Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani: Kosovo’s future is in NATO and the European Union (media)
• Osmani: Time to see the Western Balkans for potential it has, not a burden (RFE)
• Kurti: “Kosovo among the safest countries in the world to invest in” (media)
• Haxhiu: We won’t make deals, if we are rejected we’ll go to elections (KTV)
• Citaku: PDK won’t try to form govt if Kurti fails; new elections inevitable (media)
• Sorensen on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: Progress is being made (media)
• Ulutas, Sorensen discuss security and regional stability (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Sorensen: Normalization of relations is not a linear process, but progress is being made (media)
• COMKFOR Ulutas met EU Special Envoy Sorensen, EULEX HoM Barbano, discussed security situation (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online, social media)
• Hill: Serbia should no longer be viewed through prism of 1990s - it is time for confident regional leadership (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Djedovic Handanovic: With EU, Serbia working on new energy supply sources, routes (Tanjug)
• Croatian PM Plenkovic, PM Macut discuss NIS at Berlin Process Summit in London (N1, Hina)

International Media: 

• UK sanctions Kosovo nationals to combat Western Balkans smuggling routes (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Kosovo’s future is in NATO and the European Union (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in her speech at Aspen Institute in Berlin on Thursday said that the future of Kosovo is in NATO and the European Union. “Kosovo’s future is rooted in democracy, built with friends, and led by Euro-Atlantic values. At the Aspen Institute in Berlin, I spoke about our Kosovo as a country that at the very core of building the future has embraced reforms and their enforcement as the only way toward democratic development and consolidation. One thing remains unwavering: Kosovo’s future is in NATO and the European Union. This is not only our unwavering aspiration but a strategic interest for the whole region and for the Euro-Atlantic alliance,” she said.

Osmani: Time to see the Western Balkans for potential it has, not a burden (RFE)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, during a discussion at a university in Berlin on Thursday, said that it is time for the European Union to see the Western Balkans for the potential it has, and not as a burden. She said that the process of EU enlargement should be seen as a strategic necessity for the European bloc and not remain dependent on political issues of individual countries. “I think that enlargement should be seen from a broader perspective. If you look at the Western Balkans as a region, I think it is time to see it as a potential and not as a burden,” she argued.

Asked if she supports a recent proposal to remove the right of veto at the EU Council, Osmani said she favors the idea “because we have often seen a member state blocking the will of the entire EU”. “The more our region moves toward the EU, the more peace and security there will be. And this is good for all the EU,” she said.

Osmani said she always supported the enlargement process to be merit-based and that countries should align their foreign and security policy with that of the European Union. She said Kosovo has aligned its policy 100 percent and she mentioned Kosovo’s sanctions against Russia because of the war in Ukraine. 

Osmani also said that “Serbia, a proxy of Russia, is constantly trying to undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty through destabilization, disinformation and relies on criminal and terrorist groups”.

Kurti: “Kosovo among the safest countries in the world to invest in” (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Thursday that “Kosovo is among the safest countries in the world to invest in. From 226 countries, we are ranked 26th, according to Henley & Partners' Global Investment Risk and Resilience Index”. He said that Kosovo is ranked first in the region according to the index and surpassing many strong EU economies. “This is an important testament to our increasingly robust economic climate and the strengthening of rule of law and security, sectors which make it possible to have a business-friendly environment and to offer investment opportunities in many areas. Kosovo as a safe country to invest in, according to Henley, comes only several months after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) removed our country from the list of fragile and conflict-affected countries, and several days after the same institution assessed that Kosovo would continue to have the strongest economic growth in the region for this year. Despite the global crisis and numerous challenges from external factors, our country keeps growing stronger, offering better conditions for socio-economic development and safe investments,” Kurti said in a Facebook post.

Haxhiu: We won’t make deals, if we are rejected we’ll go to elections (KTV)

Kosovo Assembly deputy speaker from the Vetevendosje Movement, Albulena Haxhiu, said this party would not agree to what she called irrational demands for a ruling coalition and that it would not make deals to create a last-minute government. In an interview with KTV on Thursday, Haxhiu said that Vetevendosje had made offers to the Democratic League of Kosovo and to NISMA. “We are acting in line with the responsibilities we have. We don’t have 61 votes, we have 48 MPs. We are also partners with MPs from non-Serb non-majority communities, and we are trying to secure the votes. But this doesn’t mean that we will agree to irrational demands. It does not mean that we will make deals, it does not mean that we will enter a government only for the sake of forming the government. If there are rejections, the country will go to elections because there is no other solution. The government is important to be voted within the constitutional timeline. If not, we will go to elections, and then the citizens can assess our political actions,” she argued.

