UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 29, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak: We’re working to have Kurti-Vucic meeting before summer break (media)
Kurti: We have met the criteria; Svecla travels to Brussels for visas in 48 hours (EO)
Osmani received the EU Special Representative for Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak (media)
Visit of Specialized Chambers President postponed (Koha)
PDK leader: I hope for a favourable decision on visa liberalisation by end of year (EO)
70% of respondents of poll in Kosovo, Serbia unsatisfied with EU role in dialogue (Koha)
Krasniqi after meeting Kurti: PDK proposed Vetting years ago (media)
KIA reports to Assembly Committee, situation in Northern municipalities, fragile (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Lajcak in Mitrovica North with Rakic and mayors (Kosovo Online)
Ministry of Communities and Returns: CSM (ZSO), the only way to improve the position of Serbs (Radio Mitrovica sever)
“Djokovic knows nothing about crime he is accused of” (Radio KIM)
Vejvoda: Serbia cannot maintain neutrality (KiM radio, FoNet, TV Insajder)
Turkey has agreed to support Finnish and Swedish NATO membership bids (N1, CNN)
NATO summit in Madrid: USA announces increased presence in the Balkans (Kosovo Online, Klix.ba)
Filipovic: I am waiting call from court regarding young man arrested at Gazimestan (Kosovo Online)
Dveri Movement demands immediate release of man arrested yesterday at Gazimestan (Radio KIM)
Brnabic: Independent position is difficult, but best (N1)

International:

Albania Proposes Controversial Amnesty for Undeclared Assets (BIRN)
‘Montenegro has Wasted a Decade Delaying EU Reforms’ (BIRN)
Fleeing Putin’s War, Russians Confront Pro-Kremlin Feeling in Serbia (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Lajcak: We’re working to have Kurti-Vucic meeting before summer break (media)

European Union Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, told a press conference in Prishtina at the end of his three-day visit that they are trying to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic before the EU summer break. “My visit as always was political, and I had the opportunity to meet President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti with whom we had lengthy discussions about the current situation with the dialogue and the future steps. As you know we host a meeting of the chief negotiators every month and the next meeting will be in July. We are also working to arrange a meeting between Kurti and Vucic and I would like for this to happen before the EU summer break,” Lajcak is quoted as saying in Klan Kosova.

Telegrafi notes that asked if the visa liberalisation process could conclude by the end of this year, Lajcak said he cannot mention any specific dates but that he hopes a decision will be made as soon as possible. “Let me repeat that I am not allowed to mention dates when this could happen, but the support and attention on this matter have never been greater and I hope a decision will be made as soon as possible,” he said.

Koha reports in its coverage that Lajcak implies there could be new agreements between Kosovo and Serbia soon.

Nacionale highlights Lajcak’s remarks that “the Association for Serb-majority municipalities must be implemented, as the parties have agreed to this”.

Kurti: We have met the criteria; Svecla travels to Brussels for visas in 48 hours (EO)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Tuesday he is not aware that there will be a new roadmap in the visa liberalisation process. He said that Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, will travel to Brussels to meet European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johanson, and discuss all issues related to visa liberalisation.

“I am not aware of any additional criteria or a new roadmap. We have met the 95 criteria for a long time now. Meanwhile, both the Parliament and Commission recommended lifting visas for the citizens of Kosovo. I don’t believe Kosovo has to do more in terms of meeting the criteria,” Kurti said.

Osmani received the EU Special Representative for Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak (media)

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani Sadriu received the Special Representative of the European Union for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and other regional issues of the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak.

They discussed the latest developments in the dialogue process in Brussels, Kosovo's European perspective, as well as visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens. The President spoke about the constructive engagement of Kosovo in the dialogue with Serbia, conveying the clear goal of Kosovo’s institutions for the process to be focused on mutual recognition. President Osmani stressed that the agreement on the implementation of the energy roadmap is a positive step in this regard, noting that implementation is very important.

She reiterated the urgency for progress in the agreement on missing persons, which remains a deep wound in the society. Further, Osmani spoke about the need to have a clear implementation mechanism given the importance of this agreement.

