Albanian Language Media: 

• Gervalla and McKay talk about increasing Kosovo’s military capacities (RTK)
• KFOR: Authors of attacks against our troops must be held accountable (media)
• LVV on anniversary of riots in Zvecan: Republic cannot be suspended (Koha)
• Konjufca: Chances for dissolution of Assembly have decreased (media)
• Konjufca on Borrell's report on Kosovo: It would be good to write that banks of Serbia were illegal (media)
• German government votes in favor of extending mandate of soldiers in Kosovo (media)
• Germany and Spain argue about recognition of Kosovo (RFE)

Serbian Language Media: 

• One year of Albanian mayors’ mandate: What was done in the four Serbian municipalities in the north of Kosovo? (Euronews)
• Consequences of clashes in Zvecan – deteriorated situation, difficult life with many unpopular decisions (Radio KIM)
• Ulutas: Courage of KFOR soldiers at protests in Zvecan helped stabilize situation (Kosovo Online, media, social media)
• Todic: Great uncertainty in Leposavic, ordinary people suffer the most (Kosovo Online)
• Pantovic: Stricter actions by judicial authorities after last year's events in Zvecan, people are afraid (Kosovo Online)
• Constitutional Court in Pristina without membership in Conference of European Constitutional Courts (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)  
• A Serbian young man attacked in ETC store in Gracanica; the police arrested the suspect (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• Desecrated cemetery and commemoration hall in Donje Korminjane village (KoSSev, Danas)
• Vucic, Beyer discuss EU integration of Serbia, region (Tanjug)

 

Albanian Language Media

 

Osmani to Konjufca: I was against association being excluded from agreement (media)

Kosovo’s Speaker of Parliament Glauk Konjufca and President Vjosa Osmani gave different statements regarding the lack of coordination in sending the letter of Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla to the Council of Europe. Konjufca said that they did not coordinate because the president was in the U.S., and Osmani said that she was against the association being pulled out of the agreement. 

"I would be extremely surprised if someone actually stated something like that because we are in 2024, where phones work very well no matter what time zone we are in and at the same time all our communications so far in these three and a half years of inter-institutional cooperation in the field of foreign policy have been over the phone because someone from the institutions has always been abroad and it can be said that such fundamental information for such a capital process has completely changed the position we have maintained until that day" , the president told Ekonomia Online.

Osmani stated that she was of the opinion that the issue of the Association cannot be taken out of the overall agreement, that there cannot be unilateral implementation of the agreement only from Kosovo but there must be parallel implementation, that the dialogue process cannot be connected with the membership process in the Council of Europe. 

Stano reacts to Konjufca: EU knows its duties, you should know yours too (Express)

Glauk Konjufca, Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, had reacted to the statements of the European Union (EU), that the report of the head of the EU for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, is expected to include the operations of Kosovo for the closure of facilities of the Savings Bank of the Post of Serbia, in the north of Kosovo. He said that it is good for the head of European diplomacy Borrell to stress in the report that these institutions were illegal banks of Serbia in Kosovo.

Asked about this issue, EU Spokesperson Petar Stano has said that he does not comment on the statements of national officials. "Thank you for your interest. We do not comment on the random remarks of various national officials. The EU knows its tasks, focuses on them and does its job. These people should do the same", Stano wrote. 

Police confiscate thousands of dinars and euros in Postal Savings Bank branch in north (Koha) 

The police continued their action in the case of "Serbian Dinar" on Wednesday in the north of Mitrovica, carrying out an inspection of a branch of the so-called "Nardodna Banka" or Postal Savings Bank. The Police notification stated that a safe was checked which, at the time of the check on May 20, could not be opened in the absence of the responsible person who had the keys.

"On 29.05.2024, the police investigators managed to identify the manager of the point, who was contacted and brought the keys to the safe in whose presence it was opened and the following funds were seized: 152,290.00 dinars, 4,580 euros, 940 Swiss francs", the announcement states.

After the inspection, the manager of the point was interviewed as a suspect in the presence of the defense lawyer, while the inspection process was said to have developed without any incident.

EULEX with clarification about its role on operations of Kosovo authorities in north (Koha) 

The European Union Mission for the Rule of Law in Kosovo (EULEX) has clarified its role in the operations carried out by the Kosovo authorities in the north, stating that this mission has not had an executive mandate for six years and that monitoring is its main component. 

"EULEX has a mandate to help institutions in Kosovo strengthen the rule of law, so that they are stable, accountable and able to effectively guarantee the rights of everyone without discrimination. To this end, monitoring is an essential component of EULEX's mandate. In order to effectively exercise our powerful monitoring ability, we must be physically present at the scene of the activities carried out by Kosovo's institutions along the entire chain of justice," the announcement states.

