Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The EU should remove the measures as soon as possible (Koha)

• Stano: Measures taken because govt didn’t act in European manner (Koha)

• Government Spokesman to EU: What more do you want from Kosovo? (Reporteri)

• Vetevendosje MP reacts, lists series of Serbia’s “non-European” acts (media)

• Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss implementation of Bratislava Agreement (RTK)

• Rohde meets with Barbano: Germany stands strongly behind EULEX (Koha)

• Rasic: Decision to ban Serbian goods will be lifted very soon (RTK)

• Bosch: Serbian govt doing everything to undermine stability in the region (media)

  Serbian Language Media:

• Lawyer Vasic submitted request for Kurti to testify as defense witness (KoSSev)

• Radakovic: In case of MTS.doo closure Serbs in north to remain in media darkness (RTS, Kosovo Online)

• Second part of Serbian Armed Forces contingent departs for flood-hit Slovenia (Tanjug)

• Stano on measures against Kosovo, says they are possible against Serbia as well, if it fails to de-escalate (N1, media)

• Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije visited arrested Milenkovic in Podujevo (KoSSev)

International Media:

• Experts Expect Increased Migration to EU Following Kosovo Visa Liberalisation, Advise Government to Act Now (Schengen Visa)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: The EU should remove the measures as soon as possible (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Thursday that the most appropriate way to go to early elections in the four municipalities in the north is through a civic petition. He has said that the de-escalation in the north has largely taken place, while he has asked the European Union to remove penalty measures as soon as possible and to improve its attitude towards Kosovo. Kurti added that they are working to fix the technical and administrative issues for the new elections in the north as soon as possible.

"As for the new early elections, we have said from the beginning that we are not satisfied with the turnout of the citizens in the elections on April 23 of this year and with what we learned as a percentage on April 24 the next day. Therefore, we have offered the opportunity to have early elections, but of course we wish not to repeat the situation, in which we will again have a boycott of participation in the elections, either on voting or on candidates. We think that the right way for this is by using Article 72 of the Law on Local Self-Government, which foresees the possibility of 20 percent of the electoral body to come out and express their will to terminate the mandate of the current mayors. We are open to that. A working group has also been created that will regulate the administrative technical issues of the provisions of this article and this law. Now let's wait for their work, the sooner the better, but I'm saying it once again, I don't believe there is any reason anymore for anyone to have doubts that Kosovo is not a constructive party. On the contrary, we are a constructive party that has proven itself with creative ideas and commitment to finding solutions", said Kurti.

He added that Kosovo is interested in complete de-escalation in the north, but according to him, they should be careful of the possibility of re-escalation of the situation there.

"We have a working group now that has assessed the security situation, where the Kosovo Police consults with EULEX and KFOR. As a result of these assessments of this professional group, we have twice reduced the presence of our police in three buildings in the three northern municipalities of Kosovo by 25 percent. We are interested in further de-escalation, although it is a general finding that to a large extent de-escalation has already taken place. We don't have violent protests, we don't have incidents, but we have to be careful of the potential of re-escalation. It is known that the address for this is not in the Republic of Kosovo, but in the capital of our northern neighbor", Kurti stated.

Speaking about the European Union's punitive measures against Kosovo, Prime Minister Kurti said that they are not fair and should be removed as soon as possible. According to him, the EU should improve its attitude towards Kosovo.

"As for the measures that have been taken against us, we consider that they are unfair. They are part of the asymmetry in the relations and the sooner they end the better. We are doing everything we can and know, but it would be necessary for our European partners and allies to improve their attitude towards Kosovo as soon as possible. After all, a democratic and progressive Republic like Kosovo deserves to be helped with everything they can and not to have punitive measures", he told Kosovapress.

Kurti also welcomed the letter of the European and American legislators, where greater support for Kosovo and a tougher approach to Serbia is requested.

"Through the parliaments of the countries of the democratic West, the European Union and the United States of America, there are more and more legislators, representatives of the freedom-loving and democratic peoples who want the approach to Kosovo to be improved and to Serbia to be toughened. We think that such an initiative is fair and useful", Kurti concluded.

