Albanian Language Media: 

• Rutte: Stability in Kosovo, in the interest of everyone in the Alliance (media)
• U.S. mission: Not aware of discussions to reduce or withdraw troops (Express)
• Limaj: I will cooperate with Kurti too (media)
• Osmani meets with diplomatic representatives, discuss several topics (media)
• Kurti meets Hargreaves, discuss elections and steps to form institutions (media)
• Hargreaves meets leaders of parties, “hope government is formed soon” (media)
• CEC: Votes need to be counted in only three more municipalities (Telegrafi)
• Government welcomes EP’s request to lift measures against Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Under impossible circumstances and pressure I preserve part of Constitution on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Vucevic: All in region should preserve peace, stability (Tanjug)
• Kosovo police say ‘there is no case’ in relation to flag removal from a house in Zvecan (KoSSev)
• Mijacic: First payment from Growth Plan to Kosovo must wait for parliament formation (Kosovo Online)
• CoE urges dialogue to defuse tensions in Serbia (media)
• Picula in EP: Serbia has made limited or no progress on EU path (N1)
• Kos: Engaging talks with Serbian civil society (N1)

• Columns of protesters march through Belgrade (N1)

Albanian Language Media 

Rutte: Stability in Kosovo, in the interest of everyone in the Alliance (media)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that stability in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia is in the interest of all and that he does not see any reason for dramatic changes in terms of U.S. commitment to NATO.

During a debate with students in Bratislava, Rutte was asked about the possibility of renewed conflict in Kosovo given rumors that the U.S. could pull out its troops. “Allow me to be very clear, from the way I understand the American system is that they are fully committed to NATO and the current engagements. But let’s see what will happen. There can always be changes in policies or small adaptations. The Slovaks, the Dutch and others are doing this. But I have no reason to believe that there will be dramatic decisions. And in general in the Western Balkans we need to make sure we continue our focus in the region because stability in Kosovo, stability in Bosnia and stability in Serbia is in the interest of all,” Rutte argued.

U.S. mission: Not aware of discussions to reduce or withdraw troops (Express)

The United States mission to NATO told the news website on Thursday that they are not aware of any discussions to reduce or withdraw American troops from Kosovo. A high-ranking official from the mission said that U.S. Defense Secretary Hagseth said last week that there are no decisions related to U.S. troops. “We are not aware of any such discussions, and as Secretary Hegseth said last week there haven’t been any decisions related to the level of troops,” the official said. 

Limaj: I will cooperate with Kurti too (media)

Most news websites cover an interview that Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA), gave to TV Dukagjini, highlighting his remarks that he would cooperate with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and any other future government if this is in Kosovo’s interest. He argued that the service for Kosovo is above any political division and that he would contribute in any way for the good of Kosovo.

Limaj said he did not have any “red lines” for any party in terms of forming a new government, and that he is open for discussions on what he called national issues. “I am ready to help my Prime Minister that serves the country. I am ready to help the Prime Minister if he asks for my help to be in the service of the country. Always (even if it is Albin Kurti). I am talking about national issues, always,” he said.

Limaj also called on political parties to cooperate in order to avoid a government crisis after the elections. He said Kosovo urgently needs a stable government given international and regional developments. 

Osmani meets with diplomatic representatives, discuss several topics (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani held separate meetings on Thursday with the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo, Anu Prattipati, German Ambassador Jorn Rohde, and UK Ambassador Jonathan Hargreaves. “During these meetings, they discussed the latest developments in Kosovo, including security issues, strengthening bilateral relations with the respective countries, the course of the election process and the formation of institutions after the final certification of results from the February 9 parliamentary elections,” Osmani’s office said in a Facebook post.

Kurti meets Hargreaves, discuss elections and steps to form institutions (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Thursday with UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, highlighting the important role that the UK has in Kosovo and the Western Balkans, and the importance of strengthening and furthering bilateral relations. They also discussed the February 9 elections, their course and steps to form the new institutions after the elections. 

