UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Milosevic’s strategy ‘no corpse, no crime’ continues to this day (EO)
Kurti: Employment in Kosovo increased thanks to government support (EO)
Post of Kosovo branch opened in Mitrovica north (media)
PDK after meeting Sarrazin; “cooperation with partners very important” (Express)
“Readiness to restore mosque near Iber bridge; don’t want to politicize it” (Klan)
Rohde “proud to see Kosovo join Paralympics for 1st time” (media)
Hasani: Good work is done by agreeing with those that love Kosovo (Nacionale)
Sinani: Every time I cross the border I am stopped by Serbian authorities (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Macron: EU needs strong, democratic Serbia (N1)
Kosovo Post office opened in Mitrovica North amid whistles and discontent (Radio Kontakt Plus, media)
Petkovic: Opening of Kosovo Post office new unilateral act by Pristina (Tanjug)
Andric-Rakic: Kosovo Post office does not meet needs of Serbian population (Kosovo Online)
Protected witness at trial to Thaci and others about murder of 25 Serbs in Volujak cave, detention center in Malisevo (KoSSev, BETA)
Selimi: Kurti’s government turned Kosovo into security issue (Kosovo Online, social media)

International:

People picturing war: Capturing a Kosovo child’s birth in a refugee tent (BIRN)
Vucic will gain most from Macron visit to Serbia, French analyst predicts (BIRN)
Serbia will take regional celebrities off entry ‘watch list’, Minister says (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Milosevic’s strategy ‘no corpse, no crime’ continues to this day (EO)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, called for the opening of Serbia’s archives for the crimes committed in Kosovo and for international support on this matter. He quoted a saying by former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic ‘no corpse, no crime’ and said that his strategy is being continued by his political successors who are refusing to open Serbia’s archives.

“This year marks 25 years since the end of the war in Kosovo. Serbia’s forces carried out thousands of massacres and forceful disappearances of the people of Kosovo. ‘No corpse, no crime’ was the strategy for the crimes committed in Kosovo. This strategy is being enforced even today by Milosevic’s political successors in Belgrade,” Kurti is quoted as saying.

Kurti argued that “so far the Serbian state has not shared information from their archives” in an area between Novi Pazar and Tutin in Serbia, “therefore, we repeat our request for the opening of archives. Based on the agreement we reached in Brussels in May 2023, we have already sent several official requests to open the archives of the 37th Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslav Army, which was responsible for many massacres in Kosovo, especially in the Drenica region”.

“There are 1,585 missing persons from the war. We have increased our capacity to work on resolving the fate of missing persons and now we have 41 investigators working on this. We need justice and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. We need international support too but also national mobilization. The war criminals must be brought to justice because these crimes are neither forgotten nor forgiven. Our government is committed to addressing every information for resolving the fate of missing persons. There are around 13 locations for excavations for missing persons in Kosovo. We will also continue to support associations of missing persons,” Kurti said.

Kurti: Compared to 3 years ago, employment increased by 20 percent (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today compared to three years ago, the employment rate in Kosovo has increased by 20 percent, and the government is committed to supporting the private sector as an important factor for employment and economic growth.

At the signing of contracts with beneficiaries of the Balanced Regional Development Plan, Kurti said that “compared to 2021, in 2024 the gross domestic product is 1/3 higher. The annual state budget is 35 percent bigger. This has surely translated into increased employment, and compared to three years ago, employment in Kosovo has increased by 20 percent, including the doubling of employed youths. This has then led to increased profits and expanded activities of the private sector”.

Kurti also said that from 2021 to 2024, 901 projects have been supported by the Balanced Regional Development Program.

Post of Kosovo branch opened in Mitrovica north (media)

Most news websites report that the Post of Kosovo opened its branch in Mitrovica North today at the Car Lazar square. Telegrafi reports that a small number of local Serbs, led by the Serbian Democracy political party, whistled against the opening of the branch. A senior officer of Kosovo Police said that there were no incidents, the situation is quiet and that police have ordered the protesters to disperse.

