Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti wants normalisation of relations with Serbia before U.S. and EU elections (media)
• Macron’s call for new elections; Zvecan mayor says they can withdraw (Indeksonline)
• European Commission says it is focused on enlargement not timelines (RFE)
• Haradinaj: Kurti and Nagavci should apologise to Kosovo (Koha)
• If EU measures remain in force, Kosovo’s economy can become paralysed (Demokracia)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic tomorrow with Lajcak and Turner (Kosovo Online)
• Pristina's unilateral moves obstructing the further flow of talks, said Dacic in a meeting with Peach (Kosovo Online)
• Momcilo Trajkovic: I was hold for two hours at the administrative crossing when entering central Serbia, and I know why (Danas, KiM radio)
• In Gracanica protest over the beating of a Roma by the KP (Kosovo Online, KiM radio, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Can Kosovo Local Serbs Escape Political Instrumentalization? (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Premier Urges Fixing Ties With Serbia Before US Elections (Bloomberg)
• From Algorithms to Headlines: Ethical Issues in AI-driven Reporting (BIRN)
• Junior Partner in Serbian Govt Urges Accession to BRICS (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Over €1.5 million for Centers sheltering victims of domestic violence (RTK)
• Roma protest against violence claimed to have been perpetrated against community member (Koha)

   

Albanian Language Media  

  Kurti wants normalisation of relations with Serbia before U.S. and EU elections (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in an interview with Bloomberg in Slovenia that Kosovo and Serbia need to normalise their relations, before their allies become preoccupied with elections in the United States and the European Union. He said “there is a sense of urgency to implement the agreement and normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on a mutual de-facto recognition, at the latest by spring next year”.

Kurti also said he is ready to organise new elections in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo, in line with the agreement reached with EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak.

Commenting on the measures against Kosovo, Kurti said “the measures are damaging us in terms of financial support and funds, grants, and loans that we receive from the EU. They are damaing our state agencies and the business community”. 

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2pkekwnj Macron’s call for new elections; Zvecan mayor says they can withdraw (Indeksonline)

French President Emmanuel Macron recently called on Kosovo and Serbia to fully engage to organise new elections in the north of Kosovo. 

Mayor of Zvecan municipality, Ilir Peci, meanwhile said it would be good to have a meeting between the mayors of the four northern municipalities and the Prime Minister or the President and that he believes there would be an understanding for the mayors to withdraw without having to follow other procedures. “It [the resignations] would be more efficient than other procedures. The procedure of 20 percent is longer and cannot be implemented in some municipalities in the north. It would be much better for the Prime Minister or the President to invite us and I believe that for the good of the people and the state we could reach an agreement. So far, we haven’t received any invitation for a meeting,” Peci told Indeksonline today.

Peci also said that as mayor of Zvecan he is not being consulted by the government for the decisions that are being made. He also did not want to comment on the administrative directive that is being prepared by the Ministry for Local Government.

European Commission says it is focused on enlargement not timelines (RFE)

The European Commission is not focused on timelines in the enlargement process but to help candidate countries advance in the process, EC spokeswoman Dana Spinat said today. She made these remarks during a press conference in Brussels today, following a proposal by the President of the EU Council, Charles Michel, for 2030 to be set as a deadline by when the current candidate countries and the EU should be ready for enlargement.

As she acknowledged that the enlargement is a priority policy for the European Commission, Spinat said “we are not focused on timelines, but to help the candidates meet the criteria and be ready”. “The President [of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen] specifically said how committed we are to make the enlargement successful. We always said that enlargement is a priority and that the candidates will become members when they are ready. We have worked closely with the candidates to help them implement the reforms,” she added.

Spinat said the process must remain a merit-based process and that the candidates should move forward in line with their success in meeting the criteria. She also said that the EU leaders will discuss enlargement at the summit in Granada, Spain, on October 5. “We have the tools to help the candidates get closer to the EU even before becoming members. The Commission has proved how committed it is to keep the enlargement process a priority,” she said.

Spinat also said that she “is not aware there were contacts between Michel and Ursula von der Leyen on the issue” before Michel made his proposal.

