Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani calls on leaders to form new Assembly within 30-day timeline (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK is ready for a political solution (media)
• Abdixhiku calls on parties to reach consensus to break deadlock (media)
• Kosovo’s caretaker PM Albin Kurti’s interview with TeVe1
• Osmani and Prattipati discuss consultations for constitution of Assembly (media)
• German Embassy reacts to Petkovic: Sweep in front of your own door (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Djuric: Construction of two new bridges a provocation – Serbia will not allow forced rewriting of reality in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, Danas, Blic)
• German Embassy: Failure to prosecute violent offenders is as regrettable as Pristina’s uncoordinated measures (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: "Mr. Rohde, Kosovo and Metohija are Serbian doorstep and Serbian backyard" (Kosovo Online)
• The Court of Appeal confirmed the verdict against Ekrem Bajrovic for war crimes (KiM radio)
• Kosovski Savez goes to the polls; Ristic: Enough of "chasing the carrot" (KiM radio, Alternativna)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani calls on leaders to form new Assembly within 30-day timeline (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani called on leaders of political parties on Wednesday to reach an agreement on the constitution of the new Assembly as soon as possible. “President Osmani has called on leaders in the spirit of cooperation and trust, as well as in the interest of the people and the state, to as soon as possible but certainly within the 30-day timeline determined by the Constitutional Court, to reach an agreement on the way forward to constitute the Assembly,” a statement by the President’s Office said.

Osmani held separate meetings on Wednesday with Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, PDK leader Memli Krasniqi, LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku and AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj. 

The statement notes that the leaders presented their positions about the constitution of the Assembly and their interpretations of the ruling of the Constitutional Court. “As noted in previous statements, President Osmani considers that the non-constitution of new institutions deriving from the will of the people expressed on February 9 damages the democratic values and interests of our state, it obstructs a series of state benefits that are in the interest of the people and it diminishes the people’s trust in the institutions,” the statement notes.

Osmani will continue consultative meetings with other parties represented in the Assembly in the coming days as part of “her role as a guarantor of the constitutional functioning and a representative of the unity of the people in the Republic of Kosovo”. 

Krasniqi: PDK is ready for a political solution (media)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Memli Krasniqi met on Wednesday with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani as part of her consultations with party leaders to emerge from the deadlock in the Assembly. “I reconfirmed the position and readiness of the PDK to play our role in finding a solution to the political crisis, especially now that we clarity from the ruling of the Constitutional Court which has made everyone’s role clear,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Krasniqi said that the winner of the February parliamentary elections bears the responsibility for finding compromise to unblock the Assembly. 

“I hope that these consultations will be in the service of finding a way out, and other meetings that the President has planned will help clarify if there are any changes to the political position of the Vetevendosje Movement and Kurti who are continuing to block the constitution of the Assembly”.

Krasniqi argued that the Constitutional Court’s ruling has ruled out changing the agenda and the way of voting for the constitution of the Assembly. “Our invitation remains the same – let us return to the point which is the election of the Assembly Speaker with an open vote and to propose a candidate that can get the required majority to constitute the Assembly,” he said. 

Abdixhiku calls on parties to reach consensus to break deadlock (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku told a press conference on Wednesday that political parties need to reach consensus and unity to overcome what he called an artificial political crisis. “We want unity so much that we came out with a proposal for a unity government. Let them offer a solution, let them make the institutions,” Abdixhiku said in reference to the Vetevendosje Movement, after meeting Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani. 

Kosovo’s caretaker PM Albin Kurti’s interview with TeVe1

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in an interview with TeVe1 on Wednesday that his meeting with President Vjosa Osmani on Wednesday was open and focused on the political deadlock. “The meeting went very well because we discussed all topics related to the non-constitution of the Assembly since April 19. There is a joint conclusion that we have limited time – we don’t have more than three weeks [for the constitution of the new Assembly]. Earlier it is better, later it won’t be possible. This is what the ruling of the Constitutional Court says, that by the end of July everything must be concluded. The President expressed her concerns,” he said.

Kurti said he has hope that the crisis will be resolved but also indicated difficulties. “I have hope but not a lot of hope because of the different and wrong readings of the ruling [of the Constitutional Court] by them [the parties that were in the opposition],” he argued.

