Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: This week is important, but not to put a full stop to everything (RTV21)
• Kurti on dialogue: Let us implement fast what we have agreed upon (Koha)
• Osmani begins official visit to Iowa (media)
• Detention of suspects of Banjska attack extended by two more months (Telegrafi)
• “Serbia, most likely with knowledge and instructions from Vucic, formed terrorist group to attack KFOR and Kosovo”, conclusions of a report by the Kosovo Government (Albanian Post)
• Osmani's request to  UNSC for a resolution is being considered smart step (RTK)
• Who is Zlatan Elek, the man who took over the "Serbian List" (Express)
• Halimi: Kurti should report to Assembly, prior to lecturing in Greece (media)
• Constitution of Investigative Committee on state reserves fails for the fifth time (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dr Zlatan Elek, new president of Serbian List (Kosovo Online)
• A road built across the old Orthodox cemetery in Mitrovica (KiM radio)
• Brnabic after UNSC session: Pristina does not intend to participate in dialogue, they do not want to understand how Serbs live in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Vucevic: Brnabic informed world of actual situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, TV Prva)
• Serbian PM denies Belgrade’s involvement in Banjska incident (N1)
• Arsenijevic: More information we have, less it is clear what happened in Banjska (Radio KIM)
• IFIMES: Unserious to put blame for Banjska on one actor (Tanjug)
• Djuric commends Brnabic's UN Security Council speech (Tanjug)
• Vucic: In two to three days, me and Kurti will again go to Brussels for talks (RTS)

International:

• Shadow Clans and Shadow Wars: Kosovo PM Accuses Serbian Group of Terrorism (BNN)
• Grants, Loans to Kosovo Hostage to Opposition Election Demand (BIRN)

   

Albanian Language Media  

 

Osmani: This week is important, but not to put a full stop to everything (RTV21)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, in an interview with the TV station following the UN Security Council session, said that this week is important but not in terms of putting a full stop to everything. “It is certainly an important week, but I wouldn’t say it is a week that will put a full stop to everything. Kosovo is committed to working with our partners in finding a solution for the way forward so that the February 27 agreement, the Brussels agreement, and the Ohrid annex from March 18, are implemented in their entirety, without conditions, and not have only some parts implemented, and Serbia avoiding its obligations. The balancing and fair implementation of the agreement is crucial,” she said.

Osmani said that it is very important for the next steps to be made in coordination with Kosovo’s allies.

Commenting on the UNSC session, Osmani argued that Serbia used the meeting to make propaganda. “The number of lies presented by [Serbian Prime Minister] Ana Brnabic surpasses every border. We have sent and continue to send to the member states direct information about concrete cases that she was mentioning … But it is important for everyone to understand that we are talking about a regime that is led by a propaganda minister of Milosevic. This is what they do best. Unfortunately, what Serbia is doing in practice is violence and this was proved on September 24,” Osmani is quoted as saying. 

Kurti on dialogue: Let us implement fast what we have agreed upon (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called today for the implementation of the agreement reached with Serbia this year, saying that Kosovo is ready to implement the Brussels and Ohrid accords, but that Serbia is refusing their implementation “because the content is the de facto recognition”.

“I offered to sign the agreement in Brussels and later in Ohrid, but Belgrade refuses to do so because they include the de facto recognition,” Kurti said, adding that the agreement is based on the two Germanies model. “What we are lacking is implementation. In the history of agreements, we have over 40 agreements, but there are setbacks in implementation. It is as if they are two different plants. We need to bring them to the same continent first, in Europe. Let us implement fast what we have agreed upon and I am ready to sign. The case was not the same with the other party and that’s when difficulties arose.”

Kurti, who is attending a discussion panel in Athens organised by The Economist, on the topic “Deepening Solidarity: How can Europe emerge stronger from the current geopolitical turmoil?”, raised the alarm about the aggression and constant threats from Serbia and called for a coalition of democratic countries against autocracy. 

Kurti said that Balkans countries that want to join the European Union must be helped by the EU for quicker accession. He argued that the EU needs reforms and enlargement. Another important element for security he said is to strengthen the trans-Atlantic bridge.

