UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 9, 2024

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: EU unfair measures are damaging people of Kosovo (media)
Hovenier welcomes decision to lift ban on goods imported from Serbia (media)
Italy pleased to see opening of Merdare crossing for goods from Serbia (media)
Germany, partners to provide scanners for border checks to Kosovo (Kallxo)
U.S. envoy for the Balkans to visit Kosovo this week (RFE)
European perspective of the Balkans, main topic of Brdo-Brione Summit (RFE)
Hoti: No room for cooperation with Vetevendosje Movement (media)
Albanian Defense Minister: Kosovo, national strategic priority for Albania (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: It is important to talk even when we do not agree on everything (Tanjug)
Vucic on Kosovo, UN Charter, Resolution 1244 (Kosovo Online)
Djuric meets with Finnish Parliament Speaker (media)
House arrest of four young Serbs arrested in September in Mitrovica North extended for one more month (KoSSev)
COM KFOR meets Kurti (media, social media)
Elshani says two persons detained in Zubin Potok because of ‘suspicious documents’ (Kosovo Online, Zubin Potok.info)
“Besa Bese” group calls on Albanians to boycott Serbian goods (KoSSev, media)
MAT: Serbia’s GDP up 4% in 2024, inflation among highest in EU (N1, BETA)

International Media:

EU welcomes Kosovo’s move to scrap ban on Serbian imports (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: EU unfair measures are damaging people of Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Tuesday that the EU measures against Kosovo are unfair and that they are damaging the people of Kosovo. “At the leaders’ summit of the Brdo-Brione Process in Tivat, I stressed that the EU unfair measures against Kosovo are directly damaging the people of Kosovo, despite the fact that the Republic of Kosovo is 100 percent aligned with the EU foreign and security policy. The EU support needs to go where there is true commitment for European integration, for democracy, rule of law and human rights, and not to Putin’s proxies who are actively working to destabilize our whole region,” Osmani said in a Facebook post.

Hovenier welcomes decision to lift ban on goods imported from Serbia (media)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, welcomed on Tuesday the decision of the Kosovo government to lift the ban on finished goods imported from Serbia. “This is an important step in the right direction for Kosovo on its path towards European integration. We appreciate our international partners for their continued efforts to promote free trade in the region,” Hovenier wrote in a post on X.

Italy pleased to see opening of Merdare crossing for goods from Serbia (media)

The Italian Embassy in Kosovo said on Tuesday that “it is pleased to see the Kosovo Government opening the Merdare crossing point for goods from Serbia. It is a key move for regional integration foreseen by the Berlin Process and a step closer to EU integration encouraged by the Growth Plan. A multilateral approach to resolving disputes pays off!”

Germany, partners to provide scanners for border checks to Kosovo (Kallxo)

The news website reported on Tuesday that following the decision of the Kosovo government to change the security measure for the import of goods from Serbia, Germany has brought back to the agenda the issue of high-technology scanners for controlling goods at the border.

A spokesperson for the German Embassy in Kosovo, Christian Bottcher, said Germany will support Kosovo to meet its security needs by providing it with the scanners that German envoy for the Western Balkans Manuel Sarrazin had promised Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. “Other partners will also be part of this support. The scanners need to be secured as soon as possible and in line with public procurement rules and regulations and in line with the needs on the ground,” the spokesperson said.

U.S. envoy for the Balkans to visit Kosovo this week (RFE)

U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans, Alexander Kasanof, will visit Kosovo this week, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy told the news website on Tuesday. Kasanof is scheduled to have regular consultations with government officials, opposition leaders, civil society and businesses. This will be his first visit to Kosovo, and earlier he met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti at the margins of summits held in Prague and New York.

