UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak meets Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators in Brussels (media)

Kosovo joins International Committee for Missing Persons (media)

Lajcak meets Vucic; “agreed on importance to urgently take steps to de-escalate” (media)

Stoltenberg after meeting Vucic: Parties to refrain from tensions (RFE/Klan Kosova)

Kurti meets Bakoyannis and Papandreou during stay in Greece (media)

Haradinaj: High time for Kurti to properly read messages of Kosovo’s friends (Kosovapress)

Mehaj: Our military capacities are built in cooperation with the U.S. (Koha)

Abdixiku: Kusari-Lila committed criminal offense by talking to a terrorist like Radojicic (Klan)

Szunyog writes to Konjufca, asks him to send new draft law for KPC to Venice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: I requested that NATO take control to ensure life worthy of humans to Serbs (Tanjug, media)

Vucic: Latest round of Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue discussed with Lajcak (media)

Brussels meetings on dialogue conclude, no trilateral meeting held (Tanjug, media)

Uros Vukasinovic from Leposavic released on bail (Kosovo Online, media)

Serbian List: Silence about Serbian victims done on purpose (Kosovo Online, social media)

International Media:

U.S. Envoy Optimistic About Progress On Normalization Between Kosovo And Serbia (RFE)

Distant Goal: Balkan Women’s Football Struggles to Get Ball Rolling (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Lajcak meets Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators in Brussels (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, held separate meetings with Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic. Lajcak said in a Twitter post that they discussed “a long list of Dialogue issues starting with implementation of the 27 February Agreement and de-escalation in the north. Discussions will continue in the coming period.”

Bislimi said that four topics were discussed in his meeting with Lajcak: the sequencing plan for the Basic Agreement, the terms of reference for monitoring the Basic Agreement, the terms of reference for the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, and the agreement on energy.

Bislimi argued that the EU plan that was sent to the parties is selective and that it focuses on Serbia’s requests and preferences. On the sequencing plan, Bislimi said: “we have concerns about the drafts that Lajcak has sent to the parties so far because we think the plan is selective, it set asides several important provisions of the Basic Agreement, it biasedly pays more attention to Serbia’s requests and preferences, and it does not guarantee a full implementation of the agreement. In this respect, we have tried to have a trilateral meeting where we would decide all obligations that the parties would assume from the Basic Agreement, in a detailed sequencing plan. We did not manage to conclude this mission, but we have made progress. Unfortunately, there was no trilateral meeting, but Mr. Lajcak thought that this could not happen in this phase because it does not guarantee a final concretization of the implementation plan. We have listed and submitted in writing to the EU all our requests and obligations that we believe fall on the Serbian side and which need to be concretized through the implementation plan. Now we wait for the next steps”.

Asked by reporters about the EU’s penalty measures against Kosovo, Bislimi said: “the agreement [of Bratislava] has to do with meeting the EU’s requests and it responds to these requests. For us it was clear from the beginning that this is the road to lift the penalty measures against Kosovo and it is surprising that we have not yet received an explanation letter from Mr. Borrell [EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy] that calls on the European Commission to lift the measures”.

Kosovo joins International Committee for Missing Persons (media)

Kosovo has become a member of the International Committee for Missing Persons, Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. The ICMP is an intergovernmental organization that addresses the issue of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts, violations of human rights, and natural disasters. It is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands. The Ministry said in a statement: “The International Committee for Missing Persons was intensively engaged in Kosovo, during and after the last war, playing an outstanding role in resolving the cases of missing persons during the war in Kosovo, and offering the necessary support in the process of identification of mortal remains through scientific identification methods”.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti too commented on Kosovo’s membership in the ICMP, saying that it will offer justice for families of missing persons. “Today we joined the International Committee for Missing Persons based in The Hague. Our membership will help us ensure greater justice for thousands of Kosovo that were forcibly disappeared during the genocide committed by Serbia, and for their families,” he said.

Lajcak meets Vucic; “agreed on importance to urgently take steps to de-escalate” (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said in a Twitter post on Wednesday that he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, after meeting chief negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia. “We agreed on the importance of urgently taking steps to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo and make swift progress on normalization of relations,” Lajcak tweeted.

Stoltenberg after meeting Vucic: Parties to refrain from tensions (RFE/Klan Kosova)

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said on Wednesday after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, that it is very important to lower tensions in Kosovo and for both Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from violence. “We believe the dialogue [between Kosovo and Serbia] must resume,” he said.

Stoltenberg said that NATO increased the presence of its mission in Kosovo, KFOR, because of the recent tensions in the north. “We will continue to safeguard peace in line with our mandate,” he said, adding that NATO forces will be there to implement their mandate given by the United Nations.

