UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 7, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Sources: Government changes security measure on Serbian products (Koha)
Alexander Kasanof to visit Pristina on Thursday (Reporteri)
DiA letter to leaders of political parties: 50% of women in candidate lists (media)
Svecla: “We defeated terrorist group; got hold of their plans” (Express)
Ceku: By 2028 we aim to be first in region in football infrastructure (Kosovapress)
Health Institute: Water from Badoc Lake continues to be undrinkable (RFE)
Two arrested for suspected abuse of duty at “Youth Palace” in Pristina (Koha)
Sources: Department of economic crimes interviewed Goran Rakic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucevic in Skopje: A memorandum on the construction of the gas pipeline signed (Beta, NMagazin)
Djuric: We are dissatisfied with international community's reaction to Kurti's behavior (Blic, Kosovo Online, TV Happy)
Minister ‘sees no reason’ to inform media about visits (KoSSev)
Opposition MPs request investigation into Kosovo Interior Ministry’s bid (Kosovo Online)
Svecla: ''Plot of the security perimeter of the Jarinje base owned by Zvonko Veselinovic and several Albanians'' (KoSSev, Reporteri)
SNF on announcement of Diocese: Attacks on believers and support for national treason (KiM radio)
Zaklin Nastic: Creators of Kosovo are now lecturing about international law (Tanjug, media)
Belgrade Archbishop Nemet to be appointed first Cardinal from Serbia (N1)

Opinion:

Serwer: A Balkans agenda for the lame duck (media)

International:

Balkan countries play catch-up with HPV virus vaccinations (BIRN)
Serbia achieves first-ever investment grade rating (intellinews.com)

Albanian Language Media

Sources: Government changes security measure on Serbian products (Koha)

Citing unnamed sources, Koha reports that Kosovo’s Ministry of Interior Affairs has changed the security measure on products entering from Serbia into Kosovo through the Merdare crossing.

Kosovo banned imports from Serbia after the arrest of three Kosovo police officers by Serbian forces, tensions in the north, and doubts that weapons were smuggled through goods last year. The security measure was then changed into allowing the import of raw material and products required for final production.

With the new decision, which has been reportedly sent to respective institutions today, the ban on the import of products will be replaced with “a detailed control” for trucks entering from Serbia.

The changed security measure is valid only for the Merdare crossing while the previous security measure remains in force for other crossings with Serbia.

The news website also notes that Germany has threatened Kosovo that it won’t be able to take part in the Berlin Process summit, scheduled for October 14, if it does not lift the ban on the import of goods from Serbia. German Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, argued that the ban also blocks the work of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

RTK too reports that the Ministry of Interior Affairs has changed the security measure from “limited movement” to “increased control” for products entering from Serbia into Kosovo through the Merdare crossing.

Several news websites report that the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo issued a media statement welcoming the government’s decision to change the security measure on products imported from Serbia. It said that it had repeated for over a year that the decision had a negative impact on the commercial interests of the United States and EU member states. “Moreover it was in contravention with the spirit promoted by the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and also Kosovo’s pledges in the process of EU integration,” the statement notes. The chamber also said that the security measure endangered Kosovo’s participation in regional cooperation initiatives, with serious consequences for the economy and Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration. “Being that one of the main objectives of CEFTA includes reducing the costs of trade and production, by eliminating the barriers of the movement of goods, the American Chamber calls on the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to annul all control mechanisms at all border crossings as soon as possible, so that the current security measure can be repealed completely,” the statement concludes.

Nacionale meanwhile reports that Mimoza Kusari-Lila, head of the Vetevendosje Movement parliamentary group, told reporters today that “the measure has been in force since June (last year)”. Arguing that there are talks to get x-ray scanners from Kosovo’s allies, Kusari-Lila also said that “until the security mechanisms are in place, we can say that Kosovo will keep it [the security measure] in force”.

