UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 23, 2022

Kosovo, Serbia chief negotiators to meet in Brussels today (RFE)
Kosovo communicates with mediators of dialogue through the U.S. (Koha)
U.S., EU engage diplomatically after Kosovo postpones licence plate fines (RFE)
Borrell: We’re not a referee, we’re much more than that (Euractiv)
Stano: We will continue the talks for a solution (Klan)
Tajani: Italy available to find solutions and maintain stability (media)
Osmani, Rohde discuss developments in Kosovo and dialogue with Serbia (RTK)
France asks Kosovo to accept Borrell's proposal for license plates (RTK)
Kupchan: Situation between Kosovo and Serbia carries risk of violence (VoA)
CDHRF: Borell and Lajcak lined up on the side of Serbia (Paparaci)
Tahiri: Kurti dramatizing to prepare the public for compromises (Koha)
Kosovo-Serbia flare-up fears over car number plate row (BBC)
Kosovo PM Postpones License Plate Fines Under Western Pressure (BIRN)
Fears Kosovo-Serbia number plate row could spark violence (The Guardian)
Kosovo delays crackdown on Serbian driving plates after US pressure (FT)
EU slams Kosovo, Serbia on car plates dispute, as fears of violence grow (Politico)

Kosovo, Serbia chief negotiators to meet in Brussels today (RFE)

Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic, will meet today in Brussels with EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, to discuss a solution for licence plates issued by Serbian authorities. Unnamed sources told the news website that both parties have confirmed they will attend the urgent meeting.

Kosovo communicates with mediators of dialogue through the U.S. (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Tuesday that the communication during yesterday's meeting with the high representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, was the last with him.

"So the USA and especially Ambassador Hovenier, they are in contact with Brussels. Since the last meeting within the framework of the October talks that we had yesterday ended, I have not communicated with the Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell, who regrettably, I reiterate, abandoned the French-German proposal, the proposal of the European Union, saying let's have an agreement on license plates," Kurti said.

He said it is necessary to correct Borrell's mistake. "It is a big mistake to abandon the conversation about correcting relations and the leaders talk and agree on license plates, for which neither I in Kosovo nor he [Vucic] in Belgrade are responsible," Kurti said.

However, Borrell's work has been praised by the U.S. ambassador in Belgrade Christopher Hill, after the meeting he had with the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic. "I am convinced that a solution will be found, because experienced people like Josep Borrell and the EU's Special Representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak, are working on this issue," Hill said.

The news website reports that neither the U.S. Embassy, the EU nor the Government of Kosovo responded about the actions that will be taken until Wednesday night, as a function of an agreement.

After the developments in Brussels, Vucic met the representatives of the Serbs in Kosovo. Former minister Goran Rakic, in a press conference, warned of protests in all institutions. Also, the organization of a rally in North Mitrovica has been announced for Wednesday, starting at 3 p.m.

U.S., EU engage diplomatically after Kosovo postpones licence plate fines (RFE)

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that the U.S. ambassador to Kosovo is very committed to finding a solution to a tense situation in the north of Kosovo over a phaseout of Serbian license plates.

Kurti said he held talks until late in the night with U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier to seek a potential deal "without undermining the constitutionality but at the same time not to allow the threat to peace and stability."

Hovenier "is always constructive, positive, creative" in his role, Kurti said. "He is doing his best, as is the U.S., especially," the prime minister said, adding that the parties were also in contact with Brussels.

Kosovo earlier on November 22 postponed plans to fine drivers who refuse to give up old car license plates for another 48 hours. The request for the delay, made late on November 21, came from the United States after talks in Brussels between Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic failed to reach an agreement on the issue.

Kosovo police had said that fines of 150 euros were to be issued from 8 a.m. local time on November 22 and would have affected around 10,000 drivers.

Hovenier previously stated that he requested that the fines be postponed so that European and U.S. mediators could work out an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

Kurti said he was ready to work with Washington and the European Union to resolve the issue over the next two days but reiterated his desire that an agreement go beyond the license-plate issue.

