UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 23, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

President Osmani to meet Escobar at 16:30 today, advisor says (Klan Kosova)
LDK proposes 10-point plan to overcome energy crisis (Telegrafi)
KDI: No political readiness to move toward a final settlement (EO)
Krstic: KFOR presence in north offers security and calmness for the people (RTK)
Delic, Serbian Parliament Vice President, war-time general, passes away (media)
COVID-19: 274 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic met Hill: Efforts towards reaching a compromise (KiM radio)
Meeting of councillors of four municipalities from the north of Kosovo on Wednesday (Beta, NMagazin)
UNS and DNKiM: Serbian List not to select media (KiM radio)
Bilcik on Vulin's visit to Moscow: Serbia to harmonize its policy with the EU (Kosovo Online)
Vulin met Lavrov in Moscow (Tanjug, media)
Lavrov to Vulin: Russia, Serbia developing dialogue (N1)
MFA: Twitter accounts of several Serbian embassies suspended (Tanjug)
How the most difficult issue united the opposition in Belgrade (Blic)
20 coronavirus cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)

International:

Secretary Blinken Won’t “Hesitate” To Directly Engage In Serbia-Kosovo Talks (thepavlovictoday.com)
Anti-LGBT Sentiments Flourish Online in South-East Europe (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

Kosovo’s struggle to keep the lights on (emerging-europe.com)
UN: 50 percent less population in Kosovo by the end of the century (Kosovo Online, Zeri)

Albanian Language Media

President Osmani to meet Escobar at 16:30 today, advisor says (Klan Kosova)

A media advisor to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani told the TV station that Osmani will meet the U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, at 16:30 today. The TV station also reports that Escobar will not meet Prime Minister Albin Kurti today and that he is scheduled to meet the leaders of opposition parties in the evening.

LDK proposes 10-point plan to overcome energy crisis (Telegrafi)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) criticised Prime Minister Albin Kurti for failing to manage the energy sector and for the power cuts and proposed a 10-point plan to overcome the current crisis.

LDK MPs Hykmete Bajrami and Besian Mustafa told a press conference in Prishtina that the government must immediately pay the promised subsidies for electricity at the amount of €90 million, repair bloc A5 of Kosova A power plant, create mechanisms for alternative heating sources at affordable prices for the citizens and to prepare an energy efficiency and savings plan. The two representatives also said long-term energy supply contracts must be negotiated, the VAT on energy tariffs must be reduced from 8 to 0 percent, there should be a new package of subsiding energy for citizens and businesses, the annulment of discriminatory energy tariffs by the Energy Regulatory Office, and to establish a joint energy stock market between Kosovo and Albania. They also said that power cuts in August are unprecedented and that some businesses are on the brink of bankruptcy from the cuts.

KDI: No political readiness to move toward a final settlement (EO)

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) held a press conference today where it presented a short analysis on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The analysis is focused on three aspects of the dialogue, the need for progress toward a final settlement, the need for internal dialogue with the Serb community in Kosovo, and the need for increased transparency and accountability by the government toward the Assembly and the public about the dialogue in Brussels.

Violeta Haxholli from the KDI told the media that the continuation of the dialogue remains an important factor for Kosovo’s foreign policy in particular and for stability in the region in general. She said that despite many agreements reached in the first half of the process, the dialogue has produced many uncertainties and the two sides have yet to reach a final settlement. Talks in the process were mainly focused on technical issues depending on developments on the ground.

Haxholli also said that there seems to be no political readiness among the two sides to move toward a final settlement. She argued that Kosovo and Serbia must as soon as possible start talks about the elements of the final agreement and that this would then have a positive domino effect in the resolution of technical issues. Otherwise, the lack of political readiness for a final agreement will continue to be reflected on the situation on the ground and prolong the status quo which at times also leads to tensions.

Krstic: KFOR presence in north offers security and calmness for the people (RTK)

Branislav Krstic, political analyst from the north of Kosovo, said in an interview with Radio Kosova that the presence of KFOR troops in the north offers security and calmness for the people there.

Krstic said that the visits by U.S. envoy Gabriel Escobar and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak to Prishtina and Belgrade this week are a sign that the international community will not allow a conflict or any kind of violence in Kosovo.

“The lack of dialogue is only temporary. I am confident that this situation will be resolved by the end of the month. The visits by the U.S. and European representatives in Prishtina and Belgrade show that the international community will not allow any escalation in Kosovo.”

