Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Attack was from playbook of Russia (media)
• KFOR enhances security measures to protect critical infrastructure (media)
• Water on the tense border: Can Serbia change the course of Iber? (RFE)
• Maqedonci meets U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander (media)
• Specialist Prosecutor’s Office conducts several operations in Kosovo (media)
• Republika Srpska ministers will boycott meeting because of Kurti visit (RFE)
• Media: Two soldiers went to Kosovo without permit, will be suspended 

Serbian Language Media: 

• Serbian Orthodox Church targeted with misinformation; journalists warn atmosphere reminiscent of 2004 (Alternativna.com)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese: Spreading false information about SOC incitement of religious and ethnic hatred (media, social media) 
• Andric-Rakic: ‘Aimless wandering’ of police in north, dialogue with local community only solution (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Residents of central Kosovo in fear and uncertainty over situation in north (Radio KIM)
• Milojevic: Forceful incursion in Serbian Post Office in Socanica (Kosovo Online)
• KFOR enhances security measures for protection of critical infrastructure (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Construction of police substation at main Mitrovica-Leposavic road underway (Alternativna.com)
• Court of Appeals orders new trial in case of Caslav Jolic accused of alleged war crimes (Radio kontakt plus)
• Vucic: Hungary to call new session on Cluster 3 (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Vucic’s responsibility (Koha)

International: 

• Kosovo takes careful steps towards remembrance of wartime rape (BIRN)                                    

                Albanian Language Media  

Kurti: Attack was from playbook of Russia (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X that he met on Wednesday with new Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos in Brussels and congratulated her on her new position. “We discussed Kosova - EU relations and our democratic advancement and socio-economic progress. I stressed the importance of good-neighborly relations for regional cooperation and emphasized that security threats must end, and those responsible for the recent terrorist attack on our critical infrastructure must be held accountable. The attack was from the playbook of Russia, which attacked critical civil infrastructure in Ukraine. This is the reason why we raise alarms over Russia's alliance with Serbia. Kosova is committed to EU reforms and to the Growth Plan and we look forward to receiving the EC questionnaire to advance towards EU membership. I look forward to collaborating with her to further our shared goals and ensure peace and security in the region,” Kurti said.

KFOR enhances security measures to protect critical infrastructure (media)

NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, said in a Facebook post today that following the water canal attack in Zubin Potok, the mission has enhanced security measures to protect critical infrastructure in the region. “Regional Command East (RC-E) remains prepared to deliver security, logistical, and engineering support to all communities living in Kosovo,” the post notes.

Water on the tense border: Can Serbia change the course of Iber? (RFE)

Although technically possible, Serbia’s changing the course of the Iber river to the detriment of Kosovo would imply a violation of international law and conventions, experts told the news website. They added that guarantees are needed for the security of the water flow and also alternatives to reduce the great dependency from this threatened artery. 

The explosion that damaged the Iber Lepenc water canal in the north of Kosovo, for which Kosovo’s authorities blamed Serbia, started a discussion on the security of this vital water supply for the lives of many Kosovars. The attack could have also threatened the electricity supply in Kosovo, for which the Kosovo government decided to find alternative solutions to supply the power plants with water. 

Several people were arrested, and raids were carried out in the north in relation to the November 29 attack. Meanwhile Serbia has denied any possible involvement in the attack and said it would conduct its own investigation. In a statement after the explosion, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that since 1985 “there is an idea to change the course” of the river for the needs of the population in towns near the lake, which as a result would dry out the Ujman Lake from where Kosovo gets its water supply. He said this could be done “with a decision of the Serbian government”. However, he also added that he was against the idea when it was proposed, even when he was prime minister, adding that he would not want “nature to be used for political purposes”.

Spokesperson for the Kosovo government, Perparim Kryeziu, argued that “Serbia does not have the right to use the Iber River in a way that damages Kosovo and let alone cause this damage intentionally by changing the course of the river”. He also said that Vucic mentioning the idea “is another indication that they are behind the attack”. “Instead of changing the course of the Iber River, they put explosives on the Iber Lepenc water canal,” he said.

