Albanian Language Media: 

• Osmani: Germany remains a strategic partner of Kosovo (media)
• Bislimi: Kosovo has not targeted any healthcare institution in the North (RTK)
• KFOR: Security situation in Kosovo stable, but with potential risks (RTK)
• Basha meets Guerot, discusses bilateral ties, Russian influence in Europe (media)
• Basha: Assembly has been constituted (media)
• Rubin to testify again today in The Hague (media)
• Djuric: Serbia aims to shift international stance on Kosovo (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Barduani: Path towards lasting security in Kosovo not military, but political (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Kurti’s regime’s policy toward Serbs driven by hatred (RTV, Kosovo Online, N1, Beta)
• Bislimi: We did not target health care in the north, we are working on a solution for it to enter the Kosovo legal framework (KoSSev, Danas, KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Jovanovic met Mordt: Compliance with UNSCR 1244 is a prerequisite for preserving the credibility and effectiveness of the UN (Kosovo Online) 
• Djurdjevic Stamenkovski: According to UN data, Serbs are the most threatened ethnic community in Kosovo (Danas, Beta, Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo OSCE staffer pleads not guilty to spying for Serbia (BIRN)
• Why the US suspended a 'Strategic Dialogue' with Kosovo before it even began (RFE)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Germany remains a strategic partner of Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani held a farewell meeting on Tuesday with German Ambassador Jorn Rohde, marking the end of his diplomatic mission in Kosovo. Osmani thanked Ambassador Rohde for his valuable contribution, noting his key role in strengthening bilateral relations between Kosovo and Germany. She reaffirmed that Germany remains one of Kosovo’s most important strategic partners, with growing cooperation across various sectors. Osmani emphasized the need to further deepen economic ties, highlighting the Kosovar diaspora in Germany as a vital link between the two nations. She also expressed appreciation for Germany’s continued support of Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration and its development assistance on the ground. Wishing Rohde success in his future roles, President Osmani voiced confidence that cooperation between Germany and Kosovo will continue to expand in the coming years.

Bislimi: Kosovo has not targeted any healthcare institution in the North (RTK)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, has stated that Kosovo has not targeted any healthcare institution operating in the four northern municipalities. “Kosovo has not targeted any healthcare institution operating in the four northern municipalities. Not even those illegal ones established by Serbia (no one really understands the legal meaning of the commonly used term ‘Serbia-run institutions in Kosovo’),” Bislimi wrote on X platform.

He added that instead of targeting them, Kosovo is working on a solution to incorporate these institutions into its legal framework, ensuring that there is no disruption in the provision of healthcare services and maximum accommodation for medical staff.

According to Bislimi, local trade inspectors temporarily shut down the operations of a fund that was illegally issuing invoices and conducting transactions, pending the submission of relevant documentation. “Yes, we are truly impressed by Serbia’s ability to manipulate public opinion through the mass production of fake news, but it is essential that such actions are seen solely as propaganda tools, and nothing more,” Bislimi emphasized.

KFOR: Security situation in Kosovo stable, but with potential risks (RTK)

The Commander of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), Major General Enrico Barduani, delivered his final briefing to the NATO Military Committee and the North Atlantic Council in the KFOR format on September 15–16 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. During his report, General Barduani shared his assessment of the security situation in Kosovo and recent mission activities. He emphasized that "the situation in Kosovo is stable, but remains subject to potential risks of sudden escalation due to several unresolved issues."

Despite challenges on the ground, Barduani said that KFOR has stayed the course, contributing to stability and preventing incidents that could have led to outbreaks of unrest, while also supporting diplomatic efforts. The KFOR commander spoke about strengthening the mission, including the temporary deployment of reserve forces, and maintaining a flexible approach on the ground through regular patrols, engagement with local communities, and training activities.

He also highlighted the deepening cooperation with key partners, including the international community, Kosovo’s security institutions, and the Serbian Armed Forces. Reaffirming NATO’s support for the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Barduani stressed: "KFOR has once again demonstrated that it is ready and able to fulfill its role and adapt its posture as needed. However, the path to lasting security in Kosovo is not military, it is political."

While in Brussels, Barduani also met with the Chairman of the EU Military Committee (CEUMC), General Sean Clancy, to review KFOR’s cooperation with EULEX and the EUFOR Althea operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Basha meets Guerot, discusses bilateral ties, Russian influence in Europe (media)

The Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Dimal Basha, met with the Ambassador of France to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, to discuss a range of issues, including strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing geopolitical challenges in Europe. According to a statement from the Assembly, the meeting focused on expanding Kosovo–France relations, with particular attention to economic cooperation and education as potential areas for deeper collaboration. “The meeting also addressed issues of geopolitical and strategic significance, such as Russian influence in Europe,” the statement said.

Speaker Basha also raised the issue of Kosovo’s path toward Council of Europe membership, underlining the need for France’s support. He stressed the importance of lifting EU measures currently in place against Kosovo, noting that such steps would positively contribute to strengthening democracy and protecting human rights and freedoms in Kosovo.

