Albanian Language Media: 

• KFOR: Any decision on opening of bridge over Iber should be made within dialogue in Brussels (Koha)

• Armed Forces of Albania with KSF and Kosovo Police test reaction skills (media)

• Stradner: Vulin will visit Russia amid warnings of chaos in Kosovo (Albanian Post)

• Haliti: EU measures have not been decided against Kosovo, but against government (Reporteri)

• LVV implicates Thaci and Veseli in the "murder" of Astri Dehari (Koha)

• Three houses burned in Novak, Prizren, they were owned by Serbs (Koha)

• Agreement for construction of over 200 houses in northern municipalities, signed (Klan)

• Albanians of Presheva Valley protest against discrimination from Belgrade (media)

• Osmani: Youth is greatest potential of Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Djuric: Serbian diplomacy in constant offensive with the aim of shedding light on the true intentions of Kurti's regime (Kosovo Online, Politika)

• Increased presence of KFOR on the Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online) 

• The Office for KiM: Broken window at Dragica Gasic's apartment in Djakovica (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)

• Djordjevic: A/CSM (ZSO) by itself does not solve all problems, but it is an important step (FoNet, Danas, N1)

• Albanians protest in Bujanovac, increased police presence (Danas, bujanovacke.rs)

• German State Secretary: Lithium will not bring Serbia a discount on its way to the EU (Beta, N1, TAZ)

International: 

• ‘Not Real Facts’: In Court, Chroniclers of Kosovo’s Guerrilla Fight Disavow Writings (Balkan insight)

Albanian Language Media  

KFOR: Any decision on opening of bridge over Iber should be made within dialogue in Brussels (Koha)

The NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has said that any action regarding the opening of the bridge over the Iber River should be taken within the dialogue in Brussels.

"Our position on this issue has been clear, transparent and consistent throughout. Any decision regarding the opening of the main bridge over the Iber River should be made within the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which we fully support. We will never speculate on any hypothetical scenario", KFOR told Koha.

Asked how much the presence of this mission at the Iber Bridge has changed in recent weeks, KFOR said that it has a permanent presence on the bridge and continues to carry out regular patrols in the surrounding areas."We will not hesitate to deal with any development that may affect the security environment and regional stability, in full respect of our mandate emanating from the UN," KFOR's response continues.

Armed Forces of Albania with KSF and Kosovo Police test reaction skills (media)

The Ministry of Defense of Albania has announced that the Armed Forces of Albania together with the Kosovo Security Force and the Rapid Intervention Unit of the Kosovo Police have tested their reactive and interactive capabilities during special operations. This testing is said to have been done under the supervision of the U.S.Special Operations Command for Europe.

"During exercise #ValorShield24, the special forces of our units simulated various scenarios, including tactical reconnaissance operations, psychological operations, analysis of reconnaissance data, the use of drones during the development phases of operations to strike objects, as well as prevent actions of offensive tactical groups", the announcement further states.

Stradner: Vulin will visit Russia amid warnings of chaos in Kosovo (Albanian Post)

Ivana Stradner, a specialist in the field of security and information, also an observer of political developments in the Western Balkans, through a post on the "X" platform on Monday, said that the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vulin, will stay in Russia during this week, precisely at the time when the Serbian authorities have warned of "chaos" in Kosovo.

"Vulin will be in Moscow this week to meet with [Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov and [Secretary of the Security Council Sergei] Shoigu... Serbia's government has warned of chaos in Kosovo. Meanwhile... the official magazine of the Russian MFA continues to talk about a conflict in the Balkans".

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, in a press conference, said that he expects the bridge over the Iber River to be "violently opened" on August 14 or 15, while at the same time he claimed that Western "foreign agencies" will also be involved in the opening of the bridge”.

Stradner warned earlier last week in an interview with the "Radio Free Europe" program in the Serbian language that a "second round" of escalating tensions in Kosovo is expected soon, especially in the northern part of Kosovo territory inhabited mainly with ethnic Serbs.

Haliti: EU measures have not been decided against Kosovo, but against government (Reporteri)

PDK MP Xhavit Haliti has commented on the warning of the European Union for new measures against Kosovo, if the situation does not change. "The EU has not decided measures against Kosovo, but against the Government of Kosovo and its populist policies, which are not at all useful for Kosovo. I think that the Prime Minister of Kosovo has been led astray by advisers who want to compromise him as much as possible in front of international opinion and in particular in front of the USA, the EU and the World Bank, who are the biggest contributors to Kosovo's achievements so far", Haliti said.

