Albanian Language Media:

• Blinken to attend NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels (media)
• Stoltenberg: Proposal for Association, important step for constructive dialogue (Reporteri)
• KSF Day, Kurti and Osmani visit the "Adem Jashari" barracks (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo Army continues to be most trusted institution (media)
• Biserko: Banjska showed that potential for conflict is huge (media)
• Romanian chief diplomat meets Lajcak, supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)
• Opposition unites against the Draft Law on the Sovereign Fund (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Re-registration: Does the silence of the authorities in Belgrade mean agreeing to Pristina's conditions (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Zarko Ristic: Peace comes where law and order are respected (Slobodno srpski, KiM radio)
• Gogic: Kurti would rather go for new elections than accept CMS (Kosovo Online)
• Deadline for submitting lists for parliamentary elections in Serbia expired (KiM radio)
• Unplanned electricity restrictions continue in returnee villages in Istok municipality (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: There are three candidates for new Security Information Agency chief (Tanjug, Pink TV)
• Dacic thanks Belarusian ambassador for support for Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serb Ex-Policeman Denies Kosovo War Crime Charges (Balkan Insight)
• Rita Ora celebrated her birthday in Kosovo (AFP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Osmani: Let us raise our voice against gender-based violence (RTK)
• BIRN Study Reveals Kosovo’s Inability to Combat Disinformation (Prishtina Insight)

 

 

Albanian Language Media  

 

Blinken to attend NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels (media)

The U.S. State Department said in a press release that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Brussels, Belgium November 27-29, 2023 to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting, including the first foreign ministers meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.  Secretary Blinken will highlight NATO’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, emphasize our support for democracy and regional stability in the Western Balkans, and discuss priorities for the Washington Summit in July 2024.

Stoltenberg: Proposal for Association, important step for constructive dialogue (Reporteri)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke today in a press conference before the meeting of the Foreign Ministers also about the last visit he had to Pristina and Belgrade, emphasizing that NATO will do what is necessary to create stability.

"I visited Kosovo and Serbia. My message is that NATO will do what is necessary to create stability in this region. It is important for NATO, we have history there. We have just increased our presence in Kosovo by adding additional troops. We have seen serious violence in the north of Kosovo, divisive and separatist rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and malignant attempts to intervene, including from Russia,” Stoltenberg told reporters.

"Together with the High Representative of the EU (Josep Borrell) we will discuss ways to increase stability in the region. NATO has already added 1000 (one thousand) troops to Kosovo. And we are examining a more stable presence in Kosovo", he added.

He also spoke about the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority, which he reiterated is an important step to move forward in a constructive dialogue.

"We also call on Pristina and Belgrade to engage in dialogue trusted and facilitated by the EU. And I also believe that the proposal for the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority can be an important step for moving the dialogue forward in a more constructive direction. My message again for Pristina and Belgrade is that both sides refrain from inciting rhetoric and certainly not take any action that could further increase tensions in the region", Stoltenberg said.

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of NATO member countries will be held from November 27 to 29 in Brussels, and the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will also be part of this meeting.

KSF Day, Kurti and Osmani visit the "Adem Jashari" barracks (media)

Today marks the "Day of the Force" of the Kosovo Security Force. On this occasion, the KSF opened the doors of all barracks to be visited by citizens.

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and the Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani have also visited the "Adem Jashari" barracks.

"Today is the day of the KSF, it is a day of pride not only for the soldiers of our army, but also for every citizen, a day when we remember the day of the great sacrifice of our people to come to this day for which a lot of blood has been shed so that Kosovo has its own army. I am convinced that every soldier wears his uniform with pride, that's why he is ready to give his life for the country if necessary. Today, the KSF is a force trained according to the highest standards of NATO, a force which contributes not only to peace in the region, but also beyond. Serving alongside the American, British and other allied armies in different countries of the world, thus proving that the KSF is ready to join NATO. As the Supreme Commander, it is seen in the world that the successes of this army are admired", Osmani said.

The barracks have been visited by many citizens today as well.

