UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 18, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

President Osmani to also take part in Munich conference (media)
Osmani meets Lebanese prime minister, agree to advance relations (media)
In Munich, Kurti meets North Macedonian prime minister (media)
PM Kurti asks Commissioner Hahn for more support (media)
Russia claims Kosovo is included in recruiting people for Donbas region (Koha)
Kurti, Konjufca met Albanian representatives from Presevo Valley (media)
Ministry, Judicial Council and Supreme Court sign statement pledging reforms (media)
COVID-19: 236 new cases, four deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric met Gabriel Escobar (Radio KIM)
Gracanica: Provocations on February 17 (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
State Dept welcomes Serbia’s call for diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis (N1)
IFIMES: Preventing Serbs to vote in Kosovo can lead to their withdrawal from Pristina institutions (Kosovo-online)
Dacic on Kosovo and declaration of independence (Kosovo-online)
Rasic: Relations between Serbs and Kosovo government are at lowest level ever (RTK)
Hearing of defendants in usurped property case of Dusko Arsic takes place (Radio KIM)
West called on Russia not to recognize DNR and LNR at UN (Tanjug, B92)

International:

In diplomacy, Europe’s most powerful ambassador means business (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

Kosovo Dedicates Independence Monument to Women’s Empowerment (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

President Osmani to also take part in Munich conference (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has travelled to Germany to take part in the Munich Security Conference.

According to Kosovo presidency, Osmani be part of discussion panels relating to security issues, including developments in the Western Balkans, and will also have a number of bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the conference

Earlier today, media reported Prime Minister Albin Kurti, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gervalla, would also be travelling for a three-day visit to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference.

Osmani meets Lebanese prime minister, agree to advance relations (media)

At the sideline of the Munich Security Conference, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati.

"Osmani and Mikati expressed readiness to strengthen bilateral relations to get the two countries and the two people closer," a press release issued by the Kosovo President's Office said.

It added that Kosovo and Lebanon have historically good relations and the two leaders agreed to advance them further through concrete steps.

In Munich, Kurti meets North Macedonian prime minister (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, in Munich for its annual security conference, met North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski and congratulated him on the new role.

On Twitter, Kurti said: "Our good neighborly relations are based on mutual respect and shared values. We will work together to overcome common challenges and increase our economic cooperation."

PM Kurti asks Commissioner Hahn for more support (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met in Munich the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn.

"EU integration is about reforms linked to EU values," Kurti said on Twitter, adding that with Kosovo's good economic indicators and performance in the rule of law "we must receive more funds from the EU."

Kurti said he asked Hahn for more support for education and employment of Kosovo youth.

Russia claims Kosovo is included in recruiting people for Donbas region (Koha)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that there is information that Western Balkan countries are recruiting people to be sent to Donbas, Ukraine. This includes Kosovo, Koha reports.

In an interview with Russian television RT, Lavrov is quoted as saying that in Kosovo and other parts of the Western Balkans "mercenaries are being recruited for military conflicts ignited by the United States."

"There is information that mercenaries from Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are being recruited to throw Russia off balance, which includes sending them to Donbas. We are working to verify this," he added.

Russia finds it hard to believe that NATO is a purely defensive bloc, given its bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia in 1999, Lavrov told RT. Referring again to Kosovo, Lavrov said that the bombing campaign of the bloc did not bring prosperity to Kosovo.

Lavrov made the remarks after talks between the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. "Scholz and other NATO officials say NATO is a defence alliance. Putin reminded Scholz at a joint press conference about the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia," Lavrov said. "[Scholz] said that NATO had intervened to prevent the genocide of Kosovo Albanians. That it was a success, and that the region is now making progress. That is far from prosperity."

Kurti, Konjufca met Albanian representatives from Presevo Valley (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca met with political representatives of the Albanians in the Presevo Valley: Shaip Kamberi, leader of the Party for Democratic Action and head of parliamentary group "United Valley - SDA" in the Assembly of Serbia, mayor of Presevo Municipality Ardita Sinani, Mayor of Bujanovac Municipality Nagip Arifi, Albanian MPs in the Assembly of Serbia Naide Beqiri and Argjend Bajrami, municipal advisor in Medvedja Fehmi Beha, chairman of the Albanian National Council Ragmi Mustafa, and member of the council for interethnic relations in Medvedja Arben Ferati.

