UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 19, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: The barricades in the north will not be allowed to stand for long (Koha)
The Greek FM and Lajcak talk about lowering tensions in the north (RTK)
Swiss MFA confirms secret meeting between Kosovo and Serbia (Albanian Post)
Abdixhiku: Situation in the north is worse; Government must ask for help (Express)
Mehaj: Our objective is NATO membership (Telegrafi)
LDK MP Avdullah Hoti interview with Nacionale
Tahiri: Situation in the north cannot be resolved only with statements (Reporteri)
Masked people attack the Klan Kosova team at the barricade near Cabra (Klan)
Association of Journalists of Kosovo reacts to attack on Klan Kosova team (media)
PSD to protest against the Specialist Chambers on December 24 (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Day ten at barricades, primary schools open today (RTS)
PM Brnabic: Serbs are heard only from the barricades (KiM radio, RTS, FoNet)
Dacic says Kurti is biggest threat to peace (TV Pink)
SPS leader: Serbia sees Kosovo the way Catholics see the Vatican (N1, BETA)
Petkovic: UNMIK and KFOR must urgently protect Serbs and their property in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug, RTS, Politika)
Broken windows on Serbian shops in Bosnjacka Mahala (RTS, Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
Simic: Continuation of hybrid and information war by Pristina (Kosovo Online, social media)
Trajkovic rendered 30-day detention (Radio KIM)
Appeal on detention of Dejan Pantic refused (Radio KIM)
Vucic hosts Dendias and Dacic on occasion of Saint Nikola Day (Tanjug)
The right-wing rally ends, they claim they wanted to tell KFOR to leave Jarinje (KoSSev)
Lajcak wrote Franco-German proposal, says Drecun (N1, TV Pink)

Opinion:

Palokaj: No practical reasons or legal basis for Serbian forces in Kosovo (Koha)
How the Hague Tribunal Failed Wartime Rape Survivors (BIRN)

International:

Endgame Nears for Kosovo’s Crypto Haven (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: The barricades in the north will not be allowed to stand for long (Koha)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has emphasised that the barricades in the north will not be allowed to remain for a long time. After the ceremony of the start of the works of the second phase for the rehabilitation of the 10th railway line Fushe Kosove-Mitrovica, he said that the Minister of the Interior Xhelal Svecla, is in Mitrovica every day and in constant contact with the KFOR command for the removal of barricades.

"KFOR has asked for some more time from us, so we are in regular, intensive coordination and communication with KFOR, and obviously such barricades will not be tolerated for long, but do not forget: what Serbia's illegal structures transformed into criminal gangs are doing lately, is the beginning of their last phase. The state has never been more on the right path," Kurti stressed.

He also spoke about Serbia's request to return an army contingent of up to 1,000 troops to Kosovo.

"They have made a request to KFOR, as far as I know, now of course it is an unrealistic request which speaks more about them than about our country, there has never been a need for Serbian soldiers in the Republic of Kosovo, there has never been a need for Serbian soldiers in the 20th century and not even in the 19th, their demand now shows more that they have remained in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. With these requests, they are showing us, who know well who they are, also to those who have dilemmas about who they are. Of course, NATO will be against it, and they also understand very well that those poor Serbian soldiers, who they claim to bring to our country, have nowhere to come to Kosovo. So, it is more an expression of their helplessness than their power," Kurti said.

According to Kurti, those who are aiming to destabilise Kosovo will fail.

"I cannot say that it is a civil protest when there are armed people there who want Kosovo to return to 1999, and who also carry slogans and pictures of the despotic president Putin. So, those who want Serbia to be Russia and at the same time aim to destabilise Kosovo will always fail as they failed yesterday. Their intention was to enter Kosovo, they were not in number what they had thought, while the security bodies of the Republic of Kosovo and the international forces naturally took care of security and peace," Kurti stated.

