Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani and Italian Ambassador discuss constitution of institutions (media)

• Kurti and Finnish diplomat discuss steps towards formation of institutions (media)

• EU wants negotiations for Serbian-supported institutions in Kosovo (Koha)

• Kosovo rebuffs claims of withdrawal of US troops (media)

• A war crimes suspect arrested in Kosovo (media)

• Rama: No chance of us agreeing with Serbia on future of Kosovo (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic, Erdogan discuss bilateral cooperation, global challenges (Tanjug, media)

• Petkovic calls on UN to engage and ensure rights of Serbs in Kosovo are respected (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Turk, warns of difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian List reacts to arrest of D.R. at Jarinje under accusations of allegedly committing war crimes (Kosovo Online, media)
• Russia accepts Vucic’s apology for vote in favour of resolution on Ukraine (N1)

• Teachers hold protest rally in Belgrade, students continue journey to Nis (N1)

International Media: 

• Serbian NGOs accuse govt of pressure over police raids (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani and Italian Ambassador discuss constitution of institutions (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, received on Tuesday the Ambassador of Italy to Kosovo, Antonello de Riu. They discussed the latest developments in Kosovo, security issues, the progress of the electoral process and the constitution of institutions after the certification of the results. “Among other things, issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed with a focus on concrete opportunities for deepening this cooperation,” the announcement says.

Kurti and Finnish diplomat discuss steps towards formation of institutions (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti received on Tuesday Finnish diplomat Matti Nissinen. They discussed the electoral process, steps towards the formation of institutions after the certification of the results. “Bilateral relations between Kosovo and Finland, cooperation between the Finnish embassy and the government, the February 9 elections and steps towards the formation of institutions after the certification of the results, were the central topics of the conversation. Security issues in the region and the continent were also discussed, three years after the start of the Russian military aggression and the war in Ukraine,” the Prime Minister’s press office announced.

EU wants negotiations for Serbian-supported institutions in Kosovo (Koha)

The European Union expressed readiness to facilitate negotiations to address the issue of Serbian-supported institutions in Kosovo. “The closure of existing structures that provide basic social services for the Kosovo Serbs and other communities, without a previously accorded alternative agreement, has a negative impact on the daily lives and living conditions of these communities and directly damages efforts for normalization. These issues need to be addressed by the parties. The Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Sorensen, is ready to facilitate the discussions,” an EU spokesperson told the news website.

The spokesperson also said that Brussels is waiting for details to verify facts about the recent operation against these structures. “We have noted that the Kosovo Police has carried out new operations against the Serbian-supported structures in the north of Kosovo. Our mission, EULEX, is monitoring the situation on the ground, in line with their mandate. We are waiting for further details to verify the facts. As was earlier said, the status of structures and services supported by Serbia is foreseen to be resolved through the EU-facilitated dialogue. No healthcare or education institutions supported by Serbia, or other structures supported by Serbia that provide basic social services, should be closed,” the spokesperson said. 

Kosovo rebuffs claims of withdrawal of US troops (media)

Several news websites cover an article by Anadolu Agency which notes that Kosovo’s Ministry of Defense has rebuffed claims that the U.S. military is planning to withdraw its troops from Kosovo. “This news, circulated by some websites and television channels, is disinformation spread by external actors aiming to destabilize the country and the Western Balkans,” Kosovo’s Defense Ministry said in a written statement to the Turkish news agency.

It said the withdrawal of US troops from NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) is “out of the question,” as such deployment or withdrawal decisions are not made on a haphazard basis.

The ministry pointed to what it called constant coordination with the US on every decision and weekly communication with KFOR, further stressing that the claims were “unfounded.”

A war crimes suspect arrested in Kosovo (media)

Kosovo Police arrested a person on Tuesday at the Jarinje border crossing on suspicion of war crimes against the civilian population during the war in Kosovo. He is suspected of war crimes during the period 7-10 May 1999 in the municipality of Gjakova. According to the police, the suspect had acted in an organized group as an officer mobilized with units composed of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP).

