Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets  U.S. ambassador to UN, talk about advancement of Kosovo in international arena(media)
• Stano: Borrell’s report on lifting of EU measures towards Kosovo,  finalizing (Klan)
• Kosovo not on agenda of CoE Committee of Ministers’ meeting  (Telegrafi)
• Lajcak and President Biden’s assistant discuss Western Balkans (RTK)
• Osmani: Kosovo, special guest at US-Africa Summit (RTK)
• Russian hackers attacked websites of Kosovo institutions (media)
• Gervalla: Russia is carrying out hybrid attack on Kosovo (RTK)
• Maqedonci: Serbia is continuing with aggressive approach towards Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Austria also wants to send prisoners to Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo not in CoE Committee agenda, Musliu-Shoshi: To Kurti, propaganda is important (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived to Belgrade, welcomed by Vucic at airport (Tanjug, RTS, media)
• Mali welcomes Chinese ministers at Belgrade airport (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Full membership in the EU remains Serbia’s strategic priority (Kosovo Online, media)
• Petkovic to continue heading Office for KiM (RTS, Tanjug, media)
• Lawyer: Most important witnesses in Trajkovic’s case may be heard in May (Radio KIM)
• UNS laid wreaths at place where Chinese journalists were killed in NATO bombing (Radio KIM, media)

 Albanian Language Media

Osmani meets  U.S. ambassador to UN, talk about advancement of Kosovo in international arena(media)

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in the framework of the U.S.-Africa Summit, has met the U.S.ambassador to the United Nations, at the same time a member of President Biden’s cabinet, Linda Thomas Greenfield. Osmani said that they discussed the security situation in the region as well as the U.S. support for the advancement of Kosovo in the international arena.

She said that Greenfield is an exceptional personality with high appreciation and commitment for the continuous advancement of Kosovo-U.S. relations. 

Stano: Borrell’s report on lifting of EU measures towards Kosovo, finalizing  (Klan) 

The spokesperson of the European Union, Peter Stano, has spoken in a media conference about the lifting of the EU’s measures that have been imposed on Kosovo for several months. He stated that the head of the EU’s Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, will report to the Foreign Ministers of the member states on the report regarding the removal of measures against Kosovo. 

“The Council will discuss the possibilities of removing EU measures based on the report prepared by the head of foreign diplomacy. The report is now ready to be finalized and will eventually be submitted to the member states.”

“Regarding the timelines, of course, and the context, this is something we would not comment on because they are internal procedures that are only within the Council,” Stano said.

Kosovo not on agenda of CoE Committee of Ministers’ meeting  (Telegrafi)

The news website reports that Kosovo’s path to membership in the Council of Europe will be longer and more complex than originally anticipated. This is made clear by the latest developments on the agenda of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that will meet on Friday in Turin, Italy. 

The information officer at the Council of Europe, Estelle Steiner, has confirmed for the Telegrafi that Kosovo’s application will not figure in the next discussions of this committee. “Kosovo is now not on the agenda of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers”, Steiner said. 

According to the agenda, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 46 member countries of the Council of Europe will hold their annual session on May 17, 2024, within the framework of the Organization’s 75th anniversary. 

Lajcak and President Biden’s assistant discuss Western Balkans (RTK) 

The EU envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has discussed the developments in the Western Balkans with the director of the U.S. National Security Council for Europe, Mikel Carpenter, who is also the Special Assistant to President Biden. 

In a post on the “X” platform, Lajcak said that this meeting is confirmation of the excellent partnership between the EU and the USA. “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to discuss developments in the Western Balkans and beyond with US National Security Council (NSC) Director for Europe Mike Carpenter. Another confirmation of our excellent EU-US partnership”, Lajcak wrote. 

Osmani: Kosovo, special guest at the US-Africa Summit (RTK) 

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, through a post on Facebook, said that this year Kosovo is a special guest at the US-Africa Summit that is being held in Dallas, Texas, in order to deepen relations with the USA and with the participating countries from the African continent. 

“In discussions with presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers from: Botswana, Cape Verde, Angola, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Mauritania, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi and other representatives, we talked about bilateral cooperation and opportunities to increase exchanges in many fields of mutual interest”, Osmani wrote on Facebook. 

Russian hackers attacked websites of Kosovo institutions (media) 

Media reported on Tuesday that Russian hackers have attacked the websites of Kosovo institutions, which were not operating during the day. According to the announcement from the government, the target of the attacks was the website of the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office, which were quickly restored to function. 

