Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani sets April 15 as date for constitutive session of the Assembly ((media)
• Kurti and govt. ministers have a working dinner with UK Foreign Secretary (media)
• Konjufca: We expect new government to be formed very soon (media)
• Rohde: Attack in Zvecan, an unacceptable act of violence (media)
• Maqedonci: Kosovo to host “Defender Europe25/Immediate Response” (media) 
• What does the new UN Security Council report on Kosovo say? (Klan)
• Osmani remembers Lybeniq massacre: Evidence of cruelty of criminal regime (Klan)
• KFOR reinforced with soldiers from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Consultations on new government of Serbia to begin on Wednesday (Tanjug)

• UN SC session on Kosovo, April 8: No progress in Dialogue, security situation remains fragile (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric: We are having intensive talks with many countries regarding the withdrawal of Kosovo's recognition (Euronews, Kosovo Online)
• Members of NATO's Operational Reserves began their deployment in Kosovo (Tanjug, RTS) 
• Rasic: Revolt that some ordinary citizen would express by throwing a bomb, for me it is absurd (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• NGO: ECHR says Serbia responded to sonic weapon allegations (N1)
• CRTA: At least 1,697 protests held in Serbia in March (Beta, N1)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani sets April 15 as date for constitutive session of the Assembly ((media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, has set April 15 as the date for holding the constitutive session of the new legislature, resulting from the February 9 elections. “The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in accordance with constitutional authorizations and legal deadlines, has convened the first meeting of the ninth Legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo for April 15, 2025,” the presidential announcement states.

On the afternoon of March 27, the CEC certified the election results of the February 9 elections, from which moment the legal and constitutional deadline of 30 days began to run for setting the date for the constitutive session, where the new MPs are expected to be sworn in as legislators of the ninth legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo.

Kurti and govt. ministers have a working dinner with UK Foreign Secretary (media)

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, together with his ministers, hosted a working dinner for the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who arrived in Kosovo for an official visit. The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, announced that the friendship between Great Britain and Kosovo is long and lasting. "Honored to be at the dinner organized for the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, by the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and the ministers. Our friendship, which is based on a shared commitment to a secure, multiethnic and democratic Kosovo—is long and lasting," Ambassador Hargreaves wrote on social media.

At Pristina International Airport, "Adem Jashari", the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, was received by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla.

The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, will meet today with President Vjosa Osmani. 

Konjufca: We expect new government to be formed very soon (media)

The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, also deputy leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Glauk Konjufca, has stated that they expect the new government to be formed very soon. He made this comment after paying tributes on the 26th anniversary of the Massacre in Lybeniq, Peje, after being asked by journalists if LVV has the numbers to form the government. "Regarding the elections, all we expect is for the Kosovo government to be established very soon in parliament. Initially, the parliament must be constituted. I believe we have the numbers," Konjufca said.

Rohde: Attack in Zvecan, an unacceptable act of violence (media)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, has called the attack on the Kosovo Post Office in Zvecan an unacceptable act of violence. He wrote that the perpetrators of the attack must be held accountable. “Guaranteeing the security and well-being of all communities in Kosovo is vital, the perpetrators must face justice. This incident highlights the need for substantial progress in the EU-facilitated dialogue,” Rohde wrote.

Maqedonci: Kosovo to host “Defender Europe25/Immediate Response” (media) 

Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci said that Kosovo will host the largest military exercise in Europe, “Defender Europe25/Immediate Response”.  "The Republic of Kosovo, through the Kosovo Security Force, will host the largest military exercise in Europe, "Defender Europe 25/Immediate Response". Preparations for this exercise are underway according to the foreseen plan and we are convinced that its implementation will be successful. Today, in Mnele, Albania, together with the Commander of the KSF, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, we visited our soldiers - specifically the Mortar Platoon of the Third Infantry Regiment. This unit is conducting 120 mm mortar firing exercises, as part of increasing the combat capabilities of the KSF and preparations for the "Defender Europe 2025" exercise. There we reconfirmed that our army is at the level of NATO's terms of professional training, motivation and armament equipment! Stronger together!" – Maqedonci wrote on Facebook.

What does the new UN Security Council report on Kosovo say? 

This year’s first reporting session on the situation in Kosovo is expected to be held in April at the UN Security Council. The report is expected to conclude that there has been no significant progress in the EU-facilitated dialogue on normalization between Kosovo and Serbia.

It also highlights Serbia's decision of October 28, 2024, which approved a draft law that defines Kosovo as a "special social protection area", but it does not criticize it. It is also mentioned that on the same day, the Serbian government approved a special draft law "on the organization and jurisdiction of its judicial authorities, expanding the competence of the High Public Prosecutor's Office and the High Court in Belgrade for the prosecution of criminal offenses committed in Kosovo".

