UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 8, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Dinar is not banned but euro is legal currency (AFP, media)
Bislimi: Serbia intends to create artificial tension (RTK)
Murati: We cannot allow billions of Serbian dinars to enter without authorization (Koha)
Customs: We do not allow importation of dinars without CBK’s authorization (RTK)
Pisonero: Dialogue framework is clear, Kosovo and Serbia know their obligations (media)
German minister answers to Vucic about why Germany is arming Kosovo (Koha)
Rohde: We have special relationship with Kosovo, friends like us should be listened to (Reporteri)
Gervalla in Italy: Kosovo is ready for CoE membership (RTK)
Haxhiu meets with British Minister of Justice, support for Kosovo reconfirmed (RTK)
Serwer: Pristina authorities should be more careful with Serbs (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: The UN SC session an opportunity for Serbia to present its arguments, pressure on Guyana (Tanjug)
Office for KiM: Continuing harassment and intimidation of Serbs in Gorazdevac (Tanjug, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Serbian List: Kurti does not give up intimidation; the international community must react more harshly (Tanjug, KiM radio)
Radio Gorazdevac: Action by KP in Gorazdevac Post of Serbia, one computer seized (KoSSev)
NBS to N1: Pristina turned away Dinar cash transport (N1)
Vucic to Pistorius: ready to accept OSCE/ODIHR recommendations (N1)
Petkovic said the stopped NBS vehicle at Jarinje was another attack by Kurti on the Serbs (Tanjug, media)
Zaklin Nastic: Pristina authorities trying to expel the few Serbs who remained in Kosovo (Tanjug, Adria, Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Kosovo anticipates reviving ties with Serbia in 2024: Kurti (dailysabah.com, AFP)
Running Through Fear: Kosovar Women Jog In Groups For Safety (RFE)
Serbia Denies Budget Discrimination Against Albanian Minority (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Dinar is not banned but euro is legal currency (AFP, media)

The Serbian dinar is not officially "banned" in Kosovo, Prime Minister Albin Kurti told AFP on Wednesday, but he emphasized that only the euro is legal tender for commercial transactions.

He made the comments during a wide-ranging interview a week after the controversial ruling against the currency inflamed diplomatic tensions with neighboring Serbia.

Kosovo's roughly 120,000-member Serb community has held tight to the dinar since a brutal late-1990s war between Serbia and ethnic Albanian insurgents saw Serbian troops and government personnel withdraw from the breakaway province.

"We are not banning Serbian dinars, people can have Serbian dinars, but the only means of payment is euro," Kurti said, insisting that Kosovo's Serbs would not be punished for holding the currency.

Kurti said a month-long transitional period was also in effect to ease into the new regulation, which would allow for further communication and time to resolve issues.

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/3c2pthxr

Bislimi: Serbia intends to create artificial tension (RTK)

Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi has said that Serbia is creating artificial tension, as today it has sent about 117 million dinars to Kosovo under the escort of individuals who present themselves with the credentials of a non-existent company.

"Today, the equivalent Bank of Serbia (one day before the convened meeting of the Security Council), has sent a truckload of money (full of 117,000,000 dinars) to the border, accompanied by individuals who presented themselves with the credentials of a non-existent company, with the claim that they want to send the money to an entity that also does not exist in Kosovo and for the benefit of the beneficiaries, whose names they neither know nor have. Imagine a parallel where in front of the customs inspector, a truckload of consumer goods appears, from individuals who present themselves on behalf of non-existent companies and claim that they are sending the goods to a company, which also does not appear anywhere in the official registers of the state", Bislimi wrote on Facebook.

According to him, such an action by the Serbian authorities was done with the hope that in this way they will manage to manipulate and then alarm all those who are rightly committed to ensuring the continuation of support for certain categories within Kosovo.

"This speaks a lot about the level of independence of the main institution that leads the 'monetary policy' of Serbia. There is no doubt that such a shipment, without any coordination, represents a unilateral step by Serbia, with the aim of flagrantly violating the functionality of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, aims at artificial creation of tensions and as such deserves to be strongly condemned by everyone who opposes unilateral steps", added Bislimi.

However, he has said that Kosovo is willing to work and help find the mechanism that ensures that such funds are sent in a legal way to the final beneficiaries, and that as soon as possible.

