UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 26, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

COVID-19: 154 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
Vaccine rollout gets off to a shaky start (Prishtina Insight)
EU confirms PM Kurti's upcoming visit to Brussels (Kallxo)
Kosovo has written to Romania about the killing of two VV activists (media)
Assembly adopts in principle bill easing trial in absentia procedures (Kosovapress)
AAK accuses government of having no vision (media)
VV's Kusari-Lila responds to AAK's criticism against government (media)
EC stresses position against border changes in the Balkans (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

23 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
Vucic’s two-day visit to Brussels (media)
Vucic: Ready for dialogue, we understood Kurti's messages (Tanjug, RTS)
Petkovic: Kurti showed his aim is to create “Great Albania” (Radio KIM)
Djuric: Dialog is not a priority, but voting in Albania is (Kosovo-online)
Drecun: Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is not disputable; but agenda is (RTS)
Godfrey: Unresolved relations with Pristina are obstacles to Serbia's European integration (KiM radio, Novi Magazin)
Liberation Movement forms Council for Kosovo and Metohija (BETA)
Health Ministry official: Epidemic measures and mass vaccination in Serbia still necessary (N1)
Half a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Serbia (RTS)
Serbian Army Chief of Staff: Mandatory military service a long-term solution (N1, Politika)
Dodik: Idea of RS seceding from Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed in Europe (N1)

Opinion:

West should stop pushing Kosovo on new Serbian entity (euobserver)
Kosovo Needs Rescuing From its Middle Eastern Imbroglio (Balkan Insight)

International:

Kurti’s vote in Albanian elections – controversial but not unprecedented in the Balkans (EWB)

Albanian Language Media

COVID-19: 154 new cases, 11 deaths (media)

154 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths have been recorded in Kosovo over the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, 545 recoveries were confirmed during this period.

There are currently 10,710 active COVID-19 infections in Kosovo.

Vaccine rollout gets off to a shaky start (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovo has administered the vast majority of the 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine it received in March, with the rollout seeing some doctors reluctant to be vaccinated and confusion over registration.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Faik Hoti has told BIRN that nearly all of the 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 that Kosovo acquired in March have been administered.

The vaccination process began on March 29, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti receiving the first jab at the 1 Tetori sports hall in Prishtina. The rollout continued at the sports hall as well as at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, before expanding to Family Medicine Centres across the country.

Health workers, citizens over 80 and other elderly citizens with chronic health conditions have been prioritised.

However, there has been some reluctance to receive the vaccine, including amongst health professionals. The Ministry of Health told BIRN that of 4,573 doctors that were envisioned to receive a first dose, only 1,816 did so, less than 40 percent.

Renowned microbiologist Lul Raka criticised health workers wary of receiving the jab, stating that those suspicious of the vaccine should look for another profession, and dismissing fears over blood clotting.

“If we compare the risk of blood clots, we see that to date 4 cases of clots have been registered in 1 million vaccinated,” he said. “Any vaccine has side effects, but the fever or transient pain today is much easier than a respiratory tube in intensive care at Covid Hospital tomorrow!”

Early in the vaccination rollout, the Ministry insisted that citizens should wait to receive an invitation to be vaccinated, encouraging people to apply through either the e-Kosova platform or their local family medicine centre.

Many citizens without an appointment were turned away from vaccination centres in the first days of the rollout, leading to complaints about the difficulties of registering elderly citizens, many of whom are not computer savvy.

The Ministry of Health conceded to BIRN that there were instances when unregistered citizens over 80 also received a vaccine following a check up from a doctor present. However, BIRN has encountered numerous cases of citizens receiving a vaccination without an invitation, including those in their 70s.

A further 76,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to arrive in Kosovo by the end of May through the COVAX programme, while 100,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are anticipated to arrive by the end of June. The European Union has also committed to funding 95,000 doses of an unspecified vaccine arriving in Kosovo between May and August.

However, the Kosovo Government is yet to attain a single dose of any vaccine against COVID-19 following the breakdown of a deal with Pfizer.

Serbian Language Media

23 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)

23 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, the Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced on Saturday, Radio KIM reports.

At the same time, two people passed away.

A total of 92 samples were tested. The breakdown of new cases is as follows: eight in Leposavic, six in Mitrovica North, five in Zvecan, two in Gnjilane and one each in Pec and Kamenica.

73 persons completed a two-week mandatory isolation period, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo to 435.

