UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 7, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Konjufca: I would not like Vucic to lead us to the elections (media)
Konjufca proceeds with the request for replacement on MPs (media)
PDK’s Krasniqi writes to Kurti: PDK ready to communicate (Indeksonline)
AAK: Maybe elections would be the solution (media)
Mehaj: We condemn Serbia’s actions to destabilise our country (media)
Serbian List MPs submitted resignations today (Indeksonline)
Serb judge after resigning: I’m never coming back (Nacionale)
Many Serbian flags and slogans “This is Serbia” seen in Leposavic streets (Kallxo)
“Association to be formed according to Constitutional Court recommendations” (Klan)
Deputy Minister of Justice accuses CDHRF of abusing €100,000 (Koha)
EULEX police at the police station north of Mitrovica (media)
Haziri: Point zero now; tense situation in north should’ve been prevented (Indeksonline)
Police investigating attack with suspected Molotov cocktail on Serb house (Telegrafi)
New local elections expected in four municipalities of northern Kosovo (RTK)
Brussels: We do not comment on Lajcak’s every interaction with partners (RTK)
Former Dutch Ambassador: Protest in north reveals true face of Vucic regime (media)
Tahiri: Vucic wants to take the north from Kosovo (Gazeta Express)

Serbian Language Media:

Stano: Kosovo has a clear obligation to form the CSM (ZSO) (N1)
Dacic: Masks should fall, it should be seen whether there is a Brussels agreement or not (RTS)
Vucic: Tectonic changes with the Serbs' resignations; important that we act responsibly (TV Pink, RTS, media)
Kosovo institutions in northern Kosovo without Serbs as of today (RTS, media)
Serbs gather in Mitrovica North, send messages of peace and that they are on their own land (RTS)
Minister of Defense: KFOR not to allow Pristina to send Albanian police to northern Kosovo (RTS)
Petkovic responds to Vela: Propaganda in vain (Kosovo Online, social media)
Petkovic: Why didn’t the EU insist on formation of CSM earlier? (N1)
Petritsch: An urgent step that must be taken is establishment of Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug)
Dacic: French-German plan on Kosovo unacceptable for us (N1)
Opposition MPs: Brussels agreement ‘has died’, Orlic to call elections in northern Kosovo (N1)
Vuk Jeremic banned from entering Kosovo (Danas)
Gracanica: Molotov cocktail thrown at Trajkovic's family house in Kisnica village (KiM radio, gracanicaoline.info, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

Serbia Should Admit it’s the ‘Author’ of Kosovo’s Independence (BIRN)
Anti-western sentiment in Serbia is not rooted in support for Putin (The Guardian)

International:

EU urges Serbs to return to institutions, Kosovo to form municipal association (BIRN)
Kosovar PM addresses security situation as more police officers in north resign (RFE)
Kosovo Serbs Continue Mass Resignations from State Institutions (BIRN)
Serbia ‘in a hurry’ to ease energy dependence on Russia (Financial Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

First Regional Summit for Protection against Racial Discrimination in Pristina (media)
National Network for Research and Education – KREN is inaugurated (media)

Albanian Language Media

Konjufca: I would not like Vucic to lead us to the elections (media)

The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca, has said after the meeting of the Presidency of the Assembly that he would not like to think that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, would be able to lead Kosovo to general elections.

"I didn't want to think that Aleksandar Vucic can send the Republic of Kosovo to the elections, whenever he wants. Let's be clear here, if this was the intention of Serbia and Vucic to cause elections in Kosovo, or any kind of destabilisation, or the elections as a result of destabilisation and challenging the security situation in Kosovo, then I think that this not only possible, but I believe that the entire political spectrum is united in Kosovo, that this is impermissible and intolerable," Konjufca said.

He emphasised that the resignations of the officials of the Serbian community from Kosovo's institutions are an orchestration "whose conductor is Aleksandar Vucic".

He mentioned the Serbs in municipalities such as Graqanica and others, saying that they have licence plates, documentation and that they all act according to the Laws of Kosovo.

According to him, in the north, Serbia uses criminal gangs to put pressure on the Serbs, as it happened with the burning of the cars of those who re-registered their cars with RKS licence plates.

"Serbia's plan A has failed, it has switched to plan B, plan B is to mobilise by resigning, by challenging the Police, the authorities of the Republic of Kosovo, to start another process which is the total process of secession from the Republic of Kosovo. We will not allow this", he said.

According to Konjufca, the situation in the north is under control and that the police are present there according to the laws.

He explained that he will address president Vjosa Osmani, in order for her to notify him and the Central Election Commission (CEC) about further procedures. According to him, the CEC should inform who are the next in line with the number of votes to replace these MPs. However, if even those who are in line refuse, then he said that this process will be repeated until the seats in the Assembly are filled.

"I think that with this event there has been no jeopardy of the constitutional order of Kosovo. We have had a bigger departure than this, we have never had such resignations, but in legal terms, it is the same procedure as it happens with other MPs," he said.

“We are not in a constitutional crisis, but we are in normal procedures of their replacement," Konjufca said.

Konjufca proceeds with the request for replacement on MPs (media)

The Speaker of the Parliament Glauk Konjufca has processed the request for the replacement of the ten resigned MPs of the Serbian List. This has been confirmed for the Gazeta Online by the head of Konjufca's cabinet, Ilir Kerceli.

"Yes, the Speaker of the Parliament has processed this request," Kerçeli said.

PDK’s Krasniqi writes to Kurti: PDK ready to communicate (Indeksonline)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, in a public letter to Prime Minister Albin Kurti today about the situation in the north, expressed his party’s readiness to communicate and harmonise the actions of Kosovo institutions in wielding sovereignty in every part of the territory.

Krasniqi writes that the situation in the north is concerning and could escalate, and that the outcome is not clear. “Therefore, it is necessary to have coordination between the government and the opposition and to harmonise institutional actions with our international partners,” he said.

“Kosovo needs responsible actions that safeguard the stability of our country. In this case, I express the readiness of the Democratic Party of Kosovo to communicate openly and continuously about the situation in the northern part of the country, and to help the institutions in continuing to wield sovereignty in every part of our territory,” Krasniqi added.

AAK: Maybe elections would be the solution (media)

Head of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Besnik Tahiri, said today that the situation in the north must be addressed with utmost seriousness. He told reporters after the meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency that the government should not yield in terms of forming the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

“The government doesn’t have to yield or take a position that would be in Kosovo’s detriment. We as parliamentary groups should address more seriously the situation in the north. Licence plates as a purely technical decision have turned into a problem of security in the country,” he said.

