UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 25, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani meets Kallas; Kosovo committed to peace and long-term stability (media)
Kosovo Albanian media react to Vucic’s remarks at UN General Assembly
Begaj at UN: Kosovo deserves a seat in the General Assembly (media)
“Serbian diaspora sponsoring propaganda against Kosovo in NY” (media)
Osmani meets Embalo, expresses deep gratitude for continued support (media)
Kurti travels to New York for UN General Assembly (media)
Lacroix and Fearon discuss developments in Europe and Kosovo (AP)
Hoxha: 2 yrs after Banjska, groups’ remnants still threaten security (media)
“Radoicic spoke on the phone with Vucic during Banjska attack” (Vox Kosova)
Kamberi: "Lasting-peace cannot be built by appeasing autocrats" (media)
Gervalla at SEECP presents tangible results in reforms and economy (media)
French gendarmes deploy to Kosovo to “support stability and build trust” (media)
Basha says his name removed from paper that criticized KLA (media)
Mandatory appearance in court for Svecla, two VV MPs over tear gas (media)
Kosovo Police participate in Europol Police Chiefs Convention (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic with Berset: Gratitude to Council of Europe for continuous protection of rights of Serbs in Kosovo (media)
Djuric and Lavrov met in New York, confirmed intensity of bilateral contacts (Tanjug, media)
An open letter of the SNP to international missions regarding the new measures on vehicles and residence registration (KiM radio)
Serbian diaspora in New York draws attention to difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Serbian List’s election video banned (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
Serbian Democracy condemns ‘vote-buying’ by Rasic and his party (media, social media)
The hunger strike of two local election participants due to dismissal from their workplace in Kamenica provisional authority (KIM radio)

International:

Kosovo calls for international pressure on Serbia over deadly 2023 gunfight (AP)
Calls grow for Serbia to hand over suspects behind deadly attack in Kosovo (PI)
Perpetrators still free, intimidating SNS critics across Serbia (EWB)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani meets Kallas; Kosovo committed to peace and long-term stability (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and discussed the latest developments in Kosovo and the region. “Kosovo’s integration in the European Union remains among our top state priorities. In this spirit, I reiterated the necessity of removing the EU's unjust measures against Kosovo, which are damaging all our citizens without exception. Kosovo remains committed to peace and long-term stability,” Osmani said in a Facebook post.

Kosovo Albanian media react to Vucic’s remarks at UN General Assembly

Most Kosovo Albanian news websites have reacted to a statement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who said at the UN General Assembly that Kosovo “is an inseparable part of Serbia”. Albanian Post reports Vucic used the floor of the UN General Assembly “to reiterate dangerous tendencies vis-à-vis Kosovo”. Other headlines note that “Vucic is hallucinating” and that “Vucic is dreaming with his eyes open”.

Several news websites note that Kosovo declared its independence in 2008 which Serbia refuses to recognize. Over 100 world countries have recognized Kosovo, including 22 out of 27 EU member states. Kosovo and Serbia aspire to join the European Union. The two sides have been engaged in the dialogue for the normalization of relations since 2011. The process, which is facilitated by the European Union, has produced several agreements, but not all of them have been implemented. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have increased and since September the parties have not held any high-level political dialogue, but only meetings at the level of chief negotiators. The last round of political dialogue was held several days before the armed attack against the Kosovo Police in September 2023 in the north of Kosovo, where a Kosovo police sergeant was killed. Milan Radoicic, former deputy leader of the Serbian List, claimed responsibility for the attack. On the second anniversary of the attack, Pristina blamed Belgrade for supporting the aggression and called on Serbia to hand over Radoicic to Kosovo authorities.

Begaj at UN: Kosovo deserves a seat in the General Assembly (media)

Albanian President Bajram Begaj, in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, said that Kosovo is a contributor to peace and dialogue in the Western Balkans. He said that 17 years after the declaration of independence, Kosovo has proved with its actions that it is a responsible member of the international community and committed to stability and democratic values. “However, Kosovo’s seat in this Assembly remains unrightfully empty. The recognition of its independence and support for its membership in the United Nations and other international organizations is an act of justice for the people of Kosovo and a step that strengthens peace and security in the Western Balkans,” Begaj argued.

“Serbian diaspora sponsoring propaganda against Kosovo in NY” (media)

Several news websites report that some cars with “propaganda against Kosovo and Prime Minister Albin Kurti” have been seen in the streets of New York where the United Nations General Assembly is meeting.