A total of 140 persons have died in the Serbian areas in Kosovo since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Vucic’s two-day visit to Brussels (media)

The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic met in Brussels the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Regional broadcaster N1 reported today that following a meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic, EC President van der Leyen tweeted that they discussed ''the accession process where we need to continue to see positive developments in rule of law”.

It added that they discussed the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue but gave no details.

Van der Leyen tweet said they also discussed the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery and the Belgrade-North Macedonia railway which, she said, the EU was ready to support.

The agenda of the talks was the acceleration of Serbia's European integration path through the application of the new accession methodology, as well as through the acceleration of reform processes, and especially the progress of the rule of law in Serbia, reported RTS.

After talks with the President of the European Commission, the President of Serbia has a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, and then a working lunch with the Vice President of the European Commission and the Head of EU Diplomacy Josep Borrell.

In the continuation of the second day of the working visit to the EU headquarters, Aleksandar Vucic will meet with the rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia, Vladimir Bilčik, and at the end of the visit to Brussels with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

Last night, Vucic met with the EU special envoy for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak.

''Kicking off a busy Western Balkans’ week in Brussels, I met with @predsednikrs @avucic to discuss the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and the work ahead. Later this week, I will discuss the same issues with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti,'' Lajcak tweeted last night.

Vucic: Ready for dialogue, we understood Kurti's messages (Tanjug, RTS)

The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic last night told news agency Tanjug that he expected an invitation to continue the dialogue in mid-May and added that Belgrade was ready to respond and would participate in any type of dialogue.

He pointed out that there were many problems, primarily in energy, and that these were things that must be resolved promptly, due to different interpretations and the desire of some to show, as he said, muscles in the north of Kosovo.

"What I pointed out to Miroslav Lajcak today was the fact that Albin Kurti brags that he voted in Albania, with which he de facto says that it doesn't matter whether you are in Tirana or Pristina, that it is the same country. Imagine, even though Kosovo is Serbia according to the Constitution of Serbia, if I had voted in Gracanica, or some other place in Kosovo. It would have been a scandal of world proportions, although the two things are not comparable and according to the Constitution and Resolution 1244, Kosovo is part of Serbia," Vucic stressed.

Vucic pointed out that if someone did that without referring to any legal act and publicly said that they were moving towards unification, they would get mild reactions and wonder.

He said that it was proof of the double standards of the entire international community.

"What is important for us is to guarantee the safety and security of our people. I insisted here on fulfilling the obligations from the Brussels Agreement, on the ZSO, and freedom of movement, flow of goods and services, everything we signed in Washington, because it is good for Belgrade, Pristina and the whole region," the Serbian president said.

On Kurti's vote in Albania

Vucic emphasized that he understood all the Kurti's messages and actions, from voting in the elections in Albania, to the request for war compensation from Serbia, but that this was by no means a constructive approach, and that he was not fascinated by those messages.

When asked what Kurti's goal was, Vucic answered that he did not have to explain anything and attack Kurti or anyone else, because it was enough to put all words and deeds on paper.

"You are voting in Albania. A good signal. It is clear to everyone, both to us and to the world, what you want to say. You say you want war reparations from Serbia, we understand what you want to say. You say you will file a genocide lawsuit, although you can't because you are not a sovereign state, maybe through Albania, or some third country, that message is clear to us as well," Vucic said.

According to him, if someone wanted to say that it was a constructive approach - it was not but added that we should not worry too much about it.

"We have a lot to do, to do for the country. Apart from energy, I don't see that we have any serious problems, and regarding the security of our people and other things. And their political stunts, for internal political use ... Nobody is particularly fascinated by that," said Vucic.

Talks with the EU on major infrastructure projects

Vucic said that talks have started in the EU on very large infrastructure projects that will completely change Serbia.

"I am excited and I can't hide my smile, we have already started certain talks with the European delegation and the EC, and if Ursula von Der Leyen approves, I will tell you tomorrow that we have agreed with the Europeans on one of the biggest infrastructure projects ever for Serbia. So, it only takes us 24 hours to say whether we succeeded or not," Vucic emphasized.

He pointed out that he would then be able to say that he participated in something that was very good and important for Serbia.

"We will literally not be the same country, I can't say more than this, but these are large infrastructure projects, the largest we can imagine," Vucic emphasized.

He adds that with the support of the EU, in three and a half or at most four years, Serbia would be a country that would not look like Serbia 10 or 15 years ago.

That will be fantastic news, not only for Belgrade, but also for the south and central Serbia and Pomoravlje, he emphasized and added that he would be able to present details tomorrow.

''I expect the European process to accelerate''

When asked where Serbia was currently on the European path, Vucic answered "on the right path".