Haradinaj: Kurti and Nagavci should apologise to Kosovo (Koha)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, said today that he doesn’t understand “the insolence” of Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Education Minister Arberie Nagavci on supplying pupils with school books. After meeting the head of the Education Union Rrahman Jasharaj, Haradinaj said Kurti and Nagavci should apologise to Kosovo and that parents will find it difficult to secure school books for their children. “Many parents are faced with economic difficulties. The schoolbooks might not be their priority … I don’t understand the insolence of Kurti and the minister, at least they can apologise to Kosovo. Kosovo pays them in spring so that the issue of the schoolbooks is finalised by autumn. Those people ridicule everyone. This situation should have been different if conditions were normal,” he added.

Haradinaj said he favours a no-confidence motion against the Kurti-led government. “Many people are calling on our government to turn to our allies, the U.S., NATO and the EU, but unfortunately, Kurti and this government are choosing another path. The consequences for Kosovo are mounting and the predictions are not positive. The motion is the best, most legitimate and democratic, way forward. The opposition has enough votes to initiate the motion, and then we would need the help of other MPs too. I hope that we will manage to reach unity in the opposition. But yes, it is an option,” he said.

If EU measures remain in force, Kosovo’s economy can become paralysed (Demokracia)

It has been two months since the European Union introduced measures against Kosovo after the government failed to implement the European plan to de-escalate the situation in the north. Although an agreement was reached in Bratislava about the de-escalation steps, the measures are still in force. 

Head of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, Lulzim Rafuna, said he hopes the measures will be short-term. “It depends how long they will remain in force, but we hope they will be short-term and we call for the measures to be lifted as soon as possible so that Kosovo can again have a positive image among investors and not be seen as a country with penalty measures … We saw the case with the digitalisation fund, where all countries from the region took part and signed agreements, while this right was denied to Kosovo precisely because of the EU measures. We need to be careful because we are a young state and we need development and progress,” he argued.

As a result of EU measures, Kosovo’s Ministry of Economy confirmed that Kosovo was left outside the EU program for the Balkans worth €7.5 billion which aims to accelerate digital transformation and secure funds for projects in technology and innovation.

     

Serbian Language Media

  Vucic tomorrow with Lajcak and Turner (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet tomorrow with the European Union's special representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and other regional issues of the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak, as well as with United States Congressman Michael Turner.

Vucic will first meet with Turner in the building of the General Secretariat of the President at 10 a.m., while the conversation with Lajcak is scheduled for noon, reported Kosovo Online portal. 

The portal recalled that last night in Bled, Lajcak met with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and as he announced after this meeting, the primary topic of conversation was the preparations for the next high-level meeting within the dialogue in September with a focus on the normalization of relations and the implementation of the European declaration of June 3.

Serbian media reported that Vucic said he expects a lot of pressure regarding Kosovo in the coming months and added that it will not be easy for Serbia.

"I expect a lot of pressure and threats and the implementation of those threats into deeds in Kosovo by those who are insufficiently responsible and do not understand that peace is not only in the interest of Serbs, but also of Albanians. It seems that the months ahead will not be easy," Vucic was quoted as saying during a tour of the final works on the complete reconstruction of the bridge over the Mlava River in Petrovac.

Pristina's unilateral moves obstructing the further flow of talks, said Dacic in a meeting with Peach (Kosovo Online)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, pointed out during the meeting with the special envoy of the Prime Minister of Great Britain for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, and the Minister of State of the United Kingdom, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, that Serbia appreciates the understanding of the Serbian position regarding Kosovo, as well as an objective assessment of the new situation. reported Kosovo Online.

The head of Serbian diplomacy noted that Pristina's unilateral moves are obstructing the further flow of talks, but that Serbia remains determined in its policy of preserving peace and stability in the region despite the provocations.

Dacic spoke with Peach and Ahmad on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum and about bilateral relations between Serbia and Great Britain, cooperation in the field of economy and energy, the issue of Kosovo, the war in Ukraine, as well as other current international issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

During the meeting, interest was expressed in improving the political dialogue at a high, and highest level in the coming period.

The interlocutors also agreed that there are additional opportunities for strengthening cooperation between Serbia and Great Britain.

