Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 508 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• “New energy tariffs will be executed from February 9” (media)
• ECRB calls on Kosovo authorities to ensure independence of ERO (media)
• German President: Fighting corruption a factor for future of Kosovo youth (RFE) 
• S. Ambassador meets President of Constitutional Court (media)
• PSD leader Molliqaj and three other activists released from detention (Koha)
• Serbian products in Kosovo’s market drop by 37 percent (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian president calls early parliamentary elections for April 3 (media, N1)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker calls local elections for April 3 (media, N1)
• 21 years since Livadice buss attack, memorial service to be held in Laplje Selo (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Crime in Livadice stain on face of international community (KoSSev)
• Visoki Decani on Livadice crime anniversary (Kosovo-online)
• Opposition candidate Ponos goes to Kosovo, fierce reaction from Serbian authorities (N1)
• UNDP: The name of the Mitrovica Cultural Center changed after the renovation (KiM radio)
• OSCE concerned over incidents on religious sites, calls for re-establishment of Municipal Safety Councils (KoSSev)
• Survey: Half Kosovo residents ready to emigrate (RTS, media)
• Selakovic: Serbia to react if Pristina tries to secure more recognitions (Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti)
• Vucic receives Primakov (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Serwer: Convergence is desirable but not magical (media)

International:

• 2022 Index of Economic Freedom: Kosovo (heritage.com)

 

 

Albanian Language Media  

 

COVID-19: 508 new cases, 3 deaths (media)

508 new cases with COVID-19 and three deaths from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. 1,281 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 8,685 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

“New energy tariffs will be executed from February 9” (media)

Chair of the Board of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO), Ymer Fejzullahu, said today that the new energy tariffs will be executed from February 9. The Kosovo electricity distribution company (KEDS) had requested for the new energy tariffs to enter into force from March 1, but the proposal was turned down. “It is their obligation to implement the decision of the Energy Regulatory Office,” Fejzullahu told a press conference in Prishtina. He also said that the new decision for the new tariff structure of energy will be published this week.

ECRB calls on Kosovo authorities to ensure independence of ERO (media)

Marko Bislimoski, President of the Energy Community Regulatory Board, said today that the ECRB reminds that the authorities in Kosovo have to ensure that the Energy Regulator can exercise its duty in an independent manner without pressure or political influence. “Independence of the Energy Regulator is a legal requirement in line with the Energy Community Treaty. The ECRB reminds that we are all in an energy crisis and the prices that the ERO defines are ensuring sustainable stability and security in the energy system. I am pointing out that measures for protecting the consumers and the whole energy system are essential for systematic solutions on a long term. Should parties believe that the decision by the Regulator is not in line with the legal and regulatory framework in Kosovo, ERO’s decision may be challenged in court only,” Bislimoski said.

German President: Fighting corruption a factor for future of Kosovo youth (RFE) 

German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier recalled the importance of fighting corruption and organized crime in Kosovo in a letter to his Kosovo counterpart, Vjosa Osmani, on the 14th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence.

In this letter he said that "Germany strongly supports the perspective of the Republic of Kosovo in the European Union". "It is of great importance to resolutely implement the important reform agenda of your government in the fight against corruption and organized crime. This will be a central factor in creating prospects for young people in Kosovo, strengthening the economy, new investments and job creation," Steinmeier said.

He further said that the dialogue with Serbia "remains probably the biggest foreign policy challenge for Kosovo".

Steinmeier's congratulations were made public by the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, thanking Germany for its support to Kosovo.

"Kosovo is lucky that along its challenging journey it has countries like Germany and friends like President Steinmeier," Osmani wrote on Facebook.

U.S. Ambassador meets President of Constitutional Court (media)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, met today with the President of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, Gresa Caka-Nimani. “At my introductory meeting with Constitutional Court President Caka-Nimani, praised the enormous progress Kosovo has achieved and reiterated the United States’ support for strong, independent Kosovan judicial institutions that deliver justice for all citizens,” Hovenier tweeted after the meeting.

PSD leader Molliqaj and three other activists released from detention (Koha)

Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Dardan Molliqaj and three other activists of the party have been released from detention today. They were detained after an action at the premises of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) demanding explanations for the increase in energy tariffs. A PSD senior member confirmed to the news website that the party leader and activists have been released, and that two other activists are still in detention and will appear before a judge on Wednesday.

Serbian products in Kosovo’s market drop by 37 percent (RFE)

According to data from Kosovo Customs, the amount of Serbian products in Kosovo’s market has dropped by 37 percent last year compared to 2017. In 2017, the import of Serbian goods in Kosovo was €450 million, or 36.8 percent more than in 2021, when this import amounted to €305 million.

