UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 11, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Indictment filed against 45 people for the "Banjska" case (Koha)
Kurti: Investments that have not been made for two decades, are being made in north (Koha)
Konjufca: Internationals discriminating Kosovo; different treatment for Serbia (Koha)
Gervalla on the bridge: We’re waiting for a convenient moment for citizens (media)
Maqedonci: We will have Javelin missiles at the right time (Koha)
Government approves amended draft law on Bureau of Asset Confiscation (Koha)
Kosovo leaders’ messages on anniversary of September 11 attacks (media)
Kurti remembers “end of supervision of Kosovo’s independence” (media)
Qelaj: Every action in north needs to attend to respect for human rights (EO)
Protest at Mitrovica North police station, demanding release of four Serbs (Koha)
Spiropali in Pristina: Kosovo is a national priority for Albania (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Protest in front of police station in Mitrovica North over arrest of 4 young Serbs, “Police of Kurti-land” among banners (KoSSev, media, social media)
The interrogation of the arrested young men will be in the north (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kontak plus)
Rade Nedeljkovic: My son was brutally beaten up (Radio KIM)
Blowing whistles in Mitrovica North is obstruction of public peace and order, when Kurti blew whistles in Kosovo Assembly it was ‘patriotic policy’ (KoSSev)
Arsenijevic: No reason to complain to PIK, they act as police advocate (KoSSev)
Serbs in Kosovo exposed to persecution and police torture (NMagazin, Beta)
Discrimination of newborn children due to discharge papers in Kosovo (Zenski.info, Kosovo Online)
Brnabic: Pristina demonstrates force daily, Kurti wants an ethnically pure Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV)
Vucic to Herzog: No outbursts of anti-semitism in Serbia (N1, media)

Opinion:

Don’t drop the ball on Kosovo (carnegieendowment.org)

International:

Kurti’s unilateral takeover of North Kosovo: Pre-election boost which risks increasing tensions (EWB)
Arming Serbia is dangerous for Europe, says Kosovo FM (TRT World)
Kosovo resident found guilty of threatening BIRN crew (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Indictment filed against 45 people for the "Banjska" case (Koha)

The Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo announced on Wednesday the indictment against 45 people for the terrorist attack in Banjska of Zvecan on September 24, 2023. Chief Prosecutor of the Special Prosecution, Blerim Isufaj, said that intensive work was done.

"The Special Prosecutor's Office has worked intensively conducting several months of investigations in this large and very complex case. After completing the investigations and analyzing the evidence, relying on the well-founded suspicion, today we filed an indictment against 45 defendants. For the 45 defendants, there is a well-founded suspicion that they have committed criminal offenses related to terrorism, specifically criminal offenses against the constitutional order of Kosovo, the financing of terrorism and money laundering," said Isufaj, among other things.

On September 24 last year, a Serbian armed group attacked the Kosovo Police in Banjska, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. Three Serbian attackers were also killed in the exchange of fire, while the rest of the group fled in the direction of Serbia.

The responsibility for the attack was taken by the former deputy leader of the Serbian List, Milan Radoicic, who is now in Serbia.

Kurti: Investments that have not been made for two decades, are being made in north (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has said in the opening speech of the government meeting on Wednesday that investments are being made in the northern municipalities that have not been made for two decades.

"Our visits, of state officials in these municipalities, are not against anyone, they are necessary to understand the needs of the citizens. In order to discard mutual prejudices and to understand how marginalized the citizens are, we are making these working visits. Investments are being made there that have not been made for two decades, services are being added that the citizens have been missing", he said.

Speaking about the closure of the facilities where the parallel structures operated, Kurti said that the government is not closing offices in the north, but on the contrary is adding more. "After reports that parallel structures were conducting illegal activities in the four northern municipalities, the security institutions have taken legal action for their release... this has enabled us to offer legal services. The driver's license unit, social work center, social welfare services, vehicle registration service and other services of the Ministry of Economy will be operationalized in those facilities. The government is not closing offices, on the contrary, it is opening, it is not limiting services, it is increasing them, it is not removing public services from citizens, we are bringing them closer. This is how our actions in the north should be seen", stated Kurti.