Asked about a statement by US President Donald Trump that he stopped a conflict between Kosovo and Serbia, Kurti said: “Thank you very much President Trump for his statement and action. I don’t have the information that they have. Certainly, the White House and U.S. institutions have more information about what Serbia had planned, and they may have acted to prevent such an attack”. He said that the United States are Kosovo’s most important ally and that cooperation especially in defense and security needs to be furthered. “We are forever grateful for the role of the United States of America. Our authorities cooperate closely with the United States, and we hope that one day we will get more information about this concrete case,” he said. He also said that without the help of the United States, many positive developments in Kosovo would not have been possible and that there is unwavering faith in the strategic partnership.

Kurti reiterated his position that he will not offer a coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) claiming the lack of reforms in that party. “The PDK has not undertaken reforms. In the Democratic Party there are 4 or 5 leaders, I don’t know if they have 4 or 5, but I am certain that they don’t have 3, 2, or 1,” he said. He further argued that “the PDK is not a party, it is a shareholder association with unlimited irresponsibility. You cannot reach an agreement by talking to one person there, and that is why Enver Hoxhaj says something completely different [in reference to a statement by Hoxhaj who said he would support a coalition between PDK and Vetevendosje]”. 

Osmani and Prattipati discuss consultations for constitution of Assembly (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani hosted on Wednesday the U.S. Charges d’Affaires Anu Prattipati and discussed Osmani’s meetings with leaders of political parties about the deadlock in the constitution of the new Assembly. “The meeting focused on the latest developments in the country, with special emphasis on the new cycle of consultations with political parties on the constitution of the Assembly, in light of the Ruling of the Constitutional Court,” a statement issued by Osmani’s office noted.

Osmani and Prattipati also discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation while “reconfirming the commitment to further advance the strategic partnership between Kosovo and the United States”.

German Embassy reacts to Petkovic: Sweep in front of your own door (media)

The German Embassy in Kosovo reacted on Wednesday to a statement by the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo chief Petar Petkovic who complained about the laying of cornerstones of two new bridges over the Iber River by Kosovo’s authorities. The embassy called on Kosovo’s government to refrain from escalatory actions but also reminded Petkovic about Serbia’s failures to bring to justice those responsible for the attack in Banjska in September 2023 where Kosovo police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed. “Like we have said in our previous responses, we call on the Government of Kosovo to refrain from escalatory actions. However, the call for decreasing tensions should apply the same for both parties. Certainly, the Government of Kosovo is not the one that is failing to implement legal measures against those responsible for the horrific attack in Banjska. The fact that the self-declared leader of this attack, Kosovo Serb and former deputy leader of the Serbian List, Milan Radoicic, publicly accepted responsibility, and still roams freely in Serbian territory, deeply undermines efforts to promote trust and accountability in the region,” the embassy said. “In German we say ‘Erstmal vor der eigenen hausturh kehren’ – sweet in front of your own door. Returning to the current situation, this saying reminds us that one needs to get one’s own house in door before constantly criticizing Kosovo for its decisions”. 

Serbian Language Media

Djuric: Construction of two new bridges a provocation – Serbia will not allow forced rewriting of reality in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, Danas, Blic)

Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric, stated yesterday that the laying of the foundation stones for two new bridges over the Ibar River constitutes a provocation and a direct violation of the Brussels Agreement, adding that Serbia will not allow the forced rewriting of reality in Kosovo. He called on international stakeholders to intervene and halt the project.

“The Government of Serbia strongly condemns the latest unilateral and politically motivated act by Albin Kurti’s regime — marked by yesterday’s ceremony laying the foundation stones for the construction of two new bridges in North Mitrovica. This act is a blatant provocation carried out in direct violation of the Brussels Agreement and in total disregard for the will and safety of the local Serbian population,” Djuric wrote on X.

Read the post on X at: https://tinyurl.com/58k7h9yw

German Embassy: Failure to prosecute violent offenders is as regrettable as Pristina’s uncoordinated measures (KoSSev)

The German Embassy in Pristina stated yesterday that “inaction in prosecuting violent offenders is as regrettable and counterproductive as any uncoordinated measures taken by Pristina,” reported KoSSev. The embassy was responding to remarks made on Tuesday by Petar Petkovic, director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, who had criticized the laying of the foundation stone for two new bridges in North Mitrovica.

