• US hosts ‘constructive’ talks on contested Kosovo Serb municipality body (BIRN)
• Hovenier: We don’t support an agreement that threatens Kosovo sovereignty (RFE)
• Serbian List: Association must have executive competencies (RFE)
• Abbott: There is no question of creating a monoethnic enclave (media)
• State Department doesn’t comment on reports of blocking Kosovo at CoE (media)
• Haradinaj: Association, the only way to reach final agreement (media)
• Serwer: Put the ball in Serbia’s court (peacefare.net)
• Von Cramon submits draft report on Kosovo to European Parliament (RFE)
• Kosovo progress on – but still doesn’t control – corruption (Prishtina Insight)
• Opposition parties accuse Vetevendosje of “capturing the RTK” (Koha)
• Kosovo and Serbia: Synchronising the timing for peace (Euractiv)
• UNMIK supports Kosovo families as they recover from recent floods (Kallxo)

US hosts ‘constructive’ talks on contested Kosovo Serb municipality body (BIRN)

The US embassy in Pristina on Tuesday held a meeting of political and civil society representatives of Kosovo Albanians and Serbs to discuss the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, a proposed body to represent minority Serb interests in Kosovo which has become a sticking point in the ongoing dialogue to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

No solution was reached to the deadlock after the more than two hours of discussion that was closed to the public, and which US ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier considered as “a listening session”.

Sazan Ibrahimi, executive director of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, an independent body which brings together all Kosovo’s mayors, said that the meeting was “constructive” and “all sides were heard on what they think about the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities”.

“It was discussed how the Association could function within Kosovo’s legal framework and how this body could address issues related to health, education and economic development,” Ibrahimi told BIRN.

“It was apparent that there was a willingness to resolve the problems from both sides,” he said, adding that “it is important that there is a will to talk and find a way to take Kosovo forward”.

Serbia and Kosovo agreed during talks in Brussels in 2013 to establish a semi-autonomous municipal association for the Serb minority, an agreement that was then ratified by the Kosovo parliament. But so far it has not been set up and pressure on the Kosovo government has been growing as Kosovo’s Western backers push for a deal with Serbia.

“We continue to advocate for implementation of all dialogue commitments,” Hovenier wrote on Twitter after the meeting at the US embassy.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3HN6ONC

Hovenier: We don’t support an agreement that threatens Kosovo sovereignty (RFE)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, said on Tuesday that his country has made it clear that “they don’t support any agreement that violates the Constitution of Kosovo” or that “threatens its sovereignty, independence and multiethnic character”. “We strongly oppose the creation of an entity that resembles the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.

Hovenier made these remarks after a closed discussion organised by the U.S. Embassy on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. He said that the U.S. expects Kosovo to meet its obligations.

“We are asking the Kosovo Government to offer its vision on the association, that believes it protects the future of Kosovo as a sovereign, independent, multiethnic, democratic, country and ensures the rights of minorities in line with the Brussels agreements and the Constitution of Kosovo,” he said. “This is crucial, this is important, and this is urgent.”

Hovenier also said that the U.S. partnership with Kosovo is unwavering.

Serbian List: Association must have executive competencies (RFE)

The Serbian List (SL), the biggest political party of Kosovo Serbs, said on Tuesday that the Association of Serb-majority municipalities must have executive competencies and that it must be formed because it is an obligation that Kosovo has assumed with the agreements signed in Brussels.

SL said in a press statement that its representatives attended the discussion organised on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy on the Association. They said that the association is necessary “for the survival of the Serb people” and that its formation is a request of the Kosovo Serbs.

Abbott: There is no question of creating a monoethnic enclave (media)

UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Nicholas Abbott, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday that there is no question of creating a monoethnic enclave in Kosovo. Following the discussion at the U.S. Embassy about the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, Abbott tweeted: “A welcome discussion today hosted by the U.S. Ambassador and with excellent participation. Through the Dialogue, Kosovo has committed itself to the establishment of an ASMM and it is for the parties to agree its form and the timing of its establishment. We encourage the government to make progress on both. Such a body is not only an international commitment, it also provides an opportunity for Kosovo Serbs to be an integral part of Kosovo. Kosovo is a multi-ethnic country, and its municipalities will remain multi-ethnic. There is no question of creating a mono-ethnic enclave.”

State Department doesn’t comment on reports of blocking Kosovo at CoE (media)

The U.S. State Department did not want to comment on reports in some media that the U.S. has asked to block Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe until Kosovo holds a more constructive position on the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

According to Euronews Serbia, the foreign ministries of some European countries, members of the Council of Europe, received a note from a U.S. embassy, which notes that Washington considers that Kosovo’s membership should not be included in the agenda of the Ministers Committee of the Council of Europe until Kosovo has a more constructive position on the Association.

The State Department told the Voice of America that the U.S. position is clear. “As noted in their joint text by Counselor Derek Chollet and Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar – now is the time to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities,” the State Department said.

Haradinaj: Association, the only way to reach final agreement (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, said on Tuesday that Pristina should not remain hostage of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities and that resolving this issue is the only way to reach a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

In an interview with the Voice of America, Haradinaj said he appreciates Washington’s position in the process and that the United States of America were helping Kosovo cross the last obstacle before reaching the final agreement.

