UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 2, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Zero accountability for Banjska, time for EU to walk the talk (media)
Osmani: Grateful to Danish PM for warm welcome at EPC summit (media)
Kurti: We are waiting for the full decision of the Constitutional Court (media)
Hargreaves: This autumn UK delighted to be hosting the Berlin Process (media)
Orav meets Radoniqi, discusses CEC’s crucial role in upcoming elections (media)
Covey: I saw no proof Thaci used crimes to seize power (media)
Mitrovica North municipality removes ‘Kosovska Mitrovica’ sign in Cyrillic (Kallxo)
UN Security Council to meet on Kosovo on October 21 (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo on October 21 (RTS, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Vucic in Copenhagen for EPC summit, thanks Danish PM for cordial welcome (Tanjug, media)
CEC discussed accreditation of observers: Doubts about new organizations and a large number of observers (Beta, NMagazin)
Concerns over new Pristina’s measures ‘step towards expelling Serbs from Kosovo’ (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, media)
Covey continues testimony in Thaci trial with cross-examination by prosecutor (KoSSev, BETA, media)
North Mitrovica: "I love Kosovska Mitrovica" installation removed (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)
Radojevic, CI North for All, react to sign removal, term it “provocation” by outgoing mayor Atiq (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM, social media)
Russian side in NIS talks proposes inclusion of US crude in company's oil purchases (Tanjug)
Ministry: Bomb threats reported at 807 schools across Serbia (N1, media)

International:

Kosovo awaits top court ruling as parliamentary gridlock goes on (BIRN)
Net FDI inflow to Kosovo grows 24% y/y in Jan-July (SeeNews)
Report: U.S. to adapt its policy to “new reality” in Kosovo (AP)
Russia assumes UN Security Council presidency for October (Anadolu Ajansi)

Humanitarian:

Women’s friendship as both political and personal (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Zero accountability for Banjska, time for EU to walk the talk (media)

In a statement to the media before the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, Osmani said that she commends Denmark for organizing an important summit “despite the ongoing security threats that are coming against all of Europe from Russia”. “Obviously, this is going to be another good opportunity for us to discuss how we do deal with such threats with unity among all the members not only within the EU but also those of us that are outside the European Union but aspiring to join and to contribute to the overall security, stability and prosperity of Europe. However, I must add that unity alone is not sufficient. There is a continuous necessity also for consistency in dealing with aggressors and dictators. There are currently two main security threats coming against countries within our continent, one comes from Russia obviously, the other one especially in our region comes from Russia’s proxy, that is Serbia. And I think there is of course consistency that is necessary from the European Union in dealing with both of these aggressors because you cannot treat one as an aggressor and as a dictator and the other one as a partner,” she said.

Asked which constitutes a bigger problem for Kosovo, whether Serbia or Russia, Osmani said: “it’s a combination of both. Obviously, Serbia has been treating its neighboring states as non-existent states, as temporary states, as states that they act with aggression against. Of course it’s a copy paste from Russia’s playbook. Unfortunately, Russia also supports Serbia in this endeavor. So traditionally and for centuries they have been using the same kind of concept. Russia talks about Greater Russia and the Russian World. Serbia talks about Greater Serbia and the Serbian World. And they use the same methods. For us they are both a threat. And we have to keep in mind that in our region there is never a vacuum of influence. If there is no western positive influence, malign powers of the triangle of evil, which is Russia, China and Iran always come there, and not for charity, but because they have maligned strategic interests. So its very important that enlargement is pushed forward and that those countries of the Western Balkans that meet the criteria and that also work towards the values that the EU stands for should be taken into account in moving forward.”

Osmani also said that “to the European Union, I'd like to say that history shows that appeasement of dictators and appeasement of autocrats never leads to long lasting peace. Appeasement of dictators has always historically led to encouraging them to use more violence. So of course, our call is to make sure that they are very careful with how Russia’s proxy in our region is treated and not to appease them to the extent that they continue to use violence. We just commemorated two years since the act of aggression of Serbia against my country in the north. The European Union has constantly called for accountability. There has been zero accountability. It's about time that they walk the talk”.

