UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Anti-Albanian chants during match in Kumanovo unacceptable (media)
Trump again claims he prevented war between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
Nothing new in the Dialogue (Koha)
US Embassy: Baker’s visit reinforces US-Kosovo defense partnership (media)
Teachers’ union to join protest against Specialist Chambers (Klan)
“Freedom Has a Name” platform supports protest, calls on participation (media)
Defendant accused of attacking KFOR, Milos Antovic, pleads guilty (Koha)
RTK faces financial crisis, protest at Kosovo’s Assembly scheduled for Tuesday (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Municipalities in North of Kosovo managed by occupiers with a few Serbian servants (KoSSev)
Construction of new bridge over Ibar River in full swing (Kosovo Online)
Parandilovic responded to the Serbian List: Kurti's biggest allies are Vucic and SNS (Danas)
Vucic: I never considered imposing a state of emergency (N1)
30th anniversary of Operation Storm (Beta, N1, media)

International:

Kosovo’s parliamentary deadlock leaves broadcaster short of funds (Balkan Insight)
LGBTQI+ community in Kosovo faces political exclusion and hate-fueled media narratives (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Anti-Albanian chants during match in Kumanovo unacceptable (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani strongly reacted to the racist anti-Albanian chants heard during a basketball game in Kumanovo, calling them unacceptable and a violation of interethnic coexistence. She criticized the lack of response from the state officials in North Macedonia and called for immediate measures against the organizers and instigators of hatred. Osmani emphasized that Kosovo will firmly defend the dignity of Albanians wherever they live.

Trump again claims he prevented war between Kosovo and Serbia (media)

The U.S. President Donald Trump has once again spoken about his efforts to prevent wars. In an interview with Australian journalist Mario Nawfal, Trump mentioned a potential outbreak of war between Kosovo and Serbia among others. Trump claimed that their actions managed to save millions of lives. “We solved many wars. One of them, think about it, India and Pakistan… nuclear. Look at Cambodia recently. Just this week, we solved a major war between Congo and Rwanda. Kosovo, you know about that, Serbia, it was about to explode,” Trump stated.

Trump has frequently brought up the topic of preventing conflict between Kosovo and Serbia. Just a few days ago, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also spoke on the matter.

Nothing new in the Dialogue (Koha)

Brussels based correspondent of the news website, Augustin Palokaj, claims that the institutional crisis in Kosovo, protests in Serbia, and the European Union’s lack of effectiveness have led to months without any meaningful progress in the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia. Under these circumstances, EU officials, when asked about the dialogue, have nothing new to say beyond repeating what’s been heard for years: that “the EU is working with the parties,” that “dialogue is important for the European path,” and that the EU is ready to organize meetings when the parties are prepared, Palokaj continued.

Asked if any developments could be expected in the process, especially after the message from French President Emmanuel Macron following a phone call with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, an EU spokesperson said “the EU, as the facilitator of the dialogue, is working with the parties toward a comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which will address all outstanding issues. The EU expects Serbia and Kosovo to fulfill their dialogue obligations, bearing in mind the direct connection between comprehensive normalization and their EU aspirations. The path to the European Union for both parties goes through the EU-facilitated dialogue,” the spokesperson said.

Regarding the possibility of new meetings in the dialogue process, the EU links this to the parties’ readiness. “The dialogue continues with regular bilateral and trilateral meetings at the technical level and among the chief negotiators. The last meeting was in June. The EU remains ready to organize the next round of talks as soon as the parties signal their readiness, including at the highest level. The next meeting will be announced in due course,” the response adds.

Meanwhile, tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have escalated further following several arrests in both Kosovo and Serbia. The EU has called for avoiding “unilateral actions that increase tensions and go against the spirit of normalization.” Several European diplomats have expressed doubt that any significant development in the dialogue process will occur soon. They see no willingness from either side. Even the rare meetings held in recent months, they say, have merely served for both parties to repeat their positions and exchange accusations, Palokaj reports.

