UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 14, 2022

Chairman of the OSCE to visit Kosovo (RTK)
Kosovo Government: Petkovic violated agreement on official visits (media)
Aliu: Reciprocity is the essence of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
Borrell prefers "Open Balkan", Scholz "Berlin Process" (Klan)
Grenell blames Kurti and EU, says KFOR should withdraw from Kosovo (media)
Government responds to criticism over Kurti's stay in Greece (Telegrafi)
Europa Nostra: Reasons for inclusion of Decan Monastery to the endangered list, still valid (Kallxo)
Pristina Observatory opens for celestial observations (media)
In the north, RKS license plates covered with KM ones (RFE/Koha)
EU mulls visa bans on Balkans extremists stirred up by Moscow (EUobserver)
Hospitals Told to Mobilise as COVID-19 Cases Increase (BIRN)

Chairman of the OSCE to visit Kosovo (RTK)

The Chairman of the OSCE, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, will visit Kosovo this week. He will meet political leaders and discuss Poland's engagement in the region while chairing the OSCE.

Rau will be received by the President Vjosa Osmani, the Speaker of the Assembly Glauk Konjufca, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz and the Minister for Communities and Returns Goran Rakic.

He will also visit the Central Election Commission. During the visit, Minister Rau will meet also with the OSCE field operations staff and civil society representatives.

Kosovo Government: Petkovic violated agreement on official visits (media)

The Government of Kosovo gave two reasons for not allowing the visit of the director of the Office for Kosovo in the government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic.

"First of all, the request of Mr. Petkovic to enter the Republic of Kosovo has been inconsistent with the agreement on official visits. He did not respect the time stipulated in the agreement for the delivery of the notice of his visit. Points 3 and 2b of the agreement in force provide that this must be done only during working days (Monday - Friday) and during working hours, as well as at least 48 hours before the visit takes place.

At the same time, during his last visit Mr. Petkovic violated our permit, holding meetings with illegal structures, despite the fact that the permit was given based on the coordinated agenda to follow religious rites. Moreover, Mr. Petkovic has repeatedly used inappropriate language and has incited inter-ethnic hatred, which contradicts the democratic and multi-ethnic character of our Republic and does not contribute to the dialogue process," said Perparim Kryeziu, spokesperson of the Government of Kosovo.

Aliu: Reciprocity is the essence of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)

Kosovo's Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, in an interview with RTK spoke about a range of issues, including the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia whose essence he said is reciprocity.

He said there is progress in the dialogue process, mentioning in this regard the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament calling for mutual recognition as the end goal. "We have incorporated mutual recognition at the centre of the dialogue which is a very important step."

Borrell prefers "Open Balkan", Scholz "Berlin Process" (Klan)

The Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz has promised once again that the country he leads will do "a lot of work" for the six states of the Western Balkans to join the European Union.

"I personally want to once again strengthen the German commitment by reactivating the ‘Berlin Process’ which has gained so much appreciation from all the countries of the Western Balkans. With this, we bring new momentum to the process of EU membership talks", said Scholz on Tuesday after the meeting with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob, in Berlin.

According to the plan, the leaders of Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Serbia will be guests of Scholz in the fall.

Meanwhile, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, in an interview with the Montenegrin newspaper "Vijesti", spoke about a process in which all the countries of the region should participate. Asked about the "Open Balkans" initiative where Kosovo refuses to be a participant, Borrell said that the leaders of the Western Balkan countries should commit to cooperation that is important for European integration. He mentioned in this context the creation of the Common Regional Market.

Grenell blames Kurti and EU, says KFOR should withdraw from Kosovo (media)

Former U.S. emissary for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in the Trump administration, Richard Grenell, gave a lecture to the students of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade on Wednesday, and he covered many topics related to Kosovo.