The Greek FM and Lajcak talk about lowering tensions in the north (RTK)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias spoke with the EU emissary for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

"In view of my visits to the Western Balkans, I had a telephone conversation earlier with EUSR Miroslav Lajcak, on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the efforts undertaken to lower tensions in northern Kosovo," Dendias tweeted.

Swiss MFA confirms secret meeting between Kosovo and Serbia (Albanian Post)

Swiss media reports about a secret meeting between the representatives of Kosovo and those of Serbia are true. The two delegations met for unofficial talks just seven days after the Kosovo Serbs withdrew from the institutions, a response from the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Policy reportedly told Albanian Post

"The last of these unofficial meetings was held in Switzerland a week after the Serbs withdrew from the institutions," reads the answer of the Swiss MFA to AP.

However, the reports that the two heads of the negotiating teams, Besnik Bislimi from Kosovo and Petar Petkovic from Serbia, were part of the meeting, are not true, says this response.

"The two heads of the negotiating teams, Bislimi and Petkovic, have never met in this type of format," it was said in response, requesting that no further questions be asked about the specific topics of the meetings, as "due to confidentiality, we cannot comment more about this matter."

The Swiss MFA says that such "off the record" meetings are not new, but they have happened in the past and that their purpose is to get to know the parties better and increase mutual trust.

"Since 2015, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has supported the official negotiations of the European Union and other complementary off-the-record meetings with representatives of the main political parties from both countries. This enables them to exchange ideas on political issues and build trust," the media office of the Swiss MFA told Albanian Post.

In another part of the answer, it is also said that Switzerland has continuously been involved in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

"The normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is an important part of the mosaic to promote stability and development in the Western Balkans. "Switzerland supports the efforts for normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia and has continuously made it clear in official communications."

Kusari-Lila: They are not secret meetings or negotiations (Reporteri)

The head of the Vetevendosje (LVV) parliamentary group Mimoza Kusari-Lila has reacted to a news of the Swiss newspaper "NZZ", that Kosovo and Serbia held "secret meetings" in Switzerland.

“Dear media, dear citizens, ‘much ado about nothing’ sounded to me the sensational headline about the "secret meetings" held in Switzerland between political representatives from Kosovo and Serbia.

To clarify once again, the American organisation Council for Inclusive Governance, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, organised the second round of meetings between political representatives from Kosovo and Serbia.

Meetings in the process known as the "Soloturn Process" have been held since 2015. The name Soloturn is the name of the small town in Switzerland where the first meeting happened to be held and others have continued to be held there. The meetings are not secret and are not negotiations. They are more about facilitating the communication of the parties in the dialogue. Meetings are organised to help dialogue and are held according to the principle of "Chatham House rules".

The headline published by the Swiss newspaper NZZ, "Secret Meeting" is sensational, while there is nothing sensational about the meeting. From Kosovo, all Albanian parliamentary parties, position and opposition and Serb representatives participate. As for the discussion and conclusions from the meetings, they are public, published on the CIG website, including the one on November 11-which received publicity,” she said.

Abdixhiku: Situation in the north is worse; Government must ask for help (Express)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, said today that “Kosovo does not have state institutions in the north and it cannot organise democratic elections to have those institutions there”. He expressed concern about the barricades which he said “are becoming normal now”.

“Albin Kurti has fallen into Serbia's trap now. He can neither create stability nor wield sovereignty in the north. He does not have a state plan to address the situation in the north,” Abdixhiku writes in a Facebook post.

“The barricades of criminal groups are becoming ordinary now, as is the failure to replace hundreds of police officers, prosecutors, judges and administrative staff that have resigned and without whose tasks the state has no representation … We are in an administrative vacuum. If the situation in the north was bad, today it is even worse. This is the truth in the north and the institutions of Kosovo must not allow this to become normal.”

Abdixhiku also writes, “coordination is wise and mature. Walking alongside our allies has always been in Kosovo’s national interest”. “The Government of Kosovo must ask for help. From there, they need to coordinate every future step with the allies in order to restore order and law in the north. A late or uncoordinated behaviour would mean continuing to fall into Serbia's trap,” he concluded.

