Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We’re really trying; Serbia is not distancing from Milosevic’s policy (media)
• Stoltenberg: We’re working hand in hand with EU on Kosovo and WB (Klan)
• EU official: Measures against Kosovo are provisional and reversible (media)
• Butikofer: Situation in WB destabilised through wrong EU-US positioning (media)
• Rohde: Berlin Process driving vital economic integration in Western Balkans (media)
• Police says bomb alarm in a Mitrovica North building was false (Albanian Post)
• Graffiti with inciting content seen in Leposavic, police investigating (media)
• Selimi on administrative instruction, “very complicated process” (Albanian Post)
• Haxhiu: Civil Code this year, we’ll have votes of VV MPs that were against (Express)
• Pendarovski: Kurti didn’t misuse visit to North Macedonia even for a second (media)
• Canak: There are no Serbian monasteries in Kosovo, they are orthodox monasteries appropriated by Serbia (Koha/TV Happy)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to address nation “about all important issues” (N1)
• Dacic certain of SNS, SPS election victory (Beta, FoNet, N1)
• Petkovic to the Quint and Lajcak: Pristina's ultimatum can deepen the crisis and raise tensions (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• A day before the deadline for Serb institutions to vacate the building, KP inspected the premises after receiving a tip about a bomb (KoSSev)
• Igor Simic: The attempt to evict the building in Bosniak Mahala part of the plan to expel the Serbs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Petkovic: ''The false bomb alert is Kurti's trick, I informed the international community'' (Tanjug)
• "KFOR dedicated to preserving security and freedom of movement in Kosovo" (KiM radio)
• Andric Rakic: If the decision to “vacate” the facility in Bosniak Mahala is implemented, the scenario of May 26 can be repeated (Kontakt plus radio)
• US Ambassador Hill: Serbia-US relations stable (FoNet, N1)
• Day of America in Belgrade, the US Embassy: When the Ohio National Guard returns to Serbia (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Shasha: Between cynicism and hope (Koha)

International:

• RTK’s Board Blocks High-Scoring Women from Top Jobs (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• GAP report on progress of mayors in implementing election promises (media)
• Ministry bans use of plastic bags, some will be paid (Kosovapress)

 

 

Albanian Language Media  

 

Kurti: We’re really trying; Serbia is not distancing from Milosevic’s policy (media)

Most news websites cover an interview that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti gave to RTV Slovenia, highlighting his remarks that Kosovo is trying hard to normalise relations with Serbia but that the latter is “not distancing itself from Milosevic’s policy in the past and Vladimir Putin in the present”.

Kurti argued that “the issues are very complex and I say: let us implement the agreement we have reached. I am not in favour of a settlement for Albanians, but for all residents of Kosovo. It is true that 93 percent of people living in Kosovo are Albanians, but there are also four percent of Serbs. Three percent are from the other minority communities – Roma, Bosniaks, Ashkali, Egyptians, Goranis and Turks. And Serbs, for example, have ten reserved seats in the parliament of Kosovo; even if they don’t vote at all, they have ten seats in the 120-seat Assembly of Kosovo. There also needs to be at least one Serb minister in the government. I took Nenad Rasic, with whom I work very well, but for this he is hated in Belgrade”.

“In local assemblies too, 17 percent are Serbs. In Kosovo, Serbian is an official language in all levels of administration all over Kosovo. Therefore, trust me, we are trying hard and doing the best that we can, but it is not easy because Belgrade has never really distanced itself from Slobodan Milosevic’s policy in the past, or from Vladimir Putin in the present. For example, the support for the European Union in Kosovo is 94 percent, whereas in Serbia it is 35 percent. It is not easy, but I believe that with a clear perspective of membership in the European Union, we can be successful in reaching a greater agreement to reduce tensions and to normalise our relations,” Kurti said.

