Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: First, sanctions against Serbia, then dialogue (media)
• The arms smuggling that threatened Kosovo’s security (Radio Free Europe)
• European Parliament votes on Kosovo-Serbia resolution on October 19 (Koha)
• Rama demands measures for Serbia, before it becomes too late (media)
• Former Defence Minister: Only solution are weapons sanctions against Serbia (Klan)
• Bujar Osmani: If Serbia is involved in attack in Banjske, we will consider participation in Open Balkans (media)
• Kurti demands from opposition to vote on international agreements (Nacionale)ff
• Bislimi travelled to Brussels, to present the European perspective of Kosovo (RTK)
• "Politico": There is no place for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue at the Granada summit (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Summit of the European political community in Granada, meetings on Kosovo expected (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• EP to vote the resolution on relations between Serbia and Kosovo on October 19 (Danas, N1)
• Petkovic with Ziadeh on the political and security situation in Kosovo (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• James O'Brien Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia (FoNet, KiM radio)
• Michel: An opportunity open for progress towards the EU, but Belgrade and Pristina must resolve disputes (RTS)
• Serbian Orthodox Church door in Suvi Do forcibly opened (KoSSev)

International:

• Backlash grows against Ukraine’s EU accession (politico.eu)
• European Political Community live news: Leaders meet in Spain’s Granada (Al Jazeera)

     

Albanian Language Media  

 

Osmani: First, sanctions against Serbia, then dialogue (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has said that during the Third Summit of the European Political Community, attended by 47 European countries, she will demand that Serbia be sanctioned for the aggression committed in Kosovo on September 24 by terrorist groups.

Before the start of this summit, Osmani said in a statement to the media present there that during this summit she will ask the European leaders to sanction Serbia for the aggression committed against Kosovo.

Asked if a meeting between her and the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, could take place in Granada, she said that nothing like that has been foreseen and there is no reason to meet before sanctions are imposed against Vucic.

As for the return to dialogue, Osmani has said that first "sanctions against Serbia and then dialogue" should take place.

"We must understand that Serbia committed a crime. They have endangered the entire European continent. What happened on September 24 was carried out by the order of the leadership of Serbia", she said.

She further added that the only way to overcome the current situation is "to impose harsh measures against Serbia". Otherwise, Osmani said, if the situation continues as it is now, then "we have to talk about technical issues and forget the fact that there was an act of aggression from Serbia carried out by terrorist groups that were armed by the leadership of Serbia".

"This must be stopped so that Vucic does not commit such acts. Statements are not enough, measures must be taken, we must be unanimous in supporting Kosovo regarding the threats from Serbia", added Osmani.

Further, she said that Serbia should not participate in the European Political Community, as she said "this is a table of countries that believe in peace and unfortunately Serbia is not one of them".

The arms smuggling that threatened Kosovo’s security (Radio Free Europe)

It has been more than ten days since the attack in Banjska, investigations have been launched, large amounts of weapons were presented as evidence and there have been different assessments about the destruction the weapons could have caused. Rocket launchers, RPGs, automatic rifles, military vehicles and explosives were some of the weapons that Kosovo Police said it seized after the September 24 attack. There is different speculation and assessments as to how and for how long these weapons could have entered Kosovo.

Former Director of the Kosovo Customs, Naim Huruglica, said in an interview with the news website, that it could have been done even in one day. “The village of Banjska is linked to a road that is not in a bad condition. It is the shortest way to get to Novi Pazar in Serbia,” Huruglica said, referring to the road known as Izvor. “That road is capable of withstanding transport even with trucks”.

Huruglica said that one of the reasons could be the lack of cross-border cooperation. “The exchange of information is very necessary when two countries want to fight smuggling. In this specific case there is no cooperation from the Serbian side,” he said. 

Former Director of Kosovo Police, Reshat Maliqi, told RFE that “Serbia is not interested in preventing smuggling into Kosovo. On the contrary, it stimulates and increases it”. “The inability to prevent this arsenal from entering into Kosovo has threatened the security of the state,” he added.

