UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 15, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Budget for municipalities for 2024 is €740 million (media)
Bajrami to Kurti: You have blocked over €37 million for the municipalities (Nacionale)
Sarrazin: There might not be an agreement yet, but there are concepts (media)
Szunyog: Non-implementation of Ohrid agreement will have consequences (Reporteri)
Government and opposition clashes over World Bank's report on Kosovo (media)
Muja: Lajcak’s goal is to offer an extreme version for the Association (Reporteri)
Dugolli writes to Specialist Chambers again; “I won’t stop seeking justice” (media)
Five persons arrested in police counter-terrorism operation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Miroce village residents’ another appeal to the Kosovo authorities and international representatives over their usurped properties (KoSSev)
Petkovic met Lajcak ahead of the new round of dialogue with Pristina (RTS, Tanjug)
Power visits Gracanica Monastery while visiting Kosovo (KoSSev)
New “Serbia Against Violence” protest held in Belgrade (N1, media)
Dacic on protest: Not a word about the victims, just threats against Vucic (N1, Tanjug)
Dacic regrets Israel’s decision to recognize Kosovo independence (BETA, media)
Ambassador of Cyprus: Stance on Kosovo principled and consistent (Kosovo Online)
Serbian List: Entering the municipalities may endanger the peace (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
Fatherland Movement fully supports the requests of the opposition (KoSSev)
Detention of Trajkovic extended for two more months (Kosovo Online)

International:

Serbian president says snap election on cards after mass shootings spark protests (Politico)
Ruling Socialists Defeat Divided Opposition in Albanian Local Polls (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

Kosovo Assembly hosts seminar “Promoting a gender-sensitive parliament” (EO)
Share Your Experience: School Violence in South Eastern Europe (Balkan Insight)
Awareness march for mental health for first time in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Budget for municipalities for 2024 is €740 million (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in today’s meeting with mayors of municipalities that the budget for municipalities in 2024 will be €740 million. “Three weeks ago, the grants commission held a meeting where it adopted the allocation of grants for municipalities for the period 2024-2026. The overall municipal budget for next year is €740 million, or almost €200 million more compared to what the previous government had allocated. This shows that the local governments have the attention of the central government and finances that are expected to be made concrete as a result of our cooperation,” Kurti said.

Head of the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo and Mayor of Ferizaj, Agim Aliu, said the municipalities have voiced their concerns to the central government and that they are waiting for answers. Aliu called for the urgent return of unused funds to the municipalities. “We have reacted urgently. We have asked for the own revenues to be transferred to the municipalities and for the unused funds of municipalities to remain in the municipal budgets, being that this is in the competency of the municipalities,” Aliu argued.

Bajrami to Kurti: You have blocked over €37 million for the municipalities (Nacionale)

MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Hykmete Bajrami, accused Prime Minister Albin Kurti today of “blocking” €37.5 million for the municipalities. “You have blocked €37.5 million for five months now, the own revenues of municipalities. There are hundreds of tenders that cannot be announced: roads, bridges, water supply systems, sewerage systems, schools, kindergartens and health centres, while you talk about next year. This is hypocrisy to say the least,” Bajrami wrote in a Facebook post.

Sarrazin: There might not be an agreement yet, but there are concepts (media)

German Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, said in an interview with Die Welt that more time is needed for Kosovo and Serbia to agree on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, but added that the drafting of the annex for the implementation of the agreement on normalisation is an important step and that if the parties truly want a solution then a lot can be achieved in the process.

“There might not be an agreement between the parties on the issue of the Association yet. But at least for the first time there are concepts on the table on how to reconcile Serb interests and Kosovo’s ability to act as a state. So far this has been only a theoretical debate. If we manage to enter into a positive process and build mutual trust that we really want to find a solution, then we can go far,” he said.

Sarrazin also said that if the parties honestly commit to the implementation of the agreements, “then we would have a historical opportunity to make important progress”.

Szunyog: Non-implementation of Ohrid agreement will have consequences (Reporteri)

Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, called on Kosovo and Serbia today to implement the Ohrid agreement without conditions, because, as he argued, the failure to implement it will have consequences for the parties.

“With this agreement, Kosovo has pledged to start the process of forming the Association [of Serb-majority municipalities]. Serbia needs to meet its obligations too. We expect that it will not oppose Kosovo’s membership in international organisations and that it will recognise Kosovo documents, which entered into force with Borrell’s statement on March 18,” Szynuog said during a discussion in Mitrovica on “The implementation of the French-German Plan”.

Government and opposition clashes over World Bank's report on Kosovo (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Sunday that Kosovo received "high praise" from the World Bank this week. Kurti says that according to this institution, compared to 10 years ago, Kosovo has increased per capita income by 50% and reduced the poverty rate by 35%.

LDK MP Avdullah Hoti reacted to Prime Minister Kurti's statement. "The World Bank is saying that: 'Kosovo has experienced steady economic progress over the last decade, with an increase of nearly 50 percent in per capita income and a 35 percent reduction in the poverty rate.' The leftists in power are now accepting this truth. So, despite the challenges, Kosovo has been developed by the "past regimes" and not impoverished, as the fraudsters propagandise. Opinion fraud is coming to an end. The truth always prevails," Hoti argued in a Facebook post.

PDK deputy leader Vlora Citaku wrote on Facebook: "Either they don't know how to read international reports, or they are intentionally distorting them. Whichever it is, it is painful."

