UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 18, 2021

The proactive role of the U.S. will depend on Kosovo's readiness to seek it (Koha)
Serbian List boycott of institutions, as blackmail for the Association (RFE Albanian)
Bugajski: Serbia is using the issue of the Association to obstruct the dialogue (RTK)
Krasniqi: Kurti to assume his responsibility for dialogue with Serbia, and its conclusion (Klan)
Konjufca: The governing coalition is stable (T7)
Zeya: Kosovo and Serbia invited to the summit as a reflection of inclusiveness (media)
EU to assist Kosovo in fighting crime (media)
Soaring Prices Leave Kosovo’s Poorest on the Brink (Prishtina Insight)
Italian Police Arrest Kosovo Woman, ‘Fervent IS Supporter’ (Balkan Insight)
Another 2 murals of Serbian Army Generals show up in Belgrade (euronews.al)
COVID-19: 17 new cases, no deaths (media)

The proactive role of the U.S. will depend on Kosovo's readiness to seek it (Koha)

The gap created in the U.S. diplomacy as a result of non-appointment of the majority of ambassadors may weaken the proactive role of the country in the Balkans, particularly regarding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Koha Ditore reports on the front page. It adds that the U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated 78 ambassadors but that only seven of them have so far been formally appointed. Ambassadors for Kosovo and Serbia, Jeffrey M. Hovenier and Chris Hill respectively, are still waiting for their confirmation.

Political analyst Agon Maliqi considers the absence of new ambassadors 'problematic' but notes that the current U.S. administration has not lost focus of the region. "In general, the [U.S.] foreign policy has been put in the second place because the Biden administration in the first year was more focused on internal issues like economic recovery. In the Balkans, there are certain fundamental policy frameworks which are a continuation of the past administration but to which some elements have been added showing that the ground for a more serious engagement is being laid out." He added however that the involvement of the U.S. in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue will largely depend on whether Kosovo will be ready to specify its requests and be more cooperative in elaborating a common strategy.

At the same time, Drilon Gashi a U.S.-based civil society activist, said the U.S. has demonstrated increased interest for the region by nominating seasoned ambassadors to Kosovo and Serbia. "However, apart from ambassadors, I believe that the main focus should now be on making sure that the American policy towards the region, to be supportive towards Kosovo, supportive to democracies and territorial integrity in the region. I believe this requires more efforts."

Serbian List boycott of institutions, as blackmail for the Association (RFE Albanian)

Any blackmail and boycott of Kosovo institutions by the representatives of the Serbian List, should be seen as an instruction coming from official Belgrade, say experts on political developments, Artan Muhaxhiri and Ognjen Gogic.

According to them, the Serbian List, which represents the Kosovo Serb community in central level institutions, the Assembly and the Government, and has power in the ten Serb-majority municipalities, was established and supported by official Belgrade, from which it receives instructions for the actions it takes.

The Serbian List has boycotted the last three meetings of the presidency of the Assembly of Kosovo, disabling the necessary quorum to decide on the appointment of the next session. This was stated by the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo Glauk Konjufca on Tuesday, November 16, when the Serbian List boycotted the work of the presidency for the last time.

"I think that the Serbian List is deliberately and continuously boycotting the presidency of the Assembly of Kosovo. This is unacceptable to us. We do not accept any blackmail in the presidency of the Assembly of Kosovo," Konjufca said in a press conference.

Muhaxhiri: Indications for boycott of institutions from the Serbian List

On October 17, when the Serbian List from North Mitrovica declared victory in local elections in Serb-majority municipalities, the chairman of this political entity, Goran Rakic, declared that the party's struggle was focused on forming the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

"If there is no Association, there will be no Kosovo institutions," Rakic said, adding that this would happen if talks on the Association did not begin by November.

Radio Free Europe has made efforts to contact Slavko Simic, but also other Serbian List officials to ask if their October threat to leave Kosovo's institutions is being realized, but they have not been accessible.

The expert on political developments, Artan Muhaxhiri, told Radio Free Europe that the actions of the representatives of the Serbian List, initially in the presidency of the Assembly, are signals that the Serbian List has begun to pursue boycott policies towards Kosovo institutions. But, according to him, the actions of the Serbian List, given the exclusive support it receives from official Belgrade, are instrumentalized and dictated by the latter.

"Yes, these are indications, but the final decision on whether or not to boycott the work of the Assembly and the Government by the Serbian List will be taken after coordination with relevant factors that have an impact on the decision-making and functioning of this list. No decision of the Serbian List should be considered as their decision-making, but as an instruction coming from Belgrade," Muhaxhiri said.