Grenell blamed Prime Minister Albin Kurti and the EU for failing to reach the Kosovo-Serbia agreement, writes "Danas" newspaper. He said that KFOR should withdraw from Kosovo, since "in this way it is prolonging the conflict," and that "the dialogue mediated by Brussels, which mentions the recognition of Kosovo's independence, does not solve the problem."

Grenell also denied working for the government of Serbia, as previously reported by independent organizations in Serbia.

Government responds to criticism over Kurti's stay in Greece (Telegrafi)

Perparim Kryeziu, spokesperson for the Government of Kosovo, reacted to criticism from the opposition over Prime Minister Albin Kurti's stay in Greece since 5 July.

"He has travelled to Athens on the invitation of the organisers of two important conferences, that of 'The Economist' and 'Symi Symposium' where prime minister Kurti was part of the discussion panels. This year is the fifth time prime minister Kurti attends the Symi Symposium which gathers progressive politicians and prominent academics from around the world. As previous times, the accommodation costs are covered by the organiser," Kryeziu wrote on Facebook.

Europa Nostra: Reasons for inclusion of Decan Monastery to the endangered list, still valid (Kallxo)

A delegation composed of representatives of Europa Nostra and its partner the European Investment Bank Institute (EIBI) stayed in Kosovo last week for a series of heritage visits and exchanges with local and international stakeholders. This visit was organised, primarily, as a follow-up to the inclusion of the Decani Monastery on the 2021 List of 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe, as part of the 7 Most Endangered programme run by Europa Nostra in partnership with the European Investment Bank Institute, Kallxo quotes a press release issued by Europa Nostra on the conclusion of the visit.

The organisation said that the key issue discussed with various interlocutors was the inclusion of Monastery on the list of most endangered sites in Europe and that one year after the publication of the list, the main reasons for the inclusion of the site remain valid. "Firstly, no final solution has yet been agreed by all parties with regard to the consequences caused by the plans to increase traffic within and around the Special Protective Zone of the Decani Monastery, nor regarding other announced interventions, such as the riverside project, that could negatively affect the natural environment of the Monastery which is to be considered as an integral part of its outstanding heritage value. Secondly, the 2016 decision of the Kosovo Constitutional Court confirming the Decani Monastery’s ownership of 24 hectares of land has not yet been implemented through lawful registration of the Monastery’s land, which undermines the rule of law and the legal security of this living Monastery with its surrounding land. Thirdly, due to complex security challenges, the Monastery needs to continue to be guarded 24/7 by KFOR troops, as confirmed by the KFOR Commander."

Pristina Observatory opens for celestial observations (media)

Mayor of Pristina, Perparim Rama, announced via Facebook the opening of the Pristina Observatory that will be open for all citizens.

The observatory was first opened in 1977 and was operational until the 80s. The opening of the Observatory was made possible with the support of the Municipality of Pristina and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. The Observatory or Observation Dome will be open to citizens and for conducting celestial observations and scientific research by the Astronomers' Club of Kosovo.

In the north, RKS license plates covered with KM ones (RFE/Koha)

RKS license plates in Mitrovica North have been covered with KM stickers while the Kosovo symbol replaced with that of Serbia.

The Kosovo Police deputy director for the northern region, Besim Hoti, confirmed for Radio Free Europe that police officials went to the scene after a citizen's complaint and conducted investigations. According to him, it is up to the prosecutor to decide whether there is sufficient basis to open a criminal case. Hoti said that the stickers were places in a small number of cars.

EU mulls visa bans on Balkans extremists stirred up by Moscow (EUobserver)

EU states are in talks on potential visa bans on right-wing extremists in the Western Balkans, amid fears that Russian propaganda is stirring up new threats.

The confidential talks, to be held by a counter-terrorism cell in the EU Council on Thursday (14 July), will include "a discussion on the effectiveness of bans on some extremist subjects in the countries of the Western Balkans", according to an internal EU memo.

"Many far-right movements in the Western Balkans have a strong aversion towards Nato and the European Union," the memo, drafted by the new Czech EU presidency and seen by EUobserver, said.