Stano: Measures taken against govt because it didn’t act in European manner (Koha)

EU spokesperson Peter Stano said on Thursday that the High Representative Josep Borrell has received the letter signed by more than 50 different MPs of the Western countries, where the USA, EU and Great Britain are called to change their approach towards Serbia and be tougher.

"I can confirm that not long ago, the High Representative received this joint letter and as always when he receives a letter from anyone, he reacts through appropriate channels, and not publicly through the media. When it comes to the topic raised by the 56 signatories and parliamentarians of some EU states and some third countries, I can say that the EU policy is formed by the unanimity of the 27 member states, as it is said and decided by the governments of these states. We have thousands of parliamentarians in the EU. The position and actions of the EU are decided by the decisions of the governments of the 27 member states. As far as foreign policy is concerned, it is decided by unanimity", Stano said at the press conference.

Stano has insisted that the EU is an impartial facilitator in the dialogue and that it took measures against the government of Kosovo due to "the inability of the Kosovar authorities to behave in a European manner". He has not indicated when and if the measures will be lifted.

"Regarding the dialogue and issues related to Kosovo and Serbia, the EU is an impartial facilitator, it helps both sides reach the necessary compromises to normalize relations. What we have done recently, after the last escalation, we have taken measures against the government of Kosovo, due to its inability to start behaving in a European manner, to de-escalate the situation and take the necessary measures for de-escalation. And in the same spirit, the EU and the member states - since everything we do is done in sync and in consultation with the member states and international partners, in this context mainly with the USA, if they decide then we will take the necessary measures against Serbia , if the member states see that in the current atmosphere, in the current context of the crisis, Serbia is not doing anything for de-escalation. Our approach is balanced. Of course, all the measures are reversible, it depends on the way the partners behave regarding the issue of de-escalation and moving forward to return to the normal process of dialogue", Stano said.

He said that the EU expects Kosovo and Serbia to behave in a European manner.

"What the EU expects is European behavior, to find a European solution. After all, both countries want to jointhe EU, they have declared that European integration is their strategic priority. They must then act according to the declaration, and behave in a European manner. It is up to them to behave constructively in terms of expansion, and to be able to find a proper compromise, a European consensus. These are messages we give them every day, week after week, month after month. The crisis is not caused by the facilitator EU, it is caused by the way the partners choose to achieve whatever goals they have, but it is not helping them on the European path", said Stano.

Govt spokesperson to EU: What more do you want from Kosovo? (Reporteri)

The Kosovo government considers that the three demands of the EU that emerge from the Bratislava agreement between the Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi and the EU representative Miroslav Lajcak, for the de-escalation of the situation in the north, have been fulfilled.

Government spokesperson Perparim Kryeziu, said that Kosovo has fulfilled the first two steps by withdrawing 50% of the Police in and around the municipalities in the north. Whereas, the third step is on its way to fulfillment, since the government has established the working group responsible for drafting the administrative instruction that enables early elections.

"So Kosovo is respecting the agreement with the EU. An important question that you should raise is what Serbia has done to de-escalate the situation from what was initially requested by the EU itself. This, together with the question of what the EU is looking for more from Kosovo, is best submitted to the EU. We have said that the measures against Kosovo were unfair and we expect them to be removed as soon as possible, especially after the progress in the implementation of the Bratislava agreement, but also after the improvement of the situation on the ground," Kryeziu said.

Vetevendosje MP reacts, lists series of Serbia’s “non-European” acts (media)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Armend Muja, reacted to a statement by EU spokesperson Peter Stano who said that EU measures against the government came as a result of the inability of Kosovo authorities to act in a European manner. Muja said in his reaction that the government respected legality and constitutionality and listed a series of acts by Serbia, which he said, went unpunished by Serbia: “Dozens of military bases on the border with Kosovo, increasing the readiness of the army several times in the last years, flying MiGs on the border with Kosovo, failure to cooperate in solving the license plates issue even after six-month negotiations, Serbia does not choose any of the EU options, Serbia’s lack of cooperation to implement the guidelines of the energy agreement, threats and crisis caused in late July 2022, threatening and blackmailing, burning the cars of Kosovo Serbs to prevent the registration of vehicles with legal license plates, producing illegal licence plates even after the November 2022 agreement, ordering the Kosovo Serbs to abandon the institutions in November 2022 which led to the resignation of the mayors, placing barricades and organizing criminal groups in the municipalities in the north, encouraging non-participation in elections again, violence and attacks against KFOR, Kosovo Police and journalists, kidnapping three Kosovo Police (KP) officers within the territory of our country, refusal to sign the Brussels and Ohrid agreements, violating the Brussels and Ohrid agreements, the non-imposition of sanctions against Russia in condemnation of the latter's aggression against Ukraine.”

Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss implementation of Bratislava Agreement (RTK)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Thursday with U.S. Ambassador States Jeffrey Hovenier and discussed developments in the Kosovo and continued steps that are being taken in accordance with what was agreed in Bratislava. "The meeting also discussed the development projects that are being carried out by the USA in Kosovo, the support of the USA for the security sector, as well as the importance of increasing such cooperation in areas of common interest," a press release issued by the President's Office notes. 

Rohde meets with Barbano: Germany stands strongly behind EULEX (Koha)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, met on Thursday with the Head of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovanni Barbano. Rohde said in a post on Twitter that he discussed key issues with Barbano, including the cooperation between EULEX and the Kosovo Police.  "We discussed key issues, especially the cooperation between EULEX and the Kosovo Police. Germany stands strongly behind EULEX, appreciating its extraordinary contribution to Kosovo and its society," Rohde said.

Rasic: Decision to ban Serbian goods will be lifted very soon (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, said on Thursday that he has received information from Prime Minister Albin Kurti that the decision to ban the import of Serbian goods in Kosovo will be lifted soon. In an interview with RTK2, Rasic did not specify a concrete date for the lifting of the measures.  "I think it will happen soon, with the fact that I'm praying that there won't be any additional complications, that it won't fall into the background because it is now the first thing on the agenda," he said.

Bosch: Serbian govt doing everything to undermine stability in the region (media)

Former Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo, Robert Bosch, reacted to Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who during a meeting with the special envoy of the United Kingdom for the Western Balkans, said that the fulfillment of obligations is a prerequisite for the continuation of normalization with Kosovo.

"Brnabic has nerves! Her government does everything to undermine stability in the region and it blames the other side. For Serbia, normalization means Kosovo again under Serbian rule. They are thus playing with words, it becomes clearer and clearer. Time for the EU to finally see", he wrote on Facebook.

Serbian Language Media

Lawyer Vasic submitted request for Kurti to testify as defense witness (KoSSev)

As he announced previously Dejan Vasic, defense lawyer of Dragisa Milenkovic from Gracanica, submitted yesterday a request that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti testify in the case of his client, KoSSev portal reports.

“Today, at the government registry office, I submitted a request asking the Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, to make testimony before the Special Prosecution in his capacity as a witness of the defendant's defense", Vasic confirmed to KoSSev.

He said he submitted the request to hear the witness to the special prosecution.

"In the coming days, I expect a positive response and an appointment for the hearing", Vasic added.

Vasic said earlier that Kurti was detained in the District Prison in Pristina where his client worked and that Kurti should say a few words about the credibility of Dragisa Milenkovic and his behavior towards him.

“He was making him (Kurti) company in a prison cell, he was bringing him books to read and spending a lot of time in conversations with him…. I hope this way we will disperse the doubt and prove that Dragisa Milenkovic did nothing  wrong while working at the District Prison in Pristina. I think Kurti will remember that and will say it”, Vasic said earlier.

Radakovic: In case of MTS.doo closure Serbs in north to remain in media darkness (RTS, Kosovo Online)

Dusan Radakovic from Centre for Democracy Culture Advocacy commenting on the decision of Pristina authorities to suspend the license certificate of MTS.doo company in Kosovo said if internet and cable networks operators do not function then Serbs in northern Kosovo would remain in media darkness, RTS reports.

He added Serbs in Kosovo will have no other alternative as all of them are using the MTS.doo network and services.

