Albanian Language Media:

• SRSG Ziadeh meets Sarrazin, dialogue is only viable way forward (Express)
• Osmani certain Ukraine’s recognition will come with victory over Russia (Koha)
• State Department: Talks on the CBK regulation must continue urgently (RFE)
• U.S. disappointed with no progress on implementation of Basic Agreement (Koha)
• German Embassy: Kosovo to make next step, form Association (Koha)
• UNDP publishes Public Pulse Brief, “decreased satisfaction with leaders” (media)
• CBK high delegation holds meeting at Kosovo embassy in Brussels (media)
• Bislimi meets Sarrazin, calls for lifting of EU measures (media)
• Konjufca meets delegation of the German Bundestag Defense Committee (media)
• Zubin Potok mayor: We don’t rule out possibility of tensions in Zvecan (media)
• UNICEF, EU publish study of children in street situations in Kosovo (media)
• Bislimi meets United Nations Office for Project Services representative (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic from the Tirana Summit: Important topics ahead, and a conversation with Zelensky (RTS)
• “We haven’t faced our own crimes“ (KoSSev)
• Youth in Strpce employed through programme My First Salary gathered in front of post office hoping to withdraw their salaries (Kosovo Online)
• Queues in front of Zvecan Postal Saving Bank office, citizens say they feel endangered (Kosovo Online)
• Surlic: Brussels meeting showed that there is no dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)
• ODIHR report on Serbian December 17 elections (N1)
• Brnabic: ODIHR recommendations show elections were fair, democratic (Tanjug)
• Lazovic: ODIHR report is just what Serbian opposition expected (N1, BETA)
• Tepic: ODIHR final report confirms election fraud (N1)
• Belgrade, Pristina dialogue without progress; this year crucial to preserve peace and security (Kosovo Online)
• Konrad: EU has pressure mechanisms, but Belgrade and Pristina must reach solution (Kosovo Online)
• Members of German Bundestag visit Visoki Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Without Kosovo Serbs living dignified lives, there can be no peace and stability in the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Separate Kitchen, Private Gym – Life Behind Bars Comes with Perks for Albania’s VIP Prisoners (Balkan Insight)

   

Albanian Language Media  

  SRSG Ziadeh meets Sarrazin, dialogue is only viable way forward (Express)

The Special Representative of the Secretary General and head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh, met today with Germany’s Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin. A post on X by UNMIK notes that they discussed “the current situation one year after the "Agreement on the Path to Normalization between Kosovo and Serbia", emphasizing dialogue is the only viable way forward.”

Osmani certain Ukraine’s recognition will come with victory over Russia (Koha)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said today on the eve of the summit for Ukraine in Tirana, Albania, that she is certain that Ukraine’s recognition of Kosovo will come together with its victory over Russia. “These are bilateral issues. We have always made this request and we will keep doing so with the full understanding that Ukraine is in an extraordinary situation, in a state of war, and it is fighting for its freedom, independence, and values that are equally important to each and everyone of us. I am certain that that moment [recognition] will come together with Ukraine’s victory,” she said.

Osmani said the summit is very important for Ukraine and that Kosovo will offer its support. “It will be an opportunity for us as allies to give all our support to Ukraine as we have done since day one of the unprovoked and illegal invasion by Russia against Ukraine. We have imposed sanctions [on Russia], we have supported the citizens of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Army. We will keep doing so. Today at the summit I will talk about the concrete steps that Kosovo is making in this regard and we will be here until the victory of Ukraine,” she said.

Asked to comment on clashes with Serbia’s leaders, Osmani said there would always be such “because unfortunately they are living in the past”.

State Department: Talks on the CBK regulation must continue urgently (RFE)

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State told the news website that talks in Brussels about the Central Bank of Kosovo’s regulation “must continue urgently”. “The EU-facilitated dialogue is the right channel to resolve issues related to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia,” the spokesperson said when asked to comment on talks in Brussels on Tuesday on the issue of the regulation.

“The United States has been clear in expressing concerns about the new regulation,” the spokesperson said. He also repeated calls to Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions and to engage “seriously and urgently” in efforts “to reach a peaceful and productive relation in the EU-facilitated dialogue”.

