Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Seems that our international partners don’t want to blame Serbia (media)
• Osmani: Protecting our territory in cooperation with partners, priority (Klan)
• Haxhiu: Reserves case was last year, why is Kurti being invited to testify now (EO)
• Gruda: Kurti without any result; PDK will implement full vetting in judiciary (KTV)
• Rohde: Germany, Europe want Kosovo in EU, CoE, but steps are needed (media)
• Kurti visited Adem Jashari memorial complex on Veterans Day (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Journalism under siege: The fight against propaganda in northern Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucevic: Protests in Serbia undeniably carry foreign signature (Tanjug)
• Oliver Ivanovic Street renaming revoked by North Mitrovica MA (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic detained because of the drone, then released (KoSSev)
• Court convicts parents of teenage school shooter (N1)

Albanian Language Media 

Kurti: Seems that our international partners don’t want to blame Serbia (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in an interview with the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) spoke about his four-year governance. Speaking about the attack in Varaga, Zubin Potok, on the Iber-Lepenc canal, he said that it seems to him that everything leads to the fact that “our international partners do not want to blame Serbia, and we did not have a drone over the canal at the time of the trouble”.

For the first time, Kurti spoke about the Specialist Chambers, giving the reasons why he did not go to visit the accused in The Hague. “I have thought about visiting The Hague and I was interested in going, but the main factor that stopped me from going is the fact that many documents and forms had to be filled out, and they had to be signed at the Special Court”, he said.

As for the affairs and the many open cases, such as the one of the water bottlers, the oil and wheat affair, the case of the former CEO of KEK, Nagip Krasniqi, and other cases, Kurti said that Krasniqi has brought KEK 105 million euros in profit. "The Director, CEO Krasniqi brought 105 million euros in profit to KEK for 2022. This has driven our opponents crazy, some of whom are in the prosecutor's office, and this attack was made against his success, not because of his failure," he said.

Osmani: Protecting our territory in cooperation with partners, priority (Klan)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, has said that the main priority, in 2025, remains the protection of the interests of the people and the protection of every inch of Kosovo's territory. In an exclusive year-end interview, she stated that apart from them, the primary goal is to promote the state in the international arena. "The year 2024 was one of challenges but also of successes for Kosovo. On the one hand, dealing with security challenges, which come from Serbia's destabilizing tendencies, and on the other hand, economic challenges, show us that there is still a lot of work to be done to strengthen all the links of our state".

"But, our maximum commitment was to continue strengthening democratic institutions, protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo, as well as strengthening the international position of our country".

"For me, the priority remains the protection of the interests of our citizens, the protection of every inch of our territory through our security institutions in cooperation with partners, the promotion of our state in the international arena, and the addressing of key issues such as the rule of law, human rights, and equality."

"The year 2025 is an opportunity to do many more things for the benefit of citizens and to promote the potential of our people, especially the youth, who remain the greatest asset of the country."

Haxhiu: Reserves case was last year, why is Kurti being invited to testify now (EO)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, has accused the Special Prosecution's invitation to Prime Minister Albin Kurti to testify, while emphasizing that Kurti has not refused to testify. According to her, in past governments there has been corruption and quick enrichment of politicians, but she insists that there is no accusation of corruption against Kurti.

“There are recent results of our government, but let’s talk about the success of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. Except for terrorism and war crimes, it also addresses the misuse of funds, and there has been one case where Blerim Jusufaj has been successful. I know that there are many good prosecutors, but the problem lies with the high-ranking individuals, with Blerim Jusufaj. Kurti has not refused to appear as a witness, but how is it possible that he is being called about the reserves, something that happened last year on the day when the lists of MPs were being compiled? The intentions were clear. In the previous government, corruption thrived, but we don’t know how the politicians behaved, and they can’t say Prime Minister Kurti is corrupt. But, in the past, millions were made and no one dealt with the real estate wealth. Kurti hasn’t refused to testify,” Haxhiu said.

Gruda: Kurti without any result; PDK will implement full vetting in judiciary (KTV)

Member of the presidency of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Perparim Gruda, said in an interview with KTV on Monday that the Kurti-led government failed to make changes in the judiciary and that it could not deliver on its promise for a vetting process. “Four years in government, but where are the results. Kurti repeated the same promises at the end of the mandate for unseizing the judiciary. We are one month before the elections and this tendency to replace a real debate in society seems ridiculous … We will implement a full vetting process. This government could not convince even the Venice Commission about the need for a full vetting process,” he argued.

Rohde: Germany, Europe want Kosovo in EU and CoE, but steps are needed (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said in an interview with Dukagjini on Monday, that Germany and Europe want Kosovo to be integrated in the European Union, to become a member of NATO and the Council of Europe, but for this Kosovo needs to make several steps forward. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing if these steps are unilateral,” he said.

Rohde said that Kosovo, namely Prime Minister Albin Kurti, set a good example with the unilateral decision for free travel of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo. 

Kurti visited Adem Jashari memorial complex on Veterans Day (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the Adem Jashari memorial complex on Veterans Day on Monday. He said the first resistance of the Jashari family against Serbian police in 1991 “marked the start of a six-year long period characterized by guerilla actions and armed resistance until the day when the soldiers of the Kosovo Liberation Army came out for the first time in public in Llausha of Skenderaj”. Kurti also visited Llausha where a memorial honoring the first public appearance of the KLA was recently inaugurated. 

