UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 10, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti on meeting Hamza: We talked cooperation on both sides of Iber (Express)
Businesses to protest tomorrow against decision on free energy market (media)
Haradinaj warns against travel through Serbia (media)
CDHRF reacts to Serbia’s detention of former Kosovo Police member (media)
Osmani, Orav discuss process of forming new institutions (media)
Court sentences Zoran Vukotic to 15 years in prison for war crimes (media)
Kurti’s motorcade pelted with eggs in Skenderaj (media)

Serbian Language Media:

A new round of dialogue in Brussels today (Kosovo Online, media)
MFA: Serbia relies on UNSC Resolution 1244 and consistently respects international law (Tanjug, media)
Aktiv presents report on situation in North Mitrovica: Substantive Reintegration - How to Avoid ‘Zombie Governance’ in North Kosovo (social media)
Veljkovic files complaint to PIK over incident with Svecla’s security yesterday (Radio KIM)
Kosovo Constitutional Court has not decided yet on complaint from Gracanica municipality over land appropriation (Radio KIM)
CRTA published an analysis of the elections in Kosjeric and Zajecar: Election Day neither free nor fair (Beta, Danas)
Serbian Parliament starts special session, changes to media laws also on agenda (N1)
Delegations from 140 countries gather in Serbia for first EXPO 2027 Planning Meeting (N1)
Green Legal Impact: EC failed to state reasons for Strategic Projects decision (N1)

International:

Bujar Bukoshi, Kosovo independence leader, dies at 78 (AP)
Serbian lithium mine opponents undeterred by EU’s ‘strategic’ listing (Balkan Insight)
A Trump family project spurs resignations and a criminal charge in Serbia (The New York Times)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti on meeting Hamza: We talked cooperation on both sides of Iber (Express)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that his meeting with Mitrovica Mayor Bedri Hamza on Monday focused on cooperation for serving the people and not any political agreement for the formation of the new government. “We said this in our press release. Cooperation in the service of citizens of both municipalities, on both sides of the Iber River,” Kurti told reporters.

Businesses to protest tomorrow against decision on free energy market (media)

Representatives of businesses will protest again tomorrow against the decision of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) on the free energy market which entered into force on June 1. Their request is for the decision to be postponed for one year. The protest will be at Skenderbeu Square in downtown Pristina from 11:00 to 12:00.

Chairman of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, Lulzim Rafuna, told a press conference today that the request of businesses is to have a year to prepare for the free energy market. “The protest will be held tomorrow from 11:00 to 12:00. We call on all those affected by this decision to join us for the good of the country. We call on the government to reflect and to support the businesses and the economy, by giving a suitable timeline to move to the free market and to prepare legal measures for this transition,” he said. “There are many businesses that haven’t been notified about the process. I have said this earlier, around 1,300 businesses are forcibly being sent to the free energy market”.

Haradinaj warns against travel through Serbia (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said in a Facebook post today that members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army and their families should not travel through Serbia. “All members of law enforcement and security institutions, including those relieved from duties and responsibilities, and their close families, must not travel through Serbia. Do not do it!” Haradinaj said.

Haradinaj’s call comes one day after Serbian authorities ordered a one-month detention for a former member of Kosovo Police special units who was stopped while travelling through Serbia.

CDHRF reacts to Serbia’s detention of former Kosovo Police member (media)

Several news websites report that the Pristina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) reacted today to Serbia’s detention of a former member of Kosovo Police special units, Arbnor Spahiu. Citing unnamed sources, the council said that Spahiu has been interviewed about the case in Banjska near Zvecan where a paramilitary attack was launched against Kosovo Police in September 2023. The council also notes that in almost 95 percent of cases Serbian authorities are arresting former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army that travel through Serbia. “The CDHRF in many of its reactions had called on people to avoid travelling through Serbia. The Serbian authorities have made selected arrests and adjusted it to the dynamic of arrests of Serbs in Kosovo. These arrests are now turning into a political ping pong and there are the least efforts to ensure justice for the victims and to hold accountable those that were part of the chain of command that committed crimes,” the statement notes.

Osmani, Orav discuss process of forming new institutions (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met with the head of the EU mission in Kosovo, Aivo Orav, on Monday and discussed the latest political developments in Kosovo, the process of forming the new institutions and Kosovo’s European path. Osmani said the recent visit to Kosovo by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and other senior EU officials is a sign of the EU’s commitment to Kosovo’s aspirations for integration into European structures. “In this context, the importance of reforms, cooperation in the field of the rule of law and the further deepening of cooperation with European institutions were also discussed,” the press release notes.

Court sentences Zoran Vukotic to 15 years in prison for war crimes (media)

Most news websites report that the Basic Court in Pristina has found Zoran Vukotic guilty of war crimes in 1999 and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Vukotic was charged with war crimes against civilians in 1999 when he was a reserve police officer in Vushtrri.

