UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Serbia draws EU funds while being militarised by Russia and China (media)
Osmani: International community to condemn Serbia's tendencies for destabilisation (media)
Von der Leyen: Dialogue is the only way to move forward (media)
Escobar meets Bislimi and Petkovic (RFE)
Lajcak meets Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators (media)
Kosovo Ministry reacts to campaign against RKS plates (Koha/Telegrafi)
"The Game" to be changed with U.S. at the Kosovo-Serbia negotiating table (Kallxo)
Kosovo-Serbia border dispute ‘driven by internal politics’ (Prishtina Insight)
United States appoint envoy for Europe (Klan)
COVID-19: Two deaths, 66 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Protests in northern Kosovo continue (RTS)
Vucic met Ambassador Chen Bo: ''China's position on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is consistent and clear'' (RTS)
Vucic met Russian Ambassador Kharchenko (media)
Tadic: Situation in northern Kosovo consequence of Vucic and Kurti pre-election interests (N1)
Serb mayors: ''We do not want northern Kosovo-Metohija to become ghetto'' (media)
Elek: Epidemiological situation in northern Kosovo alarming (Radio KIM)
Selakovic: Consistent stance of Guatemala on Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

Reciprocity is right, and making it stick is vital (Peacefare.net/Kallxo)

International:

Differing interpretations of Open Balkan brought up again during von der Leyen’s visit to Albania (EWB)
German Parliament Gets 24 New MPs with Balkan Roots (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Serbia draws EU funds while being militarised by Russia and China (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said at a press conference he held jointly with President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen that Kosovo has no other destination but the EU. He also said the attacks in Zubin Potok and Jarinje against Kosovo institutions should draw condemnation.

Kurti said that in the meeting with von der Leyen they discussed Kosovo's EU integration process, the visa liberalisation which he noted that despite being three years since the European Commission recommended a positive decision, the EU has not yet approved visa-free travel to Kosovo.

The current situation in the north of Kosovo was also discussed. "We have not taken any new decision in this regard except that we are implementing an old agreement. Unfortunately, Serbia reacted forcefully, by gathering troops at the border lines, including T-72 tanks, Lazar 3 armored vehicles and BOV M16 MILOSH multi-purpose combat vehicles, and also engaged Russian fighter jets MIG29 and Russian-made helicopters," Kurti said.

He said attacks in Zubin Potok and Jarinje should be condemned as they constituted attacks on Kosovo institutions and followed 'warmongering and hatred inciting' statements by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic. "Unfortunately, we are in a situation in which on the one hand aid and donations are received from the European Union, and on the other hand Serbia, despite receiving these funds without implementing values, instead of democratising is being militarised by Russia and China," Kurti continued.

Kurti said he hoped a solution will be found in Brussels today where Kosovo and Serbia negotiators are meeting with the EU High Representative for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak. "I wish and hope that the solution is found there. We expressed our readiness on Monday in a meeting with the KFOR commander for dismantling of the barricades for free movement and withdrawing Special Units by replacing them with KFOR troops. The border police would stay as would reciprocity. Local Serbs have accepted the decision, but there is one individual in Serbia who is also a president who speaks the language of the ‘90s of the last century," he said.

He also spoke about Kosovo's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked the EU for its support. "Although we were the last to start vaccination, without finding any vaccine or contract signed when we took office at the end of March, today we are above the regional average, with 62% of the identified population having received the first dose and 41% two doses," he said.

Osmani: International community to condemn Serbia's tendencies for destabilisation (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met today the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen who visited Kosovo as part of her Balkans tour.

Osmani said that Kosovo’s path ahead is clear and that its future lies in the European Union. She also stressed that the EU should have a clear strategy for the integration of the Western Balkans, which also includes Kosovo. “Delays in this process diminish EU’s credibility,” Osmani warned.

On the issue of visa liberalisation, Osmani underlined that Kosovo has already met all the criteria and called on the EU to keep its promises given to Kosovo.

The current political situation in Kosovo was also discussed at the meeting, with special emphasis on the situation in the north. “President Osmani stressed that Kosovo is only fulfilling a legal aspect and that there is no tendency on the part of Kosovo to add tension to the security situation. On the contrary, according to President Osmani such a tendency is openly manifested by the Serbian side which, influenced by Russian circles, is trying to cause destabilization in the entire Balkan region. For this reason, President Osmani has asked that the entire international community condemn Serbia's tendencies for destabilization. Meanwhile, regarding the dialogue process with Serbia, President Osmani stressed that Kosovo is a constructive party and that should conclude with mutual recognition, as the only solution for lasting peace in the region,” a press release issued by the Kosovo’s presidency states.

