UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 30, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

UK calls for government formation, concerned about “uncoordinated actions” in north (media)
Hargreaves: Hate speech against Osmani unacceptable (RTK)
Abdixhiku: Impossible to form government from opposition parties, we don't have the votes (Albanian Post)
Complaints against police officers’ behavior in the north - Why was the "task force" established and what is its purpose? (Kallxo)
“If government doesn’t reflect, we will take more radical steps” (KTV)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Loud silence of West to events in Kosovo (Radio KIM, RTS)
Vucic: I spoke with Putin regarding allegations of sending ammunition to Ukraine (Tanjug)
Office for KiM: Kurti continues escalatory moves, international organizations must stop persecution of Serbs (Kosovo Online, media)
Post of Serbia: Raid on closed Post Office in Priluzje a new act of violence and breach of agreements (media)
STO Leposavic employees still denied access to sports hall (media)
Discussion on security in northern Kosovo: Police increase presence, people lack trust (Kosovo Online)
Cardinal Nemet: No indication Vatican will recognize Kosovo (Nova.rs, media)
Zambian FM Haimbe confirms support to Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (Tanjug)
“We want elections!”: Student protesters announce Belgrade rally (N1)
Novi Sad canopy collapse: Five defendants remain in custody, four released to house arrest (N1)

Albanian Language Media

UK calls for government formation, concerned about “uncoordinated actions” in north (media)

UK Ambassador to the OSCE, Neil Holland, received the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Gerard McGurk, at the OSCE Permanent Council. Holland said in his speech that the UK calls on Serbia to bring to justice all those responsible for the May 2023 attacks on KFOR troops and those responsible for the aggression in Banjska. “We continue to call on Serbia to cooperate fully with efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the 2023 attacks on KFOR troops and in Banjska, and to fulfill its commitment to cooperate in the investigation of the attack on the Iber-Lepenc Canal,” the statement said.

The United Kingdom further said it was concerned by the uncoordinated nature of the closures of Serbian institutions and facilities in northern Kosovo, which it said provide vital services to Kosovo Serb citizens and other non-majority communities. “We call on Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated dialogue and to fulfil their respective obligations, including the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities,” the statement added.

Hargreaves: Hate speech against Osmani unacceptable (RTK)

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, has reacted after the recent threats against the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, expressing deep concern about the increase in hate speech and gender-based violence against women in leadership positions. “I am deeply concerned by the recent threats and the growing wave of hate speech against women, especially those in leadership positions. Gender-based violence – including online – has no place in our society,” Hargreaves wrote, emphasizing his full support for the joint statement of the Security Group on Gender Issues.

He added that in such situations, silence is not an option: “In times like these, silence is not an option. We choose solidarity.”

"As Jess Phillips, the UK Minister for Protection and Violence against Women and Girls, has said, 'This will not change unless we make it systematic for anyone who ever encounters a victim or perpetrator of violence to think of it as their primary duty to do something about it,'" Hargreaves wrote on Facebook.

Abdixhiku: Impossible to form government from opposition parties, we don't have the votes (Albanian Post)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdihxiku, has described as impossible a version where the parties that were in opposition in the previous legislature come together to form a new government. "There is no political majority, this political combination does not have the numbers either, we know this and we have discussed it. LVV has 48 MPs and in addition to that it also keeps some MPs from non-majority communities with it, other parties are not being honest about this," he said in an interview on T7.

"Such a coalition is impossible in the first place, there are no votes for such a majority. In our meetings with all the leaders of political parties I have said that 'you do not have the votes for such an issue and enough with such political calculations because they are unrealistic, be honest and go out and tell the people that you do not have the votes'", he added.

Among other things, Abdixhiku stressed that the LDK "will not become a wagon of any political party in Kosovo".

