UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

COVID-19: 754 new cases, eight deaths (media)
Prosecution files charges against two officers related to poisoning in Decan (RTK)
Assembly presidency meeting interrupted due to a dispute (media)
ERO to review comments on new energy tariffs this week (Koha)
Scandalous: Hundreds of KSF soldiers apply for work visas at the German embassy (Albanian Post)
"The entire Bar will be blown up" threat raises concern in Montengrin city (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Covid-19: 79 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
Diocese: Campaign against decision on Visoki Decani land ongoing, prevent discrimination (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
Djuric to US congressmen: Thank you for supporting my country (N1)
Vucic discusses free trade agreement, Kosovo issue with President Xi (N1, media)
Fatherland Movement from Kosovo supports Ponos and United Serbia opposition at upcoming elections (N1)
Vucic to meet UK envoy Stuart Peach tomorrow (Kosovo-online)
Serbian Culture and Information Minister Gojkovic urge EU, UNDP to give up the Deva's house renovation project (Kosovo Online, media)

Opinion:

Lajcak should say the same things both in Pristina and Belgrade (Koha)

Humanitarian/Development:

Difficult journey of returnees in Kosovo – story of Marija Novakovic (Radio KIM, Voice of America)
Specialist Chambers Criticized Over Closing Hearings and Edited Testimonies (Prishtina Insight)
Millions of euros spent, and the projects did not come to life (Kontakt plus radio)

Albanian Language Media

COVID-19: 754 new cases, eight deaths (media)

754 new cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24-hour period, the Ministry of Health said. 3,900 persons recovered during this time.

There are 23,823 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Prosecution files charges against two officers related to poisoning in Decan (RTK)

The Prosecution in Peja filed two indictments for poisoning citizens in Decan last year.

"After an intensive investigation into the criminal case of poisoning of 1500 citizens, today I have filed an indictment against two officials as persons responsible for the criminal offense 'Failure to Avoid Danger’," said in a press conference prosecutor Durjan Juniku.

Indictments have been filed against two officials of the Regional Water Company "Hidrodrini", namely the chemist and the director of the Technical Department for lack of chlorine and water testing.

Meanwhile, regarding the suspected persons of Serbian nationality, it was said that the investigations have been completed and it turned out that they had nothing to do with the case.

Last year in July 1500 citizens among them 51 children, sought medical help, due to health problems associated with water.

Assembly presidency meeting interrupted due to a dispute (media)

The head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Arben Gashi, refused to hold the meeting of the presidency of the Assembly of Kosovo, while the chief of staff of the Speaker of Parliament is present, as according to him he spoke untruths about the MPs.

The meeting failed and the Speaker of the Assembly gLauk Konjufca stated that Gashi also attempted attack and insulted Ilir Kerceli.

Konjufca told the media that his chief of staff did not mention names in the published article.

The head of LDK parliamentary group Arben Gashi on the other hand said that there was no physical clash and that there was a high distance with the chief of staff of the speaker.

"I did not even touch him with my hand, and there was a relatively long distance between me and him, it is not true. So, the President of the Assembly should perform his duties, be in charge of his function as a representative of the Assembly and all MPs of the Assembly and not to activate his chief of staff to misuse the situation and spread incorrect information to the detriment of MPs," Gashi said.

"The meeting of the Presidency of the Assembly failed because the Speaker of the Assembly had taken with him the Chief of Cabinet who has violated his duties and responsibilities. We asked for him not to be present, the chairman refused to let him leave and the meeting failed. Apart from telling untruths, the head of the cabinet has used partial truths, trying to denigrate certain MPs of the Assembly of the Republic", said Gashi.

Gashi, added that no chief of staff speaks without the permission of his boss.

ERO to review comments on new energy tariffs this week (Koha)

The Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) will hold a meeting this week to review comments on new energy tariffs.

KOHA learns that the next meeting of this institution, to review the comments on the new tariffs in the context of electricity prices, will be held this week.

If ERO's decision is to apply the new tariffs, the price increase will be reflected in the February tariffs.

ERO has received comments in the framework of the extraordinary review of electricity tariffs until January 31.

Besides the comments of the Secretariat of the Energy Community in Vienna, the Institute for Development Policy (INDEP), the Kosovo Electricity System, Transmission and Market Operator (KOSTT), the Kosovo Electricity Distribution Company (KEDS) and the Kosovo Electricity Supply Company (KESCO), ERO has also received the comments of the government and the Presidency of Kosovo.

Levizja Vetvendosje (LVV) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), also sent their comments.