Von der Leyen: Dialogue is the only way to move forward (media)

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in Pristina today after meeting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that it is vital for relations between Kosovo and Serbia to be normalised.

She said she was concerned with recent events in the north of Kosovo. "It is important to de-escalate and to return to the negotiating table to find a sustainable solution. And the only way to do that is the EU-facilitated Dialogue. That is the only platform to resolve the current crisis. We will stay in touch, we have discussed that, because I want to see Kosovo progress and this is only possible through cooperation. So let us work together on that,” von der Leyen said in her remarks.

"As we speak here, negotiators are in Brussels negotiating these and I hope they have a strong mandate to negotiate because this is the best way to move forward."

She underlined the importance of Kosovo continuing efforts in fighting corruption and organised crime.

Von der Leyen further said: "We want a future where Kosovo and all the Western Balkans are part of the European Union. That is what we are working for. It is a long way to go. We have come a long way. We have made a lot of progress. We never lose sight of the goal: That is all Western Balkans, Kosovo, part of the European Union. That is what we want.”

Escobar meets Bislimi and Petkovic (RFE)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, met in Brussels the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, and the Head of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic.

Escobar, who is also U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans, said he supports the European Union's efforts to find a solution to the situation in the north of Kosovo. "The number one priority is de-escalation of tensions. They are very high right now and should be reduced immediately," he said.

Escobar also said that an urgent solution is needed on the issue of vehicle license plates and that the parties should return to the dialogue which should serve as a platform for resolving all open issues.

Lajcak meets Kosovo and Serbia chief negotiators (media)

The European Union Special Representative for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said he held separate meetings today in Brussels with chief negotiators of the two sides, Besnik Bislimi of Kosovo and Petar Petkovic of Serbia.

"This morning, I had two separate meetings with the Chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia to discuss ways to solve the current crisis. We will continue our discussions throughout the day," Lajcak tweeted.

Kosovo Ministry reacts to campaign against RKS plates (Koha/Telegrafi)

Koha reports that a widespread campaign of intimidation against persons who take on temporary license plates issued by Kosovo authorities has been launched in the north of Kosovo with residents having woken up today to find threatening messages on the windshields of cars in parking lots.

Telegrafi meanwhile carries a statement issued by Kosovo’s Ministry of Interior saying that it has received information that citizens who have been issued with Kosovo temporary license plates are being threatened by yet unidentified persons. "The Ministry of Interior strongly condemns these threats made against citizens who have been equipped with temporary license plates as per MIA's decision dated 20 September 2021."

The Ministry further said that such threats have a direct impact in creating a climate of fear: "These threats are unacceptable and are hindering free movement of persons and goods."

"The Game" to be changed with U.S. at the Kosovo-Serbia negotiating table (Kallxo)

Kallxo reports that for the first time since the start of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, there will be a direct physical presence of a U.S. official in the process as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, will take part in today's meeting in Brussels between the head of the Kosovo negotiating team, Besnik Bislimi, and Serbian chief negotiator, Petar Petkovic.

Political analysts in Kosovo consider that introduction of reciprocity measures and the direct involvement of the United States will energise the dialogue which started a decade ago in Brussels.

Artan Muhaxhiri said the presence of a State Department representative in today's meeting carries a multifold significance. "In addition to demonstrating the renewal of the stronger U.S. engagement in the course of the dialogue process, it directly affects all actors: the EU, Kosovo and Serbia, in various forms and levels," he said, adding that the U.S.'s extraordinary global power plays a huge role in dialogue and the level of the country's will to be involved in the process will be one of the key determining factors in the future developments.

Imer Mushkolaj said the U.S. is becoming involved in the dialogue at the right time as the process facilitated so far by the EU has been 'poor'. "The U.S. has been present more as an observer, but not with any decisive role. For the EU it was important for the parties to sign the agreements to proclaim them as successes for the EU and in most cases, everything has remained at that level, [and] we are in a situation now where many of the signed agreements have not been implemented."

Mushkolaj noted that the U.S. and the EU should be laying down a framework on which Kosovo and Serbia would reach a final agreement and not continue as until now. "The final agreement cannot be reached without the involvement of the U.S.," he emphasised.

Kosovo-Serbia border dispute ‘driven by internal politics’ (Prishtina Insight)

The blockade of two border crossing points between Kosovo and Serbia by Kosovo Serbs protesting against new measures on vehicle licence plates imposed by Albin Kurti’s government is now in its eighth consecutive day, with the tensions between the two sides showing no signs of abating.