These pages have been attacked, as the Minister of Defense, Ejup Makedonci, announced to RTKLive, after the statements he made against Russia. “This group of Russian hackers has launched a cyber attack against Kosovo in retaliation to my statement in support of Ukraine”, said Maqedonci, who was in Poland at the “Defense 24” defense conference. 

“Kosovo is ready to join collective efforts to support the defense of Ukraine. They should think more about this…”, these hackers wrote in Russian, mentioning also minister Maqedonci. 

Gervalla: Russia is carrying out hybrid attack on Kosovo (RTK) 

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla, has said that Russia is currently carrying out a hybrid attack on Kosovo. In a post on the “X” platform, Gervalla said that the Russian hybrid attack on Kosovo is coming after the announcement of Kosovo’s support with military equipment for Ukraine. 

“Russia is attacking Kosovo in a hybrid attack today, following our announcement of support in military equipment for Ukraine in its justified defense against Russian genocidal aggression. We know from Serbia’s genocide against Kosovo that only military means do halt genocide”, Gervalla wrote. 

Maqedonci: Serbia is continuing with aggressive approach towards Kosovo (Reporteri) 

The Minister of Defense of Kosovo, Ejup Macedonci, speaking at the panel “Stabilization missions as an instrument for maintaining peace” within the Defense 24 conference, which is being held in Poland, emphasized the irreplaceable role of NATO member states. and their successful intervention in Kosovo with the aim of stopping the genocide and liberating Kosovo. 

He has said that “Kosovo as an independent state with the greatest economic growth in the Balkans, the most visible development in media freedom, freedom of speech, is a success story of the NATO mission, but unfortunately we cannot say that the danger in the Balkans no longer exists”. 

“While the Russian aggression is taking place in Ukraine, Russia’s extension in the Balkans, Serbia, the same country that caused the war in 1999 in Kosovo, continues to have an aggressive approach towards Kosovo”, Maqedonci said. He further said that “the attack in Banjska in September of last year proved that the same hegemonic mentality continues to exist among the ruling caste of Serbia”. 

Austria also wants to send prisoners to Kosovo (media) 

The government of Austria is discussing the idea of sending prisoners from non-EU countries to serve their sentences in Kosovo, “Politico” wrote on Tuesday. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, who attended a migration conference in Copenhagen, discussed the idea with Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard. 

“Imprisonment objections like those planned by Denmark in Kosovo are also part of the Austrian plan of Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer”, said Karner. 

In December 2021, Denmark signed an agreement with Kosovo to rent a prison in Gjilan. 300 prisoners sentenced to deportation from Denmark would be transferred to Kosovo in a period of 10 years, while the Kosovar authorities will benefit 210 million euros. The plan is still pending, as the Assembly of Kosovo has not yet approved it. 

“We want to further intensify the cooperation between our countries in the field of security and the fight against organized crime”, added Karner. At the migration conference, over 250 political leaders and international organizations discussed solutions through partnerships with countries outside the EU to manage refugee arrivals. 

Kosovo not in CoE Committee agenda, Musliu-Shoshi: To Kurti, propaganda is important (Reporteri)

Ariana Musliu – Shoshi, MP of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has announced that Kosovo failed to be a topic in the meeting of the deputy ministers who are preparing the agenda for the meeting of the Committee of Ministers that will be held on May 16 and 17. 

Musliu – Shoshi announced that this meeting will continue on Tuesday, May 14, as she said that in the following days, the process becomes more difficult and opportunities run out. 

“In any case, another chance for Kosovo, but the misfortune is that we have a prime minister whose every action is on the scales of electoral calculation, regardless of the interest of Kosovo”, Musliu-Shoshi wrote. 

She further continued her criticism of Kurti, saying that to him, propaganda, votes and power are important.

Serbian Language Media 

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived to Belgrade, welcomed by Vucic at airport (Tanjug, RTS, media)

One of the leading stories in the Serbian media is the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday evening, and was welcomed at Nikola Tesla airport by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and members of the Serbian Government, Tanjug news agency reported.

In addition to President Vucic, Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic, Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, former Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Serbian Ambassador to China, Maja Stefanovic and Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Ming were present at the airport. The delegation of the Chinese President has 400 members.