According to a press release issued by the Government of Kosovo, the Albanian representatives of the three municipalities congratulated Kurti on the anniversary of independence saying that this day is a special event for all Albanians not just those of Kosovo.

"Human rights situation in the three municipalities was discussed and the need for greater engagement and unity of politicians and political entities. A special emphasis in the conversation was paid to the continuous passivisation of addresses of Albanian residents of Medvedja, thus leaving hundreds of Albanians without documentations from either Serbia or Kosovo."

Ministry, Judicial Council and Supreme Court sign statement pledging reforms (media)

A joint statement was signed today by Kosovo's Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu, Chairman of the Kosovo Judicial Council Albert Zogaj and the President of the Supreme Court Enver Peci pledging to implement reforms in the judicial system.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, working groups will be set up as soon as possible to begin reforms procedures. "The Kosovo Judicial Council and the Supreme Court, by signing this statement, pledge to substantially contribute to this process by providing continuous professional input through competent representatives," the Ministry said.

It added that the act marks a commitment to increasing the level of cooperation between the three institutions "with the clear goal of reforms in certain rule of law areas, including criminal, civil and administrative."

COVID-19: 236 new cases, four deaths (media)

236 new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its daily report. 780 persons recovered during this time.

There are 5,961 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Djuric met Gabriel Escobar (Radio KIM)

Ambassador of Serbian to Washington, Marko Djuric met Deputy Assistant of US State Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Gabriel Escobar, Radio KIM reports.

The two interlocutors discussed bilateral relations, regional and international issues.

“Another productive and friendly exchange with DAS@StateEUR Escobar of current bilateral, regional and international topics. I underlined that #Serbia will always be devoted to peace and stability, looking towards the future, new goals and accomplishments”, Djuric wrote on Twitter.

Radio KIM recalled that Gabriel Escobar along with EU Special Envoy Mirolsav Lajcak visited Belgrade and Pristina recently.

Gracanica: Provocations on February 17 (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)

Radio KIM reports that yesterday during the celebration of unilaterally declared Kosovo independence a number of provocations were recorded in Gracanica, mainly by people from vehicles driving through this place.

Numerous vehicles, decorated with Kosovo and Albanian flags drove through Gracanica yesterday playing loud music, chanting, and shouting “KLA, KLA”, Radio recalled. Some showed double-headed eagle sign with hands. Pristina-Gnjilane motorway passes through Gracanica, Radio KIM said.

On a similar note, in Mitrovica North a person driving the vehicle with KLA flag threw a stone at a parked vehicle nearby, breaking the back window, Radio Mitrovica sever reported. The same news was confirmed by the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

However, the Kosovo police region north spokesperson said that based on the police report ‘the window on the car was not broken but fell on its own”. According to him, the owner said so, and police have no report on a vehicle with KLA flag driving on that street.

KoSSev further said that based on testimonies of several eyewitnesses, including the journalists who were on the ground, the event took place as Radio Mitrovica sever reported on it.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija also said that four vehicles with KLA flags were seen in the village of Zupce, in Zubin Potok.

The Office for KIM in its reaction said that “such cases are indicators of the strong, but futile obsession of Pristina to take rule over the north”.

State Dept welcomes Serbia’s call for diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis (N1)

The US State Department welcomed Serbia's call for a diplomatic solution to the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, N1 reports citing Voice of America.

“We welcome Serbia’s call for a diplomatic solution, and as President Biden said, Russia should choose diplomacy to avoid war between countries that are so historically and culturally close. The United States and NATO, as well as their partners, are working hard to find a diplomatic solution and remain open to constructive and serious diplomacy“, the State Department told VOA.

Official Belgrade has said on several occasions that Serbia is committed to a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MSP) added that a possible conflict would harm Belgrade's foreign policy, "bearing in mind that both are two friendly and fraternal Slavic peoples", the VOA said.