Osmani and Lajcak also spoke about the elaborate process of visa liberalization for the citizens of Kosovo, and the need to urgently move forward, given that this process is of great importance for the credibility of the EU in Kosovo.

Visit of Specialized Chambers President postponed (Koha)

The planned visit of the President of the Specialized Chambers Ekaterina Trendafilova to Kosovo next week, has been postponed to another date.

According to the sources of the news portal, the postponement of the visit is happening due to an unplanned organization and reasons related to Trendafilova’s work.

Trendafilova had planned to visit Kosovo on July 4.

She was expected to hold a meeting with civil society representatives in Gjilan, and share information about the mandate, work, and current developments in the Kosovo Specialized Chambers.

PDK leader: I hope for a favourable decision on visa liberalisation by end of year (EO)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, said today he hopes that the decision to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo will be made by the end of this year. “I have talked about this on several occasions and recently when there were expectations from the EU – Western Balkans summit, I said there is hope there would be visa liberalisation now,” Krasniqi said in an interview with Ekonomia Online. “But I hope that a favourable decision will be made by the end of the year. However, I cannot say this with certainty because years have passed since we have met the criteria, we did all the homework and we did not get the merited decision from the European Union”.

70% of respondents of poll in Kosovo, Serbia unsatisfied with EU role in dialogue (Koha)

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) published the results of a survey conducted in Kosovo and Serbia this month about the process of dialogue. Violeta Haxholli from the KDI said the survey included over 2,000 respondents. 49 percent of citizens in Kosovo believe that regardless of the dialogue, relations between Kosovo and Serbia have remained the same. The same opinion is shared by 56 of respondents in Serbia. 51 percent of respondents in Kosovo believe that the political parties are benefiting from the dialogue. 49.7 percent of respondents in Kosovo believe that Serbia is responsible for the lack of progress in the dialogue, while 48.4 percent of respondents in Serbia believe the EU is to blame for the lack of progress. According to 54 percent of respondents in Kosovo, the Association of Serb-majority municipalities would threaten Kosovo’s sovereignty. Over 70 percent of respondents in Serbia said they were not satisfied with the role of the EU as facilitator in the dialogue.

Krasniqi after meeting Kurti: PDK proposed Vetting years ago (media)

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi met today with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, to discuss the Vetting process in the justice system. Krasniqi said that PDK has for years proposed and elaborated the need for the initiation of a Vetting process in the justice system of Kosovo and added that such process should implement in complete compliance with the Constitution of Kosovo and special recommendations of the Venice Commission.

“As the Venice Commission in its Opinion also requested reach of institutional and political consensus, transparency and high professional standards, PDK considers that the only fair, appropriate and sustainable solution is the development of this process by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, the constitutional responsibility of which in the last instance remains also the endorsement or not of the required constitutional changes,” Krasniqi said at the press conference.

He further added that the political party that he leads remains committed in offering contribution to any legal and constitutional initiative that serves to required reforms and which is made in full coordination with strategic partners, civil society and other parties of interest.

Media report that Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu was also present at the meeting invited by PM Kurti.

KIA reports to Assembly Committee, situation in Northern municipalities, fragile (media)

The chairwoman of the Kosovo Assembly Oversight Committee for Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) Ganimete Musliu stated that the situation in Kosovo in general is stable.

After the reporting of the KIA Director Petrit Ajeti, Musliu announced that the most fragile situation is in northern municipalities, where Serbia has engaged its illegal mechanisms to monitor activity of Kosovo security structures.

She further announced that “Bosniak Neighborhood,” “Kroi i Vitakut” and “Kodra e Minatoreve” are the targets in the North.

PDK MP Musliu emphasized that they were informed in today's meeting that through its structures, Serbia is making efforts to increase the readiness of local Serbs in cases of tension. She told the media that Serbia’s investments pose a growing threat, “as they are investing in Serbian criminal groups in Kosovo.”

"Serbia has engaged its illegal mechanisms to monitor the activity of security structures in Kosovo, but also to make moves of international structures that affect Kosovo," she said.

She called on the institutions to be vigilant and monitor the situation in the north, where properties of Albanians are a target.

