UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Opposition accuses Kurti of crisis and division (Koha)

EU: Resignation of mayors fastest way to trigger early elections (Klan Kosova)

Svecla and Krasniqi visit north: Security of citizens remains priority (Gazeta 10)

Citaku: Government is threatening the values of journalism (Klan Kosova)

Former KLA soldier arrested in Tirana on order from Specialist Chambers (media)

48 businesses which KBRA says are registered in opposition with law (Kallxo)

Kamberi: Passivisation of Albanians’ addresses, ethnic cleansing attempt (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Serbia fulfilled its obligations, there is no solution because of Pristina (Glas Srpske, Kosovo Online)

Former KLA member arrested in Albania as per request of Specialist Chambers in The Hague (KoSSev)

Brnabic receives farewell visit from Chinese Ambassador (Tanjug)

Dacic receives new UK's Ambassador to Belgrade (Tanjug)

MINT continues to revoke licenses: 48 companies “unconstitutionally registered“ (KoSSev)

International Media:

Suspension of Media Certificate Sparks Protests in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovo Journalists Protest After Govt Suspends TV Station’s Permit (Balkan Insight)

Open Book: Roma Library Offers Marginalised Community in Kosovo an Educational Window (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Opposition accuses Kurti of crisis and division (Koha)

The daily reports on its front page today that opposition parties accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Monday of mismanagement. Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj said the Kurti-led government has plunged Kosovo into a deep crisis with grave consequences for the economy. During a meeting with business representatives, he said that the threat from the current government comes not only on the domestic front but also in aggravating relations with Kosovo’s allies. Haradinaj called on other opposition parties to collect 40 signatures in the Assembly and initiate a no-confidence motion against the government.

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, too criticised the Kurti-led government arguing that “there is no end to polarisation in society”. “The government is dividing us … Clashes happen every day, and crises are happening very often, while we have turned into spectators while people full of hatred and without willingness for work are deciding our fates. The new road as a national reawakening is a necessity,” he argued.

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Eliza Hoxha, said on Monday that this party’s representatives would not vote in favor of any proposal by the government in the Assembly. She said that PDK MPs would not even vote for international agreements due to sanctions that the United States and the European Union have imposed on Kosovo and which according to her came as a result of Prime Minister Kurti’s wrong actions. Hoxha said the government should resign and make way for early general elections, the latest in September.

EU: Resignation of mayors fastest way to trigger early elections (Klan Kosova)

The European External Action Service (EEAS) told Klan Kosova on Monday that the resignation of the mayors of four northern municipalities in Kosovo is the fastest way to trigger early elections “while both parties must show constructiveness in enabling elections”. “The status quo which resulted from the withdrawal of the Serbs from Kosovo's institutions last November and the boycott of the April elections by the Kosovo Serb community is not sustainable,” the statement notes.

Svecla and Krasniqi visit the north: Security of citizens remains our priority (Gazeta 10)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, accompanied by the Minister for Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, visited the north of Kosovo on Monday. After meeting with the acting head of the police region for the north, Svecla said in a Facebook post that among the citizens in the north there is growing trust in the police. “Police remains the most trusted institution and is influencing the increase of the perception of security among all communities and this was proved recently by the responses of our Serb citizens in credible international reports, with an increase of 18.61 percent compared to November last year,” he said.

During the visit, Svecla also met with Mitrovica North Mayor Erden Atic, and said that “security, healthcare and the well-being of citizens in the municipality remains our shared priority”.

Citaku: Government is threatening the values of journalism (Klan Kosova)

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Vlora Citaku, in an interview with Klan Kosova, commented on the protest of journalists and civil society representatives against the Ministry of Trade’s decision to suspend the business certificate of Klan Kosova. She argued that the government is threatening the values of journalism. “This is the most brutal form of war against the freedom of speech. Without information, without news, and without free media, democracy cannot function. Democracy does not function in darkness,” Citaku is quoted as saying.

Former KLA soldier arrested in Tirana on order from Specialist Chambers (media)

The Specialist Chambers of Kosovo said in a statement on Monday that “on 31 July 2023, the authorities of Albania arrested Mr Dritan Goxhaj in Tirana. The KSC requested the cooperation and assistance of Albanian authorities in arresting Mr Goxhaj and surrendering him to the KSC, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by a KSC Judge in relation to offences against the administration of justice involving intimidation and obstructing official persons in performing official duties. Mr Goxhaj will be detained in Albania, pending a decision by the Albanian authorities on the transfer of Mr Goxhaj to the detention facilities of the KSC in The Hague.”

Acting leader of the KLA War Organisations, Faton Klinaku, said in a reaction that Goxhaj’s arrest “is aimed at intimidating people that oppose a ‘political court’.”

