UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 3, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: The safety of children is the foundation of global security (media)
Konakovic stays in Kosovo, attends WPS International Forum (media)
Sorensen plans to organize a trilateral meeting soon (media)
Bislimi: Tripartite meeting was planned, but Serbian side ran into problems (Koha)
Bislimi's engagement in Brussels sparks opposition in Kosovo (AP)
U.S. army commander promises continued cooperation in defense (Indeksonline)
Jashari and U.S. generals discuss “Defender Europe 25” (media)
Limaj reiterates condition for position of Speaker of Assembly (media)
Palokaj: Kosovo to urgently send Association draft to Constitutional Court (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric: Serbian diplomacy moving forward with vision of respected, safe and open Serbia (Tanjug)
Djuric reacts to decisions of Leposavic municipal authorities affecting Serbian properties (Tanjug)
Petkovic: Another attempt by Bislimi to attack Belgrade has failed (Kosovo Online, social media)
Sorensen after meeting Bislimi: Trilateral meeting soon (media, social media)
Mitrovica North municipality established commission for streets renaming, no Serb member of it (KoSSev)
Vucic congratulates Nawrocki on winning Polish presidential elections (media)
Protests in Novi Sad, Nis (N1)

International Media:

Kosovo, Serbia media focus on ‘crisis situations’, report says (Prishtina Insight)
Energy license application by company affiliated with Kosovo govt official draws scrutiny (Prishtina Insight)
Whistleblower accuses Kosovo municipality of reprisal dismissal after exposing corruption (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: The safety of children is the foundation of global security (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in her address to the International Forum on Women, Peace and Security in Pristina on Monday that “the safety of children is the foundation of global security”. “At a time when children across the world are bearing the heaviest consequences of war, we must stand together to protect their rights. They are not only our future - they are also our present. This year’s International Forum on Women, Peace and Security will place their voices, their needs, and their protection at the heart of our discussions,” she wrote in a post on X.

Osmani also said that “there is no mission more noble than making sure that the children of today never have to go through what we had to go through. That is why this Forum exists: to raise the voices that war tried to silence, to uplift those who refused to be broken and to build a safer future for all”.

Konakovic stays in Kosovo, attends WPS International Forum (media)

The Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dino Konakovic, stayed in Kosovo on Monday and upon the invitation of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani took part in the International Forum on Women, Peace and Security. Osmani said in a post on X that Konakovic’s visit “underscores the significance of dialogue and cooperation for peace and stability in the region”.

Sorensen plans to organize a trilateral meeting soon (media)

The European Union's envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen, said that he discussed a wide range of important issues for the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations with Kosovo's chief negotiator, Besnik Bislimi, on Monday in Brussels. "I hosted Kosovo's chief negotiator, Besnik Bislimi, in a meeting in preparation for a trilateral meeting in the dialogue today in Brussels. We discussed a wide range of important issues for the normalization of relations with Serbia. We plan to organize a trilateral meeting soon," Sorensen wrote on Monday on the "X" platform.

Bislimi: Tripartite meeting was planned, but Serbian side ran into problems (Koha)

Kosovo’s acting Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, after meeting EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen in Brussels on Monday, told the news website that a tripartite meeting was foreseen but that the Serbian side ran into problems. “A trilateral meeting was supposed to take place, but it did not because there were some complications with the Serbian delegation which did not arrive in Brussels because of delays,” he said.

Bislimi said that in his meeting with Sorensen he raised a series of issues “for which we believe it is very important to have an answer from Brussels, or solutions, for example the case of the integrated border management, and major delays by Serbia, to meet their obligations. In three border points they were supposed to build points or in response to our proposals to have seasonal crossing points in Bujanoc and Breznica when there are travelers from the diaspora. And also problems with the recognition of certificates. We also discussed a very important thing that we have – the support for Albanians in Presevo Valley for small farmers. Serbia has blocked the bank accounts of the Albanian National Council. We asked for these funds to be unblocked as soon as possible. We also talked about a disinformation campaign that Serbia has launched on many fronts with the aim of disinforming international partners and also continuing their pressure on Serb citizens in Kosovo, and other similar topics”.

Bislimi's engagement in Brussels sparks opposition in Kosovo (AP)

The engagement of Kosovo's acting Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, in the new round of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue in Brussels has sparked reactions of politicians and analysts, who have questioned his legitimacy to represent Kosovo at this stage of the process, while the new institutions in Kosovo have not yet been established.

Former Democratic League of Kosovo MP, Driton Selmanaj, has assessed that Bislimi "has neither legitimacy nor legality to represent the state of Kosovo" in the negotiation process, adding that the acting government, which he calls "caretaker" has no mandate to engage in "vital and sensitive processes" such as the dialogue with Serbia.