Gogic: Controlled acts of boycott

Serbian political scientist Ognjen Gogic, in an interview with Radio Free Europe, estimated that the Serbian List has so far in some cases shown that boycott, abandonment and threats to abandon institutions have a way of political action.

"I would be surprised if they were constructive. But, those threats and those acts of boycott are always limited and controlled, and they are always careful not to go too far with those actions. So, they always find a way not to bring paralysis of institutions and not to destabilize political life too much, but to get attention with those actions. This is the case again. So, the threat that was directed in October, after the elections, that they would leave the institutions or boycott them because of the Association, has been repeated several times and is a shot in the air," Gogic said.

He added that there have been similar threats from the Serbian List before, but that its representatives have returned to institutions as if nothing had happened.

"Formation of the Association, a condition for Kosovo"

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has emphasized that there will be no formation of the Association, because it would be mono-ethnic, which according to Kurti, is contrary to the Constitution of Kosovo.

Meanwhile, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuicic said that the problem with the Association "is not in any legal act, but the problem is in the facts that Kurti is not understanding". He has previously insisted that the Association should be formed according to the Brussels Agreement. However, Vucic has so far never publicly mentioned the possibility of Kosovo's institutions being abandoned by the Serbian List.

Artan Muhaxhiri assessed that the Kosovo authorities should talk to the representatives of the Serbian List. However, according to him, it would be more effective to talk to the representatives of Quint countries to find a solution so that the Serbian List does not start the eventual boycott of institutions.

The Quint states include the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

"The Serbian List does not have the possibility to dictate the work to the government due to the non-establishment of the Association. However, our allies have this opportunity because the establishment of the Association is considered as a condition that Kosovo must meet and then with a 'domino effect', step by step, to influence the constructive continuity of the talks in Brussels until the achievement of the final settlement between Kosovo and Serbia," Muhaxhiri said.

"Belgrade and the Serbian List have no interest in the Association"

But does the realization of the threats of the Serbian List for abandonment of Kosovo institutions suit official Belgrade?

Political scientist Gogic considers that Belgrade cannot go that far, but wants to send messages of dissatisfaction to the government of Kosovo and its policy towards Kosovo Serbs.

"I think that neither Belgrade nor the Serbian List are interested enough to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, regardless of what they say. This is because if the Association were to be formed, then Serbia would no longer have enough reason to challenge Kosovo's statehood and say that Serbs in Kosovo are endangered. I think that this position of the government in Pristina to reject the establishment of the Association suits them, because that way the talks remain suspended. Then Belgrade always says that because the Association has not been formed, we cannot continue to go further with the negotiations and we cannot make other concessions to Pristina on our part," Gogic said.

The very topic of the Association was the reason that the delegations of Kosovo and Serbia did not meet during this week in Brussels. The chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia held only separate meetings with European Union officials, who mediate the dialogue process.

The Serbian side has insisted to discuss the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo in this round of talks. The Kosovo side has refused to discuss now the issues, which "relate to minority communities because they must be part of a comprehensive agreement".

The formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is part of an agreement reached in 2013, in the framework of the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

In 2015, the parties had reached an agreement on the principles of establishing this Association. But, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo has found that the principles for it are not in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo, although it has said that they can be harmonized with a legal act of the government of Kosovo.

Bugajski: Serbia is using the issue of the Association to obstruct the dialogue (RTK)

Foreign and local analysts consider that Belgrade is using the issue of the Association of Serb Municipalities to obstruct the dialogue and prevent a final solution, RTK reports.

According to the American expert on the Balkans Janusz Bugajski the current government should not accept agreements that destabilize the country. "I think the Association of Serbian Municipalities was a bad idea from the beginning. I think that the government of Kosovo has been forced to sign something for which it did not know what the consequences could be and it is the responsibility of the current government to prevent the implementation of any agreement that would destabilize the country and destabilize the region," Bugajski said.

"If the international community should have learned something, it is that we do not want a Serbian Republic in the Balkans, because this then becomes a source of conflict, discussion and international intervention by Russia," he told RTK.

Bugajski believes that Kosovo should continue to participate in meetings at every level to demonstrate its willingness to reach an agreement but the topics to be discussed, according to him, must be within the context of achieving mutual recognition.

Krasniqi: Kurti to assume his responsibility for dialogue with Serbia, and its conclusion (Klan)

Memli Krasniqi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said in an interview with Klan Kosova that Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti needs to take responsibility of the process of dialogue with Serbia. He said PDK's position is that dialogue should bring about mutual recognition of Kosovo and Serbia.

"Without dialogue's conclusion, Kosovo cannot be at peace. It is up to the prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo to take the responsibilities he has in the dialogue process and in its conclusion." "We as opposition have the commodity of not having the dialogue as a priority but the government doesn't," Krasniqi added.