The Kosovo Customs meanwhile say that the weapons entered “through mountain roads” without disclosing further details. A spokesperson for the Customs, Adriatik Stavileci, said they run checks at the two border crossings in the north – Jarinje and Bernjak – and that they are preventing the smuggling of goods. He also said that the green line – which includes the zones near the borders where illegal routes are usually created for smuggling – is controlled by the Kosovo Police and that if needed the Anti-Smuggling Unit and the Kosovo Customs assist them.

European Parliament votes on Kosovo-Serbia resolution on October 19 (Koha)

The European Parliament will vote on the resolution on the relations between Kosovo and Serbia at the second October plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday, October 19.

The debate on the document, whose full title is "Resolution on the latest developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo", was held on Tuesday, a day after the social democrats in the European Parliament requested that the debate to be turned into a resolution.

In a fierce debate, the MEPs demanded the calming of the situation in the north and the punishment of Serbia if it is found to be behind the armed attack in Banjska in Zvecani on September 24, where the sergeant of the Kosovo Police, Afrim Bunjaku, was killed.

The proposed measures against Serbia, if proven to be behind the attack in Banjska, range from the suspension of meetings at the highest level, to the complete suspension of funding from the IPA3 program and major infrastructure projects.

The draft text of the resolution will be published in the meantime.

Rama demands measures for Serbia, before it becomes too late (media)

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has arrived at the third Summit of the European political community in Granada, Spain, where he said that he is concerned about the situation in the north of Kosovo.

"I am very concerned. We are constantly worried because it is a dangerous situation. It is now at the point where year after year the potential risk has increased, it added up. Criminal activities in that part where the Serb minority mainly lives now are completely aligned with the political agenda and with a lot of nationalism," said Prime Minister Rama.

He also stated that Albania is in agreement with the EU and the USA, while stressing that it is necessary for Kosovo to move forward and be constructive in the dialogue.

"In all ways we have been in full agreement with the EU and the USA and we need the Kosovar authorities to step forward and be active and constructive in the dialogue and take advantage of the opportunity and this is an important step forward and very good agreement for Kosovo and the region, but at the same time the simple fact that Serbia declared an international day of mourning to mourn the members of the paramilitary criminal group that killed the policeman was enough for the EU to say that this is not acceptable and this is punishable".

The Albanian Prime Minister emphasized that before it is too late, measures must be taken for Serbia.

"War is a big word, but before it is too late, measures must be taken, and we are following the situation closely, and it is important that there is a desire within NATO to strengthen the KFOR mission in the north. We very much hope that the dialogue will continue or resume", Rama told the journalists in Granada.

Former Defence Minister: Only solution are weapons sanctions against Serbia (Klan)

Kosovo’s former Minister of Defence, Armend Mehaj, argued today that there should be weapons sanctions against Serbia. He said that there should be a faster procedure for Kosovo’s membership in NATO. According to Mehaj if Kosovo had acted the way Serbia did, “there would have been decades long sanctions against Kosovo”. Mehaj also proposed the establishment of a permanent U.S. military base in Kosovo.

Bujar Osmani: If Serbia is involved in attack in Banjske, we will consider participation in Open Balkans (media)

The Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, told "Top Tema" that if it is proven that Serbia is somehow involved in the attack in Bansjke of Zvecan, they should reconsider participation in the "Open Balkans" initiative.

"After the events in Kosovo on September 24, I think that Serbia should make an effort to prove that it is not involved in that event, because if there is any state intervention, it really makes it impossible for us, other countries in the region to participate, because the idea of the "Open Balkans" above all was reconciliation. And what happened in the north of Kosovo, I hope it will be proven that there is no state involvement, but if it is proven, I really think we should reconsider our participation", Osmani said.

