Albanian Language Media:

• Major disagreements in EU over lifting measures against Kosovo (RFE)

• Osmani thanks Carpenter for unwavering support for Kosovo (media)

• Kurti meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, Luka Mesec (media)

• Kurti: Serbia killed young Serbs to justify genocide in Kosovo (media)

• EU-Western Balkans summit to confirm European path (RTK)

• Two former Kosovo Police officers arrested in Zubin-Potok (media)

• Trump nominates Grenell as special envoy for international missions (media)

• Instagram accounts of senior LDK officials, including Abdixhiku’s, attacked (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Situation in Kosovo the worst in the last two decades (Kosovo Online, Kurir)

• Hill: No alternative to Dialogue; the CSM must be established (Kosovo Online, euronews.rs)

• Simic: Without 10 mandates for the Serb List, ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo will be finalized (TV Prva, Kosovo Online)

• The Serbian People's Movement presented its candidates for the parliamentary elections (KiM radio, KoSSev)

• KFOR practiced the defense of Visoki Decani (RTS)

• SOC files criminal complaint against Selim Pacolli (Radio Mitrovica sever, NMagazin, Beta, eparhija-prizren.com) 

• KP officer sentenced to three years for attempted murder of Serbian civilian (KoSSev)

• Student protests in Serbia continue amid incidents (N1)

Albanian Language Media 

Major disagreements in EU over lifting measures against Kosovo (RFE)

The Council of the European Union could declare next week that it will gradually lift punitive measures against Kosovo, but in parallel with other steps that Kosovo must take to reduce tensions in the north. This message should also be part of the conclusions of the ministers of the member states, who will meet on Tuesday, December 17, in Brussels at the so-called General Affairs Council of the European Union.

However, there are differences in positions between the member states, so there will be discussions again on Sunday between the ambassadors of the member states. “In accordance with the declaration of the High Representative, on behalf of the EU, the EU has implemented the measures against Kosovo. The Council will gradually lift these measures, in parallel with other steps by Kosovo to de-escalate in the north. The Council will deal with this issue,” the latest version of the draft conclusions, which were due to be adopted on Tuesday at the General Affairs Council meeting, said.

At several meetings of EU ambassadors, differences have emerged regarding the measures against Kosovo. Most member states have called for them to be lifted immediately and completely. But some other countries, led by France and Italy, want the measures to be lifted gradually. According to diplomatic sources within the EU, they may not be lifted before the elections in Kosovo, which are scheduled for February 9 next year.

Osmani thanks Carpenter for unwavering support for Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, had a working dinner with the Director for Europe at the White House, Ambassador Mike Carpenter. 

“At a working dinner with the Director for Europe at the White House, Ambassador Mike Carpenter, I thanked him for his many years of contribution and unwavering support for an independent, sovereign and integrated Kosovo in Euro-Atlantic structures,” Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Kurti meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, Luka Mesec (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, also the Minister of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Luka Mesec.

"They discussed the bilateral relations between Kosovo and Slovenia, the possibilities for further deepening cooperation and the role of our diaspora in strengthening the bridges between the two peoples and countries. They also discussed the geopolitical situation in the world with an emphasis on the possible impacts on the Western Balkans region," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Kurti: Serbia killed young Serbs to justify genocide in Kosovo (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, recalled the Serbian attack on the "Panda" cafeteria in Peja on the 26th anniversary of the event, saying that the killings occurred in an attempt to justify the genocide in Kosovo. "26 years later, the state of Serbia continues to hide the truth about the murder of young Serbs. Serbia denies the genocide in Kosovo, denies the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, denies the massacre in Srebrenica, and even the massacre in Recak. The lack of recognition of its criminal past and the lack of recognition of Kosovo's independence are closely linked," Kurti wrote on Facebook.

He stated that confronting the past and getting justice for Serbia's crimes in Kosovo are necessary to guarantee peace and security in the region. “Serbia killed six young Serbs, aged 14, 16, 17, 18 and 24, in an attempt by the Milosevic regime to justify the genocide in Kosovo. Following this attack, Serbian forces arrested more than 150 Albanians in Peja. On December 17, 1998, Agron Kollcaku, Behar Bajri, Beqir Loxha, Gazmend Bajrami, Vllaznim Pergjegjaj and Xhevdet Bajrami were also arrested and tortured in inhumane ways. The oldest of them was 22, while the youngest was 17. The six young Albanians were acquitted by a court in Serbia in November 1999,” the post continues.

He mentioned the denial by the current Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, that the act was committed by Serbs. "There is no evidence that it was carried out by Albanians”, Aleksandar Vucic had said in 2013. "There are many terrible things that we will have to face, such as the murder of Serbs in the Panda cafeteria," he said,” Kurti wrote.