The German Embassy first emphasized that it remained consistent in its appeals to the Kosovo government to refrain from escalatory moves. However, it added: “Calls for de-escalation must apply equally to all parties.”

Here, the embassy referred to accountability for the Banjska attack:

“It is certainly not the Kosovan government which is failing to enforce legal measures against those responsible for the heinous attack in Banjska. The fact that the self-confessed leader of that attack, the Kosovo Serb and former vice chairman of Srpska Lista, Mr. Radoicic, publicly admitted responsibility yet continues to move freely on Serbian territory deeply undermines efforts to foster trust and accountability in the region.”

The embassy then cited a German proverb: “Erstmal vor der eigenen Haustür kehren,” or “First sweep in front of your own door.”

In the context of the current situation, they explained this means one “must put its own house in order before constantly reproaching Kosovo for its decisions.”

“Inaction in prosecuting violent offenders is just as regrettable and counterproductive as any uncoordinated measures taken by Pristina,” the embassy reiterated in its statement.

Petkovic: "Mr. Rohde, Kosovo and Metohija are Serbian doorstep and Serbian backyard" (Kosovo Online)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, reacted to the announcement of the German Embassy in Pristina, which called on him to "clean up in front his own doorstep first before constantly reprimanding Kosovo for its decisions". The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija told the German ambassador in Pristina, Jorn Rohde, that Kosovo is Serbian doorstep.

"Mr. Rohde, Kosovo and Metohija are the Serbian doorstep and Serbian backyard," Petkovic wrote on X, reported Kosovo Online.

The Court of Appeal confirmed the verdict against Ekrem Bajrovic for war crimes (KiM radio)

The Court of Appeal confirmed the verdict of the Basic Court in Pristina against Ekrem Bajrovic, rejecting the appeal of his lawyer as unfounded. Bajrovic was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes against the civilian population, reported KiM radio yesterday. 

Previously, the Basic Court found Bajrovic guilty of war crimes against the civilian population, sentencing him to 12 years in prison.

"The Court of Appeal, after analyzing the verdict, together with the case files, evaluated the appeal allegations and concluded that the verdict does not contain significant violations of the provisions of the criminal procedure from Article 384 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The reasoning of the verdict gives complete and clear reasons for decisive facts, and therefore the appealed verdict does not contain any other violations that would require its mandatory annulment, nor is the criminal law violated to the detriment of the accused as claimed by the defense in the appeal," the decision stated. 

Bajrovic was found guilty of war crimes in the municipality of Istok. 

According to the indictment, he, in co-perpetration with members of the Serbian police, singled out Albanian civilians, men, from the column, after which they abused them in the house of Dema Zeqiri, and then killed 15 of them. The witnesses appealed the verdict, stating that the sentence was low in relation to the scale of the crime.

Kosovski Savez goes to the polls; Ristic: Enough of "chasing the carrot" (KiM radio, Alternativna)

In the local elections in Kosovo, scheduled for October 12, a new political option will appear - Kosovski Savez (Kosovo Alliance) headed by Goran Marinkovic from Dobrotin. As confirmed by Alternativna, the new party consists of members from different parties.

One of the mediators in the formation of the party was Zarko Ristic, a member of the National Assembly of Serbia, who says that his role was that of a mediator. The idea, he said, was to create a political option that would unite Serbs in Kosovo.

"The name 'Kosovski Savez' symbolizes exactly that - that all Serbs here are gathered around one point, and that point is a change in social order," said Ristic.

According to him, the goal of the party is to participate in local elections not only in the north of Kosovo, but also in Gracanica and other municipalities. Asked what Kosovski Savez offers differently than the Serbian List, Ristic replied that they did not offer coercion and blackmail, but freedom of choice and dignity.

"There has always been a message from Belgrade about who will rule. I think that should change, because so far it has not proven to be a solution," he told Altenativna.

Ristic also criticized the SL and their practice, as he said, based on "terror, coercion, blackmail and employment" along party lines. He describes this attitude towards citizens with a metaphor:

"And we chased that carrot, my Serbian people here and I with them, and we never caught it."

They advocated a different approach - fair distribution of funds, employment based on competences and people staying in Kosovo, he said among other things.