Albanian Language Media: 

• Verma: We need normalization between Kosovo and Serbia to move towards mutual recognition (media)
• Osmani hosted the Mayor of Bujanovc: Kosovo will continue to support Albanians of the Valley (Reporteri)
• O'Brien: Kosovo and Serbia must move forward for European future's sake (media)
• Rohde: Progress in dialogue, the only way to the EU (media)
• What is the strategic dialogue for which the U.S. engages in Kosovo (RFE)
• Kurti in Mitrovica: There will be no more criminal gangs, illegal license plates and barricades (media)
• Arsenijevic arrested and then released, ticket issued for disobeying order (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Arsenijevic detained and released again; dozens of police officers on the N. Mitrovica promenade, Kurti and other leaders of Self-Determination in Missini (KoSSev)
• Barbano: EULEX concerned about the alleged mistreatment of a person arrested in Socanica (Kosovo Online)
• Man arrested in Socanica; Serbian Democracy claims he was beaten; KP has no information (KoSSev)
• Young man from Zvecan arrested for alleged threats against Kosovo PM Kurti (KoSSev)
• Gorazdevac resident detained and released over comment on social network (KoSSev, Radio Gorazdevac) 
• Vucic: Serbia interested in hosting a meeting between the Presidents of the USA and Russia (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Petkovic: Kurti provokes conflicts, threats to Serbia must alarm international community (Kosovo Online)
• O'Brien: Now is the opportunity to propose a vision of how Serbs can live in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS, Kurir)
• Waltz: The preparation for the meeting between Putin and Trump underway (Kosovo Online, Sputnik, ABC) 

International Media:

• Serbia’s Vučić has hidden agenda behind NIS sanctions alarm, analysts say (Euractive)
• Serbia Terminates Military Contracts With Russia (thedefensepost.com)
• Thousands of students protest in Serbia against violation of civil rights, spy agency crackdown (abc.news)
• Serbia and US: The next great trans-Atlantic friendship? (DW)

Albanian Language Media 

Verma: We need normalization between Kosovo and Serbia to move towards mutual recognition (media)

The US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma, said that he hopes that the process of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia will end with mutual recognition. In an interview with KTV, Verma reiterated his support for the Brussels dialogue, which he said is important for the parties to fulfill the commitments they made years ago. "I think we all hope for a degree of normalization that would lead to mutual recognition. But, in order to reach that point, several steps must be taken, and I believe this and I think that the dialogue process, which is mediated by the EU, will lead to that point, if it is implemented properly", he said.

Osmani hosted the Mayor of Bujanovc: Kosovo will continue to support Albanians of the Valley (Reporteri)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, hosted the Mayor of the Municipality of Bujanoc, Arber Pajaziti, along with his team. According to the press release, it is stated that during the meeting, Osmani reconfirmed the commitment of the institutions of Kosovo to continuously support the Albanians living in Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegje in realizing their rights in accordance with the highest human rights standards. “Also, in this context, the President and Mayor Pajaziti also discussed facilitating citizenship procedures for citizens from these municipalities, emphasizing the importance of addressing the challenges they face," the announcement states.

O'Brien: Kosovo and Serbia must move forward for European future's sake (media)

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, has called on Kosovo and Serbia to normalize their neighborly relations for the sake of their goals for European integration. In an interview with the Serbian tabloid, Kurir, published on Sunday, O'Brien said ‘I think Kosovo and Serbia should understand that there is a normal European way for this issue. I think that now, with a more active European Union in the region, both countries understand that there are things that each of them should do, which will make it easier to solve the issues", said O'Brien.

O'Brien was also asked whether Kosovo Serbs can live under the leadership of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, after a series of steps his government took in 2024 to close parallel Serbian institutions in the Serb-majority north and to extend authority there. "I think so," he replied, adding that "practically every European country has had to deal with such an issue - a community that feels connected to a neighboring country because of national, religious or historical ties."

