UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Four days left for diaspora to register to vote (media)
Lajcak: Encouraged by formation of joint commission on missing persons (media)
Hill: U.S. doesn’t see evidence linking Belgrade to attack on Iber Lepenci (media)
Kurti: Vetevendosje, a full member of the Socialist International (media)
Former member of Serbian forces charged with war crimes in Kosovo (media)
Tajani in Kosovo today, visits Italian KFOR for Christmas (RTK)
Ramadani reacts to mass protests in Belgrade (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Elek: Orchestrated attacks from Pristina on SL proof that we are bastion of Serbs' protection (Kosovo Online)
Rasic: SL responsible for dismissals and inconveniences caused to members of my party (Kosovo Online, Dukagjini)
Jevtic: Greatest strength and need of Serbian people in Kosovo is unity (Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug)
Archives of public gatherings: Between two and three times more people than official estimate of MIA (NMagazin, N1, Danas)
Vucic acknowledges ‘exceptionally large gathering’ in Belgrade (N1)
Visoki Decani: A large group of believers in the monastery, but there were more of them at Slavija (Kontakt plus radio, FB)
US Ambassador Hill on NIS, Community of Serbian Municipalities, Ibar-Lepenac canal investigation (RTS)
Reactions to Kosovo Government decision to allocate 100 euros to pensioners, youth, say ‘vote buying’ with public money (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
Djuric meets with China's Wang (media)
Dacic receives Russian deputy minister of emergencies (Tanjug)

Opinion:

Kaja Kallas, hope and scepticism in Western Balkans diplomacy (ukandeu.ac)

International Media:

Silence over Kosovo canal blast fuels political tensions (Barron’s, AFP)
Headcount results show Kosovo faces declining population, rising urbanization (PI)
Investing in climate action would boost Kosovo’s economy and human capital (Emerging Europe)
Proposed street mural of convicted Serbian general ‘glorifies war criminal’ (BIRN)

Humanitarian:

Animal protection in Kosovo: A long road ahead (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Four days left for diaspora to register to vote (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Facebook post on Sunday that four days are left for the diaspora to register to vote for the February 2025 parliamentary elections. “When the diaspora comes, Kosovo is complete. The closer the diaspora is to us, the further we can take Kosovo. In last night’s meeting with compatriots there was enthusiasm and belief that by being together we will continue our good work. The commitment will be even stronger the same as the near future of our country. Four days are left until the final deadline for registration for the diaspora to be able to exercise their right to vote. I call on you to register as quickly as possible, because the future of a powerful Kosovo can be made possible only with the participation of our powerful diaspora,” Kurti said.

Lajcak: Encouraged by formation of joint commission on missing persons (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said in a Facebook post today that in the dialogue, “while progress has been slower than I had hoped, what we achieved continues to be first and foremost for the benefit of citizens in both Kosovo and Serbia”. “Nevertheless, I‘m encouraged by the recent small steps forward such as the establishment of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons. It is high time to bring closure to the families and loved ones of those whose fate is still unknown. The Joint Commission is set to provide the much needed political push. Right before the holidays, I hosted my 31st Chief Negotiators’ meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi and Director Petar Petkovic. I thanked them for their good cooperation over the past period. The meeting took place amidst a busy week for the Western Balkans, including the EU-Western Balkan Summit and the adoption of the Council Conclusions on Enlargement. For both Kosovo and Serbia, they send a clear message that there will be no EU integration without normalisation of their relations and provide a detailed workplan for the year ahead, endorsed by all EU Member States. They outline expectations for the implementation of the 2023 Ohrid Agreement: de-escalation of tensions, accountability for the 2023 attacks, re-integration of Kosovo Serbs, establishment of Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, recognition of Kosovo’s documents & symbols”.

Hill: U.S. doesn’t see evidence linking Belgrade to attack on Iber Lepenci (media)

Several news websites report that U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade, Christopher Hill, told the Radio Television of Serbia today that the U.S. don’t see any trace that would lead to Belgrade with regards to the attack against the Iber Lepenci water canal in the north of Kosovo. “We certainly don’t see any trace that would lead to Belgrade, but someone did it and a full investigation is needed,” he said.

