UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 13, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Rama to Stoltenberg: Kosovo should be included in the partnership for peace (media)
Germany provides 400,000-euro assistance to KSF (media)
Government of Kosovo vows to take measures on staple products (Koha)
Ereza Vela, first woman to run for chair of Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (Express)
Krasniqi: We need to prepare for a higher influx of patients (media)
Albania calls for Kosovo admission in Council of Europe (media)
Millions from Kosovo budget for neglected facilities in Serb-majority municipalities (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo again (Kosovo Online)
Ministry of Culture of Serbia: A campaign of attempted seizure of cultural treasures (KiM radio)
Mihajlovic: Vulin is the leader of a tiny party (FoNet, N1)
Serbia didn’t join new EU restrictive measures against Iran (BETA, N1)
Brnabic to Italian Ambassador: Important for Serbia to open cluster 3 in December (N1)
Hoxhaj: Kosovo should join the Open Balkan initiative (N1, Beta)

Opinion:

Never again, but nothing has changed (Kosovo 2.0)
French proposal will encourage extreme nationalists (EWB)

International:

Serbian Peace Activists’ HQ Vandalised After Srebrenica Anniversary (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

Vienna Institute: No economic growth in Serbia if war in Ukraine continues (N1)

Albanian Language Media

Rama to Stoltenberg: Kosovo should be included in the partnership for peace (media)

The Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, said in a press conference after meeting the head of NATO Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, that he has requested for Kosovo to be included in the partnership for peace.

“I once again had the opportunity to stress the need to consider inclusion of Kosovo in the partnership for peace. Considering thew times that we live in, it is really wise to be considered,” he said.

"The new strategic concept emphasizes the role of the Western Balkans, we believe that it is extremely important to continue a permanent dialogue with all the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia, which is not yet part of the alliance," Rama said.

Germany provides 400,000-euro assistance to KSF (media)

Kosovo's Defence Minister, Armend Mehaj, met the German non-resident defence attache, Franz-Josef Nolte. A donation agreement in the amount of 405,000 euros for the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) was signed on the occasion.

The donation will consist of trucks to be used for the KSF's driving school, Mehaj said in thanking Germany for the support.

Government of Kosovo vows to take measures on staple products (Koha)

Minister of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Rozeta Hajdari, said at a press conference today that they are preparing legal measures to set a ceiling profit rate for staple products.

Hajdari said that a working group is also currently analysing the situation on the ground and will soon take a decision on whether to impose on businesses a profit margin or ceiling price for staple products which include wheat, flour, bread, rice, cooking oil, milk, eggs, soap, shampoo, sanitary pads. "We will analyse which measure to introduce, whether we will go with ceiling price or trade margin," Hajdari said, adding that new measures are expected to be announced very soon.

"We will take a measure to stop speculations because we are being informed on a daily basis by the Customs about import supply prices," she said.

Ereza Vela, first woman to run for chair of Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (Express)

The news website reports that Ereza Vela, renowned economist, is the first woman to run for the post of chair of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce. Vela said in a Facebook post that in the last three weeks, in cooperation with businesses and economy experts, she has drafted a management plan for the next four years. “My plan is to open the chamber’s doors to every stakeholder and partner and to position it as the leading chamber of commerce and the strongest voice of business in development. When we achieve this, the Chamber of Commerce will become what it should be: the key institution for Kosovo’s economic development,” Vela said.

Krasniqi: We need to prepare for a higher influx of patients (media)

Director of the Clinical University Hospital Services of Kosovo, Valbon Krasniqi, met today with the heads of general hospitals after the spike in new cases with COVID-19. “With the increase in new cases and a tendency for the situation to deteriorate, we need to prepare for a higher influx of patients,” he said after the meeting. Krasniqi also said that the general hospital in Prishtina has a lack of doctors and nurses. “Today we are making an official request with the Ministry of Health for an additional number of nurses,” he said.

Albania calls for Kosovo admission in Council of Europe (media)

Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Lindita Nikolla said today on the 27th anniversary of Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe that Kosovo too must become a member of this organisation. “On this day, Albania calls on member states of the Council of Europe to admit the Republic of Kosovo in this important organisation for the protection and development of the principles of freedom and democracy,” Nikolla said.

Millions from Kosovo budget for neglected facilities in Serb-majority municipalities (RFE)

Although more than four million euros have been invested in the construction of housing units in Serb-majority municipalities since 2012, the facilities remain largely unused and empty of residents, Radio Free Europe reports.

One such building is the unfinished hospital in the municipality of Shterpce, funded by the Government of Kosovo. Kosovo's national auditing office concluded in its 2021 report that the hospital is not functional even though the technical approval was carried out in 2012. Equipment for the hospital has also been purchased in the amount of 1.8 million euros but they are not used and are stored in a warehouse.

As for the housing units in Shterpce, although their construction ended more than six years ago, they are yet to be technically cleared. "These buildings are not used by anyone, no one takes care of them and they are not maintained. From observation we noted that they have been damaged and demolished," the auditor said. It said urgent steps are needed on the part of local authorities to protect the property in the municipal territory.