"Serbia is doing well on the European path and there will be an acceleration of the European process," he said.

He said he expected an intergovernmental conference in late June and recognition for Serbia's progress.

"Serbia is doing well, it is taking a strong step among the fastest in Europe. On the one hand, there are values, on the other hand, a pragmatic policy of preserving ties with all friends. But the most important thing is the economy, the economy, the economy,'' he said.

"Tight around the Tirana government forming, we want good relations"

President Vucic stated that whatever the results of the parliamentary elections in Albania, Serbia wants to improve partnership relations with Tirana and to have the best possible relations with the Albanian government and state.

"Serbs do not like to hear that, but that is the only rational and smart behavior, everything else would be stupid and meaningless," said Vucic.

Vucic said that it will be "tight" around the formation of a new government in Tirana, but that he will not declare himself until the results of the elections were announced.

Petkovic: Kurti showed his aim is to create “Great Albania” (Radio KIM)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic assessed voting of the Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti at general elections in Albanian as “a step ahead in realization of his great-Albanian idea”, Radio KIM reports.

Petkovic added that “whoever has had dilemma so far regarding Kurti’s plans to form “Great Albania”, today could see how Kurti before the eyes of the complete international public demonstrates that his first, the only and fundamental aim is to form this dangerous creation that directly undermines the peace and stability in the Western Balkans”.

Djuric: Dialog is not a priority, but voting in Albania is (Kosovo-online)

Serbian Ambassador to US Marko Djuric said Sunday it should be clear to everyone what is “on the agenda” of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, when dialogue with Belgrade was not his priority, but that is why voting in the elections in Albania was, Kosovo-online portal reports.

He posted on Twitter that Kurti’s vote in the elections in Albania was an occasion to think about who exactly was trying to turn the Balkans into a powder keg.

“It should be very clear to everyone what the agenda is here. “The dialogue is not a priority” but voting in person in a neighboring country is? What is even more disturbing is that the political movement led by the “Prime Minister” of Kosovo* is running in the elections for... ... the Parliament of the neighboring Albania. This is a very dangerous game and a clear challenge to the US, EU, Serbia and the international community...Let us remember this well, and then reflect on who exactly is trying to turn the Balkans into a powder keg again...”, Djuric wrote on Twitter.

Drecun: Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is not disputable; but agenda is (RTS)

Chairman of the Serbian National Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun told public broadcaster RTS that Albin Kurti is one of the contemporary great-Albanian ideologist using any opportunity available to demonstrate his strategic goal, e.g. unification of Kosovo and Albania, respectively creating an ethnic Albanian state.

According to Drecun, continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is not disputable; however the agenda of the dialogue is disputable. He also said Pristina leaves no room for agreement.

Drecn assessed Kurti’s voting at general elections in Albania as “an abundant provocation”, adding he has made it clear to everybody that his political path is forming of “Great Albania''.

“Apart from individual condemnation by some EU officials, such as Viola von Cramon, I do not believe there would be any other reactions”, Drecun said.

Godfrey: Unresolved relations with Pristina are obstacles to Serbia's European integration (KiM radio, Novi Magazin)

The unresolved status of relations with Pristina remains the biggest obstacle to Serbia's European integration, US Ambassador to Belgrade Anthony Godfrey said today, reported KiM radio.

Godfrey said that the US policy that the normalization of Serbia and Kosovo should be based on mutual recognition was constant, regardless of the change of administration.

"The United States supports the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina led by the EU and keeps pace with it," Godfrey said at the online conference "Serbia, the Western Balkans and Western Integration in Times of Challenge" organized by the Center for Foreign Policy with the support of the US Embassy.

He pointed out that the US saw Serbia as a true partner in various areas, from the fight against organized crime to security cooperation through military training, economic ties, and all these programs, he said, are adapted to the democratic, economic and other challenges that Serbia faces.

According to him, the USA wanted prosperity and freedom for Serbia and to live in peace with itself and its neighbors.

"We strive for the whole of Europe to live in peace and freedom, which means for us that EU members should be all countries that share its values. Serbia is a European country both geographically and historically, but also because Serbian citizens strongly support European values such as tolerance, freedom, nature protection, higher education, the rule of law and innovation," Godfrey said.

He noted that "malignant influence" often knocks on Serbia's door, and the alternative to the Union was the constant divisions that make both Europe and the Balkans weaker and poorer and less stable.

Stating that Serbia was obviously an economic and political leader and plays a crucial role in maintaining regional stability, Godfrey said that it was in the interest of the United States for Serbia to continue developing as a modern, democratic and advanced European country in peace with its neighbors.

