Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti and Lajcak discuss next high-level meeting in Brussels (media)

• Kurti and Brnabic clash over non-implementation of agreements (media)

• Kurti: Atmosphere with the five non-recognizing countries, better (media)

• Kurti meets Peach in Bled, discuss about dialogue (Klan)

• Osmani on Kosovo's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration at EFA2023 (media)

• Kurti meets Bulgarian and Slovenian Prime Ministers, U.S. Ambassador to OSCE (media)

• LVV releases another video, denies affair about state reserves (media)

• Citaku: Government should take Macron's warning on visas seriously (Reporteri)

• Raci: Macron's visa threat worrying (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Michel: EU must be ready to accept new members by 2030 (N1, Hina)

• PM Brnabic: Full membership in the EU best for Serbia, but the criteria are constantly changing (RTS)

• Brnabic, Kurti clash at Bled Strategic Forum (FoNet, N1)

• Media: Dusan Obrenovic's detention extended for another two months; His lawyer did not receive a decision (KiM radio)

International Media:

• Rita Ora's Serbian Flag 'Incident' Generates Hate Storm on Social Media (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti and Lajcak discuss next high-level meeting in Brussels (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met in Bled the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak. According to announcement of the prime minister's office, they discussed the dialogue process and the importance of the full implementation of the Basic Agreement and its Annex without conditions, as well as the possibilities for a next high-level meeting in Brussels during September.

"The prime minister said in the light of the speech of the president of the European Council for integration of the Western Balkans in the European Union until 2030, it is important to progress towards full normalization with mutual recognition. Regarding the situation in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, the prime minister recalled that "we already have a de-escalated situation which should not be re-escalated", the prime minister's office announced.

 Kurti also emphasized that Kosovo is already working on secondary legislation for early elections, which should be preceded by an open campaign, without intimidation and blackmail, followed by free and democratic elections.

Lajcak also wrote about this meeting on the social network X. He emphasized that the main topic of the discussion was the preparations for the next high-level meeting in Brussels, which according to him is expected to be held during the next month.

Kurti and Brnabic clash over non-implementation of agreements (media)

Kosovo and Serbia criticized each other at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia over non-implementation of the agreements. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that Serbia has not been implementing the Agreement on the path to normalization, thus making normalization difficult. Kurti has reacted to the statement of the Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who, in the panel held on Monday, said that there is only one state and not two, as according to her, Kosovo is not recognized internationally.

"Support for the EU in Kosovo is 94 percent, in Serbia 35 percent. We imposed sanctions against Russia, Serbia is not thinking about it. It has not distanced itself from Milosevic or Putin. It is not easy for us. I want to normalize relations and I would do it immediately. Normalization with Serbia is more difficult, but it can happen. We must implement the basic Treaty we agreed in Brussels. Normality in psychology means the absence of confusion between reality and fantasy," said Kurti, whose speech was interrupted by applause from the audience, media report. 

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, when asked in the discussion panel at the Bled Strategic Forum about the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, said that "there is only one state for her and there are not two states".

"The so-called Republic of Kosovo is not an internationally recognized state, it is not a member of the UN. Yes, I clearly doubt that it will become part of the EU, until there are five non-recognizing states. Normalization is in the interest of Belgrade and Pristina, of Serbs and Albanians, it is in the interest of the entire region, it is clearly a high thing on the list of our priorities", Brnabic said.

Kurti: The atmosphere with the five non-recognizing countries, better (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that he expects the five non-recognizing countries, members of the European Union, to change their position and join the majority of European Union countries that recognize Kosovo's independence. At the Bled Strategic Forum, Kurti said that the atmosphere with these countries is better than it was before. 

"There are some small concrete steps and we hope that they will change their attitude and thus join the majority of EU countries that recognize us. 22 out of 27 countries recognize us in the EU, 26 out of 30 in NATO and 34 out of 36 in the Council of Europe," he said.

Kurti said that Kosovo is at the top of the six in the Western Balkans in terms of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, political freedoms and civil rights and expects that there will be more cooperation and join the EU not only to benefit from it, but also to contribute.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo further said that it is important to have mutual recognition within the Western Balkans and to the protect minority rights throughout the region. 

Asked about the situation in the north, Kurti said that there have been no violent protests for two months now and the presence of the Kosovo Police has been reduced twice by 25 percent.

