UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 7, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani to attend leaders’ summit of European Political Community (media)
• Gervalla congratulates Trump on victory in U.S. elections (media)
• Haziri: We expect Trump to reconfirm Washington agreement (media)
• Camaj: Trump and his administration will be a positive force for Albanians (RTK)
• Svecla meets new Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo (media)
• Haxhiu visits Turkish Academy of Justice in Ankara (media)
• Ismaili: Financial system remains stable, liquid and well-capitalized (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I expect good relations with US, Trump victory to have healing effect on global situation (Tanjug)
• Fiala: Czechia to try to shorten Serbia's path to EU membership (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Pristina congratulates Trump while tearing up his posters (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Pro-Trump posters appear in Leposavic and other Serb majority areas, police tear them down (Kosovo Online)
• The SL congratulated Trump on his victory in the presidential elections (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Gracanica Mayor with the OSCE Acting head on the municipal land confiscation (KiM radio)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani to attend leaders’ summit of European Political Community (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani travelled to Hungary on Wednesday where she will represent Kosovo at the fifth summit of the European Political Community (EPC) which will bring together leaders from 47 countries. The summit will discuss security challenges in Europe caused by the war in Ukraine, the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, and also immigration and economic challenges. Osmani is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with European leaders and will meet the Albanian diaspora in Hungary. 

Gervalla congratulates Trump on victory in U.S. elections (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday in his victory in the U.S. presidential elections. “As a close ally and friend, Kosovo congratulates President Donald J. Trump on his victory in the U.S. elections. We also congratulate all elected members of the U.S. Congress. We look forward to continuing our common efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Gervalla said in a post on X.

Haziri: We expect Trump to reconfirm Washington agreement (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lutfi Haziri, in an interview with RTV21 on Wednesday, congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential elections. He also said the LDK expects that the new Trump administration will reconfirm the position of the U.S. foreign policy adopted in the “agreement reached on September 3, 2020, now known as the Hoti-Trump Agreement at the Oval Office. The agreement was confirmed even during the Biden Presidency in the last four years, but it was especially ignored by Prime Minister Kurti and was rejected by Serbian President Vucic. Returning to the framework of the September 3 agreement will certainly give a new format and a new opportunity for Kosovo”.

Camaj: Trump and his administration will be a positive force for Albanians (RTK)

Secretary of the Pan-Albanian Federation of America, Pashko Camaj, said in an interview with RTK on Wednesday that democracy won in the U.S. presidential election and that it was an important day for the whole world. “We looked at this from the perspective of who would be the best president for the issue of the Albanians … but nevertheless we are certain that whoever would win, we Albanians would be in a good position,” he said. “Trump will bring a new energy and will shift the discussion on Kosovo toward a final conclusion which will be favorable for Albanians and for the whole region, therefore, Trump’s victory is very important and a very positive development for the Albanians”.

Svecla meets new Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, met on Wednesday in Pristina with the new ambassador of the Netherlands to Kosovo, Karin Boven, congratulating her on the assignment and thanking her for the continuous support that the Netherlands gave to Kosovo. Svecla also briefed Boven on the priorities in the rule of law area and the results of Kosovo’s institutions in the fight against unlawful actions that threaten the security of Kosovo and its people. 

Haxhiu visits Turkish Academy of Justice in Ankara (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, during her stay in Turkey, visited the Academy of Justice where she got first-hand information about the training and educational programs offered there. In her address, Haxhiu talked about reforms implemented by the Ministry of Justice in relation to the Academy of Justice in Kosovo, aimed at creating a dynamic and well-structured training system that will offer opportunities for developing practical and theoretical skills in line with international standards. Haxhiu also said that intensified cooperation between Kosovo and Turkey and the exchange of experiences will result in increased efficiency and transparency in the justice system and will strengthen the people’s trust in the judiciary. 

Ismaili: Financial system remains stable, liquid and well-capitalized (media)

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) European Department, in cooperation with the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK), presented the Regional Economic Outlook (REO) for Europe in Pristina. The event was attended by over 60 representatives from various institutions and organizations, including the public sector, academia, the financial sector, and international organizations.

The presentation provided an overview of recent economic developments and outlook in Europe and discussed how further EU accession could support further integration and accelerate income convergence of countries aspiring to become members.   

In his opening speech, CBK Governor, Mr. Ahmet Ismaili thanked the IMF for selecting Kosovo and CBK as hosts for this event. He emphasized the importance of Kosovo’s membership in the IMF and the World Bank Group 15 years ago and highlighted their contribution to establishing and developing the CBK’s technical and professional capacities, as well as the legal framework of the financial sector.

Governor Ismaili stressed that Kosovo’s financial system remains stable, highly liquid, and well-capitalized. He highlighted CBK’s ongoing commitment to reforms and alignment of the legal framework with European Union (EU) standards, expressing gratitude for the support of international partners.

“By maintaining a well-regulated banking sector and closely monitoring key financial and macroeconomic indicators, we can manage uncertainties and work towards sustainable economic development. Our reforms aim to strengthen the banking sector and integrate it towards the EU,” stated Governor Ismaili.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/DK0V3

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: I expect good relations with US, Trump victory to have healing effect on global situation (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday he expected good relations with the US following Republican Donald Trump's victory in the November 5 presidential elections, which he said would have a "healing effect on the global situation."

Responding to questions from reporters at a press conference with Czech PM Petr Fiala at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, Vucic noted that Serbia had succeeded in maintaining a good relationship with Trump after his first presidential term.

