Albanian Language Media:
 

• 5 police officers arrested over “negligence murder” in case of 27-year-old (media)
• Svecla: Ongoing investigations into death in Lipjan, no one above the law (media)
• Haxhiu: Forensics Institute has not presented any preliminary report yet (media)
• Maqedonci asks Pfister to support Kosovo membership in EU and NATO (media)
• Haradinaj remembers Bytyqi brothers killed in Serbia in 1999 (media)
• Krasniqi-Goodman featured in “Let’s Talk about Rape” project (media)
• Increased OSCE attention requested for Presheva Valley (media)
• Kos: No EU membership for Serbia without agreement with Kosovo (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: No Serb supports the decision on two new bridges, we will send a petition to the international community (RTS, media)
• The signing of the petition against the construction of the bridge on the Ibar continued today (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Serbian List to meet today UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Shahini: All crossings should be open for goods from Serbia, losses on both sides (Kosovo Online)
• Surlic: The EU countries did not insist on Pristina to unblock the crossings for Serbian goods at all (Kosovo Online)
• Marta Kos for DW: Serbia in a very difficult situation (KoSSev, N1, Beta)
• The Peace March towards Potocari begins on the occasion of the anniversary of the crime in Srebrenica (KoSSev)
• Donald Trump reduces tariffs for Serbia to 35 percent (N1, media)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s Parliament remains hostage to its politicians’ irresponsibility (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s leadership failure: A dangerous hijacking of democracy (alonben-meir.com)

International:

• Media in the Balkans: the rise of oligarchs (balcanicaucaso.org)
• UN resolution boosts international commemoration of Srebrenica genocide (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media 

Five police officers arrested over “negligence murder” in case of 27-year-old (media)

Most news websites reported on Monday evening that five police officers that arrested a 27-year-old, who later died, have been arrested over “negligence murder”. A chief prosecutor confirmed the information to Koha news website. The 27-year-old died shortly after he was arrested by police in Lipjan on suspicion that he was assaulting vehicles and pedestrians. The brother of the victim said that his brother died as a result of the violence that police used during the arrest. “They did not inform us about anything. They changed the version of his death several times. After we saw the videos, we noticed that the case was completely different. He died as a result of the excessive violence used by the police officers,” he said.

Svecla: Ongoing investigations into death in Lipjan, no one above the law (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, in a Facebook post today, said he was deeply touched by the news of the death of a citizen in Lipjan. “As Minister of Interior Affairs, as soon as I was informed about the event, I have asked for urgent and professional engagement by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate and full cooperation by the Kosovo Police in the investigation. As part of this, investigations are ongoing with maximal intensity. Cooperation between the Kosovo Police, the Police Inspectorate, the Forensics Institute and the Prosecution is key to shedding full light on the circumstances of this grave event. I express my most honest condolences to the family of the deceased. I expect that the truth and all circumstances will be revealed as soon as possible, and that the family and the public will be notified about the findings and the outcome of the case. No one is above the law, and whoever is found guilty will face justice and will get the merited punishment. The Kosovo Police, thanks to its professionalism, transparency and commitment in the service of the citizens, continues to be the most trusted and credible institution in the country. This trust needs to be safeguarded at all costs and without sparing anyone, because the people’s trust is not only a value but a necessity for the successful work of the Kosovo Police. We will safeguard it with determination through justice and accountability for every case,” he said.

Haxhiu: Forensics Institute has not presented any preliminary report yet (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, said in a Facebook post today that following a request by the Basic Prosecution in Pristina, an autopsy was performed for the deceased Agon Zejnullahu who died shortly after being arrested by police in Lipjan. “The Forensics Institute is making maximal efforts to complete the histopathological and toxicological analysis of the samples taken during the autopsy in order for the autopsy report to be completed as soon as possible. The Forensics Institute has not presented any preliminary report about the case yet,” she said.

Maqedonci asks Pfister to support Kosovo membership in EU and NATO (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said in a Facebook post that he met with his Swiss counterpart, Martin Pfister, and highlighted the importance of Kosovo’s membership in the European Union and NATO. “A very important step in strengthening our defense capacities, and I informed him about the important achievements that the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has made through the years. I also highlighted the necessity of Kosovo’s membership in the EU and NATO, to guarantee the stability of our country and all of Western Balkans,” Maqedonci said. 

Haradinaj remembers Bytyqi brothers killed in Serbia in 1999 (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj, in a Facebook post today, remembered the Bytyqi brothers, US nationals and members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army, who were kidnapped and killed in Serbia in 1999. “They fought with honor for the freedom of Kosovo, by displaying exceptional bravery, but ended up brutally killed by the criminal hand of the Serbian state. The Serbian state, in addition to executing them, continues to ignore the crimes and it decorates war criminals, including those that are suspected of killing the Bytyqi brothers,” he said.

