UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 18, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

EU to gradually lift measures, in line with other steps by Kosovo (media)
Kosovo and Serbia agree on implementation of declaration on missing persons (media)
EU on agreement on missing persons: Important step towards normalization (Koha)
Government Commission on Missing Persons: Agreement in Brussels, an important step (media)
Osmani travels to Brussels for the EU-Western Balkans Summit (Albanian Post)
Kosovo and Germany sign agreement in the field of defense and security (media)
“DutchTimes”: Without normalization with Kosovo, Netherlands does not open door to Serbia in EU (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Last obstacle to implementing declaration on missing persons removed (Tanjug)
Vucic meets with Munsch (media)
Mojsilovic, Munsch discuss security situation in Kosovo, region (media)
Vucic receives UK Special Envoy (media)
Elektrosever says its workers attacked in Brdjani settlement despite police and KEDS presence (KoSSev)
EU-Western Balkans Summit - New Brussels leadership, old expectations (Kosovo Online)
Vucic to visit Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Council of EU adopts conclusions on enlargement, outlines next steps for candidates (European Western Balkans)

Albanian Language Media

EU to gradually lift measures, in line with other steps by Kosovo (media)

The EU General Affairs Council has adopted conclusions on the enlargement process, where in the chapter dedicated to Kosovo it is stated that “the EU will gradually lift measures in line with other steps by Kosovo to de-escalate tensions in the north”.

The conclusions confirm that the measures are reversible and that the EU Council will deal with this issue in due course. The adopted conclusions invite Kosovo to start work on the formation of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities so that, without delay and by decision of the government, it will forward the draft European statute to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo.

A special call is made to Kosovo and Serbia to implement the Agreement on the Path to Normalization without delay and without preconditions. The EU also recalls that progress in the dialogue is a condition for the advancement of both sides in the European integration processes.

In the adopted conclusions, the EU ministers express their deep concern about the situation in the north. The violence there is condemned, including the latest attack on 29 November. It also reiterates its condemnation of the violence in the spring of last year and the attack in Banjska. In this regard, the EU Council expressed its deep regret that Serbia has not taken sufficient steps to bring those responsible to justice.

“Kosovo and Serbia should take sustained steps towards de-escalation, refrain from unilateral and provocative actions that could lead to tensions and violence, and avoid divisive rhetoric,” the adopted conclusions state.

These ministerial conclusions will also be supported by the highest political level of the EU leaders of the member states at the meeting to be held on December 19.

Kosovo and Serbia agree on implementation of declaration on missing persons (media)

The chief negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic, met on Tuesday in Brussels in ann EU mediated meeting. The trilateral EU-Kosovo-Serbia meeting was held after almost two months since the last one that the chief negotiators had in October,and which ended without results. Kosovo's Chief Negotiator Besnik Bislimi, after the meeting, said that they agreed on the full implementation of the declaration on missing persons.

"We have agreed to accept the December version of the terms of reference of the joint commission, that Serbia had presented obstacles and apparently has withdrawn them, so I think that now we can move forward and the first meeting of this joint commission will be held next month," he said. According to him, there are promises from Serbia that there will be no tendency to obstruct the work of this commission through the machinery that they know how to implement.

Kosovo's chief negotiator in the dialogue with Serbia, Besnik Bislimi, said that at the beginning of the trilateral meeting, the EU's special envoy for the dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, condemned the terrorist attack on the Iber-Lepenc canal. Bislimi said that Lajcak showed that the EU is ready to help Kosovo in the full investigation of this case.

“In the bilateral meeting, we addressed various important topics, where at IBM we discussed the possibility of reactivating the joint implementation group, in order to address important topics, such as the activation of border points in Izovr and Kapi, the possibility of opening seasonal border points in Mohovc, Breznica and Dobrosin”.

“Then the necessity of having a 24-hour presence of phytosanitary inspectors in Dheu i Bardhe and the possibility of starting with the consolidation of 13 phytosanitary certificates between Kosovo and Serbia”.