Kurti: Vetevendosje, a full member of the Socialist International (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X on Sunday that the Vetevendosje Movement is a full member of the Socialist International. “Yesterday’s unanimous vote in the Socialist International Council upgraded our observer status obtained in 2018. In times of rising authoritarianism, we stand alongside sister parties in our global commitment to peace and democracy. I express my deep gratitude to all member parties and friends who have actively supported our candidacy. Special thanks to Mr. Pedro Sanchez, President of SI and Prime Minister of Spain, for his unwavering support,” he said.

Former member of Serbian forces charged with war crimes in Kosovo (media)

Most news websites report that the Special Prosecution of Kosovo has charged a former member of Serbian forces of crimes against the civilian population in Suhareka in 1998/1999. “The accused, working together with other members of Serbian police and military forces, violated the rules of international law, by killing two persons and wounding another,” the statement notes. The defendant will be tried in absentia.

Tajani in Kosovo today, visits Italian KFOR for Christmas (RTK)

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, is visiting Kosovo today. He will meet members of the Italian KFOR contingent in Kosovo, COMKFOR Major General Enrico Barduani and head of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, Giovanni Pietro Barbano.

Ramadani reacts to mass protests in Belgrade (media)

Former chief inspector of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Burim Ramadani, said in a Facebook post today that the protests in Serbia “are the last call for the authoritarian regime there”. The opposition, students, Serbian society in general has advanced in their efforts to change the regime”. He said that “one of the main accusations there is the maintenance that authoritarians do to one another. The political crisis in Serbia was almost always accompanied by renewed tensions in the north of Kosovo. Unfortunately. This is why, I hope that NATO will make it clear to everyone that any renewed tensions in the north in this period would be strongly punished. I hope it [NATO] will make it clear that renewed tensions in the north of Kosovo in the coming weeks would clearly imply an effort to save an authoritarian regime. Authoritarians will fall wherever they are. Democracy triumphs”.

Serbian Language Media

Elek: Orchestrated attacks from Pristina on SL proof that we are bastion of Serbs' protection (Kosovo Online)

"As you have seen, the official campaign for the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 9 has not yet begun, and orchestrated attacks on the Serbian List have already begun. The Serbian List is the only Serbian party that is under attack from Pristina and it's like-minded people, and that is for one reason only, because the SL is a bastion that defends the interest of Serbian people here on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija," said Zlatan Elek, reported Kosovo Online.

Reacting to the accusations of Kosovo Minister Nenad Rasic against the SL, he recalled that he became a minister in the Kosovo government thanks to the appointment of Albin Kurti, and that he did not win a single vote from the Serbs in Kosovo.

"We know we are on the right track as soon as Kurti and Rasic attack us. This is the same Rasic who voted to confiscate the land of the Serb hosts in Zubin Potok and Leposavic, the same one who voted for the Serbs to participate in the KSF, who called on the Serbs in the Albanian language and, let's our compatriots do not forget, he did not want to vote against a museum that treats the entire country of Serbia and Serbs as a genocidal nation, only one nation, that's why the Serbian people do not want him. I would also like to remind all our compatriots that he became a minister in the government of Kosovo without a single Serbian vote, not even one of our compatriots voted for him, but he was promoted to the so-called minister. If he had any honor, he would not have accepted that position, but I am afraid that for him the word honor is only a mental noun. I also want to tell all our compatriots that today it is very necessary to be united and to be maximally responsible because the elections are not a toy," said Elek.

Rasic: SL responsible for dismissals and inconveniences caused to members of my party (Kosovo Online, Dukagjini)

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return and President of the Progressive Democratic Party, Nenad Rasic, accused the Serbian List of being responsible for his party's members experiencing inconvenience in Kosovo, including losing their jobs, reported Kosovo Online, citing Dukagjini.

Rasic stated that ''one of the victims was the wife of his deputy Nenad Vukmirovic'', who worked in the public sector in the north of Kosovo.

He claimed that ''several people from a family from Novi Brdo were fired from their jobs'' because their house was built by Kosovo institutions.

"And the case that happened last night where the employee of Ranilug was somewhere, but she left her car parked, and when she returned, she found the car in the canal with a message that she was not right and that she was at the wrong place," said Rasic, adding that even his son, who is studying in Serbia, spends at least four hours at the administrative crossing.