Mehaj: Our objective is NATO membership (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defence, Armend Mehaj, in his report to the Kosovo Assembly Committee on Defence and Security today, said that the increased budget for the Kosovo Security Force has led to increased capacities. He said that this year 1,230 new soldiers were recruited. “In terms of professional capacity building, soldiers follow studies in the most prestigious academies in the world, in the U.S., Germany, Croatia, United Kingdom and Turkey. This year, 2,047 soldiers were trained abroad. In addition to this, we have invested in operational capacity building by purchasing military equipment. The purchases were made country-to-country,” he said.

Talking about the representation of women in the Kosovo Security Force, Mehaj said there is more room for greater representation. “10.44 percent of women in our army, I think this is not enough, and there is more room for greater representation,” he said.

Mehaj said the ministry’s objective is Kosovo’s membership in NATO and that they are working on this. “Our objective is NATO membership. Our soldiers are taking part in international drills alongside different international armies. We are preparing ‘Defender 23’, as a host for the second time where the Kosovo Army will participate with 1,350 soldiers,” he added.

LDK MP Avdullah Hoti interview with Nacionale

MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and former Prime Minister, Avdullah Hoti, said in an interview with the news website that Kosovo is right to insist on enforcing law and order in the north, “but the actions of Kosovo’s institutions can be successful only when coordinated with the partners that guarantee Kosovo’s security”.

According to Hoti, barricades in the north must be removed by the Kosovo Police “because this sends the right signal about who secures order and law in the north. I am glad that there are reactions from international partners for the unconditional removal [of barricades]. I expect KFOR will assist the Kosovo Police in removing the barricades. This should be done very carefully and avoid any provocation from protesters who protect the barricades with orders from Belgrade”.

Hoti argued that the current government was wrong to negotiate on the removal of barricades “and it created a precedent”. He said that the removal of barricades must not be discussed in Brussels.

Hoti also said that despite a constitutional obligation, the government did not inform the Assembly about the draft of the EU plan for an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia or about the comments it made. “This approach by the government damages the required consensus between political forces on this issue,” he said.

“The terminology that government officials now are using for alleged negotiations for a basic agreement are aimed at deceiving the public about their failures in the dialogue. If they would follow the framework for dialogue by my government, I cannot say that a final agreement would be reached because this does not depend solely on Kosovo, but I am confident that today we would have a much favourable situation for Kosovo”.

Asked to comment on increased international pressure to form the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, Hoti said: “I think this government put itself in a dead-end situation when it abandoned the framework for dialogue by my government which was agreed with our partners.”

“Now the situation is completely different. The insistence of the current government on issues like the licence plates, although it is a legal right of Kosovo, has created a different situation on the ground. Now it is natural that the efforts of our partners are focused on managing the situation, and not on a final agreement centred around mutual recognition, as they call it.”

Tahiri: Situation in the north cannot be resolved only with statements (Reporteri)

The former chief negotiator of Kosovo in the dialogue with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, has again come out with a statement after the situation created in the north.

“The barricaded situation continues in the north! This situation cannot be solved only with statements, as the government is doing, it needs a quick and coordinated solution with international partners! Serbia will continue to hold the north hostage, the Government must stop it!” Tahiri wrote.

Masked people attack the Klan Kosova team at the barricade near Cabra (Klan)

A Klan Kosova team was today attacked with stones by some masked people at the barricade near the village of Caber in Zubin Potok.

The attackers threw stones at and insulted the team consisting of journalist Haris Ademi, cameraman Agon Bejtullahu and driver Elsad Sinani.

Klan Kosova's team did not suffer any physical injuries in this attack, reports the news website, attaching the video of the incident.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo reacts to the attack on Klan Kosova team (media)

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo has reacted to the attack on the Klan Kosova team in the north of the country.

"The Klan Kosova team, consisting of journalist Haris Ademi, cameraman Agon Bejtullahu and driver Elsad Sinani, was attacked today, while they were reporting near the barricades located in the village of Caber in Zubin Potok. The attackers threw stones at the team and insulted and offended them.

