Albanian Language Media:

• No meeting between Kurti and Vucic in Brussels today (media)
• Serbian Ministry of Defense demands only KFOR guard border of Kosovo (RFE)
• EULEX observed raids in the north, members of KFOR stayed nearby (media)
• NATO: Investigations on Banjska are being carried out by Kosovo Police (Klan)
• MLGA rejects accusations of Serbian List: There is no decision on excavations in Orthodox cemeteries in Mitrovica north (Kallxo)
• Nikolla: Escobar described U.S. as most pro-Kosovo country in the world (Klan)
• Locked for six months, Hetemi demands KFOR leave municipality facility (RTK)
• Tuhina: Thursday will not determine only the fate of the dialogue (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: It won't be easy, but they are knocking on the open door when it comes to Belgrade (RTS)
• Brnabic met Varhelyi: All current topics discussed, also the upcoming report of the European Commission (Blic)
• Vucevic: Serbs in Kosovo have no problem with KFOR presence (N1, FoNet)
• The Raska-Prizren Diocese: Desecration of graves goes on for 24 years with impunity (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Serbian List: Kurti's regime is populist and fraudulently shows false concern for citizens (Tanjug)

International Media:

• Kosovo to Probe Damage to Old Cemetery in Serb-Majority North (Balkan Insight)
• The Situation of Women in Kosovo: A Gloomy Reality in International and Local Reports (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

No meeting between Kurti and Vucic in Brussels today (media)

The spokesperson of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Peter Stano, has said that there will be no meeting between the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, on Thursday in Brussels. At the media conference on Wednesday, Stano said that Kurti and Vucic will be in Brussels on Thursday, but they will have individual meetings with certain EU leaders.

Stano said that the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, will inform the European Council leaders about the situation in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. He said that this is a very important issue for the EU.

"The planned meetings are a continuation of the visit of the emissary Lajcak to Belgrade and Pristina during the weekend, who was accompanied by the foreign and security advisers of the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, as well as the emissary of the USA. So, the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, have been invited to Brussels for a series of individual meetings with certain EU leaders. At this stage I will not go into logistical details, we will make them known later. But the idea is to have meetings on the margins of the European Council in support of the dialogue. As it is the main message of the EU, the message of the 27th with the support of international partners, as was said by Lajcak and his colleagues during the visit at the weekend", said Stano.

He said that the EU expects Kosovo and Serbia to immediately and unconditionally fulfill the obligations arising from the dialogue, to continue the work of de-escalation and also urgently and unconditionally resume and re-engage in the dialogue.

"But tomorrow there will be no high-level dialogue meeting. There will be individual meetings of the president and the prime minister with certain European leaders", Stano said.

In Thursday’s meetings, the new EU plan is expected to be discussed, including the "modern" draft of the Association. The government of Kosovo has said that they have accepted the "new plan" together with the draft for the Association as a basis for further discussions.

Serbian Ministry of Defense demands only KFOR guard border of Kosovo (RFE)

Serbia insists that only members of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, be deployed on the border, on the Kosovo side. This was said after the meeting that the Serbian Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic, held on October 25 with his Turkish counterpart, Jashar Guler. Turkey took command of KFOR in October.

"We strongly encourage direct communication between the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Army and the KFOR commander and we insist that only KFOR members be present along the administrative line from the side of 'Kosovo and Metohija. The joint patrols of the members of the Serbian Army with those of KFOR along the administrative line should also continue," said Vucevic.

Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo, calls the border line with Kosovo an administrative line.

Kosovo's border with Serbia is guarded by the Kosovo Border Police and KFOR members.

Vucevic said that security in Kosovo "was the main topic of conversation" with his Turkish counterpart.

"We are encouraged by the guarantees we received from Mr. Guler regarding the security of the Serbian community," he added.

According to the announcement, Vucevic reiterated Belgrade's position that Serbs in Kosovo "have no problem with the presence of KFOR members and their presence reduces tensions and leads to de-escalation".

During the meeting with the Turkish minister, Vucevic also spoke about the arming of the KSF by Turkey.

