UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak mentioned 3-4 agreements; EU and Kosovo govt don’t give details (Telegrafi)
Kurti: Political parties should meet to discuss vetting process (Reporteri)
Muja certain bill on verification, confiscation of unjustifiable wealth, will pass (Telegrafi)
German MP in Tirana: Open Balkan, only an element of the Berlin Process (Express)
Ceku says Europa Nostra should apologise to Kosovo for image damage (Klan)
Aliu: Europa Nostra heavily damaged Kosovo’s image (RTK)
EU continues to support strengthening of rule of law in Kosovo (media)
Former Customs Director elected chair of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (Koha)
Kamberi: Integration of Presevo Valley Albanians in Serbian state institutions (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Kamberi: Coalition of Albanians of the valley has no interest in being in the Government of Serbia (N1, Beta)
Vucic denies being invited to high-level talks in Brussels; state of emergency but not declared (Beta, FoNet, N1)
Petkovic's two failed attempts to enter Kosovo; EU: They should have allowed him; Pristina disagrees (KoSSev)
Europa Nostra after Kosovo visit: V. Decani to continue to be guarded by KFOR due to security challenges (KoSSev)
Serbian Ambassador: Friendship between Serbia and China ‘steel-strong’ (N1)
Brnabic with Ukrainian Ambassador: Serbia for respecting international law, peaceful settlement of disputes (Kosovo Online)

International:

Kosovo Prosecutorial Council Scraps Recruitment Call After Test Leak (Balkan Insight)
EU Reportedly to Impose Visa Bans on Western Balkan Right-Wing Extremists (schengenvisainfo.com)
Bosnian Police Arrest Kelmendi’s Son, Elvis, on Organised Crime Charges (Balkan Insight)
Serbia Mulls ‘Taking Over’ Mainly Russian-owned Oil Company (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

Observatory returns to Pristina as a window into space and heritage (Koha)
Unemployment, Prejudice Await Kosovo Returnees from Syria, Iraq (BIRN)
My Grandfather’s Memorial Illuminates Holocaust History in Serbia (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Lajcak mentioned 3-4 agreements; EU and Kosovo govt don’t give details (Telegrafi)

The Special Representative of the European Union for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said earlier this month that three-four agreements are expected to be finalised soon between Kosovo and Serbia. Lajcak however did not disclose further details and neither did the European Union.

A spokesperson for the European Union told the news website today that they will announce more concrete information once the agreements are finalised. “The timelines always depend on the ability and readiness of both sides (Kosovo and Serbia) to reach an agreement,” the spokesperson said.

The news website contacted the Office of Prime Minister Albin Kurti but they were not available for comment.

Kurti: Political parties should meet to discuss vetting process (Reporteri)

Kosovo Assembly MPs discussed today drafting of several draft-laws related to the vetting process. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that it is necessary for all political parties to meet and discuss this issue.

“I believe that it is necessary to meet as political parties. It concerns a project that exceeds our mandate. It is necessary to have consultations also as political parties. State bureau for verification of wealth and vetting are not the same thing. Two things cannot be put in the same bag when they are no0t the same thing. It is a mistake to delay this. One of them concerns state officials,” he said.

Arben Gashi, MP of the Democratic League of Kosovo said that the issue of vetting and laws in the justice system should be authored by the assembly and have political inclusion and sectoral regulation.

And the president of AAK, Besnik Tahiri, has requested that the law be discussed again because it contradicts the constitution.

Muja certain bill on verification, confiscation of unjustifiable wealth, will pass (Telegrafi)

Vetevendosje MP and chair of the Kosovo Assembly Committee for Budget and Finances, Armend Muja, said in an interview with Telegrafi that he is confident the draft law on the verification and confiscation of unjustifiable wealth will pass in the Assembly. He said they asked for an opinion on the matter from the Venice Commission in order to remove the opposition’s dilemma that the draft law for the State Bureau for the Verification and Confiscation of Unjustifiable Wealth was being done for political purposes. “The Venice Commission accepts this practice and based on this we have asked for the bill to be passed yesterday … I believe the law will pass,” Muja said.

Asked to comment on claims by opposition parties that Vetevendosje will use the bill to strike against its political opponents, Muja said in principle they would not like to deal with politicians but added that “it is true that embezzlement was focused on politics in Kosovo”.

