume that you took Viola von Cramon as a litmus test for anti-Serbian behavior. There is nothing that she did not announce about in Serbia, she spoke about every television report on tycoon televisions, and although she oversees Kosovo, it did not occur to her to comment on these statements," he added.

Vuci said that this is just the beginning and that it will not stop there.

"We will have a lot of problems with that. Whatever they do against Serbia is pleasing to God, and whatever Serbia does, even if it defends itself, they will not be happy. Even though we are building high-speed railways, it is not good, because they are not built by their (companies) but by Chinese companies. At the same time, their countries have 100 times more economic exchange with China," said Vucic.

The diplomatic offensive of Pristina

When asked to comment on the diplomatic offensive of Pristina, Vucic said that he had nothing against their travels and that they could say whatever they wanted, but he noted that they mostly traveled to countries that recognized them and which enabled "bombs to fall on cities in Serbia, the army and the police'', reported Radio Mitrovica sever.

According to Vucic, it is up to Belgrade to tell the truth and not insult the international community. He also emphasized that this was hypocrisy on the part of the international community, which was set to increase, reported KoSSev.

Commenting on the visits of the Kosovo president and two ministers from the Kosovo government to Canada and meetings with several international officials at which they accused Serbia and Russia of destabilizing the region, Vucic said:

“When you can’t concentrate on what you can do for your people, then the whole focus of politics lies on hatred towards someone.”

He said that he was waiting to see "the first country that will recognize them or sign that they want to join an international organization. On that day, they will receive several postcards from Serbia from several countries around the world, in which it will be written who they recognise, and who they do not," reported Radio Mitrovica sever.

Selakovic: Relations with Holy See good, stable (Tanjug)

Serbian FM Nikola Selakovic on Monday told reporters, after a meeting with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, that bilateral relations between Serbia and the Holy See were good and stable and noted that Serbia was committed to nurture and advance its overall ties with the Vatican in the spirit of dialogue and understanding, reported agency Tanjug..

Selakovic noted that Gallagher was paying a return visit to Serbia just a month after his official visit to the Vatican.

"We consider this visit to be a good foundation for further cooperation, in line with the mutual interests of the two states. We are very interested in the holding of the next round of bilateral political consultations and we have concluded that it would be good to continue that practice - which began in May 2019 - in the first half of next year," Selakovic said.

He said Serbia and the Holy See had identical views on a significant number of issues of international importance, such as protection of Christian heritage and advancement of the Christians' human rights and the issue of refugees and migrants, as well as the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Selakovic thanked Gallagher for the Holy See's support to Serbia in the European integration process.

He also expressed gratitude for the Holy See's principled support to Serbia on the Kosovo issue, as well as for its serious approach to understanding the complex regional circumstances facing the Western Balkans and the wider region.

Selakovic said that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue was discussed as well, and the threat to Serbian religious, cultural and historical heritage in Kosovo.

He said he had informed Gallagher that over 150 Christian Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo had been destroyed, devastated or desecrated since 1999 and that 34 churches and monasteries had been destroyed during a three-day March 2004 pogrom alone.

He also said 256 Serbian cemeteries in Kosovo had been desecrated and that 50 of them had been destroyed.

"We will continue to develop dialogue and contribute to what we care about the most in our country and the region - the strengthening of peace and stability as the main precondition for any further development," Selakovic said.

Gallagher said the Holy See supported Serbia on its European path and noted that the diplomatic ties between Serbia and the Holy See were constantly strengthening.

He said the bilateral relations were good and that his official visit to Serbia was an opportunity for the two sides to demonstrate an intent to further develop and advance ties in areas of mutual interest.

He thanked Serbia for its respect for the Holy See and the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia.

Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo again (Radio KIM)

Pristina authorities banned Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic from visiting Kosovo today, where he was supposed to attend on November 24 Saint Patron’s Day of Visoki Decani Monastery, Radio KIM reports citing the statement of Office for KiM.

In addition to attending the ceremony at Visoki Decani Monastery, Petkovic was also supposed to visit several socially vulnerable and returnee families and deliver aid to them.

“No ban will prevent official Belgrade to continue helping our people and invest in the Serbian areas, and Albin Kurti shall never be able to prevent that”, the statement reads, adding this was the fourth time that Pristina prevented Petkovic from visiting Kosovo and Metohija.

"Are international factors at all ready to restrain Albin Kurti in his destructive campaign against all the achievements of the Brussels Agreement and other agreements reached in Brussels during the dialogue process", the Office said.

It also noted that every day and by acts he is making Kurti undermines the dialogue and process of normalizations, as well as directly violates all agreements on freedom of movement and official visits.

