Albanian Language Media:

• Sarrazin: No candies for Dodik in exchange for waiving visas for Kosovo (media)
• KFOR: Ready to take measures to prevent risks and tensions (Klan Kosova)
• Hovenier: U.S. remains steadfast in its support for KFOR (media)
• Osmani meets Barbano, discuss security developments (media)
• Bahtiri: Iber bridge will be opened after February 5 (media)
• Kurti, Osmani congratulate Albania on opening of EU accession chapters (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• The new KFOR commander met UNMIK Head Ziadeh (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Djuric met with Slovenian PM Golob and FM Fajon (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Pristina continues to breach all agreements (KiM radio, Kosovo online, Tanjug, media)
• An invitation to north Kosovo residents to report incidents and endangering of their rights (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS)
• Through another trade war with Serbia, Kosovo quietly enters CEFTA (KoSSev, KiM radio)

Albanian Language Media 

Sarrazin: No candies for Dodik in exchange for waiving visas for Kosovo (media)

German Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, said on Tuesday that Germany and the European Union “will not give candies” to the leader of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, in exchanging for unblocking the movement with ID cards between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. “We have made it clear that this is necessary for us [the agreement] and the European Commission and other European partners have tried to finalise this. But we have also made it clear to them that we will not give any candies for this, we will not pay, and we will not change our position in terms of sanctions against Dodik, because this has to do with the benefits of people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. I think that every citizen in Kosovo understands that we will not give candies to Dodik for this,” Sarrazin said in an online discussion with journalists.

Sarrazin welcomed the decision of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to waive the visa regime for people from Bosnia and Herzegovina starting on January 1 next year. 

KFOR: Ready to take measures to prevent risks and tensions (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Police reported on Monday that the Serbian gendarmerie had crossed the administrative line between Serbia and Kosovo and called on relevant international authorities to undertake necessary actions to safeguard stability and ensure the mutual respect of the agreements for integrated border management and security in general. 

Klan Kosova asked KFOR for comment and the latter said that its members closely monitor the situation through increased presence, patrols and activities. “We are in regular contact with representatives of Kosovo’s security organisations and the Serbian Armed Forces,” the peacekeeping mission said.

KFOR said that it would continue to undertake all necessary measures to safeguard stability and to prevent risks and tensions and renewed violence. It also said that coordination and refrain from actions that can lead to tensions is important to safeguard security throughout Kosovo and regional stability. 

Hovenier: U.S. remains steadfast in its support for KFOR (media)

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in a post on X on Tuesday that “it was a privilege to attend the NATO KFOR Change of Command ceremony. Deep appreciation for Major General Ulutas’s leadership and service, and a warm welcome to Major General Barduani as he takes command of this critical mission. The United States remains steadfast in its support for NATO’s mission of ensuring freedom of movement and a safe and secure environment in Kosovo”.

Osmani meets Barbano, discuss security developments (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Tuesday with EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) chief Giovanni Pietro Barbano and discussed “the latest security and rule of law developments, with special emphasis in the north and the borderline with Serbia”. They also discussed cooperation between Kosovo’s institutions and EULEX, within the mission’s mandate for monitoring, mentoring and advising. Osmani reiterated the commitment of institutions to enforce law and order and public security throughout Kosovo.

Bahtiri: Iber bridge will be opened after February 5 (media)

Former mayor of Mitrovica, Agim Bahtiri, said on Tuesday that the main bridge over Iber River will be opened after February 5. “After the [general] election process is over, after February 5, the bridge will be opened. Without a problem,” he said. “We will cooperate with KFOR and with all institutions. The situation has improved, and it is now normal, and there is no problem. You can go and visit the north the same way as the south”.

Bahtiri also accused the opposition, more specifically PDK’s candidate Bedri Hamza, for allegedly lobbying during his stay in the United States for the main bridge not to be opened, “because the opposition gave the biggest power to internationals to interfere”.