Complaints against police officers’ behavior in the north - Why was the "task force" established and what is its purpose? (Kallxo)

Complaints that are being made from time to time about police officers, whether through social networks or even by politicians themselves or non-governmental organizations operating in the north of Kosovo, will now be received and investigated by a special "task force". The news website managed to obtain the document for this "task force", which states that this was done after concerns raised by international partners, including EULEX, OSCE, the European Union Office in Kosovo and several other embassies.

The purpose of the "task force" will be to collect information, complaints and other data on improper or unprofessional issues of police officers in the north of Kosovo, to assess the current field operating practices of Kosovo Police units. To collect and analyze reports previously conducted by institutions or civil society.

It is further stated that this “task force” will compile an informative report for the General Director and will propose concrete measures to increase the accountability, integrity, and professionalism of police officers in this region. Members of this “task force” will be Veton Elshani, deputy director of the Mitrovica-North Regional Directorate, Kamer Januzaj, regional border director, Mehmetali Hajdini from the Directorate of Rapid Intervention Units, Lieutenant Petrit Fejza and Lieutenant Bahri Musa as members, who will be monitored by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate and the EULEX Mission. Based on the decision, the "task force" started its work on 19.05.2025. The work plan will be based on the Guiding Principles of the Kosovo Police, which relate to the equal treatment of all persons, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, impartiality and neutrality, integrity, honesty and responsibility in public service, transparency and provision of information to the people and being open to the public, as well as legitimacy, appropriateness and proportionality in police actions.

“If government doesn’t reflect, we will take more radical steps” (KTV)

Chairman of the Club of Businesses, Ilir Ibrahimi, said in an interview with KTV on Thursday that if the government doesn’t reflect on the demands of businesses about the open energy market, they will take more radical steps after the protest to block the main entrances into Pristina.

“If the government doesn’t reflect, we will absolutely take more radical steps because we are faced with a radical situation. This is a matter of life and death. They [the government] don’t understand that we are faced with a situation of survival,” he argued.

According to Ibrahimi, the caretaker government is destroying the economy. “If €35 million is enough to overcome this major crisis, which would avoid the destruction of the economy, then why are they not making this decision? These are not his funds [referring to the caretaker Prime Minister]. These are taxpayers’ funds. I don’t understand their position. This makes no sense,” he said.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Loud silence of West to events in Kosovo (Radio KIM, RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in relation to the latest events in Kosovo it was about an organized action by Pristina helped by "a loud silence" from the international community led by Western countries, Radio KIM reported.

"They are silent because they hope that in silence Serbian people will be expelled from their centuries-old places in Kosovo and Metohija. At the same time, this causes anxiety among certain political actors in the West and East, which is an additional source of nervousness for (Albin) Kurti, and in a political sense we have to take advantage of this", Vucic told public broadcaster RTS.

He added Serbia is trying to oppose the "fierce onslaught of Albanians", who supported by some Western powers and Turkiye, are trying to find "as many countries as possible that will recognize Kosovo independence". "It is extremely difficult to oppose that. We do not have the money that they have, nor the weapons and resources that they can send to all parts of the world, in order to buy someone's votes or recognitions”, Vucic stressed.

However, as he explained, he will soon inform the public about good and surprising results when it comes to Serbia's international position. "In terms of its territorial integrity and the countries that recognize or do not recognize Kosovo independence. It is difficult for our people; we are looking to help. We are doing everything we can", he added.

Vucic: I spoke with Putin regarding allegations of sending ammunition to Ukraine (Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said last evening he spoke with the Russian President Vladimir Putin about allegations that Serbia is sending ammunition to Ukraine through intermediary countries, adding that an interstate working group was formed to investigate it.

"I talked about it with President Putin, I talked about it in the presence of several people from both delegations, I talked about it with President Putin alone. I wouldn't reveal the details of our conversation", Vucic told RTS when asked to comment on the information from Moscow, that is, the claim that Serbia continues to send ammunition to Kiev through intermediary countries and that, on the other hand, Serbia is openly criticized because of its good relationship with Russia.

