UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 21, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

UN Security Council meets to discuss Kosovo today (Express)
Kurti travels to UK, will participate in Berlin Process Summit (media)
Kosovo CSOs write to EU asking for lifting of remaining EU measures (media)
Svecla and Ulutas discuss security in Kosovo (media)
Jashari hosts Hargreaves, discusses furthering military cooperation (media)
Nearly a year since Iber-Lepenc attack, no indictment filed (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Minister Djuric arrived in New York, to take part at UNSC session (Tanjug, media)
Vucic met Orban in Budapest, discussed energy and joint projects (N1, social media)
Energy Minister: Bulgaria to block Russian gas flow to Serbia (N1)
Three thefts targeting returnees in Osojane village reported (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Radio KIM)
Belgrade marks 81st anniversary of WWII liberation (Tanjug)
Belgrade, Moscow sign MoU for 2026-2029 (Tanjug, N1)
“Serbia at a Turning Point: One Year After Novi Sad”: Discussion on state of democracy, rule of law at EP (N1)

International Media:

Yugoslav general sentenced for Kosovo war crimes dies at 79 (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

UN Security Council meets to discuss Kosovo today (Express)

The United Nations Security Council will meet today for its second regular briefing this year on the situation in Kosovo, the news website reports citing the Security Council Report. Deputy Special Representative and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Milbert Dongjoon Shin is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s latest report on UNMIK (S/2025/634), which was circulated to Council members on 10 October and covers developments from 16 March to 15 September.

Shin is expected to highlight key political and security developments in Kosovo during the period covered by the Secretary-General’s report. He may note that little progress has been made in the implementation of the EU-facilitated agreements, including the February 2023 Agreement on the path to normalisation (also known as the Ohrid Agreement), and that tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have continued to persist.

“On 9 June and 11 September, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Peter Sorensen facilitated two trilateral meetings in Brussels with the respective chief negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic, on the implementation of prior agreements, including the Ohrid Agreement and the May 2023 Declaration on Missing Persons. Neither meeting resulted in a declared outcome. It appears that the 11 September meeting ended without meaningful progress between both parties owing to diverging views over the prioritisation of issues in implementing prior agreements. Additionally, although the sides formally agreed on the establishment of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons in December 2024, its inaugural meeting did not take place as scheduled following the 11 September talks. In this respect, at Tuesday’s meeting, Shin is likely to appeal to Belgrade and Pristina to engage in good faith towards the resumption of normalisation talks and capitalise on the establishment of the commission within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue”.

Kurti travels to UK, will participate in Berlin Process Summit (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has traveled to the United Kingdom, where he will take part in the upcoming Berlin Process Summit. "The caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has traveled to the United Kingdom, where he will participate in the upcoming Berlin Process Summit. During his stay in London, Prime Minister Kurti will also have bilateral meetings, as well as take part in events organized within the framework of the summit," reads the announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kosovo CSOs write to EU asking for lifting of remaining EU measures (media)

Most news websites cover an open letter that 12 Kosovo civil society organizations sent to EU leaders asking for the remaining EU measures against Kosovo to be lifted.

The letter below:

Dear Mr. Costa,

Dear Ms. Von der Leyen,

Dear Ms. Kallas,

Dear Mr. Orav,

We, the undersigned Kosovar civil society organizations, are writing this letter to respectfully call on the European Union to remove the remaining measures against Kosovo.

While we acknowledge that the European Union had its reasons for introducing what were described as temporary and reversible measures, as civil society organizations dedicated to advancing our country’s European integration, we have been deeply concerned by the negative impact that these measures have caused for the legitimate European aspirations of the people of Kosovo.

However, more than two years later, we have witnessed that these measures proved to be neither reversible nor temporary. These measures have challenged, but not broken, the spirit of trust and partnership that binds Kosovo to the European Union and its ideals of principles, fairness, solidarity and hope. Beyond their financial impact, they have discouraged reform efforts, constrained civil society work, and diminished assistance in rule of law, healthcare, and education. This situation continues to hinder Kosovo’s European integration, as it remains the only EU-oriented country in the continent that has yet to receive candidate status.

We firmly believe that the full and complete withdrawal of these measures at this stage is both appropriate and necessary. While tensions have decreased and political participation improved, the situation in the north remains complex and calls for continued engagement and confidence building. The participation of Kosovo Serbs in recent local elections is a positive step toward restoring representation and legitimacy. The violent terrorist attack in Banjska and the indictment of those responsible marked an important moment in confronting the criminal structures in the north. These developments, though fragile, underscore that accountability and dialogue are essential for lasting security and cooperation. Constructive and balanced EU engagement remains vital to sustain this progress and support stability for all communities.

