UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 10, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

NATO SG Rutte to visit Kosovo on Tuesday (media)
Kurti: Results first, certification, then government led by VV and me (media)
Konjufca: Aim to form government with support of non-Serb communities (media)
CEC decides to recount 50 polling stations - 35 of them in Vushtrri (media)
LVV warns of appeal to Supreme Court on issue of postal voting (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic attends Serbian Government session, says particular focus on security challenges in Kosovo, BiH (media)
Students in blockades: "What's the next step? All in the citizens’ assembly" (NMagazin, media)
Trial of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica for alleged war crimes continues (Kosovo Online, RTS, media)
Zaporozac: Kurti trying by all means to push Rasic into parliament and form a Government through him (Kosovo Online, TV Prva)
Arsenijevic reacts to Kurti’s claims that Belgrade pressured him (social media)
Rubio: The US officially suspending 83 percent of USAID programs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV)

Opinion:

Trump, people/authority, and Kosovo: A missed opportunity, turning point, or final collapse? (KoSSev)
EU mustn’t betray Serbian protesters’ clarion call for change (Balkan Insight)

International Media:

Delay in certifying election results puts Kosovo coalition talks on holds (BIRN)
Kosovo: a new government or a political crisis (balcanicaucaso.org)
Street protests aren’t enough to transform Serbia (Foreign Policy)
Heightened political tensions in Serbia spill over into the national and local parliaments (EWB)

Albanian Language Media

NATO SG Rutte to visit Kosovo on Tuesday (media)

Most news websites report that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Kosovo on Tuesday. NATO said in a statement: “On Tuesday, 11 March 2025, the North Atlantic Council, with the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, and the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms Radmila Shekerinska, will visit KFOR, the NATO-led mission in Kosovo, and the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team (NALT). Along with Ambassadors from KFOR troop-contributing partners, they will meet the KFOR Commander, Major General Enrico Barduani, and the Director of the NALT, Brigadier General Christian Nawrat, and have the opportunity to engage with KFOR and NALT personnel. They will also have an exchange with the Heads of Mission of the European Union, Ambassador Aivo Orav, and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Major General Giovanni Barbano, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission of UNMIK, Ms Caroline Ziadeh, and the Acting Head of Mission of the OSCE, Ms Cornelia Taylor. The Secretary General will meet Ms Vjosa Osmani and Mr Albin Kurti in Pristina for bilateral discussions”.

Kurti: Results first, certification, then government led by VV and me (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was asked by reporters in Pristina today if he has started consultations with communities for an eventual coalition for the new government. “First the [election] results, then the certification, then the talks, and certainly a government led by Vetevendosje and me,” he briefly told the media.

Konjufca: Aim to form government with support of non-Serb communities (media)

Deputy leader of the Vetevendosje Movement and President of the Kosovo Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, said in an interview with Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa, that VV will try to form a new government with the support of representatives from non-Serb communities. “As you have seen, the 'Kurti 2' government was formed in cooperation with non-Serbian minorities. This is our goal because it has had a positive effect on Kosovo, preventing the Serbian List, which operates under the influence of Belgrade, from having decisive power as in past governments,” he was quoted as saying.

Konjufca also said that cooperation with opposition parties to form an eventual coalition government is unlikely. “If necessary, we will meet as leaders and decide on the next steps, but so far, the opposition parties have taken an obstructionist position. The attacks on LVV have been very aggressive and I think this election has been quite unfair, with a lot of unfair accusations and low blows. That left its mark,” he said.

CEC decides to recount 50 polling stations - 35 of them in Vushtrri (media)

The member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo in the Central Election Commission, Arianit Elshani, has requested a full recount in 15 polling stations where there are discrepancies in signatures. At Monday's CEC meeting, Elshani said that these polling stations are distributed throughout Kosovo. Elshani added that it has been recommended that 25 polling stations in Vushtrri also be subjected to a recount due to suspicions of voter fraud.

Meanwhile, the head of the Secretariat, Besnik Buzhala, said that they are ready to start the recount of votes in all 50 polling stations at 16:00 hours. “The Secretariat is ready to start the recount of the boxes at 16:00. Regarding the evaluation of ballot boxes with votes from abroad, yesterday we received the decision of the ECAP. After the deadline for complaints expires, tomorrow we can start opening the boxes for the assessment of invalid votes or on Wednesday morning. Regarding the issue of the completion of the process, it is true that at 21:03 I sent an email in which I announced that the process has been completed. There is also a notification from the CEC that the counting of postal ballots has been completed at 16:04. The director's announcement was that the entire process of counting ballots has been completed", he said.