The news website notes that one of the key world instruments that regulate the issue of inter-border waters is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses from 1997. Serbia is part of the convention, but Kosovo is not as it is not yet a member of the United Nations. The convention foresees that on the use of international watercourses “the principles of right and reasonable use and participation” should be followed. Other principles of the convention are “the obligation not to cause damage” and the “general obligation for cooperation”. 

Maqedonci meets U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that in the margins of the ministerial meeting of the Adriatic Charter, he met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, Celeste Wallander. “Discussions focused on the security situation in Kosovo and the region, with special emphasis on the latest developments. I also used the opportunity to inform Wallander about the latest developments in the Security Force based on the Comprehensive Transition Plan. Wallander highly appreciated the level of cooperation between our two countries in the area of defense and we agreed to further this cooperation,” Maqedonci said.

Specialist Prosecutor’s Office conducts several operations in Kosovo (media)

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers arrested today the former mayor of Malisheva municipality, Isni Kilaj. His son confirmed the arrest to Kosovapress news agency. “They arrested him this morning at 07:00. We don’t know the reasons why. He was sent to the EULEX offices and will then be transferred to the Hague,” his son said.

Among the arrested are also Bashkim Smakaj and Fadil Fazliu. 

News websites are also reporting that the house of former Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuci, has also been raided in Pristina. 

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) of the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo said in a press release that it is “conducting ongoing operations in Kosovo in an investigation focusing on offences against the administration of justice. The SPO operations have been judicially authorised by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) and supported by the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX)”.

Faton Klinaku, head of the KLA War Veterans Organization, told Kosovapress news agency that the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office “is making spectacles” and that “due to the lack of evidence it is continuing to arrest former members of the KLA”.

Adil Behramaj, former advisor to then Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, said in a Facebook post that “one day after Hashim Thaci stood up against the injustice in the Hague, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina immediately started making arrests. This is a classical persecution against people that have direct or indirect ties with the KLA and its leaders in the Hague. Bashkim Smakaj is a former KLA soldier and a quiet hero of the state of Kosovo. Today, the Prosecution of the Specialist Chambers, and not those who are arrested in the Hague, has turned into a Joint Criminal Enterprise”.

Republika Srpska ministers will boycott meeting because of Kurti visit (RFE)

Ministers from the Republika Srpska will not take part in today’s meeting of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because of a visit to Sarajevo by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Deputy chair of the Council of Ministers, Stasa Kosarac, confirmed the decision, saying that it was made after consultations in his office. 

The news website also notes that Kurti will arrive in Sarajevo this evening. Adil Kulenovic, the head of a non-governmental organization that is organizing the conference that Kurti will attend, said the Kosovo Prime Minister will deliver the opening remarks. 

Media: Two soldiers went to Kosovo without permit, will be suspended 

Several news websites report that two members of the Montenegrin Army, who were arrested in Kosovo after their vehicle had a slogan “Kosovo is Serbia”, will be suspended and a disciplinary procedure will be initiated against them for not informing their superior officers about their travel. Montenegrin media Vijesti cited an unnamed source in the Montenegrin Army that Rajko Krivokapic and Dragutin Lalatovic did not inform their commander they were going to Kosovo although they were obliged to do so according to law. 

Serbian Language Media  

Serbian Orthodox Church targeted with misinformation; journalists warn atmosphere reminiscent of 2004 (Alternativna.com)

The explosion on the Ibar-Lepenac water canal and strong accusations against the official Belgrade continue to be in focus of public and media in Kosovo. As was the case with the armed clash in Banjska, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) in Kosovo has become the target of misinformation again. The journalists Alternativna.com portal spoke with warn that the atmosphere in Kosovo is similar to the one before the March violence in 2004, underlining that it consists of misinformation and targeting of the Serbian Orthodox Church. They warn of irresponsible behaviour of Kosovo media, as well as politicians, with, as they point out, a deliberate failure to mention the positive role of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the past, and the inadequate reaction of the international community.