He thanked the police officials for the work they are doing against the bad plans, which according to Kurti, are not seen or discussed in public.

"We saw who is for closure last week. Masked groups in the eyes of the Serbian police played the role of border police, stopping cars and legitimizing citizens to understand their ethnicity. Our institutions, the Police and the intelligence have worked so that the purpose of these groups fails as it did. There is also a lot of work being done that is not known and not discussed in public. I want to thank our police officers and agents who enable the citizens to see and live with only positive results, despite the bad plans that are aimed at and are never realized and never agreed upon", concluded Kurti.

Konjufca: Internationals discriminating Kosovo; different treatment for Serbia (Koha)

Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, said today that in the process of dialogue with Serbia, Kosovo was always discriminated against and not treated as an equal party. “Everything related to the negotiations process since 2011 when it started and until the Ohrid Agreement, which was the last agreement in the process, the reactions and positions of the European Union and international institutions vis-à-vis what was signed by Kosovo and Serbia, have not been equal. There were double standards, and I am always going to say this. Kosovo has been discriminated against and it is experiencing injustice in the process,” he argued.

Konjufca said that Kosovo is pressured into implementing the agreements but that “it is being excluded when it tries to do that”. “What Kosovo is doing is wanting to implement something that it is in the agreement. The opening of the bridge. Previous negotiators made the bridge part of the negotiations, and the parties agreed that the bridge must be opened. When Kosovo wants to implement the agreement, they say the bridge must not be opened. While Kosovo is being excluded because we are not able to implement the Association. These are double standards. Kosovo is not being treated equally. Serbia is getting a different treatment,” he said.

Gervalla on the bridge: We’re waiting for a convenient moment for citizens (media)

Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, in an interview with TRT World, said that the main bridge over Iber river will not be opened now and that Kosovo “is preparing for a moment that is convenient for the city, for the citizens, and for our country”. “So while we are preparing we are doing all the technical stuff that is needed, because this bridge has not been used for a long time for vehicles. And while we are doing all the technical steps, we are preparing by meeting the citizens on both sides of the city through the mayors and other politicians. So we are preparing for the situation when the opening of the bridge will be a day for joy for everybody,” she said.

Gervalla said there is nothing bad in opening the bridge and that the bridge is one of the last symbols of Kosovo of Slobodan Milosevic, former president of Yugoslavia and indicted by the Hague Tribunal, widely known as the Butcher of the Balkans. “Yes, the security situation is time to time tense but as you know in Kosova and Turkiye, Slovenia, bridges are there to connect not only parts of a city but to connect people as well. So there is nothing bad and provocative about opening a bridge. It is time to open the bridge and we will do that in a way that the citizens of both sides of the city will be very happy, in facing, witnessing, and finally the opening of a bridge. Because the closing of the bridge is one of the last symbols of Milosevic in our country,” she argued.

Full interview at: https://tinyurl.com/5azp6kth

Maqedonci: We will have Javelin missiles at the right time (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said at the press conference after the government meeting today that they approved the ``National Comprehensive Defense Program'', which according to him is a government strategy of involving the entire society in the defense system in order to protect the vital interests of Kosovo.

"As for the Javelin missiles, the Ministry is continuing with the procurement procedures. In March of this year, we executed the first installment, while by the end of the year we will execute the second installment as well. We are on the right track to have this system at the right time", he said.

On January 11, the U.S. Department of State accepted the sale to Kosovo of 246 Javelin missiles worth about 75 million dollars. The request was sent to the U.S. Congress, which approved the purchase in February of this year.

Maqedonci said that they are not afraid of threats, as Serbia does this repeatedly. He stressed that Vucic’s threat is not something new, but that these threats increase vigilance.

He also said that Kosovo is prepared and is never afraid, as there are institutions that are constantly working in this direction.

Government approves amended draft law on Bureau of Asset Confiscation (Koha)

The Government of Kosovo approved on Wednesday the amended draft law for the State Bureau for the verification and confiscation of unjustifiable assets. Prime Minister Albin Kurti has described this bill as one of the most important of his government. The draft law was amended after the Constitutional Court declared it invalid in June.