He accused the authorities in Belgrade of using Kosovo Serbs as "tools of manipulation".

"Yes, I can assume that the regime that is currently in Belgrade, unfortunately, uses the Kosovo Serbs as a tool of manipulation and representation on the other side for internal rhetoric, crisis, tragic, scandalous etc," said Rasic.

Jevtic: Greatest strength and need of Serbian people in Kosovo is unity (Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug)

The vice-president of the Serbian List, Dalibor Jevtic, said today that unity has always been and will be the greatest strength and greatest need of the Serbian people in Kosovo, and emphasized that the goal of the Serbian List's actions is unity among the people, but also in political and every other sense, reported Kosovo Online, citing RTV.

Jevtic said that joint action with the state of Serbia was extremely important and added that the SL was the only party in Kosovo that had the support of official Belgrade.

"Precisely in order to prevent everything that we could see in the past and not so distant past. In Pristina, there are some Serbs in the government who are not opposed to the opening of a genocide museum, who raised their hand in favor of confiscating Serbian property from Serbian hosts in the north of Kosovo, then it is clear why it is necessary for the SL to be in those places in the institutions that are guaranteed," said Jevtic.

Jevtic stated that the situation for the Serbs in Kosovo was not easy, because, as he said, Kosovo PM Albin Kurti, was doing everything to make the life and position of the Serbs as difficult as possible and to force the Serbs to leave those areas through these processes.

"In these and such circumstances, we are heading towards February 9, expecting that each subsequent day will be more and more difficult because Kurti will take measures for some radical moves in order to increase his popularity in order to win those elections," Jevtic said.

Archives of public gatherings: Between two and three times more people than official estimate of MIA (NMagazin, N1, Danas)

At yesterday's protest in Belgrade at Slavija, the demonstrators occupied an area of about 45,000 square meters, which means that the number of people present was between 2 and 3 times higher than the official estimate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, stated the Archives of Public Meetings.

"The Archive of Public Meetings is working on a more specific assessment, which in this case is a particularly extensive job," they added.

NMagazin recalled that the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced about yesterday's gathering at Slavija square in Belgrade stating that "at the time of the greatest attendance, there were between 28,000 and 29,000 citizens".

Vucic acknowledges ‘exceptionally large gathering’ in Belgrade (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic acknowledged an “exceptionally large gathering” of what he described as opposition-minded people in Belgrade on Sunday, adding that he is “always prepared” to listen to their views and what they consider essential for the country’s future, N1 reported.

Speaking in a Sunday evening Instagram video from the Presidency building, where he was decorating a Christmas tree with “friends from the Presidency”, Vucic addressed the day’s events.

“A large gathering took place, a large gathering in Belgrade. Police estimate between 28,000 and 29,000 people attended. An exceptionally large gathering. These people are opposition-minded, and I have always been prepared to hear what they think, how they think, and what they consider important for our country. I believe a much larger number of people think differently, which is why we need to listen to each other. This should be our value, a different kind of relationship in the future. I say this here, in front of this flag you see. This is the flag I carried in May 2024 when we defended Serbia at the United Nations General Assembly. I would add we defended it quite successfully. Let us unite over our basic goals under this tricolour, even as our quarrels and disputes continue”, said Vucic.

He added that “while not setting our differences aside,” it is important that “we continue to work together” and that everyone understands that “peace and stability in the country are of paramount importance”.

The president mentioned that 30 kilometres of new, state-of-the-art motorway was opened on Sunday which he described as “the pride of all of Serbia”. “We will continue to work, and we will continue to build”, the president said, noting that the data for the second decade of December shows that “this year is a record investment year”.

Addressing youth concerns, Vucic stressed the importance of offering young people a future in Serbia, saying “we need to think about how they can stay in our country and see a better future for themselves and their children”. He concluded the video by mentioning his “somewhat tiring day” of tree decorating, adding that “an even tougher day awaits us tomorrow. I believe it will be just as good and successful as today was”.

Visoki Decani: A large group of believers in the monastery, but there were more of them at Slavija (Kontakt plus radio, FB)

"And this week we had a large group of believers in Decani, mostly from Belgrade. But there were more of them at Slavija today," reported Kontakt plus radio last night, citing the post of the Monastery on Facebook.

