Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to meet the German emissary Sarrazin today (media)
• EU on Bislimi's condition for elections in north: To be announced as soon as possible (Express)
• Szunyog and Abdixiku talk about situation in north and fight in Assembly (RTK)
• New policemen from communities, 45 of them Serb, start work in the north (Koha)
• Threats against Serb policemen who have just started serving in KP begin (Kosovapress)
• The Czech Republic appoints an ambassador to Kosovo for the first time (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila warns of criminal charges against Simic and media that published recordings (Koha)
• AAK asks opposition to support motion to overthrow government (Koha)

Serbian Language Media: 

• "Unfortunately for Kurti, truth is slightly different” – Danas interlocutors on his statement that Serbs in Kosovo live better than those in Serbia (Danas)
• Arsenijevic reacts to Kurti’s interview for Vecernji list (social media)
• Haradinaj: After US sanctions on Vulin, Kurti fears he can become next (Radio KIM, BETA)
• Drecun: Pristina laying groundwork for further escalation (Tanjug)
• Vucic receives credentials of seven new ambassadors (Tanjug)

   

Albanian Language Media  

  Kurti to meet the German emissary Sarrazin today (media)

Germany's emissary for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, will visit Kosovo today. In a press release, the government announced that the meeting between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and the German emissary will take place in the evening at 21:30 hours, but without giving any other details about the meeting.

However, it is expected that the topic of discussion will be the developments in the north and the holding of early elections there, but also the implementation of the Agreements reached in Brussels and Ohrid.

The announcement of the executive has not announced whether there will be a press conference after the meeting.

EU on Bislimi's condition for elections in north: To be announced as soon as possible (Express)

The head of the Kosovo negotiating team and the number two of the Government of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, in a statement made on Monday, said that Kosovo should not announce new elections in the four municipalities in the north until the European Union lifts the measures against Kosovo.

In a response to Gazeta Express, a spokesman for the European Union has said that they do not comment on the statements of Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.

"We do not comment on comments. We, however, take the opportunity to reiterate that the EU expects the parties to implement the EU's requirements as described in EU statement 27 of June 3, 2023. This clearly states that early elections must be announced as soon as possible and organised in a fully inclusive manner in all four Kosovo Serb municipalities in the north. Kosovo Serbs are expected to participate in these elections", said this spokesperson of the European Union for the Express newspaper.

As for the measures and their removal, he said that those measures are temporary and can be removed depending on actions on the ground and decisions on de-escalation that can be taken by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.

Szunyog and Abdixiku talk about situation in north and fight in Assembly (RTK)

Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Tomas Szunyog met with the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku. In a posting on Twitter, Szunyog said that they discussed about the situation in Kosovo.

“This morning, with Mr. Lumir Abdixhiku of LDK, we exchanged views on the latest political developments, the latest events in the Assembly and the situation in the north. In order to address the current challenges, constructive engagement and political consensus is needed from all", he tweeted.

New policemen from communities, 45 of them Serb, start work in the north (Koha)

New police officers from all non-majority communities have started work on Monday in the north of Kosovo. This institution has announced that 45 of them belong to the Serb community, 16 Bosniaks, three Turks and eight members of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.

The Deputy Director of Police for the northern region of Mitrovica, Veton Elshani, has informed Koha that the new policemen have been distributed throughout the northern territory of Kosovo. He further said that it is not known if their number will increase in the coming days.

"They will continue to train for the next two or three months", Elshani said further.

The young policemen are part of a group of 418 cadets who graduated from the Kosovo Police. The competition for the recruitment of new police officers, which was announced earlier this month in all regions, will last until Wednesday.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti through a post on Twitter has wished success to the young policemen who have started their work in the north of Kosovo.

Policemen of the Serb community left this institution last November, taking off their uniforms.

Threats against Serb policemen who have just started serving in KP begin (Kosovapress)

Serbian social networks have published the photos and names of five young Serbian members who have just started their duties in the Kosovo Police. The publication was made by the Serbian channel t.me/BunkerSrb on the Russian Telegram platform.

"The list of Serbs from the north of Kosovo who today started working in the so-called Kosovo Police", reads the post. Furthermore, the names and surnames of these Serb police officers have been published. The post continued with the threat, saying that "this is not the final list, and that others will be published later."

Kosovapress has hidden the identity of the threatened Serbs, so as not to contribute to the increase of threats against them and published only initials of their names.

The Czech Republic appoints an ambassador to Kosovo for the first time (RTK)

After 15 years since the recognition of Kosovo's independence, the Czech Republic is sending an ambassador to Kosovo for the first time. He will be Bohumil Mazanek, a career diplomat, former ambassador to Lithuania, consul general in Shanghai and Katowice and chargé d'affaires in Thailand.

