• Leaders send letters to Osmani on anniversary of declaration of independence (all media)
• Prattipati: Kosovo continues to build a secure future (RTK)
• Kosovo Assembly adopts draft budget law in first reading (RFE)
• Kurti hosts Albanian PM Rama, discuss relations and shared projects (Koha)
• 200,000 people expected to take part in today’s protest in support of former KLA leaders (Sinjali)
• Kosovo ex-guerilla leaders’ defence claims prosecution failed to prove guilt (BIRN)
• Osmani awards British MP Kearns with Presidential Medal of Merit (Telegrafi/Reporteri)
• Kosovo canal attack suspects plead not guilty to terrorism charges (Prishtina Insight)

Leaders send letters to Osmani on anniversary of declaration of independence (all media)

All news websites cover letters that world leaders have sent to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on the anniversary of the declaration of independence. French President Emmanuel Macron said in his letter that France is committed to Kosovo’s independence and its European perspective, and expressed his conviction that reunification of the continent goes through the membership of the countries of the Western Balkans in the European Union. “In this spirit, the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia remains a matter of European security and a central dimension of the process of their approximation with the European Union. France will continue to support the EU-facilitated dialogue. The Brussels and Ohrid agreements have set the direction. It is up to both parties to implement their commitments,” he said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a letter that Germany sees with great joy the progress that Kosovo has made since the declaration of independence. “Germany has been from the beginning one of Kosovo’s closest friend and supporter and will remain as such in the future … The citizens of Kosovo are deeply tied with European values and objectives. We want to see Kosovo become a member of the European Union and we will continue to support your country on this path. At the same time, we have faith that the elected political representatives will follow with determination the steps that Kosovo needs to make to get closer to this objective. This includes a determined engagement in the normalization dialogue with Serbia and for the Serb citizens of Kosovo,” he said.

King Charles said in a letter that “this day serves as a valued opportunity to reflect upon the enduring friendship between our nations. I am deeply encouraged by the strength of our bilateral ties and remain committed to fostering even closer cooperation in the years to come. As we face the shared challenges of our time particularly those concerning the climate and the preservation of our natural world, I am hopeful that our countries may continue to work together in pursuit of meaningful and lasting solutions. My wife and I send our sincerest regards to you and to all Kosovans for peace, prosperity and wellbeing in the year ahead”.

Prattipati: Kosovo continues to build a secure future (RTK)

US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Anu Prattipati congratulated Kosovo on the anniversary of the declaration of independence. “This year, as Kosovo marks its 18th anniversary of independence and the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we stand together as Kosovo continues to build a secure and prosperous future … The US partnership with Kosovo began even before independence, in 1996, when the United States opened its first office in Pristina. Since then, we have stood by Kosovo, supporting its democratic journey, which lays the foundation for the future. We look forward to expanding our cooperation in trade, investment and strengthening security ties, to the benefit of both our countries. We welcome Kosovo’s commitment to international peace and continue to encourage a multiethnic and democratic future for all its citizens,” she said in an Instagram post.

Kosovo Assembly adopts draft budget law in first reading (RFE)

The Kosovo Assembly adopted the draft budget law for 2026 in its first reading on Monday with 66 votes in favor, 32 against and five abstentions. Arberie Nagavci, head of the parliamentary group of the ruling party – the Vetevendosje Movement – proposed that the second reading is held on Friday. The proposal was approved by 67 votes.

Assembly Speaker Albulena Haxhiu asked the budget committees and other parliamentary committees, according to the areas they cover, to review the draft law on budget allocations for 2026, and to present reports with recommendations to the Assembly.

The draft law foresees that the total budget for 2026 to be around €4 billion.

Kurti hosts Albanian PM Rama, discuss relations and shared projects (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti hosted on Monday in Pristina Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and discussed relations between Kosovo and Serbia, inter-government relations, infrastructure projects with shared interest and new opportunities for the two governments.

Rama congratulated Kurti on winning the December 28 elections and forming the government, and Kurti expressed his and the government’s appreciation for strengthening and expanding relations between Kosovo and Albania. 