Commenting on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, Kurti said there are two agreements, the agreement reached in 2013 and the one in 2015 and added that they have violated at least 23 articles of the Constitution of Kosovo. “These are only two out of 39 agreements that my predecessors in the office of the Prime Minister have reached in Brussels. Article 10 of the agreement I reached in Brussels with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on February 27, foresees the implementation of all parts that are valid and binding. We need to implement the basic agreement in its entirety and without conditions, because all unresolved issues are treated in this agreement. The agreement in 2015 did not pass the constitutional test by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo. Namely they created a fusion with the executive government, by including partly the law on government and partly the law on municipalities and in doing so they violated 23 articles of the Constitution of Kosovo. As far as the Brussels agreement in 2013 is concerned, and which has 15 points, the first six points talk about the Association of Serb municipalities and the majority of others talk about the integration of Serbs in Kosovo’s institutions, which did not happen in the north of Kosovo. One of the points even says that Serbia must not obstruct Kosovo in its path toward European integration. But on December 10 last year, the Serbian President sent letters to five EU member states that don’t recognise Kosovo, telling them not to do so, and thus violated his agreement in Brussels,” he said.

Stoltenberg: We’re working hand in hand with EU on Kosovo and WB (Klan)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in his meeting with the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, talked about the cooperation between NATO and the European Union on Kosovo. “It is good to see that year after year we have been able to strengthen the cooperation between NATO and the European Union, in cybernetics, space, critical infrastructure, military mobility, and we are working hand in hand on the Western Balkans, in Kosovo,” he was quoted as saying.

EU official: Measures against Kosovo are provisional and reversible (media)

Alessandro Bianciardi, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section of the EU Office in Kosovo, said today that the EU measures against Kosovo are provisional and reversible. “I want to draw your attention to the current obstacles in the further development of cooperation. As political stability is equally important in terms of securing Kosovo’s prosperity, the current political situation calls on all of us to de-escalate the situation in the north. In this respect, the EU has adopted a series of measures to make clear its message and has suspended financial aid for Kosovo. I would like to say that these measures are provisional and reversible. Our full level of financial assistance and political engagement will resume as soon as the government implements the de-escalation of the situation in line with the recommendations of the EU. We hope that we can leave this behind as soon as possible and restore our focus on reforms that are crucial to get Kosovo closer to the European Union”.

Butikofer: Situation in WB destabilised through wrong EU-US positioning (media)

Reinhard Bütikofer, member of the European Parliament said today that he welcomes that “NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg is not joining the many US and EU politicians that have been refusing to have diplomatic exchanges with Kosovo recently, effectively ostracizing the country”. He argued that “the Kosovo/Serbia-policy by the USA and the EU is one-sided in favour of Serbia, sets double-standards and ignores largely that Kosovo has gone through great pains to make European values a yardstick for their own policy. The situation on the Western Balkan is further destabilised through the wrong positioning of the EU and the USA. HRVP Josep Borrell should finally leave the anti-Kosovo-prejudices of his Spanish homeland behind, learn from Secretary General Stoltenberg and immediately restart the necessary dialogue with Kosovo. Without any doubt, the Kosovo government has also made mistakes. But it is simply not acceptable and even un-European to sanction it heavily, while all actions of Serbian President Vucic against his commitments, including his mobilisation of violent thug gangs, are tolerated with infinite patience.”

Rohde: Berlin Process driving vital economic integration in Western Balkans (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said today that “the Berlin Process is driving vital economic integration among Western Balkan nations and their connection to the European Union. The tangible progress achieved along this path translates into significant enhancements in the daily lives of the people in the region.”

Police says bomb alarm in a Mitrovica North building was false (Albanian Post)

Kosovo Police deputy director for the north, Veton Elshani, confirmed to the news website today that a bomb alarm in a building in Mitrovica North was false. “We were informed about a bomb in a building in Mitrovica but it turned out to be a false alarm,” he said.

Graffiti with inciting content seen in Leposavic, police investigating (media)

Kosovo Police said in a report today during their patrols in Leposavic, the north of Kosovo, police officers saw graffiti with anti-constitutional content on the walls of several houses. The state prosecutor has been notified and police teams are carrying out investigations.

