Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani meets Secretary General of the Arab League in New York (RTK)
• Kurti: Russia’s violation of Estonia’s airspace is concerning (media)
• President Trump again claims he stopped war between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
• Rubin: I hope to shake hands in freedom with Thaci (media)
• U.S. Congressman proposes amendment to prioritize Kosovo’s NATO membership (AP)
• Kupchan: It would be self-destructive if Kosovo’s government continues to harm relations with U.S. (RFE)
• Serwer: In absence of U.S. focus, Kosovo should strengthen ties with Tokyo and Seoul (RFE)
• Citaku: New elections inevitable, could be held at end of this year (media)
• Rexhepi: Belgrade parade - anti-Albanian march, provocation for region (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric from today at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug, media)
• Stoned bus with pilgrims in front of the church of St. Sava in South Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Jevtic: Participation in elections is the only correct decision (Kosovo Online, Blic TV)
• "Movement for the defense of KiM'': Serbs from Kosovo will soon be without their health care and education (KoSSev)
• CI "North for All": Citizens must know the truth about the integration of health and educational institutions (Alternativna)
• Petkovic: “When Rohde calls for restraint from malicious statements, it would be good if he started from himself” (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade hosts “Strength of Unity” military parade as police block student protesters (N1, Beta)

Opinion:

• Rama: What the UN can listen from the world's cities (Washington Reporter)

International:

• "Ordinary Citizens in Kosovo Pay for Millions of Euros of Stolen Electricity" (PI)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani meets Secretary General of the Arab League in New York (RTK)

During her visit to New York, Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. “I highlighted the importance of cooperation between Kosovo and the Arab League, as well as the need for support in the recognition process from the member states of this organization that have yet to take this step,” Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Osmani began her U.S. visit with a meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Waterbury, Connecticut. She thanked the “Hasan Prishtina” Association and fellow compatriots for their hospitality and dedication to the homeland.

Kurti: Russia’s violation of Estonia’s airspace is concerning (media)

Caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti has expressed Kosovo’s solidarity with Estonia following airspace violations by Russia. “Today’s news about Russia’s violation of Estonia’s airspace is very concerning. Kosovo stands in solidarity with Estonia during this time,” he wrote on X.

President Trump again claims he stopped war between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)

The U.S. President Donald Trump stated that on the international stage, the U.S. is more respected than ever before, mentioning that he had stopped several wars and conflicts around the world, including the one between Kosovo and Serbia. Trump made these remarks during the Founders’ Dinner of the American Cornerstone Institute. “Just look at this. Armenia and Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Kosovo and Serbia, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia. We stopped all of them. And 60 percent of them were stopped because of trade,” Trump said.

Trump also said he had been told that if he managed to stop the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he should be awarded the Nobel Prize. “I said: ‘Well, what about the other seven? I should get a Nobel Prize for each of them.’ And they told me: ‘But if you stop Russia and Ukraine, Mr. President, then you’ll definitely get the Nobel.’ I replied: ‘I stopped seven wars. That’s just one war, and it’s a big one,’” Trump said.

Rubin: I hope to shake hands in freedom with Thaci (media)

Former U.S. State Department official James Rubin has spoken about his three-day testimony at The Hague in defense of former President Hashim Thaci. He said that although he didn’t exchange any words with Thaci in the courtroom, he had him in mind throughout his testimony. He expressed hope to see Thaci soon and to shake his hand. “I haven’t met former President Thaci in five years. I saw him in the courtroom, and he was full of dignity. We didn’t exchange any words and didn’t even look at each other, but I had him in mind the entire time I was giving my testimony. I truly hope to see him soon after he is released from prison. I hope we’ll be able to shake hands, and I’ll be very glad that I had the opportunity to help in this terrible chapter of Kosovo’s political history.”

Rubin stated that the accusations against Thaci are false. “Absolutely. The accusations against him are false for two main reasons. First, there was no vertical chain of command within the KLA that would have allowed him to issue orders or make decisions. And to the extent that a vertical chain of command existed, it was led by a man named General Ceku,” Rubin said in an interview with Klan Kosova.

“I don’t believe the idea that orders came from the top for anything is real. If you believe that, it’s wrong. It wasn’t Thaci, but General Ceku or other commanders,” he stated.

“I would be horrified if Hashim Thaci were convicted, and I believe the court itself would do great harm to international justice, because when I worked for Madeleine Albright, when we established the first War Crimes Tribunal in 1993, the idea was to assign individual guilt, not to collectively blame one side or the other.”

