UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 15, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Successes of Kosovo and its people shared successes with U.S. media)
New round of dialogue between chief negotiators on March 19 (RFE)
CoE doesn’t confirm Kurti’s dates, says more steps in the process (Kallxo)
COMKFOR Ulutas welcomes decision on Decani Monastery (Voice of America)
Haliti: Decision on Decani Monastery late; Association too can be condition (RTK)
Decani Monastery could take another property 2 kilometers away (Albanian Post)
Gervalla: Internationals shocked when they saw report on Banjska attack (media)
Vogel comments on Szynuog’s remark about Banjska investigations (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Escobar for RFE: Kurti refused proposal on dinar (RFE, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
Stano: Discussions continue in Brussels on the abolition of the dinar in Kosovo (N1)
Justice Minister Haxhiu: We implemented the unjust constitutional decision because of the membership in the CoE (Kosovo Online)
Hill: Clear and sharp messages from Escobar to Kosovo, dinar latest issue, formation of CSM is fundamental (Euronews, Kosovo Online, KoSSev, media)
Aliu confirmed removal of Serbian roads signs will continue, an avalanche of reactions on both sides – Cyrillic at center (KoSSev)
Antonijevic: Decision to change signboards violently and poorly carried out (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Peoples’ Movement criticizes Kosovo Government action to remove signboards in Cyrillic in northern Kosovo (Radio KIM)
Inscriptions in Albanian language painted over on bilingual boards set yesterday in North Kosovo (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
Zigmanov: Serbs in Kosovo face violations of their civil and political rights (Tanjug, Danas, FoNet)
Escobar and Hovenier met Bishop Teodosije, Abbot Sava in Visoki Decani Monastery yesterday (KoSSev, social media)
Lajcak due to meet Vucic in Belgrade (media)
Soder: Serbia key state for W Balkan stability, important partner for Bavaria (Tanjug)

International:

‘Worst Day of My Life’: Kosovo Serbs Still Scarred by 2004 Unrest (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Successes of Kosovo and its people shared successes with U.S. media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Thursday with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier. Kurti thanked Escobar for his visit and informed him about the developments of the last five months. He said that the recent attack against Zvecan deputy mayor Natasa Tomanic must be condemned. “The attack is a continuation of Serbia’s threats against the security of Kosovo after the terrorist and paramilitary attack of September 24 in Banjska which resulted in the killing of Kosovo Police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku and the perpetrators of this attack are still free and protected in Serbia,” Kurti said.

On the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo, Kurti had a substantial discussion focused on addressing joint concerns. He said the Bank’s decision is the decision of an independent and professional institution. “Because of the impact of the regulation on the Kosovo Serb community, the government has taken action to ensure a swift and easy transition for Kosovo citizens from the Serb community,” he said. Kurti also mentioned proposals that were made for the transition period and offered his cooperation to swiftly address concerns that fall in the competencies of the government.

Kurti also thanked Escobar for his and the U.S. role and contribution and said that the successes of Kosovo and its people are shared successes with the United States of America.

New round of dialogue between chief negotiators on March 19 (RFE)

The European Union has called a meeting between chief negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia in the dialogue on the normalization of relations. Radio Free Europe learns from its diplomatic sources that the meeting is expected to discuss the sequencing plan for the implementation of the agreement on the path to normalization of relations and other issues, with possible discussion on the issue of the Serbian Dinar too.

CoE doesn’t confirm Kurti’s dates, says more steps in the process (Kallxo)

After the decision to enforce the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo on the lands of Decani Monastery, the Council of Europe confirmed to the news website that the chairman of the Committee for Political Affairs has received a note verbale from the Kosovo Government on the matter. However, unlike a statement by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the Council said that the date to hold meetings on Kosovo’s membership have not been set yet. “It is not possible to have final dates on this yet, because there are several steps in the process. The Assembly can continue the debate and vote on the matter only after the Committee for Political Affairs adopts its draft opinion and the other two committees give their opinions,” a spokesperson for the Council said.

