Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 299 new cases, one death (media)
• Acting President Osmani visits the Belgian Parliament (media)
• Sassoli firm: Fighting corruption and crime brings Kosovo closer to EU (Koha)
• Human Rights Watch Annual World Report (HRW)
• Kosovo minister of Economy offers resignation (Gazeta Express)
• Samedin Mehmeti elected director of the Kosovo Police (media)
• Police: Three police officers injured during PSD protest yesterday (RTK)
• Radio Kosova stops broadcasting audio plays after story of Serb woman (Koha)
• Kurti: The rain highlighted the failures of 20 years of misgovernance (media)
• AAK is aiming president position with an economic governing program (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ten new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• WHO official in Serbia: End of epidemic far away (N1)
• US Embassy in Belgrade: Regional cooperation and BG-PR dialogue remains a priority (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• “More pressure on Serbia about Kosovo pushes it closer to Russia and China” (RFE, FoNet, N1)
• Father Sava: The Church position on Kosovo is united (KiM radio)
• European Commission service deleted disputable post on Twitter about Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
• Sava Janjic: I hope EU would remind Kosovo to implement Constitutional Court decision on Decani (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Let’s meet half-way with Pristina (N1, Happy TV, Kosovo-online)
• Two minority pre-election coalitions have applied for upcoming Kosovo elections (RTK2)

Opinion:

• How Biden can make a big difference in the Western Balkans (ECFR)

International:

• Albania carries out 1st vaccinations with donated doses (AP)
• Bishop with Attitude Threatens to Shake Up Serbian Politics (Balkan Insight)
• Last Despatches: Mystery Shrouds British Reporter’s Death in Kosovo Border Shelling (Balkan Insight)

   

Albanian Language Media 

  COVID – 19: 299 new cases, one death (media)

299 new cases of COVID – 19 and one death from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. 526 persons have recovered from the virus during this time. There are 5,567 active cases of COVID – 19 in Kosovo.

Acting President Osmani visits the Belgian Parliament (media)

Kosovo’s Acting President Vjosa Osmani on the second day of her visit to Brussels was welcomed today in the Belgian Parliament by the President of the Senate, Stephanie D'Hose and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Eliane Tillieux.

“Ms. Osmani thanked them for the support that Belgium has provided to the people of Kosovo in the most difficult times, as well as for various strategic processes in the state-building phase of the country. Further, Acting President Osmani stressed the great importance of Kosovo's partnership with Belgium for the finalization of Kosovo's integration process into the European family.

According to her, Kosovo's membership in the European Union is not only a political issue, but above all the general will of the most pro-European people.

Speaking about the importance of the rule of law, investment in education and health for the development of the country, Acting Osmani said that Belgium remains a model country for Kosovo for many of its achievements.

The importance of visa liberalization for the citizens of Kosovo was also discussed at the meeting. Acting President Osmani stressed that visa liberalization would enable the citizens of Kosovo to get the best of Europe and bring it to Kosovo, while offering Europe closer to an extraordinary human capital, referring to the Kosovar youth.

The meeting also discussed the possibilities of cooperation in advancing parliamentary diplomacy, economic cooperation, as well as recovery by investing in education, health, environmental protection, as well as in advancing gender representation in every field,” reads a press release issued by the Office of the President. 

Sassoli firm: Fighting corruption and crime brings Kosovo closer to EU (Koha)

The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, has spoken out strongly about Kosovo's rapprochement with the European Union, saying that this could happen if Kosovo fights crime and corruption.

A day after the meeting with the acting president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, Sassoli wrote via Twitter that he is pleased to see that Kosovo continues to be on the path of reforms for a better future.

"Fighting crime and corruption will bring you closer to the EU and improve the lives of its citizens. The EU is here to support," he wrote.

Osmani said about the Tuesday’s meeting that Kosovo is committed to carrying out all necessary reforms to accelerate European integration.

Human Rights Watch Annual World Report (HRW)

Human Rights Watch has published its 31st annual World Report, summarizing human rights conditions in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide in 2020.