The most recent case involved Gurakuc Kuci from Octopus Institute who told Klan TV show aired three days ago that “same as in the case of Banjska, where large weapons were found in the church in Banjska, we don’t know what is inside the Orthodox churches, whether there are weapons and what kind of people are in these religious temples". These statements were made after the explosion damaged a section of Ibar-Lepenac water canal, in the municipality of Zubin Potok, after which, although the investigation was not officially completed, Pristina directly accused official Belgrade.

Kuçi’s statement was reported by at least six Kosovo media outlets in Albanian language - Gazeta Express, Zeri, Bota Sot, Epoka e Re, Gazeta Blic and Bota Press.

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo thus once again found itself under the attack of disinformation - in a situation similar to the one after the armed clash in Banjska, which Kosovo officials describe as a “terrorist attack”.

A disinformation campaign aimed at targeting the church as the most trusted institution

Journalists from Kosovo with whom Alternativna.com spoke strongly warn against the current rhetoric in the Kosovo public, but also against the spread of misinformation.

“No member of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo has been linked to any weapons, nor have they been found in monasteries or churches. This time, the disinformation campaign is aimed at targeting the church as the most trusted institution among Kosovo Serbs, but also the most reputable in the eyes of international representatives”, Radio KIM Director Isak Vorgucic told Alternativna.

“I’m afraid that the atmosphere of lynching towards Serbs has been brought to a similar level as before the March violence in 2004”, Darko Dimitrijevic, Radio Gorazdevac Editor-in-Chief pointed out to Alternativna.com. Dimitrijevic shared his impression that the media reporting in the Albanian language are “competing” to host an analyst or an “expert” who, according to him, will collectively accuse an entire people, the SOC, but also other values of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

Vorgucic recalled this is not the first time that the majority community from Kosovo, as well as the media, point the finger at the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, while at the same time they do not present to the public the information that it is about the Eparchy of Raska-Prizren which at the end of 90s clearly highlighted the state of human rights in Kosovo. “And was in open confrontation with the Milosevic regime. After the conflict, it was instrumental in starting the Serbian National Council, which extended a hand of cooperation to the new institutions in Kosovo, but also continued to advocate for human rights”, Vorgucic underlined. 

“However, in addition to all that, the Kosovo authorities needed more than a decade to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo to return the land to the Monastery of Visoki Decani”, he added.

Dimitrijevic warned that no one is held accountable for widespread hatred, discord and intolerance, including the Kosovo Prime Minister and ministers. “Who do not miss a single opportunity to speak very negatively about an entire people. That hatred became obvious. Since the atmosphere is like on the eve of March 2004, and the narratives are definitely like that, it’s as if the Serbs are waiting for the smallest spark for a reckoning to start, but for now they are silent and suffering”, Dimitrijevic explained.

“The main responsibility, if a similar violence happens again, this time will not lie with the Kosovo authorities, but with the international community, which turns a blind eye to everything that is happening on the ground”, he added.

Alternativna.com recalled that the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo has been under the attack of disinformation and hate speech in the media in the past as well. Immediately after the armed clash in Banjska, some media in Albanian reported that weapons were found in the monastery itself, although the Kosovo police did not confirm this in any statement. Indeksonline then went a step further, claiming that the three monks were in front of the police station in Pristina because of the Banjska case. It turned out they were actually with the police because of their ID cards. The Eparchy denied back then all of the allegations that the monks participated in the conflict in any way. In May last year, Gazeta Express reported on its portal, and then deleted the text, that the Bishop of the Eparchy of Raska-Prizren was “inspiring” violence after the May riots. Alternativna noted that the more recent examples are no better.

Three days before the damage to the Ibar-Lepenac canal, Klan television published an “investigative” video in which their journalist exchanges euros and buys goods with Serbian dinars in the municipality of Gracanica, demanding that his money be exchanged in the monastery store. He referred to alleged “illegal” activities, without explaining, however, that dinars are still used in all Serbian communities in Kosovo.