“Pristina condemned the measures, considering them a violation of Kosovo’s sovereignty,” the report says. Meanwhile, efforts to implement previous agreements have stalled, with the meeting of the now former EU Special Representative for the dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, on December 17, 2024, with negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia, who the report says reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the 2023 Declaration on Missing Persons.

Osmani remembers Lybeniq massacre: Evidence of cruelty of criminal regime (Klan)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, has remembered the 26th anniversary of the Lybeniq massacre in Peja. She said that 26 years ago, "the forces of the genocidal regime of Serbia committed one of the most cruel massacres against the people of Kosovo, barbarically killing 80 civilians in Lybeniq. Among them were children from 18 months to 17 years old, elderly women, as well as a pregnant woman."

"This massacre remains a painful testimony to the cruelty of a criminal regime and an unhealed wound in our history," Osmani wrote. She further said that "the victims will be remembered with honor and sorrow forever, while seeking justice for them."

KFOR reinforced with soldiers from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania (media)

Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek and Romanian soldiers from the Operational Reserves have begun their deployment to Kosovo, in support of the NATO-led KFOR mission. According to an official KFOR statement, this mission continues to contribute to the creation of a safe environment for all residents and communities in Kosovo. The Multinational Operational Reserve Force (ORF) Battalion has taken over the duties from the Turkish Operational Reserve Force Battalion, based on a rotation plan supervised by the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy. With around 270 soldiers, this battalion will temporarily operate alongside 200 reserve forces of the Italian “Sassari” brigade.

Serbian Language Media  

Consultations on new government of Serbia to begin on Wednesday (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will begin consultations on a new government on Wednesday, after which he is to decide on which political group will be given the mandate to form a cabinet.

The deadline for forming a new government expires at midnight April 18.

On Monday evening, Vucic said he had written to all political groups in the parliament about the matter and that five or six would take part in the consultations, due to be completed by Friday.

He said he expected the largest group, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, to inform him whether it wanted to form a government or go to new elections.

He noted that the sentiment in the party was certainly not in favour of any kind of transitional government and that he, too, agreed with that view.

Under the Constitution, Vucic is obliged to give the mandate to the group that can secure a parliamentary majority - at least 126 votes.

UN SC session on Kosovo, April 8: No progress in Dialogue, security situation remains fragile (Kosovo Online)

The UN Security Council session on Kosovo will be held on April 8, where the Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Caroline Ziadeh, will present a six-month report. According to the session announcement, the report notes that there has been no significant progress in the EU-mediated normalization dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, while efforts to implement previous agreements have stalled. Concerns were raised regarding the actions of the Kosovo Police to close institutions functioning within the Serbian system, which affect the daily lives of minority communities dependent on them. The report also highlights that the security situation in northern Kosovo remains fragile.

It is recalled that Serbia adopted a draft law on October 28 of last year designating Kosovo as a "region of special social protection", establishing a framework for providing financial assistance to certain groups in Kosovo with the goal of preventing social exclusion and supporting their survival. On the same day, the Serbian government adopted a special law on the organization and jurisdiction of its judicial bodies, expanding the jurisdiction of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Higher Court in Belgrade to prosecute crimes committed in Kosovo. Pristina condemned these measures, considering them a violation of Kosovo's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, efforts to implement previous agreements have been halted.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3ytwbh7u

Djuric: We are having intensive talks with many countries regarding the withdrawal of Kosovo's recognition (Euronews, Kosovo Online)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated today that Serbia is having serious talks with many countries regarding the withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo. Regarding the upcoming visit of British Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Serbia, Djuric expressed his expectation that his arrival in Belgrade could mark the beginning of a new era in the relations between Serbia and the United Kingdom.

In regard to Kenya's recognition of Kosovo, Djuric told Euronews Serbia that it is part of the calculation of Behgjet Pacolli, who, he says, is the main author of the second real recognition of Kosovo's independence in the last decade. He also noted that the Serbian government was too busy with internal events.

"Of course, a huge amount of money is behind this. He is someone who has businesses worth billions. He is a billionaire who decided to spend part of his wealth on this. My question is when will some of Serbia's billionaires, owners of various media outlets, opposition-oriented and fierce critics of the government, invest part of their resources and bring the citizens of Serbia a withdrawal of recognition, as Pacolli did even though the opposition in Kosovo is with Albin Kurti," said Djuric.

He reminded that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has secured 28 withdrawals of recognition, as opposed to two or three new recognitions of Kosovo in the last 10 years.

