UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 4, 2025
Albanian Language Media:
- Trump officially appoints Grenell as envoy for special missions (media)
- Minister: Agreement with EFTA makes Kosovo an investments destination (media)
- Zeqiri about the death threats: They’re coming from somewhere in Serbia (media)
- Rexhepi: Serbia is intensifying attack against Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
Serbian Language Media:
- Students and professors in a third silent protest in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
- University of Belgrade Collegium of Rectorate did not accept President Vucic’s call for dialogue (Tanjug, media)
- Vucic meets Dodik in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)
- Minister: Request made for postponement of US sanctions on NIS (Tanjug, media)
- Trump sings official instruction appointing Grenel to new function in US administration (Kosovo Online, media)
- Pristina officials about "night of horror" in February 2000 in N. Mitrovica; What else happened in February 2000? (KoSSev)
- Since November 1, protests in 240 settlements in Serbia (N1)
Opinion:
- Western democracies to be jealous of protests in Serbia - history is being written (N1, NMagazin)
International Media:
- Kosovo opposition parties pledge coal, gas power plants and billion euros investments (Prishtina Insight)
- KEK issues call for reconstruction of Kosovo A3 coal plant unit (BGEN)
- Western Balkan countries are taking further steps to join the Single Euro Payments Area (EWB)
Albanian Language Media
Trump officially appoints Grenell as envoy for special missions (media)
Most news websites report that U.S. President Donald Trump has officially appointed Richard Grenell as his envoy for special missions. Grenell, according to local media, is expected to cover the Balkans too.
Minister: Agreement with EFTA makes Kosovo an investments destination (media)
Kosovo’s Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, said that the free trade agreement between Kosovo and EFTA “will contribute to increased cooperation between businesses from Kosovo and foreign businesses”. “Today we are marking this important achievement for Kosovo’s economy, which also confirms our goal for our growth and integration, sustainability and the wellbeing of our people. A lot of work was needed to finally sign the agreement with EFTA … The negotiations have concluded with very important chapters, starting with the chapter on trade in goods, services, on competition, trade, and sustainable development. Kosovo is the only country in the region that also received the chapter on trade in services in this agreement, which eliminates customs tariffs for industrial products. In addition to trade in goods, it also facilitates trade in services. Moreover, businesses from Kosovo will have the opportunity to cooperate with businesses from EFTA countries. Through this agreement, Kosovo becomes a more favorable destination for foreign investments,” Hajdari said.
Zeqiri about the death threats: They’re coming from somewhere in Serbia (media)
Mayor of the municipality of Zubin Potok, Izmir Zeqiri, in an interview with TeVe1, talked about the death threats he is receiving. “I have been threatened for the fourth time now and by the same person, the same address. I have always presented these cases to the police. Investigators are working on the case. This person writes on his profile that he is allegedly an officer of the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Serbia and that he is active somewhere in Mitrovica North … Based on my information, the calls are coming from somewhere in the Republic of Serbia,” Zeqiri said.
Rexhepi: Serbia is intensifying attack against Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
Enkel Rexhepi, leader of the Albanian National Council in Serbia, said in a Facebook post today that Serbia has stepped up attacks against Albanians in Presevo Valley through open discrimination and political punishment against Albanian institutions.
Rexhepi highlighted the decision of the Serbian Ministry for Human Rights and Dialogue “which attempts to block economic aid and to ruin the institutional autonomy of Albanians in Serbia”. “For two days in a row, this Ministry has taken steps that constitute a frontal attack against the Albanian National Council: annulling the decision for subsidies for Albanian farmers, financed by the Fund of the Government, and refusing to register the new leader of the Albanian National Council, Enkel Rexhepi, by using absurd arguments and bureaucratic technicalities. These acts are clear examples of the discriminatory policies of the Serbian state against Albanians, who are still faced with political repression, economic isolation and exclusion from institutional decision-making,” he argued.
Serbian Language Media
Students and professors in a third silent protest in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
In a display of solidarity and remembrance, students of the University of Pristina temporarily based in North Mitrovica yesterday organized another 15-minute silent protest in honor of the victims of the recent tragedy at the Novi Sad Railway Station. This marks the third such gathering in the city.
Held in front of the Faculty of Philosophy, the demonstration attracted around a hundred attendees, including students, citizens, representatives of Serbian NGOs in Kosovo, and, for the first time, a group of professors from the university.
Professors join the cause
One of the most vocal supporters was Valentina Pitulic, a professor of Serbian literature and language.
