UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Investigations into state reserves, battle between govt and opposition (Koha)

Agreements without implementation teams overshadowed by north events (Koha)

Kosovo joins G7 Joint Declaration of support for Ukraine (Kallxo)

Kurti to join Western Balkans leaders in informal dinner in Athens (media)

“Naïve to expect Borrell, Lajcak will ask for lifting of measures” (Koha)

Security experts: There could be more resignations of Serbs (RTK)

Myrtezani: Administrative directive will be ready within deadline (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic met Orban and announced elections in Serbia (N1, Beta)

Ferguson: Nonsense about the alleged British plan, do not use the word "war" lightly (Kurir, FoNet, N1, Blic)

British daily on Vucic: Balkan Capone or the only hope for peace with Kosovo? (The Times, N1)

A participant in the protest over the arrival of Rasic's deputy in Leposavic detained (KoSSev)

Two more Serbian police officers quit their jobs in the north of Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Assembly of SNV on August 26 in Gracanica, Bishop Teodosije invited (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)

International Media:

PM to host Western Balkan, EU leaders on Monday for enlargement talks (ekathimerini.com)

Bled Forum in Slovenia, Rama and Kurti to participate on August 28-29 (Euronews Albania)

Kosovo Government and employers should improve working conditions to prevent post-visa liberalisation migration, experts says (Schengen Visa Info)

Albanian Language Media

Investigations into state reserves, battle between govt and opposition (Koha)

The daily reports that the ruling party – the Vetevendosje Movement – has continued to accuse the prosecution after the recent arrests at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship, related to the case of the state reserves. Vetevendosje representatives claim that the file of the prosecution, which was published by the media on Saturday, includes “elementary errors” and that “legal mechanisms are being misused to take revenge” during the arrest of two ministry officials. Opposition representatives meanwhile argue that the reactions of Vetevendosje officials are being orchestrated by Prime Minister Albin Kurti to cover up the truth. The opposition also accused the government of interfering in the work of the judiciary.

Agreements without implementation teams overshadowed by events in north (Koha)

The daily reports on its front page this morning that the Agreement on Telecom, which is one of the many technical agreements reached between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, does not have an implementation team and has been blocked since 2016. While the European Union argues that the parties are responsible for failing to implement the agreement, commentators of the dialogue in Pristina claim that the implementation of agreements has remained hostage to developments in the north and the shifting of the focus on achieving comprehensive normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia.

Kosovo joins G7 Joint Declaration of support for Ukraine (Kallxo)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Sunday that “the Republic of Kosovo has joined the G7 Joint Declaration of support for Ukraine”. “This Declaration expresses unconditional support for Ukraine’s brave efforts to support its democratic institutions from the illegal and unprovoked war from Russia. By joining this Declaration, the Republic of Kosovo reiterates that securing the victory of the Ukrainian people, and the accountability of Russia’s leaders for their crimes, is necessary to maintain peace and democracy in Europe and beyond,” Kurti said.

Kurti to join Western Balkans leaders in informal dinner in Athens (media)

Following an invitation by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leaders of the Western Balkans and EU member states will meet in Athens today for a dinner-informal discussion on the enlargement and the European future of the region, several news websites reported while quoting Greek media. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel have reportedly accepted Mitsotakis' invitation.

“Naïve to expect Borrell, Lajcak will ask for lifting of measures” (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj writes in an opinion piece that “the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission could hardly wait to sanction Kosovo. They were especially encouraged when the United States too decided to undertake measures. Now, although they ‘welcome’ the steps that Kosovo is making, it is naïve to expect they will propose the lifting of sanctions if not all the conditions are met. And they are not measured with the percentage of reducing the presence of special police units near the municipal buildings in the north, but with the full implementation. The measures are unfair, unilateral, and unbalanced. But the EU doesn’t feel it has to justify itself to anyone”.

Security experts: There could be more resignations of Serbs (RTK)

In one month, seven new Serb members of Kosovo Police resigned their positions. Foreign ambassadors and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), and the heads of Kosovo institutions, expressed their concerns over the resignations.

