Albanian Language Media: 

• White House: US supports a sovereign Kosovo that respects minorities (VoA)
• NATO report: Concerns raised over tensions in north of Kosovo (media)
• Kurti government re-pledged not to send KSF in north, KFOR confirms (Nacionale)
• Rohde: Germany and Kosovo share special bonds (RTK)
• Police and CBK conducts search of DUNAV Insurance in the north (media)
• SL prevented adoption of four vital laws, EU criticized entire Assembly (Koha)
• CEC approves ballot for February 9 elections in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak meets Rosemary DiCarlo during visit to New York (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic on closure of Tax Administration: Even on second day of Christmas, Serbs have no peace (Kosovo Online, media)
• Minister of Economy condemns closure of Tax Administration Office in Mitrovica North (Tanjug)
• Dunav Insurance Company condemns closure of its branch in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online)
• Strpce municipality condemns and opposes decision of KPA to appoint new Management Board of Brezovica Ski Centre (media)
• Detention of two Serbs arrested for alleged involvement in Ibar-Lepenac water canal attack extended for two more months (media)

Albanian Language Media 

White House: US supports a sovereign Kosovo that respects minorities (VoA)

In a review of U.S. foreign policy over the past four years under President Joe Biden, White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said Wednesday that the security situation in the Western Balkans remains “a major concern for the United States.”

Invited to discuss various global issues at the London-based international think tank Chatham House, Finer was also asked about the situation in the Western Balkans, Russian and Chinese influence in the region and the unresolved conflict between Kosovo and Serbia. He said that “there are two main dividing lines that we are more concerned about than others” in the Western Balkans, while emphasizing that President Biden remains committed to security issues in this region since his time as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“One is the situation in Kosovo, a key ally of the United States, which is on a knife edge,” Finer said. He added that with regard to Kosovo, it is the American position that it “must be both sovereign and respect the minority communities that exist within what is a sovereign Kosovo.” Finer stressed that these are issues that President Biden’s administration has committed to “managing, often under the radar through careful diplomacy throughout this administration” and that they remain challenges that need to be monitored and where the situation continues to be of concern.

He said that another concern for the United States in this region “is the potential partition,” of Bosnia, “where at least one of the leaders, Mr. Dodik, at least rhetorically is pursuing an agenda that calls for the dissolution of the state, which we strongly oppose.” He said the United States believes that "there is no better approach than the Dayton (Agreement) to maintaining peace in Bosnia."

NATO report: Concerns raised over tensions in north of Kosovo (media)

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s 2024 report, compiled by Lord Mark Lancaster of the United Kingdom, sheds light on the main security challenges in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, analyzing their causes and consequences. The report mentions the escalation of violence in northern Kosovo, with incidents raising serious concerns about stability in the Western Balkans.

“The lack of progress in normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina risks triggering a conflict with serious regional consequences. To address this situation, NATO has strengthened the KFOR mission with troops and equipment adapted to the new security challenges,” the report says.

Find the report here: https://tinyurl.com/6ubzckup

Kurti government re-pledged not to send KSF in north, KFOR confirms (Nacionale)

The news website reported on Wednesday that the Kurti-led government sent a “recent written repledge” that the Kosovo Security Force would not deploy in the north of Kosovo without a prior consent from the commander of NATO’s peacekeeping mission, KFOR. The latter confirmed this to the news website when asked to comment on a statement by COMKFOR Enrico Barduani who told RTK2 on December 12 that Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci sent a written guarantee that the KSF would not go in the north without their consent. 

Asked if the written pledge came as their request for the government to confirm a pledge made in 2013 or if it was a sign of good will, KFOR said: on the specific issue you raised, we cannot give you further detail. The mission also said that it welcomes the “recent written pledge” and that it reflects the regular dialogue between KFOR and Kosovo’s security institutions. 

Rohde: Germany and Kosovo share special bonds (RTK)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, through a video greeting for the beginning of the year, has called for voting while emphasizing the importance of implementing the dialogue. “You have elections, we have elections. Therefore, my appeal to you is: Go vote! Because it is important that you contribute to shaping your future. What we need is more ambition, more frequent meetings and most importantly more concrete results to bring concrete implementations of the dialogue”, said Ambassador Rohde.