“Our job is to make the law based on the best European practices. We were in continuous consultation with all international partners of Kosovo, and we also sent it to the Venice Commission to prove the opposite. As far as political opponents are concerned, I do not believe they are the target of the law, but if political opponents were involved in embezzlement, then it is normal for them to be targeted by this law. And if any politicians have unjustifiable wealth, it is very normal for them to be targeted in the process. In principle we would not like to deal with politicians, but the truth is that embezzlement was focused on politics in Kosovo.”

German MP in Tirana: Open Balkan, only an element of the Berlin Process (Express)

Adis Ahmetovic, the Bundestag’s Rapporteur for the Western Balkans, said during his stay in Tirana, Albania, today that the Open Balkan initiative is a good idea but that it should be seen only as an element of the Berlin Process. “The good thing is that the Chancellor has a great interest in the Western Balkans. This year we will have another conference for the Berlin Process. It is a clear message for all countries of the Western Balkans that Germany wants coordination. The idea of the Open Balkan is not bad, it is a good idea. But we still have at the helm of cooperation the Berlin Process. And the Open Balkan should be only an element. It is good to talk about the Open Balkan, but these days the Chancellor will have a meeting with all leaders of the Western Balkans. We cannot say categorically no to the Open Balkan, but it is only an element, and at the helm of the process is the Berlin Process,” he said.

Ceku says Europa Nostra should apologise to Kosovo for image damage (Klan)

Kosovo's Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hajrulla Ceku, said that no serious incident against Orthodox religious sites in Kosovo was recorded in the last 14 years, and that this is also true for the Decan Monastery.

"Serbia wants an Ahtisaari Plus, a more advanced status than what the Orthodox churches enjoy," he said.

Commenting on the recent visit of the Europa Nostra representatives who argued that the reasons for inclusion of Decani Monastery to the list of endangered sites remain valid, Klan Kosova quotes Ceku saying that Europa Nostra should apologise to Kosovo for damaging its image. "I don't even understand the purpose of their visit to Kosovo except perhaps in case they have a secret plan, in cooperation with the [Orthodox] Church and Belgrade."

Aliu: Europa Nostra heavily damaged Kosovo’s image (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, said in an interview with RTK on Wednesday that Kosovo’s image was heavily damaged by Europa Nostra when the latter published a decision last year saying that the Decani Monastery is under threat from extremist elements linked to religious radicalism.

“This was an exceptional blow to the image of the Republic of Kosovo, because there was not a single fact to substantiate the claim. I don’t know where they got this from, or where the information came from, they did not contact Kosovo’s security institutions, Kosovo Police, or KFOR, or institutions that work on cultural heritage. They just published an announcement made by the Decani Monastery which heavily damaged the image of the Republic of Kosovo,” Aliu said.

EU continues to support strengthening of rule of law in Kosovo (media)

The Ambassador of the European Union in Kosovo Tomas Szunyog is pleased that several laws have been approved in Kosovo in the last two weeks, which as he said, are important for the European integration process.

"I am glad that during the last 2 weeks the Assembly of Kosovo has approved several laws that are important for the European integration process, including the Law on the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, the new Law on the Declaration of Assets and the new Code of Criminal Procedure. The adoption of these laws represents a key legislative step in guaranteeing the rule of law and fighting organized crime and corruption, and they are also part of the European Reform Agenda II," he wrote.

According to him, the EU will continue to support the strengthening of the rule of law in Kosovo and the work of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.

Former Customs Director elected chair of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (Koha)

Lulzim Rafuna, former director of the Customs of Kosovo, has been elected today for a four-year term as head of the Chamber of Commerce of Kosovo.

Kamberi: Integration of Presevo Valley Albanians in Serbian state institutions (media)

Albanian MP in the Serbian Parliament, Shaip Kamberi, called on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic today to integrate Albanians from Presevo Valley into Serbian state institutions. He called for the implementation of the seven-point plan which foresees the integration process. “The main topic of the seven-point plan is economic development, the integration of Albanians in state institutions, the issue of non-recognised diplomas, the issue of the passivation of addresses, the use of derogatory terms for Albanians. All these issues relate to the lives of Albanians in the southern part of Serbia,” he said. “We called on the President to personally advocate for the implementation of the plan. We will see what happens. By coming here, we wanted to show constructiveness in the resolution of problems faced by Albanians''.