Meanwhile, security experts argue that there could be more resignations if Serbia does not stop its intimidation against the Serb police officers in Kosovo. “The source of intimidation is the President of the neighboring country and his hardliners. Since the graduation of 42 Serb police officers from a total of 74 members from non-majority communities, they were targeted by the media and intimidated. Kosovo Police has sufficient capacities to maintain order with its forces, but the interest of the General Directorate and the heads of Kosovo’s institutions is to integrate and engage members of all communities in Kosovo,” Nuredin Ibishi told RTK.

Drizan Shala, Pristina-based security commentator, said that police officers from the Serb community are most probably under extreme pressure from what he called criminal structures supported by Belgrade. “In the coming weeks, we can expect an even higher number of resignations by Serb police officers,” he said.

Myrtezani: Administrative directive will be ready within deadline (RTK)

Besim Myrtezani, head of the working group that will draft the administrative directive that will make way to early elections in the four northern municipalities, said in an interview with RTK on Sunday that the directive will be ready within the deadline (no later than September 1). He said that the directive foresees the steps that will be taken in the process. “And to make it clear that it is not 20 percent of the voters that can remove a mayor. It must be 50 percent plus one vote to enable the removal of a mayor. 20 percent is only the initiative while for the removal of a mayor, there must be a process of voting for removal where there must be 50 percent plus one vote for removal,” he said.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic met Orban and announced elections in Serbia (N1, Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest and announced the holding of early parliamentary elections in Serbia.

Vucic said that every meeting with “his friend” Orban is exceptional, but that Saturday’s meeting also has special symbolism.

„Today is the great Hungarian holiday, St. Istvan, whose life, origin, and historical role in the difficult times of rule, permanently marked these areas and laid the foundations of Hungarian sovereignty, as well as regional opportunities. That’s why today’s meeting is special,“ Vucic wrote on Instagram.

The President of Serbia is in the capital of Hungary on the occasion of the opening of the World Championships in Athletics.

In a statement to the Serbian media in Budapest, he said that the elections in Serbia will be held very soon, certainly in the next six to seven months.

He recalled that local and provincial elections are regular and that early parliamentary elections will most likely be held.

Ferguson: Nonsense about the alleged British plan, do not use the word "war" lightly (Kurir, FoNet, N1, Blic)

It is obvious that there is no easy answer for the Kosovo issue, but it will ultimately require difficult choices and a willingness to compromise and to put the negotiators in the position of the other side, British Ambassador to Serbia Edward Ferguson told the Kurir Sunday edition.

As a negotiator, I think it's important to put yourself in the other party's shoes. For the people of Kosovo, this means accepting that Serbia has a legitimate concern for the safety of Serbian communities in the north of Kosovo and for the protection of Serbian cultural heritage, he explained.

For people in Serbia, this means accepting that Kosovo is home to 1.7 million Albanians who do not want to be part of Serbia. With understanding there can be trust, and with trust there can be compromise, Ferguson stressed.

Ferguson recalls that in March Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti reached an agreement to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

We fully supported the negotiation process under the auspices of the EU and the US. We all hoped that by now we would see some concrete, positive steps forward, which would help reduce tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. Instead, we saw a rise in tensions, he said.

According to Ferguson, the governments in Belgrade and Pristina must work harder to calm the situation.

Commenting on the cover of one of the media "British plan for Kosmet - war?", Ferguson states that it is complete nonsense and that no one in this region should use the word "war" lightly.

I believe that the people of Serbia, as well as their neighbors, have had enough of wars in a few lifetimes. I also hope that readers in Serbia can make a clear distinction between fake news and disinformation, on the one hand, and professional and responsible journalism, on the other hand, the British diplomat pointed out.

When asked about the statements made by the Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Great Britain Parliament, Alicia Kearns, about the Serbian Orthodox Church, Ferguson explains that as an MP she has the right to express her personal views, which do not represent the official views of the British government.

KFOR confirmed that they have no evidence that the Serbian Orthodox Church is involved in the smuggling of weapons from Serbia to Kosovo, and neither do we, concluded Ferguson.

