UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti in address at Harvard: Kosovo has strong minority protections (media)
Kosovo denies allegations that Serbs’ rights in north are being violated (RTV21)
Murati: The Development Bank is becoming a reality (media)
Svecla: Kosovo is not a safe haven for criminals (media)
Bislimi meets head of Division for Western Balkans in EEAS (media)
Jashari meets KFOR Chief of Staff, talk cooperation (media)
Osmani: The Siparantum Choir has once again raised our flag high (media)
Artists from Kosovo and Serbia with joint exhibition in Belgrade (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian Government declares Kosovo a region of special social protection (KoSSev, media)
Vucic: We have no closer or greater ally in Europe than Hungary (Tanjug)
Murphy with Vucevic: Implementing Brussels Agreement as a path to compromise (Kosovo Online)
Vulin: BRICS summit brings hope (N1, BETA)
Milos Subotic: “While they were beating me in police station, other officers were laughing; this no longer feels like life” (Kosovo Online, Danas)
Hearing in Milorad Djokovic’s case postponed (Radio KIM)
LVV ‘under fire’: Opposition claims government uses north, bridge opening and A/CSM to divert attention (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Three reasons why there will be a change of government in Kosovo (Nacionale)

International Media:

‘Thirrëm edhe mua’ for women fighting breast cancer (Prishtina Insight)
Kosovo’s choir awarded in Spain (Prishtina Insight)
KLA was voluntary army, witness tells Thaci trial in the Hague (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti in address at Harvard: Kosovo has strong minority protections (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X on Monday that a week ago he had the opportunity to address the Harvard community at an event organized by the Harvard Albanian Students Association. “I appreciated the chance to discuss Kosova's strong economic growth—averaging 6.2% over the past three years—and how this growth has been intentionally redistributed to benefit the people through measures such as pension increases and free public higher education. I also spoke about Kosova's robust constitutional protections, which have been praised by the eminent lawyers' report of the Council of Europe as going beyond international standards. Kosova has strong minority protections, including guaranteed parliamentary seats. Non-majority communities are vested with a veto power over vital laws and constitutional amendments and enjoy quotas for all senior state appointments and other public sector positions including the police. The Serb minority, which comprises about 4% of the population, governs over a quarter of the municipalities and holds approximately 9% of seats in Parliament, which are guaranteed to them. We are committed to diligent governance that fosters both more equitable growth and strong protection of our Constitution,” Kurti wrote.

See more at: https://t.ly/Guzb1

Kosovo denies allegations that Serbs’ rights in north are being violated (RTV21)

Spokesperson for the Kosovo government, Perparim Kryeziu, denied on Monday allegations according to which the government with a number of actions in the north of Kosovo has violated the rights of Serbs there. The government says that Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi have continuously held meetings with local Serbs and discussed different topics. Kryeziu also said that the government aims to integrate the Serbs by furthering the well-being of their community in Kosovo.

“The current rights are foreseen in the laws and constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. Respect for the laws and the constitution guarantees the rights and responsibilities of all. Our government is always open to listen to everyone’s concerns, without any difference. We continuously have meetings with local Serbs who are part of centers, businesses, and also members of civil society organizations. Prime Minister Kurti as well as Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi have held many meetings and discussed topics of mutual interest. We have implemented a series of institutional actions focused on the communities and we are committed to furthering the well-being of the Serb non-majority community and their sustainable integration in economic and institutional life. We believe that the best way towards integration is by improving employment and education. This year we launched a special employment measure for 2,000 job seekers in the municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Mitrovica North. Meanwhile, we are implementing the process of verifying diplomas issued by the University of Mitrovica North, a process that was initiated during our government. As a result of this process, nearly 290 fellow citizens will meet the requirements to apply for vacancies in public institutions. We have also invested in the IBCM Public College in Mitrovica and last year 27 percent of students are from non-majority communities – most of them Serbs. We have created conditions to verify diplomas of Serbian high schools, further contributing to integration through employment. In the ‘Kosova Generation Unlimited’ program, a cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and UNICEF, which offers practical work without payment for youths, 16 percent of the beneficiaries are from non-majority communities, and 12 percent are from the Serb community,” Kryeziu said.

