• COVID-19: 98 new cases, 5 deaths (media)
• Shots fired in direction of mountain climbers near Zubin Potok (media)
• Incident near Zubin Potok draws condemnation in Kosovo (media)
• Brussels hope current governments may reach an agreement (Koha Ditore)
• No return of reciprocity or review of Brussels agreement (Koha)
• Szunyog: Kosovo's future is in European Union (media)
• Kurti: EU is more than structures and institutions for Kosovo people (media)
• Hoxhaj: Former opposition wavered citizens' trust in EU (media)
• Kosnett: Washington agreements should be basis for work forward (media)
• Borrell: Ideas for new borders are dangerous and unacceptable (Zeri)
• Victims of the Kosovo war should be at the heart of the dialogue (BIRN)
• Shrinking state funds stunt Kosovo’s award-winning film industry (BIRN)

COVID-19: 98 new cases, 5 deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 98 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours. 291 persons have recovered from the virus during this time. There are 7,012 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Shots fired in direction of mountain climbers near Zubin Potok (media)

Unidentified persons are reported to have opened fire in the direction of a group of about fifty mountain climbers in the vicinity of Zubin Potok yesterday, online media report.

One of the organisers of the hiking trip, Arineta Mula, told Telegrafi that relevant authorities were notified of their planned activity which they cut short after hearing fire shots which she said came from very close by. "One of the organisers Adnan Beqiraj was the first that got terrified because he saw two persons dressed in grey clothing who fired the shots," she said.

Kosovo Police spokesperson for the Mitrovica region Besim Hoti told Koha that no one was injured in the incident.

Incident near Zubin Potok draws condemnation in Kosovo (media)

The incident involving a group of mountain climbers near Zubin Potok has drawn condemnation in Kosovo.

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani condemned the incident saying that every citizen of Kosovo should feel free and safe in moving across the whole territory of Kosovo. "I call on law enforcement authorities to continue work to identify and punish as soon as possible the authors of this criminal act whose goal is to sow fear and feeling of insecurity in that part of our country," Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Minister of Interior Xhelal Svecla has reacted to the news of the incident in the north saying that he has asked the Kosovo Police director to launch an investigation into the case as soon as possible. "This and other such incidents show that the rule of law and the public security situation in the country's northern municipalities like Mitrovica North, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok are not at a satisfactory level," Svecla wrote on Facebook.

Bosniak MP Duda Balje who also chairs Kosovo Assembly's Committee on Human Rights condemned the incident saying it was very concerning and dangerous and that it also sends a message to the institutions of Kosovo: "It is frightening how no municipal official in the north has reacted to this unprecedented event. What more needs to happen for the Mitrovica North mayors (who was former interior deputy minister) and deputy mayor of that municipality Adrijana Hodzic to react?"

The Alpine Federation of Kosovo has condemned the attack against a group of mountain climbers in the vicinity of Zubin Potok. "It is not the first time that our mountain climbers are threatened with firearms and attacked this way," the federation said, adding: "Criminals of such type are aware that climbers from the region continuously visit the beautiful mountains across Kosovo and so far no incident occurred. No doubt, this cowardly act is aimed at creating insecurity in those parts of Kosovo which are located within the territory of the Republic of Kosovo."

Kosovo's Olympic Committee condemned the incident which it said undermines the right of mountain climbers to freely carry out their activity throughout the territory of Kosovo. "Today's act is unacceptable and intolerable," the committee said and urged relevant authorities to take necessary steps to deliver justice.

Brussels hope current governments may reach an agreement (Koha Ditore)

The daily reports in its leading story that following two non-papers that have shaken the diplomatic scene, now comes another less controversial document the authorship of which can be easily confirmed or at least not denied.

A six-page document by the European External Action Service (EEAS), a copy of which the paper claims to possess, does not mention border changes and it does not give any concrete ideas about an eventual agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, but more explains the strategic context of relations between the EU and its partners in the region and the threat from the lack of visible progress by the region toward the EU and the strategic importance of the full integration of the region in the EU in the political, security and economic aspect as a strategic investment.

The document notes in one part that “considering that leaderships with solid mandates from the electorate exist in Serbia and Kosovo, they should use the chance for the achievement of a comprehensive agreement on normalization. None of the parties can lose time.”

No return of reciprocity or review of Brussels agreement (Koha)

The news website notes that the new program of the Kurti-led government does not include the return of reciprocity toward Serbia or the revision of agreements reached in Brussels so far. The Kurti 2 has shrunk in two paragraphs the part of the program that talks about the dialogue with Serbia.