Commenting on the resignation of Serbian List MPs, Tahiri said there will be a constitutional vacuum. “The Central Election Commission now needs to see other people in the list. The Assembly will not have 120 MPs and we will have a constitutional vacuum which the Constitutional Court will need to address,” he said.

Asked if Kosovo is heading toward early elections, Tahiri said: “I cannot say if we’re headed toward elections; the issue is so complicated that maybe elections would be the solution”.

Mehaj: We condemn Serbia’s actions to destabilise our country (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defence, Armend Mehaj, said today in a Twitter post that the Kosovo Security Force is to provide security for all citizens of Kosovo. “We condemn the actions of Serbia to destabilise our country! and its institutions are at the service of every citizen and our actions are in coordination with our police and KFOR,” Mehaj tweeted.

Serbian List MPs submitted resignations today (Indeksonline)

MPs from the Serbian List have submitted their resignation from the Kosovo Assembly this morning. Citing unnamed sources, the news website reports that they sent an email to the Assembly announcing their resignations. 11 MPs made the decision as a sign of protest against the Kosovo government for starting to issue reprimands to owners of vehicles with licence plates issued by Serbian authorities.

Serb judge after resigning: I’m never coming back (Nacionale)

Judge with the Court of Appeals and a member of the Kosovo Judicial Council, Nikola Kabasic, submitted his resignation today and said that he will never again join the Kosovo judiciary. “I speak on my behalf; I am not coming back. The rest is up to the politicians,” he told the news website. “All judges and those that could send their resignations via email yesterday, did so today. Our Albanian colleagues, judges and administrative staff remained in the court and all Serb judges and administrative staff resigned”.

The President of the Court in Mitrovica, Liljana Stefanovic, resigned too. “Our Albanian colleagues have taken over urgent cases. We tried to help them with everything. We never had problems with our colleagues, we did our work, we socialised, and we cooperated. This was the best court in terms of results and the only multiethnic court in Kosovo,” she said.

Many Serbian flags and slogans “This is Serbia” seen in Leposavic streets (Kallxo)

The news website reports that this morning many Serbian flags and slogans “This is Serbia” could be seen this morning in the streets of Leposavic, in north Kosovo. The recent situation created in the north has led to this region being filled with such flags and slogans. This happened after the Kosovo authorities’ decision to suspend the police director for the north, Nenad Djuric, for refusing and resistance to issuing reprimands to owners of vehicles with illegal licence plates, the news website adds.

“Association to be formed according to Constitutional Court recommendations ” (Klan)

The Pristina-based Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said in a statement today that Prime Minister Albin Kurti should have followed the request of international officials to postpone the deadline for the conversion of licence plates for 10 months. “The government should have either agreed to the postponement by asking for guarantees in writing, or it should not have postponed it even for a single day. In reality, it is clear that the withdrawal of Serbs from Kosovo institutions was well planned and that the licence plates were used to accelerate the formation of the Association which is now a condition both from Serbia and the internationals,” the Council said.

According to the Council, the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities should be conditioned or related with mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia. “One can only imagine how the leaders of the municipalities included in the Association could act, when their competencies will be by far greater than they are today?! This is why the CDHRF proposes that the Association be formed in line with the recommendations of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo and to become part of the final agreement package,” it said.

Deputy Minister of Justice accuses CDHRF of abusing €100,000 (Koha)

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Blerim Sallahu, said today that the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) has abused around €100,000 and that the case is already in court. He argued that the abusers of public funds should spare the government from advice on the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. The CDHRF said in a statement that the Association should be formed in line with the recommendations of the Constitutional Court.

Sallahu on the other hand said: “Human rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution and international acts. We respect them maximally. But human rights and freedoms are threatened precisely by those calling for the formation of mechanisms that violate the Constitution, such as the Association, which in essence is a structured based on ethnic background, and which would contribute to national differences and discrimination, and this is in opposition with human rights and freedoms”.

EULEX police at the police station north of Mitrovica (media)

Members of the EULEX police were seen entering and leaving the Police station in the north of Mitrovica, at the time when the Serb policemen are handing over their weapons and uniforms.

The Kosovo Police reported that the handing over of the equipment of about 300 policemen of the northern station in Mitrovica will take place throughout Monday, with different schedules.

It is learned that about 150 other policemen who have served in other northern municipalities of Kosovo will also hand over their equipment today, but in the stations of these municipalities.

Haziri: Point zero now; tense situation in north should’ve been prevented (Indeksonline)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lutfi Haziri, said today that the Kosovo government, through dialogue, should have prevented any tendency for tensions. “The government should have used executive measures or dialogue to prevent any tendency for creating tensions, including even the scenario of the boycott or withdrawal of Serb representatives from Kosovo’s institutions, because a lot of work has been done to integrate them through a difficult process of dismantling the parallel structures,” he said in an interview with the news website.

Haziri said that together with international partners, EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak and the U.S. Embassy, an urgent solution must be found to emerge from the current situation. “We are at point zero now. People are waiting for a political solution. It would be wise to urgently meet with our international partners, with Mr. Lajcak and the U.S. Embassy, and find a way out from this very serious situation,” he said.

Asked to comment on the resignation of Serbian List MPs, Haziri said this aggravates the situation and undermines the process of dialogue for the normalisation of relations, by resorting the process to the normalisation of a part of Kosovo’s territory.

Police investigating attack with suspected Molotov cocktail on Serb house (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Police in its 24-hour report gave details about an attack with a suspected Molotov cocktail on a Serb house in the village of Kishnica, the municipality of Gracanica. “A Kosovo woman reported that an unknown suspect threw a bottle of suspected Molotov cocktail in front of the yard of a house belonging to a Kosovo man,” the police said, adding that there were no injuries or material damages sustained. “Intensive investigations are ongoing,” the police added.

New local elections expected in four municipalities of northern Kosovo (RTK)

The news website quotes experts on constitutional right as saying that new local elections are expected to be held in the four municipalities of the north of Kosovo, after the resignation of the four mayors.

"Now after the resignations of the mayors of the municipalities in the north, the president of the country must announce the elections within 10 days, which according to the law, can be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 45 days after their announcement and the publication in the Official Journal of the President's decision," Mazllum Baraliu said.

