Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: EU enlargement, best response to those who threaten peace (media)
• U.S. wants to see progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan Kosova)
• Lajcak: We outlined important follow-up steps to guide next discussion (media)
• Kurti remembers Lithuanian EULEX officer killed in north 11 years ago (media)
• UK: No good governance without equal inclusion of women in public life (media)
• Haziri rules out post-election coalition with Vetevendosje (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Balkan market condition for European one, those who want will stay in game (KoSSev, N1, media)
• Von der Leyen: Efforts to bring Western Balkans closer to EU (N1)
• Varhelyi: Good meeting with Vucic on next steps, growth plan in full swing (Tanjug, media)
• Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia-US strategic energy deal very important (media)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture says Pristina attempting to appropriate Serbian cultural heritage (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, media)
• Bisevac asks if new police base is built in Cecevo village, Zubin Potok municipality (Alternativna.com)
• EULEX pays tribute to its customs officer killed 11 years ago (Radio kontakt plus, social media)
• The new EU Special Representative visits Gracanica Monastery (media, social media)
• Banjska Monastery closed for visits in period from September 23-26 (KoSSev, media)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: EU enlargement, best response to those who threaten peace (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X after meeting President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Thursday, that EU enlargement is the best response to those who threaten the peace and unity of Europe. “I thanked President Ursula von der Leyen for the invitation today and her support for the Western Balkans and congratulated her on her re-election. Kosova is eager to join in the ‘race to the top’ in a merit-based membership process. With enlargement back on the EU's agenda, we look forward to getting candidate status and the questionnaire, as our commitment to reforms, development and democracy only grows stronger,” Kurti said.

Kurti also said that he repeated Kosovo’s request to receive the questionnaire from the European Commission as soon as possible. “Although it contains thousands of questions, we want to answer them with patience and dedication. The dialogue is at an advanced stage, and it should never be forgotten that we have an agreement. Kosovo and Serbia have an agreement on the path to normalizing relations. This agreement, called the Basic Agreement from February of last year, also includes an implementation annex agreed upon in Ohrid, and what needs to be done is to comply with, not violate it, and implement it without delay. At the core of this agreement is at least the de-facto mutual recognition, which facilitates our cooperation in the EU integration,” he said. 

U.S. wants to see progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan Kosova)

The United States is closely following developments in the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans, Alexander Kasanof, said on Thursday that there are issues in the region where Washington wants to see more progress and that it wants to see the dialogue between the two parties move forward. “There are important avenues for the United States to explore, in cooperation with Kosovo, Serbia and the European Union, to see how we can move forward. We think it is crucial to see progress. Because this is a sign for the other part of the region and is a criteria for advancement,” he argued.

Lajcak: We outlined important follow-up steps to guide next discussion (media)

EU Special Envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said in a Facebook post on Thursday that “the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of diplomatic efforts focused on advancing the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. After my discussion with First Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi in Pristina, I headed to Belgrade to prepare for this Tuesday’s Chief Negotiator meeting in Brussels. On Tuesday, I convened both Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels for separate meetings. Although we did not manage to agree on the agenda of a trilateral meeting, we discussed political and technical issues and outlined important follow-up steps to guide our next discussion. While the Dialogue was the primary focus of the last two weeks, I also participated in a couple of other activities. From Belgrade, I continued to Paris to meet with colleagues from the French Foreign Ministry and my good friend Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to President Macron. We focused on the latest developments in the Dialogue for normalizing relations, ensuring we’re aligned on the path forward. After a quick stopover in Brussels, I continued to Hungary, where I had the opportunity to speak about the EU as a foreign policy actor and also remotely participate in a panel focused on the Western Balkans and their European perspective, joined by serveral regional leaders.  Finally, to wrap up this intense period,  I engaged with young Slovak civil servants, highlighting the key role of the European External Action Service. Now I am about to head to New York for a the annual week of diplomatic speed-dating at the UN General Assembly”.

Kurti remembers Lithuanian EULEX officer killed in north 11 years ago (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X on Thursday that “11 years ago, a Lithuanian EULEX Customs officer, Audrius Senavicius, was shot and killed in cold blood by unknown assailants in the north of Kosova, on the road between Zveçan and Leposaviq. Like our national heroes Enver Zymeri and Afrim Bunjaku, Senavicius reminds us of the great sacrifices that brave men and women have made to extend security and rule of law over the entire Republic of Kosova. On this, the eleventh anniversary of his murder, we honor his memory, and we celebrate his service to our country and people”.

