Albanian Language Media: 

• Trump mentions Kosovo and Serbia in social media post (media)
• Hoxhaj, Tahiri comments on Trump’s social media post (media)
• Kosovo deports two members of Serbian Interior Ministry (RFE)
• 32nd failed attempt to constitute the new Kosovo Assembly (media)
• AJK welcomes indictment on attacks against reporters in north in 2023 (media) 
• Kurti starts campaign for local elections; “no more strongholds” (Express)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Five arrests since Friday: A member of the Serbian MIA from Veliko Ropotovo arrested at Konculj on Sunday (KoSSev, media)
• Petkovic: All deported Serbs provided with free legal assistance (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: “Kurti carrying out his fascist policy in front of the eyes of the international community” (Kosovo Online, kim.gov.rs)
• Berisha: Serbian policemen expelled from their homes, Pristina continues to violate rights (RTV, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Panel on Kosovo at Mechanical Engineering Faculty ahead of “See You on Vidovdan” protest in Belgrade (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Court ruled that MIA of Serbia discriminated against Rada Trajkovic (N1, KoSSev)
• Hill: The U.S. will no longer intervene as before—Kosovo and Serbia must resolve their own issues (RFE, Kosovo Online)

International Media: 

• Balkan countries express alarm following Israel’s attack on Iran (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media 

Trump mentions Kosovo and Serbia in social media post (media)

U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned Kosovo and Serbia in a social media post about the situation in the Middle East on Saturday. “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!  Also, during my first term, Serbia and Kosovo were going at it hot and heavy, as they have for many decades, and this long time conflict was ready to break out into WAR. I stopped it (Biden has hurt the longer term prospects with some very stupid decisions, but I will fix it, again!). Another case is Egypt and Ethiopia, and their fight over a massive dam that is having an effect on the magnificent Nile River. There is peace, at least for now, because of my intervention, and it will stay that way! Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

Trump’s post was later shared on X by his envoy for special missions Richard Grenell. 

Hoxhaj, Tahiri comments on Trump’s social media post (media)

Senior member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and former Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, commented on U.S. President Donald Trump’s social media post where he also referred to Kosovo and Serbia. Hoxhaj told Klan Kosova that Trump’s statement “should neither be over interpreted nor underestimated, although it was said by comparing the Kosovo-Serbia relations with other cases in the world. This shows that we are in Trump’s attention, and it is a sign that sooner or later we will be a topic in the U.S. foreign policy agenda”.

Former MP from the AAK, Besnik Tahiri, also commented on Trump’s statement saying that in a time of serious conflicts and wars in the world, Kosovo must be really attentive”.

Kosovo deports two members of Serbian Interior Ministry (RFE)

Kosovo’s authorities have deported two members of the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs several hours after arresting them on charges of violating Kosovo’s national security. The attorneys of the two officers said that they were deported on Saturday night and were banned from entering Kosovo for five years. 

Kosovo’s authorities confirmed only the arrest and deportation of Nikola Vujovic, with Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Interior Affairs Xhelal Svecla revoking his Kosovar nationality and saying that he had been recruited by Serbia’s intelligence and security institutions. He said Vujovic “represents a threat to our national security as a member of Serbia’s police forces”.

Svecla also argued that Serbia was making systematic efforts to destabilize Kosovo by “recruiting Kosovo nationals in its security and intelligence institutions, an act that goes against our laws and threatens our national security”.

32nd failed attempt to constitute the new Kosovo Assembly (media)

All media reported on Sunday on the 32nd failed attempt to constitute the new Assembly of Kosovo. Present at the session on Sunday were only 75 MPs from a total of 120 MPs that make up the legislative. The dispute is about the election of the Assembly Speakers and deputy speakers. The new session will be held on Tuesday. 

AJK welcomes indictment on attacks against reporters in north in 2023 (media)

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) commented on an indictment filed about attacks against journalists in the north of Kosovo in 2023. “According to the Special Prosecution’s announcement, Member of Parliament Slavko Simic and another individual identified as U.V. have been charged with the criminal offense of ‘participation in a crowd committing a criminal offense and hooliganism’. The attack took place on June 16, 2023, in the town of Leposaviq. The Prosecution alleges that Simic ‘intentionally took part in a crowd of more than eight people gathered near the Leposaviq municipal building. When Minister E.K. exited the building, masked civilians began throwing stunned grenades at the official vehicle. After the vehicle passed, the defendant allegedly instructed the crowd to attack the media, which led to further assaults on journalists and media crews from the Republic of Kosovo. The attackers used stun grenades, punches, kicks, and hard objects such as concrete blocks, bricks, paint, and other items. Two journalists suffered serious bodily injuries as a result’. The second defendant, U.V., is accused of directly using force against journalists and faces charges of ‘assault’ and ‘participation in a crowd committing a criminal offense and hooliganism’. The AJK welcomes the indictment and will closely follow the judicial proceedings. The association continues to advocate for full accountability for all attacks against journalists during May and June 2023 and calls for appropriate punishments through the justice system. At least nine journalists and camera operators were injured in the June 16 attack in Leposaviq, with the most serious injuries sustained by RTK cameroperator Bardh Bekteshi, who was assaulted by a masked crowd,” a statement issued by the AJK notes.