This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in today's press release.

The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, at the proposal of the Government, has appointed 26 new ambassadors of the Czech Republic to the world, including Bohumil Mazanek in Kosovo, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

"The Ministry wants diplomatic relations with Kosovo to be at the highest level, because it is necessary to correct the absurd issue that the Czech Republic recognizes the independence of Kosovo, has an embassy in the country but does not have an ambassador", said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Daniel Drake.

Kusari-Lila warns of criminal charges against Simic and media that published recordings (Koha)

The head of the Parliamentary Group of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) Mimoza Kusari-Lila has said that she is preparing two criminal charges, one against the former MP of the Serbian List, Slavko Simic, and one against the "Nacionale" portal that published her recordings of a conversation with Simic. She called these recordings illegal.

"We had a debate on the opposition's request to discuss the illegal recordings, and in the whole discussion every day after the publication either to journalists or to opinion writers, I answered and I did not hesitate. The questions that have been made are more of a speculative nature and aimed at political attacks". 

"Of course, the opposition has the opportunity to call an extraordinary session. They were not eavesdropping by judicial bodies, but illegal recordings. I have prepared two criminal reports, one for ex-MP Slavko Simic and one for the 'Nacionale' portal", Kusari-Lila said.

AAK asks opposition to support motion to overthrow government (Koha)

The head of MPs of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Besnik Tahiri has requested that their motion of no confidence in the government be supported by the opposition.

According to him, the September sessions should aim at overthrowing the government. He confirmed that the overthrow of the government will not be done by the votes of the Serbian List.

"This period should not be repeated, this government this year is being characterised as the weakest government. As a Parliamentary Group, we will not make any quorum and we will not vote on any bill", he said. "This government does not deserve any support, we voted for the international agreements. We, as the opposition, must push the motion forward and there is an agreement on this issue, and in September we must have the no-confidence motion on the agenda," Tahiri said.

   

Serbian Language Media

  Unfortunately for Kurti, truth is slightly different” – Danas interlocutors on his statement that Serbs in Kosovo live better than those in Serbia (Danas)

Has Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti official data to prove his statement? Serbs in Kosovo live in a mix of segregation and intimidation, complete insecurity for their children, their properties and themselves. It is yet another lie and manipulation by Kurti, targeting primarily the public in the West, interlocutors told Danas daily commenting on Kurti’s statement that Serbs in Kosovo live better than Serbs in Serbia.

In an interview with Zagreb-based Vecernji list, Kurti said, among other things, that "in the north of Kosovo, there are peaceful and good days whenever there is no order from Belgrade for violence", adding that "Serbs in Kosovo live much better than Serbs in Serbia, but criminals in Serbia live much better than in Kosovo."

Marko Jaksic, former close associate of late leader of Civic Initiative Freedom, Democracy, Justice (SDP) Oliver Ivanovic and former Mitrovica North municipal assembly councillor told Danas daily it was about yet another Kurti’s lie and manipulation, targeting primarily the public in the West.

“All the time, with the aim of discrediting us, he links us Serbs from northern Kosovo with Russians and Wagner, calls us fascist militias, while now he is trying to spin how we are doing well under his police ethnocracy and occupation. If there are bases and checkpoints of the special police everywhere, which at the same time for no reasons walk around Kosovska Mitrovica and other places in the north permanently armed with long-barrelled weapons and in armoured vehicles, if it is legitimate that Albanian mayors with the support of two percent of citizens forcefully rule the lives of the majority of 98 percent, it is normal for people to be randomly arrested for war crimes and terrorism just because they are Serbs, and institutional discrimination is ubiquitous, if all this is something completely normal for modern democracies and today’s Europe, then what Kurti says is true”, he argued.

However, he adds, unfortunately for Kurti, the truth is slightly different.

“Serbs at Kurti’s Kosovo, in particular those in the north at this moment are the most endangered community in entire Europe, and he personally, together with his nationalistic and fascistic Self-determination Movement is the most responsible for this, because ever since he took power he carries out policy of ethnic cleansing of Serbs, under this pretext of democracy and war in Ukraine”, he said.

Fatmir Sheholi, founder of the Institute for Affirmation of Interethnic Relations is uncertain if Prime Minister Albin Kurti has official data to prove his statements.

He said one should not compare Serbs in Kosovo with those in Serbia, but should compare Serbs from Kosovo as equal citizens with capacities that Kosovo offers to them.

“We know that Serbia finances health, education and few other projects, such as social aid for Serbs in Kosovo. If Prime Minister Kurti thought of those components and that because of it Serbs in Kosovo live better than those in Serbia, then he is in illusion. Because south of the Ibar River in six municipalities with Serb majority, 60 percent of Serbs sold their properties and continue selling them even now, therefore I do not believe that someone who lives better than those in Serbia, has the need to sell the property and leave Kosovo. The latest data from an international RCC company says that 57 percent of Kosovo citizens want to leave Kosovo, therefore something does not match Kurti’s statement there”, he added.