“Also, apartments in collective buildings within the city of North Mitrovica are a target. Constructions in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo are without permits and the trend of Albanians leaving the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo is a concern for both the KIA and us as a parliamentary committee," she concluded.

Serbian Language Media

Lajcak in Mitrovica North with Rakic and mayors (Kosovo Online)

EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak visited Mitrovica North today and met mayors of four northern municipalities and Serbian List representatives, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Serbian List President and Minister for Communities and Returns Goran Rakic and four northern mayors Milan Radojevic, Srdjan Vulovic, Zoran Todic and Dragisa Milovic took part in a meeting.

As it was announced the topics of discussion will include the latest security, political and economic issues. There will be no press conference after the meeting, the portal added.

Lajcak will later visit Valac substation and administrative crossing Brnjak from where he will depart to Belgrade.

Ministry of Communities and Returns: CSM (ZSO), the only way to improve the position of Serbs (Radio Mitrovica sever)

The establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities is the most important and key thing for Kosovo Serbs, so that everything agreed is realized with its formation, and in that way only, the position of Serbs in Kosovo can improve, said today the Minister for Communities and Returns and President of the Serbian list, Goran Rakic and mayors of municipalities in the north of Kosovo, at the meeting with the European Union Special Envoy for Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak, the Ministry of Communities and Returns announced, reported Radio Mitrovica sever.

"All open issues between Serbs and Albanians must be resolved through dialogue in Brussels, but also that everything agreed upon is implemented as envisaged by the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, because that is the only way we can solve problems that stand in the way of a better life. Unilateral moves would destabilize the situation on the ground and the implementation of other agreements reached could be called into question," Serb representatives said.

The statement said that Rakic and the mayors underlined their readiness for a constructive partnership in, as stated, in "paving the way for a better future", reported the radio.

"We expect the same from our neighbours with whom we need to build coexistence," said Rakic and the mayors.

The announcement added that the topics of conversation were all current problems that make life difficult for Serbs in this area. There was talk of improving the economic situation, frequent incidents in returnee areas, which, according to the statement, must stop immediately because they have a very bad effect on the return process, which, as it is noticed, is stagnating.

“Djokovic knows nothing about crime he is accused of” (Radio KIM)

Vasilije Arsic, a defence lawyer of Milorad Djokovic arrested on Monday near Pec for allegedly committing war crimes in 1999, said his client knows nothing about the crime he is accused of, Radio KIM reports. Arsic added he visited Djokovic in the detention unit in Pristina yesterday and expects he will be rendered one month detention.

“Djokovic was never an active member of the Serbian army or police. He remained living in his village of Vitomirica after the war, and worked as a registrar in the village of Gorazdevac. During the times of March pogrom in 2004, Albanians set his house on fire, but he managed to reconstruct a new one and continued living on his property with his Albanian and Bosniac neighbours. Had he committed any crime, he would not have stayed living and working in Pec all those years”, the lawyer said.

The lawyer also said Djokovic was the only Serb living in Vitomirica, and according to him over the last couple of years Djokovic was involved in a lawsuit with local authorities in Pec relating to the land parcel he received from Pec municipality during the nineties and built a house on it.

Local authorities attempted to confiscate part of Djokovic’s property, but Kosovo higher court ruled in Djokovic’s favour.

Vejvoda: Serbia cannot maintain neutrality (KiM radio, FoNet, TV Insajder)

Ivan Vejvoda, a senior associate at the Vienna Institute of Social Sciences, said Serbia could not maintain neutrality, stating that Serbia was moving towards NATO until 2004, and that talks had begun under Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic on joining the Alliance ''not neglecting in any way the crime that was committed'', reported KiM radio, citing Insajder TV.

Vejvoda reminded TV Insider that under Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica in 2004, a constitutional provision came that Serbia would be militarily neutral, but that "it was clearly stated that we are militarily, not ideologically neutral".

Asked whether there really was a dilemma for Serbia, the EU or Russia, Vejvoda answered that he did not see any dilemma because Serbia, geopolitically, was in Europe, surrounded by EU and NATO countries, and wanted to join the community of European nations.

"If we had a referendum on joining the EU next week, I am sure we would have 65% support, no matter what the polls say. People know with their common sense that it is better to be in that circle than outside it," he said.