O'Brien also called for the Serbs in Kosovo, especially in the north, to be given space to speak their own words, without being influenced or forced by others. "We want to see that the voice of the Serbs, in particular in the north, but also in all of Kosovo, is heard, not that they are forced to speak in one way or another as it suits the people in any capital. They should have the same rights as any other citizen in a democratic country," O'Brien said.

He said that the special envoy of the European Union for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and his team, have done "successful work thanks to which there is a solution for the life of the Serbs in Kosovo with respect for them as a community, in such a way that they can live normally, like, for example, the Germans in Italy or the Dutch in Belgium".

Rohde: Progress in dialogue, the only way to the EU (media)

Germany’s ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde has said in an interview with KosovaPress that further progress in dialogue is the only way forward for Kosovo and Serbia towards the European Union. He said that only countries that recognize each other can join the EU. “In the past, dialogue brought substantial results. Since 2011, more than 30 agreements have been reached within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue and many of them have also been implemented. Further progress in dialogue is the only way forward for Kosovo and Serbia’s future path towards the European Union. This was also made clear by the European Council at its meeting on 17 December 2024, by the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the new Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and the new High Representative, Kaja Kallas”, he said.

“The draft Statute is a document approved by all 27 EU member states, in order to implement the Ohrid Agreement and to continue with the normalization process between Kosovo and Serbia. We recall the recent conclusions of the EU Council: The draft should be forwarded to the Constitutional Court without further delay”, said Rohde.

Rohde added that ‘the German Foreign Ministry has made it clear publicly that Serbia is clearly violating its obligations in the dialogue. Overall, neither Kosovo nor Serbia are fully respecting their respective dialogue agreements, thus hindering their further path towards the European Union. Full compliance with all agreements made is in the true interest of both countries.’

He indicated when Kosovo’s application for candidate status for EU membership is expected to be examined. “It is up to the European Union member states to invite the EU Commission to further process Kosovo’s application for membership. In this regard, substantial progress in the EU-facilitated Normalization Dialogue is crucial to convince those member states that do not recognize it that are still hesitant. As I underlined in a previous interview: As long as we do not see progress, Kosovo’s application for membership unfortunately remains ‘frozen in the inbox’. Chancellor Scholz made it clear during his visit to Pristina and Belgrade in 2022: In the long term, only countries that recognize each other can join the European Union”, he said.

Regarding the security situation in Kosovo, Ambassador Rohde says that there is a potential for escalation. “I share the assessment of the KFOR commander that the security situation in Kosovo is fragile with the potential for escalation. Germany has shown its readiness to contribute to guaranteeing a safe and secure environment in the country by quadrupling the German KFOR contingent earlier this year. However, ultimately only political solutions will guarantee a sustainable safe and stable environment. We need substantial progress in the EU-facilitated dialogue,” Rohde said.

What is the strategic dialogue for which the U.S. engages in Kosovo (RFE)

Kosovo and the United States will soon finalize an agreement on “strategic dialogue”. The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said on Friday that with her request in 2021, the USA has confirmed that it will soon finalize this dialogue with Kosovo. The news was brought to her by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma, who is visiting Kosovo.

The strategic dialogue is a process that the U.S. State Department in most cases develops with different countries of the world with the aim of advancing bilateral relations. This process involves high-level discussions between the two countries that take place either in Washington, or in the respective country, on a wide range of topics such as defense, security, environment, energy, economic cooperation, etc.

Based on information from the State Department, Radio Free Europe confirmed that the U.S. has held strategic dialogue over the past few years with France, the United Kingdom, Romania, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Moldova, Greece, North Macedonia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, etc. The U.S. engages in strategic dialogue not only with states, but also with organizations or movements of countries that it does not consider allies, such as the Belarusian Democratic Movement led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,

Strategic dialogue with Kosovo and Serbia was also mentioned in a press release by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen in April 2024. At the time, the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill proposed by Democratic Senator Shaheen and Republican Senator Roger Wicker aimed at increasing American engagement in the Western Balkans and sent it to the Senate for consideration.

The bill also mentions the need to implement the Ohrid Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, emphasizing that when sufficient progress has been made, the United States should consider initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations with both countries.

In the region, only North Macedonia has entered such a strategic dialogue with the USA. 