He further emphasized that this year is his last year as ambassador in Kosovo. “After four years in Kosovo, this is my last year here. I have had four eventful years. And I want to see a very good 2025. Germany and Kosovo share special bonds. And, you know, it is not only the diaspora, there are also many projects that we have together, such as in the energy transition, infrastructure”, he said. One of Rohde's wishes for Kosovars for this new year was for clean air.

Police together with CBK conducts search of DUNAV Insurance in the north (media)

Kosovo Police conducted another search in Mitrovica North on Wednesday. Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police for the northern region, Veton Elshani told the media that the Kosovo Police assisted officials of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) in conducting a search of an office where DUNAV Insurance (DUNAV Osiguranje) was operating.  “Today at around 11:30, the Kosovo Police assisted officials of the CBK in conducting a search of an office where DUNAV Insurance (DUNAV Osiguranje) was operating. After their inspection, in consultation with the Prosecutor, a case of Misuse of Economic Authorizations was opened," Elshani said.

SL prevented adoption of four vital laws, EU criticized entire Assembly (Koha)

Four draft laws of vital interest have not been approved during the current legislature of the Assembly, as a result of the Serbian List boycott. The non-participation of Serbian MPs in the vote and then in the session for more than two years has left the changes to the Law on Religious Freedom, the Law on Local Self-Government and the Law on Official Holidays without approval. For the same reason, the Law on Higher Education has also remained unapproved.

The approval of the Legislation of vital interest requires the vote of the general majority of MPs and the vote of the majority of MPs from the communities. However, on Tuesday, official Brussels called on all MPs without distinction to participate in the vote of the Law on religious freedom.

Violete Haxholli, Project Manager at Kosovo Democratic Institute, said that the criticism was not clearly addressed where it should be. “The criticism, I believe, is not very objective, because the main reason why they were not approved must be identified. But the EU has the language it uses, a more general language. It does not want to target specific groups within the country, but places the responsibility on the entire Assembly for the adoption of this law," she said.

Neither the EU Office in Kosovo nor the EU headquarters in Brussels responded to KOHA's questions regarding the role of the Serbian List in these decision-making processes.

In addition to the draft laws, several constitutional amendments related to vetting in the judiciary and a convention for people with disabilities laws, remain hostage to the vote of Serbian MPs, reports the news portal. Violeta Haxholli expects facing the same challenges during the new legislature.

CEC approves ballot for February 9 elections in Kosovo (media)

The Central Election Commission in Kosovo has approved on Wednesday the design and content of the ballots for the February 9 general elections. Against this agenda item were the CEC members from the Vetevendosje Movement, on the grounds that the Serbian List is also included in these ballots.

The total number of voters for the February 9 elections in Kosovo is over 2 million and 75 thousand. Meanwhile, the number of people who have registered to vote outside Kosovo is about 105 thousand voters.

Lajcak meets Rosemary DiCarlo during visit to New York (media)

EU special representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said in a post on X on Wednesday that he met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary A. DiCarlo. “We spoke about the Western Balkans, regional developments and the Dialogue,” Lajcak said.

Serbian Language Media  

Vucevic on closure of Tax Administration: Even on second day of Christmas, Serbs have no peace (Kosovo Online, media)

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic reacted to the closure of the Tax Administration in North Mitrovica by saying that “even on the second day of Christmas, Serbs in Kosovo have no peace because there is no end to the terror of Albin Kurti”, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“There is no end to Kurti’s terror against the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. As if his previous actions, solely aimed against Serbs, were not enough to make their normal life and survival in Kosovo and Metohija more difficult, he continued his violent actions and provocations on the second day of Christmas. His inspectors and the so-called Kosovo police raided the branch of the Tax Administration of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Republic of Serbia in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, which they shut down after conducting a search. Shameful and unacceptable, because even on this great Christian holiday, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have no peace!”, Vucevic wrote in a post on Instagram.  

