UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 10, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Stano on blockades by Serbian masked persons: They were illegal (Klan)
KFOR: Security situation is calm but fragile, especially in the north (Koha)
Kurti: In four municipalities in north, 263 people have been supported for employment (RTK)
American KFOR patrols in municipality of Leposaviq (Klan)
Minister Aliu and Montenegrin FM discuss roads connecting Kosovo and Montenegro (RTK)
Vulin attached to Kremlin, discusses Kosovo with secretary of Russia’s Security Council (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic to meet Lajcak in Belgrade on Tuesday (media)
Vucevic: Lajcak coming to Belgrade, Brussels meeting to follow soon afterwards (Tanjug, media)
Petkovic met Botsan-Kharchenko, discussed current situation in Kosovo (media)
Simonovic: Ongoing ‘Albanization’ of north, huge number of Serbs are moving from Mitrovica North (N1, Radio KIM)
Vulin met Shoygu in Moscow (Tanjug)
Dacic: Serbia has chosen cooperation with China as its proven friend (Tanjug)
KFOR conducts routine patrols in Zubin Potok and Leposavic (Kosovo Online, social media)

International:

Vucic's Delicate Balancing Act (RFE)

Albanian Language Media

Stano on blockades by Serbian masked persons: They were illegal (Klan)

On Friday, August 6, masked groups of Serbs terrorised Kosovar families, preventing them from crossing the territory of Serbia, in the presence of the Serbian police. In this regard, the spokesperson of the European Union, Peter Stano, told Klankosova.tv that the freedom of peaceful gatherings, respecting the law, is essential in any democracy, but according to him, the gatherings of September 6 do not belong to this category.

"Freedom of peaceful assembly, respecting the law, is absolutely essential in any democracy. However, the masked persons in Serbia, near the common crossing points, who block the traffic coming from Kosovo and scare travellers, do not belong to this category", Stano said.

He added that the 2011 dialogue agreement on freedom of movement clearly defines the principle of freedom of movement within or through the territory of the other party. "It is the responsibility of each party to implement those provisions in its territory, in this case Serbia", said Stano.

KFOR: Security situation is calm but fragile, especially in the north (Koha)

KFOR officials described the security situation in Kosovo as calm, but fragile, especially in the north, populated mainly by Serbs. In addition to independent patrols, they said that they are conducting joint patrols with the Kosovo Police, as well as parallel patrols with the Serbian armed forces along the border line, in order to guarantee security.

KFOR is carrying out patrols in various formats in all parts of Kosovo, officials of this force have confirmed through a spokesperson. They have said that the patrols are based on the mandate from the UN. KFOR officials said that the situation continues to be fragile, especially in the north populated mainly by Serbs.

Except in the north, KFOR, through various communiques in recent weeks, has announced the patrols made in other cities as well. "We implement our UN mandate at all times and impartially, through various activities. These include regular patrols, which are carried out in different formats, such as independent KFOR patrols throughout Kosovo and along the administrative border line, joint patrols with the Kosovo Police and synchronised patrols, parallel to the Serbian armed forces on the respective sides of the administrative border line", said the KFOR Information Office through a written response.

In the recently published communiques, it was said that members of KFOR have carried out patrols along the administrative border line in Pristina and Istog, in order to consolidate regional stability. KFOR added that these patrols, as well as engagements with all local communities, represent a concrete and tangible demonstration of NATO's long-term and unwavering commitment to stable security throughout Kosovo and stability throughout the Western Balkans.

"KFOR continues to closely monitor the situation. We have a visible, flexible and responsive presence that enables us to address any significant security developments effectively, in line with our UN mandate," the response reads.

Asked about the security situation after the government's warnings about the opening of the Bridge over the Iber River, KFOR said that the situation is calm, but fragile. "In general, the security situation in Kosovo is calm, but it remains fragile, especially in the north of Kosovo. We are closely monitoring developments and maintaining a visible and appropriate presence through regular patrols and engagement with local communities" the response continued.

KFOR added that they continue to operate in Kosovo as a third responder, after the Kosovo Police and EULEX. "We continue to fulfill our UN mandate - based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 - to contribute to a peaceful and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo , at any time and impartially.

They have talked about the possibility of increasing the presence with additional troops, in KFOR they said that the current mission consists of about 4,600 troops from 28 contributing countries, including NATO allies and partners.

"We have a visible, flexible and appropriate presence that allows us to effectively deal with any important security development, in accordance with our UN mandate", they stated in KFOR.

This force, as well as the diplomatic part of the international community, has called on the government not to open the Bridge for vehicle traffic under the current circumstances. Its officials have even repeated several times that they are ready to confront anyone who threatens the security situation in the country.

Kurti: In four municipalities in north, 263 people have been supported for employment (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, through a post on 'Facebook', has announced that seven months from the start of the scheme, until August 30, in the four municipalities in the north, they have mediated and supported the employment of 263 people, while 428 vacancies have also been announced.

