UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 12, 2024

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: First the Brussels Agreement, then the Washington agreement (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Monday that the Brussels agreement with Serbia would have to be implemented first and then deal with the agreement reached in Washington. “I can be responsible for the agreements in which I participated, I accepted, and I expect the same from Belgrade, even though they suppress it and do not respect this agreement. Let's start with the last agreement, which is a comprehensive agreement, because it normalizes relations between Kosovo and Serbia through de facto recognition of each other.” Kurti told reporters on Monday.

Kurti said he would continue to communicate and cooperate with any administration in the United States, regardless of whether the Democrats or Republicans are in power. Asked if he would call the elected U.S. president, Donald Trump, Kurti said that “we cooperate with the U.S. in an irreplaceable manner and with all our dedication and seriousness”. “The future president of the USA, in a congratulatory letter sent to a predecessor, before us, basically established mutual recognition as something central in the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and we are interested in expanding this cooperation,” he said.

Kurti also said that Kosovo’s liberation happened “with a Democrat president, while [we won] independence when a Republican was in the administration. This speaks volumes”. “We must work with every administration regardless of which candidate. We have this tradition brought to us by the USA,” said Kurti, mentioning the American delegations that came to Kosovo during the 80s and 90s, consisting of Democrats and Republicans.

Kosovo Assembly adopts draft budget for 2025 in first reading (media)

The Kosovo Assembly adopted the draft budget for 2025 in its first reading with 59 MPs voting in favor and two abstained. MPs from opposition parties did not vote. Koha notes that while the Prime Minister, government ministers and MPs from the ruling party praised the budget for next year and the projects they implemented and those they plan to implement, opposition MPs criticized the ruling party for what they called a non-developmental budget, for lack of capital investments and for manipulating with statistics. Prime Minister Kurti said in his address that the new budget totaling at €3.6 billion would prioritize the citizens, assistance for families, sustainable economic development, new jobs, education, healthcare, infrastructure and defense.

Kurti visits War Crimes Institute, receives one-year work report (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited on Monday the Institute for the Crimes committed during the War in Kosovo and received the one-year work report from the head of the institute, Atdhe Hetemi. “I saw how the materials are being archived and if we were to say how material there is, it would be 189 meters long with folders or 15.8 terabytes of information that has been accumulated during 9 months of video recordings, photographs, audio recordings and various texts. There are a total of 67 sources from which these documents were obtained. It is vital and decisive work for both history and justice for us. We understand the truth of history through these documents. At the same time, this is also a very important place of address for local justice and for the victims to be rehabilitated because the lack of justice is continued injustice. Citizens who have documentation for crimes committed during the war have an address now,” Kurti said.

Posters in support of Trump and Grenell placed near government building (media)

Several news websites reported on Monday evening that posters in support of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Richard Grenell were placed in downtown Pristina near the building of the Kosovo government. The posters included the pictures of Trump and Grenell and the slogan “Make Kosova great again”.

Kosovo Police Director meets COMKFOR, agree to further cooperation (media)

Kosovo Police General Director Gazmend Hoxha met on Monday with COMKFOR Major General Enrico Barduani and discussed cooperation and the importance of maintaining stability and security in Kosovo. Hoxha reiterated the commitment of Kosovo Police to work closely with KFOR and other international partners to ensure a safe and secure environment for all and highlighted the importance of strong cooperation to achieve common objectives. Hoxha and Barduani agreed to further partnership in the area of security.

Haradinaj on Veterans Day: Forever grateful to their service (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said on Monday on the occasion of November 11 – the Veterans Day, that Kosovo honors the courage and sacrifice of war veterans of the United States of America. “The people of Kosovo remain eternally grateful for their service which contributed to freedom and peace in the world, and which helped realize our centuries-long dream for freedom. As a people that aspires to freedom, Kosovo, built on sacrifice, stands alongside its eternal ally, the U.S.A. On this joint path, we aim for direct membership in NATO through the Action Plan, to become guarantors of peace and security,” Haradinaj said in a Facebook post.

RTK staff warn with protests and strikes: Government cut the budget (Express)

The Union of Workers of the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) reacted on Monday to the adoption of the budget for 2025, expressing its deep concern over the budget cuts for the RTK. “With the new budget, the RTK won’t be able to function, investment in new programs or meet its legal obligations to the viewers, foreign productions and so on,” the statement notes. “This budget will only allow us to survive and will put us in an emergency situation, while wages in all sectors of the state have been increased”. The union also said it “calls on all our colleagues to strongly support us for protests and strikes which we will start soon”.

Osmani congratulates Poland on its Independence Day (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani congratulated her Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the occasion of Poland’s Independence Day on Monday. “Kosovo is dedicated to our strong and lasting friendship with Poland, bound by our shared vision of a peaceful and united Europe,” she said in a post on X.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic, Aliyev meet in Baku (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday. They discussed bilateral relations and the excellent overall cooperation between Serbia and Azerbaijan, reflected in numerous joint infrastructure projects and friendly relations between the two nations, Tanjug news agency reported. In an Instagram post, Vucic noted they had discussed "key issues of importance for the global climate agenda and the significance of accomplishing the ambitious goals as part of COP29".

