UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 24, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Wesley Clark officially confirmed as a defense witness for Hashim Thaci (media)
Sources: Christopher Hill to testify as defense witness in Thaci trial (Dukagjini)
CEC: Election campaign for runoff to be held from November 3 to 9 (media)
Rasic: Vucic pressured Kosovo Serbs through fear and state apparatus (Telegrafi)
Kosovo joins intl accreditation organization as associate member (media)
Kamberi: Standards for Serbs in Kosovo to apply for Albanians in Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Shin: UNMIK has a long and significant presence in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever, Kontakt plus radio, Media Center Caglavica)
Eight decades of United Nations (TV Most, RTS, media)
Vucic: I am optimistic about position of Serbs in Kosovo in five or ten years (Kosovo Online)
Hearing in case of Kostic and Milovic adjourned (Kosovo Online, media)
A young man from Kosovo convicted for "KLA" graffiti, expulsion from Montenegro followed (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, KoSSev, RTCG)
Vucic: We agreed to import oil derivatives via MOL, but Hungarian refinery burned down – that hit us hard (N1)

International:

Why Labour’s plan to send small-boat migrants to Kosovo is doomed to fail (yahoo!news, The Telegraph)
Kosova B TPP capacity increases after turbine upgrade (See News)
Kosovo awards road upgrade deals worth 17.8 mln euro (See News)

Albanian Language Media

Wesley Clark officially confirmed as a defense witness for Hashim Thaci (media)

Most news websites report that former NATO Commander Wesley Clark has been officially confirmed as a defense witness in the Hague trial of former KLA leaders, including Hashim Thaci. Clark, who led NATO’s 1999 air campaign against Serbian forces during the war in Kosovo, is considered the most significant witness for the defense so far. His testimony is expected to challenge the prosecution’s claim of a “Joint Criminal Enterprise,” arguing that NATO cooperated with the KLA in a legitimate liberation war, not a criminal one. Clark’s appearance follows other key defense witnesses such as James Rubin, Paul Williams, John Duncan, and Jock Covey.

Sources: Christopher Hill to testify as defense witness in Thaci trial (Dukagjini)

Citing unnamed sources, the news website reports that Christopher Hill is expected to testify as a witness of the defense in the trial against former KLA leaders in the Hague. Hill, a career diplomat who recently served as US Ambassador to Serbia, was also special envoy during the war in Kosovo and was directly involved in the Rambouillet negotiations in 1999.

CEC: Election campaign for runoff to be held from November 3 to 9 (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has decided that the election campaign for the second round of local elections for mayors will take place from November 3 to November 9, 2025. According to the CEC’s decision approving the activity plan, the campaign period for political entities and candidates competing in the runoff will begin on November 3 and end at 6:59 a.m. on November 9.

At today’s meeting, the Central Election Commission (CEC) also decided to approve recommendations related to the inclusion of the recount results of 16 ballot boxes from 12 different polling stations in the final election results.

During the meeting, members discussed irregularities and discrepancies in the election results from several municipalities in Kosovo. It was noted that the inconsistencies identified during the recount have been verified, and it was recommended that the results be processed as valid.

Rasic: Vucic pressured Kosovo Serbs through fear and state apparatus (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Assembly deputy speaker from the Serb community and leader of the Party for Justice, Freedom and Survival, Nenad Rasic, said in an interview that the campaign for the recent local elections was difficult because of “continuous interferences and threats from structures tied to Belgrade”. “The Kosovo Serbs are tied with Belgrade in many aspects – cultural, religious, and healthcare. But Vucic, as a dictator, abuses these ties. He uses the state apparatus, the black apparatus, through finances, blackmail and physical violence against people that don’t obey him,” he said.

According to Rasic many Serbs in Kosovo are faced with fear, threats and stopping at the crossings between Kosovo and Serbia if they are not supporters and members of the Serbian List. He said that his family members too were stopped. “My son, who studies in Serbia, is held at the border for four hours every time. My wife was also stopped. This is a psychological war that has been going on for years,” he argued.

Rasic criticized international institutions in Kosovo for not reacting to such cases, adding that oftentimes their help and support is focused only on the Serbian List. “Unfortunately, the international community does not support the diversification of Serb political parties in Kosovo. They meet the majority and oftentimes ignore the problems we have,” he said.

Commenting on his election as deputy assembly speaker and the opposition from the Serbian List, Rasic said that he is confident that the Constitutional Court will decide on an interim measure. “I am 95 percent certain that there will be no interim measure against my election. There was no violation of the Constitution,” he said.

Rasic said that he is skeptical that a political agreement can be reached to form the new government. “I’m not optimistic that the government will be formed. It is easier for the bigger parties to go to elections, whereas, it is much more difficult for us, the smaller parties. In this situation, elections seem like the most realistic option,” he said.