U.S. disappointed with no progress on implementation of Basic Agreement (Koha)

A spokesperson for the United States Embassy in Kosovo told the news website today that the U.S. are disappointed with the lack of progress and political readiness from both Kosovo and Serbia to implement the Basic Agreement. “As we have said many times, the U.S. considers that the Basic Agreement and its implementation annex are legally binding for both Kosovo and Serbia. We are disappointed that there has been lack of progress or political readiness from both Kosovo and Serbia to move forward with the implementation of the agreement. The U.S. position is consistent and clear – we expect Serbia and Kosovo to fully implement all obligations from the Basic Agreement and the implementation annex, and to do so with commitment and urgency. For Kosovo this means making urgent progress on meeting the earlier obligation for the implementation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities,” the spokesperson said.

The U.S. Embassy also called for cooperation on the implementation of the new regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo “in order to minimize the negative impact on the Serb minority community in Kosovo”.

“The Basic Agreement in essence repositions the relations between the two countries, for the better, and it would improve the daily lives of citizens of both countries in many aspects. This is the only way for Kosovo to advance on its European and Euro-Atlantic path, which we strongly support. We continue to call on Kosovo and Serbia to avoid unilateral actions that escalate tensions”.

German Embassy: Kosovo to make next step, form Association (Koha)

The German Embassy in Kosovo said today that it is regrettable that there has been very limited progress on the implementation of the Basic Agreement and the implementation annex. A representative of the German Embassy told Koha: “EU spokesperson Peter Stano yesterday reiterated the consequences of this, saying that Kosovo and Serbia will not advance on the path toward EU membership if they don’t make progress on the implementation of last year’s Agreement, and all agreements reached in the dialogue”.

The representative said that Kosovo needs to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities and criticized “the hasty enforcement of the CBK regulation”.

“Kosovo needs to make the step by establishing the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. Moreover, any escalation in the north must be avoided. It is important to reach out to the Serb community in Kosovo and to involve them in processes. What we are seeing right now is a hasty enforcement of the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo and which is the opposite of an all-inclusive governance. Being that both President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti have verbally accepted the agreement and its implementation to the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, we consider the agreement as legally binding. Germany will continue to expect political readiness and flexibility from both parties for the implementation of the agreement that was accorded jointly in Brussels and Ohrid. We continue to support all aspects that will be good for Kosovo, and for Serbia and the region, because it will accelerate the paths of both countries toward membership in the EU,” he said.

UNDP publishes Public Pulse Brief, “decreased satisfaction with leaders” (media)

Most news websites cover the latest Public Pulse Brief published by the UNDP Office in Kosovo. Koha notes in its coverage that the report shows “decreased satisfaction” among the people with the work of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca. The measurements – which were made from April to November last year – show that people’s satisfaction with the work of President Osmani has dropped from 60.3 to 56.2 percent, with the work of Prime Minister Kurti from 51.1 to 48.9 percent, with the work of Assembly Speaker Konjufca from 45.8 to 41.8 percent. The level of satisfaction with the work of the Kosovo Assembly has dropped from 46.4 to 38.7 percent. Nacionale notes that according to people’s perceptions, poverty and unemployment are the biggest problems in Kosovo. Radio Free Europe too notes in its coverage that the findings show that poverty, unemployment, and the prices for essential supplies are the three biggest problems for the people of Kosovo.

Below are some of the key findings of the brief:

The November 2023 opinion poll data indicate that on average 42.44% of the people are satisfied with the performance of Kosovo central institutions, which marks a 3.32 percentage point decrease compared to April 2023, when this number was recorded at 45.76%. Satisfaction with the performance of the executive cabinet was recorded at 41.8% marking a 4-percentage point decrease compared to April 2023 when it stood at 45.8%. Satisfaction with the work of the Prime Minister was recorded at 48.9%, indicating a 2.6 percentage point decrease compared to April 2023 (51.5%). Satisfaction with the Assembly stood at 38.7% compared to 46.4% in April 2023. A slightly higher decrease in satisfaction was observed with the Speaker of the Assembly which was recorded at 52.2%, compared to 58.3% in April 2023. A decrease in satisfaction was also observed with the President, recorded at 56.2% compared to 60.3% in April 2023. While 0.3 percentage point increase was marked with the rate of Courts (29.3%) compared to November 2023 (29%), 1 percentage point increase was marked with the work of the Prosecutor's Office (30%), compared to April 2023 (29%). In line with overall increase on all economic index indicators, in the November 2023 opinion poll, satisfaction with the economic direction was marked with a 2.41 percentage point increase, recorded at 20.2% compared to 17.79% in April 2023.

