Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani to meet EU special representative for dialogue Sorensen today (media)
• Kosovo leaders send condolences after fire tragedy in North Macedonia (media)
• Maqedonci: Kosovo is building an army in line with NATO standards (RFE)
• CEC announces final results (media)
• Parties required to make compromises on coalitions (RTK)
• Kurti congratulates new Archbishop of Albanian Orthodox Church (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Elections could be on June 8 if a new government is not formed by April 18 (RTS) 
• Vucic: We will point out how the Kosovo election results were manipulated preventing the SL from getting 10 seats (Kosovo Online)
• Possible use of sonic weapon against Belgrade protesters sparks controversy (N1)
• Petkovic: We remember so it won’t happen again (Kosovo Online, Politika)
• Who’s Who – Colleen Hyland: The U.S. Diplomat who opposed Pristina’s decisions (Kosovo Online)
• Tragic nightclub fire in North Macedonia claims over 50 lives (N1, media)

International Media: 

• Serbia's largest-ever rally sees 325,000 protest against government (BBC)
• Serbia: Protesters flood Belgrade with Vucic under pressure (DW)
• Belgrade's historic day of anger: Hundreds of thousands of Serbians protest for 'laws and justice that work' (Le Monde)
• Serbs descend on Belgrade: ‘It’s time for the regime to end’ (Financial Times)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani to meet EU special representative for dialogue Sorensen today (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani will host in a meeting this morning the EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen. This will be Sorensen’s first visit to Kosovo since taking up his position. Osmani and Sorensen are expected to discuss key issues related to relations between Kosovo and the European Union, including the European integration process, and latest political and security developments. 

Kosovo leaders send condolences after fire tragedy in North Macedonia (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani reacted on Sunday to the tragedy in Kocani, North Macedonia, where 59 people lost their lives and 100 others were injured after a fire broke out in a club. “Devastating news from Kocani, North Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is a tragedy beyond words. We express our most sincere condolences and stand with the victims’ families and all the people of North Macedonia in this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers,” she wrote in a post on X.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a reaction that he was “deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of 51 lives in Kocani, North Macedonia, as a result of a tragic fire explosion in a nightclub. I express my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, as well as to the leaders and government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the entire country during this time of grief. I wish a swift and full recovery to those injured”. 

Maqedonci: Kosovo is building an army in line with NATO standards (RFE)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said in an interview with the news website that the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into an army with full capacities is happening sooner than planned. He said that the KSF now numbers over 4,300 troops and is expected to have over 5,000 by next year. At the end of the transition period, in 2028, it is expected to have over 7,500 members – 5,000 of them active, and the others as reserve troops. “Our objectives are being met faster than initially planned and this shows our commitment to the development of the Kosovo Security Force,” he said.

Maqedonci said that the military force has been built in line with NATO standards, the alliance that Kosovo aspires to join. He said KSF troops are trained in NATO military academies and are implementing the NATO doctrine. “In addition to this, all our military purchases are done from NATO member states,” he said. “This is a standard that guarantees quality equipment and full compatibility with the systems of the Alliance”.

CEC announces final results (media)

The Central Election Commission has announced the final results of the elections held on February 9. According to these results, the Vetevendosje Movement leads with 396,787 votes or 42.30 percent, PDK with 196,474 votes or 20.95 percent, LDK with 171,357 votes or 18.27 percent and AAK-Nisma with 66,256 votes or 7.06 percent.

According to these results, no party has secured enough votes to govern alone. VV has 48 MPs, PDK 24, LDK 20, Serbian List 9, AAK and Nisma 8 MPs. Voter turnout was 46.54 percent.

Parties required to make compromises on coalitions (RTK)

The election process does not end with the announcement of the final results of the February 9 elections by the CEC. There are a number of procedures that must be followed prior to the formation of institutions. After the announcement of the final results, political parties have 48 hours to file their complaints. Meanwhile, the handling of these complaints can take up to 12 days.

According to the network of organizations “Democracy in Action”, six days are foreseen for the handling of complaints by the ECAP and another six by the Supreme Court. The decisions of these two institutions can then affect the certification of the results.

