UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Constitutive session of the Assembly interrupted (media)
Kurti: Lack of votes on mandate report, attack against Kosovo (media)
Krasniqi: Situation can change if PM and ministers resign (Koha)
Abdixhiku: Vetevendosje is delaying creation of institutions (Klan Kosova)
Antonio Costa to visit Kosovo as part of Western Balkans tour (Klan Kosova)
Osmani thanks Awama for Japan’s continuous support in many areas (media)
Prattipati meets Rafuna, discuss enhancing US-Kosovo economic ties (media)
Svecla: Another suspect of attack on KFOR arrested (media)
Jovanovic comments on passivisation of Albanian addresses in Serbia (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

PM-designate Djuro Macut presents program in Assembly today: Serbia tired of divisions and blockades, I call for dialogue (RTS)
Reactions of the opposition to the exposé of the representative in the Serbian parliament (NMagazin, N1)
Vucevic chairs last session of his cabinet, wishes success to Macut (Tanjug)
EU Council confirmed need for normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
Protest in Gracanica: ''Commission did not decide, they advised us to look for the competent'' (KiM radio, alternativna.com, medijacentar.info)
Serbian students cycling to Strasbourg to complete last stretch of their journey (N1)
Students block public broadcaster buildings in Belgrade, Novi Sad (N1)
Maja Gojkovic condemns blockade of RTV and RTS buildings (Tanjug)

Opinion:

When elephants fight: What Trump’s trade war means for the Balkans (EWB)

International Media:

“Trauma Has No Deadline”: Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence Demand Justice Without Timeframes (PI)
Who are the nominees for the members of the new Serbian Government? (EWB)

Albanian Language Media

Constitutive session of the Assembly interrupted (media)

The constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo has been interrupted without voting on the report on the verification of the mandates of the MPs, due to the lack of agreement between the political parties and the non-voting of the report by the opposition parties.

The session was led by the oldest MP from the Vetevendosje Movement Avni Dehari, who said in closing that the Assembly will notify the president of Kosovo through a letter, to clarify the situation and to understand how to proceed further based on the Constitution and parliamentary procedures.

Lack of voting of the report of the Commission on the verification of mandates was conditioned by the opposition parties, which claimed that the resignations of Kurti and the ministers were not submitted on time, raising concerns about violation of the Constitution.

The non-voting of the report of the Commission on the verification of mandates was conditioned by the opposition of the opposition parties, which said that the resignations of Kurti and the ministers were not submitted on time, raising concerns about violations of the Constitution.

It has not been announced when the hearing will resume.

Kurti: Lack of votes on mandate report, attack against Kosovo (media)

The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, has said that the non-voting on the mandate report by the MPs of the PDK, LDK, Serbian List and AAK is an attack against Kosovo.

“The opposition MPs PDK, LDK, Srpska Lista and AAK today voted against the report of the commission for the verification of mandates. In a completely formal and technical vote based on the CEC documentation, they rebelled against the swearing-in of the MPs and the constitution of the ninth legislature. This is an internal institutional attack against the Republic of Kosovo and democratic elections. This is an unprecedented situation in our country and much wider. We govern rightfully and well, but these people are making a bad name for our country. It is known that they are against the government of the Republic, but we learned today that they are also against themselves," Kurti wrote on Facebook.

Krasniqi: Situation can change if PM and ministers resign (Koha)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi said today that PDK MPs did not vote in favor of the report of the committee for the verification of quorum and mandates because they believe it is anti-constitutional. “Prime Minister Kurti and the ministers that have been elected as MPs are trying to hold both executive and legislative positions and the Constitution of Kosovo prohibits this. The Constitution is clear that one cannot become an MP if you hold an executive position,” he said. Krasniqi also said that the situation can be solved if Kurti and the ministers resign their executive positions today.

Abdixhiku: Vetevendosje is delaying creation of institutions (Klan Kosova)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku told reporters today that the Kurti-led Vetevendosje Movement is trying to delay the formation of new institutions and that it is acting against the Constitution of Kosovo. “An elected official cannot be Prime Minister, Minister and a member of the Kosovo Assembly. This position by the winning party is anti-constitutional, and it is part of a game to delay as long as possible the formation of institutions and to buy time,” he argued. “The solution is very simple, they need to resign their positions, sit in the seats of the Assembly as MPs of the Republic of Kosovo, swear their oath and thus the formation of the Kosovo Assembly can formally begin”.

