UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 17, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Chief negotiators in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to meet today in Brussels (media)
EU: Serbian delegation at CoE violated agreement with Kosovo (Koha)
Kurti: Documenting war crimes, a moral and historical obligation (media)
Svecla: Ammunition factory, important step in strengthening security capacities (media)
Maqedonci: Kosovo will also produce weapons for export (media)
Turkish manufacturer: Factory in Kosovo according to NATO standards (Reporteri)
Haxhi Shala and Sabit Januzi plead guilty to witness intimidation charges (media)
Kosovo extradites murder suspect to U.S. (RFE)
Orav: We aim to bring Kosovo closer to EU as soon as possible (Indeksonline)

Serbian Language Media:

Pristina to declare Serbs guilty of attack on canal to stop SL from participating in elections, says Vucic (Tanjug)
Meeting between Petkovic and Lajcak began in Brussels (Kosovo Online, N1)
Vucic receives Cypriot Defense Minister (Tanjug)
Patriarch Porfirije: Gratitude to Vatican for principled position on Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Increased presence of Kosovo police in the north: Security needs or political message? (Radio kontakt plus, media)
PIK: Return to work of police officers suspended in relation to Milos Subotic’s case does not impede further investigation (KoSSev)
Support for the students’ protests from 350 professors and students from Kosovo (KiM radio, Insajder, Beta)
RTS: EU to open Cluster 3 (N1)
Djuric: Good news from Brussels, we are prepared for progress on EU path (media)

International Media:

Serbian Govt’s document dump raises new questions about train station tragedy (Balkan Insight)
Silent spying: how Serbian intelligence hacks activists’ phones – without them knowing (Balkan Insight)
Bechtel bespoke: US engineering giant’s modus operandi in the Balkans causes concern (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Chief negotiators in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to meet today in Brussels (media)

The next meeting within the framework of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, at the level of chief negotiators, is expected to be held today. The European Union announced a few days ago that both sides have confirmed their participation and that they will discuss a number of issues there, including the implementation of the Agreement on the Normalization of Relations.

Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, and Serbia's chief negotiator, Petar Petkovic, last met in October, however no concrete results were achieved towards the implementation of the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex.

EU: Serbian delegation at CoE violated agreement with Kosovo (Koha)

The European Union assesses that the Serbian delegation to the Council of Europe violated the agreement reached in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia when it issued a public statement that it managed to remove from the agenda of the Political Committee the issue of raising the status of the Kosovo delegation to “special guest status”.

Last week, Biljana Pantic Pilja, head of the Serbian delegation to the Council of Europe, told the media in Serbia that the delegation “successfully” removed Kosovo’s request from the agenda. She called this a success of Serbian diplomacy and President Aleksandar Vucic, adding that it also had the support of Spain and Hungary.

“It is clear that they are not giving up on their goals of becoming a full member of the Council of Europe and are making efforts to improve their status step by step. However, it is also evident that they are gradually losing the support of their former sponsors. It seems that the international community is losing patience with Kurti and his unilateral actions," Serbian media quoted the statement of the head of Serbia's delegation to the Council of Europe.

"The Agreement on the Path to Normalization accepted by Serbia and Kosovo contains in Article 4, paragraph 2, that Serbia will not oppose Kosovo's membership in any international organization. The statement of the representative of Serbia to the Council of Europe is a violation of Serbia's obligations under this agreement," said the European Union spokesperson Anitta Hipper.

Kurti: Documenting war crimes, a moral and historical obligation (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, in the presentation of the 1-year report of the Institute of War Crimes in Kosovo, said that while families are still searching for the remains of their loved ones, Serbia refuses to apologize or acknowledge the genocidal past. “While continuing to deny genocide and glorify violence, the political successors of Milosevic and his regime, who still rule Serbia today, revived its expansionist and hegemonic ambitions,” Kurti said.