European perspective of the Balkans, main topic of Brdo-Brione Summit (RFE)

The European Union is not full without the countries of the Western Balkans is the joint message of presidents of countries from the Western Balkans at the ongoing Brdo-Brione Summit in Tivat, Montenegro. Montenegro President and the host of the summit, Jakov Milatovic, told a press conference that the long-term stability of the region also implies good neighborly relations. “With a wavering world order and growing global instability, the leaders of the Western Balkans are aware of the political momentum and the new window of the EU, in terms of enlargement. We are ready to use this opportunity even more powerfully,” he said.

Milatovic also said he expects that Montenegro’s progress toward the European bloc will be an impetus for other countries in the region. “The EU is not only a need and a declared objective, but also a geopolitical and moral imperative,” he said.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said that Kosovo “continues to be committed to regional cooperation based on good neighborly relations, inclusiveness and shared objectives for integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions”.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said that the value of the summit “is the fact that some countries that have not recognized one another still communicate in these meetings”. He also said that it is the duty of Croatia and Slovenia to encourage the countries of the Western Balkans not to withdraw from their path toward EU membership.

Hoti: No room for cooperation with Vetevendosje Movement (media)

Senior member of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Avdullah Hoti, in an interview with RTV21 on Tuesday, said he believes there is no room for potential cooperation with Kurti’s Vetevendosje Movement. “I am not in a position to put red lines. We are all working to emerge as victors [in next year’s parliamentary elections]. I believe there is no room for cooperation with the Vetevendosje Movement. I don’t think there will be another Kurti government. I am confident that our voters will return to us and this government will not get the people’s support,” he argued.

Albanian Defense Minister: Kosovo, national strategic priority for Albania (media)

Albania’s Minister of Defence, Pirro Vengu, hosted his counterpart from Kosovo, Ejup Maqedonci, in Tirana on Tuesday and discussed furthering cooperation in the area of defense and military education. “Kosovo remains a national strategic priority for Albania, and it is at the center of our foreign and policy security. We are engaged for Kosovo to become part of international security structures. Albania supports Kosovo’s aspirations to join the Euro-Atlantic family, and our cooperation will continue intensively in the area of defense and we will provide even more opportunities for students and officers of the Kosovo Security Force in our institutions of military education,” he said.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: It is important to talk even when we do not agree on everything (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday in Tivat, Montenegro, where he is attending a Brdo-Brijuni Process Summit, that he had had an opportunity to speak with all guests at the event “except the president of the provisional institutions in Pristina”, and noted it was important to talk even when there was no agreement in the region on all issues, Tanjug news agency reported.

Thanking Montenegro for the hospitality, Vucic said he was confident the Brdo-Brijuni Process would proceed as it had until now. "The declaration was determined before, just the paragraph about Bosnia and Herzegovina and assistance to flood-hit regions was added. For us it is important that cooperation in the region is for all of us and that we talk both when we agree on certain issues and when we do not", Vucic told reporters.

Vucic on Kosovo, UN Charter, Resolution 1244 (Kosovo Online)

“The “republic of Kosovo” does not exist, neither under international public law, nor under the United Nations Charter, nor under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244”, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday in Tivat, in response to a question from a Montenegrin journalist from TV E, who used the term “Republic of Kosovo”, Kosovo Online portal reported.

He added the journalist only confirmed that he does not support the UN Charter or the UN Resolution, but rather supports the disintegration of Serbia and secessionist movements within the country.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/itxd6

Djuric meets with Finnish Parliament Speaker (media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric spoke with Finnish Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-Aho in Belgrade on Tuesday about bilateral economic cooperation, EU integration and the situation in Kosovo. Djuric said EU membership was a strategic commitment and a foreign policy priority for Serbia and that Serbia was an advocate of European values and wanted to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in Europe.

Speaking about Kosovo, Djuric underscored that Belgrade was consistently committed to the dialogue with Pristina but that, above all, security needed to be ensured to Serbs in Kosovo, and all commitments from agreements reached to date met without further delay. He also welcomed the participation of Finnish troops in the KFOR Mission and noted the necessity of international presence there.

