UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 28, 2024

Albanian Language Media

Kurti, Osmani congratulate Kosovo Security Force on “Day of the Force” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Wednesday on the occasion of the “Day of the Force” of the Kosovo Security Force that his government has “doubled the number of soldiers compared to 2021, tripled the budget of defense for the ministry, raised by four times the number of trainings abroad for military officers, and multiplied investments in armaments and ammunition”.

President Vjosa Osmani said in a Facebook post on Wednesday “on the Day of our army, we honor the hear and spirit of the defense of our fatherland – the Kosovo Security Force. You are guardians of peace and the uncompromised defense of Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Eternal glory to the heroes and martyrs that laid the foundations of our Army”.

Osmani inaugurates Kosovo’s embassy in Colombia (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Wednesday that the Embassy of Kosovo in Colombia opened its doors last evening in Bogota, welcoming friends and partners. “Exciting times ahead: stronger ties, enhanced collaboration, and a growing presence in South America. Huge thanks to everyone for making this possible!” Osmani said.

Maqedonci: We are on right track with regards to NATO membership (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, in an interview with RTV21 on Wednesday, said that Kosovo is on the right track for membership in NATO but that non-recognizing countries are an obstacle in the process. “In terms of NATO membership, we are on the right track, and we are making all the necessary steps. The obstacles come from non-recognizing countries which are hesitant to support Kosovo. But in this process we have the support of our main partners, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and other NATO member states,” he said.

Maqedonci said that many members of the Kosovo Security Force were from the Serb community but that they had to leave because of pressure from Serbian structures. “We had a big number of KSF members from the Serb community, but unfortunately many of them had to leave the Kosovo army as a result of pressure that they and their families had from security structures in Serbia,” he said.

Maqedonci did not rule out a similar attack like the one in Banjska in the north of Kosovo in September last year. “As long as [Milan] Radocic and his group are still free and as long as there is no accountability from Serbia, we believe there can be such attacks. We are prepared to confront any threat. We are ready to protect the territory and the people of Kosovo,” he argued.

Kurti congratulates Von der Leyen on forming new Commission (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti congratulated EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on successfully forming the new Commission. “We look forward to working together to advance Kosova towards joining the Union,” he said.

Kurti hosts lunch for Hovenier and staff on Thanksgiving Day (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti hosted lunch on Wednesday for U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, and his staff on Thanksgiving Day. A press release issued by Kurti’s office notes that he expressed his and the government’s gratitude “for the crucial role, continuous engagement and unwavering support of the U.S. for the state of Kosovo and its development”.

Two of three arrested persons in Kosovo, members of Montenegrin Army (media)

Montenegro’s Minister of Defense, Dragan Krapovic, confirmed on Wednesday that two out of three persons arrested in Kosovo over the slogan “Kosovo is Serbia” are members of the Montenegrin Army. “The two of them are officially on medical leave and they are outstanding members of the army,” Krapovic said in a press release.

Kosovo Police arrested three people from Niksic, Montenegro, because the license plates of the vehicle with which they travelled to Decani Monastery on November 24, had the slogan “Kosovo is Serbia”. The Basic Court in Peja ordered a one-month detention for the three persons. The prosecutor charged them for “inciting hatred and intolerance”. A defense attorney told media in Kosovo she will appeal the measure saying that the court’s decision was too harsh.

Joseph: U.S., EU must change approach in dialogue if they want success (media)

Edward Joseph, professor at John Hopkins University and commentator on the Balkans, said in an interview with Tirana-based A2CNN on Wednesday that the United States and the European Union need to change their approach in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia if they want to see success. He argued that they cannot continue punishing Kosovo and appeasing Serbia because this is not functioning. “One of the things that need to change is that the U.S. and the European Union cannot continue to hold only Kosovo and not Serbia accountable. This cannot continue. If the U.S. and the EU really expect to have some progress, they cannot impose measure on Kosovo and do nothing about Serbia, and by letting Serbia and President Vucic know that you are not responsible or you are only minimally responsible. This needs to change. For an agreement to be reached, both the U.S. and the EU need to be much more serious in the process,” he said.

Skopje will still enforce arrest warrants for ex-KLA members, minister says (RFE)

North Macedonia’s Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, said on Wednesday that arrest warrants issued by INTERPOL following Serbia’s request for certain former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army will continue to be applicable in North Macedonia. He said that North Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s remarks on the issue during his visit to Pristina were misunderstood.

Mickoski had said that “whoever does not violate the laws” of his country “is welcome” in North Macedonia, when asked about Serbia’s request to arrest former KLA members whom Belgrade accuses of alleged war crimes. Filkov said that “what the Prime Minister said there [in Pristina] does not have to do with us collecting all kinds of criminals, but with the enforcement of justice and law”.

“Serbia carrying out ethnic cleansing with passivisation of addresses” (KTV)

Safet Demiri, from Medvedja in southern Serbia, whose address has been passivized by Serbian authorities, said in an interview with the TV station that Serbia is carrying out ethnic cleansing by passivizing the addresses of Albanians there and that he will address the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg. He said his address was passivized in 2019 and that he followed all legal procedures, but that after the latest decision by the Constitutional Court of Serbia, the court in Strasbourg is his only remaining address.