Raska-Prizren Diocese: Spreading false information about SOC incitement of religious and ethnic hatred (media, social media) 

“The Raška-Prizren Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) is deeply concerned about the irresponsible and false statements made by certain public figures in Kosovo Albanian society. A recent statement by Selim Pacolli, an official of the “Kosovo New Alliance” and former deputy mayor of Pristina, falsely claiming that the SOC was the main organizer of violence against Albanians and calling for the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo, is as untrue as the statement made yesterday by Gerakuci Kuqi of the Octopus Institute on KLAN TV. Kuqi suggested that weapons are being hidden in Serbian Orthodox churches and questioned the character of the people residing there”, Raska-Prizren Diocese said in an official statement.

Addressing Selim Pacolli’s statement

“The SOC in Kosovo and Metohija has never supported violence or war. On the contrary, the Church has actively worked against all forms of armed conflict, as evidenced by numerous interactions with international officials who have deeply appreciated the SOC’s stance. Many of these officials have visited our monasteries and strongly advocated for their protection.

Furthermore, during the 1999 conflict, monks from monasteries such as Visoki Dečani provided protection to Kosovo Albanian civilians and organized humanitarian aid in cooperation with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) from the United States. After the war, Visoki Dečani Monastery also served as a refuge for many displaced Serbs and Roma who were expelled from their homes. These acts of solidarity have been documented by international media, and testimonies of assistance to Albanians, such as the one reported by BIRN in December 2022, further confirm this”.

Addressing provocative statements by Gerakuci Kuqi

“The allegations made by Gerakuci Kuqi of the Octopus Institute represent a repetition of slander that first surfaced last year through British MP Alicia Kearns, claiming that weapons were being hidden in our monasteries. This baseless claim has been refuted by KFOR, and the Kosovo Police have never confirmed or provided evidence for such absurd accusations”, the statement added. 

Read the full statement at: https://shorturl.at/TzWWX

Andric-Rakic: ‘Aimless wandering’ of police in north, dialogue with local community only solution (Kosovo Online, Danas)

New Social Initiative (NSI) Programme Manager, Milica Andric-Rakic said the only way to calm down the situation in Kosovo, in particular in the north, is dialogue and cooperation with the local community. Not only return of Serbs to Kosovo police, but also rebuilding institutions through partnership of Kosovo institutions and residents, she sees, as the only solution to sustainable and normal situation, adding that everything else leads to further escalation, Kosovo Online portal reported.

However, she is not certain Pristina currently has sufficient understanding that something has to change in its current approach.

“In particular if one sees reactions to the latest attacks and response is again: push in police officers in the Serbian areas to aimlessly wander on the streets. There is no strategy here, it all looks completely upside down. These are indicators demonstrating they do not think the time has come to change their approach”, she said.

She also said she does not see how the eventual presence of KSF in the north would help ensure security. “It is not that they have greater capacity than the ones Kosovo police already have, and the police with their capacities did not prevent this sabotage (at Ibar-Lepenac water canal) which is the worst thing that happened to Kosovo after the war. I do not see how anyone can see the value in it”, Andric Rakic said.

Asked to comment on the option of constant presence of KFOR in the north, she said it would be a “more neutral security option”.

“That was the solution in September, October 2021. The agreement on de-escalation following September barricades was exactly that, positions taken without announcement by Kosovo special police by then to be taken over by KFOR for two weeks. The stakeholders in the dialogue, mediators, and KFOR as well are well aware it is a way to de-escalate the situation, but they were probably also making political analysis, it was not smart to do so, as it would be somehow a blow to the credibility of Kosovo security institutions. But, denial of reality in which they do not succeed to build relations with citizens and do not succeed in stabilizing the situation is not helpful either. They would have to decide at the end, what is more important, credibility of Kosovo security institutions or general security of all citizens in Kosovo”, she said.

As far as the return of Serbs to Kosovo police is concerned she said it is a matter of political willingness and mentality of the government in Pristina.

