UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 26, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: EU is our trade partner; don’t want to cooperate with Russia (RFE)
Osmani: Women, Peace, and Security Forum in Pristina on April 15-16 (media)
Borrell: Meetings with Kurti and Vucic in Munich were unsuccessful (RFE)
CBK confirms it will attend “informative meeting” in Brussels (Nacionale)
EU confirms Kosovo and Serbia to attend meeting on Dinar in Brussels (RFE)
Osmani to represent Kosovo at summit for Ukraine in Tirana on Wednesday (Klan)
AAK wants assembly debate on health insurances, healthcare system (media)
“Five months after Banjska, no indictment against Radoicic yet” (media)
Kamberi: We don’t want posts; we want more rights for Albanians (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina: Both sides confirmed participation (FoNet, N1)
The Office for KiM: The attack on the SOC priest in Prizren a direct consequence of tolerating hatred (NMagazin, Beta, Danas)
Consultations for the new prime minister have begun with Vucic (NMagazin, Beta, media)
Dacic: No one has the right to teach Serbia what kind of foreign policy to pursue (Beta, NMagazin, Danas, TV Pink)
N1 learns unofficially: ODIHR report on December elections on Monday in the government of Serbia (NMagazin, Beta)
Stojanovic: With abolishment of the dinar an attempt made to abolish the entire system that functions in Kosovo (KiM radio)
EULEX still patrolling in front and around municipal buildings in the North, the situation stable but still fragile (KoSSev)
Vucic: Xi's visit to Serbia confirmed for this year (Tanjug)
"We expect more decisive action from the international community": Dacic at the UN about the Serbs in Kosovo (N1, Beta, KiM radio)

Opinion:

Palokaj: One year after ‘agreement’, Kosovo, Serbia further from reconciliation (Koha)

International:

Kosovo Artist Turns Post-War Labour Inequalities Into Sculpture at Venice Biennale (BIRN)
‘Not an Utopia’: Talat Xhaferi Outlines His Election as North Macedonia’s First Ethnic Albanian PM (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: EU is our trade partner; don’t want to cooperate with Russia (RFE)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today at the EBRD Western Balkans Investment Summit in London that Kosovo’s key trade partners are the member states of the European Union. Asked about Kosovo’s trade partnership with non-recognizing countries, Kurti said that one of them is Russia and that Kosovo does not want any partnership with it. “Our key trade partner is the EU and we want to strengthen and further this cooperation … We don’t have relations with the Russian Federation, we have imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation. We want Ukraine to win and all of the democratic Europe and the world need to see Putin defeated. We are not cooperating with them, and even if they wanted to, we would not. There are some imports from China [to Kosovo], but EU member states are our key trade partners,” Kurti is quoted as saying.

Kurti also said that his government is focused “on the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and is fully in line with the United States of America, the EU and United Kingdom in the geopolitical aspect and in the values of doing business”. “We need more direct foreign investments. Kosovo is a country where these investments can be made, and they are already happening,” he said.

Kurti said in a post on X that at the EBRD Western Balkans Investment Summit, he “emphasized that Kosovo is a uniquely attractive investment destination—it leads WB6 in 2023–25 growth projections & is making significant progress in rule of law, human rights & democracy. Kosovo is proof that democratic and economic progress go hand-in-hand.”

Most news websites note that Kurti reacted when Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic during her representation referred to Kosovo as “Kosovo and Metohija”, to which Kurti said: “my country is called the Republic of Kosovo, not as it was referred to here as ‘Kosovo and Metohija’. If I would go down this road, it would take too long, because in addition to Serbia, I would have to say Serbia and Vojvodina, Sandjak, Toplica, Rashka, Presevo Valley … It is better if we focus on the economy”.

Osmani: Women, Peace, and Security Forum in Pristina on April 15-16 (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a Facebook video today that the Women, Peace, and Security Forum will be held in Pristina on April 15-16. “In the first edition of the forum, we welcomed global leaders, academics, experts and WPS champions from all over the world to address issues that directly affect the security, safety and well-being of women and girls worldwide. 500 participants, 33 countries, six continents, all together in the heart of Kosovo! This year we are back for more. From standing up against wartime sexual violence, to issues related to climate security, women are the unsung heroes blending intelligence and integrity in the service of peace and security. Where women lead, peace follows! But we can’t sit still and watch. We need bold action! And we must act collectively. On the 15 and 16 of April we look forward to welcoming you to the capital of the Republic of Kosovo, Prishtina!” Osmani said in the video message.