Kurti’s motorcade pelted with eggs in Skenderaj (media)

Several news websites report that the motorcade of caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti was pelted with eggs by unknown persons in Skenderaj, where Kurti had travelled today to attend the opening of a kindergarten in this municipality. The branch of the Vetevendosje Movement in Skenderaj confirmed the incident.

Serbian Language Media

A new round of dialogue in Brussels today (Kosovo Online, media)

A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will be held in Brussels today under the auspices of the European Union, the correspondent of Kosovo Online in Brussels learned.

The Belgrade delegation, which includes numerous experts, is led by the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and chief negotiator at the technical level, Petar Petkovic.

Last week, separate bilateral meetings between Belgrade and Pristina were held in Brussels with EU dialogue mediator Peter Sorensen, and it was then announced that the talks would continue.

In the subsequent news of Kosovo Online, the portal also reported that the trilateral meeting in Brussels started.

Before the meeting, Petkovic announced himself via X from Brussels.

"The working atmosphere in the delegation of Belgrade in Brussels before the direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina under the mediation of the EU," said Petkovic.

MFA: Serbia relies on UNSC Resolution 1244 and consistently respects international law (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today, on the occasion of UNSC Resolution 1244 anniversary adoption and the end of NATO aggression, that Serbia consistently respects international law, UN Charter principles and the foundations of the international order, stressing that in the pursuit preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity Serbia relies on UNSC Resolution, thus defending universal rule that must equally apply to all.

"We are proud to belong to the countries that are committed to respecting these principles, including the necessity of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both our own and all other member states", the Ministry's announcement on the X social network underlined.

It is recalled that on this day in 1999, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1244, which confirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and thus the Republic of Serbia as its legal successor.

Aktiv presents report on situation in North Mitrovica: Substantive Reintegration - How to Avoid ‘Zombie Governance’ in North Kosovo (social media)

Mitrovica North-based civil society organization Aktiv in a post on its Facebook account presented the key findings and recommendations of its Report on the Situation in North Mitrovica: Substantive Reintegration - How to Avoid 'Zombie Governance' in North Kosovo.

Trust of Kosovo Serbs in the police and institutions has been severely eroded, while security is particularly threatened for women and youth,
Disregard for community needs has further undermined political stability in northern Kosovo,
Serbs today feel more marginalized than at any time since the 2011 Brussels Agreement,
Economic and security pressures are intensifying population displacement,
Recovery is only possible through genuine dialogue with the community - not without it.

Key recommendations to restore trust and stability:

A fair and inclusive population census,
Reactivation of the Development Fund for the North,
Clear delineation of responsibilities between North and South Mitrovica.

Message to the international community:

Support for the rule of law must be demonstrated through concrete and responsible actions.

Veljkovic files complaint to PIK over incident with Svecla’s security yesterday (Radio KIM)

Serbian Democracy condemned yesterday’s physical assault on its vice president Stefan Veljkovic at Mitrovica North promenade and filed a complaint to Kosovo Police Inspectorate (PIK) over it, Radio KIM reported.

The complaint was filed because of, as they recalled, yesterday’s attack on Veljkovic by security of the outgoing Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla and “consequentially harsh and ungrounded detention to the police station”.

"All this happened during a peaceful, democratic protest of Veljkovic against discriminatory and ultra-nationalist policy of Kosovo Government towards the Serbian and other non-Albanian population in Kosovo", Serbian Democracy said in a statement.

As they said, inspectors and policemen in uniforms instead of detaining members of Svecla's security for the attack on Veljkovic, decided to detain Veljkovic, although, as they added, Veljkovic was the victim of the attack, not the culprit. Serbian Democracy also said Veljkovic delivered medical documentation unequivocal showing that “slight bodily injuries were inflicted upon him, including injures in the neck area, shoulders, torn lower lip, as well as stressful reaction and accompanying emotional pain inflicted upon him while police officers were kicking, pushing, handcuffing him, twisting his neck down, and arresting him”, adding that in one moment he has also briefly lost consciousness.

Kosovo Constitutional Court has not decided yet on complaint from Gracanica municipality over land appropriation (Radio KIM)

On April 2, this year, Gracanica Municipality lodged a complaint to the Kosovo Constitutional Court over a decision of Kosovo Government to appropriate almost 13.5 hectares of the municipal land without consultations and the consent from the municipality.

Asked by KIM Radio if the Court has made a decision on this complaint, the Constitutional Court responded that “the request is currently in the process of consideration”.

In appropriated land, located near the wasteland of Kisnica mine, in Padaliste settlement of Gracanica, on April 2 a foundation stone was laid for the Rehabilitation and Education Centre dedicated to the children and adults with Autism, Dawn Syndrome and disabilities, despite opposition from Gracanica municipality, constructed by “Balkans Orphans” organization.

In a brief response to KIM Radio over the status of Gracanica Municipality complaint the Constitutional Court said “all interested parties and public” will be timely informed of its decision. It was also said that the Court “does not have a deadline to make the verdict in this case”.

