UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 12, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: EU’s unfair measures against Kosovo must be removed (media)
Specialist Chambers President starts three-day visit to Kosovo (media)
KLA War Veterans react to Trendafilova’s visit (media)
AAK submits case of secret voting at Assembly to Constitutional Court (RTK)
Haradinaj: Game with non-constitution of Assembly is shameful (media)
LDK submits to ERO request to cancel decision on higher energy tariffs (AP)
Bajrami: Decision to increase energy tariffs is unfair (AP)
Osmani for an official visit in Switzerland on 21 May (media)
Rizvanolli: Modernization of Kosova B power plant begins (media)
COMKFOR Barduani hosts new head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo (media)
Surroi: Kosovo and Serbia must accept that the war is over (media)

Serbian Language Media:

NGOs from the north: Harassment of women increasing, institutions silent - we are looking EULEX to react (KiM radio, Radio Kontakt plus, Kosovo Online)
Vucic: “I did not represent only the state - I represented our history” (Tanjug)
Brnabic to attend conference of EU parliament speakers in Budapest (Tanjug)
Costa: I am visiting Western Balkans to discuss persisting challenges (N1)
Serbian students running to Brussels reach Liege (N1)
Doctor: After six months of struggle, canopy collapse survivor prepares for rehabilitation (N1)

Opinion:

A conclave for the Kosovo Assembly (Koha)

International:

Edi Rama’s Socialist Party leads in Albanian parliamentary elections (BIRN)
Hallucinations and unguided experimentation: AI in Serbian newsrooms (Balkan Insight)
Will there be repercussions from Vučić’s trip to Moscow? (EWB)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: EU’s unfair measures against Kosovo must be removed (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in a message on Europe Day called for the removal of the European Union’s unfair measures against Kosovo. “On Europe Day we reflect on the values that are the core of our Republic and the European Union: democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These values have been and still are a roadmap for our integration into the European Union, as well as for strengthening our state every day. For the people of Kosovo, this day is a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment, because we believe in Europe, regardless of the challenges and injustices we are faced with on this path. On this marked day, it is important to, in one voice, call for the removal of the unfair measures of the European Union against Kosovo, as well as the serious treatment of Serbia’s destabilizing policies – which became even more apparent when Vucic chose to mark Europe Day in Moscow, exactly with Putin, who today is endangering the stability and security of our continent. For the Europeans’ dream of a whole, free and united Europe to be fully realized, the penalty measures against the most pro-European people must end and the accommodating policies toward pro-Putin Serbia must come to an end,” Osmani said.

Specialist Chambers President starts three-day visit to Kosovo (media)

Kosovo Police said in a statement today that the President of the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo, Ekaterina Trendafilova, will be in Kosovo for a three-day visit starting from today until Wednesday. Police said in cooperation with competent international authorities, they will engage in maintaining public order and quiet.

KLA War Veterans react to Trendafilova’s visit (media)

The organization of the War Veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army has reacted to the visit to Kosovo by the President of the Specialist Chambers, Ekaterina Trendafilova. “The visit by the President of the Specialist Chambers on May 13 in Pristina is an intentional provocation and an insult to our liberation war … May 13 is a dark day in our history, the establishment of the UDB [the State Security Service of Yugoslavia], the wildest persecutor of Albanians, and the day of the heroic fall of Tahir and Nebih Meha in Prekaz. To come on this day, on this land, with a partial agenda and without any historic sensitivity, is another insult against every combatant and for every family of martyrs. The Specialist Chambers is an institutionalized injustice. Established to prosecute only one side, only the KLA, and by ignoring Serbian atrocities, it does not bring justice, but rather political vengeance,” the statement notes.

AAK submits case of secret voting at Assembly to Constitutional Court (RTK)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has addressed the Constitutional Court regarding the constitutionality of the decisions made by the Assembly of Kosovo in the process of consolidating the ninth legislature, specifically focusing on the secret ballot vote for the Speaker of the Assembly.

