Albanian Language Media: 

• EU High Representative Kaja Kallas to visit Pristina today (media)
• Keller-Sutter: Switzerland today cannot be imagined without Kosovars (RTK)
• Osmani: Citizens pay the burden, there are many damages (media)
• Rohde: 19 failures to elect Assembly Speaker, a bad world record (Klan)
• Guerot: Kosovo needs functional institutions, democracy under threat across continent (Klan)
• PDK discusses ‘political crisis’ and preparations for local elections (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo must return to its Euro-Atlantic integration course (AP)
• KSF cadets attend Eagle Strike 2025 with U.S. troops in Albania (media)
• Osmani commemorates massacre in Stagova in May 1999 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: There is no dialogue thanks to Kurti, but Kallas is coming with a different agenda (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Holders of Serbian ID cards issued for Kosovo municipalities warned they may soon be barred from entering Kosovo (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Leposavic closes six collective centers, but controversy over housing allocation persists (KoSSev)
• Another case of sexual harassment reported to the KP in North Mitrovica (KoSSev, Alternativna)

Albanian Language Media 

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas to visit Pristina today (media)

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, who began a visit to the region on Wednesday, first visiting Belgrade, is expected to arrive in Pristina today. The EU has published her agenda, according to which the High Representative will meet with representatives of political parties and civil society organizations.

“In Kosovo, High Representative Kallas will meet with representatives of political parties and civil society organizations. She will hold a press conference at the Europe House on 22 May at 15:45, broadcast live on EBS. High Representative Kallas will visit the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). She will also meet with the Commander of KFOR, Enrico Barduani,” the announcement says.

Keller-Sutter: Switzerland today cannot be imagined without Kosovars (RTK)

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, in a press conference, said that President Osmani's visit is the first visit of a president of Kosovo, while saying that it is important and an appreciation for the Kosovo diaspora, without which Switzerland today cannot be imagined.

Keller-Sutter said that Kosovo is the youngest country on the European continent, but contact with this country has a long history, which, according to her, dates back to the 1960s, through Kosovar workers. "Today, Switzerland cannot be imagined without people of Kosovo origin," said the Swiss president, while announcing that between 160,000 and 250,000 Albanians live in this country, and have played an important role in shaping the Swiss country over the past decades.

President Keller-Sutter further said that these contacts can develop further, while announcing that she and President Osmani also discussed the economic agreement, for free trade between Kosovo and EFTA, reached in Davos in January, which, according to her, provides a good basis for the excellent increase in the exchange of goods and services.

President Keller-Sutter said that Kosovo, since its independence until now, has developed a lot and is now aiming to become a member of the EU. Speaking about security in Kosovo, the Swiss president said that security in Kosovo is an essential prerequisite for security in the region and beyond. She said that, in addition to the situation in Ukraine, care must be taken that other hotbeds of crisis do not flare up again, while announcing that members of the Swiss peacekeeping forces will remain in Kosovo within the framework of KFOR. "Switzerland has always supported Kosovo in international organizations, as well as in the rule of law," said President Keller-Sutter.

Osmani: Citizens pay the burden, there are many damages (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, referring to the major blockade in the Assembly of Kosovo, has said during the media conference in Switzerland that it is “causing a lot of damage” and that she is “concerned”.

“As president, I am concerned, because the burden of the delays is paid by the citizens of Kosovo. Without the constitution of the Assembly, we cannot ratify international agreements and there are also many damages that we bear due to the absence of the Assembly of Kosovo.

I believe that the political parties in the Assembly will very soon reach an agreement to overcome the current situation, because whenever they put the country as a priority, a political solution is always close”, Osmani said.

Rohde: 19 failures to elect Assembly Speaker, a bad world record (Klan)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorh Rohde, has spoken about the failure for the 19th time to elect the Speaker of the Assembly. “The election of the Speaker of the Assembly in a democratic country is very important. Now it is the 19th round and it is quite sad because people have become apathetic, because they say we did our job on February 9, while politicians do not do their job. This is not good for the country or for Kosovo's reputation abroad because it seems to me that it is a bad world record for the Speaker not to be elected for 19 rounds", Rohde said.

Guerot: Kosovo needs functional institutions – democracy under threat across continent (Klan)

The French Ambassador, Olivier Guerot, said that Kosovo needs functional institutions. “I think that Kosovo, like any other country, needs functional institutions, all institutions, the Assembly, the Government, and also an independent judiciary and media that function well. This is in the interest of Kosovo, of the citizens of Kosovo, it is in the interest of everyone, because there are threats to democracy across the continent”, he said in Klan Kosova.

