Albanian Language Media: 

• European Council President Costa to stay in Kosovo today (media)
• All political leaders confirm participation in the meeting with Osmani (media)
• Kurti travels to Poland to participate in IMPACT 2025 conference (media)
• Specialist Chambers react after cancellation of Trendafilova’s conference (media)
• COMKFOR receives Italian Ambassador, discusses security situation (media)
• Svecla meets new OSCE Head of Mission (media)
• US Embassy on visit to Mitrovica North hospital: A fact-finding mission (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: No one from Europe asked me to call elections (N1, FoNet)
• Dacic: It is in Serbia’s interest that Kosovo does not join Interpol (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• Opposition representatives meet with Costa: What was discussed (N1, media)
• Bajatovic: New gas arrangement with Russia due by end-May (Tanjug, RTS)
• Road construction from Banov Do to Junake: Svecla confirms it is a Kosovo Police mission (KoSSev)

International Media: 

• Kos: There have been delays in the implementation of the Reform Agendas of the WB (EWB)

Albanian Language Media 

European Council President Costa to stay in Kosovo today (media)

The European Council President Antonio Costa will visit Kosovo today and is scheduled to meet with President Vjosa Osmani and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Costa and Osmani are scheduled to hold a joint press conference. 

All political leaders confirm participation in the meeting with Osmani (media)

The Office of the President of Kosovo said on Tuesday that the leaders of main political parties have all confirmed their participation in the meeting called by President Vjosa Osmani on Thursday. The meeting will focus on the constitution of the new Assembly.

Kurti travels to Poland to participate in IMPACT 2025 conference (media)

Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has traveled to Poznan, Poland, where he will participate in the IMPACT 2025 conference, the 10th edition. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Kurti will also have meetings during his visit to Poland. "As part of it, tonight he has been invited to the dinner hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, and the director of the conference, Slawomir Sierakowski," the announcement says.

Specialist Chambers react after cancellation of Trendafilova’s conference (media)

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers have reacted after the cancellation of the press conference of the Specialist Chamber's President, Ekaterina Trendafilova, stressing that this decision was made for security reasons, after consulting with the Kosovo Police. "Taking into account that the trials are held outside of Kosovo, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the President of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers aim to keep the public in Kosovo constantly informed about the trials in The Hague, for updated, objective and transparent information," the statement said.

The announcement notes that the press conference, where journalists had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the President of the Specialist Chambers, was canceled due to protests by veterans and others, during which smoke bombs were thrown to prevent the meeting from taking place. "Recognizing the democratic right to peaceful protest, the SCSC regrets that in the current situation journalists were prevented from asking questions to the President of the Court herself," the SCSC said.

According to them, the Specialist Chambers remain committed to transparently informing the public and journalists and will continue to do so regarding the progress of judicial proceedings in The Hague.

COMKFOR receives Italian Ambassador, discusses security situation (media)

The Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Enrico Barduani, received on Tuesday at KFOR headquarters, the Ambassador of Italy to Kosovo, Maurizio Antonini. They exchanged views on the current security situation in Kosovo and regional developments in terms of stability. They also discussed KFOR’s ongoing efforts in support of the European Union-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. General Barduani stressed the importance of continuing the dialogue in a renewed spirit and with a clear determination for peace and security. Commander Barduani also expressed gratitude and pride for Italy’s many years of contribution to KFOR. He emphasized that since 1999, Italy has maintained the largest contingent in KFOR, being a key symbol of Italy’s commitment to security and stability in Kosovo.

Svecla meets new OSCE Head of Mission (media)

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, met on Tuesday with the newly appointed head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Gerard McGurk. A press release issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs noted that they discussed ongoing cooperation between the two sides, as well as opportunities to further the cooperation in rule of law, public security and human rights. Svecla also thanked McGurk for the OSCE’s continuous support, wishing him success in his new role and expressed readiness for continued cooperation. 

US Embassy on visit to Mitrovica North hospital: A fact-finding mission (Klan)

The U.S. Embassy in Pristina told the TV station on Tuesday that the visit by its representatives and other international partners to the Mitrovica North hospital on Monday was a fact-finding mission aimed to get a better understanding of the situation on the ground. The embassy said that “stability in Kosovo relies on responsible leadership that prioritizes and is responsive to the needs of all its people”.

A spokesperson for the embassy also said that they expect the Kosovo government to ensure the uninterrupted provision of critical services to the citizens of Kosovo. “The U.S. Embassy has always encouraged the Government of Kosovo to address the issue of Serbian-run parallel institutions within processes like the EU-facilitated dialogue,” they said.  

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: No one from Europe asked me to call elections (N1, FoNet)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Tuesday that no one from Europe has asked him to call elections.

Responding to a question from FoNet news agency about statements from Brussels suggesting that the Serbian students’ demands are aligned with those of the EU, Vucic emphasized that no European official has requested early elections — nor has anyone asked whether those accused of criminal activity or storming institutions have been released.

“No one asked me who has been arrested, because, unlike the protesters, I guess in Europe they understand that such matters are the responsibility of prosecutors, courts, and judicial authorities in this country. And I haven’t heard that Europe has made any demands regarding those lies about the use of a sound cannon,” Vucic said at a joint press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa held yesterday.

“And least of all have I heard anyone ask me what I was doing visiting, in hospital rooms, those who were injured in Kocane (North Macedonia),” he added.

“Those are the official demands of the student protesters, there may be others, I can’t keep up with them on a daily basis,” the Serbian president said.