In the same spirit, the former chief inspector of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Burim Ramadani, also reacted, considering that Bislimi enjoys neither civic legitimacy nor institutional legality to represent Kosovo in the dialogue facilitated by the European Union: "Simply, you cannot speak on behalf of Kosovo!" he said.

U.S. army commander promises continued cooperation in defense (Indeksonline)

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci met on Monday with Major General Michael E. Wegscheider, commander of the U.S. Army 28th Infantry Division, and quoted Wegscheider as saying that the U.S. partnership with Kosovo in defense will continue and become stronger. “The United States of America will forever be our friend and strategic partner, an eternal ally of democratic values,” Maqedonci wrote in a Facebook post after the meeting.

Maqedonci also said that they discussed the “Defender Europe 25” military exercise and the ministry’s steps for implementing the general plan for the transitioning of the Kosovo Security Force.

Jashari and U.S. generals discuss “Defender Europe 25” (media)

Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari met on Monday in Pristina with Major General Michael E. Wegscheider, commander of the U.S. Army 28th Infantry Division, and Major General Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard. Jashari briefed them on the developments and latest achievements of the KSF, with special emphasis on bilateral cooperation and joint activities between the two forces. They also talked about the participation of the KSF in the multinational military exercise “Defender Europe 25”.

Limaj reiterates condition for position of Speaker of Assembly (media)

Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA), has said that he is ready to contribute to building a political agreement that would unblock the created situation and create stability. He has once again mentioned his condition for the position of Speaker of the Assembly. "As I have previously stated publicly, the Social Democratic Initiative has offered partnership within the Assembly to guarantee institutional functionality. We have been and are ready to contribute to building a political agreement that unblocks the situation and guarantees stability. Citizens expect solutions and governance, not a permanent crisis. Kosovo needs functional institutions and leadership that takes responsibility," Limaj wrote.

Palokaj: Kosovo to urgently send Association draft to Constitutional Court (Koha)

The news website’s correspondent in Brussels, Augustin Palokaj, has said that Kosovo must send the draft of the status of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities to the Constitutional Court as soon as possible. “Kosovo must urgently act by sending the draft of the status of the Association to the Constitutional Court. Without Kosovo doing this, any expressed willingness will not be understood as full willingness by international partners. I do not believe that anyone can do this without a stable government with a clear mandate”, Palokaj told KTV on Monday.

“Meetings at the level of chief negotiators are meetings for the implementation of agreements, for preparation and so on. There are a series of agreements reached, some are being implemented, some have started to be implemented and some are not being implemented...”, said Palokaj.

Commenting on Monday’s meeting in Brussels between Kosovo’s chief negotiator, Besnik Bislimi, and the EU’s envoy for dialogue, Peter Sorensen, Palokaj added that such talks do not require a high-level meeting.

"I don't believe any new agreement or dramatic decision can be pushed forward because no one has the political power to do this in Kosovo," he said, adding that the EU envoy cannot push forward any process "if there is no interest from the parties."

Serbian Language Media

Djuric: Serbian diplomacy moving forward with vision of respected, safe and open Serbia (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric hosted a Diplomacy Day reception in Belgrade on Monday, and noted that, relying on its rich diplomatic experience, motivated by human potential and inspired by values it shared with the world, Serbian diplomacy was "moving forward with a vision of Serbia as a respected, safe and open state", Tanjug news agency reported.

"The foreign policy of Serbia aims to create a stable and predictable international environment that will enable the realisation of these domestic priorities. It does not exist for its own sake. It is a means, but also a guarantee that internal development, social cohesion and prosperity will be a reality, not just a wish", Djuric said in an address to foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations who attended the reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He noted that one of the key aspects of Serbia's foreign policy activities would be to increase the "prestige of the Serbian passport". Djuric said significant progress had been made in negotiations on abolishing visas with numerous countries, "which allows our citizens to travel without administrative obstacles and to feel welcome in the world".

Djuric reacts to decisions of Leposavic municipal authorities affecting Serbian properties (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said last night that forced eviction and confiscation of properties from Serbian families in Leposavic represents yet another serious violation of basic human rights and a worrying continuation of policies that undermine the prospects for coexistence and reconciliation in Kosovo, Tanjug news agency reported.

In a post on X social platform, Djuric emphasized he is deeply concerned about the latest case of pressure and intimidation of the Serbian people in Leposavic “carried out under the leadership of the regime of the prime minister of the provisional Pristina institutions, Albin Kurti”.

"It is particularly worrisome that these measures are being imposed on an area with a majority Serb population by an administration that does not reflect the will or interests of the local population, effectively placing the north of Kosovo and Metohija under the rule of an ethno-nationalist and discriminatory ethnic minority authorities", Djuric wrote.

