Albanian Language Media: 

• Assembly in deadlock; Court is treating AAK request with priority (media)
• Sources from Trump administration: Can’t set conditions to a helping friend (Klan)
• US Defense Department welcomes Maqedonci and Jashari (media)
• Osmani: Great potential to expand cooperation with Hungary (media)
• Vetevendosje’s Hajrulla Ceku to run for Pristina mayor in October elections (Koha)
• Special prosecution postpones interviewing Serbian List leader (media)
• AJK welcomes court’s decision to repeal the changing of IMC regulation (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Municipal services in Leposavic raided building for displaced persons (RTS)
• Zlatan Elek's hearing postponed (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• Kosovo police distributed brochures against sexual harassment in the north (KiM radio, KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio) 
• Macut in Egypt, Vucic in the Emirates (Danas, FoNet)

Albanian Language Media 

Assembly in deadlock; Court is treating AAK request with priority (media)

The Constitutional Court of Kosovo told Kallxo on Tuesday that it is treating with priority the request of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo to interpret on the constitutionality of changing the voting procedure for the new Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo. “The request is being treated with priority by the Court. A decision will be made after the Court looks into all constitutional aspects of the matter presented in the request and will notify all parties of interest and the public about its decision,” the court said.

Sources from Trump administration: Can’t set conditions to a helping friend (Klan)

The news website reported on Tuesday evening that Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s statement following remarks from US President Donald Trump about the Kosovo-Serbia relations have caused strong reactions in the highest circles of the White House.

Trump said in a Truth Social post that during his first mandate he helped avoid a conflict between Kosovo and Serbia and that he is willing to reengage for peace in the region. Kurti then said that in order to normalize relations Serbia needs to hand over Milan Radoicic, sign the basic agreement and the implementation annex and withdraw the letter of former Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic who rejected Kosovo’s territorial integrity.

Sources from the Trump administration told Klan Kosova that the tone and content of Kurti’s statement were seen with disappointment and surprise as they were seen as setting conditions to an ally that is expressing willingness to help Kosovo in a key diplomatic moment. “You cannot set conditions to a helping friend. This way of public communications is not in line with the spirit of partnership that the United States and Kosovo have built for over two decades,” a high-ranking US official said. 

“When you are faced with a crisis and a friend comes to your aid, you don’t tell him ‘only if you meet these conditions’. This is not how diplomacy between friends functions – this threatens relations,” another source said.

Sources from Washington also said that the United States remain committed to peace and stability in the region but that they ask for honest partnership and constructive approach and not public statements that question the good will of an ally.

US Defense Department welcomes Maqedonci and Jashari (media)

The U.S. Embassy in Pristina said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Defense welcomed acting Kosovan Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, and representatives from the Kosovo Security Force in Washington last week for Bilateral Defense Consultations designed to enhance Kosovo’s ability to provide security for itself and the region. “Development of a strong security partner provides the stability needed for economic growth and prosperity that benefits both our countries,” the post notes.

Osmani: Great potential to expand cooperation in many areas with Hungary (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Tuesday that in her meeting with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok they discussed how to further deepen the partnership between Kosovo and Hungary and build upon our cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. “There is great potential to expand our cooperation across many areas — and Kosovo remains firmly committed to opening new chapters that bring lasting benefit to both our peoples. I expressed the deep appreciation of the people of Kosovo for Hungary’s long-standing role in KFOR, its continued support for Kosovar students over the years, and the many initiatives that have helped bring our two countries even closer,” Osmani wrote in a post on X.

Vetevendosje’s Hajrulla Ceku to run for Pristina mayor in October elections (Koha)

Hajrulla Ceku will be the candidate of the Vetevendosje Movement for Pristina in the October 12 local elections, the news website reported on Tuesday citing unnamed sources. Ceku is the caretaker Minister of Culture and his candidacy for Pristina mayor will be announced today. 

Special prosecution postpones interviewing Serbian List leader (media)

Several news websites reported on Tuesday that the Special Prosecution of Kosovo has postponed an interview with Serbian List leader Zlatan Elek in relation to the building of barricades in the north of Kosovo in 2022. A spokesperson for the prosecution confirmed the postponement “because of health reasons of Elek’s attorney”. Elek is being investigated for “obstructing official persons in carrying out official duties”, “calls for resistance” and “accomplice in anti-constitutional activities”. In relation to the case, the prosecution has sent summons for other Serbian List officials, including MP Igor Simic and other associates.