Serbian Language Media

Kamberi: Coalition of Albanians of the valley has no interest in being in the Government of Serbia (N1, Beta)

The leader of the Party for Democratic Action (PDD), Shaip Kamberi, said in Belgrade, after consultations with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, that it is neither an interest nor a priority for the Coalition of Albanians of the valley to be part of the Government of Serbia.

Kamberi told journalists that the Albanians in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja have not yet been integrated either at the local level of state institutions or regionally.

"Our demand is that integration should be started from below and not from the top of the government," Kamberi said.

He also stated that the representatives of that list submitted to Vucic a request to fulfil the "seven-point plan" which, as he reminded, was adopted by the Government of Serbia several years ago, reported N1.

According to him, that plan contains key issues, such as economic integration of Albanians, recognition of diplomas, not using offensive terms towards them...

He said that these are vital issues and that he expects Vucic's personal involvement in fulfilling them.

"By coming to the consultation, we wanted to show constructiveness and the desire to be partners in solving these problems," Kamberi said.

The coalition of Albanians of the valley consists of the PDD, the Democratic Party and the Movement for Democratic Progress, and gathers Albanians from Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja.

In 2013, the Government of Serbia adopted a plan related to the integration of Albanians into the institutions of the system, the economic development of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, as well as a number of issues in the fields of justice, education, culture, and health.

The coalition of Albanians of the valley will have one deputy and as previously announced, it will be Kamberi, recalled N1.

Vucic thus started consultations with parliamentary parties about the new mandate of the Government of Serbia, reported N1.

Vucic denies being invited to high-level talks in Brussels; state of emergency but not declared (Beta, FoNet, N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told TV Pink on Wednesday evening that he has not been invited to a high-level round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Brussels on July 19, reported Serbian media.

“No one invited me. They are trying something, but I have no idea what they are trying,” Vucic said in a live interview on the pro-regime TV Pink.

He said that Serbia will respond to the dialogue but added that “does not make a lot of sense because they are preparing some operation against Serbs”. “Unfortunately, I think the mood among the Serbs is very difficult and very bad. I am afraid and I will do everything I can, and we will do everything we can to preserve the peace,” Vucic said.

He said that Serbia can do a lot more in terms of convincing countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo. “We are working on it and will continue to work on it because they violated the Washington Agreement and gave us free reign and we will be more successful than they are at this,” he said. According to him, Serbia is “fighting much greater powers that do not recognize the territorial integrity of Serbia, which do not accept international law and (UN Security Council) resolution 1244”.

The President said that Serbia was told that the door to Europe would be opened when it extradited former President Slobodan Milosevic but got nothing even after it extradited many others to the Hague Tribunal to stand trial for war crimes.

Vucic said that the efforts to replace vehicle license plates issued by Serbia with “Republic of Kosovo (RKS) plates was intended to abolish the north” where four large municipalities have majority Serb populations. “It’s not a question of money or anything, this is a political provocation,” he said.

We are in a state of emergency, says Vucic

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that a state of emergency has been introduced, but “just have not declared it yet”, explaining that problems were being solved on a daily basis because a difficult winter was ahead.

Gas was already being pumped into Hungarian storage facilities at high prices, Vucic told the pro-regime TV Pink, and added that the export of oil derivatives was suspended, and that this decision would be extended.

“In wintertime we use about 110,000 tonnes of coal, we are short of 20,000 per day and we have seven days’ worth of coal at the depot. We are starting to import it,” he said.

The President said that Serbia agreed with Russia on a good gas price and that “in the worst case, in winter, in the event of a world war, two thirds of our needs will be covered”.

“If we have to, we will take the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) over from the Russians and return it once the sanctions are over,” Vucic said, adding that some Iraqi oil traders are refusing to collaborate with companies that have Russian majority owners. Vucic said this would be done only if absolutely necessary because the state would not take anything by force.

He said the ban on diesel fuel and gasoline exports was to be extended for another seven days because, due to limited prices, it was not profitable for other importers of these fuels to import it, so the local market needed to be supplied with this fuel.