Radio Free Europe contacted the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and some companies that export goods to Kosovo, but they did not want to talk about the amount of their exports to Kosovo.

Businesses and citizens in Prishtina that talked to the news website said that after the introduction of the 100% tariff on Serbian products and the reciprocity measure, they did not resort to Serbian goods.

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Serbian president calls early parliamentary elections for April 3 (media, N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament and called early parliamentary elections for April 3 on Tuesday.

Vucic signed a decree to dissolve parliament and called elections for members of parliament on April 3, 2022.

Both decisions take effect with their publication in the Official Gazette.

Vucic said that this parliament completed important things for the country, especially in terms of rule of law.

He called on the population of Serbia to turn out and show the country’s democratic capacities that plans can be implemented in a civilised manner, adding that he wishes that the election winners will lead the country in the best possible way.

He said he is sure that the people of Serbia know how to choose the best.

See at: https://bit.ly/3JwbFkb

Serbian Parliament Speaker calls local elections for April 3 (media, N1)

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic on Tuesday called local elections in two cities and 10 municipalities for April 3.

Local elections were held in Serbia in the summer of 2020.

He said that he would call presidential elections early in March, 90 days before the president’s term in office expires.

Dacic wished everyone a successful campaign in a fair atmosphere to allow the electorate to vote for who they want to. He called all parties and coalitions to a fair and democratic political competition.

See at: https://bit.ly/3LDhxdq

21 years since Livadice buss attack, memorial service to be held in Laplje Selo (KoSSev)

Today marks 21 years since the bomb attack against Nis-express bus, in Livadice village, near Podujevo leaving 12 Serbs dead and 43 injured, KoSSev reports. The youngest victim was two-year old Danilo Cokic. Memorial service will be held in the Saint Petka Church in Laplje Selo starting at 11 a.m.

Travellers, displaced persons from Kosovo departed from Nis to Gracanica to attend All Souls Day. The first in a convoy of seven buses, carrying the Serbs, escorted by Swedish and British KFOR units was struck in an explosion, KoSSev recalls.

Ten people died on the spot, and two more later succumbed to their injuries. The victims in the attack were Cokic family – Njegos, Snezana and Danilo, Suncica Pejic, Zivana Tokic, Slobodan Stojanovic, Nenad Stojanovic, Mirjana Dragovic, Veljko Stakic, Milinko Kragovic, Lazar Milkic and Dragan Vukotic.

One month after the attack, four Albanians were arrested on March 19, 2001. Three were members of the-then Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), including colonel Cel Gashi, officers Avdil Behluli and Jusuf Veli, and the main suspect Florim Ejupi, had a criminal record in Germany.

Following the first-instance verdict sentencing Florim Ejupi to 40 years in prison, the Kosovo Supreme Court didn’t uphold the verdict, citing lack of evidence.

The portal further writes that Ejupi was linked to this crime based on material evidence found on the spot, including the cigarette butts, and parts of the material used in the explosion contained traces of Ejupi’s DNA, later confirmed in Germany.

Over the years, the investigation was marred by affairs, not results. One of the affairs includes escape of Florim Ejupi from Bondsteel camp in 2001, and after that acquittal of other three arrested persons, who were then welcomed as heroes in the-then Kosovo Protection Corps, and some of them continued their carriers.

Over the years, the number of investigators was scaling down and the investigation was getting weaker. EULEX launched a new investigation and the only conclusion was that it was not possible that only one person stands behind what happened in Livadice. 21 years after, there are still no results of the investigation. On the 12th anniversary of this crime, EULEX said it was “ready to open a new investigation should new evidence surface”.

Office for KiM: Crime in Livadice stain on face of international community (KoSSev)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija in relation to Livadice attack said today that after more than two decades no one was hold responsible for this crime, adding the crime in Livadice demonstrated that “an organized campaign of terror and intimidation aiming at ethnic cleansing of the Serbian population”, was in place in Kosovo, following the end of the conflict, KoSSev portal reports.

The Office added the worst thing is “that ideology which led to the crime in Livadice is alive also today and is reflected in daily attacks against the Serbs, their properties and Serbian Orthodox Church facilities in Kosovo and Metohija”.

“It is also discouraging that politicians in Pristina up to date have not shown readiness to face the crimes against the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija, which as per rule remain unresolved and unpunished, and given the circumstances it is difficult to expect serious normalisation of relations on the ground”, the Office added.

