Albanian Language Media:

• 25 percent of police presence in north will leave today (RTK)
• Barbano: Reduction of police presence, sign of de-escalation (Klan Kosova)

• Barbano: Special Police reduced in north, EULEX increased its presence (RTK)

• Lajcak welcomes joint security assessment of situation in north (Koha)

• Bislimi: Kosovo is respecting conditions for de-escalation of north (media)

• Svecla: Kosovo is implementing Bratislava agreement commitments (Reporteri)

• Osmani says threats against non-majority police officers be punished (RTK)

• Reactions to court’s ruling to postpone decisions on Klan Kosova (media)

• Court rules out eight articles of Law on Public Officials (Koha Ditore)

• Szunyog meets Peci, praises him for improving the situation in the north

• Szunyog meets Rakic, Jablanovic, calls for participation in elections (Reporteri)

• Government ministers, Krasniqi, Rasic, visited Leposavic on Thursday (media)

• Serb ex-policeman accused of war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)

• Graffiti “When the army returns to Kosovo” painted in Banja Luka (RFE)

 

Serbian Language Media:

• Szunyog visited northern Kosovo, met Serbian List, PKS leader, Peci (KoSSev, media)

• Kosovo police to withdraw more personnel in and around municipal facilites in north (N1)

• Lajcak welcomes new withdrawal of Kosovo police from north (Radio KIM)

• Vucic thanks Serbian Patriarch for patience, understanding (Tanjug)

• Z.A. pleaded not guilty on war crimes charges (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

International Media:

• After BIRN’s Report, Prizren Municipality Ordered Demolition of Building Without Permit (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

25 percent of the police presence in the north will leave today (RTK)

Starting from today, the reduction of the presence of the Kosovo Police by 25 percent in and around municipal facilities in the north of Kosovo will begin. This decision came after a joint assessment by the Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR. Through a press release, it is announced that they assessed at this meeting that the situation in the north is good.

"According to the joint assessment, by the Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR, the security situation in and around the facilities of the northern municipalities is estimated to be good. Based on this joint finding, from tomorrow the reduction of the members of the Kosovo Police by 25%, in and around the municipal facilities in the north, will begin," the announcement states.

According to the announcement, the Kosovo Police teams, together with EULEX and KFOR, will continue coordination and will undertake the necessary actions according to the regular assessment of the security situation in and around municipal facilities, in the northern municipalities of Kosovo.

Barbano: Reduction of police presence, sign of de-escalation (Klan Kosova)

Head of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovanni Pietro Barbano, in an interview with the TV station on Thursday, described the agreement reached between Kosovo Police Director Gazmend Hoxha, KFOR Commander Angelo Michele Ristuccia, and Barbano on Tuesday. “There is another 25 percent of reduction of the police presence that was announced by Kosovo Police Director Hoxha. This will happen in the coming days and of course this seems very positive because the reduction of the police presence is also a clear signal for reducing the tensions,” he said. The three Kosovo security institutions are starting the second step on the ground for implementing the EU-Kosovo agreement for the de-escalation of the situation in the northern municipalities, which was reached in Bratislava. “The second step in particular foresees the joint assessment of the security situation in Kosovo’s north, mainly between Kosovo Police and EULEX as well as with presence of KFOR when appropriate,” Barbano said.

Barbano: Special Police reduced in north, EULEX increased its presence (RTK)

Head of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovani Pietro Barbano, said in an interview with Euronews Serbia on Thursday that the mission welcomed the news about the reduction of the police in the north of Kosovo. "The mission welcomed the announcement by the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo authorities to reduce the police presence near municipal facilities in the north of Kosovo by 25 percent and we expect to help further reduce this presence by another 25 percent,” he said.

Barbano said there is currently cooperation with the Kosovo Police and KFOR to determine the technical aspects of the modalities by which these security assessments will be carried out. "But we can consider that the process has started", he emphasizes, adding that "there are good indicators".

Asked if the European plan means the complete withdrawal of special forces from the north of Kosovo, Barbano said that the presence of the Kosovo Special Police in the north has been extremely reduced and this was the first step taken by the authorities in Pristina.

"EULEX has increased its presence in the north as well", he emphasized, adding that current assessment is that the situation is "much more stable and peaceful". According to him, EULEX is committed to respecting the human rights of all citizens and carefully monitors the most sensitive cases, especially in the north - but not only there.