Alexander Kasanof to visit Pristina on Thursday (Reporteri)

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Alexander Kasanof, will stay in Pristina on Thursday in what will be his first visit to Kosovo since assuming his new post at the State Department, the news website reports. Kasanof is scheduled to hold several meetings with Kosovo’s leaders and focus on the EU-facilitated dialogue in Brussels and the implementation of the Basic Agreement and the Ohrid implementation annex.

DiA letter to leaders of political parties: 50% of women in candidate lists (media)

Democracy in Action, a network of non-governmental organizations in Kosovo that promotes free and fair elections through monitoring of the election process, education of voters and advocacy for election reforms, sent a public letter to leaders of political leaders on October 5, noting that “on September 1, the application period began for the certification of political entities and submission of candidate lists for the February 2025 parliamentary elections. Political entities have 102 days to submit these lists and ensure that the best candidates are chosen to offer a competitive electoral list”.

The letter further notes that:

Many political parties have publicly expressed their support for equal gender representation in decision-making and within their ranks, recognizing it as essential for enhancing their legitimacy. This commitment to gender equality was reflected in the 2021 parliamentary elections, where, for the first time, more women were elected based on merit vote rather than quotas. Of the 43 female MPs elected, 34 were chosen by merit, reflecting an increase in the number of women on candidate lists and improved ranking within those lists.

While current legislation guarantees a minimum threshold of 30% for the underrepresented gender on electoral lists, political entities should be ambitious in surpassing this threshold by including as many women as possible and adopting the "zebra" model. This model, which alternates between women and men on the candidate lists – ensuring that every second candidate is of the opposite gender – provides a fairer form of representation and greatly increases the chances for women to be elected to the Assembly of Kosovo.

The zebra model, which has already begun to be implemented in neighboring states and beyond, should be seen as a practical and affirmative measure to promote women's inclusion without compromising the principle of equal voting. Such a step will foster a more inclusive and representative democracy, positively impacting the political culture of our country and enhancing the internal democratization of political parties.

We particularly encourage women's forums within political parties, party leaders, and all members who support gender equality to actively promote this initiative. Integrating gender equality within political entities and, subsequently, governance starts with bold decisions like this one.

Gender equality is not just a legal requirement but a political and moral responsibility we all share in building a more inclusive and equitable society. Your leadership is crucial at this time, and your commitment will be instrumental in achieving this goal.

We believe that adopting the zebra model will improve not only women's representation but also public confidence in our democratic institutions.

Svecla: “We defeated terrorist group; got hold of their plans” (Express)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said that Kosovo’s authorities have managed to close many illegal roads between Kosovo and Serbia. “We have closed many illegal roads leading to Serbia, so far 29 of them. When I say illegal roads, I don’t mean mountain routes, but roads that Serbia has asphalted over the years and did not allow for them to be blocked or damaged by anyone,” he said in his address at a panel on defense and security policies organized by the Vetevendosje Movement.

Svecla also said that Kosovo’s authorities managed to defeat the group led by Milan Radoicic. “We managed to defeat the terrorist group and got hold of their plan which was to annex 17 percent of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. This [the annexation] would have sent us to a cycle of negotiations and renegotiations to liberate our territory. Their plan was to force others between us and them, as had happened in practice in previous cases,” he said.

Svecla also said that “I cannot share all the details about our work in the north, but I can assure you that it was an overall and unreserved engagement of all, the government, the majority of MPs, our organization, and the joint work and coordination resulted in success despite many challenges and difficulties”.

Ceku: By 2028 we aim to be first in region in football infrastructure (Kosovapress)

Kosovo’s Minister of Sports and Culture, Hajrulla Ceku, said on Sunday that Kosovo aims to be a leader in the region in football infrastructure by 2028 and that Kosovo is investing over €200 million to complete the infrastructure. “We are investing over €200 million to complete the football infrastructure in our country … By 2028, we aim to be the first in the region in terms of the football infrastructure and to be a country that exports talented footballers. Another good news for football is that together with the Ministry of Finance we are negotiating an international loan to build Kosovo’s national stadium. We still don’t have an exact location because there is ongoing analysis where it will be built, but what we do know is that the national stadium will host the opening ceremony of the 2030 Mediterranean Games,” Ceku said.