Dalibor Jevtic, mayor of Shterpce and representative of the Serbian List, said local authorities are working on making the hospital operational but added that the building is damaged.

RFE reports that a similar situation is in Gracanica which is the location of another unfinished hospital.

Serbian Language Media

Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo again (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic was banned from entering Kosovo again this morning, Kosovo Online portal reports. Reacting to the ban Petkovic told Pristina and the EU to ‘get back to reason’ if they want continuation of the talks in Brussels.

Petkovic told TV Pink Belgrade was ready to go in direction of a compromised solution but that the drop which overflew the glass was “somebody humiliating Belgrade and in such a manner violating all agreements”.

“Let the EU think twice next time it hears excuses of Albin Kurti because only hatred against the Serbian people, President Aleksandar Vucic and everything that Serbia does in the territory of Kosovo and Meothija is behind his acts”, Petkovic said.

He added today’s visit was properly and timely announced.

Ministry of Culture of Serbia: A campaign of attempted seizure of cultural treasures (KiM radio)

The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia announced again regarding Kosovo's request to return 1247 artefacts to Kosovo, reported KiM radio.

The Ministry pointed out that it was a continuation of the campaign of "attempts to seize cultural heritage and misuse it in constructing the non-existent statehood and cultural identity of the so-called ‘Kosovo’", reported the radio.

"The tactic of violent appropriation of cultural heritage is transparent. It consists in the idea of carrying out propaganda that a lie repeated 100 times becomes the truth. However, in the name of protecting the universal cultural heritage of humanity, the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Culture and Information will not allow the lie, even if it is repeated countless times, to become believable and acceptable," reported KiM radio, citing the announcement.

The Ministry of Culture and Information pointed to the threat of cultural heritage in Kosovo and the fact that, as they pointed out, thousands of burned, demolished, and desecrated churches, monasteries, and cultural monuments are behind Pristina's alleged concern for cultural heritage. "Precisely these facts most vividly show the "measure" of their concern for cultural heritage," the statement concluded.

KiM recalled that the Kosovo Ministry of Culture was looking for another item that they claimed was in Belgrade. It is about the "Dardan Lady" from the period between the 2nd and 3rd centuries, which was found in the vicinity of Klokot.

However, wrote KiM radio, in the videos published by the National Museum of Kosovo in previous years, the sculpture could be seen in this institution. It was unknown, however, whether it was an original or a replica, reported the radio.

Mihajlovic: Vulin is the leader of a tiny party (FoNet, N1)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Mining and Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said she was glad that Movement of Socialists leader and Internal Affairs Minister Aleksandar Vulin admitted that his positions on the “Serbian world” were not the official policy of the Government he sits in, reported N1.

I am glad the leader of the Movement of Socialists, “a tiny party that occupies a big space in the Serbian Government, has the opportunity to propagate his positions and that he admits they are not the official policy of the very Government he sits in,” Mihajlovic said in a written statement.

“However, I also believe that it would be good if all members of the Government, starting with me, adhered to Serbia’s official policy in their public appearances. Those who do not like and who disagree with the official policy of the Serbian Government can always stand before the voters with their ideas and ask for their support instead of being parasites on the back of the biggest party and its leader,” Mihajlovic said.

Responding to a statement by the US Embassy in Belgrade, Minister Vulin said that he dreamt of the unification of all Serbs. “I know that one day it will be completed, peacefully, without violence and conflict,” he added, recalled N1.

Serbia didn’t join new EU restrictive measures against Iran (BETA, N1)

BETA news agency says today Serbia is the only European Union (EU) candidate country in the Western Balkans that has not joined the new EU restrictive measures against Iran.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the countries that align themselves with the European Council decision of June 27 included EU candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova, EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and members of the European Economic Area. These countries will ensure that their national policies conform to the Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it, a Council press release said.

Brnabic to Italian Ambassador: Important for Serbia to open cluster 3 in December (N1)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke with newly appointed Ambassador of Italy to Serbia Luca Gori about bilateral relations, economic cooperation and Italy’s support to the European integration of Serbia and the Western Balkans, a Serbian Government press release said, N1 reports.

Brnabic said Serbia will continue implementing reforms, in particular in the fields of rule of law, judiciary and the media.

Speaking about the process of European integration, Brnabic underlined that full membership in the European Union (EU) remains one of the most important foreign policy priorities and that, in this context, it is of utmost importance for Serbia to open Cluster 3 in December.

Ambassador Gori expressed gratitude on the welcome, underlined that his country will continue to support Serbia on its European path and that he would personally try to raise cooperation to a higher level, adding he already has certain ideas for new projects.

Hoxhaj: Kosovo should join the Open Balkan initiative (N1, Beta)

Kosovo Deputy Parliament Speaker Enver Hoxhaj said that Kosovo should become a part of the Open Balkan initiative which would help boost cooperation with the countries in the region.

Hoxhaj told the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) that Kosovo should take part in regional organizations and initiatives, seeking support to become a member of the Partnership for Peace, Council of Europe, and NATO.

