Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets with O'Brien: the USA is a precious friend and ally of Kosovo (media)
• Osmani expects new recognitions of Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Cramon: Borrell has not dealt with Kosovo enough (Telegrafi)
• Two suspects related to the attack in North Mitrovica identified (Koha)
• Bislimi meets Minister Hasani, discuss about the Albanians in the Valley (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Announcement of payment transactions termination puts all processes in question (Tanjug)
• Kosovo police said it identified two persons “of interest for investigation” in relation to explosion in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Signing of petition to recall mayor in Mitrovic North commences today at 9.00 (Kosovo Online)
• Signing of petition to recall mayor in Leposavic commences today at 9.00 (Kosovo Online)
• Vucevic: Pristina making survival of Serbs in Kosovo impossible (media)
• Mijacic: By abolishing payment transactions, Pristina would prevent functioning of all Serbian institutions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Euronews)
• Serbian opposition holds new protest in Belgrade (N1)
• KFOR donated food and clothing to families in need (Kosovo Online, social media)

 

Albanian Language Media

 Kurti meets with O'Brien: the USA is a precious friend and ally of Kosovo (media) 

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, met in Davos with the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien. 

"A pleasure to meet in Davos with Assistant Secretary O'Brien. He expressed appreciation for the economic and democratic progress of Kosovo and recognized that we showed restraint in the face of attacks and provocations. The USA is a valued friend and ally. We expect continuous cooperation", Kurti wrote on the "X" platform. 

Osmani expects new recognitions of Kosovo (Reporteri) 

In an exclusive interview with the online newspaper Reporteri.net, the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani said that there are countries that are expected to take steps in this direction soon, without specifying who it is about. 

"Actually, this year has started with a series of good news for Kosovo, from the lifting of the visa regime with the EU to the confirmation by the State Department of Kosovo's request for the purchase of defensive weapon systems. For a lot of work that we do intensively, the results are seen only later. But, in addition to many contacts with non-recognizing states, we have successfully managed to reconfirm almost all the states that were declared for alleged non-recognition, and to build new alliances with the states that are expected to soon take the decision on recognition", said Osmani in the interview for Reporteri.net. 

Cramon: Borrell has not dealt with Kosovo enough (Telegrafi) 

The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, has reprimanded the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, and the emissary in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, for not being stricter in their request that the Ohrid Agreement for the implementation of the French-German proposal to be officially signed, which would avoid ambiguity about what has been accepted and what has not. 

"Now the parties are very selective. I can sign what is good for me', while the other says: 'I will sign everything, but I would like to see Serbia first, namely Belgrade, to do this'. But if everyone started from their own side and their own responsibility, we could move forward much faster. It is in the interest of the people, in the interest of the region and in the interest of the stability of the European continent", said Von Cramon. 

Two suspects related to the attack in North Mitrovica identified (Koha) 

The police have identified two people who are of interest for interview in connection with the hand grenade attack in North Mitrovica, on Monday night. As a result of the explosion, two people were injured, while several cars were damaged. 

The Deputy Director of Police for the North, Veton Elshani, told media that the police officials went to the homes of the two identified persons, but did not find them there. 

"Relevant police units and the prosecutor of the case were at the scene and have dealt with the case. The regional investigation unit of North Mitrovica has continued its work today with increased intensity and has already identified two persons who are persons of interest for interviewing. The same were also searched in their homes, but they were not found. It is believed that this conflict was a consequence of previous problems between these people", Elshani said. 

According to him, the Kosovo Police has reason to believe that there is no ethnic background in this case. 

The Basic Prosecutor's Office in Mitrovica said that the person who injured two others with a hand grenade in the north has not yet been identified. Valon Preteni from the prosecution stated that the suspect threw the explosive device in the direction of the two victims, who suffered bodily injuries. 

Bislimi meets Minister Hasani, discuss about the Albanians in the Valley (media  

"It is a pleasure to meet and deepen our commitment and dedication for the closest possible cooperation". This is what Kosovo’s first deputy prime minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue, Besnik Bislimi, said in the meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Igli Hasani. 

During the conversation, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi highlighted the intergovernmental cooperation, which has recognized full and effective implementation of almost all agreements reached during this government. 

"The already implemented agreements have contributed positively to education, culture, health, infrastructure and fruitful cross-border cooperation, among many others," Bislmi said.  

Minister Hasani joined this finding by emphasizing the intensification of the trade volume between Kosovo and Albania, which has increased by 100 million euros last year alone, the government Information Office announces. 

Further, it was discussed about common challenges, further cooperation, such as European integration, but also in the field of security and coordination for the preservation of the rights of Albanians in the region, and in particular in the Presheva Valley, given the discrimination faced by Albanians.  

"Both agreed that the joint contribution is important, and for the greater volume and weight of our support for the Albanians there. We stand with good will and full energy, to increase cooperation and bring our countries as close as possible to each other". 

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: Announcement of payment transactions termination puts all processes in question (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday in Davos that Pristina's announcement it would terminate payment transactions with central Serbia will put "all processes" in question, Tanjug news agency reports.

“Announcement we are receiving from Pristina to get ready, that they are getting ready to consider termination of the payment transactions with central Serbia, respectively to ban use of dinars, to storm Postanska stedionica (Serbian bank), our post offices in southern Serbian province not only concern us, but also bring in question all processes, both normalization and dialogue, and everything else”, Vucic said. He added that this will be the key topic tonight in the conversation with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, as well as who and why and how they are arming themselves.

