Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Opposition leaders are more unsatisfied than disagreeing (Indeksonline)
• Kurti received leaders of opposition parties today (media)
• Krasniqi: I didn’t get assurances that govt will keep situation under control (media)
• Abdixhiku: We didn’t hear concrete plan from Kurti to emerge from situation (media)
• Haradinaj leaves meeting: Kurti was lecturing (Koha)
• Citaku: In relation to Serbia, we don’t want Kurti to fail (Nacionale)
• Trajkovic would consider offer for MP; wants guarantees from Kurti (Indeksonline)
• Delawie: Kosovo’s non-recognition by Serbia caused tensions in north (VoA)
• “If you don’t sign, your car will be burned”: Stories of workers that withdrew from Kosovo institutions (RFE)
• Another vehicle with RKS licence plates set on fire in the north (Koha)
• PSD painted the windows of the government building in black (media)
• Suttora on border correction: Better peaceful division, than another Donbas (Nacionale)
• Civil society activist places 17 U.S. flags in front of govt building (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: Brussels Agreement must be respected for Serbs to return to institutions; KFOR must supersede Serb police officers (media)
• Dacic: Pristina to make EU bid, Serbia to start discussions (Tanjug, media)
• Djuric: Latest escalation in Kosovo sole responsibility of Pristina (Tanjug)
• Petkovic says Kurti without grounds accuses Belgrade for crisis in northern Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Stoltenberg, Vucic spoke by phone (media)
• MFA of Spain: Stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic meets Greek President, expresses gratitude for Greece support to Serbia’s sovereignty (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic with Diacofotakis, briefs him on latest developments in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Kohli: India supports Serbia’s stance on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Kurti: More than 900 reprimands issued, fines for licence plates as of November 21 (Kosovo Online)
• Minors detained for incident in Kisnica (KiM radio)
• Nenad Rasic acquitted of charges for misusing official duty (Radio KIM)
• Lazarevic, Jaksic on Serbs’ leaving Kosovo institutions; Shala on 'paralyzed' judicial system in North (KoSSev, Nova S, Kosovo Online)
• Car set on fire in Zvecan  with BG licence plates, the police say with RKS plates (KoSSev)

International:

• Serbia Convicts Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla of War Crime (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Policy Brief: Environmental degradation is an alarming problem in the Western Balkans (EWB)

 

 

Albanian Language Media  

 

Kurti: Opposition leaders are more unsatisfied than disagreeing (Indeksonline)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said today that his meeting with leaders of the opposition was open and serious and that the opposition leaders were more dissatisfied than disagreeing.

“We had a very good meeting with opposition leaders today. It was an informative meeting about the political and security situation, an open and serious discussion. My impression is that the opposition leaders are more unsatisfied than disagreeing,” he said.

Asked to comment on AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj’s leaving the meeting early, Kurti said: “There is no ruining of relations … There is continued coordination, communication and contacts with the Quint, EU, U.S., NATO, KFOR and EULEX, therefore, it is not true that relations are under threat, on the contrary, there is increased communication. Therefore, I don’t think I am going to leave the analysts of evening debates without work and comment on how and who acts.”

Kurti also said that the Kosovo government follows the path of lawfulness and constitutionality. “It is not true that we don’t know the direction we are taking. Our path is lawfulness, constitutionality and human rights and the rights of communities,” he said.

Kurti received leaders of opposition parties today (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albi Kurti, together with the Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, after the invitation sent to the leaders of the parliamentary opposition entities, received the chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi, accompanied by Bedri Hamza; the chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, accompanied by Lutfi Haziri, as well as the chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, accompanied by Ardian Gjini, a government press release notes.

In this meeting convened after the recent developments in the country and especially in the north of the country, the current situation in the Republic of Kosovo was discussed. Prime Minister Kurti emphasised that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity, legality, constitutionality, peace and security, and that it is at the service of all citizens, without distinction.