Accountability for war crimes, accountability of international institutions, treatment of minorities, women’s Rights, asylum seekers and displaced persons, human rights defenders, sexual orientation and gender identity, freedom of media, and key international actors are the issues covered under the Kosovo section of the report.

The introduction of the section on Kosovo reads: “The first tranche of indictments issued by prosecutors attached to the Hague based Specialist War Crimes court for Kosovo marked long-awaited progress towards justice for grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as the laws of war. Journalists faced threats and intimidation, and prosecutions of crimes against journalists have been slow. Tensions between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians continued, particularly in the north. Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian communities continued to face discrimination.”

Read the full report here:

https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2021/01/2021_hrw_world_report.pdf

Read the entries on Serbia/Kosovo here:

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/serbia/kosovo Kosovo minister of Economy offers resignation (Gazeta Express)

Caretaker minister of Economy and Environment, Blerim Kuci, has offered his resignation Wednesday as Kosovo has entered an election cycle.

Kuci in a letter sent to caretaker prime minister Avdullah Hoti, justified his decision with his engagement in the electoral campaign. Kosovo is set to hold an early parliamentary election on 14 February. Hoti is yet to decide on Kuci’s request.

Kuci is senior member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) a junior coalition partner in the LDK-led Government. Last month the Constitutional Court ruled that the country must hold a snap election because parliament’s confirmation of Hoti’s Government in June 2020 only passed because of an invalid vote by an MP who was convicted of fraud with a final court’s decision. 

Media reported that Muharrem Nitaj from AAK was appointed acting Minister of Economy.

Samedin Mehmeti elected director of the Kosovo Police (media)

Samedin Mehmeti was elected General Director of the Kosovo Police, after about three months of serving as acting director.

Following the dismissal of the General Director of the Kosovo Police, Rashit Qalaj by Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, Deputy Director Samedin Mehmeti was appointed to this position.

"Apart from his experience in the police, Samedin Mehmeti also has experience in the field of international security. For several years Mr. Mehmeti has worked in the United Nations Security Department as well as in the UN mission in Afghanistan,” reads among other things, Mehmet's biography.

Police: Three police officers injured during PSD protest yesterday (RTK)

Kosovo Police informed in its 24-hour report that three police officers were injured yesterday during the action organized by the Social-democratic Party (PSD).

“Some individuals gathered in front of the police station "Some people gathered in front of the police station and started writing graffiti and putting up banners. Organizers and sympathizers did not obey the orders of police officers, one person was arrested, and 15 others were escorted to the police station. During the arrest and escort, three police officers were injured, and received medical treatment,” the report states.

With the decision of the prosecutor, after the interview the individuals were released, and the case goes to regular procedure.

On the other hand, Insajderi news portal reports that the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo has launched investigations regarding the action of the Social Democratic Party and the arrest of some of its officials, as the latter claimed that they were beaten by police at the police station.

Radio Kosova stops broadcasting audio plays after story of Serb woman (Koha)

An initiative to broadcast ten episodes of the audio drama “Living with the memories of the missing” ended after only two episodes were aired. Radio Kosova, which had agreed to broadcast the episodes with the organisation “Integra”, interrupted the broadcast after the story of a Serb woman about her missing husband was aired. Integra said in a reaction that the decision to interrupt the broadcast was censorship, whereas Radio Kosova said they could not continue broadcasting the audio plays because they have lynching language against the Albanians.

Integra said in a statement that they are reacting “against censorship of ‘Radio Kosova’ towards broadcasting of audio dramas based on the stories of families of wartime missing persons”. The organisation, led by Kushtrim Koliqi, said that dealing with the past of gross human rights violations is a challenge for societies undergoing political and social transitions. “It is a long-term process, which generally includes a number of different actors and mechanisms with not only diverse perceptions of the past but also various visions for the future. The basic principle of dealing with the past, place civil wartime victims/survivors at the center of the process,” the reaction noted. It goes on to note that “by the end of the war in Kosovo, 6063 persons were reported as forcefully disappeared, while the current number of missing persons - different ages, genders, and ethnicities - is 1638. Although over 70% of cases of missing persons reported since the end of the armed conflict are identified and bodily remains were handed over to families for (re)burial, perpetrators of criminal offenses are still at large, while justice and accountability remain desirable processes”.

