Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 574 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Kurti and Osmani kick off talks on forming new government (Express)
• Hoxhaj requests more clarity on new government approach  (Express)
• Haradianj withdraws from running for president: we do not have majority (RTK)
• Hamas denounces opening of Kosovo embassy in Jerusalem (Express)
• Abdixhiku: We are waiting for LVV’s response for Friday’s meeting (media)
• Edi Rama invites Kosovo doctors to get Covid-19 vaccine in Kukes (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• 28 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• Palestinian Ambassador to Belgrade: By opening an embassy in Jerusalem, Kosovo violates our rights (Kosovo Online)
• Mavric and Qerkini called on the institutions to shed light on the fate of 1,640 missing persons (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Two churches broken into in the Strpce municipality (RTV Puls)
• Serbian List: Disgraceful decision to extend detention of the Mayor of Klokot (Kosovo Online)
• Hodzic: Minority communities that don’t want to be assimilated are not welcome in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Decision on the replacement of car plates is a violation of the Brussels Agreement (KIM radio) 
• Selakovic: Serbia strongly committed to development of relations with Russia (N1)
• SOC Patriarch Porfirije in three day stay in Kosovo (Radio Kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Football match lays bare Spain’s disastrous policy towards Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• The EU Is a Dishonest Broker on Western Balkan Demographics (carnegieeurope.eu)
• Osmani: “The goal is to see the Republic of Kosovo as a vibrant democracy!” (Faces of Democracy)
• Western Balkan Civil Society Avoiding Fight Against Corruption, Crime: Report (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo’s Thaci Challenges War Crime Indictment at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)
• Montenegrin President’s Party Defeated in his Hometown Niksic (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Single mothers unsupported in the pandemic (Kosovo 2.0)
• EU ‘green pass’ fuels the fire in Balkans (euractive.com)

     

Albanian Language Media  

  COVID-19: 574 new cases, 13 deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 574 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours. 394 persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 11,058 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Kurti and Osmani kick off talks on forming new government (Express)

The Vetevendosje leader and prime minister designate, Albin Kurti, and acting president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, as winners of 14 February elections, will officially start talks on forming the next government.

Kurti and Osmani are expected to meet today leaders of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK).

Last week Kurti sent a letter to political leaders – PDK, LDK and AAK, inviting them for consultative talks to form a new government. The Vetevendosje won the 14 February snap election with over 50 percent of votes.

Acting chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Enver Hoxhaj, confirmed that they have received the invitation and subsequently the meeting will be held today at 11:00 in the Assembly of Kosovo. Kurti and Osmani are expected to meet also with the AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj at 13:30 today. One hour later Haradinaj called a meeting of the AAK presidency.

Lumir Abdixhiku who was elected Sunday as the chairperson of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said that he is not ready to meet Kurti and Osmani in his first day of work as party leader. Abdixhiku proposed today’s invitation to be rescheduled for Friday. 

Hoxhaj requests more clarity on new government approach  (Express)

Acting chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Enver Hoxhaj, met Monday the Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti and acting president Vjosa Osmani to discuss formation of the new institutions after the 14 February election, Gazeta Express reports.

Hoxhaj addressing the media after the meeting said the main topic of discussion was cooperation on foreign policy. “We have asked Kurti and Osmani for clarifications on their foreign policy approach, because the president plays a role in representing Kosovo, also the government plays an important role in representation of the foreign policy, therefore our attitude towards creation of new institutions, depends on the ten topics we have raised in this meeting,” Hoxhaj said.  

Hoxhaj said that first he asked Kurti whether he distanced himself from the political violence, recalling the attack of institutions and releasing teargas in the Parliament chamber to prevent election of Kosovo president, when Kurti’s party LVV was in opposition. 

