Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: No agreement with Serbia without resolving the fate of missing persons (Koha)
• Civil society organisations from Kosovo and Serbia present joint demands on dialogue (media)
• EU: No room to deny or understate what happened in Recak (RFE)
• Pacolli on Vulin's statement: Serbia is trying to lie to the world (Klan)
• A group of U.S. members of Congress urge President Biden to bring justice for all victims of war crimes in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo president's aide: Criminal groups in the north cooperate with actors in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Rama and Escobar discussed Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, "Open Balkan" (Klan)
• COVID-19: Seven new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Families of the Missing: Our human rights are being violated daily (KiM radio)
• Vucic: Abuses of democratic principles hamper our well-being (Tanjug, media)
• Belgrade to Athens: Kosovo main political-security challenge (FoNet, N1)
• Blinken: Sanctions and restrictions for 11 officials due to criminal and illegal activities (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)
• Stevic on US sanctions: I run a legitimate business; 20 years since I’ve last seen Veselinovic (KoSSev)
• “Metal” owner on US sanctions: It’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard, I have no ties to Veselinovic (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Propaganda actions as justification for the attack on Serbs and an alibi for future moves of Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• One month detention for Dusko Arsic, Office for KiM reaction (KiM radio)
• Poll shows majority of youth want to leave Kosovo (N1)
• Survey: Over half of Serbia’s people believe corruption is present everywhere (FoNet, N1)
• Vulin: “NATO aggression began after the horrible lie about Racak” (N1)

Opinion:

• We should all speak out for survivors (KoSSev)

International:

• Nuclear technology centre planned for Serbia (world-nuclear-news.org)
• 'Nobody's dump': Lithium mine stirs unrest in Serbia (rfi.fr)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNMIK calls for further efforts to promote equality for all in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo believes in UN values and its vision for sustainable development (Telegrafi)

   

Albanian Language Media  

  Kurti: No agreement with Serbia without resolving the fate of missing persons (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said that the fate of the missing persons is an issue that needs to be addressed with 'utmost urgency'.

Speaking on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, Kurti said that there will be no normalisation of relations with Serbia without the issue being resolved. 

"We have made it clear that this is a priority issue and always maintained this. I believe you have noted that I was personally vocal with relevant international partners in mentioning the issue of enforced disappearances. I am emphasising that there will be no agreement with Serbia without the resolution of this matter," he said. 

Kurti added that they are in discussion for conducting exhumations in a number of sites and that by the first half of 2022 Kosovo will have an adequate legal mechanism that addresses war crimes. "We are working on doing our best to close your wounds and ours," he said. 

Civil society organisations from Kosovo and Serbia present joint demands on dialogue (media)

47 civil society associations based in both Kosovo and Serbia have authored a joint statement calling for concrete results in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. 

"Witnessing that Kosovo-Serbia relations are not improving despite the ongoing dialogue process, we express our deep concern over the deterioration of the situation on the ground and the impact on the day-to-day lives of citizens. There is a need to ensure and protect human rights of non-majority communities in Serbia and Kosovo," the statement begins.

The civil society organisations further said that the dialogue was being used to derail attention from important issues such as the weakening of the rule of law, corruption, and other human rights related challenges.

They called on the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to continue dialogue in a sustainable way and without delay implement agreements reached thus far. "Refrain from inflammatory rhetoric towards minority communities and populist narrations relating to mutual relations and history", they said, adding that the governments need to undertake immediate measures to develop internal integration processes and actions that lead to the building of trust between the communities. 

The international community is meanswhile urged to support the dialogue and agreements for normalisation of relations that do not hamper democracy in Kosovo and Serbia and also support the civil society by encouraging a wider inter-society debate. 

On their part, the civil society organisations pledged to continue encouraging a substantial and continuous debate between civil society in both Serbia and Kosovo, exchange information and jointly react to issues they consider worsen the situation on the ground. 

EU: No room to deny or understate what happened in Recak (RFE)

Peter Stano, spokesperson for the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, said that the massacre in Recak village cannot be denied. 

"What happened in Recak of Kosovo and cruelties perpetrated there in January of 1999 are well documented," Stano told Radio Free Europe. 

