UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 10, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti congratulates Self, says he is looking forward to strengthen partnership (media)
Osmani meets with Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Anu Prattipati (media)
EU Election Observation Mission to monitor February 9 elections (media)
ECAP rejects VV’s appeal for certification of Serbian List (media)
Jashari attends meeting of Contact Group for Defense of Ukraine (media)
KFOR welcomes Maqedonci’s assurance not to deploy KSF to north without prior permission (Koha)
Barduani and Dutch Ambassador Discuss Regional Stability (media)
Joint Commission on Missing Persons expected to meet by January 16 (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucevic: We want US to better hear our position on Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Election Complaints and Appeals Panel rejects Self-Determination’s complaint against decision to certify Serbian List (Kosovo Online, media)
Kosovo Privatization Agency says members of new Brezovica Ski Centre Management Board appointed as per commission’s recommendation (KoSSev)
Alarming demographic data: Depopulation of Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)
Bulgarian KFOR soldiers conducted shooting exercise with individual weapons (KoSSev, social media)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti congratulates Self, says he is looking forward to strengthen partnership (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has congratulated Keith Self on his appointment as chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe in the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs in the United States of America. "Congratulations on your appointment as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Your support for democracy and regional security is highly appreciated. Looking forward to strengthening our partnership," Kurti wrote.

Osmani meets with Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Anu Prattipati (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, received the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Kosovo, Anu Prattipati. They discussed the latest developments in Kosovo and expectations for bilateral cooperation between Kosovo and the U.S. during 2025. 'On the eve of the visit of the US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma, the purpose of this visit was discussed, as well as some of the main topics that will be addressed,' the presidency's announcement reads.

"President Osmani emphasized the importance of continuing the strategic partnership between Kosovo and the U.S. in addressing issues of common interest," the announcement states further.

EU Election Observation Mission to monitor February 9 elections (media)

The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Ambassador Aivo Orav, has announced the meeting with the European team that will monitor the February 9 elections. He said that this monitoring expresses the EU’s commitment to democracy. “The core team of the EU Election Observation Mission will monitor the February 9, 2025 elections, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to democracy and the importance of a credible, inclusive and transparent electoral process,” he wrote in X.

ECAP rejects VV’s appeal for certification of Serbian List (media)

The Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel has rejected the appeal of the Vetevendosje Movement for the certification of the Serbian List for the February 9 elections. According to the ECAP decision, VV’s appeal was considered inadmissible, as it did not meet the legal requirements.

“REJECTED as inadmissible the appeal Anr. 16/2025 dated 08.01.2025, filed by the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV), headquartered in Prishtina, filed against the Central Election Commission, CEC, requesting the annulment of CEC Decision No. 01/2328-2024, dated 31.12.2024, and to order the CEC to issue a decision”, the ECAP decision states.

The ECAP argued that according to the Law on General Elections and the ECAP Regulation on the procedure for filing complaints, only Vetevendosje representatives at the CEC could file such a complaint, if they considered that any of their rights had been violated.

Jashari attends meeting of Contact Group for Defense of Ukraine (media)

The Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, attended the meeting of the Contact Group for Defense of Ukraine, which took place on Thursday in Germany. According to the announcement, they discussed the importance of this coalition and addressing Ukraine's demands for 2025 for the war against Russia. The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

KFOR welcomes Maqedonci’s assurance not to deploy KSF to north without prior permission (Koha)

NATO’s mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has said that any deployment of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to northern Kosovo requires prior authorization from the KFOR commander, based on a 2013 agreement between NATO and Kosovo. “According to the NATO-Kosovo agreement, any deployment of the KSF to northern Kosovo requires prior authorization from the KFOR commander. We welcome the continued adherence to this commitment and the recent written assurance, which reflects KFOR’s ongoing dialogue with representatives of security organizations in Kosovo and Kosovo institutions, including Mr. Maqedonci. Transparent communication and timely coordination are key to sustainable security in Kosovo and regional stability," KFOR said in a written response to the news portal.

KFOR declined to disclose the details of what was written in Minister Maqedonci's letter.

Barduani and Dutch Ambassador Discuss Regional Stability (media)

KFOR Mission Commander Enrico Barduani met with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Karin Boven. “They discussed views on various topics, including sustainable security throughout Kosovo, the situation of regional stability and KFOR’s efforts in support of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Major General Barduani also expressed his congratulations to Ambassador Boven for the long-term contributions of the Netherlands to KFOR and regional stability,” a press release issued by KFOR announced.