According to Krstic, among the people in the north there is no fear from unrest but that this also depends on the future decisions of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. “I expect the situation to be quiet. Serbs are very concerned not with the future actions of Kosovo’s institutions but rather if there will be orders from Vucic’s office to go to the barricades and blockades,” he added.

Krstic also argued that the deployment of KFOR troops in the north means that Kosovo police and military forces have nothing to do in the north, that central institutions in Prishtina can undertake any action without the knowledge of KFOR and that those Serbs that were armed by Serbia must now seriously think whether they will be disarmed by Serbia, KFOR or Kosovo security forces.

Delic, Serbian Parliament Vice President, war-time general, passes away (media)

Bozidar Delic, who was recently elected as Vice President of the Parliament of Serbia and who served as general of a motorised brigade during the war in Kosovo, has passed away. The news was confirmed by members of Delic’s party to Belgrade-based B92. Nacionale news website notes that many massacres were committed in the zones that were under Delic’s command during the war. Indeksonline reports in its coverage that the Gjakova-based association “War crimes in Gjakova” pressed charges for war crimes against Delic a week ago.

COVID-19: 274 new cases, no deaths (media)

274 new cases with COVID-19 were confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. There are 3,176 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic met Hill: Efforts towards reaching a compromise (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

After Petar Petkovic, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, spoke with the US Ambassador in Belgrade, Christopher Hill.

Vucic and Hill discussed the situation after the last round of talks in Brussels. The President of Serbia pointed out that he had a concrete and meaningful conversation with the American ambassador.

"I reiterated the consistent position of Serbia, which continues to make every effort to find a compromise solution in order to maintain peace and stability," President Vucic said on Instagram, reported KiM radio.

Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija unconditionally demand the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, was the message that Vucic conveyed to Hill, reported Kontakt plus radio, citing the statement following the meeting.

Vucic once again emphasized that it was important that Pristina "adhere to the agreement that the Kosovo special forces can move to the north only with the consent of NATO and the mayors of the four municipalities where Serbs live", although Pristina denied that such an agreement existed, that was, that the agreement applied to the Kosovo Security Forces, reported Kontakt plus radio.

Meeting of councillors of four municipalities from the north of Kosovo on Wednesday (Beta, NMagazin)

The President of the Serbian List and the Minister for Communities and Return in the Government of Kosovo, Goran Rakic, said yesterday that the councillors of the assemblies of four municipalities from the north of Kosovo will meet on Wednesday in Zvecan, with the announcement that they will leave all institutions if a compromised solution was not reached between Belgrade and Pristina, reported Beta agency.

"First we politicians, and then everyone else, the court, the prosecution and the police, and in this way, there will be a total dismantling of the Brussels dialogue, which Pristina has made meaningless by persistently refusing to form the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM) and constantly violationing the Brussels Agreement," said Rakic, reported media.

He reiterated the request to KFOR to ''ensure peace for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija in accordance with its mission under Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council and called on KFOR soldiers not to be passive as they were in 2004 when the Serbs experienced a pogrom".

"They are not here to take the side of Pristina and to prevent our people from fighting for their human and political rights. In this sense, I am telling them that they need to deploy their forces to act preventively, and not allow Albanian special forces to bring in heavy machinery and firearms in purely Serbian areas in the north," said Rakic.

According to him, the Serbs in Kosovo are worried, but they are united and determined to stay and survive, "because we are aware that this is not a question of license plates or identity cards, but tomorrow some new excuse will appear for the mistreatment of our people".

UNS and DNKiM: Serbian List not to select media (KiM radio)

The Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), and its branch in Kosovo, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija (DNKiM) protested last night over the Serbian List not inviting most of the media to yesterday's press conference in North Mitrovica, where the possible exit of Serbs from Kosovo institutions was talked about, reported KiM radio.

UNS and DNKiM pointed out that the Serbian List informed only three newsrooms about the event - RTS, Kosovo Online and TV Most, while other newsrooms, both from the north of Kosovo and south of the Ibar, were not invited to this important event.

UNS and DNKiM reminded that the press conference of representatives of the Serbian List was organized just one day after the address of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who said that this party would answer the questions of all the media every day.

UNS and DNKiM called the Serbian list not to select journalists and to invite all media to the events it organizes, without distinction.