Kosovo Assembly MP Time Kadrijaj submitted the case, which according to AAK, includes all actions related to the constitutive session of the Assembly, compiled in a document titled “Transcript of the Constitutive Meeting of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo”, which includes meetings held on April 15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29, as well as on May 1,3, and 5 2005. “It is their obligation to find the solution, not the opposition’s. It belongs to VV, to ensure 61 votes to elect the Speaker of the Assembly,” Kadrijaj said.

Haradinaj: Game with non-constitution of Assembly is shameful (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said today that “the game with the non-constitution of the Assembly of Kosovo has become shameful, not only for the MPs elected by the people, but also for Kosovo as a state”. “The damage by the blockade of constituting the Assembly has serious political and economic consequences for us as a country and society. We believe that changing the voting manner in the middle of the process, dictated by Vetevendosje, is a serious violation of the Constitution. In such a situation without a way out, the Constitutional Court has remained our only door. This is why today, our parliamentary group with the support of MPs from the LDK and PDK, has addressed it [the Constitutional Court] to specify the constitutional violations in the process and to give us a way out of this deadlock. Until a decision by the Constitutional Court, which we hope will come soon, we have asked for a provisional measure to stop the disgrace of the Assembly with ridiculous sessions that have no results!” Haradinaj said in a Facebook post.

LDK submits to ERO request to cancel decision on higher energy tariffs (AP)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has submitted to the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) today a request by LDK MPs and other MPs to cancel the decision on higher energy tariffs. “Today, we officially submitted to the Energy Regulatory Office the request by MPs from the Democratic League of Kosovo and other supporting MPs to cancel or postpone the ERO decision to remove around 1,300 businesses from the regulated energy market. In the same letter, we have requested the annulment of the decision to increase energy tariffs for households,” a press release by LDK notes.

Bajrami: Decision to increase energy tariffs is unfair (AP)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Hykmete Bajrami said today that the decision to increase energy tariffs by 16 percent and move over 1,300 businesses to the so-called open energy market, where KESCO is offering prices that are 260 percent higher, is unfair. Barjami submitted to the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) a request to cancel the decision for higher energy tariffs for consumers and businesses. “We talked for an hour. There were many justifications but we did not get a positive response that they would look into our request. According to them, only the government, or whoever is acting, can postpone such a decision, because it is about a €50 million difference in price that needs to be subsidized by the state budget,” she said.

Bajrami also argued that the conditions are not right to apply the open energy system in Kosovo. “They [the businesses] have received offers only from KESCO, and their offers are 260 percent higher. We are here to protect the private sector, which is the biggest employer in the country. The increase in prices will result in a new wave of inflation which the people will not be able to overcome,” she said.

Osmani for an official visit in Switzerland on 21 May (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, has been invited by the President of Switzerland, Karin Keller-Sutter, for an official visit to Switzerland on May 21 and 22. The news was announced through a press release from the Office of the Presidency. “President Osmani will be received with a state ceremony and high military honors by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ms. Karin Keller-Sutter, at the central square Bundesplatz in Bern, on May 21, in the presence of a large number of citizens,” the statement reads.

On the second day of the visit, Osmani and the Swiss President are expected to visit a manufacturing company in the eastern part of the country.

Rizvanolli: Modernization of Kosova B power plant begins (media)

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, said in a Facebook post today that the modernization of the Kosova B power plant has started. “For the first time since the construction of the ‘Kosova B’ power plant, in over four decades, the modernization of existing units and the expansion of production capacities has started. With an investment of €56.5 million, financed completely by KEK, without loans, without debts, an important step is being made toward energy security and public responsibility. In 2025 alone, a growth of +15 MW in production capacity is expected,” Rizvanolli said.

COMKFOR Barduani hosts new head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo (media)

Commander of NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, Major General Enrico Barduani, hosted the new head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Gerard McGurk, and “discussed views about the security situation across Kosovo and regional stability, and KFOR’s efforts in support to the EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, which the COM KFOR urged to carry on in a renewed, resolute spirit”. “General Barduani highlighted KFOR’s steadfast commitment to support all efforts by the International Community, for the benefit of lasting security across Kosovo and regional stability,” KFOR said in a Facebook post.

