UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 19, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: We’re doing everything to have the police officers released ASAP (RFE)

Osmani thanks Scholz for support on immediate release of police officers (media)

Kurti to decide this week on Borrell invitation, Vucic says no to meeting (Koha)

Kurti: Attack against media in north was organised and had clear intention (media)

Police arrest person that assaulted RTK cameraman in Leposavic (Express)

Rohde asks why SL did not condemn violence against journalists? (media)

NATO reminds all parties to their obligations to KFOR (media)

Baerbock: Serbia, Kosovo to do everything to calm down situation at border (media)

Lajcak to travel to U.S., “discussions on way forward” (media)

Kurti on Hate Speech Day: We affirm right to live without being targeted (media)

Kosovo Police deny claims of beating of two Serb youths in north (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Dialogue meaningless, it does not cross my mind to talk until arrested Serbs have not been released (RTS)

Visoki Decani Monastery: An urgent appeal for peace and restraint in Kosovo (RTS, social media)

Todic and Simic to file lawsuit against Minister Krasniqi and a media worker for their allegations (KoSSev)

One more Serb arrested at Jarinje on June 17 (Radio KIM)

Lawyer: Serb from Leposavic arrested on June 16, sent to one-month detention (Kosovo Online)

Spokesperson: NATO takes events in Kosovo very seriously (N1)

Petkovic: Kurti’s special forces occupied Mitrovica North on Friday night (N1, KoSSev, Tanjug)

International Media:

U.S. Demands Serbia 'Immediately' Release Three Detained Kosovar Police Officers (RFE)
Kamberi: Kosovo policemen were reportedly mistreated (Euronews Albania)

Saudi Arabia, Kosovo offcials discuss ways to boost economic relations (Arab News)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: We’re doing everything to have the police officers released ASAP (RFE)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Sunday that Kosovo’s authorities were doing everything they can to have the three police officers arrested by Serbian authorities to be released as soon as possible. “We once again call on the international community to condemn Serbia’s aggression on June 14, when their special military and police units kidnapped our police officers. According to our information, early this week, Ambassador Jetish Jashari, who is head of the liaison office in Belgrade, will get to visit the three police officers,” Kurti told the media on Sunday.

The news website notes that Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kreshnik Ahmeti, said last week that the three police officers were being held “in inhumane conditions, without food and without proper medical care”. The claims were refuted by Serbian authorities who accused Pristina of mistreating Serbs that it had arrested.

Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America have called for the immediate release of the three Kosovo police officers. The U.S. State Department said “their arrest and detention on unfounded charges has deteriorated the already tense situation”.

Osmani thanks Scholz for support on immediate release of police officers (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a Twitter post on Sunday that during her stay in Berlin, she had “the opportunity to engage in an exchange with Chancellor Olaf Scholz where we discussed about the necessary steps forward. Expressed appreciation for Germany’s support and clear stance on the immediate release of our policemen.”

Osmani also met German President Steinmeier and tweeted after the meeting “in the spirit of great Kosovo-Germany relations, we confirmed the readiness for continuous cooperation & coordination at the benefit of regional peace and stability.”

Kurti to decide this week on Borrell invitation, Vucic says no to meeting (Koha)

The daily reports on its front page this morning that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti indicated he will decide early this week if he will accept an invitation from EU High Representative Josep Borrell to a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels this week. Vucic meanwhile said on Sunday that he is not going to meet Kurti, but that he is considering the possibility of making a “technical appearance” in Brussels.

Kurti: Attack against media in north was organised and had clear intention (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met during the weekend with two reporters and cameramen that were injured during the tensions in Leposavic. Kurti said he was confident that the attack against the media on Friday was organised and had a clear intention to intimidate and to make them back down. He wished a speedy recovery to the injured reporters. “Kosovo is a free republic, and it will always be such. I thank the reporters and cameramen for their courageous work and accurate reporting from the municipalities in the north, which have best shown who we are facing there as a society and a state. The rule of law is the best shield,” Kurti said.

Police arrest person that assaulted RTK cameraman in Leposavic (Express)

The news website learns that a person who is suspected of assaulting RTK cameraman Bardh Bekteshi in Leposavic last week has been arrested.