"The logic of independent independence, as Kurti is claiming, is outdated. The independence of all democratic countries is interdependent. The determination of the most pro-American people in the world, such as Kosovo, necessarily requires that state policies are interdependent and coordinated with U.S. policies, for Kosovo and the Balkans in general," he added.

Haliti said that the sooner Kurti gets "on the ground", the better it will be for him. "The political course of the government of Kosovo is quite disturbing and criticized by strategic friends. Therefore, the sooner Kurti gets down to earth, coordinating decisions and actions with friendly countries, the better it will be for him, for Kosovo and the entire region", said Haliti.

Speaking about Kurti's actions, Haliti proposed to the prime minister to go to the mountains, or near the sea, in order to reflect. "If you only think about winning the elections and increasing measures for Kosovo, then he should not be our Prime Minister", said Haliti.

"I have no information on whether new measures will be imposed on the government, even though the signals coming from Washington and Brussels are worrying, and more worrying is the silence on the part of the VV MPs, who do not have the courage to speak and come up with positions without being afraid that the absolute leader and strategist Albin Kurti will not put them on the election list for MPs", he added.

Haliti further called on Prime Minister Kurti to request an additional meeting with the Quint countries. The political course of this government must change, said Haliti, as he added that the dialogue with the European Union and the United States of America must be returned.

"I think that KFOR and EULEX will have additional instructions, I hope and believe that the Kosovo Police will not implement any ordinance that will bring them into conflict with KFOR”, Haliti said among other things.

LVV implicates Thaci and Veseli in the "murder" of Astri Dehari (Koha)

The member of the Vetevendosje Movement, Sami Kurteshi, has implicated former president Hashim Thaci and former speaker Kadri Veseli, in the case of the death of Astri Dehari. In the press conference held in front of the Special Prosecutor's Office regarding the "Dehari" case, Kurteshi described Thaci and Veseli as the "heads of the state" who, according to him, admitted that Dehari was killed.

Kurteshi said that the Police, the Prosecutor's Office and the KIA were also involved in the "staging" of this case.

"The order was political from the top of the state, unfortunately at that time from the president of the country and the speaker of the parliament who, even in the media, have admitted that the case of Dehari is murder and they have given a direct order to their apparatchiks in the Prosecutor's Office, the Court, KIA and Police to stage the case", he said.

According to him, five prosecutors who dealt with the case were on the verge of retirement. Kurteshi said that this was used as a strategy of the Prosecutor's Office to delay the case.

"The case was handled by prosecutor Metush Biraj. This prosecutor only signed because the main role was played by the chief prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution, Syle Hoxha, who was later decorated for this work as a prosecutor of the Special Prosecution. Today he is retired and works as a lawyer in Prizren. So does Metush Biraj. The prosecution has sent manipulated evidence to Lausanne (Institute of Forensic Medicine in Switzerland). It has sent empty envelopes. This is the fifth prosecutor to retire and not finish the case. One cannot hide a crime of murder by retiring and leaving work half-done. For about three and a half years, Afrim Shefkiu has done nothing but interrogated Albulena Haxhiu about 2-3 times about the posts on Facebook. It has not issued any order for investigation of those who ordered the murder of Astrit Dehari. Prosecution strategy: dragging out the case, taking the case to pre-retired prosecutors who hand over the baton of crime from one to the other. The case cannot drag on forever, it will be clarified", he said.

Three houses burned in Novak, Prizren, they were owned by Serbs (Koha)

Three houses were burnt due to the fire that spread on Sunday in Novak village of Prizren. The police have announced that the houses are uninhabited and are the property of Kosovo Serb citizens.

"Police patrols immediately went to the scene from where they were informed that after the bushes near the houses caught fire, the field fire spread and the three houses that were nearby were also burned. The three houses were uninhabited and are the property of Kosovo Serb residents. In general, that neighborhood is uninhabited, but there are some Serbs and Albanian residents in the village", the Police announcement states.

In extinguishing the fire, it is said that a local company that has its base nearby was first engaged with its tankers and then the firefighters. The fire has been extinguished.