Srdjan Cvijic from the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels told BIRN that the crisis was artificially created, but that it is the most serious since 2011, when Serbs in northern Kosovo burned down the Jarinje border crossing after Pristina introduced an embargo on products from Serbia and tried to take over the crossing using special police units.

“The crisis is fake, because there will not be any war, but the biggest problem after this will be to build the fragile trust between ordinary people who live in Kosovo,” Cvijic told BIRN.

“On both sides, opinion-formers are spreading a poisonous atmosphere, and this rattling of weapons frightens ordinary people. How people from the [Serb-majority] north of Kosovo will find a common language with the rest of the population of Kosovo, I think that is the key problem,” he said.

Cvijic added that Kurti should have imposed the new licence plate regulations with more subtlety and understanding for local Serbs, and not have banned overnight the ‘status-neutral’ licence plates that 80 per cent of drivers in North Kosovo had been using.

“If he had done that, the Serbian regime could not have used this to escalate a conflict,” he said.

Kosovo analyst Agon Maliqi there is “no sincere wish for dialogue either in Kosovo or in Serbia and there isn’t the necessary energy from the West to provide the impetus in moving forward the EU integration process”.

He said that in the current situation, the ongoing EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to normalise relations is “clinically dead”.

“For the dialogue to be revived, we maybe should be reminded why it is needed. The current status quo is quite unsustainable and the security crisis could escalate to the extent that the dialogue needs reanimation. Let us not forget too that both countries are in an election mood and the leaders have domestic political motives,” Maliqi added.

Diplomatic activity has been intensifying in an attempt to overcome the tensions, which initially flared when Pristina imposed measures forcing people entering Kosovo from Serbia to replace Serbian licence plates with temporary Kosovo plates, as people with Kosovo plates have had to do while entering Serbia for many years.

Serbian Language Media

Protests in northern Kosovo continue (RTS)

People dissatisfied with Pristina’s decision relating to the licence plates and deployment of the Kosovo special police units ROSU at Jarinje and Brnjak crossing points continue protesting for the tenth consecutive day, RTS reports.

RTS said the situation remains unchanged, police are present, while the roads leading to the crossing points remain blocked. Due to bad weather protestors stay under the tents mainly, adding they would continue protesting until a solution is found.

Media also reported that Serbian List in a statement issued yesterday said following consultations with the people they decided not to accept KFOR’s proposal for its troops to replace ROSU, and Pristina’s decision on license plates to remain in force.

Serbian List said if that be the case, freedom of the movement of the population would be limited and the north would become a Serbian ghetto.

They added it were Pristina authorities raising the tensions, adding they will not agree to their intention “to put the Serbs in cages”.

“It is a lie we are troubled by the ethnicity of the one removing our license plates, we are troubled by the very intention to remove them. No matter what uniform that one wears”, Serbian List said.

Flyers against test RKS plates on the vehicles with Serbian registration plates

This morning, in the northern part of Mitrovica and Zvecan, flyers were placed on a large number of cars against the non-acceptance of test RKS plates, Serbian media in Kosovo reported.

Dejan Nedeljkovic from Kosovska Mitrovica announced this morning on Twitter that he found printed test RKS plates with a vulgar rhyming message on several cars in the city, writes KoSSev. Nedeljkovic interpreted these messages as “a warning to those who were ready to take out test plates”.

KoSSev, meanwhile, also learned that similar messages were posted on cars in several parts of the city.

"On the ones we found this morning, there is a printed test RKS plate with a large inscription STOP. We noticed similar inscriptions on cars in Zvecan, and some of them were thrown in the garbage can near the municipal building," the portal reported.

According to Kossev, the police in northern Kosovo had no knowledge of the flyers.

Vucic met Ambassador Chen Bo: ''China's position on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is consistent and clear'' (RTS)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, met the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Chen Bo.

Ambassador Chen Bo conveyed to President Vucic that the position of the Chinese side on the issue of Kosovo is consistent and clear, said the announcement of the Service for Cooperation with the Media of the President of the Republic, cited RTS.

"The Chinese side pays special attention to the current tense situation in northern Kosovo and Metohija and believes that unilaterally taken action is not in the interest of peace and stability in the region. The international community should treat all parties equally, the double standard is not in favor of solving the problem," she said.

She added that "the Chinese side respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia on the issue of KiM, understands and supports the legitimate demands of Serbia, including those on the protection of security and legal rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, in the hope that all agreements reached so far will be strictly respected".

President Vucic thanked President Xi, the Chinese state and the party for their support on the issue of KiM and handed Ambassador Chen a congratulatory message to President Xi on October 1, the Day of the Founding of the People's Republic of China.

