UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Quint urges Kosovo Government to allow Serbia’s referendum (media)
Kosovo institutions issue statement on Serbia's referendum (media)
Kurti announces extraordinary Assembly session on Saturday (media)
Kurti's advisor says "established practice" was "bad practice" (Telegrafi)
Ahmeti: Serbia trying to destabilise Kosovo through referendum request (media)
LDK: Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is unacceptable (media)
PDK: Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is unconstitutional (G. Express)
AAK supports Government's position on Serbia's referendum (Klan)
GLPS: Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is not a human rights issue (media)
COVID-19: 585 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Covid-19: 34 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
Quint on referendum: Pristina to allow Serbs to vote in line with established practice (KoSSev)
Vucic with Serb representatives from Kosovo and Metohija today (RTS)
Trajkovic: Kurti inspires Vucic (Radio KIM)
Blinken wrote to Kurti: Restore momentum to dialogue, fulfil Kosovo obligations (Radio KIM)
Friends of Oliver Ivanovic call on people to light candle in his honor on Sunday (KoSSev)
Vlajic: Verdict of Todosijevic annulled, new trial in February (Radio KIM)
Selakovic calls on voters to say yes at referendum (N1)
“Kosovo special police in Gracanica supported inspection in monitoring implementation of anti-Covid measures” (Radio KIM)
Orthodox New Year marked (Radio KIM)

International:

Ex-Prosecutor: Serbia Impeded Probe of Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Inisght)
Serbian Minister Denies Briefing Kremlin on Russian Opposition Meeting (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

Activists handed over 290,000 signatures against Rio Tinto to Serbian Government (N1)

Albanian Language Media

Quint urges Kosovo Government to allow Serbia’s referendum (media)

The Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union in Kosovo issued a joint statement ahead of Serbia’s referendum calling on the Government of Kosovo to allow the collection of ballots by the OSCE.

The statement hails Serbia's referendum, scheduled for 16 January, as "a key step to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the country’s rule of law institutions", adding that these reforms represent a step forward towards Serbia’s alignment with European standards and will support Serbia’s EU accession process.

"We have encouraged all Serbian citizens to take part in the referendum and believe it important for eligible voters to be able to vote in elections and referenda. We note with regret that the Kosovo government has not allowed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to collect ballots of eligible voters living in Kosovo for the upcoming referendum in accordance with past practice. We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice.

"We call upon the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. It is important that both governments achieve progress towards a comprehensive agreement that unlocks the EU perspective and increases regional stability," the statement reads.

Kosovo institutions issue statement on Serbia's referendum (media)

Institutions of Kosovo issued a joint statement following the meeting with ambassadors of Quint countries and the representative of the EU Office regarding Serbia's referendum taking place in the territory of Kosovo.

The institutional leaders of Kosovo said in the meeting that Kosovo Serbs with dual citizenship will be able to vote in the upcoming referendum in accordance with international standards and practices, namely "via mail and at the Liaison Office." "The institutions made it clear that the opening of Serbia's polling stations in the territory of Kosovo constitutes a clear violation of Kosovo's Constitution and legislation, as well as of international practices. Furthermore, such an act is a violation of the territorial integrity on the part of Serbia towards the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo."

The institutions of Kosovo called on the international community to apply the same standards towards Kosovo as towards any other country, "as the independence of our country is not only recognised by the majority of democratic countries across the world but also sealed by the ICJ [International Court of Justice]."

"The Constitution of Kosovo, applicable laws in Kosovo as well as international law and international practice do not recognize the right of one state to hold a referendum in the sovereign territory of another state. Therefore, the practices applied so far since 2012, have been unconstitutional, and as a result are not obligatory for the current institutions of the Republic of Kosovo that emerged from the clear will of the citizens expressed on 14 February 2021. Especially so when these practices have only resulted in the strengthening of Serbia's illegal structures in Kosovo."

The institutions of Kosovo noted that the role of the OSCE in the process is not the issue at hand but, rather, "the role of Serbia and its parallel and illegal structures in Kosovo." "As proven in the letter sent to the OSCE by Serbian authorities, the reason why Serbia insists on opening polls in Kosovo is because it considers Kosovo part of its territory. This is why it wishes to use the referendum as a tool to stretch its sovereignty on Kosovo."

"The institutions of Kosovo remain grateful to Quint countries and all other democratic countries that have recognised the independence of Kosovo and express appreciation that their support towards the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of our country was reconfirmed in today's meeting. Therefore, Kosovo institutions call on all democratic countries to support Kosovo in its efforts to stop continuous actions of Serbia that undermine Kosovo's sovereignty, territorial integrity and statehood. Furthermore, this practice of Serbia, that follows the Russian model, enjoys the full support of the Russian Federation, thus demonstrating their tendencies for quick destabilisation of our region and the undoing of successes that Kosovo and the region have made in partnership with democratic allied countries," the statement reads.