The alliance with international partners, the United States of America, the European Union and NATO, and communication and coordination in the service of peace, and in maintaining public order and security for all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, were emphasised.

Prime Minister Kurti thanked the leaders of the opposition parties who responded positively to the invitation for the meeting and discussion.

The opposition leaders express their support to the Government for the respect of legality throughout the Republic of Kosovo.

Krasniqi: I didn’t get assurances that govt will keep situation under control (media)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, said that he did not get assurances today that the Kurti-led government knows what direction it will take in order to keep the situation in the north under control. After meeting with Prime Minister Kurti and opposition leaders, Krasniqi told reporters that the PDK will support the government in wielding sovereignty in the four northern municipalities. “I cannot say that I got great assurances that the government knows what direction it needs to take in order to keep the situation under control. I expressed the PDK’s position that Kosovo needs responsible actions now. As far as continuing to wield sovereignty in the four northern municipalities, the government needs to undertake required actions and for this it will have the support of the PDK,” Krasniqi said.

Krasniqi also argued that Kosovo has entered a situation which could have been avoided. “Immaturity in some actions and lack of coordination with Kosovo’s main allies seem to have brought a situation which could have been avoided,” he said.

Abdixhiku: We didn’t hear concrete plan from Kurti to emerge from situation (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, said today that opposition leaders did not hear a concrete plan from Prime Minister Albin Kurti to emerge from the current situation. “We didn’t hear anything different from the public statements that the Prime Minister said, and we didn’t hear a concrete plan to resolve the situation in the north of the country. We also did not see any readiness for full coordination with the international allies,” Abdixhiku told reporters after the meeting.

The LDK leader said that coordinating with allies in Washington and Brussels is the only solution to the current situation. “The LDK believes that close coordination with the U.S. Department of State, with U.S. security institutions, with allies in Washington and in Brussels, is the only proper solution for the situation that Kosovo is in. Kosovo must not fall prey to traps by factors that derive from Belgrade and who want to destabilise our country,” Abdixhiku said.

Abdixhiku also said that the government will have the LDK’s support as long as it has a concrete plan for the security situation in the country and full coordination with Kosovo’s allies. “It is crucial for Kosovo to coordinate with its allies. A government that asks its people to choose between allies and lawfulness, is wrong. We want this government to ensure both lawfulness and our allies,” he added.

Haradinaj leaves meeting: Kurti was lecturing (Koha)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj, left the meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, where he was invited to talk about the situation in the north. After leaving the Government building, Haradinaj wrote on Facebook that he was forced to cancel the meeting because, according to him, Kurti was lecturing and not clarifying "why he broke relations with America". He argued that it was unacceptable to break relations with the main security ally in sensitive cases.

Citaku: In relation to Serbia, we don’t want Kurti to fail (Nacionale)

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Vlora Citaku, said that although this party does not agree with Prime Minister Albin Kurti on most issues, they don’t want him to fail in relation with Serbia. She said that in addition to the required communication between the government and the opposition, Kosovo also needs coordination with its international allies. “It is difficult without allies and friends,” she said.

“Kosovo is our joint homeland. And Kosovo today is going through its most difficult days since the declaration of independence. With Albin Kurti, we don’t agree on almost anything. We don’t even agree with the management of the situation the last couple of days. However, for us as a state-building political party, Kosovo comes before any narrow electoral calculations. In relation to Serbia, we don’t want the Prime Minister of Kosovo to fail,” Citaku wrote on Facebook.

Trajkovic would consider offer for MP; wants guarantees from Kurti (Indeksonline)

Kosovo Serb political representative, Rada Trajkovic, told the news website today that she would consider the offer for MP in light of the recent developments and the resignation of Serbian List MPs. “As someone that ran in the last elections in Kosovo, I would consider this offer. But I would accept it only if Mr. Kurti guarantees and fully respects and without reservations the constitutional rights of our community,” she said. “Preserving multiethnic Kosovo and safeguarding the Brussels Agreement are objectives that are greater and more important than any of us individually.”