COMKFOR Ulutas welcomes decision on Decani Monastery (Voice of America)

NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, welcomed the decision of the Kosovo Government to enforce the ruling of the Constitutional Court on the lands of Decani Monastery. COMKFOR Ozkan Ulutas told the news website that KFOR units would continue to guarantee the security of the monastery. “We welcome the decision of Kosovo’s institutions recognizing the ownership of the Decani Monastery over several hectares of land. The Kosovo Cadastral Agency has been instructed to enforce the decision … Our KFOR units, that are engaged in protecting this religious site, will continue to carry out this important task in line with our long and well-established cooperation with the local religious authorities,” Ulutas said.

Haliti: Decision on Decani Monastery late; Association too can be condition (RTK)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Xhavit Haliti, said in an interview with the TV station on Thursday that the decision on the land of the Decani Monastery is late and that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti had a wrong discourse on the issue when he was in the opposition. He argued that in a democratic country, politicians should never discuss the decisions of the Constitutional Court.

Asked if the decision on Decani Monastery could become a precedent for other sites in Kosovo, Haliti said the Brussels agreement guarantees extraterritoriality for 40 monasteries and churches in Kosovo.

Commenting on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, Haliti said it cannot be compared to Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “This is an Association, and it is under the umbrella of the institutions of Kosovo. Serbs are asking for more, but the statute should prevent them from making decisions that are against the Constitution of Kosovo,” he said.

Haliti did not rule out the possibility that the Association could be another condition for Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe.

Decani Monastery could take another property 2 kilometers away (Albanian Post)

The news website reports that the Kosovo Government’s decision to register 24 hectares of land to the Decani Monastery is only the first part of the plan of the monastery which has bigger aims. Citing sources from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the municipality of Decan and other institutions, the news website reports that another objective of the monastery is being implemented to appropriate a site called “Kulla e Qelise”, which is 2 kilometers away from the monastery and practically includes around 70 percent of the part that was designated as a Special Zoning Area according to the law with the same name. The entire special zoning area has 839 hectares.

According to information from the Ministry of Culture, at the “Kulla e Qelise”, several ruins have been found which according to experts and archeologists can be determined that they were built in the 4th and 6th centuries, but the monastery claims they belong to it although the monastery was built in the 14th century.

Gervalla: Internationals shocked when they saw report on Banjska attack (media)

Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, said that this ministry sent to internationals in October last year the report on the attack in Banjska in the north of Kosovo. She said that internationals were shocked when they saw the report. “In general they are very shocked when we give them the report, because it also contains different pictures which show not only how massive the attack was but also the origin of the weapons, the amount of weapons, their description and so on … It is very important to note that the information included in the report is verified in Kosovo,” she said.

Gervalla said she doesn't know why the prosecution in Kosovo has not filed any charges yet.

Vogel comments on Szynuog’s remark about Banjska investigations (media)

Toby Vogel, co-founder of the Democratization Policy Council, commented on Thursday on a statement by EU Head of Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szynuog, who said that the investigations into the Banjska attack could last for years. Vogel remarked: “if anyone had any doubts that the US and the EU are doing everything in their power to swipe Banjska under the carpet and pursue business as usual with Vučić, here’s the EU ambassador to Kosovo all but spelling it out.”

Daniel Serwer, U.S. political commentator on the Balkans, shared Vogel’s post adding that “the notion that the US and EU have reason to be disappointed with PM Kurti but he has no reason to be disappointed with them is ridiculous. It's more than time for a change in negotiators. The current crew has failed to establish even rudimentary mutual confidence in Pristina.”

Serbian Language Media

Escobar for RFE: Kurti refused proposal on dinar (RFE, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)

US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar told Radio Free Europe in Serbian, that he did not manage to convince Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to respond to the concerns of the West in relation to the dinar ban in Kosovo.

“We need a solution. That is why I asked the prime minister to suspend the decision until we, together with the European Union, i.e. the US and Kosovo, work on the long-term solution that would address your needs. It includes electronic transfers in euros, through the Kosovo system. But, now we need to do something urgently. Unfortunately, I did not manage to get him to commit to that”, Escobar said.

