UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo deserves equal treatment in dialogue and on path to EU (media)
Sorensen: Goal to move dialogue forward; compromises up to parties (Telegrafi)
Sources: Bedri Hamza and Lumir Abdixhiku met on Sunday (media)
Kosovo leaders send condolences on passing of Thaci’s father (media)
IPI condemns Kurteshi’s comments against the media (media)
Serbia cancels decision for subsidies for farmers in Presevo Valley (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

21 years since March pogrom (KoSSev, media)
Sljuka: Serbs slowly leaving Kosovo under pressure, international actors doing nothing to prevent it (Kosovo Online)
Serbian MFA: March pogrom was an attack on identity, heritage and right of people to exist on their land (Kosovo Online, Danas)
Expert team of Raška-Prizren Diocese visited endangered Hermitage of St. Peter of Koriša (media, social media)
Vucic: ‘Copy of Maidan’ will not work, Serbia will win (Tanjug)
Students in blockade continue their actions, ask Prosecutor's Office "who do you serve" (KoSSev)
Go-Change launches petition for UN investigation into use of sonic cannon (N1, Beta)
Two Albanians accused of alleged espionage for BIA pleaded not guilty (KoSSev)
Protests announced against electricity price increase (KoSSev, RTK)

Opinion:

Trump Jr. distorted history in order to amnesty Serbia (Albanian Post)
Vucic is losing support in Serbia, but he has big international support (Koha)

International Media:

Kosovo's election committee details results of legislative election as Kurti toils to form Cabinet (AP)
Kallxo journalist Kelmendi wins second place for mobile journalism (PI)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Kosovo deserves equal treatment in dialogue and on path to EU (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said today that Kosovo deserves equal treatment in the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia and also on its path toward the European Union. After meeting EU Special Representative for the dialogue, Peter Sorensen, Osmani said in a Facebook post that they discussed the EU-facilitated dialogue, security in the region and Kosovo’s European integration. “Kosovo has proved itself as the constructive party in the dialogue, engaged for peace, democracy and the rule of law, therefore, keeping the EU unfair measures against our country in force is damaging not only our citizens but also the necessary balance in the dialogue,” Osmani argued.

A press release issued by Osmani’s office after the meeting notes:

“President Osmani emphasized the importance of political stability following the parliamentary elections of February 9th, 2025 and the need to constitute institutions as soon as possible, in order to continue with key reforms required for the country’s European integration.

Regarding the dialogue with Serbia, President Osmani confirmed Kosovo’s commitment to the process facilitated by the EU, emphasizing the importance of a full and balanced implementation of the agreements reached.

At the meeting with Mr. Sorensen, President Osmani presented her observations on the Draft Association Statute proposed by the EU, observations that should be treated seriously in order to prevent jeopardizing the functionality of the state of Kosovo.

Regarding integration into international organizations, President Osmani reiterated the importance of Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe as well as other international organizations, while re-emphasizing Serbia’s continued violations of the agreements reached in Brussels, including the violation of Article 4 of the February 2023 agreement.

According to President Osmani, Kosovo is committed to the necessary reforms and emphasized that, in the context of new geopolitical dynamics, Kosovo should be granted candidate status and the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans should be accelerated, based on the principle of meritocracy.

She also reiterated the need to lift the unjust measures imposed by the EU in June 2023, highlighting their negative impact on the lives of Kosovo citizens, without distinction, as well as damaging the dialogue process itself by making it unbalanced.

Kosovo has already proven itself as a constructive party in the dialogue, committed to peace, democracy and the rule of law, hence maintaining the EU’s unjust measures against our country is harming not only our citizens, but also the necessary balance in the dialogue, stressed Madam President.

During the meeting, NATO’s role in maintaining peace and security in Kosovo, alongside Kosovo institutions, was also discussed, as was the role of EULEX in the context of cooperation with international partners in the field of security and the rule of law”.

Sorensen: Goal to move dialogue forward; compromises up to parties (Telegrafi)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen, said during his visit to Pristina today that his goal is to push forward the process of the EU-facilitated dialogue. After meeting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Sorensen told the media that it was a good start. “It was an introductory meeting, and we talked about how the process can continue and how we can move forward, and as such it was a good start. Our goal is for the process to continue and to move forward,” he said.

Sorensen said that after Kosovo he will travel to Belgrade. Asked by reporters if there can be compromises in the process, he said that it is up to the parties. “The dialogue is to agree and the compromises will be determined by the parties. This is the dialogue that we have had since 2011,” he argued.

Asked about the closure of Serbian-run institutions in Kosovo, Sorensen said work needs to be done to provide good services to the people. “We need to work to make sure that people get the best possible services, and this is what we will try to do,” he added.