Mirvete Uka, an editor at Radio Kosova, said: “They wanted broadcast time and we were understanding. The language that was used in the dramas is not fair for the sensitive period that Kosovo is going through. This is why it was not fair because the language used was an insult to the majority. We have thousands of Albanian victims and we cannot allow the language and the lynching used [in the drama].”

The reaction from Integra said: “the second episode aired on December 21, 2020 and was based on the story of a Serbian woman from Strpce/Shtërpcë about her missing husband as a consequence of war. Realizing that this episode was dedicated to the story of a Serbian family, Radio Kosova, arbitrarily, without warning, does not broadcast the rerun scheduled for December 22, 2020, at 20:10.”

The second episode included the story of O. Stojanovic. “The last day I saw Marko was when he travelled to Ferizaj, September 28, 1999. At the time I was drinking a handful of pills because of my son who died in 1997. Two years later, they kidnapped my husband. I was living only on pills. My life was very hard, a real hell,” she said.

In the drama there is mention of the so-called “Yellow House” but Stojanovic also gives a message for Serbs and Albanians.

After the decision to interrupt the broadcast, Integra said it called “an urgent meeting with the management of Radio Kosova, who, angrily and nervously, say that they do not agree to broadcast content based on the stories of families of non-Albanian victims, despite the fact that all the 10 episodes of audio dramas have been handed over in advance”.

“Taking into account that 3 audio dramas in the 10-episode cycle are based on the stories of Serbian families of missing persons, Radio Kosova with a strict decision refuses the broadcast, forcing the other party (Integra) to terminate the cooperation automatically.”

“This positioning of Radio Kosova is unethical and painful towards the families of missing persons, who, despite differences, have gathered the strengths to cooperate and articulate their concerns and demands through the Missing Persons Resource Center.”

“We call on public institutions, political spectrum, media, human rights activists, civil society organizations, and international institutions to urgently react to the censorship of Radio Kosova, as we firmly believe that such an approach of a public broadcaster precludes a sound process of dealing with the past in Kosovo, denies the right of victims and their families to justice and endangers the basic principles of democracy,” Integra said in its reaction.

Koha contacted Radio Kosova Director Ernest Luma who recommended to contact editor Mirvete Uka. The latter told Koha that they had no contract with Integra but that they agreed to broadcast the audio dramas. Uka said they were understanding and provided airtime without any obligation. She acknowledged that problems emerged after the second episode. 

“They wanted broadcast time and we were understanding. The language that was used in the dramas is not fair for the sensitive period that Kosovo is going through. This is why it was not fair because the language used was an insult to the majority. We have thousands of Albanian victims and we cannot allow the language and the lynching used [in the drama],” she said. Uka added that they feel bad about every family that has missing persons, regardless of their nationalities. “We feel sorry for everyone. But we cannot allow such language against the Albanian majority, when we still have graves without people.”

Kurti: The rain highlighted the failures of 20 years of misgovernance (media)

The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, said that the situation in Kosovo is alarming after the floods that came as a result of heavy rain and snow.

The former Prime Minister of Kosovo said that the rain, among other things, has highlighted the failures of 20 years of misgovernment.

He said that they will insist that the prosecution immediately open investigations on road builders, quarry owners, inspectors and supervisors, but also on politicians who have made the decision on tenders and competitions.

Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Avni Bytyci, said Kurti is reacting with a three-day delay on the floods, and added that Kurti is making populist statements due to the lack of political platform.

AAK is aiming president position with an economic governing program (media)

Although the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has expressed its intention to lead with the post of president, and not with the government, this party continues to reiterate that it has developed a program focused on the economic situation.