"We need de-escalation, we need the easing of tensions, and for two months now, there have been no protests and violent incidents in the northern municipalities of Kosovo, we have twice reduced the number of Kosovo Police in these municipal buildings by 25 percent and I can't wait to have early elections in the northern municipalities and I hope that we will have a fair and open campaign for free and democratic elections. We need the help of the international community but on the other hand I believe that the people in Kosovo have understood that those who integrate live better", he said.

Kurti meets Peach in Bled, discuss about dialogue (Klan) 

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met at the Bled Forum the British special emissary, Stuart Peach. 

"Good meeting with the Lord, Stuart Peach at the Bled Forum. We talked about regional cooperation and dialogue. I thanked him for the active role and support of the United Kingdom," Kurti wrote on the X platform.

A press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister informs that “the Prime Minister said that two months have passed since the last incident in these four municipalities, and since then there have been no violent protests, the number of workers in the municipal buildings has increased and the police presence in and around the municipal buildings has decreased proportionally. We have a de-escalated situation thanks to the cooperation of citizens from the Serb community and the actions of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. It is important now to be alert to the re-escalation that may come from the statements and actions of the Serbian state leaders". 

Osmani talks about Kosovo's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration at EFA2023 (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani is participating at the European Finance Association (EFA2023) that is being held in Austria. She wrote on X platform that she met on Monday with young people from all over the world.

“An engaging discussion this morning with young people from around the world at EFA2023! We talked about Kosovo's path towards freedom and independence and our efforts today as a thriving democracy dedicated to Euro-Atlantic integrations", she wrote.

Kurti meets separately Bulgarian and Slovenian Prime Ministers, U.S. Ambassador to OSCE (media) 

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met in Bled on Monday with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Nikolai Denkov.Kurti thanked Prime Minister Denkov for Bulgaria's continuous support to Kosovo, and support for Kosovo's membership in international organizations, reports the Prime Minister's Information Office.

They also discussed the optimization of the cooperation potential, especially in the field of economy. "In June of this year, the Kosovo-Bulgaria Chamber of Commerce established its headquarters in Sofia. The number of Bulgarian investors in Kosovo is about 135 with an investment power of about 6 million euros spread over several sectors such as trade and services, tourism, construction, information technology and transport.

"During the meeting, Prime Minister Kurti also informed Prime Minister Denkov about economic and democratic progress, the main achievements of governance and reforms in the field of rule of law and fighting corruption, which have been widely identified and evaluated in reliable international reports. He also invited him to visit Kosovo in the near future", the communiqué informs.

In the former presidential residence Vila Bled, the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, met his Slovenian counterpart, Robert Golob, media report.

Within this year’s theme of the forum "Solidarity for Global Security", they also discussed regional cooperation, the membership of the Western Balkans in the European Union and the dialogue for the implementation of the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex.

Kurti held his last meeting on Monday in Bled with the Ambassador of the United States of America to the OSCE, Michael Carpenter. They discussed current issues in Kosovo and the dialogue process, namely the implementation of the Basic Agreement and its Annex. 

LVV releases another video, denies affair about state reserves (media)

The Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) has released another video through which it has refuted the affair with state reserves. The video initially speaks about the economic progress of Kosovo, to continue further saying that all the developments brought by the Kurti government were not liked by the "losers and extortionists of this country". 

"They threw imaginary ideas into the air about the wheat affair, the oil affair, the Martin affair, the so-and-so affair, and when they saw that nothing was sticking, they came out with audio recordings of their militants to try to smear our people in the institutions," it is said in the video.

"No proof or evidence, but only slander against the government that is not feeding their throats like previous governments".

According to the LVV, the latter are using the Special Prosecutor's Office to attack the government.

Citaku: The government should take Macron's warning about visas seriously (Reporteri) 

Vlora Citaku, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has emphasized that the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron on the review of visa policies for Kosovo and Serbia, if the parties do not behave responsibly, should be taken seriously by the government.

"This statement reaffirms the position of the EU, that the time for words and advice has already passed. After the concrete measures of the EU against Kosovo, after the recent political developments in the country, the review of visa liberalization for our citizens would be very depressing".

"Therefore, beyond criticism and daily politics, this is advice for the government. No one is asking you to act against the interest of the state and our citizens. On the contrary, understand correctly the warning of President Macron, act responsibly and do not violate the freedom of movement of the citizens of Kosovo - deserved and expected for many years", Citaku said.

