UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 28, 2021

Kurti's security beefed up following threats (media)
OSCE Secretary General Schmid meets Osmani, Kurti (media)
Osmani: Kosovo's recognition by Serbia, the only acceptable dialogue outcome (media)
Bosnian politician claims Kosovo-Serbia land swap deal had U.S. backing (Koha)
Albanian FM calls for recognition of Kosovo, gets told off by Serbian ambassador (Koha/RTK)
LDK leader thanks supporters for local elections result (media)
Appeals panel rejects Thaci's request; will remain in detention (media)
Former CEC head reaches out to Ombudsperson over her dismissal (media)
Wonders, and Horrors, Drawn From Boyhood in a War Zone (NYT)
Serbian Model Quits Beauty Contest over Photo with Albanian Symbol (BIRN)
COVID-19: 22 new cases, one death (media)

Kurti's security beefed up following threats (media)

Kosovo Government spokesperson Perparim Kryeziu confirmed to several media outlets that the security around Prime Minister Albin Kurti has been stepped up following threats.

Koha and Telegrafi report that the threats were made through social media, while Enver Dugolli, MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, told Klan Kosova that they have no official information as to where the threat came from but ruled out social media.

Gazeta Express meanwhile reports that the security presence in front of Kurti's residence is back to normal.

OSCE Secretary General Schmid meets Osmani, Kurti (media)

The OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, has separate meetings yesterday with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, and with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.

In the meeting with Schmid, Osmani is reported to have pointed out the importance of Kosovo's membership in the OSCE and the continuation of close cooperation with its mission in Kosovo, as a reflection of the common values of human rights, democratization and of the rule of law. “A range of topics from women in security, recent developments in the region and the efforts of Kosovo institutions to strengthen the rule of law were discussed at the meeting,” a statement issued by the Kosovo Presidency reads.

At the same time, according to a press release issued by the Government of Kosovo following the meeting between Schmid, Kurti and Bislimi, the OSCE Secretary General is said to have been briefed about the work and progress of the Government, economic growth and the reforms initiated in the judiciary. “Regional cooperation was discussed and the Prime Minister reiterated Kosovo’s commitment to cooperation and integration, but reiterated that he does not support regional initiatives where the EU is not present.”

“Secretary Schmid congratulated Prime Minister Kurti on the smooth running of the electoral process and the preparation of the legal infrastructure, as the first phase of the vetting process as well as on the impressive progress in many areas. She particularly praised the government’s commitment and dedication in fighting organized crime, smuggling and corruption.”

On the dialogue with Serbia issue, Kurti stressed that the end goal is mutual recognition and that missing persons remain the first priority. Meanwhile, Bislimi stressed Kosovo’s commitment in achieving mutual recognition and considered unacceptable the provocations made by Serbia.

Osmani: Kosovo's recognition by Serbia, the only acceptable dialogue outcome (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani said in a meeting with Head of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia Sonja Biserko that the only acceptable outcome of the dialogue is recognition of Kosovo's independence by Serbia.

Osmani also expressed the position that countries in the region should act jointly to prevent the influence of malignant actors that undermine the progress towards EU and NATO integration, a statement from the Office of the President notes. "President Osmani also added that the tendency of the Belgrade regime to rewrite history undermines the efforts to open a new chapter in interstate relations. According to her, dealing with the past, justice for war victims and clarification of the fate of forcefully missing people are prerequisites for lasting peace in the region."

Bosnian politician claims Kosovo-Serbia land swap deal had U.S. backing (Koha)

Politician from Bosnia and Herzegovina Sabina Cudic has alleged in a social media post that Kosovo and Serbia had already agreed to a land swap back in 2019 and even had the backing of the United States. She said that the former U.S. Envoy for Western Balkans Matthew Palmer, who is now leading election reform programme in Bosnia, favoured the territorial exchange idea between Kosovo and Serbia and could have well even been the author of the plan.

Cudic said that at a discussion panel in 2019, which was also attended by Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti, she had an altercation with Palmer. "The conversation became unpleasant when I directly asked him whether he was aware of the influence of his support (and possibly authorship) of the land swap idea between Kosovo and Serbia. On the same day, an official from Serbia's Embassy in Washington, thinking I knew more, told me that an agreement was reached and that a suitable timing was being sought so that the Trump administration could announce the agreement as historic," she wrote.

She added that that evening, the meeting with Palmer was also attended by Kosovo's former Ambassador to the U.S. Vlora Citaku who, Cudic says, came to Palmer's defence "asking me why I was interfering in the agreement that Kosovo and Serbia should reach."

Koha reached out to Citaku for comment but she did not give any while Ahmeti said he was not aware of these conversations.

Jeton Zulfaj, advisor to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, commented on Cudic's post: "This is very disturbing and the involvement of a former Kosova diplomat in this story merits further clarification."

Albanian FM calls for recognition of Kosovo, gets told off by Serbian ambassador (Koha/RTK)

Albania's Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka met the new Ambassador of Serbia Slobodan Vukcevic and said on Twitter that friendly relations between Albania and Serbia, mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia are key to building a stable and prosperous future for the Western Balkans.

Serbia's new ambassador reacted to the tweet saying: "We also believe there is always room for improving coop, as long as it’s based on respect - meddling in one another’s internal affairs doesn’t help."

LDK leader thanks supporters for local elections result (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku said on social media that the party has won the most votes in 17 October local elections.

"Following the conclusion of the counting of all votes, regular ones, those from the diaspora and conditional, I thank all 170,177 voters of the LDK, who with their trust and support put the Democratic League of Kosovo as the first party," he said.

RTK reports that the final election results, expected to be announced today, show that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has won a total of 170,177 votes, followed by the Vetevendosje Movement with 167,519, and then the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 161,283. The fourth is the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) with 90,708 votes.

Appeals panel rejects Thaci's request; will remain in detention (media)

The Court of Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has rejected the appeal presented by former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci challenging the decision of the pre-trial judge against his interim release. Thaci has been detained at The Hague since 2020.

According to the Appeals Panel, Thaci has failed to prove why the previous decision of the judge was unreasonable concerning the risks if released.

Former CEC head reaches out to Ombudsperson over her dismissal (media)

The former head of the Central Elections Commission (CEC) Valdete Daka has submitted a request to the Ombudsperson asking for a review of her dismissal by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.

Daka maintains that her dismissal was unlawful. "I consider that following the reports from the EU, the Ombudsperson has a legal basis to address my request before the Constitutional Court," Daka said.

Wonders, and Horrors, Drawn From Boyhood in a War Zone (NYT)

When Petrit Halilaj was 13 and a refugee from the brutal war in Kosovo, a group of Italian psychologists arrived at his camp in Albania and gave him some felt-tip pens.

Halilaj was soon drawing dozens of bright, childish pictures. But their subjects were far from colorful: In one, he depicted tanks blowing up a family’s home; in another, a mass grave. Other pictures showed soldiers standing over dead bodies, with guns or bloody knives apparently raised in celebration.

The psychologists spent two weeks in the camp, in 1999, trying to help the children there process the traumas they had experienced during the war, in which ethnic Albanian rebels fought against Serbian troops. For Halilaj, an ethnic Albanian, those traumas were many. Serbian forces burned down his home and captured his father. His family fled from place to place, until they ended up in the refuge in Albania.

Halilaj’s vivid pictures impressed the psychologists — and not only them: Reporters visiting the camp interviewed him for international news bulletins. Halilaj told a Swedish broadcaster at the time that his sleep was broken by nightmares. “I feel happier when I spend time like this,” Halilaj said of the drawings.