UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 4, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kadiu: Borrell should conclude that conditions have been met (Telegrafi)
Rohde: LGBTQI+ rights must not be negotiated, they have to be enforced (media)
Westerlund underlines need to adopt civil code, need for LGBTQ+ shelters (media)
Manxhuka: Their bad legacy cannot become our sin (media)
Sources: ILECU preparing international arrest warrant for Bojic (Kosovapress)
Kurti meets Pamuk during stay in Turkey (media)
Osmani congratulates Sheinbaum as first woman President of Mexico (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Kurti's adviser got the most votes in Presevo, Bislimi's adviser got the least in Bujanovac (KoSSev, RFE)
Kosovo Minister: The government's support for a political option in the Presevo Valley was a mistake (Beta, Danas)
The anniversary of the murder of the Stolic family in Obilic, the killers still at large (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTS)
Petkovic: Pristina's constant policy of denying the suffering of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
Gracanica: The consumer failed to file a complaint a second time, the water supply company says it was too late (KiM radio)
Rapajic: Kurti shows with the new expropriation decision that he doesn't want to meet any international community conditions (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

Western disunity has enabled Russia to disrupt Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (BIRN)
Who’s afraid of unmarried mothers? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

Kosovo Albanian remanded in custody in Serbia on war crimes charge (BIRN)
From coal to renewables: Kosovo’s long energy transition journey (Prishtina Insight)
Türkiye targets $1B in bilateral trade with Kosovo by year-end (Daily Sabah)
Kosovo signs 3 agreements for 105 MW solar project (Balkan Green Energy News)

Albanian Language Media

Kadiu: Borrell should conclude that conditions have been met (Telegrafi)

Klisman Kadiu, advisor to Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator in the EU-facilitated talks with Serbia Besnik Bislimi, said in an interview with the news website that the EU should lift its measures against Kosovo. “The European Union should lift the penalty and unfair measures against Kosovo because our country has met all the conditions through the Bratislava agreement,” he said. “By holding and concluding the vote on whether or not to dismiss the mayors of the municipalities of Mitrovica North, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, there is no longer any sense in keeping the measures in force. The situation on the ground for which Kosovo was wrongfully accused of escalating, has been de-escalated for months now”.

Kadiu also said that the Kosovo Government is waiting “for the report of EU High Representative Josep Borrell which should conclude that the obligations assumed by our authorities have been met. Any other conclusion would be unfair, it would distort the developments on the ground and would imply the unilateral and meaningless abuse of measures”.

According to Kadiu, the situation in the north of Kosovo has returned to normal and that work is being done every day to integrate the Serb community, “beyond the destabilizing attempts and approach of our northern neighbor”. “The lifting of measures, which is already running late, should not be postponed in the light of upcoming elections for the institutions of the European Union. We reiterate our call that they should be lifted as soon as possible,” he argued.

Rohde: LGBTQI+ rights must not be negotiated, they have to be enforced (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said in a post on X today that Germany is excited that Kosovo’s Pride Week has finally started. “LGBTQI+ rights are human rights. They must not be negotiated, they have to be enforced,” he said. He also thanked Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu and Vetevendosje parliamentary group chief Mimoza Kusari “and colleagues for their strong speeches and firm commitment to the cause at yesterday’s opening”.

Westerlund underlines need to adopt civil code, need for LGBTQ+ shelters (media)

Swedish Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, said in a post on X that he held an opening speech at the launching event of the Pristina Pride 2024 on Monday. “Underlined the need to adopt the civil code, legal recognition of gender identity and the need for LGBTQ+ shelters in Pristina,” he said.

Manxhuka: Their bad legacy cannot become our sin (media)

All news websites cover a Facebook post by the spokesperson of the ruling Vetevendosje Movement, Arlind Manxhuka, following the reactions to the publication of a short taped conversation between Vetevendosje parliamentary group chief Mimoza Kusari-Lila and former Serbian List deputy leader Milan Radoicic, who claimed responsibility for the attack in Banjska in the north of Kosovo last year. Manxhuka writes in his post: “their bad legacy cannot become our sin. Those that made businesses, coalitions, governments and friendships with Radoicic cannot judge us today. In our time, Radoicic runs away in the mountains with his tail between his legs, and he cannot find any room in the chairs of the Office of the Prime Minister. This is just to remind the entire criticizing and accusing choir we have heard yesterday and today. The other things are best judged by the citizens. The citizens know best where the Serbian List and Radoicic were before our government, and where they are today”.