Selimi on administrative instruction, “very complicated process” (Albanian Post)

Kosovo’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi, commented today on the administrative instruction for the dismissal of mayors in the four northern municipalities, saying that the process is very complicated. “The draft (if it becomes legal) will open path in the rest of Kosovo for only 20% of voters to impeach other mayors & force snap elections whenever a political minority wants. This draft regulation (according to the former head of Constitutional Court) seems unconstitutional. This is not the fastest way to fulfill EU & US conditions. If entangled in constitutional court or even Venice Commission, will certainly ensure many months of debate & non-decision.  It will reflect best though what this gov does: not decide, not coordinate, not do anything,” Selimi argued.

Haxhiu: Civil Code this year, we’ll have votes of VV MPs that were against (Express)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, told reporters today that the Civil Code will be voted on in the Assembly this year and that she hopes this time they will have the support of Vetevendosje MPs that did not vote for the bill the first time. The Civil Code also includes same-sex marriages.

Haxhiu said the code is very important for advancing human rights in Kosovo and for integration in the European Union, especially on the eve of Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe. Commenting on the earlier opposition to the code, she said: “I don’t think it was right that they focused only on one article, because the code treats many institutes, and it is in the interest of the citizens of Kosovo. Therefore, all political parties, the ruling majority, and the opposition, are obliged to support it. During this time, we also had discussions with our parliamentary group, and with MPs that have differing opinions from what the Vetevendosje Movement represents. I am optimistic that this time, namely when we send the bill to the Government and the Assembly, it will not fail. Otherwise, it would be unacceptable for the Republic of Kosovo, especially on the eve of membership in the Council of Europe. As I have said earlier, we are waiting for experts from the Council of Europe to come to Kosovo this year and make their assessments about the situation concerning human rights, and it would be positive news for the Civil Code to be adopted”.

Pendarovski: Kurti didn’t misuse visit to North Macedonia even for a second (media)

North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski again commented on the visit by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to Tetovo and Cair. In an interview with Koha, Pendarovski said that Kurti did not misuse his visit to North Macedonia even for a second. “I have no problem with understanding Albin Kurti’s logic for his visit. If I were in his place I would have come too. He came here to honor a street that we named after his biggest political mentor, Adem Demaci. But the iconography, which was seen after his presentation, was irritating and in these circumstances when there are heated emotions between Albanians and Macedonians, especially in the last two years, with what is happening with the Bulgarians, the EU blockades, the protests, and rallies, and so on,” he said.

Pendarovski also said that “Kurti, in his speeches in Tetovo and Cair, did not say a single word against Macedonia or the Macedonian people. He did not misuse the hospitality here for a single second”.

Canak: There are no Serbian monasteries in Kosovo, they are orthodox monasteries appropriated by Serbia (Koha/TV Happy)

Serbian politician and former president of the Assembly of Vojvodina, Nenad Canak, said in an interview with TV Happy that there is no Serbian monastery in Kosovo and that the monasteries in Kosovo are orthodox and they were appropriated by Serbs. “The biggest deception is with let us call it identity of the Serbian people, which through fabrications is being used for political objectives. As I know and as you know, there is no Serbian monastery in Kosovo. They are orthodox monasteries. Then it is another matter that they were appropriated by Serbs. In every writing until the 19th century people were identified by religion because there were no nations. Nations were created in the 19th century,” Canak argued.

Koha notes that Canak together with his son visited the graves in Meja in Gjakova. He said on several occasions that Kosovo is an independent state, and that Serbia must accept the new reality created in the Balkans.

 

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Vucic to address nation “about all important issues” (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced yet another in a series of live addresses to the nation “about all important issues”, reported N1.

Vucic will address the Serbian people at 1 pm Friday, September 8.

According to the information of the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), Vucic addressed the nation live via television stations with nationwide coverage over 190 times in the first eight months of 2023.