Kurti in Mitrovica: There will be no more criminal gangs, illegal license plates and barricades (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, at the electoral rally in Mitrovica, said that criminal gangs will no longer rule. "There is no longer and there will never be a rule of criminal gangs, there is no longer and there will never be movement of illegal license plates, there is no longer and there will never be erection of barricades, there is no longer and there will never be a production of cryptocurrencies, the power of the rightful law in the Republic of Kosovo will always prevail, all over Mitrovica and the Republic of Kosovo", Kurti said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the achievements, and criticized the previous governments. He further said that the economic growth is three times faster than with the previous governments, while employment, four times faster.

Arsenijevic arrested and then released, ticket issued for disobeying order (Koha)

Serb politician in the north, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, has been arrested and then released by the Kosovo Police after he failed to comply with a police order. The head of the Kosovo Police Operational Unit for the northern region, Petrit Fejza, told the news website on Sunday that he was issued a ticket. “He was taken to the police station, given a ticket and then released,” Fejza said.

Arsenijevic posted a video on his Facebook account in which he is seen being stopped by the police, while blowing a whistle. He linked his arrest to Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s visit to Mitrovica. “When Kurti comes, the streets must be cleared of Serbs,” he wrote.

Serbian Language Media  

Arsenijevic detained again, then released; dozens of police officers on the N. Mitrovica promenade, Kurti and other leaders of Self-Determination in Missini (KoSSev)

The leader of the Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, was detained for a brief time last night on the Mitrovica promenade, where visibly increased presence of the KP could be noticed, reported KoSSev. Immediately before the arrest, the officers created a cordon in the middle of the promenade, preventing Arsenijevic from continuing towards the bridge. During that time, the leaders of Self-Determination, as well as the PM of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, were staying in the Missini pastry shop, ahead of last night's pre-election rally on the other side of the bridge.

Last night Arsenijevic was not allowed to continue walking on the promenade, confirmed for KoSSev and the Kosovo Police of the North region, stating that the reason was precisely that Kurti was in the pastry shop with other officials.

"What he (Arsenijevic) is doing is too much. The others were allowed to go, but Arsenijevic was not. He keeps coming down and we tell him not to come closer, but he doesn't want to listen," said Petrit Fejza from the North region.

Arsenijevic: Due to the arrival of Kurti, the streets are being cleaned of trash and Serbs

"Knee was placed against my head, someone flinched my neck when they knocked me down... Due to the arrival of Kurti, the streets are cleaned of garbage, dogs and the streets are cleaned of Serbs - obviously, that's their policy," he said.

On the other hand, he added that he had no objection to the behavior of the police officers in the station, but also that they handed him a fine for disobeying an official and his orders.

"We will not surrender, this will neither scare us nor soften us," said Arsenijevic.

Immediately before the release of Arsenijevic, Serbian Democracy activists gathered in front of the police station.

In the published video clips, police officers can be heard telling them "You monkey" and "Albanian (language) only".

Barbano: EULEX concerned about the alleged mistreatment of a person arrested in Socanica (Kosovo Online)

The head of the EULEX Mission in Kosovo, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, said that he was concerned about the alleged mistreatment of the person arrested in Socanica.

Barbano said in a X post that EULEX will make efforts to resolve the case.

“Deeply concerned by disturbing reports about the alleged mistreatment of a person arrested in Sočanica/Soqanicë. Although EULEX is no longer mandated to conduct investigations we are committed to our robust monitoring role, making every effort to shed light on the case,” wrote the Head of EULEX in a X post on Sunday, reported the portal. 

Man arrested in Socanica; Serbian Democracy claims he was beaten; KP has no information (KoSSev)

Special units arrested one person in Socanica, municipality of Leposavic, on Saturday night. KoSSev reported that it was about the man V. DJ. for which, as the KP of the North region said, an arrest warrant was issued. The person was previously convicted for drunk driving. 

The Serbian Democracy party claimed that this person was allegedly beaten during the arrest, and they demand the suspension of the police officers, but that, apart from PIK and international organizations, need to urgently investigate the case. 

