• Kosovo-Serbia normalisation deal still unimplemented (BIRN)
• Rasic does not know yet if he will be part of Kurti 3 government (Indeksonline)
• Amidst disagreements and cooperation: Relations between north municipalities and new govt (RFE)
• AARC welcomes US intention to resume strategic dialogue with Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: Justice and facts in Kosovo’s defense and against Serbia’s propaganda (media)
• Veliu: Resignation is not a weakness, but an act of force and political maturity (media)
• German Deputy Ambassador meets KSF Commander Jashari (media)
• Flooding in Kosovo: PR as a substitute for a civil emergency response (PI)
• Ivanovic: Truth behind Oliver’s assassination only after this regime falls (Danas)

Kosovo-Serbia normalisation deal still unimplemented (BIRN)

Experts say obstacles created by both Serbia and Kosovo, as well as EU passivity, are most to blame for the failure to take the 2023 normalisation deal between the two countries forwards.

“The absence of the normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade continues to hold back both partners on their European path,” a declaration adopted at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels in December said.

“All agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue must be implemented, in particular the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Annex,” the declaration urged.

It highlighted that financial support for Kosovo and Serbia under the Western Balkans Reform and Growth Facility “is conditioned on the partners’ constructive engagement with measurable progress and tangible results in the normalisation of their relations”.

The statement refers to the March 2023 verbal agreement reached between Kosovo’s and Serbia’s leaders, Albin Kurti and Aleksandar Vucic, brokered under European Union auspices. This laid out seven steps to implement a document reached the previous month, which committed both states to “normal, good-neighbourly relations with each other on the basis of equal rights” – a quarter-century after Kosovo broke away from Serbia and 15 years after it declared independence.

Almost three years on, neither the deal nor its annex have been implemented. 

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/34mhbdhp

Rasic does not know yet if he will be part of Kurti 3 government (Indeksonline)

Leader of the Party for Freedom, Justice and Survival, Nenad Rasic, said in an interview with the news website today, that he does not know yet if he will be part of a new government led by Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti. “I don’t know yet if I will be a minister. We still have not had any discussion with the Prime Minister designate,” he said.

Rasic, who was Minister for Communities and Returns, was asked if he would be nominated to lead the ministry again. “I will reply with a little bit of humor: if it happens, then it would be the third time’s a charm. It is possible that I will be nominated,” he said.

Amidst disagreements and cooperation: Relations between north municipalities and new govt (RFE)

A strict respect for the law and equal treatment for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background, is key to the cooperation between the Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo and the government of Kosovo, former deputy chair of the Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly, Skender Sadiku, said in an interview with Radio Free Europe. He said he hopes that politicians from the biggest party of Kosovo Serbs, the Serbian List, and from the winning party of the December 28 snap parliamentary elections, the Vetevendosje Movement, have “learned the lesson”, and that they will set aside disagreements for the good of all people.

The Serbian List took power in the northern municipalities in December last year, after it had withdrawn in November 2022 in protest to the decisions of the Kosovo government. So far, the Serbian List has accused the government of caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti of “repression” against the Serb population over the implementation of several decisions and the closure of institutions that operate according to Serbia’s system. On the other hand, Kurti has a critical stance toward the Serbian List and does not want it as a partner in his government. In his public appearances, he usually refers to the party as “a political instrument” of Belgrade.

Vetevendosje representatives at the Central Election Commission tried three times in 2025 to prevent the Serbian List from taking part in the election. During the campaign for local elections in 2025, Kurti called on the Serb community not to believe “the war-mongering calls by different senior officials in Belgrade” and said that he does not agree that a single party, namely the Serbian List, should have “the monopoly over the votes and representation of the Serb community”.

Aleksandar Rapajic from the NGO Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture, based in Mitrovica North, said he believes that in the coming period there will be clashes between the northern municipalities and the central government in Pristina, especially between the local governments and the Ministry for Local Government.

The Serbian List has earlier implied that it will annul several decisions made by the Albanian mayors in the northern municipalities in the period May 2023 to October 2025. In mid-December 2025, municipal assembly members in Mitrovica North, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok, voted to withdraw from the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, but in order for the decision to be valid it needs to be approved by the respective ministry.

There were “disagreements” on January 6 too, on the eve of Orthodox Christmas, when Mitrovica North Mayor Milan Radojevic adopted the placing of a banner with a religious message which was initially stopped by the Kosovo Police saying that a permit was required by the Ministry of Local Government. Several hours later however, police returned the banner to the Serbian List which then placed the banner downtown.

Radio Free Europe sent questions to the Serbian List and the caretaker government about their mutual cooperation but they did not respond.

AARC welcomes US intention to resume strategic dialogue with Kosovo (media)

