UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Stoltenberg: Serbian army buildup near Kosovo doesn’t help situation (media)
Rohde: It’s important to have security in north; NATO mandate not changed (EO)
State Department: U.S. committed to integration of Western Balkans (VoA)
“Serbia is not interested in peace”: What is Vucic planning? (Albanian Post)
Is “international investigation” into Banjska delayed due to Dialogue? (Express)
Kurti: Economic growth this year is expected to be 3.8 percent (Kosovapress)
Hoti on missing persons: We want justice; Serbia calling for new crimes (media)
Berisha: Serbia doesn’t aim only for the north, but all of Kosovo (media)
20 CSOs call on EC to withdraw proposal that allows visa-free travel for Kosovo Serbs with Serbian passports (media)

Serbian Language Media:

DefMin Vucevic welcomes NATO’s Stoltenberg at Belgrade airport last night (N1)
Stoltenberg: We will continue to ensure peace for all in Kosovo; Vucic: Only Serbs are endangered (RTS, Tanjug, media)
Stoltenberg in Pristina: Any deployment of KSF in the north of Kosovo requires consent from KFOR (Tanjug, media)
Media: Pristina wants to increase the KSF to five thousand people (NMagazin, Beta)
Stoltenberg for Tanjug: Kosovo does not have the support of NATO to arm itself (Blic, Kosovo Online)
Dimitrijevic: Pristina institutions should enable Serbs to vote at elections (Kosovo Online)
Andric Rakic on visa liberalization: In some companies, 50 percent of workers announced their departure (Kosovo Online)
The Church burgled in the Devet Jugovica village (N1, RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Jablanovic met Troccaz: The position of the Serbs is untenable since Kurti came to power (KiM radio)
Office for KiM: Incidents on ground in direct correlation with inflammatory statements of Pristina politicians (Kosovo Online)
Koha: Certain NGOs in Kosovo requested to withdraw the proposal on the passports of the coordination administration of the MIA of Serbia be included in the visa liberalization (KoSSev)

International:

Serbia Deployed Anti-Aircraft Systems Near Kosovo Border, Kosovo PM Warns (Prishtina Insight)
First Kosovo War Crimes Trial in Defendant’s Absence Begins (BIRN)
Serbia’s Expulsion of Croatian Diplomat Damages Relations: Zagreb (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Stoltenberg: Serbian army buildup near Kosovo doesn’t help situation (media)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during his stay in Belgrade today that the buildup of the Serbian army troops near the border with Kosovo does not help ease calm the tense situation between Kosovo and Serbia, Radio Free Europe reports. “Both parties need to de-escalate tensions and refrain from acts of escalations,” Stoltenberg said after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. “The buildup of Serbian army troops near the border with Kosovo does not help calm the situation”. Koha meanwhile highlights in its coverage that Vucic told Stoltenberg that “we decide on our own where we deploy our army” and that the Serbian Army has never exceeded its competencies. The news website also quotes Stoltenberg as saying that the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo is key to the normalization of relations between the two sides.

Rohde: It’s important to have security in north; NATO mandate not changed (EO)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said today that NATO SG Jens Stoltenberg’s statement about a possible permanent increase of NATO’s military presence in Kosovo after the attack in Banjska is a strong position. He said the statement is support for stability. “NATO is here to support stability in Kosovo, and nothing has changed. What I see is that NATO is reacting to the terrorist attack in Banjska by offering security, especially in the north. It is important to have security in the north. The position of NATO is even stronger, but this doesn’t mean that there are any legal changes. NATO has a clear mandate, and this mandate has not changed,” Rohde said.

State Department: U.S. committed to integration of Western Balkans (VoA)

The U.S. State Department said today that Russia’s war against Ukraine outlines the urgency and importance of the work of the United States “to help the countries of the Western Balkans to achieve their aspirations for European integration and membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions”. The comment is part of a reaction that a spokesperson for the State Department gave to the Voice of America, in response to a question about the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week that he has “information that Russia could try to incite a conflict in the Western Balkans”.

“We are committed to working with countries of the Western Balkans, our European partners and the international community to push forward reforms in governance, rule of law, election reforms and in the fight against corruption, which would diminish the chances for Russian malign influence and would bring sustainable peace, stability and well-being to the region,” the spokesperson said.

