Albanian Language Media:

• Stano: Opening of Iber Bridge should be resolved through dialogue (media)
• Government: Addition of measures by EU deepens injustice towards Kosovo (Koha)
• Government says tests are done and bridge should open (media)
• Works on central bridge of Iber continued also on Saturday (Koha)
• Vucic claims Iber Bridge will "violently open" on August 14 or 15 (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Chances of overthrowing government lost, VV will again win 50% of votes (media)
• Albanians of Presheva Valley protest today against discrimination from Belgrade (media)
• Kurti invites young people to apply for paid internships (media)
• LVV calls a press conference for today in front of Special Prosecutors Office (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian President warns of possible provocations over bridge opening in Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• EC Spokesperson Stano: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is constantly in crisis mode (N1)
• Kosovo’s Infrastructure Minister: There is no reason not to open the Ibar river bridge, technical inspection completed (N1, KoSSev)
• Survey reveals overwhelming opposition to opening main Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Three houses of Serb returnees burnt near Prizren (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Hundreds gather to mourn Faton Hajrizi in Donja Klina amid controversy (KoSSev)
• Kosovo Police halt road construction in Suncana Dolina (Sunny Valley) (KoSSev)
• Red ribbon for the police station, what else is the Kosovo government building in the north? (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

• Kosovo – Rise in unilateral actions by the Kosovo authorities (diplomatioe.gouv.fr)
• Huge lithium-mining protest triggers crisis meeting in Serbia (politico.eu)
• Serbia’s populist president says lithium protests are part of a ‘hybrid’ warfare against his country (AP)

Albanian Language Media

Stano: Opening of Iber Bridge should be resolved through dialogue (media)

The spokesperson of the European Union, Peter Stano, has reiterated that the issue of the opening of the IberBridge should be resolved through dialogue in Brussels, while he called on the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, not to continue with unilateral actions that could increase tensions.

"The EU, together with other key partners, has asked the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Kurti, not to continue with unilateral actions, stressing that the issues must be resolved through dialogue. Bridges usually bring people together. Unfortunately, the situation we have in the north of Kosovo and in Mitrovica is the result of a large number of difficult political circumstances. Therefore, we have always said that it is an explosive issue, a problematic issue, and like all problematic issues, it must be resolved through dialogue. Because if you have a problem, then you solve it with dialogue, not with unilateral decisions", said Stano.

The EU spokesperson has expressed concern about the ongoing crisis in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. He criticised "unilateral actions", especially from Kosovo, such as the closure of Serbian posts in the north, which he described as unfortunate and harmful to local communities. He called for a return to constructive dialogue.

Government: Addition of measures by EU deepens injustice towards Kosovo (Koha)

The government has called the European Union's warning about increasing punitive measures against Kosovo unfair. The Prime Minister's Office said that the actions which the international community is considering as unilateral and uncoordinated are a matter of the rule of law, for which they said they expect the support of the EU and the USA. 

"Measures are not a solution. Time has proven that the EU's measures against Kosovo have been unfair. They continue to be so as long as they are in force. Adding them would only deepen the injustice. On the other hand, the question arises as to what measures the EU took against Serbia, which after the terrorist and paramilitary attack declared a National Day of Mourning for the three terrorists killed in Banjska, whose leader, Milan Radoicic, it shelters and finances", reads the answer of the government.

The Government Office says that the West should support the rule of law.

"We need the support of the EU, but also of the United States of America, especially in the field of rule of law and respect for the agreements reached in Brussels. The closure of nine offices of the Post of Serbia, which operated without a licence and illegally, is a matter of the rule of law. Meanwhile, the opening of the Mitrovica bridge over the Iber River is a matter of complete freedom of movement, the rule of law and respect for the agreements reached by Brussels in 2015, in addition to a direct contribution to the further integration of our citizens", it is further stated in the government's response.

Regarding the warnings about the measures, there was no response from the European Union, the news website reports.

