UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 24, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Interior Minister accuses Serb parallel structures of Elektrokosmet attack (Klan Kosova)
Lajcak sides with Western Balkans; “this generates disappointment” (Gazeta Express)
President of Specialist Chambers to visit Kosovo on July 4 (media)
President Osmani on working visits to Thailand and Singapore (media)

Serbian Language Media:

EU Council calls for faster accession of Western Balkans (N1)
Brussels: War in Ukraine puts EU enlargement front and center (N1)
Vucic at the Summit: Strong pressure over Russia and Ukraine (Beta, N1)
Vucic met leaders of France, Austria in Brussels (N1, Beta)
No consensus on Kosovo's accession to NATO (Politika, Tanjug)
Patriarch Porfirije in Gazimestan on Vidovdan (Tanjug)
Ilic: ''Belgrade and Pristina energy agreement a solution to problems of electricity supply in the north of the province'' (Danas, FoNet, Insajder TV)
Bulgarian MFA: Rama to adapt vocabulary for politician from an EU candidate country; Rama replies (Kosovo Online)
Bulgaria lifts the veto on North Macedonia (Tanjug, B92, RTS, N1)
Rakic: Members of the Egyptian community are an important part of Kosovo society (Kosovo Online)

International:

What Will the Serbia-Kosovo Energy Deal Achieve? (Balkan Insight)
Police Probe Explosion at Electricity Distributor in North Kosovo (BIRN)
Serbian Security Officials’ War Crime Verdict Set for 2023 (BIRN)
EU awards Ukraine and Moldova candidate status (BBC)
Greece is Proposing 2033 as the Deadline for the Western Balkans to Join the EU (novinite.com)

Albanian Language Media

Interior Minister accuses Serb parallel structures of Elektrokosmet attack (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, confirmed today that the premises of Elektrokosmet in north Mitrovica were attacked with an explosive device. He accused the Serb parallel structures of the incident, which he said, was aimed at pressuring the company. Svecla said there were no human injuries during the attack and that “law enforcement authorities were investigating the case”.

Lajcak sides with Western Balkans; “this generates disappointment” (Gazeta Express)

Special Representative of the European Union for the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, took to Twitter today to say “we took a geopolitical decision on Eastern Europe, but we fail to have the same strategic view on the Western Balkans. This generates deep disappointment in the region. I’m proud of our EU leadership in the East, but we must regain it for our South-Eastern neighbours”.

President of Specialist Chambers to visit Kosovo on July 4 (media)

President of the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo, Ekaterina Trendafilova, will stay in Kosovo on July 4. She is scheduled to meet representatives of civil society and the media are also invited to discuss the work, mandate and current developments at the Specialist Chambers. The meeting will take place in Gjilan.

President Osmani on working visits to Thailand and Singapore (media)

President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has departed on a working visit to Thailand and Singapore, where she will be meeting with senior state representatives. This is the first visit of a Kosovo President to these two Southeast Asian countries.

A press release issued by Osmani’s office notes that during her stay in Thailand she will be received by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. At the "Global Summit of Women", Osmani will speak about the role and potential of women in the new reality. Osmani will also take part in an economic forum organised by the Diplomatic Council and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, where the possibilities of attracting investors from this country will be discussed, as well as the economic opportunities offered by Kosovo.

During her stay in Thailand, Osmani will meet with her counterpart, President Halimah Yacob, Speaker of Parliament Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Sim Ann and with the Senior Minister of State, dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman.

Serbian Language Media

EU Council calls for faster accession of Western Balkans (N1)

The European Council called for an acceleration of the accession process for the countries of the Western Balkans, reiterating its commitment to their membership in the Union.

“The European Union expresses its full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and calls for the acceleration of the accession process,” the Council said in conclusions from its meeting on Thursday.

It called on the European Commission, High Representative Josep Borrell to “further advance the gradual integration between the European Union and the region already during the enlargement process itself in a reversible and merit-based manner”.

The conclusions recalled the importance of reforms, in rule of law and those related to the independence and functioning of the judiciary and the fight against corruption and called partners to guarantee the rights and equal treatment of minorities.

