UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 6, 2025
Albanian Language Media:
- Abdixhiku after Kurti’s letter: Our response will come in due time (media)
- Tahiri: Our engagement in last decade makes coalition with VV impossible (Klan)
- Osmani: Historic visit – milestone in relations between Kosovo and Brunei (media)
- McGurk assumes duties as new Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo (media)
- Italian KFOR soldiers conduct combined heli and anti-riot training (media)
- AJK condemns Mihali’s “personal attacks” against reporter Kelmendi (media)
- Israel waives visas for Kosovo (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
- Vucic to return to presidential duties on May 7, to make public address (Tanjug)
- Kozarev meets Myrogianni: Serbia appreciates Greece’s position on non-recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
- KFOR says cooperation with all religious communities instrumental to overall success of Mission (Kosovo Online, social media)
- Three students walking from Belgrade to arrive to Zvecan today (Radio KIM)
- Minister says EU Serbia’s largest donor (N1)
- Vucevic explains why SNS rejects elections: They would lead to disaster for Serbia (N1)
- Serbian students call for early parliamentary elections (N1)
- Patriarch Tawadros II: Visit to Serbia an impetus to cooperation (Tanjug, media)
Albanian Language Media
Abdixhiku after Kurti’s letter: Our response will come in due time (media)
The main story in Kosovo media is a letter by Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister and leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, to Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Lumir Abdixhiku for an agreement on a ruling coalition. The letter was published by the media on Monday noon. After leaving the Kosovo Assembly session, Abdixhiku was asked by reporters to comment on the content of the letter. “Allow me first to go to my office and see the letter and I will respond in due time. I also ask our people to treat this situation without arrogance. We will have an official response that befits a party,” he said. When asked again by reporters later in the day, Abdixhiku said: “wait and have some patience, we are going to be transparent like always. You already know the positions of the LDK”.
Tahiri: Our engagement in last decade makes coalition with VV impossible (Klan)
MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Abelard Tahiri said on Monday that the PDK has not been open for compromises with Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and that it stayed away from any political rapprochement with the Vetevendosje Movement. “I think our political engagement in the last decade makes a coalition with the Vetevendosje Movement impossible. We have stood and engaged for certain issues, while they engaged for completely different issues … While the PDK was in power, there was never such an inflation, or lack of increased pensions, an increase in energy tariffs, an increase in property taxes, and salaries never remained the same. We have completely different positions on how the country needs to be governed and how we present our priorities,” he argued.
Osmani: Historic visit – milestone in relations between Kosovo and Brunei (media)
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Monday that her visit to Brunei was historic and that it marks a milestone in relations between Kosovo and Brunei. “Rooted in mutual respect and trust, our partnership with Brunei holds remarkable promise for the future. Our deep gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and the entire Royal Family for the generous welcome and the profound honor extended to the Republic of Kosovo,” Osmani said.
McGurk assumes duties as new Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo (media)
Most news websites report that Ambassador Gerard McGurk, a career member of the British Diplomatic Service, has been appointed as the new Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and has officially assumed his duties on Monday. Ambassador McGurk’s previous diplomatic experience includes extensive engagement in crisis management, bilateral and multilateral international relations across a variety of regions, from Madrid, Amman, and Skopje to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador McGurk was part of the British Government’s Final Status Team related to the work of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari (2005-2007). “These experiences have shaped my approach to diplomacy, focusing on inclusive dialogue, partnership, respect and collaboration. These are virtues that are deeply rooted in OSCE’s work here. As the new Head of Mission, I am committed to building on the outstanding work of my predecessors in fulfilling the Mission’s core mandate to improve good governance, protect and promote human and community rights, and enhance public safety for all,” Ambassador McGurk said.
Read more at: https://shorturl.at/wAgmf
Italian KFOR soldiers conduct combined heli and anti-riot training (media)
NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, said in a Facebook post that the Italian soldiers of the Regional Command West of conducted a combined heli and anti-riot training. “The activity is aimed at improving procedures of boarding and landing from helicopter while wearing Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) equipment. These exercises allow improving readiness and operational performances of units,” the post notes.