November 2023 opinion poll data showed that 29.8% of the respondents were ready to protest for political reasons, indicating a 7.8 percentage point decrease compared to April 2023. Data disaggregated by ethnicity showed that a slightly higher number of Kosovo Serbs (30.5%) were ready to protest for political reasons compared to Kosovo Albanians (28.9%) and members of other Kosovo communities (23.5%). Findings showed a decrease in the sense of safety among respondents with 79.73% feeling safe when outside on the streets compared to 82.85% in April 2023. Data disaggregated by gender showed that more men (80%) than women (78.9%) stated that they feel safe when outside. The feeling of safety among Kosovo Serbs increased (37.6%) compared to 33.8% in April 2023. The data shows a 43.2 percentage point gap when comparing levels of safety between Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians, with 80.8% of Albanians declaring feeling safe when outside on the street. There is also a 42.4 percentage point gap when comparing levels of safety between Kosovo Serbs and other Kosovo communities, with 80% declaring feeling safe when outside on the street. Within 37.6% of Kosovo Serbs who declared feeling safe when outside on the street, 6.2% declared feeling very safe, while 31.4% somewhat safe. Among 80.6% of the Kosovo Albanians who reported feeling safe, 25.1% reported feeling very safe, whereas 55.7% reported feeling somewhat safe. Regarding other Kosovo communities, of 80% who reported feeling safe, 12.5% reported feeling very safe, and 67.5% reported feeling somewhat safe.

Poverty (28.6%), unemployment (19.2%), and prices for essential supplies (8.9%) were identified as top three issues in Kosovo in November 2023, compared to April 2023, when unemployment stood at 32.7%, poverty at 20.1%, and inflation/rise of prices (11.6%) were then identified as the top three major issues. Data disaggregated by ethnicity showed that poverty (28.6%) and unemployment (20.2%) and healthcare services (8.9%) were perceived as top three major issues by Kosovo Albanians, whereas urban space problems (19.5%), poverty (13.8%) and interethnic relations (11.9%) were identified as the most pressing issues by Kosovo Serbs. Poverty (29.5%), electric energy supply (14.5%) and unemployment (13%) were the top three major issues for members of other Kosovo communities.

November 2023 opinion poll data showed that a slightly higher number of Kosovo Albanians (59.3%) and higher number of Kosovo Serbs (32.4%) believed fully or believed that the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia will affect the life of Kosovo people positively, compared to 58.3% and 24.8% in April 2023, respectively. While 70% of the other Kosovo communities believed fully or believed that the agreement will affect the life of Kosovo people positively in April 2023, only 62.5% believed the same in November 2023

Read full report at: https://shorturl.at/ixIMT CBK high delegation holds meeting at Kosovo embassy in Brussels (media)

A high delegation of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) was hosted in a meeting at the Kosovo embassy in Brussels, and discussions were held on current events in Kosovo’s financial system. A press release issued by the CBK notes that “during this meeting, it was also discussed about the activities of the CBK within the EU project for the Modernization of the Payment System of the six countries of the Western Balkans, respectively membership in the EU Single Euro Payments Area, the issue of Green Card efforts as well as addressing issues related to global payment platforms. It was also informed about the advancement of the legal and regulatory framework according to EU directives and the highest international standards. Ambassador Bajrami expressed his support to contribute to the important integration processes and alignment of legislation with the European Union.”

Bislimi meets Sarrazin, calls for lifting of EU measures (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi met today in Pristina with the German Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin. A press release issued by the Kosovo Government notes that “Kosovo highly appreciates the close partnership, cooperation, and friendship with Germany. The parties discussed the situation in the country and the region and the latest political developments. One of the topics addressed were also the penalty measures against Kosovo, and Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi said they continue to be unfair and should be lifted as soon as possible”.