Klan Kosova highlights that before the meeting, Stoltenberg mentioned the KFOR soldiers that were injured during clashes with Serb protesters in March. “93 of our soldiers were attacked, and three of them were seriously wounded. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after the meeting that he is concerned with recent developments in Kosovo and asked NATO, through KFOR, to provide security for Serbs in Kosovo. He argued that Belgrade believes that “the irresponsible actions of the Kosovo government” are the main reason for the recent developments.

Kurti meets Bakoyannis and Papandreou during stay in Greece (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, at the 25th edition of the SYMI International Symposium in Greece, met with member of the Greek Parliament and rapporteur for Kosovo’s membership at the Council of Europe, Dora Bakoyannis, and former Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou. A press release issued by Kurti’s office notes that they exchanged opinions for intensifying bilateral relations between Kosovo and Greece, latest developments in the region, and Kosovo’s application bid at the Council of Europe.

Haradinaj: High time for Kurti to properly read messages of Kosovo’s friends (Kosovapress)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, argued on Wednesday that it is high time for Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to shift away from tense and destructive topics and to properly read the messages of Kosovo’s friends. “It is high time for Kurti to properly read the messages of the unwavering friends of the Republic of Kosovo, the House of Representative’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, offered in good faith, and the understanding of allies and partners during Escobar’s briefing. It is high time for Kurti to shift away from tense and destructive topics, where pro-Russian leaders like Dodik and Vucic continue to vegetate,” he said.

“Kosovo is obliged to do its share of the work, and to embrace the unreserved support of the U.S. and allies, in closing the cracks and paths of interference by Russia and China in the Western Balkans. Kurti may have his pace and watch, but Kosovo has no time to lose, especially at a time when the messages and expectations of our ally are clear and direct. The time is now.”

Mehaj: Our military capacities are built in cooperation with the U.S. (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defence, Armend Mehaj, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that he welcomes the bill of the U.S. Senate that foresees close cooperation in the military area between Kosovo and the United States of America. He said that according to the bill, the Kosovo Army will engage in joint military trainings and drills led by the U.S. “Our military capacities, education, training, missions and operations, are developed and will always be developed in cooperation and with the support from the U.S., as our strategic partner,” he said.

Abdixiku: Kusari-Lila committed criminal offense by talking to a terrorist like Radojicic (Klan)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, said that the published audio recording of the head of the LVV Parliamentary Group, Mimoza Kusari-Lila with Slavko Simic of the Serbian List and the Serbian criminal, Milan Radojicic, is a criminal offense.

"This audio-recording is a criminal offense, as the head of the Vetëvendosje Parliamentary Group talked to a terrorist. Communication with a wanted terrorist is a criminal offense," Abdixhiku said.

"If any of my colleagues talked to a terrorist, I would fire him," he added.

Abdixhiku also spoke about the possibility of cooperation with the opposition parties. He told Klan Kosova that no one should count on the LDK to return to the old manner of government.

"We cannot cooperate and govern by calling Mimoza Kusari to coordinate with Milan Radojicic and form the new government," Abdixhiku said.

Szunyog writes to Konjufca, asks him to send new draft law for KPC to Venice (media)

The head of the EU Office for Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, has asked the Speaker of the Assembly Glauk Konjufca to once again send the new draft law for the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPK) for consultation to the Venice Commission.

"Given the importance of this initiative and the fact that the draft law includes new provisions that have not previously been evaluated by the Venice Commission, I strongly encourage you to (re)consult the Venice Commission and ensure that its recommendations are properly incorporated into the finalized draft law," Szunyog writes in this letter.

He further has expressed his readiness for the EU office to help the Assembly of Kosovo with comments and technical assistants.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: I requested that NATO take control to ensure life worthy of humans to Serbs (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday evening in Brussels that he had requested that NATO take control to ensure "a life worthy of humans" to Serbs in Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reports.

"We had meetings with (EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav) Lajcak and, of course, an important meeting with Jens Stoltenberg. I conveyed to Stoltenberg all our concerns over the position of Serbs as a result of arbitrary arrests, persecution of the Serb population and a desire to expel Serbs not only from the north of Kosovo, but from entire Kosovo and Metohija. I requested that NATO and KFOR perform their roles in line with UNSCR 1244 and the UN Charter", Vucic told reporters after the meeting with Stoltenberg.

He said Belgrade had submitted in writing full evidence of what had been done against the Serbs in Kosovo after Pristina Prime Minister Albin Kurti had taken the office.