“Serbia is not interested in peace”: What is Vucic planning? (Albanian Post)

The news website reports that “there is ‘a high probability’ of another terrorist attack from Serbia against Kosovo, after Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s warning that Serbia is mobilizing the terrorist group of former Serbian List deputy leader, Milan Radoicic, who led the terrorist group that killed sergeant Afrim Bunjaku in Banjska of Zvecan on September 24, after a failed attempt ‘to annex the north of Kosovo’.”

Nenad Canak, leader of the Social-Democratic League of Vojvodina, said Serbia’s deployment of anti-aircraft systems near the border with Kosovo shows that Serbia “is not interested in peace” and he calls on the Kosovo Government to offer security for all its citizens and take all necessary steps in this regard. “The deployment of anti-aircraft systems near the border with Kosovo is certainly not a sign of de-escalation. The re-organization of terrorists can only mean preparations for the next terrorist action. Therefore, when we add to this information the warning of President Zelenskyy that Moscow is working to destabilize the Balkans, it is very clear that there is a high probability for another attempt for terrorist activity in the territory of Kosovo,” Canak said in an interview with the news website.

Canak, a former member of the Serbian Parliament and former President of the Assembly of Vojvodina in 2000-2004, also said that “another hot spot” for tensions is Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he mentioned the reported close ties of the ultranationalist president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I believe that in the coming period we need to be extremely careful because another potential point of military operations (Republika Srpska) is now openly working in this direction, as can be seen in the frequent communication between Dodik and Putin. The most important thing right now is to stop extremists from all sides and not allow any ‘individual’ act of violence to be a pretext for a conflict of wider proportions,” Canak said.

Jamie Shea, former NATO spokesperson during the war in Kosovo and professor of Strategy and Security in Brussels, said in an interview with the news website that Serbia’s deployment of anti-aircraft missiles near the border with Kosovo “makes absolutely no sense” because Kosovo does not present any threat to Serbia, and it does not have its own air force. “The main threat would be for KFOR helicopters that fly in Kosovo’s airspace, and this would make this deployment a hostile act against the international community. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will stay in Belgrade on Tuesday, and we can hope he will learn exactly what President Vucic is planning and convince him not to deescalate the situation,” Shea said.

Asked to comment on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s statement that he has information that Russia is planning to start “a war in the Balkans'', Shea said that “Moscow could have an interest to incite more problems in the Western Balkans in order to shift NATO’s attention away from the aggression in Ukraine”. “However, if Serbia is serious about its membership in the EU, it needs to crack down on Russian networks of influence in Serbia and any form of cooperation between Moscow and Serbian paramilitary groups if such ties are revealed. If these illegal extremist groups are not dismantled, there is not only a risk but also a high probability that they will go into Kosovo to cause violence and further chaos,” he argued.

Shea said that in order to “prevent potential terrorist attacks and to better safeguard the border between Kosovo and Serbia, NATO should permanently increase the number of troops in the north, “in order to prevent the deployment of Serbian paramilitaries and weapons smuggling”. “So the KFOR reinforcements that arrived in Kosovo in spring should remain there for the time being. NATO and the international community must continue pressuring Belgrade to be transparent about the presence of paramilitary groups and to provide convincing proof that it has dissolved them,” he added.

The news website notes that on November 19, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti warned that Serbia has deployed anti-aircraft systems near the border with Kosovo and that the terrorist group of former Serbian List deputy leader Milan Radoicic was being reorganized.

Is “international investigation” into Banjska delayed due to Dialogue? (Express)

The news website notes that precisely one month ago, EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak told a press conference in Pristina that the EU and NATO would soon publish their findings about Banjska [attack on September 24 in the north of Kosovo] but that although almost two months have passed since the terrorist attack in Banjska and one month after Lajcak’s statement, the EU and NATO have not published a report or an investigation about Banjska.

Why is this delay happening and is this linked to the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia? The news website talked to DPC Global expert Bodo Weber and U.S. professor Daniel Serwer on the issue.