"The scheme of measure 1.8 "Government for Families" was first presented in July 2022, for which 10 million euros were allocated. Meanwhile, in February of this year, through this scheme, a special measure was launched to support employment for our citizens in the four municipalities in the north. The subsidy was set at the level of 70% of the gross salary for the first six months up to the amount of 350 euros, for 2000 jobs. Seven months from the beginning of the scheme, until August 30, in the four municipalities in the north, we have mediated and supported the employment of 263 people, while 428 vacancies have also been announced," Kurti wrote on Facebook.

According to him, more employment, more welfare and more integration and interaction between communities is required.

"I invite you to apply at the Employment Offices in the four municipalities in the north, and take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself for the field of your activity. The Republic of Kosovo is a state for everyone," he said.

American KFOR in north patrols in municipality of Leposaviq (Klan)

American KFOR soldiers were seen on Monday in the north of Kosovo, carrying out patrols within the municipality of Leposaviq. In the announcement issued by the NATO Force in Kosovo, it is said that these engagements are part of KFOR's daily mission for a safe environment.

"American soldiers assigned to the Eastern Regional Command of the KFOR mission led by NATO conducted a patrol inside the municipality of Leposaviq. These efforts are part of KFOR's daily mission to guarantee a safe and secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo.

KFOR continues to implement its mandate, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 – to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo and the freedom of movement, at any time and impartially. "KFOR is the third responder, after the Kosovo Police and the EU mission for the Rule of Law (EULEX), respectively, with whom we work in close coordination", reads the announcement.

Minister Aliu and Montenegrin FM discuss roads connecting Kosovo and Mntenegro (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, announced that he met with, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimovic. They discussed new roads between Kosovo and Montenegro.

"At the time Mr. Ibrahimovic was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Capital Investments in the Republic of Montenegro, we had the opportunity to reach an agreement on the Decan - Plave road, on the feasibility study for the construction of the Rozhaja tunnel, as well as on the opening of the air corridors between the two countries. Projects that we discussed today, with the conviction that they will be implemented very soon", Aliu wrote.

Vulin attached to Kremlin, discusses Kosovo with secretary of Security Council of Russia (Express)

The Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin, met on September 9 in Moscow with the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, the Government of Serbia announced.

According to the announcement, Vulin thanked Shoigu for the invitation to participate in the meeting of BRICS members and partner countries, which will be held in St. Petersburg, under the organisation of the Security Council of Russia.

The summit of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Republic of South Africa) is held from October 22 to 24 in the Russian city of Kazan.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated a few days ago that he will make a decision on the invitation sent by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to participate in the BRICS summit on October 10 or 15.

In the meeting between Vulin and Shoigu, according to the announcement, "a wide range of topics of common interest to Serbia and the Russian Federation" were discussed.

One of the topics was the situation in Kosovo, and Vulin said at the meeting that it is "on the verge of conflict", thanking Russia for respecting Serbia's territorial integrity.

Vulin met on September 4 with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

Before this meeting, the European Union told the media in Serbia that "maintaining ties with Russia at the time of its war of aggression against Ukraine is not in line with EU values and the accession process".

Vulin often criticises the West in his statements and is considered one of the strongest supporters of the Kremlin among the Serbian ruling elite.

The US State Department has put him on the sanctions list in mid-2023 because of his ties to Russia and on suspicion of corruption when he headed the Serbian intelligence agency, BIA.

Vulin was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the Serbian Government in early May. Serbia is one of the few countries in Europe that refuses to join the international sanctions against the Kremlin, after the launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Gazeta Express reports.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic to meet Lajcak in Belgrade on Tuesday (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet with the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, Miroslav Lajcak, in Belgrade on Tuesday.

The meeting will take place at the General Secretariat building in Belgrade and shall commence at 10:00 am, the presidential press office said in a statement.

Vucevic: Lajcak coming to Belgrade, Brussels meeting to follow soon afterwards (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said on Monday the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak was due to visit Belgrade and that a Brussels meeting at which more specific facts about Pristina's actions would be heard was to follow very soon afterwards, Tanjug news agency reported.

"Lajcak was in Bled at the Strategic Forum and then went to Pristina, and he is coming to Belgrade. We will see what kind of news he brings; I think a Brussels meeting awaits us soon and that, in those days, we will hear much more specific things regarding that, and I hope (Albin) Kurti will not continue his irresponsible series of moves", Vucevic told reporters.

All that is now left for Pristina to do is to attack and occupy Serb schools and kindergartens, he added. "That, I guess, would demonstrate how strong and powerful he (Albin Kurti) is. Serbia must boost its diplomatic efforts and we are informing all international factors and maintaining daily communication with everyone. We are pointing out all that is going on, we are pointing out the disrespect of all that has been agreed, the violation of all agreements and international standards as well as norms by the ethnic Albanian authorities in Pristina and Albin Kurti. We will insist on that", Vucevic said.

Vucevic also said that “we will see how the talks about the CEFTA agreement will unfold and whether Albin Kurti will continue to reject that agreement and thereby once again confirm that he is the one who does not want peace and stability in the Balkans and Europe, but wants conflicts and tries to bring Serbia into conflicts in every possible way”. He pointed out that “Kosovo and Metohija is Serbia’s most difficult topic, and that the pressure on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija continues”.