Dacic certain of SNS, SPS election victory (Beta, FoNet, N1)

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic said he was certain that the SPS and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) would win the elections “whenever they are held.”

Dacic, who is also Serbia’s Foreign Minister, told the Serbian state TV (RTS) that there is no information as to when and which elections will be called and held, but added that he has no doubts about these two political parties’ success.

“Elections are usually sought by parties that stand a chance of winning, but I have nothing against obliging those who are sure to lose,” he said.

He added that the SPS and SNS are yet to discuss whether they will run in elections on a joint ticket or independently.

Some opposition parties are demanding that early parliamentary and Belgrade local elections be held by the end of the year.

Dacic said the opposition blocking the Parliament’s work was uncivilised behavior. Not only is this not good for Serbia, but it also shows what the opposition’s maximum achievement is.

Commenting on the situation in Kosovo, Dacic said everything happening there shows what the Pristina leadership is like, adding that Belgrade has been drawing attention to this for years.

He said the Pristina government still adheres to the 90s slogan that Kosovo’s independence will not be secured by America, Germany or anyone else, but with the help of their weapons.

“Their goal is independent Kosovo, and the obstacle to this is the Serb population and the Serbian leadership,” said Dacic, stressing that Belgrade expects the international community to show that this will not be tolerated.

Petkovic to the Quint and Lajcak: Pristina's ultimatum can deepen the crisis and raise tensions (Radio Mitrovica sever)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, today sent an urgent message to the international community, including the Quint countries and the mediator in the dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, in which he warns that the ultimatum on the eviction of four Serbian institutions from the Serbian building in Bosniak Mahala, which is due by tomorrow, 8 of September, set by the illegitimate mayor of northern Mitrovica, Erden Atiq, may lead to a deepening of the crisis in the north of Kosovo and an additional rise in tensions on the ground.

In the most recent letter that Petkovic sent to several addresses, and which Tanjug had access to, the director of the Office for KiM pointed out that such unilateral and illegitimate moves by Pristina and Albin Kurti do not contribute to de-escalation in the north of the province, but on the contrary - represent a new dangerous provocation that only aims to threaten the rights and life of the Serbian people in the north of Kosovo and further destabilize the situation on the ground.

In this regard, the letter appeals to the international community to understand this issue with the greatest possible care and warning and to use their authority to prevent "the dramatic escalation that Kurti and Atiq want to cause with the illegal decision to evict Serbian institutions."

In addition, Petkovic reminded that ''the attempt to forcefully evict Serbian institutions from Kosovska Mitrovica and seize Serbian property is a new attack by Pristina on the Dialogue, given that this issue can only be considered in the context of the formation of the CSM (ZSO), which has been confirmed by the European Union itself on several occasions'', it was said among other things.

A day before the deadline for Serb institutions to vacate the building, KP inspected the premises after receiving a tip about a bomb (KoSSev)

KoSSev reports that just a day before the end of the deadline the Municipality of North Mitrovica to the Serb institutions situated in Bosniak Mahala to submit documents on the registration of services or to vacate the building, the Kosovo Police received a tip about an explosive device in that building and inspected the premises.

“Around 9 a.m., we received a tip that there may be a bomb in this building,“ the deputy commander of the KP for the region north, Veton Elshani, confirmed.

Elshani added that the police went to the scene and inspected the entire building.

“Together with the workers employed in this building, we performed a visual inspection of the premises on all three floors. We spoke to the workers and asked them if they noticed anything unusual.“

He underlined that it was most likely a false tip.

The workers were not evacuated and remained at their workplaces.

Igor Simic: The attempt to evict the building in Bosniak Mahala part of the plan to expel the Serbs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)

Director of the Directorate of Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO) in North Mitrovica and vice-president of the Serbian List, Igor Simic, said that the attempts of Kosovo authorities to evict Serbian institutions from the building in Bosniak Mahala in North Mitrovica is aimed at expelling everything Serbian from Kosovo, reported Kosovo Online. 