Sources: Bedri Hamza and Lumir Abdixhiku met on Sunday (Nacionale)

Citing well-informed sources, Nacionale reports today that PDK candidate for Prime Minister, Bedri Hamza, and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, met on Sunday evening in what has been described as a constructive meeting. It is not known if any agreement was reached, but Hamza has invited Abdixhiku several times now to discuss the modalities of an eventual government formed by opposition parties, if the Kurti-led Vetevendosje Movement, as the winner of the February parliamentary elections, fails to secure a majority in parliament and form a government.

Gazeta Express quotes unnamed sources as saying that Hamza and Abdixhiku met on Sunday. The news website also notes that the PDK, LDK and the Haradinaj-led Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) have ruled out a possible coalition government with Kurti’s Vetevendosje Movement.

Kosovo leaders send condolences on passing of Thaci’s father (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca have expressed their condolences today on the passing of the father of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a condolence letter that Haxhi Thaci “will always be remembered for his wisdom, respect for others and the love for the country”. Hashim Thaci, who is standing trial at the Specialist Chambers in the Hague, was granted permission to visit his ailing father in Pristina last Thursday.

IPI condemns Kurteshi’s comments against the media (media)

The International Press Institute (IPI) said in a Facebook post that it joins “the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and the Network of Women Journalists of Kosovo in condemning the unacceptable comments against media by Samir Kurteshi, an official in ruling Vetëvendosje Movement, who referred to journalists as "media dogs" and "criminal media of hired killers." We welcome the opening of a police investigation & call on PM Albin Kurti and his ruling party to publicly condemn and distance themselves from Kurteshi’s dangerous rhetoric. Kurteshi should be requested by his party to issue a public apology for the comments and refrain from making any similar dangerous comments in the future”.

Serbia cancels decision for subsidies for farmers in Presevo Valley (Koha)

Leader of the Albanian National Council in Serbia, Enkel Rexhepi, said in a Facebook post today that the Serbian Ministry for Human Rights and Dialogue, cancelled the decision of the National Council for subsidies by the Kosovo government for farmers in Presevo Valley. He said this is another action of continuous discrimination against Albanians. “The municipalities of Presevo and Bujanoc continue to be some of the poorest in Serbia, while the government is not only failing to do anything to improve the situation, but it is also blocking the processes that we are trying to undertake together with the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and in support of development in the Valley,” he said.

Rexhepi said they have appealed the decision at the Administrative Court and expect a fair decision. “If there is any justice in Serbia, the decision must be withdrawn and our farmers must benefit from these amounts,” he said.

Serbian Language Media

21 years since March pogrom (KoSSev, media)

Today marks exactly 21 years since March 17, 2004 – the largest ethnic violence occurring in Kosovo following the arrival of international military and civilian forces, KoSSev portal reports.

Serbian List representatives laid the wreaths to pay the tribute to Mitrovica North residents, Jana Tucev and Borivoje Spasojevic killed in this violence. They laid the wreaths at the White Angel Monument located near the main Ibar River bridge.

The anniversary of March 2004 violence will also be commemorated in Gracanica. In a two-day program titled Pogrom-Rewarded Crime witnesses of the pogrom, artists, students, professors, representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church and institutional representatives will take part.

A memorial ceremony will be held today at 11.00 at Gracanica Monastery, white roses will be laid half an hour later at the Missing and the Monument to the Victims of the Pogrom in the House of Culture yard in Gracanica.

A Commemorative Academy will start at 12.00. The next day, starting at 19.00 an exhibition of paintings made at artist colony Fall in Prizren in 2024 and promotion of a thematic collection of national importance March 2004 Pogrom – Causes, Destruction and Consequences will take place in Gracanica.

Memorial service to those who perished in the March pogrom will be served by Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije, starting at 12.00 today in the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Belgrade.

Petkovic: Pogrom was planned carefully and long

On the eve of March 17 anniversary Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic said this was the first pogrom in Europe in XXI century.

"In addition to the fact that this tragic event evokes empathy and solidarity in every honorable person, it evokes determination and resoluteness in the Serbian people and the state of Serbia not to allow such bestiality against the Serbs to ever happen again", he said. Petkovic also dismissed the "false thesis about a spontaneous revolt, which was caused by the drowning of Albanian boys", adding that "there is not the slightest doubt that the pogrom was long and skillfully planned and organized by the Albanian political, criminal and para-security structures, with the aim of ethnically cleansing the remaining Serbs from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, and this intention was, unfortunately, successfully implemented in many parts of our southern province", he said. He also accused Pristina of "continuing with ethnic cleansing", but that it has only changed its methods referring to closure of institutions and leaving Serbs without salaries, pensions and social allowances as well as other Pristina’s acts detrimental to the Serbian population.