In a press conference held today, the presidential candidate, Ramush Haradinaj, chairman of the AAK, said that his party enters the elections "more prepared than ever."

"We have completed the program that is focused on the economic situation and the pandemic situation. We have a recovery fund of 1 billion Euros and we are in the process of concluding today the list of candidates for MPs," Haradinaj said as he invited the diaspora to vote in the February 14 elections.

He introduced Arbnora Hasani as AAK candidate from the diaspora, announcing that she lives in Geneva.

On the other hand, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla said that "Kosovo needs an active and prepared president".

According to her, Ramush Haradinaj enjoys the respect of many international leaders. She also said that she will be running for MP in the 14 February elections.

The presidential candidate said that after the elections, "AAK has no red lines for any other political entity."

He reiterated that he is running only for the presidency.

     

Serbian Language Media

  Ten new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)

Out of 66 samples tested over the last 24 hours, ten were positive, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced today, KoSSev portal reported.

Out of ten new registered cases of Covid-19, five were registered in the north of Kosovo and five in the Serb-populated areas in central Kosovo.

The new cases were registered as follows: three in Mitrovica North, two each in Gracanica and Gnjilane, and one each in Zvecan, Leposavic and Priluzje

Meanwhile, 39 persons have completed a two-week isolation period. Total number of active cases of Covid-19 infection is 350.  

A total of 92 persons have died in the Serb populated areas in Kosovo since the outbreak of the pandemic. 

WHO official in Serbia: End of epidemic far away (N1)

Marijan Ivanusa, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) office in Serbia, said on Wednesday the epidemic situation was better but that the number of infected with the coronavirus was still high.

He told the state RTS TV he hoped the situation calmed down since that the number of 8,000 newly infected daily in the country dropped to 1,500 to 2, but warned that a 1,000 dead patients last month should not be ignored and that he was afraid the end of the epidemic was far away.

Ivanusa added the vaccination had started in some 50 states around the world, and that that brought hope.

He said he believed the vaccination of some 60 – 70 percent of the world population would create a good collective immunity.

See at: https://bit.ly/3i6Ubym US Embassy in Belgrade: Regional cooperation and BG-PR dialogue remains a priority (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

The high representatives of the authorities of Serbia and Kosovo signed the Washington agreement in good faith, and we hope that they are still ready to cooperate in the implementation of what they have committed themselves to, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Belgrade told Tanjug, portal Kosovo Online quoted.

Answering Tanjug's question what can be expected from the new American administration when it comes to the Washington agreement and whether this agreement, i.e. some of its provisions can be called into question, he emphasized that the new American administration can set new priorities of its policy, but that advocating regional economic growth and cooperation among, as he says, their friends in the region enjoys broad support in Washington and will remain one of the priorities.

He added that the same applies to the American support for the dialogue led by the EU, which aims at the comprehensive normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

"The high representatives of the authorities of Serbia and Kosovo have signed the Washington agreement in good faith, and we hope that they are still ready to cooperate in implementing what they have committed themselves to. The goal is to strengthen regional stability through economic growth, investments and prosperity of the entire region, which has long been an unchanged policy of the United States and will remain our priority," he said.

"All efforts in the direction of cooperation on issues of common interest, either by the authorities of Belgrade and Pristina, or by business circles or the citizens of these two countries, have our support," he added. 

"Modernization of transport infrastructure, better trade relations and the possibility for citizens to be employed on the basis of acquired diplomas and professional qualifications in the country in which they live will be of crucial importance for the economic development of this region," he emphasizes.

"In order to achieve these goals communication and cooperation between both the authorities and the people of both countries is needed, and the US is here to support this cooperation now, and in the future, " concludes the spokesman of the US Embassy in Belgrade.

In the previous days, disputes over the implementation of the Washington Agreement were heard from Pristina and Brussels. The EU Representative for the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak stated that the Washington Agreement was a political declaration that was not legally binding, and that the signed has no implementation mechanism and depends on the good will of the parties, reported Kosovo Online. 