Trajkovic also said that “I was exposed to attacks from the Serbian regime even when I joined the UNMIK Interim Administrative Council in 2000 as a Serb representative, so I already know what it means to make personal sacrifices for the sake of stability and equality in Kosovo”.

Delawie: Kosovo’s non-recognition by Serbia caused tensions in north (VoA)

Former U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said in an interview with the Voice of America that tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are not because of the licence plates but due to the refusal of Serbian authorities to recognise Kosovo’s statehood. He said it is in the interest of Serb citizens to return to the institutions of the Kosovo government. “Serb community officials are controlled by the government of Serbia, and their participation in Kosovo’s institutions is done to oppose the government of Kosovo,” he added.

Delawie further argued that tensions do not help the advancement of the dialogue and that it is up to the parties to resolve disputes. “Citizens of the Western Balkans in Kosovo and in Serbia deserve a European future. They can achieve this only if leaders from both countries aim for peace, political and economic development,” he said.

Delawie said that the French-German draft for a comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is a positive initiative to resolve obstacles “that stand in the way of true peace in South-East Europe”.

“If you don’t sign, your car will be burned”: Stories of workers that withdrew from Kosovo institutions (RFE)

A female staff in the Basic Court in Mitrovica said she was forced to resign after 20 years of service, because in a meeting with Serbian List leader Goran Rakic on November 5 it was decided that members of the Serb community would have to collectively resign from Kosovo’s institutions in the northern part of the country. The reason was said to be “the violation of the rights of Serbs” by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and there were calls to annul the decision on the re-registration of vehicles with licence plates issued by Serbia and to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

“No one has a plan on how to resolve this. They just told us ‘come and sign the resignations’ which we had to sign. Although they say that this was done on a voluntary basis, it was not voluntary at all,” said the staff of the Basic Court in Mitrovica, preferring to remain anonymous.

The judiciary was integrated in Kosovo’s system in 2017 based on the Brussels Agreement reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. However, on November 7, the Serb judges and administrative staff at the Basic Court in Mitrovica resigned.

“They always say ‘you are not forced to do this’, but you know that you are forced. If you don’t sign it [the resignation], they will set your car on fire or they can do anything to you,” the unnamed staff told RFE.

Another vehicle with RKS licence plates set on fire in the north (Koha)

The Kosovo Police has announced that in the regional area of Mitrovica North, a car with RKS licence plates was set on fire. "The Kosovo Police, on the date 08.11.2022, has received information about the burning, setting fire to a car with RKS licence plates, property of the female Kosovar victim of the Serb community, residing in the municipality of Zveqan," the Police announcement states.

According to the announcement, apart from the material damage caused by setting fire to the vehicle, no injured person was reported in connection with the case. The announcement further states that the Kosovo Police has undertaken the necessary operative investigative actions regarding the case.

"The Kosovo Police will take care in providing security to citizens without distinction, in maintaining order and public peace, as well as in the detection of such criminal acts," the announcement states.

The PSD painted the windows of the government building in black (media)

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) painted the windows of the government of Kosovo in black. PSD leader Dardan Molliqaj has said that the black color symbolises the informativeness of the government regarding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

“Kosovo has never had a government more closed to the public opinion and the media, and there has never been a more closed dialogue than the one the government is developing now. This is why we symbolically painted the building of the government of Kosovo in black, to show that the citizens and the media are in an informative darkness,” Molliqaj said. 

Suttora on border correction: Better peaceful division, than another Donbas (Nacionale)

Italian reporter Mauro Suttora suggested today a resolution for the Kosovo issue through what the news website calls the already outdated idea of border correction with Serbia. Suttora argued that the northern part of Kosovo should be exchanged with regions with an Albanian majority in Serbia. “It is useless to insist on an impossible coexistence. It is better to have  a clean and mutual and non-violent ethnic cleansing with territorial and economic compensations for those that are displaced. A divorce to live in peace as couples do, and avoid another Donbas,” Suttora said in a Facebook post.