“I think this government is not capable of trusting Serbian police officers, neither new recruiters nor the old ones who would eventually return, but some new government perhaps could, some other governments have already showed they were capable of establishing a basic level of trust with the Serbs, and this would primarily depend on the outcome of February 9 elections, and how the new government would look like”, she added.  

Residents of central Kosovo in fear and uncertainty over situation in north (Radio KIM)

Residents of central Kosovo have expressed deep concerns over the current security situation, following the explosion at Ibar-Lepenac water canal near Zubin Potok and provocations during celebration of Albanian Flag Day. They fear that escalation of the situation may occur, recalling events from the past and violence, Radio KIM reports.

“There are many unclarities. We still do not know who threw the bomb (at Ibar-Lepenac water canal). Pristina accuses Belgrade of encouraging terrorism and jeopardizing vital infrastructure and economic objects in Kosovo. Belgrade denies it”, one of the respondents told Radio KIM.

“It is very bad, we are watching TV and following the situation every day, what happens in Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Belgrade”, an elderly woman said.

“I think that the situation in the north is marred with fear, uncertainty, and lack of safety of the ordinary people living there. It is reflected the most in excessive use of force and police which is deployed at any crossroad, every corner, in all towns in the north”, a resident of central Kosovo said.

“Situation in Kosovo and Metohija is very complex and difficult, and security is very weak. What happened in the north is surprising. Who and what was done on the canal, investigative bodies should find out. We used to live in peace once, but now, since 1999 and this year it has been extremely difficult. This latest event is very difficult. It was not done by an amateur, but professional”, an elderly man said.

“It is very bad. In the north they (Serbs) can not live, and here it is even worse. Albanians provoke us every day, they come with flags and provoke. I have no right to say anything anywhere, I am asking about electricity and they do not want to respond in Serbian”, a retired man said.

“I have nothing to say, the security situation is equal to zero”, another respondent emphasised.

Residents also fear that the security situation may deteriorate in central Kosovo too. Teached by experiences from the past, Gracanica residents opined what happens at the moment in the north could spill over to the areas south of the Ibar River.

“Of course it can spill over to the south. Similar incident which happened in March 2004 when three boys drowned in the Ibar River, caused a chain reaction and violence in the north. Then it spilled over in all areas where Serbs and Albanians lived, one against another. 50.000 Albanians in a three-day violence have cleansed Serbs from some places”, one of the respondents said.

Milojevic: Forceful incursion in Serbian Post Office in Socanica (Kosovo Online)

“Request of a fake mayor of Leposavic, Lulzim Hetemi, that Post of Serbia in the north of Kosovo takes out its inventory from its facility in Socanica, because it is "now theirs", is not only pressure and the pre-election campaign of Albin Kurti, but represents a wanton and illegal theft which we will not accept”, Post of Serbia in Kosovo director Ivan Milojevic said, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Milojevic added that Hetemi accompanied with his deputy and several plainclothes individuals entered the Post of Serbia facility in Socanica although a notification with signatures was stapled on the door, and once Post of Serbia facility there was sealed he was told that only in his presence each of nine closed premises may be open. He also recalled that judicial proceedings related to the 9 branch offices of the Serbian Post Office in the north had been ongoing at the Basic Court in Mitrovica.

He added that yesterday’s incursion to the Serbian Post Office facility in Socanica without court’s decision or any grounds represents “a shameful banditry”.  He said that in addition to the ongoing judicial proceedings in Mitrovica, the issue of the Serbian Post Office has been since 2013 on the table of Brussels negotiations.

“Without any court’s decision, valid explanation, or other legal grounds or notification, although the police took my phone number and email addresses of those responsible in the post branch offices, a violent and illegal removal of the inventory from a Post Office in Socanica had been announced in the coming days”, Milojevic warned.