Weber said it is clear that the EU, U.S. and NATO are involved in the investigation by Kosovo’s authorities and in analyzing a large amount of evidence about Banjska. He said it is clear that the evidence doesn't leave much room for doubt that the attackers were armed, trained and paid by Serbia and that the Serbian army, namely the Ministry of Defense, had the main role. According to him, it was impossible for something of that magnitude to happen without the knowledge of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, but adds that it remains unclear if the order to execute the plan came from up high or if Milan Radoicic had decided on his own. “Regardless of this, there is sufficient evidence for the West to publicly present the findings and to draw political conclusions, namely to take a harsh stance on Serbia,” he said.

Weber also said that the EU and U.S. have a problem about Banjska, because in his opinion they built the whole policy of the dialogue and the French-German initiative around a policy of appeasing Vucic’s regime. He said that taking a harsher stance with Vucic now over Banjska would mean sanctions and this would also mean “killing the French-German initiative”. He also claimed that the West was delaying the publication of the findings about Banjska hoping for progress in the negotiations.

Asked if sanctions are used as means of pressure in the process of dialogue, Weber said that the measures against Kosovo are part of strengthening the policy and initiative of the EU and the U.S., and which according to him failed even before Banjska but that they are not ready to admit it yet. “The unfair sanctions did not impress the Kurti government before Banjska, and let alone now,” he said.

Commenting on the non-publication of findings, Serwer said the European Union should be asked about this because he hasn’t seen anyone in the United States that doubts the direct involvement of Belgrade in the Banjska attack. “You need to ask the EU. I haven’t found anyone in Washington that doubts that Belgrade was directly involved in the terrorist attack,” he said.

Serwer said that enough time has passed even for “the really slow EU” to reach a conclusion about Banjska.

Asked if the same tactic is being used with the measures and the international investigation, Serwer said that the EU is trying to pressure Kurti through the measures but that the tactic is not functioning. “Yes, the EU measures are aimed at applying pressure on Kurti. The tactic does not seem to be working,” he said.

Kurti: Economic growth this year is expected to be 3.8 percent (Kosovapress)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that this year could conclude with an economic growth of 3.8 percent. He said that inflation in Kosovo in October was 3.3 percent and which according to him is the lowest in the Balkans.

Hoti on missing persons: We want justice; Serbia calling for new crimes (media)

Head of the Kosovo Government’s Commission for Missing Persons, Andin Hoti, said in an interview with Tirana-based A2CNN, that on the issue of missing persons “while Kosovo is seeking justice 24 years after the war, the same people are making calls for new crimes. Imagine what this does to the hopes of the families of missing persons”. Hoti was referring to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s recent warning about conflicts in Kosovo and Republika Srpska.

Hoti said he sent a letter to Serbian President Vucic and EU High Representative Josep Borrell on the issue of missing persons, and that he expects the joint commission to be formed soon. “I sent a letter to Vucic on June 1 asking for access to classified or reclassified archives, because Serbia has classified the crimes committed in the Drenica region. We have missing persons from that region, and we need to have guidelines in order to try and resolve their fates. Unfortunately, we haven’t received any reply from Serbia, and two months later we sent a letter to Borrell on the same issue. The statement foresees the formation of the joint commission. The joint commission has not been formed and I don’t know the reasons why, but we have sent our comments. I assume that the EU is focused on something else. The information that I have from the Kosovo delegation in the EU is that our comments for the joint commission have been received and we expect the commission will be formed in the coming days and we will get an answer there”.

Hoti said he agrees with Prime Minister Kurti’s position that the head of the Serbian delegation for missing persons, Veljko Odalovic, is not a reliable person to head the commission or to be a negotiating party with Kosovo. “Odalovic was appointed directly by Milosevic for civil protection during the war in Kosovo. Civilians in uniforms started the war in Kosovo. This is one of the incriminations … We are in 2023 and we still have 1,600 missing persons. I am the fifth person that Kosovo has changed [as head of the commission] whereas Serbia has never replaced Odalovic and this shows that he was never willing or ready to cooperate with the Kosovar side, otherwise we wouldn’t have 1,600 missing persons and we wouldn’t be excavating in Serbia for 10 years,” he said.

