• US, German embassies react to non-certification of SL for elections (media)
• Krasniqi reacts to statements criticizing non-certification of SL (media)
• VV denies energy import from Serbia on Nov 28, blames previous governments (AP)
• US and Kosovo agree to further defense projects (media)
• Vengu: Kosovo’s membership in Adriatic Charter – a strategic need (media)
• Kosovo becomes full member of Association of Issuing Bodies (media)
• Osmani decorates activists on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (media)
• From 2016 to 2025, over 31,000 couples registered their property on both names (EO)
• Tahiri says she was “not surprised with Mogherini’s arrest” (media)
• COMKFOR Ulutas visits Norwegian People’s Aid and HALO Trust (media)
• Petkovic: The attempt to ban the SL from participating in the elections, evidence of Kurti's nervousness and fear of debacle (Kosovo Online) 

US, German embassies react to non-certification of SL for elections (media)

The United States Embassy in Kosovo said today that the Vetevendosje Movement’s “attempts to block certification for Srpska Lista to participate in Kosovo’s elections is shortsighted and divisive. All Kosovo citizens should be able to exercise their democratic rights. Such actions undermine Kosovo’s stability and U.S. interests, including restarting our strategic dialogue to advance opportunities for U.S. and Kosovo businesses”.

The German Embassy in Kosovo said it regrets “the obstructive behaviour by some members of the Central Election Commission in refusing to certify Srpska Lista for the upcoming general elections. The electoral process and technical preparations for the elections must be free from political maneuverings from political actors”.

The Albanian Post reports that Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti refused today to respond to questions by reporters about the US’s strong reaction to the non-certification of the Serbian List.

Krasniqi reacts to statements criticizing non-certification of SL (media)

Several news websites report that the Vetevendosje representative at the Central Election Commission (CEC), Alban Krasniqi, reacted to statements by several foreign ambassadors in Kosovo who criticized the non-certification of the Serbian List for the December 28 parliamentary elections. “Dear ambassadors, the real concern should be the Serbian List’s strangling the right of the Serb community to exercise their democratic rights and political participation. In addition to directly participating in criminal and terrorist attacks and actions against the constitutional order, it [the Serbian List] also controls and manages with Vucic’s funds in Kosovo, by blackmailing Serb citizens in Kosovo and by using those funds to finance criminals that attacked the police of the Republic of Kosovo and members of KFOR, namely your compatriots,” Krasniqi argued.

VV denies energy import from Serbia on Nov 28, blames previous governments (AP)

Senior member of the Vetevendosje Movement, Armend Muja, rejected today allegations that Kosovo imported energy from Serbia even on November 28, saying that they are not true. Muja told a press conference in Pristina that the import of energy from Serbia was a practice of previous governments. He argued that before Vetevendosje came to power, Serbia was the dominant supplier of energy imported by Kosovo, and that after 2020 the situation has changed completely. “Since 2020 and onwards, the supply mainly comes from Slovenia, then Albania, North Macedonia and Denmark. The import from Serbia is less than 1 percent,” he said.

Commenting on the contract with Serbian businessman Vuk Hamovic, Muja accused the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) of signing the contract and extending it for over a decade. He also said that the opposition is using unfounded accusations to create confusion among the people. 

US and Kosovo agree to further defense projects (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Ministry of Defense said in a Facebook post that on the margins of the Adriatic Charter Ministerial, caretaker Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci met with Principal Director for European and NATO Policy at the US Department for War, Alton Buland. Discussions focused on bilateral cooperation in defense between Kosovo and the United States. “The partnership so far was highly appreciated, and they agreed to further joint projects, including the development of the defense industry through cooperation and joint investments. They also discussed possibilities to increase Kosovo’s contribution in international missions, with the aim of strengthening its role in global peace and security. The United States of America remains a key strategic partner in strengthening and developing the defense capacities of the Republic of Kosovo,” the statement notes.

Kosovo becomes full member of Association of Issuing Bodies (media)

Several news websites report that Kosovo has joined the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) as a full member at the last meeting of the general assembly of this organization. The Western Balkans and other Energy Community contracting parties require full alignment with the European Union’s regulations to enable cross-border trading in renewable electricity. The Energy Regulatory Office of Kosovo said its request to become a full member of the AIB was approved and it is now part of the European platform for guarantees of origin. It increases the transparency and credibility of renewable energy certification, enabling more efficient cross-border trade and paving the way for new investments in the renewable energy sector, ERO said. The membership also confirms Kosovo’s commitment to the energy transition path and harmonization with the European Union’s acquis communautaire.

Vengu: Kosovo’s membership in Adriatic Charter – a strategic need (media)

Albania’s Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu said on Tuesday that Kosovo’s membership in the Adriatic Charter is a strategic need. He made these remarks after the Adriatic Charter Ministerial in Sarajevo. The Adriatic Charter is a regional initiative aimed at promoting NATO integration and security cooperation among its member countries, which include Albania, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vengu also highlighted the challenges and threats faced by the Western Balkans. “The Western Balkans has many inherited challenges and new threats that require closer partnership, investments in human resources, cyber defense, industry, equipment and joint systems. We believe the regional initiative with the United States is a necessary platform which should focus on more effective cooperation towards increased sustainability of every member state,” he argued.