Hargreaves meets leaders of parties, “hope government is formed soon” (media)

UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, said in a Facebook post on Thursday that this week he held separate meetings with the leaders of political parties: PM Albin Kurti of Vetëvendosje, Memli Krasniqi of PDK, Lumir Abdixhiku of LDK, and Ramush Haradinaj of AAK. “I hope that a government can be formed soon that will work in the interests of the people of Kosovo and make progress on issues vital to Kosovo’s path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. I reiterated our support for Kosovo’s security and independence and our faith in its democratic institutions,” Hargreaves said.

CEC: Votes need to be counted in only three more municipalities (Telegrafi)

Spokesperson for Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC), Valmir Elezi, told reporters on Thursday that the vote count from the February 9 parliamentary elections has concluded in 35 municipalities of Kosovo. He said that votes are to be counted in only three more municipalities – Pristina, Peja and Leposavic – and that this is expected to be finalized today. “In general, from February 11 until today (February 20) at 16:00 hours, 94.31 percent or 2,389 from 2,533 voting stations have been counted. There are 144 voting stations left which are in these three municipalities,” he said.

Government welcomes EP’s request to lift measures against Kosovo (media)

The Kosovo government welcomed on Thursday the request of the European Parliament for the European Union to lift its penalty measures against Kosovo. Spokesperson for the Kosovo government, Perparim Kryeziu, told RTV21 that the measures are unfairly in force and that they should be lifted. “We welcome the draft report of the European Parliament’s Rapporteur, Riho Terras, calling for the immediate removal of EU measures against Kosovo. This request now joins the recommendation of former EU High Representative Josep Borrell who also called for their removal,” he argued.

Serbian Language Media  

Vucic: Under impossible circumstances and pressure I preserve part of Constitution on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said last night that he in particular preserves the part of Serbian Constitution related to Kosovo under, as he said, impossible circumstances and pressure, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"In particular, I preserve the part about Kosovo and Metohija, under impossible circumstances and pressures. I tried and managed to preserve it when everyone else gave up", Vucic told Insajder.

He pointed out he managed to bring the issue of Kosovo back "to the table" and to discuss Kosovo again.

"I am proud of the fact that I have the most support in Kosovo and Metohija", he added. 

Vucevic: All in region should preserve peace, stability (Tanjug)

The Dayton Agreement, signed 30 years ago, is the best thing for all people living not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but in the entire region, Serbian caretaker Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said in East Sarajevo on Thursday, noting that all nations and states in the region should preserve peace and stability and listen more to each other than to outsiders telling them how they should live, Tanjug news agency reported.

"That is the position and the policy of Serbia. We believe that all peoples and all states in this territory must preserve peace and that we should turn to each other more", Vucevic said, noting that the Balkans should belong to the Balkan nations.

Vucevic was speaking after a visit to an East Sarajevo memorial complex dedicated to Serb civilian victims in Sarajevo and the Sarajevo-Romanija region in the XX century.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/mU2Kg

Kosovo police say ‘there is no case’ in relation to flag removal from a house in Zvecan (KoSSev)

Two nights ago masked persons took down the Serbian flag from a local shop in the very centre of Zvecan. Serbian Democracy leader Aleksandar Arsenijevic published the video on X social platform in which two masked persons are seen getting out from a jeep, one of them taking the flag down, giving it to another person and then driving away, KoSSev portal reported. In the post accompanying the video, taken by surveillance camera inside the shop, Arsenijevic called upon KFOR and EULEX mission to request Kosovo police to publish additional recordings from the street surveillance camera across the shop in order to identify the vehicle and the perpetrators.

As the portal further reported, Kosovo police said, “there is no case” and rejected speculations that members of Kosovo police took the flag down. “We will see, we will look at it”, police said in a statement to KoSSev.

“Who are the masked persons who, allegedly, late last night moved around Zvecan and took a flag down from the shop?”, reads the question portal sent to Kosovo police deputy commander for the region north, Veton Elshani. “I really do not know. What I know is that the police are not giving the orders to remove the flags and we are not dealing with that”, he replied. Upon insistence from the portal, that according to the published video masked persons are seen, Elshani added “the case is not initiated”, but that police “will work on it to see who they are”.

“We can look at it, to see what it is about. The case was not initiated, we will work to see who they are”, Elshani said. According to him, the case was not reported to Kosovo police and “everything was under control”.