Escobar also said the US is committed to ensure that Kosovo remains a multiethnic civic democracy. In order for that to happen all ethnic communities must feel safe and live in safe and dignified conditions.

“What happens now with the decision of the Central Bank is that there is a large number of your citizens facing great hardships. Those are people receiving modest salaries, we are talking about persons with special needs, those retired, students, the most vulnerable persons. This decision has affected them very deeply. The Government said they have plenty of options, but the Government did not ensure those options, the Government said they are responsible to do that, and for many people it is difficult”, Escobar said.

He added that some elderly people do not have the right documents, documents of some younger persons are not accepted, some banks say it takes on average an hour to open the account, but not everybody has the opened accounts. The banks, despite what your finance minister is saying, mentioned it is needed to open 30 to 40 thousands accounts, and it takes one hour to open a single account. To do this the banks’ staff need 40 thousand working hours. If we take into account that on average the bank clerk works between 1000 and 1500 hours a year, you can imagine what time is needed to open all those accounts.

“Therefore this act which is uncoordinated and led to interruption, creates major difficulties for some Kosovo citizens. Those who do not receive social assistance from Serbia, do not see how much this affects part of the people. Those receiving salaries in euros and those paid in other ways do not realize that there are people among them who are suffering”, Escobar said.

He added it was good that the prime minister (Kurti) acknowledged that there are people who are suffering. “But this is not enough. We need a solution (…)”. He said Kurti refused a proposal to suspend the decision until a long-term solution that would include electronic transfer through the Kosovo system would be worked on.

Escobar said what he still hopes for is that when chief negotiators meet in Brussels on Tuesday (March 26 as RFE said) that an immediate solution would be found to enable transfers in cash in euros to those people.

Stano: Discussions continue in Brussels on the abolition of the dinar in Kosovo (N1)

The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will continue Tuesday, March 19, EU spokesperson Peter Stano confirmed, reported N1.

Stano confirmed the earlier announcement of the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar.

The EU spokesperson said that the main negotiators of both sides, Petar Petkovic, and Besnik Bislimi, were invited to meet with the EU's special representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, on Tuesday in Brussels.

As he specified, it is a continuation of the conversation from a few weeks ago, which was initiated due to the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo to abolish the dinar. The dinar will be one of the topics of conversation this time, Stano confirmed.

On the statement that there was no one from the Government of Kosovo at the previous meeting in Brussels, but only representatives of the Central Bank of Kosovo, Stano said that he would not comment on that because the invitation was sent to both parties, and it was up to them to send someone.

He pointed out, however, that some issues caused by Kosovo's unilateral decision should be worked out with the main negotiators.

In Brussels, apart from the dinar, other topics will be discussed, as well as the overall implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, as well as individual aspects of its implementation, Stano specified.

Justice Minister Haxhiu: We implemented the unjust constitutional decision because of the membership in the CoE (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu said that due to Kosovo interest in joining the Council of Europe, "it was decided to implement the unjust decision of the Constitutional Court from 2016" and return the land to the Visoki Decani monastery, reported portal Kosovo Online, citing Ekonomia online.

"Due to the interests of Kosovo in the Council of Europe, as mentioned by Prime Minister Kurti, we decided that Kosovo should implement the unjust decision of the Constitutional Court from 2016. Given the importance of Kosovo's membership in this very important mechanism for the citizens, but also for the state, we felt that it should be resolved, and we resolved it. Now we are focused on the next steps of the Board, the Assembly, and the ministers," said Haxhiu.

The Coordinator of the National Convention on the EU for Chapter 35, Dragisa Mijacic, stated that in international circles there are dissonant tones regarding the conditions for Kosovo membership in the Council of Europe, and that ''the key objections remain: the decision of the CBK, the non-formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities and the illegal expropriation of land in the north''.