Health Institute: Water from Badoc Lake continues to be undrinkable (RFE)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said in a statement today that the level of manganese in the water from Badoc Lake has dropped but that it is not enough to make the water safe for drinking.

“During analysis done over the weekend, we noticed decreased levels of manganese. The levels however are still higher than the values allowed for the quality of water destined for human consumption,” the Institute said in a Facebook post.

Two arrested for suspected abuse of duty at “Youth Palace” in Pristina (Koha)

The Special Prosecution of Kosovo confirmed that two people were arrested today at the publicly owned enterprise “Youth Palace” in Pristina for suspected abuse of duty. “So far we have arrested two persons suspected of committing criminal offenses related to the abuse of official duty. After the operation is over you will be informed about other details,” a spokesperson for the prosecution told the news website.

The board of directors of the publicly owned enterprise said in a statement that they are fully cooperating with the respective authorities on the matter. “Our full and open approach to the investigation process will continue with the aim of facilitating investigations and shedding light on any important aspect,” the statement notes.

Sources: Department of economic crimes interviewed Goran Rakic (media)

Citing sources from the Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica, Veriu.info news website reported on Saturday that former mayor of Mitrovica North, Goran Rakic, was interviewed on Friday by the Department of Economic Crimes of Kosovo Police. Sources said that Rakic was interviewed under the suspicion that he damaged the budget of Mitrovica North municipality with illegal employment and for paying dozens of people although they never went to work. The employment was reportedly made in the municipal sectors of healthcare and education, and they included both Albanians and Serbs. The news website also reported that former deputy mayor Adriana Hodzic was also interviewed about the same matter.

Serbian Language Media

Vucevic in Skopje: A memorandum on the construction of the gas pipeline signed (Beta, NMagazin)

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, said today in Skopje that Serbia and North Macedonia have signed a memorandum that envisages the joint construction of a gas pipeline about 70 kilometers long, which would have an annual capacity of about 14 billion cubic meters of natural gas, reported portal NMagazin.

At the joint press conference after the meeting with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, Vucevic said that they discussed bilateral relations, which are traditionally good, the WB and European integration, and that one of the main topics was energy.

Vucevic said that the Western Balkans region deserves a chance and the support of the EU, stressing that Serbia believes in the "common European future of the entire region". "We believe in a common European destiny and a story for the entire region of the Western Balkans," he added.

Mickoski said after the meeting that North Macedonia and Serbia "share much more than a common border".

"Many citizens of both countries share history, culture, family ties and, most importantly, common aspirations for the prosperity and peace of our peoples," he said.

Mickoski added that he agreed with the Prime Minister of Serbia that the future of the entire region is in the EU. Speaking about the region, Mickoski advocated cooperation and emphasized that dialogue is the only way to resolve disputes and misunderstandings.

When it comes to energy, Vucevic told the journalists that for Serbia it is a "very important story" about the construction of an interconnector and a new road for the supply of natural gas to Greece and North Macedonia, recalling that Serbia made a strategic decision to diversify the sources of natural gas supply, while Mickoski apostrophized the possibility of building an oil pipeline on the same route.

Vucevic assessed that Serbia and North Macedonia face "big challenges" in how to go about decarbonization, less consumption of things that affect the environment, without at the same time jeopardizing energy stability.

Djuric: We are dissatisfied with international community's reaction to Kurti's behavior (Blic, Kosovo Online, TV Happy)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric said today that Serbia was not satisfied with the international community's reaction to ''the repression of the regime of the PM Albin Kurti'', in Kosovo, reported Blic.