Kurti argued that plenty of evidence has been presented to show that Serbia was linked to the attack against Kosovo Police on September 24.

Osmani begins official visit to Iowa (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has started her official visit to Iowa, the United States of America, where she will meet Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the commander of the Iowa National Guard, Major General Stephen E. Osborn. Osmani is also scheduled to visit Camp Dodge, a camp rich in history and which is used as training structure for U.S. Army divisions.

A press release issued by Osmani’s office notes that during her visit, she will also meet the heads of Des Moines, Norwalk, Fort Dodge, Council Bluffs, Johnston and Cedar Falls.

Osmani is also scheduled to have a discussion at Drake University and an address at the DMACC. She will be the keynote speaker at an event led by Ambassador Branstad, President of the World Food Prize Foundation.

At the end of her visit, Osmani will also meet the Albanian diaspora in the U.S.

Detention of suspects of Banjska attack extended by two more months (Telegrafi)

Dusan Maksimovic, Vladimir Tolic and Blagoje Spasojevic – suspected of the September 24 attack in Banjska of Zvecan, have had their detention extended by two more months, the news website reports. A spokesperson for the Basic Court in Pristina confirmed the information. “The Basic Court in Pristina – the Special Department, has approved by the request of the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo and the detention of the suspects … has been extended by two more months,” the spokesperson said.

“Serbia, most likely with knowledge and instructions from Vucic, formed terrorist group to attack KFOR and Kosovo”, conclusions of a report by the Kosovo Government (Albanian Post)

The news website reported on Monday evening that the Kosovo Government, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has prepared a 50-page preliminary report with facts proving that the terrorist action by paramilitaries in Banjska of Zvecan was directly linked to the state of Serbia. “The paramilitaries left Novi Pazar, Serbia, on the evening of September 23, documented with photos, made at 16:39, and found on the phone of one of the leaders of the group,” the report notes. “In the early hours of September 24, 2023, the group entered Kosovo through an illegal road near the border crossing called ‘Izvor’, the shortest road connecting Novi Pazar to the village of Banjska, in the municipality of Zvecan,” the report notes.

“Based on the statement of one of the arrested, they travelled in groups and in an organised manner”.

Three to four vehicles made their way to the village of Banjska.

The distance from the border to the Monastery of Banjska is 14 kilometres. The operation was led by Milan Radoicic.

The report notes that “to enter Kosovo from Serbia, the paramilitaries had used camouflaged vehicles by making them look like vehicles of KFOR forces. Milan Radoicic’s vehicle was painted with army colours. In the back of the vehicle was placed a KFOR logo and CD signs that are placed on diplomatic vehicles”.

The report notes that “the reason why Banjska was chosen is due to the fact that that part is currently under the influence of illegal criminal structures which Serbia has sponsored and continues to control by appointing personnel from Serbia and through financial sources. The importance of the Banjska Monastery, including calculations about civilian casualties, served as the perfect camouflage to falsely portray an operation by the Kosovo Police as an attack against the Monastery, exactly at the time when inside were pilgrims from Serbia and North Macedonia”.

According to the Kosovo Government’s report, “the first group of paramilitaries is reported to have stayed at the L-shaped house in the monastery and others were deployed in the hills around the monastery. Another two support groups were stationed on two hills near the Banjska village”.

“In the early hours of September 24, the Serb paramilitaries led by Radoicic blocked the bridge at the entrance of the village of Banjska with two trucks blocking the entrance to the village”.

The group’s ties with Vucic and the Serbian state

Serbia guarantees unimpeded movement to Radoicic in its territory, and even high-level protection.

Radoicic’s ties with the Serbian army grew even stronger after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic installed his successor at the party, Defense Minister Vucevic.

The report notes that “their ties are mainly enabled through partners in crime, Zvonko Veselinovic, a long-time supporter of Vucevic in local government in Novi Sad. Moreover, Radoicic has close ties with the Chief of General Staff of Serbian Army, Mojsilovic, who is from Kosovo”.