Drowning of Albanian children

On March 16, in the afternoon three Albanian boys from the village of Cabra, Zubin Potok municipality drowned in the Ibar River. Immediately after the incident, Albanian media reported about it as ethnically motivated crime, saying that “Albanian boys jumped to the river as they were chased by Serbs with a dog”.

Media referred to the statements of the fourth, surviving boy and the only witness to the accident, however it turned out the boy was speaking that Serbs swear at them from a nearby house, which scared him and his friends, but not that Serbs chased them down.

Later, following the investigation into this incident, an international prosecutor concluded that offered evidence does not support the existence of a reasonable doubt that a criminal act has been committed. This has been confirmed form several relevant addresses, both domestic and international, however up to date de facto interpretation of Serbs being responsible for the death of Albanian boys in Cabra still persists among part of the Albanian community, same as the narrative of the March 17 violence.

Role of media

A particular question of the role of Kosovo Albanian media and their reporting opened in relation to the March 17, 2004 violence in Kosovo. The OSCE in Vienna has published a report in which it criticized “obvious spin”, “irresponsible and sensational” reporting of the electronic media in Albanian ahead and during the violence.

The OSCE report is available at: https://www.osce.org/fom/30265

The Human Rights Watch in its report Failure to Protect published following the March 17 violence, criticized reporting of the Albanian media about drowning of Albanian boys and their role in the violence, as well as responses of international organizations present in Kosovo.

Human Rights Watch report is available at: https://shorturl.at/tCmFS

Consequences

Around 800 houses, more than 35 Serbian Orthodox churches, monasteries and cemeteries were burned down or damaged. More than 4000 Serbs south of the Ibar River were expelled in the violence which erupted on March 17 and continued the day after. Around 51.000 participants in demonstrations in at least 33 individual incidents that occurred during 48-hours attacked Serbs across Kosovo.

According to preliminary information, 8 Serbs and 11 Albanians were killed – the latter died in clashes with US and French KFOR trying to prevent the violence. Later, the Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC) assessed there were 23 victims in total, including an Albanian from Pristina who remained unidentified up to today.

The Humanitarian Law Centre said that 170 Serbs were seriously injured during the violence, out of this number 150 were beaten up at their homes, and 20 were attacked outside. 800 Serbian houses, 90 houses belong to the Ashkali community, and two Albanian houses were either completely destroyed or severely damaged, while 36 Serbian Orthodox Church shrines were demolished and burned down.

72 UN vehicles were destroyed in the violence. In the UN SC Report from April 2004, it was said that 954 persons were injured in March violence, including 65 international police officers, 61 KFOR members and 58 members of the then Kosovo Police Service.

Those whose lives were not saved

Citing Humanitarian Law Centre report, KoSSev portal further reported that following persons lost their lives in the violence: Macedonian woman Jana Tucev who lived in Mitrovica North and nine Serbs – Dragan Nedeljkovic, Slobodan Peric, Dusanka Petrovic, Borivoje Spasojevic, Borko Stolic, Dobrivoje Stolic, Slobodan Tanjic, Zlatibor Trajkovic and Nenad Vasic.

Jana Tucev was killed by a sniper in her apartment in Mitrovica North, while Dusanka Petkovic from Urosevac, a cardiac patient, died at KFOR base, one day after being expelled from her home.

Four Serbs were killed by Albanians with firearms, two were burned down in their homes, one perished with no details about his death, and one Serb went missing during evacuation.

As HLC said in the report the “behavior of Albanian political leaders did not contribute to ending the violence. Even when there were calls to end the violence, those calls appear insincere and forced”.

The HLC report is available at: https://shorturl.at/zjLyD

Sljuka: Serbs slowly leaving Kosovo under pressure, international actors doing nothing to prevent it (Kosovo Online)

''If you look at everything that has happened to Serbs in Kosovo in recent years, from economic pressure to the pressure of the security apparatus, it can be said that a silent pogrom or a silent exodus is happening,'' Aleksandar Sljuka, associate of the non-governmental organization New Social Initiative (NSI), told Kosovo Online.

"Under the pressure of all these factors, people are leaving, primarily from the north of Kosovo, and this is one trend that is, what is most problematic, irreversible, that is, people who leave to the greatest extent do not return. Even if some conditions change, it is very difficult to expect that number of people to return," indicated Sljuka.

Referring to almost daily provocations, even physical violence, to the desecration of Serbian churches, Sljuka said that when there were condemnations by the international community, those were only in the form of announcements, without concrete reactions on the ground that would prevent further escalation and further unilateral moves by the government in Pristina.

The Serbian people are disappointed in the international community in that sense, he said.

"The Serbian people also criticized the international community, because it was the guarantor that all rights would be respected when Kosovo western partners supported independence in 2008. The Serbs saw that this was not happening," he said.

As Sljuka indicated, if the majority of international actors suits the situation to remain as it is, that stability is not undermined and that the story of multi-ethnic Kosovo is not undermined, which they wanted to promote and believe, they will not interfere too much, condemn, or react.

