UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 14, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo’s EU application still in EU drawers (media)
VV has five days left, no major party ready to back Konjufca (Reporteri)
Hoxhaj calls for postponement of PDK Convention (media)
Muhaxheri: LDK won’t support Konjufca (media)
AAK: New budget only after formation of fully mandated government (media)
CEC rejects 2,570 packages of ballots from voting by mail (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Three-hour talks with Macron on metro, EU progress, strategic matters (N1, RTS)
Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue – far from agreement, negotiations at a deadlock (RTS)
KFOR on drones from Gnjilane (RTS, TV Most)
Thaci's trial - Wesley Clark's former adviser testifies, does not remember events in Orahovac (Radio KIM)
Launching of Balkan Alliance for Local Media - "Call for Change" (KiM radio)
Vucic: We are not selling General Staff complex, but leasing it out for huge investment (media)
Macut, UK's Powell discuss bilateral cooperation (Tanjug)

International:

US heavyweights rally around Kosovo’s Thaci in The Hague (Tanjug)
Kosovo’s diploma recognition platform offline for months after personal data breaches (Prishtina Insight)
Rio Tinto for EWB: Our company’s priority now is to retain legal rights over the Jadar Project

Humanitarian:

79 Stones documentary receives award at Great Britain International Film Festival (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Kosovo’s EU application still in EU drawers (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani criticized the EU for not recognizing Kosovo’s efforts toward membership, despite its full alliance with EU policies and implementing key reforms in the economy, rule of law, and anti-corruption measures. She said Kosovo’s 2022 application for candidate status has not even been reviewed and remains “somewhere in the EU’s drawers,” three years later. Osmani stressed that Kosovo seeks respect and merit-based evaluation, not charity or shortcuts, and expressed hope that Germany could help advance a fair process. “97% of the people, certainly, are pro-European. Our reforms in the economy, the rule of law, and especially in the fight against crime and corruption have been essential. Yet, on our path to European integration, we are blocked. And it seems that the merit-based process the EU talks about so much remains something that is yet to come. I still do not see it happening,” Osmani told Politico.eu.

VV has five days left, no major party ready to back Konjufca (Reporteri)

Glauk Konjufca, deputy leader of Vetevendosje (VV) and prime minister-designate, has until November 19 to present a new government proposal to the Assembly. However, his chances of securing the required votes remain slim, as all major former opposition Albanian parties have already declared they will not support a government led by him. Konjufca has called for a temporary government lasting until April, when President Vjosa Osmani’s mandate expires, but PDK, LDK, AAK, and Nisma have reiterated that they want new elections, not a transitional cabinet.

Konjufca himself admitted he is unsure about his chances of being elected prime minister, saying the decision now lies entirely with the opposition parties. VV currently controls no more than 56–57 votes, far from the necessary majority.

PDK’s outgoing leader Memli Krasniqi accused VV of heading toward another failed attempt to form a government, saying Konjufca has not reached out to them for support. LDK confirmed it has received no new invitation and labeled the process a tactic by VV to “buy time.” AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said he rejected a meeting request from Konjufca’s office, arguing there was no concrete proposal.

Meanwhile, VV leader Albin Kurti said it is better for Kosovo to back Konjufca than to return to the polls, claiming that opposition parties must choose between a short-term government until December or a transitional Konjufca-led cabinet until April.

Hoxhaj calls for postponement of PDK Convention (media)

Member of the leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Enver Hoxhaj, has said that the party’s convention to elect its new leader, scheduled for next Monday, should be postponed. “This would give members and delegates the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the candidates and their platforms for the development of the party, as well as with serious issues affecting the country. This would improve the quality of the candidates and the competition between platforms, as recent developments have been unexpected,” Hoxhaj wrote on Facebook.

He further stated that this rush does not guarantee a quality race, nor the necessary reform and unity that PDK currently needs. “In democratic parties, more than one candidacy is an opportunity for delegates to freely choose, and it helps enrich individual platforms, leading to the creation of a joint platform for PDK. For such an important decision, I request that the electoral process be postponed so that the race is open for everyone and the base has enough time to express its will without pressure or imposition. The chairman’s resignation, accompanied by preferences for a successor, creates the impression of fabricated and biased schemes, which do not move the party forward,” Hoxhaj wrote.

He added that he is “against any imposition, against any attempt to steer the race, and against any formula that disregards the base and the delegates. “PDK needs new leadership, not old schemes; it needs a new vision, not a reshuffling of roles. This is the moment to open the path to real change,” Hoxhaj wrote.

On Wednesday of this week, Memli Krasniqi resigned from his position as PDK leader. So far, Bedri Hamza has announced his candidacy to take over the party’s leadership.