“More pressure on Serbia about Kosovo pushes it closer to Russia and China” (RFE, FoNet, N1)

The European Union understood the more challenges it put in front of Serbia, more it was likely the country would go closer to Russia and China, James Ker-Lindsay, a visiting professor and an expert on Western Balkans at the London School of Economics (LSE) told Radio Free Europe (RFE) on Wednesday.

“Serbia doesn’t support the UN and EU resolutions condemning Russia, China and other autocratic countries for violating human rights and repression because it relies on their backing in not recognising Kosovo’s independence. That will seemingly last until the issue is resolved“, Ker-Lindsay added.

He explained that if Brussels pressured Belgrade to decide, it knew that Serbia couldn’t antagonize Russia and China because of Kosovo.

“Then, we are back to the original problem“, he opined.

According to him, had there been different circumstances, had there not been the Kosovo issue, the EU would have been more direct and told Serbia – “listen, if you want to join the bloc, you have to adjust your foreign policy“.

Father Sava: The Church position on Kosovo is united (KiM radio)

"Our Church is united in the position that political renunciation of Kosovo and Metohija as a part of Serbia in any variant would lead to the disappearance of our people and our shrines, and that anyone who would agree to that would carry a heavy historical and moral burden and shameful mark of betrayal,"  the abbot of the Visoki Decani Monastery, Father Sava Janjic wrote in his FB post.  

In a text he posted on Facebook, he wrote that the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church is known and to political representatives in Serbia and the entire region, but also to the Serbian people, who, as he points out, are overwhelmingly behind it.

"This attitude does not arise from political motives, but from our spiritual and national ethos, it does not mean a call for war or hatred, because there is enough land and sky and water for all people of good will. After all, the Church condemned the 1998 and 1999 violence in Kosovo and Metohija from all sides, especially crimes against civilians, and continuously supported dialogue with Kosovo Albanians and international representatives, the struggle for fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens, as a basis for any reconciliation and common life," wrote father Sava.

He points out that the preservation of Kosovo, the Serbian people and the shrines is a legacy left by our ancestors, especially patriarchs Pavle and Irinej. "Not accepting the renunciation of these areas of Saint Lazar's spaces, our shrines and people are the unique position of all bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. There has never been the slightest difference, and the Serbian Orthodox Church has clearly stated its position on Kosovo and Metohija, on recognition, division, etc. at the last three Councils," reminded Father Sava.

He says that all those who believe that there are even the smallest disagreements on this issue among Serbian bishops, clergy, monks and believers are deceived.

"We are united around Kosovo and Metohija uniquely the same as about the teachings in God and the greatest secrets of our Church, because Kosovo is a visible expression of our national vow to Christ even without our people and saints in this area, especially, God forbid, with our consent or shameful silence, we would lose forever the Saint Sava's identity, which our Church has preserved for centuries and which makes us what we are," concluded the abbot of the Visoki Decani Monastery.

European Commission service deleted disputable post on Twitter about Vjosa Osmani (RTS)

A post of the European Commission service on Twitter referring to Vjosa Osmani as “President of the Republic of Kosovo” has been deleted, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reports.

As RTS said, earlier last night a photo of EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivier Varhelyi and Vjosa Osamni was published on Twitter alongside with disputable reference. Afterwards the post was removed, and a new one published instead under the same photo, referring to Vjosa Osmani as “acting President of Kosovo” along with a footnote next to the word Kosovo.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic also reacted saying it was impermissible for any EU’s body to take a stance on the status of the southern Serbian Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

He added that in the EU, the rule of force must never be stronger than the rule of law. Petkovic also noted that Serbia is not naïve and remains committed to the dialogue, however it respects itself and honors all signed agreements.

Petkovic also thanked Varhelyi for respecting the status neutrality of Kosovo and Metohija, adding Serbia appreciates any contribution to the dialogue and compromise.   