Osmani decorates activists on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, has decorated several activists that fight for the rights of these persons. Osmani said that the activists, through their public advocacy, work on the field and the continuous protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, have led to increased social awareness, advancement of public policies and inclusion. “Our society becomes more fair and stronger, through those that every day work for equality, dignity and inclusion and appreciating them is an institutional and moral obligation,” Osmani said.

From 2016 to 2025, over 31,000 couples registered their property on both names (EO)

As part of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” a conference was held today in Pristina “The rights of girls and women in inheritance and property” where it was said that from 2016 to 2025, over 31,000 couples have registered their properties under both names.

Representatives of the Ministry of Justice said that “a state that does not protect the property rights of women cannot be called a state of law”. Caretaker Minister of Justice Blerim Sallahu pledged that equal rights to property will not remain only on paper and that it will be a public policy based on the law. “This is not a debate limited to gender equality; it is a debate about the character of our state. A state that does not protect the property rights of women cannot be called a state of law. A government that does not fight the economic inequality of women cannot claim to work for sustainable development. Equal property rights are not the request of a group but rather a national interest because where women have property, there is more investment, education and security there. Property in the hands of women does not weaken the family, it strengthens it, it does not divide society, but it unites on the basis of justice. As institutions we are directly responsible for making every process transparent and free from discrimination. We need to draft policies that further encourage the joint registration of property or independently in the name of women. This is our pledge: equality in property will not remain on paper. It will be a public policy, based on the law, supported by the institutions, and protected with political will,” he said.

Executive Director of the Agency for Gender Equality, Edi Gusia, said that financial independence gives women the room to live free, safe and not return to a place of violence. “We cannot talk about an equal society without making sure that every girl and woman will inherit and manage their property and wealth … The Agency for Gender Equality has always treated with priority the issue of property and inheritance rights, especially when we are nearing the 10th anniversary of the enforcement of affirmative measures for the joint registration of property on both names. In 2016, we had 105 properties throughout Kosovo under both names, and 2025 finds us with 31,124 couples that have registered property under both names. This is a historical step because in addition to the fulfilment of rights, we are also building a new culture of behavior among the young generations that property is not the privilege of only one person but the right of equal partners. Everyone knows that in addition to guaranteeing property or inheritance rights or the increased number of properties registered jointly, this does not suffice to achieve true economic and social equality for women and girls. These are the foundations, and more work is needed by drafting policies, making investments and joint engagement,” she argued.

Tahiri says she was “not surprised with Mogherini’s arrest” (media)

Several news websites cover a Facebook post by former Kosovo chief negotiator in the EU-facilitated talks with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, who said that she was not surprised by the arrest of former EU diplomacy chief Federica Mogherini, who was also EU representative in the talks. “I was not surprised by her arrest because on this corruptive basis, Federica Mogherini opened the door to games with borders and the partitioning of the north of Kosovo, whose games we defeated with determination and the seal of defeat was made by Angela Merkel,” she said.

COMKFOR Ulutas visits Norwegian People’s Aid and HALO Trust (media)

Several news websites report that Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission in Kosovo, Major General Ozkan Ulutas, visited Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and The HALO Trust, two independent organisations specialised in mine action and disarmament, in Mitrovica South. A post on Facebook notes that the visit included a briefing on their ongoing activities and a static display of equipment and explosive ordnance used for training and public awareness. “Since 1999, the HALO Trust and NPA have cleared more than 40 million square metres of land, and have recovered more than 12,000 explosive ordnances, significantly contributing to making Kosovo a much safer place for all people living here. They have also helped to foster food security, access to land, and infrastructure and energy development. KFOR has supported the work of The HALO Trust and NPA, including by safe disposal of encountered explosive ordnances, together with personnel from the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), in accordance with KSF’s original mandate of civil protection. KFOR finds it important that these activities continue to receive necessary funding, so that Kosovo could be declared risk-free from unexploded ordnance, in the foreseeable future,” the post adds.

Petkovic: The attempt to ban the SL from participating in the elections, evidence of Kurti's nervousness and fear of debacle (Kosovo Online) 

The Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, said that the new attack by the Prime Minister of Kosovo in the technical mandate of Albin Kurti on the Serbian List and the attempt to ban it from participating in the upcoming elections, is proof of his nervousness and fear of the final debacle at the vote on December 28, reported Kosovo Online.

"As we have repeatedly pointed out, Kurti has nothing to offer his voters except naked hatred for everything Serbian, he has no economic program, so he is making a new desperate move in order to artificially stay in power," announced Petkovic.

"Additionally, by trying to ban the Serbian List from participating in the elections, Kurti wants to forcibly push his favorite Nenad Rasic into the so-called parliament in Pristina, because he knows very well that the Serbian people will not want him and that he represents no one other than the anti-Serb government from Pristina," said Petkovic.

"The reason is that the Serbian List is the only one fighting for the interests of the Serbian people and represents a barrier against Kurti's dream of an ethnically pure Kosovo and Metohija. One thing is certain, and Kurti should also remember that lesson - to every attack on our people and the Serbian List, the Serbs will respond with even stronger unity and harmony on December 28," concluded the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, reported Kosovo Online.