Murati: We cannot allow billions of Serbian dinars to enter without authorization (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, has expressed his willingness to help ease the process for the issue of the Serbian dinar, adding that "they cannot allow billions of cash to enter without authorization".

"Any financial assistance can be channeled directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries and ensure transparency. The Central Bank of Kosovo has invited the National Bank of Serbia to cooperate in facilitating the possible transfer of any aid to the families of the Serb community in Kosovo. Instead, people claiming to be represented tried to cross our border today, transporting 117 million dinars in cash. They were not allowed without proper authorization", Murati wrote.

Customs: We do not allow importation of dinars without CBK’s authorization (RTK)

The head of Kosovo Customs, Adriatik Stavileci, has said that representatives of the Serbian side today asked at the customs point in Jarinje if they can import money.

"We have explained to them that without authorization from the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK), the circulation of monetary funds is not allowed," Stavileci told RTK.

The Serbian authorities have said that on February 7, they were not allowed to send dinars to Kosovo.

Pisonero: Dialogue framework is clear, Kosovo and Serbia know their obligations (media)

The spokeswoman of the European Union, Ana Pisonero, has said that the Kosovar side and the Serbian side both know that the progress in the normalization of relations is also related to the European one. In a press conference, she added that the "ball" is in the hands of both sides.

"I think the answer is very clear, we have the dialogue process facilitated by the EU, we have a head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and the EU envoy, Miroslav Lajcak. The ball is in the hands of both sides, those two sides know what things need to be done."

"The parties have agreed on them, and both know that the progress of normalization is also related to the progress on their European path, I think that things are very clear, and the framework is also very clear", said Pisonero.

German minister answers to Vucic about why Germany is arming Kosovo (Koha)

The Minister of Defense of Germany, Boris Pistorius, stayed in Serbia on Wednesday, where he met with the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic. Serbian media have reported that during the press conference tension was created when Vucic said that there is no international act that approves Germany’s arming of Kosovo.

"Germany is arming not only Kosovo, but also supplying Serbia with weapons to strengthen the defense capacities of each state. We do not supply offensive weapons, only defensive ones. From our point of view, we have recognized Kosovo. Other countries have not done this, it is about a smaller number of countries in the world. Our goal in the region is peace and stability, as well as common rapprochement with the EU. Good neighborly conditions are important here, with both parties involved, and this is the basic prerequisite for stability. Nothing changes this fact," replied Pistorius.

Vucic then said that there is no international legal act that approves the arming of Kosovo.

"There are no answers to two questions. The issue is with which international act can Kosovo be armed, because that act does not exist. There are acts of individual states that have recognized Kosovo. And on the other hand, as far as the dialogue itself is concerned, we are invited to the dialogue because we see the legal nature of the situation in Kosovo differently. If we are only to verify what Prishtina does, then you don't need us. We have always been open to dialogue, we have been waiting for 11 years for someone to form the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority, we have made numerous concessions and Prishtina has not fulfilled any of the obligations it has accepted", Vucic said.

Speaking about the ban of the dinar in Kosovo, Pistorius said that Kosovo has the right to implement its laws, but more adequate communication is needed.

He said further that the investigation into the events in Banjska is of crucial importance.

"The reduction of units on the border with Kosovo was important and necessary in that context. It is important and necessary for Serbia to continue the investigations into the events of September 24 last year in Banjska. This is of crucial importance", Pustorius said. He added that dialogue under the patronage of the EU must continue with great commitment.

Rohde: We have special relationship with Kosovo, friends like us should be listened to (Reporteri)

The Ambassador of Germany in Pristina, Jorn Rohde, has been asked if the EU is being biased regarding the pressure on Kosovo to make progress in the dialogue and the implementation of the agreements. Rohde emphasized the special relationship that Germany has with Kosovo.

"Let me answer by underlining that we in Kosovo have celebrated the 16th anniversary of bilateral relations and yesterday we had the visit of the Minister of Defense, he is on the tour around the region and the first visits are always held in Kosovo to underline our special relations. We have a large space for the political map in Kosovo and sometimes it is good to listen to the advice of your best friend, in this case Germany", Rohde said.

Gervalla in Italy: Kosovo is ready for CoE membership (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla, met the delegation of Italian MPs to the Council of Europe, led by Elisabetta Gardini. According to the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on strengthening cooperation for integration into the European Union, membership in the Council of Europe and strengthening ties between Kosovo and Italy.