“The European Council reaffirms the urgency of making tangible progress in resolving outstanding bilateral and regional disputes, particularly the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue on normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo*,” it said.

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

Brussels: War in Ukraine puts EU enlargement front and center (N1)

Leaders of the European Union and Western Balkans held an almost four-hour comprehensive discussion at their meeting in Brussels Thursday at which they “clearly and unequivocally reiterated the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the region's future in the European Union,” said an unnamed EU official.

“The war in Ukraine has put EU enlargement front and center,” the official said.

“First, this means advancing with the accession process. By moving ahead with reforms notably those related to rule of law, justice reforms, and fighting corruption,” he said, adding that the integration process needs to be reinforced by offering concrete socio-economic benefits to the Western Balkans partners already during the accession negotiations, gradually integrating them into the EU’s work, as they implement the EU acquis in each sector and by completing visa liberalization for the region.

It was described as urgent to make progress on bilateral and regional disputes, among others the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia through the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and building on the political agreement of leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina a few weeks ago, in Brussels, to help the country advance on its EU path towards candidate status.

It was also said that the accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania need to start without delay – “this is the absolute top priority.”

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3xTcdN2

Vucic at the Summit: Strong pressure over Russia and Ukraine (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Thursday following the European Union – Western Balkans Summit that pressure was exerted on him over Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, reported N1.

Vucic said that as many as 2,629 articles, saying that Serbia was endangering the whole of the Western Balkans, jeopardizing the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of “so-called Kosovo”, was published in European media since the beginning of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, reported N1.

He asked if any apologies were offered for the “fabrications” that the media presented to citizens of European countries and said that his only obligation was to act in line with Serbia’s interests.

“I am not here to justify our position,” the Serbian President said.

Vucic and Prime Ministers Edi Rama and Dimitar Kovacevski of Albania and North Macedonia attended Thursday the EU – Western Balkans Summit in Brussels, after which they held a joint media conference.

Vucic said Serbia supports French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of a European political community, adding: “This is the only way for our voice to be heard”.

He said he promised his European colleagues that Serbia will do all it can until December and the next summit. “I won’t say that we will celebrate, but I think that we will be in a better mood in December than we are today,” Vucic said.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was dissatisfied with the EU's attitude towards the region’s European integration and that the EU was tired of the enlargement process.

He told the media conference that North Macedonia has been waiting 17 years and Albania eight for EU membership talks to start.

From a joint vision and community, the EU has become an instrument for individual members to block things, said Rama and asked EU leaders “not to kill” the Albanians’ faith in their European future.

Rama expressed regret that the EU has still not liberalized the visa regime for Kosovo citizens and repeatedly asked the EU to show understanding for Serbia and to refrain from asking Belgrade to join in on all the sanctions imposed on Russia. The reality in Serbia is “completely different” he said, adding that he “tried to explain to the European leaders that 80 percent of Serbian citizens support the Russian President”.

Prime Minister Kovacevski told the media conference that, in the context of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans should be viewed as investing in EU security.

Kovacevski said that North Macedonia has been dissatisfied with the dynamics of the accession process since the launch of negotiations. He said his country has been a candidate for almost 18 years and described the situation with the veto as “a blow to the EU's credibility”. Bulgaria invoked its veto power on negotiations with candidates in 2020 to block North Macedonia's candidacy.

See at:https://bit.ly/3HP5PLa

Vucic met leaders of France, Austria in Brussels (N1, Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic discussed Thursday with leaders of France and Austria the European integration process, the geopolitical situation, and global topics.

On the margins of the European Union – Western Balkans summit in Brussels Vucic had separate meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

Vucic said in an Instagram post that he had “as always, a more than friendly meeting” with Macron at which they discussed the most important regional and global issues.

“Serbia supports the proposal for a new European political community, because this is the only way for the European leaders to hear us and a good way for us to listen to our European colleagues more often and to find out how they think,” Vucic said.

The Serbian President said that he had “an excellent talk” with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on bilateral relations, the geopolitical situation and Serbia’s European path which Austria fully supports.

