UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 14, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani, Hovenier, civil society organisations condemn violence (media)

Osmani expects new mayors in northern municipalities in autumn (Koha)

Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss actions to de-escalate situation in north (media)

U.S. welcome Kosovo-EU agreement on de-escalation in north (Klan Kosova)

Sarrazin: Measures will be lifted only after three EU points are implemented (RTK)

Assembly adopts law on minimum wage; war veterans warn with steps (media)

Ahmet Ismaili elected governor of Central Bank of Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Withdrawal of 25 percent of Kosovo police in north – a trick (Kosovo Online, TV Pink, media)

Elshani said 25 percent of police forces withdrew from municipal facilities in northern Kosovo, but provided no details (KoSSev, media)

EULEX: Fewer people in front of northern municipalities, all efforts focused on de-escalation (RTS, Tanjug)

Detention of Milun Milenkovic extended for two more months (KoSSev, media)

Lawyer: Indictment against Trajkovic delivered in Albanian only, without documents from case file (Kosovo online)

DefMin: US Sanctions don’t mean Vulin dismissal (BETA, N1, RTV)

International Media:

Brawl erupts at Kosovo parliament after lawmaker throws water on PM (Reuters)

MPs Clash Physically as PM Kurti Speaks in Parliament (BIRN)

Tempers Flare In Kosovo's Parliament Over Wiretaps Of Contact With Fugitive Serbian Party Chief (RFE)

Put to Bed by Albania, ‘Open Balkan’ Had Long Flattered to Deceive (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani, Hovenier, civil society organisations condemn violence (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, commenting on the physical confrontation between MPs in the Kosovo Assembly on Thursday, said that the use of physical violence as means to address political dissatisfaction, differences or disagreements is the biggest damage that can be done to the institutions that were established with so much work and sacrifice.

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in a Twitter post that “unfortunate to see what happened in Kosovo’s National Assembly today. I wish I didn't have to say this: resorting to violence is never an acceptable means to express disagreement. In any democracy there are often strongly held differences. But differences should be resolved through discourse – a fundamental purpose of any democracy’s legislature.”

EU Head of Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, said: “disappointing scenes of violence seen today in the Assembly. The Assembly is not a place for physical attacks, but a place to discuss proposals and policies in a democratic manner. Discourse and exchange of ideas are basic foundations of democracy”.

French Ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, wrote on Twitter: “The Kosovo we love is a vivid democracy. Kosovo deserves more debate and less tensions, substance instead of clash.”

The People’s Attorney and several civil society organisations issued a joint reaction condemning the violence. “The People’s Attorney and civil society organisations call on everyone to refrain from using a language that incites hatred and violence, to be careful and with their actions, to create a environment of respect, tolerance and constructive debate, that helps implement the mission in representing the interests of the people and the country,” the statement notes. “Such events cannot be repeated ever again because they have grave consequences for the people and are not good for the country.”

Osmani expects new mayors in northern municipalities in autumn (Koha)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Thursday that she expects the four northern municipalities to have new mayors in autumn. She argued that the best way would be for Serbs to hold a petition to remove the current mayors as this would prove that Serbs really want elections.

Osmani said that Kosovo has not received guarantees from the European Union that Serbs in the north will take part in the elections, which are expected to be held after summer. “So, we will act in accordance with our obligations, but the guarantee for the participation of Serbs would be if we go with the procedure of the 20 percent. Because if they ask for an election process with these signatures, then there is a much better chance that they will take part in the election process, and this is the reason why I have insisted to follow this procedure,” she said.

Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss actions to de-escalate situation in north (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani hosted U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier on Thursday, and discussed the latest developments, with special emphasis on the actions of Kosovo’s institutions to de-escalate the situation in the north. A press release issued by Osmani’s office notes that “the meeting also discussed continued coordination with partners, knowing that both our institutions and the United States share the objective for a democratic and multiethnic Kosovo, integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures, and with inviolable sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

U.S. welcomes Kosovo-EU agreement on de-escalation in north (Klan Kosova)

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Prishtina told Klan Kosova on Thursday that the U.S. welcomes Kosovo’s agreement with the European Union to de-escalate the situation in the north and normalisation of relations with Serbia. “We welcome the agreement reached between the EU Special Representative and the Government of Kosovo on first steps towards de-escalation in the north of Kosovo and to move forward in implementation of the existing Dialogue agreements. The U.S. and EU were clear on our expectations from both parties. We continue urging Kosovo and Serbia to take further concrete steps towards de-escalation of tensions and avoiding actions which might be interpreted as escalatory,” the spokesperson said.