Haradinaj: Kosovo Army continues to be most trusted institution (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, said in a Facebook post today that “the Kosovo Army continues to be the most trusted institution of Kosovo” and that its membership in NATO is very important. “Today, on the Day of the Force, we highlight how important Kosovo’s membership in NATO is for security in Kosovo and the region, and peace in the world. The open doors at the Kosovo Security Force today enable people to learn about military life, the successes of some of the best girls and boys of the country, who are committed and determined to protect the freedom that was won with sacrifice and also of peace,” Haradinaj said.

Biserko: Banjska showed that potential for conflict is huge (media)

Most news websites cover an interview that Sonja Biserko, founder and president of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, gave to the Geopost highlighting her remarks that the September 24 attack in Banjska in the north of Kosovo showed that the potential for conflict is huge. 

Biserko said she believes that Kosovo is a point beyond which the West will not tolerate any activities by Serbia or Russia. “It is not only a question of Serbia and the ‘Serbian world’, but it is a question of the intertwining of at least two interests – Russian and Serbian – that is, American and European”.

Read full interview at: https://tinyurl.com/37fy5zjp

Romanian chief diplomat meets Lajcak, supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)

Romanian chief diplomat Luminita Odobescu met in Bucharest with the EU special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak. She announced the news of this meeting through a post on the X platform.

"Good exchange on recent developments in the Western Balkans. I reiterated Romania's full support for his efforts to advance the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, which is essential for the security and stability of the Western Balkans," she wrote.

Romania is among the five European countries that do not recognize Kosovo's independence.

​“Thank you Luminita Odobes for an important and useful discussion about the state of play in the Dialogue, as well as regional dynamics. Grateful for Romania’s active engagement in the Western Balkans,” Lajcak wrote. 

Opposition unites against the Draft Law on the Sovereign Fund (media)

This Thursday, in the second session of the Assembly of Kosovo, the second reading of the Draft Law on the Sovereign Fund will be voted on. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has warned that it will send it to the Constitutional Court if it is voted on. This was announced by the Head of the PDK Parliamentary Group, Abelard Tahiri, who described it as a useless structure based on the economy of Kosovo.

"We as the PDK P G have opposed this draft law because we consider that within the economic structure of our country and within our constitutional order it is impossible to establish such a structure. On the other hand, regarding the benefits from this structure, we consider that it is only a bureaucratic structure within the decision-making framework related to economic issues, public enterprises, and the Kosovo Privatization Agency. We consider that it is a useless structure", he said.

"If it passes, we as the Parliamentary Group of the PDK will send it to the Constitutional Court and we are convinced that this structure has only one form that can be built, only with constitutional changes", said the head of the GP of the PDK.

AAK is also against this draft law. The head of the parliamentary group of AAK, Besnik Tahiri said that it damages the functioning of the economy in the country.

"It is a law that essentially damages the functioning of any economic logic in this country", he said.

On the other hand, from LDK, MP Avdullah Hoti has said the Sovereign Fund damages competition, private investments, public enterprises and the state budget.

"All analyzes estimate that free competition will be damaged, and uncertainty will be created for the state budget. In each of its articles, the Law on the Sovereign Fund and the related concept document are based on the economic ideology that is opposite to economic liberalism", Hoti wrote two days ago.

 

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Re-registration: Does the silence of the authorities in Belgrade mean agreeing to Pristina's conditions (KiM radio, KoSSev)

Serbs from the north of Kosovo will be able to drive cars with plates of cities in Kosovo issued by Serbia only for seven days more, when the deadline given by Kosovo Government for the re-registration of vehicles expires on December 1st, recalls KiM radio and adds that because of this, the residents of the north feel betrayed. They say that no one from the authorities is speaking to them now, and in that silence, they see nothing but Belgrade's tacit agreement to Pristina's conditions.

They erected barricades due to the change of the license plates, organized rallies, left Kosovo institutions and time was bought. But the trade is over - from December 1, as it seems for now, Serbs from the north will have to replace Serbian license plates with Kosovo ones. After years of struggle, this, they say, is defeat and humiliation, wrote KiM radio.