Kurti and Osmani congratulate Albania on opening of EU accession chapters (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti congratulated Albania on Tuesday on opening the first chapters of its EU accession negotiations. “The Western Balkans’ path to the EU is key to achieving prosperity and peace for both the region and Europe as a whole,” Kurti said.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X: “Congratulations to Albania on reaching a major milestone in its journey towards EU membership! The opening of the EU accession chapters brings Albania one step closer to a brighter and more prosperous future for all its citizens. Albania, Kosovo, and other democratic countries in our region must continue advancing on their EU paths, which is essential to ensuring lasting peace and stability — not only for the region but for all of Europe”.

Serbian Language Media 

The new KFOR commander met UNMIK Head Ziadeh (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)

The new commander of KFOR, Enrico Barduani, met today with the head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh. They exchanged opinions on the current situation in Kosovo, but also on strengthening joint cooperation, reported portal KoSSev, adding that the meeting was first reported by KFOR.

As stated, the meeting was an opportunity for Barduani to share his intentions with Ziadeh, and to strengthen relations with UNMIK, reported KoSSev. 

"The meeting was an opportunity for the commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Enrico Barduani, to share his intentions with the special representative and head of the United Nations Interim Administrative Mission in Kosovo, as well as to strengthen relations with UNMIK." 

Ziadeh exchanged opinions with Barduani, it was stated, about the current situation in Kosovo, but also in the region.

"They stressed the crucial importance of strengthening cohesion and cooperation to ensure lasting peace, security and stability."

Ziadeh informed Barduani of UNMIK's key priorities, especially initiatives for building trust, with, as they say, "a focus on communities, promoting human rights and strengthening the rule of law."

KoSSev reported that this was one of the first meetings that Barduani held since he took over as KFOR commander at the end of last week, on October 11.

Djuric met with Slovenian PM Golob and FM Fajon (Tanjug, media)

Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Slovenian PM Robert Golob in Ljubljana on Tuesday, pointing out a good dynamic and a continuity of high-level meetings that were resulting in constant advancement of political dialogue. Noting that his visit to Ljubljana was an excellent opportunity to lend a new impetus to Serbian-Slovenian relations, Djuric said he hoped the governments of the two countries would hold a joint session in the coming period to discuss additional possibilities for boosting bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Djuric thanked Slovenia for the support provided to Serbia on the path to full EU membership as its strategic commitment, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

Speaking about Kosovo, Djuric informed Golob of the worrying situation on the ground and noted that Albin Kurti's unilateral moves had led to flagrant violations of the human rights of Serbs in Serbia's southern province. He also noted the significance of international presence in the province and underscored that Serbia highly appreciated the participation of Slovenian troops in the KFOR mission.

Speaking about Serbia's economic strengthening after the country has doubled its national GDP and reduced the unemployment rate from nearly 26 pct to a single-figure percentage in the past decade alone, Djuric highlighted economic cooperation as one of the most significant aspects of bilateral relations.

He said the specialized EXPO 2027, to be hosted by Belgrade, would be a good opportunity for Slovenian companies to get involved in capital projects in Serbia.

Serbian FM met also with Slovenian FM Tanja Fajon in Ljubljana on Tuesday. 

"The Serb community in Kosovo and Metohija is in the most difficult position since 1999, and Serbia calls for full implementation of the Brussels Agreement, for full respect of the collective human, political and economic rights of Serbs in KiM, for an EU-facilitated process of normalisation of relations that will be based on respect of everything that has been agreed to date," Djuric said after the meeting.

He expressed gratitude for the contribution Slovenian KFOR troops were making to preservation of peace and stability in the province, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

"Serbia is firmly committed to preservation of stability and peace and to finding European solutions to all outstanding issues in the dialogue with Pristina, but we also demand respect of standards that apply everywhere in Europe and respect of everything that has been agreed," Djuric said among other things.

According to Kosovo Online, Slovenia's FM Fajon also commented on the Kosovo issue saying that they "discussed the issue of Kosovo and the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. It is essential to maintain dialogue, especially in northern Kosovo, and to achieve de-escalation of the situation", adding that Slovenia sincerely and firmly advocates for the EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans, believing that the time has finally come to consider this issue from a geostrategic perspective and to proceed with the enlargement.

