Albanian Language Media: 

• Syria becomes 120th country to recognize Kosovo as independent state (media)
• Kurti in Paris: Balkan integration in EU, NATO serves Europe’s interests (media)
• Kurti received by Macron at the presidential palace (media)
• Krasniqi meets German Ambassador, discuss political developments (media)
• Grenell criticizes European justice system: “Brutal and elite-driven” (media)
• Rubin: Convicting former KLA leaders without evidence would be stain on international justice (media)
• Foundation stone laid for KTA building in North Mitrovica (media)
• Northern mayors face dilemma over handing sensitive documents to Serb officials (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Osmani: Syria recognizes Kosovo (N1, FoNet, Danas, media)
• The first defense witness in the case of Sladjan Trajkovic: I did not see him in custody in 1999 (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Another cornerstone, now for the Tax Administration in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Toughest EC Report on Serbia yet: Belgrade delivered on less than half its promises (N1)

International Media: 

• New elections on the horizon in Kosovo, but the crisis may continue (EWB)
• US suddenly lifts sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Dodik (Balkan Insight)
• United States to withdraw some troops from Romania (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Syria becomes 120th country to recognize Kosovo as independent state (media)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, announced that on Wednesday in Riyadh an agreement was reached through which the Arab Republic of Syria officially recognized Kosovo. “With the support of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, today in Riyadh we reached an agreement through which the Arab Republic of Syria recognizes the Republic of Kosovo. I thank President Al Sharaa for the decision to recognize Kosovo and for his support for our people,” Osmani wrote on Facebook.

Osmani further stated that the people of Kosovo and Syria have both endured and sacrificed greatly to achieve freedom. Therefore, according to her, this mutual recognition is not only about state sovereignty but also about acknowledging the sacrifice of many generations to live freely. She added that Kosovo is now recognized by 120 countries, declaring: “Our Republic is moving forward, and nothing can stop it!”

After announcing Syria’s recognition of Kosovo, Osmani, through a video message from Riyadh, hinted at more good news in the coming months. She stated that the recognition from Syria did not happen overnight, explaining that since her first meeting with the Syrian president in April, the two sides’ teams have remained in contact to prepare the steps leading to this outcome.

The recognition was also confirmed by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated: “In this context, the Arab Republic of Syria announces the recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and its decision to strengthen peace and stability in the region and the world,” the Ministry wrote on social media platform X.

This year, Kosovo has been recognized by three countries: Kenya, Sudan, and now Syria.

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that relations between Kosovo and Syria will now be even stronger. “Kosovo is now officially recognized by 120 states, as Syria joins the list of countries that recognize it. We express our gratitude to President Vjosa Osmani for her successful efforts and to everyone involved. We look forward to strengthening our ties as the country enters a new and key chapter in its history,” Kurti wrote on X.

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Memli Krasniqi said that each new recognition represents a step forward in strengthening Kosovo’s statehood, integration, and reassertion on the international stage. He thanked “our friends who continue to stand by Kosovo and play a role in this process.” “Kosovo needs more friendships, more diplomacy, and more self-confidence. The isolationist vision must end, and our country must return to an active, cooperative, and dignified foreign policy, in full alliance with our strategic partners,” Krasniqi wrote on Facebook.

Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj described Syria’s recognition as proof that cooperation with friends and allies brings exceptional results. “I commend the President’s work in this success for affirming our state, making Kosovo now recognized by 120 countries since its independence. There is still much work ahead, but Kosovo stands firmly with the democratic world, aligned with our alliances,” Haradinaj wrote.

The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, welcomed Syria’s recognition of Kosovo, thanking all those who contributed to making it possible. “The Arab Republic of Syria has today officially recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo. With this decision, Syria has supported the state of Kosovo and peace and stability in the Balkans. Thanks to all those who made this recognition possible!” Begaj wrote on Facebook.