LVV warns of appeal to Supreme Court on issue of postal voting (media)

Member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) from the Vetevendosje Movement, Sami Kurteshi, has said that they will appeal to the Supreme Court, after the Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) rejected their appeal to cancel the result and repeat the postal voting. “We will appeal regarding the issue of postal voting to the Supreme Court. We send the appeal to the Supreme Court with the conviction that it gives us the right, but we do not decide on it,” Kurteshi said after the CEC meeting.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic attends Serbian Government session, says particular focus on security challenges in Kosovo, BiH (media)

President Aleksandar Vucic attended today’s session of the Serbian Government as per invitation of caretaker Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, Kosovo Online portal reported. Following the session, Vucic said they exchanged information about the current security situation in the country and the region.

Vucic also said particular focus was on security challenges in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a post on his official Instagram account Vucic wrote they have discussed all the aspects of the announced March 15 protest in Belgrade.

"In moments when the security situation in the Balkans is seriously shaken, Serbia strives to preserve peace and stability, as well as the safety of all its citizens. We also looked at the state of the economy in light of the ongoing protests, as well as the damage caused by these events, which is reflected in the reduction of investments and other challenges for the economy. We agreed it is essential to take immediate measures to mitigate the consequences and support the economic sectors affected by these circumstances", Vucic said in a post.

He also emphasized the need for cooperation of all institutions and relevant actors in order to ensure stability and provide support to people and businesses.

Students in blockades: "What's the next step? All in the citizens’ assembly" (NMagazin, media)

"All citizens, who according to the Constitution are the irrevocable holders of sovereignty, should be included in the discussion and decision-making on the topic of the current crisis. That is why we invite you to turn to the local governments and organize independently according to the model of participatory democracy - through the body of the citizens' assembly provided for by law. Those who are concerned are asked and decide - and that is all of us. Everyone in the assembly," the students in the blockade announced yesterday in an Instagram post titled as ''A letter to citizens of Serbia'', reported portal NMagazin.

"What is a plenum for students, it is a citizens' assembly for the people. However, due to the pronounced centralization and corruption of the system - local self-government, and with them the local communities, neglected tendentiously. The strength of the student movement lies in direct democracy, which, unlike representative democracy, is not susceptible to manipulation and bribery," the students said in a post on Instagram.

They stated in the announcement that the demands of the protest have not yet been met, and that the more pressure they put on the institutions, the more pressure the students suffer.

"Our society united like never before - first in mourning for the tragedy, and then immediately in the fight for justice. However, the question that is imposed on everyone remains - what is the next step?", they wrote.

They also stated that "everything they have achieved so far is thanks to the principles of direct democracy and plenary sessions."

"The plenum is an open forum for all members of a collective, where everyone equally proposes items of the agenda, discusses them and makes decisions based on a simple majority vote," the students explained.

Trial of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica for alleged war crimes continues (Kosovo Online, RTS, media)

The trial of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica, near Pec, accused of allegedly committing war crimes in the village of Ozdrim, continued today at the Basic Court in Pristina by hearing prosecutor’s witnesses, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Djokovic was arrested in June 2022 and prior to his arrest was the only Serb living in Vitomirica. His house in this settlement was burned down during the March violence in 2004.

Few years prior to his arrest Djokovic launched a legal proceeding against Pec municipality over the land plot he received before the conflict from the municipality and reconstructed a house there, which the Pec municipal authorities wanted to take over from him.

Although a legally enforceable decision confirming his ownership was made a few years ago, the house was never re-registered under his name again. In the meantime, while in prison, Djokovic received the news that his house had been demolished.

Lawyer: Today’s witness did not speak of events included in indictment, was not even in Kosovo at that time

Djokovic’s defense lawyer, Vasilije Arsic said after the hearing that today’s witness did not speak of events covered by indictment and was not even in Kosovo at the time when these events happened.

“The witnesses are mainly instructed by the prosecution to say whatever goes in favor of the prosecutor. Today’s witness spoke about something that has nothing to do with events from 1999, he was not even present (in Kosovo) at the time of war events {…}”, Arsic said.

He added the witness testimony served only to give attention to the case and make Djokovic appear guilty in advance for something unrelated to the act. “The witness did not speak about the event covered by the indictment. He spoke about some fear he had, that he left the territory of Kosovo and Metohija in 1999, and not about events from indictment”, Arsic added.

As far as the questions of prosecution were concerned, Arsic argued they are asked in a manner to create an impression as if Djokovic is guilty of all events that took place in Pec and Vitomirica in 1999.

One more witness will be interviewed today and the trial continues tomorrow, the portal added.

Zaporozac: Kurti trying by all means to push Rasic into parliament and form a Government through him (Kosovo Online, TV Prva)

The Vice President of the Serbian List (SL), Ivan Zaporozac said that since the end of the election process, it was clear Kurti would attempt to prevent SL from winning all ten mandates.

