Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani: Vucic's regime holds hostage the truth about missing (media)
• Assembly Presidency to meet today (media)
• PDK: Assembly not yet constituted, invitation is pointless (media)
• LDK: Assembly not constituted, any other attempt is a violation (media)
• U.S. officials to attend Thaci trial in The Hague (RTK)
• Serbia, a haven for people wanted by judiciary in Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Simic: We will not participate in the consultative meeting called by Basha for Monday (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• SL filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court over the violation of Serbs’ rights in the Kosovo Parliament (Kosovo Online)
• KFOR: We were not involved in the construction of two new bridges over the Ibar; we continue to monitor the situation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• International Day of the Disappeared: Still counting and mourning only one’s own (KoSSev)
• ECAP ordered the certification of Serbian Democracy: The party is going to the elections (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• SNP condemned the renaming of streets in North Mitrovica: The decision was made illegally (KiM radio)
• NGO Aktiv and Miodrag Milicevic once again targeted by fabricated accusations and defamation (KiM Radio)
• Pristina registers new voters ahead of the local elections in Gracanica (KIM radio, medijacentar, Newsmax Balkans)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Vucic's regime holds hostage the truth about the missing (media)

On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has renewed her call for the international community to increase pressure on Serbia to reveal the fate of those who went missing during the war in Kosovo. “Open graves are living proof of war crimes and the repeated crimes committed by the genocidal Serbian regime, as well as a daily reminder that justice has yet to be served. As long as thousands of our citizens remain missing, peace remains incomplete. The Vucic regime continues to sleep on mass graves, holding the fate of the missing hostage,” Osmani wrote.

During the Kosovo war, around 6,000 people were forcibly disappeared, of whom approximately 1,600 remain unaccounted for.

Assembly Presidency to meet Monday, agenda: ‘Consultative Meeting’ (media)

The Assembly of Kosovo has announced that the Presidency of the Assembly will hold a meeting on Monday at 13:00. According to the Media and Public Relations Directorate, the meeting will include the four elected deputy speakers of the parliament. “The agenda item for this meeting is listed as a ‘Consultative Meeting,’” the announcement from the Assembly’s Media Office states.

LVV MP Albulena Haxhiu said that work must begin with the elected Speaker and deputy speakers of the Assembly, even though a deputy speaker from the Serbian community has not yet been elected, “or the country should head to new elections.”

She emphasized that it is unacceptable for institutions to remain hostage to the Serb List.

On Saturday, Assembly Speaker Dimal Basha declared the constitutive session closed, even though the Assembly failed to elect a deputy speaker from the Serbian minority. None of the nominated candidates received the required majority of votes, and as a result, the Assembly still lacks a deputy speaker representing the Serbian community.

PDK: Assembly not yet constituted, invitation is pointless (media)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has responded to a statement by the newly elected Speaker of the Assembly, Dimal Basha, regarding the constitution of the Assembly. According to PDK, the Assembly cannot be considered constituted unless Article 67 of the Constitution of Kosovo is fully implemented. Therefore, any invitation to a meeting of the Assembly Presidency, which has not yet been constituted, is meaningless, as the full constitutional composition of the Presidency has not been elected.

In a press statement, PDK said that under these circumstances, the invitation to a meeting of a non-constituted Assembly Presidency is irrational and that it will not participate in such meetings, which, according to the party, serve only partisan agendas rather than the interests of Kosovo. “PDK believes that the intentional delays in forming state institutions, caused by the leading party, are extremely dangerous for the Republic of Kosovo,” the statement read.

PDK also noted that, although it had no constitutional or political obligation, it took on institutional responsibility by voting for the Speaker of the Assembly, solely to unblock the highest representative institution. However, the party criticized Vetevendosje’s subsequent actions and what it called populist tactics, arguing that they clearly demonstrate the party’s fear of entering the constitutional deadlines to attempt forming a new government.

PDK warned that this approach is pushing Kosovo toward a new institutional crisis, the consequences of which will be borne by both Kosovo and its people.

LDK: Assembly not constituted, any other attempt is a violation (media)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has stated that the Assembly of Kosovo has not yet been constituted. According to the party, the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, and the relevant rulings of the Constitutional Court clearly and unequivocally define the procedures and conditions required for its constitution.

In a press release, LDK emphasized that ‘any attempt to interpret or bypass these fundamental provisions constitutes a violation of the constitutional order and an infringement of the democratic principles on which the state is founded.’

“The Assembly cannot function or make decisions without first completing the constitution process, as clearly defined by the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure, and the Constitutional Court’s decisions,” the statement reads.

Furthermore, LDK warned that ongoing delays in constituting the Assembly and forming institutions are causing significant harm to the country. According to the party, these delays are hindering the normal functioning of institutional life, and the full constitutional, political, and moral responsibility lies with Vetevendosje (LVV) and its leadership.