"Despite the tendencies to delay the implementation of this important law, the bureau will be established. It will protect the public property and will return to the state what has been obtained illegally and will serve as a prevention so that the state budget is never misused again", Prime Minister Kurti said.

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, in a conference with journalists, said that through the Draft Law for the State Bureau for the Verification and Confiscation of Unjustifiable Assets, the government proves again the consistency of the commitment to strengthening the mechanisms against corruption and organized crime.

"The abuse of public money cannot be treated without being treated, it cannot remain unaddressed and it cannot be passed without being tried," said Haxhiu.

She further added that after the publication of the judgment of the Constitutional Court, the ministry that she leads reacted urgently by starting to address the findings of the court. "Our dedication is the guarantee in the reform of justice, in the rule of law and inevitably in the fight against organized crime and corruption", said Haxhiu.

Kosovo leaders’ messages on anniversary of September 11 attacks (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X that “today marks the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attack of 9/11—a day that forever changed history and left an enduring wound in the hearts of victims' families and the democratic world. The terror and senseless loss of nearly 3,000 lives remind us of the fragility of peace and the profound sorrow caused by this horrific attack. The images, grief, and anguish remain etched in our collective memory. Today, as always, we stand with the American people—united in the pursuit of peace, justice, and a brighter future for all”.

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Lumir Abdixhiku said in a Facebook post that the September 11 attacks was not only an act of violence but an attack on the values of freedom, democracy, and coexistence, shared by democratic countries all over the world. “Kosovo will forever remain alongside the United States of America, in the defense of freedom, peace, and democracy, as shared values of our two people,” he said.

Kurti remembers end of “supervision of Kosovo’s independence” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X on Tuesday that “September 10, 2012 was when the supervision of Kosova's independence ended, and we were fully entrusted with progress as an independent and democratic country. The day marked when our international allies solidified that the country can rely on its own institutional foundation to carry forward. We are grateful for the support of our friends and allies and proud of the strong institutional framework the country enjoys today as a result of great joint efforts”.

Qelaj: Every action in north needs to attend to respect for human rights (EO)

Kosovo’s Ombudsperson, Naim Qelaj, said in an interview with the news website today that they have received a large number of complaints from Serbs in the north of Kosovo, in relation to police conduct and the raids there. “We have treated these cases in cooperation with the Police Inspectorate because they are the competent authority and we always made sure that the inspectorate was working and reacting, by investigating these cases and giving the right responses,” he said.

Qelaj argued that the institutional boycott and the withdrawal of Serbs in the north was a mistake because it left that community without political and institutional representation.

Qelaj said they also have received a number of complaints about expropriations in the north, in Leposavic and Zubin Potok. “Although there was a court ruling, we treated the case only from the perspective of respecting human rights related to the inclusion of the public in the decision-making process. We made our remarks and conclusions too and we believe that in doing so we are doing our best to implement our mandate and that is to protect the citizens regardless of their ethnic background,” he said.

Qelaj said that he is in favor of the opening of the main bridge over Iber river in Mitrovica but that there should be a balance between exercising a right and not violating other rights. “In principle I am against any barrier that obstructs the movement of people. In this case I am in favor of the opening of the bridge because the very purpose of building bridges is for people to cross them and not to create borders. But every right and the exercising of every right should be seen in correlation with other rights. There should always be a balance … so that the exercising of one right does not violate other rights … For me, the security and lives of people are a priority, those should be guaranteed, because the right to life is the absolute right. Once these are ensured then work should continue to respect other rights, including the right for freedom of movement,” he said.

Protest at Mitrovica North police station, demanding release of four Serbs (Koha)

Dozens of residents have gathered on Wednesday in front of the police station in North Mitrovica, demanding the release of four young Serbs who were arrested at midnight on Tuesday. The protest was announced by the Serbian Democracy.

In the front line of the protest is the leader of this party, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and the deputy-leader Stefan Velkovic.

Protesters are whistling and holding placards. "Kurti's police", "Let the children go", "Give us back the children", "Is the EU concerned?", are some of them.

The four young men were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers. The relatives of the arrested have claimed that they were ill-treated during the arrest, a claim that has been denied by the Kosovo Police.