Therefore, he added, documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo is a moral and historical obligation for all generations. “Therefore, for the victims and survivors who lost their most precious lives, we cannot forget. In the name of justice, peace and preserving the truth, we must remember: Documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo is a moral and historical obligation for all generations, it is a promise to the victims and their families that they will never forget”, he further stated.

Kurti indicated that during this year, a lot of physical archival and digital materials documenting war crimes have been collected. “This information collected during this period has been collected from 67 different sources, namely organizations, institutions and collectors who have submitted the testimonies they had”, he said.

According to Kurti, the methodology that is guiding this process represents a comprehensive approach with high professional and ethical standards. He mentioned the cooperation that the Institute has with the Statistics Agency of Kosovo and said that for the first time during the population census, citizens have declared economic damages, destroyed properties and damages to people, family members killed, missing, injured or imprisoned.

Svecla: Ammunition factory, important step in strengthening security capacities (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, spoke about the agreement signed on Monday for the opening of an ammunition production factory in Kosovo. "Yesterday, this agreement or contract was signed as it is extremely important for our country. The Republic of Kosovo will change the capacities to produce the ammunition needed for the army, but also for the Kosovo Police. I believe that looking at the contract, the works will begin very soon and in a record time frame within the technical requirements this will be implemented. Our will is for this to be done as soon as possible, there is also a willingness on the other side to start immediately and there is a serious commitment to this being carried out successfully. With its completion, a deficiency that we have had and has been evident will be overcome, both in terms of supplying current needs, and in filling the necessary reserves, as well as in additional treatments that are necessary for all institutions that use this type of ammunition”, Svecla said.

He also reiterated that this project is part of a broader initiative for the development of the defense and security industry in Kosovo. He mentioned that Kosovo is in talks and negotiations with various partners, including the United States of America, Kosovo's main strategic ally. “We are looking at the development of the entire defense and security industry, we have contacts and talks and negotiations with everyone, of course the US, which is our main strategic ally, and we have close cooperation with them, we will also talk with all those partners who meet our needs but are also a continuation of the unsparing and unstoppable cooperation with us. There will be and I am convinced that other results will appear very soon, and we will have additional good news in the future”, he said.

Maqedonci: Kosovo will also produce weapons for export (media)

Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci has provided some details about the agreement signed with Turkey on the establishment of an ammunition factory in Kosovo. He said that the focus of the agreement was the ammunition factory. According to him this will be done with financing from the Kosovo government, while the equipment will be provided by the Turkish state.

“We have signed the contract and after the signing, work will begin on the functionalization of this factory. It will be a public enterprise that will completely manage the factory and its main goal will be the production of 5.56 and 7.62 ammunition, ammunition that is used by investigative units and military units and which is the ammunition that is most often spent both during operations and during training,” he said.

He noted that production will not only be done for the supply of local institutions but also for exporting purposes.

Turkish manufacturer: Factory in Kosovo according to NATO standards (Reporteri)

The Turkish state-owned defense industry manufacturer “Makin eve Kimya Endustrisi” that signed the agreement on Monday with the government of Kosovo to open a factory for production of ammunition, announced through a Facebook post that that the factory in Kosovo will be modern and it will produce ammunition according to NATO standards.

"We signed an agreement for the establishment of a modern factory in Kosovo that will produce ammunition according to NATO standards. With this signed contract, we are proud to have contributed to the exports of Turkey's defense industry by strengthening the defense industry of our friendly and brotherly country, Kosovo," the post on Facebook reads.

Haxhi Shala and Sabit Januzi plead guilty to witness intimidation charges (media)

The Office of the Specialist Prosecutor (OSP) of the Specialized Chambers has said that Haxhi Shala and Sabit Januzi have pleaded guilty to witness intimidation and obstruction of official persons.

At the same time, the Specialist Chambers have issued a press release – confirming that Shala and Januzi have pleaded guilty to the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office’s charges. The OSP said that Shala and Januzi are charged with “intimidation during criminal proceedings” and “obstruction of justice in the performance of official duties”.

