UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 20, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti on Iber bridge: Don’t want to surprise allies, or postpone indefinitely (media)
• Osmani: First joint security assessments, then date on opening the bridge (RFE)
• Osmani meets COMKFOR, “success is achieved with our allies” (media)
• Court confirms indictment against Gervalla for failing to declare wealth (media)
• Prosecution files indictment against former chief of power corporation (media)
• Abdixhiku: The energy mafia will fall on February 9 (media)
• Kurti meets members of the Albanian community in Chicago (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric writes to NDI: Invitation to Kurti platform for further destabilisation of Balkans (Kosovo Online, media)
• Petkovic: For Bislimi attacks against Serbs are obviously not attacks (media, social media)
• KFOR on meeting with Osmani (social media)
• Media: Kosovo Government for three years spent 30 million euros on fuel for official vehicles (Radio kontakt plus, Tanjug, Politika)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti on Iber bridge: Don’t want to surprise allies, or postpone indefinitely (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said during his stay in the U.S. that the main bridge over Iber river should be opened and that it should not have been closed when Kosovo became free 25 years ago. In an interview with the Voice of America, he said that an agreement on the bridge was reached in Brussels and that it should not be discussed any further. “The bridge over Iber River should have been opened when Kosovo became free 25 years ago. It should not have been closed when Kosovo became independent 16 years ago. It should have been opened eight years ago according to the Brussels agreement and the implementation plan. We are running late for many years. What we want to do is only provide free movement for all citizens, including goods and capital on both sides of the Iber river,” he said. 

Kurti argued that all remarks and suggestions of international partners are closely heard. “There has never been more consultation and coordination. I am optimistic that we will have rule of law and freedom of movement and at the same time peace, security, and calmness. The opening of the bridge over Iber river does not go against anyone. It is for the good of all communities … Europe has brought down all walls, we are in Europe, and this bridge too must be opened,” he said.

Kurti said that they want the bridge to be opened based on a plan he has shared with U.S. and European partners and allies. “We want to do this as soon as possible. We don’t want to surprise our European and American partners, friends and allies, and at the same time we cannot allow this issue to be delayed indefinitely. We have good will and a good objective,” he argued. 

Asked to comment on calls for the issue of the bridge to be discussed in Brussels, Kurti said that the talks in 2014 – 2017 concluded with an agreement to open the bridge and with an implementation plan on how it should be opened. “If an agreement was made and now discussions are held about the agreement, then this is indirectly a violation of the agreement. We are not willing to violate the agreement. It [the agreement] should not be renegotiated,” he said, adding that he is ready to respect all the agreements.

Kurti said he doesn’t believe that Kosovo’s relations with the U.S. have been damaged. He argued that he is not like the previous prime ministers, and that the relationship he is building with the U.S. is stronger than ever.

Osmani: First joint security assessments, then date on opening the bridge (RFE)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in an interview with Radio Free Europe on Monday that the Iber bridge in Mitrovica should be opened based on a plan with Kosovo’s international partners. “As foreseen in the implementation plan of the agreement reached in August 2016, joint security assessments are needed with our partners, and after the assessments and a joint plan, a date will be set,” she said.

Osmani said that the bridge should be opened and that this has been delayed for eight years. “Every time that Kosovo has cooperated with its partners it always had success,” she argued.

Osmani said she discussed the issue with Prime Minister Albin Kurti a month ago. She argued that reopening the issue of the bridge in Brussels, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, would be dangerous. “This issue is over with regards to the dialogue with Serbia, but we need coordination with our international partners, especially with NATO,” she said.

On Kosovo government’s actions in the north, Osmani said that in the last two years they have been in line with the Constitution of Kosovo, but also added that sometimes more space is needed to discuss them with the citizens in order to have better understanding of the objectives.

Osmani also said that there are discussions with Kosovo’s international allies to offer guarantees for security and membership in international organizations if Kosovo is asked to implement the Ohrid Agreement.

Osmani meets COMKFOR, “success is achieved with our allies” (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Monday with the commander of NATO’s peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, KFOR, Major General Ozkan Ulutas. Osmani said in a Facebook post after the meeting that the opening of the main bridge in Mitrovica as an act of normalization and integration is in the interest of all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity. “Long-term and sustainable success is always achieved together with the allies,” she said.

KFOR said in a statement that the meeting was part COMKFOR’s regular meetings with representatives of the Institutions in Kosovo. “They exchanged views on the current situation and other topics related to security and regional stability. Major General Ulutaş underlined the importance of continued coordination with his counterparts. With regard to the Austerlitz Bridge over the Ibër/Ibar river in Mitrovica, he reaffirmed KFOR’s longstanding position. KFOR continues to implement its mandate – based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 – to ensure a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo and freedom of movement, at all times and impartially. KFOR operates as third security responder, in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and the EU Rule of Law (EULEX) mission, which are the first and second security responders, respectively,” the statement notes.

Court confirms indictment against Gervalla for failing to declare wealth (media)

The Basic Court in Pristina confirmed an indictment against Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla for failing to declare her wealth. She is charged for not accurately reporting the data required by law in her capacity as senior public official on the wealth declaration form in March 2021. Betimi per Drejtesi news website has secured a decision made by the court in June this year in which it rejected a request by Gervalla’s lawyer to dismiss the indictment. The court’s decision notes that the criminal proceedings initiated against Gërvalla will continue in the next stages of the procedure.

Prosecution files indictment against former chief of power corporation (media)

All news websites reported on Monday that the Special Prosecution of Kosovo filed an indictment against Nagip Krasniqi, former chief executive officer at the Kosovo Power Corporation, for abuse of official position for around two years. A statement issued by the prosecution notes that Krasniqi abused his position starting from October 2021 to April 2023.