Kurti starts campaign for local elections; “no more strongholds” (Express)

The news website reported on Sunday that the leader of the Vetevendosje Movement and caretaker Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has started his campaign for October 12 local elections. During a rally in Peja, he said that “there are no more strongholds, because the Movement is everywhere” and that “we are in the race for every municipality”. “Let us start this path toward October 12 with the courage that has always characterized us and with the maturity that is needed to truly represent this good people,” Kurti said.

Serbian Language Media

Five arrests since Friday: A member of the Serbian MIA from Veliko Ropotovo arrested at Konculj on Sunday (KoSSev)

A member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia from Veliko Ropotovo near Kosovska Kamenica was arrested yesterday morning at the Konculj ABL. Milos Nikolic, his lawyer, confirmed this to KoSSev. 

It is about M.Z., who is employed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia and who is assigned to the Police Department (PU) Nis.

Nikolic stated that M.Z. was transferred to the immigration center in the village of Vrani Do near Pristina. "His family is in Veliki Ropotovo - he has a wife and two children," the lawyer said and could not provide more details.

According to KoSSev, they tried several times to get in touch with the KP, that is, the head of the Kosovo Police for the Pristina region, Baki Kelani, but he did not answer this portal. 

KoSSev reported that M.Z. was the fifth Serb from Kosovo, who, as a member of the MIA of Serbia, has been arrested in Kosovo since Friday. Before him, at the Brnjak, Jarinje and Konculj crossings, four more were detained - among them a retired policeman. Meanwhile, Mladen Milojevic and Nikola Vujovic were forcibly removed from Kosovo to central Serbia, after their Kosovo documents were confiscated and they were banned from returning to Kosovo for five years. According to unofficial information of KoSSev, a retired member of the MUP, M.S., was also released yesterday. 

In these cases, the Kosovo authorities are now referring to the Law on Citizenship, according to which residents of Kosovo who engage in activities that "threaten national security" or are members of the police force or Intelligence Service of "another country", and do not have the consent of the authorities or there was no international agreement for this - "lose the right to citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo". It was these allegations that the outgoing Kosovo minister, Xhelal  Svecla, referred to when making the decisions.

Petkovic: All deported Serbs provided with free legal assistance (Kosovo Online)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, reacted after Milan Zlatanovic (44), arrest and then deportation to central Serbia, and said that all deported Serbs were provided with free legal assistance.

"I just talked to Milan Zlatanovic, an honest Serb, father of three children, whose family, house and everything he owns is in Kosovo and Metohija. Kurti deported him today, as well as his colleagues Aleksandar, Nikola and Mladen, who were unlawfully expelled yesterday and with whom we are also in contact. We provided free legal aid to all expelled Serbs. Kurti's insanity carries serious consequences," wrote Petkovic on the X on Sunday afternoon.

Office for KiM: “Kurti carrying out his fascist policy in front of the eyes of the international community” (Kosovo Online, kim.gov.rs)

The office for Kosovo and Metohija announced on Sunday saying that Albin Kurti continues with the policy of arbitrary arrest and expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo, and that the targets of his vengeful and anti-Serb policy are now Serbs who live in Kosovo and are employed in police departments in central Serbia. The office states that the father of three children, Milan Zlatanovic (44) from Veliko Ropotovo, who has been working in the police force in Nis for almost 20 years and lives in Kosovo with his family, after being "detained this morning by the Kurti police at the Konculj crossing" was deported to central Serbia. 

"Zlatanovic is a new victim of retaliation and politically motivated arrests by Pristina, for which there is not a single legal basis. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija has provided legal aid to him, as well as to the three Serbs who were expelled from Kosovo and Metohija yesterday, and is fighting through diplomatic channels for their rights," they stated in the statement released on Sunday. They added that according to Kurti's order, the five Serbian policemen who live in Kosovo Pomoravlje are not allowed to enter the territory of Kosovo and return to their homes and families from duty.

"It is unheard of that in front of the eyes of the entire international community, Kurti is carrying out his fascist policy of persecution of a nation and ethnic cleansing of Serbs from their homes, and that there is no reaction from those who would have to guarantee the Serbs a peaceful life in the area of Kosovo and Metohija," the Office added.  They pointed out that the Office for KiM was in direct contact with representatives of the EU for two days regarding the latest escalating moves by the regime in Pristina and that it has informed the international representatives about everything.