"I am satisfied, not with the promises or guarantees, but with the messages we received from Guler regarding the arming of the KSF", Vucevic said.

Meanwhile, Guler said that Turkey supports the peace, stability and participation of the Balkan states in international organizations, but also Serbia's membership in the European Union. He added that Turkey believes that dialogue is the only way to maintain peace and stability in the region.

"Our country, which has taken over the command of KFOR, will continue to give priority to stability, security and order", Guler said.

EULEX observed raids in the north, members of KFOR stayed nearby (media)

The Deputy Director of Police in the north of Mitrovica, Veton Elshani, told KTV that no person has been arrested during the raids carried out on Wednesday in eight locations in the northern municipalities.

"Kosovo police raided eight locations today, in northern Mitrovica and in Zvecan, but we have not had anyone arrested, this is the continuation of Banjska's case and part of its investigation.” He however could not confirm if the raids were related the persons who are under arrest or those who are suspected. 

He said that the investigation was carried out by anti-terror teams and added that the investigators have more information about what was confiscated.

Elshani announced that this action was monitored by EULEX, while members of KFOR were also on alert.

"The role of EULEX in this action has been monitoring, observing, while we also had members of KFOR who stayed nearby in case of the need to intervene as well. We have conducted various raids and operations related to the case of Banjska and we will not stop wherever the investigation takes us. We have identified many people, the work is qualitative, we are trying not to be too vocal about our work", he said.

NATO: Investigations on Banjska are being carried out by Kosovo Police (Klan)

Kosovo’s Speaker of the Assembly Glauk Konjufca has said that in addition to local institutions, international partners are also conducting investigations related to Serbia's aggression in Kosovo on September 24 in Banjska of Zvecan. He said that NATO and EULEX will come out with reports related to the event.

However, the North Atlantic Alliance told Klankosova.tv that the Kosovo Police, as the first respondent for security, is conducting the investigation related to the case.

"I refer you to them for any other comments", said a NATO official in response to Klankosova.tv.

It is not yet known if anyone else, apart from the Police and the State Prosecutor's Office, is involved in the investigations surrounding Banjska.

MLGA rejects accusations of Serbian List: There is no decision on excavations in Orthodox cemeteries in Mitrovica north (Kallxo)

The Ministry of Local Government Administration has called as false the accusations of the Serbian List that the government of Kosovo has ordered excavations in the Orthodox cemeteries in the north of Mitrovica. According to MLGA, there is no decision from the government of Kosovo or from the municipality for any such work. 

"The accusations of the 'Serbian List' entity that the government of the Republic of Kosovo has ordered excavations in the Orthodox cemeteries in the north of Mitrovica are completely untrue and unsustainable. We want to inform the public opinion that there is no decision either from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo or from the municipality for any such work" - says the reaction. It is further stated that the MLGA in relation to the opening of the road and the damage to the Orthodox cemeteries does not hold any liability since the program only finances house construction and not road infrastructure.

"Within the scheme for the construction and renovation of houses for non-majority communities in the Municipality, after the evaluation by the professional commission, it has chosen to finance the construction of the house for the owner R.C. MAPL only subsidizes the construction of the house with an area of 62m2. The beneficiary is obliged to contract the economic operator for the construction of the house and through the subsidy makes the payment directly. Regarding the opening of the road and the damage to the Orthodox cemetery, it bears no responsibility since this program only finances the construction of the house and not the road infrastructure," the reaction says.

Nikolla: Escobar described the U.S. as most pro-Kosovo country in the world (Klan)

The Speaker of the Assembly of Albania, Lindita Nikolla, received in a meeting the special emissary of the United States of America, Gabriel Escobar. Nikola said that the meeting was very impressive. She said that Escobar described the U.S. as the most pro-Kosovo country.

"The United States of America has condemned the terrorist act of September 24 and recognizes Serbia's responsibility for this act. The Ohrid Agreement is a strategic agreement and work must be done to implement it. The USA supports the dialogue facilitated by the European Union, is working for its recognition by the five EU states that have not recognized it, and is building a global recognition campaign for Kosovo. The Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is the only way to peace and security in the region", Nikolla wrote.