Civil society activist places 17 U.S. flags in front of govt building (Koha)

A civil society activist placed 17 flags of the United States of America in front of the Kosovo government building in Pristina on Monday evening. The activist said the goal was to thank the U.S. for its support in the declaration of the independence of Kosovo. “I chose number 17 to thank the U.S. for its help in the declaration of Kosovo’s independence. The reason why we put the flags there was to call on the government not to leave the framework and the support of the U.S.,” the activist told Koha.

 

 

Serbian Language Media 

 

Vucevic: Brussels Agreement must be respected for Serbs to return to institutions; KFOR must supersede Serb police officers  (media)

Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Tuesday Serbs would return to institutions in the north of Kosovo-Metohija once Pristina started delivering on its commitments and respecting the Brussels Agreement.

"The Serbs will return to institutions, this is not a permanent departure from institutions, but a suspension until an implementation of the Brussels Agreement and fulfilment of commitments by Pristina. The Serbian side has fulfilled everything, while the Albanian side has fulfilled nothing," Vucevic noted in an appearance on Pink TV.

He said the situation in Kosovo was calm but that tensions were very high due to the Pristina administration's unilateral moves.

He added that this could lead to further escalation and a degradation of everything that should have been done through the dialogue format.

"The situation became extremely delicate after the dismissal of Nenad Djuric, who was the regional police commander in the North region, and the Serbs' decision to leave all institutions in the territory of the province," Vucevic said.

He said the Serbs had reacted in a democratic and dignified way but that their decision had been a forced move resulting from decisions by Pristina.

"It was not a display of power by the Serbs, it was a forced move... The people are worried and, on the other hand, responsible, the people in Kosovo-Metohija are cornered, which has been going on for 23 years now," Vucevic said.

KFOR must supersede Serb police officers

Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said today that KFOR must supersede the Serbian police officers who left the service in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, because as he assessed, it would be "disastrous to allow Prime Minister Albin Kurti to send the police from south of Kosovo", reported portal NMagazin.

Vucevic told TV Pink that he did not expect KFOR, like the army, to become the police, but that it was important that it "fundamentally performs tasks related to the security of all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija."

"(KFOR must) ensure that ROSU or other units of the Kosovo Police do not enter the north of Kosovo now, that Albanian judges and prosecutors do not come to handle cases against Serbs and that the persecution of Serbs continues in a legal form," he said.

According to the Defense Minister, the security forces of Kosovo are transitioning into the armed forces by someone's decision, and someone was equipping them with weapons, and they do not have the right to do so according to earlier agreements.

"Someone is creating an army in Kosovo, bypassing KFOR, contrary to Resolution 1244, contrary to the military-technical agreement from Kumanovo. This is something that we are carefully monitoring as a country," emphasised Vucevic.

He pointed out that the EU must declare whether the Kosovo PM Kurti, "cancelled the Brussels Agreement" with the latest decisions of Pristina.

"Is it possible that Albin Kurti is stronger than what was guaranteed by the EU, are we going to derogate from legal acts and agreements? Then everything is pointless, then we go to a complete dead end. It is hypocritical to call both sides to exercise restraint then," he said. 

He stated that the silence of the international community regarding the "suffering of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija for a quarter of a century" was ''irritating'' emphasising that there was a lack of condemning tones and messages.

Dacic: Pristina to make EU bid, Serbia to start discussions (Tanjug, media)

Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said on Monday in Sofia that Serbia received information that Pristina's PM Albin Kurti would submit in December a request for launching the process of granting EU membership candidate status to Kosovo, reported agency Tanjug. 

"That is serious information we have from the EU, that that is the plan, and that is why we have made a decision to begin urgent discussions with all countries that do not recognise Kosovo, just in case," Dacic told reporters in Sofia, where he attended a meeting of Central European Initiative FMs.

