Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Decision whether to run for another mandate will be made based on interests of Kosovo (media)

• Osmani: Serbia’s trying to portray itself as victim, ridiculous (media)

• Osmani meets Prattipati, talks about objectives of Trump administration (RTK)
• Austrian FM: Normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, key to EU path (Koha)
• Turkey set to ratify military agreements with Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia (media)
• Hashim Thaci arrives in Kosovo, visits father's grave (Klan)
• Konjufca: Albanian example of religious coexistence, hard to be found (RTK)

• EU: Only those spreading divisive narratives would benefit from RFE/RL shutdown (euronews.al)

   

Serbian Language Media: 

• Diocese of Raska-Prizren: Scandalous statement by Buxhovi that the church in Pristina should have been demolished after the war (Tanjug, eparhija-prizren.com, KiM radio, media)
• Odalovic: I informed Sorensen about all the problems surrounding the issue of the missing, but he did not reply (Kosovo Online)
• Vuksanovic: The EU and the US can pressure Pristina to depoliticize the issue of missing persons (Kosovo Online)

• Vucic: Serbia, China to continue bolstering economic ties (Tanjug)

• A young man injured in an accident at the railway station in Novi Sad has died (N1, Nova S)
• Students block GSP depot in New Belgrade (N1, RTS, Tanjug)
• Open letter from intellectuals on Jadar Project film screening at Belgian festival (N1)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani: Decision whether to run for another mandate will be made based on interests of Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has said that the decision on whether she will run for another term in the Presidency will be made taking into account the interests of Kosovo and its people.  She said that this will be discussed from next year.

“Throughout my political career, I have always worked taking into account the interests of Kosovo and its citizens. Never, any of my political decisions has been based on calculations about where I will be, but only where Kosovo and its citizens will be. This time too, the assessment of where I can contribute will be made only taking into account the interests of Kosovo and its citizens. Never in my life have I been dependent on politics, and I am not dependent now. I will serve the citizens of Kosovo for as long as they want me to serve them,” she said after launching an initiative to support access to finance for women entrepreneurs.

Osmani: Serbia’s trying to portray itself as victim, ridiculous (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, has called the statement by Serbia about the memorandum between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia on a military alliance, ridiculous. She said that Serbia, as an aggressor state, tries to present itself as a victim by exploiting situations that have nothing to do with it.

“It is interesting that historically aggressor states like Serbia and Russia, constantly try to present themselves as victims. If you look at their ridiculous statements despite the fact that they have a history of invasions, attacks, genocide, wars that they themselves have caused, aggressor states like Serbia and Russia present themselves as if they are being attacked. We have never attacked anyone, we have never tried to occupy a single centimeter of someone else's territory. But in the history of our nation, Albanians and Kosovo have always defended themselves and we will continue to defend our sovereignty, territorial integrity, statehood. The trilateral agreement aims to help each other increase our defense capacities, so to defend ourselves and not attack anyone," she said in a statement to the media.

Osmani stated that Serbia is no longer asked about anything and that it is the only one endangering the region. “The times when Serbia is questioned about anything are over once and for all. We are a sovereign, independent state, we make our own decisions in accordance with our interests and with the goal of peace and stability in the region, a goal that is endangered only by Serbia, no one else.”

Osmani meets Prattipati, talks about objectives of Trump administration (RTK)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani received on Thursday the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Kosovo, Anu Prattipati. They discussed security in Kosovo. “Among other things, the meeting also discussed the deepening of cooperation between Kosovo and the United States of America, in accordance with the objectives set by President Donald Trump and his administration. President Osmani and Mrs. Prattipati focused in particular on the expansion of economic cooperation and the strengthening of the partnership in the field of defense,” the announcement of the Presidency of Kosovo reads.

The conversation also focused on concrete commitments following recent visits to Kosovo, including those of the NATO Secretary General, the EU Special Representative for Dialogue, visits by U.S. military representatives, as well as the visit of the President of Latvia, which took place on Thursday. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of close relations between Kosovo and the United States and the commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Kosovo and the U.S. 

Austrian FM: Normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, key to EU path (Koha)

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has called on Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in dialogue. She announced on Thursday that she had spoken with her counterparts from Kosovo and Serbia, Donika Gervalla and Marko Duric. In her conversation with Gervalla, Meinl-Reisinger said that she had emphasized her country's support for Kosovo and its perspective towards the EU.