Minister Gervalla appreciated Italy's support to Kosovo and emphasized the commitment of the government of Kosovo in advancing the democratization of the state, the rule of law and good governance.

"Kosovo is ready and prepared to join the Council of Europe this year", Gervalla told the Italian MPs.

Haxhiu meets with British Minister of Justice, support for Kosovo reconfirmed (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, has met in London with her British counterpart, Alex Chalk. Haxhiu said that during the meeting with Chalk, the support and strengthening of cooperation in the field of justice was reconfirmed.

Haxhiu also met with the chairperson of the Committee for Foreign Affairs in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Alicia Kearns. During the meeting, Haxhiu and Kearns spoke about strengthening the rule of law, the political situation and Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe.

Serwer: Pristina authorities should be more careful with Serbs (RTK)

The expert on political developments in the Western Balkans, Daniel Serwer, has published an article on the blog peacefare.net entitled, "How to counter the Serbian world", where Kosovo is also mentioned, which he says needs its Serbs. Serwer writes that the Serbs south of the Iber River seem to have made peace, at least for now, with the Albanian-dominated institutions.

“In Kosovo, the Serb population is the largest minority, but only constitutes at most 6% of the population. The Kosovo constitution provides the Serb minority with extensive protection and power sharing arrangements. But most Kosovo Serbs remain separate from the majority Albanians. Their languages (unlike the dominant languages in Bosnia and Montenegro) are incompatible. The Serbs south of the Ibar River live mostly in Serb-majority enclaves. But they appear to have made their peace, at least for now, with the Albanian-dominated institutions in Pristina. Like Albanian-majority municipalities, Serb-majority ones have extensive powers over local governance,” he wrote.

According to him, the Serbs in the four northern municipalities are less integrated than the Serbs south of the Iber, while adding that Belgrade has made sure that the Serbs refuse to accept the authority of Kosovo.

“Serbia wants the Serb-majority municipalities to form an Association. That would enable them to govern jointly and separately from Pristina, as in the RS. In the right geopolitical environment, the Association might also act as a vehicle for the four northern municipalities to secede from a state Belgrade still does not recognize. It was a similar association of provincial authorities that led to the formation of the RS before its attempted secession in 1992 from Bosnia.”

According to him, countering this requires a difficult maneuver from Pristina. It needs to convince the northern Serbs that they will be better off as Kosovo citizens (even if they retain their Serbian citizenship as well).

Read the full opinion piece here: http://tinyurl.com/2r6h95wz

Serbian Language Media

Dacic: The UN SC session an opportunity for Serbia to present its arguments, pressure on Guyana (Tanjug)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today that the UN Security Council session on the situation in Kosovo, scheduled by Guyana as the chair, will be perhaps one of the most important political events now and an opportunity to hear the arguments of Serbia, presented by President Aleksandar Vucic, reported Tanjug.

Dacic told Tanjug, when asked how it came about that the session was open to the public, that as always, Serbia was faced with great hypocrisy and double standards from some Western countries and that there was strong pressure on Guyana, as the chair of the UN SC, to hold a closed session.

He reminded that Serbia requested a session on the situation in Kosovo so that the whole world could hear and see what kind of violation of human rights and freedoms of Serbs it is, the violation of Resolution 1244, the latest decisions of Pristina and the ban of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo.

"We talked with those countries that did not recognize Kosovo. I talked with (Sergei) Lavrov, with ministers from Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ecuador. The president talked with the Chinese ambassador and sent a letter to President Xi,'' adding that it was not known how the situation would develop until the last moment.

Countries that did not recognize Kosovo requested clarification on Chapter 35

Dacic stated that Serbia has information that the countries that did not recognize Kosovo requested clarification regarding the inclusion of the Ohrid Agreement in Chapter 35 and time to determine positions that would not harm their interests.

Dacic assessed that Serbia is under "barrage fire", and within that is the desire to include in Chapter 35 the full implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, and even those parts that Serbia did not accept, which makes the European path meaningless, because we cannot accept that Kosovo become a member of the UN.

Also, there is an attempt to politicize the elections in Serbia in the European Parliament, which, according to him, is a "political trick" because underneath it is "anti-Serbian politics" and the conclusion of this, he believes, will be recognition of Kosovo, inviting other countries that did not recognize Kosovo to do so, to impose sanctions on Russia, to reduce cooperation with China, to condemn Republika Srpska, etc.