Murati: The Development Bank is becoming a reality (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, said in a Facebook video on Monday that soon Kosovo will soon start working with the World Bank on the establishment of the Kosovo Development Bank. “This is another promise that our government will implement because we said and it will happen. The Development Bank is becoming a reality and very soon it will be in the service of businesses, the development of the country, and the creation of new jobs and more well-being,” Murati said.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti shared Murati’s video message, adding that “the Development Bank has been part of our governing alternative since 2017 and it has no alternative in our governance now. The Development Bank will be a bank for development, by supporting the private sector and sustainable investments that generate new jobs for the citizens and improve our trade balance”.

Svecla: Kosovo is not a safe haven for criminals (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said in a Facebook post on Monday that at the EU Ministerial for Interior Affairs and Justice with the countries of the Western Balkans, held by the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council and the Montenegrin government, he presented Kosovo’s successes in combating all kinds of organized crime, human trafficking, weapons and narcotics trafficking as well as the fight against irregular migration. “Thanks to the commitment of our institutions, our country today leads in many international reports in the fight against these phenomena and is no longer a safe haven for different criminal groups and irregular immigrants. Acknowledging the fact that these phenomena threaten the security of our country, the region and beyond, I confirmed our commitment for further cooperation with all EU agencies in order to jointly guarantee stability and also security for our countries and beyond,” he said.

Bislimi meets head of Division for Western Balkans in EEAS (media)

Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, met on Monday in Pristina, with the head of the Division for the Western Balkans and South-Eastern Europe in the European External Action Service (EEAS), Zuzana Michalcova Sutiakova. A press release issued by the government notes that they discussed current events and developments in Kosovo and the region, as well as Kosovo’s European integration process.

Bislimi also addressed the progress that Kosovo has seen in the economic field, with new 75,000 jobs, focused on the employment of women and young people, and where the unemployment rate has decreased from 23.8% as it was before our arrival in government, now only 10.8%.

Bislimi also called for the removal of EU’s penalty measures against Kosovo saying that they are unfair and that they remain in force even after the findings of the High Representative of the EU’s Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, in his report recommending their removal.

Jashari meets KFOR Chief of Staff, talk cooperation (media)

Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Bashkim Jashari, hosted on Monday the Chief of Staff of KFOR, Arthur Garffer, and discussed the cooperation between the KSF and KFOR. Garffer thanked Jahsari for the support and highly assessed the professionalism of the KSF. Both offices pledged to continue the level of cooperation in safeguarding peace and security in Kosovo.

Osmani: Siparantum Choir has once again raised our flag high (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Monday that “the Siparantum Choir has once again raised our flag high, bringing home the Gold Medal and a Special Award for Best Contemporary Program and Stage Performance at the World Choral Cup in Barcelona. A remarkable achievement, and yet another example that our youth is unstoppable!”

Artists from Kosovo and Serbia with joint exhibition in Belgrade (RFE)

“The past of war, challenges of cooperation between artists from Kosovo and Serbia, nationalistic propaganda – these were some of the topics of the works by artists from both countries at the ‘MIR IS MIRË’ exhibition opened at the Centre for Cultural Decontamination in Belgrade,” the news website reported on Monday.

The exhibition – which includes the works of 12 young artists from Srbobran, Prishtina, Pancevo, Belgrade, Gjakova, Zrenjanin, Trstenik and Novi Sad – was opened on October 27 as part of a project by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and ArtPolis from Pristina, with the support of the European Union.

One of the organisers of the exhibition, Bashkim Fazliu, told Radio Free Europe, that the project has been implemented for ten years with the aim of promoting dialogue among young artists. “Many people were registered in the program. But we know that they are faced with resistance in their communities [because of participating in such a program],” he said.