The Office said it will inform all international stakeholders, including the mediator in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak who is visiting Belgrade today about this latest ban.

Srdjan Popovic appointed new head of Kosovo District (KoSSev)

Srdjan Popovic was appointed new Head of the Kosovo Administrative District in Gracanica, an institution functioning within the system of Republic of Serbia, KoSSev portal reports.

Popovic was appointed as per a decision of the Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, made on November 18.

Previously, Srdjan Petkovic was relieved of the duty from the same post.

Srdjan Popovic was Gracanica mayor since 2017, while Ljiljana Subaric, Serbian List candidate won mayoral elections in this municipality at the last Kosovo elections and is expected to assume the duty in upcoming days.

Dacic on Kurti, number of recognitions (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic commented on the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti who said in Vienna yesterday that Austria ought to help Pristina regarding the five non-recognizers from the EU, by saying that they (Pristina) “were complete outsiders”, Kosovo-online portal reports.

"As things stand now, no one, not even Albania, believes in their good intentions, their intelligence, and their desire for peace in general. There are constant conflicts between them, attacks on Rama because of relations with Vucic, because of 'Open Balkans'”, Dacic said.

He added there are more states in the world supporting Serbia’s stance, than those who recognized self-declared independence.

“We stick to the negotiations, dialogue, and we have always ready solutions. I am certain that those in Pristina at this moment do not even know which countries recognized them and which revoked recognitions”, Dacic said.

Serbian Assembly President, Ivica Dacic announced a referendum on January 16th (B92, RTS)

President of the Assembly of Serbia, Ivica Dacic told RTS today that the Law on Referendum will be on the agenda on Thursday.

The text of the constitutional amendments will be on the agenda of the National Assembly of Serbia next week, after which a referendum will be called for January 16, announced Dacic.

Part of the public complains that there was no public debate on that law and asks why there is so much hurry, while President of the Assembly of Serbia said:

"We have to pass it now, because we cannot make constitutional changes. All these years, no referendum has been considered and that has not been a priority for anyone, since 2006, when that basic condition for the success of the referendum was changed, and that is that more than 50 percent should not come out, but that it is necessary for the majority of those who came out to vote."

He pointed out that Serbia is in the process of constitutional changes, in the part of the constitution that concerns the judiciary. "That means that the election of all judges and prosecutors in the next period will be in the hands of judicial bodies."

As he announced next week, the text of the constitutional amendments will be on the agenda of the National Assembly. "If the law on the referendum is passed, then a referendum will be called for January 16, in order to get everything done in this convocation," Dacic explained.

"The referendum law comes into force immediately, because there is no time to lose. The position of the Venice Commission was awaited. We had very dynamic communication with the Venice Commission for the first time. We received a positive opinion on both the text of the amendment and the referendum law," Dacic claims.

He added that the Republic Election Commission must be formed, which will conduct the referendum and in which he must propose six additional members and six MPs from the ranks of the opposition, since those are the same bodies that will conduct the elections and the referendum.

Spahiu: Kurti’s statement on unification with Albania is a betrayal and a hostile act against Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Prime Minister Albin Kurti's recent statement that he would "vote for unification with Albania" is a hostile act against Kosovo, political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu told Kosovo Online portal, explaining it is national betrayal when someone "at the helm of the country tries to make it disappear."

"In any country, such a statement would serve as an accusation of national treason, the prosecutor would immediately initiate a case against him. To be the head of a state and try to make it disappear is an act of hostility against that state. The Prime Minister said that conditionally, he was not explicit, but any insinuation in that direction means national betrayal," Spahiu told Kosovo online.

He opined that the statements on national unification are only of a figurative nature, i.e. that neither Serbia nor Albania have pretensions towards the unification with Kosovo.

"Kosovo will exist for the next 100 years, because no one is interested in taking it over, neither Albania nor Serbia. They are interested in ‘milking’ it, in keeping it as it is, but they are not interested in occupying that territory. In addition to Serbia and Albania, Kosovo borders Montenegro and North Macedonia, but they are not interested in annexing Kosovo. Kurti’s stories are in vain, he only causes misfortune and suffering of his citizens, but that cannot affect the future of the state of Kosovo," Spahiu pointed out.

He also commented on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which is being held in Brussels and said that he had no optimistic expectations, despite the great interest of international factors.

"My hopes that this will end with an agreement between Kurti and Vucic are getting smaller and smaller. The ideal opportunities for such an agreement are being missed, and I am less and less convinced that the two of them will reach an agreement. The ideal opportunity is the fact that there aren't any special conflicts in the world, attention is focused on Belgrade and Pristina, everyone is willing to reach a compromise, the West and even Russia. Everyone is very interested, it is an ideal opportunity to end something that would mean the end of the conflict between Belgrade and Pristina," Spahiu concluded.