Basha: Assembly has been constituted (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Dimal Basha has remained vague on how he plans to proceed after September 30, when the temporary suspension imposed by the Constitutional Court expires. The suspension was issued in response to a request by Serbian List, contesting the election of the Assembly’s deputy speakers. Asked on Tuesday about the next steps once the Court’s measure is lifted, Basha gave a brief response, saying only that the Assembly has been constituted, without offering clarity on potential future actions. “I think you’ve seen the announcement... the Assembly has been constituted,” Basha said briefly.

The Constitutional Court’s decision, published on September 5, prohibits the newly elected MPs of the Kosovo Assembly from taking any further actions or decisions until September 30. The ruling also halts all procedures related to government formation during this period.

Rubin to testify again today in The Hague (media)

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin has been asked to continue his testimony for a third day before the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The request came from presiding judge Charles Smith, who informed Rubin that his presence would be required again on Wednesday. “You have to return tomorrow, Mr. Rubin,” said Judge Smith during the session.

Rubin, visibly surprised, responded with a touch of humor and logistical concern: “I need to find a hotel room,” he said, noting that while he preferred to complete his testimony the same day, he was willing to stay if needed. “I’d like to finish today if possible, it would be easier for me to stay for as long as you need me. I can stay, but I need to find a hotel room,” Rubin added.

Judge Smith confirmed the court’s decision: “Yes, you need to stay until tomorrow.”

Djuric: Serbia aims to shift international stance on Kosovo (AP)

Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric has claimed that Belgrade is actively working to influence a change in the international community’s position on the Kosovo issue. He stated that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will address this effort during the upcoming 80th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Commenting on the recent U.S. decision to suspend the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo, Djuric interpreted it as a clear signal of the situation in Kosovo ahead of its local elections. “The decision by the Trump administration to suspend strategic relations with Pristina has serious implications,” said Djuric.

He emphasized that during this period, Serbia has maintained strong support from key global players, including Russia, China, India, and Mexico, regarding the Kosovo issue.

Serbian Language Media

Barduani: Path towards lasting security in Kosovo not military, but political (Tanjug)

KFOR Commander Maj Gen Enrico Barduani said on Tuesday the path towards lasting security in Kosovo was not military, but political.

Barduani said this in a briefing to the NATO Military Committee and the North Atlantic Council in Brussels, speaking about the security situation in Kosovo, with particular focus on the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

As some of KFOR's achievements, he emphasized the strengthening of the mission, also through temporary deployment of reserve forces, and the deepened cooperation with the international community, Kosovo's security organizations and the Serbian Armed Forces.

"During the visit, Maj Gen Barduani also met General Seán Clancy, Chair of the EU Military Committee, with whom he discussed KFOR’s cooperation with operations EULEX and EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina," KFOR posted on its Facebook profile.

Djuric: Kurti’s regime’s policy toward Serbs driven by hatred (RTV, Kosovo Online, N1, Beta)

“What is happening in Kosovo is horrific and inhumane, and the closure of social welfare centers and the Social and Pension Insurance Fund shows that the policy of Kurti’s regime is driven by hatred toward Serbs,” Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated.

Speaking to RTV, Djuric stressed that Kurti’s actions go beyond all bounds.

“When you target social welfare centers and the Social and Pension Insurance Fund, you demonstrate that this is not ordinary hostility, but a policy driven by hatred toward Serbs,” he emphasized.

Asked what Serbia is doing, Djuric said that preparations have been underway for years to change the international community’s stance on this issue.

He explained that through daily talks and reporting from Serbia’s perspective on every incident, the situation has reached a point where some countries that once strongly supported Kosovo’s independence are now clearly speaking out against what is happening.

He noted that this shift is visible not only in social media statements.

“The U.S. decision to suspend all strategic dialogue with Kosovo until further notice is a significant step with implications for Kosovo’s political scene. It sends a message to everyone in Kosovo and Metohija that the policy of erasing the Serbian presence, of obstructing normalization, and of unilateral moves and escalation has no support in the international community,” he said.

Djuric added that this should serve as a wake-up call for Albanians, who will withdraw their support from Kurti’s regime.

“My job, as Minister, is to secure diplomatic support. But there are other forms of support through different parts of our system. Material assistance to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija has not only continued under these difficult circumstances but has also increased. And I don’t mean individual stipends; the state has hired additional staff, introduced different support programs, and ensured that what Kurti wants — to cut off Serbs’ lifelines — does not happen,” he stressed.

According to him, Serbian institutions are being forced out on the ground, but they continue to function nonetheless.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/r5n384fa

Bislimi: We did not target health care in the north, we are working on a solution for it to enter the Kosovo legal framework (KoSSev, Danas, KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)

"Kosovo has not targeted any health facility that operates in the four municipalities in the north of our country but is working on a solution for their inclusion in our legal framework, ensuring that there is no disruption in the provision of health services and maximum adaptation to health personnel," announced yesterday acting deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, reported KoSSev portal.