He added that the denial or modification of the Recak Massacre where 45 Albanian civilians were killed goes against the values of the European Union and the Western Balkans integration process, RFE reports further.

Stano's statement follows that of Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin that the "alleged massacre" against Albanian civilians in Kosovo in the village of Recak, which was a key moment for the launch of NATO air strikes on Serbian targets in 1999, is "a big lie and a terrible fabrication".

Pacolli on Vulin's statement: Serbia is trying to lie to the world (Klan)

Leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) Behgjet Pacolli reacted to the statement of Serbia's Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin who said that "allegations about a Recak massacre are a big lie". 

Pacolli accused Vulin of trying to lie to the world through "propagandistic films". "Recak massacre was planned and carried out by the Serb state and led by the commander of special units Goran Radosavljevic-Guri," Pacolli said, adding that the crime played out in front of the world's eyes.

A group of U.S. members of Congress urge President Biden to bring justice for all victims of war crimes in Kosovo (media)

Eleven members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Joe Biden, dated 8 December, seeking justice for Albanian-American Bytyqi brothers and all victims of war crimes in Kosovo.

Recalling that the three brothers were New York residents who left the United States to join Kosovo's fight for independence and after being arrested in 1999 and killed by Serbian authorities were found in a mass grave in Serbia, the members of Congress noted that Serbia is obliged under international humanitarian law to investigate current or former officials over the killing of the Bytyqi brothers.

"We stand in solidarity with this family, who have lived more than two decades without justice. We urge you to fulfill your pledge to seek answers from President Vucic, and request a full investigation of this case within the chain of command. Finally, after more than two decades, their family should be given the closure they deserve," the signatory representatives said.

They added: "We recently met with human rights activist and brother of the Bytyqi's, Ilir Bytyqi and Kosovo War sex crime survivor and activist, Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, and are proud to join them in their fight. They cannot rest until justice is served, and the perpetrators of this crime are held accountable by the Government of Serbia and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

In conclusion of the letter, members of Congress asked the Biden Administration to work with the Department of State and ensure that justice is delivered for the Bytyqi family and all survivors of war crimes, including rape and other forms of sexual violence. "As a global leader, we ask you to pursue humanitarian justice and advocate for the lives of these American citizens who were the victims of international crimes."

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani commented on the letter on Twitter: "A significant & timely intervention from U.S. Members of Congress on seeking justice for the Bytyqi brothers & victims of rape of ‘99 war in Kosovo. Accountability & justice will enable the families of the victims to finally be at peace. The leadership in Serbia must do its part!"

Kosovo president's aide: Criminal groups in the north cooperate with actors in Kosovo (Telegrafi)

Blerim Vela, chief of staff to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, said that the recent U.S. sanctions against a group of Kosovo Serbs and their businesses for ties to corruption and organised crime is an indicator that these activities in the Balkans are also undermining the security of the United States.

"The unfortunate thing is that these criminal groups do not function isolated but also have cooperation with other actors within Kosovo, Albanians and Serbs...These are sufficient evidence for these groups to be treated by our institutions and not lift arrest warrants against them," he said. 

Rama and Escobar discussed Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, "Open Balkan" (Klan)

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama spoke about his meeting with the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary and special envoy to the Western Balkans.

Rama said the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere and that apart from the partnership between Albania and the United States, they also discussed the necessary dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the "Open Balkan" initiative which Rama said is will have a transformative role for the future of the region and which is strongly supported by the U.S. Administration under President Joe Biden.

COVID-19: Seven new cases, one death (media)

Seven new cases with COVID-19 and one death from the virus were confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. Nine persons recovered from the virus during this time. 

There are 328 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

     

Serbian Language Media

  Families of the Missing: Our human rights are being violated daily (KiM radio)

Representatives of the families of missing Albanians and Serbs once again, on the International Human Rights Day, asked for clarification of the fate of more than 1,620 people they are looking for and told the institutions in Belgrade and Pristina they are waiting for the results of the Brussels dialogue, reported KiM radio.

Unfortunately, this year as well, the results regarding the finding of the missing are weak, and the policy additionally slows down this process, believes the executive director of the Resource Center for Missing Persons, Bajram Qerkinaj.