"(This is) a slightly more favourable situation for us, but there will be no tectonic changes," he said.

He noted that he expected US pressure over Serbia's cooperation with China, which he said was seen by Washington as a "strategic opponent on the global scene."

"We will be under pressure to lower the level of our relations with PR China. That is our estimate, I would like to be mistaken on that issue, but I am afraid I am not," Vucic said.

He added that he expected the war in Ukraine to come to an end in the wake of Trump's victory.

"I am confident the US president - and I know this first-hand - will be offering and seeking solutions that will not be easy to find. The question is whether someone in Russia at this time wants the war to end," Vucic said.

Fiala: Czechia to try to shorten Serbia's path to EU membership (Tanjug)

Czech PM Petr Fiala, who was on an official visit to Serbia, said on Wednesday in Belgrade his country was providing long-term and permanent support to Serbia on its path to EU membership. Addressing a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Palace of Serbia, Fiala said his message was that Western Balkan countries should not be left at the EU's door and that Serbia was taking all the necessary steps to become an EU member.

"The Czech Republic will be trying to shorten that path for Serbia as much as possible, and it will be supporting Serbia in becoming a member state as soon as possible," Fiala said.

He said he was pleased to have had an opportunity to speak with Vucic and PM Milos Vucevic and noted that the discussions had confirmed a deep friendship between the two countries. He said Czech companies enjoyed a good reputation in Serbia, and expressed the hope there would be new opportunities for doing business in Serbia. He said he was convinced there were new areas for future bilateral cooperation, including in telecommunications, defence and security.

"I was pleased to read that Czechia was the fourth-largest investor in Serbia in 2023, which confirms the good relations," Fiala said. He said the two countries faced common challenges and should take advantage of the resources they had to be strategically independent.

He said that Czechia and Serbia had enormous lithium deposits and that his country wanted to use the resource that was available to it.

He added that his government had decided in favour of development of the nuclear energy sector in Czechia. He said building a nuclear power plant was a reasonable solution.

"We are ready to share all our experiences related to nuclear power in case our Serbian friends need that," Fiala said.

Petkovic: Pristina congratulates Trump while tearing up his posters (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, described the actions of the authorities in Pristina as hypocritical, as they congratulate Donald Trump while, at the same time, Kosovo police are tearing down posters with his image in Serbian municipalities in the north, reported Radio Mitrovica sever. 

"The level of hypocrisy of the PR regime in their congratulatory words extended to President Trump is best shown in the behavior of the Kosovo police that are tearing Donald Trump posters in Leposavic. You can only imagine the extent of the repression against the Serbian people, " Petkovic wrote on X. 

Pro-Trump posters appear in Leposavic and other Serb majority areas, police tear them down (Kosovo Online)

In Leposavic, posters appeared on storefronts and bulletin boards this morning expressing gratitude to Donald Trump. Similar support for the newly elected US president was shown in other Serb majority areas - North Mitrovica, Zvecan, and Zubin Potok, reported Kosovo Online.

As the portal reporters observed, the posters featured an image of Donald Trump along with Serbian and American flags.

According to this portal, a patrol of the Kosovo Police was displeased and in Leposavic removed and tore down the posters from walls. They also stopped and questioned Veselin Radovic, a lawyer from Leposavic, who was putting up the posters.

Later, in a phone conversation with Kosovo Online, Radovic confirmed he had posted the posters around Leposavic to express support for the newly elected US president.

He mentioned that the police warned him not to put up any more posters, otherwise, as he was told, he would be detained.

Pro-Trump posters were placed in North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan.

The SL congratulated Trump on his victory in the presidential elections (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

Representatives of the Serbian List congratulated the newly elected US President Donald Trump on his election victory, reported Radio Mitrovica sever. 

The SL expressed, in a FB post, its belief that the good cooperation between the USA and Serbia will continue in Trump's second term.

"On behalf of the Serbian people from Kosovo and Metohija, the Serbian List congratulates Donald Trump on his convincing victory and his election to the post of President of the United States of America, convinced that the good relations and cooperation between the USA and Serbia, built in the first term of President Trump, will further improve and strengthen ".

"We believe and expect that the position and problems of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija will be additionally in focus, convinced that the administration of President Trump will not allow the continuation of the systematic persecution of the Serbian people from the centuries-old homes in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as that they will insist on respecting basic human and political rights of the Serbian people, but also of all signed agreements, especially the one related to the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities. The Serbian people have always been with President Trump, that's why they are sincerely encouraged by this historic victory," the statement said.

Gracanica Mayor with the OSCE Acting head on the municipal land confiscation (KiM radio) 

The President of the Municipality of Gracanica, Ljiljana Subaric, met the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Cornelia Taylor, discussing the decision of the Government of Kosovo on the appropriation of 13 hectares and 33 ares of municipal property in Gracanica (the settlement Padaliste), in order to implement the construction project of the "Kosovo Residential center for autism, Down's syndrome and disability for children and the elderly".

As it was announced from the Municipality of Gracanica, Taylor visited this local self-government after the invitation of the municipality was sent to international representatives, and in connection with the decision of the Government of Kosovo 05/218, from 28 August this year. 

"The representative of the OSCE, Ms. Taylor, was presented with the position of the municipality of Gracanica that the Decision of the Government of Kosovo is illegal. In other words, it is contrary to the principles of democracy and that it violates the interest of the municipality of Gracanica. On a wider scale, it harms its further development with the attached evidence that supports the position of the local leadership," the statement said among other things.