UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 5, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Cameron offers support for Kosovo's security and new recognitions (Koha)
Government decides to remove stickers for vehicles with Serbian license plates (RTK)
Svecla from border zone in north: Police are vigilantly protecting borders (RTK)
Sinani: Stopping Svecla's visit to Valley proves that Serbia does not want normalization with Kosovo (Klan)
Kosovo warns of reciprocity with Serbia in permits for official visits (Koha)
KFOR publishes footage of Italian carabinieri training for crowd and riot control (Reporteri)
Serbian opposition politician says he was beaten by Radoicic (media)
Haziri warns of EU’s "collective measures” if Kosovo does not fulfill its obligations in dialogue (Dukagjini)
Aliu reacts to claims of three NGOs regarding Kelkos' environmental permit (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic thanks Mitsotakis for Greece's respect of Serbia's integrity, sovereignty (Tanjug, media)
Serbian Patriarch: We should forgive, pray for peace with Albanians (N1, FoNet, media)
Cameron visits Gracanica Monastery (Kosovo Online, Raska-Prizren Eparchy)
Tanjug reporter: Claims by Kosovo police I was allowed to enter Kosovo untrue (media)
Kosovo Government revoked decision on stickers for Serbian license plates (KoSSev)
Cameron says what happened in Banjska must not happen again (N1, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media

Cameron offers support for Kosovo's security and new recognitions (Koha)

The British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, has emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans, as he has made the commitment for continuous support of Kosovo. Cameron, who stayed in Pristina on Thursday as part of his first visit to Kosovo in the capacity of British diplomat, said that the many conflicts around the world have influenced Great Britain to be as supportive of its friends as possible.

"We live in a world of great uncertainty, great instability, a world of great conflict and it is a time when countries like Britain need to support our friends, work closely on our important alliances and invest in areas which have been unstable but are now showing great signs of stability and progress. And that's why we're here and that's why we want to continue working with you," Cameron said during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla.

As one of the most important issues for Kosovo, Cameron has qualified the creation of security for all citizens."Above all, the most important thing is to build a state where everyone feels that they have a secure future, all communities," Cameron said in Pristina.

In addition to the aspect of security, the British diplomat has pledged to support Kosovo also in the field of foreign policy and ensuring new statehood recognitions.

"We are great supporters of independence, sovereignty and the right of Kosovo to be recognized by others as a complete, sovereign country and member of the family of nations. We are here to support you, to promote you, to help you in all the ways we can", he said.

During his stay in Kosovo Cameron also visited the British members of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR. He thanked the British troops for their service and dedication in support of the security of Kosovo and the region.

He also met the KFOR Commander Ozkan Ulutas.

Government decides to remove stickers for vehicles with Serbian license plates (RTK)

The government of Kosovo approved yesterday the decision to remove the paper sticker regime for vehicles with Serbian license plates.

In the press release issued by the government, it is stated that the removal of the sticker paper regime is an act of good neighborliness and comes after full recognition of the license plates of the Republic of Kosovo by Serbia.

"The decision enters into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette", the announcement states.

Svecla from border zone in north: Police are vigilantly protecting borders (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, visited on Thursday the border zone in the north of Kosovo.

"Together with Minister Elbert Krasniqi, General Director of Police Gazmend Hoxha and Director of the Border Department Fehmi Xhata, today we visited the northern border zone above the village of Bernjak, which lies along our asset, Lake Ujman. Our police at the highest level of duty and with vigilance are protecting our borders and continuing to be at the service of all our citizens. This is despite the successive attacks by criminal and terrorist groups in Serbia, which have occurred 115 times in the north of our country alone," Svecla wrote on Facebook.

He further emphasized that together with the team, the border police officials of the Rapid Border Intervention Unit talked about the need to advance the capacities at the border points and manage the border zone as efficiently as possible.

"My support will not be lacking for the Kosovo Police to guarantee the safety and integrity of our Republic", Svecla added.

Sinani: Stopping Svecla's visit to Valley proves that Serbia does not want normalization with Kosovo (Klan)

Ardita Sinani, adviser to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for the Presheva Valley, has said that the suspension of the visit of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, in the Presheva Valley proves once again that Serbia does not want normalization of relations with Kosovo.