“What’s happening now is just that, blaming Hashim Thaci and other KLA leaders for things they did not know about and could not have been responsible for would amount to collective blame of the Albanians. That would only increase violence. Therefore, the real perpetrators must be found and held accountable, that is the purpose of the rule of law and of these tribunals,” Rubin said on Klan Kosova.

U.S. Congressman proposes amendment to prioritize Kosovo’s NATO membership (AP)

A new amendment introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to make Kosovo’s membership in NATO a top priority of American foreign policy in the Western Balkans. The proposal comes from Republican Congressman Brian Mast, who seeks to solidify U.S. support for Kosovo’s integration into the transatlantic alliance.

The amendment must first pass through a designated congressional committee before being debated and voted on in the House, where it needs at least 218 votes to advance. If approved, it moves to the Senate, requiring a minimum of 51 votes. Should there be differences between the versions passed by each chamber, a joint committee will reconcile them before sending the final text to the President.

If signed into law, the amendment would formally commit the United States to prioritizing Kosovo’s NATO membership, significantly elevating Kosovo's position in U.S. foreign policy.

The initiative is still in its early stages but could carry substantial diplomatic weight if it progresses through the legislative process.

Kupchan: It would be self-destructive if Kosovo’s government continues to harm relations with U.S. (RFE)

Charles Kupchan from the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington stated that it would be self-destructive if the government of Kosovo continues to damage its relationship with such a strong supporter as the United States. “I think it would be irresponsible and self-destructive if the government of Kosovo continues to take steps that harm its relationship with a country that has been such a strong supporter,” he told Radio Free Europe.

Kupchan emphasized that Kosovo can maintain strong relations with both Europe and the U.S. “Kosovo can maintain good relations with Europe and the U.S. only if it is seen as negotiating in good faith and in a constructive manner, to move the region forward,” he said.

Serwer: In absence of U.S. focus, Kosovo should strengthen ties with Tokyo and Seoul (RFE)

Regional affairs expert and university professor Daniel Serwer has underlined the importance of continued U.S. support for Kosovo, particularly through the presence of American troops within NATO’s KFOR mission. “U.S. support is essential in many ways, but most important is the presence of American soldiers on the ground. Kosovo will want to keep them there, and I believe they should stay,” Serwer told Radio Free Europe.

Amid signs of declining U.S. engagement in the region, Serwer urged Kosovo to deepen relations with other international allies, naming Japan, South Korea, and Greece as potential new partners. “There are other options, even if none are as strong as the Americans. But if you bring together a group of friends, you can somewhat compensate for the loss of U.S. attention. I'm not sure if the government of Kosovo is doing that, and it’s difficult for a caretaker government to do so,” he added.

Citaku: New elections inevitable, could be held at end of this year (media)

Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Vlora Citaku, in an interview with Kosovapress, said that new parliamentary elections in Kosovo are inevitable and that they could be held at the end of this year. She said that the parties first need to wait for the ruling of the Constitutional Court on the next steps in the Kosovo Assembly. She argued that the Vetevendosje Movement, as the leading party in the last elections, does not have the votes to form a majority in parliament. “In the current circumstances, I think that new parliamentary elections have become inevitable. A lot of time has been wasted. Mr. Kurti has cost Kosovo not only the months that we are without institutions, but also years. He has constantly put populism above accountable governance and instead of coordinating with our allies he has chosen confrontation,” she argued.

Rexhepi: Belgrade parade - anti-Albanian march, provocation for region (media)

Leader of the Albanian National Council in Presevo Valley, Enkel Rexhepi, said that the military parade in Belgrade was an anti-Albanian march and the demonstration “of an army that the Albanians know well as an army of violence, war crimes and ethnic cleansing”. “This is a provocation for the region, against our people, and a grave insult against national dignity. In this respect, the participation of the Albanian mufti is a shameful and unacceptable act. He does not represent our community but has become a tool of Serbian propaganda and part of a hybrid war that aims to break our morale through the recruitment of individuals against the nation’s interest,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Serbian Language Media

Djuric from today at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug, media)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Marko Djuric, will participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from September 22 to 26.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Marko Djuric, will participate from September 22 to 26 in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which is being held in New York. During his stay, the head of Serbian diplomacy will have a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with the ministers of foreign affairs and officials of the UN member states, as well as participation in accompanying events that will be organized during the general debate of the 80th UN General Assembly," the statement said.

Stoned bus with pilgrims in front of the church of St. Sava in South Mitrovica (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal reported that yesterday around 5 pm in southern Mitrovica, in front of the city church of Saint Sava, an incident occurred when an unknown man stoned a bus with pilgrims from central Serbia. KoSSev learned that this person was arrested. 