AJK welcomes court’s decision to repeal the changing of IMC regulation (media)

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo has welcomed a statement by the Supreme Court of Kosovo that it adopted the lawsuit filed by the Kosovo Law Institute against the Independent Media Commission. With the support of civil society organizations, the KLI had filed its lawsuit after the IMC changed its internal regulation and dismissed Jeton Mehmeti from the post of chairman and appointed Besnik Berisha in his place. The Supreme Court said that “the regulation was adopted in opposition with the principles of the state of law, transparency and public participation”. 

Serbian Language Media

Municipal services in Leposavic raided building for displaced persons (RTS)

RTS reported yesterday that Leposavic municipal officials raided a building for displaced persons built by the Republic of Serbia and changed the lock on one apartment. Last month, the same administration sent an invitation to some residents of the building to return their keys and vacate their apartments, recalled RTS.

Municipal officials of the Leposavic Mayor Lulzim Hetemi changed the lock on one apartment, while they tried to do so on two others but were prevented from doing so by their owners, residents of one of the buildings in Leposavic.

The construction of the residential buildings in Leposavic was financed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and the keys were given to the displaced families seven months ago by the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia and the Danish Refugee Council.

"A little after 1 p.m., they came from the Kosovo municipality of Leposavic and broke into the apartment of Slobodan Spasic, changing the lock on the door, even though the owner's belongings were in the apartment. They said that a new family was moving in tomorrow," Ivana Bojic told RTS, adding that they also tried to change the lock on her brother Milivoje Bojic's apartment, but that he prevented them from doing so by demanding to show a decision or any document for breaking into the apartment.

She said that her father and brother fled from Istok near Pec in 1999, that since 2020 they have been on the list for apartment allocation, and that the Commissariat for Refugees and the Danish Refugee Council have given them the keys to the apartment on November 1, 2024. The municipal officials have reportedly also tried to change the lock on the apartment of Aleksandra Subotic, a displaced person from Urosevac who still lives with her family in the "Hrast" collective center in Leposavic.

The residents of these buildings fear that the officials of Mayor Lulzim Hetemi, with the help of the Kosovo police, will forcibly evict them from their apartments.

Zlatan Elek's hearing postponed (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

The hearing of the president of the Serbian List, Zlatan Elek, scheduled today, June 18, was postponed indefinitely following the request of the defense.

The news was confirmed by the spokeswoman of the Special Prosecutor's Office, Arbnora Luta, who announced that the postponement was made "due to the health reasons of Elek's lawyer".

Kosovo police distributed brochures against sexual harassment in the north (KiM radio, KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio) 

The Kosovo Police of the North region launched a "campaign to raise awareness and prevent sexual harassment".

As announced by the Kosovo Police, their members distributed information brochures in four cities of this region: North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic.

The police said that brochures were distributed in public places such as streets, squares and areas visited by citizens to inform the public about what sexual harassment is, what it looks like. They also said that any harassment was punishable by law and that harassment is not a compliment - it is a crime, reporting helps protect victims, to prosecute persecutors, and that each case is treated with complete confidentiality.

Filing a report can be done in several ways: Via the toll-free number 192, through the "Report to the Police" application, or by showing up at any police station.

The KP appealed to all citizens not to remain silent in the face of sexual harassment, but to react and report it, to help create a safe and dignified environment for everyone.

Macut in Egypt, Vucic in the Emirates (Danas, FoNet)

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Djuro Macut, spoke yesterday in Cairo with the Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly, about the continuation of the affirmation of the Non-Aligned Policy, the strengthening of economic cooperation and the current complex political and security situation in the world, reported Danas.

Macut said that Egypt will always have a sincere ally and friend in Serbia, and that Belgrade highly appreciates Egypt's support when it comes to Kosovo, the Government of Serbia announced.

Macut added that in increasingly complex political and security conditions, with the possibility of tightening relations between the great powers, it is important that countries like Serbia and Egypt get even closer and help each other. A delegation of Serbian businesspeople who will participate in the Business Forum traveled to Egypt with PM Macut for a three-day visit.

Aleksandar Vucic, the President of Serbia, announced yesterday that he was traveling to the United Arab Emirates, and in the announcement of the visit, his press service only said that he would be on a working visit, without any other details.

Upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi, Vucic said in a post on Instagram that he was grateful for the warm welcome and the hospitality by the representatives of the UAE, adding ''the friendship and mutual respect that our two countries foster is confirmed anew with every meeting". He said he was looking forward to talks with UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed.

"I am confident that together we will continue to develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest, for the benefit of our citizens. We will focus on the further development of bilateral relations and new projects for the benefit of the stable future of the region," added the President of Serbia.