Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (media)

• Kurti: We already have an agreement, not only dialogue (Telegrafi)

• US Embassy: O’Brien had important conversations with govt leaders (media)

• Osmani emphasizes “importance of never giving up on freedom” (media)

• Osmani meets Lawler, “strong partnership ensures regional stability” (media)

• EU Office: Von der Leyen will visit Kosovo on October 26 (media)

• Torres: Kosovo, American success story of democracy in the Balkans (media)

• Terras from Estonia expected to be appointed EP Rapporteur for Kosovo (RFE)

• Murati travels to U.S. for annual meetings of IMF and World Bank (media)

• Govt, ICO with strategy to address challenges of communities in Kosovo (EO)

• “SL silence about Rakic backs theories Radoicic’s people beat him up” (Express)

• ARKEP authorizes Starlink to offer services in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Aljazeera on construction of 200 houses in northern Kosovo: Residents are asking for information about the future tenants

• Tonino Picula the new rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia (N1, FoNet)

• O'Brien: Pristina to send CSM draft to Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online)

• Director of Telekom in Pristina: If they do not give us a license, damage will be paid (RTS) 

• Croatia to strengthen its presence in KFOR (Beta, Kosovo Online) 

• Selimi: Kurti signed agreement with Denmark to allocate prison, and criticizes Rama (Kosovo Online, social media)

Opinion

• From girlhood to womanhood through public spaces (Kosovo 2.0)

• Instead of a round of drinks - harsh glares (Radio kontakt plus)

International: 

• Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (Euractiv)

• Serbia hints at new long-term deal on Russian gas (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media  

Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (media)

Several news websites cover an interview that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti had with Euractiv, highlighting his opposition to a replication of the Italy-Albania migration deal in the Balkans. “"Temporarily hosting refugees if urgency requires it is, of course, always possible," Kurti said, but he firmly rejected the idea of replicating the Italian model. 

Kurti hailed the engagement of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the accelerated integration of Western Balkans in the European Union. “Making enlargement a priority is the best response to those who seek to fracture Europe’s security and unity,” he argued.

Kurti also said that “it is important for the cooperation between EU member states and Serbia not to be done on the back of democracy in this country or the security of the Western Balkans. France and Germany should make it clear to Serbia that economic cooperation does not mean a license to violate human rights and to harass the neighbors”. 

On the situation in the northern part of Kosovo, Kurti said: “I fight against crime that damages Serb areas in the north and so far we have cut off 18 illegal roads … If someone expected that when I became Prime Minister these illegal ways would continue, then they did not really know me”.

Kurti: We already have an agreement, not only dialogue (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was asked by reporters today about progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “No frankly, we already have an agreement [referring to the Basic Agreement in Brussels], not only dialogue,” Kurti responded. 

Hovenier: O’Brien had important conversations with government leaders (media)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, in a post on X today, thanked U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Jim O’Brien, for his visit to Kosovo. “Important conversations with Government leaders focused on partnering with us to enhance peace and prosperity, ensure that all citizens of Kosovo live in conditions of dignity and security, and advance Kosovo on the Euro-Atlantic path as a modern, multi-ethnic, European state,” Hovenier said.

Osmani emphasizes “importance of never giving up on freedom” (media)

President Vjosa Osmani said that at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center she shared “Kosovo’s journey — a story of resilience, unity, and progress — emphasizing the importance of never giving up on freedom”.

In her keynote address at the SAIS Women Lead Program Osmani said that “a significant part of who I am today and what I focus on stems from the legacy of many inspiring resilient women of my country who came well before me. Their existential role during our struggle for freedom, in the aftermath of the war, and throughout our state building process has been monumental. They paved the way, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we never go back. It’s precisely because of their shining example that the Women, Peace and Security Agenda is an integral part of my policymaking. As President and Commander in Chief of our army, I am convinced that we cannot speak of sustainable peace and security without placing women at the center of decision-making. There can be no long-lasting peace without women at the table, no guaranteed long-term security without women engaged, and nothing can truly be done forward without women being part of it themselves”.

Osmani meets Lawler, “strong partnership ensures regional stability” (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X that she had a great conversation with U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler, “on deepening our joint efforts to promote lasting peace and security in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. A strong US – Kosovo partnership not only ensures regional stability but also unlocks opportunities for shared prosperity”. Osmani also thanked the diaspora “for fostering these connections and helping us further strengthen Kosovo–U.S. relations”.

EU Office: Von der Leyen will visit Kosovo on October 26 (media)

The European Union Office in Kosovo said in a post on X today that “on Saturday 26 October, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kosovo. She will hold separate meetings with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti”.

