UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 21, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

19th attempt to constitute new Assembly fails (media)
Haxhiu: It is not clear what the opposition wants (Koha)
Citaku calls on Kurti to change candidate for Assembly Speaker (media)
Deliu-Kodra: Before talking about PDK, Kurti should end blockade (media)
Peci: Opposition cannot impose its candidate on us (Koha)
Osmani received by Keller-Sutter at Residence of Swiss Federal Council (Klan)
Kallas to travel to Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia (media)
“Defender Europe 25” starts Sunday, military exercises in Albania, Kosovo (Koha)
TV Dukagjini publishes photo “proving sports hall was used by Civil Protection”
U.S. KFOR soldiers team up with KMSRS for three-day training (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Kaja Kallas from today until Friday in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje (NMagazin, Beta, Danas, EWB)
Awards given for trust building between communities in Kosovo (KiM radio)
Petkovic: Kurti admitted all Serbs’ votes that did not go to Serbian List, were for him (Kosovo Online, social media)
Sport coaches in Mitrovica North still can not use Sports Hall (media)
Milenkovic: Abolition of institutions in north makes process of integration meaningless (Kosovo Online)
Jevtic: Licensing Serbian institutions following examples of MTS and Elektrosever a possible solution until CSM formation (Kosovo Online)
Vucic: Serbia grateful for everything Zuroff has done for truth about suffering of Serbs in Jasenovac (Tanjug)

Opinion:

The murder of a dream: Prishtina’s lost vision (Kosovo 2.0)
Essential tasks ahead (KoSSev)
How Trump could fix Bosnia’s flawed peace deal (BIRN)

International:

Serbia: War on journalists continues (International Press Institute)
‘Not Normal’: Acclaimed professor decries the rise of surveillance in Serbia (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

19th attempt to constitute new Assembly fails (media)

All news websites report that the 19th attempt to constitute the new Assembly of Kosovo has failed. Another attempt to form a committee that would oversee a secret vote for the new Assembly Speaker did not pass today. The next session has been scheduled for Friday.

Haxhiu: It is not clear what the opposition wants (Koha)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Justice and candidate for Assembly Speaker, Albulena Haxhiu, said today that the Vetevendosje Movement is clear about what it wants – the constitution of the new Assembly and the formation of the new government, but according to her the opposition does not know what it wants. “It is not clear what the opposition wants. As you have seen, they constantly have different positions. It is clear that they have preferences, specific names. But we are based on the constitutional right and the constitutional right is more valid than any preference. It is for the Vetevendosje Movement to propose a candidate for the Assembly Speaker. For the Vetevendosje Movement, it is important to vote on the committee [that would oversee a secret vote on the Assembly Speaker], to constitute the Assembly and make way for the formation of the government,” she said. “If we proceed with the preferences of the opposition, then we will have a Speaker that is liked by the opposition, and deputy speakers that are liked by the ruling party. We are not here to like one another. We are political parties and we need to act in line with the constitutional rules. The situation is clear. The position of the Vetevendosje Movement is well known. They have a plan to obstruct the constitution of the Assembly, but I think this is a wrong decision. The people expect us to constitute the Assembly and form the government”.

Citaku calls on Kurti to change candidate for Assembly Speaker (media)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Vlora Citaku, said today that Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti should reflect and change the candidate for Assembly Speaker. “We call on MP Kurti to reflect, unblock the situation, change the candidate, in order for the new institutions to be constituted. The PDK has been responsible and constructive throughout this period. We will do our best to unblock the situation,” she said.

Deliu-Kodra: Before talking about PDK, Kurti should end blockade (media)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Blerta Deliu-Kodra, commented today on caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s remarks on Tuesday that the PDK should remain in opposition for another mandate. “The responsibility to make way for the development of Kosovo depends on the coalition that has won the largest number of seats. Before talking about the PDK, Kurti should reflect and end the three-month blockade that Kosovo is in,” Deliu-Kodra said.

Peci: Opposition cannot impose its candidate on us (Koha)

Faton Peci, MP from the Guxo List, said that they will not withdraw from the proposal to form a verification commission for the secret ballot of the speaker of parliament. Entering the Parliament building to continue the constitutive session for the nineteenth time, he said that the opposition cannot impose a candidate for speaker of the Parliament on the winning party of the elections. “We have reflected in different ways and have shown that we are open to discussing options, partnerships, and coalitions. On the other hand, if you call the idea that the opposition chooses the candidate of the winning party a reflection, then this is not a reflection but an attempt to impose the candidate,” he said.