EU-Western Balkans summit to confirm European path (RTK)

The leaders of the European Union member states and those from the Western Balkans, at the next summit, will reconfirm their full and clear commitment to the perspective of the region's membership in the European family. The heads of state and government of the EU and the Western Balkans will gather on December 18 at their now regular annual meeting.

This will be the first summit ever to be chaired by Antonio Costa, the newly appointed President of the European Council. Kosovo will be represented at this summit by President Vjosa Osmani.

The joint statement to be adopted by the leaders will note that "Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity". It is acknowledged that there is a new dynamism in the enlargement process, while underlining that accelerating the accession process of the countries of the region is in the common interest, always based on fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits.

“Regional and bilateral disputes rooted in the past have long hindered focus on the future,” states the draft declaration that the leaders will adopt at the end of the summit. It also adds the necessity of implementing all bilateral agreements in the region.

Regarding the dialogue, the draft specifies that the lack of normalization of relations is hindering both sides. The full implementation of all agreements reached in the dialogue is also required, including the recent agreement on the path towards normalization.

Two former Kosovo Police officers arrested in Zubin-Potok (media)

Two former Kosovo Police officers have been arrested in Zubin-Potok. "The Kosovar male suspect (former Kosovo Police officer) was arrested after several parts of the Kosovo Police uniform were found and confiscated during a search of his home, as well as a hunting rifle with an expired license and 50 rounds of ammunition. The suspect was taken into custody by the prosecutor's decision," the Kosovo Police report states.

Meanwhile, the second former police officer was arrested for embezzlement on duty. "The Kosovar male suspect (former Kosovo Police officer) was arrested after a search of his home found and confiscated: A uniform, a folder with documents, and a computer case," the police further announced. The suspect was released by the prosecutor's decision and the investigation continues in regular procedure.

Trump nominates Grenell as special envoy for international missions (media)

United States President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday that he has selected his former intelligence chief Richard Grenell as his special presidential envoy for international missions, a post where he is expected to help the incoming administration tackle some of the most difficult foreign policy challenges. In a post on his Truth Social media, the incoming president wrote that Grenell is a longtime foreign policy advisor to Trump. He previously served as ambassador to Germany and as acting director of national intelligence, and the president's envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia negotiations. In his announcement, Trump said that Grenell will "work on some of the hottest spots around the world, including Venezuela and North Korea."

However, a source within Mr. Trump's transition team told the Reuters news agency that Mr. Grenell will also focus on tensions in the Balkans.

Instagram accounts of senior LDK officials, including Abdixhiku’s, attacked (media)

The Democratic League of Kosovo has announced that the Instagram accounts of the party’s leader Lumir Abdixhiku, deputy-leader Daorsa Kica, the leader of the Youth, Paris Guri, and several other candidates for MPs have been attacked.

“The Instagram accounts of the LDK, leader Lumir Abdixhiku, and its members were targeted in a coordinated attack. We will take all necessary legal action to uncover those responsible and to protect freedom of expression and democracy,” the LDK announced.

“These accounts were targeted intentionally and in a coordinated manner, with the aim of harming freedom of expression and disrupting the democratic process on the eve of the upcoming elections. Tens of thousands of fake likes have been sent to the posts of these accounts, in an attempt to damage our online presence and undermine the integrity of the electoral process," the LDK statement said.  

Serbian Language Media  

Djuric: Situation in Kosovo the worst in the last two decades (Kosovo Online, Kurir)

Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Marko Djuric, stated that the situation in Kosovo is the worst it has been in the past two decades, emphasizing that Belgrade is always ready for dialogue and that the process of normalizing relations will continue in the near future.

In an interview with Kurir, when asked if he sees genuine will and desire from international actors to unblock the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Djuric responded that the past months were a period in which such expectations were unrealistic.

“The European Union was preoccupied with its internal administrative and staffing matters, Kosovo was in the midst of an election campaign, the situation on the ground is the worst we’ve seen in the last two decades, and the EU’s foreign policy attention has been focused on other regions. Despite our consistent commitment to reviving the dialogue, this issue was evidently not at the top of the EU’s priority list,” the minister noted.

He added that the issue of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina is always on the table in Serbia's foreign policy discussions, but European political attention has shifted due to acute challenges on the EU’s eastern borders.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/4xrb7794

Hill: No alternative to Dialogue; the CSM must be established (Kosovo Online, euronews.rs)

"I see no alternative to dialogue, and the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) must be established," reiterated U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill, reported Kosovo Online, citing Euronews.

Hill stated on Sunday that relations between Serbia and the US are good, with Serbs and Americans cooperating and sharing similar views on many global issues, Euronews reports.

When asked how strong the partnership can be if Belgrade and Washington differ on key issues such as Kosovo, Hill acknowledged certain differences in viewpoints, including on that matter.

