UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 2, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani declares Wednesday a day of mourning in Kosovo in honour of Kadare (Koha)
Gervalla meets the Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament (media)
KLI: For six months government approved only 15% of planned draft laws (ekonomia)
Serb citizens convert driver’s licences: We live in Kosovo, we have to respect the law (RTK)
False bomb alert at Pristina Airport (Reporteri)
Serwer: Trump might support idea of dividing Kosovo if re-elected US president (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic meets with Grushko, thanks Russia for support in UN (Tanjug)
Vucevic: While Kurti in power, no possibility of progress in dialogue (Kosovo Online, Blic TV)
Hill: Normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina absolutely crucial (Kosovo Online, Euronews, diplomacyandcommerce.rs)
Gouillon: Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy to promote Serbia, defend its interests (Tanjug)
Cameraman who attacked Serbian politician at Gazimestan suspended (NMagazin, Beta, N1, KiM radio)
Statements on conflicts with Serbia have a negative impact on Kosovo's business environment (Kosovo Online, Gazeta Blic)

Humanitarian/Development:

OSCE report on domestic violence, inadequate trials for perpetrators (RTK)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani declares Wednesday a day of mourning in Kosovo in honour of Kadare (Koha)

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has declared Wednesday a day of national mourning for the death of the writer, Ismail Kadare.

“President Osmani, in June of last year, decorated the writer Ismail Kadare with the "Hasan Prishtina" Order, among the highest Orders given by the Republic of Kosovo to the most outstanding personalities of the nation. Whereas, in August, the President announced the decree by which the world-famous Albanian writer, Ismail Kadare, was granted the citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo", says the announcement of the Presidency.

Kadare died on Monday at the age of 88. Osmani said that the Albanian people have lost the colossus and the most famous scholar.

Media also report that President Osmani will participate in Kadare's funeral.

Gervalla meets the Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament (media)

On the second day of her visit to Kosovo, the Speaker of the Parliament of Slovenia, Urska Klakocar Zupancic, was received in a meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla.

The meeting took place without the presence of the media, and there was no press conference after the meeting.

KLI: For six months government approved only 15% of planned draft laws (ekonomia)

The Kosovo Law Institute has said that the government of Kosovo has approved only 8 of the 52 draft laws planned for approval in the first half of 2024. As a percentage, the government has approved only 15 percent of the legislative agenda planned for this period. In the framework of monitoring the implementation of the legislative program within the "Good Governance" program, the KLI has said that it has identified essential deficiencies in the approach of the government of Kosovo to legislative planning.

"For the third year in a row, the government failed to approve the legislative program in early January, approving it one month late. This delay has affected the planning process and created uncertainty for the public, civil society organisations, citizens and relevant institutions. After the late adoption, the legislative program has often been changed, indicating the lack of a clear and consistent strategy. The program for this year was subject to changes in February", says a KLI announcement on Tuesday, July 2. Another worrying issue, according to the KLI, is the non-inclusion in the legislative program of draft laws derived from the judgments of the Constitutional Court, the National Development Plan and Government Program 2021-2025. KLI has assessed that their non-inclusion reflects a lack of commitment to structural reforms and the government's priorities.

"This repeated deficiency shows incompetence in the implementation of public policies, calling into question the effectiveness of governance and the ability to address the needs of citizens. Moreover, this negligence can violate democratic standards and weaken citizens' trust in state institutions", says the assessment that KLI has made on the government's work in the first 6 months of this year.

Serb citizens convert driver’s licences: We live in Kosovo, we have to respect the law (RTK)

A month and a half after the entry into force of the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo to convert Serbian driver's licences into those of Kosovo, the process has started to take off. The Kosovo Police informed RTK2 that so far, about 1,400 requests for the conversion of driver's licences have been submitted in the north.

The citizens of North Mitrovica say that many of them or their family members have already exchanged their Serbian driver's licences with those of Kosovo. "At that time I was among the first to receive the UNMIK identity card and without any problem I converted it from the Serbian one to the Kosovo one. Most people are exchanging their Serbian driver's licence for a Kosovo one. What should people do, if they have a Kosovo identity card, live in Kosovo, they must respect the law to avoid punishment", said a resident of North Mitrovica.

And another citizen emphasised: "My son changed his driver's licence, everyone is converting them. He changed it so he wouldn't be punished."

The deputy director of the Kosovo Police for the northern region, Veton Elshani, said that so far about 1,400 requests for changing drivers' licences have been submitted. 387 in North Mitrovica, 193 in Zvecan, 347 in Leposaviq and 198 in Zubin Potok.

"In May of this year, the process of applying for conversion of driver's licence to RKS began and the entire process will be completed by August 10 of this year. So far we have 1400 applications for driver's licence conversion and the process is proceeding without any problems. I think that everything will be completed by the end of the deadline", Elshani emphasised for RTK 2.

False bomb alert at Pristina Airport (Reporteri)

The police conducted dog checks at Pristina Airport, after the reporting of a bomb alert

At the International Airport of Pristina "Adem Jashari" a greater presence of the Kosovo Police has been observed. In the images published in the media, the K-9 unit of the Kosovo Police could be seen checking the areas of the airport with dogs. According to reports.

Pristina Airport has announced that the flights have already returned and all will be processed as usual. "We inform you that after the bomb threat, all operational and investigative actions have been undertaken by the competent bodies of the Republic of Kosovo. This resulted in the bomb threat being a false alarm. ANP 'Adem Jashari' LKIA is open for flights, and all flights will be processed as usual".

Serwer: Trump might support idea of dividing Kosovo if re-elected US president (Reporteri)

The professor at the American Johns Hopkins University and expert on political developments in the Western Balkans, Daniel Serwer, spoke about the last meeting between the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, within the dialogue in Brussels.