Konjufca meets delegation of the German Bundestag Defense Committee (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca hosted today a delegation of the German Bundestag’s Defense Committee, and expressed appreciation for Germany’s long contribution to Kosovo and thanked the members of the committee for strengthening cooperation between Kosovo and Germany in parliamentarism, security, and defense. The German delegation said their support for Kosovo would continue, including in protecting the integrity, sovereignty, and security of Kosovo, as contribution for regional security.

Zubin Potok mayor: We don’t rule out possibility of tensions in Zvecan (media)

Mayor of Zubin Potok, Izmir Zeqiri, said in an interview with Front Online today that following the withdrawal of KFOR troops from the premises of the municipality of Zvecan, there could be tensions in that area. “The situation is currently quiet, but we cannot rule out the possibility that some of the remaining members of those gangs can create different scandals,” he said.

“KFOR made their decision after assessing that they no longer need to stay there [at the municipal building]. An EULEX patrol sometimes drives through our municipal building, but not the way they used to, and this is also because of the fact that the circumstances here are different from those in Zvecan. The situation [in Zubin Potok] continues to be the same as it was even before the withdrawal of KFOR troops. The situation is controlled by [Kosovo] law enforcement bodies,” he said.

UNICEF, EU publish study of children in street situations in Kosovo (media)

Most news websites report that UNICEF in Kosovo, with support from the European Union, published a study today on the state of children in street situations in Kosovo.

Below are the key highlights from the study:

The Study of Children in Street Situations in Kosovo was undertaken to provide rigorous data and evidence about the circumstances of children in street situations nationally that was absent. The study took a child rights approach in accordance with the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) General Comment No. 21 on Children in Street Situations (2017). The study was designed and implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders in Kosovo. An international consultant was hired to carry out the study, supported by two local consultants on the ground in Kosovo.

The mixed methods study was national in scope and had two primary objectives. First, was to provide a baseline profile of children in street situations in Kosovo in terms of what has driven them to the street, their sociodemographic characteristics, their family situations, their educational profile, and their lives and work on the street, as well as their physical and mental health. A second primary objective of this study was to document the availability and utilization of health, social, and other services, and to identify bottlenecks and opportunities to strengthen child protection and other support services for children in street situations. This findings from this work are critical to intervening to ensure children in street situations and their families are connected to adequate services, their rights are upheld, and they are provided with the support necessary for their full integration into society.

In total, 130 children in street situations aged 6 to 17 years were identified across 8 regions in Kosovo. The highest number of children in street situations were found in Pristina (n=39), followed by Ferizaj (n=20), Gjakova (n=20), Peja (n=18), Prizren (n=18), Dragash (n=5), Fushe Kosova (n=5), and Kline (n=5). At the time of being interviewed, 46% of children were with a parent/guardian on the street, under a quarter (23%) were with siblings, 17% were with peers, and 11% were found alone on the street. Over half (58%) of the children in street situations identified were boys and 42% were girls. A third (33%) of children interviewed were between the ages of 6 to 10 years, 49% were aged 10 to 14 years, and 18% were 15 to 17 years. Few children reported having siblings less than 5 years of age on the streets (5%), and 36% reported having siblings in street situations from 5 to 10 years of age.

Bislimi meets United Nations Office for Project Services representative (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi met on Tuesday with a representative of the United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS) and discussed ways of strengthening cooperation and joint work on projects of mutual interest, which address the goals and objectives of the Government, as in the case of the field of energy and infrastructure. A press release issued by Bislimi’s office notes that “the work done by the Government in the drafting of plans and strategies, which affect priority areas for the country, was also emphasized. Cooperation between us continues to be important. The government welcomes initiatives, projects and opportunities, which are in line with our objectives and strengthen our capacities and structures on the way to integration and the European Union.”