The statement concluded by reaffirming LDK's commitment to fully respecting the constitutional order and democratic norms, ensuring that Kosovo’s institutions operate in line with constitutional standards and serve as a model of democratic functioning.

U.S. officials to attend Thaci trial in The Hague (RTK)

A new phase in the trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other former KLA leaders will begin on September 15, with the defense scheduled to present its first witnesses and evidence before the Special Court in The Hague.

Significantly, the U.S. will play a more active role in this stage of proceedings. American officials are set to be present in the courtroom to oversee the testimony of key witnesses, including former high-ranking U.S. officials. Their presence is aimed at safeguarding the integrity and transparency of the trial.

The U.S. has approved the testimony of one protected witness, coded “1DW-003,” under strict conditions: limited questioning on pre-approved topics, restrictions on cross-examination, and the witness's right to refuse answers for confidentiality reasons. U.S. representatives will also be physically present during the questioning.

Thaçi’s legal team, led by attorney Luka Misetic, has confirmed that formal requests for these conditions will be filed soon. Approvals for additional witnesses are pending, with one already cleared and three others under discussion.

Serbia, a haven for people wanted by judiciary in Kosovo (Koha)

Over 170 people are declared wanted by the Kosovo police, and about the recent cases of murders such as those in Gjilan and in Pristina, it is believed that the suspects could have fled to Serbia. A former Kosovo Police lieutenant, Refki Morina, said in an interview with the news website that Serbia, which shelters those responsible for the terrorist attack in Banjska in September 2023 also protects criminals and people suspected of committing criminal offences in Kosovo. He also said that there is a threat Serbia could use these people for its objectives against Kosovo. “The border between Kosovo and Serbia is wide and long, it is difficult to control the whole border and they [criminals] use this to their advantage,” he said.

Morina, who used to work in the Kosovo Police Department for Migration and Foreigners, said that Serbia does not send back “Kosovo nationals that enter its territory illegally”.

“Knowing the regime in Serbia, people that cross into Serbia after having committed serious criminal offences in Kosovo, they [Serbia] can use them for certain objectives, either the Serbian Intelligence Agency or other security institutions, to get information about our institutions, security, judiciary and certain developments in Kosovo”.

Serbian Language Media

Simic: We will not participate in the consultative meeting called by Basha for Monday (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)

A member of the Presidency of the Serbian List (SL), Igor Simic, said Saturday that for Monday, September 1, the President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Dimal Basha, called a consultative meeting, in which representatives of the SL will not participate, because, as Simic said, they believe that it is a violation of the assembly's regulations.

Simic said that Basha, who was elected as the president of the assembly, cannot perform his function in full capacity.

He also indicated that the representatives of SL expect that the constitutional court in Pristina will most urgently respond to the appeal submitted by that party due to the serious violation of the rights of the Serbian people during the assembly sessions.

"We expect the constitutional court to react most urgently because there is a tendency to continue with further violations of rights and everything else, and in that sense the court would have to react most urgently and decide on our request," said Simic.

SL parliamentarians submitted a complaint to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo earlier Saturday due to serious violations of the rights of the Serbian people during the assembly sessions.

SL filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court over the violation of Serbs’ rights in the Kosovo Parliament (Kosovo Online)

Members of the Serbian List (SL) submitted a complaint to the Constitutional Court over what they described as a severe violation of the rights of the Serbian people during sessions of the Assembly in Pristina.

In the statement of the SL, it was emphasized that constitutional and democratic principles have been grossly undermined, and that the Serbian people have been prevented from exercising their guaranteed rights.

They stated that they expect the Constitutional Court to react urgently and take all necessary measures to protect the rule of law, as well as the rights of the Serbian people in accordance with applicable legal acts.

“The Serbian List remains consistent in its fight to preserve the rights and interests of the Serbian people and will continue to use all legal and institutional means to ensure full equality,” the statement added.

KFOR: We were not involved in the construction of two new bridges over the Ibar; we continue to monitor the situation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)

KFOR was not involved in the construction of two new bridges over the Ibar River, the NATO mission told Kosovo Online, adding that they continue to monitor the situation, with a constant presence at the main bridge on the Ibar and by conducting regular patrols in the surrounding areas.

“KFOR continues to monitor the situation and maintains a flexible posture in order to react swiftly to any security developments. To that end, KFOR maintains a constant and visible presence at the main bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica and conducts regular patrols in the surrounding areas,” KFOR stated in response to Kosovo Online’s question on whether KFOR troops would provide security for the new bridge over the Ibar, opened a few days ago, as well as for the main bridge, and whether KFOR plans to increase patrols in the area.

They added that ensuring effective coordination with the international community and engaging local communities is key to preventing tensions and finding long-term solutions.