Torres: Kosovo, American success story of democracy in the Balkans (media)

Most news websites reported on Monday that U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres said he was honored to host Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani. “There are few places on earth where America enjoys a higher approval rating than in Kosovo, which stands out as an American success story of democracy in the Western Balkans. Kosovo’s love for America runs deep, as does its friendship,” Torres said in a post on X.

Terras from Estonia expected to be appointed EP Rapporteur for Kosovo (RFE)

Estonian member of the European Parliament, Riho Terras, is expected to be appointed the EP Rapporteur for Kosovo, the news website reports citing unnamed sources. The European People’s Party needs to agree on the appointment.

Murati travels to U.S. for annual meetings of IMF and World Bank (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, has traveled to the United States, where he will attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank which will be held in Washington D.C. He is also scheduled to meet representatives from the senior management of the two organizations. 

Govt, ICO with strategy to address challenges of communities in Kosovo (EO)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights and Minority Issues, Emilija Rexhepi, in cooperation with the International Communities Organization (ICO) held the second meeting of the forum for non-majority communities in Kosovo. 

The (ICO) is a London-based international organization with UN consultative status and working for peace and reconciliation in divided conflict affected areas with a specific focus on minority rights.

Before the forum, a memorandum was signed by Rexhepi and the ICO, and Rexhepi said that their cooperation has been successful. “Personally, I am satisfied with the ICO because they have implemented many projects with all categories, but perhaps we need to engage together in an even bigger project so that our citizens can benefit even more,” she said.

The purpose of the memorandum and the forum is to advance the integration of non-majority communities in political, social, educational and cultural life of Kosovo. Through their cooperation, the Kosovo government and the ICO aim to draft effective strategies and find solutions for challenges faced by the communities, by empowering their role in the social development of Kosovo.

ICO Secretary General, James Holmes, said their objective was to support initiatives for communities and called on organizations to increase their cooperation with the institutions. “There are many initiatives, and the goal of this forum is to give an opportunity to community leaders and to have their voices heard. The purpose of our role and support is to help them present their initiatives and political ideas in the best way possible,” he said. “You know what are your priorities and the needs of the communities and the goal of this process is to help you identify the exact needs and ways how to address them. Not only will there be more jobs for your communities but also how many jobs are needed in your communities. The idea is to build your capacities to present to the minister your ideas in detail”.

“SL silence about Rakic backs theories Radoicic’s people beat him up” (Express)

The news websites reports that media in Kosovo reported that last weekend Goran Rakic, former leader of the Serbian List, now a member of the Kosovo Assembly, was brutally beaten up and wounded in front of his apartment in Mitrovica North. Kosovo Police Deputy Commander for the north, Veton Elshani, said the case was not reported to the police, but Kosovo media quoted unnamed sources as saying that Rakic was admitted at the Clinical Center in Mitrovica on Sunday morning with a broken shoulder and that he was later released for medical treatment at home. 

Serbian media Radar reported that the apparent silence of the Serbian List about the incident, namely the fact that the attack is neither denied nor confirmed, silently supports theories that this was a dispute between associates and that Rakic was beaten up by the people of Milan Radoicic, former deputy leader of the Serbian List.

ARKEP authorizes Starlink to offer services in Kosovo (media)

The Regulatory Authority of Postal and Electronic Communications in Kosovo (ARKEP) has authorized the U.S. company Starlink to provide internet access in every location in Kosovo. “All over the world, Starlink has enabled communities in need to have access to education, healthcare services, work remotely and to provide critical support to communications during natural disasters or other cases of national emergencies,” ARKEP said in a statement, adding that Starlink entering Kosovo’s market will result in economic benefits and the overall development of Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media 

Aljazeera on construction of 200 houses in northern Kosovo: Residents are asking for information about the future tenants

In a video story published on October 20, relating to the announcement to construct 200 houses in northern Kosovo, Aljazeera said these houses are intended for minority communities in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo with a majority population of Serbs. The construction will be financed by the Kosovo Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA). There is no confirmation from this institution whether these facilities will be built for returnees who were expelled from the area 25 years ago. Because of this, the representatives of the Serbian population believe that the intention of the current government is to change the ethnic structure of the population by settling Albanians, while in the municipality of North Mitrovica they deny these claims.

Al-Jazeera reported in the video that the house of Betim Osmani was burned during the conflict in 1999, as well as the houses of 70 Albanian families in Brđani settlement in North Mitrovica and noted that they are trying for 25 years to return to their properties. They note that the construction of the houses that was funded by the Kosovo Ministry of Communities and Return was halted without an explanation.

