Kosovo under sanctions, Serbia signs contract with prominent American company for its world promotion

At least 720 thousand dollars as the initial value of the annual contract has signed Serbian Ambassador to the US Marko Djuric, on behalf of Serbia's state, in July of this year, with the prominent American company for Serbia. PR, “K ARV Communications”, based in New York, and popular headquarters in various parts of the world.

The contract, which will be billed by the Government in Belgrade from $60,000 a month for the services and communication strategy the American company offers, has entered into force from July 15th 2023 and has agreed to last at least one year, until July 14th 2024.

The reporter has obtained a copy of the contract provisions agreed upon by the Serbian ambassador to the US with the company “KARV Communications” on July 11, 2023.

The document shows that KARV will work with Serbia's Government to assist in promoting Serbia to the US and towards achieving information of new audiences to understand the position of the Serbian state in the international arena.

It explains at short points the strategy with which results are targeted. This through standard media in the United States (radio/ TV/gazeta etc.) and social ones. And direct conversation and talks with different groups in the United States.

“KARV will work with RS to assist in promoting Serbia, and towards achieving new audiences with information that will help them understand Serbia's position in the international arena. This will be done through standard and social media, in terms of direct interactions and talks with groups throughout the United States of America”, says the first point of Djurici's agreement with the American company, which defines the scope of the contract reached between them.

At the next two points of the contract, a period of contract engagement is explained that annually amounts to an initial worth of 720 thousand dollars and its form of billing for services.

In addition to the total value of the contract, the Serbian state assumes, through rebarement, even direct spending and other expenses for implementation of the US communications strategy offered by the American company for the Serbian state.

“The commitments and payments to third parties offering products and services, beyond ordinary and reasonable business spending, will not be made without RS's initial written approval and will be billed at 5 per cent extra tariff”, envisions contracts.

“KARV Communications”, is a company for strategic communications, accepted and extended to different parts of the world, specialising for sophisticated corporate and financial communications, crisis management and personal reputation management, as well as for support in judicial affairs and public affairs.

The company, on its official page, describes itself as a provider of legal advice for customers, management councils, lobbies, financial advice, technology, risk management, and other domestic or external advisers.

In March 2022, “Polytico”, in an article about lobbyists, lawyers and public relations professionals who encourage aid to Ukraine, listed the company in question among the two firms representing the Ukrainian Oil and Gas Industry Association, which were described as “facto, emissaries of the Ukrainian case” and “aid to Ukraine.

“founder and president K ARV Communications”, Andrew. Frank., his résumé also has the experience at the White House, as a representative for media communication and co-ordination.

Serbia is giving millions to lobby in America

“contract K ARV Communications”, 3rd Serbian state active for US lobby.

In July of this year, a few days after the “agreement KARV Communications”, Serbia's US Ambassador Marko Djuric, reached agreement with the American lobby company “BGR Group” The value of the contract, which started work on July 20, 2023, totals at least $600,000 a year, without including additional expenses, which the Serbian state is obliged to take over.

The contract, which was published by Serbian media, shows that the contract during the execution will include strategic management and consultancy and relations with the Serbian state public in the US. This could include relevant contacts with US government officials, nongovernmental organisations and the US media, said the document signed by Djurici with the American company.

At the end of 2019, Serbia also engaged the American company “Yorktown Solutions” for “Strategic Adviser service” regarding economic relations between the US and Serbia. The value of the Serbian state agreement with the company “Yourktown Solutions” is estimated to amount to 2.34 million total dollars. The contract's signatory with the American company is Serbia's Oda Economics and expires on November 8th this year.

The same year, 2019, the Serbian state reached agreement on lobby in the US, as well as with the company “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP”, whose value is not made public. The contract was short term.

Kosovo for two consecutive years 0 dollars for U.S. lobby, in the third year 329 thousand dollars for companies “fantome”

Kosovo in the past three years has been degraded in relation to US lobbie contracts.

The government of Kosovo, in 2020, during the 50-day famous Kurti 1 government had suspended all lobbiing contracts with American companies. The reasons for their interruption, through informal channels, are said to be from “banals” and influenced by “a wax” due to the privacy stamps that have contained the agreements in question.

From that decision, May 2023 The embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in the US linked a lobby agreement with the company “Cica”, owned by an Albanian-American. The duration of the deal, according to public data, was short-term and its value was estimated at only 35 thousand dollars for services.

A few months later, on July 3rd, 2023, the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diasposor, “created <x0x1> with an estimated 147 Euro annual lobbie contracts (294 thousand total) two other companies “x3> created by two other Albanian-Americans, supporters of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. These are “Ambal” and “Aferdita Rakipi Communications”.

Their owners, which resulted in being two <x0milliant” of power in Kosovo, are Venus Rakipi and Avni Mustafaj. The first even resulted in close relations with Kosovo diplomacy chief Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, whose ministry divided the contracts.

The paradox of all of this resulted in attitudes expressed in public, through social networks, of two Kosovo lobbyists contracted to lobby in the US, which spread controversy and harsh criticism of Western policies and strategies for Kosovo.

The total value shared by Kosovo for U.S. lobbies, between 2020 and 2023, results in 329 thousand dollars, including two contracts with companies “fantome” of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's supporters.

Under the contracts, the owners of contracted companies, Aferdita Rakipi and Avni Mustafaj, have committed themselves to “the privatisation of bilateral relations between the US and the Government of Kosovo”.