Speaking about the resignation of the Serbian List MPs, Baraliu said ‘the law, in this case, foresees the possibility or institution of replacing MPs from the list of candidates which was submitted and accepted by the office for political parties in the CEC, when the elections were held. And, thus, the MP’s of that list who are waiting have the right to receive the respective mandates. Otherwise, there is no need to go to early parliamentary elections, as the functioning of the parliament is not at risk.’

Baraliu noted that if the candidates of the Serbian List do not accept to receive the mandates, and if there is a legal vacuum, it will be necessary for other political parties of the relevant community to be able to replace the mandates of the MPs.

Brussels: We do not comment on Lajcak’s every interaction with partners in the region (RTK)

The news website reports that the EU special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajcak went on Friday for an unannounced visit in Belgrade and had a long meeting with the president of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic.

Asked about this visit, Paloma Hall Caballero, media officer at the Office of the Representative for Foreign Policy and Security said that Lajcak’s similar working meetings on behalf of the EU are part of his job.

"It is part of the work of the EU Special Representative Lajcak to travel and meet partners in the region, as well as in the EU and beyond," Hall Caballero told RTKlive.

"We do not necessarily announce or comment on every business meeting or interaction he has with partners in the region."

Hall Caballero said that these working visits take place within the framework of advancing the dialogue process and continuing discussions on comprehensive normalization relations ‘...As well as the current issues related to the dialogue mediated by the EU.’

Former Dutch Ambassador: Protest in north reveals true face of Vucic regime (media)

Former Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo, Robert Bosch, commented on Saturday’s protest in the north of Kosovo saying that it was stimulated by Belgrade. “This action stimulated by Belgrade undermines everything that has been achieved in over 10 years in terms of the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. This means that Vucic’s regime reveals its true face: it does not want peace and reconciliation,” Bosch argued in a Facebook post.

Tahiri: Vucic wants to take the north from Kosovo (Gazeta Express)

Kosovo’s former chief negotiator in the dialogue with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, said today that “Serbia was always looking for a pretext to divide the north from Kosovo” and that while she was chief negotiator, she never allowed this.

“The current tensions have the north in the background. It is no surprise that Vucic today called on the United States and NATO to intervene in the north and calm the situation,” Tahiri wrote on Facebook. “This is why the Kosovo government and the whole political spectrum, the ruling party and the opposition, must be at the level of state and national responsibility and never allow any scenarios that may destabilise the situation and suit Vucic’s plans”.

Serbian Language Media

Stano: Kosovo has a clear obligation to form the CSM (ZSO) (N1)

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said on Monday that the responses of Belgrade and Pristina to the German-French proposal are still being studied, but that the immediate priority is the de-escalation of the situation in Kosovo.

"It is a clear obligation of Kosovo to immediately establish or immediately take steps to establish a community of Serbian municipalities. This is a binding legal obligation of Kosovo and the continuous failure to fulfil it not only undermines the principle of the rule of law, but also damages the reputation and credibility of Kosovo," said Stano at the press conference, reported N1.

The spokesman said that in recent days we have seen a very dangerous escalation that risks jeopardising what has been achieved through years of hard work. He appealed to both sides to make an effort to find a European solution and pointed out that it is now up to both Belgrade and Pristina to fulfil their obligations from the Brussels Agreement.

"This has consequences for the entire region. We appeal to both sides to find a European solution," said Stano.

He added that fulfilling obligations and returning to dialogue is the way out of the current situation and the path that leads to the European perspective of Serbia and Kosovo.

Answering a journalist's question about what he meant by the consequences for the entire region of the Western Balkans, he explained that any local instability spreads to the entire region, highlighting the example of Ukraine and Russia.

"If we have another hot spot on European soil, no one can prevent the flare-up of incidents that can lead to violence. If something is happening, it will inevitably have consequences for the region. The European Union cannot allow that, Serbia and Kosovo cannot allow that, the region cannot allow that," Stano pointed out.

Dacic: Masks should fall, it should be seen whether there is a Brussels agreement or not (RTS)

The head of Serbian diplomacy, Ivica Dacic, told RTS that the masks should fall, and it should be seen whether the Brussels agreement exists or not. If the USA and the EU cannot handle Kurti, then it is either their impotence, or their tacit consent, Dacic pointed out, reported Radio Television of Serbia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that he signed the Brussels Agreement when he was Prime Minister. "We have to see, after nine years of refusal to form the Community of Serbian Municipalities, whether anyone is thinking of implementing the Brussels Agreement, because that's why we signed it," Dacic said in a guest appearance on RTS's Morning News.

According to him, Serbia was not a party to the conflict, Serbia was fighting for the protection of the Brussels Agreement.

When asked if the West will be able to put pressure on Pristina, Dacic said he did not know if they could put pressure on Pristina, but that no one in Serbia believed that they could not.

"If the USA and the EU cannot come to an end with Kurti, then it is either their impotence, or their tacit consent," said Dacic.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs told the EU that it was their obligation to form the CSM (ZSO), too.

"I say to the EU that it is also their obligation to form the CSM (ZSO), not only Kurti's. Catherine Ashton signed it, if that is not the case, then you have deceived me as well," noted Dacic.

Commenting on the exit of Serbs from Kosovo's institutions, Dacic said that this was a historic decision, and that he supported it.

"We should not justify whether it was made in agreement with Belgrade or not. The whole world can make decisions about Kosovo and Metohija, but Belgrade cannot. This is the decision of the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija," said the head of Serbian diplomacy.

He added that Pristina thought that they had anaesthetised the Serbs and that they were about to accept independence.

"We will do everything to preserve the peace"

Speaking about the removal of uniforms by the policemen in the north of Kosovo, he said that that in the institutions in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, no one has ever been from Pristina, neither policemen, nor judges, nor prosecutors, and the agreement was that they should be Serbs, but if there is a CSM (ZSO), if it does not exist, the Serbs must look for another way of organisation.

"We would like this situation to last as short as possible. We will do everything to preserve the peace, to protest peacefully, this is a kind of resistance to Pristina not forming the CSM (ZSO)," explained Dacic.

He noted that it was necessary to respect Resolution 1244.

"There is no more avoidance, either they will behave in accordance with Resolution 1244, or they will say openly that they are on the side of Pristina, these are the times when they will have to say it clearly. The historical pendulum is turning. All forms of resistance to the Serbian government that Albanians had, now Serbs have towards Albanians," noted Dacic.

Dacic asked Pristina why they needed the Serbs in the institutions if they did not want to cooperate with them.

