UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 1, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti on absence in Tirana Summit: Visit to Britain was planned a year ago (Koha)
Kurti meets Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State, discuss cooperation (Reporteri)
European Parliament asks EU to change its approach to dialogue (media)
Hovenier: CBK regulation should be implemented after preparatory process (media)
Bislimi: Discussions with allies, always welcome (RTK)
Xhaferi: Kurti's intervention in North Macedonia’s elections, damages Kosovo’s image (Reporteri)
Hoti: Lectures in Northern Ireland, just an excuse to avoid Tirana Summit (Reporteri)
Signatures in the north verified, vote to dismiss mayors soon (Koha)
Electricity billing starts in the north (media)
A person arrested in the north for behaving aggressively towards KFOR soldiers with a toy gun (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Hovenier: US dissatisfied with quality of partnership with Kurti’s government (N1, BETA, KoSSev)
Petkovic, Kekic met representatives of US Embassy in Belgrade (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Democracy request for referendum against decision to allocate land parcel to Kosovo MIA rejected (KoSSev)
Sadiku: 2.216 citizens who signed petition should be respected (KoSSev)
Koha: CEC completed verification of signatures, 20 percent quote achieved (Kosovo Online)
Serbian List condemns arson of vehicle in Leposavic, demands international involvement in case (Radio Kontakt plus)
Vucic: We extremely appreciate friendship with Central African Republic (Tanjug)
State Department: Serbia should implement ODIHR recommendations without delay (N1)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti on absence in Tirana Summit: Visit to Britain was planned a year ago (Koha)

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has explained the reason for not participating in the Western Balkans-EU Summit held in Tirana. He said that the visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland had been prepared since last year, therefore participation in the meeting of Western Balkans leaders was impossible.

"However, in today's conference in Tirana entitled 'Growth and Convergence Plan', I was a virtual participant through a video message where I emphasized the support and solidarity of the Republic of Kosovo with Ukraine and its people; Regional cooperation and integration through the Berlin Process based on EU rules and values; support and commitment to the European Union Growth Plan that enables the gradual connection to the EU Single Market; dedication to reforms and expectations for the next summit of the Berlin Process and the New Action Plan of the Common Regional Market", Kurti wrote on Facebook.

Kurti meets Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State, discuss cooperation (Reporteri)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, met with the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle. Through a post on his account on the X platform, Kurti wrote that both in Kosovo and in Northern Ireland, citizens of all communities want a safe, prosperous and integrated society.

"We agreed to explore further cooperation between Kosovo and Northern Ireland, especially in economy and culture," Kurti wrote.

During his visit, Kurti has also visited the organization WOMEN'STEC, which deals with training for women and girls of all communities. He said that building peace requires not only state diplomacy, but organized collaboration between ordinary citizens.

European Parliament asks EU to change its approach to dialogue (media)

The European Parliament requests that the European Union change its approach to the process of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia in order to overcome the deadlock in the dialogue.

"We invite the EU to adopt a new approach in mediation between the parties in order to overcome the current stalemate. We recall that the failure of this dialogue will also reflect on the role of the European Union as a reliable factor in foreign policy," says the Resolution approved in Parliament, which refers to the level of implementation of European foreign policy in each country.

The European Parliament continues to support the dialogue and invites the parties to engage in the process in good faith and is committed to a comprehensive agreement based on mutual recognition.

Through the approved document, MEPs condemn the terrorist attack on Kosovo policemen that happened on September 24 in Banjska and ask the relevant European institutions to take action against Serbia, if the investigations prove that the Serbian state was directly involved in the terrorist attack in question or in the violent attacks in the north of Kosovo in May of last year in the north, or in case the Serbian authorities completely refuse cooperation.

In this regard, all parties are encouraged to work to calm the situation and to avoid any rhetoric or action that could lead to further escalation of tensions. Investigations are required and it is emphasized that the persons responsible must be brought to justice.