See more at: https://shorturl.at/UxYx4

Osmani: Grateful to Danish PM for warm welcome at EPC summit (media)

Most news websites cover a Facebook post by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani thanking Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for “the warm reception at the Leaders Summit of the European Political Community in Copenhagen, which again focuses on security challenges and in deepening cooperation to overcome them”.

Kurti: We are waiting for the full decision of the Constitutional Court (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti was asked today about the latest decision of the Constitutional Court about the formation of the new Assembly. “We are waiting for the full decision,” he briefly told reporters.

Most news websites note that the Constitutional Court said on Tuesday that the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly did not conclude, pending the election of a deputy speaker from the Kosovo Serb community. It also said that MPs are obliged to conclude the constitutive session within 12 days after the decision into force.

Meanwhile Ekonomia Online quotes Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti as saying that he believes that it is a waste of time and damaging that the Kosovo Assembly is not functioning. “The Assembly has elected its speaker, Dimal Basha, and four deputy speakers, Albulena Haxhiu, Vlora Citaku, Kujtim Shala and Emilja Rexhepi. No one is taking the empty chair of the deputy speaker from the Serb community. The work of the Assembly should have continued because the state of Kosovo does not have any time to waste. Emilja Rexhepi is a deputy speaker of the Assembly. The vote for Emilja Rexhepi cannot be annulled. Therefore, there is only the last deputy speaker from the Serb community left. But you should not forget, not only those of the Serbian List are Serbs; Nenad Rasic is a Serb too. The representative of the Serbian List got only 10 votes, while Nenad Rasic got 56 votes. If the 52 MPs that are in the opposition would have given him [Rasic] only five votes, we wouldn’t be having these questions and answers today,” Kurti said.

Hargreaves: This autumn UK delighted to be hosting the Berlin Process (media)

UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, said that this autumn the UK will be hosting the Berlin Process to foster discussions and boost cooperation with and among the Western Balkans 6. “This morning I spoke at the opening ceremony of the meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture from South East Europe, which is being held under the auspices of the Berlin Process this year. I thanked the government of Kosovo for hosting the meeting, and hoped that discussions regarding the future of regional cooperation and reforms in the agriculture and rural development sector would be fruitful,” Hargreaves said in a Facebook post.

Orav meets Radoniqi, discusses CEC’s crucial role in upcoming elections (media)

The European Union Ambassador to Kosovo Aivo Orav met on Wednesday with the Kosovo Election Commission Head Kreshnik Radoniqi. “They discussed the Central Election Commission’s crucial role in ensuring integrity, inclusiveness, transparency and smooth organisation of the forthcoming elections and impartial, law-based decision making building public trust,” the EU Office said in a Facebook post.

Covey: I saw no proof Thaci used crimes to seize power (media)

Former U.S. diplomat James Covey has stated that former president of Kosovo Hashim Thaci did not possess the necessary authority or power to commit war crimes during the conflict in Kosovo. Speaking as witness in Thaci’s ongoing trial at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Covey emphasized that the political and military structure of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) at the time did not grant Thaci unilateral control. “Thaci was not in a position of command that would have allowed him to order or carry out crimes,” Covey testified, challenging the prosecutor’s claims regarding Thaci’s alleged role in a joint criminal enterprise.

"No. I think we very quickly came to the assessment that he did not have the personal power to make someone else do such a thing. Moreover, I, that is we, came to the conclusion that he knew he did not have those conditions, that power. He began this career by discovering, step by step, how he could understand and build his political identity. It was our duty to support him on that journey, by working with UNMIK and the institutions. This was the best kind of engagement one could expect from a politician who was doing what was necessary. These actions also served his personal interests, and he was achieving that. I want to emphasize again that this was not a conclusion reached out of naivety, we had a clear judgment and were waiting to see how Thaci would present himself further in relation to us."

Covey further stated that Thaci was very intelligent: “This person, a young man who perhaps was not very developed, but was ambitious and very intelligent, had political ambitions that exceeded his capacity to impose them. We watched with interest how he was trying to move forward on a path in which he had no prior experience,” the witness said.