Rohde asks why SL did not condemn violence against journalists? (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, shared in a Twitter post a video of an RTK cameraman being assaulted in Leposavic and commented: “the brutality of this scene is shocking. Where is this supposed to end? Many have condemned this unacceptable act of violence, but unfortunately so far, I don’t see any reaction by SL [Serbian List] representatives among them. Why? Everyone needs to do their part to de-escalate the situation”.

NATO reminds all parties to their obligations to KFOR (media)

NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in a Twitter post that “NATO-KFOR is taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo, as authorised under the UN Security Council Resolution 1244”. “The commitment of NATO-KFOR to the implementation of its mandate is unwavering, as demonstrated by the recent additional deployment of 500 troops. We once again remind all parties of their obligations to KFOR under the Military Technical Agreement, including respect for the Administrative Boundary Line, procedures for the Kosovo Police and the 2013 Agreement on the deployment of the Kosovo Security Forces to the north. These obligations are designed to ensure coordinated action, avoid escalation, and preserve safe/secure environment,” she tweeted.

Baerbock: Serbia, Kosovo to do everything to calm down situation at border (media)

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday: “We call on both Serbia and Kosovo to do everything they can to calm down the situation at their border, incl. the unconditional release of the three Kosovar policemen. The people in both countries need perspectives that have been slowed down for too long by this conflict.“

Lajcak to travel to U.S., “discussions on way forward” (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said in a Facebook post that last week he debriefed colleagues in Brussels about his visit to the region, the current situation and the way forward. “During my visit to NATO HQ, I also met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana to discuss the situation in the north of Kosovo. We both agreed that immediate steps need to be taken for de-escalation. I further emphasized this point while addressing NATO and EU Ambassadors. I’ll head to Washington DC next upon the invitation of my US partners. We will have intense discussions on the way forward and immediate next steps,” Lajcak said.

Kurti on Hate Speech Day: We affirm right to live without being targeted (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Twitter post on International Hate Speech day that “hate speech is often dismissed as inconsequential when in fact words hurt & hateful words can beget abhorrent violence. Our country’s history shows what kind of violence can result from hate speech. On Int Hate Speech day we affirm the right to live without being targeted.”

Kosovo Police deny claims of beating of two Serb youths in north (media)

All news websites covered a press release by Kosovo Police on Sunday denying claims by some Serb politicians according to which, the police officers beat two Serb youths in the north on Saturday. A police spokesperson said that police patrol units were on official duty on the Izvor-Banjska road when they came across two four-wheel motorcycles carrying five people, and that they were released after routine checks. The police statement notes: “police operations were carried out in line with legal procedures and there was no unprofessional conduct in any case. Different statements that the police beat two youths do not stand and are not true”.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Dialogue meaningless, it does not cross my mind to talk until arrested Serbs have not been released (RTS)

We did our best to preserve the peace, but no matter how hard we tried to be a serious and accountable partner to the Western powers, they never perceived us that way – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Sunday during his extraordinary address to the public, RTS reports.

Vucic also said the dialogue is completely meaningless. It does not cross my mind to talk until arrested Serbs have not been released. He added he will decide if to take part in the dialogue and inform the public 24 hours in advance of it.

Here are the key points of Vucic’s address on Sunday:

- Children, aged 15 and 17 were attacked in Zitkovac village near Zvecan (reference to reports of two children being beaten up by Kosovo police) and Kosovo police said they were stopping everyone wearing helmets or caps.

- There is no investigation of the shooting at Dragisa Galjak (wounded in Zvecan on May 29 during clashes with KFOR. President Vucic in his address following the clashes said Kosovo special police member shot at Galjak, who sustained gunshot injuries). Arrested Rados Petrovic and Dusan Obrenovic (on May 29) are still in prison.

- Western countries allow wounding and mistreatment of Serbs.

- Albin Kurti wishes war at any cost and has support of some Western countries to create criminal situation and mistreat members of the Serb community

- We offered EULEX that Serbian police officers are ready to be tested on a polygraph about where they arrested the Albanians (Kosovo police officers), and our bodies never crossed the administrative line.

- It is meaningless to talk about anything until fake mayors do not withdraw, special police from the north leave, arrested Serbs be released and a decision on Serbian goods revoked.

- I will decide if we will take part in the dialogue and let you know 24 hours in advance. “In essence there is nothing from that work (the talks) and technically it is a matter of our tactics and nothing else.