"This invitation was made by the Albanian National Council, while we were making organizational preparations for hosting the minister, we received the notification last night that this visit was canceled last night by the Serbian authorities without any justification, even though the request from the Republic of Kosovo was made in accordance with the agreements in Brussels".

"This proves that Serbia does not let Albanians the use of national symbols, for official use, as well as a series of other rights that minorities enjoy everywhere in the world. We think that this case should also be raised by the biggest international authorities, especially the USA and the EU, in relation to the issue of the Presheva Valley", Sinani said.

Kosovo warns of reciprocity with Serbia in permits for official visits (Koha)

The government of Kosovo has warned to return to the principle of reciprocity with Serbia after the Serbian authorities refused the visit of the Minister of the Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, to Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc.

"In compliance with the Brussels agreement and practices so far, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora we forwarded the agenda and the necessary information of the delegation to the Liaison Office of Serbia, for permission to enter Serbia and to carry out the visit…Regarding the issue of visits by state officials, we will act on the principles of reciprocity as a value of equality between our two states", Svecla wrote on Facebook.

However, the political analyst Arbnor Sadiku considers that in this tense climate in relations with Serbia, this visit was not necessary and provokes the situation between Kosovo and Serbia. ‘I think that this will also be the international position since I don't know what the agenda was, maybe to use the populism of license plates or for electoral issues since it is seen that maybe this year, we will have parliamentary elections in Kosovo", Sadiku said.

"We have a large number of citizens (Albanians from Serbia) who live in Kosovo - especially in Pristina and Fushe-Kosove. This can be used for populism by the Vetevendosje Movement that for the first time we have RKS signs in the Republic of Serbia and other things. Seen in the long term, this visit was unnecessary, but seen from the internal interests of the Vetevendosje Movement and Minister Svecla, it was certainly positive, because this would be manifested in the upcoming elections", he emphasized.

Sadiku added that Serbia used the refusal of the visit to avoid both internal and external pressure.

KFOR publishes footage of Italian carabinieri training for crowd and riot control (Reporteri)

KFOR has announced that the Specialized Multinational Unit is conducting crowd control and riot training every day. KFOR says that they are fully focused on the implementation of the mandate.

"KFOR MSU Together stronger for peace. The Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) is involved daily in crowd and riot control training to maintain high operational capacity. KFOR is fully focused on the day-to-day implementation of its mandate – based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 – to ensure a safe environment for all communities living in Kosovo and free movement, " KFOR announced.

Serbian opposition politician says he was beaten by Radoicic (media)

Relatives of the chairman of the Serbian Republican Party, Nikola Sandulovic, have said that he was brutally beaten by the Serbian secret police in the BIA building. Amongst the masked persons who beat him, Sandulovic said that he recognised Milan Radoicic, the Serb politician from the north of Kosovo who took responsibility for the September attack in Banjska of Zvecan municipality, media report.

The head of the Vetevendosje Movement Parliamentary Group, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, reacted to this case. “Straight from Milosevic's playbook, Aleksandar Vucic, former Minister of Milosevic regime applying brutal methods to those admitting the truth of Serbia's crimes in Kosovo. Vucic is century away from accepting the truth of committed crimes, while endangering the existence of those who will,” Kusari-Lila wrote on X platform.

Media reported that British MP Alicia Kearns has expressed concern for the safety and health of the Serbian politician, Nikola Sandulovic, who was arrested and brutally beaten by the Serbian BIA.

British MP Alicia Kearns has expressed concern for the safety and health of the Serbian politician, Nikola Sandulovic, who was arrested and brutally beaten by the Serbian BIA, who honored the fall of the legendary commander Adem Jashari.

"Extremely worried about the safety and health of Nikola Sandulovic after the reports that he was brutalized by Serbian intelligence", she wrote in "X".

She mentioned the irregularities in the elections that were held in Serbia, saying that they were passed "softly" by the United Kingdom, the USA and the EU.

Haziri warns of EU’s "collective measures” if Kosovo does not fulfill its obligations in dialogue (Dukagjini)

Lutfi Haziri, deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has made a serious warning regarding Kosovo's obligations in the agreements with Serbia.

"If Kosovo fails to fulfill its obligations, the second package of sanctions will come into force and it will be a collective measure. There will be collective punishment. We are not talking about the exponents of the government, who of course - will not enter into the restrictions that are being called now - but will qualify for sanctions and the second package will be a collective punishment"

Haziri said adding that going to early elections will not be an amnesty from sanctions for the government.