"At first glance, it seems that the fire started in the bushes a little further from the houses but considering that the neighborhood in general and the courtyards of the houses are uninhabited, there were many plants and bushes that were dry due to the weather, so the fire also spread quickly", the Police further informed.

Agreement for construction of over 200 houses in northern municipalities, signed (Klan)

Kosovo’s Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, announced that the agreement for the construction of over 200 houses in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo was signed.

This, according to Krasniqi, was done in cooperation with the head of the "Orphans of the Balkans" association, Halil Kastrati.

"The Ministry of Local Government Administration and the association 'Orphans of the Balkans', in the spirit of cooperation and ensuring stable housing, will build over 200 houses for the residents of the northern municipalities, giving families the right to realize their dream of living in their lands", Krasniqi wrote on his Facebook account.

"Over 100 houses will be built with funding from the Ministry of Local Government Administration and over 100 from the "Balkan Orphans" association, as a start for a new life for these families."

Albanians of Presheva Valley protest against discrimination from Belgrade (media)

The protest of the Albanians of the Presheva Valley against the discrimination from Belgrade was held today.

"Return my address", "We want Albanian books", "Knowledge does not require nostrification", "Repressed yes, subjugated no", are some of the banners that the protesters held in their hands.

The Albanian MP in the Parliament of Serbia, Shaip Kamberi, and the mayor of the Municipality of Presheva, Ardita Sinani, joined the protesters. MP Kamberi addressed the protesters saying that discrimination as a phenomenon is prohibited in democratic societies, especially in a society that claims to be part of the European Union.

"We are here because the Government in Belgrade is refusing to respect our rights, it is refusing to integrate us into the state bodies in a fair and equal manner", said Kamberi.

While the professor of the Albanian language, Llukman Misini, spoke about the lack of textbooks.

"In the absence of textbooks, professors teach in an alternative way. The countries of the region use advanced tools in the teaching system. We continue to be denied the provision of school textbooks. History is being banned as a subject. We are being banned from the subject of geography", he said.

Student Enis Fejzullahu spoke about the non-recognition of diplomas by the state of Serbia.

"The student of the Presheva Valley throughout his studies and after graduation carries the burden of non-recognition of his diploma, the worry of what will happen after the end of his studies and the fear that he will not be able to practice his profession in his country", he said. 

The head of the Albanian National Council, Nevzad Lutfiu, said that out of 24 communities living in Serbia, none of them have the challenges of the Albanian community. "We live in a country where the most hated ethnic group are the Albanians, even though we are in our lands, we have not usurped them, on the contrary, we have been much more than we are today and much wider than we are today", Lutfiu stated, adding that the injustice in the Valley is evident in everything.

Osmani: Youth is greatest potential of Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, congratulated the International Youth Day, praising the young people of Kosovo. She shared a video on social networks where she wrote that youth is the greatest potential of Kosovo, a source of creativity, inexhaustible energy and love for the country.

"Youth - the greatest potential of our country, source of creativity, inexhaustible energy and love for the country. From Olympic podiums to world competitions in science, our young people are the most brilliant image of Kosovo. Congratulations on International Youth Day!" Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Serbian Language Media 

Djuric: Serbian diplomacy in constant offensive with the aim of shedding light on the true intentions of Kurti's regime (Kosovo Online, Politika)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Đurić, told Politika daily that Serbian diplomacy is on a constant offensive, with the aim of shedding light on the true intentions of the Kurti regime, whose people are currently physically occupying municipalities with a Serbian majority in the north of Kosovo and are creating impossible conditions for the Serbian people everyday life and survival, reported Kosovo Online. 

According to Djuric, "the Serbian diplomatic team led by the president achieved a special success in the international arena, where Pristina is currently unable to match Serbia's efforts to prevent attempts by Pristina separatists to break into international organizations", especially those in the UN system, and that they remain barren.

"We also managed to prevent Pristina's attempt to gain membership in the CoE, but that struggle is ongoing and will require constant attention and proactivity. With its consistent commitment to dialogue that takes place with the mediation of the EU, Belgrade has built strong credibility and today no one can say that we are not a reliable international partner. On the other hand, Pristina is profiled as a factor of instability in the region by its constant unilateral actions, by obstructing the Brussels dialogue and by refusing to implement what has been agreed so far, which in an atmosphere of increasing geopolitical tension worries all those who fear new conflicts on the Balkans," says Djuric. 