Spiropali in Pristina: Kosovo is a national priority for Albania (Klan)

Elisa Spiropali, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania, said during her stay in Pristina today that Kosovo is a national priority for Albania. In a joint press conference with her Kosovo counterpart Glauk Konjufca, Spiropali said that “for Albania and Kosovo cooperation is an inseparable priority, a stabilizing and orienting approach for our future and the future of the whole region”.

“With Speaker Konjufca, we agreed to suggest to our governments a more detailed focus on the strategic and comprehensive partnership making it an encouraging model for regional cooperation between Albanians and beyond … Our two parliaments have a patriotic and political potential, a constitutional and moral obligation, to do even more in promoting regional integration and understanding,” Spiropali said.

Serbian Language Media

Protest in front of police station in Mitrovica North over arrest of 4 young Serbs, “Police of Kurti-land” among banners (KoSSev, media, social media)

KoSSev portal reported that a protest over the arrest of four young Serbs by Kosovo police two nights ago was ongoing in front of the police station in Mitrovica North. The protest was announced by Serbian Democracy, adding that they request young men be released.

Leaders of this party, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic are in the first rows of protestors, handing over the whistles to the gathered people. Leader of the Serbian List, Zlatan Elek is also present.

Around midday, the portal reported that several hundred people blew the whistles in front of the police station. Activists from several non-governmental organizations were also present.

Protestors carry banners “Police of Kurti-land”, “Let our children free”, “Return our children” and the one in English saying “Is the EU concerned?” During a loud discussion with Kosovo police officers, citizens also chanted “ruffians”.

The four young Serbs were arrested over alleged insulting and assault on a police officer, in plainclothes at Mitrovica North central square. Videos of the arrest were shared on social media, with people claiming that police beat up the young men prior and after arrest. Police refuted those claims.

Yesterday, the lawyer of one of the arrested young Serbs, Milos Delevic confirmed that at least one of the four men was beaten up by the Kosovo police. Following arrest, the young Serbs were sent to 48-hours custody which expires today around 13.00.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/7XvJ5

The interrogation of the arrested young men will be in the north (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kontak plus)

After a short conversation with Veton Elshani, who previously confirmed that the four young men will be questioned in the south because of the ongoing protest, the leader of the Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, announced to the citizens protesting in front of the police station in the northern part of Mitrovica, that the hearing of the arrested will be around 2 pm in the North.

Arsenijevic asked everyone gathered to follow the instructions and vacate the area when the police asked them to do so. He asked the citizens to be calm.

"The trial will nevertheless be here at 2 p.m. Please, when they are passing by, make a clear passage. Our children are inside, don't touch the vehicle...", said Arsenijevic.

In the meantime, this was also confirmed for KoSSev by one of the lawyers.

Rade Nedeljkovic: My son was brutally beaten up (Radio KIM)

Rade Nedeljkovic, father of one of the four arrested young Serbs, told the media in Mitrovica North today that his son was brutally beaten, adding that parents of the young men tried unsuccessfully to “reach them”, Radio KIM reports.

“These are young men who are role models in this city, it’s as if they were looking for them. All three are athletes, good students. However, the fact that they are good bothered someone. That’s why they were arrested, for doing nothing wrong. They did not put up any resistance against anyone. Someone pointed the finger at them, and they were probably arrested because of that”, he pointed out.

Nedeljkovic added parents do not know why they (the arrested) are being held, but they know that they were beaten. “We couldn’t even send doctors to examine them, they wouldn’t let us. I don’t know what that should mean”, he said.

Nedeljkovic also said he saw his son through the window when he was giving a statement at the police station. “We tried to reach them in various ways. We saw our son through the window when he was giving a statement at the police station in North Mitrovica. We heard that he was later transferred to Vucitrn. Only he was transferred, the other two or three are there, in South Mitrovica”, he said. Nedeljkovic said has no new information and added that he is afraid.

“We hear some hints that someone has said that they should be released because they are not guilty. But, it is nothing official, announced yet. We are in uncertainty, and we fear for them, because they are good guys”, he said. He opined that people are just “sick of everything”.