“Our Office’s ability to conclude these Agreements is a testament to the strength of our investigations – into the issues of intimidation and obstruction of justice.” – the Specialist Prosecutor, Kimberly West, is quoted as saying. “We did this after careful consideration that took into account, among other things, the importance of accepting responsibility in this context, the benefits of achieving an early and fair conclusion to the case, and the views of the victims.” Further, the statement states that Prosecutor West has also pledged to continue investigations related to obstruction of justice. According to her, “to ensure the integrity of the proceedings in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.” “The SPO will continue, at the same time, to vigorously pursue all those who seek to interfere with the administration of justice and protect victims and witnesses in Kosovo.” – West is quoted as saying.

Kosovo extradites murder suspect to U.S. (RFE)

Kosovo authorities extradited a murder suspect to the United States last week in relation with an 18-year-old case, U.S. Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier announced late Monday.

“Last week, we used the U.S.-Kosovo Extradition Treaty to send a defendant from Kosovo to the United States to face trial,” Hovenier wrote on “X”. He thanked Kosovar authorities for their assistance to the U.S. in this case.

Afrim Gashi, 42, was arrested last week and extradited to the United States on December 13 as a suspect in murder and premeditated murder charges. Gashi appeared before the court in the Bronx on December 16, with the next hearing scheduled for January 16, 2025. Gashi is suspected of the murder of Kemal Kolenovic, a former professional middleweight boxer of Montenegrin origin, who was 28 years old at the time of his death on December 31, 2006.

Orav: We aim to bring Kosovo closer to EU as soon as possible (Indeksonline)

The European Union Ambassador to Kosovo Avio Orav held a meeting today with Mayor of Pristina Perparim Rama. After the meeting, Orav said that they aim to bring Kosovo closer to the EU as soon as possible.

“It was a pleasure to talk to the Mayor and also his team, to learn more about Pristina, about the problems, about the challenges and to also learn how the EU and the municipality can work more closely together. Because the aim is to bring Kosovo closer to the European Union as soon as possible. And it is not only the government that we are working with, but we are also working with all municipalities. The EU is the largest donor here in Kosovo. There are many EU projects that are underway. There are many projects in the pipeline and I really hope that we can continue our work in areas such as education, health, waste management, cooperation with young people, with the help of the EU,” he said.

Mayor Rama said that the municipality has made steps in improving infrastructure, education, health and other sectors in the capital.

Serbian Language Media

Pristina to declare Serbs guilty of attack on canal to stop SL from participating in elections, says Vucic (Tanjug)

Tanjug agency reported that President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said today at the session of the Government of Serbia that he expects, according to the information he received, ''the regime of Albin Kurti in KiM in the coming days to declare the Serbs guilty of the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac canal, in order to prevent the Serbian List from participating in the upcoming elections''.

"In Kosovo and Metohija, our people are fighting hard for survival, preservation of political legitimacy, and what I can tell you from my contacts and everything that the Prime Minister and I could get from our intelligence agencies, is that in Kosovo and Metohija, we expect Kurti's regime to declare the Serbs guilty in the coming days without any serious material evidence," Vucic told the government members.

He said again that ''the Albanians contaminated the place where the investigation was supposed to be done, and that deliberately before the arrival of KFOR and EULEX, with a clear political goal''.

"They will not make a big noise, nor they can, since they know they have nothing, but the meaning and goal is to try in every way to ban the participation of the Serbian List in the upcoming elections, because it will be supported, first of all, by the outgoing administration of the United States of America, because they are putting enormous pressure on the member states of the EU, to start lifting the measures against Pristina, and no one understands on what basis they are asking for it and why they are asking for it, and they are asking for it, first of all, in order to enable Kurti another victory and further continuation of the impossibility of Serbian survival in the southern Serbian province", said Vucic, according to Tanjug.