Through this Resolution, the fact that almost all countries of the Western Balkans have imposed sanctions against Russia is welcomed, but it is mentioned that Serbia is the only country that has not done so. Besides being requested by official Belgrade to undertake this action urgently, it orders that this country cannot move in the European processes if it does not impose sanctions on Russia.

Hovenier: CBK regulation should be implemented after preparatory process (media)

The U.S. ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, has reiterated the US position that the Government of Kosovo is in a hurry with the decision to implement the CBK regulation, adding that the US stands behind the request that this regulation should be implemented after a preparatory process. Ambassador Hovenier shared his views on various topics during a discussion with journalists.

"We are not challenging the authority of the CBK, we are not trying to protect the dinar", explained Hovenier. "But what we are concerned about is a matter of dialogue and we believe that it requires discussion within the dialogue and this has to do with how the regulation of the Central Bank is being implemented and the impact that this implementation has on the minorities in Kosovo, in particular the Serb community ", he added.

During the discussion, Hovenier said that the relations between Kosovo and the USA have been hurt, after the Kurti government's decision to implement the CBK regulation, which, according to him, is harming the Serb community in Kosovo.

"We are currently dissatisfied with our partnership with the Kurti government," said Hovenier. "We believe that the reason why this partnership is not strong currently lies in the absence and insufficient response of the government in terms of our concerns", he said.

He recalled that the institutions of Kosovo, based on the Ahtisaari Plan, have given commitments for specific protection of minorities in Kosovo, and that this should also be taken into account when it comes to the implementation of the CBK regulation.

"So, our concern is related to the way the government is implementing this regulation. As other American officials have said, the implementation of this regulation is hasty, thoughtless and not well planned", Hovenier said.

"Kosovo has made commitments on how it will treat minority communities. These commitments are signed into the Ahtisaari Plan and the laws of Kosovo, and we continue to strongly support this project. So, no one should be surprised if we assess that the government is not adhering to these commitments", says Hovenier.

Asked what could happen if the government of Kosovo does not change its stance on the dinar issue, Hovenier said that he has nothing to add beyond what has already been said; that relations with the government of Kosovo have weakened, but that he hopes that this will change soon.

Ambassador Hovenier said that the U.S. requires greater readiness from both sides, both Kosovo and Serbia, but also concrete actions to implement the signed agreement.

"For Kosovo, since I am ambassador here, this means that the government must move forward with some issues, such as that of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority", said Hovenier.

He said that the Government of Kosovo should seek the opinion of the Constitutional Court as soon as possible regarding the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serb majority.

Hovenier has called the speculations that the U.S. may declare non-grata certain individuals of the government of Kosovo false and irresponsible. According to him, the U.S. does not talk about decisions to impose sanctions, until something like this becomes public. "This has not happened and I don't believe it will happen", he said.

In the discussion about the measures that the EU has imposed on Kosovo and continues to keep in force, Hovenier said that it is not up to him to comment on the decisions made by the EU, however he added that Kosovo can be more responsible in relation to the concerns raised by the U.S. and the EU.

In the end, Ambassador Hovenier emphasized that the U.S. is committed to the citizens of Kosovo. "We have been, we are and we will always be with the people of Kosovo, but this does not mean that every government of Kosovo will have our support for the solutions they undertake, with which we do not agree", he said.

Bislimi: Discussions with allies, always welcome (RTK)

Kosovo’s first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue, Besnik Bislimi, announced that he met with Swiss Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, with whom he also discussed the dialogue process.

Bislimi, in a post on the X platform, said that discussions with friends and allies and support from them in various processes are always welcome. "Happy to meet Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, engaging in discussions on bilateral ties, cooperation in the World Bank, European Integration and also the dialogue process. Discussions with friends and allies and support to contribute positively to various processes are always welcome," Bislimi wrote.