Asked to comment on accusations by Vetevendosje, Abdixhiku said: “I want to say something very simple: those who communicate with messages to buy votes from the Serbian List for the next government should be the last ones to talk about such coordination”.

Antonio Costa to visit Kosovo as part of Western Balkans tour (Klan Kosova)

President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, is expected to visit Kosovo as part of his Western Balkans tour scheduled for May, the European Council confirmed to the TV station on Monday. “Yes, President Costa will visit Kosovo too. The details of the program are being prepared so we cannot confirm anything specific for the time being,” the response said.

Osmani thanks Awama for Japan’s continuous support in many areas (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met today with the Japanese Ambassador to Kosovo, Kiminori Iwama, and discussed the latest developments in the region and security challenges. Osmani thanked Japan for its continuous support for peace and stability in the Western Balkans and also for its support for Kosovo through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency in many areas. Osmani also highlighted the importance of furthering cooperation in economy, education and cultural exchanges, and mentioned the positive impact of Japanese scholarships and programs for Kosovo youths.

Prattipati meets Rafuna, discuss enhancing US-Kosovo economic ties (media)

The United States Embassy in Kosovo said in a post on X that Charges d’affaires Anu Prattipati had a good conversation with the President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce Lulzim Rafuna “on enhancing US-Kosovo economic ties”. “American products and partnerships remain the preferred choice for Kosovan businesses,” the post notes.

Svecla: Another suspect of attack on KFOR arrested (media)

Kosovo’s outgoing Interior Minister, Xhelal Svecla, has announced that another suspect has been arrested for attack on KFOR soldiers during the May 29 protests in Zvecan.

“Another terrorist who violently attacked KFOR members in Zvecan, some of whom were left with lifelong consequences, has been arrested. No criminal or terrorist will feel free as long as they have violated our constitutional order, the work of our institutions, the duty of our officials and international personnel," Svecla wrote on Facebook. He added that they expect justice to act without any compromise towards him.

Jovanovic comments on passivisation of Albanian addresses in Serbia (RTK)

Luka Jovanovic, a Belgrade-based lawyer, in an interview with the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), said that the passivisation of Albanian addresses in Serbia constitutes systematic discrimination against the Albanian community there. Jovanovic, who represents several citizens affected by the passivisation of addresses in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, said that this leaves thousands of people without basic rights such as ID cards, health cards, driver's licenses, and access to public services. He stated that this is an administrative measure that negatively impacts local structures. “The essence is that people are being deprived of their place of residence without any notice or opportunity to voice their opinions. They are denied personal documents and are essentially hidden from the system,” Jovanovic explained. He also said that “the purpose of this administrative engineering is, among other things, to manipulate electoral lists and reorganize local government structures in these municipalities”.

Serbian Language Media

PM-designate Djuro Macut presents program in Assembly today: Serbia tired of divisions and blockades, I call for dialogue (RTS)

A special session is being held today in the Serbian Peoples’ Assembly with one item on the agenda – the election of the government and the swearing-in of the president and members of the government. Prime Minister-designate Djuro Macut presented the program, RTS reported.

In his expose Macut spoke about judiciary reforms noting the laws will be passed and also implemented. He spoke about Serbia’s spatial plan and highways reconstructions.

He also said one of the biggest challenges of the new government will be the defence of Serbia’s sovereignty and integrity when it comes to the Kosovo issue, adding it is important for people to unite on the political and social scene when it comes to that defence.

He said Serbia will not give up on special measures it introduced in order to ensure that people in Kosovo regularly receive their salaries and pensions, and exercise their rights, in particular the ones related to education, social care and health protection.

"The government will continue to make maximum efforts, both through its Office for Kosovo and Metohija, and at the level of each individual ministry and every public servant within it, so that our people in the southern province survive and remain in their centuries-old homelands, protected from persecution and with the opportunity to lead a normal and dignified life", Macut said.