Muja: Lajcak’s goal is to offer an extreme version for the Association (Reporteri)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Armend Muja, argued that the goal of EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, is to offer an extreme version for the Association of Serb-majority municipalities and not a realistic version and say "let's meet in the middle to make a compromise". Muja said this is unacceptable and that the facilitator of the dialogue, and others too, must understand that the Association cannot go one millimetre outside Kosovo’s constitutional framework.

"Mr. Lajcak tends to take a biassed position from time to time. The idea has been that Serbia has continuously violated agreements, including the last agreement that was reached in Brussels. But there are always tendencies ‘let's find something for Kosovo as well and then say that both are stepping on the lid’. Take a look at 39 agreements and accords and see that Serbia has an approach that once an agreement is reached, then it needs to be agreed point by point again. They are very inappropriate in international relations," Muja said.

Muja also said that Kosovo's institutions will continue to strengthen their capacities in the north. "Kosovo will continue to strengthen its capacities in the north and avoid the tendency for us to disconnect from the community there. It is important to be careful how we exercise authority and that it be according to the constitution. It is important to have an equal approach to each citizen of Kosovo without any burden and with a lot of prudence. As these situations require prudence," he added.

Dugolli writes to Specialist Chambers again; “I won’t stop seeking justice” (media)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Enver Dugolli, has written again to the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo, calling on them to investigate the massacre at Dubrava Prison in May 1999. He wrote in a Facebook post that as a victim and survivor of the massacre, he will never stop seeking justice.

“I have sent another note to Acting Specialist Prosecutor, Alex Whiting. This note offers additional arguments, based on three decisions issued by the Specialist Chambers, that they have jurisdiction over the case. The Specialist Chambers have jurisdiction over crimes committed by Serbian forces for planning and executing the Dubrava massacre,” Dugolli argued.

Five persons arrested in police counter-terrorism operation (media)

Five people were arrested during a counter-terrorism operation conducted by Kosovo Police and the Basic Prosecution of Pristina. The operation was carried out in six locations in Peja, Gjilan and Pristina. The arrested persons are suspected of the criminal offences “incitement to commit a terrorist act” and “unauthorised ownership, control or possession of arms”.

Serbian Language Media

Miroce village residents’ another appeal to the Kosovo authorities and international representatives over their usurped properties (KoSSev)

A group of Serbian residents of the village of Miroce near Vucitrn once again called upon the Kosovo authorities, through KoSSev’s editorial office, to finally tackle the issue of their usurped properties.

KoSSev recalled that they previously did the same a month ago, however, an appropriate reaction from Kosovo institutions was not forthcoming. At the same time, they appealed to international representatives and Belgrade to address their case. Below we publish the letter from the Miroce locals in its entirety, delivered to us once again by Dusko Milenkovic, one of the residents, on their behalf.

WIDESPREAD SILENCE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER’S APPEAL

To Whom it May Concern:

We, thirty (30) owners of households and properties in the village of Miroce, in the municipality of Vucitrn, for the second time this year through the „Građani pišu“ section on KoSSev, appeal to Kosovo’s central authorities, embassies in Pristina, and international organisations in Pristina and Belgrade, to help us to solve the issue of re-claiming our property.

Character and dimensions of the problem

The shared problems of all of us landowners are a result of the systematic seizure, destruction, and exploitation of property in the entire village. Specifically, twenty years ago, an Albanian family from the neighbouring village of Karace usurped all the property of all the owners in the village of Miroce:

-Fourteen (14) homeowners who lived in the village of Miroce, whose houses and other facilities no longer exist,

-Eight (8) owners who had inherited property and who were not resident in the village of Miroce, some of whom owned summer houses and,

-Eight (8) property owners, previously resident the neighbouring village of Gojbulja.

International

Serbian president says snap election on cards after mass shootings spark protests (Politico)

Aleksandr Vučić has faced calls to resign as anger grows over the deaths of 17 people in two days earlier this month.

Voters in Serbia could be headed to the polls for the third time in just four years, as the country’s president, Aleksandr Vučić suggested a snap general election may be called in the wake of major public protests over two mass shootings.

Humanitarian/Development

Kosovo Assembly hosts seminar “Promoting a gender-sensitive parliament” (EO)

The Kosovo Assembly hosted the seminar “Promoting a gender-sensitive parliament” organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, and with support from the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). The seminar focused on gender equality in the legislative process.

Kosovo Assembly President, Glauk Konjufca, highlighted the actions that the assembly is undertaking to combat inequality. He argued that development cannot be achieved if there is no equality between men and women. “The Republic of Kosovo takes pride in its presence at the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie. Humanity is not possible without equality among women and men; therefore, I am glad that the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, through this seminar, is highlighting gender equality,” he said.

Konjufca also said that “Kosovo continuously implements measures to combat inequality. In 2020, the Kosovo Assembly adopted the Istanbul Convention, and last year we adopted the national strategy for protection against domestic violence and violence against women”.

Share Your Experience: School Violence in South Eastern Europe (Balkan Insight)

We would like to hear from parents, legal guardians, and teachers willing to share their experiences to help our upcoming investigation into school violence in Southeast Europe.

According to UNESCO, school violence is a major problem. Its report, Behind the numbers: ending school violence and bullying, published in 2019, shows that more than one in three students (36%) has been involved in a physical fight with another student, and almost one in three (32.4%) has been physically attacked at least once in 2018.

Four years later, and after the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine, where the children stayed at home, violence and bullying among minors have multiplied alarmingly inside and outside schools throughout the region.