“It is part of the expulsion of Serbs and Serbia from Kosovo and Metohija, and I expect a great involvement of the international community because they must not allow additional escalation on the ground. Tensions have been high in recent months and KFOR should help prevent what none of us would want,” Simic told Tanjug agency. 

He said that that this morning at around 9.15 am, KP entered the building in which Office for Kosovo and Metohija, the Provincial Service of the PIO Fund, as well as the KM Administrative District are located, and pointed out that the premises and employees of those institutions were visited by various units of the KP and that under the pretext that they have a tip about an explosive device.

“This obvious game was aimed at forcing all of us who work here to leave the premises and help them occupy this building. We rejected the ultimatum of Pristina, and we believe that this issue must be resolved through dialogue and the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities as agreed 2013 and 2015," he said. 

According to him, this morning he said so to the police officers who, as he pointed out, entered the building without any warrant.

“We are on our own land, and we will stay here, the law is on our side. 40 people work here, 40 families ensure their livelihood though those who are working here,” he pointed out.

He emphasized that the Kosovo Police did leave for the time being, and that they are employed at their workplaces.

“I cannot predict what will happen in the coming hours and days,” he said.

Asked whether he will be at his workplace tomorrow, given that the deadline, Simic replied that he and his colleagues will be at their workplaces.

According to Simic, the local self-government elected in the April elections, with a little more than three percent turnout, and boycotted by the Serbs, made decisions to the detriment of the Serbs on several occasions.

He recalled that they wanted to open a bridge on the Ibar, to seize the land from Serbian businessmen.

“That did not materialize, and I believe that it is because of our state leadership that urged the international community to prevent the mistreatment of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Since 1999, we have been forced to talk to international representatives and ask for their help. There are certain parts of the international community that are involved in our problems, but their results are limited. It is incredible to believe that Kurti is so powerful that he can limit KFOR, the EU, Quint...” Simic pointed out.

Asked about his expectation from the high-level meeting in Brussels, on 14 September, Simic said: 

“We need dialogue, it is a way to resolve open issues. Anyone who is against dialogue is against the survival of Serbs. On the other hand, we have no expectations because it is more than obvious that Kurti and Osmani do not want dialogue. They want to solve problems by force, to expel Serbs, they don’t want to talk to Belgrade about problems, but they believe that where there are no Serbs, there are no problems. The international community must send a clear message to Pristina that it will not allow this”.

Petkovic: ''The false bomb alert is Kurti's trick, I informed the international community'' (Tanjug)

The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petra Petkovic, said today that the trick of the Kosovo PM Albin Kurti, to evict employees from the building in North Mitrovica, which houses four Serbian institutions, under the pretext of a false bomb report, failed, reported Tanjug.

Petkovic said on the social network X (Twitter) that he had additionally informed the international community about all the events.

"Karti’s trick, to evict employees from the building in Kosovska Mitrovica, which houses four Serbian institutions, under the pretext of a false bomb report, failed this morning! They do not agree to confiscate property, but to a solution within the dialogue in Brussels in the context of the formation of the ZSO. I additionally informed the international community about everything," said Petkovic.

"KFOR dedicated to preserving security and freedom of movement in Kosovo" (KiM radio)

KFOR Commander Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, who was in Brussels this week, emphasized in talks with NATO and EU officials that the security situation in Kosovo is fragile and indicated that it is important for everyone to make an effort to overcome the crisis, reported KiM radio. 

Major General Ristuccia met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations Thomas Goffus, EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other regional issues of the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak.

"He was commended for his exceptional leadership during a very challenging command mandate and for the continued and vital work of KFOR to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all the people of Kosovo, in accordance with its mandate, based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999. NATO-EU cooperation is also highlighted as crucial for permanent security in Kosovo and stability throughout the Western Balkans," the mission announced.