Haradinaj also said that the so-called European proposal, which according to him is in fact more American, is a real opportunity for Kosovo “to get divorced” from Serbia.

Serwer: Put the ball in Serbia’s court (peacefare.net)

Opinion peace by U.S. analyst on the Balkans, Daniel Serwer.

State Department Counselor Chollet and Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar have published a strong appeal for Kosovo to create the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities (ASM) it committed to in 2013. The piece is intended to pressure Prime Minister Kurti to drop his opposition to the ASM, which he has been willing to consider only in the context of Belgrade’s recognition of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kosovo state.

Serbia has refused to do that. The Chollet-Escobar appeal is consequently one-sided. It offers nothing at all to Pristina in exchange for satisfying one of Belgrade’s primary negotiating objectives. It essentially says “America is your best friend, you owe us this because of all the support we’ve given you, your government in the past pomised it, we’ll make it come out all right.” This is diplomatic bullying. Similar moments in the past have led to disappointments for Kosovo.

The Americans are offering lemons. Is there a way for Kosovo to make lemonade?

What is Serbia after?

What President Vucic seeks is official blessing for its hegemonic control of the Serb population in Kosovo. That control already exists, especially in the four northern municipalities contiguous with Serbia. Belgrade has for two decades controled their governments, education and health systems, police and courts. Money flows directly from Belgrade into these institutions and their employees. Little happens in the northern Serb communities that Belgrade could not change if it wanted to do so. That includes the ample organized crime activities.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/40kXhEQ

Von Cramon submits draft report on Kosovo to European Parliament (RFE)

European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Kosovo, Viola Von Cramon – Taubadel, submitted her annual draft report on Kosovo, which will be initially discussed in the Foreign Policy Committee and later in the plenary session.

The text contains general points, similar to reports from previous years, but also makes not of the developments that have happened in the meantime.

In the draft report, the European Parliament welcomes Kosovo’s application for membership in the European Union which reflects the pro-European orientation of its citizens and its clear geopolitical orientation.

The draft also notes that the much-awaited agreement on visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo is welcomed.

Kosovo progress on – but still doesn’t control – corruption (Prishtina Insight)

Kosovo has made progress in its fight against corruption but still does not have it under control, Transparency International’s latest Corruption Index for 2022 found.

Kosovo has made progress in the fight against corruption but does not have this phenomenon under control, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index report of the international Berlin-based watchdog organization Transparency International, TI for 2022.

On a scale from 0 to 100 points, according to TI, Kosovo has scored 41 points in the fight against corruption, and ranks 84th in the list of countries out of some 180 in total.

Kosovo, the report said, “has made progress with an improved legal framework for political and election campaign finance, but implementation of such reforms will be key in the coming month”, adding: “The government still needs to improve transparency and refrain from any interference in the justice system.”

Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu welcomed the best TI result ever for Kosovo.

“Our governance with clean hands, without pre-fixed tenders, without nepotism, without interference in the justice system, is reflected in this global index but also in other international reports.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3HO9ZVs

Opposition parties accuse Vetevendosje of “capturing the RTK” (Koha)

The two biggest opposition parties in Kosovo, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), accused the ruling Vetevendosje Movement of “capturing” the public broadcaster, RTK, with the election of Rilind Gervalla as the new director of Albanian channels.

PDK claimed in a statement that Prime Minister Albin Kurti has installed a long-time supporter of his party in the position and that after this election the RTK will no longer be in the service of the people but rather a loudspeaker for Kurti and the Vetevendosje Movement.

The LDK said in a statement that the appointment is an attempt by the government to institutionalise the political propaganda in public channels. The party also said that the appointment of the director must be annulled immediately.

Kosovo and Serbia: Synchronising the timing for peace (Euractiv)

Opinion piece by Gëzim Visoka is an Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, Ireland. Dr Vjosa Musliu is an assistant professor of international relations at the Free University of Brussels

In an op-ed published in Kosovo media, Derek Chollet, counsellor of the US Department of State, and Gabriel Escobar, US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, argued that “the time for establishing the Association of Serbian Municipalities (ASM) is now”.

Indeed, timing is of the essence in peace processes but parties must be on the same page if a lasting settlement is likely to happen.

What makes peace processes fail is the lack of synchronisation of socio-political time. Such timing in the case of the Kosovo and Serbia dispute is unlikely to happen.

On the one hand, Serbia has not recognised Kosovo, it has neither accepted nor apologised for the war crimes committed against Kosovo Albanians. Instead, it has continued to have territorial claims and has worked continuously against the consolidation of Kosovo as an effective state at home and abroad.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3WSrbNx

UNMIK supports Kosovo families as they recover from recent floods (Kallxo)

UNMIK has announced that in response to last week’s flooding that impacted hundreds of people across Kosovo, they have started delivering aid packages to support families impacted in flood-hit areas, including Skenderaj/Srbica, South Mitrovica, North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok.

“The donations, which included 450 ​food and hygiene packages, were warmly welcomed by mayors and officials, including South Mitrovica Mayor Bedri Hamza, Serbian Red Cross CEO Vojin Drobnjaković and Skenderaj/Srbica Mayor Fadil Nura,” UNMIK said in a statement. “We stand with those who were affected by the recent floods. In providing some small relief to residents, we also send a message of our compassion and shared spirit of collective action and support,” UNMIK Head of Mission Caroline Ziadeh said.