Surroi: Kosovo and Serbia must accept that the war is over (media)

Publicist Veton Surroi said on Sunday that true peace between Kosovo and Serbia cannot be achieved without an honest and profound acknowledgement that wars are over. In a conversation with Austrian diplomat Wolfgang Petritsch, Surroi argued that Kosovo and Serbia, and also Bosnia, need to enter a new phase where peace is no longer seen as a continuation of war with other means, but rather as a joint project of normal relations.

“The reality is that the French-German reconciliation happened because both countries accepted that the wars were over. The same must happen in the Balkans too – accept that the objectives of wars and ideologies that incite hatred can never bring solutions,” he said.

Serbian Language Media

NGOs from the north: Harassment of women increasing, institutions silent - we are looking EULEX to react (KiM radio, Radio Kontakt plus, Kosovo Online)

"In the last few weeks, there has been an increase in reports from citizens and media reports about the harassment of women and girls by civilians coming from the direction of southern Mitrovica, including cases in which the victims are minors," representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) stated in a joint statement.

In a joint statement of CSOs, serious concern was expressed about the "inability or unwillingness" of the Kosovo police to respond to such cases.

As it is added, allegations about attempts to relativize incidents and pressure on witnesses by certain police officers are particularly alarming.

Full statement available at: https://tinyurl.com/5xrds76n

Vucic: “I did not represent only the state - I represented our history” (Tanjug)

Sometimes, one step, one word or one decision can carry much more weight than a mere political gesture, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday evening, recapping last week, marked by his visit to Russia and meetings with many leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanjug news agency reported.

"This week, I did not represent only the state - I represented our history, dignity and Serbia's right to conduct an independent and consistent policy”, Vucic posted on his official Instagram account.

He noted that, everywhere and at every meeting, he fought for a Serbia that remembered and a Serbia that respected itself and was not ashamed of its voice. "And I will carry on like that, because I believe in a Serbia that knows who it is and where it is heading”, Vucic added.

Brnabic to attend conference of EU parliament speakers in Budapest (Tanjug)

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will attend a conference of parliament speakers from EU member states in Budapest on Monday.

At the conference, titled European Future, Brnabic will take part in a panel discussion on regionalism in Europe and preservation of Europe's cultural identity. The panel will also be addressed by the Speaker of the Italian House of Representatives Lorenzo Fontana and Swiss Parliament Speaker Maja Riniker, the organisers have announced.

On the sidelines of the two-day conference, Brnabic will have a series of bilateral meetings on European integration and advancement of bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation. Parliament speakers from EU membership candidate countries and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola are also due to attend the conference.

Costa: I am visiting Western Balkans to discuss persisting challenges (N1)

During his coming visit to the Western Balkans, European Council President Antonio Costa, will be stressing the importance of building further on the renewed momentum in the enlargement process and the European Union (EU) - Western Balkans relations, a press release from Brussels said.

Ahead of his visit to the Western Balkans from May 12 to 16, Costa said enhancing cooperation with this region is a “top political priority” for the EU and for him personally. “I am visiting the region to discuss with leaders persisting challenges and showcase that the EU stands ready to help. There is a clear enlargement momentum; but momentum needs commitment and follow through”, Costa said.

Costa will hold talks with top officials from the Western Balkans six and will then co-host the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana on Friday, May 16. He will officially start his Western Balkans tour in Belgrade, Serbia, on Tuesday, May 13, where he will meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Djuro Macut, and members of the Parliament.

Serbian students running to Brussels reach Liege (N1)

Serbian students participating in an ultramarathon relay to Brussels arrived in the Belgian city of Liège on Sunday evening, where they were warmly welcomed by several dozen people, even though no official reception had been planned, N1 reported.