He pointed out that due to those allegations, an interstate working group was formed to investigate it, noting that where there is suspicion of end-user abuse, such contracts will be terminated, as was the case with Jugoimport.

Office for KiM: Kurti continues escalatory moves, international organizations must stop persecution of Serbs (Kosovo Online, media)

Pristina authorities continue with unilateral actions and provocations directed at the Serbian people in Kosovo - even on the major Orthodox holiday of Ascension Day - Office for Kosovo and Metohija said in a statement on Thursday, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"A large number of members of the so-called Kosovo police arrived today in Priluzje to seize the premises previously used by Serbian Postal Office, which was unlawfully shut down in January, and have now moved in the so-called postal service from Pristina. At the same time, Pristina is prohibiting work on a structure located in the churchyard in Zubin Potok, a facility that was of great importance to the local residents. These are clear provocations by Pristina aimed at disturbing the Serbian population and enabling (Albin) Kurti to continue with escalatory steps designed to create unlivable conditions for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija", the Office for KIM said.

The statement added that Kosovo Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports has banned construction work on a summer pavilion in the courtyard of the Church of Saint Anne in the village of Gornji Strmac in Zubin Potok, which was intended as a gathering place for locals after liturgy and prayer, while the notice on halting the works was written in Albanian language only. The Office for KiM called on representatives of international organizations to, as it was said, clearly condemn and take concrete actions to halt Kurti’s institutional violence and attempts to expel Serbs from Kosovo.

Post of Serbia: Raid on closed Post Office in Priluzje a new act of violence and breach of agreements (media)

A Kosovo police raid on a closed Post of Serbia facility in Priluzje has an obvious goal, to seize the building, unlawfully appropriate it, and open a Kosovo Post office there, the Post of Serbia said in a statement.

The Post of Serbia termed this move as “the most brutal violence against Serbian institutions and property, which, in addition to violating agreements reached within the framework of dialogue and hindering the normalization process, represents the gravest violation of basic principles of international law”.

"We appeal to all international institutions to firmly condemn and put an end to this new act of violence, which is part of a comprehensive campaign of terror aimed at disrupting life and driving Serbs out of Kosovo through various forms of pressure, threats, and blackmail", the statement added.

The Post of Serbia recalled that despite ongoing negotiations in Brussels at the time, the Priluzje branch of the Post of Serbia was closed in January of this year by Pristina authorities, along with all Serbian Post Office branches south of the Ibar River.

STO Leposavic employees still denied access to sports hall (media)

Employees of the Sports and Tourism Organization (STO) in Leposavic were once again unable to enter the sports hall on Thursday. The gates remained locked, with several Kosovo police officers guarding the premises along with three vehicles - two patrol cars and one jeep.

According to the workers, the situation is further complicated by the complete lack of official communication or explanation, neither regarding the reasons for the blockade nor the reported replacement of the facility’s management.

Marko Radosavljevic, Director of STO Leposavic, emphasized that the hall was taken over by force and that no document was presented to justify the presence of new individuals at the facility. The workers insist they are still officially employed and are preparing to launch legal action. He added that special focus should be placed on the children whose sports activities have been interrupted. Radosavljevic also emphasized that children missing out on sports activities could lead to greater discontent among the local population. He added that no public job competition had been announced for new positions, and that workers of the STO will not give up on their rigths.

Discussion on security in northern Kosovo: Police increase presence, people lack trust (Kosovo Online)

A discussion titled "Security Challenges and Trust: Police-Community Relations in Northern Kosovo" was held at the Center for Civic Energy by NGO Aktiv, presenting an analysis of the daily challenges faced by people in northern Kosovo. Kosovo police deputy commander for the North region, Veton Elshani, said police have increased patrols in North Mitrovica, while Teodora Zivanovic from NGO Aktiv warned that people lack trust in the police due to most cases not being prosecuted.

Besides the organizers, numerous civil society organizations and representatives from EULEX participated in the panel. Mitrovica North mayor Erden Atiq also took part in the discussion.