At the same time, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stressed that the attack in Livadice represents “a stain on the face of the international community, which failed to ensure security for the Serbian population”.

It also urged international organisations in Kosovo to reopen investigation of Livadice crime, but also of all other attacks against Serbian population in Kosovo.

“This would be an act of accountability, both towards the families of those killed, and the future”, the Office said. 

Visoki Decani on Livadice crime anniversary (Kosovo-online)

Visoki Decani Monastery reminded about 21 anniversary of a bomb attack against Nis-express buss carrying Serbs in Livadice village, Podujevo village, leaving 12 people dead and dozens of injured, adding that the main suspect was acquitted of all charges, Kosovo-online portal reports.  

“Today is the sad 21 anniversary of a bombing attack on a Serb bus bringing pilgrims to #Kosovo (2001). 11 people died, 43 were injured. The main suspect a K/Albanian F.E. was first sentenced to 40 ys of prison by court http://hlc-rdc.org/?p=12928&lang=de… & a year after freed of all charges”, Monastery wrote on Twitter, along with photos of the explosion site. 

Opposition candidate Ponos goes to Kosovo, fierce reaction from Serbian authorities (N1)

Zdravko Ponos, the opposition United Serbia coalition’s candidate for President, said in Prizren that Kosovo is a major part of Serbian national identity, thus starting the campaign for the upcoming elections in Serbia. 

“If our national identity were made up only of words, the word Kosovo would be the biggest building block in our national identity,” a United Serbia press release said

“Kosovo is something else to many people who lived, live and will live here – a life before everything else. My professional life began in Kosovo 35 years ago, that was the start of my career as a soldier. In Prizren where I am today among other places. Prizren is still as nice a town as it was then but there’s something missing. It’s missing something so big, so obvious – Serbian spoken on the streets,” he said, adding that he would like to see that change to make it “the old beautiful Prizren with Serbian and Albanian spoken on its streets”.

The retired general’s visit to Kosovo drew a fierce reaction from both the Serbian authorities and the Serbian List. 

Serbian Defence Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, a very vocal critic of the former chief of General Staff, said that Ponos did not go to Kosovo when he should have during the pogrom of the Serbs, nor did he do anything concrete to help them. A statement quoted him as saying that Ponos can’t expect the support of the Kosovo Serbs.

The Serb List went a step further, accusing the opposition’s presidential candidate of enjoying “the sympathies and support” of the authorities in Pristina. A press release said that the Kosovo authorities did not ban Ponos from visiting Kosovo as it has done with some Serbian state officials, reported N1.

UNDP: The name of the Mitrovica Cultural Center changed after the renovation (KiM radio)

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kosovo has clarified with additional information its role in renovating the Mitrovica Cultural Center over recent media reports questioning the "worrying persistent support" of EU and UNDP representatives in Pristina to an "undisguised glorification of the most notorious criminals from World War II", reported KiM radio portal.

According to the UNDP, the reconstruction of the Mitrovica Cultural Center was carried out in late 2000 and early 2001 as part of the UNDP-implemented Rural Employment and Rehabilitation Program (VERP), funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) with additional funding from the Autonomous Province of Bozano, Italy.

"At the time of the renovation and official inauguration in May 2001, the building was called the Cultural Center of Mitrovica. After the engagement of UNDP and EAR in the renovation, the municipality changed its name."

UNDP strongly condemns anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and hatred, in all their manifestations, including growing intolerance and discrimination against ethnic minorities and communities in vulnerable situations.

"We are committed to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, dignity and the fight against misinformation and hate speech," the statement said.

KiM radio recalled that the Museum of Genocide Victims recently announced that the building of the Cultural Center in Kosovska Mitrovica, named after "the notorious war criminal Rexhepi Mitrovica", was renovated with EU funds and organized by the UNDP and the authorities in Pristina. For that purpose, as they stated, the European Union set aside 115,784.60 euros.

KiM radio recalled that MEP and a rapporteur for Kosovo Viola von Cramon told RTV Kim that this was not acceptable for any street, square or any public institution to bear the name of a Nazi collaborator or convicted war criminal.

OSCE concerned over incidents on religious sites, calls for re-establishment of Municipal Safety Councils (KoSSev)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo expresses concern that religious sites continue to be targeted in incidents involving theft and damage to property in Kosovo, KoSSev portal reports citing the mission’s statement. OSCE added it supports the efforts of Kosovo police to uphold the security of religious sites by investigating and bringing those responsible to justice.