Local Serbs in Liège rolled out a red carpet for the runners, who were greeted with chants of the traditional Serbian student protest slogan “Pump it!”.

At the impromptu reception, a protest choir sang the Serbian national anthem, followed by the student anthem. After the performances, a 16-minute silence was observed in memory of the victims of the November 1 canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station. The students began their ultramarathon relay run from Belgrade, titled From My Village to Brussels, on April 25. They expect to reach their final destination—Brussels—on Monday, May 12, having covered nearly 2,000 kilometres.

Doctor: After six months of struggle, canopy collapse survivor prepares for rehabilitation (N1)

Head of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina Clinic for Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy Dr. Teodora Tubic said the young woman who was severely injured in the November 1 canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station is no longer in life-threatening condition and is now preparing for rehabilitation, N1 reported.

Discussions are still ongoing as we try to identify the most suitable rehabilitation facility for her at this stage, Dr. Tubic said, adding it is also essential to provide her with a prosthesis, which will be necessary for her daily life. More than six months after the Novi Sad tragedy, which claimed 14 lives on the spot and led to the deaths of two more people from severe injuries and secondary complications, a multidisciplinary team at the Clinical Center of Vojvodina continues to closely monitor the condition of Teodora Martinko - the only injured survivor of the tragedy. Tubic told the Serbian public broadcaster RTS Martinko’s condition is stable, and that, in a situation as serious as hers, her courage and willpower have played a crucial role - alongside everything the medical team has done.

Opinion

A conclave for the Kosovo Assembly (Koha)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj writes in an opinion piece that the game with the non-election of the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo has become so meaningless and is showing such high irresponsibility that it would better to lock all MPs in the Assembly and not allow them to come out until they elect a speaker. “A sort of conclave for them. Similar to the conclave in Rome, where cardinals do not come out until they elect the Pope. There were cases in history where cardinals were not even served food as pressure for them to decide,” he argues.

“Based on the behavior of political parties in Kosovo and their proposal it is difficult to know what their goal is and what they want exactly. In fact, from these proposals there is an impression that they intentionally propose ideas for which they are certain they will not pass. So, we can only speculate what their goal is. The situation is more simple than it seems. The results of the elections are what they are, and they are real. They do not leave room for a stable government with a sufficient majority to secure a long life and the power to make difficult decisions. This game of tactics by the political parties, which seems to be leading to new elections, can irritate the people even more and result in a lower turnout in extraordinary elections. And in the end the results may not be very different from those on February 9. This complication is a combination of numbers, procedures and the opinions of the Constitutional Court. Therefore, in these circumstances, only political agreements can get Kosovo out of this blockade,” he writes.

International

Edi Rama’s Socialist Party leads in Albanian parliamentary elections (BIRN)

With vote-counting continuing from Sunday’s election, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s party appears to be on track to win an unprecedented fourth term in office, although Sali Berisha’s opposition Democratic Party is showing gains.

According to data from Albania’s Central Election Commission on Monday morning, the Socialist Party is heading for a historic fourth parliamentary election victory in a row with more than half of the total votes.

The Socialist Party is leading with 52.87 per cent, with Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party second on 34.25 per cent after votes were counted in 1,495 polling stations out of 5,225 in total.

If the trend continues, it is expected that Socialists will win over 80 seats in parliament, out of 140 seats in total – an increase on their haul from the last parliamentary polls in 2021.

After polls closed, opposition leader Berisha said that “the results are awaited with true optimism”. Rama has yet to comment.

The election is being seen as important for Albania’s EU membership ambitions, with Rama promising the country will join the bloc by 2030 – although experts have questioned his optimism, citing widespread problems with corruption.

So far the smaller parties, who some hoped would bring fresh political energy to parliament, have not secured more than 10 seats in total, according to projections from votes counted. They performed best in the major cities of Tirana and Shkodra.

The head of the Central Election Commission, Ilirjan Celibashi, said official preliminary results should be published “not later than Tuesday afternoon”.