“We are witnesses to those attempts to manipulate the elections in Moldova, then the attempts to manipulate the elections in Romania, the elections here in Kosovo were described as fair by the EU on election day itself, everything was in order and I think that the citizens of Kosovo deserve to have functional institutions after that”, Guerot said. 

PDK discusses ‘political crisis’ and preparations for local elections (RTK)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) held its regular leadership meeting on Wednesday. They discussed the political crisis created after the February 9 elections and preparations for the local elections. They assessed that Kosovo is facing a dangerous institutional blockade, and blamed coalition of parties that came out first in the elections, LVV, Guxo and Alternativa, “who in the absence of a parliamentary majority, have taken hostage the establishment of new, legitimate and democratic institutions”.

According to the party’s announcement, PDK leader Memli Krasniqi, reiterated that the best solution for Kosovo is the formation of a new government from the parties that were in opposition, in order to restore stability and Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path. He announced that he had asked the President to address a constitutional question to the Constitutional Court on the issue of the candidate for Speaker of the Assembly, in order to clarify the institutional and legal positions in this situation.

The announcement further states that at the conclusion of the meeting, the PDK leadership expressed concern and indignation regarding the recent decision of the Specialized Chambers in The Hague to reject the request for conditional release of Mr. Kadri Veseli, Mr. Jakup Krasniqi and Mr. Rexhep Selimi. PDK assesses that, after the conclusion of the prosecution phase and in the absence of a risk of influence on the process, conditional release was an expected and reasonable right, while its refusal constitutes a denial of a fundamental right, contrary to international standards of justice.

Haradinaj: Kosovo must return to its Euro-Atlantic integration course (AP)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said on Wednesday that Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path should culminate with its membership in NATO and the European Union. Haradinaj made the remarks after meeting Italian Ambassador to Kosovo Maurizio Antonini. “Wishing Mr. Antonini welcome and success in his diplomatic mission, I expressed my appreciation for the continuous support that Italy gave to our country in all phases of state-building and international consolidation,” Haradinaj said in a Facebook post.

KSF cadets attend Eagle Strike 2025 with U.S. troops in Albania (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said on Wednesday that as part of international cooperation for military training, cadets from the Center for University Studies of the Kosovo Security Force took part in the “Eagle Strike 2025” training which was held in Albania under the leadership of the New Jersey National Guard. “During the training, the cadets were engaged in real tactical scenarios, including military planning, maneuvering in difficult terrain and overcoming water obstacles. A full preparation for facing complex challenges in future operations,” Maqedonci said.

Osmani commemorates massacre in Stagova in May 1999 (media)

Most news websites reported on Wednesday that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani commemorated the massacre of Stagova in May 1999 when Serbian forces killed 13 civilians including a seven-year-old child. “The massacre, one of the biggest atrocities in Kosovo, was investigated by the Hague Tribunal, but no one was convicted. Serbian paramilitaries destroyed over 90 from a total of 180 houses in the village. This day remains a symbol of pain and resilience,” Osmani said.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: There is no dialogue thanks to Kurti, but Kallas is coming with a different agenda (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated that the topic of conversation with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, who arrived in Belgrade last night, will certainly include dialogue with Kosovo, as well as his upcoming visit to Moscow for the Victory Day parade. Commenting on the dialogue with Pristina for TV Pink, Vucic said, “You can’t wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.”

Speaking about Kaja Kallas's visit to Belgrade, Vucic said he knew what the main topics would be, aside from the dialogue with Pristina, which, he noted, was practically nonexistent.

“It is nonexistent thanks to Kurti, but Kallas is coming with a slightly different agenda. She was the only one who publicly condemned my planned visit to Moscow during the Tirana summit. I had a conversation with her where I explained Serbia’s position sincerely, clearly, and unequivocally. I didn’t hide or sneak through the hallways. It was a fair and direct conversation on the matter, and I’m sure she will bring it up again and insist on it. I won’t be hiding under the table, to be honest,” Vucic said.

He added that for the rest of the agenda and the issues related to fulfilling certain conditions set by the EU, it would be best to speak with National Assembly President Ana Brnabic.

About the dialogue with Pristina, Vucic said, “You can’t wake someone who is pretending to sleep.”

“And you can’t present the truth to someone who doesn’t want to hear it. For all those who have recognized Kosovo’s independence, on any continent, no argument means anything. Not even the fact that Resolution 1244 has never been annulled. They say: ‘You are small, you have to listen. We have decided to take 14% of your territory, and you won’t be democratic enough or forward-looking enough until you accept that and say it publicly, otherwise, we will find someone who will.’ And then they lecture you about Ukraine,” the Serbian President emphasized.