“The Mission also advocates the re-establishment of Municipal Community Safety Councils (MCSC) as a matter of priority to ensure that all communities’ security concerns are heard. As important fora where non-majority communities can express their concerns, the MCSC are also key to improving communication with institutions and ensuring effective community policing”, the statement concluded.

KoSSev portal further writes the mission didn’t say precisely what concrete incidents affecting religious facilities they were reacting to.

The portal recalled that the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and Kosovo police reported over the previous days about a series of incidents affecting religious sites in Kosovo.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija said on February 13, that on a prior day the Serbian Orthodox Church of Holy Healers in the village of Drenovac, Kamenica municipality was broken into and a certain amount of money was stolen. According to the portal Kosovo police then said it was about a church in Ranilug municipality and that 700 RSD (approximately 6 euros) were stolen.

On February 2, Kosovo police, region North arrested a young man over a serious theft attempt in the church facility in Zupce village, Zubin Potok municipality, and the same person is charged with committing a number of other thefts, also in religious premises in this municipality.

At the end of January a theft of surveillance cameras took place in a mosque in Obilic, while in the same period a church was robbed in the village of Jagnjenica, Zubin Potok municipality, and a certain amount of money was also stolen. 

Survey: Half Kosovo residents ready to emigrate (RTS, media)

Kosovo residents are dissatisfied with the economic situation and an environment they live in, and according to the PIPOS survey half of them were ready to emigrate abroad, if there would be such an opportunity, RTS reports citing Pristina-based media.

The survey said that 54.8 percent of respondents said they would leave Kosovo.

Out of 1.050 surveyed residents, only 28.2 percent said they would not emigrate even if they had a chance, 11.4 percent said they were not sure, while 5.6 percent refused to respond.

Those mostly interested to leave Kosovo were young people aged from 18 to 25, with 73 percent of them saying they would emigrate. Only 16 percent of young people would not leave Kosovo even if they had a chance.

Readiness to emigrate was expressed by 62 percent of respondents aged from 26 to 35 years, while 61 percent of those aged from 36 to 45 years said they were ready to emigrate.

Half respondents aged from 46 to 55 were ready to leave Kosovo, RTS adds, citing Pristina-based media.

38 percent of those aged from 56 to 65 said they would emigrate, while 30 percent of those older than 65 years said they would also emigrate. 

Selakovic: Serbia to react if Pristina tries to secure more recognitions (Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti)

Serbian FM Nikola Selakovic said that Belgrade will not sit with its arms crossed in case Pristina tried to secure more recognitions.

"If anyone thinks they will get our back against the wall that way and twist our arm to get us to agree to something, they need to know that we, too, can change the way we behave," Selakovic told Vecernje Novosti daily in an interview, reported Tanjug.

He said that "the project of the so-called independence was a failure and added that there was no reasonable alternative to the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina".

He described Belgrade's relationship with Pristina as a Gordian knot entangled by long decades.

"That issue cannot be discussed in the belief that it can be disentangled over the short term," Selakovic said.

He said Belgrade remained committed to dialogue and that maintaining peace, stability, and the state and national interests in Kosovo and Metohija were the priorities in that process.

Selakovic also said Serbia respected the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the integrity of Republika Srpska, noting that the territorial integrity of Serbia was under attack in Kosovo-Metohija.

"Attempts by certain political factors to - as opposed to the process of secession of Kosovo-Metohija - conduct a unitarisation process in the BiH to make the Dayton structure of the BiH look absurd. In that sense, there can be no parallel between Kosovo-Metohija and the BiH. I always ask my discussion partners what principle that is about and why some are allowed to do something others are not," he said.

Selakovic confirmed Serbia was under pressure over Kosovo and RS and added that the pressure would build up and become more complex, in particular because 2022 is an election year for Serbia.

"With the policy it has been pursuing to date, Serbia has demonstrated how peace and stability in the region are maintained and how wise political decisions are made. We do not fall for provocations, and we think even decades ahead, and by that I am primarily referring to President Vucic's Open Balkan initiative," Selakovic said, reported Tanjug.

Vucic receives Primakov (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday received Yevgeny Primakov, head of Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation, to discuss cooperation in culture, science and education, as well as overall Serbia-Russia bilateral relations, Tanjug news agency reports.

Vucic and Primakov reviewed specific proposals for strengthening cultural cooperation, such as regular exchanges of exhibitions and visits by theatrical and opera companies, as well as for cooperation in education, which would include popularisation of the Russian language and regular exchanges of student scholarships, which would also be higher in number.

Vucic thanked the Russian government and Russian artists for assisting the interior decoration of the Church of St Sava in Belgrade.