Locked for six months, Hetemi demands KFOR leave municipality facility (RTK)

For six months, the mayor of Leposaviq, Lulzim Hetemi, has been living inside the municipality building. He says that he will continue to remain there until he is not asked to leave by the state of Kosovo, namely the government and Prime Minister Kurti.

In an interview for RTK, Hetemi asked that KFOR leave the municipality facility because he considers that the situation is calm. Hetemi said that when he entered the municipality premises in May, apart from the chaos, he did not find any administration workers. But now he says things have changed. There are 13 directorates, 7 are headed by Serbs and 6 by Albanians.

"These are new employees of the administration, they are Serbs from Leposaviq", Hetemi said. He confirmed that apart from the government and Prime Minister Kurti, everyone has asked him to resign.

"Respect for America and respect for our international friends," he said.

Asked if he is ready to resign, he stated: "Resignation... what for?".

Hetemi said that he is ready to immediately leave the office, with the condition that a mayor who recognizes and respects the state of Kosovo comes to this position.

And until this happens, Hetemi will continue to stay within the municipality of Leposaviq.

Tuhina: Thursday will not determine only the fate of the dialogue (RTK)

Brussels based correspondent of RTK Gjeraqina Tuhina in a direct connection on "Central News" in RTK, stated that Thursday will determine not only the fate of the dialogue, but also the fate of the reports of one state or the other with these key European states.

"Let's not forget that it is the first time that the main leaders in the European Union, the German chancellor, the French president and the Italian prime minister will host the prime minister of Kosovo on one side, as well as the president of Serbia on the other ", she said.

Tuhina said that this time the expectations are simple. Yes or no for the plan which was submitted on October 21, both in Pristina and Belgrade.

"Let's not forget that we are talking about leaders whose emissaries were part of the European five that visited Pristina and Belgrade last Saturday and that presented the new plan, which also includes, as they say, a modern European proposal for the establishment of the Association of Municipalities with a Serb Majority in Kosovo", she said.

These two meetings will be short because the leaders are also dealing with other serious issues, including the two-day summit that starts at 15:00, so according to Tuhina, they are only waiting for clear statements from both Kosovo and Serbia.

"How committed are they, will they accept the plan as such, including the proposal for the Association, while Serbia will insist on confirming that the entire agreement will be implemented on the road to the normalization of relations, because we recall that because of Serbia this agreement has not been signed, and Serbia has demonstrated in several cases that it will not implement each of these points", she said.

According to the RTK correspondent, in this context there will be this kind of pressure on Belgrade to demonstrate its commitment to further implementation, while from Prishtina, commitment and confirmation that this plan will be accepted will be required, including the point that refers to the Association.

Tuhina said that although the details of this plan are not known, the diplomats there, as far as the plan for the Association is concerned and which is called modern and European, is said to be the best offer that Kosovo can ever have.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: It won't be easy, but they are knocking on the open door when it comes to Belgrade (RTS)

Before leaving for Brussels, President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, recalled for RTS last night that the 'big five' was in Belgrade, and that they are ''knocking on the open door when it comes to Belgrade''. 

As for the elections for new mayors in northern Kosovo, Vucic said last night in the RTS evening news that even if the Serbs started a petition, Pristina would find countless reasons to reject the proposal.

He said that ''not easy days are ahead of us'' but that "we will succeed in preserving Serbia and defending its interests in political, economic and every other sense".

On Thursday in Brussels, the President of Serbia will have meetings with Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Miroslav Lajcak and the big European three: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

-I already know what to expect. The five made their proposal for the CSM (ZSO), we gave our suggestions. I hope that it will take place in a good atmosphere, an atmosphere of compromise and survival of our people in Kosovo and Metohija. It won't be easy because there are neither nice things nor nice meetings. My job is to do everything we can to defend the rights of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the whole of Serbia. He also said that he cannot speak about details of the proposal. 

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo and the negotiations in Brussels, Vucic said that the situation has become drastically more difficult after Banjska.