As he said the victory of the Serbian List in elections in Kosovo “shows the readiness of the Serbs for an unwavering political struggle, and the government will help them in that struggle to achieve everything that international law guarantees them, especially the Brussels Agreement, for whose full implementation we will constantly advocate in every place, fighting for the survival and rights of our people in the province”, Macut said.

“We will not neglect the international arena, primarily the United Nations, but also all international organizations such as the Council of Europe, Interpol and others, where there is a constant threat that Pristina will unilaterally establish violence and, with the sponsorship of force, try to achieve its goals", he added. He also said “Kosovo and Metohija remains the central issue of the highest national interest”, and that Serbia remains committed to dialogue and solutions which are not imposed as well as that Serbia will not accept solutions which are not in line with the Constitution and UNSC Resolution 1244.

In further presentation of his program, Macut said Serbia remains a military neutral country and politically responsible. He emphasised Serbia wishes Europe in which her voice will be heard, respectively Europe in which differences are not an obstacle but rather a strength. He noted that human capital and youth would be at the core of the future government policy and that Serbia aims to become a leader in the digital economy.

He said Serbia “is tired of divisions and blocades”. “None has and must not have more rights than others and that is the only measure to the values. Institutions of the system must function in full capacity and that is our main task”, Macut noted.

Reactions of the opposition to the exposé of the representative in the Serbian parliament (NMagazin, N1)

Deputies of the Assembly of Serbia started the session, the agenda of which is the election of the new Government of Serbia, which will be headed by doctor of endocrinology Djuro Macut.

"The new government is transient until the interim government"

Borislav Novakovic from the National Movement of Serbia said that the new Government of Serbia, which is being discussed in the Parliament of Serbia, is transient until an interim government. He said that the situation in society, the protests of students and citizens, will force Aleksandar Vucic and SNS to talk and to find a way to get out of this crisis decently.

"At the beginning of his presentation, Mandator Macut already quoted Milos Obrenovic and highlighted two characteristics, i.e. two values around which we should gather, which are unity and assembly. However, I have the impression that he does not understand either," said Novakovic, commenting on the mandator's address in parliament.

Veselinovic: This is not a new government

Zeljko Veselinovic, in front of the "Workers' Movement Unison - Profession", said that the government that is being voted on is not seen as a new government, but a reconstructed one that the president announced six months ago.

"Key ministries have been kept by the same people. Some have rotated positions... I don't know anything about Macut, but I am sorry that we will lose a good doctor and get a politician who will be successful or unsuccessful. A good doctor in the political mud can be abused. I am not sure how many opportunities you will have to express yourself here, Mr. Macut," he added.

He is interested in why Dejan Vuk Stankovic was proposed as Minister of Education, who came to the position as a political analyst, a supporter of one party.

"Settling accounts with students, professors threaten... I think he was brought in as a stick to settle accounts," he pointed out, adding that the crisis in Serbia is the biggest since October 5. He pointed out that one should be proud of the students because they are the future.

Jovanov: You only care about 'likes'

SNS (Serbian Progressive Party) MP Milenko Jovanov said that the only thing that matters to the opposition are 'likes', but that the opposition does not understand that likes are not votes in the ballot box.

Cuta to the new government: You remind me of a second-hand shop falling apart

Aleksandar Jovanovic Cuta, in front of the Ecological Uprising, said: "You are more reminiscent of a second-hand shop falling apart than of a new government.”

The authority tramples over human dignity, added Cuta. He asked various ministers to answer, and Brnabic reminded him that only the mandate holder can answer. She also said that it is not allowed to be addressed directly.

Branko Pavlovic: We will vote against

MP Branko Pavlovic from "We, the People's Voice'' says that they will not support the Government and will vote against it.

Aleksic: Macut himself does not believe in what he read

MP and President of People's Movement of Serbia, Miroslav Aleksic proposes to double the time for the debate on the election of the new government due to the situation in society and the crisis that requires a serious approach, and that Macut convincingly presented the proposal of the government's work and that it requires special attention for debating, because he himself does not believe in what he read. 38 MPs voted for the proposal, none against, and 158 of the 1.