"I said I was pleased that we have an opportunity to work together with brotherly Azerbaijan on improvement of environmental protection standards and creating a sustainable future for generations to come", he said. Vucic added that they had agreed COP29 was a unique opportunity for further international cooperation aimed at environmental protection and fighting climate change.

On Tuesday, Vucic will address the annual UN climate change summit COP29, to bring together many state leaders, businesspeople and civil society representatives with a view to stepping up action to tackle the climate crisis. After the opening ceremony - to be addressed by Aliyev and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres - more than 20 state leaders will speak at the summit. Vucic will be the second to take the floor, after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaev, Tanjug news agency said.

Vucic: Building gas power plant near Nis discussed with Aliyev (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday in Baku his discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had addressed cooperation in the energy sector and, in particular, building a gas power plant near Nis as a joint venture with Azerbaijan. If it materialises, the project would be another step in the successful cooperation between the two countries, ensuring long-term electricity supplies to Serbia, he said.

"We will try to build a gas power plant near Nis", Vucic told reporters, adding that the 1 GW plant would be situated in the vicinity of a gas measurement station. “That part of Serbia, and Nis itself, has problems with electricity supplies", he said, adding that building the power plant would ensure "good electricity supplies to Serbia for the next 12 years".

Asked by a foreign reporter about bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan, Vucic said his meeting with Aliyev had also addressed topics related to the COP29 climate summit.

Representatives of French and German embassies marked Armistice Day in Pristina (Radio KIM)

Deputy German Ambassador in Pristina, Matthias Conrad and French Ambassador Olivier Guerot late yesterday afternoon laid the wreath at a monument dedicated to the fallen French soldiers in the WWI, located at Orthodox cemetery in Pristina, Radio KIM reported.

The Radio said it attempted earlier in the day to find out from representatives of the two embassies if and how they plan to mark the Armistice Day in Pristina. The Radio was directed to the announcement on the official Facebook page of the German Embassy later in the afternoon and related to the ceremony.

“Today, on the 106th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War, German Deputy Ambassador Conrad and French Ambassador Guérot came together for a wreath-laying ceremony. This solemn act honours the lives lost in the war and underscores the enduring friendship and cooperation between our two nations”, reads the post on Facebook of the German Embassy.

Petkovic comments on Vucic-Trump phone conversation (Kosovo Online, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said attention with which Pristina's media and politicians followed the conversation between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and US President-elect Donald Trump speaks volumes about concern and envy prevailing among their ranks, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"Vucic was among the first 10 world leaders Trump spoke with, which is a sign of our country's prestige and a clear indication of the continued development of Serbian-American relations. This is why there is a state of panic in Pristina", Petkovic wrote in a post on X social media platform. Vucic and Trump had a phone conversation on Sunday evening, the portal recalled.

Black paint sprayed over SNS premises, Vucic’s photo in Leposavic (KoSSev)

The front window of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) premise in Leposavic had been damaged over the weekend, respectively parts of it were painted with black colour, including the photo of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, KoSSev portal reported.

The premises are located in the centre of Leposavic, near the school and municipal building. Photos were shared on social media yesterday, depicting a defaced photo of Vucic and a message “Murderers” inscribed over the Serbian Progressive Party. Meanwhile, the wording had been painted with a black colour, the portal added.

Kosovo police are aware of this case, but took no action, because, as they said, no one reported anything to them.

Protest held in front of Serbian Government building (N1)

Several thousand people gathered in the rain in front of the Serbian Government headquarters on Monday evening, demanding resignations over the tragedy at Novi Sad Railway station, N1 reported. The protest is the first in Belgrade staged over the deaths of 14 people when a canopy roof collapsed at the main railway station in the northern Serbian city.

Speakers at the protest demanded the resignations of people responsible for the collapse of the roof, giving the government a deadline of one week before more protests are staged. They said that parliamentary opposition parties would demand a special session with only one item on the agenda – the dismissal of the entire government. They also want Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric (of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party – SNS) to resign. There have been public demands for criminal accountability for the collapse of the roof.

The crowd marched to the Serbian Presidency building with an anti-corruption slogan in front. The protesters stopped in front of the Presidency building even though they knew that President Aleksandar Vucic was in Baku to attend the COP29 UN climate conference.

Opinion

Green transition in Balkans needs risky reforms to cut coal dependence (BIRN)

Opinion piece by Alberto Mesas

The green transition in the heavily coal-dependent Western Balkans represents an opportunity to further the region’s European Union integration and build a more sustainable future - but the social and economic challenges are huge.

With the United Nations’ huge COP29 climate summit underway in Azerbaijan, serious questions have been raised about Western Balkan states’ efforts to tackle climate change by developing forward-thinking policies or meeting the commitments they have already undertaken.

In recent decades, the European Union has set ambitious climate targets focused on decarbonisation, but the countries of the Western Balkans remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels for energy generation.

Brussels has pushed for member states to cut carbon emissions by 55 per cent by 2030. But in the Balkans, where Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia aspire to EU membership, the energy transition poses significant challenges.

Coal remains the main source of energy for many of them due to old infrastructure and the high economic costs of a rapid transition to renewables.