UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 15, 2023

Kurti responds to Lajcak: Success of agreement does not depend on me (media)
Osmani: I expect the internationals to put pressure on Serbia (media)
Borrell: EU and U.S. cooperate effectively on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)
Escobar this week in Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
U.S.: Kosovo, Serbia to use March 18 meet to prove their commitment (Express)
German emissary: Kosovo is always strong when it manages to say yes (RTK)
Prime Minister Kurti travels to Strasbourg (media)
Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs an agreement with mutual recognition (media)
Haradinaj: Partnership with the USA is long-term and strategic (RTK)
Slain Politician Ivanovic’s Widow ‘Afraid to Testify’ in Kosovo Court (BIRN)
Serbian rightists protest again against the European proposal (RFE)
Kosovo refuse to compete at IBA Women's Boxing World Championships over "discriminatory" conditions (Inside the Games)

Kurti responds to Lajcak: Success of agreement does not depend on me (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has reacted regarding the March 18 meeting that will be held in Ohrid. While responding to EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, who said that there is no agreement if the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is not formed, Kurti emphasized that it is necessary to discuss the implementation plan of the agreement that was agreed in Brussels.

“We have agreed on the European proposal with French-German initiative and supported by the USA and Italy, there are 5 sentences in the preamble, there are 11 articles in total. Let’s discuss the implementation plan. I understand that Serbia pushed a lot on the issue of the Association, it is in Article 10, in fact when I looked recently together with the conclusions that were made in Brussels it turns out that from July 2, 2011 to August 25, 2015 there are 39 agreements in total and the Association constitutes the first 6 points of a 15-point agreement, which is the 16th out of 39,” Kurti said.

Kurti also said: “We know Serbia’s position, but I must refer to what we have agreed. The implementation plan should be discussed in Ohrid and maybe not only in Ohrid. I am optimistic, but now whether it will succeed or not, you know it is not up to me. I offered to sign the European proposal, but the other side was not ready and rejected it”.

Osmani: I expect the internationals to put pressure on Serbia (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Tuesday that there is not much hope for Serbia’s approach to the next meeting with Kosovo in Ohrid, but she expects the international community to put pressure on Serbia.

Under the mediation of the European Union, the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, will hold the next meeting on March 18, in the framework of the dialogue, writes REL.

“Serbia should also be convinced that the meeting to be held in Ohrid is an extremely important momentum in the dialogue process. Through this agreement, together with an implementation plan, many issues should be resolved, which then open the doors to mutual recognition,” Osmani told the media in Pristina.

In this meeting, the parties are expected to discuss the implementation plan of the European Union’s proposal for the normalization of relations. In the last meeting on February 27 in Brussels, they said that they agree with the content of the document, which is also called the “Agreement for normalization of relations”. The document of 11 articles – which was made public by the European Union – does not specifically mention mutual recognition, which the Government of Kosovo has said should be at the center of an eventual agreement to normalize relations.

Borrell: EU and U.S. cooperate effectively on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)

EU High Representative Josep Borrell, during a plenary session of the European Parliament, spoke about the cooperation that Europe has with the United States of America regarding the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

"We work so well with the U.S. in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. I have to say that we work effectively," Borrell emphasized while answering the questions of European MPs on transatlantic relations.

Escobar this week in Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)

U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar will visit Serbia on March 15. The senior U.S. official will also visit Kosovo this week, the State Department has confirmed to Koha.

In Belgrade, Escobar is expected to hold separate meetings with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and with the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Bernabic.

The visit of the senior U.S. official to Serbia will take place three days before the new round of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which will be held on March 18 in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

U.S.: Kosovo, Serbia to use March 18 meet to prove their commitment (Express)

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told the news website on Tuesday that they expect Kosovo and Serbia to use the March 18 meeting in Ohrid to prove their commitment to a peaceful future for the region.

“We encourage the parties to continue to engage in constructive and flexible fashion as they move toward the full implementation of the proposal. We fully support the EU-facilitated dialogue,” the spokesperson said.