Borrell: Meetings with Kurti and Vucic in Munich were unsuccessful (RFE)

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said in a statement on Sunday after the Munich Security Conference, that he had separate meetings with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic “how to deescalate the tensions between the two countries, without success unfortunately”.

Read Borrell’s full statement at: https://shorturl.at/alnCE

CBK confirms it will attend “informative meeting” in Brussels (Nacionale)

The Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) told the news website in a written response today that it will take part in the meeting called by EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, on February 27 in Brussels. The CBK said that the meeting will be “informative” and not negotiating in terms of the amended regulation of the CBK and that they are willing to discuss with the National Bank of Serbia too on “facilitating the selection of the easiest option for the process of transfer of funds through bank channels to beneficiaries accounts (in Euros)”. “In this respect, it [CBK] answers all invitations when they are necessary, for such informative meetings, as it has done continuously with the international presence in the country,” the response notes.

EU confirms Kosovo and Serbia to attend meeting on Dinar in Brussels (RFE)

The European Union confirmed the participation of delegations from Kosovo and Serbia at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday on the issue of the Serbian Dinar in Kosovo. The news website received confirmation from Kosovo that the Central Bank of Kosovo responded positively to the invitation. Citing unnamed sources, the news website reports that Kosovo will be represented by the Governor of the Central Bank, Ahmet Ismaili.

Osmani to represent Kosovo at summit for Ukraine in Tirana on Wednesday (Klan)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani will represent Kosovo at the first summit between Ukraine and the six countries of the Western Balkans in Tirana, Albania, on Wednesday. Osmani’s office confirmed the information to Klan Kosova. According to preliminary information from the Albanian Government, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the summit.

AAK wants assembly debate on health insurances, healthcare system (media)

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Shemsedin Dreshaj, told a press conference today that the AAK will request a debate at the Kosovo Assembly about health insurances and the state of the healthcare sector.

“We have called this press conference to inform the public about the grave state of the healthcare system and the lack of health insurances in the country. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo hopes that on Thursday there will be a parliamentary debate about the state of the healthcare system, the everyday problems we see in healthcare and the lack of health insurances,” he said.

Dreshaj said he hopes that after the debate there will be a resolution on health insurances and that it will be supported by both the ruling party and the opposition.

“Five months after Banjska, no indictment against Radoicic yet” (media)

Several news websites cover a post on X by Kosovo’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla, who argues that five months after the attack in Banjska and the killing of Kosovo police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, there is no indictment yet against former Serbian List deputy leader Milan Radoicic “who admitted the crime”. “And the Serbian List continues to be financed by the state of Kosovo (with the votes of all political parties) with €360,000 from the Central Election Commission and €250,000 from the Kosovo Assembly,” she writes.

Kamberi: We don’t want posts; we want more rights for Albanians (media)

Shaip Kamberi, the only Albanian member of the Serbian Parliament, met this morning with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and said that he presented several requests for the Albanian community in Serbia. “We presented to President Vucic the legitimate requests of Albanians in the [Presevo] Valley based on the Seven-point Plan. We reiterate our position that we are not interested in any position at the central level, but that the advancement of the rights of Albanians is our sole interest and that it needs to begin from state institutions at the local and regional level. The state’s approach towards the Albanians needs to change. The case of discriminated doctors in Presevo requires an urgent solution, same as the integration of qualified Albanians in the police force,” Kamberi said.

Serbian Language Media

Continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina: Both sides confirmed participation (FoNet, N1)

European Union spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said today that both Belgrade and Pristina have confirmed their participation in tomorrow's round of dialogue on the normalization of relations, reported N1.

Massrali said at a regular press conference that both sides confirmed their participation in the talks, which will begin in the morning.

According to her, the CBK regulation on cash payments will be discussed.

The CBK also confirmed that its representatives will participate in the meeting.

"The CBK has long expressed its willingness to engage and meet with the NBS in order to facilitate the selection of the easiest option for the process of transferring funds through banking channels to user accounts (in euros). In this sense, it also responds to invitations, when necessary, for such informative meetings, as it has continuously done with the international presence in the country," CBK stated.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, stated a few days ago that neither he nor any of his associates within the Kosovo negotiation team will participate in the meeting in Brussels, because, as he said, "the dinar is not the subject of the negotiation process."