UNS and DNKiM pointed out that it was very important for the media working in Kosovo and Metohija to convey the messages of the leaders who participate in the work of the institutions in Pristina, especially now of pronounced tensions in the north of Kosovo.

Bilcik on Vulin's visit to Moscow: Serbia to harmonize its policy with the EU (Kosovo Online)

The rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, pointed out that when a member of the Government of Serbia sends "anti-European" messages during an official visit to Moscow, alluding to the Minister of the Interior of Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin, Europe notices it, adding that Serbia should align itself with the EU's policy on Russia's sanctions and the normalization of relations with Kosovo, reported Kosovo Online.

Bilcik wrote on Twitter that Serbia's progress on the European path can only be based on European principles.

Bilcik emphasized that Serbia's compliance with the common foreign and security policy was the lowest in the region.

"This includes harmonizing its foreign and security policy with the policy of the European Union - in a progressive manner and with a genuine interest in making political decisions that reflect future alignment. Serbia's alignment with the CFSP was and remains the lowest in the region," he added.

The EP rapporteur for Serbia pointed out that Serbia's compliance with EU policy refers to sanctions against Russia and the normalization of relations with Kosovo.

"Full compliance with the EU's foreign, security and defense policy, including sanctions against Russia, as well as the normalization of Serbia's relations with Kosovo, will determine the pace of EU accession. This is a consistent message from the European Parliament and is included in my Report on Serbia 2021, which was adopted last month with a huge majority in Strasbourg," wrote Bilcik.

Vulin met Lavrov in Moscow (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who is on an official visit to Moscow, met with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov on Monday.

Vulin noted that Serbia, under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic, was not forgetting the centuries-old brotherhood and was the only European country that had not imposed sanctions on Russia or joined the anti-Russian hysteria, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Noting that Lavrov is a sincere friend of Serbia and the Serbs, Vulin expressed great gratitude to the Russian Federation for its consistent respect of the sovereignty and integrity of Serbia and for its non-recognition of the false state of Kosovo.

Vulin noted that Serbia was an independent country that chose its friends on its own.

He expressed deep regret over the fact that, by the will of other countries, Lavrov was unable to visit Belgrade in June, and noted that this represented a violation and trampling of all principles of international law.

Lavrov said Russia would continue to support Serbia in preservation of its territorial integrity.

Vulin noted that Serbia would never forget the assistance of Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, who, following a plea by Vucic, prevented in 2015 the passage of a UK-sponsored UN resolution branding the Serbs as a genocidal nation.

The two ministers noted that Serbia and Russia maintained exceptional diplomatic relations and successful bilateral cooperation also in times of great challenges, just like Vucic and Putin maintained an exceptionally good personal relationship, the statement said.

Later, Vulin also met with Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov and Rosoboronoexport Director General Alexander Mikheev to discuss further cooperation between the Interior Ministry and Rostec.

Lavrov to Vulin: Russia, Serbia developing dialogue (N1)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Aleksandar Vulin that the two countries are developing a dialogue on all levels despite what he said was a complex international situation.

A Foreign Ministry press release quoted Lavrov as saying that Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin speak by phone to compare positions and coordinate further steps. The press release said that Lavrov and Vulin discussed bilateral and regional cooperation, both countries’ commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership and close coordination in efforts to reinforce stability and security in the Balkans.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Botsan Harchenko told Serbian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlic that the two countries will continue their cooperation in energy and other fields. A press release quoted Orlic as saying that Serbia is on the European path and maintains relations with traditional friends but gives priority to its vital political and economic interests.

“Bearing in mind the recent deterioration of the situation in Kosovo and tensions there, they pointed out the need to regulate the situation in the province on the basis of strict respect for the norms of international law, relying on UN Security Council resolution 1244 and full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity, legal rights and interests of Serbia,” it said.

See at:https://bit.ly/3KdDcsd

MFA: Twitter accounts of several Serbian embassies suspended (Tanjug)

The Twitter accounts of Serbia's embassies in Armenia, Iran, Indonesia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Kuwait and the account of the Serbian consulate-general in Chicago were suspended on August 18 without any explanation or prior notice of any violation of the network's rules of communication, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

"Without going into the business policy of Twitter as a company, we note that censoring the diplomatic representative offices of a democratic state that is not under any sanctions is impermissible, in particular if one takes into account that some of the said profiles were opened recently and were inactive, and that the remaining profiles contained no content that could be described as inappropriate," the ministry said in a statement.

