UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 16, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Rubin: No information or evidence tying Thaci and Krasniqi to murder allegations (media)
Germany calls on Kosovo not to target Serbian-run health institutions (media)
Osmani, Guerot discuss importance of full functionalization of institutions (media)
Finnish FM and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to visit Kosovo today (media)
Kosovo authorities arrest person suspected of war crimes in 1999 (media)
Kurti hosts new UN Development Coordinator Stephen O’Malley (media)
Kamberi: Serbia keeps undermining agreements reached with Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric informs OSCE Chairperson-in-Office about difficult situation of Serbs and other non-majority communities in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Macut meets with OSCE's Valtonen (Tanjug)
Germany urges Pristina to refrain from targeting Serbian health institutions (KoSSev, social media)
US Embassy: Institutional closures highlight our concern (Kosovo Online)
CI North for All: Rasic’s statements worrying, education and health must remain in Serbian system (media, social media)
New arrest under war crimes allegations at Bela Zemlja crossing point now (media)

International:

Ex-diplomat says Thaci lacked control over KLA in Kosovo war crimes trial (Reuters)
US Ex-Diplomat Testifies for Defence in War Crimes Trial of Kosovo’s Thaci (BIRN)
Kosovo’s ex-president ‘was not in charge’ during war, former US official tells trial (AP)

Albanian Language Media

Rubin: No information or evidence tying Thaci and Krasniqi to murder allegations (media)

Most news websites reported on Monday afternoon that during his testimony in the Hague on Monday, James Rubin, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in the Clinton Administration from 1997 to 2000, said that they found no information or evidence that would link Hashim Thaci and Jakup Krasniqi to alleged murders or executions. He said that when he talked with his friends that worked in intelligence agencies, they never had such information. “We found no data, no evidence, or information, that would tie such allegations of executions and murders to Mr. Krasniqi or Mr. Thaci. For 25 years since I left the administration, I have asked all those that had information and not only in the 2000s, but also decades later, my friends who had intelligence data, they never had such information that would tie these allegations to one of the leaders of the KLA,” he said.

Germany calls on Kosovo not to target Serbian-run health institutions (media)

Director for the Western Balkans at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michael Reiffenstuel, said on Monday that Kosovo authorities must refrain from targeting Serbian-run health institutions in Kosovo. “Calling urgently on Kosovo to refrain from targeting Serbia-run health institutions. Last week’s worrying actions negatively affect Kosovo’s own citizens, go against its obligations and commitments towards the EU and put a strain on our bilateral relations,” he said in a post on X.

The German Embassy in Kosovo shared Reiffenstuel’s message adding: “Clear message from Berlin: coordination and cooperation is needed, not more escalatory steps”.

Osmani, Guerot discuss importance of full functionalization of institutions (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani hosted on Monday the French Ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, and discussed the latest political developments in Kosovo, the importance of the full functionalization of all institutions in line with the Constitution, and bilateral relations between Kosovo and France. “On the eve of the Leaders Summit of the European Political Community in Copenhagen, Osmani and Guerot talked about the meetings that will be held during the summit, and coordination on a number of issues that will be addressed there. President Osmani also reiterated her commitment to strengthen inter-state cooperation, with special emphasis on security,” a press release issued by Osmani’s office notes.

Finnish FM and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to visit Kosovo today (media)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, who also serves as the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Elina Valtonen, will be visiting Kosovo today. At 9:20 AM, Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, will receive her in a meeting. Valtonen will also meet with representatives of civil society, members of the OSCE Dialogue Academy, as well as officials from KFOR and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Valtonen, is scheduled to address the media at the OSCE Mission headquarters in Kosovo at 11:45 AM.

Kosovo authorities arrest person suspected of war crimes in 1999 (media)

Most news websites reported on Monday that the Kosovo authorities arrested a person at the south-east boundary with Serbia under the suspicion that he committed war crimes against civilians during the war in 1998-99 in Kosovo. The Special Prosecution of Kosovo said in a statement that the suspect, identified as D.N. was arrested at the Dheu i Bardhe crossing with Serbia. The prosecution suspects that together with other members of Serbian police and military forces, the suspect took part in the killing of 25 Albanian civilians in the municipality of Gjilan.