“Secondly, considering that Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and normalization of relations is the main challenge of the next government, Kurti and the Vetevendosje have stated that they will not sit at the table with Serbia without Belgrade apologising for committed crimes and solve the missing persons issue. Thirdly, their position was to annul the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. Fourth, we have raised the issue of demarcation of border with Montenegro, whether they are going to return the border at Zhleb and Cakorr, a topic which was used for internal politics. Are they going to respect the Washington Agreement in its entirety and what is their position on the Mini-Schengen, which was opposed by Kurti. During Hoti’s Government the foreign policy was suspended through a moratorium by giving up bidding for membership into international organisations, what is their take on this. Whether the next government will reinstate full reciprocity with Serbia. We have raised a wide range of issues, on how we see the problems as opposition in relation with the institutions which will be created,” Hoxhaj said.

When it comes to electing the new president, Hoxhaj said that initially they should talk on principles rather than individual names of taking this post, adding that this is the first meeting after ten years between ruling and opposition, and this was made possible, thanks to the PDK’s request.

Haradianj withdraws from running for president: we do not have the majority (RTK)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj spoke to the media after the meeting he had with the leader of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) Albin Kurti and the acting president, Vjosa Osmani.

Haradinaj said that they will cooperate with the government on topics of national interest.

"A concentration of powers is aimed, we think that our function is important in the coming time," said Haradinaj adding that Kurti and Osmani have asked for a government-opposition partnership.

Asked if he had withdrawn from running for president, he replied that his party does not have a majority of votes.

"The Alliance is a constructive opposition party, I told Mr. Kurti that we will not go back to our old methods, because I am also old, but we will be the ones who will remind them of the functioning of the government-opposition. The winners of the elections find the formula to create the government, the majority for the government, two thirds for the president, is in their responsibility. We do not have this possibility as an Alliance, what remains for us is an opposition role," Haradinaj said.

"Our task is no longer to support the concentration of power, the people have given their vote, but they have not given two thirds to the president, it is their responsibility to find them. As an Alliance, we will make our decisions in the party. I think that the winners of the elections have a responsibility to implement the result not to go to the elections, but we are ready to go for the elections not only now but at any time," he said.

Hamas denounces opening of Kosovo embassy in Jerusalem (Express)

Kosovo officially opened the embassy in Jerusalem on Sunday. The U.S.-backed decision has been criticized by the European Union and Turkey.

After the official establishment of the embassy there, the spokesman of the radical Islamic group "Hamas", Hazem Qasem, also reacted.

"Kosovo's decision to open its embassy in Jerusalem is a flagrant violation of all international resolutions and a clear inclination towards the occupation," said Qasem, from the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip.

Abdixhiku: We are waiting for LVV’s response for Friday’s meeting (media)

Lumir Abdixhiku who was elected Sunday as the chairperson of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said that he is not ready to meet Kurti and Osmani in his first day of work as party leader. Abdixhiku proposed today’s invitation to be rescheduled for Friday.

One day after being elected leader of the LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku paid homage to the grave of the former President of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova.

"We are starting from here, to honor and remember not only the first president of LDK, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, but also the founder of the Republic of Kosovo, from here we send messages that the traditional ideas of LDK remain ideas of the time, permanent which we will cultivate in our part as well. We are proud of the work done since its inception until today. Our past is the past we are proud of, but it is not enough for us today. The future is built respecting the past, but giving answers to issues that are urgent for the Republic of Kosovo," Abdixhiku said.

Asked how the LDK will act in the election of the President, he said that he is looking forward to Friday's meeting with Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani.

"As I stated yesterday, we are waiting for the confirmation of Friday's meeting, the day proposed by us. Because during this week we will be in the process of constituting bodies, we will be constructive in the fundamental spirit of the LDK, including President Rugova and every activist who contributes to the construction and maintenance of Kosovo institutions, and not to the demolition of them," he said.

Meanwhile, the leader of LDK said that he will officially send the request for Friday's meeting with Kurti and Osmani.