"Kosovo and Serbia must engage constructively in the Dialogue and move forward towards the normalization of relations. This is the key when it comes to their path to the EU," she added.

During her conversation with Duric, she said that Serbia's path to the EU is their common goal and they will continue to support them in the necessary reforms. "I also emphasized the importance of preserving the rule of law and promoting a genuine dialogue to overcome divisions in society," she further emphasized.

Turkey set to ratify military agreements with Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia (media)

Turkey is set to ratify military framework agreements signed with three Balkan states, a move that will further strengthen Ankara’s military presence in the region while extending its strategic influence around Greece. The agreements, signed in 2024 with Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, come at a time when geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean are high, Euronews Albania reported.

Greece has expressed concern about Turkey’s growing military partnerships, especially in regions of historical and strategic importance. The Balkans has long been a battleground for influence between NATO allies and outside powers, and Turkey’s deepening military ties with these states signal its intention to play a more active role in regional security dynamics.

The agreements have been fast-tracked to the Turkish parliament’s agenda, unlike similar military packages that usually go through a longer review process. Ankara sees the deals as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its military cooperation with neighboring states and allies while countering security threats in the region.

Through the agreements, Turkey and its partners will cooperate in a wide range of military and defense areas, including training and education, joint exercises, defense industry cooperation, intelligence sharing, logistical support, medical services, cyber defense, peacekeeping missions, and the demining of mines and improvised explosive devices. The agreements also facilitate personnel exchanges, joint research in military science and technology, and operational cooperation in humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

Hashim Thaci arrives in Kosovo, visits father's grave (Klan)

Former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci has arrived in Kosovo. He is visiting the grave of his father, Haxhi Thaci, who died on Sunday, March 16. The Special Court did not allow Thaci to attend his father's funeral ceremony, which was held on Tuesday, March 18, at the cemetery in the village of Buroje, Skenderaj.

Kosovo Specialist Chambers spokesperson Michael Doyle said that for compelling humanitarian reasons, the trial panel and pre-trial judge have instructed the Registrar to manage a supervised visit to Kosovo for Hashim Thaci to pay his respects and be with his immediate family. “The accused remains in custody of the Specialist Chambers,” Doyle said.

Konjufca: Albanian example of religious coexistence, hard to be found (RTK)

The roundtable “Interfaith Dialogue according to the Albanian Model” was held at the Bogdanipolis Center in the Mother Teresa Cathedral building. Kosovo Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca said that this Albanian example of religious coexistence should be promoted academically and organizationally, since it is one of the rare phenomena in current societies. “I truly believe that there is an original Albanian model of religious coexistence, a model that is hard to be found anywhere else. Our long history of our humble people shows that at no time has there been a conflict that has a religious basis, while our nation is the bearer of the four great monotheistic religions and it is truly worth studying how no tumult can be found in our people,” he said. 

EU: Only those spreading divisive narratives would benefit from RFE/RL shutdown (euronews.al)

The European Union Office in Kosovo has strongly reaffirmed its support for Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL), emphasizing the critical role the media outlet plays in promoting trustworthy and independent journalism in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. "RFE/RL's commitment to truth and independent reporting is essential in regions with complex political situations, as it empowers communities and strengthens democratic values. If its work were to be halted, the only beneficiaries would be those spreading divisive narratives, tilting the balance in favor of disinformation," said Ioanna Lachana, spokesperson for the EU Office in Kosovo.

This statement follows the March 14 decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to sign an executive order proposing major budget cuts to seven federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—which oversees RFE/RL, Voice of America (VOA), and other international broadcasters. As a result, USAGM halted funding for multiple outlets, including RFE/RL, prompting the media organization to file a lawsuit against the agency on March 18. The lawsuit argues that denying RFE/RL funding, despite Congress' approval, violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

Amid concerns over the potential closure of RFE/RL, European politicians are exploring ways to financially support the broadcaster, recognizing its role as a pillar of democracy and free media.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2ahar599

Serbian Language Media

Diocese of Raska-Prizren: Scandalous statement by Buxhovi that the church in Pristina should have been demolished after the war (Tanjug, eparhija-prizren.com, KiM radio, media)

The Diocese of Raska-Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church announced that the scandalous and dangerous claim of Professor Yusuf Buxhovi that the unfinished Church of Christ the Savior in the center of Pristina should have been demolished immediately after the war is not only a provocation, but an open call for the destruction of religious buildings and an obvious form of hate speech, which must be unequivocally condemned by all who value peace and religious freedom, reported Tanjug, citing the statement of the Diocese. 

