UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 3, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

41st attempt fails, Kosovo Assembly remains in deadlock (media)
Parties to address court again over deadlock in the Assembly (Koha)
CSOs protest in front of assembly with whistles and banners (media)
Peci: President can address court on 30-day deadline (media)
PDK officials slams Kurti’s statement about Thaci and Veseli (Nacionale)
Veterans: Kurti’s remarks on Thaci and Veseli, attack against war values (media)
Belgium officially recognizes Kosovo’s defense attaché in Brussels (media)
12-year prison sentence against Bajrovic for war crimes upheld (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Ivic: Osmani’s approach is quite inert, missed the opportunity to resolve Kosovo’s political crisis (Kosovo Online)
Rasic: As a politician, I am ashamed of the image we create, not only in front of the citizens, but also in front of the European public (Kontakt plus radio)
Pantic Pilja: The international community must react to Kurti's unilateral moves (Tanjug)
Drecun: Germany trying to shift responsibility from Pristina to Belgrade (Tanjug, Blic)
Metropolitan Grigorije to protest participants and police officers: There is no darkness that will last forever (KiM radio, KoSSev, N1)
UN Human Rights Office: We urge Serbian authorities to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly (N1)

International:

Foreign remittances to Kosovo rise 3% y/y in Jan-May (SeeNews)
BIRN on screen: Two decades of reporting the Balkans on film and TV (BIRN)
Serbian riot police filmed arresting student protesters at Faculty entrances (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

41st attempt fails, Kosovo Assembly remains in deadlock (media)

All news websites report today on another failure to constitute the new Kosovo Assembly. Today marked the 41st failed attempt, as parties are not finding common ground to proceed with the constitution of the new legislative. The Albanian Post notes that even five months after the February parliamentary elections, Kosovo is still without new institutions due to the lack of a political agreement. The Vetevendosje Movement, the winner of the February elections, continues to insist on a committee that would oversee a secret vote on the new Assembly Speaker, while parties that were in the opposition in the previous mandate are insisting on an open vote.

Parties to address court again over deadlock in the Assembly (Koha)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said today that they will address the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality of the three last constitutive sessions of the Assembly.

PDK leader Memli Krasniqi said today that the proposal for the new Assembly Speaker needs to be changed. He argued that the last three constitutive sessions were in violation of the Constitution and that they will soon address the Constitutional Court.

LDK MP Alban Zogaj argued today that there are ongoing violations of the constitution in every constitutive session after the ruling of the Constitutional Court. He said the Vetevendosje Movement needs to return to the agenda and respect the Constitution. “We are preparing a case for the Constitutional Court, but we are in coordination and consultations to see how we will approach this. We will certainly address the Court with the question that even after the latest ruling the Constitution is being violated in the last sessions,” he said.

CSOs protest in front of assembly with whistles and banners (media)

Most news websites report that representatives of civil society organizations are protesting again today in front of the Kosovo Assembly. Protesters are holding banners and whistling in signs of dissatisfaction with the ongoing deadlock. One of the banners reads “the institutions are not for bargaining”.

Gazeta Express quotes Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Law Institute as saying that the political parties need to find a solution and a compromise. He said he hopes the chair of the constitutive session, Avni Dehari, “will not continue to violate the Constitution by insisting on a secret vote [for the new Assembly Speaker]”. Miftaraj argued that “Kosovo should have consolidated institutions and political maturity and not need calls from international partners to do its homework”.

Peci: President can address court on 30-day deadline (Indeksonline)

Leader of Guxo party, Faton Peci, said today that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani can address the Constitutional Court about the 30-day deadline to form the new Assembly. “The President expressed readiness to contribute to unblocking the deadlock. We want to believe that in the coming days, namely before July 26, the other parties will be able to reflect and help find a consensus,” Peci told reporters after meeting with Osmani today.

