UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 24, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

MFA: Serbian authorities refusing to provide information about Halili’s arrest (media)
Maqedonci: Serbia’s state policy remains most dangerous generator of destabilization (media)
Kosovo and Belgium sign Joint Statement of Intent (media)
Hargreaves meets Supreme Court President, discuss judicial independence (media)
KDI: President’s request just before deadline raises dilemmas (media)
The Popovic case: Serbia’s game or political self-sacrifice (RFE)
Property Agency responds to Petkovic: His statements are false (RTK)
Svecla: Serbia spreading disinformation about a property case in the north (media)
Thaci’s defense team at risk – urgent intervention requested from government (Reporteri)
European Federation of Journalists: Situation at RTK, alarming (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric met diplomatic representatives of Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain (Tanjug, media)
Djuric and Petkovic met Quint and EU ambassadors: We expect release of Igor Popovic (media)
US State Department has no comment on Popovic’s arrest (Tanjug, RTV)
Serbian List: Housing issue of Janicijevic family will be resolved (Kosovo Online)
Starovic on eviction of Janicijevic family from apartment in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online, social media)
Kosovo Alliance calls for unity ahead of upcoming local elections (Radio KIM)
Faith, flags and false prophets: The controversial campaign of Kosovo ‘Archbishop’ Xhufka (KoSSev)
Serbian Army Chief of Staff in western Serbia (N1, media)
Ambassador says Serbia is China’s best European friend (N1)

International Media:

Oregon Guard Brigade returns after Kosovo deployment (nationalguard.mil)

Albanian Language Media

MFA: Serbian authorities refusing to provide information about Halili’s arrest (media)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MFA) has stated that Serbian authorities have not provided any information regarding the arrest of Lulzim Halili in Serbia. According to the Ministry, Halili was detained by Serbian authorities near the city of Svilajnac, approximately 100 kilometers from Belgrade, and was immediately taken into custody at the local police station.

The Ministry further stated that the Liaison Office attempted to confirm the arrest through contact with the Svilajnac Police Station around 11:00 PM on July 22, but the on-duty police officer refused to provide details about the case. “Today, on July 23, 2025, the Liaison Office submitted an official request to the Government of Serbia via Serbia’s Liaison Office in Kosovo, with parallel notification to the European Union Delegation in Serbia, seeking formal confirmation of the arrest and additional information on the case. So far, no response has been received from the Serbian side,” reads the MFA statement.

The Liaison Office has notified the Quint diplomatic missions accredited in Serbia as well as the EU Delegation about the case. The Ministry also stated that once it is confirmed whether Halili will be placed in pre-trial detention and a criminal procedure is initiated against him, the Liaison Office will submit an official request for a visit to the detention center.

The Ministry has urged all people of Kosovo to avoid travel and transit through Serbian territory, due to the increased risk of detentions and arrests by Serbian authorities.

Maqedonci: Serbia’s state policy remains the most dangerous generator of destabilization (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, has strongly criticized Serbia’s state policy, calling it the main and most dangerous generator of destabilization in the Western Balkans. This statement came in response to remarks made by Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic, who accused Kosovo’s leaders of destabilization and of worsening living conditions for Kosovo Serbs.

Maqedonci compared Gasic’s rhetoric to that of Aleksandar Vucic and Slobodan Milosevic, describing such accusations as hypocritical, especially given Serbia’s military parades and support for groups like the one led by Milan Radoicic.

He stated that Kosovo operates lawfully within its borders and accused Serbia of using hybrid warfare methods, including military threats, harboring terrorists, disinformation, and sabotage — to undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty and rule of law.

Maqedonci proposed two key measures for achieving lasting peace and stability in Southeast Europe: “De-hegemonization of Serbian politics, which still seeks regional dominance;” and “Decriminalization of Serbia’s military, noting that top Serbian military officials, including General Mojsilovic, were involved in war crimes during the 1990s conflicts.”

He concluded by stressing that while war was a choice for Milosevic’s Serbia, it was a matter of survival for the other peoples of former Yugoslavia.

Kosovo and Belgium sign Joint Statement of Intent (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said on Wednesday that together with his Belgian counterpart Theo Francken signed the Joint Statement of Intent, “an important step in furthering our bilateral relations in the area of defense”. “We pledge to cooperate in developing the industry of defense, facilitating exchanges and strengthening military ties to overcome joint challenges,” Maqedonci said.