The official ceremony will take place today in front of the Palace of Serbia, followed by Vucic and Xi meeting. Xi visited Serbia in 2016, which was the first visit of the Chinese President to Serbia after 32 years and a Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed on that occasion. Vucic met Xi in Beijing in October last year, when 18 agreements were signed, including the FTA between Serbia and China that should enter into force soon. Xi visited France on May 5, and will visit Budapest after Belgrade. 

Mali welcomes Chinese ministers at Belgrade airport (Tanjug)

Members of a Chinese delegation to be accompanying Chinese President Xi Jinping on a two-day visit to Serbia arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday afternoon.

The first group of Chinese guests, which included government ministers and officials of state institutions, was greeted at the Belgrade airport by Serbian Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sinisa Mali, accompanied by Minister of Internal and External Trade Tomislav Momirovic. President Xi, whose delegation has 400 members, arrived in Belgrade in the evening. Serbia and China are due to sign over 30 agreements. The Chinese President, who is on a five-day tour of Europe, visited France on May 5 and will travel to Budapest after Belgrade.

Meanwhile, Tanjug news agency also reported that the Serbian Government adopted several documents – MoUs and protocols – between Serbia and China on cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, information, telecommunications and tourism.

Djuric: Full membership in the EU remains Serbia’s strategic priority (Kosovo Online, media)

Full membership in the European Union remains Serbia’s strategic priority, and the new government will begin cooperation with the union with renewed energy, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said on Thursday in a meeting with EU Delegation to Serbia Head Emanuele Giaufret.

As the statement of the Foreign Ministry said Djuric underlined that for the new Serbian Government, as a government of continuity, full membership in the European Union is a strategic priority, adding Serbia respects European values and wants to contribute to common prosperity and peace in Europe.

Djuric also said Serbia’s foreign policy will be based on state and national interests, but that it will also be a policy of extending a hand and cooperation with friends and partners in the world. He further noted good relations that Serbia has with numerous non-European countries can be a common political and economic resource for Serbia and the EU.

Petkovic to continue heading Office for KiM (RTS, Tanjug, media)

The Serbian Government adopted a decision by which Petar Petkovic will continue serving as acting director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, RTS reported citing the government’s statement. Petkovic has held this position since October 2020. Previously he served as assistant director of this Office and MP in the Serbian Assembly. 

Lawyer: Most important witnesses in Trajkovic’s case may be heard in May (Radio KIM)

The trial of the former Kosovo police officer Sladjan Trajkovic accused of allegedly committing war crimes in Vucitrn municipality continued yesterday at the Basic Court in Pristina with the hearing of the witness SH.B., Radio KIM reported.

Trajkovic’s defense lawyers Dejan A. Vasic and Jelena Krivokapic did not wish to comment on the statements of the witness. Dejan Vasic said that on May 17, the trial will continue with other witnesses and that the most important witnesses could be heard then. “Two prosecution witnesses will be heard as foreseen and then on May 20 there will be two more. I do not know what will happen with the witnesses who did not respond to the court’s summons and if the court will invite them again, I suppose they will and prosecution will not give up on them, as they referred to them as crucial witnesses, so we will see what will be”, Jelena Krivokapic said. She added that some witnesses speak about the event, but there are those who do not mention Sladjan Trajkovic, but rather speak of the atmosphere then in general terms.

The family of Sladjan Trajkovic, including his wife, son, two daughters, mother-in-law and other members attended the trial yesterday. His wife Suzana said they are not planning to leave Kosovo. She also said her husband is innocent and they lived in Mitrovica North for 25 years and plan to continue living there.

UNS laid wreaths at place where Chinese journalists were killed in NATO bombing (Radio KIM, media)

“The fallen fellow journalists joined our ranks with their lives and their deaths, and they are not only journalists from China, they are also our journalists”, RTS journalist and member of Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) Management Board, Olivera Kovacevic said at the place where 25 years ago, in the NATO bombing of the-then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ), the Embassy of China was destroyed and three Chinese journalists killed, Radio KIM reported.

UNS representatives, headed by the President of the Association, Zivojin Rakocevic paid the tribute to the Chinese colleagues and laid the wreaths on the spot where they were killed in Belgrade. 

The Chinese Embassy was struck on May 7, 1999 with three missiles. Southern part of the building was hit with two missiles, one of which hit the last floor and one ground floor. Third missile hit and demolished the ground floor and basement of the western part of the building located at New Belgarde. A memorial plaque was installed at the place of bombardment, Radio KIM added.