The Ministry also said that Serbia was not a part of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

IFIMES: Preventing Serbs to vote in Kosovo can lead to their withdrawal from Pristina institutions (Kosovo-online)

Eventual ban to Kosovo Serbs from taking part in Serbian elections may lead to withdrawal of Serb political representatives from Kosovo institutions or lead to their boycott of the next Kosovo elections, says analysis of Ljubljana-based International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Kosovo-online portal reports.

The Institute recalled that regular parliamentary, presidential and local elections for Belgrade and 12 more local administrations will take place in Serbia on April 3. 250 deputies are to be elected for the Serbian National Assembly and that there are around 6.6 million registered voters.

Analysis in Serbian is available at: https://bit.ly/356HAJl

Dacic on Kosovo and declaration of independence (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic and leader of ruling Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) told TV Kurir that “so-called Kosovo statehood declared by Pristina is in a slow decay and is dying out”, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“I do not know what they rejoice about? It has been 14 years, they have not received international recognition, many states are giving up, youth is leaving”, Dacic said.

He added Serbia managed to put the Kosovo issue back on the agenda.

“Precisely 100 states do not recognize so-called Kosovo in the United Nations. Therefore 100 out of 193. They no longer have a majority, they had 110, and we reduced that number. And among those 93, not all recognize them, so the number is smaller (…)”, Dacic said.

Talking about his recent meeting with US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, Dacic said he was pleased with the talks. Asked to comment on Escobar’s statement that the US expects “Kosovo to get recognition from Serbia”, Dacic responded that statements are different when made in Belgrade, Washington or Pristina.

“You know there was an old saying ' ‘Ad calendas Graecas” or to make an equivalent in Serbian “when the willows bear grapes”. I do not know how anyone can expect Serbia to do so. There is no reason for Serbia to even think about it”, Dacic said.

Rasic: Relations between Serbs and Kosovo government are at lowest level ever (RTK)

Former Kosovo government minister and leader of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDS) Nenad Rasic told RTK2 talk show that 22 years after the conflict and 14 years since declaration of independence “we are talking about things we talked about in 1999”.

“Many laws are waiting to be adopted, and at the same time many decisions have not been implemented, such as the return of land to the Visoki Decani Monastery”, Rasic said, adding that Serbs still cannot exercise their rights.

“It is noticeable that during the last year of government’s work, there is more desire for the rule of law, but I must also say that the relations between Serbs and Kosovo government are at the lowest level ever”, Rasic said and pointed out he was disappointed with the Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who promised dialogue with Serbs in Kosovo.

“How can I believe that this or any other government has good and honourable intentions when it does not achieve even the bare minimum it needs to do, and what would it do if we were to ask for what I say is that 10 percent of workers in the institutions. All of that is achievable, all of that is part of the system, all of that is part of the law, since you know that the Ahtisaari package was adopted as a set of laws, 29 laws were adopted then and again those institutions do not respect their laws”, Rasic underlined.

He went on saying that the position of the EU, which is not interested in respecting human rights, also contributes to this position of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. The former minister and former MP called on the institutions to change their relation towards Serbs, because otherwise, Rasic concluded, they will go into oblivion.

Hearing of defendants in usurped property case of Dusko Arsic takes place (Radio KIM)

A hearing of defendants charged with falsifying documents based on which the property belonging to Dusko Arsic and his uncle Tomislav was sold is ongoing at the Basic Court in Pristina, Radio KIM reports.

The property is located in the village of Zlatare, near Pristina. Plaintiffs, Dusko Arsic and his uncle Tomislav will be also interviewed to have their say over this property case.

The Basic Court in Pristina, Serious Crime Department raised an indictment against two Albanians, I.M and V.L, charged with committing a criminal act “legalisation of false content”. They are accused of falsifying authorizations of Bozidar and Tomislav Arsic, at the Basic Court in Pristina, branch office in Gracanica aiming to achieve financial benefits.

“According to their responses and further evidence procedure that would take place before the court, we hope that they will be convicted”, lawyer of Dusko Arsic, Jovana Filipovic said.

