Albanian Language Media:
 

• Stano: Kurti should move forward in implementing Basic Agreement (media)
• Osmani to address Kosovo Assembly today (media)
• Bislimi: Serbian court legitimises systematic discriminatory practice against Albanians (media)
• Police find in Zubin Potok weapons, ammunition, uniforms and other military equipment (media)
• Svecla: Ammunition in the north is not only remains of criminal gangs, but also refuge for dark plans (media)
• Troccaz deletes post where he mentioned Serbia’s “Office for Kosovo and Metohija” (Kallxo)
• Trump appoints as US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, who was in campaign to support Kadri Veseli (media)
• Reeker: Worrying why things have not changed since the Brussels Agreement (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: Kosovo Government cannot delegate obligation for A/CSM to municipalities (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, RTV) 
• Struggles of Serb youth in Kosovo highlighted on World Children’s Day (KoSSev)
• Privatisation of agricultural land: Over 20 plots in the municipality of Gracanica (KiM radio, medijacentar.info)
• Xharra: ''Serbia a fascist state''; Stefanovic: Inappropriate and false statement (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: ''Fascism and Goebbels'' typical of Kurti persecuting Serbs (Kosovo Online)

International Media: 

• UEFA declares Romania winner after football match abandoned by Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Veton Surroi at Belgrade Security Conference: Western Balkans is an unfinished conflict zone (EWB)

Albanian Language Media 

Stano: Kurti should move forward in implementing Basic Agreement (media)

Spokesperson for the European Union, Peter Stano, told Kosovapress news agency that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti should move forward with the implementation of the Basic Agreement from Brussels and the implementation annex from Ohrid reached in 2023, and initiate steps to form the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. He also said that the European draft-statute for the Association is based on the best European models and practices and is in line with Kosovo’s legal framework. 

Osmani to address Kosovo Assembly today (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani will give her annual address at the Kosovo Assembly today starting at 09:30.

Bislimi: Serbian court legitimises systematic discriminatory practice against Albanians (media)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said in a post on X on Wednesday that a decision by the Constitutional Court of Serbia in the case of Safet Demiri “legitimises the systematic discriminatory practice of address passivation targeting Albanians”. “It violates fundamental human rights, proves why Albanians don't trust the system and are reluctant to start judicial processes. These citations from the Constitutional Court decision, are the perfect example of how Albanians’ rights are eroded, through unfair and discriminatory interpretation, which prove the lack of democracy, basic human rights and minority rights in Serbia,” he argued.

Police find in Zubin Potok weapons, ammunition, uniforms and other military equipment (media)

The Kosovo Police has announced that it has found weapons, uniforms, ammunition and other equipment in Zubin Potok, on Wednesday. "On 20.11.2024 at around 12:00, the unit of the Directorate for the Investigation of Narcotics Trafficking - North Mitrovica in coordination with the North Mitrovica police units with the authorization of the Prosecutor from the Mitrovica Basic Prosecutor's Office found in the village of Drobnjak, Municipality of Zubin Potok, uniforms and other military equipment " - announced the Kosovo Police. The police, with the authorization of the Mitrovica Prosecutor's Office, had set out to search for the suspect with the initials S.M. regarding the case of the drug laboratory in the village of Qukiq of Zubin Potok, which case was investigated in 2018 but was not found.

Kosovo police have found military uniforms, parts of long rifles, tactical vests, a pistol barrel, a pair of handcuffs and 1,471 cartridges of different calibres.

Svecla: Ammunition in the north is not only remains of criminal gangs, but also refuge for dark plans (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, has announced that the Police action in the north has continued for two consecutive days, where significant amounts of weapons, ammunition, uniforms and equipment for the production of cryptocurrencies have been found. According to Svecla, these are not just remnants of criminal and terrorist gangs, but also weapons shelters for their dark plans.

"As the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, together with the Kosovo Police and all other institutions, we are clearly determined that the legal and constitutional order, sovereignty and integrity, order and law, freedom, equality and justice will prevail throughout our state," he wrote on Facebook.