Scandalous: Hundreds of KSF soldiers apply for work visas at the German embassy (Albanian Post)

Among the 56 thousand citizens of Kosovo who have applied to the German embassy for work visas, hundreds of them are soldiers of the Kosovo Security Force.

Numerous applications of KSF soldiers to flee Kosovo have been confirmed for Albanian Post by a source within the Ministry of Defense.

"There have always been numerous applications," said the source, who acknowledged that this high number is a long-standing concern within the ministry.

"It has always been troubling. There are boys who have completed a master's degree and are soldiers among those who want to leave Kosovo.”

Regarding the large number of KSF military who want to leave, the news portal learns that the German Ambassador to Kosovo Joern Rohde has informed the Minister of Defense Armend Mehaj.

Having as a concern this departure of KSF soldiers, the source within the ministry said that "steps are being taken to increase their salaries and there will be no soldiers under 500 euros salary."

Albanian Post understands that this was also the reason why the Ministry of Defense will do another analysis to see the morale of KSF soldiers.

Officially, the Ministry of Defense did not answer the questions of Albanian Post about this issue.

"The entire Bar will be blown up" threat raises concern in Montengrin city (media)

Majority of the media report that an anonymous call on a local radio station has raised the alarm in the Montenegrin coastal city of Bar.

The caller, according to the newspaper "Vijesti", during the short conversation with the employees of "Radio Bar," said that "if you do not inform the police about the explosive, for 10 minutes the whole city will be blown up."

According to the director of "Radio Bar", she immediately notified the Police.

Members of the Police are checking the port of Bar, which is the largest in Montenegro, if there is a real explosive, infroms "Vijesti".

"Port workers have been evacuated, until the police do their job," Vijesti writes.

Serbian Language Media

Covid-19: 79 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)

Out of 176 tested samples in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, 79 were positive for Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced, KoSSev portal reports.

At the same time two persons passed away, and 229 people have completed two-week isolation period.

New cases were registered as follows: 23 in Mitrovica North, 17 in Leposavic, five each in Zvecan and Zubin Potok, 12 in Gracanica, four in Gnjilane, seven in Priluzje and six in Strpce.

Deceased persons were from Mitrovica North and Leposavic, bringing the total number of deceased persons due to Covid-19 related complications in the Serbian areas to 205.

Currently, there are 1.200 active cases of Covid-19 in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

Diocese: Campaign against decision on Visoki Decani land ongoing, prevent discrimination (KoSSev, Radio KIM)

“The Serbian Orthodox Church with great concern for several months already follows the statements of highest local political representatives in Pristina concerning the status of Visoki Decani Monastery land and other court disputes related to our property, which we are dragged to without our will. Undermining the court verdicts in public by politicians in this case is unprecedented in a wider region”, Raska-Prizren Diocese said regarding campaign against implementation of the Constitutional Court decision in the case of Visoki Decani Monastery land, Radio KIM reports.

“This time the untruths were uttered from a highest position, by Mr. Albin Kurti, prime minister of the government in Pristina, while only in December last year, assembly speaker Mr. Glauk Konjufca, Ramush Haradinak as AAK leader and representatives of Decani municipality were making statements on this issue several times”, Diocese added.

It also argued that “the only substance of statements of all these officials is in fact that no laws or court decisions are applicable to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija”.

“According to one official, the implementation of this decision would provoke a ‘chain reaction in which the Church would have to be granted compromises in other issues as well.’ Translated into ordinary language, this means that the rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church in this area are a matter of someone’s good will, and not a system that should be the foundation of every society, and act with equity towards everyone, which is, after all, repeatedly emphasised by the highest international representatives who made appeals for respect of the rule of law and court decisions“, it added.

Returning to the court proceeding on Visoki Decani’s land, the Diocese recalls that it lasted for sixteen years before the Kosovo courts.

“During that process, Visoki Decani Monastery suffered not only threats, but also physical and armed attacks, organised protests, attempts to block access to the monastery, and the defamation campaign against the SOC and the monastery itself. This cannot be compared to any post-World War II propaganda”, they said.

The Diocese added that during the court proceedings, every legal issue was addressed in detail, before all court instances, while the procedure itself was monitored all the time by international representatives and their legal teams. “We believe that there is no procedure since 2000 that has been so monitored, and that has been so politicised, not by our Church but by local institutions.”

Even after such a proceeding, the Diocese stated, local institutions keep refusing to implement the ruling and amend the cadastre for almost six years, despite the fact that the decision of the Constitutional Court is final and irrevocable.

“Such actions are not only reflecting the situation in Kosovo institutions but also reveal open discrimination against the Serbian Orthodox Church. Furthermore, such actions clearly show what the fate of the Serbian Orthodox Church in this area would look like if it were left entirely at the mercy of the authorities in Pristina, from whichever political group they come from.”