Xhaferi: Kurti's intervention in North Macedonia’s elections, damages Kosovo’s image (Reporteri)

The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi, has said that the "interference" of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti in the elections would only damage the image of the institutions of Kosovo, as well as the image of Kosovo vis-à-vis the international factor. Asked if Kurt's intervention has influence in North Macedonia and his support to the opposition, Xhaferi said that this is a great harm to Kosovo, and not to the processes that take place in North Macedonia.

"It is not a matter of how much it damages the processes, it is a matter how much it damages the image of the Republic of Kosovo vis-à-vis international factors and the image of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo vis-à-vis the obligations that the Prime Minister has as an institution in the Republic of Kosovo. Greater damage is being done to Kosovo itself than to the processes in the Republic of North Macedonia. We have made statements several times about this issue. It is a matter of personal decision-making by the Prime Minister of Kosovo", Xhaferi said.

Hoti: Lectures in Northern Ireland, just an excuse to avoid Tirana Summit (Reporteri)

Former Prime Minister of Kosovo and current MP of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has criticized Prime Minister Albin Kurti regarding his absence at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana. In a post on Facebook, Hoti said that the lectures around Northern Ireland are just an excuse to run away from this meeting.

“There is no justification why Kosovo is not present in Tirana at the Summit of the Western Balkans with the European Union. There is no more important agenda for the government than this summit, except for some national emergency. I'm sure the lectures around Northern Ireland are just an excuse to avoid this meeting.

The summit in Tirana is the place to present the needs and projects, as well as to make the necessary consultations with partners. There is the place to insist and advocate for the unblocking of 300 million euros for projects due to EU measures against Kosovo.

According to the Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, the EU plan for the economic growth of the Western Balkans was conceived in Tirana. Consequently, the government of Kosovo should have made close consultations with the Rama Government before this summit,” Hoti wrote.

Signatures in the north verified, vote to dismiss mayors soon (Koha)

Voting for the dismissal of the mayors in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo is expected soon. The news website has learned that the Central Election Commission (CEC) has finished verifying the collected signatures, but this institution has refused to talk about the process.

As Koha has learned, the required percentage of 20 percent has been reached, and this paves the way for the next phase - the organization of voting for the dismissal of the mayors in the four municipalities in the north.

According to Shkelqim Jakupi, an expert on issues related to local governance, the verification of signatures should not be a problem for the CEC, unless it encounters major irregularities. However, Jakupi has expressed concern about the legal vacuum, which he said, will accompany the process of dismissing the mayors.

Electricity billing starts in the north (media)

The company for electricity supply in the north, "Elektrosever", has announced that the distribution of electricity bills has started in the four municipalities with Serb majority in the north of Kosovo. Serb citizens interviewed said that they will pay for the energy used from now on. "Elektrosever" announced that the citizens of the four northern municipalities will be billed at a flat rate of 21 euros and 60 cents.

"With the payment of an amount of 21.60 euros, the Supply Agreement with the company "Elektrosever" will be considered concluded. Elektrosever officials will bring the Electricity Supply Agreements to the citizens for signature," Elektrosever told RTK.

The Office for the Energy Regulator has also confirmed that billing has begun, although they still do not have accurate data on the number of consumers who have been billed.

"The reading of the monograms was done earlier. We had a meeting about the invoicing and they told us that they have some small problems since it is the first reading and they should be careful", stated ERO.

This is the first time after more than two decades, the residents of these municipalities are being billed for the energy used.

A person arrested in the north for behaving aggressively towards KFOR soldiers with a toy gun (Klan)

KFOR has announced that a person with a (toy) firearm in the north of Mitrovica on Thursday afternoon behaved aggressively towards a Carabinieri patrol. The announcement states that KFOR personnel used weapons and ordered the suspect to stop the aggressive behavior.

"Two Kosovo Police teams were present at the scene. They arrested the individual. The weapon has been identified as a copy of a 'Walther P99' pistol", it is stated in the announcement of KFOR.

Further, the KFOR announcement states that the suspect is known to the local authorities, for suffering from mental health problems. "He is currently in custody at the Kosovo Police, awaiting further legal procedures," the announcement states.

