• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Ministry: So far, 20 percent of people in Kosovo have been inoculated (Telegrafi)
• Only 30 percent of Kosovo teachers have been vaccinated (RFE in Albanian)
• 10 victims of Kosovo bus crash identified, funeral arrangements underway (media)
• Ministry: 26 persons to be discharged from hospital, 15 to continue treatment (media)
• Kosovo mourns 10 compatriots killed in Croatia bus crash (AP)
• Due to the terminology on Kosovo, Serbia failed four regional agreements (Koha)
• Kosovo expects GDP growth to exceed projected 7.9% this year (intellinews.com)
• 60 films in 6 days, female directors prominent in Prishtina Film Festival (euronews.al)

 

COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

14 new cases of COVID-19 and no fatalities from the virus were recorded in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. Six persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 169 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

To date, 357,980 vaccine doses have been administered in Kosovo.

The National Institute for Public Health of Kosovo issued yesterday a call to citizens to get inoculated against COVID-19. "Do not allow the lockdown of all to happen due to the negligence of some," it said.

Ministry: So far, 20 percent of people in Kosovo have been inoculated (Telegrafi)

Faik Hoti, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, said that there is an increasing trend of vaccinations in Kosovo in the recent days and that so far around 20 percent of the people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The citizens can now choose the type of vaccine they wish to take and whether they want to combine them," Hoti said, adding that the objective of the Government is to vaccinate 60 percent of the population by the end of the year.

In a Facebook post, Hoti announced that a record of over 16,000 vaccine doses was administered in Kosovo yesterday. “Quick vaccination of the population has no alternative, furthermore when the Delta variant is spreading fast with all age groups, especially the youth,” he wrote.

Only 30 percent of Kosovo teachers have been vaccinated (RFE in Albanian)

One of the preconditions for the start of the new school year, according to the Ministry of Education in Kosovo, is the vaccination of teaching staff and accompanying staff with the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the ministry, so far, from about 23 thousand teachers throughout Kosovo, until the end of last week, about seven thousand of them have been vaccinated.

Kosovo’s Minister of Education Arberie Nagavci, told Radio Free Europe that teachers in Kosovo should be vaccinated and be an example for others. She said she does not know exactly why there is a kind of reluctance on the part of teachers to be vaccinated.

"I expect teachers, as people who are qualified to make their own decisions, to be vaccinated and to remove any doubts they have about the vaccine from others. Through their vaccination, they will be the best example even for those who may have any hesitation," she said.

There is no law in Kosovo that can force any category of society to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccination of teachers, said the minister, remains a moral obligation.

10 victims of Kosovo bus crash identified, funeral arrangements underway (media)

All 10 victims of the Kosovo bus crash near the Croatian town of Slavonski Brod have now been identified and according to the Minister of Interior, Xhelal Svecla, their bodies will be brought to Kosovo for funeral soon.

Svecla said the autopsies are expected to be concluded today after which the bodies of the victims will be transported to Kosovo. "Once these are done we will be ready and I believe this could be tomorrow evening and then it is a matter of time travel before they reach Kosovo," Svecla spoke to RTV Dukagjini last night from Croatia.

Ministry: 26 persons to be discharged from hospital, 15 to continue treatment (media)

Kosovo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora said that 26 persons injured in the bus accident near the Croatian town of Slavonski Brod on Sunday will be discharged from hospital while 15 others will continue to receive medical care there.

According to the Ministry, the injured are in a stable condition except for one who is in a more critical state.

Kosovo mourns 10 compatriots killed in Croatia bus crash (AP)

Kosovo observed a day of mourning with flags at half-staff and parliament postponed its session Monday in memory of 10 Kosovars who died when their bus crashed in Croatia.

The bus carrying 65 passengers and two drivers swerved off a highway while traveling from Frankfurt, Germany to Kosovo early Sunday. Authorities said the driver who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash had briefly fallen asleep and lost control of the vehicle.

Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry said one person remained hospitalized with injuries in serious condition, 15 were in stable condition and 26 had been released.

More at: https://bit.ly/3BMn0d5

Due to the terminology on Kosovo, Serbia failed four regional agreements (Koha)

Serbia's attack on Kosovo being unequal in regional initiatives has led to the failure of four agreements intended to be signed at the beginning of the month, as part of the Berlin process: the agreement on moving only with ID cards; Visa Agreement for third country nationals; the one for the recognition of diplomas; as well as the Agreement on the Recognition of Professions.

The Regional Cooperation Council has drafted these documents.

The government has identified official Belgrade as responsible for the failure of their signing, which was planned at the last summit which was held in the framework of the Berlin process.

"Serbia, on the other hand, refused to send comments until a few days days before the summit, which put it in difficulty and risked the failure of these agreements, as their comments were such that they interfered a lot in the terminology of the agreements and the preamble, but also, in some articles they aimed to strip the statehood of Kosovo," said Jeton Zulfaj, advisor to the Prime Minister.

Serbia's comments, requesting the inclusion of the Brussels agreements as a reference, were rejected by the government of Kosovo. This, as it was considered that the state was not treated equally with the other five countries in the region.

Susanne Schuetz, director for Southeast Europe at the German Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with Koha, that blockades should be avoided through constructiveness.

"One thing must be clear: Either everyone signs, or we continue the talks. The Berlin Process lives by inclusiveness. All the Western Balkan countries are equal, and if one country does not join the effort, then we should look to clarify all the reservations to bring everyone to the Board," Schuetz said.

The civil society considers that the political environment in the region does not favor the reaching of agreements.

"The general regional spirit in the Balkans is not the most favorable it has ever been. However, this does not make regional cooperation 01.58 impossible," said Emir Abrashi, researcher at D +.

The government insists that they will not sign documents that do not treat Kosovo on as equal with other countries. However, they say that all hopes for an agreement have not faded.

"Until October 6, at the next summit between the Balkan countries and the European Union which is to be held in Slovenia, there is an intention to in August and September try again to reach an agreement on the text of these agreements and reach an agreement. Let us say, overcome the differences," added the advisor to the Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, Jeton Zulfaj.

In parallel with the initiative for these agreements that were intended to be reached within the Berlin Process, the leaders of Albania, Serbia and Northern Macedonia are pushing forward the initiative for the Balkan mini-Schengen, within which free movement is envisaged. Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have refused to join.

Kosovo expects GDP growth to exceed projected 7.9% this year (intellinews.com)

Kosovo's Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli said that GDP growth this year could be even higher than the projection of 7.9% included in the pending budget revision, possibly reaching 10%, local media reported on July 25.

Kosovo’s government endorsed the first budget revision this year in June that includes measures against COVID-19 and the vaccination process. The budget revision was endorsed in principle by parliament earlier this month and is awaiting final approval. The country posted strong GDP growth of 5.57% in the first quarter of 2021.

According to Rizvanolli, the higher growth can be expected as budget revenues, business turnover, exports, imports and consumption are much higher than expected.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2TD7qPH

60 films in 6 days, female directors prominent in Prishtina Film Festival (euronews.al)

Prishtina International Film Festival will be held from August 24th-29th and unlike the 2020 edition, which was organized online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the public will be grand and present.

The director of the festival, Vjosa Berisha announced that the focus of the 13th edition of this film festival will be primarily on women directors, who in recent years have accomplished great successes in the field of cinematography.

Berisha also added that from the 60 films that will be shown during the course of 6 days, Albanian films will be given the most screen time.

The festival director concluded by saying that the race will be amongst 30 participating films and that after their viewing, the staff has planned many other activities, including talks and open discussions with foreign experts.