In an interview for A2, Serwer said that the dialogue should go in a more practical direction than towards political normalisation. "I think that the dialogue should go in a more practical direction than towards political normalisation. It seems to me that neither Belgrade nor Pristina is ready for political normalisation, but there are many practical issues that need to be resolved", he said.

Speaking about the conditions that Prime Minister Kurti has presented for further engagement in the process of normalising relations with Serbia, Serwer said "Well, of course, each country can set conditions. The question is whether you can get other people to agree with them. And I don't know the answer to that question. Kosovo's diplomacy must answer this question. You know, I am a big advocate of the idea that Radoicic should be tried in Kosovo. I did not like Brnabic's letter and I think it should be retracted. But if it was wise to make these conditions for a meeting with Vucic, we have to wait and see," Serwer said.

Serwer has also spoken about the possibility if Donald Trump is re-elected president of the United States of America. "I don't think it would be good for the Western Balkans. I think that Trump would clearly be willing to support the ideas of the Serbian world, including the partition of Bosnia, perhaps even the partition of Kosovo. I think it leads us in a very bad direction", he said.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic meets with Grushko, thanks Russia for support in UN (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Russian Deputy FM Alexander Grushko in Belgrade on Tuesday, noting that he had reiterated his gratitude to Russia for supporting Serbia regarding the UN resolution on Srebrenica.

"I also expressed gratitude especially for the support for the territorial integrity of Serbia in accordance with the UN Charter," Vucic wrote in a post on his official Instagram account.

He added that he had had a good discussion with Grushko and that they had reviewed the overall bilateral relations between Serbia and the Russian Federation and agreed that they were very good.

Vucevic: While Kurti in power, no possibility of progress in dialogue (Kosovo Online, Blic TV)

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, told Blic TV that there is no possibility that anything will move in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina while Albin Kurti is in power in Pristina, stressing that he is uncomfortable talking about how much terror the Serbs suffer in Kosovo, noting that the leadership of Serbia must be careful in order to preserve the peace and security of the Serbs in Kosovo, reported Kosovo Online.

Referring to the threats of Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla that President Aleksandar Vucic would be arrested if he comes to Kosovo, Vucevic stated that "bandits can never arrest the president of a country, but also that the president will never do anything that would threaten the security of Serbs in Kosovo".

"We have to be careful, to preserve the peace and preserve the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, however, we are dealing with someone who does not want peace and who wants the ethnic cleansing of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. And if the President of Serbia decides to visit them, it will be in coordination with KFOR, EULEX and all institutions with which it is necessary. These are all fantasies of irresponsible people, and this is a message to Serbs that they can do everything. Kurti needs escalation because he only lives on that," says Vucevic.

"I don't see a millimetre of space that something will move in the dialogue while Kurti is in power. When I spoke with Miroslav Lajcak in Athens ten days ago, I saw that they are also aware of this. They are aware that Kurti will certainly not form the Community of Serbian Municipalities. It seems to me unreal that Quint has no influence on Kurti. They say they're pressuring, but we don't see any progress," says Vucevic.

He also points out that all the actions of the West only lead to their former goal, which is the independence of Kosovo.

"I don't think that either Lajcak or Borrell are enthusiastic about it, but I think that there are centres that support it," said Vucevic.

Hill: Normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina absolutely crucial (Kosovo Online, Euronews, diplomacyandcommerce.rs)

The US Ambassador to Belgrade, Christopher Hill, said the EU is trying to help normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and that the US is helping in that process because, as he stated, normalisation is absolutely crucial, reported Kosovo Online, citing Euronews.

"If there is no normalisation, it means instability, which means problems. And while the Europeans want to see Serbia among themselves, within their structures, they want Serbia to solve or at least address its problems before entering the EU," Hill emphasised in an interview on the eve of American Independence Day for "Diplomacy & Commerce" magazine.

When stating that his views are sometimes different from the views of certain European officials and politicians regarding the potential Serbian recognition of Kosovo's independence, as the last step on Serbia's path to the EU, Hill pointed out that what the Europeans are doing in this regard, they are doing it right, and that is, they are trying to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

"This means, first of all, the reduction of tensions, but it also means the idea of mutual cooperation on issues. So, normalisation is what the EU is looking for. Looking further, I think it is important to understand that if you can have, as the Europeans call it, 'normalisation' that is fundamental, broad-based and legally binding, you can build a very strong platform on which to build other things," Hill emphasised.

Regarding the banning of the "Mirdita, Dobar dan" festival, Hill said that it is an event that encourages cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo, and that he does not understand the decision to ban the festival.

"I am surprised by that decision. I didn't expect that. There are always security reasons, I understand that. But I don't understand this decision. This festival was excellent for Serbia, it has been held for 10 years. It deals with the question of how to cooperate with others throughout the region. So, as far as I'm concerned, I don't understand why such an opportunity would be missed," said Hill in an interview among other things.

Gouillon: Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy to promote Serbia, defend its interests (Tanjug)

The director of the Serbian Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy Arnaud Gouillon said on Tuesday the office would be defending Serbian interests and the truth and promoting Serbian culture, Tanjug news agency reported.

Gouillon said French politician Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party as well as French President Emmanuel Macron had done much for the Serbs, adding that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had succeeded in establishing a connection and personal contacts with Macron that were important for Serbian diplomacy.

"That is really an incredible thing that has helped Serbian interests, and Serbia, in various diplomatic battles in a concrete manner. That is a very important thing and our job is to cooperate with all governments in the world regardless of their makeup and to have the best and closest possible relations with all of them", he said.