"This is precisely why the silent exodus is happening. There is no widespread violence as it was before, but people are slowly leaving and thus the story of a multi-ethnic Kosovo is being extinguished. Consciously or not, international actors are not doing anything to prevent it," Sljuka told Kosovo Online.

He hopes, however, that the March violence of 21 years ago will not be repeated and points out that it was one of the most tragic events for the Serbian community in Kosovo after the war if the period immediately after the conflict in 1999 is excluded.

He also states that in 2004 the circumstances were different because there was greater frustration among the Kosovo Albanians in terms of the unresolved status of Kosovo, because it was not known whether Kosovo would return under the authority of Serbia or whether it would gain independence.

"They used the support, above all, of the USA to exert pressure and to say: 'here, we are dissatisfied, we will do everything to show our dissatisfaction and for you to support us in terms of supporting the independence of Kosovo'. That moment has now changed. We see that the USA has also changed its approach on the world stage and now it is no longer realistic to expect support for such violence. It would be perceived totally differently in the international community, and therefore I do not believe that it would happen again. Also, although many think that the March violence was organized by some institutional structures, it was primarily attacks by individuals, and now more institutional violence is carried out, systemic repression through the Kosovo apparatus, the approach has changed, and that's why I think it is unrealistic to expect such a scenario again," said Sljuka.

Serbian MFA: March pogrom was an attack on identity, heritage and right of people to exist on their land (Kosovo Online, Danas)

On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the March pogrom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia announced that it was an attack on the identity, heritage and right of the entire people to exist on their land, and that those responsible for it were not punished, reported Kosovo Online.

In the statement of the Ministry of Justice, on the X, it is pointed out that what started with false accusations quickly escalated into a wave of orchestrated attacks aimed at erasing the Serbian presence in Kosovo.

Read the MFA of Serbia post at: https://tinyurl.com/3y2ydmkh

Expert team of Raška-Prizren Diocese visited endangered Hermitage of St. Peter of Koriša (media, social media)

With the blessing of Metropolitan Teodosije of Raška-Prizren, an expert team led by archaeologist Svetlana Hadžić, who is responsible for the preservation of spiritual and cultural-historical heritage within our Diocese, visited the Hermitage of St. Peter of Koriša near Prizren on March 14, the Diocese said in a statement.

“As the Diocese has already publicly stated, illegal construction activities have been carried out within this Special Protective Zone, organized by the Prizren Municipal Directorate for Economic Development and Tourism, with the engagement of the company Eurovia. The excavation of a road and the construction of a path leading directly to the hermitage have severely compromised the foundations and the surrounding terrain of this sacred site. These works were conducted without the consent of the Serbian Orthodox Church or the Implementation Monitoring Council for Special Protective Zones, as mandated by law, and evidently without any professional oversight”, the statement added.

“Structural damage to the hermitage is already apparent, along with destabilization of the terrain, while the surrounding natural environment has been recklessly devastated, with scattered stone slabs and construction debris visible throughout the site”, it was also said.

Read the full statement at: https://shorturl.at/NrCqF

Vucic: ‘Copy of Maidan’ will not work, Serbia will win (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday a "copy of Maidan" would not work in Serbia and that Serbia would be preserved and defended, Tanjug news agency reported.

In a video posted on Instagram, Vucic said he was proud that all lies and untruths told by those who had wanted to destroy Serbia had been refuted. "I am very proud of how the Serbian state has preserved stability and peace in Serbia despite numerous attempts of destabilization and attempts to erode peace", Vucic said.

He dismissed as untrue allegations the authorities had used a sound cannon during Saturday's protest in Belgrade. "They found that sound cannon and showed it as being in the hands of soldiers, Kobre (Cobras) troops, except that it is not a sound cannon, but an anti-drone rifle, an ordinary anti-drone rifle, because the army and Kobre do not have a sound cannon at all. There is no sound cannon in the Serbian Armed Forces", Vucic noted.

"You have made up another vicious lie, thinking that you can destroy Serbia that way. An investigation will be fully completed within 48 hours, and all those responsible for such brutal fabrications and lies will be held accountable and brought to justice. There have been too many jokes and games about destroying Serbia. We will be protecting Serbia and succeed in defending it. Serbia will win", he said.

Students in blockade continue their actions, ask Prosecutor's Office "who do you serve" (KoSSev)

Students continue their actions after the largest protest in Serbia, which took place on March 15 in Belgrade. Even today, 15 minutes of silence was observed throughout Serbia in memory of the 15 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. And while the authorities say that the demands have been met, the students deny and repeat - "it's over when we say so". The topic that still occupies the public's attention the second day after the protest is the alleged use of a sound cannon at the protest. Students demand an investigation by the prosecutor's office and ask, "who do you serve". Hundreds of thousands of citizens sign a petition for an investigation by the UN, while the government categorically denies these allegations. Since yesterday, there have been no "students 2.0" in Pionirski Park, although their key request - to return to classes - has not been fulfilled.