As he added, Kurti has shown once again that he does not want normalization of relations but is only interested in causing destabilization. He also said Kurti will not succeed in his attempt to break the Serbs, as the state of Serbia will always stand by its people. “He wants there to be no Serbs left in Kosovo and Metohija, to sever ties with them forever. But Kurti should know that these miserable and pitiful actions will not break the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. The state of Serbia will always be with its people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Vucevic said.

Minister of Economy condemns closure of Tax Administration Office in Mitrovica North (Tanjug)

Serbian Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic on Wednesday condemned Pristina's closure of Mitrovica North office of the Serbian Tax Administration, which has left 80 of the Administration's employees without jobs, Tanjug news agency reported.

In a post on Instagram, Mesarovic wrote “it was shameful Pristina's PM Albin Kurti had continued his anti-Serb actions on the second day of Orthodox Christmas.” “This not only confirms that nothing is sacred to him but also that his only goal is to make it impossible for Serbs to remain and survive in Kosovo and Metohija, in their ancestral homes”, she added.

"Serbia will never stop providing assistance and protection to its people in Kosovo and Metohija, and never stop fighting to preserve peace and stability, as opposed to the increasingly aggressive Kurti’s regime. Violence only suits Kurti, and everyone knows that. All he has been doing is the most brutal terror against the Serbs and attempts to destabilize Serbia", Mesarovic noted.

Dunav Insurance Company condemns closure of its branch in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online)

Dunav Insurance Company condemned the raid of Kosovo police on its branch office in Mitrovica North, which came after the Kosovo police closed the Serbian Tax Administration Office in the same city, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"Dunav Insurance Company strongly condemns today's raid by the so-called Kosovo institutions on our premises, the day after Christmas, one of the biggest Christian holidays. This attempt to intimidate our employees in a sneaky and treacherous manner, during the days when the Serbian community celebrates its most joyful holiday, represents a kind of pressure on the Serbian community as a whole and constitutes a gross violation of the basic principles of legal security and professional business", Dunav Company said in a statement on Thursday.

It added that "despite the raid on our premises, which represents the crudest and absolutely unacceptable attempt at intimidation, Dunav Insurance Company remains committed to supporting all our clients and employees. We will do everything to ensure our employees in Kosovo and Metohija retain their jobs and earnings from employment. We continue to work on protecting their interests, regardless of the challenges we face". 

Strpce municipality condemns and opposes decision of KPA to appoint new Management Board of Brezovica Ski Centre (media)

Strpce municipality strongly opposes and condemns decision of Kosovo Privatization Agency (KPA) “to illegally and contrary to the interest of residents and local self-governance, as per instruction of Albin Kurti and Nenad Rasic, appoint new Management Board of Brezovica Ski Centre”, Serbian media reported.

As the Municipality said in a statement on Facebook “the fact that change of Management Board was made because the previous board opposed decision to give for lease premises in the territory of Strpce municipality is the evidence that this is about pure political process with clear intention of regime in Pristina to do everything contrary to the interests of majority of citizens in Strpce municipality”.

The Municipality also said the new Management Board of Brezovica Ski Center has 7 members, of which four are Albanians and three are Serbs. “{…} The municipality of Strpce is Serbian majority municipality and after instalment of illegitimate mayors in four municipalities with Serbian majority in the north of Kosovo, Kurti is now also appointing Management Board with majority Albanian members for the most important resource for the life of local population", it said, adding this is a confirmation of “ethno-nationalist policy pursued by Pristina regime”.

The Stprce Municipality also asked the international community in Kosovo how long they plan to “tolerate undemocratic, dictatorship conduct of ethno-nationalist Albin Kurti”, warning that those in the Board making decisions to the detriment of the local population would bear full legal and any other accountability. 

Detention of two Serbs arrested for alleged involvement in Ibar-Lepenac water canal attack extended for two more months (media)

The Basic Court in Pristina has extended detention of two Serbs arrested for alleged involvement in the Ibar-Lepenac water canal attack for two more months, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The prosecutor filed a request for detention extension on December 23. A strong explosion damaging the section of water canal took place on November 29, last year at Varage village in Zubin Potok municipality. The damages have been repaired meanwhile and the function of the canal restored.