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

Borrell: We’re not a referee, we’re much more than that (Euractiv)

In an interview with the news website, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, among other topics, also talked about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “We’re not a broker, not a referee, we’re much more than that because both want to become members of the EU, and we have a certain leverage capacity,” Borrell was quoted as saying.

Stano: We will continue the talks for a solution (Klan)

The news website asked EU spokesperson Peter Stano about how the 48 hours given by Prime Minister Kurti prior to implementing the decision on fines for the illegal license plates is being used. "Kosovo has agreed to postpone the measure for the imposition of fines for 48 hours. We will use this period to continue talks with both sides with the aim of finding a solution," Stano was quoted as saying.

Stano said that if membership in the EU is the final objective of Kosovo and Serbia, to which they have both pledged, "then the EU expects both countries to act accordingly".

He also talked about Monday's meeting in Brussels saying that EU High Representative Josep Borrell has asked both parties to avoid any escalation of the situation in the north of Kosovo. "The High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, and the special emissary of the EU for the Western Balkans Miroslav Lajcak, have received Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Aleksandar Vucic, for an urgent meeting to avoid any possible escalation of the situation in the north of Kosovo, due to disputes over license plates," he said.

Stano said that during the meeting, Borrell presented two balanced compromise proposals that would have calmed the situation, but that no agreement was reached due to disagreements between the parties. "Borrell has called on the parties to refrain from any measures that could escalate the situation on the ground and has reiterated that he expects the parties to engage in a constructive way to reach an agreement," Stano said.

Tajani: Italy available to find solutions and maintain stability (media)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani and Italy’s Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto visited Pristina on Tuesday. In a press conference with Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla, Tajani expressed Italy's readiness to be available to Kosovo and Serbia in order to find a solution for license plates and to maintain stability. He announced that he had received signals of readiness for a solution both from Kosovo and from Serbia.

He welcomed Prime Minister Albin Kurti's decision to postpone for another 48 hours the implementation of the decision to fine drivers of cars with illegal license plates. "I told Prime Minister Kurti that we are committed to supporting peace and do not take unilateral initiatives. The Minister of Defense and I are not here in Kosovo by chance. I want this to be a message to tell you that we are here for you, we are at your disposal to create solutions to problems," Tajani said.

Klan Kosova quotes Tajani as saying that he does not want war again.

Minister Gervalla informed that in the meeting with the Italian diplomat, they talked about Serbia's efforts to promote instability in Kosovo. "We talked about Serbia's efforts to destabilize Kosovo through massive interventions in the internal affairs of our country, threats of violence and even threats of war, which are not uncommon. We discussed that the rule of law is an answer that needs to be given in our entire region and not only in Kosovo," Gervalla said.

The Italian Foreign Minister also met with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti.

"Focusing on the recent developments in the country, President Osmani has emphasized that the institutions of Kosovo are in coordination with the allies and are making intensive efforts to find an acceptable solution to the issue of license plates within the 48-hour period," it is stated among other things in the communiqué of the Office of the President.

Further, Osmani said that Serbia is trying to destabilize the country through illegal structures in the north of Kosovo.

“I welcomed Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and MFA Antonio Tajani to Kosovo along with the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto. We discussed bilateral relations, future cooperation and common interests and concerns. We are partners and allies in our commitment for peace and security,” PM Kurti tweeted.

Osmani, Rohde discuss developments in Kosovo and dialogue with Serbia (RTK)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received on Tuesday the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Jorn Rohde. "With Ambassador Rohde, President Osmani discussed the latest developments in the country and the dialogue with Serbia. President Osmani underlined the continuous commitment of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to the process of dialogue focused on mutual recognition, commitment to peace, security and the rule of law throughout the territory of the Republic," a press release issued by the President’s Office notes.

France asks Kosovo to accept Borrell's proposal for license plates (RTK)

After the failure to reach an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, the French ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, said that his country regrets that an agreement was not reached.

"France expresses regret for the lack of an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo. It joins calls from the European Union to avoid any unilateral action that could fuel tensions. He asks both parties, and in particular Kosovo, to accept the compromise proposal formulated by the European Union," he wrote on Twitter.