US Embassy: Baker’s visit reinforces US-Kosovo defense partnership (media)

The U.S. Embassy has issued a statement regarding the official visit of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Baker and General Chris McKinney to Kosovo. “Thank you to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Baker and Brigadier General Chris McKinney for their visit to Kosovo, where they met with President Osmani, Caretaker Prime Minister Kurti, Minister of Defense Maqedonci, COMKSF Lieutenant General Jashari, and COMKFOR Major General Enrico Barduani. They also visited Camp Bondsteel and met with U.S. military personnel. Throughout the visit, DASD Baker reinforced the U.S.–Kosovo defense partnership and opportunities to deepen cooperation in support of regional peace and stability.

Teachers’ union to join protest against Specialist Chambers (Klan)

The United Union of Education, Science, and Culture of Kosovo (UUESCK) has confirmed its participation in the protest called by organizations emerging from the KLA war, which will be held on August 7 at 5:00 PM in Skenderbeu Square in Pristina. In a statement released to the media, UUESCK announced that education workers, from preschools to universities, will take part in this peaceful protest, which they describe as "a powerful voice in defense of truth and justice".

“Our voice will join the voice of truth. With our participation, we send a clear message that we do not forget the sacrifice! Thanks to those who are today unjustly behind bars, we enjoy freedom today, walk freely in our own state, and educate generations in patriotism and justice,” the statement reads.

“Freedom Has a Name” platform supports protest, calls on participation (media)

The “Freedom Has a Name” platform is supporting the protest organized by the KLA War Veterans’ Organization “against the injustices toward freedom fighters being held by the Specialized Chambers in The Hague.” In a Facebook post, the platform called on people to join the protest on August 7. “On August 7, we protest against injustice, against the rewriting of history, against the violation of human rights… Together!” the call states.

Defendant accused of attacking KFOR, Milos Antovic, pleads guilty (Koha)

Milos Antovic, accused of attacking KFOR in Zvecan on May 29, 2023, has pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal with Kosovo's Special Prosecution. He faced four charges: assault on an official, hooliganism, drug offenses, and illegal weapons possession.

Both the prosecution and defense proposed a 5-year prison sentence and a €20,000 fine, with the fine to be paid in installments. Antovic has been in detention since April 15, 2025. The court approved the agreement, and his detention will continue until the verdict is final.

RTK faces financial crisis, protest at Kosovo’s Assembly scheduled for Tuesday (RTK)

Kosovo’s public broadcaster, RTK, is facing a serious financial crisis due to the lack of budget allocation for the second half of the year. Employees have not received their July salaries, and operations are at risk. In response, two RTK unions will protest on Tuesday in front of the Assembly, demanding urgent budget release.

The Kosovo Journalists’ Association and the Ombudsperson support the protest, warning of the consequences for media freedom and employee rights. The crisis stems from political deadlock and the non-functional Assembly, while the unions threaten further action if the issue is not resolved soon.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Municipalities in North of Kosovo managed by occupiers with a few Serbian servants (KoSSev)

''For four years, the occupiers managed those municipalities (in the north of Kosovo). They found a few Serbian servants, like the Nazis found them in 1941, like the Austrians had them in the First World War, like the Bulgarians in the Balkan war... There are always such among the Serbs, but it is a small number. There are more people who will not be their servants,'' Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said last night, reported KoSSev portal.

Today marks three decades since the expulsion of the Serbian people from the former Republika Srpska Krajina in the Croatian operation "Storm", which took place on August 4, 1995. The national commemoration was held last night in Sremski Karlovci, where a commemorative meeting called "The storm is a pogrom - We remember forever" was held, reported KoSSev.

A memorial service was also held for the victims of this exodus, after which Patriarch Porfirije addressed the crowd.

Serbs must remember those who died in the Storm, he said.

"We have to delve deeper into the words of Christ - 'Love your neighbor as yourself' and 'love your enemy' because few do that, and only true Christians can do that. Bearing in mind Christ's words, let us not allow what often happens among us, which is to hate, because it leads to the spiral of evil in which we all become losers. We owe love to each other, first of all in the family, then to the people in our immediate environment, our neighbors, at work... And only then can we have peace with everyone, no matter how different and distant we are from each other. I am asking the whole nation in a time when everyone and the whole world is going through temptations, to rise above discord and conflict," said Patriarch Porfirije in his sermon.

After him, Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, and then the president of Serbia, addressed the crowd.