Lajcak welcomes joint security assessment of situation in north (Koha)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said on Thursday that he welcomes the joint security assessment between the Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR in the north, based on the agreement reached in Bratislava weeks ago.

"I welcome the first joint security assessment between the Kosovo Police, the EULEX Mission and KFOR, as agreed in Bratislava. This is an important step towards the complete easing of tensions in the north of Kosovo,” Lajcak said.

Bislimi: Kosovo is respecting conditions for de-escalation in the north (media)

Kosovo's First Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator in the dialogue with Serbia, Besnik Bislimi, said on Thursday that Kosovo is fully respecting the conditions for the de-escalation of the situation in the north, mentioning the further reduction of the police presence in and around the municipal buildings. "Kosovo has taken the next step in the implementation of the July 10th Agreement in Bratislava. Further reduction of the police presence in and around the municipality building after the conclusions of the joint security assessment,” he said.

Bislimi argued that the EU’s penalty measures against Kosovo are temporary and that the situation in the north is calm. "The situation has been calm for several weeks now - this was confirmed yesterday jointly by KP, KFOR and EULEX. Kosovo is fully respecting its commitments and believes that the other side will do the same,” he said.

Svecla: Kosovo is implementing Bratislava agreement commitments (Reporteri)

Kosovo’s Minister of the Interior, Xhelal Svecla, said on Thursday the decision to withdraw 25% of the Kosovo Police troops in and around municipal facilities in the north. "Kosovo Police held a meeting with EULEX and KFOR, as foreseen by point 2 of the Bratislava agreement. The conclusion of the joint security assessment is that the situation is calm. From tomorrow we will reduce the presence of the police by 25% in and around municipal buildings", Svecla wrote on Twitter. "Kosovo is implementing the commitments from the Bratislava agreement and is continuing to contribute positively to de-escalation”.

Osmani says threats against non-majority police officers must be condemned (RTK)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani received in a regular meeting the ambassador of the United States, Jeffrey Hovenier, with whom she talked about the latest developments in Kosovo with a focus on the work being done to implement what was agreed in Bratislava.

In the press release of the Presidency, it is said that President Osmani has emphasized that the threats from Serbia and its criminal groups against Kosovo policemen of non-majority communities are intended to discourage the communities in Kosovo from participating in public institutional life.

"Therefore, President Osmani reiterated that these actions must be condemned by all", the announcement states.

They also discussed the bilateral cooperation between Kosovo and the USA, in which case the joint projects that contribute to the deepening of these relations were evaluated. In the meeting, the need for further intensification of cooperation in this direction was also emphasized.

Reactions to court’s ruling to postpone decisions on Klan Kosova (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, shared on Thursday a Twitter post by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) welcoming the Commercial Court’s decision to postpone the execution of decisions in the case of Klan Kosova. “That’s rule of law!” Rohde tweeted.

Head of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovanni Pietro Barbano, commented on the Klan Kosova situation saying that the mission he leads considers the situation to be quite concerning. In an interview with Klan Kosova, Barbano said: “freedom of speech and communication must be secured at every level of government. We welcome a favorable solution to the matter”.

Flutura Kusari, media lawyer and head of the ECPMF’S legal support programme, said on Thursday that the court’s decision is a victory for Klan Kosova, the media, the media freedom, and democracy. “I hope that the government has learned the lesson that whenever it tries in any form to limit the media it needs to consider the legislation in force. What we have seen starting from June 14 were illegal and arbitrary attempts by the government with the sole objective of shutting down Klan Kosova,” she was quoted as saying in an interview with Dukagjini. 

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Pal Lekaj said on Thursday that the court’s decision on Klan Kosova sent the message that rule of law functions in Kosovo. He also said that “today is a good day for the rule of law” and that “no media can be closed because of the positions of certain individuals”.

Constitutional Court rules out eight articles of Law on Public Officials (Koha Ditore)

The daily reports on its front page today that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo has ruled as anti-constitutional eight articles of the Law on Public Officials, “but that with its ruling announced on Thursday the court has paved the way for the law to be decreed without the said articles”. Opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), welcomed the court’s decision, as they had asked for it to rule on the constitutionality of the law in December last year. PDK representatives said that the court’s decision is “a battle won against the violators of the Constitution”, while LDK officials argued that the decision is “a red card” for the ruling party.