Edi Rama invites Kosovo doctors to get Covid-19 vaccine in Kukes (RTK)

After the arrival of 38 thousand AstraZeneca vaccines in Albania, this country is expected to vaccinate all the teachers today.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama called on Kosovo doctors to go to Kukes (Albania) to get vaccinated, as the purchasing contract does not allow vaccine transportation to Kosovo.

As AstraZeneca is facing blockade by many European and other countries, Rama said the doses for Albania were produced in Sweden and do not belong to the lot that was blocked in some countries. 

       

Serbian Language Media

  28 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)

28 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced on Saturday, Radio kontakt plus reports.

A total of 96 samples have been tested. The breakdown of new cases is as follows: ten in Mitrovica North, six in Leposavic, six in Strpce, four in Zvecan and two in Zubin Potok.

At the moment there are 745 active cases in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo.

A total of 116 persons have died since the outbreak of the pandemic due to Covid-19 related complications in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

Palestinian Ambassador to Belgrade: By opening an embassy in Jerusalem, Kosovo violates our rights (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo, which is not yet a state, has started violating international law to the detriment of our peoples, not only in the Balkans, but also in the Middle East, and that will not go unpunished, Palestinian Ambassador to Belgrade Mohamed Nabhan told portal Kosovo Online.

After yesterday's official start of the work of the Kosovo embassy in Jerusalem, Ambassador Nabhan states that they "followed the steps very carefully'', as he said, ''of the so-called Kosovo, in connection with the opening of a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem."

"It is an attack on our rights and our people. Kosovo is thus violating the rights of the Palestinian people to its state and capital. Pristina also violates international law because Jerusalem has been occupied by Israel since 1967, and for a country to become a member of international organizations and the UN, it must abide by international law. "

He points out that Kosovo goes beyond the position of the EU, and when it comes to the next steps that will be taken on the occasion of the beginning of the work of the Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem, Nabhan explains:

"Of course, I am in consultation with the MFA of Palestine, and starting today, we will take steps that Kosovo will not like, at the level of the Arab League and Islamic Cooperation. Kosovo is not a member of any of these organizations, but many members have recognized the so-called Kosovo, and we will ask those countries to now consider their recognition of Kosovo. Obviously, Kosovo exists as a pawn in various games that are to the detriment of our peoples, not only in the Balkans but also in the Middle East, and that will not go unpunished," Nabhan said, reported portal Kosovo Online.

Mavric and Qerkini called on the institutions to shed light on the fate of 1,640 missing persons (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)

Representatives of the Resource Center for Missing Persons, which marked the fourth anniversary of its founding, Bajram Qerkini and Negovan Mavric called on the competent institutions to "conscientiously perform their duty and fulfill the promises they gave to the families of missing persons during twenty years", radio KiM reported.

The goal of the families gathered by the Resource Center for Missing Persons is to clarify the fate of the missing, said the newly appointed coordinator of the Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing Serbs from Kosovo, Negovan Mavric.

"That is why we are all here today, together, Serbs and Albanians, to show everyone how much we care that our common problem is solved by making 1,640 families pleased by finding and clarifying the fate of their loved ones," Mavric said.

He also pointed out that the fight is in vain, "if there is no support, both from local and international institutions that deal with this problem."

"That is why we appeal to all relevant institutions that deal with this problem to meet our needs, to meet the families that we gather here every day, who are fighting for the truth here every day. Today, it is a great success to find a missing person, and a great success to hand over the remains to the family. We wait every day for work to start at several potential locations, but something always arises, a problem turns out that we do not understand," said Mavric.

The Resource Center for Missing Persons was established in 2017 with the help of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Kosovo, Zahir Tanin, said Bajram Qerkini. 

"The origin or idea for the establishment of the Center dates back to 2012, when we, as representatives of the families of missing persons and the Working Group for Missing Persons, had the opportunity to visit Cyprus, where we talked and met with the families of missing Greeks and Turkish. There were two visits to Cyprus organized and facilitated by the UN Mission in Kosovo. The third meeting was in 2013, when we were visited by families from Cyprus," Qerkini said.