KFOR enhances security measures for protection of critical infrastructure (Kosovo Online, social media)

“Following the water canal attack in Zubin Potok, Kosovo, the #NATO-led #KFOR mission has enhanced security measures to protect critical infrastructure in the region. Regional Command East (RC-E) remains prepared to deliver security, logistical, and engineering support to all communities living in Kosovo”, KFOR said in a statement on Facebook.

“#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 works in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and EULEX (the European Union Mission on Rule of Law in Kosovo) in their respective roles as security responders”, the statement added.

Construction of police substation at main Mitrovica-Leposavic road underway (Alternativna.com)

The works on constructing a police substation near Bistrica bridge, on Mitrovica- Leposavic main road are underway, Alternativna.com portal reported. The foundation stone for this substation was laid by Kosovo Interior Minister Xhellal Svecla on November 23.

As people passing this checkpoint told the portal workers were present on the spot. The construction of the substation began two years after the Kosovo police checkpoint was installed on this location. The checkpoint in the meantime has been reinforced and became a real police fortification.

Court of Appeals orders new trial in case of Caslav Jolic accused of alleged war crimes (Radio kontakt plus)

The Court of Appeals ordered a new trial in the case of Caslav Jolic from Istok, sentenced by the Basic Court in Pristina to eight years in prison over war crimes he allegedly committed, Radio kontakt plus reported. 

The Court said it accepted the appeal of Jolic’s defence attorney Miodrag Brkljac and sent the case to retrial. Brkljac filed an appeal over violation of legal provisions, demanding the decision be changed, defendant released or re-trial.

The Court of Appeals also said the appeal showed that provision of the Basic Court decision was unclear and contrary to the elaboration, and no concrete and clear reasons for decisive facts in a criminal case against Jolic had been provided.

Brkljac also said that statements of the witnesses and cases presented during the trial, do not incriminate his client that he committed the acts he is accused of. Following the first instance verdict, Brkljac said his client was convicted without evidence.

Caslav Jolic, father of four children, with residence in Kraljevo, central Serbia, was arrested in June 2022 in Djurakovac, near Istok, where he came to attend a probate hearing following the death of his father, who returned to live in this village. 

Vucic: Hungary to call new session on Cluster 3 (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Hungary, which holds the EU presidency, would call a new session on opening Cluster 3 in the accession talks with Serbia for next week after ambassadors of EU member states failed to agree on a green light for the move on Wednesday. Tanjug news agency reported.

In a statement to the RTS, Vucic said the three Baltic states, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Croatia and Bulgaria had opposed the move. "If God asked me if we have done anything wrong to the Bulgarians, I would not be able to explain that. It seems to me that I understand the real reasons although you will never hear them. As for the Croats, I understand everything, I do not have a big problem with understanding that", Vucic said.

The most important thing for Serbia is to fight and talk to everyone, he said. He termed the fact that Germany supported the opening of Cluster 3 as very positive. "France and Italy have been, and remained, in favour, and I thank them for their support. We are talking about support from large countries. Will we succeed or not? Thank you to them if they open Cluster 3 for us and thank you to them if they do not - no problem whatsoever". Vucic said. He added Serbia was aiming to become Europe's fastest-growing economy next year.

Opinion

Vucic’s responsibility (Koha)

Opinion piece by Demush Shasha, executive director of Pristina-based EPIK Institute

Grading Radoicic as a freedom fighter, glorifying the terrorists of Banjska as “guardians of the fatherland” and declaring Kosovo “under total occupation” was an open invitation to mine the Iber Lepenci canal. This is the reason why today even though we don’t know the author of the attack against Iber Lepenci [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic bears full responsibility for the environment that has been created. 

Philip Reeker, former senior official of the State Department, said this week that the Balkans is not a priority and that a lot of time has been spent on our region. In doing so, Reeker publicly articulated what western diplomats have been saying in private. 