AJK condemns Mihali’s “personal attacks” against reporter Kelmendi (media)
Several news websites covered on Monday a statement by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) in which it expressed concern over “the continued unacceptable and inciteful rhetoric of Vetevendosje against reporters”. “The AJK strongly condemns the personal and family attack that an official of this political party, Dejona Mihali, made against reporters, and author of Rubikon show, Adriatik Kelmendi. Mihali, same as other VV officials, have continued making serious attacks against journalists and the media, immediately after the publication of the report by Reporters without Borders which ranked Kosovo as 99th in terms of media freedom,” the statement notes.
Israel waives visas for Kosovo (RTK)
The news website reported on Monday that people from Kosovo will no longer require a visa to enter Israel for tourism provided they have a valid passport and that they need to apply for an ETA-IL in advance. The visa waiver agreement between Kosovo and Israel was signed in June 2024, adopted in February this year, and entered into force on Monday. The news website also notes that starting from January 1 this year, all travelers from visa-exempt countries, including Kosovo, are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before entering Israel. This authorization is valid for stays of up to 90 days and costs 25 Israeli shekels (over €6).
Israeli Ambassador to Kosovo, Tamara Ziv, said in an interview with RTK on Monday that the waiving of visas has been one of her priorities. She said that Kosovo and Israel had established diplomatic relations four years ago and “since then, we have been working to advance these relations, and one of the things we believed to be important was free travel, free access to each other’s countries, so that people can get to know one another, including businesspeople. This was one of our priorities … Now, the citizens of Kosovo who wish to travel to Israel must first complete what is called ETA-IL electronically – a very simple process in which personal data are entered and approval is obtained via a letter, which allows entry into the country.
Serbian Language Media
Vucic to return to presidential duties on May 7, to make public address (Tanjug)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will return to his official duties on May 7, sources at the Presidency of Serbia confirmed to Tanjug on Monday. Vucic will hold meetings with the Russian and the UK Ambassadors to Belgrade on Wednesday morning and is also due to make a public address in the evening, the sources said.
Vucic was forced to cut short a visit to the US and return to Serbia after suddenly falling sick on Friday afternoon. Upon returning to Belgrade, Vucic was admitted to the Military Medical Academy and his doctor Dragan Dincic said his condition was stable and satisfactory but that he had blood pressure problems. Dincic said Vucic had experienced health issues caused by high blood pressure on three occasions in the past ten years but that the most recent ones had been the most difficult of all.
Kozarev meets Myrogianni: Serbia appreciates Greece’s position on non-recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
Serbian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Dusan Kozarev, who is on an official visit to Greece, met with Secretary General of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maira Myrogianni. During the meeting Kozarev emphasized that Serbia highly appreciates Greece’s principled stance on non-recognition of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, and also informed his counterpart about the difficult situation faced by the Serbian population there, Kosovo Online portal reported.
Kozarev and Myrogianni expressed satisfaction with the high level of overall relations and cooperation between the two countries, which is underpinned by friendly ties and the historical closeness of the Serbian and Greek peoples.
Kozarev reaffirmed Serbia’s interest in further intensifying political dialogue at the high and highest levels, as well as its commitment to continuing the development of cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in its release.
Read more at: https://shorturl.at/JGSqQ
KFOR says cooperation with all religious communities instrumental to overall success of Mission (Kosovo Online, social media)
“Religious Support Team soldiers and leaders assigned to the Regional Command East of the NATO-led KFOR mission joined together with local religious leaders of communities around Kosovo for an interfaith luncheon and fellowship opportunity in Pristina. Working with multinational and local religious leaders is instrumental to the overall success of the KFOR mission”, KFOR said in a post on their official Facebook account.
“These efforts are part of KFOR’s daily mission to support all communities living in Kosovo. KFOR continues to implement its mandate - based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 - to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo and freedom of movement, at all times and impartially. KFOR works in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and the European Union Mission on Rule of Law in Kosovo (EULEX) in their respective roles as security responders”, the statement added.
Three students walking from Belgrade to arrive to Zvecan today (Radio KIM)
Three students who took off on foot from Belgrade on April 27 for a humanitarian march with final destination in Zvecan are expected to arrive there today, Radio KIM reported. They entered Kosovo yesterday with the intention of helping Serbian children living south of the Ibar River by collecting funds for them.