Kosovo Telecom's bank accounts blocked (KosovaPress)

Kosovo Telecom's bank accounts were blocked on Thursday afternoon, following the decision of the Commercial Court regarding the debt of 5.7 million euros to Z-Mobile.

This was confirmed for KosovaPress by the chairman of the Telecom Workers' Union, Lamih Balaj.

He said that the blocking of the accounts happened on Thursday around 16:00 hours. Balaj said that on Fridayofficials will come out with a reaction to this decision.

Serbian Language Media

Hovenier: US dissatisfied with quality of partnership with Kurti’s government (N1, BETA, KoSSev)

US Ambassador in Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier said his government could not have expressed more clearly its dissatisfaction with the quality of partnership with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government, N1 reports.

The Ambassador said the Kosovo Government paid very little attention to the concerns they voiced over the implementation of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) regulation on cash transactions. Speaking with journalists at the US Embassy in Pristina on Thursday, Hovenier said that his country will not give unreserved support to any Kosovo government, despite the fact that it will always support “Kosovo independence and people”.

He reiterated that the US is not questioning the legality of the CBK regulation, but the way in which it was passed and implemented and its impact on the Serb community in Kosovo that used to receive salaries, pensions and additional benefits from the Serbian budget in dinars.

The CBK regulation that came into effect on February 1 defines the euro as the sole currency in Kosovo, effectively banning the Serbian dinar. The international community and the US have expressed concern that this decision could negatively affect the Kosovo Serbs and raise ethnic tensions. The Kosovo authorities have been asked to delay the implementation of the regulation.

Hovenier said that the dinar issue should be addressed within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, because it affects individual people. It has a direct impact on individuals who are more vulnerable, Hovenier said. The Ambassador also said that Serbia should not have a veto on the way the aid is provided, but it must be consulted and has to agree to it, because it has to take part in the system.

He added that his country expects the Kosovo Government to form the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities (CSM), and submit the CSM statute to the Constitutional Court for consideration.

Petkovic, Kekic met representatives of US Embassy in Belgrade (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic and President of the Executive Board of the Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekic, met today with representatives of the US Embassy to Serbia, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"After completing the talks in Brussels, today we met with representatives of the US Embassy at the headquarters of the Postal Savings Bank in Belgrade to discuss the difficult situation of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and all the consequences of Albin Kurti's unilateral decision to ban dinar transactions in Kosovo and Metohija", Petkovic said in a post on Facebook. He emphasized the urgent need for a solution to the crisis, which included the continuation of full operations of the Postal Savings Bank in Kosovo.

"The Postal Savings Bank is the lifeline for the survival of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, and it is crucial that it continues to operate in the province and pays all entitlements to our people", Petkovic added, the portal reported.

Serbian Democracy request for referendum against decision to allocate land parcel to Kosovo MIA rejected (KoSSev)

Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly (MA) Chair, Nedzad Ugljanin informed yesterday the leader of Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic that at this moment no local referendum or any other referendum can be held, because there is no Law on Referendum in Kosovo, KoSSev portal reported.

Serbian Democracy said that Mitrovica North municipality this way was “mocking citizens”. This party in mid-January launched a petition to recall the decision of MA to allocate a land parcel near the so-called Military Overhaul in this city to the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). It collected 2.216 requesting a decision to be recalled and submitted a petition to the MA Chair, announcing as the next step the local referendum against the decision to allocate the land.

Serbian Democracy earlier said if the referendum is not organized, they will file an appeal and request Kosovo Supreme Court to issue a temporary measure as well as request moratorium on decision until the case is considered. They also criticized the response received from MA noting that it did not say it would act upon petition and suspend implementation of the decision until institutions fulfill their obligations to ensure legal provisions in place. They also said the response contained no remarks on possible legal remedies.