“When the prices are controlled no one wants to import and lose money and everyone is waiting to get that fuel from the NIS refinery,” said Vucic, adding that another potential problem could be spare parts for the refinery because it has been hit by sanctions.

“Enormous investments in energy sources for the winter are needed, the madness is just starting and there are no guarantees regarding supply,” said the President, adding that two thirds of gas needed for the winter have already been secured and that two million tonnes of coal will be purchased from the Chinese.

Petkovic's two failed attempts to enter Kosovo; EU: They should have allowed him; Pristina disagrees (KoSSev)

The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, tried twice in the previous days to enter Kosovo, but without success. And while he claims that he announced the visit properly and on time, from the Kosovo government, on the other hand, they say that Petkovic did not respect the deadlines, but also that, as reported by the Pristina media, during previous visits he "incited inter-ethnic hatred" and met with "illegal structures". On the other hand, the EU states that yesterday's visit should have been approved, because the announcement was in accordance with the agreements, reported portal KoSSev.

Unlike the government in Pristina, the European Union presented a different position, reported KoSSev portal.

Petkovic should have been allowed to visit Kosovo, because the second announcement was in accordance with the agreement, said EU spokesperson Peter Stano, wrote KoSSev.

"Official visits play an important role in promoting the normalization of relations and understanding between the parties and should not be politicized. The EU was informed of two announcements in recent days regarding the visit of Director Petkovic to Kosovo. The first notification procedurally was not in accordance with the Agreements on official visits, which regulate the procedures for notification and performance of official visits. However, the second notification was fully in accordance with the agreements, so the visit should have been approved," said Stano, reported the portal.

He indicated that the EU appealed to both sides to resolve all disputes and misunderstandings through dialogue, using established communication channels through liaison officers.

"Both sides must respect all previous agreements and implement pending commitments, including those related to official visits," EU spokesperson Peter Stano said.

After Pristina's allegations, Petkovic spoke out once again, saying that "Pristina's excuses are pure lies", reported KoSSev.

"Insolence! Point 3 of the Agreement, which refers to the chief negotiator, states that he 'will have regular and simplified access to the other side and for whom the parties will only provide logistical information'. Announcements in that case go 24 hours earlier. It has always been like that," Petkovic said on Twitter, KoSSev cited.

Europa Nostra after Kosovo visit: V. Decani to continue to be guarded by KFOR due to security challenges (KoSSev)

One year later, the main reasons for the inclusion of Visoki Decani on Europa Nostra’s List of 7 Most Endangered have remained valid, Europa Nostra said following its recent visit to Kosovo. After a series of talks with political, religious, and international representatives, this organization assesses that due to „complex security challenges,” the monastery needs to continue to be guarded 24/7 by KFOR troops. On the other hand, they confirmed that Pristina officials presented a new Kosovo government plan to solve the traffic issue in these parts. Europa Nostra also announced a comprehensive report with a series of recommendations to be made public in the autumn.

A delegation composed of representatives of Europa Nostra and its partner the European Investment Bank Institute (EIBI) stayed in Kosovo from July 4th to July 8th.

The delegation visited the following heritage sites: Novo Brdo, the Visoki Decani and Gracanica monastery, the town of Prizren, including its cinema, and the Church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevis.

They held a series of meetings with representatives of the Kosovo authorities, namely the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hajrulla Ceku, as well as with the Mayor of Decani Municipality, Bashkim Ramosaj.

Afterward, they met with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo – Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren and Father Sava, Abbott of the Decani Monastery; with representatives of civil society organizations based in Kosovo, as well as with representatives of the international community in Kosovo – the Commander of KFOR, Major General Ferenc Kajári; the EU Special Representative and Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Ambassador Tomas Szunyog; OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport; Ambassador of Italy in Kosovo, and with the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Kosovo.

The organization said that the key issue discussed with various interlocutors was the inclusion of Visoki Decani on the 2021 List of 7 Most Endangered sites in Europe and the options to improve the situation.