The Kosovo Special Prosecution later announced that the detainee is of Serbian nationality. "By order of the Special Prosecution, the defendant is under temporary arrest and detention for 48 hours and will be brought before the Pre-Trial Judge within the legal deadline, for further proceedings," the Prosecution said in a statement.

Rama: No chance of us agreeing with Serbia on future of Kosovo (Reporteri)

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, told the Greek television "MEGA", that there is no chance of them agreeing with Serbia on what the future of Kosovo is, but that this should not be an obstacle to work on other things. He said that he is of the opinion that friendly relations should be established with as many countries as possible. "For example, take us and Serbia. We have a big issue between us that has been an obstacle for all our successive governments to have relations, in fact we had no relations. But, Serbia is here, it is in the region, it has connections with our brothers in Kosovo, and it is important for our relationship. After 68 years, I visited Belgrade. We have this disagreement. There is no chance that we will agree on what the future of Kosovo is, but on the other hand this should not be a reason not to do other things," Rama said.

Serbian Language Media  

Vucic, Erdogan discuss bilateral cooperation, global challenges (Tanjug, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday he had a constructive phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about numerous topics related to the successful bilateral and economic cooperation between two countries as well as to global challenges, Tanjug news agency reported.

"In view of all the challenges facing the world, it is clear that our good relations are of great importance for further development and stability of the Balkans and the wider region. We are confident that, through joint work, we will continue to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in our countries and on the international scene", Vucic wrote in a post on his official Instagram account.

He added that the discussion with Erdogan had also addressed further strengthening of dynamic economic cooperation as well as cooperation in the fields of infrastructure and energy security. Vucic also said Serbia was greatly honoured by the fact Turkey had confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027.

Petkovic calls on UN to engage and ensure rights of Serbs in Kosovo are respected (Tanjug, media)

Speaking at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic called for “more substantial engagement by UN member states to mobilise the international community to urgently put an end to persecution of Serbs and other non-Albanians in Serbia’s southern province”, Tanjug news agency reported. At an event held as part of the High-Level Segment of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Petkovic also called for consistent exercise of the powers of UNMIK in line with UNSCR 1244.

As the statement said Petkovic spoke “about unbearable living conditions faced by Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija, with special emphasis on a grave jeopardy to the fundamental human rights of Serbs”. At the event, titled Serious Violations of the Human Rights of Serbs and Other Non-Albanians in Kosovo, Petkovic gave many examples of human rights violations in Kosovo as well as of Pristina's flagrant violations of agreements from the Brussels dialogue “amid a worrying surge of ethnically motivated incidents since Albin Kurti's rise to power”, the statement added.

Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic, during his address recalled the January 6, 2023 Orthodox Christmas Eve shooting and wounding of young Serbs, Stefan and Milos Stojanovic, in Gotovusa near Strpce, and noted that no one had been called to account for the attack. Marija and Dara Radosavljevic from Doljane near Zvecan gave an account of a June 17, 2022 incident in which Dara and her underage brother Kristijan were beaten up by Kosovo police during a quad ride. The event was hosted by the Serbian MFA and Serbia's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva.

Petkovic meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Turk, warns of difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic met yesterday in Geneva with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and discussed with him the situation of Serbs in Kosovo. Petkovic emphasized that the UN must use all available mechanisms "to stop Pristina's terror and the persecution of Serbs", Kosovo Online portal reported.

As the Office for KiM said in a statement Petkovic informed Turk that “Pristina regime, led by Albin Kurti, is creating impossible living conditions for Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo through daily escalatory actions, terror, institutional and physical violence, and the illegal shutdown of vital institutions. As a result, nearly 20% of Serbs have left northern Kosovo”.

Petkovic stressed it is crucial for the United Nations to “utilize all available mechanisms to stop Pristina's terror, prevent further displacement and persecution of Serbs, unjustified arrests, and violations of fundamental human rights”. He also emphasized the need to create conditions on the ground for sustainable normalization of the situation, allowing Serbs to live peacefully and with dignity.