“Among others, the special units of the Serbian Army called ‘Cobras’ operate under the command of the Chief of the General Staff. Radoicic also has close ties with the structures of the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs and is protected by Serbian police. Serbian police in the region of Raska, Novi Pazar and in other regions close to Kosovo, have received clear orders for ‘Radoicic’s men’ that if one of their vehicles is stopped for any reason, they need to be let go and their documents must not be requested,” the report notes.

“Radoicic recently appointed many of his confidants in key positions there. Radoicic also has close ties with the director of one of the main departments of the Serbian intelligence agency, Bojan Dimic”.

Based on the evidence, a direct link can be established between the state of Serbia and the attack. The adaptation of documents and weapons by the Serbian army prove a direct link to the state of Serbia.

A document signed by the army with the initials of the state of Serbia on a mine, and other equipment that was found, have this connection.

Symbols of the Serbian army worn by the paramilitaries were also found.

“Serbia, most likely with the knowledge and instructions from its president, Aleksandar Vucic, used various ways to establish and instruct a paramilitary group under the leadership of Radoicic and Serbia’s illegal structures against KFOR and Kosovo in the north of Kosovo,” the conclusions of the report note.

“Over several months, they supported escalation by mobilising the Serbian Army and deploying troops and machinery at the border with Kosovo. After the major escalation in May 2023, when a direct attack planned and led by Serbia was carried out by violent assailants that came from Serbia, alongside extremists from Kosovo, to directly attack KFOR, Vucic decided to further escalate the situation against Kosovo. In clear coordination with Russia, he instructed certain individuals within Serbia’s intelligence and security structures, to plan, prepare, train and equip the Serb paramilitary group to engage in an open conflict in Kosovo”.

Osmani's request to  UNSC for a resolution is being considered smart step (RTK)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani's request to the UN Security Council, for the approval of a resolution that would punish Serbia for the terrorist attack in Banjska, is being assessed as a good step by those familiar with the political circumstances. However, they are sceptical that the adoption of such a resolution could happen, as it would be opposed by Russia and China.

Monday’s address of President Vjosa Osmani, to the Security Council of the United Nations, is being assessed as quite good by experts in international relations and political analysts. Even her request for a UN resolution against Serbia's latest aggression, by university professor Dritero Arifi, is being considered as a clever provocation by the president.

"This is a smart request by the president to challenge the UN Security Council for such resolutions. Its approval is difficult as it requires the agreement of Russia and China. Because Russia has also flagrantly violated the UN Charter and international law, and despite this, the Security Council still does nothing. So, the president's request is a good political step, but in terms of content, I don't believe it will change anything," he said.

Osmani’s speech to the UN Security Council is considered as good by the political analyst, Artan Muhaxhiri, but he says that the approval of the resolution is unlikely to happen.

"It is unlikely that this request for a resolution will be realized, since the balance of power in the United Nations is not in favor of Kosovo, but it is sufficient that all the democratic states are on the side of Kosovo as far as the north is concerned, and this is a support of great opportunity which must be used by Kosovo, which must prove itself as a democratic country, while exposing Serbia as an anti-democratic country", Muhaxhiri said.

During the review of the report in the Security Council, on the situation in Kosovo, for the period March-September 2023, the representative of the USA asked for the extradition of suspected persons in the case of Banjska, while the representative of France said that Serbia and Kosovo should work to get out of the situation they are in, after the September 24 attack.

Who is Zlatan Elek, the man who took over the "Serbian List" (Express)

"Serbian List" has entered a party reformation process after the events that took place in Banjska on September 24. Zlatan Elek has been elected as the new chairman.

In May 2020, the Government of Serbia appointed Zlatan Ellek acting director of the Clinical Hospital Center in North Mitrovica. This institution, like other health institutions in areas inhabited by Serbs in Kosovo, works as part of the Serbian system.

Meanwhile, Elek participated in the rallies organized by Serbian List, including the one on November 6, 2022, a day after the departure of Serbs from Kosovo's institutions in the north.