Djuric told TV Happy that although many sent a series of condemnations and verbal criticisms, in practice they did not prevent Kurti's regime from ‘exerting pressure and persecuting Serbs’ in the worst possible way.

- We cannot be too satisfied with the reaction of the international community in the previous two years to Kurti's behavior. I can never be satisfied with the position of Serbs in KiM in circumstances in which neither payment transactions nor normal economic exchange are functioning - said Djuric.

Commenting on the speech of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic at the UNGA, he said that he spoke clearly and unequivocally about the principles and standards that must be the same and equal for everyone, about the principles of the UN that hold the world together and about the dangers to the international community and to the world peace if these principles were abandoned.

- Believe that many want to put under the carpet what is being done to the Serbs in KiM, that they want to hide the suffering and the truth about the Serbian people. And that's why this is a phenomenal opportunity for us, every performance at the UN - pointed out Djuric.

He emphasized that Albin Kurti could not speak in the UNGA hall, and that he followed everything the Serbian delegation was doing.

- They tried to follow the Serbian delegation, but they could never reach most of the interlocutors that Serbia was reaching - said Djuric for TV Happy, reported Blic. He said that Serbia has signed 10 ''important international agreements'' on visa liberalization with a number of countries and diplomatic agreements. He added that those countries were key partners for preserving ''our position in the UN, for preserving our interests'', reported Blic.

Minister ‘sees no reason’ to inform media about visits (KoSSev)

Despite the rain-soaked streets of northern Mitrovica on Friday, Kosovo Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, made his third visit to this area during that week. Accompanied by Mitrovica North mayor Erden Atiq, Krasniqi was spotted at the newly opened Albanian-owned restaurant Missini at Mitrovica North promenade, KoSSev portal reported.

The purpose of Krasniqi’s latest visit remains unclear, as no prior announcement was made. When questioned by a journalist about the lack of notification, he simply stated, “Why should I announce them?“

This trend of unannounced visits by Kosovo government ministers to the north has become increasingly common, occurring almost daily in recent months.

Also present was Halil Kastrati from the “Balkans’ Orphans“ Association. In mid-August, Krasniqi signed an agreement with Kastrati to finance the construction of over 200 houses across four municipalities in the north. The deal includes plans for Kastrati’s organization to build approximately 100 of those houses, as they said, aiming to strengthen minority communities, specifically including Albanians, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptians. Notably, the agreement did not mention the Serbian community.

Kastrati and Krasniqi later announced on their social media accounts that reconstruction of planned 200 houses in the north had started, and that they visited three families whose houses will be constructed with more to follow.

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

Opposition MPs request investigation into Kosovo Interior Ministry’s bid (Kosovo Online)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MPs Rashit Qelaj and Hisen Berisha requested prosecution to immediately open an investigation into Kosovo Interior Ministry’s bid in amount of 15 million euros, terming the statement of Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla of not being able to disclose details “because of Russia and Serbia” as senseless and manipulative, Kosovo Online portal reports.

Rashit Qelaj, who is also former director general of the Kosovo police, told Pristina-based Economía online that those statements are “thoughtlessness and make no sense”.

“Security institutions regulate the issue of contracting logistic equipment, armament and services with a special regulation of the government, which allows making confidential agreements. However, they should be confidential only if they are related to acquisition of armament, military equipment and services that can be kept confidential. But this does not mean it applies to other various services, such as food, cleaning, things that must be openly discussed. It is illegal to do it differently”, Qelaj said.

According to him, bids for food for the police and KSF must be open bids.

“Even if it was five euros, one should act in line with the law. For me, the amount is not important, but the manner in which ministries of internal affairs and defense are acting”, he added.

Hisen Berisha said this bid is a misuse of the public budget. According to him “the entire world knows what Kosovo is buying”, terming Svecla’s statement as “speculation, to misuse the budget”.

As he said one-source tenders are corrupted and this requires “investigation of parliamentary commission and state investigators”.