Troccaz deletes post where he mentioned Serbia’s “Office for Kosovo and Metohija” (Kallxo)

The news website reported on Wednesday that French Envoy for the Western Balkans, Rene Troccaz, deleted a post on X where he mentioned the Serbian Government’s “Office for Kosovo and Metohija”. The original post was from Troccaz’s meeting with Petar Petkovic, head of the Serbian Government’s office for Kosovo. The news website then wrote to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs asking for explanations why their envoy used that reference. The post on X was then deleted and replaced with a new post which notes “Thank you Petar Petkovic for your warm welcome. Very useful discussion on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which France supports”.

Trump appoints as US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker who was in campaign to support Kadri Veseli (media)

The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has decided on Wednesday that Matthew Whitaker will be the U.S. Ambassador to NATO after he takes the presidential mandate in January 2025. In 2019, in the election campaign for Kosovo national elections, Whitaker - who even at that time was close to Trump, had been for several days in Kosovo and even supported Kadri Veseli publicly, in election rallies and in interviews. At a rally in Gjilan, Whitaker highly appreciated the figure of Kadri Veseli, saying that he is the right person for Kosovo and the only one who has the strength fight corruption. 

“I came to talk about the importance of relations between Kosovo and the United States of America. These elections in Kosovo are about the fight against corruption, and Kadri Veseli is the right one to fight corruption. He is the strongest anti-corruption candidate because he has proven commitment. He has already acted by cleaning up his backyard. It seems to me that the solution for the people of Kosovo is quite clear and you have a very important decision to make." Matthew Whitaker had said at the time that the other alternative in these elections for Kosovars is the danger for a government led by people who can isolate Kosovo.

Reeker: Worrying why things have not changed since the Brussels Agreement (Telegrafi)

The former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Reeker, has spoken about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Reeker said in an interview with N1 that he attended and worked with EU colleagues when he represented the United States more than a decade ago at the EU's initial dialogue led by Baroness Catherine Ashton, then the EU High Representative.

"And, we succeeded. It was the Brussels Agreement. It's surprising to see that more than a decade later, things haven't changed much. And that's disappointing. I think it would be good if everyone, not only in the region, but in the whole of Europe, understood that it is time to move on. You have structure, more agreement in the dialogue. Use them. If that doesn't work, find other methods to do it. You had Miroslav Lajcak, for example, who courageously did the work to unite the parties", Reeker said.

The American diplomat was also asked about speculations that Trump may cut NATO's spending and whether this will affect the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

"I think it's very possible that the second Trump administration will look at KFOR and say: why are we doing this? ... He wants to reduce the deployment of American troops abroad. He wants to know how it benefits us? So I say, what will the region do for us in the United States? We have a lot to deal with. I can't predict exactly how this will be reviewed. There is time for the new administration to take office on January 20. Officials must take their seats, decisions will be made at that time, obviously in consultation with Congress and I'm sure with allies as well. But even more so, if we remember how much has passed, 25 years since the war in Kosovo and more than a decade since the dialogue that produced the Brussels Agreement. So it's time to move on with these things," he said.

Serbian Language Media 

Stano: Kosovo Government cannot delegate obligation for A/CSM to municipalities (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug) 

Following the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that he cannot establish the Association/Community of Serbian Municipalities (A/CSM) and that it falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities, EU spokesperson Peter Stano emphasised that Kosovo Government cannot relinquish its obligations under the dialogue framework nor delegate them to Serbian-majority municipalities, reported KiM radio. 

Stano highlighted that Kurti must move forward with implementing the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex, including the establishment of the A/CSM.

"According to the relevant agreements from 2013 and 2015, the Statute for establishing the A/CSM must be drafted and discussed within the framework of the dialogue. Any draft proposal must be negotiated with Serbia and the EU mediator and must comply with the agreements of 2013 and 2015. This also means that the Kosovo Government cannot draft the Statute outside the dialogue process. The government cannot abandon its obligations under the dialogue nor delegate them to Serbian-majority municipalities in Kosovo," Stano stated.