Citaku: PDK won’t try to form govt if Kurti fails; new elections inevitable (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Vlora Citaku said that if Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti fails to form the new government, new general elections are inevitable. Asked if the PDK would try to form the new government if Kurti fails, Citaku said: “we made efforts immediately after the [February parliamentary] election results were announced. We have meetings with leaders to [try] and build a majority in the assembly. But at the time it became clear that there is a lack of [required] votes. And now it is too late. This assembly has lost its meaning. It is a shame the shows we have seen from February to October,” she said. “We need to go to new elections. New elections are inevitable in order to have a reconfirmation of the will of the people”.

Sorensen on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: Progress is being made (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen, in an interview with Agenzia Nova, said that the normalization of relations between the two sides is not a process that can be achieved with one meeting. He said this is a continuous process that should develop every day to improve the lives of the people. 

“Since assuming my duty, I held over 60 official meetings in the region and I organized two rounds of chief negotiators’ meetings in Brussels, where we discussed very concrete issues: from economic cooperation to the issue of missing persons during the war in Kosovo. The process is not always linear, and a lot happens behind the scenes, but every day real progress is made. Every day, people, vehicles and goods move freely between Kosovo and Serbia. This summer alone, over 1.7 million people and nearly 650,000 vehicles crossed through the joint border crossings. Vehicles with Kosovo issued license plates can now travel to Serbia. People pay for the energy they consume, in line with the agreed conditions. This is tangible proof that dialogue is functioning,” he said. 

Sorensen said that the EU-facilitated dialogue is the platform of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia and that the path toward EU integration, for both, depends on the process. He said that the two parties “have engaged in direct discussions and have reached over 90 agreements that include provisions on daily practical matters”. “These are results that years of international presence, including a large number of peacekeeping forces, could not achieve on their own,” he said. 

Sorensen said that enlargement remains a key advantage for the European Union. “The Growth Plan is proof of our engagement for the future of the region and sets clear expectations. For Serbia and Kosovo this means constructive engagement for the normalization of their relations,” he said.

Sorensen commended the October 12 local elections in Kosovo and the peaceful, competitive and inclusive atmosphere. “All communities took part, and the media coverage was free and fair, contributing to a transparent process. The turnout in the Serb-majority municipalities was over 50 percent on average, which is a very positive sign … The Kosovo Serbs took part, and in nine Serb-majority municipalities, the Serb parties won the mayoral posts and also the majority in the municipal assemblies. Now there are elected representatives. This is an important step forward, demonstrating that they are an integral part of Kosovo’s society. These peaceful elections and the return of mayors, also pave the way for a broader discussion on the reintegration of Kosovo Serbs that withdrew from Kosovo’s institutions in 2022,” he said.

Ulutas, Sorensen discuss security and regional stability (media)

Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Ozkan Ulutas, met on Wednesday in Pristina with the European Union Special Representative for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen. KFOR said in a statement that the meeting focused on the security situation in Kosovo, regional stability, and KFOR’s continued support to the EU-facilitated dialogue. “Major General Ulutas underlined KFOR’s commitment to its UN-mandated mission and to its continued cooperation with the European Union and other partners. The visit underscored the long-standing and steadfast commitment by NATO and the EU to work in lockstep to consolidate a lasting secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo and regional stability,” KFOR said.

Serbian Language Media

Sorensen: Normalization of relations is not a linear process, but progress is being made (media)

Normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina “is not a one-time result achieved after a meeting, but a continuous process taking place every day to improve people’s lives”, EU Special Envoy for Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue Peter Sorensen said. As he said much of it happens “behind the scenes”, yet “real progress is achieved every day”. He welcomed the holding of inclusive local elections, stressing that once the results are confirmed, it is important to ensure an “orderly transition of local authorities”.

In an interview with the Italian agency Nova, Sorensen said that since taking office as EU Envoy for the Dialogue, he has held over 60 official meetings in the region and hosted two rounds of talks between Belgrade and Pristina chief negotiators in Brussels, addressing concrete issues - from economic cooperation to the search for and identification of persons missing in Kosovo in the period between 1998 and 2000.

“The process is not always linear, and much of it happens behind the scenes, but genuine progress is made every day. Every day, people, vehicles, and goods move freely between Kosovo and Serbia. Just this summer, over 1.7 million people and about 650,000 vehicles crossed the joint border points. Cars with Kosovo license plates can now enter Serbia. People are paying for the energy they consume under agreed conditions. This is tangible proof that the dialogue is working”, Sorensen said.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/MBcOM

COMKFOR Ulutas met EU Special Envoy Sorensen, EULEX HoM Barbano, discussed security situation (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online, social media)

“Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Özkan Ulutaş, hosted the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, His Excellency Peter Sørensen and the Head of Mission of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Major General Giovanni Pietro Barbano, at KFOR Headquarters in Camp Film City, Pristina”, KFOR said in a statement published on Facebook yesterday.

