Albanian Language Media: 

• 46th attempt to constitute Assembly, fails (media) 
• Kurti at dinner with Hanrahan: Kosovo, a loyal partner of the US (media)
• Opposition leaders meet with U.S. official Hanrahan (media)
• COMKFOR briefs senior U.S. official on security in Kosovo and region (media)
• KFOR after Osmani's statement: We are committed to stability (Koha)
• Grenell reacts to Osmani: You manipulated Trump’s words (media)
• Osmani meets members of Albanian-American diaspora in the US (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• SL met with Hanrahan: Urgent need to establish the CSM and protect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Grenell to Osmani: Shame on you, you manipulate with Trump's words; Announced conference in Pristina (KoSSev)
• Vucic met with US Assistant Secretary of State Hanrahan (Tanjug, media)
• Djuric: A breath of fresh air in Serbia-US relations (Kosovo Online, mfs.gov.rs, media)
• Jovanovic: The term Kosovo and Metohija is fully in line with international law (Kosovo Online)
• Durmishi: Unseen intensity of work on the bridges, we will cross them in September (Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)
• Bisevac: Call for conciliarity and unity in the interest of Serbs in Kosovo (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Mustafa: For four years, Osmani and Kurti have been talking only about the war, the president should say which conflict was prevented (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media 

46th attempt to constitute Assembly, fails (media)

The MPs have not constituted the Assembly even after 46 attempts. On Sunday, the MPs have also failed to form the committee for a secret ballot of the Speaker of the Assembly. There were 82 MPs in the hall. Of them, 43 voted for, none against, and no abstentions.

The next session will be held on Tuesday at 11:00.

There were several speeches by the opposition MPs before today's session failed. The PDK MP, Perparim Gruda, wanted to give a speech but the Speaker of the Assembly, Avni Dehari, did not allow him, insisting. The same happened with the LDK MP, Armend Zemaj, and also with the AAK MP, Time Kadrijaj. All these MPs have asked Dehari to return to the agenda. As in recent sessions, the opposition has continued to deliver speeches in the hall after the session has ended.

Kurti at dinner with Hanrahan: Kosovo, a loyal partner of the US (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, held on Saturday a working dinner with the senior official of the U.S. Department of State for European Affairs, Brendan Hanrahan, hosted by the Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S.Embassy Anu Prattipati, at the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Kosovo.  

According to the announcement from the Prime Minister's Office, Kurti was also accompanied by the caretaker Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, and the caretaker Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic. They discussed relations between Kosovo and the United States of America, including in the fields of investment, diplomacy and defense, as well as the progress of Kosovo in its Euro-Atlantic integration.

“Prime Minister Kurti expressed the will and readiness of the government to further deepen and strengthen bilateral relations. Current political developments, regional cooperation and relations with Serbia were also part of the discussion at the meeting,” the announcement of the Prime Minister’s Office reads.

Opposition leaders meet with U.S. official Hanrahan (media)

PDK leader Memli Krasniqi met with the State Department's Senior Official for European Affairs, Brendan Hanrahan. He said that he and Hanrahan discussed current developments in Kosovo and the region, while reiterating PDK's commitment to political cooperation, institutional functionality, and solutions that serve the citizens. "Kosovo needs sustainable stability, a strong economy, and development in every field. I emphasized the importance of American support for our Euro-Atlantic aspirations and efforts for international integration."

"We also discussed the necessity of a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, with mutual recognition at the center, as well as the irreplaceable role of the United States in maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans," Krasniqi wrote

The head of the LDK parliamentary group, Hykmete Bajrami, also met with Hanrahan. She said that she shared the concern about the deep institutional crisis, which according to her, is paralyzing Kosovo. “I expressed the LDK’s position that Kosovo needs a comprehensive, constitutional and democratic solution, not unilateral attempts by a party that does not have a majority. I emphasized that the LDK does not join the paths that lead the country to irresponsible governance and harmful to our international relations,” Bajrami wrote.

"I shared the LDK's proposal for a transitional government, which would enable overcoming the blockade and returning the country to institutional normality by the 2026 presidential elections, and I expressed my willingness to discuss other inclusive models that bring stability."

The leader of the AAK, Ramush Haradinaj, also went on Sunday to the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo to meet with Brendan Hanrahan, and the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mark Fleming. Haradinaj indicated that he emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening the relations of Kosovo with the U.S., as well as the need to deepen the partnership in the field of security. On Facebook, the leader of the AAK further wrote that Kosovo remains committed to full membership in NATO, and the support of the US is extremely important for this path.

COMKFOR briefs senior U.S. official on security in Kosovo and region (media)

The NATO military mission in Kosovo has announced that their commander Enrico Barduani received in a meeting the senior U.S. State Department official for European and Eurasian Affairs, Brendan Hanrahan. The latter was accompanied in this meeting by the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, Anu Prattipati.