Aulona Hoxha, an artist from Pristina, whose work was part of the exhibition, confirmed that artists from Kosovo and Serbia want to cooperate despite stereotypes in their surroundings. “I was told ‘do you know where you’re going, it is dangerous’. But I had a lot of good time here [in Serbia]. This experience has changed my perception of Serbia,” she said.

The title of the exhibition “MIR IS MIRË” connects words from Serbian and Albanian that sound similar but have different meanings. It translates into “Peace is good”.

Dunja Skundric from Pancevo in her video piece showed a performance where she is seen with legs and hands tied, as a symbol of the environment’s resistance to artists cooperation and exchange. “Stereotypes obstruct such contacts [of artists from Serbia and Kosovo]. I am the one who wants us and other artists to break this and to stand against the fear,” Skundric told Radio Free Europe.

She also said that the media often do not present the full picture and added that through talks with other artists she has learned more about the situation faced by her colleagues in Kosovo.

Alsea Ymeri from Gjakova dedicated her work “to growing to what we really are”. “It is a work of art about my travels here, in Belgrade, in Pristina, and in Prizren. This project has been a sort of adventure for me and a way to better know myself,” she said.

Ymeri also said that before going to Belgrade she had heard about Serbia from the stories of her parents that lived in Mitrovica, a city in the northern part of Kosovo. “When I came here [in Belgrade] I saw how similar we are,” she said.

Aulona Hoxha dedicated her art piece to the participants of the project, by illustrating them. “These are memories of our shared adventure in comic book form. Each of the participants left their comments,” she said.

Hoxha said she signed up for the program out of curiosity. “I did not regret it,” she said.

What are the challenges of cooperation?

Fazliu said that because of political circumstances the area for cooperation “is getting increasingly smaller”. “The political circumstances are not in our favor. The dynamics of political relations for the time being is at the lowest level. We don’t enjoy any political support. In fact many people hesitate to participate because of possible political consequences,” he argued.

Fazliu said that in their work there is cooperation between the universities in Pristina and Belgrade. “It is easier to work in Pristina than in Belgrade because of the political setting,” he said.

Artist Alsea Ymeri said she saw older artists from Kosovo exhibiting their works in Serbia and that this is no longer considered problematic.

“I know that the ‘Mirdita …’ festival was cancelled, but I was not afraid to come here,” she said.

Hoxha said she heard ‘warnings’ from Kosovo not to travel to Serbia. “However, I met very nice people here. The media don’t always give the full picture,” she said.

Serbian Language Media

Serbian Government declares Kosovo a region of special social protection (KoSSev, media)

The Serbian Government has declared Kosovo as a region of special social protection, according to a recent announcement. This decision was formalised during a government session on Monday and aims to address the social welfare needs of the population in Kosovo as well as includes provisions for a new judicial framework to handle criminal acts committed in this area, KoSSev portal reported.

The declaration follows a series of measures presented by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in early September, which were a response to the ongoing closure of Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo. Vučić outlined five key chapters of these measures, including calls for the restoration of local elections in northern Kosovo, the reintegration of Serbs into the Kosovo police and judiciary, the release of ‘political prisoners’, and formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.

The new law on special social protection outlines the rights and conditions for accessing these protections, aiming to prevent social exclusion and its consequences. The government stated that the initiative provides financial support to specified categories of the population, focusing on their survival in Kosovo and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage. The measures emphasise the importance of demographic, economic, and cultural development. Among the law’s provisions is support for unemployed individuals and those over 65 who have not received a pension, ensuring they have financial assistance to lead productive lives and mitigate the effects of social exclusion.