It is further clarified that while performing monitoring activities, it fully respects the independence of judicial authorities and the principle of non-interference. "And if, through these monitoring activities, serious deficiencies are found, the Mission addresses them with the relevant responsible authorities", the statement further reads.

KFOR talks with commander of Serbia about synchronized patrols along border line (Koha) 

The Commander of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, Major General Oezkan Ulutash, met on Wednesday with the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia, Milan Mojsilovic in Kopaonik, Serbia.

The announcement issued by KFOR states that they shared views on the general security situation and its impact on regional stability, as well as on cooperation activities, including synchronized patrols along the border line. "The meeting was part of Major General Ulutash's regular interactions with his top military counterparts," the announcement further states.

Krasniqi on new elections: We did not achieve coordination with political parties (media)

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, stated on Wednesday at a media conference, that "the opportunity to dissolve the Assembly and announce early elections has already been exhausted." Krasniqi said that the PDK's call and proposal for coordination between the largest political parties regarding this process has not found support. 

"I can speculate about the reasons for the declared readiness of the ruling party to go to early elections, but I am really surprised by the unwillingness of the opposition parties to do so, because not going to the elections is effectively extending the mandate of the current government. Let me reiterate that the Democratic Party of Kosovo has been and is always ready for any variant that enables early elections and the removal of this government", said the head of the PDK. 

Krasniqi emphasized PDK also preferred the resignation, but the only real option on the table for new elections was the dissolution of the Assembly. 

"Kosovo is losing valuable time, important processes and valuable friends - as a result of this governing mentality. We are convinced that the end of this government - would mean a new beginning for our state. Unfortunately, our colleagues from the opposition parties were not ready like us. Maybe they need more time, but the time under this government is going to the detriment of the citizens' interest", said the PDK leader.

Osmani meets with U.S. Peace Corps director (media) 

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, received on Wednesday the Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, Carol Spahn.They discussed the alliance between Kosovo and the United States of America. After the meeting, Osmanisaid that the Peace Corps is a shining example of the alliance and partnership between Kosovo and the United States.

"The Peace Corps is truly the best personification of the excellent partnership between the United States of America and Kosovo. Such a relationship is built, maintained and developed precisely as a result of the strong bond between our people. I am deeply grateful for this extraordinary contribution of volunteers in the direction of cultivating and developing various skills in our citizens and children from art, culture, environmental protection and the importance of survival, respect and peace that bring these values ​​that we share... The presence of the Peace Corps volunteers is a shining example of the alliance and the depth of the partnership between Kosovo and the USA", said Osmani. 

Meanwhile, the director of the U.S. Peace Corps, Carol Spahn, said that since 2014, more than 220 Peace Corps volunteers have come to Kosovo to build bridges of understanding and advance peace in Kosovo.Through this corpus, she said that the young people and women of Kosovo have been supported to benefit from the skills for employment.

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Mojsilovic with Ulutas: Provocative Moves by Pristina Threaten Security, KFOR to Protect Serbs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, media)

Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilovic, met today in Kopaonik with KFOR Commander Major General Ozkan Ulutaş, reported Kosovo Online in English.

Emphasizing that the security situation in Kosovo is unstable and sensitive, and that unilateral provocative acts by Pristina pose a threat to security, the Chief of the General Staff once again requested from the KFOR Commander that international forces act professionally and impartially, and promptly prevent any attempt to endanger the Serbian population.

According to the statement from the Serbian Ministry of Defense, Mojsilovic and Ulutaş discussed the security situation in Kosovo, their cooperation to date, and the effects of activities undertaken to monitor the situation on the ground and prevent further deterioration of the security situation.

The conversation expressed mutual commitment to maintaining peace and stability and highlighted the importance of contacts at all levels between the Serbian Armed Forces and international forces in Kosovo for effective preventive action.

General Ulutaş was in Kopaonik at the invitation of the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, and the purpose of such meetings is to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation on the joint task of creating a safe and secure environment.

KFOR stated that Ulutaş and Mojsilovic presented their views on the security situation and its impact on regional stability, as well as on cooperation activities, including synchronized patrols along the administrative boundary line.

The meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces is part of Major General Ulutaş’s regular contacts with his key military colleagues.

KFOR recalls the largest number of injuries of mission’s members in Zvecan one year later (KoSSev)

Exactly one year has passed since the unrest in Zvečan, which saw more than 100 people injured, the majority of whom were KFOR members. Namely, a total of 93 members of KFOR sustained injuries at the time, which is the highest number of injured NATO soldiers in Kosovo since the arrival of this mission, KFOR later announced.

