The Coalition of journalists’ and media associations called on public on Thursday to defend professional media and journalists who had been exposed to insults, serious threats and whose safety was jeopardised, the Beta news agency reported.

In its statement, the Coalition said that in the last several days only, some journalists were publicly lynched on social networks which had been masterminded and organised "in the manner of Joseph Goebbels."

The Pristina-based Council for Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) has called for Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli to be sacked.

CDHRF requested the dismissal because Pacolli used "sexist and racist" language when he spoke before Kosovo Assembly's foreign affairs committee to describe "the way Serbia lobbied against Kosovo's membership in Interpol."

If Serbia and Kosovo manage to solve their decade-long dispute, the five EU countries that did not recognize Kosovo may have to adjust their foreign policies fast.

By Perparim Isufi, Maja Zivanovic BIRN Pristina, Belgrade

Analysts say recent heated rhetoric about the possibility of border changes will affect the popularity of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci - but probably not enough to unseat them.

The recent intensive exchange of statements about border ‘corrections’ between Serbia and Kosovo will affect the popularity of both presidents, analysts believe.

The OSCE wants renewed efforts to uncover the truth behind the kidnappings and murders of Serb and ethnic Albanian journalists connected to the 1999 war.

OSCE ambassador to Kosovo Jan Braathu said on Tuesday at the unveiling of a memorial plaque to two Serbian reporters who were kidnapped in 1999 and never found that the European organisation will support increased efforts to find the perpetrators of crimes against journalists in the country.

Murdered Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic named Milan Radoicic – a debt collector and truck owner close to Serbia’s ruling party - as a key figure in the intimidating system of power in northern Kosovo.

In his last interview with BIRN in October, Oliver Ivanovic, the Kosovo Serb politician murdered in January, named Milan Radoicic as the key figure and a real power-holder in the Serb-run north of Kosovo.

A series of workshops for journalists beginners from Kosovo and those who want to pursue journalism will start in March, and will end with study visits to influential and professional media outlets in Belgrade and Pristina in April, reports KIM radio.

Journalists and local media editors from Kosovo, colleagues from the Insajder, BIRN and N1 newsrooms will be transferring their experiences and introduce trainees with the basics of journalism and professional standards in their work.