Kurti in Paris: Balkan integration in EU, NATO serves Europe’s interests (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, was an honorary guest on Tuesday evening at a dinner hosted by the Diplomatic Circle of Paris, attended by high-ranking diplomatic, political, and economic figures from France. In the announcement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, it was stated that Kurti expressed his gratitude for the invitation, a day before the Paris Peace Forum, which brings together leaders from around the world. At the dinner, Kurti spoke about the importance of engagement and the added value of Kosovo’s and the entire Western Balkans’ membership in the European Union and NATO. “He said that the membership of the Western Balkans in the European Union is in the economic and security interest of the European Union itself and its member states. In this regard, he added that he is among those who believe that the EU’s external enlargement and its internal reforms go hand in hand. Only a Europe willing to reform itself internally can expand externally, and only a Europe willing to expand externally can successfully reform itself internally; external enlargement and internal reforms are simultaneously opportunities and conditions for one another,” the statement reads.

Today, Kurti will participate in the eighth edition of the Paris Peace Forum, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron.

Kurti received by Macron at the presidential palace (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, was received at the Elysee Presidential Palace by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. He shared several photos from his participation in the formal dinner held as part of the Paris Peace Forum. “Guests of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, at the iconic Elysee Presidential Palace, for the formal dinner marking the 10th edition of the Paris Peace Forum,” Kurti wrote on Facebook.

Krasniqi meets German Ambassador, discuss political developments (media)

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, met on Wednesday with the new German Ambassador to Kosovo, Rainer Rudolph.Krasniqi said that during the meeting they discussed the current political developments in Kosovo. “It was an open and friendly meeting, with discussions about the political developments in the country, the cooperation between Kosovo and Germany, as well as the important role that Berlin has always played in supporting our state,” Krasniqi wrote.

Grenell criticizes European justice system: “Brutal and elite-driven” (media)

Richard Grenell, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, has sharply criticized the European justice system, calling it “brutal and archaic” in a post on X. He referred to the case of former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, who has been in pre-trial detention in The Hague for five years, emphasizing that this is a clear example of the failures of the European judicial system. “There are many reasons why Europe is failing. One example is the large number of politicians who remain silent while a head of state is held in prison for five years without trial,” Grenell wrote, adding that “this is a brutal system run by elites.”

Grenell also said that no one should take legal advice from any European and expressed hope that Thaci “sues everyone in The Hague in an American court when he is released, since it is paid for by American taxpayers.”

Rubin: Convicting former KLA leaders without evidence would be stain on international justice (media)

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin has spoken about the ongoing trial at The Hague against Kosovo’s former president Hashim Thaci and other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). In an interview with the Atlantic Council, Rubin said he hopes that the Special Court will not issue a guilty verdict, as such a decision would, in his view, be harmful both to Kosovo and to the future of international justice. “I pray that this does not happen. It would be a real tragedy for the people who fought, and for so many who gave their lives for freedom,” Rubin told the American media outlet.

He emphasized that convicting former KLA leaders without concrete evidence would severely undermine trust in international tribunals. “To declare them guilty without any evidence… would be a terrible stain on the international legal system. It would, for a long time, damage the willingness to ever again establish an international tribunal like this one,” the former U.S. diplomat said.

Foundation stone laid for KTA building in North Mitrovica (media)

The foundation stone was laid to mark the beginning of construction for the new building that will house the Kosovo Tax Administration (ATK) in North Mitrovica. The news was announced by the caretaker Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, who wrote on Facebook that this investment is being made by the government of Kosovo. “Today in North Mitrovica, we laid the foundation stone to begin construction of the building that will become the new home of the Kosovo Tax Administration for the Mitrovica region. With this investment by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, KTA services will be closer to taxpayers in every corner of the country, which will also support the ongoing fiscalization process,” Murati wrote.

