Albanian Language Media:

• Prosecution: Over 300 witnesses in trial against former KLA leaders (RFE)
• Heusgen: Association of Serb municipalities must be implemented (Deutsche Welle)
• Beka on students’ march: We are not pushed by any political party (Albanian Post)
• Judicial Council submits request to send law on wages to Constitutional Court (media)
• Kurti thanks UK MP for speaking about situation in Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Pristina’s refusal to establish CSM creating a frozen conflict (Politika, BETA, N1)
• Todic writes to Quint, heads of international organisations over expropriation in north (Kosovo Online)
• Public discussion on expropriation held in Leposavic, residents demand decisions to be annulled (KoSSev, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
• Blinken congratulates the Statehood Day: Serbian and Kosovo leaders will make difficult compromises (Beta, N1)
• Biden congratulates Vucic on Statehood Day (N1, FoNet)
• Putin to Vucic: Moscow supports Belgrade (FoNet, N1)
• Varhelyi: Failure to impose sanctions should not affect Serbia’s EU negotiations (N1)
• Public invitations in the municipality of Orahovac only in the Albanian language (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev) 

International:

• Inside global diplomacy with Baroness Catherine Ashton, former European Commission vice president — "Intelligence Matters" (cbsnews.com)

   

Albanian Language Media  

  Prosecution: Over 300 witnesses in trial against former KLA leaders (RFE)

The Prosecution of the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo said today it has secured over 300 witnesses in the case against former President Hashim Thaci, former Assembly presidents Jakup Krasniqi and Kadri Veseli, and former member of the KLA General Staff Rexhep Selimi. Thaci, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi have been in detention in the Hague since November 2020, facing accusations for war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

According to the prosecution, during the trial there will be references to over 40 sites where the crimes were allegedly committed. The prosecution also said it needs around 600 hours to present all the evidence – by the end of 2024 or early 2025 – in order to have a fair trial.

The defence, on the other hand, has asked that the process does not go on infinitely and has asked the court to shorten the time that the prosecution has to present the evidence. The defence also argued that the prosecution “clearly lacks focus” in the way it has presented the case. “We all come to the point that in the end we will have a very lengthy material, which no one knows how important it is. The advantage of the prosecution is that in doing so it delays the issue and includes as much material it can in the process,” Veseli’s attorney, Ben Emmerson said today.

The prosecution and the defence have agreed for the trial to start on April 3.

Heusgen: Association of Serb municipalities must be implemented (Deutsche Welle)

Christoph Heusgen, President of the Munich Conference, said in an interview with the news agency that reaching a compromise between Kosovo and Serbia is an immediate necessity. He said that the agreement on the Association of Serb municipalities must be concretised now. He also said he hopes that the Munich Conference will enable progress in this respect, “as finding a solution is very necessary also given the risks we face ahead”.

Beka on students’ march: We are not pushed by any political party (Albanian Post)

Bleron Beka, vice president of the Students Parliament of Pristina University, told the news website today: “The Students Parliament will organise a march against the Association [of Serb-majority municipalities]. The protest is not aimed against the government, the opposition or other factors operating in the Republic of Kosovo”.

The march will begin at 16:00 in Pristina today, and as the organisers said, it is aimed at opposing the formation of the Association.

“The Association is detrimental to the Republic of Kosovo. In reality, the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is not being created for more rights for the Serb community – which they already have but is being created to install a Ser government within the Republic of Kosovo,” Beka said. He argued that the Association will be used as a tool for the Serbian government to interfere in Kosovo. “What is controversial is that the statute of the association can be changed by an assembly created by the association itself”.

Beka said that one of the reasons why the students find the Association unacceptable is the superiority it will give to a certain ethnic group, and that this is unacceptable being that Kosovo is a multiethnic state.

Beka also said that the march “has strictly to do with our opposition as students” against an evil that is threatening Kosovo and is not pushed by any political party.

Judicial Council submits request to send law on wages to Constitutional Court (media)

Kosovo’s Judicial Council has submitted a request to the Ombudsperson Institution to seek an interpretation from the Constitutional Court about the Law on Wages. “The Council considers that the Law on Wages in the Public Sector is in opposition with the Constitution, Law. Nr. 06/L-054 for Courts, the recommendations of the Council of Europe about the independence of the judiciary, the Opinion of the Consultative Council of European Judges and the Verdict of the Constitutional Court KO 203/19, therefore, the Council asks the People’s Attorney within its constitutional and legal competencies to undertake the necessary actions and address this request to the Constitutional Court,” the Judicial Council said in a statement.