Kosovo’s Minister for Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, and Minister for Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, attended the opening ceremony. Rizvanolli said that “it is important for all citizens to have access to quality services and with the same conditions”. “There are currently nine points of the Kosovo Post in the four northern municipalities,” she said. Krasniqi said that the government would continue to implement activities that facilitate the lives of the people.

PDK after meeting Sarrazin; “cooperation with partners very important” (Express)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, and this party’s candidate for the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, met today in Pristina with the German Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin. “For the PDK, good cooperation with international partners in the function of the development and Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo is very important. In this regard, the PDK supports all genuine initiatives that aim to increase and empower constructive cooperation in the region – as a concrete step toward bringing the region closer to the European Union. I thanked Sarrazin for Germany’s continuous contribution to Kosovo,” Krasniqi said in a Facebook post after the meeting.

“Readiness to restore mosque near Iber bridge; don’t want to politicize it” (Klan)

Nexhat Ugljanin, chair of the Municipal Assembly of Mitrovica North, said in an interview with Klan Kosova, that there is readiness by the municipal assembly and the mayor to rebuild the mosque near the Iber bridge which was burned down by Serbian forces in May 1999. He argued that at a time when there are discussions to open the main bridge over Iber river, the mosque should be discussed too.

“We haven’t discussed the issue yet. We will talk in the coming days with representatives of the Islamic Community, because it is a property of the Islamic Community. We are ready as the [municipal] assembly, and the mayor too is ready for talks, especially to look into the circumstances concerning security, and especially now, because the opening of the bridge is also there … We will talk, but it is up to the Islamic Community to act. We as a municipality and as a municipal assembly, don’t want to politicize the situation surrounding the restoration of the mosque. This is a need of the people … this is the only city in the region and in Europe that does not have an important site for worship and religious ceremonies,” he said.

Rohde “proud to see Kosovo join Paralympics for 1st time” (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said in a post on X today that he is “proud to see Kosovo making history by joining the Paralympics for the 1st time. Your journey inspires us all - underlining the true spirit of determination & resilience. Paris 2024 is just the beginning, marking a new chapter for Kosovo in the world of sports. Viel Erfolg!”.

Hasani: Good work is done by agreeing with those that love Kosovo (Nacionale)

Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani, when asked by reporters today about the eventual opening of the Iber bridge in Mitrovica North, said that Kosovo needs to discuss the issue with its allies that love it and that Albania is one of them. “We have always been clear and consistent in our statements. For us, the priority of foreign policy is Kosovo, and this is why we have always told our sisters and brothers in Pristina that all the steps they make they need to discuss first with those that love them dearly. Let them discuss, debate and negotiate with countries and organizations that have made Kosovo a free and independent country. Every good work is done by agreeing with those that love Kosovo dearly,” he said.

Sinani: Every time I cross the border I am stopped by Serbian authorities (media)

Mayor of the municipality of Presevo in Serbia, Ardita Sinani, argued in a Facebook post that as a representative of Albanians in Presevo Valley, every time she crossed the border she was stopped and held without any justification and in some cases even for hours. “This treatment is unacceptable and is a clear form of pressure and discrimination,” she said.

Sinani also said that “Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has already openly admitted to creating a ‘blacklist’ of individuals that the Serbian government considers unwanted. This non-public list is believed to include the names of those that oppose government policies, especially with relation to ethnic minorities and political dissidents. It is clear that this was not a coincidence, but an orchestrated prosecution, closely tied to Vulin’s notorious list where individuals that he considers unwanted and courageous voices for the rights of the Albanians are targeted by the state. This list was created to intimidate and silence those that dare protect the rights of the Albanians”.

Serbian Language Media

Macron: EU needs strong, democratic Serbia (N1)

French President Emanuel Macron said that the European Union needs a strong and democratic Serbia, N1 reported. In a message to the Serbian public prior to his visit, Macron called Serbia to engage itself in the EU accession process and give up its policy of balancing between the great powers.

He said he is coming to Serbia with a simple message that the EU and its member states need a strong and democratic Serbia and Serbia needs a strong and sovereign EU to defend and promote its interests while respecting its identity. Macron’s message was published in Belgrade-based dailies Politika and Danas.