Artan Muhaxhiri, a political expert, said that the essence is that this process of establishing institutions cannot be delayed for more than 60 days. “It will be a very difficult process, because with the issues of complaints and objections that have been seen during the vote counting, it is expected that there will be various problems during this period as well,” he said.

The expert, Jeton Halimi, said that the sovereign has given the vote to each of the parties and there is no point in making attempts or political calculations, because, according to him, they only damage the credibility of Kosovo.

Experts on political processes have requested that the parties make compromises regarding coalitions, so that the new government is strong in the face of the processes that await Kosovo. “The result also imposes this and the challenges that await Kosovo, especially in dialogue and in improving relations with international allies,” said Artan Muhaxhiri.

Meanwhile, political expert Jeton Halimi said Kosovo and the population of Kosovo are more important than the interest of the parties.

After the certification of the official election results, President Vjosa Osmani will have a maximum of 30 days to call the constitutive meeting of the Kosovo Assembly, which will then pave the way for the formation of the government.

Kurti congratulates new Archbishop of Albanian Orthodox Church (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti wrote about the election of Joan Palushi, the new Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. "We rejoice together with the Albanian Orthodox believers for the election of Joan, the new Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, after the now deceased Archbishop Anastasios (Janullatos). His Beatitude, Joan (Pelushi) has been the Metropolitan of Korca for 27 years, a theologian and intellectual, with contributions not only in clerical, but also in Albanian civic life", he wrote in his congratulations on the election of the Archbishop.

Kurti, among other things, wished peace between nations and cooperation between religions. “We wish him success in his new duties, in strengthening the church, in advancing justice and peace among nations and in cooperation between religions. We wish our compatriot, Archbishop John, a successful work in this important position for the Orthodox, but also for the entire society and our nation.” 

Serbian Language Media  

Vucic: Elections could be on June 8 if a new government is not formed by April 18 (RTS) 

RTS reported that President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday at the government session that the Serbian Parliament was expected to confirm Milos Vucevic's resignation on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a 30-day period for forming a new government will begin. If a government is not formed, new elections will be held, most likely on June 8, Vucic said. 

Regarding the situation in the country, he stressed that it is important that things are fully normalized and, as he said, children must learn, and the education system must function.

The President of Serbia attended a government session in Serbia, where, among other things, a decision was made to declare Tuesday a Day of Mourning for the Kocani tragedy.

Commenting on Saturday's protests, he said that it was "important and good" that there was no major unrest.

"We managed to preserve complete peace and stability and did not use police forces to calm tensions or anything similar," Vucic stated.

He asked the Minister of Justice Maja Popovic to respond to the information about the use of sound cannons during the protests in Belgrade.

"I ask you, Ms. Popovic, that both the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor's Office respond, or that they prosecute those who used them, and we know they did not, but let it be checked, let the proceedings be initiated, but then let them prosecute all those who went public with such a notorious lie," Vucic said.

Vucic: We will point out how the Kosovo election results were manipulated preventing the SL from getting 10 seats (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic emphasized the importance of highlighting how the parliamentary election results in Kosovo were altered to the detriment of the Serbian List (SL), preventing it from securing all 10 seats allocated to the Serbian community in the Kosovo Assembly. During a Serbian government session, Vucic addressed the Director of the Office for KiM, Petar Petkovic, on this issue.

"It is important to shed light on what happened in Kosovo and Metohija, on how the election results were changed. We precisely counted the votes in Serbian areas, where the Serbian List won 10 seats. However, surprisingly—or perhaps not—Nenad Rasic received a significant number of votes in staunchly Albanian areas, which we were unable to monitor," Vucic pointed out.

He stated that the SL had no election monitors in Pec, Glogovac, Stimlje, Orahovac, and Malisevo.

"Rasic received votes in those areas, and they added enough for him to secure one seat, leaving the Serb List with nine," Vucic said.

He urged Petkovic to continue drawing attention to the persecution of the Serbian population in Kosovo.