Vucic also expressed his gratitude to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who, as he put it, did not say a single word against Serbia because of Vucic’s visit to Moscow.

“We have good contacts with the Ukrainian side, and we will never stop them, because Ukraine has not recognized Kosovo’s independence. I could see how hard it was for him that I went to Moscow, but he didn’t say a word out of respect. Meanwhile, others try to dictate where I can and can’t go. And I ask: Wait a minute, how can you pass through my territory to go to what you consider a breakaway part of my country? And when you say that to them, they just stare like through a Swiss cheese, as if everything is full of holes,” Vucic said, alluding to Kaja Kallas’s planned visit to Kosovo.

Holders of Serbian ID cards issued for Kosovo municipalities warned they may soon be barred from entering Kosovo (KoSSev, KiM radio)

Holders of Serbian-issued ID cards registered to municipalities in Kosovo—such as those issued by the “Police Directorate for Kosovska Mitrovica”—may soon be unable to cross into or out of Kosovo using these documents, officers at border crossings are warning, reported KoSSev yesterday. 

KoSSev journalists witnessed this firsthand today at the Jarinje crossing point.

A police officer at Jarinje informed a KoSSev reporter that individuals carrying such ID cards would “soon” no longer be able to enter—or leave—Kosovo with them. Prior to conducting ID checks on passengers aboard a bus, the officer addressed travelers in Albanian, first asking if anyone spoke English or Albanian to translate the message. He then issued a polite warning. In response to a follow-up question from our journalist, who was among the passengers, the officer explained:

“The system has been updated, and these ID cards will soon no longer be readable. I don’t know the exact date—it could be a week, ten days, or sooner. But I’m informing you now so you’re aware in advance.”

Several KoSSev readers have reported receiving similar verbal warnings in recent days at various border crossings. When asked whether such a decision had been officially made and on what basis, the Kosovo Police Regional Directorate for the North stated they had no such information. They referred our inquiry to the central Kosovo Police Directorate in Pristina, which oversees border operations. KoSSev has also reached out to Kosovo Police spokesperson Baki Kelani via email, as well as to the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija, seeking clarification.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/3ju6uuzh

Leposavic closes six collective centers, but controversy over housing allocation persists (KoSSev)

In a move that was hailed as a significant step forward, the municipality of Leposavic, under the leadership of Mayor Lulzim Hetemi, announced the closure of six collective centers, providing new housing for 36 families. However, while local authorities celebrate this achievement, conflicting reports from the field suggest a more complex and contentious reality surrounding the allocation of these apartments, which were funded by the Serbian government, reported KoSSev last night. 

The municipality of Leposavic issued a statement expressing their satisfaction with the closure of the centers, which had housed internally displaced persons (IDPs) and individuals from socially vulnerable groups who had been living in inadequate conditions for years.

“With great pleasure, we inform the public that six collective centers in our municipality have been successfully closed, providing housing for a total of 36 families,“ the statement read. The families, according to the municipality, now live in newly constructed or renovated apartments, which were specifically built to address the housing needs of the most vulnerable segments of society.

While this message was presented as a major victory for social justice, key details about the apartments, including when and where they were built and by whom, were notably absent from the official statement. KoSSev attempted to contact the Deputy Mayor of Leposavic, Marina Bogojevic, for more information but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3r52afjp

Another case of sexual harassment reported to the KP in North Mitrovica (KoSSev, Alternativna)

Another case of sexual harassment was reported yesterday in North Mitrovica.

A Mitrovica resident M.L. testified for KoSSev that a man allegedly threw sexist comments at her yesterday around 12:30 p.m. in "Sutjeska" Street. She said that the person in question was of Albanian nationality who at that moment was driving a Golf 7 vehicle with the registration number of the Mitrovica region (02). Shortly after this event, she reported the case to the police.

"Today I experienced a very unpleasant experience. In broad daylight, an Albanian threw very ugly sexist comments at me from the car. I immediately reported the case to the police," she said, adding that the police identified the man, but that she did not know what would happen next. She appealed to all women and girls who experience the same experience to report the case to the police.

"I want to appeal to everyone to report such cases. This must be stopped," she said.

The head of operations for the North region, Petrit Fejza, confirmed for KoSSev that a case of "sexual harassment" was reported to the police station in North Mitrovica.

"The girl reported today that the man threw some comments at her. We took her statement," said Fejza, confirming the allegations of M.L. that the police have identified the vehicle and the perpetrator, but said that he has not yet been detained.

"We have the license plates, we know who he is, and now the police are investigating. He will be taken into custody and questioned. After that, we will see with the prosecutor what will happen next," he said.