Pioneer Park empty, but still closed to citizens

Although on the eve of the big protest in Belgrade they refused the "request" of the President of Serbia to withdraw from Pionirski Park on March 15, "students who want to learn", as well as their "colleagues" in their later years, left this park only a day after the protest, i.e., yesterday.

Empty tents and a large amount of garbage remained in the park, which are now being cleaned by city cleaning workers.

This park, however, as reported by media in Belgrade, is still not available for citizens of Belgrade. Around the park, there is still a metal fence, trucks, and tractors.

The police allow citizens to pass through the space between the fence and the tractor.

Citizens visit doctors because of complaints? Vučić still denies using the sound cannon

Numerous citizens, led by students, today across Serbia attended another "15 minutes of silence" action in memory of the 15 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy that took place on November 1, 2024.

And one of the most current topics even today is the strange phenomenon that interrupted the 15-minute silence at the protest in Belgrade on Saturday.

In numerous videos published on social networks, it can be seen that after the disturbing sound, the gathered citizens began to flee in panic to the opposite sides, towards the buildings, and the middle of the street remained empty.

Reactions from the opposition, part of the professional public and the students themselves followed immediately, with claims that a sound cannon was used - a prohibited deterrent weapon.

The news was resolutely denied by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the President of Serbia, and the Serbian Army on several occasions, claiming that such weapons were not used.

The Serbian Army and the Military Police Detachment "Cobra" do not have a sound cannon, Vucic said today in a video address.

On the other hand, he announced that in the next 48 hours the investigation will be completed regarding those who, as he claims, spread lies about it.

On the other hand, there are numerous testimonies on social networks, civic initiatives and other organizations that claim that a large number of citizens felt symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and others, and that some of them sought medical help.

Referring to its findings, N1 reported that between 7 and 11 p.m. on Sunday, between 30 and 40 people reported to the Institute for Emergency Medicine in Novi Sad with complaints of disorientation, ringing in the ears, headache, nausea, and a feeling of pressure in the chest area.

According to N1 learning, from the medical staff of this institution, they did not have a break from 19:00 to 23:00, because citizens with the same symptoms were coming to them all the time. Most of them were in Kralja Milana Street in Belgrade or in its vicinity at the time of the activation of the sound, which is suspected to originate from the sound cannon.

They confirmed to N1 that these symptoms indicate blast injuries, which occur because of the shock wave after the explosion.

SSP and DS filed criminal charges

The Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) and the Democratic Party (DS) announced that today they filed a criminal complaint against an unknown person due to, as they claim, suspicions that a sound cannon was used at the protest.

Who do you serve?

Students in the blockade claim that a sound cannon was allegedly used at the protest on March 15th.

And after the representatives of the authorities categorically rejected such claims, last night they asked the question - "If it's not a sound cannon - what is it? If it's not MIA - who is?".

They also came out with the claim that hundreds of people called for help, and that a large number of them are in the emergency room in Belgrade.

However, the UKCS (University Clinical Centre of Serbia) Emergency Center previously denied the information that dozens of citizens with problems that could be caused using the so-called "sound cannon".

Even the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade ordered the formation of a case and ordered the identification of persons who, as they state, "spread such untrue information in the public".

"Instead of investigating whether there was a sound cannon, the prosecutor's office intimidates the citizens," announced the students blocking the Faculty of Law in Belgrade late last night.

"VJT (Higher Public Prosecutor) prejudged in the statement that the mentioned information is false and only based on the denial of the UKCS emergency center. Determining the truth of such information is a job for the court, not for the prosecution. In addition, for the existence of a criminal offense it is necessary that the dissemination of information causes one of the consequences specified in the law (causing panic, serious disturbance of public order and peace, etc.). None of these things happened, so even if the information is false, there is no room for prosecution," the students said.

They assess that this behavior of the prosecution indicates that "for the umpteenth time we are witnessing the abuse of the judicial system with the aim of intimidating dissenters and limiting freedom of speech."

At the end they asked VJT - "who do you serve?"

The police search the apartments of Novi Sad activists of the STAV group

On the other hand, the Beta agency reported today that this morning the police allegedly started searching the apartments of activists and students of the informal student group STAV Mila Pajic, Lazar Dinic, Branislav Djordjevic, Doroteja Antic, Dejan Bagaric, Anja Pitulic and Jovan Drazic.

According to the source, the police raided the addresses where the members of that group were registered, with search warrants.