Berisha: There are criminals in Serbia that want war (Telegrafi)

Head of the Kosovo Assembly’s Committee for Security and Defense, Beke Berisha, in an interview with the news website today, claimed that Serbia’s movement of troops or construction of military bases along the border with Kosovo is nothing new and that Serbia has continuously made provocative actions against Kosovo. “This has happened earlier too. Our territory was violated. On several occasions, the Serbian gendarmerie and army entered Kosovo’s territory. We reacted when that happened. It is no surprise. They have turned this into a kind of pressure against Kosovo, especially now that we are in the final phase of talks between Kosovo and Serbia. There was also a direct attack against the Republic of Kosovo, in Banjska, and we all know what happened, it was a terrorist act,” he said.

According to Berisha, Serbia was directly involved in the September 24 attack in the north of Kosovo. “Serbia’s military and police forces were involved. There can be more attacks. In Serbia there are groups and especially veterans from the wars in the Balkans, that have not been convicted and can hardly wait to create incidents. There are people there that are interested in war and to carry out Russia’s messages in the Balkans, namely to start new wars. In other words, there is a base and there are people that can provoke at any time, escalate the situation, and open new zones of war,” he said.

Berisha: Serbia doesn’t aim only for the north, but all of Kosovo (media)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Hisen Berisha, in an interview with RTK, commented on NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s visit to Kosovo on Monday, saying that it was particularly important because it guarantees the territorial integrity of Kosovo.

Asked to comment on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s warnings about Serbia’s deployment of anti-aircraft systems near the border with Kosovo, Berisha said the security situation is fragile and the security of Kosovo citizens can come under threat. According to Berisha, Serbia does not aim only for the north of Kosovo, but all of Kosovo.

Berisha criticized the Kurti-led government for failing to integrate Kosovo in the EU and NATO structures. “If the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, can become the zone of a new armed conflict, then our country and Stoltenberg needs to be very aware and accelerate Kosovo’s integration in the Partnership for Peace program, or even in the EU, in order to put it under the collective defense of NATO,” he argued.

20 CSOs call on EC to withdraw proposal that allows visa-free travel for Kosovo Serbs with Serbian passports (media)

Most news websites report today that over 20 civil society organizations in Kosovo sent a letter to EC Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, calling on the European Commission to withdraw the proposal for the abolition of visa requirements for Kosovo citizens with passports issued by the Coordination Directorate of the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs. According to the organizations, such a decision would “seriously damage the intention and implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the path toward normalization between Kosovo and Serbia based on the principle of respect for integrity and sovereignty, previous agreements on the abolition of Serbia’s parallel structures in Kosovo, and the reliability of the European Union as an impartial facilitator in the dialogue”. They argue that the proposal would seriously challenge the progress made on the integration of Kosovo Serb citizens in getting Kosovo documents, which was seen in the case of en masse equipment with Kosovo passports in the last couple of weeks. “It would incite and encourage criminal structures operating in the northern part of Kosovo to continue threatening and intimidating Kosovo Serb citizens that want to join the country’s social and political life. It would accept personal documents issued by authorities that have neither the technical or legal possibility to verify the data of the holders of these documents, and consequently jeopardize the whole long-awaited visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens. And it would install a dangerous precedent whereby the European Union would legitimize Serbia’s territorial claims against Kosovo, expressed in this case through the illegal issuing of documents for the citizens of another country,” the letter notes.

Serbian Language Media

DefMin Vucevic welcomes NATO’s Stoltenberg at Belgrade airport last night (N1)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived Monday evening in Serbia and was welcomed at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport by Serbian Government Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Milos Vucevic, N1 reports.

Stoltenberg met on Tuesday with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, following which the two officials held a joint press conference.

The NATO Secretary General is also scheduled to meet Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

Stoltenberg: We will continue to ensure peace for all in Kosovo; Vucic: Only Serbs are endangered (RTS, Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the NATO Secretary General (SG) Jens Stoltenberg in Belgrade today. Following the meeting, the two officials addressed a joint press conference, RTS reported.

NATO SG Stoltenberg said KFOR guarantees security for all communities in Kosovo, while Vucic said it is only Serbs who are endangered there. Vucic also said he will send a request to the Serbian Government to consider the decision on holding joint exercises with NATO again, adding that relations with the Alliance need to be advanced, but that Serbia will maintain its military neutrality.