Sinjali quotes Covey as saying that Thaci did not have a role in the Kosovo Protection Corps in its initial stages. “At the time, Agim Ceku was commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps, technically. The KPC was being formed and when I pressured Ceku into taking some actions, he reminded me that the KPC was being formed. At that point, Thaci did not have any role in the KPC, and we did not want to create an impression that he had a role in the KPC,” he said.

Covey also said that UN representatives in New York were initially very skeptical and against the formation of the KPC. “This was a formality, although New York expected us to convey the same message to both leaders, but it was clear to us that New York was against the [formation] of the KPC, and it took a lot of time for people in New York to understand that this [KPC formation] was a wise action,” he said.

RTK quotes Covey as saying that Thaci built his political career in cooperation with UNMIK and other institutions of the time. “He started his career by understanding step by step what he could do to create his political path. It was not up to us to say if he wanted the best for Kosovo or how his ambitions could best be achieved. He found his own way to do that, and it was our duty to help him on his path. Namely, by working with UNMIK, with the institutions. This served his interests too. This is the best engagement you can ask from a politician,” he said.

Albanian Post notes in its coverage from the trial quotes Covey as saying that the relation between Hashim Thaci and Ibrahim Rugova transformed very quickly and in a positive way when in a matter of months, they started sharing power. Covey also said that Thaci had played a constructive role that helped further UNMIK’s peacekeeping objectives. “In a matter of months, he [Thaci] started sharing power and attention with him [Rugova]. We’re talking about a politician and sharing the spotlight is very difficult for a politician. So, he was sharing power and the spotlight with a person that he used to criticize earlier,” he argued.

Mitrovica North municipality removes ‘Kosovska Mitrovica’ sign in Cyrillic (Kallxo)

The municipality of Mitrovica North, namely the Department for Inspection, removed this morning a sign “Kosovska Mitrovica” written in Cyrillic and is now placing a new table with the logo of the municipality. “The Cyrillic letters are being removed, and Latin letters are being placed and also the logo of the municipality,” Visar Syla, the chief of staff to Mitrovica North mayor Erden Atiq, told the news website.

Syla also said that changes are being made in the city sports hall. “The seats in the hall are being replaced. The seats with the colors of Serbia are being removed and are being replaced with seats with the colors of the city, green and white,” he said.

UN Security Council to meet on Kosovo on October 21 (RTK)

The United Nations Security Council will convene on October 21 to discuss the situation in Kosovo, according to the UN’s official schedule. The session will focus on the latest report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The report is expected to be released in the coming days. This meeting comes six months after the last discussion in April, where sharp divisions emerged among member states over the future of UNMIK.

Serbian Language Media

UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo on October 21 (RTS, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever)

The United Nations Security Council will discuss the situation in Kosovo on October 21, the world organization's website announced. At the previous session, in April, the main topic of discussion among key members of this body was the future of UNMIK.

The UN Security Council will consider a new report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on October 21 on the situation in Kosovo, exactly six months after ''key members clashed fiercely over the future engagement of the UN mission'', reported RTS.

It was announced that the new report will be available in the next ten days.

In early April, former SRSG and head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh was concerned about the consequences that the closure of Serbian-run institutions has on the economic and social rights of Kosovo people, especially vulnerable categories of the population. She also condemned the destruction of religious symbols and objects, assessing that such a practice was incompatible with the values that the UN stands for.

RTS recalled that a key part of the discussion, in which Serbia was represented by Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, was the future of the UN mission, with France, Russia and China advocating for the continuation of the mandate that began in June 1999, with the adoption of Resolution 1244 while US and UK requested the termination of UNMIK's work.

Vucic in Copenhagen for EPC summit, thanks Danish PM for cordial welcome (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is attending the 7th European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, thanked Danish PM Mette Frederiksen for a cordial welcome.

"I am also grateful for the opportunity to represent our Serbia in her hospitable country," Vucic wrote in a post on his official Instagram profile.

Speaking to reporters before the start of the summit, Vucic said he expected to have important meetings.

"Besides important items on the agenda, such as initiatives in the fight against narcotics, submitted by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron, we will have bilateral meetings that are extremely important for us, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro, as well as many more important meetings, and then we will return to Serbia to solve the problems regarding NIS," Vucic said.