“We also addressed the field of energy, where we highlighted Serbia’s recent violations, especially the non-activation of interconnection lines, as well as the sabotage that Serbia is making of the Brussels agreements, insisting on invented footnotes in regional agreements”, Bislimi said.

Further, he added that with Lajcak, they also addressed the topic of official visits, where he said that there are concerns in the EU that some visits are being rejected without additional explanations. “We also addressed the topic of official visits, where there are concerns that some visits are being rejected without additional explanations, a practice that Serbia has installed for a long time,” he said.

EU on agreement on missing persons: Important step towards normalization (Koha)

The European Union has stressed the urgent need for steps towards clarifying the fate of persons missing during the war, while welcoming that Kosovo and Serbia on Tuesday “reaffirmed that the issue of missing persons is a humanitarian concern”.

“Today’s progress is an important step towards the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the Road to Normalization”, the statement said.

The EU has further urged the parties to begin implementing the agreement in full. It has further said that the joint commission to be formed will be responsible for the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, and in particular that it will monitor the cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia on several issues.

"The identification of burial sites and subsequent excavations; Access to accurate and reliable information, including all relevant national and international documentation, the use of satellite data and advanced technology for the detection of mass graves; and respect for the rights of families of missing persons", are the issues that the EU has listed as benchmarks where the commission will oversee cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia.

Government Commission on Missing Persons: Agreement in Brussels, an important step (media)

The Kosovo Government Commission on Missing Persons has stated that the agreement to implement the Declaration on Missing Persons reached in Brussels is an important step in clarifying the fate of missing persons.

"After three years of dialogue, continuous talks and unjustifiable tendencies for delay on the part of Serbia, today in Brussels the formation of the Joint Commission that will oversee the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons was approved. This step constitutes an important moment in addressing our concerns regarding this issue that is so sensitive and important for our families and society," the Commission's announcement states.

Among other things, it is emphasized that the Joint Commission, chaired by the European Union, will be the highest body that will have the responsibility for overseeing and ensuring the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons.

"At the same time, it will serve as a platform where we can finally address all our concerns regarding the delays in the process and the failure to adequately address these delays or obstacles; including Serbia's lack of cooperation in the Working Group and the refusal to open the relevant archives".

Osmani travels to Brussels for the EU-Western Balkans Summit (Albanian Post)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, has traveled to Brussels, where she will represent Kosovo at the European Union-Western Balkans Summit. The news was announced through a press release by the presidency's office, which emphasized that Osmani will participate in this summit alongside the leaders of the EU member states, as well as those from the Western Balkans.

The main topic of the Summit is expected to be the enlargement of the EU with the inclusion of the Western Balkans. In particular, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the Economic and Investment Plan, the Green and Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans will also be addressed.

In addition, other areas such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy, combating hybrid and cyber threats, and migration will also be addressed.

Kosovo and Germany sign agreement in the field of defense and security (media)

The Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, during an official visit to Berlin, was received by the Chief of Defense of Germany, General Carsten Breuer, on which occasion they signed a Bilateral Agreement in the Field of Defense and Security between the Ministries of Defense of Germany and Kosovo.

During the meeting, they discussed global and regional security challenges, emphasizing the need for increased military cooperation between the armed forces of Kosovo and Germany.

The agreement signed by Jashari and Breuer includes German support for Kosovo in providing political, military and legal support to the KSF, enabling its inclusion in international organizations. The areas of cooperation defined by this agreement include joint exercises and training, technical and logistical support, as well as other activities that strengthen defense capacities.

“DutchTimes”: Without normalization with Kosovo, Netherlands does not open door to Serbia in EU (Klan)

The Dutch government has announced its intention to prevent Serbia from advancing to the next stage of the European Union membership process. This decision stems from ongoing concerns about Serbia’s commitment to democratic values, human rights and the rule of law, reports the Dutch media “Dutch Times”.