Stoltenberg: Those responsible for crimes must be held accountable, KFOR is not enforcing the law

Asked if NATO will demand those who shot at Dragisa Galjak in Zvecan (on May 29 during the clashes in front of municipal facility) be arrested and held accountable, Stoltenberg said those responsible for crimes must be held accountable, but that KFOR is not the law enforcement body.

“Rest assured that every time you see a violation of the law, and when innocent people are murdered, those responsible must be held accountable for it”, he added.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that as far as Serbia is concerned, it will preserve the peace and stability and it does all it can to reach a compromise solution in the process of the dialogue.

“Let me be completely open with you, Mr. Stoltenberg, there is nothing about the Community of Serb Municipalities and it will not be established as long as Albin Kurti is in power. They will only look for excuses, once he will say he needs a signature, second time he will say he needs I do not know what (…)”, Vucic said.

He also said today’s meeting with NATO SG was very important and thanked the NATO SG for “always being able to take the phone and call him, to let him know what I think, to ask for support, to seek help, and we will have to advance our relations with NATO, to try to restore lost trust, but we will still jealousy preserve our military neutrality”, Vucic said.

“Those responsible for Banjska will be prosecuted by domestic bodies”

Speaking about events in Zvecan, Vucic said it all happened because elections were held in the north of Kosovo with three percent turnout and they declared the rule of imposed mayors as legitimate and legal.

“When Serbs opposed it, they brought their special police to clash with them and it caused this clash”, Vucic said.

As far as Banjska is concerned, it happened one year after “some deceived Serbia and signed a declaration in December 2021”.

“I am talking about representatives of the US and the EU that people who participated on barricades will not be persecuted and prosecuted, and then Albanian police officers moved, who have nothing to do in the north of Kosovo and Metohija as per the law and the Brussels agreement, same as members of Kosovo security forces who shot at Serbian children, carrying the Christmas tree, who should not even exist as per Resolution 1244”, Vucic said.

“We have the best possible communication with NATO, but we decide on our own where to deploy our army”

Speaking further about their meeting, Vucic said that they discussed all important topics for more than one hour and a half, adding that Serbia finds as important cooperation with NATO and KFOR.

Referring to provision of security by KFOR to all communities in Kosovo, Vucic said it is only the Serbs who are endangered there.

“Only Serbs are endangered, it is only them being attacked. Albanians were never attacked. Only Serbs, let me be clear, exclusively the Serbs were attacked, in 2001, 2004 and in particular after 2008 and in particular when Albin Kurti came to power”, Vucic said.

He added he told Stoltenberg that 13 percent of Serbs left the north of Kosovo in the last year because of enormous pressure, mistreatment and threats by the Pristina regime.

“We will try in the future to have the best possible communication with NATO. As far as the Army of Serbia is concerned, it carried out its tasks professionally, it never overstepped their rights, its authority, and always had correct relations with KFOR and NATO. But where and how in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and the laws of this country, not endangering anyone in any way, we deploy our army, it is our own thing”, Vucic said.

Stoltenberg in Pristina: Any deployment of KSF in the north of Kosovo requires consent from KFOR (Tanjug, media)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday in Pristina that any deployment of the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) in the north of Kosovo requires prior consent from KFOR, adding the Alliance expects timely consultations about any action of KSF or Kosovo police that could impact regional security, Tanjug news agency reports.

“Decades of hardly achieved peace must not be endangered”, he said in a joint press conference with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.

Stoltenberg also said that NATO strongly supports Belgrade-Pristina dialogue under EU’s auspices and called upon both parties to engage in good faith. He welcomed the latest proposal on establishing a Community of Serb Municipalities, noting it was a crucial step towards normalization of relations.

Speaking about meetings with Pristina top officials, Vjosa Osmani and Albin Kurti, Stoltenberg said they discussed the security situation in Kosovo.

“Good conversations with Vjosa Osmani and Albin Kurti about the security situation in Kosovo and in the region”, Stoltenberg wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

He noted that NATO will continue doing what is necessary to maintain a safe environment for all communities in Kosovo. “I thanked KFOR troops for their crucial role in preserving regional stability”, he added.