"Depressed and betrayed, I was forced to give up one of the last symbols of Serbian statehood, these plates," says Sinisa Antovic, a resident of northern Kosovo.

He blames one man for betrayal.

"If we assume that Vuk Brankovic is synonymous with the betrayal of the Serbs, then I will paraphrase the late Ljuba Moljac and say that Vuk Brankovic cannot be even the second in line of escort for Aleksandar Vucic," Antovic added in a post on social networks.

And while they are still loyally standing by the symbols of Serbian statehood, they are also asking themselves in the Serbian National Council (SNV) if there is anyone in the country who will stand by them.

"Everyone has hidden, everyone is in a mouse hole," says Momcilo Trajkovic from the SNV. 

"Everything that comes to light as a defeat, an obvious defeat of Aleksandar Vucic's disastrous policy, should be hidden and that is the only reason why we do not hear from him or the Government, and especially the representatives of the so-called Serbian List," believes Slavisa Ristic from SNV.

"Vucic is nowhere to be found, and he was thunderous in his statements," points out Trajkovic.

And he was. A year ago, when in October 2022 he repeated in front of journalists:

"There is no surrender, I will repeat once more - there is no surrender, KM remains," writes KiM radio.

"Pounding on the patriotic chest; and on the other side under the grain, in the dark, the obvious surrender of both Kosovo and Metohija and the people who live there," says Ristic.

"And today he is gone, he is not there to tell the people what to do, we are simply left to ourselves," says Trajkovic.

He is not here, because he had other guests from Kosovo at the other end - students and teachers. Such expectations could not be heard from them, only a note of thanks for the hospitality. An example is the visit of students from Kosovo to President Vucic, when one of them presented him with a book.

"As well as the constant support you provide to the people of Kosovo and Metohija, I would hand you this book," said the student from Kosovo on that occasion.

After the presentation of gifts and a joint photo, the president also mentioned the vehicle plates. But, he says, they are not such a big problem now.

"The key is whether we will let them into the United Nations or not," said Vucic. 

And while the president assures that we really won't do this, the Serbian National Council tells him: "After this, Vucic should bow his head, I recommend him to leave and leave these people alone."

Zarko Ristic: Peace comes where law and order are respected (Slobodno srpski, KiM radio)

The director of the National Movement of Serbia, Zarko Ristic, said in the 450th show of Slobodno srpski (Free in Serbian) that from January 1, when visa liberalization comes into effect, many young people will most likely leave Kosovo, which, according to him, is expected, reported KiM radio.

"Everyone is looking for a better life. Where there is peace and well-being, everyone goes there, it has always been like that. Peace comes where law and order is respected, and prosperity where there is a guarantee of property and everything".

He considers official Belgrade to be largely responsible for thousands of Serbian families leaving Kosovo in recent years.

"If there was the will and desire of any government, if someone had the desire for that people to survive here, things would have been completely different. Young people would be given the opportunity to get a job here, to get a proper education, to stay and raise a family here. It simply did not happen, but various pressures and threats and various blackmails took place. The people realized that they could not bear it, they were looking for their own comfort and slowly left the territory of Kosovo".

Commenting on the almost daily tensions between Belgrade and Pristina, Ristic believes that it is the synchronized actions of Aleksandar Vucic and Albin Kurti to stay in power.

"Their only goal is power. In every peace and prosperity, the people start to think normally and then they can choose their government. And them, they always need tension, and they create tension in sync, on purpose…’’

Ristic assessed that the fact that the upcoming Serbian parliamentary elections will not be held on the territory of Kosovo represents the "fall of the state" (Serbia) and "mistreatment of the people".

Gogic: Kurti would rather go for new elections than accept CMS (Kosovo Online)

Political analyst Ognjen Gogic said yesterday Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti would rather go for snap parliamentary elections than to accept Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM), adding that he “holds in his hands” other mechanisms he can use to prevent its establishment, Kosovo Online portal reports.  

Whatever option Kurti chooses, be it new elections or some of “his mechanisms” there is nothing from CSO.

According to Gogic, if new elections were called, Kurti could receive additional supporters as he would present himself as “a victim” leaving the prime minister’s post because of the pressure from the West to accept CSO.