Vucevic chairs last session of his cabinet, wishes success to Macut (Tanjug)

Serbian caretaker Prime Minister Milos Vucevic chaired the last session of his cabinet on Tuesday.

Vucevic thanked the cabinet members and expert services in the government for their cooperation in the past year, noting that “the government had worked in unthinkable conditions during that period”. He wished success and good luck to PM-designate Djuro Macut and his cabinet, a government statement said.

EU Council confirmed need for normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)

During the meeting in Luxembourg, the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU member states discussed the Western Balkans and confirmed the need for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

During the meeting of the EU Council for Foreign Affairs on Monday, which was chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, the Russian war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, including Syria, EU-Africa relations and other current issues were discussed.

When the Western Balkans was in question, the ministers exchanged views on EU relations with partners from the region, focusing on how to further improve security and defense cooperation in the face of political challenges and how to improve regional stability and security.

As stated in the statement of the Council of the EU, the situation in BiH and Serbia was discussed and the need for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina was confirmed.

High Representative Kallas emphasized that the stability and security of the region were essential for the EU.

Protest in Gracanica: ''Commission did not decide, they advised us to look for the competent'' (KiM radio, alternativna.com, medijacentar.info)

Due to suspicions of irregularities and political pressure in the recruitment process in health institutions in central Kosovo, citizens are continuing the protests that began on April 3. That their suspicions were justified was confirmed by the messages they received from the members of the commission, where they emphasized they were not in charge, and that they should look for "those who decide", reported Alternativna yesterday, citing KiM radio.

Dissatisfied citizens were in front of the Health Center in Gracanica carrying banners that read: "We are not relatives, but we are professional staff", "Professional staff; but at the employment bureau", "Employment or moving out".

"In the past, several candidates who participated in employment competitions in central Kosovo and Metohija received messages from the members of the competition commissions such as 'we have done our part, but we are not asked anything, now you look for those who decide'. These statements are alarming and confirm what we have been pointing out from the beginning, which is that the recruitment processes in public institutions are conducted without real transparency and responsibility," Mirjana Vasic read the statement of the People's Dissatisfied Assembly.

They emphasized at the meeting that the protests will continue until the demands are fulfilled.

"According to the current regulations, the members of the competition commissions have the obligation to act in accordance with the law and to ensure a fair and objective selection of candidates. Statements that imply that someone else makes the decision using informal procedures indicate possible irregularities in the recruitment process," she added.

Marko Janicijevic, who graduated from the Medical School in 2007, and, as he emphasized, has been waiting for almost 20 years to get a job in his profession.

"I have work experience in the Emergency Center in Belgrade, and no one paid any attention to that. Whenever I go to submit documents for the competition, many people ask me, 'how long will you be submitting documents, haven't you got a job','' he added, expecting a positive outcome from these protests.

Alternativna recalled that on April 3 started the protests of dissatisfied citizens due to the employment process in health care institutions. They were held in Donja Gusterica, Ugljare and Gracanica.

Dissatisfied citizens presented three demands: The first is to submit data on accepted candidates, with their qualifications, education, work experience and social status, as well as the report of the commission that decided to select those candidates. The second request is that this competition be canceled and re-announced, with independent members of the commission, and that people from this group be observers of the process. The third request is the resignation of the authorities who are responsible for this situation and who did not provide the answers as to why some of the protesters were eligible.

Serbian students cycling to Strasbourg to complete last stretch of their journey (N1)

On the last day of their journey, Serbian students cycling from Novi Sad to Strasbourg are expected to leave Karlsruhe for Strasbourg at around noon on Tuesday. The group of 80 students set off from Novi Sad on April 3 and traveled through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany on their way to France. Their goal is to meet with Council of Europe and European Union officials to draw attention to the current situation in Serbia and the students’ demands.

N1’s reporter said the students are scheduled to attend a church service before they depart from Karlsruhe. TV Nova reporter Radovan Seratlic, who is cycling to Strasbourg alongside the students, said that they will cover a distance of approximately 88 km on Tuesday. Updates on the students’ journey can be followed on the website tourdestrasbourg.com.