In the KFOR announcement, it is stated that Barduani gave Hanrahan an update on the security situation in Kosovo and the region. “Major General Barduani provided an update on the security situation in Kosovo and the region and on KFOR’s efforts. He underlined KFOR’s continued commitment to contributing to sustainable security throughout Kosovo. He also welcomed the long and continuous contribution of the U.S. to KFOR’s efforts and regional stability,” the announcement reads.

KFOR after Osmani's statement: We are committed to stability (Koha)

Within a few days, President Vjosa Osmani has twice confirmed the statements of U.S. President Donald Trump that he has avoided a possible escalation of the security situation in Kosovo by Serbia. In the most recent case, Osmani stressed that it was President Trump who influenced the prevention of an escalation in recent weeks.

In a response to the news website, KFOR neither confirmed nor denied such a claim. "The Western Balkans remains an important strategic region for the Alliance. Our commitment to regional stability is unwavering, as the NATO Secretary General reiterated in an interview with the media during the NATO Summit in The Hague," the response states.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during the NATO Summit that they are engaged in the region, emphasizing that there have been in-depth conversations with leaders in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Grenell reacts to Osmani: You manipulated Trump’s words (media)

US President’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, said in a post on X on Sunday that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani manipulated President Donald Trump’s words. “Donald Trump was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on Kosovo-Serbia peace & economic normalization in 2019 and 2020 - through the Trump White House signing of the Washington Agreement in the Oval Office. Osmani wasn’t a part of that deal. And pretending like there was something new is absurd,” Grenell said.

Osmani’s office meanwhile told the media later on Sunday that she would hold a press briefing about Grenell’s remarks once she is back from her visit to the U.S. Some media note that Osmani is due to return to Kosovo on Wednesday.

Osmani meets members of Albanian-American diaspora in the US (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met with members of the Albanian-American diaspora in the United States. “While in New York, I had the profound honor of recognizing some of the greatest contributors to our freedom: members of the Albanian-American diaspora in the United States who became Kosovo’s voice, courage, and strength during our most difficult days. They did not just support our path to freedom and independence. They helped shape it through political activism, journalism, culture, and many other fields. The bond between Kosovo and the United States lives on through their legacy,” Osmani said in a post on X.

See her full address at: https://shorturl.fm/Ct5wq

Serbian Language Media

SL met with Hanrahan: Urgent need to establish the CSM and protect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)

Serbian List (SL) delegation, led by President Zlatan Elek, met yesterday in Pristina with a high-level delegation from the U.S. State Department, headed by Brendan Hanrahan. Representatives of the SL highlighted the increasingly institutional violence being perpetrated against the Serbian population in Kosovo, alongside the lack of adequate response from the competent and international actors.

According to the SL’s statement, during an open and constructive conversation, its representatives expressed serious concern over the daily unilateral actions of Pristina’s institutions, which are further worsening the already fragile security situation and endangering the fundamental rights of the Serbian people.

They placed particular emphasis on the urgent need for de-escalation on the ground, a clear and unequivocal response from the international community, and the immediate formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities (CSM) in line with the Brussels Agreement—an international obligation of Pristina that has been ignored for years.

The SL representatives stressed the need for international guarantees to protect the rights of the Serbian people, as Kosovo’s institutional regulations are being disregarded to the detriment of the Serbs.

They reiterated their commitment to peace, dialogue, and maintaining security but also emphasized that continued passivity and silence from international actors are unacceptable considering increasing pressure, arrests, and discrimination against members of the Serbian community.

The statement concludes that the SL will continue to insist, in all institutions and before all international partners, on the respect for the rights of Serbs, the implementation of reached agreements, and the prevention of what they referred to as further ethnic engineering.

Grenell to Osmani: Shame on you, you manipulate with Trump's words; Announced conference in Pristina (KoSSev)

"You are manipulating the words of Donald Trump," said the US President's envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell to Vjosa Osmani after the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs sent the same  message. Grenell added "shame on you", reported KoSSev.  The cabinet of the Kosovo president announced that she will address the media as soon as she returns from the USA, reported KoSSev yesterday. 

The American president said on several occasions in the past few days that "Serbia and Kosovo were on the verge of war", but that he prevented it. The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, during this week's visit to the USA, followed up on his words by claiming that it was allegedly more recent events, that is, a "possible escalation of the situation from Serbia to Kosovo" was prevented.

"He (Trump) is very clear in his statement that he is talking about the last few weeks," Osmani said, emphasizing that it is not about the events of 2023 or 2020, but "about the events that are very, very recent."

"Vjosa Osmani chose to manipulate President Trump's words and fabricate accusations against Serbia," Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said today, stating that "fortunately, our American friends know the truth."