"We simply have to acknowledge these differences, understand them, and then try to overcome them. That doesn’t mean we will resolve them—perhaps over time—but what’s important is to find common ground and areas where we can work together. I believe we’re doing just that, despite certain differences," Hill said.

On Dialogue Between Belgrade and Pristina

Discussing the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Hill said it’s difficult to predict how it will develop and expressed disappointment, like many others, that some issues remain unresolved.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/mt4vvav5

Simic: Without 10 mandates for the Serb List, ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo will be finalized (TV Prva, Kosovo Online)

The Vice President of the Serb List, Igor Simic, stated that it was crucial for the Serbian List to win all 10 mandates allocated for the Serbian community in the Kosovo Parliament. Otherwise, the strength of Serbs in that parliament will be diminished, the "umbilical cord" between Belgrade and Serbs in Kosovo will be severed, which, he warned, would lead to the final ethnic cleansing of Serbs from the area.

Simic told TV Prva that the Serb List's electoral list includes 48 candidates, many of whom are new faces—party members, former MPs, esteemed professors, doctors, judges, individuals who have not previously been involved in politics but are respected by the Serbian community and can contribute to the fight for a better future for Serbs in Kosovo.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3ww7n9cw

The Serbian People's Movement presented its candidates for the parliamentary elections (KiM radio, KoSSev)

The Serbian People's Movement (SNP) presented on Sunday, in its premises in Gracanica, 12 candidates for deputies to the Assembly of Kosovo in the parliamentary elections on February 9, 2025.

"First of all, together with our comrades, candidates and all other people, we should bring results and return the voice to the people, which was lost a long time ago. Until now, we have had certain political representatives in the parliament, who by their actions or inactions have put this nation in a very bad position, and we want to actively participate and restore the faith of this nation."

"It has been difficult for us to live in these conditions for years, but we believe that someone should carry the political burden and restore this nation's faith in a better future," Bisevac added among other things.

KFOR practiced the defense of Visoki Decani (RTS)

Members of KFOR for rapid response conducted a defense exercise of the medieval monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church Visoki Decani, using road military equipment and helicopters, reported RTS on Sunday.

The exercise allowed to improve the deployment capacity of the rapid response units, conducted with both wheeled vehicles and with helicopters, KFOR said among other things in a FB post.

SOC files criminal complaint against Selim Pacolli (Radio Mitrovica sever, NMagazin, Beta, eparhija-prizren.com) 

The Diocese of Raška and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church has filed a criminal complaint today with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina against Selim Pacolli, a senior official of the “New Kosovo Alliance” (AKR) party. The complaint concerns the criminal offense of inciting discord and intolerance. Pacolli, in two separate posts on his Facebook profile, initially called for the execution of an “Operation Storm” against the Serbian population—a term unequivocally associated by the Serbian people with ethnic cleansing. In a subsequent post, he escalated his rhetoric by making serious allegations against the Serbian Orthodox Church, branding it the “main instigator” of alleged “Chetnik bands” that, he claimed, “killed and burned during an Orthodox holiday.”

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/5b8j9rh9

KP officer sentenced to three years for attempted murder of Serbian civilian (KoSSev)

Korab Pepaj, a member of the Kosovo Police’s Special Unit, was sentenced today to three years in prison by the Basic Court in Mitrovica after being convicted of attempting to murder a Serbian citizen, M.J., in April of last year. The verdict was confirmed by attorney Milos Delevic for KoSSev. Pepaj was sentenced to three years solely for the criminal act of „attempted murder.“

He was acquitted of another charge, “manipulation of evidence.” Additionally, three fellow officers from the same unit—Faton Maloku, Samet Uka, and Muhamet Muqiqi—were cleared of charges for “failure to report a crime or its perpetrator.” 

The trio was accused of knowing about the use of their colleague’s weapon but failing to report it.

Read more : https://tinyurl.com/4vnbbwu9

Student protests in Serbia continue amid incidents (N1)

Student protests were held today at multiple locations across Serbia to commemorate the 15 people who lost their lives on November 1 in the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station entrance.

Youth civil organizations „Svice“ and „Stav“ organized a support rally titled „I Think, Therefore I Block“ near the Rectorate Building of the University of Novi Sad. At 11:52 a.m., participants honored the victims and left messages written in red paint. Students and supporters chanted, „Your hands are bloody“ and „Murderers.“ A minor incident occurred in Novi Sad when a young man tried to provoke the protesters but was driven away by chants of „Leave.“ In Belgrade, a large student gathering took place in front of the Technical Faculties Building in the city center. Students blocked the busy King Alexander Boulevard for 15 minutes to pay tribute to the victims.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/4crcpwb7