Momcilo Trajkovic: I was hold for two hours at the administrative crossing when entering central Serbia, and I know why (Danas, KiM radio)

The president of the Serbian National Council (SNV), Momcilo Trajkovic, published a video on Facebook in which he claims that he was held for two hours at the administrative crossing when entering central Serbia from Kosovo, reported Danas daily. 

He also says that his documents were taken from him and noted that the police officers were extremely fair.

"I know the reason for this tightening of measures against me. It was our decision to organize the Serbian National Council (SNV), a large gathering, where we wanted to express our dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, we could not hold it on August 26 because we were not allowed a hall. But I tell Vucic that we will hold it, and I will continue to wait if necessary. I'll wait, and I hope I'll see the day when it turns dark for you too, because 'no one's candle was burning until dawn', neither will yours Vucic,'' Trajkovic said in the video.

This was condemned by the lawyer and activist from North Mitrovica Marko Jaksic, who said that Trajkovic unfortunately was not the only Serb from Kosovo who is against the regime and still lives in the southern province. 

Danas reported that Trajkovic did not specify who was keeping him, Serbian or Kosovo police officers, and Jaksic wrote in one of the following tweets that the SNF (SNV) president was kept on the Serbian side.

In Gracanica protest over the beating of a Roma by the KP (Kosovo Online, KiM radio, KoSSev)

Members of the Roma community gathered today in Gracanica at a protest organized by the Association of Roma in Kosovo "Opre Roma", due to the beating of B. I. by the Kosovo Police, reported Kosovo Online. 

Those gathered in front of the police station shouted, "Stop the violence", "We want equal justice for everyone"...

The Association "Opre Roma" claims that B.I. was brutally beaten in the police station in Gracanica on August 19, and that he had to seek medical help after his release from custody.

"When we heard and saw that, we started to investigate and decided to organize this protest because it is not the first time that something like this has happened in Kosovo. We have cases in Obilic where some Roma were also beaten inside the police station, however, they are afraid to raise their voice. If we, as Roma, are afraid to raise our voice against the brutalities that are happening against us, then we will never come out of that shadow of brutality, from the shadow of discrimination that the state perpetrates on us," said the representative of that association, Sebastijan Serifovic.

According to the Roma Association, B.I. was taken to the police station to give a statement regarding a conflict with a resident of Gracanica.

They point out that no one took a statement from him at the police station, because he only speaks Dutch, Romani, and German, claiming that he only received a fine and that he was brutally beaten.

"The case has also been initiated in the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo. B. I. received several calls from the Inspectorate, which is very encouraging to him, meaning that the case is ongoing," said Serifovic.

     

Opinion 

  Can Kosovo Local Serbs Escape Political Instrumentalization? (Prishtina Insight) Opinion piece by Shpat Balaj from the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, written as part of the project “The Western Balkans at a Crossroads: Democratic Backsliding and External Actors’ Influence” led by the Prague Security Studies Institute.  The Serbian community in Kosovo is often overlooked in the midst of uncertain political situations.  They feel that they are not adequately represented in Kosovo and that the central institutions are falling short in their attempts to promote clear and effective communication between different ethnic groups, according to a survey conducted by the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies. On the other hand, this community holds a more positive view of how their municipalities are handling inter-ethnic relations. The survey data underscore the role of municipalities in promoting direct communication, ensuring adequate representation and accessibility to institutions. However, the instrumentalization of the Serbian community in Kosovo by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has weakened the political agency of this community at the local level.  Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yp289fp3      

International 

  Kosovo Premier Urges Fixing Ties With Serbia Before US Elections (Bloomberg)

Serbia and Kosovo need to pursue a deal to mend ties before their allies become preoccupied with elections in the US and the European Union, according to the Kosovar prime minister.

“There is this sense of urgency to implement the agreement and normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on a mutual de-facto recognition, at the latest by spring next year,” Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in an interview in Brdo, Slovenia on Monday.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2pkekwnj From Algorithms to Headlines: Ethical Issues in AI-driven Reporting (BIRN)

AI is reshaping journalism and the way we get and consume information - but the risk of deepening existing distrust in the media needs addressing, especially in the Balkans.

In the age of the digital revolution, where artificial intelligence, AI, intertwines with our daily lives, a profound ethical dilemma has arisen. This dilemma has shaken the foundations of truth, especially in the realm of media reporting. This specter goes by many names, but we commonly know it as “fake news”.