Northern mayors face dilemma over handing sensitive documents to Serb officials (Koha)

The return of the Serb List to the northern municipalities of Kosovo has raised dilemmas about how the transfer of power from Albanian mayors to the newly elected Serb mayors will take place. Current Albanian mayors in these municipalities have expressed concern over sensitive documents and administrative decisions made during the past two years, fearing they could be misused. They are awaiting instructions from the government on how to handle sensitive municipal documentation before officially handing over office to the incoming Serb mayors.

The mayor of Zvecan, Ilir Peci, mentioned the possibility of removing certain documents from the municipal building if there is no formal handover, which, according to him, the Serbian List has already announced it will refuse. “Personally, I would never leave documentation in someone’s hands without an official handover. However, if the Government of the Republic of Kosovo decides otherwise, we will respect the laws of the Republic. But no final decision has been made yet. I believe all four mayors in the north should make a joint decision, not act individually,” Peci said.

He explained that there are sensitive documents that could be misused by the returning Serbian List officials. “Yes, there are sensitive documents. During this period, I have personally issued around 1,500 decisions as mayor, and in total there might be about 2,300. Each municipal directorate also holds documentation, procurement procedures, staff hiring records, various administrative files. I don’t think it will be easy to hand over roughly 6,000 decisions issued by the Municipality of Zvecan, because there could be attempts to overturn or reverse them, especially those tied to local development,” Peci said.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica, Nexhat Ugljanin, stated on Wednesday that they expect to receive instructions after the run-off elections, noting that the Serbian List has already signaled plans to reverse many decisions. “We haven’t received anything from the previous administration. It’s my right to accept or reject a handover. However, all important regulations and decisions will be handed to the Assembly Secretariat through a commission, and every decision we’ve issued has also been submitted to the Ministry. The Serbian List has publicly said they will annul all of them through the Assembly. I don’t know how they plan to do this, but I believe the Ministry will provide the proper response, especially for the Municipal Assembly, which is authorized for such matters. They may try, but the situation cannot return to the lawlessness they’re used to. The same people who resigned are now coming back, the mayor and the Assembly delegates. They know how to govern, but in the past, they did so through chaos and with ties to crime,” Ugljanin emphasized.

During the current administration in North Mitrovica, changes have also taken place in the city center, where many offices that operated under Serbia’s parallel system have been closed and replaced by businesses run also by Albanians. In cooperation with the central government, North Mitrovica has over the last two years shut down offices and services funded by Belgrade, halted the use of the Serbian dinar, and closed Serbian banks and post offices, with services now being provided by Kosovo institutions.

The Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, briefly told reporters by phone that everything is regulated by law and administrative instructions, asking for written questions for further clarification regarding the handling of municipal documentation.

Serbian Language Media

Osmani: Syria recognizes Kosovo (N1, FoNet, Danas, media)

“With the support of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, an agreement was reached today in Riyadh under which the Arab Republic of Syria recognizes the Republic of Kosovo,” announced Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on her Facebook profile, reported N1. 

The first defense witness in the case of Sladjan Trajkovic: I did not see him in custody in 1999 (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online)

At the trial of Sladjan Trajkovic, a former Kosovo policeman, accused of war crimes against the civilian population in Vucitrn, the first defense witness was heard, Albanian S.G. who was in custody in Smrekovnica in 1999.

The witness stated that he did not see the accused Trajkovic in custody during that period.

"I met him after the war when he put on the uniform of the Kosovo Police, because he worked in our neighborhood (Bosniak Mahala in North Mitrovica)," said S.G.

When asked by lawyer Bogdan Lazic whether he would have recognized Trajkovic if he had seen him in custody, the witness replied: "Certainly yes."

The accused Trajkovic asked the witness if he knew him even before he became a policeman, when he worked in "parallel institutions", to which the witness answered in the affirmative.

S.G. added that he had nothing bad to say about Sladjan Trajkovic, pointing out that he was a "favorite neighbor" among the Albanians in Bosniak Mahala in North Mitrovica.

The next hearing is scheduled for November 6.