"They say Ukraine, Spain ... have rights on the entire territory, only Serbia does not have those rights. If you do not have an explanation, do not irritate the Serbian people. In order for the Serbs to return to the institutions, it is known what Pristina and the EU need to do," said Dacic.

Commenting on the possibility of Pristina applying for EU membership, he said that they could submit a request for membership in the EU.

"They want to get the EU to the surface and to vote it out for them. It is a move that has no chance of succeeding because five EU countries do not recognize Kosovo's independence," Dacic said, but added that he is taking the issue seriously, so he has scheduled several meetings on this question.

Vucic: Tectonic changes with the Serbs' resignations; important that we act responsibly (TV Pink, RTS, media)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, in a guest appearance last night on Pink TV, when asked whether the public's perception was realistic when talking about the fact that this was the most difficult situation in history, said that he could not say that it was an easy moment, but that it was not the first or the last one, reported RTS.

"It is important that we behave responsibly and seriously. Now a person does not know what all, and in what way to explain, or to tell people what happened. We are talking about major political, almost tectonic changes. After 10 years, the Serbs made the decision to leave Pristina institutions," said Vucic in TV Pink show "Hit Tweet" last night.

He pointed out that the stories that they were doing by Belgrade's order, that is, his orders, were meaningless, and that such stories only suit some people in the West and in Pristina.

"All those who say that, and those here, never wanted to realistically see the problems the Serbs are facing and what they want, to what the consequences are," emphasised Vucic.

He said that he talked to the Serbs from KiM all night and pointed out that the decision to leave the institutions was very difficult. He said that he told them that he understood them and that he would be with them no matter what they decided.

"I always thought that patience, waiting, work, work and only work and keeping the peace was the most important thing, but I told them, 'I will not take it out on you, I will not say that you are to blame for it, that I was against it and that I will build a dam on Jarinje and Brnjak, as Milosevic once did with Karadzic, Mladic and others, I do not have the slightest intention. I will be with you, brothers; anyway, they will all blame me," said Vucic.

He emphasised that the decision to withdraw was an autonomous decision, that it would not be easy, but that the people have shown what they thought.

"It is important for us to preserve peace and stability," said Vucic and pointed out that the Kosovska Mitrovica rally passed without incident, and that there were 10,000 people who clearly showed what they thought.

He also said that he was surprised by the determination of the Serbs and their courage, and that Nenad Djuric would receive a decoration, and Aleksandar Filipovic a medal.

First the withdrawal of the decision and the ZSO, then the return to the institutions

He said that the Serbs told him in the conversation that they only had to pack themselves into bundles on tractors and trucks and come to Raska, because they would not put up with it anymore.

"You think that it was easy for people in the police to take off their uniforms, that it was easy for people in the courts, prosecutors' offices to do that. We say that the state of Serbia will take care of them, which is a new 50 to 60 million euros for us. We will do it, but it is not easy. But no one wanted to stay and not be with their people, people feel it at every step," said Vucic.

He said that Albin Kurti used dirty tricks when he called on the Serbs to return to the institutions and told him that the Serbs can't wait to return.

"First, the ZSO (Community of Serbian Municipalities), and to withdraw the decision on the plates, to show respect for people and to stick to the letter of what was signed," said Vucic.

"We will not let our people to be killed"

"We trust in ourselves, and I hope that the Americans and some others who are on the ground will take care of security in the north, KFOR, UNMIK, EULEX, and not the Albanian police. We will not leave the people without the support of Serbia," he said.

He stated that conflicts could not be ruled out, that he would do everything to preserve peace, but that Serbia would not allow people to be killed.

A promise that they "will take care of Kurti"

He mentioned that at the end of July, there could have been a great and unprecedented bloodshed in Kosovo, because the Albanians wanted to invade the north, while the Serbs did not want to retreat, but wanted to confront them.

Everything was ready for that, said Vucic, and added that for the first time he was presenting those details, including how he received a promise that they would "take care of Kurti", that Pristina's decision would be postponed, but it did not happen.

He added that before many times he was sceptical about the withdrawal of Serbs from the institutions, when Pristina did not want to fulfil an obligation and mistreated the Serbs, trampled on the Brussels Agreement, and claimed that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 did not exist.

"Serbs wanted to leave the institutions every time, every time I begged them, and they would listen to me every time because they know that I, together with them, withstood the pressures and there was no question whether I would be with them or foreigners, that's why they respected me. At least 20 times I prevented them from doing so," said Vucic.

He added that when the situation worsened then, he begged KFOR to enter the north and talk to the Serbs, just so that the Albanians would not enter there, because the Serbs would oppose them.

"They fulfilled all our demands, and the decision was postponed until September. I begged the Serbs to move the barricades by 11 am, even though all the demands were met. They were already fed up with everything, and then after 11 o'clock they said that they would do everything because I asked them, and that they wouldn't listen to anyone else and remove the barricades," said Vucic.

He noted that he could not allow Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija to enter with visas and that a good agreement was reached on freedom of movement with ID cards and posting of disclaimers.

He said that he wanted to avoid a disaster and that international representatives came to him with a request.

"One American and one European representative came to me and said - it is important that you do it, and we will make sure after that Kurti give up the licence plates and postpone it for a year, and the Serbs remove the barricades," said Vucic.

He added that he could not guarantee anything to the Serbs from the north of Kosovo and Metohija, because they have been previously promised that the Serbs would be able to participate in the Serbian elections, but that they were not allowed to do so, and later the promise for the vehicle plates was not fulfilled.

Kurti has no right to confiscate licence plates, Quint is deceiving the public

Vucic pointed out that Pristina has no right to take KM plates from Serbs and added that Quint representatives were misleading the public when they said that Albin Kurti had the right to do it, but that it should be postponed for ten months.

"They don't have any right to take away KM plates from Serbs. Quint representatives refer to the wrong article, or if you want, the correct article, they don't understand the difference between KS and RKS plates. First are status-neutral... Instead, they pretend to be silly. I repeated that to them a hundred times, but they must not say that because for them Kosovo is an independent state," said Vucic.

He added that Kurti from Berlin dismissed the Serbian police officer Nenad Djuric and added that it was illegal. He emphasised that he had no right to suspend and replace anyone, but that it was the right of the four mayors of northern Kosovo municipalities.

"When three things happened - the confirmation that they will not form the Community of Serbian Municipalities, when it was repeated that they continue with the licence plates terror and Nenad Djuric was dismissed illegally, the Serbs said, 'We will not tolerate this cruelty anymore’,” Vucic said.