UK: No good governance without equal inclusion of women in public life (media)

The UK Embassy in Kosovo said on Thursday that through their flagship Recruitment Project they have supported Kosovo to embark on a journey towards merit-based recruitment in public offices. “We are particularly inspired by the women who have been appointed into senior roles, and who are driving change. From today, we are launching a campaign to show why we can’t do without them … There can be no good governance without the meaningful and equal inclusion of women in public life,” the statement notes.

Haziri rules out post-election coalition with Vetevendosje (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lutfi Haziri, in an interview with Periskopi on Thursday, ruled out the possibility of a post-election coalition with Kurti’s Vetevendosje Movement. “Definitely no. We didn’t have that option earlier and we don’t have it now … We are entering the [election] race to be in the first place. The LDK is the only option in Kosovo to stop the degradation, repair the damages and move forward,” he argued.

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: Balkan market condition for European one, those who want will stay in game (KoSSev, N1, media)

“One entity (in reference to Kosovo) did not want to accept fully CEFTA rules and free movement. A single one will no longer be able to threaten the path and progress of others. This is a good principle", Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters in Brussels, after attending a working lunch for the Western Balkans leaders organised by European Commission President Ursula von der Layen.

“{…} Anyone who doesn't want CEFTA or the Berlin Process is out of the game, the one who wants it - stays in the game. We are staying and we have accepted everything in that regard. We want an open Western Balkans, we want the opening of borders, free flow of goods, people and services", Vucic added.

Vucic also told reporters that Belgrade met all the criteria required under the Western Balkans Growth Plan. “We did everything, signed everything and I think only one country is here without meeting the criteria”. “Our instalment is 112 million Euro. That includes 32 million as a gift and 80 million Euro is a 40-year loan. That is almost free money under the most favourable conditions and is part of the public debt, just so the public knows”, he added.

According to Vucic, the most important thing is about reforms, not money. “True reforms are of the greatest importance for us. A total of 1.58 billion Euro are earmarked in the Growth Agenda for Serbia, including 380 million in grants and 1.2 billion in favourable loans. Part of that are budget funds and part is project financing”, he noted.

In relation to the ban on importing ready-made Serbian goods which Pristina describes as a “security measure”, Vucic said that Pristina accused “Serbian terrorists of climbing into trucks carrying school books and milk”. “I replied very strongly to that”, he said.

Vucic said talks about European integration and new chapters would be organised in December but added that this depends on political conditions. The President said he also discussed Serbia’s membership in the Single European Payment Area (SEPA) next year with Von der Leyen and voiced belief that this would happen on January 1, 2025.

Von der Leyen: Efforts to bring Western Balkans closer to EU (N1)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that efforts are underway to bring the economies and markets of the Western Balkans six closer to the European Union, N1 reported.

An X post after her working lunch with top officials from the Western Balkans said that all Western Balkans six belong to Europe. “This is what we are working on. In parallel, we are bringing their economies and markets closer to ours with our €6 billion Growth Plan for the region”, she added.

Varhelyi: Good meeting with Vucic on next steps, growth plan in full swing (Tanjug, media)

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on Thursday he had a good meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels to prepare "next steps as we launch ambitious reforms based on the Serbian Reform Agenda", Tanjug news agency reported.  In a post on X social platform, Varhelyi wrote that the EU's new 6 bln euro growth plan was "already in full swing".

"On the margins of the Western Balkan Leaders Meeting, I had a good meeting with President Vucic to prepare next steps as we launch ambitious reforms based on the Serbian Reform Agenda. The new 6 bln euro Growth Plan is already in full swing. More reforms, more support!", he wrote.

In a separate post after a working luncheon hosted for Western Balkan leaders by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Varhelyi noted that "regional integration through the Common Regional Market is more critical than ever". "While finalising the Reform Agendas & Loan + Facility Agreements we discussed the latest developments in our Growth Plan: SEPA, Green Lanes, Digital & Health sectors", he posted.

Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia-US strategic energy deal very important (media)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Thursday a Serbia-US agreement on strategic cooperation in the energy sector, signed in Washington on Wednesday, was very important for the upcoming energy transition and that there was great interest among US companies in investing in renewable energy sources in Serbia. "We need that, but we also need sufficient experience and know-how to translate that know-how into concrete initiatives and projects here", Djedovic Handanovic said.