“I started to construct my house in 2016, and it was not just me, but two of my neighbors as well. We were working for 15 days without any problems…and some contraband people came and tore down some walls, and after 2 days the company (construction) did not want to come to work anymore. We reported that to the police, and neither police nor the Ministry did report back to us why the works were halted”, Osmani told Al-Jazeera. Al Jazeera noted that the return of Albanians to Brđani was initiated and stopped several times until now, as was the construction of houses which was funded by several institutions of the Kosovo Government.

Al Jazeera further noted that the Ministry of Local Government Administration has recently published a call for the construction of 200 houses for minorities in four northern Kosovo municipalities, which are inhabited with the majority Serbian population. The Ministry did not clarify whether the beneficiaries are returnees or not, and so the members of the Serb community in the north interpret this as an attempt of the incumbent authorities to influence the change of ethnic structure of the population.

Stefan Veljkovic, vice-president of Serbian Democracy from North Mitrovica told Al-Jazeera “here, I also live in a multiethnic settlement in North Mitrovica, where many Albanians have returned to their homes, where their houses have been renovated, and I have no problem with that and have nothing against it, same as majority of Serbs have nothing against it. However, if you are constructing new homes for Albanians, who never have used to live there before, then it is obvious that you are trying to change the ethnic structure”.

Skender Sadiku, Chairperson of North Mitrovica MA said that “in these five square kilometers, there is not a single returnee person who is not returning to their own property. Whether we are talking about the property inherited from their father, or grandfather. Twenty-five years since the war ended there are still consequences that exist. In one settlement, in Brdjani, 70 houses were burned”.

Aljazeera further reported that residents of northern Kosovo municipalities do not have sufficient information about the construction of these houses, which is why, as they say, confusion arises. It is unclear to them why MLGA is the one being engaged in the construction of houses for returnees, considering the fact that this is under the jurisdiction of the Kosovo Ministry for Communities and Return. However, both ministries did not respond to the query, Aljazeera said.          

Tonino Picula the new rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia (N1, FoNet) 

MEP from Croatia Tonino Picula, former Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the new rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia, the Social Democratic Party told N1.

Picula, who has represented the Social Democratic Party of Croatia in the EP since 2013, will succeed Vladimir Bilcik, who did not run for a second parliamentary mandate.

In June of this year, he was elected as a member of the EP for the fourth time, and since the beginning of his parliamentary term, he has been a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament (AFET).

During the previous convocations of the EP, Picula was one of the most active MPs when it came to the expansion of the EU to the Western Balkans. In the previous convocation, he was the rapporteur for Montenegro, and he was also the EP rapporteur for the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), as well as the new EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

Apart from Serbia, the group of Socialists and Democrats will also have a rapporteur for Albania. The European People's Party got the positions of rapporteurs for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, the liberal group Obnovimo Europa got rapporteurs for Montenegro, and the Green group for North Macedonia.

O'Brien: Pristina to send CSM draft to Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online)

Without implementation of obligations from Brussels Agreement of the last year and Ohrid annex, there will be no economic progress in Serbia or Kosovo, US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Asia, James O'Brien said, emphasizing that from Pristina, regardless of who is power, it is expected to send the CSM draft to the Constitutional Court.

"I want Kosovo and Serbia to fully implement the agreed obligations. The economic growth of both countries can be achieved if the basic agreement and the Ohrid annex are implemented. That is the only way to move forward", O'Brien said in an interview with Gazeta 10. On the contrary, he warns, if dialogue stagnates further, both sides will lose their opportunities for development.

Speaking about the CSM, he emphasizes that Pristina should send the draft to the Constitutional Court. O'Brien explains that there are mechanisms like CSM everywhere in Europe and that they serve similar municipalities to exchange experiences and discuss how to deal with problems.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/RkkSM

Director of Telekom in Pristina: If they do not give us a license, damage will be paid  (RTS) 

The general director of Telekom Serbia, Vladimir Lucic, expects the authorities and foreign embassies in Pristina to issue them a third operating license and approve the expansion of the network throughout the territory of Kosovo. Lucic is staying in Pristina, where he is negotiating with the international community about obtaining a license, reported RTS. 

According to Lucic, the process of issuing a license to a third mobile operator is ongoing, to which Telekom Srbije is applying. 

"Telekom Serbia, as the largest operator in the Western Balkans, has exceptional support from American and European institutions for the development of the 5G network. We are the only ones supported by the European Investment Bank and the American Import-Export Bank. Therefore, we are the only ones capable of implementing an advanced network in the Western Balkans, including the territory of Kosovo and Metohija," said Lucic during his stay in Pristina, adding that he is optimistic about it. 