“The meeting focused on the security situation in Kosovo, regional stability, and KFOR’s continued support to the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Major General Ulutaş underlined KFOR’s commitment to its UN-mandated mission and to its continued cooperation with the European Union and other partners. The visit underscored the long-standing and steadfast commitment by NATO and the EU to work in lockstep to consolidate a lasting secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo and regional stability”, the statement added.

As it further said “KFOR continues to implement its mandate - based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 - to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo and freedom of movement, at all times and impartially. KFOR works in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), in their respective roles as security responders”. 

Hill: Serbia should no longer be viewed through prism of 1990s - it is time for confident regional leadership (Kosovo Online, social media)

Christopher Hill, former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and, as of this summer, Senior Advisor to the Pupin Initiative, said Serbia should no longer be viewed through the prism of the 1990s, but as a self-assured nation capable of regional leadership, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The Pupin Forum in Washington opened with a one-on-one conversation between Christopher Hill and Vuk Velebit, President of the Pupin Initiative. As the post on X social network said, Hill emphasized that ’’Serbia should no longer be seen through the prism of the 1990s, but as a confident nation capable of taking on a leadership role in the region“.

He particularly highlighted cooperation in the fields of energy and technology as opportunities for modernization and global visibility, while calling for greater transparency and communication to attract Western investment. It was underlined that Serbia’s greatest resources lie in its youth, education, and ability to modernize through openness, self-confidence, and partnership.

Djedovic Handanovic: With EU, Serbia working on new energy supply sources, routes (Tanjug)

At a meeting with the Head of the EU Mission to Serbia, Andreas von Beckerath, Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Thursday that, with EU assistance, Serbia was developing projects for new energy supply sources and routes - interconnections with Romania and North Macedonia - with a view to completing them by 2027 and putting them into operation as early as in 2028, Tanjug news agency reported.

Djedovic Handanovic and von Beckerath discussed the security of energy supplies and investments in energy infrastructure, the Ministry of Energy and Mining said in a statement.

Djedovic Handanovic said diversification of gas supply sources and routes also called for development of a transport system within the country and that Serbia was part of a joint EU mechanism for gas procurements.

Croatian PM Plenkovic, PM Macut discuss NIS at Berlin Process Summit in London (N1, Hina)

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said he spoke with Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut for the first time at the Berlin Process meeting in London, and that their discussion also included the topic of NIS, Hina reported. Following the meeting, Plenkovic said that Croatia worked with the United States to delay sanctions against the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) in order to avert an energy crisis in Serbia, N1 reported. 

The US imposed sanctions on NIS in January due to its majority Russian ownership, but the measures were postponed eight times until early October. Croatia's Adriatic oil pipeline operator JANAF, through which Serbia received 90 percent of its crude oil, then halted exports to the refinery in Pancevo, Serbia, Hina reported.

During the period when US sanctions “were hanging in the air”, Croatia’s position “was always that we did not want Serbia to face an energy crisis”, Hina quoted Plenkovic as saying. “We did everything we could with our American partners to ensure the sanctions kept being postponed”, he added.

Once the sanctions took effect, Croatia “had to stop the oil supply,” Plenkovic said, noting that otherwise JANAF would have faced “legal problems and effectively come under the sanctions regime itself”. He also expressed hope that the issue of majority ownership would soon be resolved.

International Media

UK sanctions Kosovo nationals to combat Western Balkans smuggling routes (BIRN)

A Kosovo-based forgery ring has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, for its alleged role in supplying fake passports to people-smuggling gangs operating along the Western Balkans migration route.

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on several Balkan-based criminal gangs on Wednesday, including a Kosovo-based forgery network operating across the Western Balkans, as part of a broader effort to combat people-smuggling routes that send illegal migrants to Great Britain.

The measures, announced by the UK government through a press release, target “the Krasniqi forgery network—a Kosovo-based organised crime group accused of producing fake passports and identity documents for criminal gangs across Europe. The network allegedly supplied forged passports, IDs, and driving licences for more than 50 countries, including the UK.”

Nusret Seferovic, whose gang allegedly supplied fake Croatian passports to Balkan gangs, has also been sanctioned. 

In November 2024, the Bosnian based media outlet N1 Bosnia reported that Seferovic is accused of organizing a criminal group which allegedly forged Croatian documents for those without Croatian citizenship and also “obtained passports for numerous well-known figures of the criminal scene in Serbia and Montenegro.”

The UK Government noted that, “it will additionally sanction several international financiers for their role in supporting people-smugglers, including the ALPA Trading FZCO, which processes money for smuggling gangs.”

“The new sanctions, issued under the Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime, freeze the assets of the individuals involved and bar them from entering the United Kingdom,” it was stated in the UK government’s press release.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/pFFRo