According to this media outlet, “a significant point of disagreement is the handling of Serbia’s relations with Kosovo”. “The Netherlands, together with several other EU member states, has urged Serbia to normalize relations with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. While Kosovo’s sovereignty is recognized by most of the EU, Serbia refuses to recognize it, leading to prolonged regional tensions. The recent escalation in northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo authorities, has intensified these concerns,” the article says.

The Netherlands has stressed that progress in the EU accession process “depends on Serbia’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with Kosovo under EU mediation.”

The Dutch media also wrote that “this decision highlights the growing concern within the EU regarding the alignment of candidate countries with core European principles.”

Serbian Language Media

Petkovic: Last obstacle to implementing declaration on missing persons removed (Tanjug)

The head of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said the last obstacle to implementing a declaration on missing persons had been removed in a new round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at chief negotiators level in Brussels on Tuesday, Tanjug news agency reported.

"We have a declaration, we have a rulebook, and we have now agreed on a joint commission to support the working group chaired, as in the past, by the International Committee of the Red Cross. That is what is important and significant to us and what Belgrade has insisted on all the time. There would have been no agreement without efforts on our part", Petkovic said. He noted that Belgrade had insisted all the time that it did not see the issue of missing persons as a political issue, but as a purely humanitarian issue that must be solved.

Petkovic noted that establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities and de-escalation were important issues for Serbs in Kosovo, as well as for Belgrade.

"We spoke about that strongly and persistently and insisted on it at the bilateral meeting as well, and I also did the same in a direct encounter with Mr. (Pristina's chief negotiator Besnik) Bislimi, whom I asked five times in succession whether Pristina supports the European draft statute (of the Community), because it is necessary that we agree on the statute as a concrete step towards establishing a Community of Serb Municipalities, much-needed by Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, because, without it, there is no survival for Kosovo and Metohija Serbs", Petkovic told reporters in Brussels.

Speaking about de-escalation, Petkovic said Belgrade had noted that “Albin Kurti must stop persecuting Serbs, especially in the north of Kosovo, and that the terror of the so-called Kosovo police unlawfully present in the north of the province, must end”. Petkovic also said he had pointed out that the “Kurti’s regime was doing everything in its power to suppress Serbian List, designate it as a terrorist organization and stop it from running in the upcoming elections in the province”.

Vucic meets with Munsch (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the Commander of the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, Admiral Stuart Munsch, in Belgrade on Tuesday, noting that Serbia's policy of military neutrality remained firm but that the country was open to further cooperation, Tanjug news agency reported.

In a post on his official Instagram account, Vucic wrote that they had reviewed key issues in Serbia-NATO relations. "Serbia's policy of military neutrality remains firm but we are open to further cooperation to preserve stability and security in the region", Vucic noted. He added that they had also discussed continued cooperation within the Partnership for Peace Programme as well as Serbia's readiness to advance all forms of joint activities, including civilian response in emergencies.

"We will continue to work on preserving regional stability and security while protecting our national interests. Serbia is committed to strengthening its relationships with all partners, as part of the principle of mutual respect and equality, and will continue to oppose any form of unilateral actions that can threaten peace and safety in the region", Vucic also wrote in the post.

Mojsilovic, Munsch discuss security situation in Kosovo, region (media)

Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of General Staff General Milan Mojsilovic met with the Commander of the NATO Joint Force Command (JSC) in Naples, Admiral Stuart Munsch, in Belgrade on Tuesday to discuss the current security situation in the region and worldwide, and in Kosovo in particular.

Mojsilovic said unilateral moves “by the provisional self-government institutions in Pristina posed the biggest security threat in Kosovo and Metohija and were aimed at jeopardizing the security of Serbs”, noting that Serbia, in line with UNSCR 1244 and the Military Technical Agreement, sees KFOR as the only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo.

Mojsilovic and Munsch also discussed the results of cooperation between the SAF and the JFC in Naples as well as opportunities to advance it further, primarily in the areas of training, education and joint exercises, the MoD said in a statement. They said the cooperation was professional, constructive and contributing to peace and stability in the region, as well as that the SAF was a credible and dependable partner.