"In any case, we will win. If by chance they dare not grant us a license right away, they will pay for the damage. I hope that will not happen. Our idea is to cover the entire territory," concluded Lucic. 

The director of Telekom told the Serbian media in Pristina that the embassies have understood until now when it was presented to them that the authorities in Pristina were violating their own rules and laws.

Croatia to strengthen its presence in KFOR (Beta, Kosovo Online) 

In the Croatian Parliament, the Government's proposal to increase the participation of the Croatian Army in the KFOR mission in Kosovo from the current 150 to a maximum of 200 members is being processed, the Balkan Security Network portal reported today. 

This represents the maximum number, and the contingent goes to the field according to the assessment of needs.

In the explanation of the proposal for the participation of the Croatian army in KFOR in 2025 and 2026, it is stated that this is an operation that has a special importance for Croatia because it is in its "immediate neighborhood", and that "the appearance of instability or the outbreak of a major security crisis can have consequences for the stability and security of the Southeast European area".

The Croatian contingent currently consists of a motorized unit that is on assignment in the Regional Command West under the leadership of Italy. Croats are in charge of patrols, security of the Visoki Decani Monastery and the Villaggio Italia base, where the command of the sector near Pec is located.

Two Croatian Mi-17Š helicopters are based at the Pristina airport, which are used for air transport by decision of the KFOR Command. There are also staff officers and an advisory team working to support the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) in Pristina.

Selimi: Kurti signed agreement with Denmark to allocate prison, and criticizes Rama (Kosovo Online, social media)

Former Kosovo foreign minister Petrit Selimi said Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti criticizes Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama over migrants faciity agreement with Italy, while his government has signed the agreement with Denmark on allocating the prison in Kosovo to settle prisoners from there, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“Kosovo PM criticized Albania PM for the deal with Italy on migrants facilities. A petty attack against Rama, as it was the Kurti government itself who signed a deal w/ Denmark opening Kosovo to house hundreds of jailed foreigners & migrants in Kosovo jails?”, Selimi said in a post on X.         

Opinion

From girlhood to womanhood through public spaces (Kosovo 2.0)

Opinion piece by Vlera Zymeri

Who gets excluded from public space?

Public spaces have deeply shaped my worldview. As a child, I saw sidewalks, parks and playgrounds not merely as physical places but as locations that offered a sense of freedom and independence. My earliest memories of public spaces are centered around the sidewalk near my home, where my friends and I engaged in all sorts of imaginative play. 

Everything changed when a new playground was built in my cousins’ neighborhood, about a 15-minute walk from my house. As a kid, that playground felt pretty far and inaccessible. But it quickly became a focal point and expanded my understanding of what public spaces could be. 

Looking back now, I realize the issue wasn’t just about how far it was, though it felt like quite a trek at that time. The real problem was that it wasn’t very welcoming. It was designed in a way that didn’t consider the needs or interests of all kids, with few options for quieter activities that could have engaged those who weren’t as interested in sports. The distance was just one part of the problem; the lack of inclusivity and thoughtful design made it a place where I never quite felt like I belonged. 

I began to see that these areas were governed by unwritten rules shaping how we used them. The equipment seemed to serve more traditionally “active” and physical play, which often matched what was expected of boys. Girls, on the other hand, were encouraged toward quieter, more social activities — less about what we wanted, and more about the roles we were being taught. It became clear public spaces were not just for fun but also places where power dynamics were at play — dynamics that often positioned young girls less favorably.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/6BlTN

Instead of a round of drinks - harsh glares (Radio kontakt plus)

By: Jovan Zafirovic, poetry, aphorisms and satire author

The previous months, when it comes to Kosovo, were of variable intensity, although they were also reserved for the Ibar River bridge issue. Open the bridge to traffic or not? What will be the consequences of opening it? Will it also mark a collapse of a symbol, that, of course, the bridge on the Ibar River, among other things, represents?

The bridge on Ibar River had not been open to traffic. But catering establishments at the beginning of the promenade on the side of the bridge where tattered tricolors fly, as well as a market in Mitrovica North located near Tzar Lazar Monument were opened by Albanians, which, observing the reactions of Serbs, manifested as an open wound.

The first Albanian market in the north, Meridian Express has been boycotted by Serbs since its opening. It still seems that way. It is boycotted because Serbs believe it is in no way intention that has a business character, employment opportunity, that of connection and coexistence, but rather yet another political act, a provocation and demonstration of force.

