• Kosovo Assembly to discuss today resolution in support of Ukraine (RTK)
• Kurti calls on diaspora to contribute to Security Fund (media)
• Ukraine is a ‘Sarajevo in the making’, warns Kosovo’s PM (The Independent)
• Western Balkan countries vote in favour of UN Resolution on Ukraine (EWB)
• Serbia mobilizing reservists in Kosovo, says Deputy Defense Minister (T7)
• Konjufca to meet Von Cramon in Prishtina today (media)
• Draft law on war crimes institute to be sent to government by June (EO)
• U.S. Ambassador visits Decani Monastery (media)
• Kosovo eases COVID-19 restrictions as case numbers fall (Prishtina Insight)
• COVID-19: 83 new cases, one death (media)

Kosovo Assembly to discuss today resolution in support of Ukraine (RTK)

Members of the Kosovo Assembly will meet today at 10:00 and will discuss among other issues a resolution “in support of Ukraine and its people in resistance against the Russian aggression”, the news website reports.

Kurti calls on diaspora to contribute to Security Fund (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Wednesday that the establishment of the Security Fund will contribute to strengthening the level of security in Kosovo in the future and called on all citizens and the diaspora to contribute.

“The Security Fund aims to become one of the strongest foundations for the future. The budget of €100 million that we have allocated for the Ministry of Defense is the biggest ever. But now like never before it needs to be even bigger, because investing in the future is a safe investment,” Kurti said in a Facebook post.

Ukraine is a ‘Sarajevo in the making’, warns Kosovo’s PM (The Independent)

Russia’s invasion has brought painful memories of warfare in the Balkans, and fresh fears, Albin Kurti tells The Independent’s Anna Isaac as he calls Russia’s actions genocide

Albin Kurti doesn’t want to talk about war. He would rather be drumming up foreign investment and courting the Kosovan diaspora in London.

Kurti was elected as prime minister of the country in March 2021, and he’s keen to emphasise its healthy economic growth; its relatively high vaccination rate compared to other Balkan states and its new commercial court aimed at encouraging investors to the small country.

However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has given fresh urgency to Kosovo’s sense of insecurity and drive to join the transatlantic defence pact, Nato.

“We would like to join Nato as soon as possible,” Kurti says, leaning forward for emphasis. The political leader has used meetings with British officials in London this week to lay out his case for membership.

Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3tn5Uil

Western Balkan countries vote in favour of UN Resolution on Ukraine (EWB)

All member countries of the United Nations from the Western Balkans, including Serbia, voted today in favour of the Resolution on the Aggression against Ukraine.

The Resolution was adopted on Wednesday with 141 votes in favour and 35 abstentions. Russia, Belarus, Syria, Eritrea, and North Korea voted against it.

“(The General Assembly) reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters; deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter; demands that the Russian Federation immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and to refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any Member State”, read the first three points of the Resolution.

In the days leading up to the vote, there was uncertainty whether Serbia, which has not aligned with the EU sanctions on Russia nor all Declarations of the High Representative, would vote in favour of the resolution. Ambassadors of EU Member States to Serbia published an op-ed this morning urging Belgrade to vote in favour of the resolution.

Serbian representative to the United Nations took the floor to justify the vote, saying that Serbia “most sincerely regrets the events taking place in the East of Europe”.

“Russia and Ukraine have always been friendly countries to the Republic of Serbia and Serbian people perceive Russians and Ukrainians as fraternal nations. We feel that the loss of life of each man in Ukraine is a true tragedy”, Serbian representative said.

Serbia mobilizing reservists in Kosovo, says Deputy Defense Minister (T7)

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Shemsi Syla, said in a debate on T7 on Wednesday evening that they have information that Serbia is telling Serbs living in Kosovo, and who are reservists in the Serbian Army, to be ready in the event of a conflict.

“They are calling them, giving them assignments, they are threatening them to be on time … This is what Serb citizens are saying and they are being interviewed by Serbian military officials. We have a lot of information. We don’t though if they are also calling the Serb members of the Kosovo Security Force,” Syla said.

Konjufca to meet Von Cramon in Prishtina today (media)

The European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, will visit Kosovo today and is scheduled to meet this morning with Kosovo Assembly President Glauk Konjufca.

Draft law on war crimes institute to be sent to government by June (EO)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, told the news website that this ministry has prepared the first draft of the law for the institute for war crimes and that it will be open for public discussions from Friday. Haxhiu said they plan to submit the draft law to the government by June and then proceed it to the Assembly for approval. She also said that the Institute would be tasked to document all crimes that took place during the war in Kosovo.

U.S. Ambassador visits Decani Monastery (media)

United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, visited the Decani Monastery on Wednesday where he met with Abbot Sava. “Honored today to meet Father Sava and tour Decani Monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage monument and global cultural treasure - and reaffirm U.S. support for a sovereign, multi-ethnic Kosovo that respects and ensures religious freedom and equal treatment for all citizens,” Hovenier said in a Twitter post.

Kosovo eases COVID-19 restrictions as case numbers fall (Prishtina Insight)

As the pandemic recedes in Kosovo, the government is scrapping many of the measures imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Kosovo government has moved to ease a number of COVID-19 health measures, removing restrictions on the movement of citizens and allowing a number of other activities.

Under the preliminary decision, bans on the movement of citizens are now limited to the period from midnight to 5am, and nightclubs, concerts and festivals may now reopen.

“From March 7, 2022, the activity of night clubs is allowed as well as the organisation of festivals, concerts, excursions, pilgrimages, weddings, engagements, family and social parties [in venues] up to 50 per cent of capacity, throughout the territory of Kosovo,” the government stated.

Gastronomy businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, may conduct their activities according to their usual schedule, using up to 50 per cent of the capacity of their enclosed spaces. They must still check the vaccination status of clients.

The ban on the entry of international or public vehicles, where drivers and passengers do not have a mask, remains in force. Wearing a mask remains mandatory in all indoor venues in Kosovo.

The decision to ease certain measures follows a decline in COVID-19 cases in Kosovo. According to the Ministry of Health, the total number of active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo is now 1,696. The number of cases peaked on January 28th, with 3617 active cases in one day. Since mass vaccination started, 1,813,440 doses have been given out, which is 50 per cent of the total population.

COVID-19: 83 new cases, one death (media)

83 new cases with COVID-19 and one death from the virus were confirmed in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 181 persons recovered from the virus during this time. There are 1,597 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.