Albanian Language Media: 

• Hoti to Kallas, calls for decisive steps to be taken on missing persons (media)
• Rama agrees with Grenell on Thaci (media)
• British Ambassador congratulates Kosovo on its 17th Independence Day (RTK)
• Ambassador Ziv congratulates Kosovo (RTK)
• Police stop Albanian youths who wanted to celebrate with flags in north (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic received Hungarian Grand Cross of Order of Merit (Tanjug, RTS)
• Djuric met with Kosachev in Moscow (Tanjug)
• The SNP billboard set on fire again in the municipality of Klokot, KP investigating both the previous and the new arson (KoSSev)
• Kurti: “Kosovo is the youngest state in Europe, but one with the longest history of striving to exist” (KoSSev)
• They drove through North Mitrovica with Albanian flags, the KP detained several people, but not because of that (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic with the Serbian flag in South Mitrovica: "They attacked us, but the flag did not fall" (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: The defeated Kurti regime tried to provoke tensions in the north last night (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media 

Hoti to Kallas, calls for decisive steps to be taken on missing persons (media)

The Chairman of the Government Commission on Missing Persons, Andin Hoti, has written a letter to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, asking her to take urgent steps on the issue of persons who disappeared forcibly during the war in Kosovo.

Hoti said that despite the adoption of the Declaration on Missing Persons on May 2, 2023, Serbia continues to block the fulfillment of its obligations and is violating its obligations under international law. Hoti wrote in the letter that the European Union has a key role in ensuring that efforts do not fail, while he called on Kallas to take decisive steps on this issue.

Hoti has demanded the immediate and unconditional opening of Serbia’s military, police and intelligence archives, including classified files related to war crimes and enforced disappearances. He has demanded full cooperation from Serbian authorities, including facilitating investigations into the involvement of paramilitary groups and local Serb collaborators in these enforced disappearances.

He also demanded concrete measures to hold Serbia accountable for its continued refusal to provide information on the whereabouts of missing persons and the locations of undiscovered mass graves. “The families of the missing have waited too long for the truth and justice they deserve. I believe that under your leadership, we can ensure that their voices are heard and that Serbia is forced to fulfill its moral and legal obligations,” Hoti wrote.

Rama agrees with Grenell on Thaci (media)

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has agreed with the statement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, who, while congratulating the anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, said that "the founder of Kosovo's statehood, former President Hashim Thaci, should be celebrating today in Pristina, not behind bars in The Hague.”

While sharing this statement of Grenell on the social network "X", Rama said that the longer the "injustice towards Thaci" continues, the greater the stain on the international body of justice. "Absolutely! And the longer it continues, the greater the stain on the international body of justice", Rama wrote.

British Ambassador congratulates Kosovo (RTK)

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, has congratulated Kosovo on its Independence Day. “Congratulations to Kosovo on its seventeenth anniversary of Independence. Britain is proud to celebrate Kosovo’s achievements as a multiethnic democratic state. We look forward to working together for our shared security, the stability of the region and for the even deeper friendship between our countries,” he wrote on Facebook.

Ambassador Ziv congratulates Kosovo (RTK)

The Israeli Ambassador to Kosovo, Tammy Ziv, through a post on the “X” platform, congratulated Kosovo on its 17th anniversary of Independence. "To all friends in Kosovo, heartfelt congratulations on the 17th Anniversary of Independence," the Israeli diplomat wrote, also sharing the congratulations of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Police stop Albanian youths who wanted to celebrate with flags in north (media)

12 persons, ten of them underaged, were stopped by Kosovo Police on Monday under the suspicion that with their vehicles which carried Albanian national symbols they entered Mitrovica North to celebrate. The information was confirmed by Kosovo Police Deputy Director for the north, Veton Elshani, who also said that the youths were attacked with rocks by Serb citizens. Elshani also said that police were engaged so that there were no provocations in the north during the celebration of “Kosovo’s independence”. Several news websites later reported that the youths were released from the police station and were given fines.

Serbian Language Media  

Vucic received Hungarian Grand Cross of Order of Merit (Tanjug, RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Hungarian Grand Cross of Order of Merit with a golden star on a collar from Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok in Budapest on Monday. Vucic said it would be another stone in a beautiful road of cooperation between Serbs and Hungarians and Serbia and Hungary.

"I am very excited, very happy and proud to have received this order today," Vucic said at a ceremony.

"To me, it means much more than any word I can utter. It is a great honour to receive this order - which is very important to me - at this time," he said.

"We have done much for the reconciliation between Serbs and Hungarians: it is never enough, but I am certain the resilience we will need in the future will be greater than both you and I expect - resilience in terms of our relations being based on real interests, as well as on a sincere friendship between our nations," Vucic said. He noted that Hungary and its leadership were popular not only in Kanjiza, Subotica or Ada, but perhaps even more so in Belgrade, Kragujevac and Nis.

Having Hungarian PM Viktor Orban as a friend has made it all easier, Vucic noted.