Sanda Raskovic-Ivic from Serbian opposition Peoples’ Party (NS) said Serbs in Kosovo live in a mix of segregation and intimidation, complete uncertainty for their children, their properties and themselves.

“I understand the urge to embellish things a bit. But to present such a big lie about something that is easily verified and even evident is complete nonsense”, she said. 

Arsenijevic reacts to Kurti’s interview for Vecernji list (social media)

Leader of Civic Initiative “Serbian Survival” from Mitrovica North Aleksandar Arsenijević took to Twitter to comment on the latest interview of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti with Zagreb-based Vecernji List.

“I don’t know how Mr. Kurti concluded that Serbs in Kosovo live better than Serbs in Serbia, given the significant emigration of our community to cities in Serbia. What’s even worse with this government is that emigration has intensified, and the focus has shifted towards turning the northern region into a police state”, he said, adding:

“Interethnic relations have never been at a lower level, evident in our daily interactions. Mr. Kurti's statement that the special police force is a legacy of the UÇK (Kosovo Liberation Army) adds to the fear among the Serbian population, as he seems eager to become the commander of some liberation units to compensate for his lacklustre biography.

Furthermore, his statement wrongly categorised those of us who are democratically and legally opposing the unprofessional behaviour of these units as enemies of the state and enemies of all Albanians.

My political actions are not aimed at any ethnic community; I simply desire a normal society and a conducive atmosphere for life. Let’s not underestimate that if this unprofessional conduct of security forces continues, it could also affect the Albanian population in the south, not just the north. At least here in Kosovo, over the last 24 years, we have witnessed the privileges some liberators had while the people suffered alongside them. We need a normal society, not new liberators!

I could claim that Albanians in Kosovo live better than Albanians in Switzerland, but that wouldn’t be true. Our citizens of Albanian nationality, even with raised [sic] passports, are waiting for the Schengen barrier to be lifted”, he opined. 

Haradinaj: After US sanctions on Vulin, Kurti fears he can become next (Radio KIM, BETA)

AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti got afraid he could be the next after the US imposed sanctions on the head of Serbian Security Informative Agency (BIA) Aleksandar Vulin, BETA news agency reports.

“I believe that after sanctions were imposed on Vulin, Kurti got afraid that he was the next one. If it were not for that, Kurti would still be performing acrobatic moves in the north, causing problems and incidents”, Haradinaj is quoted as saying.

He added Kurti knew he would be sanctioned if he continued with destabilisation of northern Kosovo.

“Kurti knows he will be severely sanctioned if he continues with his destabilising, unnecessary behaviour. The UK Ambassador, who is a big friend of Kosovo, said he does not understand the purpose of special units in municipal facilities. They will not allow such behaviour”, he added.

Drecun: Pristina laying groundwork for further escalation (Tanjug)

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun said on Tuesday Pristina authorities were laying the groundwork for further escalation in Kosovo and that their ultimate goal was to make it impossible for Serbs to survive in the territory and, as he said, “to complete an ethnic cleansing of Serbs”.

Speaking to Pink TV, Drecun said a full de-escalation would be thwarted by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's policy and added that the fact a spell of arrests had stopped did not mean there would be no more arrests in the period to come.

"The groundwork is being laid for further escalation, I do not see at all that they are ready to make some moves... Kurti should not be expected to form a Community of Serb Municipalities or fully withdraw special parapolice troops from the north (of Kosovo), or stop arresting Serbs, because he has created the conditions for all that to continue", Drecun said.

He said Pristina was also avoiding holding new elections in the north and was making decisions detrimental to the interests, survival and lives of Kosovo Serbs.

"Those are decisions such as halting the construction of social housing and schools for underprivileged children and renovations of the university building. Decisions are also being made with regards to the main bridge across the Ibar River. All those decisions are contrary to the interests of the Serbs and some people have been arrested - some of them have been released, but some have not", Drecun said.

Vucic receives credentials of seven new ambassadors (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the credentials of seven new ambassadors on Tuesday, Tanjug news agency reports.

"I cordially welcomed the newly-appointed ambassadors of the State of Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Angola", Vucic wrote in a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram profile.

He received the credentials of Ambassadors Mohammed Al Namour of Palestine, Joseph Kalala Mulamba of DR Congo, Akira Imamura of Japan, Andreas Fotiou of Cyprus, Aleksandar Vranjes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edward Ferguson of the UK and Emilio Miguel de Carvalho Sobrinho of Angola.