Kurti announces extraordinary Assembly session on Saturday (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said after today's meeting with representatives of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union that a special session of the Assembly will take place on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting which, Kurti said, was also also attended by President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca, Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, and Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla, he noted that Kosovo institutions would be issuing a joint statement.

"I am now heading off to the prime minister's office to convene an extraordinary session of the Republic's Assembly for tomorrow at 2 o'clock," Kurti said.

Kurti's advisor says "established practice" was "bad practice" (Telegrafi)

Jeton Zulfaj, advisor to Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, reacted to the statement issued by Quint countries and the EU Office in Kosovo calling on the Government of Kosovo to allow for Serbia's referendum taking place in Kosovo based on the "established practice" whereby OSCE collects ballots of voters.

"'ESTABLISHED PRACTICE' was a BAD PRACTICE where foreign illegal structures were allowed to operate freely in our country. All Serb citizens in Kosova with dual citizenship CAN VOTE via Serb Liaison Office in Prishtina or via mail. You all support rule of law in Kosova," Zulfaj wrote on Twitter in response to the Quint statement posted by the German Ambassador Jorn Rohde.

Ahmeti: Serbia trying to destabilise Kosovo through referendum request (media)

Kosovo's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Kreshnik Ahmeti, said that Serbia's request to have its referendum in the territory of Kosovo is "a pretext for potential destabilisation of Kosovo and the region."

In a Facebook post, Ahmeti said that the right to is not being denied to any member of the Serb community in Kosovo but that it cannot be exercised by "violating the country's sovereignty". "For as long as there are two easy voting possibilities for these citizens, by mail and through the Serbian Liaison Office in the Republic of Kosovo, any additional request from Serbia is only a pretext for potential destabilisation of the country and the region. As a Republic, we are equal among our neighbors in the region, therefore we must look at their practices in relation to the Serb minorities and this voting process. Furthermore, we aim at EU membership and we should also look at the practices of member states which have Serb minorities," he wrote.

LDK: Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is unacceptable (media)

Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said that the party considers that allowing Serbia's referendum taking place in the territory of Kosovo is "unacceptable".

"The Democratic League of Kosovo considers the holding of any referendum of another state in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo to be unacceptable. The Constitution of Kosovo, Kosovo laws and international practices are clear in this respect. Therefore, we expect and support the full upholding of these norms," Abdixhiku said on Facebook.

PDK: Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is unconstitutional (G. Express)

Memli Krasniqi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said that allowing Serbia's referendum to take place in the territory of Kosovo would undermine the latter's sovereignty.

"The Democratic Party of Kosovo considers that Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is unconstitutional and would constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo. There is an essential difference between elections and a referendum, therefore allowing the voting on a referendum of a neighbouring country in Kosovo is unacceptable," Krasniqi told Gazeta Express.

He added that the Government of Kosovo needs to coordinate actions with international partners in order to offer a "suitable solution" that would be "in line with our duties as an independent and sovereign country."

AAK supports Government's position on Serbia's referendum (Klan)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has come out against the idea of Serbia's referendum taking place in the territory of Kosovo.

"No referenda of other countries can be organised in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, including Serbia's referendum, which is a pure attempt for exercising Serbia's sovereignty on Kosovo. We encourage and support all those that oppose this referendum. We expect the EU officials to at least be impartial in relation to such a sensitive legal and political matter," Lulezim Blaka, spokesperson for the AAK, told Klan Kosova.

GLPS: Serbia's referendum in Kosovo is not a human rights issue (media)

The Kosovo-based think tank, Group for Legal and Political Studies, said that Serbia's referendum in the territory of Kosovo is not an issue that pertains to human rights and is in violation to democratic principles of the European Union.

"We wish to emphasise that there is no instance of a constitutional referendum of a foreign country taking place in the territory of another country in a way similar to an ordinary election process," GLPS said in a statement, adding that as per a European Court on Human Rights ruling, "the right of someone to vote in elections of another country in the territory of the state the applicant resides, does not exist" and that the same is also outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

GLPS added that it is the Government of Kosovo's constitutional duty not to allow such a process taking place "regardless of various statements and pressure from outside."

"GLPS supports actions that contribute to good neighbourhood and regional cooperation but only in cases whereby Kosovo is an equal party and globally recognised sovereignty is respected. At the same time, in contrast, Serbia's concrete request does not promote meaningful cooperation and constructive dialogue between the two countries."