However, today the post is no longer available.

US Ambassador Hill on NIS, Community of Serbian Municipalities, Ibar-Lepenac canal investigation (RTS)

US Ambassador to Belgrade, Christopher Hill told Serbian public broadcaster RTS there are no announcements that sanctions against Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) will be introduced, adding that final decision on it will not impact Serbian economy. He said there was concern if NIS, in Russian hands, in some way helps financing the war in Ukraine, and that “these are legitimate issues which should be carefully considered”.

“We will see what the outcome will be. I want to reassure you that in no way the final decision will impact the Serbian economy. We are very interested that Serbia continues having a very successful economy, a good level of growth which is achieved and we wish that to continue”, Hill is quoted as saying.

He assessed relations between Belgrade and Washington as good and that a good platform for further development had been established. Hill said Serbia and US have differing stances when it comes to Kosovo issue, but must not allow this to impede them in other fields.

“We have to agree that we disagree on some matters. I think one of the most important things we can do is continue economic cooperation {…}”, Hill said, adding that Serbia is a leading country in terms of investments in the field of technology and a leading US trade partner in the region.

Speaking about the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Hill said the US is pleased that Serbia supported the dialogue process. Terming the rights of Serbs in Kosovo as one of the central pillars of the dialogue, Hill said the issue of Community of the Serbian Municipalities is crucial.

“We have supported it since it was agreed for the first time, around 12 years ago and it must be implemented. Although people heard it a thousand times and are frustrated over the fact it had not been implemented, it does not mean one should not talk about it. I think that we must be very focused to move this on”, Hill said.

“Serbs must understand what their future in Kosovo is like and we support it very much and a lot of work has to be done. I think we made some progress, but it is clear it is not enough, and that is one of the areas where we have to work much more”, Hill said.

He added that in the long term normalisation of relations must be seen and there has to be much less incidents.

Speaking about the incident at Ibar-Lepenac water canal, Hill said he thinks there is a desire on all sides to find out the truth and who committed it.

“We certainly do not see evidence that would lead towards Belgrade, but someone did it and a thorough investigation has to be conducted, and I think it is good that we offer support to that investigation through the FBI and I think that is important. But it also speaks of the fact that there is lack of trust and tendency for mutual accusations”, Hill said.

Reactions to Kosovo Government decision to allocate 100 euros to pensioners, youth, say ‘vote buying’ with public money (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

Announcement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that children under the age of 16 and pensioners would receive 100 euros each by the end of the year was met with criticism from opposition parties but also experts, arguing they do not see justification for such step, terming it “electoral corruption” and buying of votes ahead of February 9, parliamentary elections, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Ehat Miftaraj from Kosovo Judicial Institute (KJI) in a post on Facebook said that “votes are bought for 100 euros to ensure the access to the budget from 12 to 15 billion euros in the four year mandate”.

“When you have access (to a budget) from 12 to 15 billion euros, you have unlimited opportunities to award your brothers, uncles, relatives, friends, girlfriends in the media with subsidies in the amount of 100.000 euros, several times, and also with positions in public institutions….. 100 euros for a child of parents who struggle to meet their ends with 200 euros a month, 100 euros for a child of a worker receiving wage from 300 to 500 euros, 100 euros for a son of a minister, deputy or ambassador, 100 euros for a son of a millionaire, 100 euros for a son of an oligarch and 100 euros for a son of a Trepca mine worker”, Miftaraj wrote in a post.

Shenol Muharemi sees this decision of the government as “electoral corruption", adding that for someone as Albin Kurti is, this decision was “regrettable”. He also said one would not be surprised if such a decision came from those of the old political establishment, but not from Kurti. “Allocation of the public money without any responsibility, in particular during elections is nothing else by abuse of power for personal interests. This could be the main reason why Self-determination and Kurti will lose”, he said.

Researcher Agron Demi sees this decision as “direct buying of votes”.

Members of the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) were also critical of this decision. MP Berat Rukiqi said it was about “classic abuse of public funds because it would neither help citizens, nor contribute to the development of Kosovo”.

“Nothing new. The government in panic continues using public money to buy votes. This is an obvious misuse of public money, which neither helps nor develops. The same money would automatically be spent for expensive electricity bills”, he said.