“The dialogue with Serbia will be held to address inter-state issues and good neighborly relations. Its main orientation will be for the citizens to benefit from the results of the political dialogue. The aimed final agreements will include all the unresolved issues, from the succession of the former-Yugoslav Federation, in which Kosovo had constitutive elements,” the program notes.

Szunyog: Kosovo's future is in European Union (media)

Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Tomas Szunyog delivered a video message via social media on the occasion of Europe Day saying it represents the celebration of common values. "This day belongs to all of us. This day belongs to Kosovars as much as it belongs to the EU citizens," he said.

Szunyog noted that Kosovo's future is in European Union and that there is no alternative to the European path. "The EU will not be complete without all the countries of the Western Balkans."

Kurti: EU is more than structures and institutions for Kosovo people (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti congratulated Europe Day recalling that the European Coal and Steel Community laid the foundations for a peaceful and united Europe seventy-one years ago after witnessing the horrors of World War II.

“On Europe Day, let's pause for a moment and reflect on the ideals and ideas of the EU founders, and our own, to see how we measure up. For the people of Kosovo, the EU is more than structures and institutions; it is values and a vision which must be shared,” Kurti said.

Hoxhaj: Former opposition wavered citizens' trust in EU (media)

On Europe Day, acting leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Enver Hoxhaj said in a Facebook post that the occasion finds Kosovo without visa liberalisation and blamed the current government led by Vetevendosje for hampering Kosovo's progress in EU integration path.

"The current government, formerly in opposition, has shaken the trust of the citizens of Kosovo in European Union and damaged many times the achieved progress. In addition, the EU itself is late in fulfilling promises and obligations towards the citizens of Kosovo, particularly in visa liberalisation. Kosovo has no other alternative and has to remain committed to its European orientation but Europe should also be serious and engaged in fulfilling obligations towards our citizens," Hoxhaj wrote.

Kosnett: Washington agreements should be basis for work forward (media)

United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett said in an interview with RTV21 that “the Biden administration has formally concluded that the Washington agreements should be the basis for our work going forward. We believe that Kosovo and Serbia should adhere to those commitments and work together.”

Borrell: Ideas for new borders are dangerous and unacceptable (Zeri)

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday that the rhetoric that questions the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and calls for the redefinition of borders must be stopped. He said there is no change in EU’s position in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“To talk about division, new borders, further ethnic partitions or war is both dangerous and unacceptable,” Borrell said. “The EU has not and will not change. We support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its future is in the EU as a united and sovereign state.”

Victims of the Kosovo war should be at the heart of the dialogue (BIRN)

If the dialogue’s aim is to truly build peace between Kosovo and Serbia then it must focus on human rights and transitional justice issues and reject the kind of imposed solutions outlined in recent non-papers.

In September 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution stating that the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia would be a “factor for peace, security and stability in the region.”

The now decade-long EU-facilitated dialogue, which began six months later in March 2011, has often been framed as the key process for normalising relations between the two states and building a lasting peace.

However, with what has been achieved in Brussels thus far, it is hard to view the dialogue as a genuine attempt at peacebuilding, and the talks have failed to meet the criteria of numerous principles and resolutions outlined by the EU and UN themselves.

The latest iteration of the UN’s peacebuilding resolution, UN Resolution 2558 which was adopted in December 2020, reaffirms that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. It adds that sustaining peace should be understood as a process built on a common vision of society, and one that addresses root causes of the conflict and ensures reconciliation.

Read full article at: https://bit.ly/3xYSRVV

Shrinking state funds stunt Kosovo’s award-winning film industry (BIRN)

The traumas of the Kosovo war have been turned into international film festival successes – but as lack of state aid is restricting both the topics they can cover and their preservation and distribution.

In recent years Kosovo has made films that address social issues resulting from the war of independence, specifically the consequences left on individuals and society.

These films, which deal with the individual trauma resulting from the collective violence the Kosovar population experienced, attempt to reflect the history of the war through its human consequences.

Blerta Basholli’s Zgjoi (The Hive), Blerta Zeqiris Kthimi (The Return), Edon Rizvanolli's T'Padashtun (Unloved), and Lendita Zeqiraj’s Shpia e Ages (Aga’s House) are just some of the films focusing on such traumas, which have won international awards.

But, despite their international success, a chronic lack of funds means both directors and actors often do not get paid much or even anything for their work.

Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3euP1fw