"Our human rights are being violated every day; we don't know where our loved ones are. Politics does not allow us to move forward. People who do not want to admit all the bad things they have done, do not allow us to find our loved ones. We cry for them, and they cry for us, people run away from responsibility and do not worry about the issue of finding the missing. The Resource Center aims to bring together all family members of all missing persons," he said

The families of the missing do not receive a report on the meetings of the working groups of Belgrade and Pristina, and when this issue comes up on the agenda, a big delay is created, said the deputy director of the Resource Center, Negovan Mavric.

"When your child doesn't come home all night, and he's having fun somewhere, you worry. Imagine these families who have been waiting for their loved ones for 23 years, and they don't know what happened to them. It is time for the families to receive the remains, and the graves are waiting. In the last five months, I don't know if we have a report that a work was done on some grave," he said.

Human pain should not be politicized, it is time to pass the Declaration on Missing Persons through dialogue, according to the British Ambassador to Kosovo Nicholas Abbott.

"We know that most of the work has been done, both sides know and have agreed on the way forward. Now is the time for leaders in Pristina and Belgrade to finalize the Declaration and make it public. I don't see any obstacles to that, except maybe that political issue. I think it is time to leave politics out of that and take another step forward to address these most difficult issues. It is also important that the Government of Kosovo does the best it can on its own and does not apologize for not being able to work with others or because of others. In August this year, the government said that it would start checking a certain number of graves, and I am eagerly waiting to hear a report on that," he said.

Andin Hoti, the chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons of the Government of Kosovo, confirmed that the working groups of Belgrade and Pristina have not met for five months.

"We did not reach an agreement in Brussels, our request is clear, final and cannot be changed. It is a request for access to all the documents that Serbia has, and it is not a question of politics or spite. We are aware that from 1998 to 1999, one state was in Kosovo, and they have all that information. We are looking for information that Serbia can have regarding the war in Kosovo, the army, the police, the secret services and everything that can have an impact on the crimes that were committed," Hoti said.

Ombudsman Naim Qelaj believes that for 22 years, Kosovo's institutions have left aside issues related to transitional law and war crimes as something that belongs to the international community and civil society

"I understood your message that the issue and the topic of missing persons should be treated as a humanitarian issue, and not as an instrument of politics in any conditions. When the issue of missing persons became part of the dialogue between the two countries, I realized that there were two sides to the coin. The positive one is that the hope was created that we will eventually succeed in completing this process, to reveal the fate of the last person who disappeared. On the other hand, it shows us how much this process is stalled due to politics, and it is the one that must decide how to continue," he said.

KiM radio reported that some members of the families of the missing today were denied the opportunity to receive answers to questions from the representative of the Kosovo Government Commission for Missing Persons, Andin Hoti, who left the meeting after the presentation.

The radio recalled that the United Nations General Assembly declared in 1950, December 10th the Human Rights Day, to draw attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed two years earlier and was the first comprehensive instrument for the protection of human rights.

Vucic: Abuses of democratic principles hamper our well-being (Tanjug, media)

With every abuse of democratic principles, we are only deceiving ourselves, thus hampering our own well-being in the first place, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday at the Summit for Democracy, hosted by US President Joseph Biden.

"This was especially highlighted by the current pandemic, reminding us that no one is immune to global threats and that we must demonstrate that democracies are capable of rising to these common challenges and delivering for our citizens," Vucic said.

"Serbia is ready to be a consistent and reliable partner to the US and to this end in the future as well," he said.

"It is my special honour and a pleasure to have the opportunity to address you today at this event that I find to be extremely important for the further strengthening of democratic values at the global level.

It is very positive that the US has recognised the need to organise such an event that promotes and reminds of the importance of democratic values at a time when there is talk of a crisis of democracy," Vucic said.

"Our country has been making continuous efforts to strengthen a democratic society in which all citizens enjoy equal rights and opportunities to develop their own potential and participate in all aspects of social, cultural, political and economic life.

We are committed to combating corruption, strengthening human rights, and we are focused on achieving concrete results in this area both at the domestic and foreign policy levels.