"This is the third attack on colleagues, thus aggravating and endangering their safety throughout the reports. AJK, once again called on the competent bodies to take measures to ensure the journalists, at the same time we ask that they be allowed to do their work without being hindered," says the reaction of AJK.

PSD to protest against the Specialist Chambers on December 24 (RTK)

The chairman of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) Dardan Molliqaj, announced in an extraordinary press conference the that on December 24 from 14:00 hours they will organise a protest starting from "Zahir Pajaziti" square, to address the injustices, as he said, of the Specialist Chambers against the former leaders of the KLA.

The head of the PSD has mentioned the conviction of the former superior of the KLA by the Specialized Chambers in The Hague, Salih Mustafa, saying that the decision of this Court should be an alarm for everyone in Kosovo.

The party led by Molliqaj said that it intends to follow two paths regarding the Special Court: one way is the amendment of the law on Specialist Chambers and the second is street protests.

Serbian Language Media

Day ten at barricades, primary schools open today (RTS)

Serbs in northern Kosovo continue protesting at barricades for the tenth day in a row, RTS reports this morning. Protestors demand release of recently arrested Serbs in northern Kosovo and withdrawal of Kosovo special police units from there. The primary schools opened today after a one-week break, while secondary schools switched to online teaching.

RTS reporter Dragana Biberovic said the last night was calm while people who celebrate Saint Nikola Day will mark the holiday at barricades today. KFOR patrols are increased in the north, Jarinje and Brnjak crossing points remain blocked by the Kosovo police.

Kosovo police are present in ethnically mixed areas in Mitrovica North and at crossings between the northern and southern part of the city.

Doctors and medical personnel at barricades too

RTS reported on Saturday that doctors and medical personnel of the Clinical Health Center in Mitrovica North were also staying at barricades.

Director of the Clinical Health Center in Mitrovica North, doctor Zlatan Elek said their presence was a response to the authorities in Pristina and their allegations that “criminals” are at the barricades in northern Kosovo.

“We are just ordinary citizens, armed with good will to sustain and remain in those areas and we shall be here as long as it takes, and until our unjustly arrested citizens are released, and special police units, who do not belong here, retreat from northern Kosovo”, Elek said.

He added that professors and academia present at barricades on a daily basis, represent “a role model of how decent and patriotic oriented citizens should act”.

PM Brnabic: Serbs are heard only from the barricades (KiM radio, RTS, FoNet)

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, stated that she was disappointed with the international community and their understanding of the human rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo, pointing out that "Brussels and Washington hear Kosovo Serbs only when they are at the barricades" and pointed out that there are no conditions for reaching new agreements until the obligations from the old ones are not fulfilled, reported KiM radio.

They are at the barricades, because they demand basic human rights, Brnabic told RTS and emphasised that when Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti says that there is no Brussels agreement for him, "then why is it a problem that the Serbs are not in the institutions, as foreseen by that agreement?"

"I am afraid of escalation. We will do everything to preserve peace and some kind of stability, but only in December four Serbs were detained", the Prime Minister reminded and emphasised that they are in daily contact with the international community.

"Diplomatic talks are taking place every day, international representatives were here last week, President Vucic is in daily contact with Serbs from Kosovo. I can understand that people are fed up with everything and that they have no confidence in the representatives of the international community, and they just want the implementation of the agreement, Brnabic said.

She expects the international community, primarily Brussels, and then Washington, to put pressure on Pristina to implement the agreements, primarily to form the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

"We received all the assurances from the American envoy, Gabriel Escobar, that he would make it possible to fulfil it in the shortest possible time, and then we also heard from the representatives of the EU member states during December that before any new agreements, all the ones already reached must be implemented," emphasised the PM Brnabic.

She emphasised that the assessments of all services and those who are watching what is happening in Kosovo "are that we are on the verge of an armed conflict".