He said he had come to Sofia to present the information to Bulgarian counterpart Nikolay Milkov, but that his most important meeting of the day had been one with Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto.

Dacic also said he had also discussed the issue with the Slovak FM and that he would be on a bilateral visit to Greece on Tuesday.

He said he intended to contact the FMs of Romania, Spain, and Cyprus to ensure the three countries opposed such a bid from Pristina and to prevent such a "negative surprise" from occurring.

"We think it is impossible, but that is why the meeting with Szijjarto was important to me and I can convey his very firm words that Hungary will not give its support in case a request is made to start Kosovo's accession process, just like it will not support considering a request for Council of Europe membership," Dacic said.

He said Serbia would speak with all EU member states and that it was very important that everyone understood what was going on in Kosovo-Metohija.

"Unlike Kurti, who does not want to implement it, we are advocating the Brussels Agreement, and that is why we are not pleased when the EU issues statements calling out all sides while having no reason whatsoever to do that to Serbia," Dacic added.

Djuric: Latest escalation in Kosovo sole responsibility of Pristina (Tanjug)

Serbian Ambassador to US, Marko Djuric said the latest escalation in Kosovo and Metohija was sole responsibility of Pristina authorities who over the last months banned Serbs from voting at general elections and use the rights guaranteed by the Brussels agreement, such as status-neutral KS licence plates, Tanjug news agency reports.

He also said Pristina authorities also banned representatives of minorities in Kosovo from taking part in elections for their councils’ representatives, due in Serbia on November 13.

“They also ruthlessly said in public they will never allow the establishment of a Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. Albin Kurti was the last one to do so, and he did it right in front of a German Chancellor Office in the heart of Berlin (…)”, Djuric said.

According to him a drop that overflew the glass was suspension of Serb commanders coinciding with a ban imposed on ordinary citizens to use their vehicles just because someone in Pristina “does not like their licence plates they are entitled to in line with Brussels agreement”, Djuric added.

He also said everything Pristina did over the last months clearly indicated that they wish no dialogue, no reconciliation, no normalisation of relations, on the contrary they wished “new distractions” in the dialogue process.

Djuric noted it was also important that the highest US officials sent a clear message to Pristina, that after ten years it should start establishing the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. 

Petkovic says Kurti without grounds accuses Belgrade for crisis in northern Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic said Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurit, “in fear and powerlessness before democratic response of Serbs to his violence and lawlessness, attempts to blame Belgrade and President Aleksandar Vucic for the tense situation in northern Kosovo”, Radio KIM reports.

Petkovic further said the Serbs with their boycott and protest in the north revealed who the only threat to peace in Kosovo and Metohija is, adding they not only fight for their human rights, but also for the credibility of the European Union as a mediator in the Brussels agreement.

According to him, that is why Kurti does not hear nor sees strict messages from the European Union to immediately end the destabilisation of Kosovo and start establishing the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. 

Stoltenberg, Vucic spoke by phone (media)

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic by phone on Monday and requested that all parties in disputes relating to Kosovo-Metohija refrain from steps that would cause an escalation, as well as from unilateral moves that would threaten peace and stability.

Vucic noted that Pristina was brutally violating the Brussels Agreement through unilateral moves including a dismissal of Nenad Djuric, regional police chief for the north of Kosovo, as well as through illegitimate actions regarding vehicle licence plates and an almost ten year-long refusal to form a Community of Serb Municipalities.

He said that, despite this, Serbia was striving to maintain peace and stability and would remain committed to that.

Vucic and Stoltenberg also discussed the significance of the role of KFOR and direct contacts between the Serbian Armed Forces chief of general staff and the commander of NATO forces in Kosovo.

Stoltenberg noted that NATO appreciated the cooperation established with Serbia as a militarily neutral country, the presidential press office said in a statement, reported Serbian media.