The incidents began on May 26, when special units of the Kosovo Police forcefully installed ethnic Albanian mayors in municipal buildings in three municipalities in the north.

The events took place on the same day when thousands of Kosovo Serbs, primarily employees of institutions of the Republic of Serbia, were on their way to what the President of Serbia described as „the largest rally ever in Belgrade“.

The installation of the Albanian mayors into the offices of the provisional municipal authorities in Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić was followed by protests and resistance from the few Serbs who happened to find themselves at the site.

The crisis escalated with the conflict in Zvečan three days later, on May 29, when, after all-day and mostly peaceful citizens’ protests, in the afternoon hours, a small group of militant demonstrators suddenly separated, as KFOR itself had previously assessed, and started attacking KFOR.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/596zae46

Police seized 152,290 dinars, 4,580 euros and 940 francs in North Mitrovica yesterday (KoSSev) 

Kosovo Police announced last night details regarding the action they conducted yesterday in North Mitrovica at the branch office of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Treasury. 

The Kosovo police stated that they seized 152,290.00 dinars, 4,580 euros and 940 Swiss francs.

As part of the investigation in connection with the "Serbian dinar" case, the branch of the NBS in Knjaz Milos Street in North Mitrovica was inspected today, according to the police, with the claim that they could not open one of the safes on May 20 and that did it today in the presence of the responsible person who had the keys.

Police investigators managed to identify the point manager, who was contacted and brought the keys to the safe, in whose presence it was opened, and the cash was taken.

After the investigation, in the capacity of the suspect, in the presence of the defense attorney, the manager was questioned, while the investigation was carried out without any incidents.

Other professional investigations related to the case are ongoing and all further legal decisions will be made in coordination with the judicial authorities, according to the police.

KoSSev recalls that on May 20, the Kosovo Police closed all branches of the Postal Savings Bank in the north of Kosovo, as well as the NBS Treasury.

Djuric: Serbia to continue to reach out its hand to all partners worldwide (Tanjug, RTS)

Recognising the importance of engaging with major global and European actors, Serbia has adopted the "outreached hand" approach in its foreign policy and will continue to reach out its hand to all partners worldwide, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said at a Serbian Diplomacy Day ceremony at the MFA on Wednesday.

Quoting Winston Churchill, Djuric said the Balkan region was "producing more history than it can take" but that Serbia was determined to break that cycle "by engaging in dialogue with all regional actors to overcome the legacy of the past."

"Rather than encourage conflicts, we represent an ethos of an open Balkans, promoting connectivity and prosperity in the region as opposed to the burdens of the recent past," Djuric said.

He noted that Serbia remained open to regional cooperation, believing that only a stable political climate could produce better economic conditions for people.

"In giving priority to connectivity over divisions, diplomacy is crucial for accomplishing that vision," he said.

Full EU membership is one of Serbia's priorities, he said, adding that the region's future lay in the European family of nations.

"Serbia must assume a proactive, rather than a reactive role in the international arena," Djuric said, noting that Serbia would continue to conduct an independent foreign policy guided by national priorities defined by President Aleksandar Vucic.

Read more at:  https://tinyurl.com/ys5976zr

Djuric met Ambassadors Ferguson and Cochard (KiM radio, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric spoke with British Ambassador Edward Ferguson about cooperation between the two countries and the situation in Kosovo, reported KiM radio.

Djuric pointed out that Serbia, together with the United Kingdom, wants to work on the future, especially through the improvement of cooperation in the field of economy and education.

The head of Serbian diplomacy thanked the UK because it represents the largest donor in Serbia when it comes to the field of e-government, thanks to whose development the work of public administration has been improved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Speaking about the plans of the MFA in the coming period, Djuric said that, although Serbia today still faces certain inherited problems, this will not prevent it from strengthening existing ties and building new partnerships and friendships, not only with EU member states, but around the world.

The head of Serbian diplomacy also informed the ambassador about the current situation in Kosovo, pointing out that the rights of the Serbs in Kosovo are threatened like never before, and that there is no progress in the dialogue since the fall of 2021 due to the unilateral moves of Pristina.

"Serbia will remain constructive and committed to dialogue, because it believes that the preservation of peace and stability are priorities," Djuric emphasized.

Djuric also spoke with the Ambassador of France, Pierre Cochard, and on that occasion, the perspective of further development of bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest was discussed.

"The fact that this year we are celebrating the 185th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is a great reason, according to the minister, to discuss the implementation of future visits by high-ranking officials, which would additionally affirm the existing regular dynamics of political dialogue at all levels," read the Serbian MFA statement among other things.