Svecla: ''Plot of the security perimeter of the Jarinje base owned by Zvonko Veselinovic and several Albanians'' (KoSSev, Reporteri)

Portal KoSSev reported today, citing Reporteri, that at the panel on defense and security policy organized by Self-Determination, Kosovo Interior Minister, Xhelal Svecla, speaking about the construction of a police station in the North, said that while checking the expropriation of the security perimeter for its construction, they found that “the owners of the plot are a Serbian businessman sanctioned by the USA, Zvonko Veselinovic, Kosovo businessmen Bujar Musa and Akan Ismaili (the latter was also a former ambassador to the USA) and journalist Berat Buzhalla”.

"I remember engagements with a lot of challenges when we made a decision for reciprocity and we realistically expected that the decision of the GoK would provoke a reaction from Serbia and extremists, which happened, by setting up 13 daily barricades. Previously, we built a police substation in Jarinje, since the Jarinje border point is located on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, and based on our previous experience, we knew that the police would be vulnerable in that area, so we decided to build a point, that is, a police substation that was completely built in 48 hours," said Svecla.

Who owns the plot?

"In these 48 hours, we managed to create a strategic, functional and highly protected point. To ensure the protection of our officers, we had to maintain a security perimeter, which extended to what we considered private areas. After the stabilization of the situation, after the defeat of the extremists was achieved, I requested that part of this plot, which was within the security perimeter of this police substation, go through the process of expropriation. The moment we entered the property documentation, we saw that the space was the property of Zvonko Veselinovic, Berat Buzhalla, Bujar Musa, Akan Ismaili, and their other partners," claimed Svecla.

"That was the uncertainty we were constantly facing, so we didn't know if we were facing from a military, police, or political angle. Therefore, many of the attacks that are carried out on us stem from this, from the destruction of the interests of certain groups, certain clans, interests that appear to be extremely large," said Minister Svecla, reported Reporteri.

Buzhalla: Slander, I have no property in the North

However, it didn't take long for journalist Berat Buzhalla to react, calling Minister Svecla's statement a slander, saying that he has no property in the North of Kosovo.

"Yes, I repeat again: I have no property in the North. I have no property with either Zvonko or Milan. I have never met with either of them, I have never communicated with them, either in writing or verbally," Buzhala said, among other things, announcing that he would sue Minister Svecla.

SNF on announcement of Diocese: Attacks on believers and support for national treason (KiM radio)

The Serbian National Forum (SNF) reacted to the announcement of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren from October 1, stating that the Church must oppose the treacherous policy in Kosovo.

"We still stand by the fact that the Church in Kosovo and Metohija must use its authority among the people and play its role as a congregation, which has never been more necessary than today when suffering is daily and most obvious. By further "silence" of the Church only shows that it "huddled" along with the government, giving it the blessing to continue betraying national and state interests and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija," the SNF stated, reported KiM radio.

SNF expressed their concern about the lack of a clear position of the Church on important issues, such as the Franco-German agreement and the Ohrid Agreement.

"For example, they cannot declare themselves about the French-German agreement and the Ohrid Agreement, which de facto recognize Kosovo's independence, and at this year's SOC Bishops' Assembly they are advocating for the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which is envisioned within the independent state of Kosovo."

Speaking about the round table in Belgrade organized by Serbian associations from Kosovo with the opposition at the end of September, SNF noted that "for the first time after a serious meeting, the government kept silent, and the Church spoke".

"It spoke in such a way that the organizers and participants of the meeting were called 'anti-church elements'. Very nice! For the government, they are traitors, and for Bishop Teodosije, they are 'anti-church sectarians who are breaking the tissues of the Serbian Orthodox Church','' the announcement read.

The Serbian National Forum states that the Church calls out Momcilo Trajkovic, the president of the Forum, for "anti-Church activities".