MFA of Spain: Stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Kosovo Online)

Spain stands by its stance not to recognize the declaration of independence Pristina adopted in 2008, and thinks that this issue should be resolved in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Dukadjini portal, Kosovo Online reports.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs made those remarks responding to a question if Kosovo would receive approval from Spain for its request to join the EU. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti earlier announced that Pristina will file a request to join the EU by the end of this year.

In addition to Spain, four other EU states do not recognize Kosovo, including Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Cyprus. Spain takes over six-month presidency of the EU in July 2023. 

Dacic meets Greek President, expresses gratitude for Greece support to Serbia’s sovereignty (Kosovo Online)

First Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic met today during his visit to Greece, with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and discussed with her advancement of bilateral relations, Serbia’s EU path, current situation in the region but also projects and plans to overcome energy crisis, Kosovo Online portal reports.

The two interlocutors agreed that bilateral relations between two states were at exceptionally high level, and that they will continue working together to further foster them.

Dacic expressed hope that a fourth regular meeting of a High Council for Cooperation between two states will take place in near future, and that the Greek President will visit Serbia, adding she has a standing invitation.

Dacic also said that EU integration remains one of Serbia's crucial foreign policy priorities and that under current geopolitical circumstances Serbia remains committed to preserving territorial integrity of states and respecting international law.

He once again expressed gratitude to President Sakellaropoulou for the support Greece extends to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, adding that such a principled stance of Greece was of high importance for Serbia.

Petkovic with Diacofotakis, briefs him on latest developments in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic met today with Greek Ambassador to Serbia, Yorgos Diacofotakis and discussed with him general security and political situation in Kosovo as well as recent decision of the Serbian people to leave Pristina institutions, Kosovo Online portal reports.

During the meeting, Petkovic pointed out that “frequent unilateral acts by Pristina prevented continuation of any meaningful dialogue and that latest events brought Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija on the verge of a physical survival”.

He also warned of systematic deprivation of the rights to the Serbs there, adding they were banned from voting on Serbian elections, special police units were storming the Serbian areas, violating reached agreements and that ten years had passed since Pristina undertook obligation to form Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and yet failed to do so.

Petkovic stressed that by decision to leave Pristina institutions Serbs in northern Kosovo responded to “Kurti’s violent politics and his avoidance to fulfil obligations undertaken in the Brussels agreement, well as his unconcealed hatred towards Serbian people”.

Petkovic also said this way Serbian people also stood up in defence of the Brussels process as well, aiming to achieve two main goals – establishment of Community of Serb Municipalities and revocation of unilateral Pristina’s decisions on licence plates.

Kohli: India supports Serbia’s stance on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Ambassador of India to Serbia, Sanjiv Kohli said his country stands by its stance not to recognize Kosovo, adding there is a room to advance cooperation in numerous fields between India and Serbia. He also said Indian companies see Serbia as a good place for investments, Kosovo Online portal reports.

He noted India has a principled stance not to recognize Kosovo.

“We always believe that sovereignty and territorial integrity of one state must be preserved. We believe all problems should be resolved in dialogue. Dialogue is the only way to resolve the problems”, he said. He added that use of force or threats do not help, but rather impede the situation.

“We are now a member of the UN Security Council and we support Serbia’s stance on Kosovo and will continue doing so”, the Indian Ambassador said. 

Kurti: More than 900 reprimands issued, fines for licence plates as of November 21 (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said more than 900 reprimands were issued to the Serbs, owners of the vehicles with Serbian plates, adding that after November 21, implementation of fines should start, Kosovo Online portal reports citing Pristina-based Klan Kosova.

According to the police, the amount of the fine that should be issued as of November 21 is 150 euros. 

Minors detained for incident in Kisnica (KiM radio)

The Kosovo police announced last night that two persons were identified and arrested on suspicion of being involved in the case of throwing a Molotov cocktail in the direction of the Trajkovic family home in Kisnica village, Gracanica municipality, reported KiM radio.

As stated in the press release, the suspects are two minors who were ordered to be detained by the decision of the state prosecutor.

