• COVID-19: 4,397 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to discuss COVID-19 pandemic in special session (media)
• Hovenier: Kosovo’s progress is a miracle, but there is still work to be done (RTK)
• Ambassador Hovenier confirms visit of U.S. Envoy Escobar to Kosovo next week (media)
• Government of Kosovo silent to Borrell's criticism (Koha)
• Albania gives Kosovo customs point at Durres port (media)
• Ukrainian MP thanks Kosovo: The next step, establishment of relations (media)
• Protesters Condemn Looming Hike in Electricity Bills (Prishtina Insight)
• Opposition parties: Energy tariff to be opposed through legal mechanisms (Klan)

 

 

COVID-19: 4,397 new cases, no deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 4,397 new cases with COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. 607 persons recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 25,458 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Gazeta Express reports that yesterday’s daily infection rate is a record-high since the pandemic began. It adds, based on the National Institute for Public Health of Kosovo data, that so far 1,759,797 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have administered in Kosovo since the vaccination started. Of this, 803,020 citizens have been vaccinated with the second dose and 65,147 received booster doses.

Kosovo Assembly to discuss COVID-19 pandemic in special session (media)

The Assembly of Kosovo will hold today an extraordinary session to discuss the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The session is scheduled to begin at 11.00 hrs.

Hovenier: Kosovo’s progress is a miracle, but there is still work to be done (RTK)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeff Hovenier said in an exclusive interview with RTK that many positive developments have taken place in Kosovo, but there is still much to be done.

"Next month, Kosovo celebrates the 14th anniversary of independence and I think what the people of Kosovo have achieved in these 14 years is extraordinary," Hovenier said. According to him, wonderful things have happened over the years.

“Look what it is possible now, look at the rule of law system, the law enforcement system or the security forces or civil society organizations and all that they have achieved. I think it is a miracle. But there is still work to be done to move this miracle forward, still work to see this country more and more occupying its deserved place as a sovereign and independent country that provides services to all its citizens," Hovenier said.

Speaking about the issue of the association of Serb-majority municipalities, Hovenier said that what this would be is an issue for the government of Kosovo. "I would say that even then, in the time of Ahtisaari, no one had in mind something that would have another layer of government, something with executive functions, something that ... I am aware of the concerns for another Republika Srpska. No one is interested in that. This does not help Kosovo. It is not useful. But there are some benefits in terms of coordination," said the U.S. ambassador.

Hovenier told RTK that Kosovo's sovereignty, Kosovo's territorial integrity, are not questionable. "Kosovo is an independent state. Some people may choose to oppose this, but it's true. Kosovo is a sovereign state. Some people may choose to oppose this, but it's true. People can debate as much as they want, but the reality, the facts on the ground, speak for themselves."

He also spoke about sanctions against those who commit transnational crime. "We do not sanction people because of their political views. We do not sanction people because of political activity. We sanction people if they commit acts, which are specified by regulations or law, that allow the imposition of sanctions, that is, if you are destabilizing a political system, if you are involved in transnational organized crime. As we have said, anyone involved in transnational organized crime should be concerned that they will face specific sanctions. Anyone who challenges a constitutional order of a country we know and work with should also be concerned. People who express political views should not worry," Hovenier said.

Ambassador Hovenier confirms visit of U.S. Envoy Escobar to Kosovo next week (media)

U.S. Ambassador to Pristina, Jeff Hovenier, said that he looks forward to welcoming the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar in visiting Kosovo next week.

“Progress on the EU-facilitated Dialogue remains the best way to ensure Kosovo leaders can deliver for citizens & Kosovo is recognized & takes its rightful place as a world leader,” Hovenier wrote on Twitter in commenting a previous post by the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs which said that Escobar and EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak would be in Brussels, Pristina, and Belgrade from 30 January to 4 February in an effort to encourage leaders in Kosovo and Serbia to normalize relations through the EU-facilitated Dialogue and implement reforms on the path to EU integration.

Government of Kosovo silent to Borrell's criticism (Koha)

The Government of Kosovo has chosen not to comment on criticism voiced by the EU High Representative Josep Borrell over the dialogue with Serbia process, Koha reports.