He added that the prospect of joining the EU is not as attractive as it should be while concern and fatigue linger in the background with occasional lack of trust in the EU. He said that Serbia should not be afraid for its identity and sovereignty when entering the EU. Macron said his visit to Belgrade marks a new stage in bilateral cooperation and a true strategic partnership between the two countries.

Kosovo Post office opened in Mitrovica North amid whistles and discontent (Radio Kontakt Plus, KoSSev, media)

Kosovo Post branch opened this morning at the main promenade in Mitrovica North, Radio Kontakt plus reports. Met with discontent by present residents, Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli and Minister of Local Administration Elbert Krasniqi attended the opening. Officials from Pristina did not address present media in the Serbian language apart from a brief response by Krasniqi. KoSSev portal also reported that Serbian media were not informed about the visit of the ministers.

The opening was followed with whistling from Serbian Democracy members, joined by some residents as well. After the official opening of the post office, those gathered have followed the delegation from Pristina towards the Ibar River bridge whistling all the time.

Asked by journalists, what opening of Kosovo Post office serves to, if people from the north can not use it for the services they need with central Serbia, they responded there is an exchange of shipments, but through North Macedonia, adding the issue would be resolved soon. The event was followed by a larger number of Kosovo police officers, while EULEX members were also present.

Vice President of the Serbian Democracy, Stefan Veljkovic said people were protesting against the anti-Serb policy of Pristina authorities. “Today, the people in the north of Kosovo are protesting against the anti-Serb policy of Mr. Albin Kurti and his government, which has been imposing sanctions on its own citizens for several years in a row: the Kosovo Serbs and our fellow residents, non-Albanians, who live with us in the same areas. Sanctions are imposed on us in the sense that we are prohibited from importing Serbian goods, sanctions are imposed on us by denying us the right to language. Sanctions are imposed on us by denying us cultural and all other rights. Kosovo is the last ghetto in Europe”, Veljkovic emphasized.

“We hesitated for a long time to call this by its rightful name. But this seems to be looking more and more like apartheid. Apartheid as we have seen in other parts of the world. And that’s why today we welcomed the ministers from Pristina with a symbol for the rebellion in the north of Kosovo: it’s a whistle. Only a whistle blew them out in a few minutes. I call on the people in the north of Kosovo, but also in all other Serbian areas, to also show rebellion in a similar, non-violent, way, with passive resistance. When there is no peace for the people, let there be no peace for authorities either”, Veljkovic concluded.

Petkovic: Opening of Kosovo Post office new unilateral act by Pristina (Tanjug)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic assessed today that “pompous opening of branch office of the so-called Kosovo post office in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, in a Serbian area, is new in a series of unilateral and illegal acts of Pristina representing direct violation of current agreements (made) in the dialogue and that is why its work is illegal”, Tanjug news agency reported.

He added the issue of functioning of the postal services is a topic that needs to be considered in the Brussels dialogue exclusively, as explicitly mentioned in the two documents accepted by both, Belgrade and Pristina – Arrangements on Telecommunication from 2013, point 5 referring to postal services and this being confirmed with an Action Plan on Telecommunication from 2015, in which preparation Pristina representatives also took part.

Andric-Rakic: Kosovo Post office does not meet needs of Serbian population (Kosovo Online)

Program Manager of New Social Initiative, Milica Rakic-Andric said Kosovo Post branch offices opened today in northern Kosovo do not meet needs of the local population there, Kosovo Online portal reported.

She told the portal it is impossible to compare the needs of people in northern Kosovo for the services of Serbian Post with that of the Kosovo Post, because they had been using services of the Serbian Post branches, which were closed down by Pristina recently, much more.

“The needs for the Serbian Post office are much higher, and this is something that the Kosovo Post office can not replace. For example, I can not pay the kindergarten for my child at this post office, or what is the most striking and affects the citizens the most is that they can not withdraw their money at Kosovo post offices. The service of sending and receiving the shipments from (central) Serbia is also very questionable, as we all know that communication between Serbian and Kosovo post offices is very bad, so the sending is done through delivery services from North Macedonia or Montenegro, which again does not meet the needs of the population”, she added.