Kurti thanks UK MP for speaking about situation in Kosovo (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti shared a Twitter post by Labour MP Alex Sobel who said that “Kosovo is a young country which the UK played a major role in halting the genocide 20 years ago the situation is deteriorating again with the malignant presence of Russia stoking tensions in the region”. Kurti wrote on Twitter: “Many thanks to Labour MP @alexsobel for speaking about the situation in Kosova in the UK Parliament. The UK has always been a staunch supporter and ally of our country”.

   

Serbian Language Media 

  Petkovic: Pristina’s refusal to establish CSM creating a frozen conflict (Politika, BETA, N1)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said that Belgrade and Pristina are in a kind of a frozen conflict because of Pristina’s refusal to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).

“As it is objectively impossible to achieve any substantial progress on any other issue of importance for the process of normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina without the formation of the CSM, we find ourselves, not by our will, in a kind of a frozen conflict, which threatened to turn into a real large-scale conflict every time irresponsible and unreasonable politicians in Pristina got a chance for it”, Petkovic said in an opinion piece for Politika daily.

“The idea of the CSM is not a political luxury or a whim, but a way for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to physically survive and to be institutionally protected from the dangerous and aggressive actions of the extremists in Pristina. Experience teaches us that what Pristina strongly resists, as a rule, is in the interest of the Serbian people”, he said, adding that the concept of the CSM does not in any way threaten Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija.

Todic writes to Quint, heads of international organisations over expropriation in north (Kosovo Online)

Former Leposavic mayor and Interim Municipal Authority president, Zoran Todic sent a letter to Quint ambassadors, heads of EU Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, OSCE and EULEX as well as KFOR Commander over decision of Kosovo government to expropriate land in northern Kosovo owned by the Serbs, Kosovo Online portal reports.

In a letter Todic argued that the right to property is inviolable and absolute, noting that any interference into this right must be done in accordance with and based on the strict and precise legal regulations and procedures, such as the Law on Expropriation.

Todic warned that this law has not been evenly and equally applied by the current Kosovo government when it comes to expropriations in Leposavic and Zubin Potok municipalities. 

According to Todic by making decisions on expropriations in Leposavic and Zubin Potok, Kosovo government has violated the Law on Expropriation, Constitution and international conventions regulating the process of expropriation, adding that an intent to score specific political goals but also conceal already undertaken illegal activities and measures while constructing special police bases on affected properties was behind it.

He further argued that public interests when it comes to expropriations is linked exclusively with economic interest and wellbeing of citizens, such as constructing education and health facilities, social protection services, road infrastructure, energy facilities and similar.

He also said in these particular decisions it was not possible to establish what purpose public interest was based on and the expropriation process carried out, adding the government was obliged by the law to say so.

According to him, given that process was ongoing while Leposavic municipality was dissolved, central level authorities discriminated against it and denied its right to full legal protection guaranteed by European Charter on Local Self-governance, directly applicable in Kosovo.

He urged international representatives to compare decisions of the current government on expropriations in Albanian-majority areas where the processes have been implemented in line with the law with, as he said, unlawful and violent expropriations in Zubin Potok and Leposavic municipalities with Serb-majority. He said it could be easily established that the law and constitution were applied selectively and double standards were in place.

“The intention of additional militarization of northern Kosovo under pretext of an alleged fight against crime through expropriation, respectively classic usurpation of private properties cause additional anxiety among already concerned Leposavic citizens, but also among citizens of all other municipalities in northern Kosovo”, he said.

He added he expects those addressed in letter, as relevant and credible international factors “to stand up in defence and protection of civilization and European values”.  

Public discussion on expropriation held in Leposavic, residents demand decisions to be annulled (KoSSev, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)

A public discussion on expropriation affecting Serb landowners in Leposavic municipality was held today in the municipal building, Serbian media report. In January this year, Kosovo government made the latest decision on land expropriation in the north, including two cadastral zones of Dren and Lesak, in this municipality, including more than 80 hectares of both, private and socially owned land.

Three representatives of the Pristina Sector for Expropriation, affected landowners, residents, lawyers, civil society, former mayor of Leposavic, Zoran Todic and former Kosovo MP, Slavko Simic attended the discussion.  