In Obrenovac, eggs on the municipality

And while the citizens held 15 minutes of silence today, the citizens of Obrenovac gathered this morning in front of the city municipality and threw eggs at the building.

The action followed after a video was published on social networks that municipal officials, led by the municipal president, were in Pionirski Park with "students who want to learn".

Strikes

On the long side, as announced, the employees of the Belgrade Faculty of Medicine went on strike today, which is related to the suspension of educational and scientific research activities.

As they stated, the health sector will not be threatened by the strike. It was announced that the strike will last until the student demands are met.

On March 18, employees in the courts, prosecutor's office, and institutes for the execution of criminal sanctions will go on a day-long strike, announced the Syndicate of the Judiciary.

However, processing will continue in urgent cases, such as those related to minors, domestic violence, and temporary measures.

Go-Change launches petition for UN investigation into use of sonic cannon (N1, Beta)

The Go-Change movement launched a petition on Sunday calling for an independent international investigation by officials of the UN, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) regarding the use of a sonic cannon against peaceful protesters in Belgrade on March 15. The petition seeks to examine the medical, legal, and technical aspects of the weapon’s impact on health and human rights.

By 8 am Monday, over 460,000 people from Serbia, the region, and Serbian citizens around the world had signed the petition.

Addressed to UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Gina Romero, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty, and an OSCE representative, the petition demands an independent investigation, accountability for institutions and individuals involved, as well as the establishment of international guidelines.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/48avh5fs

Two Albanians accused of alleged espionage for BIA pleaded not guilty (KoSSev)

Two Albanians, B.Sh., and M.Q., accused of alleged espionage for Serbian Security and Informative Agency (BIA) pleaded not guilty in a preliminary hearing today at the Basic Court in Pristina, KoSSev portal reported.

M.Q., is also accused of unlawful possession of weapons. He admitted this criminal act, with the presiding judge notifying his guilty plea. The verdict for this criminal act will be postponed until completion of the judicial proceeding. The judge also informed defendants and their defense they have the right to appeal within a 15-day deadline against the indictment and the evidence.

Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) and police arrested these two individuals on June 5, 2024 in Urosevac. They are accused of alleged espionage for Serbian BIA. The BIA in a public statement, after their arrest and allegations made, refuted that arrested persons had any connection to BIA.

Protests announced against electricity price increase (KoSSev, RTK)

Electricity prices are expected to rise from next month, because the Energy Regulatory Office has proposed an increase of around 15%. This proposal is opposed by people, who have announced protests, reported KoSSev, citing RTK.

For this reason, the "Not a cent more" campaign has already been launched on social networks.

"If prices were normal in all areas, we would somehow be able to afford this price. But, at 15 percent, it's a bit overwhelming. It is worrisome when it is known that the prices have also increased for other consumption items," said citizen Bekim Jashari.

Shpend Maxhera said that ‘’citizens' awareness needs to be further increased and that they must be active in exerting the necessary pressure for the government to take more care of their well-being’’.

"Because we see daily that the prices of the basic basket are constantly increasing. I think that citizens need to become more active," he said.

Adrijan Maliqi said that prices should be based on the incomes of people.

"It's a concern for everyone, especially those on lower wages," he said.

The economy is also opposed to the tariff increase.

"It is believed that this decision was made without proper consultation with businessmen and without proper analysis of the consequences that this increase could bring to local producers. Another increase of 15 percent comes only two years after ERO made such an increase, and its consequences are still present in companies," the Chamber of Commerce announced.

Economists state that compared to the standard of living in Kosovo, there should be no tariff increase now.

"There should be no tariff increase at this time, as Kosovo is facing low wages and consumers cannot pay their bills. In addition, there are extraordinary complaints about these bills," said Lulzim Beqiri, an economist.

The price increase was proposed at the request of the energy distribution operator.

Interested parties have until March 28 to submit comments on the ERO report.

Opinion

Trump Jr. distorted history in order to amnesty Serbia (Albanian Post)

Opinion piece by Baton Haxhiu

Donald Trump Jr’s interview with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, among other things, was an attempt to use conspiracy theories to manipulate the truth about the NATO bombing which led to the liberation of Kosovo.

I closely followed Donald Trump Jr’s interview with Aleksandar Vucic and I was shocked by his low level of knowledge about the region and with the open conspiracist language he was using. Tens of questions, the answers to which we may never get, arise from this. But the most essential is: why is no one saying a word about this? Why are they keeping silent?

As a person that went through that period and was a witness of many key developments in the region, I know that the NATO intervention was not an accidental maneuver to save Bill Clinton from a personal scandal, but rather a necessary and late response against the Serbian aggression and its crimes against humanity. Therefore, it is necessary to oppose the absurd claims that Trump Jr. made without any factual basis.

In the interview, he claims that the NATO bombing in Serbia in 1999 was an attempt to shift public attention from the Bill Clinton scandal with Monica Lewinsky. This is an untrue argument and a clear manipulation of history to change the truth about the events in that period.