Vox Kosova covers the story under the headline “the Serbian state is continuing its propaganda to demonize Kosovo Albanians by producing false events”. It also notes that “in some photos posted on social media, Kurti’s photo is seen in a moving vehicle with the inscription ‘Kurti and his regime are arresting and harassing Serbian children’. In another moving vehicle, a message appears stating that ‘Serbian Christian churches and their graves are being violated’ by Albanians”. The news website argues that “this is another false claim, as it has been proven several times that behind the destruction of Serbian graves in Kosovo, there are Serbian extremists who want to incite tensions by unfairly blaming Kosovo Albanians”.

Citing reports in some Serbian media, Sinjali news website reports that the cars have been sponsored by the Serbian diaspora in the United States.

Osmani meets Embalo, Yunus, expresses deep gratitude for continued support (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Wednesday with Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, “a steadfast friend of the people of Kosovo”. “In our meeting at the UN Headquarters today, I expressed our deep gratitude for his continued support for Kosovo, for helping strengthen our country’s international standing, and for his commitment to advancing cooperation between our two countries,” Osmani said in a post on X.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, also met with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus. They discussed strengthening relations, as well as joint efforts on the international stage. “Kosovo remains committed to advancing inter-state cooperation and is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of Bangladesh,” Osmani stated.

Kurti travels to New York for UN General Assembly (media)

Caretaker Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti has arrived in New York to participate in the High-Level Week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. According to a government statement, Kurti will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and promoting Kosovo’s international presence, particularly among countries that have yet to recognize Kosovo. "The acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has traveled to New York, United States of America, where he will hold bilateral meetings with leaders as part of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. During his stay there, he will also meet with members of the Albanian community in the U.S. and representatives of diaspora associations," the statement from the Prime Minister's Office reads.

Lacroix and Fearon discuss developments in Europe and Kosovo (AP)

The news website reports that the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, met with Deputy Head of the OSCE Secretariat Kate Fearon on Tuesday, and “discussed the recent developments in Europe and in Kosovo in particular, including common efforts with the UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo to promote trust-building, human rights and advance stability in the region”.

Hoxha: 2 yrs after Banjska, groups’ remnants still threaten security (media)

Kosovo Police General Director Gazmend Hoxha, in an interview with TeVe1, said that two years after the attack in Banjska, some remnants of the group that carried out the attack still pose a threat to security and stability in the north. “There are still some remnants of these groups that try to break public order and calm and threaten the people there, as well as police units and security institutions of Kosovo. Kosovo Police and other security institutions, in cooperation with KFOR, are working to guarantee as much order and security for our citizens,” he said.

Hoxha said that any information about these groups will be treated with seriousness and institutions will act in line with the law. “Operations will continue. Wherever there is information, we will react, based on the law and procedures and in communication with our prosecutions and courts,” he said.

Hoxha said that the September 2023 attack in Banjska was an attempt to create chaos and change the situation in the north but that the Kosovo Police managed to successfully repel the attack. “Our police units, including the police station in Zvecan, which was led by hero Afrim Bunjaku, border units and later special units of the Kosovo Police, successfully confronted the terrorist group, by eliminating three of them and arresting others. The operation lasted several days, initially with an armed confrontation, and later with actions to clean the terrain and guarantee public order … The good side of the whole operation was that except for the loss of hero Bunjaku and some other slightly injured, there were no casualties among our police officers and civilians. There were no damages to houses or properties, or the Monastery, where at the time there were pilgrims and tourists, who were treated properly and they had no problems,” he added.

“Radoicic spoke on the phone with Vucic during Banjska attack” (Vox Kosova)

The news website reported on Wednesday evening that it has secured an exclusive document from Kosovo’s security mechanisms, listing the communications of Milan Radoicic during the attack in Banjska in September 2023. According to the document, on September 24, 2023, when the terrorist group attempted to fully annex the northern part of Kosovo from Banjska, criminal Milan Radoicic had communicated over the phone with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The list of communications was taken after the examination of Radoicic’s phone. The telephone list, which the news website claims to have seen, shows that in addition to Vucic, Radoicic had talked with other senior members of the Serbian state, mainly from security structures. The document also notes that the communication between Vucic and Radoicic was done through alternative platforms of communication that do not require a telephone number. “This evidence shows that the attack in Banjska was a direct coordination between Radoicic and the Serbian state,” the news website notes.