PDK officials slams Kurti’s statement about Thaci and Veseli (Nacionale)

The news website reports that senior members of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) slammed a statement by Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti that this party’s officials visit Hashim Thaci and Kadri Veseli in the Hague to get instructions. PDK officials said on Wednesday that such claims are unfounded and that they serve only the prosecution of the specialist chambers. PDK Secretary General Vlora Citaku said in a Facebook post: “Albin Kurti has again decided to serve the prosecution in the Hague, this time by attacking Hashim Thaci and Kadri Veseli. He even had the courage to say that we visit them to get ‘instructions’. This is neither politics nor accidental. It is a clear objective and the continuation of a long-time campaign that Kurti has built by confronting others, especially those that have contributed for the freedom and state of Kosovo”. PDK MP Artan Behrami said in a debate on T7 on Wednesday that Kurti was using the same arguments that former chief prosecutor of the specialist chambers, Jack Smith, used to prevent the release on bail for the former KLA leaders. PDK MP Blerta Deliu-Kodra claimed in a Facebook post that “Kurti cannot sit beside the PDK because he doesn’t stand the values we represent: freedom, dignity and state”.

Veterans: Kurti’s remarks on Thaci and Veseli, attack against war values (media)

The organization of the KLA War Veterans criticized Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s statement that Hashim Thaci and Kadri Veseli are giving political instructions from the Hague, saying that it is irresponsible and politically dangerous. “Mr. Kurti, when you cannot help, at least do not do any damage! In the five years of extended detention [of the former KLA leaders], you never paid them a visit, you never spoke a word about their mistreatment, although all of Kosovo and numerous international officials reacted against the injustices they are facing. Instead of doing your duty as a Prime Minister and protecting the people of this country, you choose to hit them in the most sensitive moment of their fight for justice,” the statement of the war veterans notes.

Belgium officially recognizes Kosovo’s defense attaché in Brussels (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci and Belgian Minister of Defense Theo Francken held a joint press conference today announcing a new step in bilateral cooperation. Belgium has decided to officially recognize Kosovo’s defense attaché in Brussels, empowering military representation and institutional relations between the two sides. Maqedonci expressed appreciation for Belgium’s support since 2008, saying that the latest step is very substantial in Kosovo’s path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. “Forever grateful for the support that Belgium has given to Kosovo since 2008, and I am very enthusiastic about the furthering of our relations in Kosovo’s path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. In the Western Balkans, Belgium will always have in Kosovo a trusted ally,” he said.

Francken said that the ties with Kosovo are both historical and strategic and that the decision to recognize the defense attaché is a logical step in strengthening partnership for security. “Kosovo plays a key role in the Western Balkans, and we are showing our commitment both on the ground with KFOR and also on the diplomatic front,” he said.

12-year prison sentence against Bajrovic for war crimes upheld (media)

The Court of Appeals has upheld the verdict of the Basic Court of Pristina against Ekrem Bajrovic who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for war crimes against civilians in 1999. The Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal of the defense attorney as unfounded. Bajrovic was found guilty of mistreating and killing 15 Albanian civilians in 1999 in the village of Saradran in the municipality of Istog together with members of Serbian police.

Serbian Language Media

Ivic: Osmani’s approach is quite inert, missed the opportunity to resolve Kosovo’s political crisis (Kosovo Online)

Petar Ivic, a collaborator with the Pupin Initiative, assessed that the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, is behaving "quite inertly" in the current institutional crisis and that by not applying the constitutional mechanisms at her disposal, she missed the opportunity to resolve it in a timely manner.

"From her failure to use constitutional powers, we can conclude that she is acting very cautiously, quite inertly. She is trying to rise above the situation, to remain neutral, but by doing nothing and not using her constitutional mechanisms, she missed the chance to resolve this political crisis in time," Ivic told Kosovo Online.

He believes that Osmani wants to secure another presidential term and that her strategy benefits from the fact that she was not the one who addressed the Constitutional Court regarding the unblocking of the formation of the parliament and the government.

"She doesn't want to antagonize any political party because she is likely aiming for re-election next year. However, by involving the Constitutional Court, she has removed direct responsibility from herself for potentially calling early parliamentary elections. She has shifted responsibility, but now has the opportunity to resolve the crisis," Ivic emphasized.