The minister adds that Kurti, with his political actions, daily calls into question the support of Kosovo's traditional international supporters, and the opposition in Pristina constantly warns of this.

"If we look at the whole planet, most of the world is on the side of Serbia when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija. Even among those who recognize KiM, support for Kurti is on the decline. In truth, the reactions of part of the international community to the unilateral actions of Pristina have so far been mild or more strongly intoned announcements, which, as it turned out, was not an effective way to restrain Kurti. The political and economic pressures from the international community are simply not strong enough for Pristina to give up the strategy of violently creating a new reality on the ground," says the head of Serbian diplomacy.

However, when it comes to the tactics of certain international power centers and their reluctance to take stronger measures against Pristina, it is possible to speculate. Some countries clearly prioritize their geopolitical interests and find it difficult to give up their entrenched prejudices about Serbia's international orientation, living in the illusion that Kurti is their ally. And the truth is that Kurti's regime, by violating the rights of the Serbs, is precisely canceling, and compromising the efforts that many countries have been making for a quarter of a century to create a functional multi-ethnic society in Kosovo.

"Without a doubt, Kurti's goal is the emigration of Serbs from Kosovo, because where there are no Serbs, there is no Serbian question, nor the need to form the Community of Serbian Municipalities. The victory of such a policy would, however, be a defeat for the international community and an argument more for those who today violate human rights or violate the territorial integrity of internationally recognized states. Europe must show principle by prohibiting anti-civilizational behavior in its own backyard, because any other position would be a negation of basic European values. We are fighting for the acceptance and understanding of such arguments, and thus for the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, but also for peace and stability in the region," Djuric concluded.

Increased presence of KFOR on the Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online) 

Kosovo Online reported today that on the main bridge over the Ibar, since this morning, larger KFOR forces have been visible. In the previous period, there were mainly two carabinieri vehicles on the bridge, and since this morning there are noticeably more vehicles than usual.

In addition to KFOR, EULEX vehicles and a police car are also visible.

There are also workers on the bridge, who are continuing the arrangement that started a few days ago.

The Office for KiM: Broken window at Dragica Gasic's apartment in Djakovica (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)

Dragica Gasic, the only Serbian returnee in Djakovica, today, after returning from treatment in central Serbia, found a stoned and broken window in her bedroom, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced.

"That brave and proud woman, who decided to return to her home and live in Djakovica, from where all Serbs had to move out in order to save their lives, did not deserve this kind of violence and harassment to which she was exposed from the very beginning, nor the hatred that local extremists have for her, just because she is a Serb. Let's recall, extremists pasted pictures of murdered people on her windows, she was forbidden to buy bread in the local market, she was not allowed to replace the door of the apartment that had been broken several times, now it also stoned," the announcement states.

The Office for KiM added the following:

"We request the representatives of the international community in Kosovo and Metohija to exert pressure so that Dragica Gasic and her property are guaranteed safety and inviolability. The broken window of Dragica Gasic's house is a vivid example of how today Serbs live and survive in Kosovo and Metohija, especially returnees and what kind of consequences of the ideology of hatred preached by Albin Kurti and his regime are in reality," they emphasize.

"We are asking those who want to open the bridge over the Ibar in Mitrovica today, how many windows they intend to break in the northern part of the city," they added in the statement.

The office stated that it will help Dragica Gasic to repair the damage and to persevere in her plan not to allow to be driven away from Djakovica, but also to inform all international organizations, especially OEBS, about this incident, the office concludes.

Djordjevic: A/CSM (ZSO) by itself does not solve all problems, but it is an important step (FoNet, Danas, N1)

Green-Left Front MP Biljana Djordjevic told FoNet that the goal in Kosovo should be cooperation between the Serbian and Albanian communities and a better quality of life, which is only possible in the context of a format like the EU.

"The goal should be the sustainability of our society on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, and it implies the cooperation of two peoples, two communities and the improvement of the quality of life of our people," said Djordjevic in the Kosinus interview series about the solution to the Kosovo issue.

This is only possible in the context of a cooperation format such as the EU, she clarified and recalled some examples from history.

"If it worked with enemies like France and Germany, where young Serbs and Albanians are now going to, then it can also work with Serbia and Kosovo," Djordjevic said. 