"And that is why, it seems to me, that anyone who supports that resolution of the European Parliament is working against the interests of Serbia, and I spoke about this before the election. It is simply unbelievable that someone thinks that they should take the parliamentary oath in front of the European Parliament, that is, in front of the anti-Serbian lobby, and not here in Belgrade," said Dacic.

Office for KiM: Continuing harassment and intimidation of Serbs in Gorazdevac (Tanjug, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija assessed today that the intrusion of Kosovo police into the premises of the Post of Serbia in Gorazdevac is a continuation of the harassment and intimidation of the Serbian people in Kosovo, by direct order of the PM Albin Kurti, with the aim of expelling the Serbs, reported Tanjug.

In a statement, the office indicates that the returnee town of Gorazdevac was targeted in a special attack, "in order to force the Serb returnees, who were left without pensions and social benefits, to leave their homes with additional pressure."

It is specified that Albin Kurti's "police and judicial squads" raided the premises of the Post Office in Gorazdevac, conducted a search, seized computers and complete documentation, including the pension checks based on which pensions are paid to the oldest citizens, and questioned citizens whether they were withdrawing money in dinars.

Serbian List: Kurti does not give up intimidation; the international community must react more harshly (Tanjug, KiM radio)

''Despite the appeals of international representatives and the clear condemnation of the decision to ban dinars and raids on Serbian institutions in Kosovo, 'Kurti's policemen like bandits' broke into the premises of the Post Office of Serbia in the village of Gorazdevac in Metohija, in the municipality of Pec, harassed and intimidated the employees of the post office, and representatives of the media,'' announced Serbian List, reported agency Tanjug.

"This shameful act was preceded by fraud, typical of kidnappers and criminals, first the representatives of the Post of Serbia were contacted by Kurti's police officers and invited them to take over the vehicle and four million dinars that these "heroes" stole from pensioners and recipients of social assistance four days ago. Of course, after the representatives of the Post of Serbia appeared, instead of returning their money and vehicle, they were escorted to the premises of the Post in Gorazdevac, where Kurti's special forces conducted a search and abducted computers and documentation," read the Serbian List statement.

It added, ''If one takes into account the fact that today at the crossing, they prohibited the entry of vehicle into Kosovo with money for pensioners and socially vulnerable citizens, it is more than obvious that the regime of Albin Kurti do not give up the plan to put pressure on our people with the aim of their persecution from centuries old homes,'' cited Tanjug.

Radio Gorazdevac: Action by KP in Gorazdevac Post of Serbia, one computer seized (KoSSev)

The Kosovo police raided the premises of the Post of Serbia in Gorazdevac yesterday around 3:00 p.m., reported KoSSev, citing Radio Gorazdevac.

Representatives of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Peja/Pec left the post office together with members of the Kosovo Police in the afternoon, taking away several bags that supposedly contained documents and archives of the post office.

As Radio Gorazdevac unofficially learned, the prosecutor's office was investigating the number of users, their details and the amount of dinars that the post office has. At the same time, they state that a computer was seized.

In front of the post office, there were vehicles of the Kosovo Police, the prosecutor's office, and a vehicle of the Italian LMT monitoring team passed by, which did not stop, reported Radio Gorazdevac.

This radio reports that the police allegedly filmed and checked the locals who tried to withdraw money from the ATM before the break-in.

"At one point, they were checking and filming citizens who tried to withdraw money from an ATM. One of the locals from Gorazdevac says that at that moment he was unable to withdraw money, the ATM had a message that there was no money," reported this media.

NBS to N1: Pristina turned away Dinar cash transport (N1)

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) told N1 on Wednesday that the authorities in Pristina did not allow Dinar cash intended for salaries, pensions, and other social security payments into Kosovo.

“In line with years of practice, an NBS vehicle brought Dinar cash to the Jarinje crossing where the Henderson company, which is licenced by the temporary institutions in Pristina for the transport of money, was supposed to pick it up but was turned away without explanation,” the NBS said in a written reply to N1.

It said that the cash was supposed to be sent to the NBS vault in the north Kosovo town of Leposavic.

