UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 15, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Von der Leyen to visit Kosovo today, will be received by President Osmani (media)
Osmani holds phone call with UK Envoy, government formation discussed (media)
IMF foresees 3.9 percent economic growth in Kosovo (media)
Haradinaj: Parliamentary elections could be held in December (media)
Kadrijaj: AAK will not be part of a Kurti government (media)
Shala: PDK will not vote for a Vetevendosje-led government (media)
Gucati: Edi Rama will take part in October 17 protest in Tirana (media)
Prosecution gathering information on vote misuse allegations in Mitrovica (media)

Serbian Language Media:

President Vucic welcomed the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the airport in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)
The police demanded from the Gracanica school removal of the graffiti "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)
KP detained a person at Jarinje crossing then released him after questioning (KoSSev)
The local elections opened the way to the formation of the Government of Kosovo or extraordinary parliamentary elections? (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Monday Briefing from the Balkans (BIRN)
Disinformation in Kosovo’s local elections campaign raises concerns (PI)
Serbia again convicts wartime fighters for Bosnia train abductions (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Von der Leyen to visit Kosovo today, will be received by President Osmani (media)

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is set to visit Kosovo today. The Office of the President has announced that von der Leyen will meet with President Vjosa Osmani. According to the press release, the meeting is scheduled to take place at 13:00.

Osmani holds phone call with UK Envoy, government formation also discussed (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani announced that she held a phone conversation with Dame Karen Pierce, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans. Osmani stated that the discussion focused on the recent local elections in Kosovo and the next steps toward forming a new government. “We also discussed the next steps toward forming the Government and advancing our joint bilateral strategic agenda,” Osmani wrote.

“We discussed the recent local elections in Kosovo, an important democratic exercise that once again demonstrated the professionalism of our institutions and the citizens’ commitment to democracy. I expressed deep concern over Serbia’s unlawful interference in our elections through actions that strike at the very heart of democracy,” she wrote on the social platform, X.

IMF foresees 3.9 percent economic growth in Kosovo (media)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected an economic growth of 3.9 percent for Kosovo's economy. This growth is the highest in the region, although it marks a 0.7 percentage point decline compared to the previous year. For next year, the IMF has projected a slowdown in inflation for basic goods. According to the report, Kosovo's GDP is expected to grow by 3.9 percent in 2025 and 4.0 percent the following year. Meanwhile, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to experience identical declines of 0.6 percentage points, Montenegro will remain at the same level as last year, Serbia will drop by 0.5 percentage points, while North Macedonia will be the only country to see an increase from 2.8 percent in 2024 to 3.4 percent this year.

For 2025, the IMF also forecasts an increase in inflation in consumer prices. However, for the following year, a slowdown in the rise of these prices is expected. The inflation rate for this year in Kosovo is forecasted to be 3.5 percent. Last year, inflation stood at 1.6 percent, while next year it is projected to be 2.7 percent.

Among the regional countries, Serbia is expected to face the highest inflation rate, at 9 percent.

Haradinaj: Parliamentary elections could be held in December (media)

Several news websites reported on Tuesday that Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj said that new parliamentary elections could be held in December. In a Facebook post, Haradinaj thanked the diaspora for their continuous support to the AAK and Kosovo and their role during difficult processes including the trials in the Hague. “Do not neglect the importance of the runoff election day. Vote from there if you can, communicate with your families and friends in Kosovo, or come to Kosovo again and vote … Let us continue united like never before, because Kosovo calls upon us,” he said.

Kadrijaj: AAK will not be part of a Kurti government (media)

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Time Kadrijaj reiterated on Tuesday that this party would not cooperate with Kurti’s Vetevendosje Movement to form a new government. “No, we will not be part of a Kurti 3 government,” she said.

Shala: PDK will not vote for a Vetevendosje-led government (media)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Ferat Shala said on Tuesday that this party will not vote in favor of a Vetevendosje-led government. “I don’t believe that the Democratic Party will vote for a government of the Vetevendosje Movement, which has been in power until now, and has brought Kosovo international isolation, European sanctions, economic poverty and many other economic and political damages,” Shala said in an interview with Front Online.

Gucati: Edi Rama will take part in October 17 protest in Tirana (media)

Several news websites reported that the Organization of KLA War Veterans held a conference about the protest in Tirana, Albania, on October 17, in support of former KLA leaders who are standing trial in the Hague. War veterans’ leader Hysni Gucati said that Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama will also take part in the protest. “We are waiting, today or tomorrow he will inform us about a speech too. I don’t believe he will refuse a speech, but it depends on the agenda. He told us last night too that he will take part in the October 17 protest,” he said.

Gucati also said that 60 buses with people from Kosovo will be going to Tirana, Albania. “We thank the mayors of municipalities who have provided transport for the veterans, children of martyrs and the war invalids,” he said.

Prosecution gathering information on allegations of vote misuse in Mitrovica (media)

The Basic Prosecution in South Mitrovica has stated that it is currently gathering information regarding suspicions of vote misuse in the Shipol neighborhood. The spokesperson for the Prosecution, Valon Preteni, did not provide further details, stating only that the Police have been instructed to begin collecting information. “Information is being gathered regarding the allegations of vote misuse at this location. That’s all we can say at this stage,” he said.