Media: Pristina wants to increase the KSF to five thousand people (NMagazin, Beta)

The Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) plan to increase the number of active members to almost 5,500 in the coming year, which is twice as much as the formation had when it was formed 15 years ago, reported NMagazin portal, citing the Balkan Security Network portal.

According to reports, the plan is to have 5,215 people in the KSF, while 264 people would be assigned to the relevant ministry.

"For Pristina, this is a big leap because originally, when the KSF was formed in 2008, a strict limit of 2,500 active members and up to 800 reservists was foreseen," the text of the Balkan Security Network reads.

Currently, according to the formation, there are 4,884 people in the ministry and in the KSF.

The portal states that this is a continuation of the trend of strengthening the KSF, and that it also applies to the domain of weapons, although at the time of its formation it was stipulated that only light assets could be used, that is, the KSF, cannot have tanks, heavy artillery, and combat aircraft.

However, this changed with the Law on KSF from 2018, when it was determined that ''the funds will be acquired needed to conduct the missions and tasks defined within the framework of the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo, i.e., the conventional definition of the armed forces''.

"This was followed by large purchases of weapons reliance on Turkey. Last year and this year, reconnaissance and combat drones Bajraktar TB-2, modern anti-armor guided missile systems OMTAS with a range of up to four kilometers and self-propelled mortars of caliber 120 millimeters AHS-120 Alkar on vehicles were delivered to Kosovo on Vuran vehicles," the text reads.

Cobra combat vehicles were also acquired, on which remote combat stations with machine guns or grenade launchers were installed.

"Allegedly, KSF will also receive 105-millimeter Boran howitzers and light portable anti-aircraft missile systems from Turkey," the text added, reported NMagazin.

Stoltenberg for Tanjug: Kosovo does not have the support of NATO to arm itself (Blic, Kosovo Online)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today that the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) do not have the support of NATO to arm themselves, and that the transition of the KSF in the army is not good, reported Blic daily, citing Tanjug.

Stoltenberg said this in an interview for Tanjug agency when asked why NATO allows the arming of the KSF and the purchase of drones and pointed out that NATO was against it, reported Blic.

When asked about the membership of Kosovo in the Alliance, Stoltenberg said that any decision on membership must be implemented by consensus of all NATO members.

- If some member states did not recognize Kosovo and therefore it represents a problem for the membership, but we believe that the only way to a peaceful solution and prosperity is to support dialogue with the mediation of the EU - said Stoltenberg.

"NATO increased its presence in the north of Kosovo four times"

Asked about the increase in the number of patrols in the north of Kosovo, the head of the NATO alliance said that NATO has increased its presence in the north four times.

- We added 1,000 soldiers, armored vehicles because we saw an increase in tensions and violence, when 93 KFOR soldiers were wounded, some of whom had serious injuries, and there was a serious incident on September 24. We are asking our commanders to assess whether we should have a longer-term presence, we are waiting for further recommendations before any further decisions - said Stoltenberg.

According to him, NATO is there to protect all the people living in Kosovo.

- Since we have noticed a lot of violence and instability, in the last few weeks we have increased the presence through an additional 1,000 soldiers to make sure that we protect even more the freedom of movement and the safety of all people in Kosovo - said Stoltenberg.

"KSF must be distinguished from the police"

When asked how he interprets the armed and deployed KSF in the north, Stoltenberg says they must distinguish "Kosovo security forces" from the police.

- In the agreement from 2013, it is clearly stated that Kosovo forces cannot be redeployed to the north of Kosovo, without the confirmation of the NATO commander and the Turkish general who currently leads the KFOR forces. But the police do not fall under that agreement, but we also expressed that we expect coordination and that KFOR be informed if there are over commands or when they are as such that they affect the security situation and cause insecurity - said Stoltenberg.

Speaking about the cooperation between NATO and Serbia, he pointed out that he would like to see deeper cooperation and a higher level of cooperation, which, he emphasizes, is beneficial for both sides, to promote stability in the region.