According to the Diocese, although local institutions constantly call for dialogue with SOC, that dialogue “is not possible with those who demonstrate at every step open ethnic and religious discrimination and unwillingness to respect their own laws.”

“From the first day after the armed conflict in 1999, our Church participated in the dialogue with local institutions and actively worked on building trust and bridges, which is known to the international community. Therefore, the implementation of this decision by this or one of the following administrations is a necessary condition to show us that the dialogue would not be only a stunt for cameras and foreign officials, and that there is true readiness to stop a systematic campaign of discrimination and open hostility towards the Serbian Orthodox Church”, they added.

They also addressed the allegations presented by the Kosovo Prime Minister on how Serbia is “abusing the SOC as a political instrument against Kosovo and Albanians”.

“Persistent public treatment of our Church as a political institution or a political proxy, which is unfounded, shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of freedom and equality of religious institutions in a modern democratic society. Irresponsible media statements, arbitrary commenting on final court rulings and creating confusion in the public additionally endanger the security of the Serbian Orthodox Church, its holy sites, priesthood, monastics and believers, and it is contrary to all international standards”, Diocese said.

Djuric to US congressmen: Thank you for supporting my country (N1)

A group of US congressmen published a letter of support for Serbia insisting on improving relations between the United States and Serbia, Marko Djuric, Serbian Ambassador to Washington said on Friday, N1 reports.

He published the letter on his Instagram account signed by members of Congress from foreign policy, intelligence and military committees, the Serbian Caucus, Democrats and Republicans and sent to President Joseph Biden.

The congressmen addressed President Biden on the 140th anniversary of the US-Serbia diplomatic relations to encourage him and his administration to work on deepening ties between the two countries.

Djuric said that "friends of Serbia in the US Congress raised their voice favouring Serbia and strengthening relations between the two countries."

"Prominent and influential representatives of the people of the United States from both parties supported Serbia and asked for further improvement of cooperation and partnership with our country, which began 140 years ago. Thank you, dear friends! The Embassy of Serbia in the United States will continue with additional enthusiasm in its daily work with representatives of the US Congress and Government, " Djuric said.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3B2OU4i

Vucic discusses free trade agreement, Kosovo issue with President Xi (N1, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Beijing on Saturday that he conducted important talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a number of important issues, including a free trade agreement between the two countries, adding China’s President will visit Serbia as soon as the coronavirus situation improves, N1 reports.

„We talked about strategic issues, mutual support, preservation of territorial integrity in international institutions and organisations – that is very important for our country because of Kosovo and Metohija“, Vucic told RTS, adding that other issues were discussed as well.

“For us, the issue of the Free Trade Agreement is very important and when we talk about it, it is not only a question of our agricultural producers, our winemakers and winegrowers, brandy producers and others so they can sell their large quantities in that demanding but largest market in the world which is China’s, it is also a question of bringing in new investments”, Vucic said.

He also noted it is important for the West and other parts of the world as well, because if they know that Serbia has a Free Trade Agreement with China, then the country will be seen as the best place to invest in that part of Europe.

Fatherland Movement from Kosovo supports Ponos and United Serbia opposition at upcoming elections (N1)

Fatherland Movement from Kosovo and Metohija in a press conference organised in Belgrade on Saturday, said they will support United Serbia candidate Zdravko Ponos at the upcoming presidential elections, the list led by Marinika Tepic and Belgrade mayoral candidate Vladeta Jankovic, N1 reports.

“This is not new news, considering that the People’s Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija was a member of the Alliance for Serbia. We then joined the alliance with the goal of achieving freedom in Serbia… because the issue of Kosovo and Metohija can only be resolved in a free Serbia, free institutions. Today, unfortunately, we have the institutions that are completely seized, privatised institutions. Every move depends on one man - Aleksandar Vucic. The time from 2012 has shown us that everything that this government did, above all its leader Aleksandar Vucic, was to the detriment of Kosovo and Metohija, above all to the detriment of the people living down there”, former Serbian Assembly MP and former mayor of Zubin Potok within the Serbian system, and now member of Fatherland Movement Slavisa Ristic said.

Ristic added when they joined the Alliance for Serbia, points related to Kosovo and Metohija were important to them, and that it is important to them even today.

“Advocating for a just and sustainable solution for Kosovo and Metohija and with full respect for the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, Security Council Resolution 1244 and international law, and opposing any act that would result in the affirmation of international subjectivity, including membership of the so-called Kosovo in the United Nations”, Ristic recalled point five of the-then agreement of the Alliance for Serbia.

