Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani: When America stands by us, Kosovo is stronger (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo ready to strengthen relations with U.S. in field of defense (media)
• Macron: France condemns any unilateral action that could threaten dialogue (media)
• Bislimi: Kosovo to benefit over €2 million in energy and digitalization (RTK)
• Specialist Chambers outside Kosovo’s institutional oversight (RTK)
• Vucic: North of Kosovo is occupied (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic spoke with French President (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, KoSSev, media)
• Chinese Foreign Ministry: We hope for Igor Popovic’s safe realease, we are monitoring the situation (RTS, Tanjug)
• Serbian List: The coalition of the New Face of Serbia and the People's Justice aims to weaken Serbian unity (Radio Mitrovica sever, Danas)
• Vucic accuses 'Europeans' of plotting arrest of Serbian officials (N1)
• Durmishi: The bridge over the Ibar will be ready for traffic in September (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, KiM radio)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: When America stands by us, Kosovo is stronger (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, said it was a pleasure to welcome the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, David A. Baker.  After the meeting, which concluded without any public statements, Osmani wrote "It was a pleasure to welcome today the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, David A. Baker. When America stands by us, Kosovo is stronger, safer, and more developed. Kosovo remains committed to deepening cooperation with the United States in the field of defense, including the defense industry, as a mutually beneficial opportunity for both countries. Kosovo's NATO membership is a strategic objective, and U.S. support in this process is vital," Osmani wrote.

The Office of the President in an issued statement noted that President Osmani informed Baker that Kosovo is building a modern security force aligned with NATO standards, and that the partnership with the U.S. is essential for peace and stability in the region. “In this context, President Osmani emphasized that Kosovo’s NATO membership is not only a strategic goal of the state but also a necessity for the region’s security architecture. She underlined that Kosovo is ready to contribute as a reliable ally and to meet defense spending targets in record time, adding that U.S. support in achieving this goal is vital. She also highlighted that the U.S. military presence in Kosovo directly serves U.S. strategic interests in the Western Balkans and that cooperation in the defense industry represents a new opportunity for joint investments, to the benefit of both countries,” reads the statement from Osmani’s office.

Kurti: Kosovo ready to strengthen relations with U.S. in field of defense (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, met on Saturday at a working dinner hosted by the Acting Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, David Baker,  accompanied by the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo, Anu Prattipati.  "Prime Minister Kurti informed Deputy Assistant Secretary Baker about the developments and progress in the country, defense investments during this term, and the need to increase trade exchanges and investment. He thanked Mr. Baker and the United States of America for the vital support they have given to the Republic of Kosovo and the Kosovo Security Force over the years, as well as for their ongoing role in security and peace. The Prime Minister also expressed the full readiness and commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to further strengthen relations with the United States in the field of defense, including the defense industry," announced the Office of the Prime Minister.

Maqedonci has also stated that Kosovo is committed to further advancing its partnership with the United States. “In the context of global dynamics, we discussed the challenges of security and peace in the region and beyond. We emphasized the significant progress made since our last meeting, especially regarding co-production initiatives with the United States and the development of the defense industry in Kosovo — a sector recognized for its considerable growth potential. We reaffirmed the partnership between our two countries, and I emphasized our commitment to further strengthening this cooperation. With the United States as our trusted partner, Kosovo enjoys enhanced security and plays an important role in promoting peace and stability, both regionally and globally. We are committed to advancing this partnership to even higher levels!” Maqedonci wrote on Facebook.

Macron: France condemns any unilateral action that could threaten dialogue (media)

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, held a phone conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, during which he emphasized the importance of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, also stressing that France condemns any unilateral actions that could threaten the normalization process between Pristina and Belgrade. “I emphasized how much importance France attaches to the stability, unity, and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to the respect for the rule of law. I also recalled the importance of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and our condemnation of any unilateral action that could jeopardize it,” he wrote on X on Sunday.

Macron also discussed with Vucic various aspects of bilateral relations between Serbia and France, as well as Serbia's “European path,” for which he added that he is convinced it is the right direction for the country's development and prosperity.

Bislimi: Kosovo to benefit over €2 million in energy and digitalization (RTK)

The caretaker Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, announced that Kosovo's applications have been approved in the European Union's Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) program.  “Kosovo’s applications in the EU’s Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) program have been approved, the country will benefit over €2 million. Despite our country being under unjust EU measures, last year we applied in the WBIF calls with four projects in the fields of energy and digitalization,” Bislimi wrote on Facebook.

According to him, these applications initially received a positive opinion from the evaluation committee, and now their final approval has been formalized. “The total amount of technical assistance grants for these projects exceeds €2 million: for energy projects, the value is over €800,000, and for digitalization projects, over €1.2 million,” he wrote.

Bislimi added that all those who previously claimed there would be irrecoverable losses or alleged losses of millions of euros from EU funds due to the measures are being disproven.