Petkovic: Pristina continues to breach all agreements (KiM radio, Kosovo online, Tanjug, media)

The head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Tuesday Pristina continued to breach all agreements and that those in Pristina who were violating all EU-guaranteed agreements daily were now brazen enough to attack Belgrade with a made-up narrative about violations of an agreement on integrated management of administrative crossings.

But that is out of the question, Petkovic said in a statement released by the Office.

“On several occasions, Belgrade has publicly pointed out and documented the undeniable fact that Pristina is an undependable and inconsistent partner in dialogue and that it uses deceptions, spins, false accusations and staged scandals to cover up its own misdeeds and crimes, which is again unequivocally the case,” Petkovic said.

“Pristina is the one that has been breaching the agreement on integrated management of crossings, having denied entry of Serbian goods to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija for almost 500 days, thereby blocking movement of goods as one of the fundamental achievements of the agreement,” he said.

"Even after purportedly unblocking the Merdare crossing, Pristina brutally continues to violate all possible agreements as it is holding up more than 100 trucks with goods at the crossing, hiding behind made-up and absurd procedures, in front of the eyes of the international community," Petkovic noted.

There is a long list of agreements Pristina is breaching on a daily basis, starting with the fact that, for more than 11 years, it has been refusing to establish a Community of Serbian Municipalities - instead, “it has embarked on illegal, forced closures of Serbian institutions in KiM, which should be the foundation for establishing the Community”, Petkovic noted.

An invitation to north Kosovo residents to report incidents and endangering of their rights (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS)

The NGO Aktiv from North Mitrovica launched the campaign "Report incidents and protect your rights" and on that occasion opened a telephone line for reporting incidents and threats to the rights of residents in the north of Kosovo. 

"Incidents in the north of Kosovo have recently become more frequent, and citizens' mistrust of the police and institutions is growing. Many residents feel insecure and express concern about the numerous cases that happen in their communities every day," said this NGO, inviting residents to contact them and report if they have experienced verbal, physical or sexual harassment of women and girls, as well as any teasing, insults, or indecent behavior.

As well as to report traffic problems, situations resulting from language barriers or inadequate police reactions, non-compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages, cases in which citizens believe that the police, police inspectorate or other institutions have not acted correctly or transparently (violation of language rights, access to information of public importance, etc.), denial of freedom of speech, the right to protest, as well as incidents at police checkpoints, any conflicts or irregularities at checkpoints with special units of the police or traffic police.

Residents also can report problems with the police and their attitude towards them and the media, difficulties in the work of journalists or aggressive reactions of police officers.

This NGO says that the report is crucial for documenting all irregularities, omissions, and non-compliance with the law in order to jointly appeal to the international community to ensure respect for the constitutionally and legally guaranteed rights of non-majority communities in Kosovo.

Through another trade war with Serbia, Kosovo quietly enters CEFTA (KoSSev, KiM radio)

By Dragana Vukosavljevic

The decision was made on Wednesday. From now on, Kosovo will be represented by high-ranking Kosovan officials at future CEFTA meetings of the Joint Committee, replacing UNMIK after 18 years. This decision was made at a special session chaired by Serbia. However, the news that Kosovo will represent itself in CEFTA didn’t come from the official source but from the German ambassador in Pristina. Germany, the country that revived this issue after years of stagnation, had pushed for this change. The compromise that led to this involved Pristina making a concession in exchange for this new representation: lifting the verbal ban on importing goods from Serbia, which had been imposed under the pretext of „security concerns“ after the arrest of three Kosovan police officers by Serbian authorities last year.

But how did this brief detention of police officers in June last year lead to something that had been practically unreachable for Pristina for 18 years?

A Long Struggle for Equality

The CEFTA agreement, signed in Bucharest in 2006, includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo, represented by UNMIK (the United Nations Mission in Kosovo).

The agreement, which came into effect the following year, aims to create a free trade zone among its members by removing customs barriers and facilitating trade, enhancing economic cooperation, and fostering trade relations.

In the following years, especially after Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence in 2008, Pristina continuously attempted to change its status within this initiative, often violating agreements along the way.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/fsavd5hw