In fact, the NATO intervention was a direct response to the ethnic cleansing and massacres that Slobodan Milosevic’s regime was carrying out against the Kosovo Albanians. The historical facts speak for themselves: in early 1999, Serbian forces started a brutal violent campaign, killing thousands of civilians and forcing around 800,000 Albanians to flee the country. The massacre in Recak was a decisive moment that shocked the world and made it clear that an intervention was inevitable.

Trump Jr. was either misinformed or he intentionally ignored the fact that the decision for the bombing was not a unilateral action by Clinton, but a decision made by an international coalition. NATO, consisting of 19 member states at the time, decided to intervene to stop a humanitarian catastrophe and to safeguard stability in the region. This was not a personal decision by a single President, but a collective act of an entire alliance.

His [Trump Jr.] argument about the time of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal falls too. The scandal happened in 1998, and the process of Clinton’s impeachment ended in February 1999. If the motive of the bombing was to cover up the scandal, then logically it should have happened at the peak of the scandal, not several months later. In fact, at the time, the American and international public opinion was no longer focused on Clinton but rather on the critical situation in Kosovo.

Moreover, those that remember that period clearly know that one of the leaders that insisted the most on a military intervention was Prime Minister Tony Blair. It was the UK government that strongly pushed NATO to act because of the alarming reports coming from the ground about the atrocities of Serbian forces. Meanwhile, all those that link every U.S. military operation to a domestic crisis, should be reminded that in 1998 when the Lewinsky scandal reached its peak, the U.S. carried out a missile attack against Osama bin Laden’s base in Afghanistan, showing that it had strategic priorities that were separate from domestic politics.

This conspiracy theory is not simply an isolated mistake by Trump Jr. but part of a continuous narrative that Serbia and pro-Russian circles spread in attempts to change the international perception about its criminal past. The efforts to present Serbia as a victim of western injustices aim to relativize its responsibility for the ethnic cleansing and the massacres it committed. By linking NATO’s intervention with Clinton’s personal scandal, Serbia and its lobbyists are trying to delegitimize an intervention that had a strong humanitarian and strategic basis.

Trump Jr’s mistake is serious, because spreading such a narrative is not only not true but dangerous too. This not only damages his credibility but also undermines efforts to preserve the historical truth about the conflict in Kosovo.

If a person of influence like Trump Jr. wants to talk about the history of the Balkans, he should be better informed and not spread false narratives that serve only those that want to manipulate history over political gains. This is not a debate about common politics but about the historical truth and responsibility for the crimes that were committed.

Also, Serbia was not bombed in 1999 for the first time. During the war in Bosnia, NATO had intervened against Serbian forces because of the massacres in Sarajevo and the genocide in Srebrenica, which the International Tribunal called one of the biggest crimes of the 20th century. The NATO intervention in Kosovo was a continuation of efforts to prevent another humanitarian catastrophe.

What makes this interview even more problematic is the way that Trump Jr. presents Kosovo. He presents it as part of Serbia in the map he uses, an intentional action to deny the political reality of the independence of Kosovo. Moreover, he refers to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia as a meaningless process, putting the word normalization in quotation marks as if to show doubt about the future of the process.

At a time when the Trump administration is back in power and Serbia is intensifying efforts to influence Republican circles, Kosovo must be prepared for new challenges. Serbia has understood how to use lobbying in the U.S. to undermine the support for Kosovo, and this interview is proof of this strategy.

For Kosovo and the region, it is more important than ever to oppose these narratives with facts and to highlight the historical truth. The fight to defend the truth about what happened in the 1990s is not only a matter of the past, but also a constant battle to prevent the lies and manipulations of Serbian propaganda from gaining ground on the international arena. And with this interview, Trump Jr. showed that he is willing to become a tool of this propaganda.

Vucic is losing support in Serbia, but he has big international support (Koha)

Opinion piece by Augustin Palokaj

Aleksandar Vucic’s regime in Serbia is shaking. One cannot ignore the images of mass protests that have been going on for over four months in the cities of Serbia. The peak point was on Saturday, March 15, when the biggest ever protests were held in Belgrade. The protests have made Vucic nervous, they have greatly irritated his associates and have mobilized the masses in Serbia, especially the youth. Despite all this however it would be an exaggeration to say that Vucic’s regime is over.

While one factor is undoubtedly against Vucic, there are two factors that are still on his side. Vucic suffered a major defeat from the students. But at the same time in his favor is a disoriented and unorganized opposition that is full of illusions. On his side is also the major support he enjoys from the international community however unreasonable this may seem.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is facing the biggest internal challenge against his regime. He tries to blame “foreign factors” for the protests. But the reality is ironic. He enjoys great support from both the EU and the U.S., and also from Russia, China and Iran.