Radio Mitrovica sever recalled that Trajkovic was arrested on December 15, 2022 in South Mitrovica and has been in custody since then. He was a member of the Kosovo Police, and he resigned when the Serbs from the north left Pristina institutions on November 5, 2022. Before being admitted to the police, Trajkovic passed all the security checks of the relevant Kosovo and international institutions. The trial of Sladjan Trajkovic was returned to the beginning for the third time last October due to the new composition of the court panel.

Another cornerstone, now for the Tax Administration in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal reported that the outgoing ministers of the Kosovo government, Hekuran Murati and Elbert Krasniqi, yesterday laid the foundation stone for the start of work on the building in Kolasinska Street in the northern part of Mitrovica, where the Kosovo Tax Administration will move in. Murati, who is acting Minister of Finance confirmed this in an FB post. 

Apart from Murati and Krasniqi, the general director of the Tax Administration, Mentor Hyseni, also poured the shovel of sand, and Agim Bahtiri was also there.

Although the government's mandate expired in February, it is still particularly zealous when it comes to the north of Kosovo, primarily North Mitrovica.

This is supported by a total of the third foundation stone this month in this city, and the second in just two days.

At the beginning of the month, the beginning of the construction of a school according to the Kosovo system in the area of Military Overhaul with a capacity of 500 children was officially started, and two days ago the foundation stone was laid for the second one - in Mikronaselje, for another 360 students, recalled KoSSev. 

South Mitrovica is going to the second round of local elections, while at the central level extraordinary parliamentary elections are increasingly certain.

Toughest EC Report on Serbia yet: Belgrade delivered on less than half its promises (N1)

After the European Parliament adopted a resolution with the harshest assessments of reforms in Serbia to date, Belgrade is set to face even sharper criticism from Brussels, reported N1 in English. 

On November 4, the European Commission (EC) will release its enlargement reports for all candidate countries, and according to N1’s EU correspondent, the one on Serbia will be the most unfavorable since membership talks began.

The biggest criticisms will focus on backsliding in democracy, fundamental rights, and media freedom.

N1 sources say Brussels is aware that some progress has been made - such as efforts to form a new Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) Council, the adoption of media laws, and the start of the voter register audit - but stress that “progress only counts when reforms are fully implemented.”

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/354k234k

International Media

New elections on the horizon in Kosovo, but the crisis may continue (EWB)

Early elections would come as a result of political deadlock and the inability to form a stable majority, but also opposition’s stategic considerations.

According to the interlocutors of EWB, the new parliamentary elections are likely to be held in Kosovo after the failed attempt by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti to form a new government at an extraordinary session of the Kosovo Assembly on 26 October. However, the early voting is not a guarantee that the long-standing political deadlock will be broken, as no party would emerge as a clear winner.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/52xtkspk

US suddenly lifts sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Dodik (Balkan Insight)

Washington has ended sanctions imposed on the former Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik, his associates, family members and companies connected to them.

In a sudden change of approach, the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC on Wednesday lifted sanctions that had been imposed on the former president of Bosnia’s Serb-led Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik, and on 47 individuals and companies connected to him. 

Sanctions were also lifted from Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Serb member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency and one of Dodik’s closest associates, Republika Srpska assembly speaker Nenad Stevandic, Dodik’s adult children, Igor and Gorica, and more than a dozen companies connected to them.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/es7ucc7m

United States to withdraw some troops from Romania (Balkan Insight)

Washington has announced plans to reduce its military footprint in Eastern Europe and remove several hundred soldiers from Romania.

Romania’s Defence Ministry on Wednesday announced that the United States has informed its NATO allies of plans to reduce troop numbers on the alliance’s eastern flank, including around 800 soldiers due for deployment at an air base near the Black Sea.

“The move took into account that NATO has consolidated its presence and activity on the eastern flank, allowing the United States to adjust its military posture in the region,” Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu told a press conference.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2p9rs23b