Djuric met with Kosachev in Moscow (Tanjug)

Serbian FM Marko Djuric, who was on a two-day visit to Russia, met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of the Russian Federation Konstantin Iosifovich Kosachev in Moscow on Monday.

Thanking Kosachev for a warm welcome, Djuric noted that, since the establishment of the modern Serbian state, Serbia and Russia had maintained close and brotherly relations. He noted that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic would be representing Serbia at Victory Day celebrations in Moscow in May and added that this was another proof that Serbia respected, appreciated and was not forgetting the self-sacrifice of Soviets and the Russian people for the freedom of not only their country but Serbia and Europe as well.

Noting that Serbia was pursuing an independent policy, Djuric said that “Kosovo had illegally declared independence on this day in 2008 and pointed out that Serbia was grateful to Russia for the persistent support for its territorial integrity and sovereignty”.

Kosachev said Russia appreciated “Serbia's persevering position in the context of pressure it was facing from the West,” adding that Djuric's visit to Moscow was another proof of Serbia's sovereignty.

"Rest assured when it comes to support regarding Kosovo and Metohija, as well as regarding the economy and other matters. Russia's support for Serbia is the general stance of all in the Russian parliament. I hope your visit to Moscow will be a foundation for further meetings, and we expect President Vucic on May 9," Kosachev said, adding that Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic was also invited to Moscow. He said that, simultaneously with other developments, Russia was also watching the internal situation in Serbia and hoping that everything would remain within the framework of the law.

After the meeting with Kosachev, Djuric also spoke with Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy and thanked him for looking after Serbian-Russian relations and ensuring that they remain on a high level among the present generations, too.

The SNP billboard set on fire again in the municipality of Klokot, KP investigating both the previous and the new arson (KoSSev)

In the village of Mogila in the municipality of Klokot, the billboard of the Serbian People's Movement (SNP) was set on fire again, this party reported. The incident happened in front of the yard of the candidate for deputy and SNP activist, where the billboard is located.

A new ignition followed last Sunday night. Unlike the previous one, the new attempt was more "successful" and, as can be seen in the published photos, half of the billboard burned.

"This act of vandalism took place even though the elections were over, which shows that the intimidation of anyone who has different opinions and views does not stop." They are of the opinion that the perpetrators will not be found, however, they have called the competent authorities to investigate.

KoSSev recalled that it was the same billboard that unknown persons tried to set on fire on January 25, during the pre-election campaign for the parliamentary elections in Kosovo.

The KP confirmed for KoSSev that the incident happened Sunday night, stating the police had investigated and launched an investigation. The spokesman of the KP for the Gnjilane region, Ismet Hashani, indicated that they were investigating whether the new arson was related to the previous one.

"The same billboard was recently set on fire, we informed the prosecutor, and we are working to find the perpetrators," he said, stating that both cases were classified as causing general danger.

On the other hand, Hashani confirmed for KoSSev that the first case has not yet been resolved. When asked about the footage from the surveillance camera, which, according to the SNP, was submitted to the police, he said that he could not give details about the course of the investigation. KoSSev added that the owner of the house, that is, the SNP candidate for deputy, submitted the footage from the surveillance camera to the police even after the first ignition.

This party also then published a video, which also shows two men approaching the billboard with flammable liquid, one of them spraying the billboard, and the other setting it on fire, reported KoSSev.

Kurti: “Kosovo is the youngest state in Europe, but one with the longest history of striving to exist” (KoSSev)

Kosovo is marking the 17th anniversary of its unilaterally declared independence today with nationwide celebrations, political speeches, and a show of national pride. The capital, Pristina, was at the heart of the commemorations, with outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti addressing the public from the city’s main square, paying tribute to those who fought for Kosovo’s independence.

“The Republic of Kosovo is indeed the youngest state on the old continent, but it perhaps has the longest history of striving to exist,: Kurti stated.

“As we commemorate 17 years of independence, we remember the men and women who fought and sacrificed for this day. We are an indigenous people, which means our history neither begins nor ends in a single generation.”

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/mr2mbbav

They drove through North Mitrovica with Albanian flags, the KP detained several people, but not because of that (KoSSev)

With the sounds of sirens, with Albanian flags flying through the windows, several vehicles passed through the streets of the northern part of Mitrovica last evening. The KP brought 12 people to the station, including minors, the police told KoSSev. Although Albanian flags were found with them, the KP stated that the reason for bringing them was that they did not have documents, that is, because there were too many people in one vehicle, and that there is no other case for now.

Kosovo marked the 17th anniversary of “the declaration of independence yesterday”. Last night, a group of Albanians also celebrated in the northern part of Mitrovica. Several videos have been published showing a convoy of several vehicles passing through Kralja Petra I Street, and then through other streets. Apart from the windows, Albanian flags were also placed on the trunk of one of the cars. The FB page based in South Mitrovica 'Jepi Ze' published a video that was supposedly recorded by one of the participants of this convoy. 

During the drive, a siren can be heard all the time, while they sing the famous song among Albanians by Shkurta Fejza "No division of Mitrovica". KoSSev recalled that the song was one among the mandatory repertoire during the pre-election campaign of Self-Determination, at the beginning and end of rallies.