Osmani received by Keller-Sutter at the Residence of the Swiss Federal Council (Klan)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, with her husband Prindon Sadriu, was received today by the President of Switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter. Osmani.

On the second day of her visit, Osmani and Keller-Sutter will visit a manufacturing company in the eastern part of Switzerland, as well as a center at the University of Sait Gallen, which is dedicated to the development of a culture of learning and teaching, an area of particular importance for the future of young people in Kosovo and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, on the second day of the visit, Osmani and Keller-Sutter will visit a manufacturing company in the eastern part of Switzerland, as well as a center at the University of Saint Gallen, which is dedicated to the development of a culture of learning and teaching, an area of particular importance for the future of young people in Kosovo and Switzerland.

In addition, Osmani will deliver a speech at the Swiss Parliament and will meet with the diaspora in Geneva.

Kallas to travel to Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia (media)

Several news websites cover a press release issued by the EU External Action Service on the visit by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas to Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. This will be her second visit to the Western Balkans.

The press release notes:

In Serbia, High Representative Kallas will meet with President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Duro Macut, with Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and European Integration Minister Nemanja Starovic, Speaker Ana Brnabic and opposition parliamentary groups. She will engage with students and civil society organisations. A press conference is scheduled for 13:15 PM on 22 May, livestreamed on EBS.

In Kosovo, High Representative Kallas will meet with representatives of political parties and civil society organisations. She will hold a press conference at the Europe House on 22 May at 15.45, livestreamed on EBS. High Representative Kallas will visit the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). She will also meet KFOR Commander Enrico Barduani.

In North Macedonia, High Representative Kallas will meet with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. A joint press conference is scheduled for May 23, livestreamed on EBS at 12.10. She will open the first Security and Defence Dialogue between the EU and North Macedonia with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Timcho Mucunski and visit the Balkan Medical Task Force Standing Organisation (BMTF SO) in the presence of Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski. She will also engage with local youth, students and young professionals.

“Defender Europe 25” starts Sunday, military exercises in Albania, Kosovo (Koha)

Albania’s Minister of Defense, Pirro Vengu, said on Tuesday that one of the biggest multinational military exercises Defender Europe 25 will start on May 25. He wrote in a Facebook post that the exercise will be led by the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and that military exercises will be held in Kosovo too. “On 25 May, Albania will welcome one of the largest multinational military exercises: Defender Europe 25, led by the US European Command (USEUCOM). NATO and partner forces will train in Albania and Kosovo for the protection of critical facilities, offensive and defensive operations, as well as for the security of key deployment points. A test of interoperability and a clear message: NATO is united,” Vengu said.

TV Dukagjini publishes photo “proving sports hall was used by Civil Protection”

Several news websites report that TV Dukagjini published on Tuesday photos showing that the recently closed sports hall in Mitrovica Hall was used by the so-called Civil Protection, an entity that was declared a terrorist organization by the Kosovo government. The sports hall was closed on May 16, and it caused immediate reactions including protests initiated by the Serbian List. However, citing sources from security mechanisms, TV Dukagjini reported that the sports hall called “The Center for Ecology and Sports Development” was registered by Igor Memoravic who was reportedly one of the leaders of the Civil Protection.

According to the same sources, the center was managed by Milos Milovanovic, known as the leader of the Civil Protection for the region of Zubin Potok. The TV station said that he was part of the group that carried out the terrorist attack in Banjska and also took part in organizing other attacks against the Kosovo Police in the north.

U.S. KFOR soldiers team up with KMSRS for three-day training (media)

U.S. soldiers assigned to Regional Command East of the NATO-led KFOR mission recently teamed up with the Kosovo Search and Rescue Association for a three-day training exercise, KFOR said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “Partnerships with emergency response elements in Kosovo crucially contribute to the overall success of the KFOR mission. These efforts have long-standing effects on support to all communities living in Kosovo,” the post notes.