- I repeat, we have several joint peace programs, such as the exchange of technology, energy. All of this is very important for us, and brings us closer together. Serbia is on its Euro-Atlantic path, and we fully respect Serbia's neutrality and the fact that it does not want to join NATO. But due to future membership in the EU, it wants cooperation with NATO allies in order to join the EU faster. We will try to support it. As for President Vucic's message to establish joint exercises, it is an important step. And in parallel with that, we will see how we can have new partner programs that will cover different steps - said the first man of NATO, reported Blic.

"We have been cooperating with Serbia for years on the issue of peace"

When asked how he evaluates cooperation with Serbia in the context of the war in Ukraine, he said that since the beginning of the war, he has been in close contact with the Serbian authorities, primarily with President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

- These are important contacts that I value because Serbia is an important NATO partner and an important regional factor. We have been cooperating with Serbia on the issue of peace for years. For example, we collaborate on support through medical equipment and the like. We have important contacts, although we don't agree on everything, but that's normal. As for Ukraine, Serbia condemned Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine at the UN, as did the vast majority of other member states - Stoltenberg concluded.

Dimitrijevic: Pristina institutions should enable Serbs to vote at elections (Kosovo Online)

Chair of the Serbian Republic Election Commission (RIK) Vladimir Dimitrijevic said yesterday he hopes that institutions in Pristina, by respecting democratic postulates, would make a decision to enable Serbs in the territory of Kosovo to vote at upcoming Serbian elections, due on December 17, Kosovo Online portal reports.

He also said that voting at elections represents one of the basic human rights, adding that he expects responsible bodies to ensure the possibility of casting ballots in Kosovo as well through contacts with representatives of the international community there.

Andric Rakic on visa liberalization: In some companies, 50 percent of workers announced their departure (Kosovo Online)

Program manager of the non-governmental organization New Social Initiative from North Mitrovica, Milica Andric Rakic told Kosovo Online portal that she believes that the announced cancellation of visas for Kosovo citizens from January 2024 will deal a big blow to the labor market.

"Many professional associations from Kosovo are warning that an outflow of labor, both qualified and unqualified, can be expected. However, I have to say that this procedure in Germany has been greatly facilitated since November 1, when the law was changed according to which you can apply for a work visa even before you find a job. So, slightly stronger outflow probably already started then because the changes in the law essentially have almost the same effect as the visa liberalization," says Andric Rakic.

She adds that some companies are already warning that up to 50 percent of their workers have announced that they will leave in January.

"A certain outflow is definitely expected. It may not be clear at the moment exactly to what extent, but it will certainly be a big blow to the labor market in the first half of the year. Whether and how it will stabilize is the question. Kosovo has already started the practice of bringing workers from India, Bangladesh, Turkey..., so I assume that labor will be sought in those other countries," she says.

Our interlocutor believes that the effects of visa liberalization will also affect the Serbian community in Kosovo.

"Perhaps we will not have the same percentage of labor outflow as the Albanian community, but we will certainly feel the effects of visa liberalization. I hope that the effects will be felt most in terms of travel and tourist visas without abuse of the visa-free regime. But it remains to be seen. I think that in the Serbian community there is no relevant research on how many people are waiting for visa liberalization in order to move away. And again, in our community, people predominantly decide to move to Serbia. From the southern part, we may have more of these migrations abroad, here if people leave, they go to Serbia," says Andric Rakic.

The Church burgled in the Devet Jugovica village (N1, RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)

The Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Devet Jugovica near Pristina was broken into, and unknown persons took a small amount of money from it, priest Aleksandar Naspalic told RTS.

Priest Naspalic said that the vandals entered the church by breaking down the entrance door, ransacking it and took the money from the contributions to the church in the amount of several tens of euros.

Parish priest Naspalic from Babin Most, whose parish belongs to the church in Devet Jugovica, reported the attack to the police, who started an investigation, reported RTS.

The Church of the Ascension of the Lord was burgled five years ago, when 25 kilograms of wax candles were taken from it.

Of the 150 Serbian families that existed before the conflict in 1999, there are two left in Devet Jugovica, with less than a dozen members.

Jablanovic met Troccaz: The position of the Serbs is untenable since Kurti came to power (KiM radio)

The President of the Party of Kosovo Serbs, Aleksandar Jablanovic, met with the special envoy of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France for the Western Balkans, Mr. René Troccaz, reported KiM radio today, citing the PKS announcement.