Kosovo joins international accreditation organization as associate member (media)

Most news websites report that the General Directorate of Accreditation of Kosovo (DAK) has joined the international accreditation organization “Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated” as an associate member. The organization was established last year and will be the only organization for accreditation at the international (global) level. A press release issued by Kosovo’s Ministry of Trade and Industry that membership in the organization offers several benefits as follows: access and opportunity to give contribution in the development of global policies of accreditation and technical requirements; development of the national system of accreditation in order to reach the status of the multilateral agreement of recognition at the international level; building relationships with accreditation organizations of other internationally recognized countries and key stakeholders in conformity assessment; learning from the experiences of signatories to accreditation recognition agreements, accelerating internal development towards international recognition of local accreditation; participation as a member of technical committees that develop procedures, guidelines and accreditation policies applicable worldwide; participation in peer review discussions, opportunities to gain knowledge on accreditation recognition processes and receive mentoring from existing signatories; Increases the visibility and importance of accreditation among governments, regulatory agencies, industries and other stakeholders, providing a credible basis for working towards compliance with domestic and international regulations; provides access to training programs, workshops, and webinars designed to strengthen accreditation systems.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2m2626uk

Kamberi: Standards for Serbs in Kosovo to apply for Albanians in Serbia (media)

Several news websites report that a delegation of Albanians from Presevo Valley in Serbia, led by MP Shaip Kamberi, stayed in the US where they met with Congressman Keith Self who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe. The Albanian delegation said they discussed “the real situation in Presevo Valley beyond the official narratives by Belgrade” and that they want equality, namely for the standards that Serbia asks for Serbs in Kosovo to apply for Albanians living in Serbia. Kamberi said: “we talked openly about the difficult position of Albanians in Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja, the militarization of the zone, and Serbia’s failure to implement agreements deriving from the framework agreement of 2001, the passivization of addresses which is being used as an administrative tool to erase Albanians from civil registries, and also the systematic discrimination and marginalization in public institutions, education and employment”.

Kamberi also said that he asked for a more intensive engagement by the United States in Presevo Valley, through institutional support, monitoring the situation and a more direct involvement in human rights issues.

Serbian Language Media

Shin: UNMIK has a long and significant presence in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever, Kontakt plus radio, Media Center Caglavica)

UNMIK has a long and significant presence in Kosovo, which is deeply connected to its past and present, and although much has changed, the commitment to serve all communities in Kosovo remains unwavering, said Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Officer in Charge of UNMIK Milbert Dongjun Shin, on the occasion of marking the eight decades of the United Nations, reported Kosovo Online.

Amid serious present days challenges which the world is faced with, there is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative influence of the United Nations.

“No other global body gives so many people hope for a better world and the realization of the future we want.”

United Nations Day, celebrated on October 24, commemorates the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. Signed and ratified by all member states, the Charter calls on nations to “practice tolerance and live together in peace... and to unite our forces to maintain international peace and security” as well as to promote “economic and social progress of all peoples” the statement reads.

Shin pointed to the current financial challenges the UN faces due to a global lack of funds but confirmed that UNMIK will continue to provide support to the people and institutions of Kosovo, through building trust, providing political analysis and reporting to member states, as well as performing the remaining functions of the interim administration and provision of good services.

The United Nations Kosovo Team, which brings together 18 agencies, funds and programmes, supports projects and initiatives that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and improve lives in all communities.

The United Nations Development Coordinator in Kosovo, Stephen O’Malley, emphasized that today marks the moment to look back on eight decades of progress, but also to prepare for the future:

“We are entering a new era with new challenges; the lessons of 80 years ago remain valid and important, but we also need to refocus – both as organizations and as communities – on today's very real challenges to build resilient and prosperous societies.”

Eight decades of United Nations (TV Most, RTS, media)

The United Nations are celebrating the eight decades of their existence, on a day the UN Charter came into force, Serbian media report today. In a conference in San Francisco in 1947, a decision was adopted to mark as UN Day the date the UN Charter came into force, 24 October, signed on June 26, 1945.

On the occasion of this anniversary, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reflected that the organization, whose purpose is world peace and international cooperation aiming to achieve the common good, is facing new challenges.

"Eight decades later, a direct line can be drawn between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of World War III", Guterres said, TV Most reported.

Today, under the auspices of the UN, the presence of thousands of peacekeepers has been ensured in 11 crisis hotspots around the world, with almost 30 disarmament agreements, as well as the removal of over 55 million landmines. From its founding to the present day, the UN has been, and remains, a unique institution with a mission to build consensus, promote peace, implement sustainable development, and protect human rights, with the primary goal of helping to end the horrors of war and secure sustainable peace. The UN also documents human rights violations around the world, promoting respect for international norms and standards, and supporting governments in their reform efforts in over 90 countries.

The Charter, as well as the entire concept of the United Nations, grew out of the experience of World War II. The Allies, having learned from the terrible experiences of that war, were determined to establish a body to regulate subsequent relations between states, in hope that this way, as far as possible, possible dangers in the future would be thwarted. The idea was to create a much more efficient body than the interwar League of Nations, which would be formally dissolved on April 18, 1946.

The Charter obliges member states to foster peace, international law, and security, as well as to harmonize economic and social measures and respect human rights. The document begins with a preamble, and contains a total of 111 articles organized into 19 chapters. The first session of the UN General Assembly was held in London on January 10, 1946, while the first meeting of the Security Council took place a week later.