Vejvoda also said that the question was why Serbia did not impose "at least minimal" sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

He assessed that the Russian invasion caused the strengthening of the transatlantic unity of EU and the United States, as well as within the EU itself, which led to six packages of European sanctions against Russia, although not all of them apply the same.

"Not everyone applies them equally. We do not live in a world of fairy tales, we live in a real world where different countries among those 27 members have diverse needs and interests, but they have all imposed a certain level of sanctions on Russia," Vejvoda said.

Asked if a new world war was approaching, Vejvoda answered that no one dared saying "no" anymore, after many thought that Russia would not launch an invasion of Ukraine.

He said that he did not believe that there would be an attack on any NATO country, because that would activate Article 5, which says "if one NATO member is attacked, everyone is attacked".

"I think that Russia, that is, its president Vladimir Putin, will not go in that direction. Which is the red line in my opinion," Vejvoda assessed.

Asked about the EU-Western Balkans summit last week, Vejvoda said that it was a time of "difficult and big" decisions, such as granting Ukraine and Moldova candidate status for EU membership.

Vejvoda added that it was expected that at that summit, Bosnia and Herzegovina would get the status of a candidate for EU membership, that Northern Macedonia and Albania would start accession negotiations, and that Kosovo would get visa liberalisation, but that none of that happened.

Turkey has agreed to support Finnish and Swedish NATO membership bids (N1, CNN)

Finland and Sweden are poised to end decades of neutrality by joining NATO, a dramatic evolution in European security and geopolitics sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The two Nordic nations had long kept the military alliance at an arm's length, even while eying Russia to their east with caution.

But Moscow's assault on Ukraine has sparked renewed security concern across the region, and the leaders of each country have signalled their desire to join the bloc after more than 75 years of military nonalignment.

International

Albania Proposes Controversial Amnesty for Undeclared Assets (BIRN)

Controversy has erupted in Albania after Socialist premier Edi Rama’s government proposed a financial and legal amnesty for people who legalise undeclared assets worth up to two million euros by paying a tax that ranges from five to ten per cent, with no obligation to reveal the source of the assets.

The opposition claims that the scheme would allow criminals to launder proceeds of illegal activities, in a country where money-laundering and organised crime are a serious concern.

“The law will only help human traffickers and drug dealers,” said Ervin Salianji, an opposition MP.

A similar scheme that was proposed last year was retracted following intense pressure from the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund, which said it could aid money-laundering.

The new draft law proposes that Albanian citizens living in Albania or abroad and foreigners with tax residency in Albania can declare up to two million euros in cash or property if they pay a tax of seven to ten per cent and keep the money within Albania for no less than five years.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3a0fKB7 ‘Montenegro has Wasted a Decade Delaying EU Reforms’ (BIRN)

Former European Integration Minister Gordana Djurovic says that after a decade of membership negotiations with the EU, Montenegro must act more proactively in implementing reforms.

After a decade of accession negotiations with the European Union, Montenegro must be more proactive with reforms instead of constantly postponing them, former Minister of European Integration Gordana Djurovic told BIRN, stressing that the country could meet all the conditions for accession by 2025.

Djurovic was deputy Prime Minister for European Integration from 2006 to 2009. and then Minister for European Integration until 2010. She is a university professor and now heads the Montenegrin Pan-European Union, an NGO.

The country of 620,000 people began EU accession negotiations on June 29, 2012 but during the last decade only three of the 33 negotiating chapters have been closed.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3yt3DWG Fleeing Putin’s War, Russians Confront Pro-Kremlin Feeling in Serbia (BIRN)

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have headed to Serbia, where they now face rebuilding lives and finding work – and dealing with strong pro-Kremlin sentiments.

For Peter Polyak, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “red line.”

The 38-year-old blacksmith said that he and his wife had been part of the pro-democracy opposition in Russia for years. But after the brutal suppression of protests in neighbouring Belarus in 2020-2021, they feared a similar turn of events in Russia and decided to leave, to give their two-year-old daughter a future.

“We were late with all this, and when the war started we just fled with two bags,” Polyak told BIRN.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24; by early March, Polyak and his family were in Istanbul and wondering where to head next.