“I am proud of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, the way in which they are resisting the terror perpetrated against them by the regime of Albin Kurti with dignity and peace. Serbia shows a dignified and civilised people, who have lived in that area for centuries and who do not threaten anyone, but only want to defend itself in a peaceful and democratic way, so that they are not expelled from their ancestral homes”, he said responding to journalists’ questions.

Petkovic met Botsan-Kharchenko, discussed current situation in Kosovo (media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic met with the Russian Ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko and discussed with him the violence Pristina institutions carry out against Serbian population in Kosovo, in particular in the north, reads the statement of the Office for KiM.

Petkovic also spoke about events that took place 11 days ago, when Kosovo special police raided the premises of the Municipal Provisional Authority in four northern municipalities, the boiler room of the Clinical Hospital Centre (KBC) in Mitrovica North, Pension and Disability Fund, Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Kosovo Mitrovica District Administration and Centre for Social Welfare. Petkovic said these are Serbian institutions that should have been the basis for establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which Pristina refused to implement for more than 11 years.

Petkovic emphasised that "the latest events lead in the direction of the definitive expulsion of the Serbian population and the creation of an ethnically pure Kosovo, which is the undisguised idea and aspiration of Albin Kurti".

"In addition to the fact that the Albanian authorities intend to shut down the institutions that enable Serbs, as well as other residents of Kosovo and Metohija, to obtain the necessary social benefits, salaries and pensions, the interrogation of the heads of Serbian institutions is an indication of the culmination of the brutal suppression of the political and human freedoms of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija", Petkovic warned. He also said it is the international community which has the ways to stop Kurti and put an end to his dangerous intentions, adding that “lack of necessary measures would indicate that Kurti has support for the policy he is pursuing”.

Simonovic: Ongoing ‘Albanization’ of north, huge number of Serbs are moving from Mitrovica North (N1, Radio KIM)

Srdjan Simonovic from the Human Centre Mitrovica said yesterday people in the north of Kosovo are not optimistic, adding that “Albanization of the north” is underway, and that the population is afraid of Kosovo police, N1 reported. As he said, the atmosphere in the north of Kosovo is such that there is a noticeable lack of optimism. Speaking about the atmosphere, in addition to the absence of optimism, Simonovic also stated that the “Albanization of the north” is underway, especially, as he said, through the Kosovo Privatization Agency.

“It happens that premises that were state-owned, and which are subject to auction, are rented to Albanians, but without the knowledge of the Serbs. As a rule, Serbs do not know anything about these auctions, so they cannot participate in those tenders. That this is about Albanization is clearly shown by the prices in those new stores, which are lowered below any minimum. It means that in order for such a store to be profitable, it would have to have donations from someone”, he added.

According to him, residents perceive Kosovo police as the main source of fear and the main threat to security. He added that the Serbian community has been left without any protection mechanisms due to the disastrous policy that has been pursued for the past seven years.

Although the people, as he said, are “left to fend for themselves”, there are quite a few who are determined to stay despite the lack of basic living conditions. Simonovic said the road to Raska has become the daily routine of the majority. “If you need the money you earned, you didn’t get it, as some of our managers claim, you have to go to Raska to withdraw your earnings to be able to buy some groceries. (...) When you need any paper, any certificate, anything, you have to go to Raska because almost nothing works here”, he pointed out.

He opined that the threshold of tolerance of the Serbian population ends with healthcare and education. “If there are some important changes, when the people have no place to be treated, no place to get an education, they look for an environment where they have that. So, if there would be some important changes in terms of healthcare or education, I am afraid that it will leave consequences that will not be able to be corrected”, Simonovic warned, adding that already now a large number of people are moving out from Mitrovica North.

Vulin met Shoygu in Moscow (Tanjug)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin met with Sergei Shoygu, Secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council, in Moscow on Monday to discuss interests shared by Serbia and Russia and the current situation in Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reported.

Vulin noted that the policy of Pristina authorities was aimed at ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo, and thanked Russia for its consistent respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.

Vulin also thanked Shoygu for an invitation to a meeting of senior security officials of BRICS and partner countries, hosted by the Council in St Petersburg.

Dacic: Serbia has chosen cooperation with China as its proven friend (Tanjug)

Addressing the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, China, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that, amid global instability, Serbia had, "with determination, chosen further strengthening of cooperation with a proven friend" - China.

This conference shows China is prepared to take the role of a global security leader in a new, multipolar world, Dacic said, noting that China's support regarding Serbia's territorial integrity in Kosovo was very important to Belgrade.

He noted that Serbia and China were connected by a steely friendship created through intensive economic cooperation, mutual trust and understanding regarding the top national and strategic issues for the two countries.

International Media

Vucic's Delicate Balancing Act (RFE)

On the sidelines of an economic forum in Vladivostok on September 4, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Belgrade is a strategic partner and an "ally of Russia."

Putin reciprocated the warmth, offering his greetings to President Aleksandar Vucic and then inviting his Serbian counterpart to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

This Slavic show of solidarity, however, didn't sit well with the European Union. The next day, EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said that "maintaining or even increasing the ties with Russia during the time of its illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people is not compatible with EU values."

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4pmsytcc