He pointed out that then, with the late coordinator of the Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing Serbs from Kosovo, Milorad Trifunovic, he made a difficult decision and began this journey.

"There were very skeptical people and they tried to stop us, but with the help of the institutional representatives of Kosovo and the representatives of the international community, we succeeded," said Qerkini. 

Political representatives are dealing less and less with this topic, and to the fate of missing persons would have been resolved long ago "if there was a will of politicians'', it was said at the press conference, reported the media.

Two churches broken into in the Strpce municipality (RTV Puls)

In the municipality of Strpce, in the villages of Drajkovce and Donja Bitinja, two churches were broken into and looted during the previous day, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced, reported RTV Puls. 

As reported to the competent police station, in the village of Drajkovce in the church of the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sevastija, unknown persons forcibly entered and stole a certain amount of money, while the front door was demolished in the Church of St. Demetrius in Donja Bitinja. 

This is the fourth time since the beginning of the year that Orthodox religious buildings in Kosovo have been targeted by vandals. Let us remind you, two more churches in Klokot and Partes were broken into and looted on the Day of Remembrance, reads the Office for KiM announcement. 

"This attack on Orthodox buildings continues the negative practice of endangering religious freedoms and Serbian property that belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija. We demand from the competent international organizations and representatives of the temporary bodies in Pristina, which duty and obligation is, to ensure security in the Serb communities in the province and to find the perpetrators of these acts without delay and adequately sanction them. It is especially worrying that the number of attacks on church property is intensifying on the eve of the March 17 pogrom, when more than 35 Orthodox churches and monasteries were destroyed. Therefore, we demand that in the coming period, special attention be paid to the protection of Orthodox church property in Kosovo and Metohija," the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said in a statement.

Serbian List: Disgraceful decision to extend detention of the Mayor of Klokot (Kosovo Online)

Portal Kosovo Online reported on Sunday that the Serbian list in a press release said that ''the decision to extend the detention of the Mayor of Klokot, Bozidar Dejanovic for up to thirty days is disgraceful and represents pressure on Serbian political representatives, at the moment when the formation of institutions in Pristina is expected''. 

''It is obvious that Pristina intends to force the Serbian List to take certain steps through pressure and blackmail, which are unacceptable and absolutely harmful to interethnic relations, peace and stability in Kosovo and Metohija,'' the List said.  

''Serbian List calls on international representatives to prevent these illegal moves, harassment of innocent people and attempts to distort the will of the Serbian people expressed in the elections.''

''Distinguished gentlemen, it is your duty to react and protect law, justice, truth and democratic values, and not to participate in these illegal activities. We call on the citizens to remain restrained. We have repeatedly indicated that Pristina will do everything to break our unity and to use various provocations, to try to destabilize the situation and intimidate Serbian political representatives, and so these moves do not surprise us,'' Serbian List said. 

Hodzic: Minority communities that don’t want to be assimilated are not welcome in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Adrijana Hodzic, reacting on Friday to the decision of the Supreme Court of Kosovo to reject her appeal, opined that the decision presented a ''grave violation of the fundamental human rights, which are primarily guaranteed by the Constitution of Kosovo''. 

''I hope that the entire world has now understood that Kosovo is not governed by the rule of law and that the minority communities, which want to maintain their dignity and don’t want to be assimilated are not welcome,'' she pointed out, reported Kosovo Online. 

Hodzic also said that ''no minority community in the world is exposed to such discrimination as the one which exists in Kosovo''. 

''I don’t think anyone has ever gone through the election process and election campaign in their lives, all the way to the consideration of all these appeals, through this kind of lynching, this kind of pressure from all sides. The entire society has united against one option, which has in its program the promotion of basic human rights and protection of the rights of a minority community living in Kosovo, specifically about the Bosniak national community,'' Hodzic said. 