Keeping the peace if the US sends KFOR and EULEX instead of police officers

The president said that peace can be preserved if the Americans ask KFOR and EULEX to perform police work in north Kosovo and warned that a disaster could occur if the Albanians come to the north.

"The situation now is as follows - if the Americans are smart and fair enough, they will tell KFOR and EULEX to carry out police work in the north. I think that this can contribute to preserving peace, no matter how long it takes. And if they think that the Albanians come to the North and organise it, and they have no right to do so according to the Brussels Agreement or according to the will of the people, I am afraid that it will lead to a disaster," said Vucic.

When asked what the intermediate steps are now, since the Serbs left the institutions until the CSM (ZSO) was formed, Vucic said: "There is no step B".

He noted that the Americans in this situation behaved more correctly than many Europeans and that they did not need a conflict, but that the USA would be on the side of "its 14-year-old child".

However, he emphasised that the US was able to say, "when that child thinks he can hit his neighbour without reason and cause problems" and admit that "it's not the neighbour's fault".

Some, he assessed, were not able to do that and had only one desire - to force Serbia to completely capitulate.

"They solved that issue ingeniously in Croatia. You now have some 100,000, 120,000 Serbs there," said Vucic and pointed out that today in Croatia 1.17 percent speak the Serbian language.

He assessed that some want this to happen to Serbs in Montenegro, Republika Srpska, BiH and other places.

However, he added that Serbia must also take care of other parts of its country, the future of its children in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac.

"I hope that NATO will prevent Pristina from sending units"

When asked what the possible scenarios for the situation in Kosovo were and whether Pristina can declare a state of emergency and perhaps send units to the north, Vucic replied:

"It can, but NATO can also prevent them from doing that. I hope that there will be enough wisdom and maturity in NATO to prevent something like that," said Vucic.

Sovereignty lost in '99; the Brussels agreement bought peace

The President recalled what happened in the past regarding Kosovo and Metohija, because, as he said, it was important for citizens to understand what Serbia went through in the previous decades, what in the last 10 years, and what in the last few months.

"In 1999, we effectively lost our sovereignty over Kosovo and Metohija. Without the right to an army, and only in local areas in the north, we could have a part of the police. Everything else has been lost a long time ago," stated Vucic.

Then, he recalled, followed the 2004 pogrom, and then the declaration of independence in 2008.

"Before that, the authorities in DOS authority and the West convinced us - standards before status. I guess those standards were confirmed by the burning of churches, murders, and persecution on March 17. And for that, they were rewarded with independence," said Vucic.

Then, he continued, came the verdict of the ICJ on the wrong question and just as bad - our decision to ask for the talks to be moved from the UN to the EU. He said that he also told Lajcak and other EU representatives that.

"Then the most difficult negotiations followed in 2012-2013. After 1998 and 1999, those were the biggest threats and pressures. But we somehow managed through the Brussels Agreement, for which we know that the Serbs didn't want to see, but with that you buy peace. For the last 10 years, we have had peace, the fastest economic growth in the region, the last two in all of Europe," the president pointed out.

It had to come to this moment

Vucic assessed that this kind of situation had to happen in Kosovo and Metohija, although, as he said, he would have tactically waited a few more days or a month, but essentially it could not have been avoided, because it would have been worse.

He emphasised that Serbs in Kosovo are now in the same position as Albanians in the 1990s, now our people will boycott their institutions, use our hospitals and schools, and not have any contact with them.

He said that he warned people in Europe about this for years.

"They thought that it was impossible for it to happen because Serbia cares much more about the EU, since they are far away from it down there. So, they thought that they had something to blackmail and demand with, and help them down there, so that their child would gain strength," Vucic explained.

He also commented on the views of opposition representatives that tensions were rising over re-registration and pointed out that for someone ''the survival of our people in Kosovo and Metohija is a small thing, but for him it is not, and that comparing the issue of Kosovo and Metohija with pollution is terrible and selfish''.

He thanked the political opponents who, he said, were correct in their statements regarding the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

No NATO drone was downed; offers come to sell arms to warring parties

When asked whether a drone was found after it was downed in Raska, Vucic said that, if necessary, the Serbian Armed Forces and the Military Security Agency would notify about it.

This happened, as he said, one day after a warning was given about the drones above the barracks, it was not something new, but it was then decided to down the drones. He repeated that it was not a NATO drone.

He pointed out that ''Serbia is a small country and the army is small, but ten times stronger than it used to be''. He stated that Serbia now has 14 MiGs 29, and that it had one when he was the Minister of Defense.

"Today, unlike that period, we have two Pancir-S1 systems, we also ordered an M1 from Russia, but it cannot reach us now. We received the first two FK-3 batteries, I am very interested to see how they will prevent it from reaching us, with what explanation, because those weapons are not under the sanctions system or anything else," said Vucic.

He pointed out that ''we have to raise our military industry and added that we have offers to sell everything we produce in the next 20 years to both warring parties - the Russians and the Westerners, since the Westerners are arming the Ukrainians''.

He pointed out that difficult times are coming, and that the next winter will be even more difficult than this one, because the "Battle of Stalingrad" was yet to follow in the war in Ukraine, which was why it was important that we preserve peace and stability.

Kosovo institutions in northern Kosovo without Serbs as of today (RTS, media)

Serbs in northern Kosovo have resigned from all functions in the local administration, judiciary and police because of unilateral Pristina’s acts and violation of the Brussels agreement, RTS reports today. They demand from Pristina full implementation of the Brussels Agreement, establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and withdrawal of unilateral decisions on licence plates.

RTS further reports that as of today there will be no Serb police officers in northern Kosovo and Metohija. They formally submitted resignations on Sunday, saying they resigned voluntarily, citing moral and personal reasons. Serb police officers resigned at Jarinje and Brnjak crossing points, including also their Bosniak colleagues, as Kosovo Online portal reported. The portal added the only Serb ROSU member from northern Kosovo resigned, same as EULEX external security staff members in northern Kosovo.

Serbs have left other local institutions established in line with Brussels agreement. The judges and prosecutors left the judicial system, while mayors, municipal assembly councillors and administrative staff left four northern municipalities.

RTS further reports that despite dissatisfaction of the Serbs by the policy of Pristina government the morning in the north was calm, the schools were opened on time, health institutions are operational and shops are well supplied.

They also expect diplomatic and political resolution of the crisis in relation between local Serbs and Pristina authorities.