AI significantly facilitates all aspects of people's daily and business lives but also brings challenges. Some ethical issues arising from the development and application of AI are alignment, responsibility, bias and discrimination, job loss, data privacy, security, deepfakes, trust, and lack of transparency.

AI has tremendously impacted various sectors and industries, including media and journalism. It has created different tools for automating routine tasks that save time and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of news reporting, content creation, and personalizing content for individual readers, enhancing ad campaigns and marketing strategies.

At the same time, AI poses enormous ethical challenges, such as privacy and transparency and deepfakes. Lack of transparency leads to biased or inaccurate reporting, undermining public trust in the media. There’s the question of truth: How do we discern fact from fabrication in an age where AI can craft stories so convincingly real? Further, there’s the matter of agency: Are we, as consumers of news, becoming mere pawns in a giant game of AI-driven agendas?

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3fjf32bu

Junior Partner in Serbian Govt Urges Accession to BRICS (BIRN)

A pro-Russian junior partner in Serbia’s ruling coalition has submitted to parliament a resolution seeking the country’s accession to the BRICS bloc as a “clear alternative” to Serbia’s “so-called” European Union accession path.

The resolution comes after Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the current members of the BRICS bloc, announced this month they would take in six new members, accelerating the bloc’s push to reshuffle the world order. Dozens more countries voiced interest.

The Socialist Movement, PS, is led by Aleksandar Vulin, head of Serbia’s chief intelligence agency and who was blacklisted by the United States in July for alleged corruption and promoting Russian interests.

The PS is in coalition with the dominant Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, and has been in government for a decade. During the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, Vulin was a close political ally of Mira Markovic, wife of then-Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic.

“Aware of the fact that the world we live in is changing irrevocably, we express the need to open a broad social dialogue before the public of the Republic of Serbia about the indisputable fact that Serbia’s so-called European path has a clear alternative embodied in the process of joining the BRICS organisation, as currently the most current global economic-political integrative process,” the lawmakers state in the resolution.

Read more at: https://rb.gy/az80w        

Humanitarian/Development

  Over €1.5 million for Centers sheltering victims of domestic violence (RTK)

"Around €1.5 million have been allocated this year by the Ministry of Justice, for organizations that shelter victims of domestic violence. From this, around €70 thousand have been allocated for the shelter in Mitrovica", says a press release from the Ministry of Justice.

According to the announcement, Minister Haxhiu and Deputy Minister Qorrolli visited the Center for the Protection of Women and Children "Raba Voca" in Mitrovica on Monday.

The announcement states that the Center for the Protection of Women and Children has sheltered 80 survivors of domestic violence during these 8 months.

Minister Haxhiu and Deputy Minister Qorrolli were informed there by the director, Fidane Hyseni, that there are mainly no problems in this center and that the cooperation with the Kosovo police is extremely good and effective. In this meeting, the Minister and the deputy were informed that the municipalities of Mitrovica, Skenderaj and Vushtrri have not yet signed the agreement with the shelter for financial support. 

"The minister informed them about the actions she has taken in relation to this issue and promised that she will be in communication with the persons responsible for solving this issue", the announcement states.

Haxhiu and Qorolli also visited the site where works for the construction of the new shelter have started with the support of UNOPS.

Roma protest against violence claimed to have been perpetrated against community member (Koha)

Some Roma citizens are protesting in front of the Police Station in Gracanica, against the violence that is said to have been perpetrated against a member of the Roma community by some police officers in this Municipality. The protest was called by the organization Opre Roma Kosova.

"Stop the brutality against the Roma", "There is no more tolerance for the beating of the Roma", "Dismissal for the perpetrators" and "What is the law for", are some of the banners that the protesters held in their hands.

The case has also been sent to the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo (IPK), this institution has confirmed that it has received a complaint in which it is claimed that a citizen of the Roma community, on August 18, was brutally beaten by 4-5 police officers inside the police station in Gracanica.

"IPK confirms that it has received the complaint from the citizen in question and the same is in the preliminary investigation phase. Other actions will be taken depending on the findings of the investigation and in accordance with the legal authorizations of the IPK", says the response of the IPK to Koha.