Koha reached out to the Government to comment on Borrell saying that Kosovo has shown reluctance in sitting at the table of talks with Serbia but received no reply.

At the same time, Arber Fetahu from the Group for Legal and Political Studies think tank, said Borrell's statement was "concerning" because of the position he holds which, he noted, should be that of a neutral mediator. "It is practically the second time within few months that Mr. Borrell points the finger of blame towards Kosovo," Fetahu said, adding: "These statements damage the credibility of the EU as a facilitator with the Kosovo side and can lead to aversion. Before pointing the finger of blame to the Kosovo side I believe Mr. Borrell should create incentives and mechanisms to convince the parties to sit at the table."

Albania gives Kosovo customs point at Durres port (media)

The Government of Albania has approved the agreement with Kosovo for the facilitation of customs procedures, which envisages the opening of the customs point of Prishtina in the Port of Durres.

This, according to Albania’s Minister of Finance and Economy Delina Ibrahimaj facilitates trade between the two countries.

Also, this agreement provides for the opening of other Kosovo customs points in different cities of Albania.

Ukrainian MP thanks Kosovo: The next step, establishment of relations (media)

The Ukrainian MP Iryna Friz thanked Kosovo for the support given to Ukraine at a time when this country is going through a crisis from the Russian threat of occupation.

Friz through a post on Facebook, has distributed the posts of President Vjosa Osmani and former Kosovo Ambassador to the United States of America Vlora Çitaku, where they have supported Ukraine in the difficult situation it is going through.

"Thank you very much to our friends from Kosovo, President Vjosa Osmani and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo Vlora Citaku, for the support of Ukraine at the time of the threat of occupation by Russia. I am convinced that Ukraine must support true friends, who also choose their independence. It's time to reject double standards," Friz wrote.

According to her, the friends of Ukraine are not those who send pro-Russian militants to their land, "but those who, also under the threat of armed conflict, express support for our country."

Her article further states that the establishment of friendly relations with Pristina, which has been previously blocked by Russian policy in the Balkans, is a step that needs to be taken.

Protesters Condemn Looming Hike in Electricity Bills (Prishtina Insight)

Citizens in the capital, Prishtina, have slated proposals to increase the price of electricity - and have issued their own demands.

“No more cents”, “We want electricity, no excuses” and “Block the tariff” were some of the calls made by protesters on Wednesday in Prishtina, who oppose the projected increase in the price of electricity.

One of the organisers of the protest, Anita Mjeku, said their two main demands were: non-approval of the block tariff proposed by the Energy Regulatory Office, ERO, to increase electricity prices; and nationalization of the Distribution System Operator, KEDS.

“Since December last year, we have been constantly blackmailed with reductions [in power] and increases in energy prices, and have been ridiculed by the institutions that have been chosen to represent us,” she said.

“This proposal, deeply unjust and extortionate, is another attempt to bill us citizens for the enrichment of businesses,” she added.

The planned increase in the electricity price was also condemned on Wednesday by the Social Democratic Party, PSD, an extra-parliamentary opposition party.

It has accused the government of bowing to the distribution company KEDS and the Electricity Supply Company, KESCO. “This building is no longer a government office, but an office completely subordinated to KEDS and KESCO,” PSD activist Nol Nushi said.

After sharp criticism of the government’s handling of the power situation, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that demand for electricity rose sharply in 2021, which had affected the security of supply.

The government has made a commitment to allocate 75 million euros to mitigate the impact of higher electricity tariffs, in case of a price increase.

Citing the ongoing electricity crisis in Kosovo, the ERO has proposed doubling the price of energy for those consuming over 600 kilowatts. The first 600 kilowatts will stay on the same tariff.

The public consultation on ERO’s proposal for imposing a block tariff ends on January 28.

Opposition parties: Energy tariff to be opposed through legal mechanisms (Klan)

Kosovo opposition parties - the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) - walked out of the Assembly session yesterday in sign of protest after their proposed resolution opposing increase of energy tariffs was not passed.

In a joint press conference, opposition representatives said they would pursue their objectives through legal mechanisms. PDK's Abelard Tahiri accused Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, the Energy Regulatory Office, and the Vetevendosje parliamentary group of coming together to implement a block tariff which he said the citizens of Kosovo will be unable to cope with.