He said that it was welcomed as ''a gift from heaven by both Albanians and the international factor, as well as some in the country''.

He pointed out, however, that - even if Banjska had not existed, a way would have been sought to get Serbia to agree to de facto or de jure recognize Kosovo.

Before leaving for talks in Brussels, Vucic said that a message was sent from Pristina that ZSO was not a topic at all.

"I don't know what the topic will be then," he said and pointed out that it is clear to everyone, who does not want dialogue.

However, he added that Banjska and everything else will be used to ''blame Serbia for something''. 

"But I don't think that European leaders can be blind and deaf that Kurti hides the fact that he will never form the CSM (ZSO)," said Vucic, reported RTS. 

Vucic emphasized that the elections will be held on December 17 and that they will be announced next week.

- Before that, the President of the National Assembly will announce local elections in 60 or so municipalities. After that, provincial elections are announced. The date remains December 17. I see that everyone is at a low start, discussions among politicians have started - the president pointed out.

Brnabic met Varhelyi: All current topics discussed, also the upcoming report of the European Commission (Blic)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said yesterday that in Brussels that she had good meetings with European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ilva Johansson, stressing that the fight for Serbia and its interests continues after the United Nations Security Council session, reported Blic.

- I hope that we will soon be able to sign an agreement with the European Commission on the placement of Frontex on our border with North Macedonia, to further secure it and reduce the flow of both legal and illegal migration through the Republic of Serbia, which is extremely important for our people. This is the format that President Aleksandar Vucic initiated as a trilateral format with Hungary and Austria to protect this part of Europe, but also our people from migrations through Serbia - Brnabic told reporters in Brussels.

She stated that Commissioner Johansson praised Serbia for everything that has been done in relation to visa policy, and that she understands Serbia's policy in relation to visa harmonization.

- We, as a responsible partner, monitor monthly the number of entries and exits of citizens of those countries who do not need a visa for Serbia, but do need one to enter the European Union - Brnabic said. 

She said that there are no major problems in that regard and that, for the most part, "as many people enter Serbia, that many leave."

- We will try to defend our visa policy until we become a member of the European Union. We have the right to grant a visa-free regime to certain countries, but, as a responsible partner of the EU, on the other hand, we must ensure that these people do not use our visa-free regime to go further into the EU. That doesn't happen. Since last year, there has been a seven percent decrease in entry from Serbia to the EU. We have the situation completely under control - said Brnabic.

She stated that she discussed all current topics with Commissioner Varhelyi - Kosovo, media laws, the rule of law, but also the upcoming European Commission report on Serbia's progress.

The PM expects positive progress in the Commission's report because, as she says, a lot has been done, especially in the area of the rule of law.

- What will be the report of the European Commission depends on many factors - said Brnabic.

Speaking about the upcoming meetings of President Vucic in Brussels, the Prime Minister pointed out that these meetings will not be easy, but that she believes that it is ''clear to the majority in Brussels that Belgrade is not behind the incidents that took place on September 24 in Banjska'', and that it was not in the interest of Serbia.

''We will continue to insist on the formation of the CSM in accordance with the Brussels Agreement, on the safety of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, but also for other non-Albanians, such as the Roma,'' said Brnabic.

Brnabic also said that she had an excellent meeting with the European Parliament's rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, in Brussels, and that they discussed the current situation in the Western Balkans and the importance of regional cooperation and the preservation of peace and stability.

Vucevic: Serbs in Kosovo have no problem with KFOR presence (N1, FoNet)

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic described as encouraging the assurances he received from his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler regarding the safety of the Serb community in Kosovo and Metohija, since the new KFOR commander is a Turkish general. 

Following his meeting with Guler at the Old General Staff building in Belgrade, Vucevic said that the Turkish Minister’s visit “came at the right moment, considering the current situation in the Western Balkans,” said the Serbian Defense Ministry in a press release.

He described the meetings with the Turkish delegation as “well-conceived when it comes to the cooperation between Turkey and Serbia.”