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti shared Maqedonci’s post and added that Belgium is long-time friend and ally, “and now a partner in the area of defense too”.

Hargreaves meets Supreme Court President to discuss judicial independence (media)

The British Ambassador, Jonathan Hargreaves, announced that on Wednesday he held a meeting with the President of the Supreme Court of Kosovo Fejzullah Rexhepi. The meeting focused on the importance of protecting the independence and integrity of the judicial system. “I reiterated the United Kingdom’s continued support for Kosovo’s justice institutions and our shared commitment to transparency, professionalism, and reforms that strengthen public trust in the judiciary,” he said.

KDI: President’s request just before deadline raises dilemmas (media)

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) has stated that President Osmani’s request for interpretation from the Constitutional Court, submitted just days before the 30-day deadline for the constitution of the Assembly, raises several dilemmas. KDI emphasized that, in particular, the question posed in the request — “what happens after 30 days?” — could have been clarified immediately after the Court’s ruling, to ensure legal clarity regarding the consequences of failing to constitute the Assembly.

“First, it is unclear where the claim of a ‘conflict of competencies’ between the Presidency, Assembly, and Government currently stands, given that the deadline has not yet expired and the Assembly still has time to fulfill its obligation to constitute. In this sense, the request appears to prejudge the outcome of the remaining days and undermines expectations that MPs will fulfill their responsibility,” the Institute's statement reads.

On the other hand, KDI considered the request to suspend the constitutional deadline through a temporary measure as unjustified, arguing that it provides a sense of “comfort” for parliamentary parties and MPs to remain inactive. “KDI believes that the June 26 ruling is clear and establishes the 30-day deadline as binding and substantive for parliamentary entities, namely the MPs. In fact, failure to respect this deadline represents a failure to meet a fundamental constitutional obligation,” the statement concludes.

The Popovic case: Serbia’s game or political self-sacrifice (RFE)

Misusing opportunities and the situation of Serbs in Kosovo. This is how Dusan Janjic from the Belgrade-based Forum for Ethnic Relations and Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Law Institute commented on a statement by Serbian official Igor Popovic who referred to the Kosovo Liberation Army as a terrorist organization. Popovic was sent to 30-day in Kosovo for the criminal offence “inciting hatred and intolerance”. Kosovo’s criminal code foresees sentences from one to eight years for the offence.

Head of the Serbian government’s office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, said on July 21 that “this was a political decision” and that “dialogue on the normalization of relations with Kosovo will not resume until Popovic is released”. Janjic on the other hand said in an interview with Radio Free Europe that this involves “a meaningless game of the regime in Serbia”. “Such an approach toward the dialogue [with Kosovo], such an approach toward reality, only shows that Serbia – namely the office for Kosovo – does not want to do its job … This is misusing the situation of Serbs in Kosovo in order to remain in power in Serbia,” Janjic said. Miftaraj shares the position, saying that Popovic “was very aware about his actions and the legal consequences he could face”. “However in this case he made a self-sacrifice as a collateral damage to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who uses [head of the Serbian office for Kosovo, Petar] Petkovic and other Serbian state officials, or even the Kosovo Serbs themselves, as means to shift the attention away from the unrest and ongoing protests against his government throughout Serbia,” Miftaraj argued.

Janjic said that the authorities in Serbia have “a certain vocabulary” but that they cannot annul international documents. “There is the Kumanovo Agreement which clearly outlines the demilitarization and transformation of the Kosovo Liberation Army, not as a terrorist organization. The politicians in Serbia misuse the opportunities in Kosovo and during their rare visits there they spread a new rhetoric,” he said.

Janjic also said that western countries had supported changes in the organization of the KLA, not considering it a terrorist organization but as a political-military force that fought for liberation from Serbian forces. He said that Popovic’s statement “is self-destructive, especially when there are unfinished court proceedings for war crimes committed by the Serbian army and paramilitaries. This arrogance and the primitivism of the new discourse, which is supported in Serbia, cannot hide the facts. On the contrary, they contribute to the political propaganda that Serbs cannot integrate,” he said.

