• COVID-19: 12 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Association of Serb municipalities after parallel structures are dissolved (Koha)
• Kosovo leaders commemorate 26th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide (media)
• Borrell, Varhelyi statement on Srebrenica genocide anniversary (media)
• Gervalla: EU should not be blamed for our mistakes (media)
• Tanin: Kosovo to ensure an enabling environment for all returnees (media)
• President Osmani requests support from EULEX, experts urge caution (Koha)
• Kadri Veseli released to visit family following father's passing (media)
• Op-ed: Kurti’s momentous opportunity to transform Kosovo (The Jerusalem Post)

COVID-19: 12 new cases, no deaths (media)

12 new cases of COVID-19 and zero deaths have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 13 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 133 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo. 919 vaccine doses have been administered in the last 24 hours. To date, 253,858 vaccines have been administered in Kosovo.

Association of Serb municipalities after parallel structures are dissolved (Koha)

The Kosovo Government said on Sunday that it will consider the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities only after all Serbian parallel structures in Kosovo are dissolved. Representatives from the office of Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi told the news website that they will consider the issue of the Association seriously only after Serbia dissolved its parallel structures in Kosovo.

Kosovo leaders commemorate 26th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide (media)

Kosovo's leaders honored thousands of victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Europe’s only acknowledged genocide since World War II.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the foundation for peace and equality between nations in the Balkans is punishment of perpetrators. "It is unimaginable how, even in 21st century, there are politicians in our region who say that those that seek punishment of perpetrators of genocide are against dialogue and against good neighbourly relations." Kurti said the Srebrenica genocide has also been condemned by Kosovo through a recently adopted resolution which calls on all countries in the region to make extra efforts to bring to justice all those responsible for planning and carrying out this gruesome crime.

President Vjosa Osmani said that no one knows the pain of Srebrenica better than Kosovo. "Srebrenica is our fresh memory and lesson that unpunished crimes lay the basis for them to be repeated." Recalling that the Assembly of Kosovo days ago adopted resolution condemning genocide in Srebrenica, Osmani added: "There is only one truth: A genocide was perpetrated in Srebrenica. This should be recognised by all, this should be stated by all, this should be remembered forever!"

Kosovo Assembly President Glauk Konjufca said that international courts qualified this Serbian atrocity with its real name – genocide – and the European Parliament declared July 11 a day of remembrance for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. “The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo too has adopted a resolution condemning the Srebrenica genocide against the Bosniak people,” Konjfuca wrote in a post on Facebook. He also recalled a speech by now Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who at the time was Minister of Information in Slobodan Milosevic’s regime. “But evil still lives while in Srebrenica, as well as all over Kosovo, many graves remain open, awaiting the bodies of those who went violently missing. Serbia still does not admit and has not been punished for the genocide in Srebrenica and in Kosovo. Thousands of Serbian war criminals have yet to face justice. Serbia today is led by a President who at the time was a minister for chief criminal Milosevic. He pledged that ‘we will kill 100 Bosniaks for every killed Serb’,” Konjufca wrote.

Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, said on Twitter: "We share the grief with all the families of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. Kosovo will never forget the victims of the Serb aggression and genocide. As the Kosovo parliament requests in its Srebrenica resolution, all those responsible must be brought to justice."

Kosovo's Minister of Defence Armend Mehaj, who was part of the Kosovo Government's delegation that attended the commemoration event of Srebrenica massacre, said that war crimes do not get old and that punishment of perpetrators is the only way to prevent bloodshed in the future.

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi said that what happened in Srebrenica 26 years ago is one of the most gruesome crimes known to modern civilisation. "Today we should not only remember Srebrenica victims but also confront whoever tries to alter history and deny crimes of Serb chauvinism."

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said: "The people of Kosovo, who were also victims of the same state terror, best understands the pain, experiences and sufferings of the Bosniak people and sympathizes with them."

Prizren Mayor Mytaher Haskuka said on Sunday on the 26th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide that those who committed the crimes are not apologizing and that there is a risk of the crimes happening again. “When a crime happens and there is no apology or responsibility, it happens again. This is why Srebrenica was repeated in many places, including many cities and villages in Kosovo … The problem is that Belgrade is not apologizing for what it did, on the contrary, it is continuing with the same policies, by wanting to do in Kosovo what it did in Bosnia, to create the Association. We need to remember Srebrenica and never forget it. We can forgive only when those who committed the crimes apologise. In Srebrenica and in Kosovo, those that committed crimes are not apologizing but are seeking more rights … Criminals must apologise and until they do we fear that such events will happen in the future too,” Haskuka said.