Kurti demands from opposition to vote on international agreements (Nacionale)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti during the session of the Assembly of Kosovo, called on the opposition to vote on international agreements. Kurti said that international agreements should not be blocked because they directly affect the citizens.

"Blocking the government can really make our job more difficult, but it also makes the government look weaker, but the government can last until the end of the mandate without voting on international agreements." - Kurti said, among other things.

"The agreements that are awaiting ratification are neither harmful, nor do they cause obligations that endanger the financial stability of Kosovo. On the contrary, we are dealing with over 360 million euros that are either soft loans or grants, that do not need to be returned at all and will be invested in development projects that are so important for our country," he said.

He further mentioned the time when LVV was in the opposition and, according to him, voted for international agreements.

"From 2011 to 2022, when the Vetevendosje Movement was the parliamentary opposition, 377 international agreements were voted on, out of 377 international agreements, only three agreements were not supported by the Vetevendosje Movement. Vote the international agreements, not for the government, but for our citizens," he said.

Bislimi travelled to Brussels, to present the European perspective of Kosovo (RTK)

Kosovo’s first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue, Besnik Bislimi, has travelled to Brussels. Today he will present the European perspective of Kosovo and the current situation at the "European Policy Center", in the discussion on the topic "Kosovo's road to the EU: How to overcome the deadlock?".

"Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi will also meet with the head of the Committee for Foreign Affairs in the Belgian Parliament, Els Van Hoof, and the General Director for Neighborhood and EU Enlargement Negotiations, Gert Jan Koopman. During his stay in Brussels, he will also hold a discussion with the PSC (Political and Security Committee) where ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions and from the EU will take part", says the announcement of the Prime Minister's information office.

"Politico": There is no place for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue at the Granada summit (RTK)

The prestigious media "Politico" has also written about the summit of European leaders that is being held today in Granada, Spain, where representatives of 47 countries are participating, which also focuses on the latest developments in Kosovo. It is also mentioned there that the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia are also at the summit, but no meeting between them is expected.

"The presidents of Kosovo and Serbia will participate, while the officials of the European Union and Kosovo have said that the European Political Community is not the right forum for dialogue, as discussions are needed between the Serbian president Aleksandër Vucic and the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti who will not participate in this forum," Politico wrote.

Kosovo, as further stated in the article of this medium, participates with the president Vjosa Osmani, who according to "Politico" holds a mainly ceremonial function.

   

Serbian Language Media

 

Summit of the European political community in Granada, meetings on Kosovo expected (RTS, Kosovo Online)

The third summit of the European political community is being held in Grenada, where the leaders of more than 40 countries will discuss security, energy, and other issues of importance to the continent. Informal meetings of the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans on the situation in Kosovo are also possible. President Aleksandar Vucic represents Serbia. 

According to RTS, Vucic participates in a round table on the topic: "Energy, environmental protection and the fight against climate change".

47 heads of state and government, as well as the president of the European Council, the president of the European Commission and the president of the European Parliament, were invited to that meeting, the Service for Cooperation with the Media of the President of the Republic announced.

The topic of discussion between European leaders is the improvement of political dialogue and cooperation with the aim of strengthening security and stability on the European continent, the statement added.

Informal meetings on Kosovo 

On the sidelines of the Summit in Granada, President Vucic, will have a series of bilateral meetings with European officials, including the President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Great Britain Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Iceland Katrin Jakobsdottir, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and security policy Josep Borrell. 

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said today from Granada, ahead of the start of the summit that he expects a difficult and tiring day, but that he hopes for progress, reported Kosovo Online portal. 

According to Kosovo Online, Vucic said that he will address the media after the meetings.

It is also planned that tomorrow EU leaders will discuss the European Union's preparations for new enlargement at a separate summit, considering the decision to open membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, which is expected by the end of the year, RTS reported.