“While I was foreign affairs minister, we followed an approach that enabled Kosovo to be a part of every organization, every regional initiative. The Open Balkan initiative is not even an organization, it is an informal group of states, like the G7 or G20,” Hoxhaj said.

“You cannot say ‘no’ to an informal initiative for cooperation in the region and ask partners from different countries to support you, either in Strasbourg or in Brussels,” Hoxhaj added.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti is refusing to allow Kosovo to become a part of the Open Balkan initiative until Serbia recognizes Kosovo as an independent state, reported N1.

Opinion

Never again, but nothing has changed (Kosovo 2.0)

Opinion piece by Aidan Hehir, a Reader in International Relations at the University of Westminster and author of “The Flowers of Srebrenica”.

Remembering Srebrenica in the midst of increasing hate speech.

On the eve of the invasion of Poland in September 1939, Hitler told his generals “send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language.” To forestall any worries about a potential international backlash should Germany destroy the Poles, Hitler declared, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” The message was clear; atrocity crimes – even genocide – can be forgotten.

It would be an exaggeration to claim that the genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995 has been forgotten; the annual memorial to the massacre of some 8,000 people over the course of approxiametly two weeks – which was recognised as genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice – is widely recognized and invariably marked with solemn speeches by powerful world leaders. But while “Srebrenica” remains a part of international political discourse, its routine invocation should not be interpreted as inherently positive.

In many ways, the nature of the memorialization of Srebrenica by the international community has – perversely – become a means by which the most salient lessons of Srebrenica have been obscured. The tragic reality is that while world leaders have shown an eagerness to express sympathy, these rhetorical flourishes divert attention away from the fact that there has been a marked unwillingness to address the root causes of the genocide. While many will declare “never again,” a more accurate sentiment is “nothing’s changed.”

Hate speech on the rise

Genocides are not spontaneous acts of random violence committed by bloodthirsty lunatics. They occur only after leaders implement a coordinated campaign whereby a target group is dehumanised and portrayed as an existential threat. The Srebrenica genocide could not have happened if Bosnian Serbs had not been convinced that Bosnian Muslims were a subhuman “other” that threatened their very existence. Before the genocide, Bosnian Serb leaders spoke of the threat posed by “Balijas” and “Turks” and the need to create an ethnically pure homeland; during a parliamentary session in 1991, Radovan Karadžić, the then President of the Serb Democratic Party, openly warned the Bosnian Muslims they would “disappear” if war erupted.

Read full piece at: https://bit.ly/3P9I3wj French proposal will encourage extreme nationalists (EWB)

BRUSSELS – The French proposal for resolving bilateral issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia will bury the enlargement process and seriously hurt the already tattered image of the EU in the region, believe members of Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG), Nikola Dimitrov and Florian Bieber.

In an op-ed for EU Observer, they stress that considering the larger geopolitical issues at stake, this seems like a risk the EU should not be willing to take.

“While the temptation might be great to push through a bad deal know to bring movement in the already stuck process, the proposal as it stands now is likely to achieve the opposite, more stagnation, more frustration, and even destabilization “write Bieber and Dimitrov.

They argue that the French proposal will only encourage extreme nationalists, adding that worrying violent incidents related to the protests in recent days show the risks of increased inter-ethnic tensions if a flawed proposal fails and citizens feel like they will be suck once more for the long run.

“The double standards are striking. Bulgaria not only refuses to implement several judgments of the European Court on Human Rights related to the freedom of assembly of Bulgarian citizens who declare to be ethnic Macedonians but insists that nothing in the accession process can be interpreted as a recognition of the existence of the Macedonian language by Sofia. The authors said that Bulgarians should be in the constitution of North Macedonia next to the Macedonian people that official Sofia doesn’t recognize “.

International

Serbian Peace Activists’ HQ Vandalised After Srebrenica Anniversary (BIRN)

Women in Black said that an unknown man posing as a postal worker entered the building where the peace group’s office is located in Belgrade on Tuesday and poured red paint on the entrance door and on the staircase.

“The attack took place in the context of the commemoration of the 27th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica and numerous activities organised by Women in Black in the previous two days,” Women in Black said in a statement.

The statement said that this was the latest in a series of attacks both on the premises and on activists of Women in Black, and took place in what it described as a “climate of impunity” maintained by the Serbian government.

It claimed that state institutions “permit violence” against people they see as political dissenters.

Humanitarian/Development

Vienna Institute: No economic growth in Serbia if war in Ukraine continues (N1)

Serbia will have inflation of 14 per cent and zero economic growth if the war in Ukraine does not end soon but continues until the end of the year, Branimir Jovanovic, an expert for the Balkans with the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies said, N1 reports.

Jovanovic added the Institute has two scenarios for Serbia – if the war ends soon economic growth will stand at 3.6 percent and inflation at 10 percent, while the pessimistic scenario is if the war in Ukraine lasts until the end of the year or longer.

“In the pessimistic scenario we projected inflation at 14 per cent in Serbia this year with zero economic growth”, Jovanovic said, adding that the Institute did not consider a scenario of economic trends in Serbia if the war spills over to next year.

Jovanovic also said control of staple food prices in Serbia was a good solution in the current crisis.