Vucic: I am optimistic about position of Serbs in Kosovo in five or ten years (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said last night he is not optimistic that the situation for Serbian people will change immediately after the local elections in Kosovo, but stressed he is optimistic about the position of Serbs in Kosovo in five or ten years, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“I am not optimistic that the elections will change anything now, but I am optimistic about the position of Serbs in five or ten years, and that is based on the logic of iron arguments”, Vucic told RTS.

He said after local elections in Kosovo he congratulated the Serbian List on an almost impossible result, given that all foreigners worked against them — above all those from the West, but also those in Serbia who are opposed to the authorities — while all Albanian resources were mobilized to help their opponents.

He emphasized that the Serbian List includes people of authority from all parts of Kosovo. He singled out the Serbian List’s victory in Gracanica as particularly significant, recalling that the united Albanian list received 23 percent.

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

Hearing in case of Kostic and Milovic adjourned (Kosovo Online, media)

The hearing in the case of Zoran Kostic and Dragan Milovic accused of allegedly committing war crimes during the conflict in Kosovo was adjourned today at the Basic Court in Pristina, Kosovo Online portal reported. The hearing was adjourned so the lawyer could have more time to interpret the statements of the third witness of the prosecution, the judge said.

The next hearing will take place on November 24, at 13.15, the portal added. Also, Zoran Kostic asked the judge to cancel authorization to his lawyer, Miodrag Brkljac citing lack of visits to him in prison for such a request.

A third witness of the prosecution was supposed to be heard today. Defense lawyer Predrag Miljkovic said the defense was not ready to examine this witness, as they received his statement 10 minutes before the hearing.

’’I feel sorry that we lost 20 days since the previous hearing, but defence cannot continue like this“, Miljkovic said. He added the witness made his statement 15 days after indictment was raised, and the defence thinks it should not be taken into consideration. ’’I see the statement was made on May 30, therefore after the investigation concluded. I think it is not valid, nor is the witness to be heard. This statement came out 15 days after the indictment was raised“, he argued. The judge said the statement was accepted and the witness will be heard as it is the decision of the judicial panel.

Zoran Kostic and Dragan Milovic were arrested on September 20, 2023, together with Ilija Elezovic who suffered from terminal illness and has died meanwhile. Kostic and Milovic remain in detention ever since their arrest.

A young man from Kosovo convicted for "KLA" graffiti, expulsion from Montenegro followed (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, KoSSev, RTCG)

A young man from Kosovo, E.S. (22), was sentenced to ten days in prison for writing graffiti "KLA" in Herceg Novi, and after serving his sentence he will be expelled from Montenegro, reported Kontakt plus radio.

After serving his sentence in the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, he will be expelled from Montenegro with a one-year ban on entry - it was announced to the Radio-television of Montenegro (RTCG) from the Court of Misdemeanors.

According to reports, E. S. wrote the graffiti "ARPZ UÇK 1878" with red paint on a building in Herceg Novi. The defendant admitted committing the offense.

According to the announcement of the Court for Misdemeanors in Budva, the perpetrator was punished for writing graffiti and causing damage to the building, which, according to the decision of the acting judge, fulfilled the elements of the offense from Article 18, paragraph 1 of the Law on Public Order and Peace. They remind that the police in Herceg Novi reacted after the locals reported that the passengers from the bus of the carrier from Kosovo "Spejtimi" in the Meljine settlement were writing slogans in support of the former KLA.

It was about fans of the Prizren basketball club "Bashkimi", who were returning from Italy on the bus of the aforementioned carrier and entered Montenegro via the Debeli Brijeg border crossing. They stopped for a short time in Meljine at a bakery, where they wrote graffiti on the substation with red paint, reported Kontakt plus radio, citing RTCG among other things.

As reported by RTCG, there were 48 fans and two drivers on the bus. Locals, dissatisfied with their behavior, tried to approach the bus, but the police reacted and prevented any conflicts.

After the intervention of the police, the bus was redirected to Debeli Brijeg, after which it was under police protection in Igalo, where a group of citizens outraged by the incident had also gathered.

Vucic: We agreed to import oil derivatives via MOL, but Hungarian refinery burned down – that hit us hard (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said people need not to worry about the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), emphasizing that “the first day there’s a problem, the state will take matters into its own hands”, N1 reported.

“I will be the master of unspoken words”, Vucic told Serbian public broadcaster RTS when asked to clarify what that meant. “On Monday, we arranged with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to import oil derivatives via MOL, which is otherwise the largest importer of derivatives, at 400,000 tons annually. We agreed to increase that import, but on Tuesday, a refinery in Hungary burned down, which directly impacted us”, Vucic explained.

“I spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, I’m trying to find many different options, though we don’t have many, to secure Serbia”, Vucic said, reassuring people not to worry because “there won’t be any cans” (in reference to major oil shortages during the sanctions in 90ies, when people were buying gasoline in bottles and cans), implying no shortages.