EP to vote the resolution on relations between Serbia and Kosovo on October 19 (Danas, N1)

The European Parliament will vote on the Resolution on the relations between Serbia and Kosovo at the second October Plenary Session in Strasbourg on Thursday, October 19, reported N1.

The debate on the document, with the "Resolution on the latest developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo", was held at the session on Tuesday, a day after the Social Democrats from the European Parliament requested that the debate be turned into a resolution.

In a heated debate, MPs called for calming down the situation and punishing Serbia if it is found to be behind the latest armed incidents in the village of Banjska.

The proposed measures range from the suspension of meetings at the highest level, to the complete suspension of funding from the IPA3 program and major infrastructure projects.

The draft text of the Resolution will be published in the meantime.

Petkovic with Ziadeh on the political and security situation in Kosovo (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced that the Director of the Office for KiM, Petar Petkovic discussed with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and the Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo Caroline Ziadeh the political and security situation in Kosovo, in light of the recent tragic events in the village of Banjska, in the municipality Zvecan, KiM radio reports.

Petkovic reminded that Belgrade had been warning the international community for more than a year that "Albin Kurti's violence and terror against the Serbian population in the north of Kosovo and Metohija can lead to tragedy and unfathomable consequences, which happened on the night between 23 and on September 24, unfortunately, it happened", reported KiM radio, citing the Office statement. 

"Although Pristina persistently tries to blame Belgrade for the recent events in Banjska with fabricated data and a campaign of lies, director Petkovic reminded that Belgrade has always consistently advocated for peace and stability in the province and that the Serbian side did not need the incidents, but that all responsibility for the latest events is on Pristina," the announcement reads.

The Director of the Office pointed out that in the north of Kosovo it is necessary to ensure a greater presence of members of KFOR and EULEX, which would lead to greater security of the Serbian people.

"Petkovic emphasized that it is necessary to withdraw the Kosovo Police from the north of Kosovo and Metohija, because, as he said, according to the Brussels Agreement, they have nothing to look for in the north and the citizens see them exclusively as an occupying force, which is shown daily by the violence and terror that are being carried out," the announcement states.

Petkovic also pointed out that recent events have unequivocally shown that it is necessary for the Serbs in Kosovo to enable the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities as soon as possible, through which the collective and individual rights of the Serbian people would be secured, as provided for in the Brussels Agreement.

At the end of the conversation, the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petković, expressed to the head of UNMIK Belgrade's expectations that the mission headed by her will take a balanced and objective approach in looking at the recent tragic events and in presenting them in its next report, notes the Office. 

The meeting was also attended by the representative of the UN Secretary General and the head of the UN Office in Belgrade, Mari Yamashita.

James O'Brien Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia (FoNet, KiM radio)

The US Senate confirmed the appointment of James O'Brien as Assistant Secretary of State Blinken for Europe and Eurasia.

67 senators voted for his appointment and 31 were against, it was announced on the profile of the US Senate on the X social network.

O'Brien will replace Yuri Kim, the former US ambassador to Albania, as assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia at the State Department heads the Office for Europe and Eurasian Affairs and is responsible for implementing US foreign policy in those regions.

O'Brien, who was nominated for that position a few months ago by US President Joseph Biden, will be the superior of the US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar.

He was a senior adviser to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, as the first deputy director for policy planning and the presidential envoy for the Balkans.

O'Brien was a member of the American delegation during the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia in Rambouillet in 1999 and was also involved in finding a solution to end the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and helped formulate the Dayton Agreement in 1995.

Michel: An opportunity open for progress towards the EU, but Belgrade and Pristina must resolve disputes (RTS)

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced that at the summit of the European Political Community in Granada, there could be informal meetings of the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans on the situation in Kosovo. In a statement to RTS, Michel emphasized that diplomatic efforts are underway to convince leaders in the region that "dialogue and stability are what they should be working on.

Michel said he hoped the meetings on the sidelines of the Granada summit would help resolve the issue. "We are working closely with the US and NATO, in order to convey a clear message that there is no time for new crises and turbulence. Now is the time to seize the opportunity for progress towards the EU," said Michel.