"For me, the end of this situation is the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, which will open up space for further discussions on new agreements. Well, if we by all means were stupid and crazy enough to continue the dialogue, the new agreement will require some new concessions, who will guarantee that," she added.

"Brussels, France, Germany want to discuss the new proposal, but who will guarantee its implementation. Brussels cannot guarantee because it cannot ensure the implementation of the Brussels Agreement. Who will, the Martians," asked Brnabic, reported KiM radio, citing RTS.

Dacic says Kurti is biggest threat to peace (TV Pink)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told TV Pink last night that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti is “the biggest threat to peace and any agreements”, adding that the attitude of the international community was “cynical” because they see barricades as the main issue.

Dacic also said barricades in northern Kosovo were a political struggle of Serbs against Kurti’s mistreatments and for respect of Brussels agreement.

He argued it was very cynical on the side of the international community to place barricades as central issue over the last few weeks, months and in particular over the last days, in a situation in which Pristina bans referendum, Serbian elections, sends its special unit to the north and undertakes acts contrary to the Brussels agreement.

Dacic termed as “nonsense” statements of Rada Trajkovic that barricaded in the north were erected because Serbs there fear from the Serbs, adding she wishes to instrumentalize her position. “She wishes to document that it is the centre of criminal grouping, that Serbs are the criminals. It is unbelievable for someone from Pristina to say so, it is well known where the biggest mafia comes from”, Dacic said.

He noted it was regrettable that Serb representatives from Pristina said something like that adding barricades were a legitimate way to fight for protection of Serbian interests.

SPS leader: Serbia sees Kosovo the way Catholics see the Vatican (N1, BETA)

The leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Ivica Dacic, said at the party's congress in Belgrade that for SPS Serbia comes first, but also that Kosovo is "sui generis for Serbia", N1 reports.

“Serbia comes first, there are a million parties, but there is one Serbia. They say Kosovo is a ‘sui generis’ case. Exactly, just as the Vatican is for Catholicism, Athos for Orthodoxy, Mecca for Muslims, so is Kosovo ‘sui generis’ for Serbia“, Dacic said.

The guests at the ceremonial part of the congress were, among others, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik, the leader of United Serbia (JS) Dragan Markovic Palma, the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Vladimir Jokovic and the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro Danijela Djurovic.

Petkovic: UNMIK and KFOR must urgently protect Serbs and their property in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, announced today, on the occasion of breaking the windows of four Serbian shops in the ethnically mixed neighbourhood of Bosnjacka Mahala, in the northern part of Mitrovica, that it is now clear with what intention and reason the Kosovo police with long barrel weapons were sent to the mixed Serbian areas in KiM, reported Tanjug agency.

"Experience teaches us that violence against communities and peoples begins precisely with attacks on their property, and that is why it is necessary that UNMIK and KFOR urgently stand up for the protection of Serbs and their property in Kosovo and Metohija, because history does not forgive indifference in situations like this," said Petkovic.

Petkovic stated that the windows of four Serbian shops in the ethnically mixed neighbourhood of Bosnjacka Mahala, in the northern part of Mitrovica, "were smashed last night in an insidious attack by extremists, and in front of the international presence, which confirmed both, the intentions and the true nature of Kurti's regime in the most naked way", reported Tanjug.

Broken windows on Serbian shops in Bosnjacka Mahala (RTS, Kosovo Online, Tanjug)

RTS reported that windows of three shops were broken in the Bosnjacka Mahala early this morning.

The owners say that this is another form of pressure on Serbs, according to RTS. The case was not reported to the Kosovo police, whose patrols are located a few metres from the scene.

Right next to the shops owned by Serbs, are the ones owned by Albanians, which are undamaged, reported RTS.

Simic: Continuation of hybrid and information war by Pristina (Kosovo Online, social media)

Serbian List Vice President Igor Simic said that “a hybrid and information war against Serbian people, under the poor direction of Pristina, was underway”, Kosovo Online portal reports.