Students block public broadcaster buildings in Belgrade, Novi Sad (N1)

On Tuesday evening, Serbian students blocked the entrances to the Serbian public broadcaster (RTS) offices and an RTS studio in Belgrade, as well as the entrance to the Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) building in Novi Sad.

According to students their action was prompted “by the public media services’ failure to report on Serbian students cycling to Strasbourg to raise awareness within the European Union about the situation in Serbia and the students’ demands”. The students also posted calls on social media for members of the public to join them.

Gendarmerie troops and riot police were deployed both in Belgrade and in Novi Sad.

On Wednesday morning, students reported on social media that RTS had started its morning program with a half-hour delay. As they said some workers refused to enter the building, while others declined to work altogether.

Just before 5 am in Novi Sad, gendarmerie and riot police arrived at the RTV building and pushed students and citizens away from the main entrance of the public service building in Vojvodina. RTV staff members who had come to produce the morning program were then allowed to enter the building. The Serbian Internal Affairs Ministry issued a statement saying that the Novi Sad police and gendarmerie cleared the access and entrance to the building of Radio Television of Vojvodina on Wednesday morning.

“In cooperation with the prosecutor’s office, efforts are underway to identify all individuals who committed criminal offenses and violations, and appropriate charges will be filed against them”, the Ministry added.

Maja Gojkovic condemns blockade of RTV and RTS buildings (Tanjug)

President of Vojvodina Provincial Government Maja Gojkovic condemned today blockade of the Radio-Television of Vojvodina (RTV) and Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) buildings in Novi Sad and Belgrade, adding that “this represents continuation of attempts to paralyze institutions and entire system”.

She also said that “synchronised attacks on public media service premises represent the harshest violation of the law and Constitution of Serbia. Someone once again wanted to take employees in RTV and RTS hostages, unequivocally demonstrating force”.

Opinion

When elephants fight: What Trump’s trade war means for the Balkans (EWB)

Trump’s tariffs will hit the Western Balkans indirectly, through reduced exports to the EU. Existing models suggest the fallout will be relatively mild, with GDP growth slowing by 0.4 to 0.9 percentage points. However, the current situation looks like a black swan – an unpredictable shock for which standard models offer limited guidance – meaning that the impact might be much bigger. Whatever happens, Western Balkan governments are not powerless – they have both the means and the responsibility to act and prevent a more serious fallout.

What tariffs did the Western Balkan economies get, and how were they calculated?

The tariffs imposed on Western Balkan economies by Donald Trump ranged widely: from 37% for Serbia, 35% for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 33% for North Macedonia, down to 10% for Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. Ironically, Serbia – which plans to build a Trump Tower in the centre of Belgrade – received the highest tariffs in the region from the man they intend to honour.

The method used to calculate the tariffs drew considerable criticism from economists. The formula was: US goods trade deficit with the country, divided by the US goods imports from the country, divided by 2. No trade economist before had used this approach.

According to US data, the United States runs a goods trade deficit with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. Hence, these three countries were hit with high tariffs. The remaining three – Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo – import more from the US than they export, so they received the minimum tariff of 10%.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/ysruth45

International

“Trauma Has No Deadline”: Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence Demand Justice Without Timeframes (PI)

Survivors of wartime sexual violence and NGOs have called on the Government of Kosovo to remove application deadlines for victims seeking to come forward and claim official survivor status, while criticizing the work of the victim verification commission.

On Kosovo’s Memorial Day for Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence, survivors, activists, and diplomats gathered in Prishtina to call for the removal of legal deadlines that restrict survivors from applying for official victim status.

The campaign, titled “Trauma Has No Deadline,“ launched at the Reporting House in Prishtina with BIRN support, on Monday, highlighted the stigma that survivors still face within their families that prevents them from coming out. The campaign urges a shift in how institutions, especially the official commission for verification of the status of wartime sexual abuse victims, approach these sensitive applications.

Prior to the launch of the campaign, Kosovo government postponed the deadline for survivors of wartime sexual violence to appear before the commission and request official victim status by extending the commission’s mandate until May 15, 2028, and the application deadline just to one year prior, on May 15, 2027.

According to current law, May 15, 2025, would be the deadline which has faced widespread criticism, as not all survivors are ready to speak out within pre-established timeframes.