When asked whether the concept of both Kosovo and the EU was feasible for Serbia, she answered that it might be possible, with some "innovativeness". She believes that the agreement on the Kosovo issue is a reality, and that the two sides agreement is a need, but she sees the problem in implementation.

According to her explanation, "there is no agreement, because the way we are going about it now is secretive, without the involvement of the relevant political and wider layers of society."

She is not optimistic about the dialogue between the two sides, but also about holding an international conference that would eventually lead to a final solution to the Kosovo problem.

"We have an undemocratic dialogue, without the inclusion of those who are most affected by it. On the other hand, I don't see the possibility that the relevant international actors could agree on an international conference," said Djordjevic. However, she believes that even the current form of dialogue does not produce results and usually serves to implement a fait accompli policy on the ground.

When it comes to the A/CSM (ZSO), Djordjevic thinks that its establishment is necessary before a comprehensive agreement that would satisfy both parties.

As she emphasized, "ZSO should ensure autonomy for municipalities with a Serbian majority and a financing system that will ensure that autonomy". This should include education, health, local economic development, and urban planning. It is especially important that the achieved level of economic, social, and cultural rights of the Serbian community is not threatened, Djordjevic emphasized. 

According to her opinion, first of all, "a broad dialogue is needed in which it would be talked about different interpretations of history and war crimes committed by both sides".

"Let's get to the point where neither community anathematizes and calls each other derogatory. We have to have a broad conversation before any mention of the referendum," said Stojkovic and pointed out that even a frozen conflict is not a solution to the Kosovo issue.

"The frozen conflict is talked about as something where you wait for some circumstances to change and then for the weaker side to pull some ace up from its sleeve. However, the Serbian community is weaker. People are leaving, the economy is collapsing, there is no one to protect these people, nor to protect the Serbian cultural heritage. Circumstances are getting worse," said Djordjevic. 

According to her, the conflict in Kosovo is every day, especially since it is transferred from the institutions to the streets.

"I believe that the vast majority of people do not want a conflict, but after Banjska it seemed that we were on the verge of something dangerous," Djordjevic concluded.

According to her, ZSO by itself does not solve all problems, but it is an important step towards solving problems.

On the other hand, Djordjevic believes that the issue of the chair for Kosovo in the UN should not be on the agenda before reaching a comprehensive agreement. She also reminds that Serbia is essentially not asked about it, because it has only one vote in the United Nations Assembly.

"In addition, the executive power in this country has committed itself not to prevent Kosovo and Kosovo's membership in international organizations," Djordjevic recalled. 

She is skeptical about calling a referendum on the status of Kosovo, but also about any other referendum in a country like Serbia, because there is no dialogue in it.

The guest of FoNet's Kosinus conversation series on solving the Kosovo problem was MP and leader of the Ecological Uprising Aleksandar Jovanovic, who said that there is no agreement on ''the status of Kosovo if it implies its independence and said that anyone who is not clear whose Kosovo is should read the Constitution, and that someone is the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic''. 

"Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia, and it should remain so. If those who ask us to recognize Kosovo, treat their Constitutions as sacred, then they will have to accept that our Constitution is also sacred for us and that our Constitution clearly states whose Kosovo it is," Jovanovic said.

On the other hand, he believes that both the EU and Kosovo are possible for Serbia and explains that one does not exclude the other, but that it requires political will.

He sees a potential solution in the Cyprus model, not in a frozen conflict, and reminds that Cyprus was admitted to the EU, despite being divided into the Turkish part, but that this criterion does not apply to us.

"The hypocrisy of the EU is once again shown here. If we wanted a solution for Kosovo, it could be the Cypriot model," said Jovanovic.

He also criticized the international community and "world powers", convinced that a solution for Kosovo could be found in five minutes, if they wanted it.

"Obviously, it does not suit many that life finally starts to be normal in Kosovo, it suits them that everything is unstable. The world powers cannot come to an agreement among themselves, because they have different interests," explained Jovanovic.

There will be peace in Kosovo when the interests of those who rule this part of the world coincide and described Kosovo as a "concentration camp controlled by Albin Kurti, Aleksandar Vucic and the international community."

When it comes to the ACSM, he sees it as an example of the serious hypocrisy of the EU, because it allows the agreement signed not to be respected and implemented.