   

Serbian Language Media

  Vucic from the Tirana Summit: Important topics ahead, and a conversation with Zelensky (RTS)

Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) reported today that the first Ukraine - Southeast Europe summit is being held. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who is participating in the summit, said that today and tomorrow he has very important topics, as well as a conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Vucic attending Ukraine - Southeast Europe Summit and the Regional Summit on the Growth and Convergence Plan in Tirana said:

"A busy day is ahead of us. We should talk tomorrow about the growth program and the single European market.

He announced today a meeting with President Zelensky.

''Very important and not always easy topics for us, so of course things are not as simple as they sometimes seem", Vucic told reporters upon arrival.

When asked by journalists how the harmonization of the text of the declaration is progressing, Vucic stated that there are several proposals, and that the harmonization lasted all night.

"We will see, but the only thing I can say is that I will stick to the principles and principles adopted by the National Security Council of Serbia two years ago", concluded Vucic.

Previously RTS reported that President Aleksandar Vucic arrived at the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit, where Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed him.

According to portal Kosovo Online reports from this morning, citing Vecernje Novosti, Serbia was the only country requesting changes to the text of the declaration and that it was unknown at the time what the text of the declaration would be like. According to the same media, Serbia allegedly requested the text not to say "Countries" but "Western Balkan six", among other things.

“We haven’t faced our own crimes“ (KoSSev)

“From Milanovic, Vucic, Kurti, we have people who have a vocabulary that was much stronger than it was in the nineties”, journalist and analyst, Milivoje Mihajlovic, said in an interview for KoSSev, noting that no one in the region “faced their own crimes.” “New generations have come, and yet we still don’t have answers to old questions”, N1 journalist, Danica Vucenic, added. Commenting on society in Serbia, she says that it “continually stands at the same point“ and rotates “around its own axis“.

The author of the show “Iza vesti“ on N1 TV and a Pristina-born journalist, now a resident of Belgrade – Milivoje Mihajlovic, spent a few days in Mitrovica last week. They were KoSSev’s guests at the award ceremony of the first annual “ČasTnica“ award for professionalism and integrity. The award, which Vucenic came up with, was presented to Mihajlovic.

On the lack of perspective for joint life

Mihajlovic told KoSSev that walls are being erected among the peoples of the Balkans. “We have a project, I feel that all sides want to erect walls between one and the other, to prove to everyone, including the most doubting Thomas, that there is no common life and that there is no prospect for shared life“, Mihajlovic said. He also indicated the leaders in the region are guided by nurturing the narrative of hatred towards the other as a modus operandi of staying in power, thereby deceiving their citizens.

“If you mention to officials in Croatia that the Storm was ethnic cleansing, they will gouge your eyes out. If you mention the tombs in Batajnica, the government will suffocate you, they won’t let you talk about it. If you mention in Bosnia who killed whom, why Sarajevo is empty, or in Kosovo why there are no Serbs in Prizren“, explains Mihajlovic.

Read more at: rb.gy/t7tlkp Youth in Strpce employed through programme My First Salary gathered in front of post office hoping to withdraw their salaries (Kosovo Online)

Young people from Strpce employed through the programme My First Salary gathered today in front of the Post Office in this town hoping to withdraw their salaries, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Although their salaries had been deposited, they were not able to withdraw them as there was no money available in the post office. The last shipment of dinars to the Post Office in Strpce happened one month ago.

Kosovo Central Bank’s decision banning dinar in payment transactions entered into force on February 1, the portal recalled. The decision impacted all categories of people, receiving funds from the Serbian budget, with pensioners, persons with disabilities and beneficiaries of social remittances being the most affected.

Queues in front of Zvecan Postal Saving Bank office, citizens say they feel endangered (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Central Bank’s decision to ban dinar in payment transactions caused large queues in front of Postal Saving Bank offices in northern Kosovo today as well. The queues were observed in Zvecan today, where gathered citizens, workers of a public utility company in Zvecan, education staff, pensioners, beneficiaries of social remittances were attempting to withdraw the money, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The citizens once again expressed displeasure over the situation and explained how this affected their lives.

“You see this sadful picture in today’s free Europe. We can not withdraw our decently earned salaries or pensions, those young people can’t do so either. (….). How do I manage? Not at all. I am 74 years old, I have younger friends, we are trying to go to Raska. Sometimes here you can withdraw five thousand dinars, there are no conditions, we are occupied”, pensioner Dusan Milenkovic told the portal.