Basri Muja, an expert on political issues, considers it senseless to impose sanctions on a state that takes legal action. According to him, the EU is using these measures as a means of blackmailing the government of Kosovo. He said that the government should coordinate with the allies, but it should not even discuss with them the issues related to law and order.

Unlike Muja, former diplomat and political analyst, Blerim Canaj, said that if the Iber Bridge is opened, measures against Kosovo will be inevitable. According to him, in order not to be punished, the government must coordinate every action with its partners.

Government says tests are done and bridge should open (media)

Pedestrians, scooters, and bicycles have been constantly moving on the main bridge over the Ibër river. However, representatives of the government of Kosovo have reiterated the position that there is no reason not to open the bridge for cars as well, adding that the tests have been carried out.

The Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Liburn Aliu told Kosovapress that there is no reason for the bridge to remain closed.

"The technical examination of the bridge has been done and we have yet to receive an answer. I think that in the technical aspect it is, I am talking in advance, we do not see that there is any problem, but nevertheless the examinations will give their results in the technical aspect of the operation of the bridge. The agreement, we know that the political agreement exists and it should have been opened much earlier. There is no reason not to open it, bridges unite people", he said.

The Speaker of the North Mitrovica Municipality Assembly, Nexhad Uglanin, is optimistic about the opening of the bridge.

"KFOR and EULEX are the ones who are not giving permission for the protection of democratic and European values, especially of those countries where they come from; in talks, when we have talks at the local level with international representatives, we have never been able to get an answer, why. Because, as a democratic state, our main value is freedom of movement".

However, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has again accused Prime Minister Albin Kurti, calling him a person recruited by Serbia. Haradinaj, who was prime minister from 2017 to 2020, blamed Kurti for the breakdown of relations, not only with Western allies, but also with Albania.

Haradinaj has said that this form of government has forced people to leave the country, so according to him, the next elections should be used to make the change.

Works on central bridge of Iber continued also on Saturday (Koha)

Works on the Iber Bridge continued on Saturday, as part of preparations to open it for vehicle traffic. The government has not stopped the planned actions that should precede the opening, despite the criticism and threats of consequences, announced by the European Union and the United States.

Contract workers worked during the day on the upper part of the bridge structure. During the week, its endurance was also tested.

Vucic claims Iber Bridge will "violently open" on August 14 or 15 (media)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, in a press conference, said that he expects the bridge over the Iber River to be "violently opened" on August 14 or 15, while at the same time he claimed that Western "foreign agencies" will also be involved in the opening of the bridge”, offering no evidence about this.

He added that the "new" Serbian leaders, who according to him, will be installed in Kosovo, will answer the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.

"They will try to install some new Serbian leaders, portray them as brave even though they are not, who will try to separate them from Belgrade and then agree with Kurti how to become his servants. Let me tell you right away that it will not work", added the Serbian president.

Kusari-Lila: Chances of overthrowing government lost, VV will again win 50% of votes (media)

The head of the Vetevendosje Parliamentary Group, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, has stated that as a representative of the Alternativa party, she has proposed February 9 and 16 for the regular elections at the meeting of political parties with President Vjosa Osmani.

"In the meeting with the president of the country, I represented the party that I lead, the Alternative Party, and I gave two dates, February 9 and February 16, as the best possible dates, not only in terms of the political party but also the smooth running of the pre-election process and post-election. I believe that January 26 is related to the end of the year holidays. It is therefore understood that 30 days is the campaign, which means that it starts two days before Christmas Eve and is not convenient at all. Of course, this will be a burden for everyone here and all the citizens of Kosovo who are celebrating. Add here the fact that we may also lack the international community, most of whom will be abroad for those who are already in Kosovo, and also others who come as delegations from the European Parliament or other organisations that monitor the elections", said Kusari-Lila.

Kusari-Lila has emphasised that the president of Kosovo should have a serious analysis regarding the setting of the date for the regular elections. According to her, she has enough time to determine the date of the elections and continue further consultations. 