He also said this represents a sort of pressure against Serbs in Kosovo and an attempt to invalidate the Brussels agreement completely.

He also recalled that based on a telecommunication agreement from Brussels, Pristina agreed to register MTS.doo so it can provide services in Kosovo and that it received prefix +383 code based on the same agreement. Radakovic noted it remains to be seen if the latest decision of Pristina authorities to suspend certificate of MTS.doo wil have an impact on the second part of the agreement related to the prefix code they received in return. 

Second part of Serbian Armed Forces contingent departs for flood-hit Slovenia (Tanjug)

The second part of a Serbian Armed Forces contingent departed for Slovenia on Thursday to join a humanitarian relief operation following catastrophic flooding that has hit the country, the Serbian Ministry of Defence said, Tanjug news agency reports. 

The group is composed of 34 Serbian Armed Forces servicemen who will engage in ensuring water and fuel supplies, biological disinfection of buildings and soil in jeopardized areas, as well as in engineering works aimed at clearing communication lines.

The first part of the contingent - 22 army servicemen and H-145 and Mi-17 helicopters outfitted with medevac gear and airlift equipment - arrived in the engagement zone on Wednesday and began executing its tasks in rugged mountainous terrain in the north of the country.

Stano on measures against Kosovo, says they are possible against Serbia as well, if it fails to de-escalate (N1, media)

“We have introduced certain measures against the Kosovo Government because of their inability to start behaving in a European way and take considerable steps for de-escalation. Everything we do is done in sync and in consultations and coordination with the member states and also with international partners in this context, mainly the United States. If the member states decide, then we will also introduce necessary measures against Serbia, if the 27 member states find that, in the current atmosphere, in the current context of this latest crisis, Serbia is not doing anything in order to de-escalate”, EU Spokesperson Peter Stano said.

He noted that Brussels has a balanced approach and that all the measures are reversible.

“They depend on the way how partners are behaving in terms of de-escalating and moving forward to get back to the normal process of conducting the dialogue”, he added.

Responding to a reporter’s question, Stano once again confirmed that the EU High Representative received the European and US parliamentarians’ joint letter asking for a change of approach to Kosovo and Serbia, but said that the EU administration will not be commenting on it.

He reiterated that “the EU policies are being formed in unanimity of all 27 EU member states”.

Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije visited arrested Milenkovic in Podujevo (KoSSev)

Serbian Orthodox Church Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije visited Milun Milenkovic, Serb from Mitrovica North arrested in the center of this town in mid-June, currently staying in a high security prison in Podujevo, KoSSev portal reports.

As the Eparchy said in a statement Bishop Teodosije during one-hour conversation encouraged Milenkovic, conveyed him greetings from his family and told him he hopes that Milenkovic would prove his innocence in relation to the charges that Pristina authorities said he is responsible for.  

"The aim of Bishop Teodosije’s visit was to give Milun spiritual and moral support in these difficult moments that he and his family are experiencing, expecting the outcome of the trial", the Eparchy said in a statement.

It was added that the Eparchy headed by Bishop Teodosije will try to visit other detained Serbs.

Milenkovic was arrested on June 13 in the center of Mitrovica North in a hairdresser salon by strong Kosovo police forces who held passers by at gunpoint during the arrest.

Soon after the arrest, several hundred Serbs gathered in the town, extremely dissatisfied with the situation, with part of the citizens being visibly afraid, KoSSev portal recalled.

Pristina authorities accuse Milenkovic of alleged acts of terrorism, calling for violent changes to constitutional order and endangerment of persons under international protection. 

International Media

Experts Expect Increased Migration to EU Following Kosovo Visa Liberalisation, Advise Government to Act Now (Schengen Visa)

The European Parliament has given the green light to Kosovo visa liberalisation, enabling Kosovar citizens to travel visa-free to the Schengen Area for 90 days starting from January 1, 2024.

This decision is expected to bring considerable changes to migration trends from Kosovo to the EU but also prompt a new socio-economic dynamic, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

As travel barriers lower for Kosovars, new opportunities that benefit the eager “young Europeans” to explore the EU and what the Member States have to offer, are expected to emerge.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/44clf60