"Currently, an investigation is being conducted in the direction of the criminal offence of "causing general danger", because it is suspected that the incident was preceded by disputes between the complainant and the suspects regarding the use of the public park at the entrance of the village, i.e., near the houses of both parties," stated the Kosovo Police report. 

On Sunday evening, a Molotov cocktail was thrown towards the house of the Trajkovic family in Kisnica, recalled KiM radio. As confirmed, the bottle hit the fence and no material damage was caused.

In a statement to RTV Kim, the locals say that incidents in Kisnica are every day, and that only the Trajkovic family has been attacked more than once.

Minister of the Interior Xhelal Svecla also spoke at the press conference about the incident in Kisnica, pointing out that the police were engaged in solving this case.

Nenad Rasic acquitted of charges for misusing official duty (Radio KIM)

The Basic Court in Pristina acquitted Nenad Rasic of the charges for misusing official duty in the case involving four former Kosovo government ministers, including Besim Beqaj, Mimoza Kusari Lila and Dardan Gashi, Radio KIM reports.

Also, all other defendants in the case of KEK distribution network privatisation were acquitted. Rasic said he expected acquittal although it was not pleasant for him to hear his name in the context of some charges. He also alleged the aim of the charges was to discredit him. 

He announced a lawsuit against prosecution and the expert who submitted the report, which he said was neither legally nor economically justified.

The verdict was read out in Albanian language only, the translation in Serbian was not provided, Radio KIM recalled. 

Lazarevic, Jaksic on Serbs’ leaving Kosovo institutions; Shala on 'paralyzed' judicial system in North (KoSSev, Nova S, Kosovo Online)

KoSSev portal editor, Tatjana Lazarevic told Nova S TV that it was a very dangerous situation to hide the content of the Franco-German document for Kosovo, while events with great potential for crisis were taking place on the ground. 

"I would not rule out the possibility that what is happening in the North is actually a peculiar response of Aleksandar Vucic at the high negotiating table with representatives of the EU, with what is linked as a French-German proposal," she said.

Pointing to the lack of information in the public about the contents of the proposal, Lazarevic added that on the other hand, the situation on the ground was unstable, and that this discrepancy makes the situation even more dangerous. She also recalled the statement of the president of Serbia, Vucic who said that while he was the president, he would not recognize Kosovo's independence and allow Kosovo to join the UN.

On the Serbs leaving Kosovo's institutions, Lazarevic said that preparations for such a move have been made for years and that "everything seems coordinated" on the ground.

"This move certainly includes an emotional element - that there is also an unspoken desire for Serbs not to be part of Kosovo's institutions. On the other hand, it includes some kind of preparation and operational steps," Lazarevic added.

According to her, the Serbs are deeply instrumentalized and were under the 100% influence of the Serbian authorities.

She emphasised that the core of the Brussels agreement was the abolition of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia, she reminded that the Serbian authorities were actually a "guarantor" that the Serbs in the North would integrate into the Kosovo system.

"Whatever the Serbian government, Aleksandar Vucic, decides, it will be like that on the field, for sure. Other than that, there is no other scenario. If it gets tougher, that is, if some kind of division is feigned, an artificial exit from the institutions to the trade at the political table - it will last just as long as the authorities in Belgrade probably predicted," assessed Lazarevic. 

On the other hand, other scenarios are not excluded either.

On the ground, there were citizens who believe that Serbia will "draw a line" at the Ibar bridge, that is, that the situation in the North will completely "return", which in no way was specific in relation to the rest of Serbia, Lazarevic explained.

"If the government in Belgrade foresees separation, it will also be a risky situation. An important actor is Albin Kurti, that is, the pressure from Belgrade towards the international community, and from the international community towards Pristina," Lazarevic stated.

Jaksic: Even if Igor Simic return, the judges certainly won't

On the other hand, the former member of the CI SDP, Marko Jaksic, who also worked in the court in the North of Kosovo until recently, told Nova S TV that he was convinced that there was no return to the institutions.