Adding that he does not remember any worse situation than this, he said despite everything he will not leave Kosovo.

Marko Radivojevic said the situation was disastrous. “(…) We do hope that reason will prevail, and a solution will be found. It all started with a ban on Serbian goods, then medications, and now dinars. I really do not know, I believe there will be compromise, and we hope for the best”, he said.

Zorica Nedeljkovic, beneficiary of social remittances, mother of three children, said life without dinars is difficult and that she had been waiting for longer than an hour.

“We need it for our necessities, groceries, normal life, you cannot live without money. It is very difficult to withdraw a certain amount of money, we live from that. It is difficult to manage”, she said, adding it is difficult to go to Raska because the money is needed for the trip..

Surlic: Brussels meeting showed that there is no dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)

"The meeting in Brussels showed that it is no longer a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but a dialogue between Belgrade and Brussels where Belgrade constantly offers certain constructive solutions, responds to meetings, promotes dialogue as the only possible solution to any problem that exists on the ground," said Stefan Surlic, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences.

He told Tanjug the very fact that at the meeting in Brussels, held yesterday on the decision of the CBK regarding dinar issue, Pristina's main negotiator was not Besnik Bislimi, sent a clear message that Belgrade is alone in its intention to find any agreement.

"It is part of a policy that is very rigid, that does not carry any political rationality, and that is that Pristina insists at this moment these are internal issues and they cannot be discussed in Brussels," added Surlic.

ODIHR report on Serbian December 17 elections (N1)

The ODIHR Report on the Serbian December 17, 2023, elections read that necessary legislative amendments should be initiated well in advance of the next elections through an inclusive consultative process built upon a broad political consensus.

Read the full ODIHR report at: http://tinyurl.com/2nz9ndsz Brnabic: ODIHR recommendations show elections were fair, democratic (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Wednesday recommendations from an ODIHR report showed that the December 17 Serbian elections had been fair, transparent and democratic, Tanjug news agency reported.

"Having worked with the ODIHR since 2019, we already have recommendations that are much softer than those in many EU member states", Brnabic said.

"We will continue to work with the ODIHR and implement all recommendations in line with the new practice we introduced in the Republic of Serbia in 2019, since which time the government working group for cooperation with the ODIHR has been in existence. Do we agree with everything that is in the report? Certainly not. But we will continue to work on implementation of recommendations", she added.

Lazovic: ODIHR report is just what Serbian opposition expected (N1, BETA)

Serbian opposition MP Radomir Lazovic told N1 that the ODIHR final report on the mid-December elections is exactly what the opposition expected.

He said that the group of opposition officials who were in Brussels with him received assurances from European Union officials that the European integration process will be stopped if the Serbian authorities fail to implement changes.

“This report is exactly what we expected and it is what the European Commission and other EU institutions assured us it would be”, he said speaking via video link from Paris. He added that the opposition is more than satisfied that the report reflects the latest and all previous elections.

According to Lazovic, EU officials feel that the international investigation has already started since they have been informed about everything that happened. “Our authorities can refuse to implement any changes but we have received assurances that the next thing we will be discussing is European integration really stopping… The authorities will have a hard time avoiding that”, he said. The group of opposition officials is in Paris for meetings with French officials.

Tepic: ODIHR final report confirms election fraud (N1)

Serbian opposition leader Marinika Tepic told reporters on Wednesday that the ODIHR final report on the mid-December elections confirms election fraud. Tepic, deputy leader of Serbia Against Violence (SPN) member Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), said the report gives legitimacy to the belief that the elections for the Belgrade City Assembly have to be repeated.

According to her, everything that the opposition claimed about the December17 elections is in the report including organized voter migration, fake electoral rolls, the dominance of the president, bias in favor of the authorities in national media, buying votes and pressure on public sector employees. “Not to mention unequal media conditions”, she said.