"As for the Vetevendosje Movement, they will make clear their position in relation to the date of the elections, but I am more than convinced that they do not agree with January 26. It is the whole month of consultations. On the same day that the meeting was held, the president stated that there may be other consultations, either individual or group consultations. Therefore, I believe that there is sufficient space in terms of the time frame for determining the date of the elections to continue with further consultations", she added.

She emphasised that the chances of overthrowing the Government and early elections have been lost and that the Assembly should focus on the work of the autumn session.

"I believe that every day and every week from now on, the chances of holding early elections are lost. In terms of deadlines, the only deadline that can be considered for early elections in terms of content is the dissolution of the Assembly, for which there has never been a will. In all other circumstances regarding deadlines or other ways, either with the resignation that an opposition party demands or with the overthrow of the government that the other opposition party demands, there would still be other procedures that would in reality send the date of the elections there where the regular election date is currently. We should all focus on the work that is left in the second part of the year, such as the Assembly in the fall session, and of course the executive with its own capital projects and other executive work at the end. At the same time, let's prepare that the elections will take place in principle, in the second month of next year", she said.

Asked who she sees as the winner of the next elections, she confidently said that the results will be the same as in 2021.

Albanians of Presheva Valley protest today against discrimination from Belgrade (media)

The Mayor of the Municipality of Presheva, Ardita Sinani, has called on the Albanians of the Valley to come out today, August 11, to protest. She stressed that there will be a protest against oppression and discrimination against Albanians in the Valley by Belgrade.

"Dear citizens of the Municipality of Presheva. Dear Albanians of the Valley. There are still a few hours left before the PROTEST. Protest for justice, equality. Against oppression, discrimination and the violation done to us by Belgrade. Let's go out together, regardless. Let's raise our voice. For IDENTITY and DIGNITY. The voice of the discriminated Albanians. We will meet tomorrow at 11:00 in Bujanoci Square", she wrote on Facebook.

Kurti invites young people to apply for paid internships (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has invited young people between the ages of 16 and 24 to apply for paid internships, training and mentoring. Through a video message published on Facebook, Kurti said that this program is called "Kosovo Generation Unlimited". According to him, only during the last two years, about 1,200 young people in the middle of this age have benefited from this opportunity. "60 percent of them are girls", said Kurti.

He added that the sectors are different, from retail services to ICT, to marketing, finance and banking, and public service.

"We have a young population, our goal is to have a vital and resourceful youth who find themselves in the profession. I invite you to visit www.kosovogenu.com to see all the opportunities for paid internships, training and mentoring that we are offering for our youth through the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers and cooperation with UNICEF in Kosovo and member businesses of CSR Kosova network", he said.

LVV calls a press conference for today in front of Special Prosecutors Office (media)

Today, the Vetevendosje Movement will hold a press conference in front of Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor's Office.

"On Monday, August 12, 2024, from 12:00, the Vetevendosje Movement! organizes a media conference in front of the Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo", the announcement states.

Serbian Language Media 

Serbian President warns of possible provocations over bridge opening in Mitrovica (KoSSev)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has issued a warning about potential provocations on the 14th and 15th of this month, suggesting that a forced opening of the bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica could occur. Speaking from the Serbian Presidency building yesterday, Vucic urged KFOR to prevent any unilateral actions by Pristina.

“We expect further provocations on the 14th and 15th. We anticipate a violent attempt to open the bridge,” Vucic warned.

He called on KFOR to intervene and prevent such actions, emphasizing Serbia’s respect for the peacekeeping force. “We believe KFOR will do its job,” he added.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/hcke5r84

EC Spokesperson Stano: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is constantly in crisis mode (N1)

The European Union would not support anything in Serbia that goes against EU environmental standards, Peter Stano, spokesperson for the European Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security, told N1. However, he stressed that it is up to Serbian authorities to ensure these standards are met and respected.

As for the issue of Kosovo, Stano expressed concern over the ongoing crisis in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. He criticised unilateral actions, particularly by the Pristina administration, such as the closure of Serbian post offices in northern Kosovo, which he described as unfortunate and harmful to local communities. He called for a return to constructive dialogue.