“KFOR was not involved in the construction of the two new bridges over the Ibar River. In accordance with its longstanding UN mandate, KFOR continues to fulfill its role – to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo,” the statement said.

International Day of the Disappeared: Still counting and mourning only one’s own (KoSSev)

The International Day of the Disappeared was marked on Saurday. Once again, the date passes amid mutual accusations over who is obstructing the process of clarifying the fate of more than 1,600 people who went missing during the last war in Kosovo — and in the mourning of one’s own victims.

Families of the missing are once again demanding what, for them, is essential: the truth about the fate of their loved ones. Their hopes rest first on the joint declaration on the missing, and then on the commission tasked with implementing it.

A reminder of human suffering and the importance of a humanitarian approach

On the International Day of the Disappeared, former RECOM associate and international affairs political scientist Jovan Milosavljević stresses that this day serves as an important reminder that human suffering must not be forgotten.

“The right of families to know the fate of their loved ones, and the right of the disappeared for their suffering to be remembered with dignity, goes beyond the national prefix of their names,” Milosavljević told KoSSev.

He added that a disappearance during conflict is one of the gravest humanitarian consequences of war, noting that in many cases there is neither a gravesite for the family to commemorate nor accountability for the perpetrators.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 35,000 people went missing during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/cd6xwvjs

ECAP ordered the certification of Serbian Democracy: The party is going to the elections (KiM radio, KoSSev)

Serbian Democracy announced Friday night that the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) annulled the decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and ordered its certification for the upcoming local elections in the north of Kosovo.

"This decision clearly shows that the attempts to illegally remove Serbian Democracy from the electoral process were unsuccessful and that truth and law cannot be defeated by political pressure," the party announced.

SNP condemned the renaming of streets in North Mitrovica: The decision was made illegally (KiM radio)

The Serbian People's Movement (SNP) strongly condemned on Friday, as they said, the illegal renaming of streets in North Mitrovica, assessing that the entire process was carried out without public consultation and without democratic procedures.

In the press release, the SNP pointed out that the decisions on renaming were made unilaterally, "behind closed doors", without the involvement of citizens, which they consider a direct violation of the law. On that occasion, the member of the SNP in the North Mitrovica Municipality Assembly, Dusan Milunovic, filed a complaint with the Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government (MALS), with the request that the contested decision be annulled.

"At the same time, we remind the public that the illegitimate government led by Albanian mayors in the municipalities in the north was established in May 2023 thanks to the Serbian List," stated the SNP.

The SNP said that if they came to power, they would cancel all decisions made by the current municipal government, which they consider illegitimate, and return the decision-making process to the citizens. They also announced that they would demand the responsibility of all political actors who, as they said, contributed to the current state of society.

NGO Aktiv and Miodrag Milicevic once again targeted by fabricated accusations and defamation (KiM Radio)

The non-governmental organization Aktiv strongly condemned the allegations made in the texts published on the Gazeta Express and Kosova Info portals, in which the name of the executive director of this organization, Miodrag Milicevic, was mentioned without evidence, in the context of alleged espionage in favor of the Serbian List, reported KIM radio.

The NGO Aktiv press release released on Friday, it was emphasized that these were "baseless and irresponsible claims" that had no basis, and that Milicevic was never a member of the management team for the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, nor did he have any connection with the case described in the aforementioned media reports.

Read the full press release at: https://tinyurl.com/zvk38yd4

Pristina registers new voters ahead of the local elections in Gracanica (KIM radio, medijacentar, Newsmax Balkans)

People in Kosovo received an SMS message from the Central Election Commission in Pristina inviting them to verify their polling place for the upcoming local elections, reported KiM radio on Sunday, citing Newsmax Balkans. 

The deadline is August 29. Is there a danger that Albanians will get more council seats in Gracanica than Serbs?

Some voters were not on the voter lists until now, and Pristina opened a new polling center in the weekend settlement "Marigona Residence" in Gracanica, where between 3,000 and 4,000 Albanians live.

All this is happening at a time when the largest Albanian parties are united in the local elections in Gracanica.

The ethnic picture is rapidly changing in Gracanica

According to the 2024 census, about 18,500 inhabitants live in Gracanica, of which 8,623 are Albanians, which is approximately 46.65 percent of the total population.

For the sake of comparison, according to the 2011 census, 2,474 Albanians lived in Gracanica. And while the Serbs are quietly moving out, the number of Albanians is increasing. If this trend continues, it is very certain that Albanians will win power in some future elections.

On the other hand, according to the census, 8,500 Serbs or 46 percent of the total population live in this municipality. However, a certain number of Serbs are boycotting this process, so these data do not reflect the true situation on the ground.

These numbers are certainly worrying because the ethnic picture in Gracanica is rapidly changing, reported KiM radio among other things.