Serbs gather in Mitrovica North, send messages of peace and that they are on their own land (RTS)

Dissatisfied with Pristina’s unilateral decision on licence plates and ongoing persecution Serbs have organised a gathering on Sunday in Mitrovica North, RTS reports. Previously municipal assembly sessions were held in four northern municipalities and mayors of Leposavic, Mitrovica North, Zvecan and Zubin Potok formally resigned from their functions.

In one of the most massive gatherings in northern Kosovo, the RTS continues, messages of peace were conveyed, Serbs told not to fall prey to provocations and that their political representatives will continue to fight by peaceful and democratic means. They also called on the Pristina authorities to implement all signed agreements and establish a Community of Serb municipalities and “to revoke all unilateral decisions concerning the licence plates”.

Serbian List President Goran Rakic addressing present people said they returned mandates to the Serbian people who have elected them, and not to Pristina. He added they gathered to send a clear message they had enough mistreatment by Pristina – by appropriating Serbian land, mistreating Serbs and pressing false charges on their account.

“It has been enough. Enough with trampling over the Brussels agreement and Serbian people. In good faith I stand in front of you, because we have done this to prevent it. By our resignations we defend the Brussels agreement and the law. We want peace, peace and only peace. I am asking you not to fall prey to provocations, we are not a disruptive factor, we want all unilateral decisions related to licence plates to be revoked and (to have) implementation of the Brussels agreement, to establish a Community of the Serb-majority Municipalities”, Rakic said.

Milan Radojevic, former mayor of Mitrovica North, said the gathering sends a message of peace. “We have given a chance to the Brussels agreement for nine years, and unfortunately, we have not succeeded. Our struggle continues, it would just take another form”, he said.

Former Kosovo police major and director of Region North Police Directorate, Nenad Djuric said “destiny of the Serbian people is in their own hands, not in the hands of others” and that decision they made was “waking up from a long dream”. Addressing those, as he said, who are in dilemma or doubt the rightness of what has been done he quoted famous author and bishop Petar Petrovic Njegos by saying “Everyone is born to die once, however honour and disgrace shall live forever”.

Lijljana Stevanovic, a judge, said her colleagues, judges and prosecutors made the decision to leave the judicial system. She said people in Kosovo demand basic human rights. “This is our message of peace, addressed to the international community, but also to our neighbours, as well as an appeal to respect agreements”.

The gathering ended peacefully and without incidents. RTS also reported that during the gathering, a group of Albanians posted flags of Albania and Kosovo in ethnically mixed settlement Bosniak Mahala in northern Mitrovica.

Minister of Defense: KFOR not to allow Pristina to send Albanian police to northern Kosovo (RTS)

Serbian Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic said today the situation in Kosovo and Metohija was tense, adding he hopes there will be no escalation and that KFOR is an important factor there now. He also said KFOR must not allow PM Albin Kurti to send Albanian police officers to northern Kosovo to replace Serbian ones, and thus “practically carries out occupation of the four municipalities in the north of the province”, RTS reports.

Asked what security assessments are, Vucevic said that all acts of Pristina, which contrary to the Brussels agreement builds bases for special police in northern Kosovo, were carefully monitored and assessed.

“Now when Serbian police officers withdraw from police, a security vacuum has been created and the situation becomes additionally risky and complicated, because a question is being asked now – who will carry out all those regular, everyday police activities?”, Vucevic asked.

“We hope that KFOR and EULEX will take over that role, because it would be very dangerous if Pristina decides to send members of the police of Albanian ethnicity, from other parts of Kosovo to the north, to enter Serb-majority municipalities”, he added.

Petkovic responds to Vela: Propaganda in vain (Kosovo Online, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic took it to Twitter to respond to Kosovo President Vjosa Osamni chief of cabinet, Blerim Vela who said earlier that Serbs in northern Kosovo “didn’t join masse” at the gathering organised on Sunday, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“All your propaganda @Blerim_Vela trying to hide the fact that today's gathering in KM was magnificent is in vain. Serbs have made it clear to everyone today that they do not want Kurti's fake state in the north. Photos disprove all your lies and propaganda”, Petkovic wrote in a post.

Commenting on the gathering Petkovic also said the message “it has been enough” entails all the sufferings of the Serbian people in Kosovo, who are waiting for ten years to have the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities established.

He added the gathering in Mitrovica North on Sunday “was a magnificent event in which around 10.000 people took part, with a united message that only Serbia is their state”. He also said the gathering was a clear indicator that “Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija can no longer endure terror of Albin Kurti”.

Petkovic: Why didn't the EU insist on formation of CSM earlier? (N1)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said this is the first time that Brussels directly urges Pristina to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) in Kosovo and that Albin Kurti should immediately stop "persecuting" Serbs with fines for re-registration of licence plates.

“Why didn’t they react when Pristina unilaterally cancelled KS plates in 2020 and does not want to return them, even though it is stated in the agreement, even though all Serbs wanted status-neutral KS plates, and no one wants plates from the so-called Republic of Kosovo“, Petkovic told Serbian public broadcaster, RTS.

Dacic: We have information that Kosovo will apply for EU membership in December

Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivica Dacic, said that Serbian authorities received information from “friends within the EU“ that Kosovo will apply for EU membership in December.

“Two or three days ago, we received information from our friends from the European Union that Kosovo will submit an application for EU membership in December, which is astounding. This speaks to the level of insanity and a misunderstanding of the situation”, he told TV Prva.

He added that Serbia believes that “there is no way it will go through“.

Petritsch: An urgent step that must be taken is establishment of Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug)

Commenting on proposal that KFOR and EULEX take over tasks of the Serbs who have left police and judiciary in the north, Wolfgang Petritsch, former EU’s special envoy for Kosovo and EU chief negotiator at Kosovo peace talks in Rambouillet, said this is certainly proposal that should be considered, adding one should not skip from the mind that OSCE also has an important mission in Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reports.

He also said that the decision of Serbs in northern Kosovo to leave Pristina institutions leads towards “dangerous escalation”, however the first, urgent step that must be taken, has to be the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, although Pristina has resistance regarding it.

Decision of the Serbs, he adds, doesn’t lead closer to the solution, because the question is if Pristina, because of resistance and stubbornness, would be ready for compromise, but also opens a question what else Serbs in Kosovo now, after this, could do.

Dacic: French-German plan on Kosovo unacceptable for us (N1)

Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivica Dacic, said the French-German plan implies “the position that the independence of Kosovo is already a done deal”, but that Serbia cannot accept it, N1 reports.