Secretary General Stoltenberg, as stated in the KFOR statement, thanked Major General Ristuccia for his service, and Italy's firm commitment, especially at this moment, to stability in the Western Balkans.

The KFOR commander emphasized the fragile security situation and the importance of focusing collective efforts on overcoming the crisis management method.

"It was hard work every day to ensure that KFOR continued to implement its UN mandate impartially and in line with the efforts of the international community. Many efforts have been made and many challenges have been faced due to the complex situation," said Major General Ristuccia.

He also reiterated KFOR's firm commitment to continue playing its role in creating the security conditions necessary for the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina to progress, as well as the need for both sides to fully de-escalate the situation and re-engage constructively and in good faith in the EU-mediated dialogue.

"Under the command of Major General Ristuccia, more than 11,000 patrols, 3,400 hours of air operations, 500 drone missions, more than 50 projects and 200 activities of civil-military cooperation and 170 activities of safe disposal of explosive ordnance were carried out," the statement said.

Andric Rakic: If the decision to “vacate” the facility in Bosniak Mahala is implemented, the scenario of May 26 can be repeated (Kontakt plus radio)

Milica Andric Rakic from the New Social Initiative (NSI) opined that the current government will decide to implement that decision on the eviction, despite possible resistance from the workers of those institutions. At the same time, she expresses fear that such a step could mean the repetition of the scenario of May 26, when there was a conflict between residents and members of the special unit of the Kosovo Police in front of the municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo.

Although the formal decision to “vacate” the facility was made by the mayor of North Mitrovica, she noted that the final decision will depend on the assessment of the Kosovo government and its willingness to “complicate the situation in the north”.

“It is possible that there will be some delay again. With the fact that I rather expect the scenario we had before for the licence plates, where the Government of Kosovo, first at the request of the international community, postponed those deadlines, and then said: you are not fair, you asked us to postpone, nothing has been resolved in the meantime. We are now implementing our decision and we believe we have arguments for it. I think that this first postponement is still the preparation of those arguments for the final implementation of that decision on September 8 or maybe a day or two after that. I am more inclined to think that they will decide to implement that decision,” Andric Rakic stated.

In that case, she added, we will see a similar scenario from May 26 in front of the municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo.

“So, we can expect workers who oppose that decision. Eventually, depending on when the police enter those facilities, we can expect either a violent eviction of the workers from those premises, or a physical ban on the workers from entering the premises. Again, it depends on whether he comes at 12 at night or 9 in the morning”.

She opined that the Serbian institutions will not withdraw and will stick to the argument that this should be negotiated in Brussels.

“That these are buildings that should belong to the new administration. Also, Serbia has a certain argument in that list of topics that was agreed between Hoti and the Government of Serbia. There were eight topics. Among other things, the Serbian Orthodox Church, i.e., its status, but also those mutual claims about the possession of financial resources and immovable property. It should have been discussed in Brussels. The EU is aware of this. Therefore, it is not the purest legal matter that you can say that the Government of Kosovo has the absolute right to take over those buildings, because it was understood that all of this will still be discussed,” Andric Rakic said.

She pointed out that this is also the argument of the EU - that this is a matter of the joint process of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities.

“As the EU said, this should happen in the process of negotiations in the formation of the CSM, which will then dispose of those assets in the way it thinks it should”.

The mayor’s decisions are political and contrary to the expectations of the international community

When it comes to the decisions of the mayor of North Mitrovica, Erden Atiq, Andric Rakic stated that they contradict the expectations of the international community.

“Even before the mayor was sworn in, the position of the international community in Kosovo was very clear - they should only deal with technical matters. To ensure that the municipality functions, that salaries are paid, that the budget, i.e., infrastructure projects are implemented without those “complicated decisions” which not even the Serbian representatives in Kosovo institutions were able to make for years. It is overly ambitious to think that an Albanian mayor can do that in Kosovo’s institutions, especially in this kind of atmosphere. Therefore, it is very clear that he goes beyond what the international community expected regarding the decisions of a mayor who was elected with such a small number of votes. These are not technical decisions; these are political decisions with which the Serbian representatives also had problems,” Andric Rakic pointed out.