48 businesses which KBRA says are registered in opposition with law (Kallxo)

The news website reports that the committee for the verification of files at the Kosovo Business Registration Agency (KBRA) has identified 48 businesses, which according to the institution, were registered in opposition with the law and the Constitution of Kosovo. The information was announced by Trade Minister Rozeta Hajdari on Sunday.

Following a request for access to public documents, the news website secured from the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade the names and owners of businesses which the ministry claims fall in opposition with the local legislation. The committee for the verification of files confirmed that so far they have reviewed 660 files and that 48 companies have been found in violation. The news website has published the list of the companies and their owners.

Kamberi: Passivisation of Albanians’ addresses, ethnic cleansing attempt (RTK)

For a long time now, many Albanians in Medvedja, Bujanovac and Preseva in Serbia, claim they have been left without addresses, while the political representatives of the Albanian community claim that this is a political problem.

Shaip Kamberi, a member of the Serbian Parliament, told RTK on Monday that the passivisation of addresses is an administrative process through which the current government and previous governments since 2012 have tried to change the ethnic structure of the population in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. “It has been implemented drastically in Medvedja, because the latest elections and last year’s census show that there are several thousand Albanians less there. Namely, this is ethnic cleansing with administrative measures which the Serbian government is conducting before the eyes of the European Union,” he argued.

RTK said it contacted the competent institutions in Serbia to comment on the issue but received no response. Serbian officials earlier said that there is no organised deleting of addresses of Albanians, and that they were only implementing the Law on Residence. Many non-governmental organisations have reacted following numerous concerns expressed by the citizens.

Serbian Language Media

Dacic: Serbia fulfilled its obligations, there is no solution because of Pristina (Glas Srpske, Kosovo Online)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said Serbia fulfilled everything that has been agreed in the dialogue, but everything that hampers, obstructs and makes the solution not be found yet goes on the account of Pristina and those supporting it, Kosovo Online portal reports citing Glas Srpske.

He also said Pristina failed to establish a Community of Serb Municipalities, adding that until this obligation is not fulfilled it makes no sense to talk about anything else.

He noted that “Kosovo and Metohija is an inalienable part of Serbia, as it is written in the Constitution”. Asked if any more countries are ready to revoke recognition of Kosovo, Dacic responded that “as long as the ongoing process is not completed in a manner that would be acceptable to Serbia, there will be those wishing to reconsider their earlier decisions on recognizing Kosovo”.

He also said that delivery of Turkish drones to Pristina “was negative, detrimental and even dangerous for the stability of the region”.

Former KLA member arrested in Albania as per request of Specialist Chambers in The Hague (KoSSev)

Dritan Goxhaj, former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) from Albania was arrested yesterday in Tirana, as per request of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, this institution said, KoSSev portal reports.

As the Specialist Chambers said the arrest followed upon request for cooperation sent to the Albanian authorities. He is accused of criminal acts “of intimidation and obstruction of official persons in carrying out official duties”.

He would remain in detention until a decision of the Albanian authorities is made regarding his transfer to the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, the portal added.

KoSSev also said this is the first case of a former KLA member from Albania to be tried at this court.

Brnabic receives farewell visit from Chinese Ambassador (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic received a farewell visit from Chinese Ambassador Chen Bo on Monday, Tanjug news agency reports.

Chen noted that, during her tenure in Belgrade, she had witnessed Serbia's best years in three decades, but that she expected the period to come to be even better.

Brnabic thanked China for the support and assistance provided to Serbia in challenging times and particularly noted China's aid to Serbia during the coronavirus pandemic. She also thanked Ambassador Chen Bo for China's consistent and principled stance on the Kosovo issue.

Dacic receives new UK's Ambassador to Belgrade (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic received the UK's newly-appointed Ambassador to Belgrade Edward Ferguson on Monday. Dacic welcomed the Ambassador and wished him success in his work, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, Tanjug news agency reports.

They agreed that there was significant space for stepping up cooperation in many fields, from trade - where they said the cooperation was already producing excellent results - to cooperation in defense and interior affairs, as well as in culture, education and science.

They also noted that promoting positive examples of past cooperation could lend an impetus to strengthening the cooperation. They highlighted a need to advance parliamentary cooperation and expressed readiness to continue a positive trend of holding high-level meetings.

MINT continues to revoke licenses: 48 companies “unconstitutionally registered“ (KoSSev)

The Kosovo Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade (MINT) announced that the Business Registration Agency (ARBK) formed a Commission for re-evaluation of registered business entities in Kosovo. They pointed out that special focus will be on subjects with “suspicious“ documents and “unconstitutional markings“, particularly those saying that “Kosovo is part of Serbia“, KoSSev portal reports.

This decision comes amid the suspension of the business license of the largest Kosovo television Klan Kosova.

On June 14, Kosovo Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade filed a criminal complaint against this media claiming that the cities of Pec and Djakovica are listed in the company’s documents as being in Serbia.