• Make membership easier, Kosovo PM tells NATO, EU (AFP)
• Kosovo President Osmani interview for Huffington Post (media)
• President Osmani discusses Ukraine situation with Kosovo ambassadors (media)
• Lajcak: Support for Western Balkans, more important than ever (media)
• Kosovars protest in red over violence against women (BIRN)
• “Open Balkan failed as Serbia did not condemn Russian aggression” (media)
• Ukraine to withdraw troops from Kosovo NATO mission (BIRN)
• Sheholli: Some Serbs who wear Kosovo Police uniforms, serve Serbia (Express)
• Hovenier, Ceku discuss investments in heritage sites (media)
• COVID-19: 32 new cases, one death (media)

 

 

Make membership easier, Kosovo PM tells NATO, EU (AFP)

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti pressed his country's case for EU and NATO membership, telling AFP that Russia's invasion of Ukraine meant that both organisations needed to make it easier -- and faster -- for candidate countries to join.

"It is shocking," Kurti said during an interview this week in Kosovo's capital Pristina. "It's hard to believe what you're seeing -- but no one can pretend to be surprised."

The former firebrand student activist and onetime political prisoner has never been afraid to mince his words.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kurti is calling on the European Union and US-led NATO military alliance to bolster their southern flank in the Western Balkans by allowing for faster membership to their blocs.

"In this extraordinary situation, we cannot behave normally," Kurti argued. "Therefore, both EU membership and NATO membership cannot be done in the old ways.

Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3MzSf0f

Kosovo President Osmani interview for Huffington Post (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in an interview with the Huffington Post that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements about “de-Nazifying” his neighbour – Ukraine –  showed an intention “to destroy in whole or in part the people of Ukraine”.

Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3pLiUxi

President Osmani discusses Ukraine situation with Kosovo ambassadors (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla held an online meeting with Kosovo’s ambassadors on Tuesday. Osmani tweeted after the meeting: “Together with Deputy Prime Minister @gervallaschwarz we discussed with the Republic of Kosovo’s Heads of Missions the implications of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, its regional impact and the importance of #Kosovo’s membership to NATO and the Council of Europe. #WeStandWithUkraine.”

Lajcak: Support for Western Balkans, more important than ever (media)

European Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, met in London on Wednesday with the Minister for Europe James Cleverly and UK Envoy Sir Stuart Peach. Lajcak tweeted after the meeting: “Just wrapped up my visit to London. Had very substantial & detailed discussions with Minister for Europe @JamesCleverly, UK Envoy Sir Stuart Peach & @FCDOGovU experts. Standing up for our shared goals & values in the Western Balkans & elsewhere is now more important than ever”.

Kosovars protest in red over violence against women (BIRN)

On International Women's Day, activists and citizens dressed in red marched, protested and placed blood-coloured stains on justice and security institutions, the government – and the streets of Pristina.

March 8 in Kosovo was marked by a march in the streets of the capital, where justice was sought for women who have been murdered or who have experienced violence, sexual harassment and gender inequality and other problems.

The group We March We Do Not Celebrate (Marshojmë s’festojmë) started the march from the Palace of Justice for a couple of kilometers through the streets of Prishtina to the other justice-related institutions.

The protesters wearing red ribbons walked through Zahir Pajaziti Square where hundreds of citizens joined in, to continue the protest to the main Police Station, the Prosecution Office and the Judicial Council, before ending up in front of the building of the government.

In front of each institution the protesters threw pyrotechnic devices with red smoke and hurled red paint as a symbol of women’s spilled blood. The slogan, “How many more killed women?” was written on the buildings.

Meanwhile, 48 red shoes were placed in front of the government building for each woman killed in Kosovo since 2010, and a long red carpet was released from the building of the Ombudsperson.

One of the protesters, Vlora Gashi, speaking in front of the Palace of Justice, said that it was justice institutions that had failed to protect women even when they asked for help.