Regarding the situation in BiH and RS, Vucic stressed the need to support the Republic of Srpska in overcoming the crisis, preserving peace and stability within BiH, and upholding the Dayton Agreement.

He asked the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabic, to organize a visit by Republic of Srpska President Milorad Dodik and the Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic to the Serbian Assembly.

Vucic added that he personally would like to meet with Dodik in Belgrade, but this would depend on scheduling and organizational factors.

Recalling that March 24 marks the anniversary of the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Vucic announced that the following day, he would travel to Brussels for meetings with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Prior to that, on March 19, he will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels.

"I cannot change these commitments, but everything else I can adjust to align with your needs. In discussions with European officials and Rutte, we will explore ways to help resolve this crisis, maintain peace and stability, and preserve the Republic of Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina while respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement," Vucic concluded.

Possible use of sonic weapon against Belgrade protesters sparks controversy (N1)

A protest held in central Belgrade on Saturday night turned chaotic when, according to security analysts, a sonic weapon was likely deployed against the demonstrators.

During a 15-minute silence commemorating the 15 victims of a collapsed canopy in Novi Sad, a sudden and piercing noise was heard across the packed streets of Belgrade. The sound caused panic among the protesters, leading to people frantically running in different directions, which resulted in instances of trampling and injuries.

Videos circulating on social media captured the exact moment when the unknown device was allegedly activated. Protesters described the experience as deeply unsettling, with some comparing the sound to “an overwhelming threat rapidly approaching”. Others reported feeling as if “something was about to reach them within seconds”.

Military analyst Aleksandar Radic told N1 that the noise was most likely caused by the deployment of a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), commonly known as a sonic weapon. According to Radic, Serbia’s security forces have had access to this US-made non-lethal weapon since 2022, even though its use is not legally regulated in the country.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/bdxxphr3

Petkovic: We remember so it won’t happen again (Kosovo Online, Politika)

By Petar Petkovic

“Twenty-one years have passed since March 17, 2004, the day when everything Serbian in Kosovo and Metohija burned in a senseless act of hatred by those who, even today, wish nothing good for Serbs in this region.

During those days of madness, in a crime without punishment that has lasted for over two decades, the images of the cross being broken on the Church of St. Elijah in Podujevo—now a symbol of that horrific wave of violence—remain vivid. The wounds of the families of those who perished, including Borivoje Spasojevic, Jana Tucev, Borko and Dobri Stolic, Dragan Nedeljkovic, Zlatibor Trajkovic, Anka Peric, Boban Peric, and Nenad Vesic, are still fresh. Their only "crime" was being Serbian.

On that fateful March 17 and in the days that followed, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija learned in the most brutal way that hatred and evil are indiscriminate—they do not care about one's character but only about one’s name and surname. In the incomprehensible violence of March 2004, people were targeted simply because of their identity—because they crossed themselves, celebrated their patron saint’s day, and spoke a different language from those committing the violence. The sheer scale of the attacks made it clear that this was not a spontaneous outburst but rather the result of decades of nurtured and cultivated hatred, seemingly fueled by external influences.

Let us go back to 2004 and the events leading up to the March pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. At that time, Serbs in our southern province lived in enclaves, in ghettos, surrounded by hostility. Atrocities such as the terrorist attack on a Nis Express bus near Podujevo, the massacre of harvesters in Staro Gracko, and the murder and wounding of Serbian children in Gorazdevac were recent history. Serbian children often had to attend school under KFOR escort, Serbian monasteries and churches were guarded by international troops, and in urban areas south of the Ibar River, Serbs lived virtually under house arrest, unable to step outside for fear of violence. Given this reality, was the March pogrom foreseeable?”

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/ykv3nbnt

Who’s Who – Colleen Hyland: The U.S. Diplomat who opposed Pristina’s decisions (Kosovo Online)

Friday was the last working day for Gabriel Escobar as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans. He has been replaced by Colleen Hyland, a career diplomat who is well acquainted with the Western Balkans. She has served in Kosovo twice and has openly opposed Pristina’s unilateral actions, including tariff increases, the ban on Serbian imports, and the abolition of the dinar, reported Kosovo Online.