“We are under attack; we have been restrained from all sides about everything and anything. They can do whatever they want with us. On one occasion I said, perhaps it is not wise, but it seems to me that they are doing better in Palestine than we are here. They throw a bomb in Palestine – people die, we are being mistreated for two years. It’s better for them to kill us than what they’re doing like this”.

Blowing whistles in Mitrovica North is obstruction of public peace and order, when Kurti blew whistles in Kosovo Assembly it was ‘patriotic policy’ (KoSSev)

The whistle - a small plastic object making a loud sound has become this summer the main tool by which certain politicians from northern Kosovo express their protest against Pristina authorities and they get arrested because of that under the pretext of “obstructing public peace and order”, KoSSev portal writes today.

However, that very same tool, along with many others, some qualified as weapons by the court, were used by the current leaders of the Kosovo Government, at times when Self-determination, as an opposition movement, opposed the acts of the-then Kosovo government.

The leader of Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and his party colleagues blowing the whistles, have already been detained twice by Kosovo police for, as police said, disturbing public order and peace.

These young politicians blow the whistles to express dissatisfaction over Pristina ministers’ visits or policy of current Mitrovica North municipal officials. Protests mainly take place on the streets in Mitrovica North, where Pristina officials parade for months. Arsenijevic and his colleague Ivan Orlovic were detained for several hours yesterday for blowing the whistles at the time when Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti unannounced visited Mitrovica North. Their arrest caused dissatisfaction of people on the streets and those on the balconies who booed at police. Arsenijevic and Orlovic were released after a few hours in police custody with financial fines issued to them.

Self-determination Whistle

Once in the past, it was exactly Albin Kurti who by blowing the whistle, along with his party colleagues, was expressing protest against the-then Kosovo government and international community, who are his partners today in meetings and conversations.

Along with his party colleagues, he blew the whistles in the middle of the Kosovo Assembly, interrupting sessions, approaching MPs close to their faces, all this at times when Self-determination was in opposition. In doing so, he was wholeheartedly supported by his party comrades, such as current Justice Minister Albulena Hadxiu.

Several activists and journalists from Pristina in their reactions to the arrest of Aleksandar Arsenijevic in Mitrovica North yesterday, pointed out the double standards by comparing behavior of Self-determination Movement leaders in the past and Arsenijevic’s arrest.

KoSSev portal looked into relevant laws stipulating actions to be undertaken in case a noise was made, depending on time, none of which included arrest as a punitive measure.

Blowing the whistle, was one, moreover, peaceful act of protest, compared to the arsenal of methods Self-determination Movement used for years to protest decisions of the-then Pristina authorities, claiming that those decisions undermine Kosovo sovereignty, or against international agreements, such as Ahtisaari’s Plan, Brussels Agreement, Demarcation Agreement with Montenegro. They also opposed negotiations with Belgrade, and the phrase “Jo negociata” (No Negotiations) and afterwards “Zajednica nuk kalon” (Community (CSM) shall not pass) skyrocketed them to the Kosovo political orbit.

They opposed import of Serbian goods, overturned the trucks transporting Serbian goods, but also international police vehicles. There is also current Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla, being the main protagonist in one of the videos showing those actions. (KoSSev re-published the video under headline: Svecla behind attacks: Commands and overturns EULEX vehicles)

They threw teargas for days in Kosovo Assembly and Pristina Municipal Assembly, when current Justice Minister Hadxiu stood out in particular. They demolished the gate in front of the government's building, threw Molotov cocktails at the police station in Pristina, and pelted international forces with stones and bricks.

A bomb was thrown even at those institutions, a mortar shell fired, although the investigation never revealed to the public the preparator of these acts, respectively the responsible side.

Those, making the current Kosovo Government, bragging it is a social-democratic one, underwent the judicial process over the past years in Pristina, some of them are still prolonged, amid speculations that high officials of the current authorities, Self-determination respectively, are in fact avoiding the trials waiting for the status limitations of those acts.

The current Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, was sentenced to year and a half in prison in 2018, for throwing the teargas in Kosovo Assembly, respectively to two years parole sentence, while current Justice Minister, Albulena Hadxiu was also sentenced to one year and three months, respectively two years parole sentence.