Jaksic accused the Kosovo PM of having led to the current situation with his actions, and said that his reaction was too late, that is, the invitation to the Serbs to return to the institutions.

He saw Kurti as responsible for the decision of Serbs from the North to leave the institutions.

"This is his greatest success. He managed to completely destroy the only successful multi-ethnic and Brussels story with his stupid actions regarding innocuous things... He will destroy even much more, but that's someone else's problem," concluded Jaksic. 

"After all this, we will have to discuss the new status and position of the Serbs in the North of Kosovo. I don't know whether it will be within the French-German initiative or something new," said Jaksic. 

He said that the Serbian List this time, after several previous announcements on leaving institutions that it did not fulfil, had to "follow the wishes of the people it represents".

"Many times they threatened with an empty gun," said Jaksic.

He assessed that even if political representatives return to the central institutions, "no judge will certainly not".

"Based on what I know, from contact with my colleagues, I am sure that no one will change their decision from yesterday, because it was not so easily made," said Jaksic. 

Jaksic claimed the Brussels Agreement was dead.

Shala: Resignations of judges and prosecutors in the north are a big problem

Researcher at the Kosovo Institute of Justice, Gezim Shala, said that the resignations of SL deputies and ministers did not pose any risk to the work of the Assembly or the Government, while the opposite may happen with the judicial system in the north, reported Kosovo Online, citing Ekonomia online.

Shala said the judicial system will be "paralyzed", since the Brussels Agreement mandated that they be replaced by Serbian judges and prosecutors. The Judicial Council will be in a problem to have the opportunity to fill the remaining positions.

"In this case, there would be a violation of the administration of justice. On these issues, the EU must take a firm stand to ensure the implementation of the agreement," Shala continued.

"After the judges and prosecutors left the institutions, the integration of the judiciary was definitely destroyed. It should be considered that their withdrawal greatly burdens the administration of justice in these municipalities. It is necessary to find a way to get out of this situation, to return to the zero point. These positions cannot be replaced temporarily," said Shala.

Car set on fire in Zvecan  with BG licence plates, the police say with RKS plates (KoSSev)

A Ford Fiesta car owned by a Serbian woman, O.M, was set on fire last night around 10 pm in the center of Zvecan, the owner herself confirmed for portal KoSSev. 

The portal reported that although in several conversations from last night she, and her family members, categorically state that her car was registered with Belgrade plates and that they failed to get in touch with the police despite calls made until the news was published, today the Kosovo Police reported about the burning of a car in the municipality of Zvecan, owned by a woman, which was registered on the RKS plates, wrote KoSSev.

 

 

International 

 

Serbia Convicts Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla of War Crime (Balkan Insight)

Belgrade Higher Court sentenced alleged wartime Kosovo Liberation Army member Petrit Dula to two years in prison for participating in the beating of a civilian in Kosovo in 1999.

Judge Snezana Nikolic Garotic told Belgrade Higher Court on Tuesday that Petrit Dula was found guilty of committing a war crime by assaulting a civilian in a village near the town of Djakovica/Gjakova in Kosovo in June 1999.

Nikolic Garotic said that Dula was convicted on the basis of witness testimonies and that he had received a light sentence due to mitigating circumstances.

“The court reduced the sentence because it took into account numerous mitigating circumstances such as the family circumstances of the accused and his attitude towards the crime,” she explained.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3NO09nK

 

 

 

Humanitarian/Development

 

Policy Brief: Environmental degradation is an alarming problem in the Western Balkans (EWB)

VIENNA – In the Western Balkans the socio-economic cost of air pollution due to dirty energy production is significant, it was concluded in the Policy Brief „The social impact of air pollution in the Western Balkans“, published within the WB2EU Network.

The authors added that although the European Green Deal is a much-needed instrument in the efforts to promote energy transition in the region, it is still too early to tell whether its funds would suffice to stimulate and bring about sustainable change.

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