In a statement, the Diocese expressed its deep concern and strong protest regarding the incendiary and extremely irresponsible statements of professors Yusuf Buxhovi and Enver Rexha on "Koha" TV, which were then published on the "Koha" portal on March 19.

Read the full statement of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren at: https://tinyurl.com/2t5rxn77

Odalovic: I informed Sorensen about all the problems surrounding the issue of the missing, but he did not reply (Kosovo Online) 

"After Lajcak's departure, when I asked him to inform Sorensen of all these things and when I realized that he did not do it, I wrote a letter to Mr. Sorensen and pointed out to him everything I am talking about and pointed out to him a potential problem. I hope that a new platform will be created for him from the meetings he has to hold in Belgrade and Pristina where he will define priorities," President of the Commission for Missing Persons of the Government of Serbia, Veljko Odalovic told Kosovo Online. . 

Although he did not receive any response from the new European mediator, he expects to hear from him during his first visit to Belgrade.

"I hope that this upcoming visit to Belgrade will be an opportunity to talk very openly about that topic. Let's just come out with the facts. I will repeat that the facts are something that we did not hide from Mr. Lajcak or anyone else or did not present them in the most transparent way. We will also present it to him, and we will demand that he return the dialogue he is conducting and the topic he has, to the framework of what was written and agreed upon. There is no new framework," emphasized Odalovic.

He specifies that the issue of missing persons in Kosovo is "a very sensitive and difficult issue that is further complicated in Brussels".

"I hoped two years ago that when the Declaration on Missing Persons was agreed upon between President Vucic and Albin Kurti, it would be a new wind at our back, that we would give the families who rightfully expect answers from us something more than what we had given until then. For five years, the process in Brussels has been literally frozen, trapped. Thanks to the relationship of Pristina and Albin Kurti, who does not see dialogue at all as a place where any issue, including the missing, will be discussed with Belgrade," warned Odalovic.

He is convinced that the new European mediator will still do more than his predecessor Miroslav Lajcak.

"I told Miroslav Lajcak many times: 'I have no doubt that you wanted to, but if you don't understand, you didn't have support'. And it was his mission regarding the missing persons that ultimately ended unsuccessfully. We did not move forward even though he promised that he would enable us to start working with certain of his interpretative statements and interpretations of some disputed matters. But it is obvious that he did not have the strength, I will not say that he did not want to, but he did not do it. And that is now the disputed point and obstacle at the start of Sorensen's mandate regarding missing persons," said Odalovic.

He explains that the key problem lies in the interpretation of the Declaration on the Missing, which provided for the formation of a joint commission at the EU level, in which representatives of Belgrade, Pristina and the International Committee of the Red Cross would participate.

According to him, that body was supposed to be an "auxiliary tool" that would provide assistance to the Working Group as the only mechanism in the process of solving the issue of the missing.

"And there is a point of contention. Thanks to the support from some centers, Pristina understood that a new body should be formed that should exclude the work of the Working Group, which is absolutely unacceptable for us, and so, after all, it does not say so either in the Declaration or in any document. They are simply someone who does not want the Working Group, they do not want it for the reason that it was formed under the auspices of the special representative of the UN Secretary General, and everything related to the UN, Pristina absolutely neither wants nor sees as a mechanism," he stated.

He emphasizes that all the governments in Pristina until the arrival of Albin Kurti cooperated in solving the issue of the missing, which resulted in the discovery of the fate of 1,800 missing persons.

"Kurti does not allow our colleagues from Pristina, with whom we meet regularly, but through another mechanism within the Berlin process, we sit with them. But he does not allow them to meet within the Working Group. And this is what should be clear to Sorensen and the entire international community, which supports this process and must return it to the framework in which it operates and according to the rules, which are very clear," specified Odalovic.

Vuksanovic: The EU and the US can pressure Pristina to depoliticize the issue of missing persons (Kosovo Online)

Slavisa Vuksanovic, a member of the Executive Board of the Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons from Kosovo and Metohija, stated that the EU and the US, through their institutions, can exert pressure on Pristina to depoliticize the process of searching for missing persons in Kosovo.

"I believe that the European community and the US, as the only ones responsible for the entire situation unfolding in Kosovo and Metohija, can use their relevant institutions and representatives to apply concrete pressure on Pristina to depoliticize the process of searching for missing persons in Kosovo and Metohija," Vuksanovic told Kosovo Online.