Raci: Macron's visa threat worrying (Klan)

Political analyst Gazmir Raci said that the statement of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, that the issue of visas for Kosovo will be reviewed if the parties do not behave responsibly, is disturbing. 

"Today we also have a threat that even the liberalization of visas will... Very worrying. I expected the French president and the German chancellor to commit to their plan, which they promoted with pomposity, to improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia and to further advance interstate relations between the two countries.

"He comes out with a statement where he says that the parties will be able to be punished. This approach is wrong" Raci said.

 

Serbian Language Media

Michel: EU must be ready to accept new members by 2030 (N1, Hina)

The European Union must be ready to accept new members by 2030, European Council President Charles Michel said at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia on Monday.

“I believe we must be ready — on both sides — by 2030 to enlarge,” Michel said, adding that “this is ambitious, but necessary.”

“To be credible, I believe we must talk about timing and homework,” he pointed out.

“We should get rid of ambiguities. The road to the EU for the Western Balkans began more than twenty years ago. It was a region that emerged from the conflict after the breakup of Yugoslavia, but the slow pace of its European path disappointed many in the region and in the European Union. Therefore, I agree that Europe must fulfil its promises.”

He added that the EU must talk about deadlines when it wants to be a credible actor.

“We must set ourselves a clear goal and I believe that we must be ready on both sides to carry out the expansion by 2030. And this also means that the EU’s long-term budget should include these common goals. I know it’s a big ambition, but it’s something that’s necessary and shows that we’re serious. It will provide a transformative impetus for reforms,” he noted.

Michel said that European leaders will discuss the issue of enlargement at the next European Council meetings.

PM Brnabic: Full membership in the EU best for Serbia, but the criteria are constantly changing (RTS)

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told journalists in Bled that Serbia has fulfilled all that is necessary to open Cluster 3 and that full membership in the EU is the best place for the country, but also that it is in the interest of the Union. She hopes that the EU and the international community will somehow manage to reach Albin Kurti, because the Serbs in Kosovo do not enjoy even the minimum of a minimum of human rights. As for the region, she says that Serbia wants to have absolutely the best relations with Montenegro and hopes that in September a single electronic toll collection will be established with Croatia as well, reported RTS.

After the panel on the Western Balkans within the Bled Strategic Forum, Brnabic told journalists that, when it comes to European integration and the reasons why citizens' interest in membership in the European Union is declining, she stated that there are several reasons, of which, according to her, the first is the fact that the membership process takes a very long time and there is no end in sight.

"The second is that the criteria are constantly changing, i.e., what you need to do in order to move forward. We have fulfilled all that is necessary to open Cluster 3, which concerns the economy and competitiveness in our negotiations with the EU," Brnabic said. 

In the two last annual progress reports, she noted, the European Commission recommended to all member states to agree to open Cluster 3, which is extremely important, but this is still not happening.

"In the meantime, the war in Ukraine started. So, when we fulfilled everything that was necessary for the opening of Cluster 3, there was no war on the European continent, and in the meantime, the war in Ukraine started and the requirements changed," said Brnabic.

She pointed out that now it is being heard that one of the demands is the harmonization of Serbia's foreign policy with the EU's foreign policy, which, according to her, has nothing to do with Cluster 3, which would be retroactive and contrary to the framework of our negotiation process.

"Within that framework, you should align yourself with the EU's foreign and security policy at the moment you become a member of the EU," the Prime Minister explained.

She added that these goals are constantly changing and that this is something that certainly frustrates people and citizens see that.

She recalled how North Macedonia, which even after changing its name, failed to get a date for the start of negotiations.

"There is no justice if you shoot at Serbs in Kosovo"

Regarding the situation in Kosovo, Brnabic said that the Kosovo PM Albin Kurti, only says what he believes that the people of Kosovo want to hear and what he himself believes, which is far from reality.

The PM Brnabic indicated that only 1.89 percent of people returned to Kosovo during the 23 years since the conflict and indicated that "Kurti calls it a success story."

"What does it look like when you are a Serb in Kosovo and Metohija or a non-Albanian in the territory of Kosovo led by Kurti? Just since the beginning of this year, six members of the Serbian people have been shot, no one has been investigated. Nobody is even in pre-trial detention. There is no justice if you are shooting at Serbs in Kosovo," Brnabic pointed out.

The Prime Minister pointed out that even the representative of Germany said that something must change.