Serbia is fully committed to European values, democratic principles, and rule of law. Full membership of the EU is our key foreign policy priority and, therefore, we are making continuous efforts in our EU accession process, which includes adopting the best European practices and examples in areas such as rule of law and anti-corruption," he said.

"Additionally, we are preparing for the upcoming elections in the spring and ensuring everyone's voice is heard. We reinstated the working group on elections, mediated by the EU, and have amended laws to ensure political parties feel equal.

In the previous period, we paid special attention to achieving the best possible overall relations and cooperation in the region. Strengthening of contacts and better infrastructure connectivity are the starting point for a higher quality of life of citizens, which facilitates dialogue and respect for democratic values," he said.

"In this spirit, Serbia has launched the Open Balkans initiative together with our friends from the Balkans, which I am convinced creates conditions, by promoting the four freedoms - of movement of people, goods, capital and services - for the strengthening of all democratic values," he said.

"Our guiding principle is that no one should be left aside in the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms. Therefore, let me express my conviction that the Summit for Democracy is the right opportunity to highlight the need for equal treatment of all peoples and religious groups in the region in order to further strengthen stability in this part of Europe, which is the precondition for creating an even more prosperous and future-oriented Western Balkans.

Serbia has also demonstrated the contribution it makes to the rule of law and the strengthening of the democratic process through results and a transparent approach achieved at the national level in the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the rule of law.

Let me also emphasize that our country is equally committed to respecting minority rights, which is a legacy we are especially proud of. In that sense, let me remind you that our system of protection of minorities has received the highest praise from a number of impartial international sources," he said.

Vucic said Serbia was the regional leader when it comes to gender equality and that it had a female PM, with women making up nearly 50 per cent of the government.

"I am also announcing a new initiative which I believe the other leaders from the Western Balkans also support. Together, we need to accelerate inclusion for the Roma. We need to invest in Roma, who are demographically vibrant, entrepreneurial and multilingual, but his community has been the most excluded from prosperity and the hardest hit during the COVID-19 crisis," he also said.

See at:https://bit.ly/3DJZ3CG Belgrade to Athens: Kosovo main political-security challenge (FoNet, N1)

The issue of Kosovo is the main political-security challenge for Serbia which is committed to the dialogue on the normalisation of relations and a compromise solution, despite all obstruction from Pristina, Nikola Selakovic, Foreign Minister told the Greek army chief of staff Konstantinos Floros.

Selakovic thanked Floros for the Greek principal position regarding Kosovo and said he expected Athens to remain consistent.

Greece is one of five European Union member states that have refused to recognise Kosovo’s independence from Serbia declared in 2008. The others are Spain, Cyprus, Romania, and Slovakia.

Serbia’s Minister said that in line with EU membership as Belgrade’s main foreign policy priority, his country was also committed to cooperation with all bloc countries and its security and defence policy institutions.

The EU often insisted on Serbia’s adjustments to the bloc’s foreign and security policy, worrying about Belgrade’s close links with Moscow and Beijing.

On the other hand, Serbia’s authorities say full compliance with that EU policy should happen at the end of the negotiating process.

„Serbia contributes to European and global security by participating in the EU and UN missions and operations, Selakovic said, adding his country was the first in the region and fifth in Europe by its contribution to those missions and operations.

See at:https://bit.ly/31Rbr6U Blinken: Sanctions and restrictions for 11 officials due to criminal and illegal activities (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced last night, on the International Anti-Corruption Day, that the United States will introduce visa sanctions and restrictions to 11 officials and former officials.

"On International Anti-Corruption Day, the United States will impose visa sanctions and restrictions on 11 officials and former officials. Together, we can defeat corruption and promote accountability and good governance," Blinken said in a Twitter post, without specifying the countries of the 11 officials.

The United States yesterday imposed sanctions on individuals and companies for criminal and illegal activities.

The American Treasury announced that there are 16 individuals and 24 companies on the "black" list, among which are brothers Zvonko and Zarko Veselinovic, Milan Radoicic and people and companies connected with them, recalled portal Kosovo Online.