COVID-19: 585 new cases, no deaths (media)

585 new cases with COVID-19 were confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. 57 persons recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 3,339 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Covid-19: 34 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)

Out of 49 tested samples in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, 34 were positive for Covid-19, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced today, Radio KIM reports.

New cases were registered as follows: 14 in Zubin Potok, eight in Gracanica, and four each in Mitrovica North, Zvecan and Leposavic.

Currently there are 451 active cases of Covid-19 in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

Quint on referendum: Pristina to allow Serbs to vote in line with established practice (KoSSev)

We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice, Quint embassies in Kosovo said this morning, KoSSev portal reports.

“France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union welcome Serbia’s January 16 national referendum on constitutional changes as a key step to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the country’s rule of law institutions. We believe that these reforms are a step forward towards Serbia’s alignment with European standards and will support Serbia’s EU accession process”, Quint embassies said in a statement.

“We have encouraged all Serbian citizens to take part in the referendum and believe it important for eligible voters to be able to vote in elections and referenda. We note with regret that the Kosovo government has not allowed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to collect ballots of eligible voters living in Kosovo for the upcoming referendum in accordance with past practice. We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice”, they added.

“We call upon the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. It is important that both governments achieve progress towards a comprehensive agreement that unlocks the EU perspective and increases regional stability”, the statement concluded.

Vucic with Serb representatives from Kosovo and Metohija today (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the Serb representatives from Kosovo and Metohija today, RTS reports. It added topics of the meeting will most likely include the security situation in Kosovo, in particular in relation to the upcoming referendum, given that Serbs there are not enabled to vote.

The meeting started at 12.30 in the presidency building in Belgrade, with participation of Serbian List president Goran Rakic, vice presidents Igor Simic, Dalibor Jevtic, and also Milan Radoncic, Aleksandar Spiric, Milan Radojevic, Dragisa Milovic and Vucina Jankovic.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic also attended the meeting. A press statement will be issued following the meeting.

Rakic: We request from EU to move from words into deeds

Serbian List President Goran Rakic said after the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that they hope and still trust the promise of the EU regarding holding a referendum on Sunday in Kosovo.

“The European Union and five Quint states made a statement and clearly told everybody in Pristina that a referendum must take place in the territory of Kosovo on Sunday. I can’t say with certainty if the EU will fulfil its obligations. This is a matter of the EU's joining path. If we have someone in Pristina opposing the process of ‘Open Balkans’ advocated by President Vucic, now we are having a situation that they do not allow us to take some other path, a path to the EU. And the EU requires a referendum from all of us. We requested from the EU to move from words into deeds, they told enough and promised, we trusted them, in particular Serbs from northern Kosovo. We took part in elections in 2013, because we believed in a better future and the European path. On Sunday, the EU and EULEX will show their true face”, Rakic said, adding that thus the EU’s responsibility is bigger.

We urge citizens to take part ‘en masse’ in a referendum and decide as “per their own conscience”.

Trajkovic: Kurti inspires Vucic (Radio KIM)

Refusal of (Kosovo PM Albin) Kurti to allow organization of referendum in Kosovo “was a simple negation of reality”, president of Serb European Movement from Kosovo, Rada Trajkovic said, adding that Kurti’s ignoring of the Brussels agreement inspired (Serbian President, Aleksandar) Vucic and he “now thinks of how to undermine previous agreements”, Radio KIM reports.

“The fact is that Kosovo doesn’t have full international sovereignty, and so is the fact that Belgrade has no functional control over Kosovo territory and resolving of this complex relation is foundation and the aim of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina”, Trajkovic told FoNet news agency responding to a question how she perceives and comments on Pristina’s messages that they will not allow organization of Serbian referendum in Kosovo.

She argued “it was a paradox that Kurti in his refusal to allow organization of referendum referred to sovereignty which in essence doesn’t exist, and at the same time undermines and disavows the negotiation process, which is the only way through which Kosovo can achieve international subjectivity", she said.

"Kosovo subjectivity cannot be realized or confirmed without the negotiation process, no matter how much Kurti wants it", she added.

She pointed out to the fact that Kosovo Serbs mostly work in the institutions of the state of Serbia in Kosovo, and reminded that "if they commit an offense, they will be held accountable before the Serbian judiciary".

"Therefore, it is the most normal matter to demand that these people participate in the referendum on judicial reforms which directly affects their lives and existence. That is their democratic right, but also their obligation", she opined.

On the other hand, she said "there is an impression that Vucic is not so interested in putting pressure on the organization of the referendum."

Trajkovic also said that Kurti’s constant undermining of the Brussels agreement may inspire Vucic to “start undermining previous agreements on normalization of relations”.