However, the Kosovo Police of the North region state that they have no knowledge that the arrested man was beaten, while the central directorate says that the police "handle every case in a professional manner."

The KP of the North region directed KoSSev to the central directorate of the Kosovo Police, which was dealing with the case.

Petrit Fejza from this region said that V. Dj. was previously convicted of drunk driving, stating that he was arrested by special units of the KP, based on a court order to serve a sentence of 15 days in prison.

"A person was arrested in Socanica based on an arrest warrant. The police then transported him to Pristina, i.e., to the prison in Ajvalija," he said. 

Fejza, however, claimed that it did not mean that this person would be sent to serve his sentence. "When they take him there, if he pays, then they can let him go, but right now he is in Ajvalija," he added.

Young man from Zvecan arrested for alleged threats against Kosovo PM Kurti (KoSSev)

A 20-year-old man from Zvecan, identified as M.R., was arrested on Saturday for allegedly making threats against Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, via social media. The arrest was confirmed by the Kosovo Police today, following an investigation involving the Serious Crimes Unit in Pristina.

While the police in the northern region of Kosovo initially declined to name the target of the threats, they confirmed that M.R. was detained in connection with social media posts allegedly shared on behalf of the “Northern Brigade”, threatening violence against a high-ranking official in Pristina.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/2s3smfa6

Gorazdevac resident detained and released over comment on social network (KoSSev, Radio Gorazdevac) 

A resident of Gorazdevac, Luka Zlaticanin, was detained on Friday night, and released after a few hours, reported KoSSev, citing Radio Gorazdevac. Citing his wife's statements, the reason for the investigation was a comment on social networks in which Zlaticanin expressed suspicions about the bias of the prosecutor's office and the police, and that the perpetrators who took down the Serbian flag in this place the day before will not be punished. The Serbian List also reacted with a statement and had the same allegations but with the emphasis that the comment was not offensive, but, as they say, "the absolute truth".

According to the media, Zlaticanin in his comment, expressed doubts about the bias of the prosecution and the police and that the perpetrators who took down the flag will not be punished.

Police spokesperson Fadil Gashi confirmed for KoSSev that the young man was detained, the prosecutor was informed, questioned, and released.

Vucic: Serbia interested in hosting a meeting between the Presidents of the USA and Russia (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said last night that Serbia was interested in being the venue of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vucic assured the Serbs in Kosovo that although the global situation is changing, the state of Serbia will always stand by them.

During his appearance on the TV Pink news, Vucic emphasized that he has never interfered in major global issues, but this time he wishes to offer Serbia as the meeting place for Putin and Trump.

"We will talk to people from Trump's administration. I have never meddled in global issues, but Serbia is interested in being the venue for the meeting of the Russian and American presidents. We are fully prepared to guarantee the security of both presidents. There is no country that can compare with Serbia in terms of the level of support for President Trump, we're not talking about leaders who were one way or another, but about the support of the people as a whole. On the other hand, this is a country where President Putin is still very popular. So, I think this is a place on the globe that would suit both of them extremely well," Vucic highlighted.

Regarding Azerbaijan's decision not to stop supplying gas to Serbia, Vucic pointed out that this is important news for the Serbian people and expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev of that country.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4dt79b8x

Petkovic: Kurti provokes conflicts, threats to Serbia must alarm international community (Kosovo Online)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, responded to last night’s speech by Albin Kurti in Djakovica, stating that Kurti has once again begun his election campaign with threats against the Serbian people and Serbia.

"As we have repeatedly warned, Albin Kurti has once again started his election campaign tonight with threats against the Serbian people and Serbia, but as our people would nicely say, with an empty gun! What Kurti rattles for the sake of a political campaign are not any army or police, but a nonexistent so-called army that dare not step into the north of Kosovo and Metohija and a parapolice criminal gang whose career highlight is taking selfies in the north of Kosovo and Metohija and intimidating Serbian women, as the pinnacle of Kurti’s politics is to have a coffee in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, which always turns sour for him, while he is guarded in an empty Albanian cafe by those long guns,” Petkovic stated in his response.