Filip Bogicevic, student of the Faculty of the Political Sciences in Belgrade said yesterday they crossed more than 300 kilometres, and 50 more were left to Zvecan, they expect to reach on Tuesday. They did not have any escort during their journey.
They also said this humanitarian pursuit was a once in life-time experience, during which they met many wonderful people attracted by their story.
“We have absolutely organized ourselves alone, and took off to Kosovo and Metohija without any escort, towards Zvecan. We had no one to carry our heavy rucksacks, but we managed thanks to the good people God sent to meet us (along the way)”, Filip said.
Minister says EU Serbia’s largest donor (N1)
European Integration Minister Nemanja Starovic said the European Union is Serbia’s largest donor, a press release said on Monday, N1 reported.
“We do not necessarily have to love the European Union or support all the policies of its members, but it is necessary, even fair to recognize that it is Serbia’s largest donor, with whose support over 1,500 projects have been implemented for which EU taxpayers have allocated €4 billion”, Starovic said during a visit to an EU-funded project in the western city of Uzice. Starovic is also quoted as saying that the reconstruction of the city’s Water Tower in the Old Town complex is a good example of the EU contributing to the preservation of Serbia’s cultural heritage and development of its tourism potential. The EU secured almost 350,000 Euro for the project.
Starovic expressed his firm belief that EU accession represents Serbia’s national interest, adding that he intends to present this to the public in a well-argued manner and without excessive emotion in the coming period, the press release added.
Vucevic explains why SNS rejects elections: They would lead to disaster for Serbia (N1)
Leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Milos Vucevic said elections are always a topic in politics, but that he has heard enough of the opposition’s deceit and will not participate in something that would “lead to a disaster for the country”, N1 reported.
“We are open to discussions, elections are always on the table in politics. But for us to take part in something that would lead to a disaster for the country, where they talk about snap elections only to create havoc at polling stations and block the process, then immediately cry foul about stolen votes? For us to end up with no parliament or government, well, that’s not going to happen. I’ve had enough of their scams and tricks”, Vucevic told Happy TV.
He noted that the university students who have been protesting and blocking their schools for six months “are now playing pure politics,” and that calls for snap parliamentary elections only came after their “revolution and demands for a transitional ‘Djilas’ government” fell apart. Dragan Djilas leads the opposition Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP). “The key question is, why didn’t they demand snap elections in November or December? They would have gotten them. That would have been the natural time to push for it if they believed someone in the system was responsible. But all their plans collapsed”, Vucevic added.
Serbian students call for early parliamentary elections (N1)
Serbia’s protesting university students called for early parliamentary elections at what they said is a turning point in the country's history on Monday evening, N1 reported. An X post on the Students in Blockade profile demanded the immediate dissolving of parliament and calling of early elections in line with Article 109 of the Constitution. It said that “they took the decision at one of the turning points in the history of the country and as the social group trusted most by the public”.
“We believe democracy is the only correct way to resolve political crises of this magnitude and we are calling the people to support the list that students in blockade in all universities in Serbia will endorse in order for the truth to prevail. Students have been trying intensively to get their demands met using all legitimate and peaceful means. Despite that, the student demands still have not been met and the authorities are not showing the slightest initiative to meet those demands in future. The student movement initiated protests of unprecedented magnitude, showed that the voice of the young people is not just noise but a force that can launch change, restore dignity and proved that the sovereignty of our country is in the hands of the people. With a strong conviction that our demands are right, we say that the roots of corruption in the authorities have gone too deep into state institutions which have been prevented from doing their duty independently”, the post said.
Patriarch Tawadros II: Visit to Serbia an impetus to cooperation (Tanjug, media)
Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church, who is on his first visit to Belgrade, said on Monday the visit was important as an impetus to cooperation between the Serbs and Egyptians, Serbia and Egypt and the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church, Tanjug news agency reported.
"This is not only the first visit to Serbia for me personally, but also the first by a patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This visit is very important for us, and it is an additional bridge between Egypt and Serbia and the two churches, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church. It represents a step towards building a new bridge of understanding, as well as an additional impetus to future cooperation between our churches", Tawadros II, the patriarch of one of the world's oldest Christian communities, said in an interview for Tanjug.