In addition to the social protection law, the government also approved a proposal regarding the organisation and jurisdiction of judicial bodies to prosecute criminal acts committed in Kosovo. This law is designed to establish adequate mechanisms for the collaboration of judicial authorities, ensuring that public prosecutors receive robust support throughout investigations and legal proceedings. The proposed legal framework allows for the specialisation of courts handling criminal cases in Kosovo, aiming for greater efficiency and significance in legal proceedings. According to the new law, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Higher Court in Belgrade will oversee first-instance cases, while appellate cases will fall under the jurisdiction of the Appellate Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Appellate Court in Belgrade. Furthermore, a Special Department for prosecuting crimes committed in Kosovo will be established within the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Vucic: We have no closer or greater ally in Europe than Hungary (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday in Zabalj, northern Serbia, that Serbia currently had no closer or greater ally in Europe than Hungary and vowed to prevent anything from eroding the good relations between the two countries as long as he was in politics, Tanjug news agency reports. "There is another thing we Serbs must not forget - that we have no closer or greater ally in Europe today than Hungary, on any issue and at any time", Vucic said in a speech after attending the consecration of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Snows with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok. The church has been renovated with assistance from the Hungarian Government.

Vucic also said future developments would bring many difficult things to Europe but added he hoped that Serbs, Hungarians and other nations would be able to understand how important peace was and fight for that peace together.

Murphy with Vucevic: Implementing Brussels Agreement as a path to compromise (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic met on Monday with Director of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Damian Murphy, who said America supports dialogue and implementation of agreements made under the Brussels Agreement, which represents the right path toward achieving a compromise solution, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Murphy conveyed that the United States supports Serbia on issues of security and regional stability, initiatives that contribute to peace and stability in the region, as well as Serbia's European integration process.

Prime Minister Vucevic emphasised that Serbia is strategically committed to strengthening cooperation with the United States in all areas, for the mutual benefit of people of both countries.

Vulin: BRICS summit brings hope (N1, BETA)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin said that the BRICS summit “awakened hope” and brought together representatives of free nations. The BRICS summit, held in the Russian city of Kazan from October 22 to 24, was attended by Vulin and three other Serbian ministers representing Serbia, N1 reported.

Vulin said in an interview with the Serbian public broadcaster RTS that the Serbian delegation was welcomed in Kazan with “great joy and hospitality”. “BRICS is a gathering of free countries and free people. It was not formed based on geographical proximity, like the European Union, but rather on shared values – that is what Serbia wants to be part of”, he said.

He said he felt among friends in Russia, and that during this time Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was having “difficult talks” in Belgrade. According to Vulin, Russian President Vladimir Putin understands Serbia’s position and appreciates its courage in refusing to impose sanctions against Russia. “I discussed the global situation with Putin and ways to advance our relations. We are the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia. Putin deeply values this. Serbia is surrounded by NATO members, it is not an easy position”, he also said. He added BRICS countries do not impose any conditions on Serbia, and it is thanks to Russia that Serbia will have sufficient gas supplies this winter.

Milos Subotic: “While they were beating me in police station, other officers were laughing; this no longer feels like life” (Kosovo Online, Danas)

Milos Subotic, a legal professional and Mitrovica North University staff member who publicly said on Saturday that he was a victim of abuse by Kosovo police, told Belgrde-based Danas daily that he still fears for his and his family's lives, Kosovo Online portal reported. "This doesn’t feel like anything; this doesn’t feel like life", he said.

Over the past month, North Mitrovica, which is predominantly Serbian, has seen an expansion of Albanian-owned businesses, such as Heb's fast food chain or the Misini pastry chain. While the local Serbian population, almost completely unable to engage in hospitality businesses due to the ban on payment transactions in dinars and the import of Serbian goods, views the opening of "Albanian-owned businesses" as a political decision aimed at “albanizing” northern Kosovo, Mitrovica’s pedestrian zone is getting yet another business, Danas reports. During the setup of this newest, fourth Albanian-owned establishment on the Mitrovica promenade, part of the pedestrian area was blocked off.