KoSSev wrote that Pristina's chief negotiator for the dialogue with Belgrade in Brussels, who is also the vice-president of the outgoing Kosovo government and the first official to speak out about the issue, claimed first of all that Pristina did not target any health institution operating in the north, including, as he said, even those "illegal ones founded by Serbia".

However, he confirmed that work was being done on a solution for their inclusion in the Kosovo legal framework, so as not to disrupt the provision of services in them, as well as the staff.

"Instead, Kosovo is working on a solution to include them in our legal framework, ensuring that there are no disruptions in the provision of health services and maximum accommodation for health personnel."

And last week's closure of two Serbian institutions in the northern part of Mitrovica, which are sector-related with the functioning of health institutions, Bislimi justifies by saying that it was a temporary closure and that the local authorities dealt with it.

"Local trade inspectors have temporarily shut down the operation of the fund, illegally issuing invoices and conducting transactions, until the relevant evidence is submitted," Bislimi said in a post on the X network. 

He then accused Serbia of manipulation. Moreover, he was impressed by how capable that country is, reported KoSSev.

"We are all really impressed by Serbia's ability to manipulate public opinion by mass production of fake news, but it is of great importance to treat it as a means of propaganda and nothing else," he said at the end.

Jovanovic met Mordt: Compliance with UNSCR 1244 is a prerequisite for preserving the credibility and effectiveness of the UN (Kosovo Online) 

State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nevena Jovanovic pointed out yesterday in a conversation with the resident coordinator of the United Nations in Serbia, Matilde Mordt, that respect for UN SC Resolution 1244 and the principle of status neutrality, when it comes to Kosovo, primarily in the context of the activities of the Development Coordinator's Office in Pristina, was a necessary precondition for preserving the credibility and efficiency of the United Nations system, reported Kosovo Online. 

As stated in the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conversation discussed various modalities of cooperation between Serbia and UN development agencies, as well as the progress in the process of finalizing the draft of the text of the five-year United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development for the Republic of Serbia (2026-2030), which represents a key instrument for the analysis, planning and implementation of development activities of the UN system at the national level, in full compliance with the 2030 Agenda.

Special attention was paid to the upcoming participation of the Serbian delegation at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as a significant opportunity to present Serbia's priorities within the framework of multilateral cooperation.

Jovanovic pointed to the obligation to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the principle of status neutrality, when it comes to Kosovo, primarily in the context of the activities of the Office of the Development Coordinator in Pristina, stressing that this is a necessary prerequisite for preserving the credibility and efficiency of the United Nations system, the statement concluded.

Djurdjevic Stamenkovski: According to UN data, Serbs are the most threatened ethnic community in Kosovo (Danas, Beta, Tanjug)

The Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, announced yesterday that according to all United Nations data, the Serbian community in Kosovo was the most endangered ethnic community, with a rate of sustainable return below two percent, which, she estimated, was the lowest rate in the world.

Djurdjevic Stamenkovski spoke with the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) mission in Serbia, Zeynal Hajiyev, and invited him to inform other international actors about the situation in which the Serbian people in Kosovo find themselves.

"Currently, the Serbian people are in an alarming situation, denied the most basic human rights, due to terror and repression carried out by self-proclaimed institutions in Pristina and Albin Kurti," said Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, read the statement of the Ministry.

She announced that the International Ministerial Conference will be held in Belgrade at the beginning of November, which will gather representatives of the member states of the Central European Initiative.

"During discussions with representatives of other countries, Serbia will find the best solutions for managing labor migration in the future, which is becoming an increasingly important issue in Europe, as well as in the world," the minister said.

International

Kosovo OSCE staffer pleads not guilty to spying for Serbia (BIRN)

Jelena Djukanovic, an employee of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to spying for Serbia on Tuesday after being brought in handcuffs to a Pristina courtroom to hear the charges.

Djukanovic, who was arrested on February 28, is accused of sharing sensitive information with Serbia’s intelligence agency, the BIA. Bekim Kodraliu, the prosecutor, told the court that she had used her position within the OSCE Mission to provide the BIA with information.

“From an unspecified date until her arrest, in her capacity as the OSCE Mission’s National Programme Office at Mitrovica Regional Office, the defendant consciously and intentionally committed repeated actions, which consisted of information actions to a foreign intelligence service, namely Serbia’s Intelligence and Security Agency, BIA,” Kodraliu said.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4fvy7acj

Why the US suspended a 'Strategic Dialogue' with Kosovo before it even began (RFE)

A US decision to suspend a "strategic dialogue" with Kosovo has rocked the Balkan country's establishment, singling out Prime Minister Albin Kurti as a source of growing frustration in Washington -- his country's prime political and military guarantor.

The move, announced by the US Embassy on September 12, came after months of political turmoil in Kosovo and weeks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that a US-Serbia "strategic dialogue" would be launched.

Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani said the relationship with Washington was "an existential part of our state and national identity" while voicing "deep regret and concern" following the US decision.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/adnf3vya