Meanwhile, the same accusations against Osmani were made by the US President's envoy for special missions, i.e., the envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in Trump's first term, Richard Grenell.

"Shame on you, Vjosa Osmani, for manipulating the words of President Donald Trump," Grenell said in a post on X. He further reminded that Trump was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize:

"For his work on peace and economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia in 2019 and 2020 - by signing the Washington Agreement in the Oval Office," Grenell said, adding that Osmani was not part of that agreement.

"And pretending something new has happened is absurd," Grenell concluded.

At the same time, Trump's envoy shared a clip of an article by RFE, in which Vjosa Osmani's words about the allegedly prevented conflict were reported.

"However, on July 10, President Osmani said in Washington that President Trump clearly referred to 'the last few weeks' in his statement and that it is not about old events, but about 'very recent events'," wrote RFE. The media noted that Osmani did not give more details, but that she made the claim in the context of the discussion about the role of the US in the stability of the Western Balkans and added that Trump so far did everything in his power to ensure peace in the region.

Shortly after Grenell's allegations, the Kosovo president's office confirmed to the media in Pristina that Osmani would hold a press conference.

"As soon as she returns to Kosovo, President Osmani will hold a press conference regarding this issue," Osmani's media adviser, Bekim Kupina said.

Vucic rejected Osmani's allegations

On Saturday, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, also rejected Osmani's allegations.

"We haven't raised a single soldier, started a single machine, nothing occurs to us, we want to work, to build," said Vucic, confirming that he met with the highest representatives of the State Department. 

Vucic met with US Assistant Secretary of State Hanrahan (Tanjug, media)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, spoke with acting US Assistant Secretary of State Brendan Hanrahan on global issues, bilateral relations between Serbia and the US, as well as the situation in the Western Balkans region.

"We specifically looked at the strategic partnership between Serbia and the USA and the development of cooperation in all areas from energy to artificial intelligence, stressing that productive economic cooperation should be the basis of relations between our two countries," Vucic wrote in a post on Instagram on Saturday. 

As he stated, Serbia remains firmly committed to preserving peace and stability, to dialogue, which it sees as the only way to resolve open issues, and to respect international law.

"We agreed that open and direct communication is of key importance for strengthening mutual understanding and building trust. I thanked the US for the continuous support of the European integration process of Serbia and expressed the readiness of our country to continue working on improving relations, with full respect for its national and state interests," wrote Vucic.

Djuric: A breath of fresh air in Serbia-US relations (Kosovo Online, mfa.gov.rs, media)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Djuric, met Saturday with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Brendan Hanrahan, to discuss priority issues in the field of bilateral cooperation, the situation in the region, and current international topics, reported Kosovo Online, citing the ministry’s statement. 

According to the statement, Djuric emphasized that Serbia attaches great importance to the development of strategic partnership and overall relations with the US, which he described as one of Serbia’s most important foreign policy partners.

Djuric informed his interlocutor about the situation in Kosovo, expressing serious concern over the continued provocations, intimidation, and violent actions of Pristina. He pointed out that such actions seriously threaten the continuation of the dialogue, adding that stronger international pressure on Pristina is necessary to prevent escalation and ensure conditions for dialogue to proceed.

He stressed that meetings with American officials are an opportunity for regular and open exchange of views, contributing to greater transparency and the strengthening of mutual trust. He expressed confidence that cooperation and relations between Serbia and the US, which are already experiencing a “breath of fresh air,” have a promising future.

The discussion particularly highlighted the importance of economic cooperation, which has intensified in recent years, reflected in the increasing presence of American companies in Serbia and the growth of trade volume.

Djuric noted that Serbia and the US have elevated their relations to the level of strategic partnership in the field of energy, which is becoming one of the key pillars of economic cooperation and a driver of deeper overall ties. He assessed that the signed agreements on strategic cooperation in the energy sector will give strong momentum to the implementation of key projects in this vital area.

Minister Djuric also stated that Serbia continues to support the territorial integrity of BiH, in accordance with the Dayton Agreement, and the Republic of Srpska as one of its entities, but also noted that reckless statements and actions by certain high-ranking officials in BiH do not contribute to the process of reconciliation and building good neighborly relations, and called for restraint and responsibility from all political actors.

He reiterated that Serbia remains committed to preserving peace and stability and to developing future-oriented regional cooperation, with a focus on the economy, infrastructure connectivity, and projects of common interest.