Sources: ILECU preparing international arrest warrant for Bojic (Kosovapress)

The Kosovo Police Directorate for International Cooperation in the Rule of Law is preparing an international arrest warrant against the former head of operations of Kosovo Police for the north, Zeljko Bojic, the news agency reports citing reliable sources. Sources also said that Bojic is suspected of the criminal offense of “abuse of official duty” and “obstruction of evidence or official procedure”. The news agency further notes that Bojic was known as the head of police for the whole region of the north and a close friend of Milan Radoicic. Bojic is sanctioned by the United States.

Kurti meets Pamuk during stay in Turkey (media)

Most news websites report that during his stay in Turkey, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006. Kurti said in a Facebook post that he was honored to be invited to dinner and that Pamuk was greatly interested in Kosovo, Albanians, and the Balkans.

Osmani congratulates Sheinbaum as first woman President of Mexico (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in a post on X congratulated President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on her election as the first woman President of Mexico. “In a world facing many challenges, it is inspiring to see more women assuming leadership roles. I hope that her presidency will provide an opportunity for enhanced cooperation between our countries,” Osmani said.

Serbian Language Media

Kurti's adviser got the most votes in Presevo, Bislimi's adviser got the least in Bujanovac (KoSSev, RFE)

The Party for Democratic Action, led in Presevo by Ardita Sinani, adviser to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, won the most mandates in the local elections in that municipality in the south of Serbia with a majority Albanian population, reported KoSSev, citing RFE.

According to the data, which was announced to Radio Free Europe by the president of the election commission in Presevo, Alban Mehmeti, this party will have 11 seats in the local parliament.

Shqiprim's Alternative for Change and Ragmi Mustafa's Democratic Party of Albanians each won eight seats in the local assembly. Sami Salihu's reform movement won six mandates. The Alliance for the Valley, led by Armend Aliu and Ilir Sadriu, won three council seats. The Democratic Union of Albanians, led by Naser Aziri, won one seat, as did the "Aleksandar Vucic - Presevo tomorrow" list gathered around the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Before the elections, the municipality of Presevo was governed by the Provisional Authority appointed by the Government of Serbia - the third time in the past seven years. In the same period, this was the fourth local election. The municipality of Presevo has over 33,000 inhabitants and half of the 61,000 Albanians registered in the last census in Serbia live in it. Bujanovac and Medvedja, two municipalities in the south that are part of the so-called Presevo Valley, are also represented.

In recent years, Alternative for Change and the Party for Democratic Action have alternated in power in Presevo.

The opposition Front for Change won the most votes in Bujanovac.

In the local elections in Bujanovac, the candidate of the Party for Democratic Action, Ragmi Mustafi, an adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, won the fewest votes of all the Albanian parties that participated in the elections.

The largest number of votes in that municipality, according to data provided to RFE by the chairperson of the municipal election commission Fejzi Beqiri, was won by the opposition Front for Change - 19.17 percent.

Then comes the Movement for Democratic Progress, with 17.53 percent of the vote. In the previous convocation, that movement formed the government together with the Democratic Party and the Party for Democratic Action.

The Democratic Party won 13.53 percent of the votes, and the Party for Democratic Action, supported by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, 11.59 percent.

The list gathered around SNS won 16.69 percent of the votes. Citizens' group "Dr. Dejan Stojanovic Mece" won 9.25 percent, Usama Zukorlic's Party of Justice and Reconciliation 6.18 percent.

The electoral list Change passed the census with 3.40 percent of the votes.

Although Albanian parties competed with six electoral lists in Presevo, and four in Bujanovac, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti supported only the candidates of the Party for Democratic Action - Ardita Sinani in Presevo and Ragmi Mustafi in Bujanovac and called on voters to vote for them.

In the December parliamentary elections in Serbia, Kurti and his Self-Determination party supported Shaip Kamberi - the candidate of the Party for Democratic Action for the republican deputy.

Kamberi is currently the only Albanian representative in the Serbian Parliament.

No national minority is guaranteed a parliamentary seat, but they have a lower percentage threshold in the elections, which allows them to enter parliament more easily.

According to census data, Albanians are the fourth largest national minority in Serbia.

In the municipality of Medvedja, the third municipality in the south of Serbia where Albanians live, local elections were held on December 17, 2023.

Only two parties participated in those elections - the SNS and the Democratic Party for Medvedja. SNS won the most votes in that municipality and formed the government itself.

Kosovo Minister: The government's support for a political option in the Presevo Valley was a mistake (Beta, Danas)

Kosovo's Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure and senior official of Self-Determination, Liburn Aliu said that the involvement and support of the Kosovo government to a political party for local elections in the Presevo Valley was a mistake, reported Danas.