As civil society organizations, we are grateful that in May 2025 the European Union began the gradual withdrawal of the measures against Kosovo, as well as for the decision of the European Economic and Social Committee to include Kosovo in the ECM initiative, creating a new space for the representation of citizens’ voices in European processes. We believe that the circumstances that initially prompted the introduction of the measures have now ceased to exist. In light of the establishment of new institutions at the local level, withdrawing the measures would convey a positive message of cooperation between the EU and Kosovo and would further reinforce the credibility of the Union and its commitment in the region.

Therefore, we would like to respectfully urge the European Union to consider a full withdrawal of the remaining measures. The initial steps to withdraw them have proved successful, and a complete return to normalcy would build on the positive momentum created with the swift organization of local elections. The people of Kosovo continue to face challenges, and the lifting of these measures would offer renewed optimism for our European path. We are confident that your leadership will unite all member states around the common good of the EU and Kosovo.

Svecla and Ulutas discuss security in Kosovo and importance of cooperation (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, met on Monday with the new KFOR Commander in Kosovo, Major General Ozkan Ulutas. Svecla stated that during the meeting, they discussed the overall security situation in Kosovo and the importance of cooperation between local institutions and KFOR. He also expressed to Ulutas his readiness to cooperate for peace and stability. “I extended my sincerest congratulations to Major General Ozkan Ulutas on the beginning of his second mandate as KFOR Commander in Kosovo, emphasizing the full readiness of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for continued and close cooperation in support of peace, stability, and security in the Republic of Kosovo,” Svecla wrote on Facebook.

Jashari hosts Hargreaves, discusses furthering military cooperation (media)

Most news websites report that the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Commander, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, met on Monday with the British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, and thanked him for his contribution to the strategic support for the development of the KSF. “The meeting also discussed the development of the KSF so far, plans for the future, and objectives to advance bilateral military relations between the United Kingdom and Kosovo. Ambassador Hargreaves thanked General Jashari for his professionalism in leading the KSF. General Jashari thanked Ambassador Hargreaves for the continuous support that the United Kingdom gave to the development and advancement of the KSF in all its phases,” the KSF said in a Facebook post.

Nearly a year since Iber-Lepenc attack, no indictment filed (Koha)

Almost a year after the attack on the Iber-Lepenc water canal, the Special Prosecution of Kosovo has yet to file an indictment. Two suspects, brothers Dragisa and Jovan Vicentijevic, remain in pretrial detention since December 2024. The attack, which took place in the village of Varage in Zubin Potok, targeted critical water infrastructure supplying northern Kosovo, Mitrovica, Prishtina, and the Kosovo Energy Corporation. Police raided 10 locations in the north two days after the incident, seizing weapons and military-grade equipment from the suspects' homes.

The Special Prosecution says it is continuing investigative procedures but has declined to share further details to protect the integrity of the investigation. Defense attorney Valdet Hoxha cited the complexity and sensitivity of the case as reasons for the delay in filing charges.

According to the prosecution, the brothers allegedly used explosives to deliberately damage the canal, constituting a terrorist act. The case draws parallels to the Banjska attack, where an indictment was filed a year later against 45 individuals, including Milan Radoicic.

Authorities continue to investigate the Iber-Lepenc incident as part of ongoing efforts to address threats to national infrastructure and security.

Serbian Language Media

Minister Djuric arrived in New York, to take part at UNSC session (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric arrived last night at New York and will take part at a regular United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session on October 21, at which the report of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on work of UNMIK will be discussed. The report covers the period from 16 March to 15 September of this year, Tanjug news agency reported.

The head of the Serbian diplomacy will point out, among other things, the importance of the UNMIK presence in Kosovo for the preservation of peace, stability and security there, as well as the necessity of continuing to fulfill the mandate of the Mission in line with UNSC Resolution 1244, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The session is scheduled to begin at 16.00 CET.

Vucic met Orban in Budapest, discussed energy and joint projects (N1, social media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met last night in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, assessing relations between the two states as extraordinary, adding Belgrade wishes to further deepen them through concrete talks on energy, infrastructure and joint projects, N1 reported.

In a post on his official Instagram account, Vucic who is paying an official visit to Hungary said that he discussed with Orban strategic positioning of Serbia and Hungary as well as joint response to challenges in the region and ensuring long-term stability in energy and economy.

"Serbia's energy security remains one of our priorities. Stability, development and security are the foundations of our work and the way we build a stronger country and a safer future for our citizens", Vucic wrote in a post.