Belgrade, Pristina dialogue without progress; this year crucial to preserve peace and security (Kosovo Online)

Coordinator of the Working Group for Chapter 35 of the National Convention, Dragisa Mijacic, said yesterday at the opening of the Annual Conference of the Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union, titled "Towards the Agreement," that the dialogue was politicized, adding that the focus was solely on political dialogue therefore the component of improving relations among people was lost, reported Kosovo Online in English.

"Dialogue should serve for people to communicate, to be safe, secure, to reconcile, and only after that should come the major political issues," he said.

He pointed out that they intentionally organized the conference yesterday because it was exactly a year since the latest agreement was accepted in Brussels. Mijacic said that last year when they announced agreements, they expected a new phase for Kosovo and Serbia that would bring some sort of peace and normalization to Kosovo, especially in Serbian communities.

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/34vcs59x Konrad: EU has pressure mechanisms, but Belgrade and Pristina must reach solution (Kosovo Online)

German Ambassador to Serbia Anke Konrad told Kosovo Online portal European Union had mechanisms to pressure parties in dialogue but that its role was that of a facilitator, and only Belgrade and Pristina could reach a solution.

"The EU is a facilitator in the dialogue and, of course, can exert pressure, demand, or try to persuade both political sides to conclude the dialogue process, but the EU's role is solely to mediate between Belgrade and Pristina in what they are willing to accept", Konrad said. She recalled both sides had agreed to the deal but saw steps on how to implement it differently.

"So far, the progress has not been convincing, however, this should not discourage us from giving up. It's simply a matter of finding a way to unblock some issues and move forward. Such an approach is highly supported, and we very much hope that EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak will soon be able to invite both leaders to meet again. We expect that both leaders are ready for dialogue because only through dialogue is it possible to resolve disputes they have", she added.

Members of German Bundestag visit Visoki Decani Monastery (KoSSev)

Members of the German Bundestag are visiting Kosovo and together with German Ambassador in Pristina Jorn Rohde visited Serbian Orthodox Church Visoki Decani Monastery yesterday, KoSSev portal reports.

They were welcomed by the Abbot of the Monastery, Father Sava Janjic, who in addition to the rich history of the monastery, acquainted visitors with the situation of the Serbian community in Kosovo.

"Members of the German Bundestag visited Visoki Decani today and had an opportunity to learn about the rich history of this monastery. In a conversation with our Abbot, Father Sava, they also learned about the life of our Church and the challenges the Serbian community faces in a society where basic rights, court decisions and laws are not respected", the Monastery said in a post on X media platform yesterday.

Without Kosovo Serbs living dignified lives, there can be no peace and stability in the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

German Ambassador to Serbia Anke Konrad emphasized at the annual conference of the Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union, titled "Towards the Agreement," that despite many challenges, there was still a positive momentum and continuous work on normalization. However, journalist Sanja Sovrlic and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences Stefan Surlic held a different opinion, highlighting that normalization had not yielded the expected results.

Konrad emphasized that the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia was in their interest as well as for the entire Western Balkans and the European Union, which mediated the negotiations. She stressed the importance of continuing the talks and not giving up on reaching an agreement. Konrad highlighted the need for political will from both Belgrade and Pristina to reach an agreement and to persevere in seeking a solution.

The German Ambassador mentioned that a year ago there had been a roadmap for the normalization of relations, and it had seemed that the plan would be implemented.

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/7dwtefkh    

International 

  Separate Kitchen, Private Gym – Life Behind Bars Comes with Perks for Albania’s VIP Prisoners (Balkan Insight)

Former ruling party officials and convicted organized crime gangsters enjoy privileged treatment in Albania’s jails, a BIRN investigation has found.

On 18 September, an inspection team from Albania’s People’s Ombudsman discovered two contrasting realities in one of the country’s prisons. In the A Block section, commoners serving time there complained about damp, degraded shower facilities and overused mattresses.

But on the second floor of B Block, a group of former Socialist Party officials, sentenced or awaiting trial for corruption and abuse of power, had created their own mini-world within.

Their rooms were freshly painted. Mattresses were brand new along with refrigerators and private showers and toilets. Inspectors also found a gym, a well-equipped kitchen and a space for football games, courtesy of a donation by the Albanian Football Association.

Read more at: rb.gy/rb634i