Muhaxheri: LDK won’t support Konjufca (media)

LDK’s deputy leader, Gazmend Muhaxheri, stated that his party will not vote for Glauk Konjufca, Vetevendosje’s second nominee to form a government after Albin Kurti failed. Muhaxheri called Konjufca’s mandate “an attempt to buy time” and insisted that new elections should have been called from the beginning. He said LVV keeps claiming it has the necessary 61 votes, just as it did for Kurti, but “in the end they dropped the flag.” Konjufca, mandated on November 4 by President Vjosa Osmani, has until Wednesday to secure a majority.

Kurti said Konjufca has at least the 56 votes he previously had, possibly more, but the exact number will only be clear in the parliamentary session. A minimum of 61 votes is required to form a new government.

AAK: New budget only after formation of fully mandated government (media)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) considers that Kosovo’s political situation is “alarming” due to the lack of a legitimate government and functioning institutions, and insists that the only solution is holding early Parliamentary elections. After the leadership meeting on Thursday, the party announced that it will not support any process that violates the Constitution and demanded that the 20226 budget be approved only by a fully mandated new government, not by the outgoing one.

The party warned it will not allow the caretaker government to exceed its authority, arguing that Kosovo needs a budget drafted by a legitimate cabinet. AAK also highlighted its success in recent local elections, winning five municipalities, and has begun preparing its candidate list and organizational structures for upcoming national elections.

CEC rejects 2,570 packages of ballots from voting by mail (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has rejected 2,570 out of more than 9,800 ballot packages received from overseas voters for the second round of Kosovo’s local elections. CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi said most were rejected because 2,500 packages lacked the mandatory registration certificate issued to eligible voters. A total of 13,084 packages were collected from CEC postal boxes in 22 countries, with most already arrived in Kosovo.

Approved packages will be counted at the Counting and Results Center, and municipality-by-municipality data will be published after verification. The recent local elections reshaped Kosovo’s political landscape: Vetevendosje and LDK each won seven municipalities, PDK six, AAK five, and the Serb List ten.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Three-hour talks with Macron on metro, EU progress, strategic matters (N1, RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening he had a three-hour meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, and that he was satisfied with the talks covering “all strategic matters.”

“Of course, we discussed Serbia’s European path, we can achieve a great deal in the next year, that depends on us, but I believe the mood within the European Union will also be conducive to Serbia’s progress”, Vucic said.

He mentioned that they covered all bilateral issues, including joint ventures, investments in Serbia, and cooperation in artificial intelligence. Vucic revealed that Serbia is purchasing a supercomputer from France, which will be very valuable and the only one of its kind in Southeast Europe. The Serbian President also announced that Serbia will sign on December 15 the final commercial agreement for the construction of the first metro line with the French company Alstom.

Discussions also included military-technical cooperation. “We talked about ‘Mistrals’ and missiles for ‘Rafales,’ but we also discussed all other key bilateral agreements”, Vucic added, noting that they also addressed the geopolitical situation. Vucic said France does not face issues with electricity supply because it has nuclear power plants, noting it was also one of the topics of their conversation. He said he informed Macron of the situation with the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) currently under the US sanctions over Russian-majority ownership.

“I fought for our country’s interests, pointed out all the challenges we face, and I believe we will have a sincere ally and friend in France in the future. I thank Emmanuel Macron for that”, Vucic said following the meeting at the Elysee Palace. He added it is likely that Macron will soon visit Serbia again. Earlier that evening, the French President hosted an official reception for Vucic outside the Elysee Palace in Paris, followed by a working dinner.

Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue – far from Agreement, negotiations at a deadlock (RTS)

The EU must change its approach to dialogue in order to implement the Belgrade-Pristina agreements, this was one of the messages of the conference "Towards an Agreement" organized by the Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union for Chapter 35 and the Institute for Territorial Economic Development. Participants said that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is in crisis, but that it must not be abandoned, reported RTS last night.

RTS recalled a decade and half of the Belgrade and Pristina negotiations with the EU mediation, along with dozens of rounds of dialogue, several agreements reached with lack of implementation. Participants in the meeting on the future of the dialogue agree that the current format will not lead to either normalization or reconciliation.

Senad Sabovic of the European Institute for Peace points out that "the commitment of the authorities of Kosovo and Serbia is at its lowest historical level since the dialogue began".

"The climate of dialogue and cooperation has been replaced by tensions. Does dialogue have a future? It does, but with one big if, namely if the EU continues to push the dialogue more strongly and if it makes it a central theme in the EU's relations with Kosovo and Serbia", concluded Sabovic.