Stano warned that opening the bridge on the Ibar River, which is seen by the Serb community in the north as a threat, could escalate tensions. The EU, along with other key partners, urged Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti not to proceed with unilateral actions, emphasizing that issues should be resolved through dialogue.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3a2b3nmk

Kosovo’s Infrastructure Minister: There is no reason not to open the Ibar river bridge, technical inspection completed (N1, KoSSev)

Kosovo's Minister of Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, said that there is no reason why the bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica should not be opened. He confirmed that the technical examinations have been completed and that the results are expected.

The bridge was tested this week after Kosovo authorities said it will be opened as soon as possible. Four heavily loaded trucks passed over it, and the Kosovo Ministry of Infrastructure said that a report on its carrying capacity would soon be drawn up, reported N1, citing KoSSev.

“It is a political issue, and our ministry is involved in its technical aspect. Regarding the technical aspect, the technical inspection of the bridge has been completed and we are yet to receive an answer. I think that in terms of the technical aspect, and I am speaking in advance, we do not see that there is a problem, but the inspections will give their results in terms of the functioning of the bridge,” said this minister.

Like other members of the Kosovo government, Aliu believes that “there is no reason why the bridge should not be opened”.

“Bridges connect people,” he said.

Survey reveals overwhelming opposition to opening main Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica (KoSSev)

In a recent survey conducted by KoSSev, which garnered nearly a thousand responses on Instagram and Twitter, a clear majority has expressed opposition to opening the main bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica.

The Kosovan authorities are currently working to reopen the bridge to traffic, which has been closed for 25 years. However, this move was met with resistance from the Quint countries, the EU, and KFOR, all of whom emphasized that the resolution should be handled through the Brussels dialogue and the bridge revitalization agreement.

Serbs gathered in protest last week, unanimously voting against reopening the bridge to traffic. 

This sentiment was echoed in KoSSev’s 24-hour survey conducted on Instagram and Twitter.

The survey offered three options: to open the main bridge to traffic, to keep it closed, or to open it but not at this time. The majority of respondents chose the second option on both platforms.

On Instagram, out of 811 responses, 678 (84%) supported keeping the bridge closed. In contrast, 8% supported reopening it now, and 8% favored reopening it at a later date. The latter options were separated by just one vote, with 67 for later and 66 for now, reported KoSSev on Saturday.

On Twitter, out of 134 responses, 59% preferred keeping the bridge closed, 26% supported immediate reopening, and 15% were in favor of reopening but not at the moment.

Overall, out of 945 total responses, 71.5% are against reopening the bridge, 17% support its opening now, and 11.5% favor reopening but not immediately.

Three houses of Serb returnees burnt near Prizren (RTS, Kosovo Online)

RTS reported last night that in the village of Novake near Prizren, the houses of three returnee families burned down. One of the returnees told RTS. The police have started an investigation.

The houses of three Serbian returnee families burned down in the afternoon in the village of Novake near Prizren, Spasa Andrejevic, reported RTS.

He stated that the houses of the family of Dejan Petkovic, then the family of Dragomir Nikolic and the family of the late Stanislav Nikolic were burned.

"Only the walls were left of the houses. The roofs were completely burnt, from which tiles fell and filled the floors of the rooms. Burnt chimneys are the only preserved parts of the roof," described Spasic.

He could not state what caused the fire to break out in the houses of the returnees. When the firefighters arrived, the houses had already burned down, and the police began an investigation.

Family members of Petkovic and Nikolic do not stay permanently in Novake, but their houses are taken care of by the remaining returnees.

Serbs started returning to Novake in 2003. At that time there were 70 of them. Due to financial existence, insecurity and other factors, fifteen of them remained.

Hundreds gather to mourn Faton Hajrizi in Donja Klina amid controversy (KoSSev)

Faton Hajrizi, a controversial figure in Kosovo, was laid to rest today in his hometown of Donja Klina, near Srbica. The funeral drew hundreds of mourners, with attendees reportedly chanting “Glory to Faton” and displaying symbols of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and Albania, as reported by several Pristina-based media outlets.