CEC discussed accreditation of observers: Doubts about new organizations and a large number of observers (Beta, NMagazin)

Kosovo Central Election Commission (CEC) expressed concern about the large number of observers submitted by certain non-governmental organizations for accreditation, as well as about, as they said, legitimacy of the organizations themselves, reported NMagazin.

The CEC member from Self-Determination, Sami Kurteshi, expressed his doubts about the organization "The Power of Voice'' (Moc Glasa), stressing that he had not heard of that organization before, while he particularly emphasized the unusually large number of observers for whom accreditation was requested.

"It is an organization that I have not heard of before, and with a very large number of observers - 'The Power of Voice' with 259 observers. Is there any explanation? Just when I am told that on September 23, 2025, an NGO was registered and on October 1, 2025, it comes with 259 observers, I doubt it, I doubt it a lot," he said.

Member of the CEC from the DPK, Arianit Elshani, suggested that the accreditation of organizations be done individually, and not in blocks, to ensure a more careful assessment.

Another CEC member from Self-Determination, Alban Krasniqi, emphasized the risk that unknown organizations can represent in the election process.

"I don't think it's that simple. Someone comes with 200 people who allegedly want to observe. The functioning of those organizations should be a prerequisite. And here we have completely new, anonymous, unknown organizations that have brought in a large number of observers. The NGO, according to your and the office's and everyone's knowledge, is the same NGO that went to Crimea in 2014 and invaded Crimea, you just need to understand what can be hidden under the umbrella of an NGO," he said.

CEC yesterday accredited 521 observers from 26 different non-governmental and other organizations.

Concerns over new Pristina’s measures ‘step towards expelling Serbs from Kosovo’ (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, media)

Implementation of the Law of Foreigners in Kosovo has not started yet, nor did Kosovo authorities announce the date of its implementation. Nevertheless, an information campaign about it is underway. At the same time as of November 1, a decision banning driving vehicles with authorization for persons from Kosovo, will enter into force, Radio Gorazdevac reported.

The announced changes instill anxiety among the Serbs, both south and north of the Ibar River, with different information circulating but with the same troubles – what to do with vehicles they regularly purchased in Serbia and drive with authorizations, as well as how will implementation of the Law on Foreigners affect daily migration of the Serbian population with residences in central Serbia, but living, working and studding in Kosovo.

Ordinary people warn that new rules will make their lives additionally difficult, while some point out this is about pressure aiming to expel the Serbian community from Kosovo. A Serb woman from Ljevosa returnee village, near Pec, told Radio Gorazdevac about her troubles. “I have a child born in Kragujevac, living here since 2004, she completed school and faculty here, and yet she can not obtain Kosovo ID card. So, every third month she needs to go out of the country, which is completely illogical and ridiculous”, she said.

Others told Radio Gorazdevac these decisions represent part of a wider policy to exert pressure on Serbs. “This is yet another in a series of measures in the policy of ethnic cleansing of Serbs, clearly motivated by anti-Serbian policy and Serbo-phobia”, one of the respondents said.

Serbian civil society organizations and academic community in Kosovo also voiced concerns about the detrimental impact of these decisions, requesting a moratorium on its implementation arguing that implementation of the Law on Foreigners would seriously endanger everyday lives of the Serbian community and represent an open discrimination against them.

As they emphasized, a lasting solution can only be found at the negotiation table.

Covey continues testimony in Thaci trial with cross-examination by prosecutor (KoSSev, BETA, media)

Prosecutors in a trial to former KLA leader Hashim Thaci, accused of war crimes in Kosovo and Albania, argued that Thaci, contrary to the claims of defense witness Jack Covey, had a crucial role in KLA when this Albanian paramilitary organization committed organized war crimes against civilians, BETA news agency reported.

US diplomat Covey, serving as UNMIK Deputy Head in the period from 1999-2000, said in a trial to Thaci, as witness of defense, that Thaci did not have command and control over KLA, adding that the crimes against Serbs and other minorities in Kosovo were “individual”, acts of “revenge” in “a lawlessness” situation and not a consequence of Albanian leadership “policy”, KoSSev portal said.