Sarrazin: Measures will be lifted only after three EU points are implemented (RTK)

German Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, said in an interview with RTK on Thursday that the withdrawal of police unites from the municipal buildings in the north is a good sign from the Kosovo government but that the EU measures will not be lifted until Kosovo implements the EU three-point plan. “From what I understand, Prime Minister Kurti has coordinated an agreement, and this is a positive sign, but it is only the first step. The EU three-point plan is very clear. We want the mayors of municipalities not to work from the municipal buildings but from other locations and for Kosovo Police special units to withdraw in and around the municipal premises,” he said.

Commenting on Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla’s statement calling the EU a paper tiger, Sarrazin said such remarks hurt Kosovo’s relations with the European Union.

Kosovo Assembly adopts law on minimum wage; war veterans warn with steps (media)

With 60 votes in favor, members of the Kosovo Assembly on Thursday adopted the Law on the Minimum Wage, which foresees that the minimum wage will be €264. Several news websites note that the law provides that until the list of KLA war veterans is finalised, the Ministry of Finance will decide on the pensions, depending on budget possibilities, costs of life and potential inflation. Acting leader of the KLA War Organisations, Faton Klinaku, took to Facebook to say that the war veterans were left out from the law. “I am learning from the media that after opposition MPs left the hall, the MPs of this unscrupulous regime passed the law on the minimum wage by removing the KLA war veterans. Our leading bodies will meet, and we will decide on our future steps,” he wrote in a Facebook post. Former AAK MP and representative of the war veterans, Gazmend Syla, told Klan Kosova on Thursday evening that the war veterans will protest the Kosovo government’s decisions on Saturday in Prishtina. “We are in contact with civil society too because the protest will be all-popular, it will be beyond the political parties, and then we will decide what to do next,” he said.

Ahmet Ismaili elected governor of Central Bank of Kosovo (media)

The Kosovo Assembly elected Ahmet Ismaili as governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo on Thursday, with 56 votes in favor.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Withdrawal of 25 percent of Kosovo police in north – a trick (Kosovo Online, TV Pink, media)

Serbs are always perceived as a disruptive element and there is a matrix that everybody should get all, but everything to be taken away from Serbs, President Aleksandar Vucic told TV Pink last night, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Commenting on Pristina’s decision to withdraw 25 percent of police forces from and around municipal facilities in Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, Vucic said it was about a trick.

“I guess they will now beat us and arrest us 25 percent less, although they do not guarantee that. We have to withdraw from around the buildings, because that does not contribute to the peace”, Vucic said ironically.

He also pointed out that Serbs are being mistreated in Kosovo on a daily basis.

“Serbs say - we have been waiting 10 years to establish ZSO, you arrest our people, shoot at them, seven Serbs have been wounded since the beginning of the year”, Vucic said.

“Nobody cares who shot Dragisa Galjak (wounded on May 29, in Zvecan during clashes with KFOR) and he had been shot twice in the back by a member of so-called Kosovo police. Nobody conducts an investigation about that, neither Pristina, nor EULEX, nor KFOR. Wounding of the Serbs is permitted. But if you carry a flag, wear a t-shirt, or Kurti, Svecla and Bislimi personally do not like you then you may get arrested and spend more than two years in prison”, he added.

He said groundless arrests took place in Strpce as well, noting they aimed at leaving this municipality without leadership, and make it inclined to Pristina.

Vucic said that despite Brussels agreement, Pristina erected checkpoints, sent special police forces to northern Kosovo, only to demonstrate its power and force and mistreat the Serbs there

Elshani said 25 percent of police forces withdrew from municipal facilities in northern Kosovo, but provided no details (KoSSev, media)

Kosovo police started yesterday with partial withdrawal of its forces from and around municipal facilities in northern Kosovo, in line with the agreement from Bratislava. The action was concluded yesterday, Kosovo police Mitrovica North region deputy commander Veton Elshani told KoSSev portal.

However, he could not provide details about the number of police officers that left municipal facilities or how many stayed there nor what units were in question, the portal added.

He also said that in coordination with EULEX and KFOR, Kosovo police will also do assessment of the security situation in the north and, depending on it, consider further reduction of police presence in those locations.

He also could not say the exact number of police officers present in northern Kosovo.

On the other hand, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti speaking about “successes achieved during his mandate in northern Kosovo” in Kosovo Assembly yesterday said that around 800 Kosovo police officers are present in the four northern municipalities in Kosovo.