Along the route leading to the village from the direction of Srbica, numerous flags bearing the symbols of Albania and the KLA were prominently displayed. Photos published by local media showed these flags waving in the wind.

Pristina-based Gazeta Express reported that some attendees wore T-shirts emblazoned with KLA motifs. These shirts bore the slogan “Freedom Has a Name”, which had previously been featured on billboards across Kosovo in support of former KLA leaders currently facing war crime charges in The Hague. Additionally, some mourners wore T-shirts with images of Faton Hajrizi himself.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5vbyrtk2

Kosovo Police halt road construction in Suncana Dolina (Sunny Valley) (KoSSev)

KoSSev reported on Friday afternoon that Kosovo Police halted road construction work in the Sunčana Dolina (Sunny Valley) neighborhood. The suspension came after it was revealed that the construction contractor lacked the necessary permits.

A deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the Northern Region Veton Elshani confirmed the development to KoSSev. He stated that the work was stopped because the contractor did not possess a valid permit, although he declined to provide further details, noting only that the case was under investigation concerning the legality of the road construction in the area.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/62wcfcy5

Red ribbon for the police station, what else is the Kosovo government building in the north? (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti has repeatedly announced his government's investments—construction of roads, highways, schools, green spaces—in all municipalities, without discrimination against any community or region of Kosovo. However, when it comes to the predominantly Serbian municipalities in the north, the projects promoted by the government with ribbon-cutting ceremonies are primarily the renovated police stations.

On August 2, Kurti, together with Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla, opened a police station in Socanica, a settlement in the municipality of Leposavic, stating that it had been "significantly renovated, to the point where it could be considered newly built." On that occasion, the mayor of Leposavic, Ljujlzim Hetemi, announced that a new police station would soon be built from the ground up in the settlement of Lesak.

Last October, construction of a police station began near the "Jovan Cvijic" elementary school in Zubin Potok, and prior to that, the Kosovo police had built four rapid-response border police bases in the north.

In February, it was announced that 21 houses for minority communities were being built in four northern municipalities, but other projects financed by the Kosovo budget, aside from the removal of Serbian road signs in Cyrillic and their replacement with "signs in accordance with Kosovo laws," are almost nonexistent.

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

International Media

Kosovo – Rise in unilateral actions by the Kosovo authorities (diplomatioe.gouv.fr)

France strongly condemns the rise in unilateral actions by the Kosovo authorities in the north of the country affecting the daily life of the Serb community. These actions jeopardize the efforts to normalize relations with Serbia, which are prerequisites for the two countries’ future EU membership.

France calls on the Kosovo authorities to refrain from any future unilateral action that would further exacerbate tensions. It encourages the two parties to return to the negotiating table under the auspices of the European Union in order to make progress toward the implementation of the Ohrid agreement.

See at: https://tinyurl.com/2rbjrurf

Huge lithium-mining protest triggers crisis meeting in Serbia (politico.eu)

Environmental activists fear the project will pollute land and water in Serbia’s western Jadar region.

A massive protest in Serbia against a lithium-mining project prompted President Aleksandar Vučić to call a government crisis meeting in the early hours of Sunday.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the capital of Belgrade on Saturday to demonstrate against the opening of what could become one of the largest lithium mines in Europe. Industry is keen to secure supplies of the crucial raw material for electric-car batteries.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/y65u29tz

Serbia’s populist president says lithium protests are part of a ‘hybrid’ warfare against his country (AP)

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s president Sunday accused demonstrators who opposed a lithium mining project in the Balkan country of being part of a Western-backed “hybrid” warfare against his government and vowed to take strong legal action against those protesters who have blocked railway and road traffic in the capital a day earlier.

In one of the biggest protests in recent years, tens of thousands took to the streets in the capital, Belgrade, Saturday against lithium mining in Serbia, despite officials’ warnings of their alleged plot to unseat populist President Aleksandar Vučić and his government.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4zsfb8me