200,000 people expected to take part in today’s protest in support of former KLA leaders (Sinjali)

The march “Justice, not politics” in support of former KLA leaders in the Hague will be held in downtown Pristina today and around 200,000 people are expected to take part. The protest will be peaceful and will call for an unbiased legal proceeding in the Hague.

Kosovo ex-guerilla leaders’ defence claims prosecution failed to prove guilt (BIRN)

The closing statements of the defence teams of wartime Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA leaders Hashim Thaci, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi argued that the prosecution has failed to establish their guilt and has not taken into account that ethnic Albanians were fighting Serbian oppression.

The lawyers argued over several days of hearings up until Monday that the prosecution provided inconclusive evidence, failed to bring witnesses that connected the defendants to the crimes charged, and ignored historical facts.

Thaci and the three other defendants are accused of having individual and command responsibility for crimes committed against prisoners held at KLA detention facilities in Kosovo and neighbouring Albania, waging a systemic campaign against “opponents”, including 102 murders.

The prosecution says these “opponents” were people that the KLA deemed to be “collaborating or associating” with Yugoslav forces, officials or state institutions, including Serbian police, and people who did not support the aims and methods of the guerrillas or the Provisional Government of Kosovo, which Thaci headed from March 1999, while also KLA commander-in-chief.

The crimes were allegedly committed between roughly March 1998 and September 1999, during and just after the war in Kosovo. All four accused have pleaded not guilty.

Veseli’s lawyer Rodney Dixon told the court last Wednesday that “there is no direct first-hand evidence that shows Veseli’s involvement in the criminal acts he is alleged to have committed. The direct allegations are based on secondary evidence, based on word of mouth, and are often dismissed”

He claimed the prosecution “has not found a single witness even after all this time to come to court and claim that Veseli committed crimes”.

He said that ethnic Albanians were being oppressed by the Serbian regime and that the “KLA fought bravely against extremely unequal opportunities to defend Kosovo”.

Read more at: https://h7.cl/1p1RD

Osmani awards British MP Kearns with Presidential Medal of Merit (Telegrafi/Reporteri)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit to British MP Alicia Kearns in sign of appreciation for her support for Kosovo’s sovereignty and her commitment to peace and security in Kosovo and the region. During the ceremony, Osmani said she was deeply grateful for Kearns’ continuous commitment to raise awareness about the risks and challenges faced by Kosovo and the whole regio of the Western Balkans. Osmani also said that Kearns is a great friend of Kosovo and that the people of Kosovo were deeply thankful for her support and contribution to strengthening the cooperation between Kosovo and the United Kingdom.

Kosovo canal attack suspects plead not guilty to terrorism charges (Prishtina Insight)

Three men accused of causing the November 2024 explosion on the Iber-Lepenc canal pleaded not guilty at the Basic Court in Prishtina. Brothers Dragisa and Jovan Vicentijevic and Igor Dimovic pleaded not guilty on Monday at the Prishtina Basic Court to charges related to the canal explosion in the village of Varage in Kosovo’s northern municipality of Zubin Potok in November 2024.

Kosovo’s Special Prosecution filed an indictment in December 2025 charging them with terrorism, espionage and weapons-related offences. Prosecutors allege that the Vicentijevic brothers, along with others yet to be identified, planted about 20 kilograms of TNT in the canal.

“J.V. and D.V. are accused of having activated the explosion through a bag, which they tied with a rope to a concrete pillar of the Iber-Lepenc canal, causing disruption to the supply of drinking water, endangering production of electricity, and costing the Iber-Lepenc enterprise 376,774 euros,” the prosecution said.

Dimovic is charged with illegal possession of weapons.

Defence lawyer Milos Delevic said they would challenge the indictment within the 30-day legal deadline. “We have witnesses and material evidence that support the defendants’ alibis. We expect a fair trial,” he said.

Dragisa and Jovan Vicentijevic have been in custody since their arrest following the explosion. Dimovic remains free, pending trial.

The Iber-Lepenc Hydroeconomic Enterprise supplies drinking water to several cities in Kosovo and provides essential cooling water for the Kosovo Energy Corporation’s power plants.

Read more at: https://shorter.me/Bpm-W