Speaking about the explosion in Mitrovica North two nights ago he said it is still being investigated who was behind that explosion and what was the nature of that event. Asked if the explosion was a warning to Serbs in northern Kosovo that they may end up as Oliver Ivanovic, Vucic responded it is a shame for people who were saying such things. “It is a major shame for those people, they are doing it for money, because someone paid them to say so and this way attack their own people and their own state, nothing more”, Vucic said.  

Kosovo police said it identified two persons “of interest for investigation” in relation to explosion in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)

Kosovo police deputy commander for North region, Veton Elshani confirmed to KoSSev that police identified two persons of “interest for investigation”, adding they were looking to interview them, but that police did not find them at their homes. In an explosion that took place two nights ago in Mitrovica North two persons were injured and seven cars damaged.

Elshani did not want to reveal their identity, but said the message was left to their families to report to the police in order to give statements.

KoSSev portal also said the new detail related to the explosion, in which a hand grenade was thrown at three persons as they were leaving the restaurant slightly before midnight, that it is believed to be a consequence of previous problems between these group of people, with narcotics allegedly being the background of it.

Signing of petition to recall mayor in Mitrovic North commences today at 9.00 (Kosovo Online)

Member of initiative group to recall the mayor in Mitrovica North, Sanja Krtinic told Kosovo Online that collection of the signatures will start today at 9.00 at the Sports Hall in this town.

“On behalf of the initiative group to recall the mayor of Mitrovica North municipality, I am using this opportunity to inform citizens that we have finally collected all necessary documents and we are starting the petition. Collection of signatures commences at 9.00 at the Sports Hall in our town”, she said.

She urged all Mitrovica North citizens to support the collection of signatures. “I call upon citizens to give their vote to recall the mayor who did not run this city for the benefit of the people and all citizens. I truly hope we will have a large turnout, that petitions will be signed in a record time, in order to hand it in for consideration”, she added.

Signing of petition to recall mayor in Leposavic commences today at 9.00 (Kosovo Online)

Collection of signatures to recall Leposavic mayor will commence today at 9.00, representative of the initiative group from this municipality, Veselin Radovic said, Kosovo Online portal reports.

“I wish to inform the public and citizens of Leposavic that we will start collecting signatures to recall illegal and illegitimate authorities located in Leposavic municipality. It is high time to put an end to actions that are being carried out against Serbian people”, Radovic said, adding they were authorized to use the space in front of Leposavic municipal building to collect the signatures.

He also said he expects the great turnout of the citizens and urged all residents of the municipality to come and help resolve this situation.

Vucevic: Pristina making survival of Serbs in Kosovo impossible (media)

Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Tuesday Pristina undeniably continued to exert pressure on Serbs and the Serb community in Kosovo and was making it impossible for the Serbs to remain and survive there, Tanjug news agency reports.

Asked to comment on reports Pristina is planning to form three assault infantry regiments in 2025, Vucevic responded - "We will see whether they will form the three regiments. Undeniably, they are moving towards forming an armed force of the so-called Kosovo, and it is true the NATO alliance is not involved in that, but NATO member states are".

Besides pressure on the Serb community in Kosovo, there are attacks on churches and monasteries and seizures of property that belongs to Serbia, he said. Vucevic added that Turkey, the US, Germany and the UK were supplying arms to Kosovo.

Mijacic: By abolishing payment transactions, Pristina would prevent functioning of all Serbian institutions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Euronews)

National Convention for Chapter 35 Working Group Coordinator Dragisa Mijacic said if Pristina would abolish payment transactions with Serbia, it would hinder the functioning of all Serbian institutions in Kosovo.

He told Euronews Serbia that this was one of the major cards held by Pristina administration - to prohibit payment transactions in Kosovo, namely to ban the use of the dinar.

"This would prevent the functioning of all Serbian institutions in Kosovo, primarily health care, education, social institutions, and various other Serbian institutions that still operate in that area", Mijacic said.

Serbian opposition holds new protest in Belgrade (N1)

The Serbian opposition held a new protest on Tuesday evening in Belgrade, on the anniversary of the assassination of the leader of Civic Initiative, Freedom, Democracy and Justice (SDP) Oliver Ivanovic.

The main reason for the protest is the unsolved murder of Ivanovic, who was gunned down on the morning of January 16, 2018, outside his party offices in Mitrovica North. The opposition is also protesting alleged fraud in the Serbian December 17, 2023 early elections.

The protesters assembled outside the Republic Election Commission (RIK) offices in central Belgrade and, following speeches by opposition representatives, they marched to the St. Mark’s Church where they lit candles for Oliver Ivanovic.

KFOR donated food and clothing to families in need (Kosovo Online, social media)

KFOR Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) donated food and clothing to the families in need of all ethnicities across Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“During the last week the MSU Regiment, through its CIMIC Team, made several donations of essential goods, such as food and clothes to needy families of all ethnicities across Kosovo”, KFOR said in a post on Facebook.

The post also added that “#KFOR is fully focused on the daily implementation of its mandate – based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 – to provide a safe and secure environment for all communities living in #Kosovo and freedom of movement”.