"I cannot remain neutral at this moment, since I am originally from Presevo, and despite my orientation and personal sympathy, I think this was a mistake and a wrong action," Aliu told RTK.

He added that it was a mistake that the PM of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the election rally of a certain political party from the Presevo Valley, because, as he says, the Prime Minister should unite all political subjects in the valley.

"This was a mistake, and it must be corrected as soon as possible," he stressed.

In the previous parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, Kurti joined the campaign in support of the VLEN coalition, which, despite his support, failed to get the most votes from the Albanian population in North Macedonia.

The anniversary of the murder of the Stolic family in Obilic, the killers still at large (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTS)

The three-member Stolic family in Obilic was killed 21 years ago on this day, and the perpetrators have not been discovered even today.

50-year-old Ljubinko Stolic and his parents - 80-year-old Slobodan and Radmila Stolic - were killed in their home. According to the findings of the autopsy, they were killed with stab wounds and blows with blunt objects. The attackers left them in the house, and then set it on fire.

This crime disturbed the remaining Serbs in Obilic and forced them to leave, reported KiM radio, citing RTS. Fearing that a similar fate would happen to them, they collectively left Obilic. According to the remaining Serbs in Obilic, the family suffered a lot of pressure from the Albanians to sell the house and property.

UNMIK then offered a reward of 50,000 euros for information about the killer. In the absence of evidence, international investigators suspended the investigation.

Petkovic: Pristina's constant policy of denying the suffering of Serbs (Kosovo Online)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, on the occasion of the anniversary of the murder of the three-member Stolic family in Obilic, recalling that the killers have not been punished to this day, reported Kosovo Online.

"On this day, 21 years ago, Albanian terrorists savagely tortured and then killed Radmila and Slobodan Stolic and their son Ljubinko, after which they desecrated their bodies and set fire to the house in Obilic, in order to cover up their heinous crime," Petkovic wrote in a X post.

''Nobody was accountable for these ferocities against the innocent Serbs; the murderers are unpunished, just like the politics of impunity of crimes against Serbs is still present in PR and denial of Serbian suffering and new oppression is the constant of Albin Kurti’s politics,'' Petkovic added.

Gracanica: The consumer failed to file a complaint a second time, the water supply company says it was too late (KiM radio)

S.N. from Caglavica, today, for the second day in a row, he tried to file a complaint at the office of the Regional Water Supply Company of Pristina in Gracanica due to the warning for the interruption of water supply services, which he received from this company on 05.31.2024. This company says that the complaint of S.N. unacceptable.

However, the manager of this office once again refused to accept the complaint, with the explanation that he has no right to appeal against this warning and that he can complain when his water is turned off.

S.N. then taped five copies of the complaint on the door of the manager's office, in the facility's lobby and at the facility's main entrance and sent one copy to this company by mail.

"Since the manager Gazmend Bitiqi did not want to receive my complaint today as well, I left him five copies in their premises, and I also sent them by mail," said S.N. He added that he will complain to the Regulatory Authority for Water Services because of the manager's action who refused to receive his complaint.

Regional water supply company: Complaint inadmissible

KiM radio addressed questions to the Regional Water Supply Company of Pristina by e-mail regarding cases of disconnection and announced disconnection of water to consumers in Caglavica due to an alleged debt from 15 years ago.

"After discussions with the Operational Unit of Water Supply in Gracanica, a deadline was set for the customer in question to pay the debt. Then on the bill it is written that if the consumer has any debt dispute, he can announce freely within 15 days. The deadline was given to him until Tuesday," the spokeswoman for the Regional Water Supply Company of Pristina, Arieta Mjeka Azizi, stated in her response to KiM radio.

She added that the complaints of S.N. were unacceptable.

"He had the opportunity to file a complaint before we took action based on the regulations of the Regulatory Authority for Water Supply, and not after we took concrete measures," she concluded.

Mjeka Azizi, in response to KiM Radio's inquiries, did not set a date for the Tuesday she mentioned.

Rapajic: Kurti shows with the new expropriation decision that he doesn't want to meet any international community conditions (Kosovo Online)

Aleksandar Rapajic, Program Director of the NGO Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture from North Mitrovica, told Kosovo Online that the final decision of the Kosovo government on the expropriation of properties in the municipalities of Leposavic and Zubin Potok can be seen as a continuation of pressure on the Serbian community, but also as a way for Albin Kurti to show that he does not want to meet any conditions set by the international community.