In a cross-examination of this witness of defence, the prosecutor Vega Iodice presented to Covey, that he personally in his book published in 2005 wrote that at the times of KFOR arrival in Kosovo, in June 1999 “almost 100 persons were killed on a weekly basis, mainly Serbs, but also those declared collaborationists”.

As the prosecutor quoted, Covey wrote back then that “KLA extremists wanted to expel Serbs by using terror”.

“That was a general impression, we saw reports about that”, the defense witness said. As “widely known” he also termed the findings of the State Department report from 1998 “that KLA elements killed, kidnapped, imprisoned and tortured police officers, civilians and Albanians who were loyal to the Serbian authorities”.

Touching upon Covey’s claims that Thaci “was not a fighter” and that his relations with KLA were “fragile”, the prosecutor asked Covey if he is familiar with “instructions and orders” of KLA and whether he knows who were the founders “of this paramilitary formation”, to which Covey responded that he does not know.

Covey gave the same response when asked if he knows, that Thaci together with co-defendant Kadri Veseli brought to Kosovo “seven rocket launchers” for KLA attacks on several Serbian police stations in Kosovo in September 1997.

The defense witness also said he did not even know that KLA in the summer of 1998 took over the Belacevac open-pit mine near Obilic and that Thaci was on the spot, which was also seen in the video recording shown in the courtroom. According to the indictment the KLA abducted 10 Serbian workers from there and they were never seen alive again.

Covey also said he had no detailed knowledge that KLA took over Orahovac in July 1998. The indictment said that during this period KLA abducted dozens of Serbian civilians, most of whom they killed, and that Thaci was seen in the area during the attack.

The prosecution representative also presented to Covey that in his book, published in 2005, he listed Thaci among "the key figures in the KLA", and the witness confirmed this, noting, however, that he "did not describe his role". Thaci and other "key figures" in the KLA considered the former leader of the Kosovo Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, "a collaborator" with the Serbian authorities, Covey confirmed what he wrote in the book.

According to the indictment against Thaci, the victims of the crimes were also Albanians and Roma declared by KLA leadership as collaborators of Serbian authorities, including Rugova’s supporters.

The prosecutor was also proving Thaci’s crucial role in negotiations on KLA de-militarization in June 1999, by quoting the excerpts from the-then KFOR Commander Micheal Jackson’s book. The British General Jackson wrote that Thaci yelled at him “that no one can play with KLA” and that KFOR Commander is “mistaken if he thinks he can give orders to them and that he will regret it”.

“This is a novelty to me, I have not read Jackson’s book. Thaci was one of the voices in these negotiations”, Covey commented.

North Mitrovica: "I love Kosovska Mitrovica" installation removed (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)

The light installation "I love K. Mitrovica" which was located at the intersection near "Crveni soliter" (Red skyscraper), was removed this morning, by the decision of the municipal inspection, reported radio Mitrovica sever.

As Radio Mitrovica Sever unofficially learned, a similar installation will be installed in the same place, the elements of which are already located next to the pedestal of the former one.

The one that was in place until now was written in Cyrillic script, with tricolor motifs. Municipal workers were allegedly assisted by the Kosovo police, reported the portal.

Radojevic, CI North for All, react to sign removal, term it “provocation” by outgoing mayor Atiq (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM, social media)

Serbian List mayoral candidate for Mitrovica North Milan Radojevic commenting on removal of a city landmark sing in Cyrillic alphabet “I love K.Mitrovica” said the act is yet another in a series of provocations by acting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and outgoing mayor from Self-determination ranks, Erden Atiq, Kosovo Online portal reported. He added that the sign which Mitrovica North residents loved had been removed.

“This is yet another in a series of provocations by which they attempt to destabilize our city. I urge residents of Mitrovica North to remain calm, not fall prey to provocations and cast their will on October 12 elections, when we shall return this city to our people. Mitrovica residents will show how much they love this city. At this place “I love the Kosovska Mitrovica” sign stood. Kurti’s regime and outgoing mayor Erden Atiq show how much they hate our city. That is why, on October 12, we all together, united and in harmony, let’s show how much we love our city, to get it back to the right hands”, Radojevic said in a post on Instagram.