"Our goal is for Serbia to integrate. That is also the strategic goal of Serbia itself. There are challenges, but I firmly believe that the people of Serbia support European values. Much needs to be done to consolidate the rule of law, reduce corruption, preserve the environment and provide a fair and transparent business. I believe that Serbia can do that, and my embassy is ready to help both the government and civil society," Godfrey said.

He pointed out that the map for membership was quite clear, and that was Serbia to show full respect for the rule of law and commit itself to guarantee the rights of its citizens, as well as other countries in the region.

According to him, Serbia should fully dedicate itself to that work, as well as find a solution for domestic political difficulties in the implementation of the most difficult reforms and engage the entire society in that task.

"Serbia must set aside domestic policy and work with all actors to achieve that goal. The recent reforms Serbia has undertaken to bring its energy laws into line with European ones is a promising step towards integration with the Union's institutions. We encourage Serbia to accelerate its the European path by reorganizing its public companies in the energy sector," Godfrey said.

The American ambassador noticed that Serbia was conducting a successful vaccination campaign in the country and the region, and which was a sign of good will and political maturity.

Liberation Movement forms Council for Kosovo and Metohija (BETA)

Opposition Liberation Movement (Pokret Oslobodjenje) said it has formed “the Council for Kosovo and Metohija, whose ultimate goal will be to prevent the agreement on the recognition of Kosovo”, BETA news agency reports citing President of the Movement, Mladjan Djordjevic.

The statement further said “the goal of the Council is to take care of the policies related to the southern Serbian province, activism, monitoring of activities of the government and alerting the public in case of unconstitutional actions”.

Djordjevic also said that the Serbian Government signed 48 different agreements with Pristina in nine years, thus renouncing Serbia’s sovereignty in many areas.

“The task that (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic received from his Western sponsors is to reach a legally binding agreement by which the so-called Kosovo will be recognized and which will get a seat in the UN”, he said.

The newly established Council will be chaired by Ivan Ivanovic from the conservative movement “Nasi” (Ours), the press statement said.

Health Ministry official: Epidemic measures and mass vaccination in Serbia still necessary (N1)

Serbian Health Ministry Secretary Mirsad Djerlek said the daily figures showing a drop in the number of new coronavirus cases are encouraging but that epidemic measures and mass vaccination are still a necessity, N1 reports.

He told the public broadcaster RTS the citizens should comply with the measures that will probably remain the same, adding that the caution will be necessary for two to three more months alongside the vaccination.

“We achieved excellent results. We are visiting every town, every village, we are reaching every person to talk. We managed to calm down the citizens and disburden them from unnecessary fear”, he said, adding that the drop in the number of new cases is a result of vaccination.

Serbian media reported that thus far 3.255.000 people were inoculated. Out of this number 1.945.000 received the first dose, while 1.310.000 people received both doses.A total of 1.2 million is considered to be fully immunized, meaning those are people who received the second dose three weeks ago.

Pavle Zelic of the Agency for Medicines and Medicinal Devices said a total of 841 persons reported side effects of vaccination. He told Prva TV those were only mild symptoms that included sore muscles, nausea, headache, and swollen skin.

“Those are expected reactions that are solved with the medicines against fever or painkillers, nothing even close to the consequences of coronavirus”, he said.

Half a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Serbia (RTS)

A new shipment containing half a million doses of Sinpharm vaccine against coronavirus arrived in Serbia today, RTS reports.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo were at the Belgrade airport to welcome the plane bringing the vaccines.

A total of three million doses of Sinopharm vaccine, including today’s shipment, arrived in Serbia since January 16.

RTS also said that as of tomorrow vaccination without prior appointment with three different vaccines Pfizer, Sputnik V and Siopharm is available in Serbia.

Serbian Army Chief of Staff: Mandatory military service a long-term solution (N1, Politika)

The Army of Serbia Chief of General Staff, General Milan Mojsilovic said that serving mandatory military service in the conditions of military neutrality is a long-term solution that would satisfy the needs of a peacetime and wartime army, adding that this is his personal opinion and the stance of the General Staff, N1 reports.

“Of course, the decision on reinstating the mandatory military service is not solely a military matter but it requires a broader consensus”, Mojsilovic told Politika daily.

Regardless of the decision, the professional soldiers will still be the main support to the command and units in performing the mission and tasks of the Army of Serbia, he added.