An injustice that has lasted for 30 years, during which everything was taken from Serbia

At the beginning of his address, Vucic noted that so many citizens have never gathered at the commemoration of the "Storm" action, regardless of the rain and bad weather conditions.

"I will speak from my heart and soul, not from my head. Thank you to all the people of Krajina, their hearts are huge, and it beats the most for Serbia. They had to move to Serbia - to save their lives, but also to live and work for Serbia. You loved and still love Serbia, more than your houses and homes. You wanted to be with and live with your people," he said.

He must apologize to them, he said, as no one welcomed them as befits, but "they hid them from the people of Belgrade, the people of Novi Sad and some other urban people who should not have seen what misfortune befell the Serbian people".

But, as he said last night, he would talk about something else. About injustice. About everything they did to the Serbs and took from them in the previous 30 years.

"They destroyed Yugoslavia for us, saying that Serbs cannot live in one state. Then they said they would not touch Kosovo and Metohija. When the conflict broke out in Krajina, they hatched conspiracies and plans to overthrow Srpska Krajina. They talked about how magnificent it was to kill 2,500 and expel 250,000 people. They forced us to be silent and said, look at Serbia in the future."

It was difficult for a Serb to watch the crimes in Croatia, he pointed out, but "they forced us to be silent."

"They told us, Serbs, look to the future. There are no more wars and conflicts there, nobody will touch your Kosovo, it is yours. You also have the Republika Srpska, everything is going normally," said Vucic.

And then, he added, they said - Kosovo no more.

"Then they told us - Serbs, Kosovo can't either, you would really like to preserve your country. Now we are going to take away 14 percent of your territory, first we are going to bombard and kill you, without UN permission, without any UN decision. We don't care about anything. Why? Well, we can. Or as our children would say today - We are capable of doing so."

And during that time, he said, they conducted the fiercest propaganda:

"Saying that these are some barbarians and villains that we must put down and kill."

And then they also separated Montenegro, he added.

"It hasn't been long, you said - Montenegro can't be with you either. Go Montenegro, separate yourself from the villains, look to the future. And you in Serbia now have your own independence."

They decided to steal our heart and soul

Then they decided, Vucic said, that there was nothing from that independence either, when they made the decision to take 14 percent of Serbian territory -

"We decided to steal the heart and soul of your people and take Kosovo and Metohija from you. And in a month or two, 85 Western and Western-oriented countries recognized Kosovo's independence. But even then, it was not enough for them."

He was ''fed up with all the lies, so much so that his heart and soul will not allow him to remain silent and not say it''.

If only they were fair, he said, and admit that they were wrong about Kosovo and Srpska, but no.

"You never said that, because you big, powerful and strong, proud and arrogant, are not the ones who are wrong. Rather, we are the little ones who are wrong, and we are the ones who do not want to be your servants and subjects. The Serb will not be your servant. The Serb wants his freedom and does not ask for the price. Remember and learn for once," he said.

An example of their rule of law - the elections in the north of Kosovo: “Shame on you bastards”

Vucic gave as an example of their rule of law, extraordinary local elections in the North of Kosovo, in which Serbs did not participate.

"Three and a half years ago we had elections in the North of Kosovo, and they recognized the elections with a 2.5 percent turnout. And that was the rule of law and democracy. Shame on you bastards," he said at this gathering.

He revealed last night that they told him in Moldova that they would not accept it, that there would be another election in which the Serbs would win.

"You took me to Moldova to tell me - no no, we will not accept that. Western free Europe will never accept that. Just be patient, Mr. President, wait a little while for time to pass, there will be new elections in which the Serbs, who are the majority, will win," he detailed.

The municipalities are managed by the occupiers and a few Serbian servants

That did not happen, he said, the occupiers still manage those municipalities.

"Did elections take place? No. The occupiers have been managing those municipalities for four years. They found a few Serbian servants, just like the Nazis found them in 1941, just like the Austrians had them... There are always such among the Serbs, but it is a small number."

"These are those who have serf souls, who like to serve others. Who would give up religion, people, and country for the sake of attending a ball," he said.

However, the majority of Serbs, he believed, would not do that.

"The majority will not be servants after all. They want their freedom!".