He said that in Medvedja he has land, a house and a business which he opened in 2017. He said he was born and lives there.

“The Constitutional Court has legalized passivisation. All Albanians there are afraid that they will take their properties. They don’t have any address. Other Albanians too have complained, but decisions for their cases have yet to be made. I intend to take this all the way to Strasbourg. I have proof, I have my land, house and business. I don’t know what other evidence you need to have. The case is not easy. We need to collect documents, but I believe that in two months I will present my case to the court in Strasbourg. I have a lawyer in Belgrade, Aleksandar Olenik, and maybe I need to hire an international lawyer also. The Serbian state is carrying out ethnic cleansing. All our hopes are in Strasbourg. And if they legalize passivization, we will have no choice but to leave our country,” he said.

According to Demiri, the passivization of addresses is being done only with Albanians and only in the municipalies of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic congratulates EC president on new five-year term (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday congratulated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on a new five-year term and expressed the hope they would together lead Serbia and the region to EU membership, Tanjug news agency reported.

"Congratulations to Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission on the five-year mandate. I expect that you will continue to work in the interest of peace and prosperity for European citizens, and that together we will lead Serbia and the region to full membership in the EU", Vucic wrote in a post on X.

Strpce Municipal Assembly declares “Stojko’s House” object of public interest (Radio KIM)

Strpce Municipal Assembly councillors have made a decision in a session on Wednesday to declare “Stojko’s House” an object of public interest, Radio KIM reported.

“The decision has been approved by two-third majority of votes, therefore the councillors showed that they also share concerns of all citizens taken by surprise with the news and decision of Kosovo Property Agency to lease an object known as “Stojko’s House” at Sara Mountain to Kosovo intelligence agency”, Strpce municipality said in a statement.

Kosovo Government was requested to step out of privatization and leasing processes of the properties and objects owned by Strpce municipality, with the aim of achieving public interest and that together with Kosovo Privatization Agency undertake legal measures of returning these properties to the municipality in line with the applicable laws.

Minister confirms: Two of three arrested young men from Niksic are exemplary members of Montenegro Armed Forces (KoSSev)

Two of the three individuals arrested last weekend following a visit to the Visoki Dečani Monastery are members of the Montenegrin Armed Forces, confirmed Montenegro Minister of Defense Dragan Krapovic, KoSSev portal reported.

Krapovic said he was made aware of the incident primarily through media coverage, noting that the two individuals arrested have been part of the military for several years - one since 2011 and the other since 2022. He described them as exemplary soldiers, with their superiors having praised their conduct.

“Both of them have long been in the system, and based on the assessments of their commanders, they are considered good and model members of the Montenegrin Army“, Krapovic said, Podgorica-based daily Vijesti reported.

He added that both soldiers are currently on medical leave. The Minister also emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and no hasty decisions will be made.

The Bishopric of Budimlje and Niksic condemns arrest of three men, says it is an attempt to intimidate pilgrims (KoSSev)

The Bishopric of Budimlje and Niksic of the Serbian Orthodox Church protested arrest of three young men from Niksic, Montenegro after attending the celebration at Visoki Decani Monastery, saying that by “this draconian measure Pristina is attempting to intimidate pilgrims who from all over the world visit the shrine of the temple under UNESCO’s protection”, KoSSev portal reported.

Following arrest three young men were sent to one-month detention. Defense lawyer of one of them, Jovana Filipovic said this measure was way too harsh, adding there are no grounds for the criminal acts they are accused of.

The Bishopric of Budimlje and Niksic has also called on Montenegro’s authorities to intervene, demanding the release of the men and criticizing the detention as “senseless and futile.“

If Montenegro does not stand up for its citizens in this matter, it will be seen as a sign that the country has abandoned its sovereignty and its responsibility to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, no matter where they are, the Bishopric warned.

Dacic meets Somali minister, thanks him for retraction of Kosovo recognition (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic signed on Wednesday Memorandum of Understanding in the field of police cooperation with Somali Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail and reiterated gratitude of Serbia for Somalia’s retraction of Kosovo recognition, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Addressing the joint press conference Dacic recalled that Somalia has revoked recognition of Kosovo and expressed gratitude as the new leadership said clearly back then that they respect territorial integrity of Serbia. Dacic also said the relations between two states have been traditionally good in the past and got revitalized lately as well as that they are following an upward trajectory.

“We will always respect the territorial integrity and independence of our two states. We are clearly saying that we respect territorial integrity and political independence of the states, with respect to the international norms”, Sheikh Isamil said.

Kosovo celebrates armed forces day as children appear in uniforms with KLA emblems (KoSSev)

Kosovo is marking November 27 as armed forces day, also known as the day of Kosovo Security Force (KSF), as it has been officially designated, KoSSev portal reported.

As in previous years, a “Day of Open Doors“ was organized for residents at all barracks housing KSF, including those in South Mitrovica, Gnjilane, Prizren, Urosevac, Kosovo Polje, Istok, and Pristina.