Serbian Language Media

Kaja Kallas from today until Friday in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje (NMagazin, Beta, Danas, EWB)

The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Kaja Kallas, is on a second visit to the Western Balkans from May 21 to 23, which will include Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced, reported NMagazin.

In Belgrade, Kalas will talk with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Djuro Macut, Foreign Affairs Minister Marko Djuric and European Integration Minister Nemanja Starovic, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic and representatives of parliamentary groups of opposition parties, as well as representatives of students and civil society organizations.

At the end of the visit, tomorrow at 1:15 p.m., a press conference will be organised.

In Kosovo, meetings have been announced for tomorrow with representatives of political parties and civil society, as well as with representatives of EULEX and KFOR.

Only in Serbia, as well as in Kosovo, where the government is currently in a technical mandate, no joint conference with representatives of the authorities is foreseen, reported European Western Balkans. This portal previously reported, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, during his visit to the Western Balkans last week, only met with the opposition in Serbia, while in other countries he only held meetings with government representatives.

On Friday in Skopje, Kallas will talk with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski.

Kallas will open the first EU-North Macedonia Security and Defense Dialogue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Timco Mucunski, and will visit the Balkan Medical Forces (BMTF) with the Minister of Defense, Vlado Misajlovski, and will meet youth and student representatives.

Awards given for trust building between communities in Kosovo (KiM radio)

For the fourth year in a row, the New Social Initiative and UNMIK awarded outstanding individuals and organizations working to build trust between communities in Kosovo. This year, awards were given in the fields of environmental protection, youth activism and media.

The recognition of Kosovo Trustbuilding in the field of media this year went to journalist Vjosa Qerkini. Vjosa lived in Germany for a long time after the conflicts but returned to Kosovo and continued her journalistic work.

"The main reason why I became a journalist is the experience I had as a child. I always wondered what happened, why I had to leave my country and why it all happened. After 25 years it is important to be the voice of the people, to be a journalist and to be a professional," she said after accepting the award.

The champion in the field of environmental protection is Aleksandar Tanaskovic from Leposavic, while recognition for activism went to Blenda Asllani, a researcher and activist for gender equality.

The Kosovo Trustbuilding resulted from a meeting in the organisation of UNMIK a few years ago in Ljubljana, in which representatives of different communities from different areas of life participated. Two years ago, the same meeting was organized in Thessaloniki, recalled KiM radio.

Director of the New Social Initiative, Jovana Radosavljevic, said that work on building coexistence in Kosovo is more important today than ever.

"In a time of increasing polarization, serious institutional crisis and increasingly harsh rhetoric between communities and institutions, building trust is not only desirable - it is urgently needed. Working to connect people, find a common language and strengthen messages of coexistence is more important today than ever before. That is why this ceremony is important. Today we highlight and recognize those who act in the spirit of building trust".

She said that the greatest responsibility for building trust lies not only with civil society, but above all with the institutions of Kosovo.

"Institutions must take their share of responsibility. They must listen to citizens, respond to their needs, and show that they are partners in building a common future. Because we know - through work in the field - that citizens are ready to get involved. But that readiness must be met with good will and a concrete response from the institutions," said Radosavljevic.

She recalled that the civil society in Kosovo is facing pressures. These pressures have been particularly expressed in recent days by certain representatives of institutions and Albanian organizations and the media.

"Let's be honest: the civil society in Kosovo is under pressure. The narrowing of space for action, the increase in pressure and unfounded accusations make our work challenging. But it is necessary. And we need your support - your solidarity - to be able to continue," said Radosavljevic, with thanks to the UNMIK mission.

She also said that we are witnessing the closing of society, and that divisions are deepening not only in the world, but also in Kosovo.

"Kosovo is not an exception - and in many ways it is particularly vulnerable. That is why those who speak and act in the direction of building trust must be put in the foreground. They must be protected, recognized, and supported," she emphasized.

Caroline Ziadeh, head of the UNMIK mission in Kosovo, emphasized that building trust between communities is important.

"We live in a world where trust is challenged, threatened, undermined, but those who follow the mission in New York know that the essence for the future is how we can treat shortcomings, deficiencies, in the process of trust around the world and the answer is simple. You are the ones who are resolute. Every morning you wake up to work and create a space where you will be equal, where the other partner is regardless of religious, national, or other affiliation. Why? Because space and public opinion are yours. When you speak and raise your voice for the truth, we have common values, we have a common mission," said Head of UNMIK.