Hill: Clear and sharp messages from Escobar to Kosovo, dinar latest issue, formation of CSM is fundamental (Euronews, Kosovo Online, KoSSev, media)

Ambassador of the United States to Serbia, Christopher Hill, assessed in an interview with Euronews Serbia that US Envoy for Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, had sent quite sharp and clear messages to the Kosovo leadership. He added that although the issue of abolishing the dinar was the most recent, the fundamental question that must be resolved was the formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.

Hill stated that with the formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, all other problems, such as he said parallel structures or the use of the dinar, should be resolved, emphasizing that the question was only when it would be formed, not whether it would happen.

Read more at: rb.gy/h56q42

Antonijevic: Decision to change signboards violently and poorly carried out (Kosovo Online)

Lawyer and human rights activist Milan Antonijevic told Kosovo Online portal that the decision to change the signboards with Cyrilic inscriptions in northern Kosovo was poorly prepared and being used for internal political consumption.

“It is implementation of something that Kosovo authorities need to do differently in the future when it comes to the Serbian community”, Antonijevic said.

He added if there is a decision to have bilingual signs it is ok for it to be implemented. “But if it is done violently and without agreement with the Serbian community, and if signboards disappear from the street, I think that is an additional problem. I believe this was prepared for internal consumption to create a balance between a decision concerning Decani Monastery land, and also some future decisions concerning the Community of Serbian Municipalities, that Kosovo is also obliged to implement”, he said.

Antonijevic added that if one wants to speak about the multiethnicity of Kosovo then all decisions concerning the alphabet and language need to be prepared with the community and then implemented.

Serbian Peoples’ Movement criticizes Kosovo Government action to remove signboards in Cyrillic in northern Kosovo (Radio KIM)

“Yesterday’s action of Kosovo Government to remove signboards with the names of places written in Cyrilic alphabet in northern Kosovo is a shameful part of a wider concept and vision of Albin Kurti he has been working on at all times during his rule”, Serbian Peoples’ Movement (SNP) said in a statement, Radio KIM reports.

They added this act serves to ‘throw dust into the eyes’ of the Albanian public following the government's call for implementation of the Constitutional Court decision on Visoki Decani Monastery land.

“To the very same public he is radicalizing for a decade and a half against the Serbs and Serbian people so now he can not explain (to them) how he did something, which is a legal obligation, and is not harmful for the Serbian community. On the other hand, it is part of a general policy to create an environment in which “at his Kosovo” there would be no place for the Serbs as they are, but only for some, who are “without spine” and “prone to bowing”’, reads the statement.

They added that is why the Community of Serbian Municipalities must be equipped with authorities and responsibilities which “Kurti or someone else with similar politics will not be able to endanger and jeopardize as well as prevent it from carrying out its function and it is to preserve Serbian people in Kosovo”.

Inscriptions in Albanian language painted over on bilingual boards set yesterday in north Kosovo (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

The inscriptions in the Albanian language on the bilingual boards with the names of the places, which were installed yesterday in the municipalities of Leposavic and Zvecan, were repainted this morning.

The news about it circulated on social networks last night, and the journalist of Radio Kontakt Plus from the field confirmed this.

The Kosovo Ministry of Infrastructure replaced the previous Cyrillic signs with traffic signs with names written in two languages - first in Albanian, then in Serbian (Latinic).

Although this act caused numerous negative reactions in the Serbian community, the Kosovo Minister of Infrastructure Liburn Aliu said that, as a ministry, they have undertaken the obligation to remove all Serbian traffic signs in Kosovo and will continue to do so in the coming days, reported KiM radio.

Zigmanov: Serbs in Kosovo face violations of their civil and political rights (Tanjug, Danas, FoNet)

Serbian Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Tomislav Zigmanov, pointed out yesterday at the 140th meeting of the UN Human Rights Committee that Serbs and other members of non-Albanian communities in Kosovo face institutional and systemic violations of civil and political rights, reported Tanjug agency.