"By seizing mandates and altering the will of the Serbian people, it becomes evident in what kind of position our people are. Kurti's goal is to push fake Serbs and his loyalists into the Kosovo parliament, who will be able to control the will of the Serbian people. As for the Serbian people, they have clearly shown that they want to follow the policies of the Serbian List and the leadership of Serbia", Zaporozac told Prva TV.

He added that Nenad Rasic had attempted to accuse the SL, at a press conference yesterday, as well as him personally, of threatening citizens by saying that anyone who had not voted for the Serbian List would face consequences.

"If we go step by step, they first tried to ban us from participating in the elections, then attempted to label the SL as treasonous through social media, and alongside all this, police repression was used to intimidate the Serbian people," said Zaporozac.

"They know that Vucic provides us with absolute support for staying in Kosovo because, without Serbia’s help, we wouldn’t be able to remain here," the Vice President of the SL said.

When asked how Serbs can fight against the seizure of mandates, Zaporozac said that the SL would report all irregularities to the Election Complaints Panel.

"First, they tried to ban us, then prevent us from participating in the elections, and now they are altering the will of the Serbian people and taking away our mandates. Something like this cannot happen in any democratic system in the world. We will try to reclaim the mandate through appeals, but I don’t believe we will succeed. They pushed Rasic through in areas where there are no Serbs, and that’s where he got votes. On the other hand, in the previous elections, a Bosniak party lost a mandate because they received votes from another ethnic group. But in this case, I am sure, since Rasic is needed by Kurti, that his mandate will not be revoked, regardless of the complaints we submit," Zaporozac stressed.

He also pointed out that final election results are still unavailable.

"Kurti is trying by all means to push Rasic into parliament and form a Government through him. I hope that the international community will recognize the problems Serbs face in Kosovo and help us achieve a better quality of life. I also hope they will not allow such an illegal and illegitimate government to be established. Kurti is very nervous because he couldn’t influence his own voters. I hope he will not be the one to form the government in Pristina and that the opposition will do so instead, to ease tensions in Kosovo, where the Serbian people live," Zaporozac concluded.

Arsenijevic reacts to Kurti’s claims that Belgrade pressured him (social media)

Serbian Democracy leader Aleksandar Arsenijevic in a post on X social platform reacted to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s claims made in a press conference mentioning Arsenijevic in the context of Belgrade’s pressures and interference in the elections.

“I would kindly ask this oppressor of my people not to “defend” me and put me in the same basket with his ‘Ficus Tree’ (a phrase used in Serbian to describe complete unimportance except of mere presence) Nenad Rasic. We know how to defend ourselves, and thus far we are good at it.

Because of his party’s complaints, we received a 12,000 euro fine, while at the same time they did not complain about their Ficus, Nenad Rasic, who misused public resources in the campaign”, Arsenijevic said in a post.

Rubio: The US officially suspending 83 percent of USAID programs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced today that the US is officially closing 83 percent of the Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, reported Kosovo Online.

"After a six-week review, we are officially ending 83 percent of USAID programs and the 5,200 contracts that are now being canceled spent tens of billions of dollars in a way that did not benefit, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States," Rubio said on X.

According to him, after consultation with Congress, the remaining 18 percent of the program, which is approximately 1,000, will be managed by the State Department "for more efficient administration."

He thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, and other employees who put in a lot of effort to achieve this "overdue" historic reform.

On January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending all foreign aid programs for 90 days pending a review to determine whether they are meeting his policy goals.

Opinion

Trump, people/authority, and Kosovo: A missed opportunity, turning point, or final collapse? (KoSSev)

By Dragutin Nenezic

A lot has happened in the past few months, much like in that fake Lenin quote. Trump has been inaugurated and has immediately begun disrupting the international order. Elections in Kosovo (almost) and Germany (completely) have concluded, the war in Ukraine is taking on a new dynamic, the mass suffering in Gaza has ended, and the same began in Syria. Beyond “high“ politics, the people’s protests in Serbia’s streets have entered their fifth month. A reader of this portal might rightfully ask: where does Kosovo (and Metohija) fit into all this? My answer: everywhere, if there is wisdom.

During this period, dear reader, Kosovo - especially the North - has not lacked noteworthy events, even beyond elections. Although perhaps less dramatic, developments such as courts in the North, now staffed exclusively by Albanian judges, starting to rule on neighborly property disputes that had been left unresolved since 2022, or the “Serbian“ Elektrosever cutting off power to Serbs over unpaid bills, are at the very least indicative of the fact that a (new, at least for the North) system has truly taken shape and been established there.

Will everything mentioned in the first paragraph affect what was just described in the second? Again, yes - if there is wisdom.

Let’s start with Trump, as is fitting, and set aside Kosovo’s elections and Kurti’s judicial saga for the purpose of this discussion.