"In accordance with its official commitment to dialogue and the full implementation of all dialogue agreements from September 20, 2024, we call on Kosovo to proceed with its establishment without further delay," Stano said.

He also pointed out that 11 years after the signing of the Brussels Agreement, Pristina still has not taken the necessary steps towards its implementation, stressing that Pristina thus was not fulfilling its clear obligation under international law, which was subsequently repeated in the agreements from 2015 and 2023.

Stano added that Belgrade is expected to fulfil its obligations arising from the Agreement on the Road to Normalisation of Relations, "in parallel with the progress of Kosovo with the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities based on the European draft statute, in accordance with the implementation plan proposed by the EU mediator".

Struggles of Serb youth in Kosovo highlighted on World Children’s Day (KoSSev)

On World Children’s Day, North Mitrovica woke to posters featuring Serbian children said to be victims of alleged ethnic incidents and actions by Kosovo security institutions. The day unfolded with events highlighting reportedly the struggles of Serbian youth in Kosovo, focusing on safety, education, and basic rights.

At a roundtable organised by Serbian List, attended by children, parents, educators, and local officials, speakers painted a troubling picture of life for Serbian children in Kosovo.

“All forms of violence, abuse, and neglect that harm the mental, physical, or moral integrity of a child violate the fundamental rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,” declared one participant during the event at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in North Mitrovica.

A film shown during the discussion depicted incidents involving Serbian children, including attacks attributed to ethnic tensions. While students from the University of Pristina (relocated in North Mitrovica after the conflict), held posters that were also displayed throughout the city earlier in the day.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5c4zwp2d

Privatisation of agricultural land: Over 20 plots in the municipality of Gracanica (KiM radio, medijacentar.info)

Kosovo Privatization Agency (KAP) has announced a new sale of assets of social enterprises that are currently in the process of liquidation. Among them are more than 20 in the municipality of Gracanica.

Within the call for property sales, 29 "unique property units" were listed, of which 21 are in the territory of the Municipality of Gracanica. In question is the agricultural land of the former company 'Ratar' from Laplje Selo, but also 'Poljopriveda' AD Lipljan.

According to the announcement of the Privatization Agency, plots of farmers in Laplje Selo are being sold under the delegated numbers.

The Privatization Agency also offers several plots of land in the municipality of Lipljan, i.e. in the cadastral zone of the village of Konjuh, but also in Lipljan itself, as well as in Slovinje, Djakovica, Urosevac and South Mitrovica.

Xharra: ''Serbia a fascist state''; Stefanovic: Inappropriate and false statement (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Online reported yesterday that in Belgrade, the director of BIRN Kosovo, Jeta Xharra, allegedly accused Serbia of being ''a fascist state'' and compared President Aleksandar Vucic to ''Goebbels''.

"Kosovo, in my opinion, is doing difficult things in order to become a democratic society. We have five senior officers who are in The Hague. Despite the fact that Serbia committed genocide, it is not doing so. Kosovo is going through a painful process, but Serbia is not. I would rather be a part of such a semi-baked state than some fascist country," said Xharra at the Panel "Exposing Stalls and Missed Opportunities: Charting the Way Forward in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue", which took place on the third day of the Belgrade Security Conference.

The former chief negotiator of Belgrade, Borko Stefanovic, replied that these were inappropriate and false statements.

"A lot of what has been said is not true. Kosovo does not have the strength to face its past. You can't call Serbia fascist, you can't compare someone to Goebbels, regardless of what I thought about Vucic," said Stefanovic among other things.

He added that comparisons between Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin or Albin Kurti and Volodymyr Zelensky are also inappropriate.

"It's stupid that Vucic is called Putin, and Kurti Zelenski, really stupid. The issue here is formal recognition of Kosovo, but that won't happen," said Stefanovic.