Miftari said that laws in Kosovo, and in other democratic societies, do not allow hate speech. “Instead of using his visit to promote peace and harmony among the Serb population in Kosovo, Igor Popovic misused it by using hate speech and sending political messages that contribute to further division and deteriorating ethnic relations in Kosovo,” he said.

According to Miftaraj, all actions of the Serbian’s Government Office for Kosovo are organized and orchestrated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian government.

Property Agency responds to Petkovic: His statements are false (RTK)

The Kosovo Property Comparison and Verification Agency (KPCVA) has strongly rejected the claims made by Petar Petkovi, the director of Serbia's Office for Kosovo, calling them false. “The KPCVA firmly opposes Petar Petković’s false statements regarding a property case in northern Kosovo, considering them a dangerous attempt at politicization and disinformation,” the agency stated in its response.

According to the agency, the case involving the property of the Ferki Shipolli family was handled back in 2005, where it was confirmed that the family is the legal owner of the property. “KPCVA implements final decisions of legal institutions in accordance with its legal mandate and framework,” the agency emphasized.

They also noted that property restitution is carried out through regular legal procedures and applies to all illegal occupation cases, regardless of the parties’ ethnicity or status. “Statements like those of Petar Petkovic are unacceptable because they incite tensions and undermine the rule of law and coexistence. KPCVA remains committed to the fair, equal, and lawful execution of its mandate.”

Svecla: Serbia is spreading disinformation about a property case in the north (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, reacted through a Facebook post to recent statements made by Serbian officials regarding a property issue in the north of Kosovo. He sharply criticized the official stance of Belgrade, calling it a continuation of a policy rooted in disinformation. “As one of the main ideologues and instigators of Serbian crimes at the end of the last century, Dobrica Cosic, once declared that lying is a national interest of Serbia, Vucic and his entourage are meticulously trying to uphold this,” stated Svecla.

He noted that despite attempts to manipulate and politicize legal matters, Kosovo will continue to uphold the law and justice. “But it's all in vain. In our Republic, not only truth, but also order and the rule of law will prevail, always and everywhere,” he concluded, adding to his post the official response from the Kosovo Property Comparison and Verification Agency (KPCVA).

Thaci’s defense team at risk – urgent intervention requested from government (Reporteri)

The Foundation for the Legal Defense of Hashim Thaci has urgently called on the Government of Kosovo and the Ministry of Justice to intervene in order to prevent the withdrawal of the former president’s lead counsel from the ongoing trial in The Hague. According to the Foundation, state-imposed budget restrictions have caused significant financial difficulties that are now threatening the continuation of the defense. Following the departure of American lawyer Gregory Kehoe in January of this year due to a lack of funds, now Luka Misetic is also reportedly considering stepping down.

In a letter published by Klan Kosova, the Foundation stresses that changes in the administrative guidelines regarding defense funding have made it impossible for the legal team to function normally. “As we previously informed you in our request (in 2024), the imposition of spending limits for legal defense purposes through the amended Administrative Instruction for the legal defense of individuals potentially accused of alleged crimes before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has put President Thaci’s defense team in an objectively impossible situation. Due to the lack of financial resources, not only has one of the key lawyers already withdrawn, but now even the lead counsel has signaled he may have to withdraw in the near future,” the Foundation “Support for the Legal Defense of Hashim Thaci” stated in the letter.

European Federation of Journalists: Situation at RTK, alarming (RTK)

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has responded to the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) and the RTK Union regarding the situation at Kosovo’s public broadcaster, RTK. “The EFJ has called on the Government of Kosovo to ensure funding for the country’s public broadcaster. For several months now, RTK has been facing a serious financial crisis due to the failure of Kosovo’s institutions to allocate the budget approved by law. The warning that RTK could run out of funds within days and be unable to pay its employees for July is alarming,” stated EFJ President Maja Sever.

In the absence of a functioning Parliament, the EFJ and AJK are urging the Government of Kosovo to take necessary steps to ensure RTK’s continued funding. “Journalists, cameramen, and other RTK staff must be able to carry out their work without political interference or financial pressure. We hope the Kosovar authorities will take urgent measures to enable the proper functioning of public media, in line with European standards, which require guarantees for long-term funding, stable governance, sustainability, and decent working conditions,” added Maja Sever.