- On Saint Vitus Day (June 28) Serbs in a peaceful manner will undertake their steps on the path to freedom.

- We will look to preserve the peace, but we will not allow further mistreatment of Serbs.

- As far as our decisions are concerned we will make them alone, we shall not consult anyone. We will respect only what I promised to Commander Ristuccia (KFOR Commander Major General Michele Ristuccia) who was correct and what I promised to (NATO SG) Jens Stoltenberg. We have no obligations towards anyone else.

- Dialogue is completely meaningless. When they teach someone how to talk, and not face us with new provocations and new situations on the ground every day, when they learn that, then we will talk. Until that happens, let them talk among themselves, there are plenty of reasons for it.

Visoki Decani Monastery: Urgent appeal for peace and restraint in Kosovo (RTS, social media)

“With profound concern we urgently call upon all parties involved to ensure that the escalating issues in Northern #Kosovo are addressed through peaceful means”, Serbian Orthodox Church Visoki Decani Monastery said last night, RTS report.

In a post on Twitter the Monastery also wrote that they “express sincere sorrow for all those who have suffered injuries or any form of mistreatment in the recent weeks, acts which we unequivocally condemn”.

“We also stand against the unjust imprisonment of any individual on unfounded and spurious grounds, as well as against their alleged mistreatment in detention facilities. This has been a consistent message of our Bishop Teodosije and the #Serbian #Orthodox #Church clergy in Kosovo in the last weeks. Оur Church stands firm with its people and calls on everyone to express their legitimate dissatisfaction against any injustice in a peaceful and dignified manner”.

Read the appeal in its entirety at: rb.gy/7g2gy

Todic and Simic to file lawsuit against Minister Krasniqi and a media worker for their allegations (KoSSev)

Former Leposavic mayor Zoran Todic and Serbian List Presidency Member Slavko Simic announced filing a lawsuit against a journalist P.S. who they said linked them with the incident in Leposavic when media workers were attacked. The same lawsuit also includes Kosovo Minister for Administration and Local Self-Governance Elbert Krasniqi who said that Todic and Simic “headed the criminal group” that allegedly prevented the meeting of new Leposavic Albanian mayor Lulzim Hetemi with newly appointed municipal directors there, KoSSev portal reports.

Todic and Simic, together with their lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic in a lawsuit said the above-mentioned individuals on Facebook and some media in Pristina “falsely, without any grounds, evidence and reasons” brought them in connection with the attack against journalists, respectively presented them falsely “as leaders of criminal group” only because they gathered with people to peacefully protest in front of Leposavic municipal building.

“It is about absolute lies that represent direct and impermissible threats and drawing the target on the foreheads of Todic and Simic, but also on all citizens of Leposavic who gather for three weeks to peacefully defend their basic human rights”, Serbian List said, adding the aim of those acts is to intimidate the Serbs and “force them give up their struggle for legitimate interests and in opposing Kurti’s terror”.

They also said that Leposavic municipality representatives on behalf of the Serbian List clearly and unequivocally condemned each attack against journalists and said those acts were impermissible.

One more Serb arrested at Jarinje on June 17 (Radio KIM)

Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced that a Serb D.S. was arrested at Jarinje crossing point on June 17, saying that he “attacked Albanian journalists in the north”, Radio KIM reports.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija in reaction to his announcement said that “fake police minister Svecla instead of apologizing for arresting an innocent man Nemanja Vlaskovic in Leposavic under false accusations that he physically assaulted journalists which is a blatant lie, and unfounded arrests of Rados Petrovic, Dusan Obrenovic and Milun Milenkovic, once again declared a Serb as a criminal”. The Office also said D.S. is a medical technician from Mitrovica North and was arrested upon returning from central Serbia with his wife and small daughter.

“Svecla known for overturning EULEX vehicles and his patron Kurti known for throwing tear gas, stun grenades and closure of media, have the least right to declare someone criminal because they invented violent and criminal methods in Kosovo and Metohija”, the Office said in a statement.

Serbian List reacting to the arrest said it represents Pristina’s plan to expel the Serbian population from Kosovo and urged the international community to react.

“Implementing its hellish plan by which half Serbs should be expelled to central Serbia, and the other half taken to Kosovo casamates, anti-Serbian regime of Albin Kurti continues persecution of Serbs in northern Kosovo and Metohija, in front of entire international community, largest military mission in Europe, KFOR and largest EU mission in Europe – EULEX”, reads the statement.