He then said in his speech that "we survived thanks to the support of our leadership, primarily President Aleksandar Vucic".

Recently, he emphasized that due to " Kurti’s terror", the health institutions in the Serb areas in Kosovo are being threatened by a "humanitarian disaster", reports RFE.

He said that the Kosovo authorities will not allow the import of medicines and medical materials, which the Ministry of Health of Kosovo has denied.

Halimi: Kurti should report to Assembly, prior to lecturing in Greece (media)

LDK spokeswoman, Sibel Halimi, said that Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, should have reported to the Assembly about, as she said, the "ultimatum" received by the diplomatic five. Through a post on Facebook, Halimi said that the head of the government has entered into murky waters with conflicting policies.

“The Prime Minister should have reported to the Assembly about the ultimatum he received from the five representing Kosovo's strategic allies, prior to lecturing from Greece about the unrest in Europe and the problems in the four corners of the world.

Very populist in election rallies and a behind-the-scenes person in actions, the prime minister has internalized a distrustful approach towards the opposition, the media and the friends of Kosovo, and what is most frightening, he has entered into murky waters with conflicting policies.

The Assembly, on the other hand, not only does not perform its duty, but often abuses the right of the majority MPs to freely declare themselves. The temple of democracy is not an extension of the executive; the former supervises and controls this latter. This deformation, this distortion of state constitutionalism, is an additional danger for our Republic!,” Halimi wrote.

Constitution of Investigative Committee on state reserves fails for the fifth time (media)

The Investigative Committee for state reserves has failed to be constituted for the fifth time. This is due to the absence of the Vetevendosje Movement’s MPs.

The chairman of this commission, Rashit Qalaj, has reiterated that the absence of MPs of the government is increasing the suspicions of misuse even more.

The MP of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Valentina Bunjaku, has also addressed complaints about the party in power.

"It is the fifth time, and it is already clear that they do not want to participate in this commission to reveal the truth. If they think they are innocent, they should come and face it," Bunjaku said.

AAK MP Pal Lekaj also complained. He said that the government aims to hide the truth.

     

Serbian Language Media

  Dr Zlatan Elek, new president of Serbian List (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online learned that at the election assembly of the Serbian List, in North Mitrovica, a decision was made that Dr. Zlatan Elek will be the new president of that party. 

Dr. Elek is the director of CHC Kosovska Mitrovica, and he will replace Goran Rakic as president of Serbian List. 

Officials of the Serbian List, as well as representatives of that party in the Central Election Commission, attend the election assembly.

A road built across the old Orthodox cemetery in Mitrovica (KiM radio)

A macadam road was built over the old Orthodox cemetery behind the church of St. Dimitrije in Mitrovica last week, reported KiM radio.

According to KiM radio, heavy construction machines passed over the cemetery, which is several hundred years old and where the deceased were buried until 1956.

At the site of the works, reported KiM radio, tombstone plaques can be seen, and in some of its parts there are even excavated remains of the deceased who were buried here for a long period of time.

At the end of the road, there are still heavy construction machines from an Albanian company that is continuing the work.

As KiM radio learns, the road was built without anyone's consent and leads towards Albanian houses in the north of the city.

Brnabic after UNSC session: Pristina does not intend to participate in dialogue, they do not want to understand how Serbs live in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, stated, after the UNSC session, that Vjosa Osmani in her speech demonstrated shallow propaganda, uttered "general remarks" and ''brutal lies'', but that the representatives of the member states could recognize this, adding she cannot be satisfied because she did not see even slightest will of Pristina to understand the situation in which the Serbs find themselves, reported Kosovo Online. 

"She spoke in front of the forum, where the most important world powers are, about how we from Belgrade terrorise the Serbs, and Pristina defends them. I guess everyone has heard this contempt of world politicians, because someone thinks that he/she is allowed to do everything, to tell untruths that are easily verifiable," Brnabic told reporters.

That is why, she says, she reacted at the end of the session and asked why, if that is true, 11 percent of Serbs, or 2,000 families, left Kosovo since May.