According to Vucic, the EU’s official demands are focused on media legislation, laws concerning the voter registry and electoral processes, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), alignment with the EU’s foreign policy agenda, and continued dialogue with Pristina. “I haven’t heard the student protesters demanding any of that,” he said.

Dacic: It is in Serbia’s interest that Kosovo does not join Interpol (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, met yesterday with Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi on the sidelines of the World Police Summit in Dubai, stating that it is in Serbia’s interest that Kosovo does not become a member of Interpol, reported Kosovo Online.

“This is a very important issue for us, considering our dual interest: first, to prevent Kosovo from becoming a member of Interpol, and second, to avoid the politicization of various Red Notices issued within Interpol, so that our people do not face problems for political reasons—as has been the case in recent months in the Republic of Srpska or for some of our people from Kosovo and Metohija,” he said.

Dacic also emphasized that cooperation between Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Interpol is at a high level and stressed that the Serbian Ministry will continue to be a reliable partner in the fight against organized crime, according to the official statement.

He thanked the President of Interpol for his support, especially regarding the establishment of a regional Interpol office in Belgrade, describing it as an important step for the entire region. The Minister noted that Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is working intensively to complete all necessary procedures so the office can be opened as soon as possible.

Opposition representatives meet with Costa: What was discussed (N1, media)

A meeting between Serbian opposition representatives and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, was held Tuesday in the Serbian Parliament, while some of the topics included the use of a sonic cannon, improving electoral conditions, corruption, and government repression.

“We discussed the major crisis facing Serbia. We presented the fact that Serbia is witnessing the largest protests in its history, which have shown that the government lacks legitimacy to rule Serbia. We expressed our position that we support Serbia’s progress in European integration and what the EU’s role should be at this moment. We believe there should be clear support for Serbian citizens in stopping corruption and ensuring accountability,” said Radomir Lazovic, co-president of the Green-Left Front (ZLF).

Lazovic also noted that they informed Costa about the government repression on citizens.

“We informed Costa about the fact that repression is being carried out against citizens in Serbia. We spoke about activists and members of the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), who are political prisoners, and about the expulsion of foreign nationals, including EU citizens. We discussed the media campaign against the university and the pressure on it. We also talked about the sonic cannon,” Lazovic told a press conference following the meeting. According to Lazovic, Costa responded that he is in Serbia to assess whether reforms have been implemented.

“From Costa, we received the response that he is here to see if reforms have been carried out, but what we see is that nothing has been fulfilled. We said we expect clear positions—that we get concrete answers, and that the EU takes on a different role, which has so far been perceived as support for Vucic.”

Ecological Uprising leader Aleksandar “Cuta” Jovanovic said he told Antonio Costa that Serbia is a country with the gravest ecological crimes in Europe and that Serbian citizens do not want the Rio Tinto company’s lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2tvd2aup

After yesterday’s visits to Belgrade and Sarajevo, Costa will be today in Podgorica and is expected during the day in Pristina. According to the agenda of the visit, the President of the European Council will first meet with Osmani, at 4.30 pm, and then they will address the media together. After that, at 6.40 p.m., there will be a meeting with PM Kurti.

Bajatovic: New gas arrangement with Russia due by end-May (Tanjug, RTS)

Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said on Tuesday Serbia had secured an extension of a natural gas arrangement with Russia and that gas supplies would be increased from 2 to 2.5 bln cubic m of gas a year, and that he expected a new agreement to be signed by end-May. Under the deal, Serbia will have eight million cubic metres of gas a month, instead of six, Bajatovic told the RTS. He said the arrangement was not only about quantity but also about flexibility of supplies as Serbia had begun consuming 18 mln cubic metres of gas a day in the cold winter months.

"In that regard, we have made an agreement, we will see how much that will cost, flexible additional quantities of up to 4 mln, which means that, from Russia, we will have eight plus four. I can already say that, for the sake of security - and not quantity - we will be storing 200 mln cubic m of gas in Hungary and that, in the cold days, approximately from November 15 to end-February or March 15, we will be buying up to 2 mln from Azerbaijan, which means that we have put the energy picture together," Bajatovic said.

Road construction from Banov Do to Junake: Svecla confirms it is a Kosovo Police mission (KoSSev)

Heavy machinery is carving out a new road stretching from the village of Banov Do in Zvecan to the village of Junake in Zubin Potok. The works, according to KP’s acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, are part of a police mission, reported KoSSev in English last night.

Svecla visited the construction site earlier today, accompanied by the acting Minister of Administration and Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi. Alongside a photograph of himself and Krasniqi at the site, Svecla shared images of heavy machinery working on the road, adding:

„Construction in the north of the Republic continues. The Kosovo Police have our full support in fulfilling their mission.“

This statement marked the first official confirmation that the project is, indeed, tied to a KP operation.

However, in response to KoSSev, the KP for the Northern Region could not confirm the nature of the mission.

„I don’t know; you’ll have to ask the Ministry… I can’t say anything about that,“ said Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Police for the North.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mv9nxc5t

International 

Kos: There have been delays in the implementation of the Reform Agendas of the WB (EWB)

Albania and North Macedonia received the pre-financing from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and Montenegro will receive it this week. All five beneficiaries with approved Reform Agendas also submitted their requests for the payment of the first installment from this instrument by 15 March, which are being assessed by the European Commission, and there is the possibility that the payments will be made in the second and third quarters of this year, said Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement.

Kos participated on Monday in a joint session of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Budgets (BUDG) of the European Parliament today in Brussels. It was a second dialogue on the Reform and Growth Facility for the region.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4mm33rsr