UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 18, 2022

President Osmani meets representatives of Quint countries (media)
President of Montenegro, Djukanovic, to begin a two-day visit to Kosovo (media)
Upholding Constitutional Court decisions, crucial for CoE membership, experts say (Koha)
Swiss ambassador on Kosovo-Serbia agreement: Courage needed (Kosovapress)
KSC trial panel to announce verdict on Gucati and Haradinaj today (media)
Krasniqi: This depressive government has created an alternative to good governance (Klan)
U.S. Embassy commends Kosovo’s sanctions against Russia (media)
Kosovo and Turkey sign agreement for supply with products for defense services (media)
Minister condemns non-majority children being excluded from book event (media)
Website Presents Better Side of Serbian-Albanian Relations (BIRN)
Government of Kosovo marks International Day against Homophobia (media)
COVID-19: Four new cases (media)

President Osmani meets representatives of Quint countries (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received on Tuesday in separate meetings the Ambassador of the United States of America Jeff Hovenier, the Ambassador of Italy Antonello De Riu, the Ambassador of France Marie-Christine Butel, the Charge d'Affaires of the British Embassy Jacob Webber and of Germany Jan-Axel Voss.

President Osmani with the ambassadors and charge d'affaires of the Quint states discussed the latest developments in Kosovo, the region and the European continent, with special emphasis on coordination in foreign policy, the Office of the President informed.

President of Montenegro, Djukanovic, to begin a two-day visit to Kosovo (media)

President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, is expected to begin today a two-day visit to Kosovo on the invitation of President Vjosa Osmani.

Osmani and Djukanovic will hold a joint press confernece while the Montenegrin President is also expected to meet Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca. During his visit Djukanovic will be presented with the Key to the City by Pristina Municipality.

Koha reports that ahead of his Kosovo visit, Djukanovic opposed the Open Balkans initiative saying the countries in the region should instead focus on European Union membership.

Upholding Constitutional Court decisions, crucial for CoE membership, experts say (Koha)

On the front page, Koha quotes legal experts saying that Kosovo will be required to meet certain criteria to be able to join the Council of Europe, namely to implement the Constitutional Court decisions on the Decan Monastery land and that on establishing the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. Furthermore, experts also consider that Kosovo may be pressed to adopt the Civil Code which contains the provision allowing same-sex unions.

Koha adds that these issues may be raised once a relevant commission assesses the situation on the ground before deciding whether to recommend Kosovo be admitted to the organisation.

Swiss ambassador on Kosovo-Serbia agreement: Courage needed (Kosovapress)

Switzerland's Ambassador to Kosovo, Thomas Kolly, said he was hopeful that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will lead to a positive result.

"Switzerland, in the framework of the EU efforts, is also offering its support. We are in close contact with the government here in Pristina and also with the government in Belgrade and of course we hope that finally this dialogue will come to a good conclusion," he said. "Let's be ambitious and courageous," Kolly added.

KSC trial panel to announce verdict on Gucati and Haradinaj today (media)

Kosovo Specialist Chambers are expected to announce today the judgement against leaders of the KLA War Veterans Organisations, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj. The two have been accused of revealing, without authorisation, information protected under the Law of the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, including the identifying details of certain (potential) witnesses.

The session is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m and will be public.

Krasniqi: This depressive government has created an alternative to good governance (Klan)

The chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi says that the creation of the Cabinet of Good Governance came as a result of the inaction of the current government.

Krasniqi told Klan Kosova that after more than a year of “sluggish and depressive governance”, it was necessary to create an alternative to what good governance should be. "The creation of a shadow government, the creation of the Cabinet of Good Governance, among others, is a statutory obligation that we as a party have an obligation while being in opposition. After more than a year of this sluggish and depressive government, as I said, it has become necessary for us to build an alternative platform of what governance should look like, but also how the next government should be structured,” Krasniqi said.

He added further that as the leader of the opposition, the Democratic Party of Kosovo in more than two years has tried, despite limitations in certain periods, such as the pandemic, to build a vision and offer this alternative, to offer distinction in relation to the current government. “But now, through the Cabinet for Good Governance, we will offer a concrete alternative for all areas and all departments and policies, which we really consider necessary and lacking in Kosovo.”

The first meeting of this cabinet is expected to be held at the end of next month.

U.S. Embassy commends Kosovo’s sanctions against Russia (media)

The Embassy of the United States commented on Kosovo Government’s decision to impose further sanctions on Russia.

“The United States commends Kosovo for its solidarity with Ukraine—enacting sanctions, offering humanitarian support to refugees and journalists, and condemning Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked, deadly actions,” the Embassy said on Twitter.

Kosovo and Turkey sign agreement for supply with products for defense services (media)

Kosovo's Minister of Defense Armend Mehaj signed an agreement with President of the Turkish Defense Industry Ismail Demir for supply of products for defense services.

A statement issued by Kosovo's Ministry of Defense said the agreement is "extremely" important for increasing Kosovo Security Force capacities.

Minister condemns non-majority children being excluded from book event (media)

Kosovo's Minister of Education, Arberie Nagavci, has expressed 'deep concern' over reports that children from non-majority communities were not included in festivities marking the ABC Book Day in Peja.

Nagavci said the issue would be treated as a priority and discussed today. "The principle of non-discrimination is part of our continuous policies and actions, and must therefore be respected and implemented at all levels. As a minister, a teacher, a mother and a citizen, I condemn any form of discrimination, in any relation, especially when it comes to children whom we must raise with love and equality every step of the way," Nagavci wrote on Facebook.

Online media published images of what they said were a group of several children from non-majority communities sitting separately from the rest of their classmates at the Peja event. The teacher said such a seating arrangement was a coincidence and not a case of discrimination.

Website Presents Better Side of Serbian-Albanian Relations (BIRN)

A non-governmental organization, Aktiv, from Mitrovica on Monday presented a website that contains material on Serbian-Albanian relations.

Despite the historically tense relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the new website, “Serbian-Albanian Friendship”, focuses on the good sides of this complex relationship.

The website is in three languages: Serbian, Albanian and English, and the content mainly comprises material on friendships between Albanians and Serbs, in order to improve relations and cooperate with each other.

The site’s extensive online database provides visual, textual and documentary: various archival materials, books, interviews, popular documentaries and/or feature films and television content.

The authors of the site are Aleksandar Pavlovic and Fillip Lukic.