"Osmani had the courage, the audacity, to say that we are terrorising the Serbs, and they are defending them," stated Brnabic. 

Osmani also stated that the Serbs in Kosovo have the right of veto, which means that even when 90 percent of the deputies in the local parliament vote for something, if the Serbs say - no, then it is not adopted.

"Albania, the USA, Great Britain do not believe in that either... They know that it is not true. And I gave an example, with the formation of the KSF, which were not allowed to be formed even according to their constitution, without Serbian votes. And they were formed without the votes of the Serbs," Brnabic recalled. 

She drew attention that Osmani spoke of the Orthodox Church, not the Serbian Orthodox Church, all the time.

"They can't bring themselves to say Serbian, not even in a forum like this," said Brnabic.

She added that highlighting the rape victims of only one ethnicity represents political propaganda, brutal and shallow, in which human crime is misused, giving it ethnic affiliation.

"The people who were present could see what it was about, how it was being spun and could see that it was not true. But I can't say that I'm happy because I haven't seen even an iota of will on the part of the representatives of Pristina to understand the situation in which the Serbs or other peoples in Kosovo find themselves, nor to change anything. The narrative is completely superficial, human lives are completely irrelevant. But we have to fight for the truth," said Brnabic.

She said that it was a fact that the terrible incidents happened in Banjska, but what was interesting about the session was that no one except Vjosa Osmani blamed Serbia for those events.

"The fact that those terrible incidents happened in Banjska is a fact, and we all knew it would be mentioned. I found it interesting that if you listened carefully to all the representatives of both permanent and non-permanent members, you could only hear Vjosa Osmani that she blamed Belgrade for that. Neither the USA nor Great Britain did that," Brnabic said in response to a question about the mention of the events in Banjska, even though they do not fall within the reporting period.

As she says, Osmani was once again presenting information at the level of gossip.

"She presented information like someone would tell their neighbour what happened, that's how she presented it at the UN Security Council session as a fact, completely unsubstantiated. It's an insult to their allies because they need to know that they know it's not true and if they say that in front of them, it seems as if they think they are uninformed fools," said the Prime Minister.

She adds that she checked all the information she presented in her speech six times, both with her team and with the team of President Aleksandar Vucic, but also with teams from the field, precisely so that none of the information would be incorrect.

Nevertheless, regardless of that, as she says, she is not happy because there was no desire on the part of Pristina to understand the real situation and how Serbs live.

"Pristina doesn't want to hear that, that's a problem, that's what scares me and creates even more anxiety for me," she said.

When asked to comment on the meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Brnabic said that they had a short but good meeting and reminded that Guterres also met the President of Serbia in China and that he is familiar with the entire situation.

"We have significant support from the UN and UNMIK, I have no objections to the report, it is factually correct, we had a good meeting, Guterres hopes for peace, they are currently dealing with the Middle East crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war and expect us to keep things under control. No one would suit another open conflict on the soil of Europe. Serbia needs peace, stability, we have a clear perspective, and on the other hand, you cannot leave our people in Kosovo and Metohija in the lurch, you have to fight, change some things diplomatically, it's going slowly, and our people are mistreated every day, every hour, and you have to fight diplomatically," she says.

The PM points out that the only solution is dialogue and compromise and adds that this would be the case if you had someone to talk to.

As she says, Pristina will not do that, and the last example of that was in Granada when President Vucic agreed to talk to Osmani, but she refused that meeting.

"Compromise and dialogue are the only way out of this situation, but with whom, with those who say at the UN Security Council session that Belgrade is terrorising the Serbs, who cannot say the Serbian Orthodox Church, but only the Orthodox Church. Only if the mentors press them and say implement that you took over," says Brnabic.

She adds that the red lines are known, but that Serbia is always in favour of reconciliation.

"First of all, it is necessary for our people to be safe, to continue the dialogue, the agreements to be implemented, that is the beginning, and then we should continue," he added.

When asked what can be expected at the end of the week in Brussels, Brnabic says that she doesn't know.