He also said that France fully supports EU mediation, adding however that it must make possible progress towards a comprehensive and legally binding agreement between Serbia and Kosovo and to move forward towards a European perspective of both countries.

Kupchan: Situation between Kosovo and Serbia carries risk of violence (VoA)

The U.S. analyst Charles Kupchan said that the situation created between Kosovo and Serbia is serious and there is a risk of further violence and blockade. The researcher of the American Council on Foreign Relations told VOA on Tuesday that the EU and the U.S. are right to be concerned but added that pressure must be kept on both sides.

"The situation is quite tense now, in the sense that we have reached an impasse and the government of Kosovo has agreed to a postponement of only 48 hours and there is a possibility that we will return to a point where the risk of violence is revived," he said.

Kupchan thinks both sides' positions have merit. On the one hand, he said, a change in the status quo can upset a delicate balance and create conditions for violence. “On the other hand, Prime Minister Kurti is right when he says that the Serbian side should engage in an honest dialogue for normalization. I think Kurti is using the license plate issue as a way to force Serbia to deal with bigger issues," he said.

"I think that the U.S. and the EU should keep the pressure on both sides and the message to Belgrade should be to engage in an honest dialogue with Kosovo for normalization and therefore its recognition. On the other hand, I think that given the possibility of violence, since the situation is dangerous, the pressure on Kosovo is understandable, since the continuation of the plan for the implementation of the decision on car license plates, could shake the status quo,” he said.

Kupchan agrees that talks are the best way forward. "I think the best outcome would be for Belgrade to agree to sit down at the table in terms of progressing towards a final agreement. Otherwise, we will be in a blocked situation," he said.

CDHRF: Borell and Lajcak lined up on the side of Serbia (Paparaci)

The Pristina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF), in a statement on Tuesday commenting on Kosovo and Serbia’s failure to reach an agreement in Brussels, said that the position of the EU officials was clearly biased.

According to the CDHRF, the mediation of European officials Josep Borell and Miroslav Lajcak was not independent at all and as such, they sided with Serbia. "The license plate agreement between Kosovo and Serbia did not end as expected due to the fact that it was conditioned with an unacceptable and abnormal demand for a sovereign and independent state. The not at all independent mediator, Joseph Borrell, aligned in defense of Serbia's interest, along with Lajcak, from the beginning of the "mediation" stated that Vucic had been constructive. Where was the constructiveness of Vucic and Serbia, according to Borrell? Vucic has agreed that Serbia should not provide Kosovo Serbs with illegal license plates KM, PSH, UR, GNJ, etc. and which represents nonsense in the relations between two independent states due to the fact that this action of Serbia so far represents flagrant interference in the internal affairs of a state, but which has been allowed until now just as the EU even now, through "independent negotiators" justifies this situation,” the statement notes.

Tahiri: Kurti dramatizing to prepare the public for compromises (Koha)

Kosovo’s former chief negotiator in dialogue with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, has reacted after the situation created by the meeting on Monday between the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels. She said that Kurti is dramatizing the license plate issue to prepare the public for compromises. "He already did the first one by accepting the lack of mutual recognition in the French-German plan," Tahiri wrote on Facebook.

Kosovo-Serbia flare-up fears over car number plate row (BBC)

The EU and Serbia have warned that violence could erupt in Kosovo after EU-mediated talks failed to resolve a dispute over Serbian car number plates

Kosovo authorities want the ethnic Serb minority to surrender their Serbian-issued plates. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence.

Hours before Kosovo's Tuesday deadline, Prime Minister Albin Kurti agreed to delay issuing fines for 48 hours.

He said he was "happy to work with the US and the EU to find a solution".

Kosovo police were due to impose fines of €150 (£130; $154) to holders of Serbian-issued plates from 07:00 on Tuesday.

The government in Pristina argues that licence plates predating the territory's 1999 war for independence from Serbia can no longer be valid. It says the 50,000 Serbs in northern Kosovo, who only accept local Serb institutions, must now use Kosovo plates.

Ethnic Serb police officers resigned en masse earlier this month in protest at Pristina's ruling.