Sava Janjic: I hope EU would remind Kosovo to implement Constitutional Court decision on Decani (Kosovo-online)

Abbot of Serbian Orthodox Church Visoki Decani Monastery Sava Janjic said he hopes the EU would remind Kosovo leaders that Constitutional Court decisions on Decani Monastery must be implemented, Kosovo-online portal reports.

“Hopefully EU will remind #Kosovo leaders that after 4 ys of blatant disregard of KS Constitutional court decision on Dečani #Serbian #Orthodox #Monastery must be implemented. A society which disregards its highest legal decisions & rule of law deserves criticism”, Father Sava wrote on Twitter.

Father Sava said this in a response to the post of EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on the meeting with Kosovo acting President and Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani.

“Good meeting w acting President&Speaker of Parliament @VjosaOsmaniMP. Stressed importance of Kosovo continuing to implement EU related reforms, incl fight against corruption&organised crime, and to cooperate in the region, while drawing benefits from Economic&Investment Plan”, Varhelyi wrote on Twitter.

Petkovic: Let’s meet half-way with Pristina (N1, Happy TV, Kosovo-online)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said Wednesday Belgrade advocates for a compromise with Pristina, adding the two sides should “meet half-way so that neither side gets or loses everything”, N1 reports.

Petkovic told Happy TV that Serbia was an internationally recognised country and did not need Pristina’s recognition. He also noted that Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Brussels was about the normalisation of relations, and not about mutual recognition. He accused Kosovo politicians of using it for internal politics and the forthcoming elections.

“We have signed 48 agreements, and Pristina has to implement them. We have done our part,” he stressed, adding that acting president Vjosa Osmani “does not understand or pretend to be naïve when she says Brussels must pressure Belgrade into implementing the agreements”.

“I welcome her words that the agreed must be implemented. We also insist on that”, Petkovic underlined.

Concerning the recent floods that also affected Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija, Petkovic said the Office for KiM has formed a special team that, in coordination with the Red Cross and municipal crisis management committees, was helping the flood-endangered households.

He added the trash pumps and dehumidifier machines have already been sent to Kosovo and that disinfection should follow.

“We agreed with the competent institute to send disinfectants so that we could immediately start spraying the surfaces”, he said.

Petkovic further noted that “the suffering of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is also our suffering”, and pointed out that the state now showed how much it cared about the Serbian population even in crisis situations.

“We will never abandon our people”, he pointed out.

Two minority pre-election coalitions have applied for upcoming Kosovo elections (RTK2)

RTK2 reported that last night at 18:00, A deadline for applying for pre-election coalitions at upcoming snap elections in Kosovo expired last night at 18:00, RTK2 reports.

Two coalitions, representing minorities, will run in the elections in February, RTK2 added.  

Under the name VAKAT, the Democratic Party of Bosniaks (DSB) and the Democratic Party Vatan (DSV) will run together. The second coalition consists of the political parties “Pokret za Goru” (PG) (Movement for Gora) and “Građanska Inicijativa za Goru” (GIG) (Civic Initiative of Gora). They will take part with a joint list called “Zajedno” (Together).

As Kosovo Central Election Commission explained to KosovaPress, coalitions can only be formed between political parties, and a political party that eventually withdraws from the coalition after January 12 cannot run alone or in a coalition with another party. The rest of that coalition can run in the elections. Also, after today, it is not possible for a new party to join the already registered coalition. 

     

Opinion

  How Biden can make a big difference in the Western Balkans (ECFR)

Joe Biden has a longstanding relationship with the Western Balkans. A re-energised US policy on the region could be transformative, especially when working in tandem with the EU, write Engjellushe Morina, senior policy fellow with the European Council for Foreign Relations and Vessela Tcherneva, deputy director, head at ECFR Sofia.