Civic Initiative North for All: Outgoing mayor’s malevolence against majority community at the end of mandate

Civic Initiative North for All in their reaction to the landmark sign removal said that outgoing Mitrovica North mayor Erden Atiq at the end of his mandate intended to “be malevolent towards majority community in his municipality” by removing yet another symbol of this city “I love K.Mitrovica”.

“He is bothered by installation with a universal message of law, which at the same time symbolized linguistic diversity and multiculturalism of Kosovo, and which, in no way could insult or hurt anyone”, CI North for All said.

They also said that removal of this sign “insults not only the majority of Mitrovica North residents, but entire Serbian community in Kosovo, because denial and removal of Cyrillic alphabet from public life, which is a constitutional and legal category represents a direct assault to multiethnic and multicultural character (of Kosovo). Additionally, this act further deepens the gap of inter-ethnic district and intolerance, something (Albin) Kurti had been diligently working on for years”.

This Civic Initiative also said that following local elections on October 12, reinstalment of the very same symbol will be one of their first priorities.

As they said, they will advocate for a completely identical sign to be placed in front of the building where Erden Atiq lives. “So, it will remind him every day of his hatred towards the city, which, by a mix of unfortunate circumstances, he led undeservedly”, North for All said in a reaction.

Russian side in NIS talks proposes inclusion of US crude in company's oil purchases (Tanjug)

According to Tanjug news agency, the Russian side in the talks on US sanctions on Serbia's Russian-majority owned oil firm NIS, delayed until October 8, has proposed the inclusion of US crude in the company's oil purchases as one of the potential solutions to the issue of sanctions.

If the US accepts the proposal, this would mean NIS would be procuring substantial quantities of US crude oil via the JANAF pipeline and mixing it with other oil as part of the company's crude oil basket, reported Tanjug.

A full transition to processing exclusively US oil to enable NIS to operate without sanctions is unrealistic as the NIS refinery is not technologically configured for that.

According to unofficial sources of Tanjug, under one of the Russian proposals, a US company would acquire an 11.3 pct stake in NIS recently transferred by Russia's Gazprom neft to its daughter company Intelligence.

On September 30, the US Department of the Treasury issued a new special license to NIS delaying full implementation of US sanctions and enabling the firm to operate without obstructions until no later than October 8, NIS announced on Wednesday.

Ministry: Bomb threats reported at 807 schools across Serbia (N1, media)

On Thursday morning, by 9:30 am, bomb threats were reported at a total of 807 primary and secondary schools across all police administration areas in Serbia, N1 reported.

Police officers from the relevant police administrations, the Belgrade City Police Department, the Criminal Police Directorate, and the Technical Directorate have been engaged. The competent prosecutor’s office has been informed of all developments, the Internal Affairs Ministry said in a press release. The Ministry added that police officers are acting in accordance with the Instructions on how to proceed upon learning of or receiving a bomb threat or report of an explosive device.

It said that police officers from the High-Tech Crime Unit of the Technical Directorate will utilize all available mechanisms of international cooperation to contact foreign partners in order to identify the sender of these threats.

International

Kosovo awaits top court ruling as parliamentary gridlock goes on (BIRN)

Tuesday’s court announcement told MPs to elect a Serb deputy speaker – but did not supply much further guidance on how to end the current logjam.

On Tuesday, Kosovo’s Constitutional Court ordered MPs to again revisit the vote on the post of deputy speaker from the Serb community – but gave no further guidance on how they should resolve the months-long deadlock.

Around nine months on from the last parliamentary elections, in February, Kosovo still does not have an inaugurated parliament, as MPs have failed to elect a leadership, meaning a speaker and deputies, which is an obligatory step for its constitution.

“The court has legitimized once again the fact that the parliament is not considered constituted, if the speaker and deputy speakers are not elected,” Vullnet Bugaqku, a researcher from a Pristina-based think tank, the Kosovo Democratic Institute, KDI, told BIRN.

MPs finally elected a speaker on August 26, choosing Dimal Basha, from the biggest party in the assembly, Vetevendosje. But when many then expected a smooth inauguration of parliament, fresh complications arose over the election on August 30 of a deputy speaker from among the Serb MPs, a position guaranteed them by the Constitution.