Recently, Leposavic municipal authorities delivered notices to 17 Serbian families in Lesak, requesting them to vacate and demolish their homes, which the municipality deems as illegal constructions. It also requested a number of families, who are refugees and displaced persons, to return apartments they received from Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and which were financed with the funds of the Serbian Government.

Petkovic: Another attempt by Bislimi to attack Belgrade has failed (Kosovo Online, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic, said on Monday that he and his team were on their way to Brussels, where they are scheduled to meet on Tuesday with the EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Peter Sorensen, as previously arranged, Kosovo Online portal reported.

Petkovic said yet another attempt by Pristina’s chief negotiator Besnik Bislimi to attack Belgrade had failed, referring to Bislimi’s claim that the trilateral meeting did not take place on Monday because the Serbian team "did not arrive in Brussels due to a delay".

"My team and I are currently en route to Brussels, where we have scheduled meetings tomorrow, which serve as preparation for trilateral talks, as confirmed today by the EU as well. Another attempt by Bislimi to attack Belgrade has failed. The Serbian side is always present in the dialogue", Petkovic wrote in a post on X social platform.

He also stressed that Belgrade would not allow Pristina to introduce issues that have no place in the dialogue. "We know what can be the subject of the dialogue, just as we know that we will not allow Pristina to misuse the dialogue mechanism to introduce issues that absolutely do not belong in the dialogue", Petkovic said, referring to Bislimi’s statement that he had raised "a number of important topics" in his conversation with Sorensen, including the position of Albanians in so-called Presevo Valley.

Sorensen after meeting Bislimi: Trilateral meeting soon (media, social media)

EU Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Peter Sorensen said on Monday after the meeting with Pristina’s chief negotiator Besnik Bislimi in Brussels that they discussed a wide range of issues adding that he soon plans to be a host of trilateral meeting, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“Hosted the Kosovo Chief Negotiator @BislimiBesnik for a meeting in preparation of a trilateral Dialogue meeting in Brussels today. Discussed a wide range of issues important for the normalisation of relations with Serbia. Plan to host a trilateral meeting soon”, Sorensen wrote in a post on X social platform.

Mitrovica North municipality established commission for streets renaming, no Serb member of it (KoSSev)

Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly established the commission for streets renaming, KoSSev portal reported on Monday. This decision was made in a session held on Friday. The municipal assembly chair, Nedzad Ugljanin claims all communities are members of this commission, adding that Dusan Milunovic, the only Sebr councillor, is also a member of it.

However, in a statement to KoSSev portal, Milunovic rejected this claim, underlining that there are no Serbs who are members of this commission, he refused to be its member and also to vote in support of its establishment. He also said there are more important issues to deal with at this moment, rather than renaming the streets given that new local elections are due in autumn.

“I do not want to give legitimacy to the work of this commission, that may push for some names of the streets later, this is a political game”, Milunovic told the portal.

Vucic congratulates Nawrocki on winning Polish presidential elections (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic congratulated Karol Nawrocki on Monday on winning the Polish presidential elections, and noted that he would always have a "sincere friend and partner in Serbia".

"While you are taking on this important responsibility at a time of many challenges for Europe and the world, I am confident that your political experience and prudent leadership will make a significant contribution to diplomatic efforts aimed at securing peace, stability, and prosperity for our continent, and give new momentum to cooperation with Serbia.

In these endeavours, you will always find a sincere friend and partner in Serbia. I look forward to our future cooperation and joint projects that will benefit our citizens", Vucic wrote in a post on X.

Protests in Novi Sad, Nis (N1)

On Monday evening, students from the University of Novi Sad called on residents to join a protest dubbed “We’ve Also Had Enough of Blood,” while students in Nis organized a protest titled “I’m a Target Too - You Have the Right to Speak Out”, N1 reported.

In Novi Sad, students and locals first gathered on the University campus before launching a protest march through the city. The demonstration was sparked by the release of activists of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), and the Monday incident at the Belgrade Law School. During the march, protesters pelted an SNS office in Novi Sad with eggs and flour. A line of gendarmerie members stood guard outside the building.

In Nis, protesters took aim at an SNS office as well, splattering it with red paint and eggs, N1 added.

International

Kosovo, Serbia media focus on ‘crisis situations’, report says (Prishtina Insight)

New report by BIRN Serbia and Internews Kosova says focus on tensions when reporting on relations between the two countries fuels mistrust and misinformation – and neglects the 'realities of everyday lives'.

Media in Kosovo and Serbia mostly focus on incidents and crisis situations on the ground when they report on relations between the two countries, a report published on Monday by Internews Kosova and BIRN Serbia concludes.

The report, “Journalistic Perspectives on Serbia-Kosovo Relations”, says stories on economic, cultural relations or any other cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia are “sparse”.

“Stories are mostly presented through the lenses of high politics, while the realities of everyday lives remain unseen,” it reads.