“On this March 8, we denounce all the justice institutions as guilty for the murder of women. Since 2010, 48 women have been killed by men in Kosovo,” Gashi said.

“We know that as long as there are judges, prosecutors and institutions who believe that women deserve to be harassed, raped, beaten or killed, there can be no security and no peace for us,” she added.

Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3HT2d9h

“Open Balkan failed as Serbia did not condemn Russian aggression” (media)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Donika Gervalla, argued in an interview with TV Dukagjini on Tuesday that the Open Balkan initiative has failed after Serbia did not condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Commenting on the Washington agreement, Gervalla said it has good and bad sides. “I have friends who tell me that Serbia has offered Russian armament, vaccines and sugar in exchange for derecognitions of Kosovo’s independence. We never said no to the gas pipeline, but the Ministry for Economic Development was told to draft a strategy on how on the future course of action. The gas pipeline was however used to accuse the government that it was damaging Kosovo’s relations with the United States,” she said.

Asked if Kosovo will apply for membership of the Council of Europe, Gervalla said Kosovo would not apply for any membership without being certain. “At the end of the week we will be in Antalya with the Prime Minister and there will be over 70 Prime Ministers there and we will discuss to see if we have support for our eventual membership bid,” she added.

Ukraine to withdraw troops from Kosovo NATO mission (BIRN)

Media in Kyiv reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky has recalled the 40 Ukrainian troops serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo, but NATO pledged that a robust mission will continue.

NATO said on Tuesday that it will maintain a robust military presence in Kosovo after Ukraine pulls out its 40-strong contingent from the KFOR peacekeeping mission.

Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported on Tuesday that President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered Ukrainian troops serving in peacekeeping missions worldwide to return to the country to defend it against the Russian invasion.

Andriy Sybiha, the deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s office, confirmed the decision.

“President of Ukraine V. Zelensky made the decision to recall Ukrainian peacekeepers – high-professional military – from all missions in the world. Along with the equipment. To strengthen our army now in the retreat of Russian aggression,” Sybiha wrote on Facebook.

A NATO official told BIRN on Tuesday that it cannot comment on Zelensky’s decision but said that the Western alliance will maintain KFOR’s presence in Kosovo.

“NATO’s policy with respect to Kosovo and the Western Balkans has been consistent throughout. And that remains the case today,” the NATO official said in a written reply.

The official said that the Alliance’s position remains as stipulated at a NATO summit held last summer when member states said that they “remain committed to NATO’s continued engagement in Kosovo, including through the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) which contributes to a safe and secure environment and to wider stability in the Western Balkans”.

Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3vRaSGU

Sheholli: Some Serbs who wear Kosovo Police uniforms, serve Serbia (Express)

Fatmir Sheholli, head of the Institute for Interethnic Relations, said in an interview with T7 on Tuesday that Kosovo institutions must be careful from Serbs that wear the Kosovo Police uniform because they could also be working for the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs.

Sheholli said that in the current sensitive circumstances, Serbian mechanisms could work to destabilise the security situation in Kosovo. He added that some Serbs that work in the Kosovo Police, could also be working and receiving salaries from the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs. “During working hours, they wear the Kosovo Police uniform, and after work they work and receive salaries from the Serbian Ministry,” he argued.

According to Sheholli, Serb families in the north of Kosovo are armed and this in his opinion is a possibility for an armed conflict.

Hovenier, Ceku discuss investments in heritage sites (media)

United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, met on Tuesday with Minister of Culture, Hajrulla Ceku, and discussed investments in heritage sites. Hovenier tweeted after the meeting: “With minister Hajrulla Ceku discussed how strategic investments in heritage sites and institutions will not only preserve Kosovo’s rich, multi-ethnic cultural diversity, but engage its talented youth, providing skills and jobs, while promoting pride in Kosovo’s heritage and achievements.”

COVID-19: 32 new cases, one death (media)

32 new cases of COVID-19 and one death have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its daily report on Tuesday. 188 persons recovered during this time. There are 864 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.