Among other things, Vucic also asked the Government to form a team that will oversee resolving the situation if the USA imposes sanctions on the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS). He expects the Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar to prepare a complete report on patients' waiting lists before the New Year holidays. On students' protests he repeated again that all the demands of the students were met and told the members of the government not to interfere and let alone the students, rectors, deans, and professors ''if they don't want to study and work''. On Cluster 3, he said that it is likely that the EU will open Cluster 3 to Serbia at the end of January or beginning of February, stating that it is not sure that it is as big a turnaround as some are saying.

Meeting between Petkovic and Lajcak began in Brussels (Kosovo Online, N1)

In Brussels the bilateral meeting of the expert delegation from Belgrade, led by the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, with the EU envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and his team began, reported Kosovo Online.

Previously, a delegation from Pristina led by Besnik Bislimi spoke with Lajcak for two full hours, according to N1.

Kosovo Online reported that Petkovic earlier said that he did not expect much from the meeting in Brussels, and that the Serbian delegation every time was prepared for talks in order to reach a compromise solution and preserve the Serbian people in Kosovo, primarily through the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

"You can see the outcome of negotiations in the previous period. I, as the main negotiator at the technical level, am always in Brussels with experts, we come prepared with proposals, ready to negotiate and fight for compromise solutions. We know that this is the only way we can save our people, first of all through CSM. But then, Bislimi says that he does not have a mandate to talk about it, that they are not interested in CSM and that he can only talk about recognition. Bislimi pretends to participate in the dialogue, but essentially, they do the opposite and directly trample on all agreements", said Petkovic.

Vucic receives Cypriot Defense Minister (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas in Belgrade on Tuesday to discuss strengthening of bilateral cooperation, especially in defense and security, which he said was enormously significant for contributing to peace and stability in the region, Tanjug news agency reported.

"I especially informed the esteemed discussion partner of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, the pressure faced by the Serbs and the threats to their survival in their ancestral homes. We also exchanged views on current security risks in the context of the most recent geopolitical tensions and conflicts in several key regions, as well as on joint objectives within international missions", Vucic wrote in a post on his official Instagram account.

Vucic reiterated his gratitude for Cyprus's consistent and principled position of non-recognition of Kosovo and noted that Serbia fully supported Cyprus's efforts to solve its most important national issue in order to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"I expressed the hope I will soon have an opportunity to host a great friend of Serbia, President Nikos Christodoulides, in Belgrade again, as the relations between Serbia and Cyprus are based on firm friendship, mutual trust, historically proven closeness and solidarity between our peoples", Vucic wrote in the post.

Patriarch Porfirije: Gratitude to the Vatican for principled position on Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)

The Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirje met yesterday in Belgrade Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, reported Radio Mitrovica sever, citing the Serbian Orthodox Church website announcement.

In the conversation, the significance of the appointment of Archbishop of Belgrade Ladislav Nemet as a cardinal was highlighted. Patriarch Porfirije once again expressed his gratitude to the Vatican for its ''principled and international law-based position on Kosovo and Metohija as an integral part of the Republic of Serbia''.

The interlocutors, expressing great concern about the deep crisis and conflicts in different parts of the world, discussed the way in which the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as every Christian, can contribute to reducing tension and establishing the peace that every human longs for. It is imperative, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and Archbishop Paglia agree, that regardless of difficult times in all parts of the world, Christians must fight for peace and humanity, because conflicts are senseless.

The meeting was attended by the president of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Vatican in the Serbian Parliament, Jovan Palalic, the bishop of Novo Brdo and assistant to Patriarch, Ilarion.

Increased presence of Kosovo police in the north: Security needs or political message? (Radio kontakt plus, media)

Explosion on Ibar-Lepenac water canal in Zubin Potok municipality, which took place on November 29, led to the increased presence of Kosovo police in the north, Radio kontakt plus reported.

Officially, these measures were undertaken to “preserve peace and order” as well as prevent future “criminal incidents”. However, reactions of the local population and connoisseurs of the situation point out disproportion and possible political background on this act.