„It is truly cowardly for us to watch our students standing in silence for 15 minutes in the cold while we hide behind windows, afraid to support them,” Pitulic stated. “Today, I stand with them because they are advocating for what is right, for what is just, for what builds a strong nation. We are all, in a sense, under some kind of metaphorical shelter.”
Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5x927btv
University of Belgrade Collegium of Rectorate did not accept President Vucic’s call for dialogue (Tanjug, media)
University of Belgrade Collegium of Rectorate said today it has considered a call for dialogue put forward by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on February 3 and has made a decision, expressing unity of the university, not to accept the call under current circumstances, Tanjug news agency reported.
"A series of inconsistencies in the public statements of representatives of state bodies does not assure that a dialogue leading to the fulfillment of student demands is possible, nor effective if it is organized between two parties who do not have a mandate to discuss the demands and to whom the demands have not even been addressed", the statement said.
The statement added that the call for dialogue comes at a time when, as it was said, all moral and legal norms have been violated, in an atmosphere of general mistrust.
Vucic meets Dodik in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik in Belgrade on Tuesday to discuss crucial issues for Serbs, future of Serbia and Republika Srpska, Tanjug news agency reported.
"A substantial meeting with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik on crucial issues for the Serbs and for the future of Serbia and Republika Srpska. Preservation of peace and stability and continuing and strengthening economic growth and defending the national interests of Serbia and Srpska is our common goal", Vucic wrote in a post on his official Instagram account.
He added they had also discussed celebrations of Sretenje (February 15), designated in a declaration adopted by the All-Serbian Assembly as a joint holiday of the unity of the people and a shared vision of a better future. "Proud of our cooperation, support and joint struggle", Vucic said.
Minister: Request made for postponement of US sanctions on NIS (Tanjug, media)
Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Tuesday Serbia's majority Russian-owned oil company NIS had officially requested a postponement of US sanctions for a minimum of 90 days. In a statement, Djedovic Handanovic said the request, sent to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, had been backed by the Serbian and Hungarian governments, Tanjug news agency reported.
NIS has requested general or special licenses that would enable it to maintain operations while an acceptable solution is being sought regarding its management and ownership structure to enable it to keep operating, the minister said, noting that NIS was regionally and strategically important for energy stability.
"In view of the significance of NIS for the Serbian as well as the regional economy, we are urgently requesting that the OFAC consider immediate assistance in the form of postponing the sanctions for a minimum of 90 days while a sustainable solution that would lead to a lifting of the sanctions is being considered", she said. The Minister is also heading a Serbian working group set up to monitor OFAC activities regarding sanctions on NIS.
She noted that the Serbian Government backed the request as the sanctions would erode the company's ability to supply oil and oil derivatives to Serbian citizens. She said NIS employees and customers had no reason for concern as the Serbian state leadership, as always before, would protect the country's interests.
Trump sings official instruction appointing Grenel to new function in US administration (Kosovo Online, media)
US President Donald Trump signed on Monday an executive order appointing former Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Richard Grenell as an Envoy for Special Missions, Kosovo Online portal reported. Grenell is expected to cover the Balkan region as well.
In a post on X social platform Grenel said that Trump’s administration in the Balkans needs trustworthy partners and that the Albin Kurti-led government was not trustworthy either during Trump’s first term or during Joe Biden’s term.
Pristina officials about "night of horror" in February 2000 in N. Mitrovica; What else happened in February 2000? (KoSSev)
KoSSev reported last night that yesterday was 25 years since the February violence in North Mitrovica. In the evening of February 3, 2000, there was an explosion in the then popular "Bel Ami" cafe, when out of several bombs thrown, one exploded seriously injuring more than 10 people. The incident caused immediate retaliation by groups of Serbs. 10 Albanian civilians were killed, along with the expulsion of the Albanian population, primarily from the central part of the city.
The highest Pristina officials spoke yesterday but only regarding the second case, reported KoSSev. There are no longer "Bridge Watchers", "Civil Protection" and "Northern Brigade" in Kosovo, and Albanians are returning to their homes in the North - they repeated. At the same time, the Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti sent a letter to the high representative of the EU, asking for an investigation to prosecute those responsible. He confirmed that he sent a letter to the EU's high representative for foreign policy and security, Kaja Kallas, with this very goal in mind.
"We demand a full and comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. Justice for the victims and their families is a moral obligation and a necessary step towards sustainable peace in the Republic of Kosovo and our region," Kurti said on FB, and at the same time published the letter sent to Kallas.
Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, spoke about the events 25 years ago:
"Between February 3 and 4, 2000, the Serbian criminal group 'Guardians of the Bridge' began a special operation of ethnic cleansing of Albanians from the north of our country," he stated, claiming that "notorious Serbian gangs massacred 10 Albanians" and that more than 11,000 were driven from their homes. According to Svecla this changed the demography of North Mitrovica and said that this was also ''Serbia's goal, undisturbed''.
"This crime committed against Albanians solely because of their national affiliation and the wishes of Serbia remained without justice, because 13 years later, in 2013, the then majority voted for the law on amnesty for criminals in the north," said Svecla.
As Svecla said today in Kosovo "there are no more 'Bridge Watchers', 'Civil Protection' and 'Northern Brigade'. Albanian citizens are returning to their homes. Hundreds of expelled Albanians have returned to their properties, and we will work non-stop until they all return. In the face of every challenge, we will work for justice, not only towards those who perpetrated this massacre and terror against our citizens, but also for those who in any way violated the security and peace of our Republic".
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani accused "criminal gangs encouraged by Serbia" for the events of 25 years ago, stating that more than 11,000 Albanians were expelled, also claiming that it was "ethnic cleansing".
What else happened in February 2000?
For residents in the North, the beginning of February 2000 is known, on the other hand, as the "Bel Ami case and the UNHCR bus" - which immediately preceded the murders of Albanians, recalled KoSSev.
On the evening of February 3, 2000, out of several bombs thrown at a frequented cafe in North Mitrovica, one exploded, injuring more than 10 young men and women, most of them with serious injuries, including limb amputation.
Immediately after that, groups of Serbs started violence against citizens of Albanian nationality in the northern part of the city.
Just two days earlier, a UNHCR bus transporting elderly residents and children of Serbian nationality from the enclave in the South Mitrovica region was shelled, killing two passengers.
About "other people's violence"
Both immediately after the events of February 2000 and decades later, in the public discourse every nation mentions only its victims, while the media reports only partially about this violence.
Media in Serbian recalls about the wounding of young Serbs and the killing of an elderly passenger in a shelled UNHCR bus, while the Albanians talk about the "Crystal Night" over the Albanians from the North. In the midst of the election campaign this year and in the letter to the high representative of the EU, Pristina officials did not use the term "Crystal Night", reported KoSSev.
Since November 1, protests in 240 settlements in Serbia (N1)
According to the records of the Archive of Public Meetings, the number of settlements where at least one protest was held since the tragedy on November 1 has increased to exactly 240 last night, reported N1, citing the Archive announcement yesterday.
On the social network X, they published a list of cities, municipalities, and places where citizens gathered because of the accident at the railway station in Novi Sad, in which 15 people died and two more seriously injured.
The citizens of Serbia have been paying tribute to those who died in the fall of the canopy by taking to the streets and blocking roads for three months and demanding that the competent institutions prosecute those responsible for this tragedy. Although 13 people were detained, the citizens are demanding the opening of documentation on the reconstruction of the Railway Station building in Novi Sad, as well as the "liberation" of the judicial institutions.
The blockades and actions are led by students across Serbia, who have been protesting for two months, and who have moved citizens even in the smallest places to go to the streets.
The government tried on several occasions to suppress their rebellion, they offered them various benefits, but they did not give up the fight and their demands, reported N1.
The blockades of the faculties started from the Faculty of Drama Arts, whose students and professors were attacked on November 22, while they were peacefully blocking the street for 15 minutes in honor of those who died in the fall of the canopy at the Railway Station in Novi Sad. Soon, the rebellion spread to more than 60 public faculties throughout Serbia.
The students organized the three largest gatherings in modern history so far: the blockade of the Slavija roundabout in Belgrade, the 24-hour blockade of Autokomanda, and the blockade of three bridges in Novi Sad, marking three months since the Novi Sad tragedy.
Opinion
Western democracies to be jealous of protests in Serbia - history is being written (N1, NMagazin)
Nikola Xaviereff from the German Council for Foreign Policy told N1 that Western liberal democracies should be jealous of the protests in Serbia and that history is being written these days. He also explained what the potential reasons could be that the EU did not condemn the situation in the country and the violence against students more harshly, reported NMagazin, citing N1.
"Protests are a big dissatisfaction and it is the result of the election process that has become irrelevant, and corruption. What we see now is, in fact, generating democratic will and Western liberal democracies can be jealous of these protests in Serbia. Protests are still decentralized and organic. This is a problem for a centralized state. In Serbia, there are protests in many cities and this shows strength. In 1989, everyone thought that the Berlin Wall was stable and that the Soviet Union would not fall apart, and we saw that this was not the case. History is being written to some extent these days," he said for N1.