According to Jovanovic, ''conflicts in Kosovo and in the entire region have already become a normal and regular phenomenon''.

"After everything that has happened to us since the 1990s, people are constantly being pushed into conflicts," he assessed and concluded that "this is the way to rule in Serbia, Bosnia and Kosovo."

Albanians protest in Bujanovac, increased police presence (Danas, bujanovacke.rs)

Albanian flags are flying in the square in Bujanovac, where a protest by Albanians against discrimination, which, according to organizers from the National Council of Albanians (NSA), is being perpetrated against them by the state of Serbia, was scheduled for 11 a.m.

In the center of the city, the presence of increased police is noticeable, reported Danas, citing the bujanovacke.rs portal. 

NSA President Nevzad Lutfiu said on Sunday that the protest was directed exclusively against the Government of Serbia.

- The protest in Bujanovac is directed against the Government of Serbia and the discrimination that is continuously being perpetrated against us, which is increasing more and more. People support the protest, because it received the support of the vast majority of our society - he said.

The protest of Albanians entitled "For dignity and identity" was held today from 11 am, on the town square in Bujanovac. It’s holding comes just two weeks after the change of government in Bujanovac and the departure of the coalition of Albanian parties led by Nagip Arifi, Shaip Kamberi and Shqiprim Musliu - Lutfiju's party boss - into the opposition, reports the portal.

German State Secretary: Lithium will not bring Serbia a discount on its way to the EU (Beta, N1, TAZ)

State Secretary at the German Ministry of Economy, Franziska Brantner, stated that the eventual lithium exploitation project will not affect the process of Serbia's European integration, in which the rule of law and democracy are the central points, reported N1. 

"There will be no discount because of lithium when it comes to the rule of law, nor with regard to Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina," said the politician of the German Greens to the Berlin daily TAZ.

Brantner added that the Greens have always advocated for civil society in Serbia.

"In order to empower them, we managed, for example, to achieve that (mining company) Rio Tinto will form a permanent advisory body composed of representatives of civil society," said Brantner, who deals with raw materials issues in the Ministry of Economy and Climate.

She said that in Serbia "the local population and the opposition rightly demand that state institutions apply standards in the field of ecology", and that "at the same time, it is good that European reserves are exploited and processed in a European manner".

In this way, the increased influence of China on important European resources is prevented, Brantner said, adding that she doubts that democracy, the environment, and the local population would fare better with a Serbian Chinese partnership.

Brantner assessed that it is also an opportunity to show the whole world that German and European companies can make a difference and that the exploitation and processing of raw materials can be much more environmentally acceptable than it has been so far.

According to her, Rio Tinto has committed to respect the European Union environmental laws, although they are only partially in force in Serbia, adding that the EU will be constantly present with its experience and advice.

The goal is to limit the damage to a minimum, since the exploitation of raw materials always affects nature, which is also known in Germany, from coal mining to gravel extraction, Brantner said.

Brantner, accompanied by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, was in Belgrade on July 19, when the Memorandum on Strategic Partnership between the EU and Serbia in the field of sustainable raw materials was signed. At that time, she also met with representatives of the opposition and civil society who oppose the lithium mining project in the Jadar river valley, near Loznica.

International 

‘Not Real Facts’: In Court, Chroniclers of Kosovo’s Guerrilla Fight Disavow Writings (Balkan insight)

One by one, former guerrilla fighters and Kosovar reporters are disavowing the books they wrote about the 1998-99 war as prosecutors seek to use them as evidence to convict ex-KLA commanders of war crimes.

Skender Zhitia could never have known that when he wrote about his time as a guerrilla with the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, his book would later be cited by war crimes prosecutors seeking to convict his former comrades-in-arms.

First came the headlines in Kosovo newspapers saying his book about the KLA’s northeastern Llap operational zone during the 1998-99 war had helped convict Salih Mustafa, who in December 2022 became the first former guerrilla found guilty by a court in The Hague specifically created to try alleged KLA crimes during and just after the conflict.

Now Zhitia faces having to testify for the prosecution in the trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other former high-ranking KLA members – Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

Zhitia says his book – published in cooperation with Kosovo’s Public Institute of History – should not be used by the court, and he’s not the only one.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/y42ju7xe