He believes that Osmani has had several opportunities so far to engage in resolving the institutional crisis but has avoided doing so "to not alienate any political party."

"For example, dissolving the Assembly within 60 days of the failed formation, we can see that the deadline passed long ago. She has the role of initiating the Constitutional Court’s involvement in the situation and the authority to initiate a political agreement between parties. We see that she has done none of that, probably to avoid offending any party," Ivic specified.

Rasic: As a politician, I am ashamed of the image we create, not only in front of the citizens, but also in front of the European public (Kontakt plus radio)

Nenad Rasic warns that the current situation in the Parliament undermines the trust of citizens and the European public, reported Kontakt plus radio.

Member of the Assembly of Kosovo and president of the Party for Freedom, Justice and Survival, Nenad Rasic, after a meeting with President Vjosa Osmani, regarding the possibilities for unblocking the Assembly, stated that in the circumstances as they are today, he does not expect that the constituent session will be held within the 30 days set by the Constitutional Court.

"I believe that it was a very constructive meeting with the president. We analyzed the options that could possibly come after the expiration of the 30-day deadline, which I believe can further complicate the situation, and nobody wants that. However, the Assembly must be constituted before the expiration of that deadline, because exceeding it would make the political situation even more difficult," says Rasic reported Kontakt plus radio, citing Gazeta Express.

He points out that he feels a sense of responsibility, but also that he is ashamed as a politician and MP of the image that Kosovo's parliamentarians create, not only in front of the citizens, but also in front of the European public.

"Let's try even harder to solve the problem. Under the current circumstances, I do not expect that the constitution will be completed within 30 days," Rasic said.

Pantic Pilja: The international community must react to Kurti's unilateral moves (Tanjug)

The head of the Serbian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Biljana Pantic Pilja, said today that the international community always calls for restraint from both Belgrade and Pristina and for the calming of tensions, but that it does nothing concrete regarding the unilateral actions of the PM Albin Kurti.

For K1, Pantic Pilja thus commented on the announcement of the German Embassy in Pristina, saying they took note of the recent letter from the Director of the Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, but also saying that "a man must put his house in order before constantly criticizing Kosovo for its decisions".

She added that the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of bridges on the Ibar and everything that is happening in Kosovo is a consequence of Kurti's campaign for the next local elections.

Drecun: Germany trying to shift responsibility from Pristina to Belgrade (Tanjug, Blic)

The President of the Committee for Defense and Security of the National Assembly of Serbia, Milovan Drecun, said today that he cannot expect a more effective response from the international community in protecting the Serbs in Kosovo because they are aiming to ensure ''the maximum international legal capacity of the so-called Kosovo'' that they lack and will not do anything that would seriously threaten the position of Pristina on the international level, reported Tanjug.

Drecun reacted this way to the announcement of the German embassy in Pristina, in which it stated that it took note of recent letter from the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, in which he called on the EU to stop the escalating actions of Pristina and the planned construction of two new bridges over the Ibar. Among other things the embassy said that "a man must put his house in order before constantly criticizing Kosovo for its decisions". Drecun said that the German diplomat in Pristina is continuously trying to deflect responsibility from Pristina for the unilateral moves it takes against the survival and life of the Serbian people in Kosovo and transfer that responsibility to Belgrade using the same argument as the PM Kurti.

He added that although Germany is officially opposed to Pristina's unilateral moves and advocates dialogue, ''Germany provides maximum support for the so-called Kosovo and Albin Kurti and gives him the strongest wind at his back in carrying out those unilateral moves'', reported Tanjug.

Metropolitan Grigorije to protest participants and police officers: There is no darkness that will last forever (KiM radio, KoSSev, N1)

Archbishop of Dusseldorf-Berlin and Metropolitan of Germany Grigorije addressed the students and citizens in protest, as well as the police officers who carry out brutal actions, with the message that there is no night that can hide evil and that there is no darkness that will last forever, and that it is an "eternal truth" that "God is always on the side of the humiliated, and never on the side of tyrants".