He asked which NGO organisations exist in Kosovo and talked about the war crimes of the KLA.

"There are such organisations in Belgrade, but not in Pristina. Are they saints? Don't expect us to humiliate ourselves," said Stefanovic.

The other panel participants were journalist and columnist Veton Suroi and director of Radio KiM from Caglavica, Isak Vorgucic. 

Suroi assessed that the Brussels and Ohrid agreement "has a three-dimensional life" because each side interprets it in its own way.

"For Kosovo it is an agreement on de facto recognition, for Serbia it is a menu from which it will choose what it needs or what it considers to be legally possible and legitimate to implement. And for the EU, because the Ohrid Agreement is not a signed document, it is an agreement that enables inclusion in Chapter 35 of the European integration process for Serbia as well. For Kosovo, this is a condition in the process of stabilisation and association," Suroi said.

Vorgucic assessed that the Serbs in Kosovo are completely disenfranchised and that their relations with Serbia is perceived in a negative way.

"If you say something positive for the Serbs or for Serbia, you are immediately an opponent of Kosovo," he said.

He explained that the authorities in Pristina want to abolish the influence of Serbia in every possible way, shutting down even those institutions that Kosovo does not have.

The full panel discussion available at: https://tinyurl.com/y4akkj8e

Petkovic: ''Fascism and Goebbels'' typical of Kurti persecuting Serbs (Kosovo Online)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Petar Petkovic reacted to the words of the director of BIRN in Kosovo, Jeta Xharra, spoken yesterday at the Belgrade Security Forum. 

"Shame on you for the words of hate," said Petkovic in a post on X. 

"Goebbels and fascism are characteristic of your boss Kurti, who persecutes the Serbian people and glorifies the Nazi Xhafer Deva. With your statements, you have shown that you have nothing to do with journalism," wrote Petkovic.

International Media 

UEFA declares Romania winner after football match abandoned by Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

UEFA ruled that Kosovo forfeited the Nations League match with Romania by abandoning the pitch after fans chanted pro-Serbian slogans - but also fined Romania for its fans' racist behaviour.

The European football governing body, UEFA, decided on Wednesday to award the abandoned November 15 football match between Romania and Kosovo to Romania, as a 3-0 win.

Its appeals body deemed Kosovo responsible “for the match not being played in full” and fined the Kosovo Football Federation 6,000 euros for the improper conduct of its team.

Kosovo’s team abandoned the pitch in Bucharest on November 15 in the 93rd minute, with the game heading to a 0-0 draw, citing pro-Serbian chants in the stands. The referee and Romania’s team waited for around 50 minutes for the game to resume, with only one minute left to play, but the Kosovo players decided to not reappear.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/5xr9nb8t

Veton Surroi at Belgrade Security Conference: Western Balkans is an unfinished conflict zone (EWB)

BELGRADE – Over the past few years, we have had the mantra of four EU’s freedoms in the Western Balkans –of goods, services, capital and people, but this region is still an unfinished conflict zone, assessed Veton Surroi, journalist and writer, who spoke at the today’s panel “Unravelling the Setbacks and Missed Opportunities: Charting the Way Forward in Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue” at Belgrade Security Conference 2024.

According to Surroi, in order to find the solution to Kosovo’s issue, “we should try to think outside the box”, and there should be “a shared space of security” between Kosovo and Serbia.

“The Republic of Kosovo exists, but the Republic of Serbia treats Kosovo as a part of its own territory and identity… We should try to think outside the box, which would imply greater security for both countries. For instance, Serbia does not want to be a NATO member, but it should not prevent Kosovo from joining the Alliance”, Veton Surroi said.

Talking about the sentiments and expectations of the Serbs living in Kosovo, Isak Vorgučić, Director of Radio Television KiM, stressed that they are, on one hand, connected to Serbia, but, on the other hand, “there is a notion among the Albanian majority in Kosovo that Serbs do not want to adjust to so-called ‘new reality’.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/bdf7uwvf