“In addition, I received an invitation to visit Austria, which I accepted,” Vucic said.

No consensus on Kosovo's accession to NATO (Politika, Tanjug)

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana pointed out that NATO respects the decisions of countries in the Western Balkans to pursue its own foreign policy, and when it came to Kosovo's desire to become a NATO member, he stated that the North Atlantic Alliance worked based on consensus, which did not exist now related to Kosovo, reported daily Politika, citing agency Tanjug.

"As you know, now there is no consensus on such a potential move by NATO. We are currently cooperating with Kosovo through a partnership that respects this specific situation," Geoana said in an interview with Tanjug ahead of the upcoming summit in Madrid, which, according to him, would be one of the most transformative and significant summits in the history of NATO, cited the daily.

According to him, they were always in contact with the leaders of Serbs in Kosovo, which was important because they represent a very important group there.

"We fully support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is ultimately the only way to reach a lasting solution for the region and Kosovo," Geoana said.

When asked what kind of communication and cooperation NATO has with the Serbian authorities since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, he said that the North Atlantic Alliance has a dynamic partnership.

"Of course, we work as much as Serbia demands from NATO. As with other partners, we are not trying to do anything that is not based on its requests," Geoana said.

According to him, NATO, as an organization with exceptional capabilities for training and cooperation, could be useful for the Serbian Army and the entire security system of Serbia.

"Of course, we also respect Belgrade's foreign policy decisions. Every country has the right to make its own decisions," said the NATO Deputy Secretary General.

According to him, NATO monitored the consequences of the war that Russia started against Ukraine, among other things in the Balkans.

Asked whether, in light of the crisis in Ukraine, NATO planned further expansion into the Balkans and whether it wanted to see Serbia and BiH as its members, Geoana said that BiH has expressed interest in membership, but that NATO believed currently that conditions within BiH have not been met, as well as within NATO, so that it would become a reality in the foreseeable future.

"I will repeat, we fully respect the decisions of all our partners. And Bosnia and Herzegovina is an important NATO partner. We will continue to support its European and Euro-Atlantic orientation. And of course, if it chooses that, it will find the right dynamics within Bosnia and Herzegovina itself, which will enable it to move forward in that sense," he stressed.

According to him, the entire Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans should be provided with a European orientation.

"Some countries would like to join NATO - that's fine. If they apply, they will get a membership at some point. Some other countries do not want that, they just want to be members of the EU. And that is something that is very important,'' stated Geoana.

He pointed out that the path to Europe, to prosperity, to democracy was the only logical and desirable thing for the entire Western Balkans, reported Politika.

Patriarch Porfirije in Gazimestan on Vidovdan (Tanjug)

Patriarch Porfirije will be in Kosovo, on Vidovdan, June 28, where he will serve a memorial service for Kosovo's heroes and all the newly martyred martyrs in Gazimestan, reported news agency Tanjug.

On Wednesday, June 29, Patriarch will visit the Vidovdan Academy on the occasion of the triple jubilee of St. Nikolaj Ohridski and Zicki to hold a sermon at the Cultural Center in Valjevo. The academy will be organized on the occasion of 140 years since the birth, 65 years since the presentation and 30 years since the transfer of the relics of St. Nikolaj, reported Tanjug.

Ilic: ''Belgrade and Pristina energy agreement a solution to problems of electricity supply in the north of the province'' (Danas, FoNet, Insajder TV)

''Determining the roadmap for the implementation of the energy agreement, adopted in 2013 in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, represents a solution to the problems of electricity supply in the north of province,'' said Assistant Minister of Mining and Energy Zoran Ilic, as a guest on Insider TV, reported Danas daily.

He pointed out that the agreement made two days ago made a big step towards the regulation of the electric power system, because now Serbian company will distribute electricity, maintain a network that was technically obsolete and ruined, and connect new users, reported the daily.

Ilic said that the Electric Power Industry of Serbia had not had access to the facilities it owned since 1999, and the Pristina side used the connection all the time and distributed electricity to other parts of Kosovo, at the same time creating losses at the expense of the state of Serbia, that is, of Serbia's transmission system.