Stevic on US sanctions: I run a legitimate business; 20 years since I’ve last seen Veselinovic (KoSSev)

“These are some truly ridiculous tales, “ the owner of Rad company, Radule Stevic, told KoSSev, commenting on the news that he was included in the SDN list by the US Treasury Office’s of Foreign Assets Control, as well as linked to Zvonko Veselinovic’s “organized crime group”.

Stevic states that he does not understand why sanctions were imposed on him and his company. He claims that he runs a legitimate business.

See more at:https://bit.ly/3oJicRg “Metal” owner on US sanctions: It’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard, I have no ties to Veselinovic (KoSSev)

“It’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in my entire life,” a well-known businessman from the north of Kosovo, Sinisa Nedeljkovic, commented on the recent decision the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, in which Nedeljkovic was added to its SDN list and linked to the “organized criminal group of Zvonko Veselinovic”. Nedeljkovic emphasized that he is a legitimate businessman, voicing concerns over how this decision will affect his reputation among his longtime customers.

In the document issued by the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, Nedeljkovic is linked to seven entities, two of which are registered in the Serbian system, and five within the Kosovo system.

See more at:https://bit.ly/3ENAPcc Serbian List: Propaganda actions as justification for the attack on Serbs and an alibi for future moves of Pristina (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online portal reported that Serbian List reacted last night, with a press statement, saying that “the unfounded accusations against prominent members of Serbian List and Serbs from the north of Kosovo and Metohija are a coordinated campaign aimed at weakening the unity and defense of Serbian people in this area”.

“An obvious intention is to use joint propaganda of an approximative actions, which is seen in the reaction of Albin Kurti, to provide the justification for the recent attacks on the bare-handed Serbian people and spiling of Serbian blood by wounding Srecko Sofronijevic during the brutal action of the Kosovo police, as well as an alibi for possible new unilateral actions of Pristina in the north of Kosovo and Metohija” it is staid in the statement, reported the portal. 

Serbian List pointed out that what sounds unbelievable, is the information that several years in a row, Kosovo police has been publishing reports, stating that the number of crimes in the north of Kosovo is proportionally incomparably lower than in the Albanian-majority areas in the south, and that the crime in those areas is not being talked about nor any proceedings are being launched.

The Serbian List called on the citizens to be restrained, because, as they pointed out, “this is a newer form of hybrid attack on our freedom, which is used with the aim of weakening our position and unity”.

“Anyone who thinks that these false accusations will frighten and divide the Serbian people is grossly mistaken, we will always remain ready to defend the truth, justice and our right to life and stay in the north of Kosovo and Metohija,” Serbian List said.

One month detention for Dusko Arsic, Office for KiM reaction (KiM radio)

KiM radio reported that Dusko Arsic from Kraljevo, who was accused of alleged war crimes against the civilian population in the village of Butovce, was arrested last night at the Jarinje administrative crossing, lawyer Jovana Filipovic confirmed.

"Arsic is charged with taking part in the forcible expulsion and eviction in Pristina and its environs in the village of Butovac from January to June 1999, and allegedly stopping a minor and harassing him along with other members of the paramilitary unit," Filipovic explained.

She noted that Arsic was arrested when he left Kosovo for central Serbia, and that minor children were in the car with him.

"Arsic has been detained for a month. He has never been a member of the army, police or other paramilitary unit and he does not know where the village of Butovac is because he has never been there," Filipovic added.

Office for KiM issued a statement on the arrest of Dusko Arsic

The Office notes that a lawsuit has been pending against Arsic for years because his property in the village of Maticane near Pristina was usurped based on false documents and statements, and he has now been arrested.

"This is a new pressure on Serb returnees, who are being arrested on secret charges for alleged war crimes, with the sole aim of deterring them from returning and claiming their property in Kosovo and Metohija. At the same time, by doing so, Pristina is trying to create an artificial and unsustainable balance due to the fact that the leaders of the so-called KLA are being tried in The Hague, for crimes against Serbs and other non-Albanians, "the Office said in a statement.

''Pristina is not ready to allow Serbs to return to their centuries-old homes and it uses all available mechanisms of intimidation and deterrence in order to prevent the return of Serbs,'' the statement said.