Kurti hosts new UN Development Coordinator Stephen O’Malley (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti hosted on Monday the new United Nations Development Coordinator in Kosovo, Stephen O’Malley, and highly assessed the continuous cooperation with the UN Kosovo Team as a reliable partner in strengthening governance and sustainable development. They discussed some of the most successful cooperations in the fight against corruption, early education, cultural heritage and social housing. “The government reiterated its readiness to further the partnership with the UNKT toward developing human capital through inclusive education, qualitative healthcare, social protection, rule of law and good governance. Prime Minister Kurti expressed his conviction that Mr. O’Malley’s leadership will advance the existing partnership to an even higher level during the new planning cycle 2026-2030, based on the common principles of inclusiveness, gender equality and human rights,” a press release issued by Kurti’s office notes.

Kamberi: Serbia keeps undermining agreements reached with Kosovo (media)

Shaip Kamberi, the only Albanian member of the Serbian Parliament, said in a Facebook post on Monday that by chasing the Kosovo myth and the dream of a medieval kingdom, Serbia is taking part in talks with Kosovo but makes constant obstructions against Kosovo and undermines the agreements that have been reached so far.

“The democratization of Serbia remains a complex and multidimensional process, faced with major internal challenges. They derive from historical legacy, the weakness of institutions, an authoritarian political culture and strong ethnonationalist discourses. The authoritarianism of the 1990s has left deep traces in Serbian politics, while the weakness of institutions is especially apparent in a politicized judiciary that undermines the rule of law. The political system is dominated by one party and one leader, while the opposition remains weak and divided at least in two parts, a ‘pro-European’ part and another part that presents itself even more radical than the SNS. This concentration of power feeds the phenomenon of ‘election authoritarianism’, where elections are held formally but without real competition and with unequal access to the media. The vote manipulation by the regime is evident and there are international reports proving this,” he argued.

Serbian Language Media

Djuric informs OSCE Chairperson-in-Office about difficult situation of Serbs and other non-majority communities in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Serbian Foreign Minister, Marko Djuric met Monday in Belgrade with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen, with whom he discussed bilateral relations between the two countries as well as the difficult situation faced by members of the Serbian community and other non-majority communities in Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reported.

After the meeting, Valtonen emphasized her visit confirms OSCE remains strongly committed to engagement in the region and to developing a strong and lasting partnership with Serbia.

At the press conference with Valtonen, Djuric pointed out that Serbia is a country firmly believing in the multilateral world order, the principles of international public law, and the founding acts of the OSCE. He conveyed that he had good discussions with the OSCE Chairperson aimed at encouraging the exchange of views between Serbia and the OSCE, as well as bilateral talks between Serbia and Finland.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/PfWyV

Macut meets with OSCE's Valtonen (Tanjug)

Serbia highly appreciates the support the OSCE is providing to it in the reform process and on the path to full EU membership, especially through cooperation on rule of law, human rights and democracy, Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut said at a meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Elina Valtonen.

Macut noted Serbia was maintaining good cooperation with OSCE institutions, especially the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), demonstrating readiness for continued work on advancement of the electoral system and the entire electoral environment.

He added that, in spite of the numerous challenges it was facing, OSCE represented the most significant security platform for dialogue.

Germany urges Pristina to refrain from targeting Serbian health institutions (KoSSev, social media)

Director for the Western Balkans in the German Foreign Ministry Michael Reiffenstuel sent, as KoSSev portal described it, a harsh message to Pristina. “Calling urgently on Kosovo to refrain from targeting Serbia-run health institutions. Last week’s worrying actions negatively affect Kosovo’s own citizens, go against its obligations and commitments towards the EU & put a strain on our bilateral relations“, Reiffenstuel wrote in a post on X social platform. Reposting the same message, German Ambassador in Pristina Jorn Rohde added: “Clear message from Berlin. Coordination and cooperation is needed, not additional escalatory steps”.

As KoSSev portal further reported the statements came following a series of warnings on possible integration of Serbian health and education institutions into the Kosovo system that could be heard over the previous days. Acting Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic in the midst of campaigning for October 12 local elections said that “citizens should not be afraid, not in a single health or education institution, as we from our side will do everything so the process of transition goes absolutely painless. Employees will be in safe hands and we will not allow loss of dozens or hundreds of workers”.