She pointed out that she was somewhat expecting such an outcome. 

''Let me tell you, I’m not so surprised by this decision, but I was surprised by the previous decision of ECAP, which annulled a good part of the votes, more precisely 4,205 votes, which the Initiative has secured with pure support of citizens,'' Hodzic said. 

She added that she would continue the legal fight at all levels. 

“We will do our best to achieve the main goal and prove that Kosovo is not a state governed by the rule of law. We will file an appeal to the Constitutional Court, but I honestly do not believe that we will get an answer at that instance that will satisfy justice. This is no longer about the Adrijana Hodzic’s Initiative and the United Community. This is a basic respect for the rules, and this is proof that Kosovo society is not ready to be truly multi-ethnic. We do not want to live in accordance with someone’s orders, and we do not want to assimilate. We want to keep our dignity, and our basic human rights are being violated, and I think that is really alarming. This should be a concern for every person living in Kosovo, regardless of which community he or she belongs to,'' Hodzic stated. 

Hodzic especially emphasizes the situation that happened in Klokot. 

''In the municipality of Klokot, United Community received 249 votes. The other Bosniak option, which has Pristina’s support, had 147 votes. In the first decision of the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel, both their and our votes were annulled. However, yesterday we received an amendment to this decision informing us that all votes for the second Bosniak option were accepted (returned), and ours were annulled, although according to the population registration and information from the OSCE mission, there is not a single Bosniak living in Klokot. So, my votes were annulled by that logic, but that does not seem to be the case for the second Bosniak option. This is an extremely clear sign and proof that the majority community in Kosovo wants to have representatives of minority communities in the Assembly, who would be just a decoration, and who would not participate in the decision-making process. This violation of human rights is unheard of,'' Hodzic said. 

Decision on the replacement of car plates is a violation of the Brussels Agreement (KIM radio) 

Owners of vehicles with KS plates whose registration has expired will have to replace them with new RKS plates, and the municipal Vehicle Registration Centre in Laplje Selo has started issuing new license plates, reported KiM radio. 

Miodrag Milicevic, from the ‘Empirica’, the group of civil society organizations and media, stated that the decision of the Kosovo’s MIA to completely abolish the KS plates was a violation of the Brussels Agreement on Freedom of Movement, agreed in 2016.  

According to radio KiM, more than thirty people were waiting on Friday in front of the Registration Centre in Laplje Selo to get new RKS license plates instead of their old KS ones.  

The KS license plates have been in use since 2011 based on the Agreement on Freedom of Movement and arrangements signed in Brussels between the delegations of Belgrade and Pristina. This was an interim measure, valid for the initial period of five years, after which, as agreed, the two sides should have reconsidered this issue.  

Milicevic stated that ''what is worrying and what we as a group of NGOs and media from the Serbian community warned about back in October last year is that this agreement had to be discussed more concretely in Brussels at the level of both delegations''. In his view, they should have found a modality to extend the use of the so-called status-neutral plates or some other modality that would have been used without creating pressure on citizens. 

He emphasized that there was no reaction from the authorities in Belgrade, but also in Pristina, and that the citizens were left to their own judgment on what to do next. 

''I think that the violation of the Brussels Agreement is more than evident and that both sides in this process, including the EU as a mediator in the negotiation process, were obliged to show the citizens what further steps are to be taken regarding freedom of movement,'' he said. 

Citizens who use RKS license plates were obliged to take test plates at administrative crossings, so that they can enter central Serbia. 

''In this case, it is a serious blow to the already depleted budget of the citizens. This is a serious expense that was not taken into account and it remains unclear why there was no reaction, not only from the Serbian community, but also from the Albanian representatives and the outgoing government, which had to inform its citizens about further covers and will not be able to they use status-neutral plates,'' Milicevic concluded. 

Selakovic: Serbia strongly committed to development of relations with Russia (N1)

Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Selakovic said Serbia was strongly committed to the further development of political relations with Russia, based on traditional friendship and closeness of the two peoples and strategic partnership, N1 reports.