US Ambassador Hill: Serbia-US relations stable (FoNet, N1)

Relations between Serbia and the United States are stable and cannot depend on what is happening in other countries, said US Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill.

In September this year we have an important moment for Serbia-US relations, and we have an opportunity to advance them, said Hill ahead of the media conference on the Day of America in the Serbian Parliament.

There are many things happening around the world that we need to talk about, but relations between Serbia and the US are stable and cannot be defined by what is happening in other countries, stressed the Ambassador.

We should continue to cooperate, especially in the fields of economy and security, said Hill, adding that efforts should be made to strengthen the political relations.

Our relations go back a long way and stand all chances of being even better over the next 140 years, he said.

Ohio National Guard commander General John Harris quoted former US President Theodore Roosevelt as saying that his generation had a rendezvous with destiny.

I think this may also apply today, we are all here and ready to bear responsibility for establishing peace, but more importantly, every citizen has the opportunity to fulfil his full potential, said Harris, adding that the conference is an opportunity to build bridges.

Serbian Ambassador to the US Marko Djuric said Serbia has shown strong resilience in a series of recent international crises.

I am certain that ahead of Serbia are horizons of progress and its firm determination to be one of America's key strategic partners in its political, economic, and other progress and development, Djuric added.

Serbian-American relations are characterized by historic ties, economic interests and shared political values, and there is no reason to think that anything but strengthening of ties awaits us, said Djuric.

Founder of the Serbian American Friendship Congress Vladimir Marinkovic said the “Day of America in Belgrade,” which is being marked on Thursday, is a big day for Serbia because its friends from the Ohio National Guard are present, adding that it is the right time to improve bilateral relations and open a strategic dialogue.

Day of America in Belgrade, the US Embassy: When the Ohio National Guard returns to Serbia (KoSSev)

An event marking the Day of America in Belgrade is taking place in the Serbian Parliament. Serbia is determined to continue strengthening and building the foundations for a future strategic partnership with the US, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. „When the Ohio National Guard returns to Serbia – the welcome is warm, as always!“ – the US Embassy tweeted yesterday announcing today’s event.

The succinct tweet actually alludes not only to the long-term friendly ties and cooperation of the Serbian Armed Forces with these units of the US Army but also to the graffiti that was recently displayed on fan stands and other channels – “When the army returns to Kosovo”. It is actually a verse from one of the versions of the Serbian folk song “Ječam žnjela”.

A delegation of the Ohio National Guard and a business delegation from this US state arrived today in Belgrade, accompanied by the Serbian ambassador to Washington, Marko Djuric.

The meeting between the hosts and the military leaders of the two armies was cordial, according to the media footage and reports.

“General Milan Mojsilovic and Major General John Harris, who contributed significantly to the establishment and improvement of relations between Serbia and Ohio, had a particularly friendly hug,” the media that followed this event report.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/573jahs7

 

 

Opinion 

 

Shasha: Between cynicism and hope (Koha)

Demush Sasha, executive director of the European Policy Institute for Kosovo, argues in an opinion piece that the last thing that the enlargement process needs is disappointment with another promise and that “what our region needs now is beautiful diplomatic speeches, but difficult political decisions”.

Commenting on the EU Council President Charles Michel’s statement that the Western Balkans should join the European Union by 2030, Shasha says that this is the first time in the history of the enlargement process that a senior EU representative sets a date for the region’s membership in the EU, “and perhaps most importantly it is the first time that such a statement comes from an unprecedented political background for EU enlargement” being that “the Russian invasion of Ukraine has catapulted the enlargement process to the political attention of the EU”.