He also spoke about the authorities' response, which ranged from banners with a red middle finger to physical attacks on students.
"The authorities were confused. It is trying to treat a symptom, and the cause of everything is corruption and occupied institutions. The government did not know how to react in that situation. The authorities tried to ignore the protests, but this gave wind to the students, along with attacks on them. I would say that the government, if it fulfills the demands, it is without answer. The problem is in the model of this regime. We come to a stalemate where we see the absurdity of the situation. The authorities use the elections as an instrument of preservation. It is no longer a democracy. The most important thing is to see how a movement without political power will turn into political power," Xaviereff explained.
According to him, Vucic and his party do not have enough strength to blame the West and to set up a repressive apparatus.
"However, Vucic does not have absolute control and the regime is shaking. In addition to everyone else, with the strike, the Bar Association decided to exert institutional pressure and demand that the institutions act. Pressures are coming from all sides both on the top of the state and on the institutional apparatus. I think it can change the apparatus at least a little, but I'm not sure about the elections," he said.
N1's interlocutor also explains why there are no concrete reactions from the EU.
"The main thing is that there was no organized state violence - the security apparatus and the police did not use violence against the protesters. As for the EU, the problem is that there is no unity in the Union, that is, it is polarized. I mean the European Council - weak France, fragmented Germany, and Hungary, which supports the regimes in the Western Balkans. And the parliament is weaker. The EU is also occupied with its position between America and China, that they do not have the capacity to deal with the problems in the Western Balkans and do not want destabilization. The structure of the European Commission is also changing, the bureaucracy is not yet in full operation. It is not even clear how loud Kaja Kallas will be when we talk about this area," he concluded.
International
Kosovo opposition parties pledge coal, gas power plants and billion euros investments (Prishtina Insight)
Amid challenges in energy supply and economic stagnation, opposition parties in Kosovo promise new coal and gas power plants to address the energy crisis, as well as salary increases and billions in capital investments.
Kosovo remains one of the poorest countries in the Balkans, with an economy largely dependent on imports and consumption and characterised by unfair competition. Foreign investments are scarce, focused mainly in real estate diaspora investments, while public enterprise boards continue to be led by politically affiliated figures.
Opposition political parties in Kosovo have pledged large-scale capital investments in the energy industry, including the construction of new coal and gas power plants. They have also promised salary increases as measures to boost economic growth.
The ruling Vetëvendosje Movement refused to participate in debates on economic development and energy policies moderated by BIRN and Internews Kosova. This decision was strongly condemned by 20 non-governmental organisations ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections.
Vetëvendosje ruling party justified its boycott by claiming that the media platform hosting the debates, TV Dukagjini, is owned by oligarchs.
Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/khvh38mw
KEK issues call for reconstruction of Kosovo A3 coal plant unit (BGEN)
After 55 years of operation, a unit of KEK’s coal-fired power plant near Prishtina in Kosovo* is about to get a makeover, worth EUR 137.3 million. Firms can respond to the prequalification call for the facility’s rehabilitation and modernization by March 3.
Government-controlled Kosovo Energy Corp. (KEK) launched a project for boosting the capacity and efficiency of unit A3 in the Kosovo A thermal power plant. At the same time, emissions of pollutants must be reduced by 55% to 66% and brought in line with the European Union’s rules.
The unit was built in 1970 and now it would be reconstructed for the first time. The utility wrote in the call for prequalification that the investment is estimated at EUR 137.3 million.
The rehabilitation and modernization project aims to extend the operational life of A3 by 20 years. The capacity would be raised to 215 MW from the current range of 120 MW to 140 MW. The facility’s original capacity was 200 MW.
In addition, the selected contractor needs to raise the number of operating hours to 7,700 per year from 5,400. Kosovo A3 so far worked 260,000 hours. Annual output is seen more than doubling to 1.5 TWh.
Reconstructed, the facility will cut coal use in production to 1.15 tons per megawatt-hour from up to 1.6 tons now, according to the assignment.
The emissions of particulate matter – PM particles – need to drop to below 20 milligrams per cubic meter. According to the project, the upper limit for both nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) is 200 milligrams per cubic meter. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided technical support.
Western Balkan countries are taking further steps to join the Single Euro Payments Area (EWB)
The process of joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) by the Western Balkan countries continues in 2025, with the establishment of the SEPA Steering Group. Adherence of Montenegrin and Albanian financial institutions to the SEPA payment schemes will be enabled starting from April 2025. The National Bank of Serbia confirmed for our portal that it expects a decision on this country’s membership in March.
Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/bdvaz7zr