Hyland assumed this position from her previous role as Director of the Office for South and Central Europe (Western Balkans), where she had been serving since September 2023.

At the third regional “Balkanomics” conference, held last year in Tirana, she highlighted corruption as a key issue in the Western Balkans.

"Corruption must be kept under control because laws must be updated and aligned with EU standards. You need that focus and determination, and we will support you in that," Hyland stated.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/yu6uvmhr

Tragic nightclub fire in North Macedonia claims over 50 lives (N1, media)

A devastating fire broke out around 3 am Saturday night at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life. According to preliminary reports from the Ministry of Interior, at least 53 people have died, while hundreds more have been injured.

Eyewitnesses describe scenes of chaos and desperation as emergency services struggled to respond to the magnitude of the disaster. Local media outlet Radio Kocani reported that rescue vehicles were overwhelmed by the number of victims. “Emergency and fire department vehicles were not enough to save the injured children lying on the streets while the nightclub remained engulfed in flames,” one report stated. Civilians in private vehicles rushed victims to the town’s general hospital as authorities attempted to gain control over the situation.

North Macedonia’s Minister of Interior, Pance Toskovski, arrived at the scene soon after the fire broke out. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski also headed to Kocani as the scale of the tragedy became clear. Social media posts captured the horrifying moment the fire ignited inside the crowded nightclub, showing panicked partygoers trying to escape.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/mrxk23fb

 International Media 

Serbia's largest-ever rally sees 325,000 protest against government (BBC)

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's capital on Saturday to protest over the deaths of 15 people in a railway station collapse.

While the government put attendance at 107,000 across Belgrade, an independent monitor said 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever.

The Novi Sad collapse last November has galvanised anger towards the government and President Aleksandar Vucic. Demonstrators blame corruption and corner-cutting for the loss of life.

They believe the disaster reflects more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's recent renovation.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/mt57eavc

Serbia: Protesters flood Belgrade with Vucic under pressure (DW)

Protesters from all over Serbia were marching in Belgrade on Saturday as the government struggles to stem the monthslong outrage over the deadly fall of the Novi Sad railway station canopy in November.

Gatherings were being held in multiple locations in the Serbian capital. Farmers, bikers, military veterans, and other groups joined the demonstrations, with approach routes to key sites clogged by large crowds.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/yw43xtf4

Belgrade's historic day of anger: Hundreds of thousands of Serbians protest for 'laws and justice that work' (Le Monde)

The country's authoritarian president, Aleksandar Vucic, was the protestors' main target at the large anti-corruption demonstration, following the fatal accident at the Novi Sad train station. Saturday's movement was reminiscent of those that led to the fall of former dictator Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Belgrade experienced a historic day of anger on Saturday, March 15. In an atmosphere made electric by provocations from the government, hundreds of thousands of Serbians – 100,000 according to the police, around 300,000 according to an independent counting organization – poured into the streets of the capital to demand "justice," in the fifth month of what is the most powerful and longest-running anti-corruption protest movement ever seen in this Balkan country of 6.6 million inhabitants.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/5xxajx8k

Serbs descend on Belgrade: ‘It’s time for the regime to end’ (Financial Times)

Student demonstrators insist protests are peaceful but authorities warn disrupters will be ‘severely punished’

Hundreds of thousands of Serbs have defied fears of a violent crackdown to protest against the alleged oppression and corruption of President Aleksandar Vučić. The Serbian parliament sealed off entrances on Saturday while western embassies warned their citizens about the risk of violence and disruption, echoing the end of the Slobodan Milošević regime 25 years ago. Protests began on November 1 when a railway station roof collapsed in the northern city of Novi Sad, killing 15 people. Students blamed the government for corruption and lax oversight, and demanded that those responsible be punished. A student blockade of universities gradually attracted protesters from across the country, with lawyers, teachers, artists and farmers joining the demonstrations, which continued even after the prime minister resigned.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/5c86wnt2