Commenting on the announcement by Peter Sorensen, the new EU mediator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, that the issue of missing persons will be at the top of his agenda, Vuksanovic said that Pristina must open its archives, particularly those related to former KLA members.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/35j78yna

Vucic: Serbia, China to continue bolstering economic ties (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Friday's meeting with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) President Ren Hongbin and a delegation of the organisation had been an opportunity to confirm a strategic partnership with China and discuss further steps in carrying out crucial projects, Tanjug news agency reported.

In a post on his official Instagram account, Vucic wrote that Serbia and China continued to bolster their economic ties, opening the door to even stronger cooperation in commerce, investments and new technologies.

"Thanks to our exceptional economic relations, China has become one of Serbia's most important trading and investment partners, which is a result of commitment by both sides and joint work on advancement of economic and overall cooperation", Vucic noted. He added that one of Serbia's priorities was swift and efficient implementation of a FTA with China, which he said would further facilitate sales of Serbian products in the Chinese market.

A young man injured in an accident at the railway station in Novi Sad has died (N1, Nova S)

Vukasin Crncevic, who was seriously injured in an accident in the fall of the canopy at the Railway Station in Novi Sad, died at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, announced the students in the blockade of the "Svetozar Miletic" High School of Economics, which he attended. 

There is no official confirmation of this information yet.

Crncevic is the 16th victim of the accident that happened on November 1, 2024.

The students in the blockade also published this information on the networks.

Students block GSP depot in New Belgrade (N1, RTS, Tanjug)

Student protesters from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Mathematics said that they blocked the Belgrade City Public Transport Company (GSP) depot in New Belgrade at 3 am Friday. In a post on their social media profile on X they said the depot “will remain blocked until further notice”, N1 reported. “We have initiated this blockade to show our support for all workers who wish to engage in some form of general strike or work stoppage. We want to demonstrate what this means for the city, especially since many public transport lines park here”, a student told N1.

He said the students stand with educators, professors, and peers from other university faculties, and explained that they are allowing vehicles transporting children with special needs and those for the disabled to pass unhindered.

Student protesters from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Agriculture shared on Instagram that they invite citizens to join them in the blockade, also adding that it will last until further notice. “We are gathering to support educators and their fight for better working conditions. Join us”, the students wrote.

The Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported that the blockade has halted all tram lines, as well as 16 bus routes, meaning that a total of 280 public transport vehicles are off the streets of Belgrade.

The City Public Transport in a statement said that because of 20 protesting people who blocked the depo 150 buses and 130 trams did not resume the public transport. The Public Transport Secretariat also said the blockade prevented regular work of the public transport on a number of routes. It added the functioning of the public transport will resume once conditions for unimpeded functioning are restored. 

Open letter from intellectuals on Jadar Project film screening at Belgian festival (N1)

“At a time when people all over Serbia are protesting day in and day out against Serbia’s authoritarian regime, Belgian film festival DOCVILLE plans to screen a Belgian film promoting lithium mining, made in dialogue with this very regime,” said a group of artists, political scientists, university professors, and researchers in an open letter addressed to the festival.

“As members of the academic and artistic community we are reaching out to you with serious concerns regarding the inclusion of the film Not In My Country in the DOCVILLE film festival programme. The film, which was financed by KU Leuven and hatched by KU Leuven professor Peter Tom Jones, claims to investigate the Serbian population’s standpoint on the lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley. A rare example of a lithium mine being developed in a populated, agricultural, and ecologically sensitive area, the Jadar project was initiated by notorious global mining giant Rio Tinto and the Serbian government,” reads the letter.

They added that the screening of Not In My Country coincides with massive peaceful student-led protests against Serbia’s authoritarian, corrupt, and lethal regime. “Despite their unprecedented scale, these historic protests still have not received due media attention in Western Europe. Although the film was obviously shot before the current events, its makers must have been aware of the existence of numerous grassroots initiatives throughout Serbia, trying – despite the overwhelming odds – to call a halt to extractivist projects that do not benefit the local population. But in its blind zeal to promote lithium as the sole solution for sustainable green energy in the EU, Not in My Country has failed to sincerely engage with the social, environmental, and political implications of lithium mining,” said the signatories to the letter.

Read more at:: https://tinyurl.com/yc5exw4y