The same is the case with catering establishments at the very beginning of the promenade on the northern side. A boycott by the Serbs was expected. There are no guests of Serbian ethnicity in the Albanian café bars Missini and Heb’s. In them, in addition to the obvious extra performers, commissioned guests, who come and go cartoonishly as if to work, there are also representatives of the current government, who are immediately welcomed with the sound of whistles by leaders of Serbian Democracy.

Sometimes blowing the whistle by people from Serbian Democracy goes unnoticed by the public, because it happens every day, but it always gets noticed by Kosovo police. Which means those who are deaf to the violation of human rights only hear whistles well. Their reactions vary, from warning to arrests, or restraining order, a benchmark for all people who dare to do any kind of nonviolent resistance.

Among the reasons why representatives of Serbian Democracy do not have a larger number of people who will follow them and participate in their performances is fear and assumption that, if arrested, politicians will be released soon due to media attention and their status of public figures as well as because of public pressure, but that would not happen if they, ordinary people, are arrested.

Between café bars there is a pedestrian zone. Serbian children continue playing there, fathers push strollers with the babies, mothers walk by. In addition to all imitation of life and a mirage of normalcy, the structure of the people at the promenade have been changing since the opening of Albanian facilities.

Therefore, it all tells the bridge on the Ibar River is open for Albanians only. It had been rare that Albanians in such incident numbers were coming to the promenade in the north, in the heart of the city. Now they are coming, and as it seems openly wanting a reaction, even working to get it, illustrated by their provocations in the very city by calling out Serbian girls, women, mothers...  On the other hand, Serbs go to the south mainly for administrative issues, trade or when arrested by Kosovo police.

If it was not 5:0 to Belgrade in negotiations, who knows if it would be 2:2 at the end of the promenade in the north. But let’s not go there, what would happen if that happened. On one side Missini (Albanian cafe) and Monk and Luna (Serbian cafes) and on the other side Heb’s. Guests are having their drinks, and instead of rounds of drinks, they exchange glares full of contempt and mutual intolerance. They are commenting, but comments are so far silenced by the music, so discontent is not heard. It is only felt. It lingers in the air. And may break out as a balloon in a seventh year birthday party.  

Serbian Democracy leader Aleksandar Arsenijevic recently invited people to a free coffee in Monk café. He did it via social media with words that people should not be afraid, as it is their town, and went one step further that some of the next coffees could be, for the sake of co-existence and tolerance, at promenade in Mitrovica South.

Even if that would happen it would look theatrical, pointless. What after that coffee? Coexistence is not having drinks, with Serbs in one bar, and Albanians in another one. The coexistence could be sitting at the next table, without glares and objections, and certainly it is sitting at the same table. But not the one in Brussels. But at one of the tables at the promenade. Being it in the southern or northern parts.

This, despite all attempts and staging of democracy coming from Pristina does not exist and does not seem to become reality any time soon. It is counterproductive and creates tensions.

Under those circumstances, the call of Aleksandar Arsenijevic can be treated as fantasy. It is almost an unrealistic phenomenon to have the reciprocal number of Serbs at the promenade in Mitrovica South having coffees there. We can only guess what reaction of the majority population there would be to a visit of a larger number of Serbs to the south. Will they be treated as provocation or guests who would get the service as anybody else? It is not important. For the sake of performance, they would probably be cordially welcomed, but that is not the issue here. The issue is whether they would feel free and accepted?

And while drinks can still be paid in dinars or euros, depending on where you go, the money is not the problem. The problem is that no one knows what the price of a round of drinks, with harsh glares full of discontent, tensions and disappointment could be, if one too many glasses is drunk. Certainly, not a small one. 

International

Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (Euractiv)

EU enlargement “is the best response to those who seek to fracture Europe’s security and unity,” Kosovo’s prime minister added.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/QwLOJ

Serbia hints at new long-term deal on Russian gas (BIRN)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he expects Serbia and Russia to negotiate a new long-term gas supply deal after the current three-year deal expires in March.

Vucic told Radio Television of Serbia that, during a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday – the first one in over two years – they had talked about natural gas supply, among other things. Serbia’s main gas supplier is Russia’s energy giant Gazprom.

“We also talked about the gas arrangement and I expect that … we will start talking about a long-term arrangement with the Russian Federation,” Vucic said on Monday evening.

He added that “we managed to provide” six million cubic meters per day for the coming season, plus another two million for Serbian oil company NIS, which is mostly owned by Gazprom and Gazprom Neft, and “we talked about those three million additional flexible quantities of cubic meters of gas”.

According to Vucic, the prices offered for these supplies “are very good”, noting that for most of them the price per cubic meter would be lower than the market rate.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/4SVAl