While Rasic remains the only official in the caretaker Kosovo government openly discussing the integration plans, the issue has resurfaced mainly within the Serb community. The topic gained further traction after US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ana Pratipati said in a recent Serbian-language media interview that integration of Serbian health and education institutions into Kosovo’s system is “inevitable”, but that manner of how it will be done is important.

US Embassy: Institutional closures highlight our concern (Kosovo Online)

The closures of institutions since Friday highlight our concern about the caretaker government’s moves that further heighten tensions and bring instability to Kosovo, the spokesperson for the US Embassy in Pristina said in a written response to Kosovo Online.

“Friday’s closures highlight our concerns about the caretaker government’s actions that increase tensions and instability in Kosovo. As we have said before, security and stability are crucial for the country and the region”, the Embassy noted. They added that the closures are not good for people living in Kosovo.

“The closure of institutions risks the provision of critical services to Kosovan citizens. We need a partner who understands the need to avoid destabilizing actions and is committed to advancing regional stability and protecting the rights of all citizens of Kosovo”, the response said.

The EU Office in Pristina also responded on the same issue. It assessed that the Kosovo police’s entry into the premises of the Serbia-run Republic Health Insurance Fund (RFZO) and the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO) in North Mitrovica constitutes yet another uncoordinated action by the outgoing Kosovo government, and that such actions negatively affect the lives of ordinary people - primarily Kosovo Serbs, but also other communities in Kosovo, the portal added.

CI North for All: Rasic’s statements worrying, education and health must remain in Serbian system (media, social media)

Civic Initiative (CI) North for All expressed concern over the statements of outgoing Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns Nenad Rasic on the future of Serbian education and health system in Kosovo, as well as over lack of reactions from relevant institutions. The CI North for All argued such statements instill anxiety among those working in Serbian education and health system as well as among wider community, while the issue of survival of these institutions is perceived as crucial for the future and survival of Serbs in Kosovo.

"The question of the survival of education and health within the system of the Republic of Serbia is not only a question of payment of wages and employment status, but also a question of level of health services, quality of education and opportunities that tomorrow's diplomas provide to our young people in the labor markets", CI North for All said in a statement.

They pointed out the silence of representatives of these institutions and officials of the Republic of Serbia was particularly worrying and demanded from Belgrade authorities to clearly say what was accepted by the Ohrid Agreement and whether health and education systems are part of that package. They also asked the international community to act preventively and thwart possible attempts to close these institutions by Pristina.

New arrest under war crimes allegations at Bela Zemlja crossing point now (media)

Kosovo special prosecution and Kosovo police said yesterday that D.N. was arrested at Bela Zemlja crossing point under accusations of allegedly taking part in the murder of 25 Albanian civilians in the Gnjilane region during the conflict in Kosovo in 1999, KoSSev portal reported.

No other details, including the ones relating to the ethnicity of the arrested person were provided. KoSSev portal recalled that arrests under war crimes allegations have become frequent occurrences in Kosovo. Less than one week ago, a bus driver from Zvecan, Serb R.D. was arrested under war crimes allegations and sent to one-month detention already. This is yet another in a series of arrests under war crimes allegations including mainly Serbs as defendants, while those cases relate to the killed Albanians during the conflict in Kosovo.

International

Ex-diplomat says Thaci lacked control over KLA in Kosovo war crimes trial (Reuters)

A former top United States diplomat testified on Monday that Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's ex-president, had no real authority over the Kosovo Liberation Army's military commanders at the start of the defence case in his war crimes trial.

James Rubin, a former top State Department official, was present at peace talks between Kosovo and Serbia and involved in the aftermath of the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops. In his testimony he painted Thaci as a diplomatic frontman who had to seek approval from KLA military commanders.

"It was clear to me that he was not in charge. He didn't have the knowledge, the capabilities or the authority to make decisions," Rubin told the court of Thaci.

Thaci and three other former KLA commanders have been on trial since 2023. They face charges of persecution, murder, torture and forced disappearance during and shortly after the 1990s conflict that eventually brought Kosovo independence from Serbia.