He added that point number four, referred to the stance “holding any referendum, including a referendum on Kosovo and Metohija in the current undemocratic conditions, is unacceptable”. He explained that it was sufficient for them to join the Alliance for Serbia, and that the alliance has now continued to operate through a United Serbia.

Marko Jaksic, member of Fatherland Presidency Movement, also spoke in a conference.

“When it comes to the history of our southern Serbian province, we divide it into two parts. One part is from the Battle of Kosovo until 2012 and this other part is from 2012 until today. Why do we divide like this? Because the period from the Battle of Kosovo to 2012, is the period of defence, the struggle for the liberation of the southern Serbian province, the struggle for old Serbia, and the time from 2012 to the present day is the time of surrendering Kosovo and Metohija to Pristina”, he said.

He also accused Serbian President Vucic of handing over the institutions of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo, citing civil protection, energy, telephony and the Brezovica ski centre as examples.

Vucic to meet UK envoy Stuart Peach tomorrow (Kosovo-online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet tomorrow United Kingdom Special Envoy for Western Balkans Sir Stuart Peach, Kosovo-online portal reports.

The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. at the Presidency building in Belgrade.

Following the meeting with Peach, Vucic will meet with the Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Leonid Slutsky, starting at midday.

Serbian Culture and Information Minister Gojkovic urge EU, UNDP to give up the Deva's house renovation project (Kosovo Online, media)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information, Maja Gojkovic has sent letters to EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Executive Director, Achim Steiner, expressing concerns about a project to reconstruct the house of Xhafer Ibrahim Deva in South Mitrovica and called for the disputed project not to be realised, Kosovo Online reported today.

"Having in mind the importance of opposing and preventing the strengthening of extremism and revisionism that encourage one-sidedness and violence, let me share with you my concerns regarding the reconstruction project of Xhafer Ibrahim Deva's house and the idea of placing a regional cultural center. The facts about this case are well known - the notorious Nazi collaborator, who was active in the formation of the SS division "Skender-beg", known for preparing and committing crimes against Serbs and Jews, the mayor of Mitrovica during World War II, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Albania during the Second World War occupation, decorated by Adolf Hitler in 1944, " said Gojkovic in the letter, as reported by the portal.

She added that for these reasons, she was surprised to receive the news that this activity was being implemented within the European Union project "Cultural Heritage as a driver of dialogue between communities and social cohesion that contributes to stability and peace", with the support of UNDP.

She mentioned that the project is the reason for deep anxiety of members of the Serbian and Jewish people and the entire public of this region, and that it grossly endangers not only the dignity of victims of crimes committed during World War II and nurturing a culture of remembrance, but also the efforts that are being made today to establish dialogue.

The Minister of Culture and Information pointed out that the alleged interest in the architectural significance of this building, as well as the idea of using it as a cultural center to connect local communities and promote tolerance, multiculturalism, and connection of local communities, seems cynical to say the least.

Gojkovic mentioned that its realisation strengthens the feeling of insecurity in the Serbian community, whose human and civil rights are constantly endangered in this area, and which is faced with ethnically motivated incidents and violence against people and cultural goods almost every day.

"I want to share with you my belief that UN and EU agencies, in accordance with the mandate and values they support, cannot be part of such projects. In accordance with that, we repeat our request that the disputed project not be realised," stated Gojkovic and added that the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia will continue to be a committed partner in implementing goals and promoting UN and EU values.

In a joint statement released to the media on 4 February, The European Union in Kosovo/EUSR, UNDP, and Kosovo Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MCYS) said they “strongly condemn and have zero tolerance towards any form of racism, discrimination, prejudice or ethnic belonging which attempts to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination.” They added that “preservation and rehabilitation of cultural and religious heritage is driven by the need to ensure its existence for posterity, focusing on architectural values of such sites.”

Read the full statement here: https://bit.ly/3oxn3o6

Opinion

Lajcak should say the same things both in Pristina and Belgrade (Koha)

Augustin Palokaj, Koha Ditore's columnist and correspondent based in Brussels, writes that the "EU's ambiguity about the goals of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has become a major obstacle to success. When space is deliberately created for each side to interpret things from its own point of view, with the EU not clarifying what the truth is, then illusions increase while the likelihood of accepting reality decreases."

Palokaj says that the EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak said a proper and extremely important thing in Pristina: "Dialogue is not about status, but about the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia." However, he adds, the problem is that Lajcak did not say the same thing when visiting Belgrade, despite being asked directly by journalists. "Serbia can thus continue to use the dialogue as the main argument against the recognition of Kosovo and for de-recognition, just as it as successfully done so far."