Selakovic met Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan Kharchenko and expressed hope that President of Russia Vladimir Putin will pay a visit to Serbia in near future, the Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

He also thanked for “strong and consistent support of Russia to territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and to the efforts of our side to have the issue of Kosovo and Metohija solved in a peaceful and diplomatic way through dialogue”.

The two officials also agreed on the importance of permanent, mutual support within international organizations, the statement added.

SOC Patriarch Porfirije in three day stay in Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)

Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) Patriarch Porfirije arrived yesterday to the Pec Patriarchate, SOC press service said, Radio kontakt plus reports.

As the statement said the Patriarch will “spend the first three days of Easter fasting, which are spent in a prayerful silence, with abstinence from any food or drink, in his stavropegial laurel”.  

     

Opinion

  Football match lays bare Spain’s disastrous policy towards Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

Madrid’s constant opposition to Kosovo on the international stage has produced little more than political embarrassment, and Spain must understand that diplomatic cordiality can be possible even without recognition.

Last week’s events surrounding the Kosovo men’s football team’s trip to Seville later this month again proved that Spain remains the most stubborn of the five EU member states not to recognise Kosovo, and that Madrid has become Prishtina’s toughest nut to crack. 

Ever since Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008, Spain’s approach has been characterised by both reluctance and neglect, and it has repeatedly turned its back on potential opportunities to engage in unthawing bilateral relations. 

Madrid’s thirteen-year ‘out of sight, out of mind’ policy regarding Kosovo has also proved highly susceptible to spilling over into non-political realms, and with no attempts at rapprochement being made, history is bound to keep repeating itself. 

Last week, it was the turn of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF, to be the subject of heavy criticism and forced into an about-turn. In a public statement on its website on March 9, the RFEF referred to Spain’s men’s senior team’s upcoming international matches as being played against Greece, Georgia, and “the territory of Kosovo.” 

On the same day, Spanish sports daily newspaper Marca reported that the Kosovo flag would not be displayed next to the Spanish flag prior to kick-off and that its anthem would be announced as “music donated by the territory of Kosovo.” Further reports suggested that these decisions had been made due to pressure applied by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The reports in Marca and the terminology used in the Spanish Federation’s statement sparked controversy in Kosovo, where the prospect of being denied treatment as an independent state was described as “unacceptable.” A press release from the Kosovo Football Federation (FFK) stated that Kosovo would only play under the FIFA and UEFA regulations, which stipulate the display of national symbols. 

According to a follow up statement made the next day by the FFK, a phone call from senior officials at the RFEF smoothed over the incident, with assurances made that the match would take place in accordance with FIFA and UEFA regulations. Regardless, the game between Spain and Kosovo is hardly two weeks away, and all eyes will very likely be fixed on political symbolism rather than the pitch. 

This is not the first time that Spain’s diplomatic whims have undermined Kosovo’s right to equal treatment. Over the years, Spain has rather obsessively clung to explicit demonstrations of rejection of Kosovo in order to satisfy its own search for political reaffirmation. 

At a recent summit between EU and Western Balkan countries, Spain demanded that no national flags or emblems be displayed in order to avoid evidencing Kosovo’s independent status. Likewise, previous sporting tournaments taking place on Spanish soil saw similar episodes of political strife involving athletes from Kosovo. 

To justify this, authorities in Spain have often been outspoken about the rationale behind their refusal to recognize Kosovo, which is routinely cited as a desire to adhere to international law. 

Many observers have pointed towards Spain’s internal struggles with secessionist movements in Catalonia and the Basque Country as the underlying motivation, although Madrid has systematically denied this. “It is unrealistic to compare Spain and the Balkans,” Spain’s former Deputy Prime Minister María Teresa Fernández de la Vega said in 2010.