Several news websites note that the Bytyqi brothers were arrested by Serbian authorities in 1999 for “illegal crossing” of the border. After they were released from prison, they were executed. Their bodies were found in 2001 in a mass grave near Petrovo Selo, in eastern Serbia. 

Krasniqi-Goodman featured in “Let’s Talk about Rape” project (media)

Several news websites report that Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, a survivor of wartime sexual violence in Kosovo, was featured in the project “Let’s Talk About Rape: Photography as Testimony, Resistance, and Repair”. Photographer and activist Jadwiga Brontē collected over 250 self-portraits and personal statements by survivors of sexual violence around the world, resisting the logic of anonymity or abstraction. There are wounds so deep that language fails them. Rape is one of them. It silences by force and then by shame—leaving survivors isolated not only in their pain, but in their perceived inability to speak of it. Let’s Talk About Rape, the long-term project by photographer and activist Jadwiga Brontē, confronts that silence with radical clarity, creating a space where testimony, solidarity, and visibility converge. Let’s Talk About Rape is a collaborative, trauma-informed project where survivors use self-portraiture with a shutter release cable to reclaim their stories—transforming image-making into a powerful act of healing and empowerment. Composed of over 250 self-portraits and personal statements by survivors of sexual violence around the world, the project resists the logic of anonymity or abstraction. Each participant chooses how to be seen—how to pose, what to reveal, and what to say. The images are not clinical or voyeuristic; they are vulnerable and composed, often serene, occasionally confrontational, always dignified. The viewer is not granted access by force, but invited to witness with care.

See more at: https://shorturl.at/gkJ2M

Increased OSCE attention requested for Presheva Valley (media)

A delegation from Presheva Valley is currently in Brussels. Today they met with the Ambassador of Finland, Kai Sauer.

Shaip Kamberi, the Albanian MP in the Serbian Parliament, wrote on Facebook that Ambassador Sauer is well-acquainted with the region, as he was part of President Ahtisaari’s team during the Kosovo dialogue process. “Since Finland will hold the next OSCE Chairmanship, we raised the need for increased OSCE attention toward the Presheva Valley. We thank Ambassador Sauer for his warm hospitality and his support for our struggle for our violated rights,” Kamberi wrote. 

Kos: No EU membership for Serbia without agreement with Kosovo (AP)

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated that Serbia cannot join the EU without normalizing relations with Kosovo. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, she stressed that EU membership is a choice that comes with responsibilities, including fulfilling obligations from the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Commenting on the lack of EU flags in Serbian student protests, Kos said responses range from criticism of EU support for Serbia’s president, NATO’s past bombings, EU pressure to recognize Kosovo, and fear of angering Russia. Despite starting EU accession talks in 2014, Serbia has only closed two out of 35 chapters so far. 

Serbian Language Media

Petkovic: No Serb supports the decision on two new bridges, we will send a petition to the international community (RTS, media)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic told RTS this morning that a huge number of citizens in Kosovo responded to the petition against Albin Kurti's decision to build two new bridges on the Ibar. According to Petkovic there are three main reasons for Kurti's move, which are deeply political and deeply anti-Serbian, not economic.

Serbs in N. Mitrovica since yesterday have been signing a petition against the construction of bridges on the Ibar. The foundation stone for the first has already been laid, the area is being cleared, and machines are preparing the terrain for the supporting pillars of the bridge, despite the opposition of the Serbs.

"Not a single Serb in Kosovo and Metohija, especially in Kosovska Mitrovica, supports Kurti's decision to build two new bridges. Not a single Serb," Petkovic emphasized, adding that since 1999 there have been more than two hundred serious incidents on the main bridge over the Ibar, which clearly shows what the real intention of Pristina and Albin Kurti is.

Petkovic said that there are no economic reasons for such a thing, but rather the reasons are deeply political and deeply anti-Serbian.

"Everything Kurti does is primarily to expel the Serbian people from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. That's why he's building these bridges," said Petkovic, adding that Kurti's decision is contrary to the 2015 bridge agreement.

Petkovic told RTS that there are three main reasons why Kurti is going ahead with this "illegal decision to build bridges".

The first reason is to continue the pressure and expulsion of the Serbian people from northern Kosovo. The second reason is to launch a campaign for local elections, pointing out that Kurti announced that the bridge would be opened in October, in the midst of the campaign. The third reason is to mask the institutional crisis in Kosovo, because Kurti does not have a majority and cannot constitute a parliament. 