Belgrade confirmed that Serbia will be represented by the head of the Office for KiM and chief negotiator Petar Petkovic.

The Office for KiM: The attack on the SOC priest in Prizren a direct consequence of tolerating hatred (NMagazin, Beta)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced today that the physical attack on a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) and the attempt to intimidate a group of Serbian pilgrims in Prizren "is a direct consequence of the fact that hatred towards Serbs, Orthodoxy and everything Serbian has been growing for the last two and a half decades in Kosovo is politically nurtured and tolerated", reported NMagazin.

"Incidents of this kind in Prizren are a symptom of a new wave of political radicalization in Kosovo and Metohija and a warning that the accumulated hatred of extremists has been a constant and omnipresent threat to peace and security for a quarter of a decade," the statement said.

It is added that Pristina "openly carries out institutional violence against the Serbian people, setting an example for extreme individuals, who clearly perceive this as a green light to join attacks on Serbs themselves."

Consultations for the new prime minister have begun with Vucic (NMagazin, Beta, media)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, today started consultations on the candidate for the future prime minister, based on the results of the elections held on December 17.

The Cabinet of the President of Serbia announced yesterday that Vucic invited the List "Political struggle of Albanians continues - Shaip Kamberi" and "Russian Party - Slobodan Nikolic" to consultations about the candidate for Prime Minister. Representatives of the electoral list "Political struggle of Albanians continues - Shaip Kamberi" arrived this morning about fifteen minutes after eight o'clock for consultations with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, about the candidate for the new prime minister.

This marked the beginning of the consultation process in the presidency building, to which the President of Serbia invites the representatives of the party or electoral lists that entered the Assembly after the elections. Both minority lists, Albanian and Russian, won one parliamentary seat each in the new parliamentary convocation.

The President of Serbia after each election cycle, invites representatives of lists that have become parliamentary, i.e., have MPs, to consultations.

The Assembly of Serbia consists of 250 deputies, and the list around the ruling Serbian Progressive Party won 129 mandates in the December elections, so it can itself form the government.

The opposition coalition "Serbia against violence" repeatedly accused them of electoral theft and demanded a repeat of the elections, which the government denied, claiming that they were looking for an alibi for the electoral defeat, reported NMagazin.

Dacic: No one has the right to teach Serbia what kind of foreign policy to pursue (Beta, NMagazin, TV Pink)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said this morning that "no one has the right to teach Serbia what kind of foreign policy it will lead", responding to the statement of Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman, for which Belgrade sent a note of protest to the Croatian embassy, reported NMagazin.

Dacic told TV Pink that even after the note, "Croatia continues to advise Serbia to stick to the right side of history". Dacic asked how someone can interfere in the foreign policy of a country and how one principle of international law can be valid when it comes to ''Russia and Ukraine, and another principle when it comes to Kosovo''. Dacic said that in Croatia, "a relationship of hatred towards Serbia and the Serbian people is being systematically built".

"It is a constant campaign. They are interested in everything that can cause political instability," Dacic said.

The head of Serbian diplomacy assessed that it is necessary to be "practical" and that in the relationship between the two countries it is necessary to determine which problems are from the past, as well as to define which problems remain unresolved and to solve them.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia sent a note of protest to the Croatian Embassy in Belgrade regarding, as they stated, unacceptable statements by the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gordan Grlic Radman. The head of Croatian diplomacy previously stated that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic must decide which chair he will sit on, alluding to his attempts to maintain good relations with both Russia and the EU.

Dacic strongly condemned Grlic Radman's statement yesterday and said that no one has the right, least of all Croatia, to share lessons and brutally interfere in Serbia's internal affairs.

N1 learns unofficially: ODIHR report on December elections on Monday in the government of Serbia (NMagazin, Beta)

The report of the observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the elections in Serbia should reach the Serbian government on Monday, reported NMagazin, citing N1's unofficial learning.

As it was said, the report will be officially published on Wednesday, it is written on the N1 website.

Officials of the "Serbia Against Violence" list accuse the government of election theft in the December elections. The representatives of the authorities denied this, claiming that the opposition was looking for an alibi for its failure.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said yesterday that there will most likely be new, not repeated, elections in Belgrade, adding that "not a single vote was stolen" and that she will never accept an international investigation of the December 17 elections.