Shasha argues that the political mood for the enlargement process has obviously changed and “today all European chancelleries acknowledge the importance of the enlargement process and are ready for the capital decisions they face. Ironically however, this optimism is not shared by countries of the Western Balkans. Judging from the leaders’ panel in Bled, the almost unanimous message coming from the region was that of cynicism and on the one hand this is understandable. For long the EU has let down even its most fanatic disciples. 20 years have passed since the Thessaloniki pledge to the Bled promise, and the countries of the Western Balkans are slightly closer to enlargement than they were 20 years ago. The latest disappointment with delays in opening negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and delays in visa liberalisation for Kosovo have only strengthened pessimism and cynicism toward the EU”.

“Nevertheless I think it would be wrong to underestimate the pivotal moment we are in. I understand there are many reasons for cynicism and doubt, but in the words of former President Obama, ‘cynicism is a choice and hope is a better choice’. And this was proved by the latest developments in the enlargement process: Albania and North Macedonia opened the membership negotiations, Bosnia got the candidate country status, Kosovo finally got visa liberalisation, and Ukraine and Moldova got the status of candidate countries in a record time of 15 months”.

“Another U.S. President said: I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past, and today the countries of the region are faced with this choice: will they use this historic momentum in the enlargement process to realise their dreams for the future, or to entertain with the histories of the past?”

 

 

 

International 

 

RTK’s Board Blocks High-Scoring Women from Top Jobs (Prishtina Insight)

Amid allegations of gender discrimination and claims that experienced women are being sidelined, a recent investigation into Kosovo’s public broadcaster, RTK, has revealed a stark gender disparity in its senior management positions. Despite assurances of promoting gender diversity, RTK’s top leadership roles remain all occupied by men, raising concerns about equal opportunities for women within the organization.

When the Kosovo Assembly, dominated by ruling party Vetëvendosje, elected the board of Radio Television of Kosovo, RTK, on July 25, 2021, it promised that the public broadcaster would undergo profound reform, leading to a complete reorganization of RTK.

An investigation by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, shows that this reorganization was accompanied by highly controversial appointment processes that prevented three women from getting top management positions that they had been selected to take. 

Ilire Zajmi, Mihrije Beiqi, and Flora Durmishi were chosen in three different recruitment processes for leadership roles, but these positions were instead taken by male candidates who had received lower scores in the evaluations of the recruiting commissions. This suggests that the promised reform within RTK did not necessarily deliver gender equality.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/mtEI0

 

 

 

Humanitarian/Development

 

GAP report on progress of mayors in implementing election promises (media)

The Pristina-based Institute for Advanced Studies GAP notes in its latest report about the progress of mayors in implementing their election promises, that the municipality of Pristina has spent around €7 million on the implementation of capital investments, while the implementation of these projects for the first half of the year has been 16 percent. The report notes that the municipality of Malisheva leads with the highest percentage of implementing capital projects with 79 percent. The municipality so far has spent €4.4 million. According to the report, the implementation rate for capital projects in the municipalities of Peja, Suhareka, Istog, Fushe Kosova, Kamenica, Dragash, Vushtrri, Novobërda, Ranillug, Sterpce, and Hani i Elezit, is under 10 percent. The institute said that it does not have information about the four northern municipalities of Mitrovica North, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan.

The budget for all municipalities of Kosovo in 2023 is €650, which marks an increase of €102 compared to the previous year.

The report notes that 35 percent of promises that mayors gave in the municipal elections have not even started being implemented, 26 percent have been implemented, partly implemented are 16 percent and 23 percent have started being implemented.

The report also notes that the biggest number of promises that have been implemented are in the areas of education, culture, economy and public services, while the smaller number of promises that have been implemented are in the areas of urbanism, sports and infrastructure.

Ministry bans use of plastic bags, some will be paid (Kosovapress)

With the motto “Say no plastic bags! Protect the environment”, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure, said today that administrative instruction has been finalised, banning some plastic bags and that other bags will have to be paid. Minister of Environment, Liburn Aliu, told a press conference in Pristina today that only bags used for fruits will be allowed and that they will cost 5 cents.