Disproportional deployment of Kosovo police members in the north

The Ibar-Lepenac water canal is of crucial importance for the water supply and energy stability both in the north and south of the Ibar River, which makes this incident particularly severe. Its damages not only jeopardize local infrastructure but also everyday lives of the population. It is precisely because of the strategic importance of this water canal that the explosion invoked urgent security measures, but also increased the presence of police forces across northern Kosovo.

Deployed in smaller or larger groups, equipped with bullet-proof vests and heavily armed, members of Kosovo police, soon after the incident, in addition to Zubin Potok, covered the streets in Mitrovica North, Zvecan and Leposavic. Although their number decreased in the meantime, heavily armed police officers, mainly of Albanian ethnicity, are still present in municipalities, which are far from the place of explosion at the water canal.

Local population and connoisseurs of the situation voiced criticism and questioned justification of this act. The question arises as if the increased presence of Kosovo police in all northern municipalities is a real security need or a political message in the context of upcoming parliamentary elections, Radio kontakt plus further writes.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Belgrade of involvement in the Ibar-Lepenac water canal explosion and claimed that more than 15 kilograms of explosive was used, and that also certain evidence which substantiates his claims was found. Belgrade decisively rejected those accusations, adding they were groundless and politically motivated. And while the investigation is stalling, the northern Kosovo population is asking questions about the purpose of such a large presence of Kosovo police on the streets in these municipalities.

Portal Dukadjini reported on December 11, that around 2000 police officers, most of them from other parts of Kosovo, including Djakovica, Klina and Srbica have been deployed in the north.

Srdjan Simonovic from Human Centre Mitrovica opined that the presence of police was disproportional in comparison to the real danger.

“On one hand, when the attack on vital infrastructure occurs, and here it is truly about vital infrastructure, then it can of course be treated even as an act of terrorism. Of course, the presence of police is more than justified, but in the zone when it occurred. And here we have an anomaly which diverts from that significantly, it means that in this case the presence is reflected on the entire north”, he said.

Simonovic added that a large number of police officers have been deployed at places which are far away from the place of incident, Zvecan and Leposavic for example. “We even had more police officers in some streets than inhabitants”, he said.

He also opined that the event was used for the purpose of a pre-election campaign. “To demonstrate readiness of institutions, respectively of police to react, even by some operations that would certainly induce numerous costs, and would not yield some results”, Simonovic added.

‘Preventive measures or repression?’

Local Serbian population perceives this act as a threat, not protection, Simonovic pointed out.

“Our qualitative research showed the fact that people perceive police as a source of threat, and not as someone they expect protection from. In fact, citizens see the threat to their security in the police. And identify them with hostile elements. I would say this is perhaps unnatural, and it is unnatural, to treat the police as a source of threat, and not as someone who would fight this threat {…}”, Simonovic said.

Journalist Ana Marija Ivkovic, editor of Alternativna,com portal shares similar opinion.

“I absolutely can’t understand that police are on the streets (in populated areas) after an explosion, in particular having in mind this was not the case after the conflict in Banjska. It was clear after the case in Banjska that the local community by one its part was involved in the conflict, and it was expected that police would be deployed on the streets, and this did not happen”, she recalled.

In this regard, she said, she perceives the presence of police as a pre-electoral decision of the government headed by Albin Kurti, and as “flexing the muscles” and “repression”.

She also shared the opinion that inhabitants in the north have no trust in Kosovo police.

Political analyst Ognjen Gogic said increased presence of Kosovo police bears “more features of repression than that of preventive measures”. He said there is a greater need for transparency and responsibility towards people, arguing that Kosovo police has been instrumentalized in this case.

PIK: Return to work of police officers suspended in relation to Milos Subotic’s case does not impede further investigation (KoSSev)

Kosovo Police Inspectorate (PIK) assessed today that return of two police officers to work, suspended under accusations of involvement in mistreatment of Milos Subotic, does not impede the investigation ongoing against them, KoSSev portal reported.