Kamberi: "Lasting-peace cannot be built by appeasing autocrats" (media)

Shaip Kamberi, the only Albanian member of the Parliament of Serbia, on the 2nd anniversary of the Banjska attack, said that “the organizer of this attack – Milan Radoicic – who has been sheltered in Serbia, has yet to be brought to justice by state authorities”. “This fact raises serious concerns about Serbia’s engagement to prevent destabilizing actions in Kosovo and to respect the agreements that have been reached. The international community, which has called for the arrest of the perpetrators of this terrorist act, has so far sufficed only with statements, without exerting the right amount of pressure on Serbian authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of this act. Lasting peace in the Western Balkans cannot be built by appeasing autocrats and remaining silent about the authors of terrorist acts,” Kamberi wrote in a Facebook post.

Gervalla at SEECP presents tangible results in reforms and economy (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gervalla, attended the working lunch of South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and presented Kosovo’s tangible results, while referring to the European Commission Report for 2023 which confirms Kosovo’s progress in 36 out of 38 areas, including progress in the rule of law and order, where according to Gallup Law & Order Kosovo is ranked first in Europe and third in the world.

Gervalla highlighted Kosovo’s sustainable economic growth, direct foreign investments, the doubling of exports and a strengthened budget. She said that as chair of CEFTA, Kosovo has worked for equal representation, it has implemented the Common Regional Market within the Berlin Process and the Regional Cooperation Process, and it has contributed in the successful appointment of CEFTA Executive Director.

Gervalla expressed her concern over “Serbia’s arbitrary detention of Kosovo citizens” saying that these actions gravely affect freedom of movement and fall in contravention with the spirit of regional cooperation.

Gervalla also called for the removal of EU measures against Kosovo, equal treatment in the candidate status process and the swift conclusion of Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe.

French gendarmes deploy to Kosovo to “support stability and build trust” (media)

The French Embassy in Kosovo has announced that the French National Gendarmerie is taking part in the deployment of EULEX’s Trained Reserve Unit “to support stability and trust-building, particularly ahead of the local elections.” “The National Gendarmerie of France is proud to contribute, together with its European partners, to strengthening the security of all communities in Kosovo,” wrote the Embassy. “As part of EURGENDFOR, it is participating in the deployment of EULEX’s Trained Reserve Police Unit (RFPU) to support stability and trust-building, particularly in the lead-up to the local elections,” the statement reads. The French Embassy further stated that this cooperation demonstrates France’s commitment and that of its gendarmerie forces to peace and security in Kosovo and the Balkans.”

Basha says his name removed from paper that criticized KLA (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Dimal Basha said in a Facebook post that his name has been removed from a paper published 13 years ago and which criticized the former Kosovo Liberation Army. “A paper from my studies 13 years ago was included as a special chapter within a broader paper, in which I was wrongly listed as a coauthor. I requested the Magazine to remove the part in which I contributed, namely chapter 3, completely from the publication! The publication committee of the magazine informed today that they accepted my request to remove Chapter 3 from the publication, and also removed my name from the authors, as I did not have authorship in the other part of the publication, except for Chapter 3 which has now been removed,” he said.

Mandatory appearance in court for Svecla, two VV MPs over tear gas (media)

The Basic Court in Pristina has issued an order for the forced appearance of Caretaker Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla and Vetevendosje MPs Fitore Pacolli-Dalipi and Salih Zyba, after they failed to appear at a court hearing on September 16, 2025. The three, along with former LDK MP Drita Millaku, are accused of releasing tear gas in the Kosovo Assembly in March 2018.

The Basic Court in Pristina has issued an order for the forced appearance of Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla and Vetëvendosje MPs Fitore Pacolli-Dalipi and Salih Zyba, after they failed to appear at a court hearing on September 16, 2025. The three, along with former LDK MP Drita Millaku, are accused of releasing tear gas in the Kosovo Assembly in March 2018.