"I spoke with the president after the session, I don't know what to tell you, I think Pristina has no intention of participating in that dialogue, and without dialogue I don't know where we will get to. There are many fundamental differences between us, we are looking to the future, we know what we are doing, Serbia can be a victorious country, there are many things that we have to make up for, fix and we are doing it, but we are focused on the future, and everything you hear from Pristina is the past - they are living in the nineties, in their provisional and it has nothing to do with the present," said Brnabic.

Vucevic: Brnabic informed world of actual situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, TV Prva)

Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Tuesday it was important that PM Ana Brnabic had informed the international public and the UN Security Council of the actual situation in Kosovo at the UN body's session on Monday.

Vucevic told Prva TV it was significant that Serbia had used the UNSC session to inform the world and officials of the world's most significant countries of facts about the situation in Kosovo. 

He added that Brnabic had delivered an accurate account of all developments on the ground and that the key message of her speech had been that a campaign of silent ethnic cleansing of Serbs was underway in Kosovo, reported Tanjug. 

Serbian PM denies Belgrade’s involvement in Banjska incident (N1)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic denied in a speech to the UN Security Council that Belgrade was involved in the Banjska armed incident on September 24, N1 reports.

“I want to assert responsibly that Belgrade, or Serbia’s security structures, had nothing to do with this event, and we are prepared to provide all information and evidence available today to the international community to confirm this statement”, Brnabic said.

Brnabic also said that investigations are underway on the incident “including the manner in which 2 out of 3 deceased Serbs lost their lives, which appears to have been a cold-blooded execution after they surrendered”.

The Serbian Prime Minister blamed the Banjska incident on “the reign of fear and terror that Pristina decided to enforce, despite clear demands for de-escalation from the international community, precisely counting on the peaceful resistance of the Serbian people in northern Kosovo and Metohija to become something more”.

The Serbian Prime Minister said that Belgrade wants all agreements implemented, security for the Kosovo Serbs, full respect for UN SC Resolution 1244 and new local elections.

“At this point in time, the most rational approach would be for KFOR, in line with its mandate from UN SC Resolution 1244, to temporarily assume full responsibility for security in northern Kosovo and Metohija. UNMIK could play a significant role in this process”, she said and added that dialogue is the only way to solve the problems of Kosovo.

Read the full speech of the Republic of Serbia Prime Minister at: https://tinyurl.com/369utpxe Arsenijevic: More information we have, less it is clear what happened in Banjska (Radio KIM)

Leader of the Civic Initiative Serbian Survival, Aleksandar Arsenijevic told the “Aequitas” podcast dedicated to the crisis in northern Kosovo that the event in Banjska village in Zvecan municipality was “imprudent”, adding he does not support such a manner in achieving the rights, although someone had that in mind. He also said there is lots of speculation around this event, and that the more information we have, it is less clear what really happened there, Radio KIM reports.

Commenting on the constatation of Kosovo Prime Minister that action in Banjska represents in principle a plan to “attack and annex the northern part of Kosovo”, Arsenijevic expressed fear that Serbs may face the destiny of Palestinians.

Asked if Serbs from Kosovo perceive Kosovo as “their own state”, respectively as a society that they belong to, Arsenijevic said that Kosovo ballot lists in northern Kosovo have 45.000 Serb voters, which means that 95 percent of the Serbs have Kosovo ID cards.

According to him, the reason why Serbs have left Kosovo institutions in the north in November last year, lies in disrespect of the Brussels agreement, adding that Serbs left institutions affected the most by those signed agreements, e.g. local self-government, police and judiciary.

He noted that Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but experienced reformation in 2013 by the Brussels agreement and each government should have acted in line with that agreement, which “sadly did not happen”.

He also spoke about the presence of the Kosovo special police forces in the north, migrations of the Serbian population, upcoming elections and many other topics.

“Aequitas” podcast is recorded in Barabar centre in Pristina and is part of the project “Strengthening social dialogue in Kosovo” implemented by CASA NGO in cooperation with Kosovo Open Society Foundation (KFOS).