He also opined that in order to obstruct establishment of CSM, before calling parliamentary elections, Pristina could send the draft statute to the Constitutional Court. After that, the next contesting part could be the issue of elections, but in the north of Kosovo. He noted CSM can not be established before new elections are held in the north, both mayoral and municipal ones.

Speaking of how campaigning in the case of extraordinary parliamentary elections could be, Gogic said that Kurti could tell his voters that he is leaving the prime minister’s post because he does not want to establish a Community of Serb Municipalities. This in turn would make all other political parties in Pristina to justify themselves that they are not the ones wishing to establish the CSM either.

“He would bring in a situation, PDK, LDK and other parties that are taking part in elections under the pretext that they are candidates to establish CSM which would be a very unfavorable situation for them, and that would probably reflect on their electoral results”, Gogic said.

“In any case there is nothing from CSM, because Pristina is not going to be ready in no time to undertake steps on its establishment”, Gogic concluded. 

Deadline for submitting lists for parliamentary elections in Serbia expired (KiM radio)

The deadline for submitting election lists of parties, coalitions and minority lists for participation in the parliamentary elections to be held on December 17 expired at midnight, and the Republic Election Commission (REC) decided to designate 81 polling stations for voting in parliamentary elections abroad, reported KiM radio. 

REC President Vladimir Dimitrijevic said, at the Commission's session on Sunday evening, that they had received a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, which suggested that 81 polling stations abroad be designated for the elections on December 17, "which is a record number compared to some previous election cycles".

13 electoral lists have been submitted so far for the parliamentary elections, with the fact that the Republican Electoral Commission ordered the coalition "Albanian Democratic Alternative - United Valley" to eliminate within 48 hours the deficiency of its electoral list by submitting at least 739 legally valid declarations of voters, who support that electoral list, certified no later than November 26

As it was said, along with the election, 4,261 legally valid statements of voters supporting that coalition were submitted to the list, and 5,000 signatures are needed for the list to participate in the elections.

So far, the electoral lists have been submitted by the coalition around the Serbian Progressive Party, the Socialist Party of Serbia, the Serbian Radical Party, the coalition of the Dveri and Zavetnici parties, the NADA coalition, and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians

The coalition "Serbia against violence", the minority list of the Party of Justice and Reconciliation and the Democratic Union of Croats will also be on the ballot, while under number nine will be the election list of the Party of Democratic Action Sandzak.

The Electoral Commission announced the list of the Coalition for Peace and Tolerance, the People's Party, as well as the coalition 'Dosta je bilo' (Enough is enough) and the Social Democratic Party, while the list of Albanians from the Presevo valley has additional time to correct deficiencies.

Unplanned electricity restrictions continue in returnee villages in Istok municipality (Radio KIM)

Radio KIM wrote on Sunday that returnee villages in Istok municipality, Osojane, Kos, Zac, Saljinovica, Suvi Lukavac and Tucep were without electricity since the night before.

Although there were no heavy weather conditions in this area, the electricity went off the night before around 22.00. Radio KIM added that KEDS officials did not respond to the calls of residents and they were not aware of the reasons for the electricity outage and when supply will be restored.

Residents in those returnee villages over the last month almost on a daily basis face electricity outages. They said despite their appeals and pleas, the issue with electricity has not been resolved, adding they have the feeling this is about a sort of psychological and physical pressure to force them out of their villages. Radio KIM recalled that over the previous period it reported on several occasions about problems with electricity supply in Osojane village.

Vucic: There are three candidates for new Security Information Agency chief (Tanjug, Pink TV)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday evening there were three candidates for the new Security Information Agency director and announced that the agency's next chief would be named after the upcoming parliamentary elections, Tanjug news agency reports.

In an appearance on Pink TV, Vucic dismissed as untrue reports by some media outlets that Zlatibor Loncar had been appointed the agency's director.

"First of all, someone from that institution will definitely be appointed to lead the Security Information Agency after the elections in the period until the appointment of someone new, and Mr Loncar is not a Security Information Agency employee. We will see who that will be, there are three proposals, and this is also being discussed with (the agency's former chief) Mr Aleksandar Vulin, among others", Vucic said.