“One year after the publication of this List, the main reasons for the inclusion of this World Heritage Site in Danger also on Europa Nostra’s List of 7 Most Endangered have remained valid. Firstly, no final solution has yet been agreed by all parties with regard to the consequences caused by the plans to increase traffic within and around the Special Protective Zone of the Decani Monastery, nor regarding other announced interventions, such as the riverside project, that could negatively affect the natural environment of the Monastery which is to be considered as an integral part of its outstanding heritage value,” they wrote in a press release.

International

Kosovo Prosecutorial Council Scraps Recruitment Call After Test Leak (Balkan Insight)

Recruitment call for prosecution posts cancelled after Chief Prosecutor in Gjakova/Djakovica mistakenly sends written test questions to a BIRN journalist.

The Prosecutorial Council of Kosovo, PCK, has cancelled the recruitment of professional associates in the prosecution offices of Gjakova/Djakovica, Peja/Pec and Prizren after BIRN reported that the chief prosecutor of Gjakova/Djakovica, Ramiz Buzhala, had leaked the questions.

“The PCK expresses deep concern regarding suspicions raised in the media about the distribution of test questions for professional associates by the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution in Gjakove, Ramiz Buzhala,” the PCK said.

Humanitarian/Development

Observatory returns to Pristina as a window into space and heritage (Koha)

From the tower of the Palace of Youth, the citizens of Kosovo will be able to observe the universe through the Observatory of Pristina, Koha reports, adding: "Some narrow stairs, painted in many colours, walls with stars, planets that bring together the image of the universe, are the way to reach the top of the tower which has a floor with a mosaic representing the solar system, made from recycled tiles."

This represents the observatory space of Pristina, which has been revitalised after no less than 35 years, as a renovated space with advanced technology. The Pristina observatory was functional from 1977 to 1988. Since then it has never been functional. On Wednesday afternoon, the observatory's ribbon was ceremoniously cut.

In the words of astronaut Neil Armstrong, Suhel Ahmeti, Director of Astronomy Club of Kosovo (ACK), said that while the opening of the Observatory may seem like a small step for everyone present, it is a big leap for Kosovo. “A study found that if children from a young age start learning astronomy, it will have a good impact on their lives. With our solar telescope, night telescope and learning materials, we hope children and youth from different communities can come here and learn!” he said. He noted that more telescopes are expected to arrive and be installed at the closing of the Manifesta cultural event.

Revitalisation of the Observatory was made possible by the ACK, with the financial support from UNMIK and Municipality of Pristina.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh, while talking about the importance of the opening of the Pristina Observatory, said that continued support for scientific learning is crucial. “The sky is not the limit, and I encourage you all to dream big and allow your passion to drive your life path,” the SRSG is quoted as saying.

SRSG Ziadeh said that UNMIK is honoured to support this ambitious project. “Art, science and astronomy are universal languages, that connect people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities and unite them in their humanity. We hope that the Pristina Observatory will serve as a youth multi-ethnic scientific hub for decades to come,” she said.

Pristina Mayor Perparim Rama recalled the poor condition of the Observatory prior to revitalisation. He said that from now on it will be in the service of not only members of the ACK but all citizens, especially youth and pupils.

After the ribbon cutting by the mayor of Pristina, Suhel Ahmeti from the ACK and SRSG Caroline Ziadeh the Astronomical Club of Kosovo presented to the participants a short video showing the work that ACK together with "Under One Sky Initiative" and Iana Minochkina, adviser and coordinator for youth in UNMIK, have done in the period leading up to the reopening of the Observatory.

Unemployment, Prejudice Await Kosovo Returnees from Syria, Iraq (BIRN)

Within days of returning to her native Kosovo, N was racked by fear of the challenges that awaited her and her son – fear of financial uncertainty and of how her community would greet her.

N, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, was among 121 citizens of Kosovo repatriated from areas of Syria and Iraq once part of a self-declared caliphate of the Islamic State.

“When we returned to Kosovo, they asked me if I would go to university or pursue any training. I told them, ‘I want to attend a tailoring course’,” N recalled. She completed the course three years ago, but has still to find a job. N lives with her son in a rented apartment paid for by the state.

“I applied in several places as a tailor, but they told me that I need experience, and I don’t have the experience.”

Joblessness is widespread in Kosovo, but it is a particular burden on efforts to reintegrate returnees like N. Prejudice is another factor.