Aleksandar Sljuka from NSI presented a report on inter-ethnic visits to six municipalities in Kosovo, three of which were with a Serbian majority and three with an Albanian majority. The report contains the concerns and recommendations of the citizens who participated in these visits and discussions. During those talks, 90 representatives of various organizations and media participated.

During the ceremony, a short documentary was shown that follows the multi-ethnic visits to some of the largest religious communities in Kosovo.

Petkovic: Kurti admitted all Serbs’ votes that did not go to Serbian List, were for him (Kosovo Online, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic said Kosovo Prime Minister in technical mandate, Albin Kurti admitted that “a historic chance was missed” to ban Serbian List as a precondition to strengthen the party of Nenad Rasic and other, as Kurti said, Serbian parties.

In a post on X Petkovic said it was confirmed once again that “each Serbian vote that was not for Serbian List, went directly to Kurti”.

"Kurti admitted that a historic opportunity to ban the Serbian List as a precondition for strengthening Rasic and other “Serbian” parties was missed. It is once again confirmed that every Serbian vote that did not go to the Serbian List went directly to Kurti. We should never forget that", Petkovic said.

Sport coaches in Mitrovica North still can not use Sports Hall (media)

Coaches of the sports clubs that used the Sports Hall in Mitrovica North and trained there informed the public they are still unable to use this sports facility, Kosovo Online portal reported.

As the statement said, not all staff members who came to the hall yesterday could do their usual working obligations. “A selective entry to the workers responsible for maintaining hygiene of the sports hall was allowed, while others were banned from accessing it. Under such circumstances the conclusion of the season for sports clubs is seriously endangered as well as the entire training process which is of crucial importance for development of young sportsmen. Instead in the sports hall, our children are forced to spend the time on the streets, deprived of conditions for healthy sports and physical activities”, the statement added.

They also extended the appeal to the international community to help them resolve the issue of accessing the sports hall.

“We appeal to the international community and all relevant stakeholders to urgently undertake steps in order to enable our children to return to regular training, because sports must remain outside of any form of discrimination and political influence”, sports workers concluded.

Milenkovic: Abolition of institutions in north makes process of integration meaningless (Kosovo Online)

The associate of the NGO New Social Initiative Marko Milenkovic assessed that examples of licensing the work of MTS or Elektrosever could be a good model by which other Serbian institutions could continue to work in Kosovo unhindered, however, Pristina is artificially trying to create a "new reality" on the ground with unilateral moves.

"Through the unilateral seizure and interruption of the work of institutions functioning in the Serbian system, the entire process of integration is rendered meaningless. You place the Serbian community in a very bad position regarding the basic services to which every citizen should be entitled. Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequate alternatives and through some essential agreement and negotiations we had before through MTS or Elektrosever, to provide the citizens with a real alternative, and only then proceed to closing or preventing the work of certain institutions," Milenkovic told Kosovo Online.

He emphasizes that a political agreement is needed for the smooth functioning of Serbian institutions.

"It is not a matter of a technical nature, as we had in the previous period, as presented by the Kosovo institutions. It is a matter of political agreement, as in previous situations with MTS and Elektrosever. It is necessary for both parties to agree on some principles and to have a dialogue on those topics, because that is something we had as a successful process," said Milenkovic.

He explains that now there are more unknowns surrounding the closed institutions, but also the fate of the employees.

"There should be integration of employees, but also the very model for the functioning of these companies, which is difficult to predict at this moment considering that we have almost no political cooperation or progress in the dialogue," he specified.

Milenkovic also said Pristina's unilateral moves, although they are condemned by the international community, are aimed at changing the situation on the ground.

"So, things which should be included in the CSM (ZSO) should be annulled to some extent and there should be as few of those potential institutions that work within the Republic of Serbia system, which should be included within this Community. By changing the situation on the ground, we will be in a worse negotiating position for the Serbian community through some potential dialogue in the coming period, but also to the pointlessness of the CSM (ZSO)," emphasized Milenkovic.