Dacic thanks Belarusian ambassador for support for Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic received on Monday a farewell visit from Belarusian Ambassador Valery Anatolyevich Brilev, who has been serving in Belgrade since 2017, reported Tanjug.

Dacic thanked Brilev for his great contribution to development of bilateral relations between the two countries during his two ambassadorial terms in Serbia, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

Dacic reiterated Serbia's gratitude to Belarus for consistently supporting its territorial integrity and sovereignty and also informed the ambassador of current developments.

 

 

 

International 

 

Serb Ex-Policeman Denies Kosovo War Crime Charges (Balkan Insight)

Zlatan Arsic, a former Serbian policeman charged with beating and torturing a Kosovo Albanian civilian during the 1999 war, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday.

Zlatan Arsic, a former member of Serbia’s Police, pleaded not guilty on Friday at Pristina Basic Court to war crime charges. “I feel myself not guilty of all charges. I am not guilty,” Arsic said.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yc88vxer

Rita Ora celebrated her birthday in Kosovo (AFP)

Pristina-born British pop star Rita Ora arrived in Kosovo on Sunday to celebrate her birthday, paying respect to her homeland from where the 33-year-old fled as a baby.

Immediately after getting off from a plane, Ora touched the ground and moved her hand towards her heart while wearing a big smile, a video published by Pristina mayor Perparim Rama showed.

The singer's family -- who are ethnic Albanian -- left Kosovo in 1991 to escape the repression imposed by Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic after he stripped the former province of its autonomy.

In 1998, war broke out between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian rebels and Serbian troops that left 13,000 people dead, most of them Albanians. Belgrade withdrew its forces the following year after a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia, and Kosovo declared independence in 2008.

After arriving in Pristina, Ora also met with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and said that the "trip and this meeting made me so excited about the future".

"This is an incredible way to spend my birthday. I’m 33 today and I think we have done such inspiring work so far," Ora said in a video Kurti posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yc4j9jd2

 

 

 

Humanitarian/Development

 

Osmani: Let us raise our voice against gender-based violence (RTK)

The "Days of Activism against gender-based violence" campaign has started today. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, the Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu and the Minister of Education, Arberie Nagavci, participated in the opening of this campaign, and placed hand signs in color on the "They are us" banner.

"Today we are starting the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. We are here to once again raise our voice against gender-based violence and to say that this activation against this extremely harmful phenomenon for our society should be every day of the year and not only now", Osmani said.

During these 16 days full of activities, she said that it is intended to raise awareness against gender-based violence, domestic violence, violence against women in general and violence against girls in any environment.

Osmani further said that they are working to toughen the punishments for those who commit violence.

"In Kosovo, there have been numerous cases of gender-based violence, and together with the Minister of Justice, we have worked this year not only to toughen the punishments for those who commit these terrible criminal acts, but at the same time to work together with all institutions in order to prevent this crime. Not punishment only after the crime has occurred", said Osmani, calling on girls and women to raise their voices against violence.

BIRN Study Reveals Kosovo’s Inability to Combat Disinformation (Prishtina Insight)

​A stark deficiency in Kosovo's institutional capacity to confront the rising tide of disinformation has been laid bare by a recent investigation conducted by BIRN Kosovo.

A recent investigation by BIRN Kosovo has uncovered the extensive web of disinformation ensnaring Kosovo. 

The study sheds light on a disconcerting landscape where misleading narratives, fueled by foreign influences, not only strain relations between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs but also erode trust in NATO and EU integration efforts.

The study underscored a glaring lack of capacity within Kosovo’s institutions to effectively tackle the issue of disinformation. Judicial bodies, in particular, have proven inadequate in handling such cases, with the absence of specialised departments dedicated to combating disinformation, as outlined in the report.

“The report is the first of its kind in Kosovo that draws the map of where the lies are coming from exactly by identifying the media (social and mainstream media) complicit in spreading disinformation in 345 footnotes and over 100 pages” said Jeta Xharra, editor of this report and director of BIRN Kosovo.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/ydhrc54u