“The next steps will be the continuation of expropriation and the construction of bases and police centers. We have an announcement that a police center will be built in the northern part of Mitrovica, and as we can see, the bases are still there. Checkpoints that were initially just control points have gradually turned into bases, so I think the message to the Serbian community is very clear – the pressure will continue,” Rapajic tells Kosovo Online.

Regarding the international community, an interlocutor of Kosovo Online states that Kurti has a negative attitude towards it and that this shows a kind of arrogance.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/bdeh7za2

Opinion:

Western disunity has enabled Russia to disrupt Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (BIRN)

Opinion piece by Lulzim Peci, the executive director of the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) and a former ambassador to Sweden, and Bekim Sejdiu, a senior research fellow at the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) and a former ambassador to Turkey.

If the Kremlin has been able to undermine the normalisation process between Serbia and Kosovo, it is because the West’s own approach to Kosovo has been incoherent.

In the evolving landscape of global diplomacy, the Western Balkans, and particularly tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, have become a lens through which Russia's manoeuvres on the international stage can be assessed.

While Russia may not view the Balkans as an area of as vital national interest as the former Soviet space, it plays an indispensable role for Moscow as a buffer zone, separating Russia's “near abroad” from the Western powers.

When the crisis erupted in Kosovo in 1998, Russia was already on a collision course with the West. This tension was exacerbated by NATO's decision to invite Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary to join the NATO alliance at the Madrid Summit in April 1997.

However, Russia actively engaged in international efforts to resolve the Kosovo crisis, supporting three UN Security Council resolutions, while resisting explicit authorisation for NATO to intervene in Yugoslavia.

Russia voted in favour of UNSC resolution 1244 (1999), which placed Kosovo under international administration, although Moscow maintained reservations about other peace efforts.

Nevertheless, in the years since the eruption of the crisis in Kosovo, Russia has demonstrated a pattern of selective engagement and withdrawal on the Kosovo issue, based on its assessment of Western actions and policies.

Notable examples include the last-moment withdrawal of support for agreements such as the 1999 Rambouillet Accords and the 2007 UN Comprehensive Proposal on Kosovo’s Status Settlement, both of which illustrated Moscow’s willingness to disengage when it perceives a misalignment between Western interests, and its own geopolitical goals.

International

Kosovo Albanian remanded in custody in Serbia on war crimes charge (BIRN)

A Kosovo Albanian man was remanded in custody in Serbia on Monday on suspicion of involvement in the abduction of three Serbian policemen at the end of the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

Tefik Mustafa was arrested at the Merdare border crossing between Serbia and its former southern province on Saturday, on the eve of local elections in Serbia.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic claimed Mustafa had fought with the guerrilla Kosovo Liberation Army in the late 1990s and was “mentioned in witness statements” as being involved in the abduction on June 19, 1999 on the road between the Kosovo capital Pristina and the eastern town of Gnjilane/Gjilan. The police officers were never seen again.

Media in Kosovo quoted Mustafa’s family as saying he was not in Kosovo during the war. Kosovo’s foreign ministry said a member of the country’s liaison office in Serbia would visit Mustafa on Tuesday or Wednesday.

In a press release, Belgrade Higher Court said it had remanded Mustafa in custody for up to 30 days, citing the “risk of escape” and that he might try to influence witnesses.

Kosovo’s foreign ministry called on Saturday for Mustafa’s release, accusing Serbia of “arbitrary and destructive acts that contradict international conventions on human rights”.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as independent but the European Union in 2013 negotiated a deal on mutual legal assistance by which they can exchange judicial requests via EU representatives. A BIRN analysis, however, showed there is little real legal cooperation between them.

From coal to renewables: Kosovo’s long energy transition journey (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovo’s transition to green energy is at odds with its energy strategy, which includes significant investments in coal power for electricity.

Kosovo’s energy sector stands at a critical juncture. Most energy in Kosovo is produced using coal-fired power plants, but there are growing calls for a shift towards a greener, more sustainable energy industry.

Viktor Berishaj, a Brussels based energy and climate expert from Kosovo, stated that Kosovo has the least renewable energy sources in the region in the gross final energy consumption, and is still mainly relying on biomass.

“We are still long-term dependent on coal-fired power plants; in 2017, we were supposed to shut down ‘Kosova A’ coal power plant, but now investments are being made to extend its life,” Berishaj told Kallxo Përnime TV Programme on May 18.

“Around 390 million euros will be invested in it (Kosova A and B power plants) by 2031. Meanwhile, renewable sources are projected to reach 1.2 gigawatts by 2031,” he explained, referring to Kosovo’s current energy strategy.

The Kosovo Energy Corporation, KEK, operates two coal-fired power plants in Obiliq: “Kosova A” and “Kosova B”.