"These violations take place through ethnic discrimination in all institutions, as well as through the denial of voting rights to Serbs. The abolition of the dinar, as a means of payment in the Serbian community, is in progress, which generally makes the life of Serbs impossible, because wages and pensions are paid through the dinar currency , scholarships, they finance soup kitchens, subsidies for about 2,000 households and more," said Zigmanov during the presentation of the fourth report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Serbia.

Zigmanov asked the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations for the ''UNMIK to report on the implementation of the standards from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija and on this occasion invited the Committee to review the state of human rights in this part of territory'', reported Tanjug.

Zigmanov asked the body to review the state of human rights in Kosovo, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights announced.

According to the media, yesterday and today, before the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Zigmanov is presenting Serbia's report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Escobar and Hovenier met Bishop Teodosije, Abbot Sava in Visoki Decani Monastery yesterday (KoSSev, social media)

US Special Envoy for Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar visited Visoki Decani Monastery yesterday, KoSSev portal reported. He was accompanied by US Ambassador in Pristina, Jeff Hovenier.

Late last night the Monastery said it was an important opportunity to discuss challenges faced by the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serb community in Kosovo.

“Today, Bishop Teodosije and the Abbot of Dečani, Fr. Sava, welcomed Deputy Assistant Secretary Mr. Gabriel Escobar, US Ambassador to #Kosovo Jeff Hovenier, and their colleagues at Visoki Dečani #Monastery. It was an important opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by the #Serbian #Orthodox #Church and the Kosovo Serb community. We are grateful to DAS Escobar and Ambassador Hovenier for their continuous support and understanding. @USAmbKosovo”, the Monastery said in a post on X media platform.

Lajcak due to meet Vucic in Belgrade (media)

European Union Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak is due in Belgrade on Friday for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a press release said.

The press release did not specify what Vucic and Lajcak would discuss at the Friday evening meeting. It said that camera crews and photographers would be allowed to record the opening of the meeting but did not say whether any statements would be made after the talks.

The FoNet news agency said that Lajcak visited Pristina last week for talks with Kosovo officials prior to next week’s meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue in Brussels. Senior State Department official Gabriel Escobar was in Pristina this week to discuss the Kosovo Central Bank decision to make the Euro the only legal currency, effectively banning the Dinar.

Soder: Serbia key state for W Balkan stability, important partner for Bavaria (Tanjug)

Bavaria Prime Minister Markus Soder, who is on a working visit to Serbia, thanked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for Friday's welcome at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade and noted that Serbia was a key state for stability in the Western Balkans as well as an important and stable partner for Bavaria.

"Serbia is a key state when it comes to stability in the Western Balkans. The country is a gateway to the East and a stable and important partner for Bavaria," Soder wrote in a post on the social media network X after arriving in Belgrade.

He also thanked Vucic for welcoming him with full honors at the Nikola Tesla Airport.

International

‘Worst Day of My Life’: Kosovo Serbs Still Scarred by 2004 Unrest (Balkan Insight)

Twenty years after inter-ethnic unrest erupted across Kosovo, leaving 19 dead, hundreds injured and homes and churches burned, the few Serbs who remain in the village of Bellopoja/Belo Polje recall the devastating impact of the violence.

On March 17, 2004, Spasoje Pavlovic and his family left their home and joined their Serb neighbours in the courtyard of the village church in Bellopoja/Belo Polje in western Kosovo, where they were seeking safety as an angry crowd of thousands approached the village.

Earlier that Wednesday morning, Pavlovic remembers how his relatives were talking about protests by Kosovo Albanians. From his house, he could soon hear the voices of the crowd. Violence seemed imminent.

“It was a very difficult day. We went into the church and remained inside for hours. There were attacks with weapons and Molotov cocktails,” he told BIRN at his house in Bellopoja/Belo Polje, where he still lives.

“I remember there were shootings; some old people were beaten up. It was a nightmare. We ran for several hundred metres through the hostile crowd before [NATO’s Kosovo peacekeeping force] KFOR troops and UN police managed to evacuate us.”