A group of believers, returning from a tour of monasteries in the south of Kosovo, stopped by to visit the church of St. Sava. As they were getting off the bus, a man threw a rock and broke a window on one of the two buses. The incident happened in the presence of the police, who secured this temple.

The suspect was immediately arrested, and the police took statements from eyewitnesses.

The Church of St. Sava, burned and devastated during the March 2004 pogrom, has been guarded by the Kosovo Police ever since liturgical life was restored ten years ago. Work on the restoration of the church began in 2014, and the following year, the first priest Sasa Mitrovic and his family moved into the renovated parish house. He was replaced last year by priest Nenad Stojanovic, who with his wife and four children still lives in southern Mitrovica - as the only Serbian family in this part of the city.

Despite the difficult circumstances, liturgical life has been renewed, and an increasing number of believers come to the temple, especially on Sundays and for major holidays.

Jevtic: Participation in elections is the only correct decision (Kosovo Online, Blic TV)

Deputy President of the Serbian List Dalibor Jevtic said that the local elections in Kosovo on October 12 must mark the return of Serbs to institutions in the north. As he pointed out, “lessons have been learned and the same mistakes will not be repeated,” reported Kosovo Online, citing Blic. 

The past week, in the run-up to the elections in Kosovo, was marked by incidents that further heightened tensions. On Thursday, police raided the Clinical Hospital Center in North Mitrovica, the Health Center, as well as the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO) and the Health Insurance Fund (RFZO).

According to Jevtic, all of this was part of the policy of Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“It seems that everything that happens is attributed to the implementation of Albin Kurti’s ethno-nationalist policy. Kurti has been in power for almost five years, yet he has no achievements in the areas of economy, infrastructure, or other key sectors. The only thing he actively engages in is making life harder for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Jevtic said in the Blic TV Show. 

"Movement for the defense of KiM'': Serbs from Kosovo will soon be without their health care and education

"The rest of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija will soon say goodbye to both health services and their educational system. Kosmet apartheid will be complete, and the Serbs will be left with two equally painful choices: to move away or to stay and, after all the suffering, quietly dying of shame, continue to wander around their promised land with their heads bowed."

The Movement for the Defense of Kosovo and Metohija announced that the "invasion of around 150" members of the Kosovo Police in the CHC North Mitrovica (KBC Severna Mitrovica) foreshadows the "final cancellation of the last Serbian institutions in the province - health and education".

KoSSev recalled that this referred to this week's search of the security house in the premises of the Health Center in Mitrovica, allegedly due to a report of weapons, and Serbian sources stated that there was also an "invasion of the KBC", although the Kosovo Police later denied this. The same evening, in an address in Serbian to the Serbs, Prime Minister of Kosovo in technical mandate said that the "dualism" of the health and education system in Kosovo was unsustainable and asked for "unification" with the help of the Serbs.

The movement pointed out that after this event, health workers turned to Quint, the EU mission, UNMIK, OSCE and KFOR for help, "but not to Mother Serbia", which, they said, showed that "it definitely rejected them".

In the statement, among other things, it was assessed that Aleksandar Vucic "in a hurry implements his obligations from the Brussels-Ohrid Agreement" and that "the agreed role of official Serbia in that settlement is to accept it and does nothing for the Serbs, except for occasional hypocritical announcements by the Office for Kosovo and Metohija".

CI "North for All": Citizens must know the truth about the integration of health and educational institutions (Alternativna)

The civic initiative "North for All" announced on Saturday that in recent days "we are witnessing a series of statements" regarding the status of educational and health institutions that "introduce unrest and cause concern among almost every Serbian resident in Kosovo", reported Alternativna.

"Our citizens must know the truth about the issue that is crucial for their survival in these areas, which could lead to mass emigration. That is why the civic initiative 'North for All' demands from representatives of other political options to stop abusing this issue for pre-election purposes and to manipulate the feelings and expectations of citizens," they emphasized in the statement.

They added that they expect the officials and representatives of the Republic of Serbia to "communicate the truth related to the Brussels and Ohrid agreements and the obligations arising from them, as well as to take responsibility for the consequences because schools and hospitals cannot be so easily transferred to Raska and Merdare, where almost the entire daily life is already located, from pharmacies, post offices, banks to other authorities and institutions".

Erosion of international relations and ethnic domination

They wrote that the exclusivity and blindness of certain representatives of the international community contributed greatly to witnessing "the erosion of inter-ethnic relations, as well as the transformation of something that was conceived as a multi-ethnic society into totalitarianism and ethnic domination", it was stated among other things.