The head of the EU Delegation in Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, as N1 recalled, said recently, on the occasion of the resolution of the European Parliament demanding an international investigation of the December elections, that the final report of the ODIHR mission is awaited, "in order to then encourage the Serbian government to fulfill all their recommendations ".

Stojanovic: With abolishment of the dinar an attempt made to abolish the entire system that functions in Kosovo (KiM radio)

"It is not just a question of whether there are dinars (in Kosovo), but the question is that it is literally fuel for one engine (Serbian system) that works here. When you cut off what supplies that mechanism, you have actually made a move to shut down that entire system," says Branimir Stojanovic from the Serbian National Movement in the Aequitas podcast, reported KiM radio.

Stojanovic pointed out in the podcast that that it was not an ordinary administrative decision aimed at legalizing something, but rather an additional pressure to make life even more difficult for an ordinary person of Serbian nationality, but also not only of Serbian nationality, but of all those who use the benefits of Serbian institutions in Kosovo.

He points out that Serbian health and education institutions, which Pristina often calls parallel, are the only institutions that have been functioning for 25 years and for which there is no substitute.

"When we talk about the dinar, the money that comes in dinars is not something you can exclude from the entire system. That system works with that money. So, it is not just a question of whether there are dinars, it is a question of whether it is literally fuel for an engine that works here. When you cut off what supplies that mechanism, you have actually made the move to shut down that entire system. And that is essentially the biggest problem," believes Stojanovic.

According to him, this behavior of the Kosovo authorities is destructive above all for good relations between Serbs and Albanians as the two most important peoples in the Balkans.

"Extinguishing the existence of Serbs in this area actually means extinguishing the chance to build normal relations between Serbs and Albanians in the future. There are no people who are personally more interested in building good, normal relations between Serbs and Albanians than the Serbs who live in this area. Therefore, such decisions will most directly lead to the deepening of hatred, to the deepening of the gap, the misunderstanding which is already quite large, and it will lead to the fact that in the future, unfortunately, we can again get into some conflict situations," believes the deputy president of the Serbian National Movement.

When it comes to the reactions of the international community to this regulation, Stojanovic estimates that stronger and more precise messages were missing, which is why this happened.

"I think it is clear to everyone that something has to change in Kurti's attitude towards all these topics, and I hope to see some concrete measures and messages that will make everyone aware that it cannot be done that way," concluded Stojanovic.

Stojanovic spoke about the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, the emigration of the Serbian population from Kosovo, the closing of temporary municipal bodies, the upcoming elections, and other topics.

The Aequitas podcast is part of the Barabar Center project in Pristina supported by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

EULEX still patrolling in front and around municipal buildings in the North, the situation stable but still fragile (KoSSev)

Only the Kosovo Police remained securing the buildings of the three municipalities in the North, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok, reported portal KoSSev.

KFOR left during the weekend the last municipal building, in Zvecan, where they were stationed since May last year, recalled the portal.

EULEX confirmed today again that their police forces are not in these buildings either, as they were not before, but that they are monitoring the situation.

“The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo does not have any static patrols, therefore EULEX does not have a presence stationed in front of or inside the aforementioned locations,” EULEX confirmed today to KoSSev.

They monitor the situation through mobile reconnaissance patrols, in coordination with KFOR and the Kosovo Police:

“EULEX remains vigilant and carefully monitors all events that affect the security of Kosovo, as well as the security of all communities in Kosovo. Our formed police unit monitors the security situation in the north of Kosovo through its mobile reconnaissance patrols - including the security situation in front of the municipal buildings in Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic - in coordination with the Kosovo Police and KFOR”.

EULEX’s assessment is that the current security situation in these municipalities now is stable, but still fragile. Which is why they will continue to monitor the situation through patrols.

“The safety of women, men, girls and boys from all communities in Kosovo remains our top priority,” it was said from this mission.

Vucic: Xi's visit to Serbia confirmed for this year (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday he had received confirmation that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Serbia this year.

Vucic made the announcement at a Lunar New Year ceremony he hosted for Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming at Belgrade's Vila Mir.

"I would now like to say publicly in front of everyone that I have received confirmation in a discussion with the great Chinese director and FM Wang Yi - but I cannot speak about the details yet - that Xi Jinping, our sincere friend and a great leader of not only PR China but, I would say, one of the most significant world leaders, whom we want to welcome in the best atmosphere and in the most beautiful way, will visit our country this year, in the year of the Wood Dragon," Vucic said in a speech.