Abdixhiku: The energy mafia will fall on February 9 (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku said on Monday that Nagip Krasniqi is being charged by the Special Prosecution of Kosovo for negotiating a secret tender worth €3.4 million while he was chief executive office of the Kosovo Power Corporation. “The secret tender was negotiated when Block A5 was out of function for nine months. At the time, during winter, Kosovo bought energy for €1 million every day. The whole value was paid by the citizens of Kosovo, because the government, through the regulator, has increased energy prices by 100 percent,” he argues. 

Abdixhiku also said that “the energy mafia is deeply rooted in the populist government” and that “the energy mafia will fall on February 9” referring to the date for new parliamentary elections in Kosovo.

Kurti meets members of the Albanian community in Chicago (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X on Monday that he met members of the Albanian community in Chicago, on the eve of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. “During our meeting we discussed the investments our Government is making in Kosova's future, from scholarships for women and girls studying STEM fields, to our bustling ICT sector, to the country's first ever 100MW solar auction — in which a diaspora-run company emerged victorious in a fierce competition among candidates from multiple countries. All of these investments at home have made Kosova an increasingly attractive target for investors abroad. As a result, our diaspora has more opportunities now than ever before to contribute to the progress of the homeland — not simply as a matter of charity, but as an astute business decision,” Kurti said.

Serbian Language Media 

Djuric writes to NDI: Invitation to Kurti platform for further destabilisation of Balkans (Kosovo Online, media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric sent a letter to National Democratic Institute (NDI) regarding participation of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti at Democratic National Convention (DNC) 2024 in the US. Duric stressed in a letter it was deeply concerning and disappointing that someone, as he said, widely known for violation of human rights and basic democratic values, and who has repeatedly engaged in practices undermining interests and presence of the US in the Western Balkans is given a platform to promote his dangerous policy and ethno-nationalistic agenda, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"Let me remind you that these destabilising activities, including repeatedly walking away from the dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina and refusing to align with Washington, have been strongly condemned by senior officials and representatives in both the U.S. and the EU", reads the letter addressed to NDI President Tamara Cofman Wittes, which Kosovo Online had an insight to. Kurti has been invited as a panellist at a side event titled "DNC Convention and the Role of Political Parties". Djuric also said the invitation to Kurti to participate at this event as a speaker creates a public and political platform enabling him to further destabilise the Balkan region by spreading disinformation, fabricated information, and alternative truths against Serbia.

"What is even more concerning is the fact that Albin Kurti, despite consistently undermining U.S. policy in the Western Balkans and proving to be an unreliable American partner, appears to be using the DNC as a podium to launch his election campaign, exploiting it for the interests of his party", Djuric added.

Djuric emphasised that Europe and the Balkans are "at a critical crossroads" and expressed readiness to work together to preserve fundamental European and democratic values, as well as peace and stability in the region. "To achieve this, it is crucial to refrain from investing in those who have proven themselves to be peace-breakers and constantly oppose Washington's efforts to bring prosperity to the region, such as Albin Kurti", Djuric said.

Petkovic: For Bislimi attacks against Serbs are obviously not attacks (media, social media)

After Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi reacted to the hate speech against Albanians in Bujanovac, Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said that not a single condemnation of threats against Serbs was ever heard from Bislimi, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Petkovic said in a post on X social platform that any hate speech is impermissible and deserves condemnation, but that this obviously does not apply to Bislimi.  

"This obviously does not apply to Bislimi, who has never condemned any threat to Serbs, nor graffiti of the terrorist KLA on Serbian playgrounds, hospitals, schools, houses, churches? For Bislimi, insults and attacks on Serbs are not insults and attacks!?", Petkovic wrote in a post. To illustrate cases targeting Serbs in Kosovo, Petkovic also posted several photos, along with his post, showing houses of Serbs in Kosovo with KLA inscriptions, as well as the same graffiti on a ruined children playground.

KFOR on meeting with Osmani (social media)

“Today, the Commander of the #NATO-led #KFOR mission, Major General Özkan Ulutaş, met with Vjosa Osmani. This is part of the #KFOR Commander’s regular meetings with representatives of the Institutions in Kosovo”, KFOR said last night in a post published on its Facebook page.

“They exchanged views on the current situation and other topics related to security and regional stability. Major General Ulutaş underlined the importance of continued coordination with his counterparts. 

With regard to the Austerlitz Bridge over the Ibër/Ibar river in Mitrovica, he reaffirmed  #KFOR’s longstanding position”, the statement added.

“KFOR continues to implement its mandate – based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 – to ensure a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo and freedom of movement, at all times and impartially. KFOR operates as third security responder, in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and the EU Rule of Law (EULEX) mission, which are the first and second security responders, respectively”, the statement concluded. 

Media: Kosovo Government for three years spent 30 million euros on fuel for official vehicles (Radio kontakt plus, Tanjug, Politika)

The Kosovo Government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti over the period of three years spent 30 million euros on fuel for “official vehicles”, Serbian media reported citing Pristina-based portal Front Online.

The portal referring to the data of Kosovo Finance Ministry recalled that Kurti, while in opposition, was against high expenditures for official vehicles. The portal said that during 2021, Kosovo institutions spent 7,62 million euros for fuel, in 2022 those costs reached 11.34 million, and in 2023 the costs were 10.5 million euros.

“In total, during the three-year period (from 2021 to 2023) 30 million euros had been spent on fuel for vehicles”, Serbian media cited Front Online.