The meeting took place within the high-level segment of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Also present were State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nikola Stojanovic, Assistant Minister Katarina Lalic Smajevic, Serbia’s Ambassador to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva Milan Milanovic, Director of the Office for Coordination in the Negotiation Process with Pristina Milan Ravic, and Deputy President of Serbian List Dalibor Jevtic.

Serbian List reacts to arrest of D.R. at Jarinje under accusations of allegedly committing war crimes (Kosovo Online, media)

The family of D.R., a displaced person from Djakovica, who was arrested yesterday at Jarinje crossing point on charges of allegedly committing war crimes, is concerned about his health after he was quickly placed in detention, Serbian List said in a statement. They emphasized that D.R. is seriously ill and demented, as well as that he was never a member of any formation during the conflict. Kosovo police arrested D.R., a 75-year-old displaced person from Djakovica yesterday in the morning, after he came with his son to renew his documents at Jarinje.

"D.R. is a family man in eighth decade of his life, who, according to his son, was never involved in any formation during the conflict, and is currently seriously ill and demented, which is why the family fears for his physical and mental well-being in detention, which was quickly imposed", Serbian Lists added in the statement.

"As if it wasn't enough that D.R. was forcibly displaced from Kosovo and Metohija, he is now, despite having crossed all checkpoints without any problems a hundred times, deprived of his liberty even though there is no evidence of his involvement in any criminal activity, especially not related to war crimes. Thanks to the assistance of our state, D.R. has been provided with legal aid, and the lawyer is in constant contact with the family and D.R., who requires medication and appropriate medical care”, Serbian List also said.

Russia accepts Vucic’s apology for vote in favour of resolution on Ukraine (N1)

Russia accepts Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s apology for “a technical mistake” and his country’s “mistaken vote” in favour of Resolution on Ukraine at the UN General Assembly, a Kremlin official said on Tuesday.

“Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s prompt response to his country’s accidental vote in favour of an anti-Russian UN resolution appeals with Moscow”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov told a press briefing Russia understands that this was a genuine mistake. “Certainly, we have heard it and taken note of it”, said Peskov in response to a question from the TASS agency about whether the Kremlin had taken note of Vucic’s apology. “Technical mistakes do happen”, he noted. “Of course, such a prompt reaction from the head of state appeals to us”, Peskov added.

Teachers hold protest rally in Belgrade, students continue journey to Nis (N1)

Serbian teachers held a protest rally outside the Education Ministry building in Belgrade on Tuesday, demanding the fulfilment of students’ demands, N1 reported.

The central city street in front of the ministry building was blocked for four hours. Educators from Belgrade, Zrenjanin, Novi Sad, Backa Palanka, Bujanovac, Vranje and Surdulica as well as other Serbian towns, attended alongside students, parents, university professors, and members of the general public.

After representatives read the demands of elementary and high school employees, the gathered people made noise with drums, trumpets, and vuvuzelas. They voiced solidarity with high school and university students supporting their demands and calling for accountability and educational reforms in Serbia. Participants also displayed banners supporting educators and students. During the event, a 15-minute moment of silence was observed for the victims of the Novi Sad railway station tragedy.

Students from various parts of Serbia continued their journey to Nis, where the “Student Edict” protest rally organized by University of Nis students will take place on March 1.

 International Media 

Serbian NGOs accuse govt of pressure over police raids (Balkan Insight)

Using Trump's criticism of USAID as a pretext, police in Serbia have raided several NGOs that received money from the US agency – which they condemned as overt pressure due to their work on protecting human rights.

Serbian police on Tuesday raided the premises of four non-governmental organisations in Belgrade as part of a Belgrade Higher Prosecutor’s Office investigation into alleged misuse of money received from the United States Agency for International Development, USAID.

The NGOs that were targeted were Civic Initiatives, the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability, the Centre for Practical Policy and the Trag Foundation. All of them have been dealing with human and civil rights, fair elections, the rule of law, regional cooperation and similar issues for many years.

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