She also said she took part in the protest against Pristina officials who came to ceremonially open the branch office today in Mitrovica North and that this protest is directed only against the officials, who wanted solely to collect points ahead of elections due on February 9 and that this is a sign campaign has already started.

“I happened there by chance, I heard the whistling and I joined the protest and will continue doing so. I think that officials bring uneasiness among the people, and part of that uneasiness citizens feel should also transfer on them, in particular when they do it in the midst of pre-electoral campaign, sending a clear signal that this is a political act and I think it is fully justifying that citizens show they disagree with it that their lives are being impaired for the sake of political points”, she said.

Protected witness at trial to Thaci and others about murder of 25 Serbs in Volujak cave, detention center in Malisevo (KoSSev, BETA)

Prosecution of the Specialist Court in The Hague continued with the hearing of a protected witness behind closed doors by presenting evidence against former KLA leader Hashim Thaci and co-defendants in the case of the war crimes committed in Kosovo and Albania in the period from 1998 to 1999.

In addition to Thaci, former high-ranking KLA officials Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi stand trial for the crimes committed against Albanians, Serbs and Roma in more than 40 KLA detention camps. All of them were leading members of the KLA main headquarters.

The witness coded with the number 3780 presented testimony in a closed session yesterday, which is the highest level of identity protection at this court. The documents published on the official court’s webpage read that the witness, in addition to other things, also spoke about the murder of 25 Serbs in the KLA hands, on July 27 and 28, 1998, near Volujak cave, where their bodies had been found later.

Those victims, according to the indictment, KLA previously kidnapped during and after the attack on Orahovac, on July 17, 1998 and surrounding villages, and then transferred to detention camp in Malisevo.

The witness, according to the court’s records, also testified about provisional deprivation of freedom and detention of at least 48 persons, mainly Serbs from Orahovac, in a police station in Malisevo between July 16 and 27, 1998. In one of the files it was said that the witness should also testify about “conditions in detention, forceful disappearance and murders of direct victims”, the portal added.

Selimi: Kurti’s government turned Kosovo into security issue (Kosovo Online, social media)

Former Kosovo foreign minister Petrit Selimi said the Kosovo Government led by Albin Kurti has turned Kosovo into a security issue, Kosovo Online portal reported citing Selimi’s post on X social platform.

“Has any foreign visitors since Kurti came to power, including recent CIA director, an Admiral, two assistant secgens of NATO, anyone really, discussed with our own PM anything beyond security, a bridge, dinar, association? This gov has transformed Kosovo into a security issue”, Selimi said in a post.

International

People Picturing War: Capturing a Kosovo Child’s Birth in a Refugee Tent (BIRN)

In the second of BIRN’s series about people who documented war in their own countries, Bali Thaci describes the moment he photographed a Kosovo Albanian woman giving birth in a tent – one of many shots he took while he was a wartime refugee.

A new life had just begun in the mountains near the village of Turjake/Turjaka in the central Kosovo municipality of Malisheve/Malisevo in the early spring of 1999.

The baby made its first cries while the mother lay by its side, as a nurse took care of both of them in tough conditions for a medical worker.

Twenty-five years on, Bali Thaci, who took that photo, recalls the circumstances in which he found himself.

“It was a matter of coincidence but also of curiosity. It happened, it was a matter of luck that I was there, and heard that a baby was being born under a plastic-covered shelter, so I went there to take the picture,” he told BIRN.

Thaci was one of thousands of displaced Kosovo Albanian civilians in the mountains between the Malisheve/Malisevo and Rahovec/Orahovac municipalities.

They had abandoned their homes in search of safety, fleeing a Yugoslav military offensive that had forced more than a million Kosovo Albanians from their homes into neighboring North Macedonia and Albania and left thousands of others displaced internally.

Now 60, Thaci says he never knew the mother, or even the gender of the baby. “All I know is that she was from the Malisheve area,” he said.