Judge Sabit Sadikaj ruled on September 18 that the defendants had been duly summoned but failed to justify their absence. As a result, the court instructed the Kosovo Police to enforce their attendance at the next hearing, scheduled for October 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

Kosovo Police participate in Europol Police Chiefs Convention (media)

A high-level delegation from the Kosovo Police participated in the Annual Police Chiefs Convention at Europol headquarters in The Hague on September 23–24, 2025. Led by Deputy Director General Fehmi Hoti, the delegation engaged in discussions on international organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and emerging financial crimes. They also held bilateral meetings with international law enforcement leaders to enhance regional and global security cooperation. The Kosovo Police emphasized that their participation reflects a strong commitment to international collaboration and improving capabilities to address evolving security challenges.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic with Berset: Gratitude to Council of Europe for continuous protection of rights of Serbs in Kosovo (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met yesterday in New York with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, expressing special gratitude to this international organization for its continuous support in preserving peace, stability, and security, as well as for protecting the rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

“I emphasized that Serbia will continue to be a serious and reliable partner to all those whose goal is the progress of Europe and the well-being of all our citizens”, Vucic said in a post on his official Instagram account. He added he discussed with Berset all the key issues for Serbia and the region.

“The meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe was an opportunity for an open and constructive exchange of views on all key issues for Serbia and the region. We discussed Serbia’s European path, the improvement of democratic standards, strengthening institutions, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights, to which Serbia remains fully committed”, Vucic noted.

Djuric and Lavrov met in New York, confirmed intensity of bilateral contacts (Tanjug, media)

Foreign ministers of Serbia and Russia, Marko Djuric and Sergey Lavrov met on the margins of the UN General Assembly session, Tanjug news agency reported.

The ministers acknowledged the progressive development of strategic partnership relations between the two countries, noting the sustained intensity and substantive nature of bilateral contacts despite the ongoing crisis in the international relations system. They discussed key issues pertaining to bilateral collaboration, Russian MFA said in a statement.

“In-depth consultations were conducted regarding coordination within international organizations, with particular attention to regional affairs – especially the situation in Serbia’s Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija and the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The Russian side reaffirmed its unwavering support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The necessity for strict adherence to the fundamental provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the General Framework Agreement for Peace (Dayton Agreement) was underscored as essential for achieving a durable and sustainable settlement in the Balkans”, the statement added.

Tanjug news agency also said Djuric underlined that Serbia attaches great importance to continues contacts at highest and high levels, touching upon recent meeting between the two presidents, Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin in Beijing, on which occasion the readiness to nurture Serbian-Russian relations and further advancement of it was reiterated.

An open letter of SNP to international missions regarding new measures on vehicles and residence registration (KiM radio)

The Serbian People's Movement (SNP) has sent an open letter to embassies and international missions in Kosovo, expressing serious concerns about announced measures of the Kosovo Government related to the driving of motor vehicles and registration of residence, reported KiM radio.

The letter states that these measures are not just a technical issue, but that they deeply encroach on the fundamental rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo, including freedom of movement, the right to home and family life.

It is added many Serbs are worried that new administrative obstacles will further limit their freedom and possibility of a normal life as well as potentially lead to forced emigration.

"The mere announcement of these measures has caused anxiety among Serbs in Kosovo. Many fear that they will be prevented from living and moving freely, which would force them to leave their homes", the open letter states.

A large number of members of the Serbian community in Kosovo are unable to obtain Kosovo documents, and the new measures, announced without consultation with the local Serbs, make everyday life even more difficult, states the letter.

"Given the expected consequences, the Serbian People's Movement demands that the Kosovo Government urgently postpone the implementation of the disputed measures until a fair and sustainable solution is found that takes into account the interests of all citizens".

They called on diplomatic missions and international organizations in Kosovo to use their influence in order to:

1. Open a dialogue with the local Serbian population in order to find a solution to the problems with public documents, because it most directly is affected by the consequences of these decisions.

2. Ensure full rights to freedom of movement, access to documents, right to home and family life.

3. Enable recognition of valid Serbian documents and simpler access to Kosovo documents for all members of the Serbian community.

"The Serbian people's movement is ready to participate in a constructive conversation and offer concrete solutions in order to preserve stability and normal life for all members of the Serbian people and other non-Albanian communities in Kosovo", it was added.

If a just solution is not found and dialogue is not opened, they warn that they will organize peaceful protests in accordance with the law.

"Our fight is not for positions, but for the rights of members of the Serbian people and other non-Albanian communities in Kosovo", concludes the letter.

Serbian diaspora in New York draws attention to difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

As in the previous year, during the session of the United Nations General Assembly, in recent days three trucks with billboards have been circulating the streets of New York, around the headquarters of the world organization, through which the Serbian diaspora in the United States seeks to highlight difficult situation faced by Serbs in Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reported.