Former Leposavic mayor Zoran Todic said people in Leposavic do not need military bases, terming the decision on expropriation as “illegal and illegitimate”, directly affecting the people. He noted today’s public discussion also includes expropriation Pristina carried out last year while objects have already been built in Kosutovo and Bistrica villages on those parcels, noting that now Pristina intends to do the same in Dren and Lesak.

Jovana Radosavljevic, New Social Initiative Director said today’s discussion is one year belated and “mirrors undemocratic, illegal and violent approach Self-determination run-government has over the last years towards Serbian community”. Radosavljevic attended debate as a civil society representative but also as a resident of Leposavic, KoSSev portal said.

She said the highest interests of both Serbs and Albanians should be building co-existence and trust, building a common society founded on full respect and understanding, noting that the biggest responsibility for building the trust rests with ethnic majority, and the Kosovo government.

She highlighted that discussions such as the one today, the first one since the Kosovo government started expropriating land in northern Kosovo, are held prior to the decisions on expropriations and prior infrastructural projects start.

“And we witness that the land has been appropriated already, and that first bases have already been built”, she said.

She opined that discussions such as the one today would make sense only if they were to speak about removing constructed bases, annulling decisions on expropriations and returning the land to a condition prior to implementation of, as she said, legal violence against the owners, and an entire community.

During her address she raised a number of questions, including how come that public interest of Leposavic is to have, in addition to KFOR base and regular police station, also three bases of Kosovo special police? She noted people in Leposavic didn’t feel unsafe, at least until Kosovo special police units have not arrived. She also argued deployment of monoethnic Albanian special police units in those bases, heavily armed, is in clear contradiction with Constitutional articles 61 and 128 saying police composition must reflect demographic structure of population in a given area.

Lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic, representing private owners from Dren in their legal case against the Kosovo government, said the lawsuit was filed in order to have a preliminary decision on expropriation declared illegal. He said his clients demand to determine that there is no special public interest in this case and the process to stop.

He also said the owners of the land do not want financial compensation but want the situation to be returned as it was before and be able to use their land as they have always used it. “That is their only request”, he said. He added “the speical public interest” Kosovo government talks about must be justified and that everybody needs roads and schools, but that the small village as Dren is does not need a military base, adding that construction of a base would impact daily life of the population with presence of dozens or hundreds police officers or soldiers, heavy vehicles, reflectors lightening the area in the night, barbed fire and concrete walls several metres high.  

Director of the Department for Expropriation Afrim Murati claimed that once the Kosovo government made a decision on expropriation it was published in the newspapers, and that they have informed about this public discussion. He also claimed that a decision in Serbian language, the Law on Expropriation in Serbian and administrative instructions on assessing the property was sent in envelopes to the owners and that the president of Leposavic municipality was also notified.

He also said remarks expressed today will be considered one by one, and that only preparatory works were carried out in Dren. He also said it was about building a road, widening it, adding it was for the residents and economic development. 

Blinken congratulates the Statehood Day: Serbian and Kosovo leaders will make difficult compromises (Beta, N1)

Leaders of Serbia and Kosovo will "make difficult compromises" in order to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which will bring security and prosperity to all citizens of the Western Balkans, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, congratulating Statehood Day to Serbia, reported N1.

"On behalf of the United States, I want to congratulate the people of Serbia on their Statehood Day," Blinken said, announced the State Department. 

"I am convinced that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo will bring security and prosperity to Serbia and all citizens of the Western Balkans. Serbian and Kosovo leaders will make difficult compromises to achieve these goals, but the rewards for the Serbian people - and the entire region - will be enormous," said Blinken.

Blinken stated that the US values the strategic partnership it has with Serbia with the goal of a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for all citizens of the Western Balkans, as well as that the US strongly supports Serbia's European ambitions.

"We are committed to working with you and our European Union (EU) partners to achieve this important goal," said the US Secretary of State.

Blinken appealed to Serbia to support Ukraine against Russia's "unprovoked, unjustified and brutal war".

"The USA welcomed Serbia's messages of support to Ukraine at the United Nations. We must be united to support the right of the Ukrainian people to choose their future," said Blinken.

The US Secretary of State expressed satisfaction with the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and the Department of State, which, he said, will "encourage a better understanding of foreign policy goals and objectives, create new channels of communication and build lasting partnerships", reported N1.