He made those remarks on Facebook reacting to the news published by Pristina-based Telegrafi portal that people armed by Kalashnikovs were staying at barricades in northern Kosovo.

Trajkovic rendered 30-day detention (Radio KIM)

Sladjan Trajkovic, former Kosovo police officer, arrested in Mitrovica was sent to 30-day detention, his defence lawyer Dejan A. Vasic said, Radio KIM reports. He also said the court instructed not to make details of the charges against his client public.

“My wish is that special prosecution conducts this investigation as efficiently as possible in order to find out the truth. He has nothing to do with the events he is charged with, these are some accusations appearing only now, 23 years later, although he never left Kosovo, he lives his entire life in peace and harmony with his neighbours, Serbs and Albanians”, Vasic said.

He added Tajkovic is charged with criminal acts in relation to the war crimes. He is currently staying in a high security prison in Podujevo.

Trajkovic’s wife Suzana said she had visited him in detention. According to her, Trajkovic was refusing the food for three days, and got one medication used to treat his diabetes, however, another one he didn’t get. She also voiced strong belief in her husband’s innocence, stressing the good relation he had with his Serbian and Albanian neighbours in Bosniak Mahala where they have been living since 1999.

Appeal on detention of Dejan Pantic refused (Radio KIM)

The Court of Appeals in Pristina had refused an appeal against one-month detention rendered to Dejan Pantic, former Kosovo police officer, arrested at Jarinje crossing point, Radio KIM reports. Pantic’s defence team announced they will now address the Kosovo Supreme Court

Commenting on the decision to refuse appeal, Pantic’s defence lawyer Ljubomir Pantovic said this decision is wrong, given that human rights of Dejan Pantic have been violated.

“We consider this decision to be against the law, because all Pantic’s rights have been violated, not only that stipulated by the Law on Criminal Code in Kosovo, including the right to communicate with his defence, lawyers, family, to talk to them, that the family can visit him, but also that of international processes, foremost European Convention on Human Rights”, Pantovic said.

Pantovic warned of alarming conditions in which Pantic is, saying he is not in the detention centre, where he is supposed to be, and nobody knows where exactly he is.

“I have requested a judge who rendered detention on him to issue an order so he is enabled to talk with members of his family, as they for days do not have any information where he is or about his condition. This is something the most fundamental and Pantic is not having those rights”, Pantovic added.

Vucic hosts Dendias and Dacic on occasion of Saint Nikola Day (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hosted today on the occasion of Saint Nikola Day (many Serb families celebrate as family guardian day) Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias who is on official visit to Serbia, Tanjug news agency reports. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic also attended the celebration.

In a meeting with Dacic earlier in the day, Dendias said official Athens supports Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in order to reach a comprehensive, legally binding solution, stressing that all previously made agreements must be fully implemented, N1 reported.

“I am travelling to Pristina, and I will repeat the same there”, he said, adding that Greece supports Serbia’s EU path.

“We believe that Serbia is an integral part of the European Union. This moment should be used in order to bring the entire region closer to the EU, I believe that the entire Balkan has a common future”, he said.

He also thanked Dacic who during recent visit to Athens expressed a firm stance on territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as resolving the Cyprus issue, noting Greece will adhere to the international law and law on sea in its disputes with Turkey.

Speaking about the current situation in Kosovo, Dacic said the interest of Serbia is to preserve peace and have dialogue about disputable issues.

The right-wing rally ends, they claim they wanted to tell KFOR to leave Jarinje (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal reported that the Serbs who came to Jarinje yesterday from the direction of Raska reportedly wanted to meet and deliver a message to KFOR soldiers – namely, that KFOR has no business in Jarinje, and also that they do not recognize the border established by the Kosovo authorities. They failed in this endeavour, however, after the Serbian police prevented them from doing so.

The protest of approximately 200 right-wing Serbs who gathered near Jarinje from the direction of Raska just ended. It lasted for about three hours. According to some media reports, and also based on the live broadcast of Srbin info, one Raska resident was allegedly detained. Although his release is expected, it has yet to be confirmed.