He once again congratulated Orban that Hungary will host one of the most significant meetings between two world leaders in recent history, the meeting between the Presidents of the USA and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Energy Minister: Bulgaria to block Russian gas flow to Serbia (N1)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said Monday that Serbia is facing an extremely difficult, almost hopeless situation after the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a ban on the transit of Russian gas through EU countries to third nations, effective January 1, N1 reported.

The core issue, Djedovic Handanovic explained, is that Bulgaria will not allow Russian gas to flow through the Balkan Stream pipeline, which will adversely impact Serbia.

Thanks to the excellent relationships Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has built with world leaders, we are hopeful we can find a solution and are doing everything in our power, however, given the current challenges surrounding the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), the situation is practically hopeless, the minister said in a written statement. Djedovic Handanovic stressed that Serbia, despite “not being involved in any conflict, has been unfairly and undeservedly impacted”. Regardless, we will do everything we can, as we always have, to ensure our citizens don’t feel the impact of these challenges, she also said.

Three thefts targeting returnees in Osojane village reported (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Radio KIM)

During the night between Sunday and Monday three thefts targeting Serb returnees in the village of Osojane, Istok municipality occurred, Radio Gorazdevac reported. One vehicle, seed supply from the village warehouse and a chainsaw were stolen.

The theft had been confirmed by Kosovo police spokesperson for the Pec region, Fadil Gashi who said the case was reported on Monday morning around 7.05. The owner of the vehicle, who reported the theft, said he parked his vehicle in front of the house the night before around 21.30 and upon waking up in the morning realized his vehicle was stolen. The prosecutor qualified the act as “aggravated theft”. The police are conducting the investigation.

The seed supply that had been donated by the Serbian Government for years to agricultural producers in this village had also been stolen. A chainsaw belonging to another Serb family in the village had been stolen as well, Radio Gorazdevac added.

Belgrade marks 81st anniversary of WWII liberation (Tanjug)

Serbian Government ministers and City of Belgrade officials laid wreaths at the Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade on Monday to mark the 81st anniversary of the capital's liberation in WWII, Tanjug news agency reported.

The ceremony, led by Minister of Labour, Employment and Veteran and Social Affairs Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, was also attended by Minister for International Economic Cooperation Nenad Popovic, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, Belgrade City Assembly President Nikola Nikodijevic and a delegation of the City of Moscow.

Afterwards, the Serbian delegation laid roses at the Eternal Flame memorial as well as wreaths and flowers at the Monument to the Red Army Soldier.

Belgrade, Moscow sign MoU for 2026-2029 (Tanjug, N1)

Belgrade City Assembly President Nikola Nikodijevic and City of Moscow Government Minister Sergei Cheryomin, who also heads Moscow's Department for External Economic and International Relations, signed on Monday in Belgrade a MoU between Belgrade and Moscow for 2026-2029, Tanjug news agency reported.

Nikodijevic said the goal of the agreement was to enable experience-sharing and continued cooperation between the two capitals in transport, education, sports and culture.

He noted that the MoU would serve as a gateway to Russia for many Serbian businesses as well as create opportunities for new Russian investments in Belgrade and Serbia.

“Serbia at a Turning Point: One Year After Novi Sad”: Discussion on state of democracy, rule of law at EP (N1)

On Tuesday, October 21, the European Parliament (EP) will host the presentation of the Commission of Inquiry report on the Novi Sad canopy collapse, N1 reported.

The event, dedicated to the Inquiry Commission’s findings, is being organized by the European Parliament's political groups: Socialists & Democrats, Renew Europe, and The Greens.

In addition to representatives from the Commission of Inquiry, MEPs Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D), Helmut Brandstatter (Renew Europe), and Vladimir Prebilic (The Greens) will speak at the event, titled “Serbia at a Turning Point: One Year After Novi Sad.”

International Media

Yugoslav general sentenced for Kosovo war crimes dies at 79 (BIRN)

Nebojsa Pavkovic, a former Yugoslav Army general who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for war crimes, died in Serbia on Monday aged 79.

Until he was released a month ago on health grounds, Pavkovic was serving his sentence in Finland. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY found him guilty in 2009 of being part of a joint criminal enterprise whose aim was the persecution and forcible removal of Albanians from Kosovo during the war. He was also found guilty of murder.

In 2014, the ICTY appeals chamber upheld the 2009 verdict that convicted Pavkovic and three other high-profile Yugoslav military and civilian officials.

After being released, Pavkovic was brought back to Serbia on a government plane.