British daily on Vucic: Balkan Capone or the only hope for peace with Kosovo? (The Times, N1)

American and European diplomats see Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as the only figure who can convince Serbs to coexist with Kosovo, so they put up with his insults against the West, encouragement of Serbian chauvinism and association with Vladimir Putin, British daily The Times wrote, reported N1.

The daily quoted MP Srdjan Milivojevic, who called Vucic a mixture of Al Capone and Vito Corleone.

Vucic is criticized for being the killer of democracy in Serbia and for being linked to criminals, but some see him as the only hope for stability in the Balkans, the Times wrote. The paper also added that the US placed the director of the Security Information Agency, Aleksandar Vulin, under sanctions in a recent demonstration of impatience with the President.

Alicia Kearns, a British MP chairing the Foreign Affairs Committee who is also a signatory to a recently published critical letter on Serbia, said that it is constantly being said that Vucic is the only option, but according to her, he is seeking the return of lost territory.

Kosovo is criticized, but Serbia signed an agreement with Russia in September, she recalled, adding that Serbia also sent two ministers to Moscow in the last six months and did not impose sanctions on Russia, Iran, or the Taliban.

Vucic replied that Serbia was conducting an investigation against the British MP, the Times recalls.

Kearns believes that Vucic is not the only hope of the West and points to the „Serbia against violence“ protests, noting that there are more people in Serbia who want stability than people think.

However, Ivor Roberts, the former ambassador of the United Kingdom in Belgrade in the period from 1994-97, does not agree with her view.

Serbs do not react to the pressure, they only dig in even more, he said. Vucic is far ahead of everyone else and only a dreamer can believe that someone is capable of taking his place, Roberts concluded.

A participant in the protest over the arrival of Rasic's deputy in Leposavic detained (KoSSev)

N., a Serb from Lesak, was arrested on Friday on the basis of a report by the Deputy Minister for Communities and Returns, Radoica Radomirovic, for alleged threats, and ordered 30 days custody.

His lawyer, Nebojsa Vlajic, told KoSSev that the court concluded that there is a suspicion that V. N. will repeat the crime or influence witnesses and evidence. He was ordered to be detained for 30 days. Vlajic announced that he will file an appeal with the Court of Appeal on Monday.

The SL and the Office for KiM condemnation

KoSSev reported that the Serbian list claimed that it was a politically motivated and rigged procedure, and that the decision was made without any basis or evidence. They also said that the goal was '' the intention to force the Serbs to participate in the elections "at all costs", and for the special units to remain in the North and harass our citizens, as well as for our unjustly arrested brothers to remain in the Pristina casemates".

In a similar tone, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced that the decision on detention is "another manifestation of the brutality of Kurti's political judiciary, whose task is to stifle all freedom and the right to manifest the political will of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija."

The Office also, among other things, asked the international community to prevent Kurti from further collapsing the human rights of Serbs.

Two more Serbian police officers quit their jobs in the north of Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Two more Serbs left the Kosovo police in the north of Kosovo, after seven Serbian policemen quit their jobs, reported Radio Mitrovica sever on Saturday.

Police officers said the reason was the statement of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who said that the Kosovo police are the successors of the KLA.

That's a total of nine policemen of Serbian nationality who resigned in the last few days, after they were recently deployed in the north of Kosovo, after completing several months of training.

Assembly of SNV on August 26 in Gracanica, Bishop Teodosije invited (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)

The assembly of the Serbian National Council (SNV) with the aim of adopting a "new strategy for the survival and return of Serbs to Kosovo and Metohija", will be organized on August 26 in the House of Culture in Gracanica at 11:00 a.m. On this occasion, the SNV organizing committee sent an invitation to Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren.

In addition to the adoption of the new strategy, the new SNV leadership will be elected at the Parliament, reported Kontakt plus radio.

International Media

PM to host Western Balkan, EU leaders on Monday for enlargement talks (ekathimerini.com)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has invited leaders of Western Balkan countries and EU officials to Athens on Monday night for a dinner and an informal discussion on EU enlargement and the European future of the region, his office announced.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, the prime minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacheski, the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the president of the Ministers Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Kristo, will be attending the event. The leaders of Albania – which was invited at President’s level – and Slovenia said they could not attend.