Serbian Democracy also argued that the decision to allocate the land parcel in Mitrovica North to Kosovo MIA was illegal and a number of procedures were violated in this case. “Because of everything, the behavior of Nedzad Ugljanin and mayor Erden Atic, looks as if municipal property to them is equal to private property”, adding this is “yet another attack against the Serbian-majority population”. They also urged the international community to urgently react, warning they will stand “side by side with the citizens in defense of public interest if reconstruction of the police base starts in Mitrovica North”.

Sadiku: 2.216 citizens who signed petition should be respected (KoSSev)

Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly (MA) Chair Nedzad Ugljanin in a morning session yesterday informed about response he sent to the Serbian Democracy in relation to their petition against decision to allocate land parcel in this city, near the so-called Military Overhaul to Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs, KoSSev portal reported. His address caused dissatisfaction of his deputy, Skender Sadiku who did not object to the request for referendum being rejected, but criticized Ugljanin of not forwarding the petition further.

He said that the petition should have been sent to the Kosovo Ministry of Local Self-Government Administration.

“We are not defending the laws, we are passing regulations. There is Constitutional Court. We must respect those 2.216 people who have signed the petition, you should keep those papers carefully. Whether they are right or not, it is not up to us. You should send this document to the Ministry of the Local Self-Governance Administration and tell them that we respect the will of 2.216 people”, Sadiku told Ugljanin, the portal reported.

The land parcel in Mitrovica North, Municipal Assembly allocated to the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs includes almost three hectares of land. Several buildings used by institutions working in the Serbian system, such as the Provisional Municipal Authority, two public utility companies – Standar and Vodovod, bus station reconstructed with the EU funds, railway station, and newly built sports hall are located on the parcel. There is also a building whose reconstruction was halted by new Mitrovica North municipal leadership that is supposed to be used for schools displaced from the south following the conflict in 1999 and a school for Roma children, whose construction has also been halted.

Koha: CEC completed verification of signatures, 20 percent quote achieved (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online portal citing Pristina-based Koha said Kosovo Central Election Commission (CEC) has completed verification of signatures collected in petitions to oust mayors in four northern municipalities. According to the media report, CEC refused to speak about the process and it is expected that it would soon be discussed in a CEC session.

According to Koha, the 20 percent quota of registered voters who signed petitions had been reached, thus opening the path for the next phase – organization of voting to dissolve mayors in four northern municipalities.

Serbian List condemns arson of vehicle in Leposavic, demands international involvement in case (Radio Kontakt plus)

Serbian List condemned the arson of the vehicle belonging to the head of administration within the Provisional Municipal Authority in Leposavic and demanded international institutions to get involved in the case and publicly announce results of the investigation, Radio Kontakt plus reported.

"This heinous attack is an obvious message to the leadership of Leposavic municipality by some, by this act proven, criminal elements who want to intimidate hardworking, honorable and responsible people who work in the interest of their people and their country", Serbian List said in a statement.

Serbian List also requested international institutions to investigate this case in detail and come out publicly with the results of the investigation, because, as the statement reads, they do not believe in the work of the Kosovo police officers, given the recent controversy in Leposavic municipal building with use of narcotics noting that those taking part in it were neither arrested nor sanctioned.

Vucic: We extremely appreciate friendship with Central African Republic (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening Serbia extremely appreciated the friendship with the Central African Republic (CAR) and that relationship was a priority, adding he would do everything in his power to develop various deep relations with the CAR and other African countries, Tanjug news agency reported.

"We are proud of the legacy with the African continent - we made the first inter-state agreements in 1968 and 1972", Vucic said after meeting with CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera in Belgrade. Now it is time to renew those agreements, he said. He thanked Touadera for his country's firm respect of the territorial integrity of Serbia.

"That is extremely important to us. That way, of course, you also respect the UN Charter and resolutions adopted in the UN General Assembly. President Touadera told me: 'We respect Serbia, which is our friend, but we also do so for our own sake, as well as for the sake of respect of international public law, for the sake of all those who want to safeguard their integrity’", Vucic said at a joint press conference with Touadera. He said Serbia would always fully support the territorial integrity of the CAR.