House arrest of four young Serbs arrested in September in Mitrovica North extended for one more month (KoSSev)

Four young Serbian men, arrested in early September for allegedly insulting and assaulting a police officer in North Mitrovica, will remain under house arrest for another month. The extension was confirmed by lawyer Milos Delevic, who announced plans to appeal the decision, citing no risk of flight, KoSSev portal reported.

The accused — identified by their initials as R.N. (born 2004), L.K. (2005), V.J. (2003), and M.M. (2005) — have been under house arrest since mid-September. Delevic emphasised that his clients have complied with all court-ordered measures and posed no flight risk, challenging the court’s rationale for the extended detention.

The case has sparked considerable public attention, not only for the alleged assault on a police officer but also due to complaints from arrested young men about their treatment by Kosovo police during and after the arrest. Following these claims, Kosovo Police Inspectorate (PIK) launched an investigation into the officers involved. On September 19, the four young men were questioned by the PIK in relation to the ongoing investigation into the conduct of the officers involved in their arrest. Kosovo police denied claims of mistreatment.

At least one of the arrested young Serbs was said to be subjected to physical abuse by police officers, according to statements made at the time by his lawyer Delevic. Deputy Ombudsman Srđan Sentic also raised concerns, stating that the case showed signs of human rights violations and inhumane treatment by Kosovo police. The arrests triggered a protest by hundreds of people outside the police station in North Mitrovica. Representatives from civil society and political groups joined the demonstration, demanding the release of four arrested young Serbs.

COM KFOR meets Kurti (media, social media)

“Towards the completion of his tenure at the helm of the #NATO-led #KFOR mission, Major General Özkan Ulutaş paid a farewell visit to Albin Kurti, today. Major General Ulutaş expressed his gratitude for the strong cooperation and dialogue held, in support to KFOR’s efforts”, KFOR said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday.

“He also reaffirmed the mission's unwavering commitment to foster a secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo, in line with KFOR’s long standing UN mandate. Major General Enrico Barduani from Italy will assume command of the mission, on 11 October 2024.

KFOR continues to implement its mandate - based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 - to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo and freedom of movement, at all times and impartially. KFOR is the third security responder, after the Kosovo Police and the EU Rule of Law (EULEX) mission, respectively, with whom we work in close coordination”, KFOR statement added.

Elshani says two persons detained in Zubin Potok because of ‘suspicious documents’ (Kosovo Online, Zubin Potok.info)

Two persons were detained yesterday afternoon in Zubin Potok because of “suspicious documents”, Kosovo police deputy commander for the region North, Veton Elshani told Kosovo Online. He also said the two persons are being questioned at a police station in Mitrovica North.

According to Elshani, two persons were brought in, after “suspicious documents” were found with them, and they are currently being questioned. He also said the prosecutor will decide about further measures following the interrogation. Zubin Potok.info portal meanwhile reported that detained persons are residents of Zubin Potok and that they had stamps and documents from institutions, Kosovo police refers to as parallel. KoSSev portal reported that two persons had been released upon interrogation.

“Besa Bese” group calls on Albanians to boycott Serbian goods (KoSSev, media)

“Besa Bese” group has called on Albanians to boycott Serbian goods. Their call came following an amended decision of the Kosovo government to partially lift the ban on importing Serbian ready made goods in Kosovo, KoSSev portal reported.

This group said in a statement it “sees with concern” the decision of Kosovo government to lift the ban so the Serbian goods may enter Kosovo at Merdare crossing point with additional control and check up, urging all people in Kosovo to boycott the Serbian goods.

MAT: Serbia’s GDP up 4% in 2024, inflation among highest in EU (N1, BETA)

Serbia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by approximately 4 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2024, but inflation remains among the highest in the European Union (EU), according to the latest issue of the magazine Macroeconomic Analyses and Trends (MAT), published on Tuesday.

The growth of total industrial production in August slowed to 0.9 percent year-on-year. Within that, the processing sector performed well, with a 5 percent increase, but the energy sector has been hit hard, largely due to unfavourable hydrological conditions, MAT experts said, BETA news agency reported.