He assessed that "there is an open opportunity for a faster advance of the region towards the EU" and pointed out that Belgrade and Pristina must resolve their mutual disputes in order to take advantage of it, reported RTS.

"For the progress of the Western Balkans, the rule of law and economic reforms are necessary, but it is equally important to resolve bilateral disputes, not only between Kosovo and Serbia. I hope that the leaders of the region realize that there is an opportunity that should be used," said Michel.

The third summit of the European political community is being held in Granada on Thursday, where the leaders of 44 countries, from Iceland to Azerbaijan, will discuss security, energy and other issues of interest to the entire continent. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic will also attend. 

Admission of ten new members - potential paralysis of institutions?

A day later, at the same place, EU leaders will discuss the Union's preparations for new enlargement at a separate summit, in light of the decision to open membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, which is expected by the end of the year.

The President of the European Council, Michel, suggested that the year 2030 should be the target date by which the EU and the candidate countries should be ready to accept new members.

The admission of a larger number of poor candidate countries will inevitably affect the common budget and some EU policies. Many of the current net recipient countries from the European budget will pay more into the EU cash register after enlargement than they will receive from it. Member states will also have to assess whether the admission of a dozen new members means a potential paralysis of institutions.

The Granada Summit should be the starting point in this thinking. But the summit in Granada will not start from a blank sheet of paper: there are already many proposals on the table for a new enlargement policy, of which probably the most important is the proposal of the Franco-German group of experts, backed by the governments of the two largest member countries.

Western Balkans' skepticism 

This proposal supports 2030 as the target date by which the EU should prepare for new club members. It also proposes a transition to majority decision-making in almost all areas of action, an increase in the EU budget and stronger rules to protect the rule of law and democracy within the Union.

Michel said that the debate on enlargement within the EU has fundamentally changed, but that it was still accompanied by a high level of skepticism and mistrust in the Western Balkans.

"Skepticism is normal, given that the leaders of the Western Balkans have learned over time how to win elections even without tangible progress on the road to the EU. I believe that will change when they see that we are serious. I am optimistic that the positive outcome of the summits in Granada, and Brussels in December will influence a change in attitude," Michel said in a statement to RTS before the summit in Granada.

The next stop in the enlargement debate, after the Granada summit, is the annual report of the European Commission in early November and the summit in December, where enlargement will be the central theme. The debate will continue into early next year - with the aim of ending by the summer with clear guidelines and principles for the next European administration in the mandate from 2024 to 2029, reported RTS.

Serbian Orthodox Church door in Suvi Do forcibly opened (KoSSev)

The Serbian Orthodox Church priest in Suvi Do village, near Mitrovica North, reported to the Kosovo police that the door of the church in this village had been forcefully opened, KoSSev portal reported.

The portal said the police are investigating the case, without providing additional details. 

     

International 

 

Backlash grows against Ukraine’s EU accession (politico.eu)

As leaders meet in Granada, bloc heavyweights can’t agree on a time frame for reform and enlargement.

GRANADA, Spain — French President Emmanuel Macron will aim to rally countries behind a historic expansion that would integrate war-torn Ukraine and several other candidate countries into the European Union during a gathering of leaders in the Spanish city of Granada that kicks off Thursday.

But concerns among member states about the mechanics and viability of such a large expansion present a serious threat to a project Macron and other leaders, like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have staked their credibility upon.

Read more at:  https://tinyurl.com/5xbkp2my

European Political Community live news: Leaders meet in Spain’s Granada (Al Jazeera)

Some 50 European leaders have arrived in Granada, Spain for a summit of the European Political Community, a forum aiming to foster cooperation across the continent.

Meetings on the margins will focus on crises between Azerbaijan and Armenia and between Serbia and Kosovo, which have flared in recent weeks.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/ms4xubta