The Director of the Office for KiM announced that the petition will be sent to representatives of the international community.

"The petition will be sent to the addresses of the Quint member states, the EU, all EU member states, international missions and UNMIK, the OSCE, EULEX, and especially KFOR," said Petkovic.

He said that the highest expectations are certainly from KFOR and that he hoped that the NATO mission will act reasonably, as it has done so far, and will not allow Kurti to behave in this way.

The signing of the petition against the construction of the bridge on the Ibar continued today (KiM radio, KoSSev) 

At the stand in front of the headquarters of the Serbian List in North Mitrovica and today a large number of citizens are signing a petition against the construction of two new bridges on the Ibar, reported Radio KiM. 

The president of the Serbian List, Zlatan Elek, told RTS yesterday that the petition states a clear, unified position of the Serbian people that they do not accept unilateral decisions on projects to the detriment of the Serbian community.

The signing of the petition will be organized tomorrow from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at the same place.

Serbian List to meet today UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca (Radio Mitrovica sever) 

The delegation of the Serbian List led by President Zlatan Elek will meet today, Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary General of the UN for Europe, Central Asia and America, at the headquarters of the Serbian List.

As announced, the meeting will discuss the position of the Serbian people in Kosovo. 

Shahini: All crossings should be open for goods from Serbia, losses on both sides (Kosovo Online)

The President of the Kosovo Business Alliance, Agim Shahini, told Kosovo Online that all crossings should be opened for the passage of goods coming from Serbia to Kosovo, as doing so would not endanger either Kosovo's or Serbia's economy, instead, it would simply facilitate the movement of goods, capital, and people.

He believes that the opening of only the Merdare crossing, according to the Kosovo Government’s decision from October 7 last year, was a political move taken by Kosovo against Serbia due to past events.

The opening of other crossings is pending the installation of customs scanners, and Shahini says that the scanners are "still somewhere on the way."

"They started moving months ago, but they still haven’t arrived. Scanners are good for everyone, but a lack of scanners shouldn’t be used as an excuse to keep all border crossings with Serbia closed, especially since goods come not only from Serbia but from all over the world through Serbia," he emphasized.

At Merdare, he notes, there are long lines, congestion, and long waits.

"Every truck has to wait at least 48 hours. These drivers have to sleep there, they have no facilities for bathing, and they incur high costs. When a truck is idling, it burns fuel and can't earn, it is losing money. The losses on both sides amount to several million," Shahini said.

According to him, Kosovo is under daily pressure because of this political decision, from the European Union, from businesspeople, importers, transporters... He adds that there is no more time for Kosovo to threaten Serbia or for Serbia to threaten Kosovo.

"It Is time to help each other, to open the borders, to extend a hand to one another, to acknowledge that we can't live in isolation, and we can't be one against all, neither Kosovo nor Serbia. Now is the time to open the borders and unite the economy across the entire Balkans," Shahini said.

Surlic: The EU countries did not insist on Pristina to unblock the crossings for Serbian goods at all (Kosovo Online) 

Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, Stefan Surlic, told Kosovo Online that the countries of the EU have not insisted in any way on Pristina to unblock the crossings for the import of Serbian goods that remained closed after the decision of the Kosovo government from October last year to replace the complete ban on all crossings by opening only the Merdare one.

"We see that there is no sanction, so the policy of Albin Kurti's government so far has been: 'as long as we can implement what we set out to do without any serious consequences, we will continue in that direction'. And with this, Kosovo is certainly violating the CEFTA rules. The measure that has been going on for nine months is causing enormous damage not only to the economy, but also to the people who are used to these products, who want to buy, and who want to trade. First, it affects the Serbian community. However, there is no empathy," Surlic said.

He added that in this case Pristina has a "technical justification", since the scanners that should arrive from Germany have not yet arrived, which should have happened much faster.

"The scanners should have been placed first at the Merdare crossing, so that we don't have queues and crowds that are created every day, and then also at the other administrative crossings. But fundamentally, if there is no good will from Pristina, I think that even when the scanners come, some other technical reason will come up because of which that decision won't change," assessed Surlic.

Bearing in mind that the German embassy in Pristina announced that the delivery of the scanner is expected in 2026, Surlic opined that this is not a priority for the German government at the moment.

"That existed as an option when Zaracin, as a mediator, was also interested in the scanners arriving as soon as possible and, in this way, presenting that Germany was decisive in at least some segment of the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. After his departure, it was completely put in the drawer and now we actually do not have a person in the German system in charge of speeding up and unblocking that process," Surlic pointed out.

Marta Kos for DW: Serbia in a very difficult situation (KoSSev, N1, Beta) 

Every government should consider what its citizens are saying, Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, told DW about the protests in Serbia, reported N1. 