The significance of Russia's support in UNESCO and other international fora in terms of the preservation and protection of Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo-Metohija was noted at the meeting as well.

The parties also reviewed the situations in the Western Balkan region and in the east of Europe.

See at: https://bit.ly/3gRYldU

 

 

Opinion

 

Serwer: Convergence is desirable but not magical (media)

Opinion piece by Daniel Serwer, head of the Conflict Management Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

My SAIS colleague Ed Joseph argues that recognition of Kosovo by the four NATO member non-recognizers would weaken Serbia’s position and improve the negotiating position of Pristina in its dialogue with Belgrade. He is correct about that. Even one or two additional recognitions would be helpful. All four would open the door of NATO membership to Kosovo.

Wrong about Serbia’s reaction

But he is unfortunately wrong about Serbia’s reaction to such recognitions. They will not happen in a “big bang,” all together. At best they will happen over several years. And NATO membership won’t be feasible until 2027 at the earliest, when Kosovo is scheduled to have a fully qualified army. As recognitions happen, Belgrade will stiffen its resistance, not soften it.

The evidence for this is plain and apparent. As Ed emphasizes, Serbia regards Kosovo as its most important security risk. Each additional recognition will raise the alarm level in Belgrade. Serbia will intensify its opposition to recognition with the remaining non-recognizers. Russia and China will back this resistance. The EU will do nothing to soften it, as there will still be one hardline non-recognizer member state, Cyprus. Nicosia will prevent any consensus within the EU to shift away from its “status-neutral” position on Kosovo, which in any case is essential if the EU is to continue convening the Belgrade/Pristina dialogue.

NATO membership is not more important to Kosovo than UN membership

Ed also states that “A pathway to NATO membership is far more meaningful for Kosovo than UN membership.” It is unquestionably easier, since Cyprus is not a member of NATO. But it is just as unquestionably not more meaningful. Remember: NATO-led forces already guarantee Kosovo’s sovereignty and terrritorial integrity, which is what NATO is all about. This seems to be the crux of Ed’s argument:

Without the leverage to sustain its isolation of Kosovo, Belgrade’s strategic calculus will change. The Russian and Chinese vetoes of Kosovo at the United Nations Security Council will be of negligible value on what Belgrade deems its “main political-security challenge.” No longer will the Vucic regime be able to prosecute its aggressive “non-recognition” campaign against Kosovo, or leverage Kosovo to advance ‘Serb World’, or dodge accountability for the regime’s assault on Serbian democracy. With no express demand from the West to recognize Kosovo – and no meaningful backing from Moscow or Beijing on Belgrade’s most important issue – the regime will struggle to exploit convergence domestically, and struggle to explain to citizens how it squandered Serbian leverage.

Even if Serbia were not the home of inat (read “spite, stubborness, persistence”), this would be fantasy. Belgrade’s strategic calculus will not change, at least so long as it is governed by people who claim sovereignty over Kosovo. The Russian and Chinese vetoes will increase in value, as they will be the only insurance against UN membership, which is the universally established symbol of sovereignty in our world. I can’t see any reason why Belgrade would drop its nonrecognition campaign, but even if it did that would make no difference. Serbia’s claim to sovereignty over Kosovo would not be abandoned. NATO troops in Kosovo haven’t changed Belgrade’s attitude, so why would a few more NATO member recognitions or even NATO membership for Kosovo?

Recognitions are desirable but not magical

Let me make clear. I’m all in favor of getting non-recognizers to recognize Kosovo, especially the NATO and EU non-recognizers. Each recognition will improve Kosovo’s position, including in the dialogue with Serbia. But Belgrade will not drop its antirecognition campaign or its opposition to Kosovo membership in the UN. To the contrary, those efforts will be redoubled. What Ed calls “convergence” is desirable, but not magical.

 

 

International

 

2022 Index of Economic Freedom: Kosovo (heritage.com)

Kosovo’s economic freedom score is 60.1, making its economy the 86th freest in the 2022 Index. Kosovo is ranked 40th among 45 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is below the regional average but above the world average.

Over the past five years, Kosovo’s economic growth accelerated from 2017 through 2019 before turning negative in 2020. There was a healthy revival of growth in 2021. A five-year trend of declining economic freedom has continued. With a steep drop in scores for rule of law, Kosovo has recorded a 7.8-point overall loss of economic freedom since 2017 and has fallen to the bottom of the “Moderately Free” category. Monetary freedom and trade freedom are relative strengths, but financial freedom is poor.

Read more at: https://herit.ag/3GRpkRd