"Along with the others, you accuse him of anti-Church activities, of destroying the Church, of not being a believer enough, of being a man who tries to create discord in the Church, of being a person who does nothing for the Church and the people of Kosovo, of temporarily staying in Kosovo. Do you really think so or have you lost all measure of reality, eager to destroy everything in front of you. The president of the Serbian National Forum (who lives permanently in his house in Caglavica and works in Gracanica and fasts regularly) never wanted to promote his contribution to the church. The writers and creators of this shameful announcement know very well what he did," SNF added.

The announcement mentions all the contributions of Momcilo Trajkovic, the president of SNF, highlighting his role in helping the Church and the people.

KiM radio recalled that the Eparchy of Raska-Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) announced that there was "absolutely no truth or logic" in the statements of the president of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija, Momir Stojanovic, about the possible signing of a fundamental contract between the SPC and Pristina.

Zaklin Nastic: Creators of Kosovo are now lecturing about international law (Tanjug, media)

Member of the German Bundestag, from BSW party, Zaklin Nastic said “the disastrous German government” together with NATO member states by creating Kosovo have encouraged “new conflicts and led to social and economic decline”, Tanjug news agency reported.

“Germany and NATO states, who were among the first ones to violate international law by waging the war against Yugoslavia and themselves created an artificial state of Kosovo, are now attempting to lecture us about international law. In light of those realities, it is important for BSW to appear as a party opposing such policy”, she told Politika daily.

It was also added that Nastic, in July this year filed a proposal to the German Bundestag to withdraw German soldiers from Kosovo and for Germany to retract recognition of Kosovo, but her request was rejected.

Belgrade Archbishop Nemet to be appointed first Cardinal from Serbia (N1)

Pope Francis is set to make Belgrade Archbishop Ladislav Nemet the first ever cardinal from Serbia on December 8, the Belgrade Archdiocese said, N1 reported.

The press release said that the Pope announced the appointment of new cardinals after Angelus on Sunday. “I am pleased to announce that on December 8th, I will hold a consistory for the appointment of new cardinals. Their origin reflects the universality of the Church, that continues to announce God’s merciful love to all people”, the Pope told the faithful gathered in St Peters square in the Vatican.

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Porfirije extended his congratulations to Archbishop Nemet, thanking Pope Francis for the decision which “grants significance to you personally and to our homeland Serbia”.

Archbishop Nemet is one of 21 Catholic priests to be appointed Cardinal as read out by the Pope. He took over the Belgrade Archdiocese in November 2022. Archbishop Nemet was born in the Vojvodina town of Odzaci in 1956 and took his permanent vows in 1982. Nemet has been Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) since September 2021.

Opinion

Serwer: A Balkans agenda for the lame duck (media)

Several news websites cover an opinion piece by Daniel Serwer, U.S. commentator on the Western Balkans, originally published on peacefare.net.

We are entering the final stretch before the US election. That means a lame duck period for lower priority parts of the world like the Balkans until January 20. Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump is likely to say anything about the region before November 5. Even after Inauguration Day it will be some time before the new administration focuses on the Balkans.

We can guess their views

Harris’ views on the Balkans are unknown. But she has spent a career prosecuting criminals and defending equal rights. That likely tells you something about her attitude toward corruption and ethnonationalism. Trump is a corrupt white supremacist who tried to partition Kosovo while in the White House. If elected, he will no doubt empower Ric Grenell or his doppelganger to try again in Kosovo and Bosnia. Serbia has leverage on Trump. Jared Kushner has been looking for investment opportunities there.

What should the people at the State Department and in the White House do in this lame duck period? They should seek to correct the mistakes of the last three years, which have produced mainly diplomatic failure in the Balkans. The Biden Administration mistakenly focused on creating a statutory Association of Serb Majority Municipalities in Kosovo. In Bosnia, it rightly sought to disempower ethno-nationalist politicians, but it succeeded mainly with Bosniaks. Those priorities condemned Biden’s Balkan policies to strategic defeat. They also alienated Kosovars and Bosniaks, America’s best friends in the region.