Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani concludes visit to U.S. “with powerful event” (media)
• Wood, Osmani discuss dialogue and need for war victims to find closure (media)
• Bislimi: With Growth Plan, Kosovo gets one step closer to the EU (media)
• Kurti hosts President of Eurochambers Vladimir Dlouhy (media)
• Osmani’s message on 25th anniversary of USAID in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo leaders condemn terrorist attack in Turkey (media)
• Barduani meets Mojsilovic, discuss regional security and cooperation (media)
• German MP calls for accountability for the attack in Banjska (media)
• Orav meets Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian PM: Potential government reshuffle to be considered in spring (Tanjug, media)
• Djuric met with Giaufret (Tanjug)
• Mojsilovic, new KFOR commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (N1, Beta, Tanjug) 
• Counsellor of the rector of the University in North Mitrovica interrogated over the student protest (RTS, N1, media)
• The KP punished young men in Zvecan for "vandalism"; a parent complains about the violation of rights: They redid crossed-out graffiti (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani concludes visit to U.S. “with powerful event” (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Wednesday that she concluded the visit to the United States with a powerful event in partnership with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, underscoring the vital importance of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. “It marked the inaugural international event of the Regional Center of Excellence for Women, Peace and Security. It was also an opportunity to preview the upcoming journey of the 'Thinking of You' installation to New York, where, together, we will continue to amplify the voices of survivors of sexual violence,” Osmani said.

Wood, Osmani discuss dialogue and need for war victims to find closure (media)

The U.S. mission to the United Nations said in a post on X on Wednesday that US Ambassador Wood was honored to host Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani – who was in New York championing women, peace, and security issues. “The two discussed the EU facilitated dialogue and the need for war victims to find closure. Ambassador Wood expressed his appreciation for Kosovo’s stalwart support to Ukraine,” the post notes.

Bislimi: With Growth Plan, Kosovo gets one step closer to the EU (media)

Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that with the Growth Plan, Kosovo is getting one step closer to the European Union. “Today the European Commission adopted Kosovo’s reforms agenda as part of the Growth Plan. An agenda targeted toward substantial advancement and approximation with the standards of the European Union. The adoption of the reforms agenda paves the way to the execution of the first payments, from which Kosovo will benefit a total of up to €882 million,” Bislimi said.

Kurti hosts President of Eurochambers Vladimir Dlouhy (media) 

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Wednesday with the President of the Association of European chambers of commerce and industry, Vladimir Dlouhy, and “discussed key opportunities for Kosova's infrastructure, energy, and tech sectors to attract European investments and foster business partnerships”.

Osmani’s message on 25th anniversary of USAID in Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Wednesday on the 25th anniversary of the USAID mission in Kosovo that “twenty-five years ago, in the aftermath of Milosevic’s genocidal war, when wounds were fresh and dreams shattered, a hand was extended to us. It was the hand of friendship, the hand of partnership—the hand of the American people. Today, we see the legacy of our partnership with USAID in every corner of our country”. 

See Osmani’s video message at: https://tinyurl.com/yc5dyh62

Kosovo leaders condemn terrorist attack in Turkey (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Wednesday that Kosovo stands “with our ally, Türkiye, following today’s terrorist attack in Ankara. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. Terrorism and violence have no place in our world!”

President of the Kosovo Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, condemned the terrorist attack in Turkey on Wednesday, saying that Kosovo stands on the side of Turkey and the Turkish people. “Today’s attack in Turkey is shocking and we condemn it in the harshest way possible. We stand alongside our ally, Turkey, the Turkish people and all those that lost their most loved ones in this terrorist act,” Konjufca said. 

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, who is visiting Turkey, said in a Facebook post that “such acts are a tragedy not only for the victims and their families, but also for all of us who continue to work for peace and security”. 

Barduani meets Mojsilovic, discuss regional security and cooperation (media)

Commander of NATO peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, Major General Enrico Barduani met on Wednesday with the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilovic. KFOR said in a statement that “they shared views on regional security and on the ongoing cooperation activities between KFOR and the Serbian Armed Forces. Major General Barduani highlighted KFOR’s commitment for lasting regional stability, in accordance with its UN mandate and reiterated that unity of effort, coordination, transparency and impartiality will remain the driving principles of KFOR’s mission. Today’s visit was part of the KFOR Commander’s regular exchanges with his main counterparts, in Kosovo and across the region”.  

German MP calls for accountability for the attack in Banjska (media)

German MP and rapporteur for Kosovo, Thomas Hacker, in an interview with TeVe1 on Wednesday, called for the perpetrators of the attack in Banjska in September last year to be held accountable. He said that together with a German delegation they will discuss the issue during their visit to Belgrade. 

“Our delegation will address this issue when we travel to Belgrade. Fortunately, the attack in Banjska was not as explosive as was initially believed because the Kosovars managed the situation well. After what happened in Banjska, [Serbian] President Vucic promised he would persecute those who were responsible. One of those responsible stayed in jail for one night and was then released. We have repeatedly said that Serbia needs to investigate the case and see if people close to Vucic’s party were involved. It is really difficult to believe that he knew nothing about the attack in Banjska knowing the power and control that Vucic has in Serbia,” Hacker said.

Orav meets Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West in Pristina (media)

Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Aivo Orav, said in a post on X on Wednesday that he met in Pristina with Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West. “I highlighted the important role of her Office in ensuring accountability for serious crimes and emphasized that the EU Office in Kosovo in coordination with EULEX will continue to support its mandate,” Orav said.