Construction of new bridge over Ibar River in full swing (Kosovo Online)

Works on constructing a new bridge over the Ibar River, connecting Mitrovica South and Mitrovica North are ongoing in full swing, Kosovo Online portal reported today. Less than a month remains to the set deadline announced by Kosovo Prime Minister in technical mandate Albin Kurti once he laid foundation stone to it to complete the works.

The works are ongoing in an accelerating manner, despite calls from the European Union and embassies to Pristina not to undertake unilateral steps, but also despite a petition signed by more than 3.600 Serbs opposing bridge construction. This petition was submitted to Quint states representatives in Pristina, KFOR, EULEX, EU, OSCE and UNMIK missions, voicing dissatisfaction of the Serbian community against new unilateral Pristina’s act. The portal recalled that not even members of Mitrovica North municipal assembly discussed this new bridge construction.

Kosovo deputy minister for infrastructure, in technical mandate, Hysen Durmishi bragged about work pace in a post on Facebook yesterday, saying that by placing the main pillars yet another phase in bridge construction has been completed.

The main bridge over the Ibar River, closed to vehicular traffic, is located only 200 meters away from the one currently being constructed. It has been closed to vehicular traffic since 1999 following numerous inter-ethnic incidents which occurred during attempts of Albanians from the south to forcefully enter the northern part of Mitrovica, which at that time was part of a single city. Numerous conflicts have led to division of the city and subsequently to the establishment of two separate municipalities in the Kosovo system – Mitrovica South and Mitrovica North. KFOR units are permanently stationed at the main bridge, which remains open to pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition to the main bridge, there are three more bridges connecting Mitrovica South and Mitrovica North opened to vehicular traffic, one from direction of Suvi Do, the other one in Bosniak Mahala and the third one located near the main bus station in Mitrovica North, via so-called Dudin Krs passage.

Parandilovic responded to the Serbian List: Kurti's biggest allies are Vucic and SNS (Danas)

President of the New Face of Serbia (NLS) and MP Milos Parandilovic said today, responding to the accusations of the Serbian List (SL) that they place the Serbs "under the Albin Kurti's reins", that the biggest allies of the current authorities in Pristina are Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and SL.

"It was expected that Vucic's mobsters like Milan Radoicic and Veselinovic from the Serbian List condemn the cooperation and merger of CI Narodna Pravda (People's Justice) and Novo Lice Srbije (New Face of Serbia) because they are afraid of anyone who threatens their position and who wants to gather Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija in a way to free themselves from the yoke of Vucic and Kurti. The Serbian List mistreats all free Serbs who are not under their control. Anyone who opposes them falls into disfavor of Radoicic and his batterers," Parandilovic said.

As he pointed out, the Serbs in Kosovo are "between two terrors" - Albin Kurti and the Serbian List, i.e., the SNS.

"This is precisely why it is necessary to offer our people in Kosovo who do not want to be part of the progressive mafia octopus an alternative and the option not to vote for either Kurti or Serbian List," said Parandilovic

He added that Vucic "is the greatest danger to the survival of the Serbian people in modern history, while Serbian List is the greatest danger to the survival of Serbs in Kosovo."

"Their perverted policy made the Serbs an easy target by forcing the Serbs out of their municipalities, courts and police, and in their place came the Albanians who are now harassing and persecuting them," said the NLS president.

He also stated that Kurti has no better ally than Vucic, Radoicic, SNS and Serbian List.

"Together, in an agreement, they are systematically working to exterminate the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. The same people who, in agreement with Kurti, forcibly took the Serbs to the SNS meeting in Belgrade in May 2023, and then allowed Kurti to occupy undefended Serbian municipalities by force, are calling someone a traitor. The New Face of Serbia bothers progressives throughout Serbia because they are aware that we are sincere patriots and that we will stand in the way of their crime led by Vucic. Let the construction and drug mafia from the Serbian List do not worry about the New Face of Serbia, they should be aware that they will not escape from the hands of justice in any way after falling from power," concluded Milos Parandilovic.

Vucic: I never considered imposing a state of emergency (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Monday that “imposing a state of emergency has never been an option, not for a second”, adding that it does not interest him at all, N1 reported.

“They (former authorities) used to impose it. We offer on a silver platter even more than the usual civil rights and freedoms, and we will continue to do so”, Vucic said during a visit to construction work on the Slepcevic-Badovinci expressway. The president said he understands politics and the people better than his (unnamed) opponents and “it is getting harder and harder for them to avoid defeat, whenever elections are held, and it’s getting harder every day”.