"Precisely in such secret indictments and arrests lies the reason why the rate of return to Kosovo and Metohija is less than two percent and is the lowest one in one post-conflict area," the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said in a statement.

Poll shows majority of youth want to leave Kosovo (N1)

A poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) showed that a majority of young people want to emigrate from Kosovo.

A press release said that 78 percent of Kosovo residents between the ages of 18 and 35 want to go abroad for a period longer than a vacation. The poll by IRI’s Center for Insights in Survey Research showed that 77 percent of young people are concerned about the economy and believe that corruption is widespread. “Support for Western institutions and democratic governance also remain strong,” the press release said, adding that just 40 percent of the polled feel that Kosovo is moving in the right direction.

“Many young people are looking to leave Kosovo right now,” said Paul McCarthy, Regional Director for Europe at IRI. “A struggling economy and a sense that corruption can be found in all elements of society has younger Kosovars looking to build a future beyond their country’s borders.”

It also showed that 89 percent of the polled support membership in NATO and 91 percent support accession to the European Union.

See at:https://bit.ly/3rSEbad Survey: Over half of Serbia’s people believe corruption is present everywhere (FoNet, N1)

More than 50 percent of Serbia’s population believe that corruption is broadly spread in the country, while a third of the polled people say they think it’s on the rise in the last 12 months, according to a national survey about people’s perception of the anti-corruption fight in 2021 done within the USAID Project for Accountable Governance conducted by the Centre of Free Elections and Democracy, CECID.

The survey published on Thursday said that almost two-thirds of the respondents noted corruption negatively influences society and people’s lives.

CESID said people told them that little progress was made in solving corruption in the last four years.

Over a half of the polled believed that corruption was customary, i.e., an integral part of culture and habits in society, Shenli Pinchotti, director of the USAID Office for Democratic and Economic Development, said.

Ivo Colovic, CESID’s Programme Director, said that one-fifth of the respondents believed the level of corruption was reduced.

He said the citizens expected the President (Aleksandar Vucic) and the Government to fight corruption. However, priority is given to the President, whose efforts to prevent corruption are recognised and valued by citizens more than other institutions.

On the other hand, the Government is held responsible for the increase of corruption and is expected to be more efficient in preventing it.

According to the surveyed people, the measures that would be the most effective in reducing corruption are the more decisive investigation of corruption cases and better and more adequate protection of whistleblowers, Colovic said.

See at:https://bit.ly/3DKBvhb Vulin: “NATO aggression began after the horrible lie about Racak” (N1)

Broadcaster N1 reported that “Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Aleksandar Vulin denied the massacre that caused the 1999 NATO air campaign during a visit to the set of a movie about the events leading up to the war in Kosovo”.

N1 recalled that Racak was the reason cited by the US and NATO to launch air strikes against FR Yugoslavia. Western governments relied on claims by OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission chief William Walker that Serbian security forces killed a number of ethnic Albanian civilians in the village of Racak while the Serbian authorities under President Slobodan Milosevic claimed that the dead were killed in an exchange of fire between Albanian rebels (the Kosovo Liberation Army) and Serbian forces.

“The NATO aggression began after the horrible lie about Racak. We were not capable or clever enough at the time to show the world that it was a lie. The mission of this generation is to show that world that they bombed us and made us out to be criminal thanks to lies and that the blood of our children is on the hands of the people who invented the lie,” Vulin is quoted as saying in a ministry press release.

Vulin is also quoted as saying that the author of the documentary series on the events in Racak, Sladjana Zaric showed that the truth about the Serbian people and about Racak can be shown in a documented and studious manner. “Racak is a huge lie, a terrible forgery, a great insult to all humanity and for everyone who uttered the lie, but Racak is also our opportunity to show how we have been unjustly destroyed, killed as a people, how much we have been punished for the sins of others and how we accepted other people’s lies as our truth,” the minister said.

“I am proud to be part of a government headed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who proved from the start, when he took responsibility in managing Serbia, that the truth will be told no matter what the cost,” Vulin said, adding that “the Serbs will never allow others to write their history again… or let others invent the truth about us”.

The six-part documentary series ‘Dossier Kosovo’ about events between 1998 and 2001 is co-produced by the Serbian state TV (RTS) and the Internal Affairs Ministry (MUP), reported N1.