Mijacic: First payment from Growth Plan to Kosovo must wait for parliament formation (Kosovo Online)

National Convent of Working Group for EU Chapter 35 Coordinator Dragisa Mijacic told Kosovo Online that first payment of funds from European Growth Plan for the Western Balkans has been postponed to the first half of 2025, adding this initial payment, acting as a form of advance funding, is not conditional on reforms that recipients in the region must implement. However, as he said, it does require the signing of loan and credit agreements, which must be ratified by parliaments, meaning that in Kosovo's case, the payment will have to wait until the parliament is formed.

"This means that Kosovo payment will initially be delayed slightly longer than in other cases. However, I don’t believe there will be any issues with the ratification of the agreement. This is a significant amount of money, coming either as a grant or a loan, designated for development projects. The very fact that Kosovo will receive funds from the European Union is important both for the ruling party and for those who were previously in opposition. I don’t expect problems with the ratification process, but the question remains when it will happen, which depends on when the Kosovo parliament is formed", he said.

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

CoE urges dialogue to defuse tensions in Serbia (media)

Council of Europe (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteurs expressed concern over the situation in Serbia and called for a dialogue to ease tensions, N1 reported.

“We are very concerned about the political climate in Serbia, which has recently been marked by a new wave of massive protests, {…}, which have spread across the country and include various social groups demanding accountability, transparency and justice. Protesters denounce deep-rooted corruption in public institutions, which undermines the rule of law, public confidence and the proper functioning of democracy”, co-rapporteurs Axel Schafer (Germany, SOC) and Victoria Tiblom (Sweden, ECPA) said in a statement.

“In this unstable political context, we stress that constructive and inclusive dialogue is the only appropriate solution to defuse tensions in a democratic country. We urge the Serbian Government, political leaders and public institutions to take all necessary measures to address the legitimate demands of the protesters and to avoid the use of violence”, they added.

Picula in EP: Serbia has made limited or no progress on EU path (N1)

The European Parliament (EP) standing rapporteur for Serbia, Tonino Picula, on Thursday told the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) that Serbia has made limited or no overall progress in meeting the benchmarks for European Union (EU) membership.

Picula also commented on the mass student protests launched following the November 1 tragedy in Novi Sad, when a concrete overhang at the city’s recently renovated main train station collapsed, killing 15 people and severely injuring two more.

He emphasized that Serbia has expressed its formal commitment to EU membership as its strategic goal and its ambitions to align fully with the EU acquis by the end of 2026, but it needs to seriously demonstrate it is strategically oriented towards the EU.

The rapporteur noted that Serbia received candidate country status in 2012, opened accession negotiations in 2014, and that 22 out of the 35 chapters have been opened. However, despite the fact that some progress has been made, Picula said Serbia needs to do more, especially in critical areas such as rule of law, public administration reform, normalization of relations with Pristina and alignment with the EU policies.

Kos: Engaging talks with Serbian civil society (N1)

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in a post on X social platform that she had an engaging discussion with Serbian civil society representatives about the situation in the country, N1 reported.

“Engaging and timely discussion with Serbian civil society representatives on the current political situation and Serbia’s EU path”, Kos said in a post.

“The rule of law, effective anti-corruption measures, media freedom, and accountable democratic institutions are central to the EU, and to the future of Serbia and its citizens. Strong civil society is vital for a healthy democracy - safeguarding rights and values. We will talk more often”, Kos added.

Columns of protesters march through Belgrade (N1)

Columns of protesters converged in downtown Belgrade to stand in silence for 15 minutes in memory of the victims of the tragedy at Novi Sad railway station. 

The columns of people marched from several different parts of the Serbian capital, walking between 3 and 10 kilometres to meet at Vuk Monument intersection near 3 University schools. The march through Belgrade was called on social media with no one taking the credit for its organization. The student protests ongoing for more than 2 months are organized in a similar manner with no single person or group taking the lead.

Marchers carried banners, beat drums and blew horns and whistles on their way and then stood with their mobile phones held high for the 15 Minutes of Silence. Traffic police blocked approaches to prevent a repeat of earlier incidents with vehicles, while uniformed police officers were deployed inside the crowd.