Reeker’s statement does not come as a surprise in our region. The results of lack of western attention in the Balkans have emerged for some time now. The whole region has lagged behind in the EU integration process, while the west has replaced calls for reforms and progress with calls for peace and stability. Leaders of the region saw this as a gift to usurp power. This is nowhere clearer than in the case of the biggest country in the region: Serbia. In Serbia, Vucic has annihilated the opposition, has brought every state institution under control, with special emphasis on the security sector, has monopolized almost the whole media scene and turned the entire budget of the state of Serbia in the wallet of his party. 

The lack of western attention had consequences in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia too. For over ten years, the dialogue has not managed to normalize relations between the two countries. This abnormality of relations resurfaced with all its dramatic with the explosion of the Iber Lepenci canal. And although there are many unknowns about the event, we know one thing: it was a terrorist attack. According to the EU, any act that “causes serious concern among the people or seriously destabilizes or destroys political, constitutional, economic or social conditions of a country” is considered a terrorist act.

In this regard, the attack on Iber Lepenci met the criteria of “a terrorist act”. The attack was calculated to cut off water and electricity supply to a large part of Kosovo, causing “serious destabilization of the economic and social conditions of Kosovo” and “creating serious concern” among the people. This was also the reason why the EU was quick to call it “a terrorist attack”.

Now we have to learn the second part of the enigma: who did it? And I fear that we will never understand this. Acts like this one are designed and carried out with a high level of attention and skills, and this makes it difficult to uncover them. But beyond the names of the authors of the attack one thing is clear: Vucic has created a political and security environment that encourages and supports acts like this one. 

He has glorified Radoicic as “a freedom fighter”, and the Banjska terrorists as “guardians of the fatherland”. He has declared Kosovo “under total occupation”, he has denigrated Kosovo officials by calling them “Nazi gauleiters”, he has compared Kurti with Hitler and has warned that “things never end well for the occupiers”. Moreover, he has called for “resistance”, he has warned the west that “we will wait for the best time, and we will use the opportunity”, he has warned the west “with consequences that you haven’t seen before” and warned that “there will be more conflict”. 

Add to this the stubbornly close relations with Russia and its security apparatus and the picture of Vucic’s responsibility about what happened in Iber Lepenci is completed. He personally waged a hostile policy against Kosovo, during which three Kosovo police officers were kidnapped, KFOR was attacked, Banjska was attacked, [Kosovo police sergeant] Afrim Bunjaku was killed, and several institutions were attacked with hand grenades in the north of the country. With his nationalistic discourse, his hostile actions and his malign relations with Russia, Vucic has created a dangerous security environment in the north. This is why today although we don’t know who was the author of the attack on Iber Lepenci, Vucic bears full responsibility for the environment that has been created. 

International

Kosovo takes careful steps towards remembrance of wartime rape (BIRN)

A culture of silence exists in Kosovo around the issue of wartime rape, but initiatives like the newly-opened War Rape Survivors Museum in Pristina are trying to make sure the crime and those who suffered are remembered.

S.N. perches on the edge of a sofa, her lips trembling as she recalls the events of April 21, 1999, when she was among some 300 women and children rounded up by Serb forces in a school in the Kosovo mountain village of Dragaqine/Dragacin. The words do not come easily.

“For three days, every day, they took us one by one into the next classroom,” she said. “This happened two or three times a day.”

The war in Kosovo was at its height, NATO planes one month into a bombing campaign that would last 11 weeks before Serb forces were driven from majority-Albanian Kosovo, then a southern province of Serbia.

Forced to flee their homes by shelling, S.N., her two young daughters, mother-in-law and sister-in-law had taken refuge in Dragaqine/Dragacin, south-central Suhreke/Suva Reka municipality. Two days later, Serb soldiers surrounded the village.

Now 52-years-old, S.N. has never before spoken of what followed, though rumours and reports surfaced within weeks.

“Every night Serbian soldiers dragged three to four women out of each house for an hour or two each,” The New York Times quoted witnesses as saying in a report from June 22, 1999, days after NATO forces had rolled into Kosovo, which became a ward of the United Nations for the next nine years. “The women were returned to the house sobbing and refused to tell the other women what had happened to them.”

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/jT6HL