A minor incident occurred when a group of people managed to break through the police cordon, which was barring them from reaching the crossing. A special riot police unit was immediately deployed, and the situation was soon stabilised.

Opinion

Palokaj: No practical reasons or legal basis for Serbian forces in Kosovo (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent, Augustin Palokaj, writes in an opinion piece that “with the request for the return of its army and police to Kosovo, Serbia is trying to only increase tensions for political purposes. This request is a response to Kosovo’s application for EU membership and the ‘European’ proposal for a basic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia”.

According to Palokaj, “Resolution 1244, which Serbia refers to, has been superseded many years ago. The only reason why it hasn’t been declared officially expired is Russia’s opposition. The resolution has not been violated by Kosovo, but was completed with the declaration of independence, after an international political process led by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General. The declaration of Kosovo’s independence, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice, and in response to Serbia’s question, did not violate either international law or Resolution 1244. Resolution 1244 was the path toward the definition of the status and not the definition of the status.”

How the Hague Tribunal Failed Wartime Rape Survivors (BIRN)

Analysis by Fortesa Kabashi, historian of Modern European History. The article is published as a part of the Enhancing Accountability and Memorialisation Processes in the Balkans project, financed by the Matra Regional Rule of Law Programme.

Kosovo Albanian survivors of wartime sexual violence who testified at Slobodan Milosevic’s trial in The Hague were verbally attacked and insulted by the former Yugoslav president, and judges didn’t act to safeguard them, court archives reveal.

Between March and July 2002, five Kosovo Albanian women, all survivors of wartime sexual violence, testified before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY in the proceedings against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

For safety reasons, their testimonies were given in closed session and so did not receive any substantial media coverage or public attention. This continued to be the case even after the ICTY lifted the seals on the redacted transcripts from these sessions, making them available to the public.

As a result, the conduct of the ICTY in relation to these witnesses has gone unexamined, allowing the narrative that survivors of wartime sexual violence have always been silent to persist.

An analysis of the testimonies of these five women – referred to in court as witnesses K14, K15, K16, K20, and K31 – reveals their secondary victimisation and the Tribunal’s failures to show them due consideration, particularly by sacrificing their interests and wellbeing in a bid to make all possible allowances for the self-representing accused, Milosevic.

These facts may help explain why survivors of wartime sexual violence stopped speaking out, and thus move the conversation away from a narrative that attributes their silence solely to stigma and shame, and towards one that questions the role of institutions, particularly legal ones, in perpetuating that silence.

International

Endgame Nears for Kosovo’s Crypto Haven (BIRN)

Amid rising energy prices, Kosovo is trying to crack down on crypto mining in the predominantly Serb north, where residents haven’t paid electricity bills for more than two decades.

For Driton, it all began six years ago with a rented house and some noisy equipment in northern Kosovo.

Crypto mining was taking off, and north Kosovo – where residents haven’t paid for electricity since the 1998-99 war – was the place to be.

“Most of the houses in the north had one rig each and cost 150 to 200 euros per month, as a type of rent,” said Driton, using an alias to protect his identity.

Northern Kosovo, above the Ibar River that slices through the town of Mitrovica, is populated predominantly by Serbs; Kosovo, which is majority-Albanian, has struggled to bill them for electricity for the past 23 years since breaking away from Serbia.

But while the four municipalities of the north are home to some 2.1 per cent of Kosovo’s total population of some 1.8 million people, they account for six per cent of electricity consumption, and that consumption is growing – from 214 gigawatt hours in 2011 to 267 in 2017 and 372 in 2021.

That’s a 74 per cent increase in the space of 10 years, despite official figures showing a slight drop in the population of the north from 40,000 in 2011 to 39,000 in 2021.

Declaring enough is enough, Kosovo’s government announced a temporary ban on crypto mining at the end of last year and launched a crackdown on smuggled equipment in an effort to rein in unpaid electricity consumption, but the results were underwhelming.