A Serb woman, N.M, an official of the court in Gracanica is also an accused party in this proceeding. She is accused of verifying the falsified authorizations presented by defendants I.M and V.L, aiming to achieve benefits for herself and other individuals in the Pristina basic court, branch office in Gracanica.

“Dusko Arsic and his uncle Tomislav claim that they never signed any authorization to anyone regarding the sale of their property, nor they wish to sell it. They claim it is their property and that it was transferred to other individuals in an illegal manner”, Filipovic added.

Dusko Arsic during the hearing said that he is in prison because of this property, adding he was receiving threats to give up on this criminal proceeding.

Radio KIM recalled that Dusko Arsic was arrested on December 8 last year, at Jarinje crossing point over allegedly committing war crimes in the village of Butovac in Kosovo. He was arrested only a few days after filing the lawsuit over usurpation of his property.

An EULEX observer is monitoring the trial cases of Dusko Arsic, related to usurpation of the property and alleged war crimes, as per request of his defence lawyer, Jovana Filipovic.

West called on Russia not to recognize DNR and LNR at UN (Tanjug, B92)

France, Germany, Ireland, Estonia, Albania and Norway called on Russia not to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Tanjug news agency reports.

"We warn that such a step could lead to further violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and would directly damage the spirit and word of the Minsk agreements", the joint statement of the six European states reads.

The statement was made by the representative of France to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, after the session of the UN Security Council on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, reports Sputnik.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin called the statement unnecessary speculation.

"This is an appeal of the State Duma deputies. That is why we should concentrate on the realization of the Minsk agreements, and not on speculations", Vershinin said. He noted that "this is a proposal to consider the issue, although its wording itself reflects the mood in Russian society about Donbass."

International

In diplomacy, Europe’s most powerful ambassador means business (Politico)

It was the kind of tense moment that Wolfgang Ischinger was born to defuse. The veteran German diplomat and chairman of the annual Munich Security Conference was hosting a meeting between leaders from the Balkans and senior European and American diplomats when anger bubbled up over the slow progress countries from the region were making toward joining the European Union.

“You have to tell us if you want us or not,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in the direction of the Europeans with visible frustration, according to witnesses. “We have no promises from anyone in Europe.”

The A-list participants in the room included Andreas Michaelis, the powerful deputy German foreign minister, and Philip T. Reeker, a senior official from the U.S. State Department with responsibility for the region. Ischinger and his team couldn’t afford for the high-profile meeting to go off the rails.

“Let’s be positive and take things forward,” Ischinger told Vučić in soothing tones, adding how happy he was that his conference had managed to pull off a “family reunion of the western Balkans.”

What Ischinger didn’t mention that day in February 2020 — and what few in the room atop Munich’s ritzy Bayerischer Hof hotel knew — was that the ambassador had a private commercial interest in the meeting’s success.

Kosovo, represented at the gathering by its president and new prime minister, had been a client of Agora Strategy Group, the “boutique consultancy” that Ischinger founded in 2015. Just weeks before the conference, a new government had taken office in Kosovo and Agora was keen to keep the relationship alive.

Humanitarian/Development

Kosovo Dedicates Independence Monument to Women’s Empowerment (BIRN)

Marking the 14th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, Prishtina's iconic Newborn monument is being dedicated this year to women – both their successes, and their abuse.

Faces of women along with wings have covered the Newborn monument in Prishtina, which changes colours and theme every February 17, when the country celebrates Independence Day.

Named the “Winged Women”, the monument to Kosovo’s independence is dedicated this year to the theme of women, both their successes and their problems.

“This year’s theme is dedicated to women in two aspects, to the successful women who make us proud around the world by displaying success in the world of music, culture, film, sport, but also to those dark parts where women are still victims of domestic violence,” Fisnik Ismaili, creator of the monument, said.

He specified that the wings painted in “W” letters represent the strength the country should give to women victims of abuse – and to those who put Kosovo on the map with their talent.

Kosovo Police said that around 2,000 cases of domestic violence were identified last year, 1,600 of which centred on women victims. Three women were murdered by their partners that year, down on the 2020 figure, when six were murdered as a result of domestic violence.