He added that "when threats come from a proven Serbophobe who dreams of a so-called Greater Albania, those threats must set off alarms in the international community”.

"For the one who threatens with some sort of army and police is one step away from provoking conflicts and new escalations, and with his reckless politics, can be the cause of many misfortunes in our region," said Petkovic, emphasizing that Kurti also further humiliated his own voters at the pre-election rally.

"He confirmed to them that 'Kosovo' is indeed so-called, as except for the Albanian flag, there was no flag of the secessionist entity anywhere," Petkovic concluded.

O'Brien: Now is the opportunity to propose a vision of how Serbs can live in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS, Kurir)

Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. State Department, James O'Brien, spoke to RTS about the U.S.-Serbia strategic dialogue, emphasizing that the issue of Kosovo was one of the most sensitive, given that the governments of Serbia and the U.S. do not agree on this matter.

"The U.S.-Serbia strategic dialogue is an opportunity for our two governments to collaborate on programs that will be lasting. It is a sign of the maturity of our relations. President Vucic has highlighted his key topics, with six or seven issues on that list, and this will create a way for us to cooperate long-term," said O'Brien.

He assessed that the relations between Belgrade and Pristina are one of the most sensitive issues since the governments of Serbia and the U.S. disagree on this matter.

O'Brien emphasized that there is now an opportunity to propose a vision of how Serbs can live in Kosovo.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/yc84ya4z

Waltz: The preparation for the meeting between Putin and Trump underway (Kosovo Online, Sputnik, ABC) 

Preparations are underway for the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and newly elected US President Donald Trump, Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz announced, reported Kosovo Online, citing international media.

"Preparations are already underway," Waltz confirmed to ABC, without specifying the possible date and format of the meeting, reported Kosovo Online.

International Media

Serbia’s Vučić has hidden agenda behind NIS sanctions alarm, analysts say (Euractive)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has raised the alarm that the US will impose Russia-related sanctions on the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS), though analysts say Vučić's real aim is to take control of NIS.

On 13 December, Vučić announced that he had information indicating that the US would impose "full sanctions" on NIS, which could threaten the supply of oil derivatives. He said this was bad news because no one would risk dealing with a company under US sanctions, he said at the time.

NIS is one of Serbia's most profitable companies, one of its largest exporters and a pillar of the country's energy system. Its revenues increased to €3.3 billion last year, equivalent to 4.5% of Serbia's GDP.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/bdcwx8ka

Serbia Terminates Military Contracts With Russia (thedefensepost.com)

Serbia has aborted multiple military contracts with Russia due to international sanctions against Moscow after it invaded Ukraine.

Serbian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Milan Mojsilovic confirmed Belgrade’s decision in an interview with local newspaper Novosti, saying that the move is driven by challenges in using weapons sourced from Russia since the Soviet era.

Mojsilovic added that the Balkan state had already established strategies to acquire military equipment from other partner countries, as most of the Russian capabilities are in use by international forces and parts also produced under license by several industries.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/yc4eym5z

Thousands of students protest in Serbia against violation of civil rights, spy agency crackdown (abc.news)

Serbia’s striking university students have protested outside the Balkan country’s top court to draw their attention to what they say have been violations of their civil rights under the populist authorities, including pressure from the secret service.

The rally began with thousands of people standing in silence for 15 minutes in front of the Constitutional Court in the capital, Belgrade, to commemorate the victims of a concrete canopy collapse in the northern city of Novi Sad in November which triggered almost daily anti-corruption protests.

A separate rally was also held in the southern city of Nis.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/yd9txsx3

Serbia and US: The next great trans-Atlantic friendship? (DW)

As the start of Donald Trump's second term as US president approaches, officials in Serbia are anticipating a significant boost in the relationship between the countries. How justified are these expectations?

"New era in Serbia —US relations!" ran the headline in a Serbian tabloid following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election in November. It was a sentiment echoed by other Serbian newspapers.

Soon after, President Aleksandar Vucic said that, during his phone call with the president-elect, he emphasized that support for Trump had been greater in Serbia than anywhere else in Europe.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/39c2ss6a