The Republic of Serbia is a country strategically committed to EU membership, and we are adapting our political and democratic standards, which also include media freedoms, to the highest European standards, the statement noted.

"That is why it is absurd that several of our diplomatic and consular representative offices are being censored on a social media network that boasts of promoting democracy and pluralism of thought."

See more at:https://bit.ly/3cdZ6ix

How the most difficult issue united the opposition in Belgrade (Blic)

They do not agree on almost anything, they accuse each other, but when Kosovo is mentioned, one position is a red line that cannot be crossed, wrote the portal Blic.

Like few things until now, the most difficult political issue, the solution to the Kosovo knot, managed to unite a large part of the opposition. The leaders of the "Dveri" movement requested a special session of the parliament to discuss Kosovo, the Party of Freedom and Justice agreed and set red lines around the talks, and the People's Party asked to determine the negotiating framework.

The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has once again become a "hot" topic after the meeting of the two main negotiators, Vucic and Kurti, was announced in Brussels. Current events did not pass without a reaction from the opposition, so the "Dveri" movement submitted a request to hold an emergency session of the Assembly of Serbia on Kosovo and Metohija, as well as a platform dedicated to the same topic, recalled the portal.

- I do not see a single reason all 250 MPs would not sign the request for convening a special session of the Serbian Parliament on the topic of the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija. There should not be a division between the government and the opposition, we need a new national unity on this first-rate national and state issue - said Obradovic.

Dragan Djilas, the leader of the Party of Freedom and Justice, agreed with this, but he drew the line as far as the talks can go - no to the recognition of Kosovo. He also assessed that "it is not an option supported by any serious political force in Serbia".

- We can agree on some things, we do not have to agree on some things, but it is something that we should all stand behind, which whoever is in power, will not be allowed to violate. Everyone has to stick to that, and whoever is leading the country and negotiating at that moment, gives strength and "back" to withstand it, because the pressures are enormous - said Djilas.

The leader of the People's Party Vuk Jeremic said that "we should never give up on Kosovo and Metohija in terms of identity, culture, territory and security - as long as we exist as a country".

- First, we need a parliamentary discussion. We did not have one more than three years. And when you have it, and when you adopt a negotiating framework for whoever represents you, in Brussels or New York, then you have a greater degree of stability. I do not think that it is likely in our political circumstances, but what needs to be done now is that we need to take certain steps on the international level and draw the attention of not only the actors involved, but also the wider, global public - said Jeremic to N1.

And based on the statements, it can be seen: the three opposition leaders are advocating for the same steps, and political analyst Cvijetin Milivojevic told Blic that this did not surprise him and noted that ''everyone who engaged in politics in Serbia should start from the principle that Kosovo is the territory of our country'', wrote Blic portal.

20 coronavirus cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)

According to the latest data which the Crisis Management Committee of Kosovska Mitrovica published today, there are 20 new cases of the coronavirus, and no one has passed away from COVID related consequences in the Serb-majority areas in Kosovo, reported Kontakt plus radio.

A total of 50 sample were tested, new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Leposavic (5), Zvecan (5), North Mitrovica (2), Zubin Potok (2), Gracanica (2) and Priluzje (2), Pec (1) and Strpce (1).

International

Secretary Blinken Won’t “Hesitate” To Directly Engage In Serbia-Kosovo Talks (thepavlovictoday.com)

State Department Spokesman Ned Price speaks about the path forward in Serbia-Kosovo talks and tells The Pavlovic Today that Secretary Blinken won’t “hesitate” to directly engage in conversation with Serbian President Vucic and Kosovo’s PM Kurti.

Humanitarian/Development

Kosovo’s struggle to keep the lights on (emerging-europe.com)

Kosovo has been forced to introduce rolling power cuts, with the country facing a tough autumn and winter as it struggles to ensure a steady stream of electricity at a price it can afford.

While much of Europe is currently making preparations to ensure that it has enough energy for what is expected to be one of the toughest winters in recent times (as remarkable as that sounds given the exceptionally hot summer), Kosovo on August 15 became the first country in the region to announce rolling power cuts.

Although it almost immediately cancelled the plan, saying that it had managed to secure electricity from neighbouring Albania, it did not say how long the arrangement would last. A day later, on August 17, power cuts were again introduced.