Vucic receives UK Special Envoy (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the UK's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Stuart Peach in Belgrade on Tuesday, and said he expected the UK to show more understanding for the Kosovo issue by condemning unilateral moves and violations of the fundamental human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanians there.

Besides touching upon developments in Kosovo, Vucic and Peach also discussed geopolitical issues, further advancement of bilateral relations and joint efforts towards stabilization and strengthening of cooperation in the Western Balkan region.

"During the meeting, I noted that Serbia is firmly committed to strengthening the partnership and cooperation with the UK in all areas of mutual interest", Vucic said in a post on his official Instagram account.

Elektrosever says its workers attacked in Brdjani settlement despite police and KEDS presence (KoSSev)

Workers from Elektrosever Company faced physical attacks on Tuesday afternoon while attempting, for the third time, to install electricity meters at several households inhabited by Albanians, at Brdjane settlement in Mitrovica North, the Company confirmed to KoSSev.

Given prior experiences with the same families, Elektrosever staff were accompanied by a team from KEDS and a unit from the Kosovo police for assistance. However, despite this precaution, the workers had to retreat after allegedly facing verbal abuse, physical shoving, and damage to their official vehicle. Kosovo police, despite reportedly being on-site, claimed no knowledge of the incident when the portal contacted them for comment.

Verbal abuse escalates to physical altercation

Jovana Jovanovic, a spokesperson for Elektrosever, confirmed the incident, explaining that the affected households, inhabited by Albanians, had resisted previous attempts to install electricity meters. “These households do not possess meters at all. This was our third visit. On the first two occasions, these residents voiced strong opposition, and our workers were forced to leave”, she said. The meters in question are external devices installed outside private properties, she clarified.

As she said, residents verbally abused the workers with offensive language, physically shoved them, and damaged the company’s vehicle by attempting to remove its license plates. “They grouped together, starting with verbal insults. They cursed their ‘chetnik mother’ and used similar slurs. Then, they physically shoved them and attempted to remove the license plates from the official vehicle, damaging it in the process”, Jovanovic described.

“These residents need to be integrated into the legal electricity consumption system. Like everyone else, they consume electricity, and at some point, they will have to sign contracts and install meters to register their usage”, she added.

EU-Western Balkans Summit - New Brussels leadership, old expectations (Kosovo Online)

The EU-Western Balkans Summit, taking place on Wednesday in Brussels, will be the first chaired by the new President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, but expectations ahead of the meeting on both sides remain the same. The European Union is expected to reaffirm its commitment to the Western Balkans' EU membership and will remind the countries in the region that they need to implement reforms, while the countries from this part of Europe, as before, expect that the conditions set for them to cross the EU threshold should finally be concluded.

International Media

Council of EU adopts conclusions on enlargement, outlines next steps for candidates (European Western Balkans)

The General Affairs Council (GAC) of the European Union on Tuesday approved conclusions on enlargement, stressing that it is a strategic priority for the European Union. In this regard, the “full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova” has been reaffirmed, European Western Balkans portal reported.

As far as Kosovo is concerned, the Council said it remains deeply concerned about the situation in the north of Kosovo. “Several uncoordinated actions by Kosovo including those directed against Serbia-supported structures and services operating in Kosovo negatively impacted Kosovo Serbs and other communities and their access to basic public and social services. The Council expects both Kosovo and Serbia to find a sustainable solution to the situation in the north of Kosovo, that guarantees safety, security and participatory democracy for all citizens, in a coordinated manner”, the document said.

The Council also called on Kosovo to enable the reintegration of Kosovo Serb judges, prosecutors, police officers and other personnel into all Kosovo institutions they left in 2022. “The Council expects that the reintegration will be done in accordance with Dialogue agreements and with full respect for Kosovo’s legal framework. In line with the 3 June 2023 statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU, the EU has been implementing reversible measures vis-à vis Kosovo. The EU will gradually lift these measures in parallel with further steps by Kosovo to de-escalate the tensions in the north”, it has been underlined by the Council.