The Union was also criticized for not monitoring the situation on the ground and not adjusting its approach to negotiations in this context, which Igor Novakovic of the Center for International and Security Affairs agreed with.

"If the EU is not capable and focused on solving the problem in its own backyard, since the Western Balkans are surrounded by EU members, how will it be able to act more actively in some regions of interest – for example, in the Sahel or the Middle East – or in the case of relations between Ukraine and Russia, how will it act. This is a key test for the development of the EU as a political actor," Novakovic said.

At the meeting it could be heard that the mediator in the dialogue, Peter Sorensen, failed the test. Instead of bringing new energy to the negotiations, he relied on the principles of his predecessor Miroslav Lajcak, the organizers said.

Dragisa Mijacic from the Institute for Territorial Economic Development "INTER" stated that both principles came down to the introduction of transactional relations.

"You have to trade - in the end, that trade has led us to the point where we do not know the status of the negotiations, the status of the dialogue, or the results. If there is no dialogue, then there is no communication, we are entering a dark vilayet from which we will not be able to get out so easily," explains Mijacic.

Negotiations at the technical level were held in September, and the meeting between Petar Petkovic and Besnik Bislimi ended without results. The political negotiators, Aleksandar Vucic and Albin Kurti, have not met in Brussels for more than two years.

KFOR on drones from Gnjilane (RTS, TV Most)

In response to Serbian public broadcaster RTS internet portal media enquiry on opening of a military drones factory in Gnjilane, at which also kamikaze drones will be produced, KFOR said this Mission does not comment on economic issues, but that it regularly monitors Kosovo airspace, RTS reported.

"We will not comment on issues related to economic production. Therefore, we will refer you to the institutions in Kosovo for any comments regarding this. KFOR remains focused on implementing its long-standing UN mandate, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999", KFOR is quoted as saying.

The response also emphasized that KFOR regularly monitors the airspace of Kosovo. “KFOR regularly monitors the airspace of Kosovo, using all means and resources at its disposal, in accordance with its existing authorities and mandate under UNSC Resolution 1244 from 1999. It is crucial that all airspace activities are adequately coordinated with KFOR in order to prevent tensions and ensure security, for the benefit of all those living in Kosovo and for regional stability”, KFOR added in response.

Thaci's trial - Wesley Clark's former adviser testifies, does not remember events in Orahovac (Radio KIM)

The trial in Thaci et al case involving four former KLA leaders, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, continued yesterday with testimony of defense witness Michael Durkee, who served as a political advisor to the former Supreme Commander of NATO in Europe, Wesley Clark, Radio KIM reported.

Durkee said he does not remember any event in Orahovac where it was said that KLA in July 1998 detained around 85 Serbs although he was shown the Human Rights Watch report from 1998 during the hearing. The report said that KLA on July 19, 1998 launched a massive attack on Orahovac and took 85 Serbs prisoners, as well as that as of August 1998 at least 40 persons are listed as missing and there were reports of 17 more people kidnapped from a village near Orahovac. “I do not recall this concrete report, no”, he said, adding he heard back then similar things.

He was then presented with an international report claiming that KLA elements committed crimes against what they perceived as collaborationists, civilians, that they detained and tortured them, and also a case of alleged detention of 12-member Albanian delegation in Qirez, with 6 of them tortured upon being perceived as close to the Serbian government.

He denied recalling these concrete cases, adding he heard there were such cases. He also said he was not informed of the incident in the former MIA building in Prizren where German KFOR intervened and one person was found dead. It was also said that 15 more people were detained there and released. “I do not remember that this concrete case arrived through NATO channels from KFOR. I think this case would have been conveyed on these channels”, he said.

As he said Hashim Thaci did not have authority and competency to stop violence that occurred in the summer of 1999, adding that KLA did not have consolidated commanding structure and operational zones commanders had significant autonomy.

Launching of Balkan Alliance for Local Media - "Call for Change" (KiM radio)

The Balkan Alliance for Local Media (BALM), a unique regional network that currently gathers 27 independent local, minority and community media from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo was officially launched, reported KiM radio.

The launch of this alliance represents a turning point for journalism in the region, reflecting the growing need for cooperation among small newsrooms that play a crucial role in informing local communities across the Balkans.

BALM also published Call for Change, a document that invites international donors, media development organizations, the wider community of civil society organizations and decision-makers in the region and the EU to review the ways media is supported and implemented in the Balkans.

The invitation reflects the experiences gained over years of fragmented project support to the media and the growing consensus that true sustainability of independent journalism requires trust, stability and shared responsibility between donors and media actors.

The call for change calls for concrete changes in practice: a focus on multi-year institutional support that covers basic costs so that small newsrooms can plan their work and development; simpler administrative procedures adapted to their capacities; quick emergency funds when journalists face threats, as well as other forms of security support, from legal aid (including SLAPP suits) to digital security and mental health support.