"Serbia is in a very difficult situation and we, the European Union, strongly support the European path of Serbia and the Serbian people," said Marta Kos and at the same time emphasizes that "there is still a lot to be done."

She reminds that, although Serbia has been a candidate country for many years, it still has not implemented all the reforms. "That's why we help them implement these reforms," reported N1, citing Deutsche Welle.

On the other hand, she emphasizes, "the protests that we have been seeing for several months are an expression of the fact that people are not satisfied with the situation they are in. And every government should consider what its citizens are saying."

"In many parts", as she says, "the demonstrators demand the same thing that we as the EU demand from Serbia, the fight against corruption, the rule of law, freedom of the media. So, we actually have a common interest, and I hope that we will really be able to stabilize Serbia."

Why are there no EU flags at the protests?

Answering the question of how it is that, unlike in Georgia, there are no EU flags at the protests in Serbia, Kos says that she herself has asked that question to people in Serbia with whom she is in contact - civil society organizations, professors, universities...

"It's very interesting what they tell me - first: 'You support our president Vucic.' Second: 'You bombed us. All right, it was NATO, but you bombed our country'. Third: 'You want us to recognize Kosovo'. And fourth: 'We do not want to make Russia angry'. So, the answers are going in very different directions and those are the feelings that we have to consider as well. That is why we are planning to better present the advantages of enlargement,' says EU Commissioner. 

The question of Kosovo

When it comes to solving the Kosovo issue as a condition for joining the EU, Marta Kos emphasizes: "I always like to say that when a country decides for the path towards the EU, it comes with obligations and responsibilities. It is a matter of choice. Therefore, no one is forcing Serbia. But when you say: "Yes, we want to become a member of the EU" - then it must be done. A lot of things have to be done."

The Peace March towards Potocari begins on the occasion of the anniversary of the crime in Srebrenica (KoSSev)

The peace march towards Potocari, where the victims of the Srebrenica genocide will be commemorated on July 11, begins this morning from Nezuk near Sapana, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), reported KoSSev.

Sarajevo based media announced that this year, 6,650 people will participate in the 100-kilometer hike to Potocari, as many as have been officially reported so far.

After the fall of Srebrenica, Bosniaks used that route to cross into the territory under the control of the BiH Army.

The "March of Peace" is a symbolic act of paying tribute to the victims of Srebrenica.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, where, according to announcements, 150,000 people are expected.

Donald Trump reduces tariffs for Serbia to 35 percent (N1, media)

In a letter to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, US President Donald Trump said that the USA will charge Serbia a tariff of 35 percent on Serbian products, reported N1.

According to Trump’s announcement on Truth Social, this measure will take effect starting August 1, 2025.

“Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Serbia a tariff of only 35% on any and all Serbia products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher tariff will be subject to that higher tariff. Please understand that the 35% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with your country,” said the US president in his letter to Vucic.

He added that there will be no tariff if Serbia, or companies within Serbia, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States.

If Serbia decides to raise its tariffs, then, whatever the number it chooses to raise them by, will be added onto the 35 percent that the US charges.

The new rates are lower than the reciprocal tariffs Trump had previously announced in early April – 37 percent for Serbia and 35 percent for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Opinion

Kosovo’s Parliament remains hostage to its politicians’ irresponsibility (BIRN)

Opinion piece by Agron Halitaj.

The deadlock over parliament’s inauguration, now in its third month, reflects its political leaders’ irresponsible unwillingness to compromise – and their indifference to the wider damage being done to the state.

Since April 15, the Assembly of Kosovo has turned into an ugly spectacle, where irresponsibility, arrogance and partisan calculations by the MPs overshadow the interests of the state and their constitutional duties.

But comparing what is happening in this institution to a circus – as is often done in protest – is an insult to the acrobats, clowns and magicians, and to all those real artists who work with discipline, respect their audience and give their utmost to successfully complete a performance.

Instead of responsible behaviour, for 85 days the public has witnessed an arrogant parade repeated every 48 hours, 43 times, where, out of spite and stubbornness, the “temple of democracy” remains mercilessly blocked. The situation has taken on dimensions of political narcissism, where personal and party egos have extinguished any sensitivity to the damage being caused to the state.

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

Kosovo’s leadership failure: A dangerous hijacking of democracy (alonben-meir.com)

It is hard to imagine how a small country experiencing significant economic hardship and in constant conflict with its neighbor is still under a caretaker government four months after the national elections. Prime Minister Kurti must end the deadlock, as it does not bode well for him when a new election will inevitably be held

Four months after its parliamentary election, Kosovo remains stuck in a political deadlock. Prime Minister Kurti and opposition leaders prioritize ego over compromise, leaving the country without a functioning government, paralyzing the economy, driving away investors, and weakening public trust in democracy.