Jevtic: Licensing Serbian institutions following examples of MTS and Elektrosever a possible solution until CSM formation (Kosovo Online)

Strpce mayor Dalibor Jevtic said in relation to Pristina authorities' actions to shut down institutions working as a part of the Serbian system that licensing those institutions following the example of MTS and Elektrosever could be a practical solution to enable Serbian community in Kosovo to function normally until the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) is formed, Kosovo Online portal reported.

He emphasized that acting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti is deliberately shutting down Serbian institutions to eliminate the rationale for forming the Community of Serb Municipalities. He believes the closure of Serbian institutions is part of “a political process driven by Albin Kurti's ethno-nationalist regime in Pristina”, which is not aimed at solving problems, but at creating them. Thus, he is sceptical that Kurti would accept an attempt to license Serbian institutions.

“If you ask him, you can be sure he will be against it. He was against Elektrosever being established as a separate company, against MTS operating in Kosovo and Metohija, against anything that in any way bears the prefix of a Serbian enterprise”, Jevtic said.

He pointed out that residents of Strpce are “victims of this process.” He explained that Strpce municipality has been requesting a licence for over three years to establish a local public utility company to no avail.

Condemning the raid on the Red Cross of Kosovo and Metohija facility, Jevtic said this is another example of Pristina's double standards, since the organization is an international one and does not require a license to operate. He added everything Albin Kurti and Pristina are doing confirms there is a political agenda behind it all, aimed at creating tensions and, most of all, displacing the Serbian population.

Vucic: Serbia grateful for everything Zuroff has done for truth about suffering of Serbs in Jasenovac (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff in Belgrade on Wednesday, and noted that Serbia was grateful for everything Zuroff had done for the truth about the suffering of the Serbs in Jasenovac, a WWII-era death camp in the then Independent State of Croatia.

“Today, I had the honour of speaking with Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director Efraim Zuroff, the last surviving Nazi hunter. Dr Zuroff, a tireless fighter for the truth and justice, was not giving up even when it was easier to remain silent, and his work is not just in archives and court records - his work is in the names he has returned to history, in the Holocaust victims he has made visible again", Vucic wrote in an Instagram post.

"We are proud of our good cooperation, friendship and the commitment to shedding light on crimes from WWII. We are grateful for everything he has done for the truth about the suffering of the Serbs in Jasenovac. While others looked away, he spoke with knowledge and with his heart. We together assessed further steps in cherishing the memory of the victims of the Nazi regime. Serbia remains determined in the fight against antisemitism, and our obligation is to keep the memory for the sake of the past and, even more so, for the sake of the future", Vucic added in the post.

Opinion

The murder of a dream: Prishtina’s lost vision (Kosovo 2.0)

Opinion piece by Agron Demi

How a play exposes the cost of corruption and concrete.

As a policy analyst and researcher, I’ve spent years converting numbers into documents: policy briefs, strategic plans and legal memos. I know how to follow facts. But I had never seen them become flesh, dialogue, stage or silence. I had never seen data become theatre. Until I got a call from the Kosovar playwright Jeton Neziraj.

Neziraj’s reworking of his 2019 play, “In Five Seasons of the Enemy of the People,” now titled “Prishtina: The Premeditated Killing of a Dream,” wasn’t a rewrite. It was something deeper. A confession, an accusation and perhaps, an attempt at redemption.

My role was supposed to be marginal. I was asked, simply, to gather data and facts on illegal construction, environmental damage and public health in post-war Prishtina, and deliver them to Neziraj. Nothing more. A technical task, really. But I overstayed. Not because I had to, but because I couldn’t look away. I wanted to witness the transformation.

“This time,” he told me, “it’s not fiction. This time we name names.” The name at the center of this play is one that’s faded from public memory, but it shouldn’t have: Rexhep Luci.

If you’ve walked through Prishtina, you’ve likely noticed the chaos: buildings crowded together, suffocating one another. Yet, you may have also seen a few neighborhoods with green parks, nearby kindergartens, and ample space between residential buildings, such as Dardania and Sunny Hill. If you’ve strolled through Prishtina’s center, you might have seen the name of the architect who oversaw the building of these neighborhoods on a street sign. Some may remember the man himself — the architect. But very few recall his warning.

Rexhep Luci was one of the first generations of trained urbanists in Kosovo. But he wasn’t just a planner. He was a believer.