Biden congratulates Vucic on Statehood Day (N1, FoNet)

We welcome your support for the European Union (EU) proposal on the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, which will help create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the region, said US President Joseph Biden in a note of congratulations to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Serbia’s Statehood Day, said Vucic’s office.

In the year ahead the US will continue to support Serbia’s path of accession to the EU and the dialogue on the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, said Biden, adding that he looks forward to strengthening the partnership between the US and Serbia.

Biden said over the past few years Serbia and the US worked on diversification of energy sources and strengthening of economic cooperation, creating a better future for their citizens.

Together, we must continue to support the people of Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its unjust and unprovoked war against Ukraine, said the US President, reported Serbian media.

Putin to Vucic: Moscow supports Belgrade (FoNet, N1)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message to his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic that Moscow supports Belgrade’s efforts to protect the country’s territorial integrity and resolve the Kosovo issue.

“Serbia is Russia’s important and reliable partner. We value the balanced foreign policy course taken by Belgrade in the current complex international circumstances,” Putin said in the message for Serbia’s Statehood Day which was delivered by Ambassador Alexander Botsan Kharchenko.

Putin added that he is sure the development of the Russia-Serbia strategic partnership suits the interests of the two nations, reported N1. 

Varhelyi: Failure to impose sanctions should not affect Serbia’s EU negotiations (N1)

We expect Serbia to align with European Union’s (EU) common foreign and security policy (CFSP), which also means introducing sanctions on Russia, but CFSP alignment is not a criteria on the basis of which negotiations can be suspended, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said. Responding to questions by MEPs, Varhelyi said the EU has asked Serbia to be on its side and to align its policy with that of the EU.

“For many of our member states this is now maybe the most important criteria against which progress can be made. However, I need to recall that, according to the rules which we are all bound by, which is the negotiating framework and the new methodology, CFSP alignment is not a criteria on the basis of which you can suspend accession negotiations and as you know, suspending accession negotiations is only the last resort. We have seen one case where the negotiations have been put on hold, and you have seen how such a decision can come about. I am still hopeful that Serbia understands the importance of them helping us in this fight against the impact of the war Russia has instigated against Ukraine and we are hopeful that Serbia will also come around at the end”, he said.

Public invitations in the municipality of Orahovac only in the Albanian language (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev) 

Beginning of February this year, the Municipality of Orahovac announced two very important calls to citizens regarding participation and support. Texts were only in the Albanian language. Radio Gorazdevac was left without an answer from this local self-government when asked why there was no translation available. 

The municipality of Orahovac published on its website on February 3 a draft regulation for the regulation of waste in the Albanian language only.

As Radio Gorazdevac reported, it remains unclear how the municipality will involve the residents of the Serbian community in the discussion on such an important topic. 

A large amount of garbage, visible even at the entrance to Velika Hoca, confirms the importance of the topic of municipal waste. 

The representative of Velika Hoca, Miroslav Lukic, says that they had a meeting with the director of the utility company and that they are waiting for a large container that will be placed at the entrance to the village.

"The population pays for garbage; we just need a place where larger garbage can be disposed of. We made an agreement for that container, but it hasn't arrived yet. We hope that it will be resolved soon. Otherwise, a small landfill is being built for us on the Hoča side, where there is space for storage. We don't want that to happen to us, and it would be best if everything was thrown into that container," said Lukic to Radio Goraždevac.

Forms for grants without translation into Serbian

On the same day, the Municipality of Orahovac also announced a public call for grants/subsidies for youth, culture, and sports. On the website of the Municipality, there is a translation of the text of the invitation into Serbian, but the documents can only be downloaded in Albanian, even though their names are written in Serbian.

The team of Radio Gorazdevac sent an email in Albanian and Serbian to the Municipality of Orahovac asking if they have a version of this call for public consultations in Serbian, but even after 11 days, they say, no answer was received.

   

International 

  Inside global diplomacy with Baroness Catherine Ashton, former European Commission vice president — "Intelligence Matters" (cbsnews.com)

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Rt. Honourable Baroness Catherine Ashton, former vice president of the European Commission and the European Union's first representative for foreign affairs and security policy, about her career and new book, "And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st Century Diplomacy." Ashton provides an insider's view of several high-stakes diplomatic engagements, including the early days of forging the Iran nuclear deal and the EU-brokered talks between Serbia and Kosovo. Morell and Ashton also discuss the nature of political leadership and share thoughts about some of the world leaders with whom they engaged personally. 

Read more at: https://cbsn.ws/3jZyWUI