PIK also said that the case with a criminal report has been filed to the Prosecution Office in Mitrovica. Decision to allow police officers to return to work, PIK has made upon filing the case to the prosecution, adding they do not deem their presence problematic for the investigation at this stage.

Milos Subotic from Mitrovica North was apprehended on October 26, late in the evening near the Ibar River bridge, upon removing plastic bags placed in front of the newly-opened Albanian-owned shop, blocking the passage at the city’s promenade. As Subotic claimed he was taken to the room in the police station in Mitrovica North, without surveillance cameras, and physically assaulted there by police officers who covered the numbers of their badges. Kosovo police denied Subotic’s claims of mistreatment and physical assault.

Support for students’ protests from 350 professors and students from Kosovo (KiM radio, Insajder, Beta)

Support for the students’ protests throughout Serbia was signed by more than 350 professors and students at the University of Pristina (relocated to North Mitrovica) on an online petition, reported yesterday KiM radio, citing Insajder.

The petition was initiated by professors who dissociated themselves from the announcement of the Rector's College, in which it supported the policy of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, reported Insajder.

The professors requested from the University to respect the rights to freedom, security and work of students.

The professors stated that the sincere efforts of students for transparency, the release of those unjustly arrested, the preservation of academic freedom and the right to a dignified student life are values that are deeply supported by all who believe in a better society.

"As members of the academic community, we stand by you, aware that your commitment is the foundation for building a fairer future", said professors from Kosovo.

RTS: EU to open Cluster 3 (N1)

The Serbian public broadcaster RTS said the European Union will take the first step in opening Cluster 3 in Serbia’s accession talks, reported N1.

EU member states recently decided not to open that cluster, citing insufficient progress by official Belgrade.

The RTS quoted unnamed diplomatic sources in Brussels who reportedly said that a decision to send Serbia a letter on the opening of the cluster at the start of the Council of Ministers of European Affairs which is set to discuss expansion.

The Hungarian EU Presidency said in an X post that Ambassadors approved the Council conclusions on enlargement. “A big success which will give a strong impetus to enlargement in the Western Balkans and beyond for the upcoming years”, it said.

Djuric: Good news from Brussels, we are prepared for progress on EU path (media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said on Tuesday the announcement that the EU Council of Ministers had approved a letter inviting Serbia to submit its negotiation positions for Chapters 16 and 19 under Cluster 3 of its EU accession talks was good news and that Serbia was prepared for further progress on the European path.

"Good news from Brussels! The hard work Serbia has invested, particularly over the last three months, is finally bearing fruit. We are fully prepared for further progress on our European path, and I thank the EU member states for acknowledging our efforts and commitment", Djuric wrote in a post on X.

Earlier, Hungarian Ambassador to the EU Balint Odor said that, on behalf of the Council of the EU, he had signed the letter inviting Serbia to submit its negotiation positions for the two chapters.

"A major step that boosts Serbia’s accession talks and the enlargement process - a key priority of the Hungarian EU presidency", Odor wrote on X.

On Monday evening, EU ambassadors reached an agreement on sending the letter to Serbia, which is the first step in the procedure of opening Cluster 3.

International

Serbian Govt’s document dump raises new questions about train station tragedy (Balkan Insight)

The contents of 195 documents released by the government concerning the Chinese-led upgrade of Serbian rail infrastructure are unlikely to defuse public anger over the fatal collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad station.

An outdoor railway station canopy in Serbia that collapsed in early November, killing 15 people, should have been rehabilitated as part of a recent Chinese-led upgrade of the Belgrade-Budapest railway line, according to newly-released documents.

Since the disaster, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his government have insisted that the outdoor canopy was not part of the upgrade of Novi Sad railway station, which was completed earlier this year in a project overseen by Chinese contractors.

However, some of the documents released by the government last week, under pressure from student protesters, suggest that work was needed on the outdoor canopy.