He said that Serbia respects and loves China and that it is determined to nurture sincere Serbian-Chinese friendship.

"I am extremely proud that the overall relations between the Republic of Serbia and the People's Republic of China are at a historic peak, at a time when I have the honor and responsibility to lead the Republic of Serbia. I am especially pleased to work with you to comprehensively improve the strategic partnership of our countries. I deeply believe in the bright future of our relations, based on steel friendship and strategic partnership and unbreakable ties between our two peoples," stated Vucic.

Ambassador Chen thanked President Vucic for the congratulations, emphasizing that this is a very important year in Chinese history, considering that the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China was marked and important goals were met

The ongoing joint infrastructure projects were discussed as well as the plans for the continuation of works on the high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest, on the section from Novi Sad to the Serbian-Hungarian border, reported RTS.

Vucic met Russian Ambassador Kharchenko (media)

President Vucic thanked for the active support of the Russian Federation to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, reported Serbian media, citing the announcement of the Service for Cooperation with the Media of the President of Serbia.

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic today met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, and thanked the official Moscow for its support on the issue of Kosovo, reported Serbian media.

Kharchenko said that Moscow was following the situation in the north of Kosovo with great concern. He pointed out that the responsibility for the crisis lies with the Kosovo institutions, which violate and do not fulfill the agreements that were signed earlier, it was said in the announcement.

Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko pointed out that the Serbian side is acting with the greatest responsibility, while Pristina is not showing any sign that it is in favor of seeking a compromise solution.

President Vucic thanked for the active support of the Russian Federation to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia.

Vucic and Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko discussed joint Serbian-Russian projects as part of preparations for a new session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation and the visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov.

On this occasion, President Vucic said that he hoped that in the coming months he would again have the opportunity to talk with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

Tadic: Situation in northern Kosovo consequence of Vucic and Kurti pre-election interests (N1)

Former Serbian President and leader of Social-Democratic Party (SDS) Boris Tadic said the situation at administrative crossing points Jarinje and Brnjak was “a direct consequence of interests” relating to the pre-election campaign of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and not at all interest of ordinary people, N1 reports.

“The essence of this situation is the use value of the dispute and people at the crossings for the purpose of Kurti’s success at upcoming local elections in Kosovo and Vucic’s (success) at parliamentary and presidential elections in Serbia”, Tadic told Danas daily.

He added, he would personally not allow the issue of licence plates to remain unresolved, if that brings Serbia in an unfavorable position, and leaves the room to the other side to take action, something Kurti did by using Kosovo special police units ROSU.

“I would not use the army over the dispute relating to the vehicle plates, and in particular would not scare our people with a new pogrom. That is disgraceful and cowardly”, Tadic added.

Tadic also said Vucic should talk to the people making decisions, and not to ambassadors and other mediators, since it brings no result but rather contributes “to the selfish interests of Vucic and Kurti”.

Serb mayors: ''We do not want northern Kosovo-Metohija to become ghetto'' (media)

The mayors of the four majority Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo on Tuesday rejected a proposal by the KFOR commander under which Pristina’s special police forces deployed at the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings would be replaced by KFOR troops but its decision to seize Serbian vehicle registration plates would remain in place.

That way, north Kosovo would become a Serb ghetto, they said.

“In consultations with our citizens, we unanimously rejected the proposal. Our people and we, its representatives, are not ready to agree to Pristina’s intent to put us in ghettos and abolish the right to freedom of movement, which has been a value of modern Europe for decades now, and which should apply to Serbs in this region as well,” the mayors said in a statement.

They said the purpose of the statement was to keep the public informed and prevent disinformation by Pristina aimed at “justifying the escalation of tensions in Serb municipalities in the north of Kosovo-Metohija and the dispatching of formations armed to the teeth to our municipalities.”

They said that, due to Pristina’s unilateral decision to ban Serbian registration plates and replace them with temporary plates, local Serbs had been protesting at Jarinje and Brnjak for nine days now and would stay there for as long as it was necessary as they would not reconcile to Pristina’s intent to cage them in ghettos.

In the statement, the mayors reiterated a call to Pristina to restore the situation to what it was before September 20, withdraw its armed formations and find an appropriate solution through dialogue with Belgrade.

See at: https://bit.ly/39O028A

Elek: Epidemiological situation in northern Kosovo alarming (Radio KIM)

Epidemiological situation in northern Kosovo is alarming, given that the number of Covid-19 infected people gets higher every day, the Director of the Clinical Hospital Center in Mitrovica North Zlatan Elek said, Radio KIM reports.