“We want to negotiate and all the time we show that we are constructive, we have proposals for compromise, but we cannot make those agreements from scratch“, Dacic told Vecernje Novosti, adding that the conclusion from the session of the National Security Council was that the proposal was unacceptable.

“It does not give us a chance to negotiate, because the basis from which it starts, that Kosovo is an independent state, is unacceptable to us. And whether it will be recognised in a formal sense or not, but with an agreement that Kosovo is a member of the UN, is very difficult for us“, Dacic .

As for Serbia imposing sanctions against Russia, he stated that it is necessary to consider what would be in the best interest of Serbia.

“I never said – long live Russia. Why wouldn’t we reach out to the other hand if it was extended to us? But the first point cannot be to introduce sanctions against Russia, with the second point being to admit Kosovo to the UN and the Council of Europe. Who would accept that?“ he asked.

Opposition MPs: Brussels agreement ‘has died’, Orlic to call elections in northern Kosovo (N1)

Serbian opposition MPs, Sanda Raskovic-Ivic from People’s Party (NS) and Slavisa Ristic from United group said that following resignations of Serbs in northern Kosovo from institutions there, Brussels agreement “has died”, adding that Serbian Assembly Speaker Vladimir Orlic should call for local elections in northern Kosovo.

They termed the decision of local Serbs there as a logical step given it was the only way to reset relations between Belgrade and Pristina and start finding new solutions for those four municipalities in northern Kosovo. They both criticised President Aleksandar Vucic for saying nothing about the content of the German-French proposal on Kosovo during his latest public address

Raskovic-Ivic said over the last few days there were activities ongoing on two folds. On one side there was the departure of Serbs from Kosovo institutions, something her party advocated for, because Pristina authorities for ten years refused to establish a Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. And on the other side, there was signing of agreements in Berlin with Albin Kurti, where Kosovo was treated as a state. She added one of the signed agreements related to the freedom of movement, and only a day after Vuk Jeremic, leader of NS party was banned from entering Kosovo.

Asked how Serbia can call for local elections in Kosovo, she explained it is legally possible because based on UN SC Resolution 1244 which is still in force, Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia. She added she was afraid that people in northern Kosovo may be manipulated, and that someone could tell them to return to the institutions afterwards.

Slavisa Risitc, former mayor of Zubin Potok, within the Serbian system, said the majority of Serbs support leaving Kosovo institutions, but according to him this step came too late.

He opined that Serbs came to the situation that this was the only mean to create conditions for serious negotiations. He pointed out the mere fact that Serbia, in line with Brussels agreement, handed over all its institutions to Pristina – judiciary, prosecution, property, energy. “They gave all that and what they got in return – a foggy story about CSM”, he said. He noted that institutional solution and delineation between Serbs and Albnaians must exist or there would be no possibility to live normally.

“Whether there will be Serbian local elections, what I plead for or some other compromise solution let the time shows”, he added. Ristic opined that CSM was just “an empty shell” asking why Serbian authorities have not requested its establishment first “and then to give the rest”.

Vuk Jeremic banned from entering Kosovo (Danas)

Former Serbian foreign affairs minister, former president of UN General Assembly and current leader of opposition Peoples’ Party (NS) Vuk Jeremic was banned from entering Kosovo on Saturday, Danas daily reports.

The vehicle transporting Jeremic was stopped while crossing an administrative crossing point, kept by Pristina authorities for longer than two hours, followed by a written ban to entry handed over to Jeremic, Peoples’ Party said in a statement.

Jeremic was on his way to Gracanica to attend formation of his party provincial board.

One of his party members Sanda Raskovic-Ivic commenting on the agreement signed in Berlin, as part of the Berlin Process, and relating to the freedom of movement, said that only the day after that agreement was signed, Jeremic was banned by Pristina from entering Kosovo.

Gracanica: Molotov cocktail thrown at Trajkovic's family house in Kisnica village (KiM radio, gracanicaoline.info, Kosovo Online)

Last night a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the Trajkovic family house in Kisnica village, municipality of Gracanica. The Kosovo police went to the scene, no injuries were reported, KiM radio wrote, citing gracanicaonline.info portal.

The media recalled that this was not the first attack on the Trajkovic's family. In November 2020, as reported by media, Jelena's husband, Zoran Trajkovic, was ''attacked by eight Albanians, and in June, the graffiti "KLA" was written on the fence of their plot''.

Miodrag Trajkovic told portal Kosovo Online that the incident ''was the work of a certain group, who did not like the fact that a few Serbs remained in their street''. He pointed out that the problems started when the park across from their house was built.

"These attacks happen continuously, but it is not often talked about, we do not inform the police because it has no effect. You have installed cameras, when some of the perpetrators passed by, they were not found, the cameras did not work then. There is no cooperation between the authorities and the municipality of Gracanica", said Trajkovic. He added that the attacks do not only happen to his family, but also to his neighbors.

Subaric, Petkovic condemned the incident

The mayor of Gracanica, Ljiljana Subaric, after visiting the family, said that this incident represented an attempt to injure, reported portal Kosovo Online.

"After the magnificent meeting in Mitrovica where all the speakers called for peace, stability, and tolerance, the response of the Albanians was to throw the Molotov cocktail. This is not just an attempt at intimidation, this is an attempt to injure, and we can safely say an attempt to kill. After all the incidents, this has crossed the line, I condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. There is a pregnant woman and a small child here, they experienced great stress. I call on the international community to act, and find the perpetrators and punish them severely," Subaric said.

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic said, after he spoke with Trajkovic, that this attack was the result of Albin Kurti's hatred and anti-Serb policy.

Petkovic recalled also, on Twitter, that the Trajkovic family was repeatedly targeted.

Opinion

Serbia Should Admit it’s the ‘Author’ of Kosovo’s Independence (BIRN)

Opinion piece by Besfort Rrecaj, Professor of Law at the International Law Department, University of Prishtina ‘Hasan Prishtina’.

Picasso once described Hitler’s Germany as the real ‘author’ of his celebrated painting ‘Guernica’; Kosovars might say the same for Milosevic’s Serbia.

As we may soon witness the signing of a treaty on the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, one might go back in time and see how and why Kosovo became an independent state, sailing through the foggy waters of uncertainty to the realisation of its century-old dream.

In answering this question, there has been abundant research at scientific, political and sociological levels, but perhaps one story has been bypassed in this context. It is the story of one of Picasso’s greatest works of art, Guernica, and how it fits in the context of Kosovo statehood.