Vulin: Kosovo's membership in Interpol will not be considered this year either (Novi Magazin, Beta, N1)

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin stated today that it was confirmed that the issue of Pristina's membership in Interpol will not be discussed at this year's General Assembly either, reported portal Novi Magazin.

"The agenda was adopted, and the false state of Kosovo did not apply for membership in Interpol at this year's session of the General Assembly in Istanbul," Vulin said in a statement.

He assessed that it was the result of the persistent work of his ministry, which, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made a lot of efforts to visit dozens of countries and acquaint them with the real situation in Kosovo.

Vulin especially thanked the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic and assessed that he did a lot to prevent Pristina from becoming a member of Interpol for the third time, reported the portal.

Vucic extends condolences to North Macedonian president and prime minister over bus crash in Bulgaria (Kosovo-online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sent a condolences letter to the North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev over a severe traffic accident which claimed the lives of 46 people, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“It is with disbelief and sorrow that I received the horrific news on the tragic demise of the bus passengers in Bulgaria. There are no words to describe the pain we share with the citizens of your country. Speechless before this tragedy, our prayers of consolation go to the families of those who have died and to your entire brotherly people”, Vucic wrote in a letter.

He also said Serbia stands ready to offer any sort of help and support.

“On my behalf and on behalf of the citizens of Serbia, I extend the deepest condolences to the families of those who died and the people of North Macedonia, and wish speedy and successful recovery to those injured”, Vucic said.

Serbia's economic progress also due to ties with Russia, China, said Vucic (Tanjug)

Politics is not about taking the easy route and Serbia has political and economic interests - it is a militarily neutral country and its economic progress is also due to friendly ties with Russia and China, says Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, reported Tanjug agency.

In a recent interview for the YouTube channel Solovyev Live - released in its entirety on Tuesday ahead of Vucic's meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin - the Serbian president said Serbia had had an economic growth rate of around 6.7 pct in the past two years and that it had built more hospitals in the past seven years than in the previous 70 years.

Serbia has succeeded in doing that also because it maintains friendly relations with Russia and China, Vucic said, noting that a large number of foreign investments were coming from the EU.

When asked why he had taken the more difficult route by refusing to impose sanctions on Russia, Vucic responded that politics was not about taking the easy route and that Serbia had its political and economic interests.

"Had we not had the gas pipeline, and had we not been cooperating with Russia, we would have no gas today and would be paying 800-900 euros for (one cubic m of) gas," Vucic said, adding that this would be economically untenable for Serbia.

He said he was confident Serbia would have been told it was welcome to join NATO and then also the EU had it imposed sanctions on Russia.

Vucic noted that he was a pragmatic and rational man and that Serbia had economic interests, but that "we cannot kill the soul of the Serbs so that I can get praised by some newspaper or some Western television channel."

The essence is for Serbia to be sovereign and independent in decision-making, Vucic said, adding that Serbia's policy could never be hostile towards the Russian Federation.

The president said he was open about that with everyone in the world.

"Just like President Putin smiles when I say 'You know, we are on the European path', and says 'I know, I know - I know they will not take you in but you are on the European path', and he tells me that every time," Vucic said.

"And because I do not want to deceive anyone or hide anything, I tell both the Europeans and the Americans: 'We have special, good relations with Russia and we do not want to erode them, so do not request that," Vucic said.

ISAC Fund says majority of Serbians see Russia as ally, oppose NATO membership (N1)

The ISAC Fund said in a report that more than two thirds of Serbians believe that the West is promoting a decadent lifestyle, N1 reports.

The fund’s GLOBSEC Vulnerability Index showed that “a total of 68% of Serbians think Western countries promote a morally corrupt and decadent lifestyle veiled behind “civil liberties””. It added that only 18% of Serbians see the European Union as a strategic partner, and 55% believe that EU integration threatens democracy and traditional values. “At the same time, EU integration is viewed as an opportunity to improve the lives of ordinary people”, the report said. The report is based on a poll of 1,000 people.

“The government’s foreign policy orientation is mirrored in public attitudes. Compared to others in the region, Serbian society is particularly sympathetic towards Russia and China, antagonistic to NATO, and ambivalent about the EU”, it said.

It added that the majority of the adult population (82%) perceives Russia as their traditional Slavic brother and as the country’s most important strategic partner (59%), while NATO integration is strongly opposed by 84% of adults and a slight majority of 52% support membership in the EU.