He also said that those 25 percent police forces withdrawn from municipal facilities will not leave northern Kosovo, but according to him will be deployed in the same municipalities “where there is most need” for them.

EULEX: Fewer people in front of northern municipalities, all efforts focused on de-escalation (RTS, Tanjug)

EULEX told Tanjug news agency this morning that the situation in northern Kosovo is currently calm and that fewer people gather in front of municipal facilities in Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan.

This way EULEX responded to Tanjug’s query about the current situation in the north. They also said all efforts are focused on de-escalating the situation there.

“This is necessary in the interest of security in Kosovo and wellbeing of all its communities”, EULEX said.

Asked where four Albanian mayors, elected at April 23 elections whom Serbs deem illegitimate, currently are, they responded the question should be addressed to the mayors themselves.

Detention of Milun Milenkovic extended for two more months (KoSSev, media)

Detention of Milun Milenkovic, arrested in the center of Mitrovica North in the mid of last month has been extended by two more months, his defense lawyer Miodrag Brkljac told KoSSev portal.

He said the Basic Court in Pristina made a new decision on detention on July 11, but he received it only yesterday in the afternoon, upon requesting the court to declare it on detention measure.

“It is only after my intervention that they sent me a decision”, Brkljac said.

He added he will file an appeal on this decision to the Court of Appeals, noting if the court would act based on facts and circumstances then it would allow his client to defend in freedom or be under house arrest at least, expressing beliefs that his client is innocent.

The lawyer also warned that the current political situation may negatively affect the decision on Milenkovic.

“I am afraid that the political situation is such that the court could hardly resist to try based on facts, but politics has influence there”, he said.

Lawyer: Indictment against Trajkovic delivered in Albanian only, without documents from case file (Kosovo online)

Dejan Vasic, defense lawyer of Sladjan Trajkovic former member of Kosovo police, accused by Pristina special prosecution for allegedly committing war crimes, said preliminary hearing for his client has been scheduled on July 20 and that he received the indictment yesterday in the Albanian language only and without a single document from the case file, Kosovo Online portal reports.

He argued that because of this defense was practically made impossible. He also said he went personally to the special prosecution only to be told that the indictment and the list have not been translated into Serbian at all.

“I really do not know how the special prosecutor thinks the defense can prepare for a preliminary hearing on July 20”, Vasic said.

He noted such acts constitute harsh violation of the legal procedure that he had not experienced during 16-year long work on war crimes cases.

“Violation of the right to defense started by secret investigation carried out for six months, without permission to the defense and a defendant to be present during investigative acts. This way neither me nor accused Sladjan for more than half a year were informed about what accusations keep him sick in detention of high security risk all this time”, Vasic said.

DefMin: US Sanctions don’t mean Vulin dismissal (BETA, N1, RTV)

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said on Thursday that Security Information Agency (BIA) chief Aleksandar Vulin will not necessarily be dismissed after the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on him.

He told Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) that the Serbian authorities should consider the consequences, messages, warnings and causes of the US decision to impose the sanctions. Vucevic added that he expects the Council for National Security to take a decision in the next few days, adding that the sanctions are “a huge challenge for Serbia”.

“It’s a message to the state, not just to one party or one man but also towards that same man who personifies the state, President Aleksandar Vucic”, the Defense Minister said. Vucevic took over the post of Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) head from Vucic recently.

He said that the Serbian defense and security system has no evidence that Vulin had any contacts or links with drug trafficking or other crimes which he has been accused of. “This is a clear message from the US in the context of geopolitics… Vulin is undoubtedly under US sanctions because of his policies and proximity to Russia”, Vucevic said.

International Media

Brawl erupts at Kosovo parliament after lawmaker throws water on PM (Reuters)

Fistfights broke out at the Kosovo parliament and water was thrown on the prime minister after a heated three-day public debate over an audio recording between a ruling party member and an official from the Serb-majority north.

Kosovo's opposition has long accused nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti's handling of tensions in the north that has strained relations with longtime Western allies the United States and the European Union.

Unrest in the north has intensified more recently since ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo after April elections that the Serbs boycotted demanding implementation of a decade-old deal for more autonomy. Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of Kosovo's population, while Serbs account for about 5%.

On Thursday, video from inside the parliament showed an opposition party MP throwing water at Kurti and his deputy. The brawl then spread when other opposition and governing coalition lawmakers approached the podium where ministers are seated.