He also refuted unofficial claims that the vaccination process stopped, adding the interest for smaller during the summer months due to the holiday season probably. He said every week coordinators make lists of people interested to vaccinate, Radio KIM reports.

There are 67 patients currently hospitalized in Mitrovica North hospital, and over the last weekend 16 people were admitted, including from Strpce. According to Elek, all patients have serious clinical conditions, including lung’s inflammation. Speaking about the age of the patients, he said they were mainly elderly people, however there were patients younger than 40 staying in the hospital currently.

Elek also said 96.7 percent of hospitalized persons were not vaccinated.

Talking about the vaccination process for northern Kosovo residents he said the vaccination process still takes place in Raska, and there is a possibility for interested people to receive vaccines in Kursumlija or Bujanovac.

According to him, the largest number of people from Kosovo vaccinated at points in Raska, Kursumlija and Bujanovac received the Sinofarm vaccine, while Pfizer-Biotech, Astra-Zeneca and Sputnik are also available.

So far, 28.000 people from Kosovo received the first dose, 27.600 received both doses, and slightly above 3.000 received a third, so-called booster dose.

Selakovic: Consistent stance of Guatemala on Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Selakovic met today President of the Congress of Guatemala, Allan Estuardo Rodrigez and stressed that Serbia highly appreciates the consistent stance of Guatemala not to recognize Kosovo, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Selakovic who is on official visit to Guatemala said Serbia remains committed at fostering political dialogue and general cooperation with this friendly state, adding the two states, despite geographic distance, share and fight for the same values in the world.

He also informed his interlocutor that the Serbian Parliament has a Friendship Group with Guatemala, consisting of six members and invited Rodrigez to visit Serbia.

Opinion

Reciprocity is right, and making it stick is vital (Peacefare.net/Kallxo)

By Daniel Serwer

Kosovo in recent days has imposed on cars coming from Serbia a requirement to use Kosovo license plates. This mirrors a Serbian requirement that cars coming from Kosovo use Serbian plates. Serb residents of northern Kosovo are protesting by blocking roads. Kosovo police have so far not cleared them.

Reciprocity is correct from the Pristina perspective. It is a basic principle of relations between sovereign states. That is also precisely why Serbia rejects it. Belgrade regards Kosovo as Serbian sovereign territory. Reciprocity is not a principle that governs relations between a sovereign and part of its own territory, even if that part has its own goverrnment, police, and in this case security forces.

From my perspective, Kosovo is a sovereign state: its declaration of independence breached no international law, Serbia has recognized the validity of Kosovo’s constitution on its entire territory, and it has its own democratically validated parliament, prime minister, and president. Serbia does not contest this and claims the territory but not 90% of the people. But if Kosovo Albanians are not citizens of Serbia, then they must be citizens of something else, which is the Republic of Kosovo for all practical and legal purposes.

So demanding reciprocity is consistent with Kosovo’s sovereignty, but that doesn’t mean applying that principle to license plates is smart. Once you do that, you need to anticipate what Belgrade will do in response, like blocking the roads. If you can leave them blocked without any serious economic harm, or if you can clear them without creating a mess, you could come out on top, but only if Belgrade yields. You have to also think about what else Belgrade might do next: create trouble in the Serb communities south of Ibar, complain to the European Union and the Americans, or make a show of military force on its side of the border, which is what it has done in addition to the complaints. It doesn’t suffice to be right about reciprocity; you have to make it stick.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3olkZQC

International

Differing interpretations of Open Balkan brought up again during von der Leyen’s visit to Albania (EWB)

TIRANA – President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama were asked multiple questions on the Open Balkan initiative and how it relates to the Berlin Process during the joint press conference held today in Tirana.

The conference was held in the context of von der Leyen’s visit to the region, which started today.

The same issue was already discussed during the visit of the outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this month.

The EC President was first asked whether she believed that Open Balkan initiative is a way of stabilising the region, or a way for the region to be even more distanced from the EU.

See more at:https://bit.ly/2Y3EbI6

German Parliament Gets 24 New MPs with Balkan Roots (Balkan Insight)

Preliminary results from the parliamentary elections in Germany show that the Bundestag will have 24 new lawmakers with Balkan roots - the majority from Turkish backgrounds, but several with Bosnian, Croatian and Kosovo origins.

According to preliminary results on Monday from Germany’s general election, 24 people with Balkan roots, the majority of them from Turkey, have been elected to the German federal parliament, the Bundestag.

Most of the MPs with Balkan origins are from the centre-left Social Democratic Party, which came first in the polls, or from left-wing parties.

See more at:https://bit.ly/3uk21Lj