Szunyog meets Peci, praises him for improving situation in north (media)

EU Head of Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, said on Thursday that he met with the mayor of the municipality of Zvecan, with whom he said he discussed the challenges of providing municipal services. “I met today with the mayor of Zvecan municipality, Ilir Peci, in his temporary office in the village of Lipe. We discussed the challenges they face in providing municipal services to the local population. I expressed my gratitude for the contribution of the mayor of the municipality for the de-escalation in the north of Kosovo,” Szunyog said.

Peci, who comes from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), had listened to the calls of the western countries to work away from the Municipality facility in order to de-escalate the situation.

Szunyog meets Rakic, Jablanovic, calls for participation in elections (Reporteri)

Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, met on Thursday the leader of the Serbian List, Goran Rakic and that of the Kosovo Serb Party, Aleksandar Jablanovic. They discussed the current situation in the north.

He said that he encouraged these representatives to participate in the extraordinary elections in the northern municipalities, whenever they are decided to be held. "It is important to find a solution through EU-facilitated dialogue," he said in a post on his Twitter account.

Meanwhile, as reported by the Serbian media, Jablanovic made his position known to the head of the EU Office, saying that he does not see the elections as a long-term solution to the problem.

Serb ex-policeman accused of war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)

Zlatko Arsic, a member of the Serbian police during the war in Kosovo and then a member of the Kosovo Police, was charged on Thursday with torture, inhumane treatment, deportation and burning of the houses of Albanians during February and March 1999.

In the court session of the initial review at the Basic Court, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment, while his lawyer, Vasilije Arsic, requested that his detention be reduced.

"Zlatko Arsic has a large fortune, he has family in Kosovo, and he is even ready to accept the obligation to regularly report to the police station in Kamenica or even deposit 20,000 euros as bail", said lawyer Arsic.

Prosecutor Dema opposed the request of the defense. According to him, given the indictment, there is a possibility that the defendant will escape to Serbia.

The president of the trial panel, Valbona Musliu, said that she will consider the request of the defense.

Government ministers, Krasniqi, Rasic, visited Leposavic on Thursday (media)

Kosovo ministers for local government and communities and returns, Elbert Krasniqi and Nenad Rasic, visited the village of Lesak in the municipality of Leposavic, where they met with residents that suffered material damages from the fires. Krasniqi wrote in a Facebook post: “Together with Minister Nenad Rasic, we visited Leposavic today. In Lesak, we met and discussed with citizens about their problems and requests. We also visited a family whose farm was damaged by the fire”.

Some news websites that the two ministers were escorted by Kosovo Police special units.

Graffiti “When the army returns to Kosovo” painted in Banja Luka (RFE)

The news website reports that a graffiti saying “when the army returns to Kosovo” was seen on Wednesday in Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the main road leading to Prijedor, a city where some of the biggest atrocities against non-Serb residents were committed during the war. The same graffiti has been earlier seen in several cities in Serbia. It has been authored by fans of the Crvena Zvezda football club, after a friendly match with Italian club Fiorentina on July 26 in Belgrade. The message of the graffiti is part of a popular song sung by Amfilohije, Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Bishop Atanasije. The news website also notes that the graffiti in Banja Luka was painted on the eve of a visit by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic there.

Serbian Language Media

Szunyog visited northern Kosovo met Serbian List, PKS leader, Peci (KoSSev, media)

Special Representative of the European Union in Pristina Tomas Szunyog visited northern Kosovo yesterday and met Serbian List President Goran Rakic, leader of Party of Kosovo Serbs (PKS) Aleksandar Jablanovic and new Albanian mayor Ilir Peci in Zvecan, KoSSev portal reports.

Serbian List in a brief announcement about the meeting said that Goran Rakic discussed with EU Ambassador Tomas Szunyog about the current political and security situation in the north.

“Good discussion with K-Serb political representatives @SrpskaLista, @AleksandarJabl1 about the current situation in the north. Important to pursue solutions through the EU-facilitated Dialogue. Encouraged participation in early local elections, once announced”, Tomas Szunyog wrote in a post on Twitter in relation to the meetings he had with Serb political representatives.

Szunyog also published photos taken at different locations with Serbian List President Goran Rakic, former Leposavic mayor Zoran Todic and the leader of Party of Kosovo Serbs (PKS) Aleksandar Jablanovic.

KoSSev portal recalled that Serbian List recenlty said full de-escalation in northern Kosovo and complete withdrawal of Kosovo police special units from northern Kosovo were needed before elections.  

The Party of Kosovo Serbs also commented on the meeting by saying that its leader Aleksandar Jablanovic told Szunyog that elections as such are not a complete solution, adding that full normalization of the situation was needed.