In this regard, according to Trajkovic, Vucic’s next move could be taking Serbs of Kosovo institutions or a decision to boycott the next Kosovo elections.

Blinken wrote to Kurti: Restore momentum to dialogue, fulfil Kosovo obligations (Radio KIM)

The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken in a letter to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti wrote that within a short-term compromise the issue of energy in the north of Kosovo should be resolved, and progress on the missing persons issue made, Radio KIM reports today.

This, as he said, will be a foundation for further progress towards normalization of relations with Belgrade, that should conclude with mutual recognition. Radio KIM further said, citing Koha.net that Blinken urged Kurti to “restore momentum to the dialogue” and at the same time called upon him to support previous obligations which Kosovo has and avoid rhetoric that may increase tensions.

Blinken also called on the Kosovo government to confirm the judicial verdicts, in particular those on rights of minorities, and relating to the recent pressure of US and other Kosovo partners regarding the issue of Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and Visoki Decani Monastery land, Radio kIM said.

He praised Kosovo for accepting Afghan refugees, and the presence of Kosovo Security Forces members in Kuwait, as part of a mission there. He also extended support to the dialogue led by the European Union.

“We believe that dialogue under the EU’s mediation remains the best forum for normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations, and we closely coordinate with our EU partners on this”, Blinken said.

Friends of Oliver Ivanovic call on people to light candle in his honor on Sunday (KoSSev)

Friends and colleagues of Civic Initiative Freedom, Democracy, Justice (SDP) late leader Oliver Ivanovic called on people to light a candle in his honor this Sunday, on the fourth anniversary of his assassination, at 8.15 am – at the time and site of Ivanovic’s murder in Mitrovica North, KoSSev portal reports.

Ivanovic’s associates believe that a greater number of citizens will heed the call and gather in front of the party premises of late Ivanovic, thus marking the anniversary of his murder, than was the case in previous years.

“And while you are debating (cf. whether you’ll come or not), just remember that you could find yourself in the same situation simply because you think differently or because you’re protecting yourself“, they wrote on social networks.

During that time, a protest walk under the slogan “Who assassinated Oliver?“ will once again be held in Belgrade.

It will take place on Sunday at noon on Andricev venac. The protest participants will then march to the Church of St. Mark, where they will light candles in Ivanovic’s honor.

International

Ex-Prosecutor: Serbia Impeded Probe of Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Inisght)

Four years after Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic was assassinated, the former prosecutor in the case told BIRN that Serbia hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate and hand over potentially vital evidence.

Syla Hoxha had very few pieces of evidences on file when he took over the investigation into the sensitive case of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic’s murder on January 16, 2018.

It was around 40 days after one of the most significant murders in post-war Kosovo when the country’s chief prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi, started to lose patience over the pace of the investigation which was being carried out by the Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica.

At the beginning of March 2018, Lumezi decided to transfer the case to Special Prosecution and Hoxha, an experienced prosecutor, was appointed to look after it.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/33BMc9y Serbian Minister Denies Briefing Kremlin on Russian Opposition Meeting (Balkan Insight)

Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin says he will sue a Russian rights activist over claims that he handed transcripts of the wiretapped conversations of a Russian opposition meeting in Belgrade to the Kremlin.

Serbia’s Interior Minister, Aleksandar Vulin, on Wednesday denied the claims of a Russian opposition activist, Vladimir Kara-Murza, that he had informed Russian intelligence chief Nikolai Patrushev about a meeting of Russian opposition members in Belgrade.

The Interior Ministry said Vulin intended to sue Kara-Murza over the accusation.

“Every spy can present himself as a humanitarian or activist of any kind. I do not know which category Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza falls into, but I know that he is a liar who will have to justify his lies before both Serbian and Russian courts,” Vulin said in the statement.

Humanitarian/Development

Activists handed over 290,000 signatures against Rio Tinto to Serbian Government (N1)

Representatives of the 'Go–Change' Movement handed over 290,000 signatures to the Serbian Government on Friday against Rio Tinto lithium mining, N1 reports.

The Movement’s representative Savo Manojlovic told reporters he requested the abolition of the Spatial Plan of the Special Purpose Area for the ‘Jadar Project’ on the opening of lithium mines in Serbia and the introduction of a moratorium on the exploitation of lithium and boron for 20 years.

Manojlovic added the Spatial Plan was adopted because of the Rio Tinto company and that it was the legal basis for the company’s business in Serbia.

“If there is no Plan, there is no legal obligation for Serbia to compensate Rio Tinto“, Manojlovic said.

He stressed the possible annulment of the permits given to Rio Tinto for research in Serbia, mentioned by the country's authorities, would not affect that company because they would expire soon anyway, and the research was over.