Joint Commission on Missing Persons expected to meet by January 16 (RTK)

The chairman of the Governmental Commission on Missing Persons, Andin Hoti, said that the first meeting of the joint commission on the missing persons between Kosovo and Serbia is expected to take place in Brussels by January 16 at the latest.

"This joint commission or this mechanism is being established or has been established with documents, the terms of reference since the agreement foresee the first meeting within a month from the date of establishment, which means that we will have the first meeting in Brussels next week," he said.

Hoti added that Kosovo will be represented at this meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, while he announced that the special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, will be the chairman of the Joint Commission.

However, he said that he personally does not expect much from Serbia, but that they will insist that the excavations be returned to Batajnica, Petrovo Selo and Perucas. "It hasn't been excavated enough and there are still suspicions that at least 80-100 bodies of missing Kosovo people are still there, so that's why we are continuously and persistently asking to return to Batajnica," he said.

Serbian Language Media

Vucevic: We want US to better hear our position on Kosovo (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said on Thursday Serbia expected to embark on strategic dialogue with the US and noted it was important that the US hears better the Serbian position on Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reported.

"There are many areas in which we expect to approximate our positions with the US, above all, to obtain that format of strategic dialogue between the two states and, without a doubt, we are talking about the number one world power, and resolution of key regional issues is unimaginable without US involvement. For us, it is very important that the US hears the Serbian position on Kosovo and Metohija better - or more loudly”, Vucevic said. The same is the case when it comes to the region, above all, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, he added.

Vucevic also said he expected dialogue and cooperation in the economy and energy but noted that Serbia would also like to have closer cooperation with the US in the defense sector. "We have been interested in certain acquisitions from the US when it comes to arms and military equipment", he said. As part of the dialogue with the US, Serbia wants to discuss economy, energy, security and cyber security, exchange of intelligence information, control of migration and migratory movements as well as fight against human trafficking and narcotics trade, he noted. "All those areas are of mutual interest in US-Serbia bilateral relations, and I believe this will gain special momentum and intensity with the advent of the new Washington administration", Vucevic concluded.

Election Complaints and Appeals Panel rejects Self-Determination’s complaint against decision to certify Serbian List (Kosovo Online, media)

The Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has dismissed a complaint of the Self-determination Movement against the Central Election Commission (CEC) decision to certify Serbian List for the upcoming parliamentary elections, Kosovo Online portal reported. The ECAP made this decision yesterday, while Self-determination has the right to appeal against it to the Supreme Court within 48 hours.

"The complaint No.16/2025, dated January 8, 2025, filed by the Self-determination Movement, based in Pristina, against the Central Election Commission, is rejected as unacceptable. The complaint sought the annulment of CEC Decision No. 01/2328-2024 dated December 31, 2042, and ordered the CEC to make another decision", ECAP said. Self-determination had filed an appeal to ECAP against the CEC's decision to certify Serbian List for participation in the parliamentary elections, requesting this decision be annulled, alleging it was made in contradiction to the Law on General Elections.

Kosovo Privatization Agency says members of new Brezovica Ski Centre Management Board appointed as per commission’s recommendation (KoSSev)

Seven candidates for the new Brezovica Ski Centre Management Board have been appointed as per recommendation of the Employment Commission, Kosovo Privatization Agency (KAP) said in a response to KoSSev, claiming that those candidates were the most successful in terms of criteria set for the position, among 38 candidates who have applied.

Previously Strpce Municipality condemned and opposed the KAP’s decision to appoint the new board consisting of 4 Albanians and 3 Serbs, expressing doubts the selection of candidates was made under influence of high Kosovo political officials. The Municipality also said the KAP decided to appoint a new board upon the previous one opposed decision to give for lease premises in the territory of Strpce municipality. The municipality, which is populated by a majority Serbian community, also opposed ethnic composition of the new board, claiming selection was made “as per instruction of Kosovo Prime Minister albin Kurti and Minister for Communities and Returns Nenad Rasic”. It also said KAP made selection unlawfully, contrary to the interests of residents and the local self-governance.

Alarming demographic data: Depopulation of Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

For demographers, the "red light" has long been on, an increasing number of elderly, fewer babies, and more young people leaving for better opportunities. According to experts from Tirana to Belgrade interviewed by Kosovo Online, the results of the recent census in Kosovo represent a "trend" that can easily be projected onto other parts of the Western Balkans.