Lawyer: Serb from Leposavic arrested on June 16, sent to one-month detention (Kosovo Online)

Nemanja Vlaskovic, a young Serb from Leposavic arrested by Kosovo police on June 16 for allegedly attacking the journalists, was sent to one-month detention as per decision of the Basic Court in Mitrovica North, his defense lawyer Predrag Miljkovic said, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Miljkovic said he is very displeased with the court's decision, adding he presented to the court the photographs and recordings clearly showing that his client in no way committed what he is charged with. He announced filing an appeal to this decision. Vlaskovic had been transferred to the prison facility in Podujevo, following the decision on the detention.

Kosovo Online portal recalled that Kosovo Interior Minister Xhellal Svecla in a post announcing arrest of Vlaskovic, published a photo of a person with hood and glasses, and next to it a photo of Vlaskovic with his face uncovered claiming it is a person who took part in the attack against Albanian journalists in Leposavic on May 29.

The photos that circulated the social media later and were sent to the Serbian media outlets showed Vlaskovic being in a group of protesters without a mask and few meters away from the person wearing the hood and glasses, which Svecla said was Vlaskovic.

More about it can be read in KoSSev article at: rb.gy/mawsx

Spokesperson: NATO takes events in Kosovo very seriously (N1)

NATO takes the events in northern Kosovo very seriously. KFOR is taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo, as authorized under the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu tweeted on Sunday, N1 reports.

She noted that KFOR’s commitment to the implementation of its mandate is unwavering, as demonstrated by the recent additional deployment of 500 troops.

“We once again remind all parties of their obligations to KFOR under the Military Technical Agreement, including respect for the Administrative Boundary Line, procedures for the Kosovo Police and the 2013 Agreement on the deployment of the Kosovo Security Forces to the north. These obligations are designed to ensure coordinated action, avoid escalation and preserve a safe and secure environment”, Lungescu underlined.

Petkovic: Kurti’s special forces occupied Mitrovica North on Friday night (N1, KoSSev, Tanjug)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said Saturday that there was ‘a state of wartime siege’ on Friday night in Mitrovica North, N1 reports.

“Kurti’s special forces with rifles and armored vehicles literally occupied the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica,“ he said. Addressing the extraordinary press conference on Saturday, Petkovic called on the international community to stop Pristina PM Albin Kurti, because if that does not happen, there will be nothing left to talk about.

He said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will continue talks with American and European officials on Saturday over the situation in northern Kosovo.

Speaking about the recent events in the north of Kosovo, Petkovic said that special forces from the southern part of Mitrovica entered the northern part with 30 armored vehicles and harassed the town.

“They made a security ring, had checkpoints around the perimeter where they harassed, searched people and cursed at them. This night was a real hell, it was worse than if the curfew had been introduced, here Kurti is constantly provoking people and wants conflicts and war (…)”, Petkovic said.

On Saturday morning he said armored vehicles have been replaced by Skodas, but special vehicles with rifles are still present. “There are also police in civilian clothes, the ROSU police, they use cars with Serbian license plates to be less conspicuous and they are looking for Serbs to arrest in the north“, Petkovic said.

International Media

U.S. Demands Serbia 'Immediately' Release Three Detained Kosovar Police Officers (RFE)

The United States has urged Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to immediately release three Kosovar police officers detained on what it called “spurious charges.”

“We call on President Vucic and the Serbian government to immediately and unconditionally release the three Kosovo police detained on June 14,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement on June 17.

“Their arrest and ongoing detention on spurious charges has exacerbated an already tense situation,” it added.

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti on June 13 presented a five-point plan that includes the prospect of fresh local elections in northern Kosovo and a reduction in the presence of special police to defuse tensions in the region.

The statement said Washington continues “to call on both Serbia and Kosovo to follow the three-point plan outlined by the EU and return to the EU-facilitated Dialogue without delay.”

Kosovo said the three police officers went missing on June 14 during a patrol aimed at preventing smuggling. Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla accused Serbia of "entering the territory of Kosovo and kidnapping" the three policemen.

Belgrade, meanwhile, said the officers were arrested "deep inside" Serbian territory.

KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, said in a statement that it was unclear where the police officers were at the time of their arrest.