However, as much as Spain’s successive governments have attempted to downplay it, the fear that even the smallest sign of acknowledgement of Kosovo’s sovereignty could justify similar efforts for self-determination at home is still very real, and it shows. Not least at a time when Catalonia’s independence movement is active and strong. 

It is very clear that Spain is currently dealing with a full array of domestic crises, but under no circumstance should this be considered grounds for the Spanish state to hamper Kosovo’s limited opportunities to assert itself as an independent state internationally.

The government in Madrid is trapped in its own illusions. Its belief that vocal opposition towards sharing a space with Kosovo endows it with credibility and resilience regarding the challengers of Spain’s territorial integrity is nonsensical.

Furthermore, Madrid is also still unable to grasp that it is completely unnecessary to engage in these explicit demonstrations of rejection in order to emphasise its political stance towards Kosovo. All continuations of this approach, such as that seen last week, are a wasted opportunity to understand that non-recognition of Kosovo and diplomatic cordiality can be compatible with one another. 

Ignoring this possibility, Spain has continued to stick to what it considers a pragmatic approach. Namely, that dealing with occasional diplomatic struggles at a few summits and sporting events every other year is still more profitable and sustainable in the long run than facing the potential backlash of political rapprochement with Kosovo.

At state level, the initiation of an informed and honest political debate around Kosovo has never been considered, either due to neglect or nervousness. This overall feeling is a reflection of that amongst the Spanish public, who are mostly torn between disinterest towards the issue and fear that approaching Kosovo constructively would justify Catalonia and the Basque Country’s independence efforts.

Spain must urgently engage in a thorough and serious public discussion in order to detach Kosovo’s sui generis case from any domestic resemblances once and for all. Only a brave process of national introspection can put an end to the haunting fear of comparisons between the self-determination movement by Kosovo Albanians and pro-independence groups in Spain.

It is now in the hands of the Spanish authorities to engage in a non-obstructive approach towards Kosovo and avoid future episodes of diplomatic embarrassment. In order to achieve this, it will first have to let go of its angst over sharing a common space with Kosovo – after all, tricks and pirouettes work better on the football pitch than they do in diplomacy.

The opinions expressed in the opinion section are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of BIRN.

Alejandro Esteso Pérez is a political analyst and researcher. His research focuses on EU enlargement, corruption, elections, and party politics in the Western Balkans.

     

International

  The EU Is a Dishonest Broker on Western Balkan Demographics (carnegieeurope.eu)

The Western Balkans’ brain drain and EU accession are mutually exclusive. If accession is a serious goal, the EU must take responsibility as the key beneficiary of that brain drain and share the burden of finding a solution.

The fight against brain drain in the Western Balkans is Europe’s war on drugs—that decades-long, largely ineffective U.S. campaign aimed at eradicating narcotics production and smuggling from Latin America. Yet, there was little consideration of the other half of the equation: the spiraling domestic demand for drugs in the United States.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3rNqpD3 Osmani: “The goal is to see the Republic of Kosovo as a vibrant democracy!” (Faces of Democracy)

Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu is the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo. She has been the acting president since the resignation of Hashim Thaçi. In this capacity, the 38-year-old is leading the charge at a challenging time when Kosovo is eager to normalize relations with Serbia, which still does not recognize the independence of its former province. Sven Lilienström, founder of Faces of Democracy, spoke with President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu about democracy, the Corona pandemic and the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

See more at: http://bit.ly/38DoHMO Western Balkan Civil Society Avoiding Fight Against Corruption, Crime: Report (Balkan Insight)

Only a tiny percentage of civil society organisations in the Western Balkans are directly addressing corruption and organised crime, a new report warns – while civil society's 'space' in the region is shrinking.

Only around 1 per cent of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in the Western Balkans work in the field of anti-corruption and organised crime, a report by from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, GI-TOC, launched on Monday, concluded.

