UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 26, 2024

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 26, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti hosts CIA Director “for an important strategic meeting” (media)
EU: Urgent implementation of Brussels agreement and Ohrid Annex (TV Dukagjini)
Kurti calls on diaspora to register (media)
Osmani: Dynamic discussion with young leaders at Alpbach Forum (media)
Embassies criticize Kosovo’s strategy for war crimes (TV Dukagjini)
Idaho National Guard’s Helicopter Battalion deploys to Kosovo (Express/DVIDS)
Reception for Ukrainians in Kosovo to celebrate Ukraine Independence Day (media)

Serbian Language Media:

President Vucic speaks about meeting with CIA chief, lack of official statement (N1, FoNet)
Deadline for conversion of drivers’ licence expired, some people did not manage to convert their licences to Kosovo ones (Alternativna, media)
EC to N1 on Kosovo driver’s licences: We welcome the step (N1, media)
Assault helicopters and almost 200 members of Idaho National Guard to be deployed in Kosovo (KoSSev)
PM Vucevic: Government reshuffle likely in six months to a year (N1)
Serbian Parliament Speaker Brnabic criticises protests against lithium mining (N1, media)
Lithium mining in Serbia sparks widespread opposition (N1, media)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti hosts CIA Director “for an important strategic meeting” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with CIA Director William Burns on Friday in what he called “an important strategic meeting”. “Director Burns' visit to Kosova demonstrates the increasingly close cooperation between our intelligence and security institutions and the Intelligence Community — a relationship of growing significance at this critical time for global and regional security. I thanked Director Burns for his continued support for Kosova and reaffirmed our commitment to promote peace and security in the Western Balkans. These shared aims are possible only through a genuine commitment to rule of law, democracy, and human rights, on the part of all countries in the region,” Kurti said in a post on X after the meeting.

EU: Urgent implementation of Brussels agreement and Ohrid Annex (TV Dukagjini)

The European Union calls on Kosovo and Serbia to urgently start implementing the Brussels agreement and the Ohrid implementation annex, EU spokesperson Peter Stano said in an interview with TV Dukagjini. “The position of the EU on the implementation of the Ohrid agreement is very clear, it has been communicated to the parties on several occasions and it has not changed: the implementation of this agreement and its annex must start urgently. Progress in this regard is closely linked to progress on the EU membership path for Kosovo and Serbia,” Stano said.

Kurti calls on diaspora to register (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a video message on Facebook called on Kosovo’s diaspora to register. He said that people living in the diaspora should use their constitutional right and that registering as non-resident citizens is the best way to strengthen their ties with Kosovo. “By registering, you become an active part in building the future of Kosovo and the diaspora. Use your constitutional right and register online through the e-diaspora platform by August 31, 2024 … The registration is fast and easy and has a great impact. Your data will help develop policies that support the diaspora, improve services, and strengthen cultural and educational ties with the motherland. The diaspora is an inseparable part of our nation; therefore, I call on all of you to register,” he said.

Osmani: Dynamic discussion with young leaders at Alpbach Forum (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said she had a dynamic discussion with young leaders from around the globe at the Alpbach Forum in Austria. “We tackled key issues impacting Kosovo and Europe, our country's Euro-Atlantic future, and the importance of protecting and promoting our shared democratic values,” she wrote in a post on X.

Watch Osmani’s keynote address on “Finding common ground in a polarized world” at: https://tinyurl.com/2epryd6t

Embassies criticize Kosovo’s strategy for war crimes (TV Dukagjini)

The TV station reported on Sunday that although Kosovo’s strategy for transitional justice mentions a comprehensive approach centred on the victims, the German Embassy in Pristina has some remarks arguing that the principle of a comprehensive approach has not been fully reflected in the strategy. “We commend the Kosovo government for adopting the first strategy for transitional justice. This marks the first step toward addressing past injustices and especially war crimes, an important step toward reconciliation – a process that has gone unfinished even 25 years after the end of the conflict in Kosovo. Bearing in mind the importance of this task, expectations are high. However, as this strategy outlines a comprehensive approach and is centred on the victims, we are concerned that this principle has not been fully reflected in the strategy. We join the criticism by the EU and civil society that if analysed in detail, the strategy focuses only on victims from the Albanian community, which undermines a broader inclusiveness that would be necessary, especially in the historical context presented in the strategy. It is crucial now for these principles not to remain simply aspiring, but to be integrated actively in the implementation of the strategy,” the embassy said.

Idaho National Guard’s Helicopter Battalion deploys to Kosovo (Express/DVIDS)

Family, friends and coworkers gathered on Gowen Field on Aug. 22, 2024, to say farewell to Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st of the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion as they left Idaho to prepare to deploy overseas in support of Operation Joint Guardian.

“I have complete confidence that you will carry out this mission successfully and return home safely,” said Maj. Gen. Tim Donnellan, adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard. “You are among the finest Soldiers and your commitment to duty and to each other will see you through. We will continue to support you from here, and we look forward to welcoming you back home with pride and honor.”

Several UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and more than 100 personnel deployed to Texas to receive approximately 30 days of additional training before departing to Kosovo for an 11-month rotation in support of the NATO peace-keeping mission. The unit has anticipated this mission since October of 2022 and the battalion’s Task Force Sawtooth has trained for the past 18 months in preparation for this mobilization.