Specialist Chambers outside Kosovo’s institutional oversight (RTK)

On the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Specialist Chambers, media took to write that although the Specialist Chambers in The Hague was established under Kosovo’s laws, it operates completely independently and is not overseen by Kosovo’s institutions, including the Kosovo Judicial Council.

Lawyer Skender Musa and the KLA Veterans Organization argue that the court's indictments, based on the idea of the KLA as a "joint criminal enterprise," undermine the legitimacy of Kosovo’s liberation war. They consider that Kosovo’s institutions should be more active in ensuring a fair trial, such as by guaranteeing the presence of defendants if released from detention, ensuring no contact with witnesses as well as contracting an international institute to monitor court proceedings.

Musa also criticized a decision by Minister Albulena Haxhiu that prevented additional legal defense funding for the accused.

They expressed concern that the “Prosecution's narrative attempts to equate the KLA victims with Serbia aggressors, which many see as an effort to tarnish the KLA's image and distort historical truth.”

Vucic: North of Kosovo is occupied (Albanian Post)

The news website reports that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, in a public appearance attacked the international community and repeated familiar narratives about Kosovo and the region. In his recent speech, Vucic complained about what he called "historical injustices against Serbia," citing NATO’s 1999 intervention "without a UN mandate" and stressing that "14% of our territory was taken."

Referencing the Croatian operation “Storm,” Vucic then turned to Kosovo, once again using harsh language, calling northern Kosovo "occupied" and referring to the governance there as "occupiers." He went further by openly attacking Serbs who work in Kosovo’s institutions in the north, calling them "servants" and accusing them of having abandoned "their faith, their people, and their state for an invitation to a ball."

"The majority will not be servants. They want their freedom," Vucic said, adding that the recent elections in the north, with low voter turnout, were unacceptable to Belgrade.

Albanian Post further added that “as he faces internal criticism over corruption, repression of freedoms, and growing authoritarianism, Vucic appears to be trying to maintain public support through nationalist declarations and rhetoric about historical and religious aspirations toward Kosovo."

Serbian Language Media

Vucic spoke with French President (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, KoSSev, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in a telephone conversation yesterday with French President Emmanuel Macron, discussed bilateral relations and regional issues, with a particular focus on developments in BiH and Kosovo. Macron emphasized that France attaches great importance to the stability, unity, and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to the respect for the rule of law, and stressed the significance of the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo while condemning all unilateral actions that could undermine it.

“I just spoke with President Vucic. I reiterated my belief that Serbia’s destiny lies in Europe and expressed hope that it can move forward through dialogue, reforms, and accession. We reviewed the relations between Serbia and France and decided to further strengthen our cooperation,” Macron wrote on the X platform, adding that they also discussed the situation in the region.

“I underscored the importance France places on the stability, unity, and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on the rule of law. I reiterated the importance of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and our condemnation of all unilateral actions that could jeopardize it,” Macron stated.

“With the Western Balkan countries, Europe will realize its destiny – in unity, solidarity, and responsibility,” the French president concluded.

Vucic described the conversation as friendly and candid.

“A friendly and open discussion with President Emmanuel Macron on bilateral relations and regional issues, especially in light of the current developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo and Metohija,” Vucic said in an Instagram post.

He conveyed that he emphasized Serbia’s continued commitment to all processes aimed at preserving peace, cooperation, and prosperity, and reiterated that the country’s development, the well-being of its people, and the protection of the Serbian population are Serbia’s key national interests.

Vucic underlined Serbia’s dedication to dialogue and respect for international law, as well as its readiness to contribute to the region’s long-term stability.

“I thanked President Macron for his personal engagement regarding the Western Balkans and for France’s continued support to Serbia on its European path. I also extended an invitation for him to visit Serbia,” Vucic added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry: We hope for Igor Popovic’s safe realease, we are monitoring the situation (RTS, Tanjug)

China is monitoring the situation regarding the arrest of Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Igor Popovic and hopes for his safe release, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun  reported RTS on Saturday.

"China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and believes that the security and legitimate rights and interests of Serbs in Kosovo should be protected," Guo said at a regular press conference on Friday, as published on the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Guo stressed that the Chinese authorities hope that Belgrade and Pristina will continue to engage in practical and constructive dialogue within the framework of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, that they will actively strive for a lasting solution to the Kosovo issue, and that they will refrain from taking unilateral actions that could lead to tensions.

Guo made the remarks in response to a question from a China Daily reporter about Popovic's recent arrest and a statement from the French Foreign Ministry stating that the French authorities hope for his speedy release.

"We are following Popovic's arrest and have taken note of the statements issued by the French Foreign Ministry and the EU," a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Serbian List: The coalition of the New Face of Serbia and the People's Justice aims to weaken Serbian unity (Radio Mitrovica sever, Danas)

The latest coalition formed by "New Face of Serbia", led by Milos Parandilovic and "Narodna Pravda" led by Nenad Radosavljevic, in the opinion of the Serbian List, represents another step in the direction of the political instrumentalization of Serbs by Pristina and placing under the Albin Kurti's reins, reported Radio Mitrovica sever, citing the party announcement. 