Serbian Language Media 

Serbian PM: Potential government reshuffle to be considered in spring (Tanjug, media)

Serbian PM Milos Vucevic said on Wednesday a potential government reshuffle would be considered in the spring and that he had had consultations on the matter with President Aleksandar Vucic.

Responding to questions from reporters after a joint session of the Government of Serbia and the government of Serbia's Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, Vucevic said:

"I have discussed this several times with the president, who gave me the mandate to form the government. This is not the place where we will talk about a reshuffle,” adding that “that it was logical to address the reshuffle issue in the spring - one year after the government's formation - unless someone, be they the PM or any of the ministers, commits a foul."

"Those who do not believe a reshuffle can take place are the ones I like the most. There are many people in the political history of Serbia who did not believe they could be replaced," Vucevic concluded.

Djuric met with Giaufret (Tanjug)

Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with the EU Ambassador to Belgrade Emanuele Giaufret on Wednesday to discuss EU integration in the Western Balkans and an upcoming visit to the region by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a post on X, Djuric noted that this week was very important for the Western Balkans' EU integration and that von der Leyen's visit would further encourage the region to continue on the path of cooperation and progress on implementation of reform processes.

"In a time marked by multiple political, economic and security challenges around the world, it is crucial that the EU has clear messages when it comes to the European perspective of Serbia and our region," Djuric wrote in the post, adding that the meeting with Giaufret had also addressed other important topics. He noted that Serbia, as an old part of the European family, remained strategically committed to full EU membership.

"Serbia is ready to work, in collaboration with European partners, on accomplishing collective political and economic objectives," he wrote.

Mojsilovic, new KFOR commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (N1, Beta, Tanjug) 

Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic spoke on Wednesday in Belgrade with new KFOR Commander Maj Gen Enrico Barduani about the current security situation in Kosovo and joint activities by the SAF and KFOR.

Mojsilovic and Barduani met for the first time since the Italian general took over as KFOR commander in mid-October.

Mojsilovic noted that, under UNSCR 1244 and the Military-Technical Agreement as well as other signed agreements, KFOR was the only legitimate armed formation in the territory of Kosovo, and requested that international forces in Kosovo perform their mandate in a consistent and unbiased manner and to, above all, protect Serbs and Serbian religious, cultural and historical heritage, the Serbian MoD said in a statement.

Noting that the security situation in Kosovo was sensitive and volatile, Mojsilovic said unilateral and provocative moves by the authorities in Pristina, aimed at changing the ethnic composition in the north of the province, posed the biggest security threat.

Congratulating Barduani on his appointment to the new post, Mojsilovic said he expected the cooperation between the SAF and KFOR to remain professional during his tenure and aimed at preservation of peace and stability in the region.

Counsellor of the rector of the University in North Mitrovica interrogated over the student protest (RTS, N1, KoSSev, media)

Nemanja Bisevac, counsellor to the rector of the University of Pristina with temporary seat in North Mitrovica, was interrogated by the police after a peaceful protest by a group of students in that city, held yesterday.

Bisevac confirmed to RTS that he was called for an interview at the police station, under suspicion of being the organiser of the protest, although he did not participate in it, nor, as he says, did he organise it.

He was released after an hour of questioning and warned that if the protests were repeated, he would be fined or referred to the judge for infringements. 

Bisevac was convinced that his questioning by the police will not intimidate the students to continue demonstrating their disagreement with the actions of the local authorities and the authorities in Pristina, and with the actions of the police, as an extended hand of the government.

Petrit Fejza from the Kosovo Police of the North region told KoSSev last night, when asked about the students' claims, that during the protest, the officers asked about who the organiser was. Fejza confirmed that in the meantime, one person was invited for an interview precisely with the aim of helping the police obtain this information, emphasising that yesterday's protest was not reported to the police.

"We asked him who the organiser of the protest was, because it should be reported to the police, and we asked who the organiser was," reported Radio Mitrovica sever, citing KoSSev.

The KP punished young men in Zvecan for "vandalism"; a parent complains about the violation of rights: They redid crossed-out graffiti (KoSSev)

On Monday, Kosovo police in Zvecan detained two young people for sentencing on charges of vandalism. They wrote graffiti on the building, they say. The parent of one of the young men claims that they were actually drawing letters on already existing graffiti that someone had previously crossed out. At the same time, he accused the KP of violating language rights because the sentence was written in Albanian, reported KoSSev last night. 

One of the parents also said, according to KoSSev, the officers allegedly asked them to unlock their phones without a court order, and even allegedly asked one of them "if he wanted to join the police." 

The interlocutor of KoSSev also said, among other things, that they were fined for vandalism in the amount of 300 euros, and that it was written only in Albanian, and that the document stated that the graffiti was written on the municipal building.

"That's a lie," says M. R, stating that the graffiti was on a residential building not far from the municipal building.

"At the end they gave them some papers to sign. They signed, but they didn't know what they were signing, because they wanted to get out of the police station as soon as possible," he said, adding that the document on temporarily confiscated items was also written only in the Albanian language.

The KP of the North region confirmed for KoSSev that on October 21, two people were taken to the police station in Zvecan for drawing graffiti and that they were fined. However, there was no answer to the questions about the accusations made by the parent against the police. Asked about the details of the case, Fejza told KoSSev last night that he had no answers, because the police officers who wrote the fine were not on duty at the time.

And while he said that he did not know whether the misdemeanour decision was written in Albanian, on the other hand, he emphasised that it should not be done, given that the sentence was imposed on persons of Serbian nationality. He also could not confirm whether the officers asked the young men to unlock the phones, but he also stressed that a court order was required for that.