Jovanovic: The term Kosovo and Metohija is fully in line with international law (Kosovo Online)

Serbian State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nevena Jovanovic, emphasized Saturday at the Dubrovnik Forum that despite numerous ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs in Kosovo and unilateral moves by Pristina, Serbia strives to be a constructive partner in the dialogue to reach a sustainable solution. Responding to the objections of Kosovo’s caretaker Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla regarding her use of the term “Kosovo and Metohija,” Jovanovic countered that the term is entirely in line with international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

“Every dialogue requires two sides. This year alone, we’ve seen more than 80 ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs; in 2022 there were 150. For most, those are just numbers, but for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, that is their reality. And despite that, we are trying to be the constructive side,” Jovanovic stressed during the panel “The Western Balkans and the Euro-Atlantic Path.”

She emphasized that regional stability is Serbia’s highest priority.

“This is our main priority, along with maintaining open communication with all neighbors and especially strengthening economic ties, as improving economic relations can help ease the political context as well,” said Jovanovic.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/d9y8z75n

Durmishi: Unseen intensity of work on the bridges, we will cross them in September (Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure in the technical mandate Hisen Durmishi announced on FB that the intensity of work on the construction of new bridges over the Ibar in Mitrovica is extremely high, reported Radio Mitrovica sever. 

"In the morning, the foundation on the shore, and in the afternoon, the foundation in the middle of the bridge. An intensity that has never been seen before in the construction of bridges in Kosovo. In September, we will cross with cars, and on foot on the sidewalks," Durmishi wrote on FB. 

Radio Mitrovica recalled that the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure and the municipalities of South and North Mitrovica were engaged in the construction of these bridges, worth three million euros, based on the recently signed Memorandum of Cooperation.

The Kosovo Special Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the contract for their construction, stating that it does not approve infrastructure projects, but that it must act when there is suspicion of misuse of public funds.

In the meantime, the citizens of North Mitrovica signed a petition opposing the construction of bridges because the Serbian community was not consulted in the decision-making process. The petition, supported by over 3,800 people, was launched by Serbian List and will be submitted to all relevant international institutions and missions in Kosovo.

The foundation stone for the construction of the bridges was laid by the PM of Kosovo in technical mandate, Albin Kurti, on July 1.

Bisevac: Call for conciliarity and unity in the interest of Serbs in Kosovo (KiM radio, KoSSev)

The President of the Serbian People's Movement, Milija Bisevac, yesterday called for conciliarity and joint action, due to, as he stated, the deep political crisis in Belgrade and the long-term pressure and harassment to which the Serbs in Kosovo are exposed.

"Faced with a deep political crisis in Belgrade and the long-term pressures and mistreatment to which Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are exposed, I feel an obligation as a citizen, as a man who lives here, and as someone who does not agree to remain silent - to invite everyone who carries responsibility and strength to come together," said Bisevac.

He called on political actors, students, representatives of associations, businessmen, representatives of organizations, intellectuals and hosts as well as all individuals who care about the fate of the Serbian people in Kosovo to show maturity and courage for joint action, stressing that "we no longer have the luxury of being divided, disunited or afraid".

"The disastrous decisions of the Government in Pristina, the absence of institutional protection, as well as the indifference of the political leadership in Belgrade, have brought our people to a state of permanent insecurity, uncertainty and silence. This silence must end. Now is the time for our struggle to be institutionalized, collected, and articulated. Without division, without fear and without party calculations. We need unity", Bisevac points out.

He stressed that the Serbian People's Movement is open to discussion, cooperation and agreement in the interest of the people who remain here.

"In the coming period, we are planning the organization of a wider people's meeting, where we will together define the next steps, concrete actions and the form of our joint action in order to resist the pressures and preserve the right to survive as Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija," concluded Bisevac.

Mustafa: For four years, Osmani and Kurti have been talking only about the war, the president should say which conflict was prevented (KoSSev)

The former PM of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, criticized the President Vjosa Osmani and the PM in the technical mandate, Albin Kurti, claiming that ''for the last four years they have not been dealing with the country's real problems, but are talking exclusively about the conflict with Serbia'', reported KoSSev, citing Gazeta Blic.

In a statement to this media, Mustafa said that the public discourse of Osmani and Kurti was focused on war and tensions, not on economic development, education, health or the welfare of citizens.

He also warned that moves taken by the government without coordination with NATO and international partners could lead to serious consequences and new conflicts in the region.

"Osmani and Kurti have been talking about the war with Serbia every week for more than four years. That was their narrative. It was not about the economy, well-being, sustainable development, quality education, health. Actions of their own free will, without coordination with NATO and relevant international factors, can certainly lead to conflicts. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the presence of international military forces in Kosovo," said Mustafa.

In addition, he requested greater transparency from President Osmani regarding the alleged threats and her role in preventing them.

"In her capacity as president, Vjosa should tell the citizens which conflict was recently prevented. We cannot ask President Trump, but we can ask the president of Kosovo, and what she will do to prevent risks in the future," reported KoSSev citing Gazeta Blic.