As part of the awareness-raising campaign directed at the American and international public, the video screens mounted on the trucks alternate between “images depicting crimes committed by the KLA and footage showing the real-life circumstances of the Serbian population, who are under constant pressure from the authorities in Pristina”.

Speaking on behalf of the Serbian diaspora that organized the campaign, Aleks Mitrovic told Kosovo Online that their goal was to point out a situation that has persisted for a long time.

Read the full article at: https://shorturl.at/WnGfs

Serbian List’s election video banned (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)

Serbian List announced that the Independent Media Commission in Pristina once again banned the broadcast of the SL's election video. They say media outlets that broadcast the video are threatened with fines and license revocation, reported RTS.

According to the Serbian List statement, the IMC has once again banned media outlets from broadcasting the Serbian List campaign spot because, in their view, "the use of the words 'how to endure terror' and 'let's re-establish freedom' is a violation of the constitutional order of Kosovo."

Igor Simic from Serbian List assessed this is yet another form of pressure being exerted on this political entity.

"All with the aim of discouraging us from winning the elections on October 12 and bringing it to the Serbian people and liberating the municipalities in the north again," said, among other things, Igor Simic.

Serbian Democracy condemns ‘vote-buying’ by Rasic and his party (media, social media)

Serbian Democracy condemned today what it called the vote-buying by acting Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns Nenad Rasic and his party, Serbian media reported.

In a statement delivered to the media, Serbian Democracy said the party “condemns vote buying directed by acting minister (Nenad) Rasic and his party (For Freedom, Justice and Survival)”.

“Serbian Democracy members from Leposavic attended the informative session of the Ministry for Communities and Returns, where in the midst of the pre-election campaign, fabulous amounts to citizens were promised”, the statement added.

Serbian Democracy also published the video on their Facebook account of their members arguing against such practice. The video in English is available at: https://shorturl.at/4z4Gi

The hunger strike of two local election participants due to dismissal from their workplace in Kamenica provisional authority (KIM radio)

Two employees of the Provisional Authority of Kosovska Kamenica were dismissed after running in the local elections for the parties For Freedom, Justice and Survival and the Serbian People's Movement. Candidate of the Serbian People's Movement for mayor of Ranilug, Ivan Petrovic and Serbian People's Movement candidate for councilor in Ranilug, Ivan Ristic went on hunger strike two days ago.

According to KiM radio, candidate for councilor in Ranilug municipality Ivan Ristic's health worsened. Ivan Petrovic said that Ristic was first treated in the ambulance in Ranilug, then transferred to the hospital in Pasjane, and then, due to further deterioration, he was transported to the hospital in Laplje Selo, where he was hospitalized and received treatment. Ivan Ristic is a heart patient.

Petrovic emphasized that the strike continues.

"Everything is still the same, no one from the municipality has even contacted us," Petrovic told Kim Radio.

When asked by a Kim radio journalist if he expects any change, Petrovic repeated that the strike will continue regardless.

"The crackdown will continue in this form or another, and I expect absolutely nothing from the people who manage the municipality of Kosovska Kamenica and from the leadership of the Serbian List because I know them well. I know that they may not have done this voluntarily but on the orders of someone else, stronger than them," he concluded.

International

Kosovo calls for international pressure on Serbia over deadly 2023 gunfight (AP)

Kosovo’s acting prime minister on Wednesday called on the international community not to consider Serbia a normal state until it hands over those responsible for a deadly incursion by heavily armed Serb gunmen in 2023.

Albin Kurti visited the grave of Afrim Bunjaku, a police officer shot dead in the gunfight in Banjska. The attack also left three Serb gunmen dead.

Kosovo has accused Serbia of involvement, a claim that Belgrade has denied.

Kurti said the incursion was an “aggressive and terrorist attack” funded and supported by Belgrade officials and President Aleksandar Vucic.

“We call on the international actors not to consider Serbia a normal state as long as it doesn’t hand over its criminals,” he said.

Prosecutors have charged 45 people, alleging they were trying to break away the Serb-majority municipalities in the northern part of Kosovo and join Serbia proper.

Only three Serb defendants were arrested and were present at the trial that started last year. They pleaded not guilty to charges of violating constitutional and legal order, terror activities, funding terrorism and money laundering.

If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of life in prison.