Radio KIM recalled that following the decision of the Kosovo Government to appropriate almost 13.5 hectares of municipal land, Gracanica Municipality first lodged a protest to the Government, opposing the decision, then filed a lawsuit at the Basic Court in Pristina. It also said that a complaint has been filed with the Constitutional Court with the appeal that this instance decided on the matter as soon as possible.

Gracanica Municipal Assembly councillors in October 2024 said they are not against reconstruction of the centre for children and adults with disabilities, but argued that the place foreseen for reconstruction is not adequate as it is located near the wasteland of Kisnica mine, in a polluted area, which represents a serious ecological challenge for this local self-governance.

CRTA published an analysis of the elections in Kosjeric and Zajecar: Election Day neither free nor fair (Beta, Danas)

According to the preliminary analysis of the CRTA observation mission, during the election day, individual cases of irregularities were recorded at 86 percent of the polling stations in Zajecar and at 55 percent of the polling stations in Kosjeric, it was announced yesterday, reported Danas.

In its preliminary analysis, CRTA stated that the elections in Zajecar and Kosjeric were held in extremely unfair and unfree conditions, and the atmosphere on election day resembled a state of siege.

The election day in Kosjeric was neither free nor fair, while in Zajecar the result does not reflect the will of the citizens because severe forms of irregularities were recorded in 19 percent of the polling stations.

According to CRTA, various mechanisms of control and pressure on voters, along with manipulations that were consolidated due to impunity through a series of previous election cycles, marked June 8, election day in Kosjeric and Zajecar.

The features of the election campaign, from tensions and pressures to the abuse of institutions and public resources, the engineering of the electoral offers, the aggressive merging of the state, the party and the president into one entity and the normalization of the growing violence - clearly indicated that the voting day would also pass in an incendiary and oppressive atmosphere, it was stated.

The pre-election campaign was marked by systematic institutional pressures, and media and physical violence, which led to the day of voting filled with fear and anxiety among the citizens of the two local communities, it was added.

Voter turnout was record high in both communities, 84.2 percent of registered voters went to the polls in Kosjeric, and 63.6 percent in Zajecar, it was stated.

The election day in both places was marked by the presence of the police, as well as persons in civilian clothes with unclear powers, many of whom gave the impression of "beaters" by their appearance and behavior, CRTA added.

Chronic impunity for earlier election abuses has eroded citizens' trust in the integrity of the process, which has also led to a large presence of citizens who self-organized in Kosjeric and Zajecar, with the intention of preventing possible election machinations.

The election campaign began, as stated, at a time when tensions in society were at their peak.

The elections in question were called in an environment of social mobilization that can be called historic, and it followed the fall of the canopy and the death of 16 citizens in Novi Sad and the resulting student and civil protests that have not stopped for more than half a year.

The protests initiated a more effective organization of citizens in local communities, the creation of a more serious provocative position in the elections, as a result of which the government, national and local, resorted to increased mobilization and use of state and public resources, as well as other methods of election fraud, CRTA assessed.

The authorities' pressure on the citizens of Zajecar (47,353 voters) and Kosjeric (8,897 voters) from "normalized practices of electoral corruption and pressure on voters" spilled over into an increase in both verbal and physical violence on the ground ahead of election day, it was stated.

CRTE observers have been following the work of the election administration and the election campaign on the ground in Zajecar and Kosjeric ever since the elections were announced. On election day, more than 400 observers were deployed at and in front of polling stations, along with mobile teams. All polling stations were covered, 29 of them in Kosjeric and 69 in Zajecar.

CRTA announced that it would continue to monitor the election process until the end, that is, until the announcement of the final election results.

Serbian Parliament starts special session, changes to media laws also on agenda (N1)

The Serbian Parliament convened a special session on Tuesday, with an agenda featuring 46 items, N1 reported. Among the key topics, MPs are debating proposed amendments to three media laws: the Law on Electronic Media, the Law on Public Media Services, and the Law on Public Information and Media.

The Parliament will also consider a proposal to revise legislation on a guaranteed scheme and interest rate subsidies, designed to help young people purchase their first homes.

Delegations from 140 countries gather in Serbia for first EXPO 2027 Planning Meeting (N1)

The first International Planning Meeting (IPM) ahead of the EXPO 2027 specialized exhibition in Belgrade began on Tuesday at Belgrade’s Sava Center with 400 delegates from some 140 countries in attendance.

With more than 350 officials, including ministers, state secretaries, directors of key national institutions, and ambassadors, the IPM represents one of the largest international and diplomatic gatherings ever in Serbia.

This meeting will bring together representatives who lead key policies in their countries in the areas of foreign trade, economic development, sports, tourism, culture, innovation, education and youth, as well as representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations and FIBA.

The opening ceremony is attended by Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, Secretary General of the International Bureau of Exhibitions Dimitri Kerkentzes, and Director of EXPO 2027 Belgrade enterprise Dusan Borovcanin. Also in attendance are the Serbian President’s wife Tamara Vucic, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric, Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic, Minister of Internal and External Trade Jagoda Lazarevic, and President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Marko Cadez.