Metropolitan Grigorije stated in his message on Instagram that we are witnessing "shocking scenes in which young people, students, citizens, whose only 'offense' is that they do not consent to injustice."

"Dear students and dear 'rebellious' people, your dignity is your greatest strength. Your peaceful resistance is the most honorable fight for a better and just Serbia," he said.

The Metropolitan addressed the police officers and all members of public order and peace authorities.

"Brutality against the innocent, and this nation is innocent, is not a sign of strength, but of fear on the other side of the shield. And fear is not of God. If you cannot stand by those who are peacefully fighting for truth, justice and freedom - you are obliged, at the very least, to preserve your conscience. And regardless of any orders - do not use excessive force. Stop with mindless and reckless arrests," Metropolitan Grigorije wrote and added:

"It's not politics - it's the Gospel. There is no night that can hide evil. There is no darkness that will last forever."

He reminded that it is important for everyone to stand still, "but firmly".

"Don't let unnecessary violence corrupt you. Don't compromise your dignity. Because the eternal truth remains: God is always on the side of the humiliated. Never on the side of the tyrant," concluded Metropolitan Grigorije.

UN Human Rights Office: We urge Serbian authorities to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly (N1)

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office said Wednesday it urges authorities in Serbia to “respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

“We are closely following situation after reports of violence, harassment and arbitrary detention of protesters. Urge authorities to exercise restraint, and to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We call for trust-building measures to open a pathway for renewal of social contract,” the UN Human Rights Office said on its X account.

More students and citizens were detained again during the evening on Wednesday. Police continued breaking up the street blockades. Civil disobedience is ongoing, with several locations blocked and public transit lines not running in the capital.

International

Foreign remittances to Kosovo rise 3% y/y in Jan-May (SeeNews)

Foreign remittances to Kosovo amounted to 530 million euro ($624 million) in the first five months of 2025, from 513 million euro a year earlier, the central bank said, quoting preliminary data. In May alone, foreign remittances to Kosovo rose 7% year-on-year to 126.6 million euro, the central bank said in a data release on Tuesday. Compared with April, foreign remittances rose 13% in May. In 2024, foreign remittances to Kosovo rose 1.1% to 1.35 billion euro.

BIRN on screen: Two decades of reporting the Balkans on film and TV (BIRN)

BIRN’s journey into visual storytelling began as an extension of its reporting, a way to bring complex stories to life and reach new audiences.

Over the years, BIRN’s film and television productions have explored the region’s contemporary history, told through the voices of people affected by it.

“From documenting war crimes and trials in The Hague to following local rights campaigns in remote towns, BIRN’s productions – cross-border and country-based - have sought to prioritise accountability, justice and the human perspective on events,” says Gentiana Murati, BIRN’s deputy regional director.

Many of the documentaries and TV shows have tackled subjects avoided by mainstream broadcasters, from political corruption and environmental destruction to gender-based violence and the silencing of dissent.

While some of these productions have aired on regional and international television, others have been screened at festivals, in classrooms, and community halls, often sparking public debate and civic engagement.

The first full-length documentary produced by BIRN was ‘Does Anyone Have a Plan?’, about the future status of Kosovo. It premiered in February 2006, focusing on the dilemmas facing ordinary people from Kosovo before it declared independence from Serbia. It was directed by award-winning filmmaker Lode Desmet.

BIRN’s most-awarded film so far has been ‘The Unidentified’, directed by Marija Ristic in 2015, a powerful feature-length documentary that uncovered the identities of commanders behind brutal atrocities during the Kosovo war. Based on a two-year investigation, it named officers who ordered attacks on villages in 1999 then helped cover up the crimes by transferring victims’ bodies to mass graves in Serbia. Using unseen testimonies and documents, the film placed the crimes in the context of Slobodan Milosevic’s campaign to ethnically cleanse Kosovo.