What’s happening in Kosovo is not just a political deadlock; it’s a hijacking of the entire democratic process. For the 38th time, MPs have failed to inaugurate a new parliament, over four months after the election. Despite topping the polls, Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party didn’t secure enough seats to unilaterally elect its choice for parliamentary speaker. The opposition, in turn, has repeatedly blocked his nominee. Kurti refuses to compromise. The result? No functioning parliament, no progress, no accountability, no resumption of the dialogue with Serbia, no reforms, no comprehensive economic plans, and no foreign investments to help lift the country out of its financial doldrums.

Now the Constitutional Court has stepped in, giving MPs just 30 days to fulfill their fundamental constitutional obligation: elect a speaker and begin the legislative process. That this even needs to be ordered by the court is deeply alarming. This is not how democracy functions. Institutional paralysis is driven by personal ego and party interest, which take precedence over national interest. The people of Kosovo deserve better than an endless political charade. This power struggle undermines Kosovo’s institutions, erodes public trust, and renders the government dangerously ineffective.

Several concrete steps must be taken to end Kosovo’s ongoing political deadlock, and caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti and other political party leaders need to prioritize the country’s interests over partisan gain.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/asfe3pb6

International

Media in the Balkans: the rise of oligarchs (balcanicaucaso.org)

More and more media in the Balkan region are being acquired and controlled by big tycoons. For journalists and industry experts, this trend is heavily reflected in editorial policies, creating growing problems of censorship and self-censorship

The increasing number of media outlets in the Western Balkan region may contribute to media pluralism. However, the number of businessmen acquiring ownership of media organisations and corporations has also risen. But how does this affect editorial policies and the integrity of information?

Almost a decade ago, Jetmir Olldashi, a journalist from Albania, along with his team, lost their jobs at Vizion Plus, a TV channel owned by Genc Dulaku, also a co-owner of Concord Investment, a construction company, and Albanian Satellite Communications.

Olldashi’s team was investigating a case in which a 16-year-old boy, Ardit Gjoklaj, lost his life while working in the black market at a landfill co-managed by the Municipality of Tirana and a company called 3r.

Olldashi’s team was informed that they could not air this story at Vizion Plus, so they decided to resign and share it on social media. Subsequently, the story was covered by other local media, but not by Vizion Plus. “We were given no explanation why the story was not aired, but we understood it was a matter of business connections,” says Olldashi.

Contacted by us, the owner, Genc Dulaku, denies the claims, adding that journalists are slandering businesses.“Journalists should learn to take responsibility for their accusations, as they can cause damage to companies and individuals. I did not stop the investigation, but its content was inaccurate,” Dulaku said.

However, the story was covered by other local media outlets. The owner of the “3r” company, Edurim Teqja, declined to comment.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/ysnh3nze

UN resolution boosts international commemoration of Srebrenica genocide (BIRN)

At least ten countries will officially commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide this year following the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution to launch an international day of memory.

Eight European countries plus Australia and Canada have confirmed to BIRN that this year they will officially commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.

This follows last year’s adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA of a resolution declaring July 11 the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

Some countries, such as Britain, have already held events to commemorate the genocide anniversary, while Denmark, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Ireland are planning to do so in July.

Edvin Kanka Cudic, founder of the Association for Social Research and Communication, which focuses on human rights, believes that, by adopting the resolution, July 11 becomes equally important for countries around the world, not just for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The commemoration of Srebrenica in European and world countries should serve to make the slogan ‘Never again!’ start to live. To stop being a platitude, but a true promise and guarantee of a safer future,” Cudic says.

BIRN sent inquiries to all European Union member states, as well as Britain, the United States, Canada, and also to China, which voted against the UNGA resolution. Twelve countries responded to the inquiry, and nine of them said they were holding events to commemorate the July 1995 massacres.

Among the first to hold a commemoration following the adoption of the resolution was the UN itself, at whose headquarters in New York an exhibition titled “From Words to Violence: The Lives Behind the Fields of Death” was organized. The exhibition was put together by the Srebrenica Memorial Centre and BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Today, when July 11 is on the calendar of the United Nations, we know that we are not forgotten; not us, nor our truth,” Emir Suljagic, the director of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, said at the opening of the exhibition in New York.

The UNGA resolution was adopted with 84 members states voting in favour, 19 against, and 68 abstentions. It condemned denial of the Srebrenica genocide and actions that glorify people convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by international courts.

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