Borrell, Varhelyi statement on Srebrenica genocide anniversary (media)

EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi issued the following statement on Sunday on the 26^th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide:

As we commemorate its 26^thanniversary, it is our shared duty to forever remember the genocide in Srebrenica. On Sunday, 19 more victims will be laid to rest. We honour their memory, and of all victims and those still missing. We share the grief of their families and of those who survived, whose lives have been impacted forever.

Europe has also not forgotten its own responsibility for not being able to prevent the Srebrenica genocide, one of the worst crimes in Europe’s modern history.

Srebrenica painfully reminds us all of the need to stand up firmly and decisively for peace, human dignity and all the values which underpin our Union. Serving justice and building a better society are the best ways of remembering those who were systematically and deliberately murdered. This is a necessary step to work for a better common future for all Europeans.

There can be no impunity. Genocide is genocide, be it in Srebrenica or elsewhere. International courts, domestic courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the neighbouring countries need to continue providing justice for all victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, as well as for their family members. Peace can only be built upon justice.

Political leaders in the Western Balkans have to lead by example in acknowledging what happened, honouring the victims and genuinely promoting reconciliation by confronting the roots of hatred that led to the genocide. There is no place in Europe for genocide denial, revisionism and glorification of war criminals, which contradict the most fundamental European values. Attempts to rewrite history are unacceptable.

From its very beginning, the European Union has been a project aimed at overcoming the tragedies of the past. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future lies in this common project. We remain strongly committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in establishing a society anchored in pluralism, justice and human dignity and to build a future together in which conflicts and atrocities are no longer conceivable.

Gervalla: EU should not be blamed for our mistakes (media)

Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, said in her remarks at the Dubrovnik Forum that the Western Balkans countries should focus more on what they need to do to become members of the European Union and speak less of what the EU does. “With all difficulties and challenges, it should be concluded that the EU has offered to us the best it has – membership perspective in the most successful project of European history.”

 Gervalla-Schwarz said the EU should not be blamed for “our mistakes” and “no one should deceive oneself by saying or thinking they can join (the EU) without doing our work.”

Kosovo’s minister also voiced opposition to the Mini-Schengen initiative which she said is in conflict to EU’s founding principles. “The Mini-Schengen catapults us to old, bad times where one party tried to dominate all the others.”

Tanin: Kosovo to ensure an enabling environment for all returnees (media)

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, Zahir Tanin, recalled the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of all returnees and facilitating their sustainable return and reintegration into local communities in light of recent developments related to the unresolved situation of the Kosovo-Serb returnee in Gjakova.

SRSG Tanin called on central and local institutions, in cooperation with civil society and local communities, to provide an enabling environment for all returnees. “Facilitating the safe, dignified, and sustainable return and reintegration of all returnees is essential to ensuring Kosovo’s future as a democratic, multi-ethnic society founded upon human rights and the rule of law, and is vital to advancing broader inter-community trust building and reconciliation efforts”, SRSG Tanin said.

President Osmani requests support from EULEX, experts urge caution (Koha)

Koha reported that President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has requested expertise, advisory services and financial assistance from the European Union institutions, including the rule of law mission (EULEX) and while Osmani's office did not provide additional information as to the reasons behind such requests, EULEX has welcomed the call and said it will work in fulfilling them.

In a letter to the EU High Representative Josep Borrell regarding the extension of EULEX's mandate, Osmani requested assistance from the EU on justice-related issues, as such needs may arise but experts say Kosovo institutions should be cautious on requests made to EULEX. "It would be a setback for the Republic of Kosovo, the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, through which they prove that the justice institutions, the Republic of Kosovo, cannot do anything on its own, but always needs someone's help," said Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Law Institute.

Kadri Veseli released to visit family following father's passing (media)

Kosovo Specialist Chambers have allowed the former leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Kadri Veseli, who is awaiting trial for war crimes at The Hague, to visit his family following the death of his father.

Media reported that Veseli was allowed to stay with his close family for a couple of hours before being escorted back by EULEX and Kosovo Police members. 

Op-ed: Kurti’s momentous opportunity to transform Kosovo (The Jerusalem Post)

Alon Ben-Meir, professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. writes: Kosovo’s PM stands an excellent chance to make country a model of progressive democracy, advanced economy, and social equality that no other Balkan state can rival. Will he and what would it take?

"For Kurti to succeed where his predecessors have failed, he must focus on what is ailing his country while demonstrating his willingness to have a continuing dialogue with Serbia as long as such a dialogue does not compromise in any way Kosovo’s independence."

Ben-Meir argues that Kurti will need to tackle a number of domestic problems to help Kosovo stand on its feet and enhance chances to integrate into the EU with corruption, human rights, economic development, democratisation, and relations with Serbia being among the most pressing ones.

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