Speaking about the implementation of agreements with Serbia, Haziri mentioned the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority - for which there is already a European draft statute.

Aliu reacts to claims of three NGOs regarding Kelkos' environmental permit (Klan)

The Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, has reacted to the lawsuit filed by some NGOs, regarding the environmental permit of "Kelko". Aliu said that the case is about a hydropower plant that was built in the 50s, in Lumbardh of Decan.

He clarified the claims of three NGOs, that MMPHI has secretly provided "Kelkos" with a permit.

He said that claims that he has secretly allowed the granting of permission are untrue and unsustainable.

He also said that claims that the company 'Kelkos' acts freely and is his "partner" are also false accusations whose only motive is to create a false impression about the course of the process.

"Thirdly, I want to inform all citizens that this is not a permit for any new Hydropower Plant, but a permit issued in 2022 for the "Lumbardhi 1" Hydropower Plant, built in the pre-war years, when neither we nor the company Kelkos were present", Minister Aliu emphasized

Serbian Language Media

Vucic thanks Mitsotakis for Greece's respect of Serbia's integrity, sovereignty (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke by phone with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday, thanking him for Greece's respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia as well as for its contribution to regional stability, Tanjug news agency reported.

The two officials agreed all conditions were in place for bilateral cooperation to continue to grow stronger in various fields in 2024, too, and noted the opportunities offered by the energy sector, the presidential press office said in a statement. Mitsotakis reiterated his support regarding Serbia's EU path and said he was hoping for more visible progress in 2024.

Vucic and Mitsotakis agreed to meet in Belgrade soon to discuss in more detail the bilateral relations, the situation in the region and global affairs. The statement said representatives of Greek companies were expected to come, too, to discuss with Serbian entrepreneurs the development of economic cooperation.

Serbian Patriarch: We should forgive, pray for peace with Albanians (N1, FoNet, media)

Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), Patriarch Porfirije on Thursday visited the Velika Hoca settlement in Kosovo and said that Christmas is an occasion for each person’s new essential spiritual renewal, that “we should forgive, build peace among ourselves”, and pray to God for peace with the Albanians, N1 reports.

The Patriarch began Wednesday his visit to the SOC holy sites in Kosovo ahead of the Serbian Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7. “We need one another, we are all people, the same blood flows in every human being”, the SOC quoted Patriarch Porfirije as saying.

He added that in God’s love there is a place for everyone, regardless of how they feel and who they belong to. Life with others can be hell if we see the other as an opponent, but life with others can also be heaven if people support each other, live for each other, see the other as an icon of God, their brother and friend, said the Patriarch.

It is important to understand that peace is a spiritual category. We cannot have peace around us if there is unrest within us. If there is intolerance, hatred, aggression among us, within us and with others, then there is no inner peace, no joy, no tranquility, Patriarch Porfirije said.

Cameron visits Gracanica Monastery (Kosovo Online, Raska-Prizren Eparchy)

Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodisije yesterday afternoon together with Bishop Ilarion, Vicar of the Serbian Patriarch, received the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the UK Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Stuart Peach and the British Ambassador in Pristina Nicholas Abbott in the Gracanica Monastery, Kosovo Online portal reports citing statement of Raska-Prizren Eparchy.

In an open conversation, Bishop Teodosije informed the high delegation from Great Britain about the main problems faced by the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people in this area, stressing the need to preserve the survival of the Serbian Church and people and especially to ensure the preservation of the Serbian Orthodox heritage in Kosovo.

During their visit to Gracanica, high representatives of the British Government visited the Gracanica church and became acquainted with the rich history of this Monastery.

Tanjug reporter: Claims by Kosovo police I was allowed to enter Kosovo untrue (media)

Tanjug reporter Andjelko Utjesanovic, who was on Wednesday denied entry in Kosovo said claims by Kosovo police that he was allowed to enter the territory are untrue.

In a statement for the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) website, Utjesanovic said a refusal letter and an email sent by Pristina authorities to the Serbian Orthodox Church to inform it that he had been banned from entering were proof of this.

He noted that a church delegation with which he had set off for Kosovo had been notified of the ban about ten minutes before they had arrived at the Merdare administrative crossing point.