Krasniqi further accused Kurti of, as he said, damaging relations with the United States. He said the initial lack of invitation to Kosovo to attend the democracy summit speaks of this.

"Our main concern is with the foreign policy. Kosovo's foreign policy is still somehow suspended. We don't have ambassadors to a large number of countries, starting with the United States," Krasniqi said. "You cannot expect a favourable position from the United States when you adopt a stance of consistent ignoring, be it from the opposition or the government where you say 'we will not damage relations with the U.S. over some pipes'," Krasniqi said.

Konjufca: The governing coalition is stable (T7)

The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo Glauk Konjufca spoke in an interview with T7 broadcaster about the recent developments in Kosovo.

"In the local elections, Vetevendosje Movement came out with an unexpected result, our projections were that we would win many more municipalities, but it did not work out that way. I think that the main reason has to do with the lack of Vetvendosje’s development of local politics. I think this is the main factor of such an outcome. Since its establishment, Vetevendosje has dealt with national issues from the Ahtisaari plan, the UNMIK presence, the problematic dialogue with Serbia, then corruption and justice in Kosovo, and the fight against organized crime. These are some topics at the national level and the main figures of Vetevendosje, from Albin and all the others have been more focused on Pristina and at the national level," Konjufca said.

Konjufca said that the Vetevendosje-Guxo coalition is stable and denied rumors of discord among them following the appointment of the new Minister of Health.

Asked about the former U.S. Envoy Richard Grenell, Konjufca said people speak based on their payroll. “It is much better if you refer to what obligations Grenell has taken, obligations which you can derive from the fact in what pay-role (monthly payment) he is," Konjufca said.

“The man has to speak based on where his salary comes from,” he added.

Zeya: Kosovo and Serbia invited to the summit as a reflection of inclusiveness (media)

Uzra Zeya, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, announced that the White House has expanded the list of participants to the upcoming Summit for Democracy, hosted by President Joe Biden.

Zeya said Kosovo and Serbia were invited to take part in the event as a reflection of the Washington's desire for the summit to have a greater inclusion, RTK and Klan Kosova report quoting Tanjug. "Our extension of invitations is going to reflect our desire to come together, learn together, and act together with these governments and the partner countries," Zeya said.

EU to assist Kosovo in fighting crime (media)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo for European Integration, Development and Dialogue Besnik Bislimi met during his stay in Brussels for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue round with the Commissioner for Enlargement of the European Union, Oliver Varhelyi.

A press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister states that they discussed “potential projects within the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) mechanism and opportunities to increase cooperation through financial assistance and expertise that the European Union can provide for Kosovo on its path to towards the EU.”

Talking about the reforms initiated by the government of Kosovo, Varhelyi reportedly said that he will help Kosovo in the fight against crime.

"During the meeting, the importance of the rapid implementation of the EU Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans was emphasized", it is said in the communiqué.

Further, the communiqué states that they also talked about the progress that Kosovo has made in the vaccination process, standing now as best among the countries of the region, while Commissioner Varhelyi expressed the EU readiness to help with the vaccination certificate.

Soaring Prices Leave Kosovo’s Poorest on the Brink (Prishtina Insight)

Rising prices are widening the gap between people’s basic needs and their ability to meet them – and those in extreme poverty and on social assistance are getting desperate.

One bottle of oil in Kosovo currently costs 1.54 euros. That’s a little more than the 1.50 euros that one person in extreme poverty in Kosovo spends a day on average. Such economic misery means that the poorest class in the country often can’t even cook and fill their stomachs.

Most other essential products exceed the same price, a scan of current prices in supermarkets by BIRN shows.

Asked why prices have risen so fast in Kosovo while there is a high level of poverty, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Facebook post on October 26, that, like the rest of the world, Kosovo has been exposed to inflation as a result of a breakdown in the supply chain due to the pandemic.

Considering that Kosovo largely imports products from other countries, along with the products it has also imported global inflation.

Kosovo’s annual inflation rate in October 2021 has increased by 5.7 per cent compared to October 2020, according to the Kosovo Agency of Statistics KAS.

Prices of bread and cereals have gone up by 5.7 per cent; meat by 2.4 per cent; milk, cheese and eggs by 6.2 per cent; edible oils and fats by a whopping 27.9 per cent; vegetables by 8.8 per cent; gas by 16.2 per cent, and fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment by 35.5 per cent.

Recent World Bank data say that almost one fourth of the Kosovo population live in poverty and 5 per cent live in “extreme poverty”, defined as less than 1.50 euros a day.

Taking into account food prices in Kosovo, where most takeaway meals in fast food restaurants cost at least 1.5 euros, it means that some poor people probably eat only once a day.