Serbian Language Media

Djuric met diplomatic representatives of Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain (Tanjug, media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met with diplomatic representatives of Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain on Wednesday to inform them of the most recent move by Pristina authorities, which have groundlessly arrested Igor Popovic - a Serbian official and aide to Belgrade's chief negotiator in the dialogue with Pristina - over views stated at a memorial service for Serb victims in Orahovac, Tanjug news agency reported.

According to Djuric the arrest was an act of political persecution, a threat to freedom of speech and a continuation of a constant cycle of repression, the Serbian MFA said in a statement. At the same time, it is also a strong message that strikes fear among the Serb population, whose representative has been arrested, he added.

Djuric underscored Serbia was committed to dialogue but that such moves by Pristina led to destabilization on the ground and threatened security across the region in circumstances where stability was imperative. He called on “the international community to react to stop the irresponsible policy of the Albin Kurti regime, aimed at an ultimate expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija”. Concrete action and even greater support for the Serb population in Kosovo is needed, he added.

He thanked the diplomats for respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and for a principled policy of respect for international law and the UN Charter, as well as informing them of events that led to Popovic's arrest and of the conditions he was currently in. He voiced grave concern over potential consequences for Belgrade-Pristina relations that may arise from the present situation as Popovic is a member of the Serbian Government's negotiating team in the dialogue, the statement said.

Djuric and Petkovic met Quint and EU ambassadors: We expect release of Igor Popovic (media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic met in Belgrade on Wednesday with Quint states (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy) ambassadors, as well as Head of the EU Mission, and discussed the situation in Kosovo following the arrest of Igor Popovic, Assistant Director of the Office for KiM, Kosovo Online portal reported.

According to a statement from Foreign Ministry, it was emphasized during the meeting that Popovic’s arrest represents a continuation of the political persecution of Serbs. This time, a member of the Serbian Government’s negotiating team was detained, which Belgrade considers completely unacceptable.

Minister Djuric recalled that the arrest took place precisely during the days when commemorations were held for Serbian and Roma victims in Orahovac as well as Serbian harvesters in Staro Gracko.

“Through the arrest of Serbs and Serbian officials, as well as other illegitimate actions, the authorities in Pristina are attempting to impose their own version of the truth and to interpret historical events on their terms, rather than on the basis of facts”, Djuric stated, reiterating Serbia’s expectation that Igor Popovic be released as soon as possible.

US State Department has no comment on Popovic’s arrest (Tanjug, RTV)

The US State Department said yesterday it has no comment on the arrest of Office for Kosovo and Metohija Assistant Director Igor Popovic who had meanwhile been rendered 30-day detention, Tanjug news agency reported.

“We do not have comment about this current legal issue”, reads the reply of the State Department to Tanjug news agency upon being asked how they comment on the arrest and whether they will do something in relation to that.

Serbian List: Housing issue of Janicijevic family will be resolved (Kosovo Online)

Serbian List met with Bojana Janicijevic, a single mother of two children, who was evicted yesterday from her apartment in North Mitrovica by Kosovo police following an order from the Comparison and Property Verification Agency. They assured her that the housing issue of her family will be resolved, Kosovo Online portal reported.

The Serbian List representatives expressed support for the Janicijevic family, who, as they said, have been left without a roof over their heads by Albin Kurti's regime and thrown out onto the street. They offered several housing solutions to help them jointly overcome the situation they are facing. “What the Janicijevic family is going through today is unacceptable - a single mother with two children. We will not allow a single Serbian family to be left without a roof over their heads”, Serbian List said in a statement.

They also pointed out it is shameful for Serbian families to be evicted from homes they have lived in for decades. “In addition to the ongoing legal fight for their rights, we proposed several housing solutions, including providing private accommodation and other options until the legal battle is resolved”, the statement added, noting that resolving the matter is being treated as a priority. As a member of the family Miljojka Janicijevic explained, the apartment was purchased from the Trepca company, just as many Serbs from the north had done decades ago.