Berisha: Serbian policemen expelled from their homes, Pristina continues to violate rights (RTV, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

The Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue of Serbia, Demo Berish, said that the Pristina institutions, by revoking the right of Serbian policemen to enter Kosovo, expelled those Serbs from their homes and pointed out that this was a violation of human rights, reported Kosovo Online, citing RTV. 

"It is not a problem that they were detained, that is a problem as well, but it is a bigger problem that their right to enter the territory of Kosovo and Metohija was revoked, their citizenship of a non-existent state was taken away. They were expelled from their doorstep. They can accuse and expel every Serb in Kosovo on that basis," Berisha said.

As he said, the Pristina institutions deny Serbs the right to work, to stay in their homes.

"It's not easy for me because I see injustice," Berisha said, and he said that he had a meeting with the first person at the UN who deals with human rights and that when he tried to talk to him about the problems faced by Serbs in Kosovo, he tried to change the subject.

Berisha added that the interlocutor told him that he was in Kosovo in 2000 and that he saw injustice. "I asked him what did you do, he didn't have anything to answer me," emphasized Berisha.

Panel on Kosovo at Mechanical Engineering Faculty ahead of “See You on Vidovdan” protest in Belgrade (KoSSev, KiM radio)

Students currently in blockade have called on social media for a large protest in Belgrade scheduled for June 28, Vidovdan, under the slogan “Is the city crowded? There will be even more! Everyone to Belgrade on June 28 – See you on Vidovdan.”

On the same day 9Saturday) the announcement was made, a group of students known as “Ćaci” held a press conference accusing the blockade students of planning violence during the protest. Vladimir Balać, a student at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, presented a document allegedly originating from blockade students, which calls for “liberating Ćaciland” and gathering by 9 PM on June 28. Balać condemned the document as a call for violence and a threat to the safety of those peacefully protesting on public grounds.

Meanwhile, last night at 7 PM at the Mechanical Engineering Faculty in Belgrade, a panel discussion titled “Kosovo and Metohija – 25 Years of Blockade” was scheduled. The event was jointly organized by students from the “University of Pristina with temporary headquarters in Kosovska Mitrovica“ and their colleagues from the Mechanical Engineering Faculty currently in blockade.

Although the University of Pristina students do not formally participate in the blockade of classes, many have expressed solidarity with students from other Serbian state faculties protesting by boycotting classes and organizing gatherings.

The blockade students reaffirmed their intention to hold a large protest in Belgrade on June 28 under the slogan “See you on Vidovdan”.

Court ruled that MIA of Serbia discriminated against Rada Trajkovic (N1, KoSSev)

The Higher Court in Belgrade ruled that Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) discriminated against Kosovo Serb politician Rada Trajkovic due to her political beliefs. The court found that in December 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs unlawfully confiscated her personal documents in the village of Merdare without legal grounds and restricted her freedom of movement within Serbia, said the Tomanovic Law Office on Friday. The court also prohibited the Ministry from engaging in any further discriminatory actions against Trajkovic, the Law Office said, adding that it also ordered the Ministry to cover the costs of publishing the introduction and operative part of the ruling in the print edition of the daily Politika.

The Tomanovic Law Office said an appeal will be filed because the court did not find that the Serbian Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) also acted discriminatorily toward Trajkovic.

Hill: The U.S. will no longer intervene as before—Kosovo and Serbia must resolve their own issues (RFE, Kosovo Online)

Former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill stated that he did not expect the United States to intervene in resolving Balkan issues, including the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, as it has done in the past. In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Hill emphasized that Kosovo must proceed with the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, while Serbia also has its own obligations. Hill stressed that Kosovo and Serbia cannot expect others to solve their problems—they must work together to do so. Regarding the dialogue, Hill described the Ohrid Agreement as highly appealing and reiterated that Kosovo must begin by forming the Community. He also said Serbia has commitments to fulfill. He further remarked that he does not believe the U.S. will be heavily engaged in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process.

The RFE interview with former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia available at: https://tinyurl.com/796rzdwh

International 

Balkan countries express alarm following Israel’s attack on Iran (Balkan Insight)

Turkey condemns Israeli attacks, while other countries in Southeast Europe voice concern about likely political, security and economic implications.  

Balkan countries voiced dismay over the implications of Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear sites and senior security officials – amid fears that the crisis will deepen.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is trying to drag our region and the entire world into disaster with its reckless, aggressive and lawless actions,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. Erdogan also called on the international community to end the conflict.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3hesvjx6