Serbian Language Media  

Journalism under siege: The fight against propaganda in northern Kosovo (KoSSev)

In an era dominated by propaganda, this global phenomenon has deeply rooted itself in the Balkans, amplifying interethnic tensions. Nowhere is this more evident than in Northern Kosovo, a region marked by crisis throughout 2024. Ironically, this area has also become an unconventional “tourist destination“ for officials from Pristina, who repeatedly visited to propagate their narrative.

Mitrovica’s promenade and the main bridge over the Ibar River were among the most visited sites, often serving as backdrops for Kosovo government leaders promoting their vision of a “North Kosovo free from crime and gangs.” However, these visits were often marred by communication barriers. Officials frequently avoided addressing Serbian media, refusing to answer questions or engage in dialogue.

One minister, when asked, “Why are you here today?” retorted, “Have I ever asked you why you’re here?” Another official dismissed a journalist with a curt, “Do you speak Albanian?” before walking away after receiving a negative response.

Challenges for Local Journalism

This year also highlighted continued strained relations with the Serbian List, a dominant political entity representing Kosovo Serbs. Despite sporadic public appearances, the party selectively invited media outlets to their press conferences and often denied journalists the opportunity to ask questions.

Tatjana Lazarevic, editor of KoSSev, reflected on the challenges facing journalists in such an environment. “There’s no worse time for a journalist than when they begin questioning the purpose of their work,” she said. “In a society dominated by insecurity, injustice, and a loss of dignity, who values news or journalists’ safety? The greatest threat to journalism comes from propaganda, and to dignity, from despair.”

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

Vucevic: Protests in Serbia undeniably carry foreign signature (Tanjug)

“Ongoing protests in Serbia undeniably carry a foreign signature,” said Serbian PM Milos Vucevic on Monday, adding that, very soon, it would become clear the protests were about political demands rather than about “finding out the truth” about the Novi Sad railway station tragedy.

"Undeniably, there is a foreign signature there. But who ordered, executed, and financed that is a more complex question," Vucevic told reporters when asked to comment on media reports about “involvement of Croatian secret services” in the protests through “a group of Croatian students and a Ukrainian man."

He said it was interesting how "someone in the neighbourhood" wanted to interfere in Serbia's internal affairs and always act in a way that was the opposite of the way Serbia was acting.

"Everyone should be wondering what the 37 or however many students specialised in such rebellions were doing in Belgrade and Serbia and what that Ukrainian, who has already been detained, was doing," Vucevic said.

The PM added that he did not know how the Ukrainian national had entered Serbia again and that, during his tenure as Serbian defence minister, the Military Security Agency had detained the man for flying drones over Serbian defence facilities.

"The question is how that man got in now. But you have heard how many people intervened and said: 'Let him go, do not touch him’,” Vucevic said, referring to a statement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said on Sunday the Ukrainian's arrest had been followed by unprecedented pressure from foreign ambassadors aimed at getting the man released

Oliver Ivanovic Street renaming revoked by North Mitrovica MA (KoSSev)

The 36th session of the Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica, held today, saw the adoption of a proposal by the Assembly President Nedžad Ugljanin to annul a 2018 decision that renamed “Nemanjina” Street to “Oliver Ivanovic” Street and “Kolasinska” Street to “Mitrovica Victims” Street. Ugljanin justified the decision, stating that the original renaming process was not conducted in accordance with legal procedures.

Since the 2018 decision to rename the streets, the political landscape in North Mitrovica has shifted significantly. What has remained consistent, however, is the controversy surrounding street naming. The initial renaming, implemented under the administration of the Serbian List, ignored calls to name “Sutjeska” Street—where Ivanovic was assassinated—after him. Instead, Ivanovic’s name was assigned to a lesser-known street with a promise of improvements.

Now, under the leadership of Self-Determination representatives, the renaming has been reversed. The assembly president framed the decision as a step toward reportedly addressing the sentiment of all communities, taking note of the Albanian victims in the area.

A Contentious Debate on Street Naming

The session was closed to the media, though journalists attended thanks to tips from citizens. The five-point agenda included routine items like the approval of previous meeting minutes and unresolved executive decisions. However, the debate over annulling the street renaming dominated discussions.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/2fff2x2n

Arsenijevic detained because of the drone, then released (KoSSev)

The leader of Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, was detained yesterday in Zubin Potok for filming with a drone. He was then transported to Northern Mitrovica, where he received confirmation that the drone was temporarily confiscated. The police claim that a permit is required for this type of filming, which Arsenijevic denied. He was released in the evening, and shortly before that, members of the party headed by him blew their whistles in front of the police station as a sign of protest.

Court convicts parents of teenage school shooter (N1)

Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanovic, the parents of K.K., a 14-year-old boy who killed nine students and a school security guard at Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade on May 3, 2023, were found guilty and sentenced Monday by the Higher Court in Belgrade.

Under Serbian law, because the shooter was under the age of 14 at the time of the crime, he cannot be held criminally responsible or stand trial.

Vladimir Kecmanovic, the boy’s father, was sentenced to 14 years and 6 months in prison for grave offenses against general safety, as well as neglect and abuse of a minor.

The boy’s mother, Miljana Kecmanovic, was sentenced to three years in prison for neglect and abuse of a minor.

Nemanja M., the instructor at the shooting range where K.K. practiced, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for giving false testimony.

The Higher Court in Belgrade issued a statement detailing the ruling. When reading the court’s ruling, the presiding judge briefly explained the reasoning behind it. The ruling can be appealed to the Court of Appeals in Belgrade.