Starovic on eviction of Janicijevic family from apartment in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online, social media)

Serbian European Integration Minister Nemanja Starovic said last night that “Albin Kurti’s regime is continuing silent ethnic cleansing of Serbs in northern Kosovo”, pointing to the forced eviction of single mother Bojana Janicijevic and her two children from the apartment they have lived in for decades in North Mitrovica, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“When administrative procedures are weaponized through selective enforcement, and the rule of law serves as a mere facade, the gravely tipped scales of justice for Serbs in this breakaway province, dominated by Albanian extremists, become starkly evident”, Starovic wrote in a post on X social platform.

He also recalled that in May, 17 Serbian families in Lesak settlement received eviction notices from the municipality of Leposavic and orders to demolish their houses described as illegal construction by the end of June. The evictions in Lesak had meanwhile been postponed.

Kosovo Alliance calls for unity ahead of upcoming local elections (Radio KIM)

Recently established Serb party Kosovo Alliance continued negotiations on Wednesday aiming to plan a wide and organized activities related to upcoming local elections and possible new round of parliamentary elections, this party said in a statement, Radio KIM reported.

The President of Kosovo Alliance Goran Marinkovic from Dobrotin, near Lipljan said Serbs living and working in Kosovo “for the first time will have an organized party that would enable better and efficient activities, aiming to protect their interests”.

He called on all political actors who share the vision of unity and reinforcing common goals to join the party and contribute to started initiatives. He also said people with decades long experience such as Momcilo Trajkovic and others were welcomed to join, while the initiative of Milija Bisevac from Zubin Potok, who also called for unity ahead of local elections, was welcomed as it represents the path that this party is also taking, the statement added.

Faith, flags and false prophets: The controversial campaign of Kosovo ‘Archbishop’ Xhufka (KoSSev)

Kosovo's religious and political landscape is witnessing the emergence of a controversial figure - Nikolla Xhufka, a self-declared archbishop of an unrecognized “Orthodox Church of Kosovo Albanians“. Over recent months, Xhufka has intensified his public presence through official visits, social media messaging, and repeated unauthorized entries into Serbian Orthodox churches, KoSSev portal reported.

Most recently, renowned Kosovo publicist Veton Surroi publicly criticized what he described as a “bandit form of Albanian ethnophyletism“ embodied by Xhufka - juxtaposing it with the longstanding critique of ethnophyletism within the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC). Writing in his weekly column, Surroi highlighted the irony of this development occurring “in a part of Kosovo where there are almost no Orthodox Albanians“.

Official meetings, symbols, and a campaign for legitimacy

Xhufka has begun securing official meetings with Kosovo mayors, including those of Pec, Pristina, and Đakovica. The meetings, often documented with stylized photographs and language of “brotherhood“ and “spiritual unity,“ signal his efforts to cement a role as a religious and civic leader. Of the three, only Djakovica’s mayor, Ardian Gjini, publicly acknowledged the meeting, referring to Xhufka as “archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Kosovo“.

International Media

Oregon Guard Brigade returns after Kosovo deployment (nationalguard.mil)

Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, or IBCT, returned home July 19 after a successful year-long deployment to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission.

A welcome home event at Camp Withycombe marked the homecoming for Soldiers participating in the Kosovo Force’s, or KFOR's, 34th rotation. This mission has been crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the Balkans since 1999.

About 300 Soldiers returned in two groups. The first group to return consisted primarily of Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Springfield, along with medical and support personnel from the 600-member task force that included Soldiers from Oregon, Idaho, West Virginia, New Jersey and Tennessee.

Lt. Col. Joseph Twigg, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, addressed the returning Soldiers and their families.

"Over the past year, you stood watch in Kosovo as part of KFOR. You built partnerships, maintained stability, and represented the United States with professionalism and integrity," Twigg said. "From the smallest patrol to the most complex multinational mission, you performed with discipline, heart and commitment."

During their deployment, the Oregon Soldiers made significant contributions to the mission, said Col. Peter Helzer, commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

"Oregon Soldiers contributed to a robust international mission, adding to over 4,000 security patrols, 13,000 public engagements and 5,000 volunteer hours supporting communities in Kosovo," Helzer said. "Additionally, Soldiers from the 41st IBCT successfully responded to one of the largest terrorist attacks in Kosovo in recent years by providing security to critical infrastructure, working with our local and international partners to maintain peace in the region”.