Petkovic: “When Rohde calls for restraint from malicious statements, it would be good if he started from himself” (Kosovo Online)

Commenting on the statement of the German Ambassador in Pristina, Jorn Rohde, who said that “claims by the Serbian List that the integration of educational and health institutions was never part of the negotiations or agreements are simply not true,” the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, wrote on Friday and told the German diplomat that at least by the end of his mandate he should acquaint himself with the agreements, because none of them envisages the integration of education and healthcare.

“Mr. Rohde, allow me to confirm that Elek is right. There is no integration of education and healthcare in any agreement. In points 4c and d of the General Principles of 2015, it is stated that education and healthcare are part of the Community of Serb Municipalities, financed by Serbia, point 17d. Familiarize yourself with the agreements at least by the end of your mandate,” Petkovic wrote on the social network X, reported Kosovo Online.

Petkovic added: 

“Is it not malicious to criticize the Serbian List in any way on the subject of the CSM? When did you publicly ask Kurti when he will establish the CSM? Never! Here you are, your mandate is ending, and the CSM still does not exist,” wrote Petkovic. 

Belgrade hosts “Strength of Unity” military parade as police block student protesters (N1, Beta)

The grand military parade “Strength of Unity” took place in New Belgrade on Saturday, drawing thousands of soldiers, heavy military equipment, and international guests. The spectacle was presented as a display of national power. Still, despite its name, the event exposed deep divisions within Serbian society, as police forces prevented students and anti-corruption protesters from approaching the venue to salute the army.

The parade, staged behind the Palace of Serbia, featured some of the most modern military hardware in the country’s arsenal. For the first time, Serbia showcased the Israeli-made PULS long-range multiple rocket launcher system. The climax of the event was a flyover by two French Rafale fighter jets, which Serbia recently ordered. 

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/ypy686tn

Opinion

Rama: What the UN can listen from the world's cities (Washington Reporter)

Op-ed by Pristina Mayor Perparim Rama 

As the United Nations (UN) marks its 80th session of the General Assembly under the theme “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,” the eyes of the world turn to New York. Yet the future of peace, development, and rights is not decided only in diplomatic halls. It is lived and tested daily in cities. If the UN wants to be relevant for the next eighty years, it must listen more closely to the lessons of local leadership.

Peace and Inclusion Begin Local

Peace is not simply the absence of conflict; it is the presence of trust, opportunity, and human dignity. Nowhere is this more tangible than in cities, where neighbors of different backgrounds must share the same schools, streets, and public spaces.

In my own city of Pristina, we have seen how local governance can become a bridge for reconciliation and inclusion. When families gather in redesigned public squares, when young people see themselves represented in decision-making, when communities are invited to shape their shared spaces, that is how peace is built at the grassroots. It is this lived experience of coexistence that gives substance to the lofty ideals discussed at UNGA.

The world must recognize that local peacebuilding is the frontline of global stability. Without inclusive cities, no nation can sustain long-term peace.

Development and Sustainability Are Urban

Seventy percent of the Sustainable Development Goals depend on local action. Cities are where climate change is either accelerated or defeated, where innovation either thrives or is stifled, and where human wellbeing is most directly felt.

Pristina, like many urban centers, is investing in sustainable transport, clean energy, and public green spaces. Projects such as expanding pedestrian-friendly boulevards, planting thousands of trees, and modernizing waste management show how development is not an abstract promise but a visible daily reality.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5n78kj9n

International

"Ordinary Citizens in Kosovo Pay for Millions of Euros of Stolen Electricity" (PI)

Electricity theft is costing Kosovo tens of millions of euros every year, while the burden for these losses is passed on to ordinary consumers through their electricity bills.

In August, inspectors working for Kosovo’s energy distributor, KEDS, cut the power to a business in Gjakova, but pumps, refrigerators, and even coffee machines kept working despite the outage.

Usually, when machinery keeps running after an electrical shutdown, it indicates illegal electricity lines and potential electricity theft. The business in Gjakova was flagged after discrepancies emerged between billed consumption and actual usage on the digital monitoring system. 

Inspectors found a parallel supply line that bypassed the official metre.  

Thousands of citizens in Kosovo face criminal proceedings every year for stealing electricity. Data from the Energy Regulatory Office, ERO, show that commercial losses, caused mainly by electricity theft, account for nearly 5 percent of annual consumption. In monetary terms, that’s close to 30 million euros.

Kosovo’s energy distributor, KEDS,  has intensified inspections because of the tens of millions of euros  a year that are stolen via illegal grid connections by households and businesses. The crew of BIRN and Internews Kosova’s TV programme Kallxo Përnime accompanied the teams uncovering theft in Prishtina, Gjakova, and Prizren.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4246dvd7