Djuric emphasized that Pristina is violating agreements, just as it does with its attempts to become a member of the Council of Europe.

"I will not reveal the details of our tactics in the upcoming period, but we are having intensive talks with many countries. We also expect a visit from one of the representatives from that part of the world," Djuric said.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/5ahyc4du

Members of NATO's Operational Reserves began their deployment in Kosovo (Tanjug, RTS) 

Members of the Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek and Romanian troops in NATO's Operational Reserves have started their deployment in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, reported Tanjug, citing the announcement from the mission.

According to the announcement, the International Operational Reserve Battalion (ORF) took over from the Turkish Battalion, according to the force rotation plan under the command of the Joint Command in Naples.

There are about 270 members of the forces who will perform their duties temporarily, together with another 200 members of the reserve forces of the Italian "Sassari" brigade.

Rasic: Revolt that some ordinary citizen would express by throwing a bomb, for me it is absurd (KoSSev, KiM radio)

The Minister for Communities and Return in the Government of Kosovo in technical mandate, Nenad Rasic, believes that behind the explosion at the Post Office in Zvecan is politics, that is, "destructive elements that want to maintain tensions in the north".

"Even in the past period, it often happened that someone tended to organize incidents of this kind, so that the story about the non-integration of the North would remain alive," Rasic said in a statement to KiM radio. 

He said that there were several elements that support such actions. He said that the departure of Serbs from institutions more than two years ago, and especially from the police, led to an institutional vacuum.

"Now if they had adequate police officers who would be according to the demographic structure, as the law requires, then such crimes would be rarer. There would be people from the local area who could better and more successfully conduct investigations that would lead to the perpetrators".

When asked if he sees this as a revolt due to the closure of the Serbian Postal Savings Bank and the opening of the Kosovo Post Office, Rasic said:

"The revolt that an ordinary citizen would express by throwing two bombs is absurd to me. However, it can be used as a background - that there is a revolt by a citizen who threw two bombs. We know that someone did it with a tendency, someone who is more organized, and not some individual citizen who expresses his dissatisfaction with bombs".

Referring to the closure of Serbian institutions such as the Post Office and Serbian postal savings Bank, Rasic added that that in this sense "they understand their colleagues in the Government who want to implement what is written in the law" and that those institutions (Postal Savings Bank (PTT)) do not have a license to work, but he also emphasizes that the authorities in Serbia did not allow the Post of Serbia to obtain a license.

He said that he himself participated in the negotiations for the extension of the license.

"The then director of PTT came and said 'great, we will prepare the documentation', but on the other hand, from Belgrade, he was not allowed to apply for an extension again".

However, he believes that the representatives of the Government of Kosovo should have given more time to the citizens to inform themselves about the decisions, but also "to give room for a different agreement so that the citizens would not be harmed".

Rasic pointed out that it would be much more practical if the authorities in Serbia made an agreement with the representatives in Pristina for the Post of Serbia and Postal Savings Bank to obtain a license and work according to the Kosovo system. Rasic cited "MTS d.o.o" and "Elektrosever" as successful examples.

NGO: ECHR says Serbia responded to sonic weapon allegations (N1)

The Belgrade Center for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the Serbian government replied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) request for comments on claims that a sonic weapon was used against protesters on March 15.

A press release said that Serbian human rights NGOs were informed by the ECHR that Serbia submitted its comments on March 31. Serbian NGOs – the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, CRTA, FemPlatz, Civic Initiatives, the A11 Initiative for Economic and Social Rights, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) – submitted a filing on behalf of 47 citizens of Serbia over the alleged use of a sonic weapon to disrupt a peaceful protest in Belgrade on March 15. The NGOs alleged the use of a hazardous sonic or similar device, adding that more than 4,000 people contacted civil society organizations to give firsthand accounts and report health issues.

The ECHR invited civil society organizations to submit their comments on the comments submitted by the state of Serbia by April 8. It also invited official Belgrade to submit comments on a March 31 filing by those NGOs informing the court of the health of the 47 people the original filing was made for.

The ECHR called Serbia to respond to allegations of the use of sonic weapons on March 24, setting a deadline of March 31 for Serbia to state if sonic weapons were used and under which law as well as safeguards to prevent the arbitrary use of force.

CRTA: At least 1,697 protests held in Serbia in March (Beta, N1)

The Center for Research, Transparency, and Accountability (CRTA) said Tuesday that at least 1,697 protests were held in Serbia during March.

“During this period, protests took place in at least 378 communities,” CRTA said in a post on X.

Across Serbia, citizens are organizing daily actions of 16 minutes of silence to honor those who lost their lives in the November 1 Novi Sad deadly train station accident, along with various blockades and protests.