Two more MPs from their ranks were convicted – Donika Kadaj Bujupi and Faton Topali for months-long disruption of the work of Parliament in 2015 during attempts to adopt the law on ratifying the demarcation agreement with Montenegro. In the meantime, in 2021, one more MP from their ranks, Driton Cuvshi was convicted for throwing the teargas and he was also accused of criminal act of using the arms. This year, one more official, current Assembly Speaker, Glauk Konjufca was acquitted from accusations of throwing teargas in Kosovo Assembly in 2016.

On the other hand, charges related to “obstruction of official person in carrying out official duties” have reached the status limitations, KoSSev portal reported.

Arsenijevic: No reason to complain to PIK, they act as police advocate (KoSSev)

Serbian Democracy leader, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and his party colleagues have been arrested twice already by Kosovo police for blowing the whistle, as a manner of expressing dissatisfaction over the visits of Pristina’s ministers and their policies to the north, KoSSev portal reported.

Although they object to the conduct of Kosovo police, Serbian Democracy leaders said they will not file complaints to Kosovo Police Inspectorate (PIK) becasue this institution is biased and unresponsive.

“We no longer have strength to report cases to PIK, because this institution acts as a police advocate, and not as a remedy factor”, Arsenijevic told KoSSev.

He also said there are more than 10 unresolved complaints that they had submitted and dozens of complaints that ordinary people submitted.

Serbs in Kosovo exposed to persecution and police torture (NMagazin, Beta)

The Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija from Gracanica, the Serbian National Forum from Gracanica and the National Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija "Fatherland" announced that the Serbian people and political representatives of Serbs from Kosovo are exposed to police torture and arrests, reported NMagazin.

They added that ''the Serbian people are in agony, which is the result of the policy of persecution, ethnic cleansing, and ethnic engineering of the chauvinist regime of Albin Kurti''.

"There is a real exodus of the rest of the people," they stated in the statement.

They emphasized that everyone is silent, especially the international community.

"All those who would have to raise their voice and stop the unreasonable policy of the insane Albin Kurti, are all silent. The international community is a mute observer which by its silence approves the unreasonable policy of the Pristina authorities. Unfortunately, the regime and the Church and the Serbian intellectual elite have been silent for days," it was said in the announcement of the organizations.

It is emphasized that this silence, impotence and calculating policy of Aleksandar Vucic only exposes his role and complicity in the tragedy of his own people.

"The situation in which the Serbs in KiM have found themselves today is primarily the result and consequence of his many years of wrong or deliberate policies, the policy of signing and implementing the Brussels, Franco-German agreement and the Ohrid agreement, a consequence of the actions of the political and intellectual half-world gathered around the so-called Serbian List, through which the regime in Belgrade has been manipulating the unfortunate people for years for the sake of conquering and preserving power in Serbia".

"Due to the catastrophic situation in which the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija found themselves, the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija from Gracanica, the Serbian National Forum from Gracanica and the National Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija "Fatherland" demand an urgent meeting with Serbian opposition parties, relevant movements and associations that deal with Kosovo and Metohija," these organizations and movements concluded in a statement.

Discrimination of newborn children due to discharge papers in Kosovo (Zenski.info, Kosovo Online)

They say that pregnancy, if without complications, is actually one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have. Experts recommend that we avoid stress when we are "expecting" and instead enjoy this special and important period. However, if you are currently pregnant or a new mother in Kosovo, you're also worrying about things the system itself should be solving, but which the local system only complicates.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but most mothers in Serbian communities in Kosovo give birth in clinical centers or maternity wards that operate within the system of the Republic of Serbia, located in Gracanica, Pasjane, and North Mitrovica.

After the closure of certain institutions in northern Kosovo, registering newborns has become a complicated process, which will now have to be done outside of Kosovo, specifically in the nearest city in central Serbia, to ensure that the child receives Serbian citizenship and secures further rights associated with that status.

Another very complicated situation, which I’ve heard about from our compatriots in the north, is that not only can they not register the child in their own municipality, but—surprisingly—they also cannot register the child in the Kosovo system. You might ask how this is possible?