Mitrovica was one of the cities with the tightest race in the local elections. Arian Tahiri from PDK came out ahead by a small margin over Faton Peci from LVV. The runoff on November 9 will be decisive. However, in Mitrovica, exit polls published after the close of the voting process showed Tahiri of PDK as a clear winner. This sparked reactions from both sides. The caretaker Prime Minister and leader of LVV, Albin Kurti, called for an investigation into the companies that conducted these exit polls.

Serbian Language Media

President Vucic welcomed the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the airport in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, welcomed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who arrived last night at the “Nikola tesla’’ airport in Belgrade, reported Tanjug agency.

"It is a great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Belgrade. Each of her visits has a special significance for Serbia and represents another step in the direction of strengthening cooperation and trust between our country and the European Union," President Vucic said in a post on his Instagram account buducnostsrbijeav.

The police demanded from the Gracanica school removal of the graffiti "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)

Members of the Kosovo Police demanded yesterday from the management of the Elementary School "Kralj Milutin" in Gracanica to remove the graffiti "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" written on the protective fence of the school's stadium.

Several messages were written on the wooden fence painted in the colors of the Serbian tricolor, and "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" was written in red spray paint in the center of the fence.

As the school administration told Radio KiM, these graffiti were written a long time ago and they don't know who did it because, as they say, tournaments also take place in the school yard. However, as they say, the graffiti was spotted today by a Kosovo police officer who ensures the counting of votes from the local elections, which takes place in the gymnasium. According to the media, the mentioned police officer demanded the sign to be painted over from the school director.

In the presence of the school director and other employees of this elementary school, the assistant worker of the school painted over all the graffiti. All this was observed by representatives of the CEC, who have been present at the school for days, as well as Kosovo police officers. The director of the school did not want to comment.

KP detained a person at Jarinje crossing then released him after questioning (KoSSev Kosovo Online)

A man with the initials M.J. was taken into custody yesterday afternoon at the Jarinje crossing.

The deputy commander of the KP for the North, Veton Elshani told KoSSev that the person was taken to the station in South Mitrovica, explaining that he will be interrogated by police units from Pristina. He did not give more details on the detention of the person.

However, KoSSev reported soon after that the person was released from custody but was still unknown in connection with which case the questioning was carried out.

According to Kosovo Online, the person is allegedly of Serbian nationality, from Grabovac.

The local elections opened the way to the formation of the Government of Kosovo or extraordinary parliamentary elections? (Kosovo Online)

In the local elections held on October 12, twenty-one municipalities in Kosovo elected new mayors, while seventeen others will have to wait until the second round on November 9 to know who will lead them for the next four years. Before the second round, the Prime Minister-designate of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, is expected to propose a new cabinet — but the question remains whether he can secure the support of a sufficient number of MPs in the Kosovo Parliament. Interlocutors for Kosovo Online believe that the local elections have influenced the process of forming a new government, noting that an interesting period lies ahead.

The Self-Determination Movement won three municipalities in the first round — Podujevo, Kamenica, and Stimlje — and will compete in twelve more in the second round. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has declared an unofficial victory, as it won the largest number of municipalities in the first round and will go to the runoff in most municipalities. According to analysts, the main battles will be in Pristina and South Mitrovica.

While waiting for the second round, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani granted Albin Kurti the mandate to form the new government after the Kosovo Assembly completed its constitutive session.

Kurti’s message afterward was that he would hold talks on forming a new government during the week but that he was also ready for new elections if he failed to gain the necessary parliamentary support.

According to Kosovo Online’s interlocutors, after Sunday’s elections, Kosovo is closer to new extraordinary parliamentary elections than to the formation of a new government, although there is still room for party negotiations. They add that the sovereign voter has sent a message to the parties — both in central and local elections — and now the question is whether they will listen to the citizens.

In any case, they assess — an interesting period lies ahead.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/47utm2up

International Media

Monday Briefing from the Balkans (BIRN)

Kosovo president gives Kurti mandate to form government

On Saturday, a day after the inauguration of parliament, following months of political deadlock, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani gave a mandate to Albin Kurti, leader of February’s election-winning party, Vetevendosje, to form a government. Kurti has 15 days to ensure the votes of at least 61 MPs for his chosen cabinet.

“I want the Republic of Kosovo to have a fully mandated government soon, which can take decisions for the benefit of our citizens,” President Osmani said, on mandating Kurti to form his third cabinet.

Serbia’s Vucic ‘disappointed’ in Russian gas offer

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday that it was “disappointing” that the Russian-owned gas firm Gazprom had offered Serbia a new gas contract lasting only until the New Year, instead of a longer-term three-year contract, as Serbia was hoping for.

Vucic linked the issue to the US sanctions on partially Russian-owned Serbian oil company NIS, and the mooted possibility that Serbia could nationalise NIS unilaterally. “The logic is simple, and I won’t hide it, they want to tell us that, ‘if you start nationalising NIS [the majority-Russian owned Oil Industry of Serbia], we can cut off the gas on December 31’. And that’s a very bad message for me,” Vucic told pro-government Informer Television.