“Less than 1 per cent of the more than 100,000 civil society organizations (CSOs) registered in the Western Balkans Six (WB6) countries deal directly with organised crime or corruption,” the report from GI-TOC notes.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3tmhrNj Kosovo’s Thaci Challenges War Crime Indictment at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)

Former president Hashim Thaci claimed his right to a fair trial is being violated and called for the dismissal of the indictment accusing him of committing war crimes when he was a Kosovo Liberation Army leader.

Hashim Thaci’s defence has filed a motion calling on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague to dismiss the indictment charging him with committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, and claiming that the court has exceeded its jurisdiction.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3lixs3X Montenegrin President’s Party Defeated in his Hometown Niksic (Balkan Insight)

The three blocs that ousted President Milo Djukanovic's party from power nationally last August on Sunday repeated their triumph in local elections held in the country's second city of Niksic.

President Milo Djukanovic’s Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, lost power on Sunday in local elections in his hometown of Niksic – in the first electoral test of opinion since the DPS lost power nationally in the parliamentary elections of August 2020.

See more at:https://bit.ly/38GF631 Kosovo opens embassy in Jerusalem (Judische Allgemeine)

The country is now the first European state to be represented at ambassador level in Israel's capital

Most of the Muslim population in Kosovo now has an embassy in Israel's capital, Jerusalem. On Sunday, the flag of the Balkan state was hoisted in front of the new representation building in a short ceremony. It was a "truly proud and historic moment" for mutual relations, said Kosovar ambassador Ines Demiri on Twitter.

SOLUTION On February 1, Israel officially recognized the Republic of Kosovo as an independent state . In return, the government in Pristina promised to open its new diplomatic mission in Israel not in Tel Aviv but in Jerusalem and to recognize the city as the capital of the state.

After the war with Serbia in the late 1990s, Kosovo declared its independence in 2008. Serbia still refuses to recognize the statehood of its former province. Belgrade’s important allies such as Russia do not recognize the area’s detachment. Some EU countries - including Spain, Greece and Cyprus - still take this stance.

The basis for the mutual rapprochement between Kosovo and Israel was an agreement reached in Washington in September 2020. US President Donald Trump had received the Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the White House. Belgrade had also indicated at the time that it wanted to move the Serbian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but then withdrew.

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Humanitarian/Development

  Single mothers unsupported in the pandemic (Kosovo 2.0)

Government response leaves women bearing brunt of additional pressures.

Finding resilience in the face of hardships has become almost a necessary survival mechanism for Arlinda Koshi. 

In the past five years she has gotten divorced, taken full custody of her children and has tried hard to provide a smooth emotional transition for her two sons, all while working more than full time hours. On top of her regular public sector job she also takes on extra work doing anything else she can, from translating to writing reports, in an effort to provide a secure life for her children.

The insecurities that have come with the last year of pandemic have only added additional burdens to the single mother in her 40s. 

“In fact, I’m the lucky one,” she says. 

Koshi knows that the challenges in her life can hardly be put down to plain luck, and that her words need to be perceived from a perspective of a societal system that is not equal nor just for women.

“I am the only woman in a group of 130 separated women who receives alimony from an ex-husband, one of the very few who has a job, and one of the very few who has higher education,” she says, adding that her salary is slightly higher than the average in Kosovo. 

See more at: https://bit.ly/3lf892X EU ‘green pass’ fuels the fire in Balkans (euractive.com)

In an effort to boost tourism this year, Bulgaria wants to recognise vaccines not authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in its planned vaccination certificate.

It is not clear yet whether the EU “green pass” due to be presented soon by the Europen Commission will recognise vaccines not approved by the EU but Commissioner Ylva Johansson hinted that this will not likely be the case.

According to Serbia, this would be a “scandalous” decision.

Bulgaria will be preparing the European “green e-certificate” for tourists, meaning those wishing to visit the country will have three options – to be vaccinated against COVID-19, to have antibodies, or to show a negative PCR test taken before the trip, Health Minister Kostadin Angelov has announced. 

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