They believe that these are political adventurers who want, as they said, to install structures that will act as the "extended arm" of Albin Kurti.

"Serbian List follows with disgust the attempts of certain political adventurers to install structures in Kosovo and Metohija that act as an extended arm of Albin Kurti. While on the one hand we have Albin Kurti, a man whose goal is to eliminate all authentic Serbian representatives and hijack institutions from the Serbian people, on the other hand we have Parandilovic - a political vulture who, without any support from the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, joins forces with those who openly cooperate with Kurti's structures. That fact says more than any statement," read the SL statement.

The people involved in this coalition, as it was added, from Radomirovic, "who receives instructions from Arber Vokrri, to Radisavljevic, a close associate of Lulzim Hetemi, have long been known for their participation in projects aimed at weakening Serbian resistance in Kosovo."

"Their collaborators in Leposavic are directly involved in the persecution and intimidation of Serbs who do not put up with the occupation and violent intrusion of Pristina into our institutions. The SL will not remain silent about attempts to legitimize under the guise of 'new faces' those who in reality represent Kurti's Serbs. We call on all Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to remain united, to recognize attempts at division and not to be deceived by a media campaign that is supposed to conceal the essence - and that is that this is another attempt to break Serbian unity and jeopardize our fight for survival," concluded the Serbian List.

Vucic accuses 'Europeans' of plotting arrest of Serbian officials; Situation in Kosovo particularly difficult; Serbia does not accept ruling against Dodik (N1, Kosovo online, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said, commenting on the Friday arrest of 11 people in connection with corruption during the reconstruction of the railway line to the Hungarian border, among them the former Ministers of Construction Tomislav Momirovic and Goran Vesic, that this action was carried out at the behest of the Europeans, without specifying whom exactly he meant.

Speaking at a press conference after the session of the National Security Council on Saturday, Vucic stated that the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime "was emboldened to detain and detain and request detention for Vesic and Momirovic for no reason", and that this is scandalous for him.

"You arrested three people from the paper, and you didn't even touch the fourth one, who is the one responsible for the signature based on whose signature everyone else signed it. Just explain it to me if that's possible. Or the fact that you drink with him in a bar makes him free, exculpates him from all responsibility. There must be some strange things," said Vucic.

He added that they will keep Vesic and Momirovic in custody after nine months since the arrests began.

"They didn't run away in those nine months; they didn't influence the witnesses in those nine months. They won't run away. There is a fourth invented reason in our law, which is disturbing the public. The public was not disturbed for nine months, so now they will be disturbed," said Vucic.

He also said that until now foreigners mostly determined who would go behind bars.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3fn7fhe4

Situation in Kosovo particularly difficult, Kurti will again try to remove the Serbian List from local elections; Serbia does not accept the ruling against Dodik  

Kosovo Online reported that President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated at the press conference on Saturday that the situation in Kosovo was particularly difficult and that Kosovo PM Albin Kurti will again attempt to discredit and remove the Serbian List from the local elections in Kosovo scheduled for October 12.

Vucic told reporters that one of the topics at the session of the National Security Council—aside from the verdict against the Republic of Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik—was the complex situation in Kosovo, particularly in relation to preparations for the October 12 elections.

“Kurti will again try to discredit and remove the Serbian List and impose Albanian representatives who can’t even win two or three percent of the vote… Yet even with those three percent, the international community has until now enabled him to govern the northern, Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija,” Vucic said.

He stated that Serbia will continue its activities and that he will inform some of the most senior and important representatives of Europe and the world about this matter as early as in the morning of the following day in telephone conversations.

“The situation in Kosovo and Metohija is very difficult, but what concerns me most is the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because some believe they have the right to make any decision they wish, and expect everyone else to remain silent, look to the sky, and not utter a word in opposition,” Vucic pointed out, reported Kosovo Online.

Regarding the decision of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the verdict against RS President Milorad Dodik, Vucic stated that Serbia does not accept the ruling, calling it an attack on the Serb people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the Dayton Peace Agreement.

He read aloud to the public the Conclusions of the National Security Council concerning the verdict against Dodik.

Durmishi: The bridge over the Ibar will be ready for traffic in September (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, KiM radio)

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure in the technical mandate Hysen Durmishi visited the construction site of the new bridge over the Ibar and said that it will be ready for vehicles and pedestrians in September.

In a post on Facebook, Durmishi wrote that the concrete piles were poured, the foundations were prepared, reinforced, and concreted, as well as the pillars of the bridge.

"Yesterday and today, 18 girders were installed, which were prepared, reinforced and concreted in a workshop in Bajir, Mitrovica. Now we still have to concretize the slab and the asphalt layer. In September, the bridge will be ready for traffic for both vehicles and pedestrians," said Durmishi.

A few days ago, the ministers in the technical mandate Elbert Krasniqi and Xhelal Svecla visited the construction site.

Krasniqi stated that the works were taking place according to the established dynamics.