"It is never too late for good wishes even though the Chinese Lunar New Year began on February 10 - as the holidays are drawing to a close, I extend you heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the progress of China and well-being of the Chinese people," Vucic said at the beginning of his address.

He said Sino-Serbian relations had attained a new quality through joint efforts in nearly all areas and were on an all-time high.

"The recently signed FTA with China, of which we in the Republic of Serbia are extremely proud, is extremely important for further strengthening of cooperation, in the economy in particular. I would like to thank you on this occasion for the strong support for the safeguarding of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and the respect for the norms of international public law and the UN Charter. The Republic of Serbia will always respect the principle of one and single China and you can always count on our country's support," Vucic said, reiterating his gratitude to China for standing with Serbia in difficult times.

"We expect more decisive action from the international community": Dacic at the UN about the Serbs in Kosovo (N1, Beta, KiM radio)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today at the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that Serbia expects more decisive action from the international community towards discrimination and violation of basic human rights against Serbs in Kosovo, reported N1.

"On the territory of our southern province, the survival of a nation in its centuries-old homes is threatened. That is why no one should be surprised by the fact that under these conditions, the return to Kosovo for more than 200,000 persons, who have been internally displaced for more than 25 years, is unthinkable, as well as that more than 14 percent of the remaining Serbs left the territory of Kosovo and just in the past year," he said.

Dacic added that Serbia is deeply convinced of the importance of multilateralism and dialogue, as the best way to solve the numerous challenges facing humanity, and in the system of international law based on the UN Charter, announced the Serbian MFA.

"In the previous year, Serbia took additional steps that improved its capacities for the realization of national goals in terms of strengthening the rule of law in the field of human rights. This particularly applies to the issues of the position of refugees, the rights of children and the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as to the eradication of racial and religious discrimination and incitement to violence in this connection," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He added that the drafting of the Strategy for Monitoring and Improving Human Rights has begun, which is based on the recommendations of UN mechanisms, and that the adoption of a new Strategy for solving the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons for the period from 2024 - 2030 is expected soon.

"Serbia is strongly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights, as one of the foundations of our society, determined to live in an atmosphere of tolerance and solidarity. Unfortunately, the world today is full of examples of violations of basic human rights," said Dacic.

Opinion

Palokaj: One year after ‘agreement’, Kosovo, Serbia further from reconciliation (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj writes in an opinion piece that “one year has passed from what the EU calls “an agreement” and none of its points has been implemented. “The agreement has been killed equally by both parties [Kosovo and Serbia] and the European Union, and the latter started making improvisations instead of unconditionally insisting toward the parties. After the ‘agreement’ there have been more tensions than normalization between Kosovo and Serbia. There is a growing lack of trust between the parties and there is deep mistrust between Kosovo and the EU facilitators, which continues to this day. One year after the Agreement, Kosovo and Serbia are further from normalization than before it.”

“Ever since the EU said that ‘the agreement has been reached’ there have been riots in the north, attacks by Serbian paramilitary groups which the EU called terrorist, and tensions in Kosovo’s relations with the EU and the U.S. And the sanctions [against Kosovo] are still in force. But there has been no implementation [of the agreement]. Not only the parties failed to implement the agreement, but the EU too failed to meet its obligations. The EU has not yet made formal the implementation of the agreement as a constituting part of Serbia’s ‘European path’. The moment when it failed to react when Serbia opposed the initiation of the procedure for Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, and when it failed to react to Serbia’s letter to several EU member states not to allow the start of Kosovo’s integration process in the EU, the EU started killing the agreement. The EU made it clear that it too does not take seriously what it calls an agreement. And when the EU does not take it seriously, this only encourages the parties to avoid the implementation of their obligations,” Palokaj writes.

International

Kosovo Artist Turns Post-War Labour Inequalities Into Sculpture at Venice Biennale (BIRN)

Doruntina Kastrati tells BIRN that she will depict the post-war feminization of labour in Kosovo in her abstract sculpture exhibition at the 60th Venice Art Biennale.

“I always had a desire to give a form, dimension, colour and function to materials and even objects around me,” Doruntina Kastrati, who will represent Kosovo at the 60th Venice Art Biennale, told BIRN, explaining she does not recall when she accepted that, “Yes, I am an artist.”

“I just continued answering to this state of mind, to this feeling, in the most natural way possible,” the 32-year-old told BIRN.