The dialogue is at a dead-end and Lajcak cannot be blamed, Palokaj further notes. He says it is the EU which has no clear position on what the outcome of the dialogue ought to be. "Official statements of the EU that the goal of the dialogue is 'reaching a comprehensive, legally binding agreement' is more ambiguity and less evidence of unity and of clear objective. "Lajcak is not to blame for this although it is now two years since the EU with great pompousness appointed the former Slovak foreign minister as special representative for dialogue."

Palokaj says that the dialogue's status quo suits several circles, but above all Belgrade which "has gained a great deal from dialogue and not lost anything". At the same time, he underlines, damage from dialogue has been significant for Kosovo. "The biggest damage is that Serbia has very successfully used the dialogue as proof that Kosovo's status is not a done deal. And the EU has never denied this. Representatives of Serbia have told countries around the world that talks on the 'Kosovo issue' are taking place in Brussels and that, in the worst case, they should wait. Many countries have seen Serbia's stance as logical. Especially when they asked the EU and heard from its officials that 'the EU has no position on status' or that 'the EU has a neutral position on the status of Kosovo.''

Humanitarian/Development

Difficult journey of returnees in Kosovo – story of Marija Novakovic (Radio KIM, Voice of America)

After living more than 20 years in displacement in different cities in Serbia, Marija Novakovic has decided to return to Pristina, Voice of America reports. For months now, she is unsuccessfully trying with relevant institutions to evict an usurper from her apartment.

Marija Novakovic filed a request to return to her apartment in Pristina to the municipal office for communities and returns in July last year. It was unofficially confirmed from this office to Voice of America, that a few months ago a decision was made that Maria Novakovic meets conditions to return.

The procedure further says this decision should be delivered to the Ministry for Communities and Returns which should undertake further steps, however, it was not done yet “due to staffing changes following local elections, as well as reduced working capacities caused by Covid-19 pandemic”, Voice of America reports.

Given that her apartment is usurped, Novakovic addressed Property Comparison and Verification Agency in September last year, demanding repossession of the apartment she inherited from her mother Slavica Filipovic. However, she said, despite numerous promises, it didn’t happen up to date.

Voice of America, on February 1 sent a media enquiry about this case to the Property Comparison and Verification Agency, and two days later received a response that they will deliver the written answers on this issue, but without specifying when that would happen.

In the meantime, while waiting for her apartment to be released, Marija receives numerous offers from both private individuals and real estate agencies to sell the apartment.

“I simply do not want to sell my apartment, I want to return there, I want to come back here and live here. I do not know what the problem is about, I feel embittered. No institutions, and all said it will move ahead, it will be alright, all the papers needed I submitted, and suddenly, all doors are closing. They won’t diminish my willingness to remain here, they shall not succeed”, she said.

Since July last year, Marija has been staying in Laplje Selo in a home of Gordana Djoric, president of Businesswomen Association “Avenija” who is helping her efforts to reclaim the apartment.

“All these acts confirm to me that international institutions, central-level institutions, but unfortunately our politicians also who are here, and should care about us, can’t wait that we, after losing patience, sell our properties and go away, and this is a disaster”, Djoric told Voice of America.

Around 40.000 Serbs lived in Pristina prior to the 1999 conflict, and today there are only a few of them left. Marija visited her building in Pristina several times already. She said she expects no problem when she comes back to her city, she left 23 years ago. She also said she met her former neighbour and he welcomed her cordially.

Specialist Chambers Criticized Over Closing Hearings and Edited Testimonies (Prishtina Insight)

The Kosovar Humanitarian Law Center, FDHK , has revealed its positive and negative findings about the Specialist Chambers, drawn from its monitoring of the Hague court’s proceedings.

Editing of witness testimonies, non-translation of some documentation into Albanian and Serbian and extension of preparatory procedures are some of the criticisms of the Specialist Chambers’ proceedings made by the Kosovar Humanitarian Law Center, FDHK.

Amer Alija, coordinator of FDHK, on Monday said that all the court’s documentation should be translated into Albanian and Serbian as well as English.

As for editing the testimonies of witnesses, Alija says this had complicated the task of monitoring the chamber’s work.

Alija listed some positive remarks as well: in court proceedings, the rights of the parties are maximally respected; documentation is published on the Hague database; and documents issued by these courts are well reasoned.

Angela Griep, head of the chamber’s Information and Public Communication Unit, said the issue of translation was complex.

“It will [the documentation] all be translated into three languages. Some of the records have not been translated into the other two languages [Albanian and Serbian],” Griep said.

As for editing testimonies, Grief said that in private hearings, documents should be edited for the protection of witnesses.