Vucic and his associates, ever since the students’ protests started, decided to confront them by accusing them as “foreign agents”. In search of “foreign enemies”, the regime decided to accuse “intelligence services from Croatia”, while not making it clear what are “certain foreign services”. They, according to the narrative of Vucic and his media, aim to carry out a “color revolution in Serbia”. And Vucic not only concluded that he has “defeated the color revolution”, but he warned that he will even write a book about how he did it and claiming that the book will be a bestseller especially in China where according to Vucic’s media, the President of Serbia is extremely popular among hundreds of millions.

In addition to “Croatian secret services” behind the protesters against Vucic are also “Kurti’s media from Kosovo”. Kosovo and Croatia have been labelled as “foreign enemies” and that “domestic enemies” in Serbia work for them. Croatia and Kosovo have most probably been selected because they trigger nationalistic sentiments in Serbia the easiest. For nationalists in Serbia there are no bigger enemies than Croatia and Kosovo. Surprisingly Albania is never mentioned, not even in Vucic’s tabloids. Because Vucic’s regime continues the narrative that “Serbia has the best ever relations with Albania”.

Vucic knows that he has support from abroad, and this is why he mentions the threat from abroad knowing that there will be no consequences for this propaganda. The European Union makes generalized statements, with calls for “dialogue”, only when they are asked questions and they take several days to respond until they make sure that the language they use will not have consequences for the regime in Serbia.

The very mention of the term “color revolution” by the regime in Serbia is anti-western. Because this term was used after the pro-European protests in Maidan, Ukraine, when the pro-Russian dictator Viktor Yanukovich was brought down. It was called the “Orange Revolution”. The revolution was pro-European and not anti-democratic. If Vucic was honest about wanting Serbia to integrate in the EU and about embracing the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, which are the core of the EU, then he would have mentioned color revolutions in a positive and not negative context.

The EU’s support for Vucic was so big that there were times when some European leaders turned it into admiration. A former president of the EU Council had praised Vucic so highly that he even compared his work with “the preciseness of Nikola Tesla” and “the efficiency of Novak Djokovic”. Tesla was one the biggest scientists in humankind, and Djokovic the most successful tennis player in the world.

Vucic’s supporters in the EU are very powerful. They are both from member states but also officials in EU institutions: Ursula von der Leyen. Whatever they asked from Serbia, and Belgrade did not do, the EU made sure that there would be no consequences. For example, the EU called the attack in Banjska “a terrorist attack” and has continuously called for the perpetrators to be held accountable. But Serbia continued protecting them and there has been no opposition to this by the EU. On the other hand, the EU is still keeping in force the penalty measures against Kosovo.

This is the big difference between Vucic today and Milosevic’s regime, which was brought down in 2000. The international community, especially the EU, at the time were against the regime in Serbia and on the side of the protesters. Today it is the opposite. The EU is a partner of the regime in Serbia, appeases it and it does not support the protesters.

This could have been the reason why there were no EU flags in the protests in Serbia. If there had been, Vucic would accuse them of working against their country. However, at the same time, what the protesters are demanding are more or less what the EU asks for: democracy, accountability, an independent public administration, an independent judiciary, transparency in using public funds. If it meets the demands of the students, Serbia will make another step toward European integration. Therefore, it is ironic how the EU and the rest of the international community are continuing to support Vucic.

At this point one cannot expect that the students’ protest will bring down Vucic. Because the opposition is weak. The students do not take part in the elections as a political entity. They don’t want the opposition to join them. And the opposition has a problem because it is too heterogeneous. Among them are pro-Europeans and nationalists too, and also those that want to bring down Vucic “because he has sold out Kosovo”. In these circumstances, Vucic has been hit by the protests more than ever before, but it is still too early to say that his regime is collapsing.

International

Kosovo's election committee details results of legislative election as Kurti toils to form Cabinet (AP)

Kosovo's election governing body released the results of last month's legislative election, which saw Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement Party winning most seats but without a ruling majority.

Kurti’s leftist Vetevendosje! has been looking for allies to form a government, a much tougher job than four years ago when he needed only three seats to pass his new Cabinet.

The Central Election Commission stated late Saturday that the Vetevendosje! won 42.30% of the vote, or 48 seats in the 120-seat parliament, on Feb.9. The center-right Democratic Party of Kosovo, or PDK, followed with 20.95%, or 24 seats, and the conservative governing Democratic League of Kosovo, or LDK, with 18.27%, or 20 seats. The right-wing Alliance for Kosovo’s Future garnered 7.06%, or 8 seats.

The commission also said the turnout was 46.54%, slightly lower than the 2021 election.

Ten seats are reserved in parliament for Kosovo’s Serb minority and another 10 for other minorities in the European country.