“I am too serious a person to say such things if I weren’t certain about them. And when it happens, you will see that I was right”, Vucic said. Commenting on his unnamed opponents, he said “with each day of this madness, this harassment of the people, they are digging themselves deeper into a hole – the people can see who is serious and responsible”.

Retired university professor Vladeta Jankovic said earlier on Monday he has no doubt that Vucic is aware of the depth and seriousness of the divisions among the people, and that he knows where this could lead. “He will make the decision (on elections) only once he carefully assesses the risks, and he faces equally dangerous alternatives: one is the almost certain defeat of the Progressives (the ruling Serbian Progressive Party), with an equally certain refusal to recognize the election results, and the other – some kind of state of emergency with much worse violence than what we have witnessed recently”, Jankovic said in an interview with Nova daily.

30th anniversary of Operation Storm (Beta, N1, media)

Monday marks 30 years since the launch of Operation Storm, a Croatian military-police operation that led to the exodus of over 200,000 Serbs from Croatia and marked the end of the country’s war for independence.

Operation Storm began in the early morning of August 4, 1995 with an offensive by the Croatian army, police, and Croatian Defense Council (HVO) units targeting the Banija, Kordun, Lika, and northern Dalmatia regions, which were part of the internationally unrecognized Republic of Srpska Krajina (RSK).

Through Operation Storm, involving 138,500 Croatian military and police personnel and HVO units, Croatia regained control over the last territories held by the Army of the Republic of Srpska Krajina. Croatian authorities, led by then-President Franjo Tudjman, declared the operation complete on the evening of August 7, though sporadic clashes continued until August 14.

Operation Storm is widely regarded as one of the most brutal instances of ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. The International Court of Justice in The Hague classified it as such in its February 2015 ruling.

According to Serbia’s Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, over 250,000 Serbs were displaced during and after the operation, around 1,700 were killed, and more than 700 remain missing.

The Veritas Documentation and Information Center, a non-governmental, non-partisan organization founded in late 1993 by citizens of the Republic of Srpska Krajina, reports that 1,284 Serbs were killed, with 619 still listed as missing. Of those killed, 1,247 were civilians, three-quarters of whom were over 60 years old, and 564 were women.

Croatian NGOs and associations estimate that over 600 civilians were killed during and after Operation Storm, more than 22,000 homes were burned, and approximately 150,000 Croatian citizens of Serbian descent fled the country, with their return systematically obstructed for years.

For crimes against civilians during Operation Storm, three Croatian generals faced trial at the Hague Tribunal. In the initial verdict, Ante Gotovina was sentenced to 24 years and Mladen Markac to 18 years for participating in a joint criminal enterprise aimed at permanently removing Serbs from Croatia, while Ivan Cermak was acquitted. The appeals chamber overturned the initial ruling, ultimately acquitting Gotovina and Markac.

In Serbia, August 4, the day the operation began, is observed as a Day of Remembrance for the killed and displaced Serbs. Croatia, on the other hand, celebrates August 5 as Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Defenders Day, marking the moment its forces entered an almost deserted Knin and raised the Croatian flag over the Knin Fortress.

On Sunday evening, a state ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm, titled “Storm is a Pogrom – We Remember Forever,” was held in the Serbian town of Sremski Karlovci. The event was jointly organized by Serbia, and Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity Republika Srpska.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3vj7mjw4

International

Kosovo’s parliamentary deadlock leaves broadcaster short of funds (Balkan Insight)

Failure to constitute parliament leaves Kosovo's public broadcaster, RTK, without a budget for the second half of the year, putting salaries at risk.

Kosovo’s public broadcaster, Radio Television of Kosovo, RTK, has not received the second half of its budget for 2025 from the state, leaving its employees at risk of not receiving their July salaries next week.

Fadil Hoxha, adviser to the director of RTK, told BIRN that the budget “for the first six months of the year was allocated in January and the other instalment should have been allocated in July”. RTK falls legally under the authority of parliament, he explained, so “the parliamentary committee on the budget procedurally issues the money, which is then allocated to the bank account of RTK by the Ministry of Finance”.