Operation Joint Guardian is a joint mission under the United States European Command. Soldiers will focus on training and supporting allied partners.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/vPvrj

Deadline for conversion of drivers’ licence expired, some people did not manage to convert their licences to Kosovo ones (Alternativna, media)

The deadline to convert Serbian drivers’ licences issued by dislocated police administration from Kosovo to Kosovo ones has expired on Friday. Eventual issuing of fines to the drivers using those licences is supposed to start on Monday. The amount is set by the court, not the police, Alternativna.com portal reported.

The drivers driving vehicles with registration plates from central Serbia with authorization, and having Kosovo drivers’ licences will be able to continue using those vehicles in the north of Kosovo, the police has confirmed to the portal.

The portal also said it had been confirmed by the police that there are some people who were not able to convert their drivers’ licences, including those who were not even able to obtain Kosovo ID cards. Asked by the portal about the number of those who were unable to convert their drivers’ licences due to various reasons, Kosovo police deputy commander for the region North Veton Elshani said it is about assessments only, adding he believes there are “some hundreds of them”.

“We know this cannot be resolved for now, because the driver must have a Kosovo ID card in order to have a driver’s licence {…}”, he said, adding he thinks this issue would be resolved with some other decision of the government or the law.

EC to N1 on Kosovo driver’s licences: We welcome the step (N1, media)

The European Union (EU) has expressed approval of the steps taken by the Pristina authorities to allow Serbs from northern Kosovo to obtain driver’s licences issued by Kosovo.

“The EU welcomes all the steps taken to continue allowing as many Kosovo Serbs as possible to benefit from Kosovo-issued driving licences”, European Commission (EC) spokesperson Peter Stano told N1. He added that the EU is encouraging Kosovo to implement further measures to facilitate the acquisition of “Kosovo documents”.

“Furthermore, we encourage Kosovo to adopt further measures that would facilitate as many Kosovo Serbs as possible to obtain further Kosovo documents, especially a Kosovo ID which is required to obtain a Kosovo driving licence”, Stano said.

The deadline for exchanging Serbia-issued driver’s licences for Kosovo ones, set by the authorities in Pristina, expires on Friday, August 23. According to Radio Free Europe, by August 22, 6,325 Serbia-issued driver’s licences had been swapped for Kosovo ones, mostly in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north – Northern Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan, and Zubin Potok.

Assault helicopters and almost 200 members of Idaho National Guard to be deployed in Kosovo (KoSSev)

The Idaho Army National Guard sent off the 1st of the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, two days ago, as more than 100 personnel deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian, KFOR respectively, KoSSev portal reported.

"Over one hundred and eighty-five Idaho soldiers will deploy over the next four months", Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan Reid said. "We're going to Kosovo to support a peacekeeping operation", he added.

They will stay in Kosovo for one year, the portal said.

Also, two days ago the Eastern Regional Command announced that the members of the Joint Implementation Commission of the KFOR Regional Command carried out an air patrol to monitor the situation along the administrative boundary line.

PM Vucevic: Government reshuffle likely in six months to a year (N1)

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said a government reshuffle is expected within the next six months to a year, adding that there are currently no ministers under consideration for removal, N1 reported. In an interview with Prva TV, Vucevic noted that it would be “demotivating” if all ministers were assured of keeping their positions throughout the entire term regardless of their performance.

“It is natural to have periodic evaluations to assess performance. Regularly reviewing the work of each government member is important. Everyone is under political and public scrutiny. If someone isn’t performing, they need to be replaced”, Vucevic said.

When asked about the environmental protests announced for September, the Prime Minister said that “Serbia cannot come to a halt because of a single project”. “The Jadar project could be a turning point, but we also have other important projects. It’s not fair for just one issue to dominate the discussion”, Vucevic said, adding that it is important to address this issue, but from a professional perspective. The Jadar project is Rio Tinto’s lithium project in the Jadar Valley, Western Serbia, N1 recalled.

Serbian Parliament Speaker Brnabic criticises protests against lithium mining (N1, media)

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic has described the ongoing protests against the proposed lithium mining in Serbia as having evolved into "protests against science, common sense, and conspiracy theorists", N1 reported.

“In these protests, we hear from people who believe in chemtrails, who claim we don’t need geological expertise, who suggest closing all mines, talk about satanism, fight against the banking system, and spread panic and fear“, Brnabic said in an interview with Alo newspaper.

She argued that the “Jadar“ project would bring new jobs, higher wages, and a better standard of living to Serbia, particularly in western Serbia. She also noted that agricultural activities could continue since the mine would be underground rather than an open pit. “Serbia would become a supplier of strategic raw materials and products, which would increase our influence in the world and Europe. Naturally, this would be done with strict adherence to environmental protection measures“, Brnabic added.

Lithium mining in Serbia sparks widespread opposition (N1, media)

The proposed opening of a lithium mine in Serbia's Jadar Valley has unified people in opposition. Led by activists, experts, and public figures, protests have demanded a ban on lithium and boron mining, with the government, as N1 said, responding through repression, discrediting experts, and attacking public figures, followed by calls for dialogue. However, experts believe that the current government, which, according to them, has shown little tolerance for opposing views, is unlikely to engage in fair and constructive dialogue.