His party member, Hikmete Bajrami in a post wrote that allocation of public budget “is a scheme of public corruption”. She accused the Kosovo Government of doubling costs of electricity, property taxes, increase of prices, leaving police officers without footwear and members of KSF without food, adding that “today with the money of taxpayers it is attempting to buy votes”.

Leader of the Social Democratic Party, Dardan Moliqaj was also critical of the decision. “The message behind 100 euros: He gives, he takes. Vote”, Moliqaj wrote in a post on Facebook.

Djuric meets with China's Wang (media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Friday, noting that Serbia-China relations were at a historic high and that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries had been deepened further by Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Serbia this year and raised to the level of a community with a shared future in the new era, Tanjug news agency reported.

During the three-hour meeting, Djuric thanked Wang for supporting the policy of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian Government and noted that Serbia would continue to support, and actively participate in, cooperation within Xi's Belt and Road initiative and the China-CEEE mechanism of cooperation.

He noted that mutual support on vital issues of national interest, above all, on the principle of respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, represented a special value in the relations between the two countries. Djuric again thanked China for its principled position on the Kosovo issue and for the support provided in that regard both bilaterally and within international organisations. Besides being directed against Serbs in Kosovo, Pristina's unilateral moves are aimed at disturbing Serbia's relations with foreign partners, Djuric said.

Dacic receives Russian deputy minister of emergencies (Tanjug)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic received Russian Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Roman Kurynin on Thursday to discuss further advancement of bilateral cooperation in the field of emergencies, Tanjug news agency reported.

Dacic and Kurynin agreed that fires, earthquakes, floods and technical and technological accidents were challenges facing all countries and that fire and rescue services needed to react in a timely manner to minimise the fallout and accelerate recovery as much as possible.

The parties noted that continued investment in equipment and training for fire and rescue teams was crucial for an efficient response to any challenge, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Opinion

Kaja Kallas, hope and scepticism in Western Balkans diplomacy (ukandeu.ac)

Opinion piece by Seb Bytyci and Simon Sweeney.

The appointment of Kaja Kallas as the new head of European Union foreign policy may mark a turning point for European diplomacy in the Western Balkans. The former Estonian Prime Minister’s reputation for upholding the sovereign rights of smaller states and her condemnation of Russian aggression means we might expect her to directly confront challenges in a region which lacks media spotlight but remains volatile.

A key challenge is the poor relationship between Serbia and its southern neighbour, Kosovo. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue aims to normalise relations between the two, and the EU, a formal ‘facilitator’ of the dialogue, is often called upon to act as arbiter. But despite a promising start, the initiative has borne little fruit. Since 2013, when the initial agreements were reached, implementation has stalled, often because Serbia refuses to comply. For example, Kosovo introduced passport-free travel, but Serbia delayed accepting this until 2022.

In February and March 2023 the parties reached a new accord on normalisation and an ‘implementation annex’, known as the Brussels–Ohrid agreements, was adopted. However, Serbia sent a formal objection to the EU. Belgrade complained that Brussels-Ohrid was incompatible with Serbia’s constitution. This declares Kosovo an integral part of the Serbian Republic. In Pristina there has been disappointment that the EU has not pressured Belgrade to meet its commitments throughout the process.

Recent events highlight why a change in the EU’s approach is necessary. Tensions in northern Kosovo culminated in violent attacks in Ibër-Lepenc and Banjska, for which officials in Pristina hold Belgrade responsible. The attacks are arguably a consequence of the EU dealing too softly with Serbia. Belgrade has long benefited from EU reluctance to take decisive action, such as cutting financial support under the Western Balkans Investment Framework, while Belgrade has used provocative tactics to strengthen its position, but without facing significant consequences.

The weak response to these attacks reinforces the perception that EU policy is one-sided. Instead of addressing the root causes of tensions, the Union has tried to cushion the situation by avoiding direct criticism of Serbia and imposing no penalties. This undermines the dialogue process and damages confidence in the EU as an honest broker.

A renewed push, with established deadlines and transparent monitoring of conditions and implementation, would restore the Union’s credentials. This could breathe life into a stalled Western Balkans enlargement, to which on paper the EU remains committed. Without a new and more forceful strategy, the dialogue process risks losing all credibility and will fail.