Mojsilovic also announced that the Army members will hold a joint military exercise with the Armed Forces of the USA in September, as well as a trilateral exercise ‘Slovene brotherhood’ with the armed forces of Russia and Belarus, and a bilateral exercise ‘Aviator brotherhood of Russia and Serbia – BARS’.

Dodik: Idea of RS seceding from Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed in Europe (N1)

The uproar over the recently published alleged ‘non-paper’ on redrawing borders in the Western Balkans is being used to attack Bosnian Republika Srpska (RS) entity because the idea of it seceding from the country is being discussed in Europe, the Chairman of BiH’s tripartite Presidency, Milorad Dodik said, N1 reports.

Dodik was referring to a document that caused uproar in Bosnia after it was published mid-April by the Slovenian news portal necenzurirano.si.

The ‘non-paper’ proposes Kosovo joining Albania and Serbia annexing parts of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) entity, while the mostly Croat-populated parts of southern Bosnia and Herzegovina would become part of Croatia.

According to the Slovenian news portal, the country’s PM, Janez Jansa, sent the document to Brussels. Jansa, however, denies this.

Many international officials condemned the document and Dodik’s colleagues in the Presidency, Zeljko Komsic and Sefik Dzaferovic, argued that implementing the ideas it contains would ultimately lead to war.

Dodik, on the other hand, said that a “peaceful separation” of the semi-autonomous RS entity would be the best option, but stressed that this is not a goal worth waging a war over.

The leader of the ruling party in the RS told ATV that the non-paper is not a binding document, yet “everyone jumped on the opportunity to comment on it,” as “nobody can hide the fact that there is more and more talk of it among European structures”.

Opinion

West should stop pushing Kosovo on new Serbian entity (euobserver)

The US, German, and French governments should stop pushing Kosovo's new leaders into a dangerous deal with Serbia, which risks creating a mess far worse than Bosnia in the region, writes Ekrem Krasniqi.

US president Joe Biden's administration and some EU leaders do not seem to have learnt the lesson of the 1995 Dayton Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), put in place by their predecessors.

The Dayton deal created two entities in a Bosnian federation, but it was not a lasting solution.

It showed that Bosnia's problems were deeper rooted than believed and it has brought it to the edge of break-up.

Officials on both sides of the Atlantic admit they made a mistake in accepting the division of Bosnia into two entities with veto powers.

The US and EU are now trying to make constitutional and electoral-law changes to strengthen Sarajevo's central institutions, in a bid to correct those errors.

But when it comes to Kosovo, the very same US and EU officials are naively embarking on the creation of a second Bosnia, by pressuring Pristina to cede special powers to a Serb-minority entity - the Association of Serb Municipalities (ASM).

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

Kosovo Needs Rescuing From its Middle Eastern Imbroglio (Balkan Insight)

Kosovo’s involuntary involvement via the Washington Agreement in the thorny issue of Jerusalem’s status threatens to permanently damage its relations with the Arab and Muslim world, writes Engjellushe Morina.

The proximity of the Western Balkans to the European Union bestows it with particular geopolitical significance and in recent years, an increasing number of states have begun increasing their influence there. They include China, Gulf States such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, and Israel.

Since the turn of the century, Western Balkan countries have made significant changes to their internal policies and practices with the aim of joining the European Union, NATO, or both.

No external player is offering a more attractive alternative. But the Euro-Atlantic integration process has also slowed down, or even halted, in many cases, and has lost some of its appeal to a population of 18 million people in the Western Balkans, shrinking as friends and family move abroad for a better life.

EU enlargement fatigue was further exacerbated at the end of last year when Bulgaria vetoed the start of North Macedonia’s accession talks, sending another signal that the EU lacks a strategic vision for the Balkans.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3dP4FSE

International

Kurti’s vote in Albanian elections – controversial but not unprecedented in the Balkans (EWB)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti voted yesterday in Albanian elections, as a citizen of both countries. His action raised eyebrows, but it was hardly a precedent in the region.

“The sun is shining bright in Albania today as they vote in parliamentary elections. As I hold dual citizenship I exercised my right to vote early and urge everyone to vote massively. As Prime Minister I will increase and intensify cooperation with whomever wins the elections”, wrote Kurti on his Twitter account on Sunday, sharing photos of him voting at a polling station in Tirana.

Since his election as the Prime Minister, Kurti’s positions on potential unification of Kosovo and Albania have been closely scrutinized. In an interview for Euronews this February, he stated that he would support such a move, if it could be done peacefully. He also recognised the fact that this would require amending the Constitution of Kosovo, which explicitly forbids unification with another country. No steps have so far been taken to achieve this goal.

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