Serbian Ministry of Culture says Pristina attempting to appropriate Serbian cultural heritage (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, media)

Serbian Ministry of Culture reacting to the statements of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that Serbia committed "a culturicide in Kosovo," said that this was “yet another shameless distortion of truth in Pristina's persistent attempts to absurdly claim Serbian cultural heritage and shift the blame for its systematic destruction, which has been ongoing for decades, onto the victim itself”, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"Despite the fact that Serbian cultural heritage has been subjected to systematic destruction, burning, desecration of cemeteries, breaking and vandalising of churches, theft of artefacts, forgery, and looting, Pristina allows itself the unparalleled brazenness to accuse Serbs and the Serbian state of vandalism and violence against Serbian cultural heritage", reads the statement from the Ministry.

"Let them continue, to their shame, accusing the guardians of heritage and those whose names are inscribed on broken tombstones, and whose benefactors built everything they now wish to destroy or appropriate for centuries. Serbia, despite all this, will never cease to protect with all its strength, warn the whole world, and nurture the heritage of Serbian Kosovo and Metohija, which, even when on the List of World Heritage in Danger, remains a jewel in the crown of humanity's cultural heritage", the statement added.

Bisevac asks if new police base is built in Cecevo village, Zubin Potok municipality (Alternativna.com)

Works on clearing the area around an old factory are underway in the village of Cecevo, in Zubin Potok municipality, Alternativna.com portal reports. Milija Bisevac from Serbian Peoples’ Movement said that according to their unofficial information a new Kosovo police base is being constructed on that spot. Kosovo police of the region North told the portal that the Emergency Management Agency would be placed at that location.

“As it is known, during the eighties this property was given as a gift from Cecevo residents to the municipality of Zubin Potok to build a factory there to try to keep young people and population so they can work and live in this area”, Bisevac said. He accused the Kosovo Government “of destroying every economic facility, in order to make the lives of people more difficult and drive people out from there”, adding the question of Zubin Potok residents and his political party is who needs yet another police base in Zubin Potok and what it would serve for?

He also asked the Serbian List, who are sitting in the Kosovo Assembly, why they remain silent to such things and how long they plan to be silent?

EULEX pays tribute to its customs officer killed 11 years ago (Radio kontakt plus, social media)

“Eleven years ago, EULEX's Lithuanian Customs Officer Audrius Šenavičius was tragically murdered in the line of duty when his vehicle came under fire from unknown persons in northern Kosovo”, EULEX said in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Thursday.

“Today, EULEX and the Kosovo Police honoured his memory and sacrifice with a wreath-laying ceremony. Commemorating the tragic loss, the Head of EULEX, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, said: “Our thoughts go to Audrius’ family and friends, who still carry the heavy burden of grief made even more painful by the fact that those responsible for this terrible crime have yet to face justice. As we come together to commemorate our dear colleague today, we are reminded of our unwavering determination to seek justice. We will not rest until those who took his life are held accountable. Our commitment to Audrius’ family, friends and colleagues in EULEX and in Lithuania remains as steadfast as ever”.

Read the full statement at: https://shorturl.at/bNikE

The new EU Special Representative visits Gracanica Monastery (media, social media)

The new European Union Special Representative in Pristina, Aivo Orav, visited Gracanica Monastery yesterday, where he met with His Eminence Metropolitan Teodosije of Raska and Prizren, Diocese said in a statement published on its official website.

Metropolitan Teodosije warmly welcomed Mr. Orav. Following their meeting, they toured the Gracanica Monastery church, where Mr. Orav had the opportunity to learn more about the monastery’s rich history, the statement added.

In a post on X social platform Orav wrote yesterday that he was “glad to meet with Bishop Teodosije of the Serbian Orthodox Church to discuss how religious communities can serve as a force for promoting tolerance and peace. I also had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Gracanica Monastery”. 

Banjska Monastery closed for visits in period from September 23-26 (KoSSev, media)

Banjska Monastery will be closed for visitors from Monday, 23 September to Thursday, 26 September, Raska-Prizren Diocese announced, KoSSev portal reported. 

“The Diocese of Raška and Prizren informs the public that the Monastery of St. Archdeacon and Protomartyr Stephen in Banjska will be closed to visitors on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (September 23-26) due to security reasons and to ensure the preservation of peace, which is currently of utmost importance for the monastery”, reads the statement from Diocese.

On September 24, it would be one year since an armed incident took place in the village of Banjska, Zvecan municipality, where this Monastery is also located, the portal added.