Joe Biden is no stranger to the Balkans. The president-elect began the first of his regular visits to the region back in the early 1990s, to Bosnia and Herzegovina initially, and later to Kosovo. He met political, religious, and community leaders and developed long-standing personal relations with many of them. In confidential letters to these leaders over the years he pleaded for inter-ethnic social cohesion and religious tolerance. Biden spoke passionately in the US senate about the need to arm Bosnians to protect themselves in their fight against Serbs and about the need to remove Slobodan Milosevic and Serbian forces from Kosovo. Biden is also the first high-ranking US official to have expressed condolences to Serbs for the NATO air strikes that took place in March-June 1999.       

For many decades, the United States and the European Union shared the same objectives in the Western Balkans, but the relationship deteriorated over the last four years. Donald Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, created havoc and annoyed many in the EU and the region with his foreign policy adventurism, sidelining the EU’s efforts and devising initiatives that had little to do with creating peace and prosperity. Biden’s special relationship with the Balkans should ease the path to restoring transatlanticism and rebooting joint efforts in the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Balkans. Trump’s instrumentalisation of the Balkans – at one point he appeared to claim he had made peace between Serbia and Kosovo – created cynicism across the region about America’s values and goals. It also generated scepticism about Europe’s ability to breathe new life into the ongoing Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, which aims to improve relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Under the new administration, there will doubtless be a change of tone and approach.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3byBJO3    

International

  Albania carries out 1st vaccinations with donated doses (AP)

Albania kicked off its coronavirus vaccination program on Monday with doses received from an undisclosed European Union nation, making sure that the prime minister was among the first to receive a shot.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was “not authorized” to say which EU country had provided 975 doses to the Balkan nation. Albania’s main vaccination campaign is due to start next week.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2N29U6v Bishop with Attitude Threatens to Shake Up Serbian Politics (Balkan Insight)

Christmas comments by outspoken Serbian Orthodox bishop Grigorije have fuelled talk of a potential political challenge to Serbia’s ruling Progressives.

On January 7, when Orthodox Christians mark Christmas, a Serbian Orthodox bishop in Germany gave an interview to Balkan news outlet NewsMax Adria. His remarks, however, were more political than religious.

Bishop Grigorije, the 52 year-old head of the Serbian Orthodox diocese of Dusseldorf and all Germany, has waded into politics before, criticising the way Serbia is being run by President Aleksandar Vucic and his Progressive Party.

But in the Christmas interview he went a step further, announcing a “plan” that set tongues wagging back home.

“My plan is to gather as many young people as possible, who are educated, honest, smart and brave and who want to come to Serbia, if they’re not already there, and, if they are, to sacrifice themselves, to build above all a legal system,” the bishop said.

“There is no man who can be saviour,” he said, in apparent reference to Vucic. “It is necessary to create a system so we’re not looking for a saviour every time.”

See more at: https://bit.ly/3qmGkal Last Despatches: Mystery Shrouds British Reporter’s Death in Kosovo Border Shelling (Balkan Insight)

The story of the unexplained death of British television producer Kerem Lawton in March 2001, when a Kosovo village near the North Macedonian border was shelled, is the latest in BIRN’s series on journalists killed in the Yugoslav wars.

It was midday on March 29, 2001 when the Associated Press news agency team in Kosovo’s capital Pristina received information that gunshots had been heard near the border with North Macedonia.

Kerem Lawton, a 30-year-old British producer for AP Television News, and Sylejman Kllokoqi, a camera operator for the agency, decided to head for Krivenik, a village three kilometres away from the border on the Kosovo side.

“When we arrived in Krivenik, we saw some US troop vehicles leaving the place. Local residents told us that an hour earlier, a mortar hit the centre of the village,” Kllokoqi told BIRN.

The incident happened amid an armed conflict between North Macedonian government troops and ethnic Albanian rebels of the National Liberation Army guerrilla force, which erupted in January and would continue for several months before a peace deal was signed later in 2001.

“Kerem was parking while I started to walk to the place hit by a mortar,” Kllokoqi continued. “Suddenly I heard a huge explosion hit the car and I saw a plume of smoke.”

See more at: https://bit.ly/39wmqT8