“It is (normalization of the situation) possible only with a complete withdrawal of the Kosovo special police units from the north and cancellation of indictments that un-selectively target Serbs”, PKS said in a statement.

Szunyog also met new Albanian mayor Ilir Peci in the village of Lipa, in Zvecan municipality, where he performs his duty, following the crisis in Zvecan promoted by forceful takeover of the municipal facility by Kosovo special police units at the end of May.

Szunyog in a post on Twitter said he discussed with Peci about challenges they are facing while offering services to the local population.  

Kosovo police to withdraw more personnel in and around municipal facilities in north (N1, media)

Kosovo police is set to withdraw 25 percent of its personnel in and around municipal facilities in northern Kosovo, a press release said on Thursday, N1 reports.

The press release published on Facebook said that Kosovo police, EULEX and KFOR met in Pristina and assessed the security situation in the northern municipalities as good.

“In line with the joint assessment, the reduction of Kosovo police members by 25%, in and around municipal buildings in the north begins tomorrow”, it said.

The press release said that the reduction in police personnel numbers was part of agreements reached between Pristina and the European Union.

“Kosovo police teams, together with EULEX and KFOR, will continue coordinating and take necessary actions on the regular assessment of the security situation in and around municipal facilities, in the northern municipalities”, it added.

Lajcak welcomes new withdrawal of Kosovo police from north (Radio KIM)

EU special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks Miroslav Lajcak welcomed the newly announced withdrawal by 25 percent of Kosovo special police units in and around municipal facilities in northern Kosovo, Radio KIM reports.

“I welcome today’s first joint security assessment between Kosovo Police, @EULEXKosovo and @NATO_KFOR as agreed in Bratislava. This is an important step towards full de-escalation of the tensions in the north of Kosovo”, Lajcak wrote in a post on Twitter yesterday.

Vucic thanks Serbian Patriarch for patience, understanding (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday thanked Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church for his patience and understanding during a meeting at the Osovica Monastery in the Republika Srpska municipality of Srbac yesterday, Tanjug news agency reports.

The meeting, which addressed the most significant national issues, was also attended by Republika Srpska (B&H Serb-majority entity) President Milorad Dodik.

In a post on hisInstagram profile, Vucic wrote that the "always wise and mild words of Patriarch Porfirije unite, bring together and spiritually strengthen all of us who are fighting everyday challenges and the difficult ordeals our people are again facing".

"That is why we are grateful for every word and the endless patience and understanding he showed for us at this meeting, too, in a discussion about issues that are not easy at all, and our clergy will continue to pray for the unity of Serbs wherever they may live. Thank you, Your Holiness", Vucic concluded.

Z.A. pleaded not guilty on war crimes charges (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

Serb Z.A. pleaded not guilty at the Basic Court in Pristina trial on the charges that he allegedly committed war crimes in Kosovo in 1999, Radio KIM reports citing Pristina-based Oath for Justice.

He is accused of allegedly mistreating B.M. in March 1999, “in inhuman manner, causing him serious bodily injuries, traumas and health consequences”. He is also accused of allegedly participating in forceful expulsion and displacement of citizens in Kamenica and neighboring areas, house plundering and arson. 

Previously his defense lawyer Vasilije Arsic proposed to the court to abolish a detention measure to his client and impose a milder one, given that the defendant is a father of three minor children and intends to respond to each summon. A prosecutor in this case disagreed with the request citing the risk to flee.

Lawyer argued that the defendant would not leave Kosovo because his family is here and he is convinced that he is not guilty for the crimes he is accused of. The judge is set to decide on request by a separate decision upon evaluating circumstances. 

International Media

After BIRN’s Report, Prizren Municipality Ordered Demolition of Building Without Permit (Prishtina Insight)

The Directorate of Inspectorates in the municipality of Prizren has ordered the demolition of construction that was built without permission in a residence there. It only happened after BIRN reported and sent questions to the municipality about the problem.

Photos were sent to BIRN’s address showing that in an apartment in Prizren, the resident has been carrying out works without permission from the competent authorities.

In this regard, BIRN has sent questions to the Municipality of Prizren, and this institution in their response has announced that the Construction Inspectorate has inspected the scene on July 16, in which case it has concluded that the party N.N.., has been developing works without permission from the competent authorities, removing the roof tiles of the building, and the party has been ordered to return it to its previous state.

Read more at: rb.gy/pafvg