In addition to the topics that are of essence for bilateral military cooperation between the two countries, the problem of security in Kosovo and Metohija was also discussed, and, above all, something lodged in the political consciousness in Serbia – Turkey has great importance and political, economic, security and cultural influence on the Western Balkans region, Vucevic pointed out.

The Serbian Minister said he and his Turkish counterpart discussed sensitive topics and cooperation with KFOR.

“We strongly encourage direct communication between the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff and the KFOR Commander, and we insist that only KFOR members be present on the Kosovo-Metohija side of the administrative boundary line, and that members of the Serbian Armed Forces and KFOR continue carrying out joint patrols along the administrative boundary line,” said Vucevic.

He said he reiterated to the Turkish Minister that “Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija do not have a problem with the presence of KFOR troops” and that the presence of KFOR “eases tensions and leads to de-escalation.”

“For me, the most important message from today’s meetings is that both Turkey and Serbia have the same goal, which is to preserve peace and stability in the Balkans and that all open issues should be resolved exclusively through political dialogue,” said Vucevic following his meeting with Guler.

“We support peace, stability, territorial integrity and the participation of the Balkan countries in international organizations and Serbia’s accession to the European Union,” the Defense Ministry quoted the Turkish Minister as saying.

“Our country, which has taken over the command of KFOR, will continue to give priority to stability, security and public order in an impartial manner,” said Minister Guler.

The Raska-Prizren Diocese: Desecration of graves goes on for 24 years with impunity (Tanjug, KiM radio)

The Raska-Prizren Diocese announced yesterday that it received the news, with profound dismay, of yet another desecration of an Orthodox cemetary in Kosovo. 

The news concerns “the old cemetery in Kosovska Mitrovica, a predominantly Serbian municipality which has been under the Kosovo Albanian administration since May this year. This time, not only this happened in an urban area, but a construction company and the individual who hired them showed no fear of repercussions as they conducted work over the cemetery, heedlessly unearthing human bones with their machinery. We recall that the unpunished desecration of Orthodox Christian graves in Kosovo has been ongoing intensively for the past 24 years’’ it was announced by the Raska-Prizren Diocese, reported Tanjug. 

Read full announcement at:https://tinyurl.com/4f3fut2u

Serbian List: Kurti's regime is populist and fraudulently shows false concern for citizens (Tanjug)

Serbian List announced yesterday and said that ''the regime of the Prime Minister in Pristina wants to show a false concern for the health of citizens in front of international representatives'', reported Tanjug. 

As stated, at a time when Serbian health institutions are facing the danger of a humanitarian disaster in Serbian areas in Kosovo due to institutional blockade and repression due to lack of medicines and medical supplies, Kurti's regime decided to organize "some kind of promotional activities" in the northern part of Mitrovica in order to divert public attention from the repression they are carrying out.

It is emphasized in the announcement that every day Serbian healthcare workers fight for their patients in impossible conditions and cry out to enable the delivery of medicines to healthcare institutions and protect the right of the Serbian people to healthcare and treatment, reported Tanjug.

International Media

Kosovo to Probe Damage to Old Cemetery in Serb-Majority North (Balkan Insight)

Police are investigating claims that an old cemetery has been badly damaged in Serb-majority North Mitrovica during road construction.

Kosovo Police has opened a criminal violation case regarding damage done to the old town cemetery in North Mitrovica, in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo, during excavations for the construction of a road leading to the multi-ethnic neighbourhood of Mikronaselje. Construction was halted by the municipality after complaints by locals.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3y5awz2r

The Situation of Women in Kosovo: A Gloomy Reality in International and Local Reports (Prishtina Insight)

Recent data published in a report by the Democracy for Development Institute and the Oslo Institute for Peace Research shed light on the issues of online violence against women and the distressing condition of women in Kosovo.

The “Democracy for Development” Institute, D4D, released data on Tuesday from their monitoring of misinformation in online and social media during the months of July and August. Over this two-month period, the institute scrutinized online media and social networks in Kosovo, analyzing 1,500 articles containing misinformation in both Albanian and Serbian languages.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/mu6fv5s2