UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 1, 2021

Osmani: Serbia, backed by Russia, undertakes destabilising initiatives (Klan)
Government of Kosovo approves 2022 draft budget (media)
Mehaj: U.S. military base in Kosovo would ward off Russia's access to the region (Koha/RTK)
COMKFOR: KSF cannot deploy to the north without my consent (media)
Szunyog: Vetting, the last step in efforts to improve judicial system (Telegrafi)
PM Kurti meets OSF deputy chair, Soros (media)
Von Cramon urges Government to implement decision on Decan Monastery (media)
Human remains unearthed at the KFOR base in Pristina (media)
Freight Carriers Protest Fees at Kosovo-North Macedonia Border (BIRN)
North Macedonia PM announces resignation after election loss (AP)
COVID-19: 13 new cases, one death (media)

Osmani: Serbia, backed by Russia, undertakes destabilising initiatives (Klan)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani accused Serbia of continuing efforts to destabilise Kosovo.

In an interview for Portuguese media during her recent visit to the country, Osmani underlined the importance of the region dealing with the past. "Regardless of Kosovo's commitment for a state-to-state dialogue with Serbia to ensure good trade relations, no obstacles to free movement of goods and persons and not blocking one another internationally, Serbia has done the opposite."

Osmani said Serbia continues to lead an "aggressive" campaign against Kosovo on the international front and continues to "misuse" the dialogue to send wrong information to certain countries, especially those that are geographically more distant. "[Serbia] has carried out a series of destabilising initiatives, with Russia's help, by keeping tensions and conflicts alive and leaving the region completely out of European integration."

Government of Kosovo approves 2022 draft budget (media)

The Government of Kosovo, during its meeting on Friday, adopted the draft budget for 2022 of 2.7 billion euros aimed at consolidating economic recovery, ensuring public finance sustainability, directing the economy towards production and export, and supporting employment and sustainable economic development.

Media highlight that according to the draft budget, €100 million have been allocated for the armed forces. "The army is our major project and for the first time we have allocated a budget of over 100 million euros, or 1.3% of the Gross Domestic Product, and our goal is to bring this to 2% of the GDP during the mandate, as is required NATO standards," said Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

At the same time, the draft budget foresees allocation of €2 million to supporting the Presevo Valley and also includes funds for the construction of the Prizren-Tetovo road which, Kurti said, "will unite two cities divided by the common Sharr mountains".

Mehaj: U.S. military base in Kosovo would ward off Russia's access to the region (Koha/RTK)

Kosovo's Minister of Defence Armend Mehaj, during his recent visit to the U.S., underlined the importance of the United States establishing an army base in Kosovo.

"I reiterated the extraordinary importance of an American army setting up a permanent military base in Kosovo in the service of peace, security and stability of the region and beyond and warding off Russia's destructive and destabilising access to the region, through Serbia," Mehaj wrote on Facebook.

COMKFOR: KSF cannot deploy to the north without my consent (media)

The newly-appointed commander of KFOR troops, Major General Ferenc Kajari, said that the Kosovo Security Force cannot be deployed to the north without his prior consent.

"The Kosovo Security Force, under a previous agreement, must be authorised by the KFOR commander prior to any deployment in the north of Kosovo," he said, adding however that the same does not apply to the Kosovo Police which "can move freely throughout Kosovo."

Kajari further noted that NATO expects Kosovo institutions to continue to adhere to the agreements. "In the first weeks I met with the heads of institutions in Kosovo, who assured me that before any action, there will be adequate coordination with KFOR and the deployment of the KSF in the north of Kosovo will continue to be based on the prior notification and approval of the KFOR commander," Kajari said in an interview for the Kosovo Online news website.

Szunyog: Vetting, the last step in efforts to improve judicial system (Telegrafi)

The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo and Special Representative, Tomas Szunyog, said that it is true that Kosovo faces serious challenges in the judicial system but noted that the vetting process would have to be the last step in efforts to improve the sector.

"Kosovo has good tools to assess the integrity of judges and prosecutors and has tools to measure their performance. We do not see vetting as something that should be the first thing to be undertaken to improve the justice system. Vetting is the last resort. So if nothing else works, vetting would be considered," he told RTV Dukagjini.

Szunyog suggested the Government of Kosovo increase consultations with the international partners when it comes to the vetting process. "Both we and the Government have the same viewpoints in that the justice system needs to function better and more efficiently, but we are simply asking to coordinate and consult on government steps."

PM Kurti meets OSF deputy chair, Soros (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met the deputy chair of the Open Society Foundations, Alexander Soros, in Pristina yesterday.

According to a press release issued by the Government of Kosovo, Kurti spoke in the meeting about Kosovo's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination process for which he said Kosovo leads in the region. He also touched on the World Bank economic growth forecast for Kosovo which is expected to be 9.9 percent.

"Importance of regional cooperation and the common goal of the region for European Union integration were also discussed. The latest project of the Kosovo Open Society Foundation was presented in the meeting, a collaboration with the 'Riinvest' college which is aimed at promoting the green agenda through an education centre."

Von Cramon urges Government to implement decision on Decan Monastery (media)

Viola von Cramon, European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, visited the Serb Orthodox Monastery in Decan and said that tolerance and mutual respect are the essence of a multiethnic society. In a Twitter post, von Cramon also said that the heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo must me protected and enjoy full rights.

"I thus urge Kosovo govt to implement the long overdue CC [Constitutional Court] judgment as the rule of law means equal treatment of all," she added.

Human remains unearthed at the KFOR base in Pristina (media)

Media reported that human remains have been discovered at the KFOR base in Pristina during construction activity.

KFOR spokesperson, Antonio Minutella, confirmed the news and said that an investigation has been opened into the case and is being conducted by the Kosovo Police.

At the same time, Kallxo quotes Kushtrim Gara from the Kosovo Government's Commission on Missing Persons saying: "It has been confirmed that the remains are older and in this case do not belong to victims of the last war. As a result, the case is beyond the mandate of the Government's Commission on Missing Persons."

Freight Carriers Protest Fees at Kosovo-North Macedonia Border (BIRN)

On October 21, freight carriers passing the Hani i Elezit/ Djeneral Jankovic crossing between Kosovo and North Macedonia may no longer use the alternative road created by the Kosovo Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in 2014.

This alternative road allowed freight carriers to pass for free and then pay custom’s fees at the customs terminal of their choice.

The road was constructed in 2014, by the Kosovo Ministry of Infrastructure on the property of a company, Terminali L.L.C, which immediately sued the ministry for removing the barriers and constructing a free-of-charge road.

The barriers returned last Thursday, on October 21, since when freight carriers have to pay a fee.

Freight carriers told BIRN they want the construction of an alternative route, alongside the customs, on state property.

“Until [last] Thursday we didn’t have to pay,” one told BIRN, adding that they paid a fee a few years ago, before the government constructed the alternative road.

“The property is privatised and they [the owners] have won a case [in court],” the freight carrier said.

“We need a solution, we should not have to pay a private [company] when, alongside this, we have to pay custom’s clearance, meaning another 40 euros. This is too much.”