Jablanovic, as stated in the announcement, emphasized that the position of the Serbs in Kosovo has become almost untenable since the "ultra-nationalist government of Albin Kurti" came to power.

"Persecution and arrests of Serbs are a daily occurrence that leads to a mass exodus of Serbs from these areas," said Jablanovic.

Peace and security for the Serbian people are a top priority around which there are no negotiations or compromises, which was also agreed by special envoy Troccaz, reported KiM radio, citing the announcement from this party.

"It was pointed out that Pristina is deliberately economically restricting and destroying the environment where the Serbs are the majority, and that the Government from Pristina does not see Serbs as equal citizens," the statement read.

The PKS states that ''the envoy Troccaz expressed the view that police checkpoints that limit and hinder the movement of citizens have no future and should be removed''.

The two interlocutors agreed that the respect of the agreements reached as well as the urgent elections for mayors with the participation of the majority Serbian people in the north are the only real way out, and that the administrative instruction of the Government of Kosovo is not a solution that speeds up this process.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of France in Pristina, Olivier Guerot.

Office for KiM: Incidents on ground in direct correlation with inflammatory statements of Pristina politicians (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija reacting to the burglary of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Devet Jugovica, near Pristina said that frequented attacks on the Serbian people, their properties and that of the Serbian Orthodox Church increase the tensions and cause disturbance among the Serbs in Kosovo, who fear for their survival, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Recalling that the same church was targeted also before, same as many other Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo, the Office said this fact “depicts a sadful image of religious intolerance towards Serbs and Serbian Orthodox Church by Albanian extremists”.

They also assessed that all those incidents targeting the Serbs are in direct correlation with inflammatory statements of Pristina politicians.

Koha: Certain NGOs in Kosovo requested to withdraw the proposal on the passports of the coordination administration of the MIA of Serbia be included in the visa liberalization (KoSSev)

Certain civil society organizations wrote to the European Commission about the proposal to include the passports of the Coordinating Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia in visa liberalization, reported KoSSev portal, citing Koha.

In a letter addressed to European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and other EU officials, as reported by Koha, 21 civil society organization requested that this proposal be withdrawn.

The signatories of this letter are: Kosovo Foundation for Civil Society, Group for Legal and Political Studies, Kosovo Institute for European Policy, Kosovo Law Institute, DokuFest, COHU, Institute for Development Policy, Kosovo Institute for Democracy, Kosovo Center for Gender Studies, Pristina Institute for Political Studies, FOL Movement, Democracy Plus, Kosovo Women's Network, Kosovo Initiative for Stability, GAP Institute, Democracy for Development, Initiative for Progress, Kosovo Center for Security Studies, Community Development Fund, Education Quality Improvement Organization and Germin, reported portal KoSSev.

International

Serbia Deployed Anti-Aircraft Systems Near Kosovo Border, Kosovo PM Warns (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that Serbia has deployed anti-aircraft systems near the border with Kosovo, posing a threat to the country’s security.

Despite international pressure, Kurti added that Serbia has not fully withdrawn all troops and artillery from the vicinity of Kosovo’s territory.

“Serbia continues to threaten the security of the Republic of Kosovo with the forward operating bases of the Armed Forces of Serbia along the border with our country,” Kurti wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

Kurti’s statement comes a day before the scheduled visit to Kosovo by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

NATO’s head is expected to meet with President Vjosa Osmani and PM Albin Kurti in Prishtina on Monday.

The Kosovar PM also announced a rally in Serbia on November 10, led by the perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Banjska, north of Kosovo, on September 24, Milan Radoicic.

Kurti has warned about the preparation of other possible attacks in Kosovo by Radoicic’s group.

“In Raska, Serbia, the paramilitary and terrorist reorganization of Milan Radoicic and his group, with the instructions and support of the Serbian state, is taking place. On Friday, November 10, he led a meeting with about 40 Serbian politicians and officials of illegal municipalities from Kosovo,” said Kurti.

The terrorist attack operation on Kosovo Police was led by the former deputy leader of the Serbian List party, Milan Radoicic.