According to the testimonies of residents, this group threw insults at passers-by and provoked them.

The KP of the North region confirmed last night for KoSSev that their officers spotted three vehicles with Albanian flags. They state that the officers then stopped and escorted two vehicles to the station. The deputy commander of the KP of the North region, Veton Elshani, said that there were five people in one vehicle, and seven in the other, and that 10 of the total number were minors. He emphasized that there were only minors in one vehicle, and that none of them had a driver's license, and that there were seven people in the other vehicle.

Although he confirmed that Albanian flags were found with these persons, Elshani still states that the reason for bringing them to the station was that they did not have documents, that is, because there were too many people in one vehicle. He said that the second case does not exist, because the officers did not see them passing through the city with Albanian flags.

In subsequent news late last night, KoSSev wrote that the KP "also suspects that some Serbs attacked them with stones".

"That's because they didn't have documentation, and if we had seen them, we would have told them - go south, don't provoke. There is no case, but because they did not have a driver's license and they will receive a fine, and for the other vehicle, because it was full of people," he said, reported KoSSev.

Elshani also said that the use of flags does not constitute a criminal offense, adding that this case was being dealt with by the police, as it involves minors. All 12 people were released, while four fines were issued - three for not having a driver's license, two of them for minors and one for having more people in the vehicle than allowed.

Arsenijevic with the Serbian flag in South Mitrovica: "They attacked us, but the flag did not fall" (KoSSev)

After several vehicles drove through the streets of the northern part of Mitrovica tonight with Albanian flags and with the sound of sirens, the leader of the Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, responded by driving through the same streets, but with the Serbian flag. Then, with his party colleague, Ivan Orlovic, and the same flag, he headed towards the southern part of Mitrovica, where, as he claims, a group of people attacked them and tried to take their flag, as a result of which the Kosovo Police intervened, KoSSev reported late last night.

Arsenijevic told KoSSev that he decided to take this step in order to show the international community what kind of "nationalism has been fueled for the past three years", recalling also the incident in Gracanica on the day of the Albanian flag, when a group of vehicles with Albanian flags also passed through this place. He claimed that it was about "ethno-nationalist rampage", and that this was precisely why they wanted to prove that "if they can, why can't we?".

He emphasizes that equal rights apply to all citizens of Kosovo, and once again reminded of Article 59 of the Kosovo Constitution - the right to display national symbols.

"We were driving through the city in a predominantly Serbian environment, what would that be a provocation? We also headed south because the celebration continues with all kinds of flags. We went down to prove the tolerance between us in the North, they characterize us as criminals, terrorists, murderers, genocidaires, all of which the public opinion of Pristina uses for us. We just wanted to show the difference between the Ibar River - the tolerance of us from the North and that from the South," he said.

"As soon as we passed the eastern bridge, about 300 meters, we tried to turn right, but we saw a car blocking our way. Fortunately, there was a police station, the policemen came out immediately, but they were cursing in front of the policemen. The police let them go and asked us to give a statement. I emphasized that they attacked us, not us them," he said.

"They tried to take our flag, beat on the car..."

Arsenijevic stated that there were about eight people in the group, and that "it was obviously an organized wait."

"They tried to take the flag from us, they beat on the car, but the flag never fell," he said.

Arsenijevic posted a video clip showing how, while they are driving on the eastern bridge, a person from another car tries to grab the flag that he was holding through the window. Then follows a video of a group of citizens talking to police officers, while Arsenijevic asks "does he cursed the Serbian mother in front of you"?

The portal from South Mitrovica "Jepi Ze" published a video of the same situation but recorded from the vehicle of a person trying to catch the flag. This vehicle then follows Arsenijevic and Orlovic to the police station in South Mitrovica. Arsenijevic and Orlovic were questioned by police officers in South Mitrovica last night. 

According to Arsenijevic, he was told today they will see whether this group will be prosecuted, and whether a case will be opened against him and his party colleague. When asked what they expect, he stated "we expect the Serbs, as always, to be guilty and responsible for everything."

Serbian List: The defeated Kurti regime tried to provoke tensions in the north last night (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

''Last night, the defeated regime of Albin Kurti tried to cause tensions in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica by provoking the Serbian people and sending threatening messages to our citizens while they played some kind of pranksters with Albanian flags,'' said the Serbian List. 

"We want to say on behalf of the Serbian people that Kurti's regime did not scare us, nor did it succeed in expelling us, nor did it provoke a reaction from our people, who are aware that these provocations are the last twitch of the anti-Serb regime that feeds on hatred towards Serbs. And Kurti knows very well that this is a Serbian city with a Serbian majority and a few of its fanatics cannot change that, and that it is better to pack his bags for political retirement with all these fanatics and with the sounds of their sirens," the statement said.

They add that they demand the reaction of international authorities.

"At the same time, we demand the reaction of the competent authorities, and the condemnation of international representatives for the attempt to further aggravate the situation and endanger peace in these areas, and the responsibility of the Kosovo police who allowed these attacks on peace and our citizens," the statement concluded.