Several news websites report that the Albanian-American Relations Council (AARC) has issued a statement welcoming the United States’ indicated intention to resume the strategic dialogue with Kosovo. “While the dialogue has not yet formally resumed, this expressed willingness presents an important opportunity for a new beginning and a meaningful reset of a relationship vital to both countries. Over the past several years, U.S.–Kosovo relations have faced notable strain. This has been reflected in the suspension—and later restart—of key initiatives, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, as well as the pause in the Strategic Dialogue itself, following what the U.S. Department of State characterized as “unilateral actions.” These challenges were real and consequential. Restoring formal dialogue would therefore signal a readiness by both sides to move forward constructively and with greater coordination. Kosovo’s recent elections not only reaffirm the country’s commitment to democratic processes, but also reflect growing public frustration with the international—at times unjust—pressure Kosovo has faced during this period. That sentiment must be taken seriously by the United States as it considers broader strategic engagement with Kosovo. The elections provide both a mandate and an opportunity to consolidate institutions capable of charting a new course and re-anchoring relations with Washington on a more stable footing. There is a clear and enduring common interest in a strong, stable, and sovereign Kosovo. At a time of mounting global security challenges and destabilizing pressures from the East, Kosovo’s role as a reliable partner in the Western Balkans remains strategically important. This has been demonstrated by sustained U.S. military and security support, even during periods of diplomatic strain—reflecting a long-term commitment that should be met with corresponding political seriousness. The stated intention by the United States to restore the Strategic Dialogue is an important gesture. Kosovo must now respond with a meaningful gesture of its own—one that demonstrates strategic maturity and a genuine commitment to resetting the relationship. Central to this effort should be securing a long-overdue visit by Prime Minister Kurti to Washington. Kosovo should build upon the important and consistent work carried out by President Osmani in maintaining and deepening ties with Washington, even during difficult moments. That effort must now be reinforced across the entire government. Sustaining and expanding engagement at all levels will be essential to ensuring that any renewed Strategic Dialogue delivers tangible, lasting results. AARC stands ready to support this new chapter and strongly encourages the new Government of Kosovo to seize this moment to fully restore and strengthen its strategic partnership with the United States—grounded in mutual respect, democratic values, and shared strategic interests,” the statement notes.

Osmani: Justice and facts in Kosovo’s defense and against Serbia’s propaganda (media)

Most news websites report that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has shared a video from a speech that she gave at the United Nations Security Council session on Kosovo. In the video, captioned “Justice and facts! 5 years without stopping in defense of Kosovo and against Serbia's propaganda!” Osmani refutes claims made at the time by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. “I would like to invite each and every member of this Council to actually visit the Republic of Kosovo, so that you can see for yourself the progress we have made, the democracy that is thriving, and then you can understand and decide whether you want to believe your own eyes or his lies. I spoke about the Kosovo of today. But the Kosovo of today is also shaped by the pains of the past because of one simple reason, because of the lack of justice. We all know and we have learned from history that peace requires dealing with the past. And in that sense, instead of spewing propaganda, Vucic today should have told us whether he regrets belonging to belonging a regime that caused more than 150,000 civilians killed. Whether he regrets anything from his career in the 1990s, whether he regrets calling for genocide in Srebrenica from his parliament,” Osmani said at the time. 

See more at: https://tinyurl.com/mryjxcf8

Veliu: Resignation is not a weakness, but an act of force and political maturity (media)

Former MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Agim Veliu reacted to the party’s bad results in the December 28 parliamentary elections, saying that it is a clear signal that should not be ignored. “This is a message from the people and such messages requires deep reflection and political accountability. In democracy, accountability is a precondition for trust, and resignation is not a weakness but rather an act of force and political maturity. Therefore, the door is open,” Veliu said in a Facebook post, sending an indirect message to LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku.

German Deputy Ambassador meets KSF Commander Jashari (media)

German Deputy Ambassador in Kosovo Christian Bottcher met with the Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Bashkim Jashari, and they discussed the transformation process and the future of the Kosovo Security Force, the German Embassy said in a Facebook post. “The Commander expressed his gratitude for Germany’s long-standing support in the development of the KSF. Bottcher reaffirmed that Germany will continue to stand by Kosovo and emphasized Germany’s commitment to seeing Kosovo and its security institutions as part of a common and integrated European security architecture. Bottcher also expressed his appreciation for the strong and constructive cooperation with the KSF,” the post notes.

Flooding in Kosovo: PR as a substitute for a civil emergency response (PI)

Instead of using their expensive filming equipment, bought with public funds, to instruct citizens on how to mitigate the risks of this natural disaster, Kosovo politicians visited flooded areas across the country to film PR stunts.

On the cold night of January 6, dozens of families in Kosovo were forced to abandon their lives and homes due to flooding and nationwide reflection should have been profound. Fortunately, there have been no casualties by the time of publication, but images from that night show that the danger was real.

Expensive camera equipment bought with public funds were used to photograph politicians during their visits to the flooded areas of Kosovo this week, as resources that should have been directed towards emergency communication were used for political promotion rather than to instruct citizens.

In recent days, there have been no public alerts instructing citizens on how to prevent or mitigate flooding risks. Instead they were sent professionally produced posts, shot with expensive equipment and cameras, promoting politicians’ intensified engagement in responding to the crisis.

Teams from the Ministry agencies deployed on the ground in flood-risk areas on January 7, 2026. Photo courtesy of Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Facebook account.

Beyond corruption in procurement, construction, and the exploitation of riverbeds, the recent floods once again revealed the systematic failure of Kosovo’s institutions to protect citizens and their property by failing to issue even basic warnings and guidance about flood risks.

In this digital age, Kosovo’s Agency of Emergency Management has failed to establish a hazard alert system. Consequently, citizens remain exposed to winter floods, frosts, and avalanches, and summer lightning, fires, and other dangers—threats that modern technology could easily help them avoid.

In a world where technology makes disasters predictable—floods, frosts, snow, even fires—Kosovo remains digitally unprepared. Bureaucracy and corruption continue to cost the citizens of Kosovo dearly.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2tyke8td

Ivanovic: Truth behind Oliver’s assassination only after this regime falls (Danas)

MP from the People’s Movement of Serbia (NPS) Aleksandar Ivanovic said in an interview with Danas that the truth behind the assassination of Kosovo Serb political representative Oliver Ivanovic will be found out when the current regime in Serbia falls. He argues that for political reasons it is not known who ordered the crime. “Almost eight years later, Serbia has almost done nothing to find out who killed Oliver Ivanovic and why. The fact that those who ordered it is not a coincidence but a political decision … For years we have been hearing that ‘the truth will come out soon’. Truth never comes out by itself, someone needs to reveal it, and this regime obviously doesn’t want to do that. Why? We will find out only after they no longer run this country,” he said.