     

Opinion

  We should all speak out for survivors (KoSSev) By Nicholas Abbott

On Human Rights Day, and at the end of the “16 days of activism” campaign against gender-based violence, I wanted to write about a topic which means much to me personally. Around the world, too many women and men are victims of Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and many more are at risk of experiencing sexual abuse in current conflicts.

CRSV is a forced crime perpetrated against women, girls, men, and boys that is directly or indirectly linked to conflict. This crime is preventable and punishable under International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and International Criminal Law. The UK is a world leader in tackling violence against women and girls, and we take pride in supporting victims of CRSV across the world. Engaging on and preventing CRSV is a priority issue for our new Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, for our broader foreign policy, and for me.

Recent events in Afghanistan and other conflict zones reinforce the need to expand this work and increase our ambition internationally to combat this crime. Responding to CRSV is everyone’s responsibility and the UK joins with many countries to address the issue, including with Kosovo. Our work on CRSV in Kosovo has established the United Kingdom as one of the leading advocates and supporters on CRSV issues. With UK funding, we support over 1500 female and male survivors through the Government Commission and four local NGOs.

This support aims to improve the overall social and psychological well-being of survivors and their family members through stigma awareness raising activities, support for access to justice, rehabilitation services and support to access reparation programmes by the Government of Kosovo. We are also supporting ground-breaking research on transgenerational trauma, which shows how it is possible for children to inherit trauma from CRSV survivors.

See more at:https://bit.ly/3lVn9V0      

International

  Nuclear technology centre planned for Serbia (world-nuclear-news.org)

Rosatom has signed a framework agreement with the government of Serbia to build a nuclear technology centre in the country, including a cyclotron for medical isotope production. It comes as part of a growing trend of Serbian interest in nuclear.

The new centre should be built "during the next three years" said the Serbian government, noting that it would "return our country to the map of European countries that have capabilities for scientific research in the field of nuclear technologies." The government added: "We already have requests from neighbouring countries to use the capacities of this centre together with our scientists."

See more at:https://bit.ly/3oEUB46 'Nobody's dump': Lithium mine stirs unrest in Serbia (rfi.fr)

Farmhouses and cornfields dot the gentle, rolling plains of Serbia's Jadar Valley, but underneath the bucolic surface lies one of Europe's largest lithium deposits -- the source fuelling the latest round of unrest in the Balkan nation.

The future of the vast mineral deposits near the city of Loznica has become the latest flashpoint in Serbia, pitting festering distrust in the country's increasingly autocratic government against Europe's plans for a greener future.

Billions are at stake with Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto boasting that the project has the potential to add a full percentage point to Serbia's gross domestic product and provide thousands of jobs.

In a matter of years, this impoverished corner of Serbia nestled against the Bosnian border could be transformed into one of the industrial engines turbocharging Europe's transition to lower-carbon technology considered vital for a greener future.

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

Humanitarian/Development

  UNMIK calls for further efforts to promote equality for all in Kosovo (media)

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, UNMIK reaffirmed its continuous commitment to support Kosovo institutions and other stakeholders in their efforts to advance the realisation of human rights for all communities in Kosovo, including in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

UNMIK said in a statement that "in Kosovo and around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities, disproportionately impacting a wide range of persons in vulnerable situations. In this context, UNMIK encourages Kosovo institutions, in cooperation with civil society and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that all communities can equally enjoy their human rights, with a particular focus to ensure that no one is left behind."

The mission said that it is committed to supporting all actors in Kosovo in "harnessing the power of human rights to ensure a future as a peaceful, open, and just society that is more resilient in times of crisis."

Osmani: Kosovo believes in UN values and its vision for sustainable development (Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met today the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator of UNDP Mirjana Spoljaric Egger and thanked her for the support this organisation has provided to Kosovo.

Osmani said that the support has contributed to the increase of development prospects in Kosovo and noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many women-run businesses. "She underlined the need for greater involvement of women in the labour market to realise the full potential for economic development of a country. President Osmani stressed that Kosovo believes in UN values and its vision for sustainable development," a press release issued by the Kosovo's presidency states.