"We requested that NATO take control to ensure a life worthy of humans in Kosovo and Metohija. It is our duty to request that from those who are responsible for that under UNSCR 1244", Vucic said.

“Good to meet @predsednikrs to discuss the recent violence in northern Kosovo, which left 93 @NATO_KFOR troops injured. #NATO has deployed extra troops & implements its #UN mandate impartially. Pristina & Belgrade must prevent escalation & engage in the #EU-facilitated dialogue”, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg wrote in a post on Twitter.

The video address of two officials is available at: rb.gy/osm7o

Vucic: Latest round of Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue discussed with Lajcak (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the EU Special Envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak in Brussels on Wednesday.

In a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram profile, Vucic said the meeting with Lajcak had addressed the latest round of the Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue and ways to calm tensions on the ground.

"Serbia continues to insist on concrete steps aimed at protecting the lives of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as on implementation of agreements reached to date", Vucic added.

“Had a useful meeting with @predsednikrs @avucic after today’s meeting of Chief Negotiators. We agreed on the importance to urgently take steps to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo and make swift progress on normalisation of relations”, Lajcak wrote in a post onTwitter.

Brussels meetings on dialogue conclude, no trilateral meeting held (Tanjug, media)

EU special envoy Miroslav Lajcak's Brussels meetings with the chief negotiators of Belgrade and Pristina, Petar Petkovic and Besnik Bislimi, concluded on Wednesday afternoon, but no trilateral meeting was held.

"Belgrade's delegation took part in discussions with Lajcak and his team in a tete-a-tete Petkovic-Lajcak format as well as in bilateral discussions that spanned several hours. As always before, Belgrade was ready for direct discussions with Pristina", a source in the Serbian delegation told Tanjug.

A source in the EU administration said on Tuesday the EU was hoping a trilateral meeting would be held as well.

“I hosted the Chief negotiators of Kosovo @BislimiBesnik and Serbia @PetkovicPetar in Brussels. We discussed a long list of Dialogue issues starting with implementation of the 27 February Agreement and de-escalation in the north. Discussions will continue in the coming period”, Lajcak wrote in a post on Twitter.

Uros Vukasinovic from Leposavic released on bail (Kosovo Online, media)

Urosa Vukasinovic from Leposavic, arrested by Kosovo police a month ago under charges of allegedly attacking journalists, had been released on bail, his lawyer confirmed, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Vukasinovic came back to Leposavic yesterday in the afternoon. He works for MTS.doo company, daughter company of Telekom Serbia, registered in Kosovo.

He was arrested on June 19, not far from his home in Tvrdjan settlement in Leposavic, by persons in a civilian vehicle without any markings. First media reports and reactions to his arrest suggested it was an abduction.

Serbian List: Silence about Serbian victims done on purpose (Kosovo Online, social media)

Serbian List said in a statement yesterday that the silence about crimes committed against Serbs in Kosovo was done on purpose in order not to request responsibility and prosecute the criminals, but also, as they said, not to endanger the narrative that Albanians are the only victims of the conflict, Kosovo Online portal reports.

The Serbian List said that while “fairytales are being told international representatives about rule of law and respecting the rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, anti-Serb regime of Albin Kurti and he personally did nothing to find responsible for at least a single crime committed against the Serbs, although some of them were committed more than two decades ago”.

Serbian List also said that while PM Kurti commemorated Albanian victims from Orahovac yesterday (July 19) “he did not deign to mention also mass murders, kidnappings and expulsion of Serbs from this or any other municipality in Kosovo and Metohija” adding that Kurti failed to mention any of the crimes committed against the Serbs in Kosovo.

“Kurti has forgotten yesterday to recall the massive kidnappings and murders of Serbs from Orahovac and request identification and prosecution of criminals who remain free 25 years after that crime”.

Kurti in a post on social media yesterday said that Serbian army and police “on July 19, 1998 killed, kidnapped, wounded and tortured Albanians in Orahovac”.

Serbian media on July 18 reported about commemoration and memorial service served to the Serbs and Roma killed and kidnapped during Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) armed attacks against Orahovac and neighboring villages from 18 to 22 July, 1998.

International Media

U.S. Envoy Optimistic About Progress On Normalization Between Kosovo And Serbia (RFE)

U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar says he anticipates major progress within the next year on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

The top U.S. State Department negotiator for the Western Balkans testified on July 18 before a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, covering a range of topics from efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region to potential additional consequences for Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who Escobar said remains focused on dismantling the Dayton peace agreement and the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Escobar pledged to continue to call out and hold accountable anyone who undermines the Dayton agreement, which ended the country's 1992-95 civil war or “threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character of the country.”