"Germany is one of the biggest proponents of Kosovo's independence. Even during July, Manuel Sarrazin said that something had to change, because the Serbs in KiM are suffering terribly. It is exactly that term - terrible. Albin Kurti doesn't want to hear it, he won't listen, I hope that somehow the EU and the international community will manage to reach him, because the Serbs in Kosovo do not enjoy even the minimum of a minimum of human rights," said Brnabic.

"Albanians in the south have human rights"

Asked about the human rights of Albanians in south-central Serbia, the Prime Minister said that Albanians in south and central Serbia have human rights.

"They have human rights. It is impossible for someone to shoot at them in Presevo or Bujanovac and not be held accountable for it. It is impossible that in the last two years, for example, you have 400 attacks on Albanians in the south of Serbia, in Presevo and Bujanovac, and that not a single person does not respond to that. It is simply impossible in the Republic of Serbia," said the prime minister.

Brnabic, Kurti clash at Bled Strategic Forum (FoNet, N1)

The Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo clashed verbally at the Bled Strategic forum with Ana Brnabic saying that Kosovo is not an independent country and Kurti responding that normalization means no confusion over reality and fantasy, reported N1 last night.

Brnabic told the panel of Western Balkan leaders that Kosovo and Serbia are one country, not two, adding that Kosovo is not a member of the UN and that she doubts it will be a member of the European Union, at least as long as two countries don’t recognize it.

According to the Serbian Prime Minister, normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, Serbs and Albanians and the entire region is high on Serbia’s list of priorities. She said that the only thing that Pristina had to do under the Brussels Agreement which was signed in 2013 was to form a Community of Serb Municipalities which has not been done yet.

Kurti responded saying that for him the Brussels Agreement does not exist. He added that it’s time for all six Western Balkan countries to recognize each other.

French President Emanuel Macron warned Belgrade and Pristina that they could face added measures unless they both behave responsibly.

According to Kurti, 98 percent of the population of Kosovo support EU membership. He claimed that just 35 percent of Serbians support EU membership and that Serbia, unlike Kosovo, has not imposed sanctions on Russia and has not distanced itself from the late Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Normalization with Serbia is hard but possible, he said, adding that the agreement he reached with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has to be implemented. Normalization means a lack of confusion over reality and fantasy, and I can’t help with that, he said.

Media: Dusan Obrenovic's detention extended for another two months; His lawyer did not receive a decision (KiM radio)

The basic court in Pristina extended the detention measure for another two months for a Serb Dusan Obrenovic, who was arrested on May 29 in front of the municipal building in Zvecan, it was confirmed for ''Oath for Justice'', reported KiM radio.

After the 48-hour detention, on May 31 he was ordered a one-month detention. 

The confirmation that this measure has now been extended to him for another two months, for the Oath of Justice, came from the office of the judge for the preliminary proceedings, Musa Konxheli. 

Obrenovic's lawyer, Predrag Miljkovic, told KoSSev portal that he did not receive an official decision on this alleged decision of the Basic Court in Pristina, and therefore he can neither confirm nor comment on it.

KiM radio recalls that after the arrest of his client, Miljkovic spoke to the media about the treatment of Obrenovic on the day he was arrested, which was speculated about.

He confirmed that his client was brutally beaten by the police officers during the arrest, but also during the detention at the station, and that he suffered various injuries in the area of the head.

In the meantime, several videos were published in the media showing how, on the eve of the outbreak of conflict, KFOR members who set up a cordon pulled out Obrenovic behind them while he was sitting on the asphalt together with other citizens, recalled KiM radio.

International Media

Rita Ora's Serbian Flag 'Incident' Generates Hate Storm on Social Media (BIRN) 

BIRN has observed social media over the past two days and has identified multiple digital rights violations in social media comments on singer Rita Ora's performance at the SZIN Festival in Hungary, where she was captured dancing on stage inadvertently holding a Serbian flag.

During her performance at the festival, a fan threw a Serbian flag onto the stage. Amid the bright lights and energetic performance, she briefly waved the flag before continuing her act.

In a statement to Kosovo's online media, Ora clarified that the flag was given to her by a fan, and she was unaware of its origins due to stage lighting.

She said: "I could not clearly see which country the flag represented. As soon as I left the stage, I realized that it was a Serbian flag, not a Hungarian one." She emphasized her pride as a Kosovar Albanian and clarified that disrespecting her heritage or upsetting her people was not her intention.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/3QYtOOF