German emissary: Kosovo is always strong when it manages to say yes (RTK)

Germany's emissary for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, told RTK that the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is very important for Kosovo and is the best possible.

"I understand that there may be concerns of different wordings, it is a noble thing, it is a very important Agreement for Kosovo and it must be addressed. There are two very important things, firstly it is public and can be read, of course everyone can appreciate it," he said.

The German emissary has stated that he is convinced that this is the best possible agreement and the best in terms of organization that can be achieved.

"I don't believe that there could be a better wording for Kosovo's interests in that agreement that could be realistic to reach in the process. So, it is completely clear that if this agreement will be rejected by Kosovo, there can never be best deal on the table, it does not mean you should like it, that it will be perfect. It does not mean that the bride is very beautiful, but the marriage must be done. Maybe the agreement is not completely the right one, or the best possible, but the future possibilities that are embraced by this agreement must be seen," he emphasized in interview with RTK.

Sarrazin said Kosovo is always strong when it manages to say yes.

Speaking about the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, he said that there should be a positive approach to this issue and a positive opportunity should be given, and according to him, there is no danger for Kosovo's integrity and sovereignty. He assured that the German position is very clear for the sovereignty and integrity of Kosovo.

Prime Minister Kurti travels to Strasbourg (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, traveled on Tuesday evening to Strasbourg to participate in the 10th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for the Stabilization-Association Agreement with the EU.

According to the announcement of the government, during the two-day stay, Prime Minister Kurti will meet with MPs and leaders of the main political groups of the European Parliament and with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs an agreement with mutual recognition (media)

U.S. ambassador Jeff Hovenier visited the offices of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on Tuesday, party leader Lumir Abdixhiku announced. Even after the meeting, he hinted that the LDK has not changed its position against the European proposal, which the internationals ask him to support. Abdixhiku says that the LDK stands behind the fact that all the agreements signed in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia , i.e. also that of the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, must be implemented. However, the LDK says that the agreement with Serbia should be focused on mutual recognition.

“LDK reiterates that Kosovo needs an agreement focused on mutual recognition and that no other agreement guarantees the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. In the meeting, we also elaborated our views on the Preamble, Article 7 and Article 10 of the text of the agreement,” Abdixhiku wrote.

Haradinaj: Partnership with the USA is long-term and strategic (RTK)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, received on Tuesday the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier. After the meeting, Haradinaj said that he presented AAK's position in support of the Kosovo-Serbia agreement. "I presented the position of the Alliance in support of the Kosovo-Serbia agreement, stressing that this agreement gives international recognition to Kosovo, the safe journey towards NATO integration and the strengthening of international subjectivity," Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook account.

Slain Politician Ivanovic’s Widow ‘Afraid to Testify’ in Kosovo Court (BIRN)

In the latest incident to mar the trial for the 2018 assassination of Kosovo Serb opposition politician Oliver Ivanovic, his widow asked to testify from Serbia because she is afraid to come to court in Pristina.

Milena Popovic, the widow of Kosovo Serb politician, Oliver Ivanovic, who was shot dead outside his party’s office in January 2018, has asked the Pristina Basic Court to make it possible for her to testify from Serbia, saying she was frightened because of the political situation in Kosovo, the presiding judge in the case said on Tuesday.

“On March 4, 2023, we received an email [from Popovic] that emphasized that due to the political situation, for her safety, she cannot present herself. [She] requests that the court provide her the opportunity to testify via video link,” presiding judge Valon Kurtaj told the court.

It was the second time this year that Popovic has refused to testify in court. The first time, on January 11, Popovic said she could not be present for personal reasons.

The judges decided on Tuesday to request international legal assistance to enable Popovic to testify.

“We will try once again through international legal assistance to request that Milena Popovic’s statement be received, even via a video link,” Kurtaj said.

Prosecutor Burim Cerkini said that Popovic’s testimony is important but “we cannot wait for her infinitely”.