The appeal also advocates special lines of support for local, minority and community media, with realistic application requirements and small donation programs for those just starting a media outlet, as well as funding that supports daily reporting and regular columns - not just one-off projects.

It is equally important how the support is designed: we are looking for a participatory model of cooperation between donors and the media, who set priorities together, monitor progress together and adapt the approach on the fly.

Finally, the Call advocates the development of realistic business models that suit small and segmented markets - without compromising editorial independence.

Every day, local media in divided and marginalized communities across the Balkans provide crucial information to their communities. However, they work under increasingly difficult conditions, which directly affect communities' access to reliable news: they face harassment, threats and physical attacks, SLAPP lawsuits, attempts at political and economic control, as well as an increasingly unstable political environment marked by growing social polarization, nationalism and authoritarianism.

The risk of "information deserts":

As these pressures intensify, more and more communities are left without independent local journalism. The consequence is simple and serious: communities lose access to timely, locally relevant information.

BALM emphasizes that resilient local journalism is key to social cohesion, government accountability and informed democratic participation, especially in multilingual and marginalized communities.

The "Call for Change" isn't just for donors, it's a call to rethink how we value and support journalism that truly serves local communities. Supporting small independent media means supporting these communities and their democratic development.

Therefore, an invitation was sent to all relevant actors at the national, regional and European level to engage in this discussion and join us on a common path towards change - so that communities across the Balkans can rely on credible information when they need it most.

Learn more about the Alliance at: https://balkanlocalmedia.org/about-us/

Vucic: We are not selling General Staff complex, but leasing it out for huge investment (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening the Serbian government had no plans to sell the army General Staff complex in downtown Belgrade, but to lease it out with the aim of generating a huge investment.

Vucic was commenting on a statement by Milos Jovanovic, leader of the opposition New Democratic Party of Serbia, who has said selling the complex would give no geopolitical advantage to Serbia.

"Unlike Mr Jovanovic, whose government sold the Marshallate building, we are not selling the General Staff building. Those great patriots sold the Marshallate and the Guard Command building, situated in a 4.2 hectare estate, for 15 mln dollars, or 13 mln euros. We would make 20 times more money for our country - that is what we do. Not for ourselves, but for our country", Vucic told Serbian reporters in Paris after a working dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron, adding that the deal would not involve a sale of the complex, but a long-term lease.

Macut, UK's Powell discuss bilateral cooperation (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut met with the UK's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell in Belgrade on Friday to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

"Prime Minister Macut underlined that Serbia is committed to continued strengthening of partnership and cooperation with the United Kingdom and highlighted the importance of good economic relations", the government press service said in a statement.

"At the meeting it was pointed out that peace and stability are key preconditions for further growth and development and that Serbia is fully dedicated to this”, the statement added.

International

US heavyweights rally around Kosovo’s Thaci in The Hague (Tanjug)

The former Kosovo president’s defence team hopes that supportive statements from high-profile US figures like James Rubin and Wesley Clark will carry serious weight as his war crimes verdict approaches.

“The Hague [court] is totally corrupt and must be defunded.” These are the words of Richard Grenell, Donald Trump’s presidential envoy for special missions, who has made a series of incendiary statements on X criticising the Kosovo Specialist Chambers war crimes court.

Grenell has repeatedly called for the release of the most prominent defendant currently on trial, Hashim Thaci, Kosovo’s former president and a senior wartime Kosovo Liberation Army KLA official, calling his continued detention a “grave injustice”.

The outspoken Trump envoy is not the only high-profile American to have condemned the charges against Thaci recently. Two veteran US diplomatic officials who were prominent in the years of the Balkan wars, James Rubin and Christopher Hill, have also testified in The Hague in Thaci’s defence. Rubin, former US assistant Secretary of State and spokesperson for Madeleine Albright, testified in court last month.

See at: https://shorturl.at/XTSnj

Kosovo’s diploma recognition platform offline for months after personal data breaches (Prishtina Insight)

After months of persistence by BIRN, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the diploma recognition platform has not been functional since March, rebutting earlier claims by acting minister of education Arberie Nagavci.

It was March 14, this year when officials at the National Agency for Information Society, ASHI, identified security flaws in the electronic platform for the recognition of higher education diplomas. Establishing that the platform breached personal data of users, ASHI immediately alerted the Ministry of Education with a proposal to temporarily shut the platform down.

After months of persistence by BIRN, only in October did the ministry of Education explain in an email that, “to secure personal details and to prevent every potential risk, it was proposed to temporarily shut down the platform.”