''We will now have control, because "Elektrosever", a company owned by EPS, will distribute electricity, supply consumers in the north and charge for the consumed electricity,'' said Ilic.

Bulgarian MFA: Rama to adapt vocabulary for politician from an EU candidate country; Rama replies (Kosovo Online)

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted sharply to yesterday's statements of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Brussels due to the negative Bulgarian attitude towards the opening of accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia, stating that they expect the Albanian PM to adapt his expression to the language corresponding to the EU candidate, reported Kosovo Online.

"It is unacceptable that relations between the states become hostages to the eccentricity of the current Albanian prime minister," the Bulgarian MFA said in a reaction

The statement also says that Bulgaria has always been among the members of the European Union that support the European affiliation of the Albanian people.

"We defended Albania's European perspective and the start of EU membership negotiations, even when it was much more difficult than today. We stand for that today, despite everything, in the name of a common European future," the MFA said in a statement.

As they stated, this was not the first time that they heard "unprovoked harsh, insulting qualifications from the head of the Albanian government".

"At this level, more than at any other, we insist on maintaining a good tone of communication. At this level, we have always shown all respect. We have a common future with Albania. Politicians are leaving, and nations are staying. Our nations have a common interest, which must not be undermined by the misjudgment of politicians. It is unacceptable for relations between the states to become hostages to the eccentricity of the current Albanian prime minister," the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry concluded.

Rama said yesterday that "it is a shame that a NATO member country, Bulgaria, is kidnapping two other members, Albania and Northern Macedonia, in the middle of the war in the backyard of Europe, while the other 26 countries are sitting scared and helpless."

Rama replies on Twitter: True friends speak sincerely

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed Bulgarian friends via Twitter, as he wrote, saying that true friends do not harm each other, but that they address each other sincerely.

"And by the way let me remind you dear Bulgarian friends that it took a short phone call with Boyko Borissov to settle friendly and honestly the issue of the Bulgarian minority in Albania! Real friends do not harm each other, but they speak truthfully to each other, and they deliver!" Rama said, reported Kosovo online.

Bulgaria lifts the veto on North Macedonia (Tanjug, B92)

Bulgarian Parliament today gave the green light to the Government to approve the negotiating framework for the membership of North Macedonia in the EU, reported Tanjug agency.

The Assembly of Bulgaria discussed today the decision accepting the proposal of the French Presidency of the EU regarding the negotiating framework for North Macedonia and Albania.

Thus, it was voted to lift the veto on the opening of negotiations on the accession of North Macedonia to the European Union, by which Sofia blocked Skopje's accession to the EU from November 2020 due to cultural and historical disputes.

France, which currently holds the rotating six-month EU presidency, has come up with a proposal that Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov described as "very good", according to which North Macedonia should amend the constitution to include in the preamble "citizens living within the borders which are part of other peoples", such as Bulgarians.

That French proposal, however, must "officially pass" the North Macedonian approval, reported B92, citing Tanjug.

Rakic: Members of the Egyptian community are an important part of Kosovo society (Kosovo Online)

Minister for Communities and Returns Goran Rakic congratulated the Day of Egyptians, emphasizing that members of the Egyptian community are an important part of Kosovo society and that they will constantly work on improving their living conditions, reported Kosovo Online.

"Respecting your culture, tradition and all the values you possess, I congratulate you on Egyptians Day and say that the Ministry of Communities and Returns will be an institution where you will always have an open door to solve problems," Rakic said in a Facebook post.

International

What Will the Serbia-Kosovo Energy Deal Achieve? (Balkan Insight)

Belgrade and Pristina this week agreed a ‘road map’ towards solving their two-decade-long dispute over electricity supplies in Kosovo’s Serb-majority north – but what difference will it actually make in practice?

Representatives of Belgrade and Pristina announced on Tuesday that they have reached an agreement on how to solve the problem of electricity distribution in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo, one of the longstanding disputes the between two countries. However, neither made it clear how the ‘road map’ that they agreed will be implemented.