IFIMES: Unserious to put blame for Banjska on one actor (Tanjug)

International Institute for Middle East and Balkans Studies (IFIMES) in its latest analysis said as the end of the year is approaching the tensions in Belgrade-Pristina relations are growing. They also touched upon events in Banjska from September 24, adding it is unserious and unprofessional to put blame for it on one actor only, Tanjug news agency reports.

“Many actors with their interests and influences are involved in ‘Kosovo pot’, and without thorough, independent investigation it is unprofessional and unserious to put a blame on one actor only, Serbia, respectively its president Aleksandar Vucic, while Serbia for more than 20 years has no effective authority in Kosovo (…)", the analysis states.

It is also added that the isolated incident in the village of Banjska on September 24 brought distress among the local population and increased tensions, especially since after that incident the government in Pristina insisted on the introduction of international sanctions against Serbia, which they accused of being behind the attack on the Kosovo police, and the NATO/KFOR military mission repeatedly rejected the possibility of "taking over police duties" from the Kosovo police.

Djuric commends Brnabic's UN Security Council speech (Tanjug)

Serbian Ambassador to the US Marko Djuric on Tuesday commended Serbian PM Ana Brnabic's speech in the UN Security Council in New York.

"All you need to know about the current situation in Kosovo*. The comprehensive speech by Serbian PM Ms Ana Brnabic at the UN Security Council is a must for anyone seeking to understand the Serbian position. And the truth", Djuric wrote in a post on the social media network X, formerly known as Twitter.

Addressing the UNSC on Monday evening, Brnabic said Pristina authorities were carrying out a campaign of systematic violence and denial of the fundamental rights of Serbs in Kosovo.

Vucic: In two to three days, me and Kurti will again go to Brussels for talks (RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he expects that in two to three days he will again go to Brussels for talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, adding he can't say more about that because that was the agreement, RTS reports.

“After that we will have more information. Ours is to preserve Serbia from all possible measures and undermining of state and national interests and I believe that we will succeed”, he said. 

     

International 

  Shadow Clans and Shadow Wars: Kosovo PM Accuses Serbian Group of Terrorism (BNN)

In the heart of the Balkans, an age-old feud is flaring anew, threatening to reignite a conflict riddled with political, ethnic, and religious tensions. The protagonists in this drama are Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and a shadowy Serbian faction known as the 'Novi Sad clan'. The stage is set against a backdrop of escalating accusations, terrorist activities, and suspected state complicity, rekindling the enduring flame of discord between Kosovo and Serbia.

Prime Minister Kurti took to Facebook to accuse the clandestine 'Novi Sad clan' of orchestrating a terrorist attack in Banjska, a serene village home to an Orthodox monastery. He implicated Serbia's Defense Minister, Milos Vucevic, in the operation, alleging that the group was provided with white and black Skoda Octavia cars by Serbia's law enforcement. These claims have stirred the already turbulent waters of Balkan politics, amplifying the tension between the two nations.

According to Kurti, the 'Novi Sad clan' is a successor to the notorious Zemun Clan, a crime syndicate that once held sway in Serbia. He contends that these groups, entrenched in criminal activities, exert their influence not only within Serbia's borders but also in Kosovo and beyond. Serbia's Defense Ministry vehemently denies these allegations, describing them as an 'incendiary and dirty' campaign by Kosovo's leadership.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/482r8vyc Grants, Loans to Kosovo Hostage to Opposition Election Demand (BIRN)

A string of international loans and grants to Kosovo are being held hostage to an opposition demand for snap elections.

When Albin Kurti stood to speak in parliament on October 6, he had his answers to MP questions all ready, but he refused to give them.

The day before, Kosovo’s prime minister had listed a number of international agreements still awaiting parliamentary ratification because of the refusal of opposition MPs to back them.

“Because you’re not voting on the international agreement, all those MPs who submitted question will not get my answers, even though those answers are already prepared,” Kurti said.

A handful of international agreements, involving hundreds of millions of euros in grants and loans, are gathering dust on parliament’s shelves due to the government’s inability to secure the necessary two-thirds majority to ratify them.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/z5d8bshm