Talking about Picasso one cannot overemphasise that his work represents one of the most appreciated artworks in contemporary history. His paintings draw much attention because of their unique and innovative style, evolving from naturalism to cubism, surrealism and beyond. Representing cubism, surrealism and more, they raise eyebrows and a mystery as to what he is representing. They intrigue. Picasso was keen to let the individual themself find the meaning of his paintings, because they were about an individual’s emotions, psychology, and ontology, which can bring all sorts of interpretations.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3TcXrtd Anti-western sentiment in Serbia is not rooted in support for Putin (The Guardian)

Serbians remember their suffering under international sanctions and resent western support for Kosovo’s independence, writes Aleks Eror

There is no denying that Serbia has failed to face up to the horrors in its recent past, but this is hardly relevant to pro-Putin sentiment in the country (The cult of Putin in Serbia reflects a nation that has still not dealt with its past, 28 October). While there is a significant number of hardcore Russophiles in Serbian society, polling shows that these are a noisy minority of around 21%. It also shows that 50% of Serbs want the country to maintain a policy of non-alignment, which reflects the Yugoslav-era status quo. These people are not committed to Russian interests, but they’re not pro-western either.

International

EU urges Serbs to return to institutions, Kosovo to form municipal association (BIRN)

On Monday many policemen, some organized and some individually, marched towards the police station in North Mitrovica, to hand in their guns and handcuffs, after they resigned from their positions from Kosovo institutions on Saturday.

They were joined by the 10 members of the Serbian List party in the Kosovo Assembly who also submitted irrevocable resignations.

The resignations come after the suspension of Nenad Djuric as director of the Kosovo Police in the North following to his refusal to follow government orders and issue reprimands for drivers of cars with illegal Serbian license plates.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Serbia’s attempt to destabilize Kosovo would not succeed, calling on Serbs not to abandon Kosovo’s institutions.

“We are in constant contact and communication, regular meetings with international security bodies such as KFOR, EULEX, but also with our partners such as [the] QUINT [countries]. So we share information and prepare well for whatever mischief the miscreants may do,” Kurti said on Sunday.

Kurti added that the security situation in Kosovo was being endangered by “various criminalized individuals and groups”.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3WDJwiA Kosovar PM addresses security situation as more police officers in north resign (RFE)

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti says he is in constant contact with international security authorities to ensure stability in Kosovo as more ethnic Serb police officers in the north of the country resigned.

Kurti said on November 6 after a rally by ethnic Serbs in the streets of North Mitrovica that the security situation in Kosovo was threatened by “various criminalised individuals and groups,” but said that during his time in office, “we have made great progress in the fight against crime and corruption."

He added that the rule of law goes “hand in hand with peace and security” and cannot be threatened, adding that authorities “do not distinguish criminals on the basis of ethnicity, but only on the basis of their criminal acts."

When asked about the decision on November 5 by the Serbian List party to leave Kosovo's institutions, Kurti repeated his call that Kosovo Serbs refrain from doing so.

"I once again invite all Serb citizens of our country to not abandon institutions, not to resign, not to leave their jobs, because there would be less service for the people," he said.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3NIxzUO Kosovo Serbs Continue Mass Resignations from State Institutions (BIRN)

Kosovo Serb police officials who resigned from the police over the weekend as part of a mass resignation alongside MPs, mayors, judicial officials, have continued resigning, with officers handing over their weapons and cuffs on Monday.

Over 20 Kosovo Serb police officials who resigned over the weekend handed over their weapons and cuffs in bags on Monday morning at the regional police station in the Serb-majority municipality of North Mitrovica.

Serbs resigned from state institutions in four Serb-majority northern municipalities of Kosovo on Saturday, claiming that EU-mediated agreements between Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels are being breached.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday evening dismissed claims that Serbs from North Kosovo left institutions “on the orders of someone from Belgrade” as “senseless”. He said this decision was not easy for them, but that Serbia would “take care of them”.

“The state of Serbia says, and we say that, we will take care of them, that’s a new 50 or 60 million euros for us, we will do it all”, Vucic told the Hit Tvit TV show on Pink Television.

“It’s not easy [to leave] but no one wanted to stay without being with their people, people feel it at every step,” he added.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3WGTaks Serbia ‘in a hurry’ to ease energy dependence on Russia (The Financial Times)

Sanctions on Moscow force Belgrade to outline plans to weaken oil and gas ties to traditional ally

Serbia is considering a move to retake majority control of NIS, its main oil company, from Russia’s Gazpromneft as it rushes to protect itself from the impact of sanctions on Moscow, said the Balkan country’s president. Belgrade is also preparing a half-dozen other projects to diversify the country’s energy sources, including closer co-operation with Hungary, in a bid to cut its dependency on Russia, Aleksandar Vučić said.

Humanitarian/Development

First Regional Summit for Protection against Racial Discrimination in Pristina (media)

Several news websites report on the first Regional Summit for Protection against Racial Discrimination which is being held in Pristina today. Klan Kosova reports that Prime Minister Albin Kurti, attending the event, said that he is engaged to improve the rights of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. “This summit is aimed at creating a practice of bringing together the main stakeholders and discuss how countries of the Western Balkans can help fight the discrimination against the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities,” he said.

“We need to cooperate and share institutional practices and experiences in order to improve the quality of lives of communities in the countries of our region. This requires institutional responsibility and also social awareness,” Kurti said.

“We need more engagement so that all our citizens can feel equal. We need institutional and social responsibility. There are many challenges still and the position of the communities is not good, both in terms of discrimination and the economy. As Prime Minister, I am engaged for all citizens equally, but even more so for those in need. Our institutions remain committed to providing equal opportunities. We are working together to implement the government program and we have given scholarships for 100 students in the Faculty of Education, so that we can have teachers teaching others,” Kurti is quoted as saying in Telegrafi.

The National Network for Research and Education – KREN is inaugurated (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Sunday at the inauguration of the National Network for Research and Education – KREN, that Kosovo is a champion in the region and comparable to the developed countries of the European Union for the extension and use of broadband Internet, while our goal is the highest possible use of this digital infrastructure in all spheres of life, with the aim of economic and social development.

In his speech, the prime minister said that in our governing program, improving the environment for research and innovation has been identified as one of the areas for intervention and development. Recalling that at the end of October, the Education Strategy 2022-2026 was officially launched, which has a budget 82% higher than the Strategic Education Plan 2017-2021, the Prime Minister emphasised that for the first time, digitalization is treated as one of the five pillars and the strategic objectives of education, with a dedicated budget of 52 million euros.