“The NBS condemns today’s incident and reiterates that the discriminatory, illegal and outrageous measures imposed by the temporary institutions in Pristina to prevent the unobstructed transport and distribution of Dinars should be withdrawn without delay to prevent the revoking of elementary living conditions for the Serb population of Kosovo and Metohija,” the NBS said, reported N1.

Vucic to Pistorius: ready to accept OSCE/ODIHR recommendations (N1)

“We are prepared to accept all OSCE and ODIHR recommendations. I said that it’s important to cut down the interference of other countries into our election process and end the attempts to influence the elections in Serbia,” Vucic told reporters after a meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Vucic said that he didn’t think Russia interfered in the election process. “As soon as we complete the report about that, we will publish it,” he said and added: “interference in internal affairs bothers us Serbs as much as it bothers you.”

Pistorius voiced satisfaction with Vucic’s pledge to consider OSCE and ODIHR recommendations.

He said the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue should be continued with both Serbia and Kosovo implementing earlier agreements with transition periods for processes that affect everyday lives. Pistorius added that the Banjska armed incident needs to be fully investigated.

According to the German Defense Minister, disputes have to be resolved through the dialogue.

Vucic called Germany and the EULEX mission to also investigate attacks on Serbs. He said that Serbia and Germany have different views on Kosovo. “We agree that peace and stability are important. What Pistorius said is true, I gave my word that Serbia won’t take any destabilizing steps,” he added.

Petkovic said the stopped NBS vehicle at Jarinje was another attack by Kurti on the Serbs (Tanjug, media)

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said that at the Jarinja crossing, the PM Albin Kurti yesterday stopped the transport of dinars to Kosovo, by returning the vehicle of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) without any explanation.

"The NBS sent the dinars in accordance with the procedures and long-standing practice to the crossing, as we did all months and years ago. That vehicle was supposed to reach Jarinje as it did, and then the British company Henderson, which has a transport license, to take over the money. The money did not come to the area of Kosovo and Metohija because Kurti forbade it, and this is the first transport of money after February 1 and the decision of the so-called CBK," Petkovic told Tanjug.

According to him, this is another attack by Kurti on the Serbian people, because from the moment of the last tranche to Kosovo, before February 1, the money in cash was used for the salaries and pensions of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

Zaklin Nastic: Pristina authorities trying to expel the few Serbs who remained in Kosovo (Tanjug, Adria, Kosovo Online)

Member of the German Bundestag, Zaklin Nastic, stated that Pristina is trying to expel the few Serbs who remained in Kosovo by daily attacks and by creating an atmosphere of violence, reported Tanjug.

Nastic said, in an interview for Podgorica's Adria TV, that last year she stayed in Kosovo and talked with the Serbs there.

"The situation for minorities such as Serbs and Roma in Kosovo has worsened significantly in recent years. The security situation for the local population has been unstable since 1999, and the government in Pristina is trying to expel the few Serbs who remain in Kosovo with daily attacks and creating an atmosphere violence," Nastic said.

International Media

Kosovo anticipates reviving ties with Serbia in 2024: Kurti (dailysabah.com, AFP)

Kosova hopes to normalize relations with Serbia this year, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Wednesday.

"Normalization of relations with Serbia I wish for this year, for 2024, and in the next years and decades I want to come out victorious on issues like social inequality, climate change and security threats," Kurti told AFP.

Kurti's comments came amid tensions between the two countries over the use of the Serbian dinar, which according to the prime minister, is not officially "banned" in Kosovo.

The comments were given during a wide-ranging interview with AFP a week after the controversial ruling against the currency inflamed the latest round of diplomatic tension with neighboring Serbia.

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/y4mtps9y

Running Through Fear: Kosovar Women Jog In Groups For Safety (RFE)

Pranvera Selimi treads carefully atop the frost-kissed pavement as she sets out for a 5 a.m. run through the dark and wintry landscape of Pristina's Germia Park.

The routine, undertaken at least four times a week, started nine years ago when Selimi discovered the joy and health benefits of running.

"I noticed that after running, I felt very good, and later it became a part of my life," the 30-year-old economist told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

However, Selimi's transition from fitness centers to outdoor running has brought about a new set of concerns: a fear for her safety.

"I wake up super early, and you never know who might be out there," Selimi said before adding, "the possible attacks, whether verbal, physical, or sexual, are the dangers you always think about when you leave the house before sunrise."