Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Hovenier: EU’s measures are unfair and must be removed (media)
• Stano: EU decides on lifting of measures, not government of Kosovo (media)
• Government reacts: De-escalation took place, measures must be lifted (media)
• Zulfaj: By not lifting measures against Kosovo, EU loses credibility (RTK)
• British Parliament approved Alicia Kearns' motion for Kosovo (media)
• Reporters without Borders latest report on Kosovo (media)
• Kurti’s “digital army” on the frontline against reporters (RFE)
• Bajqinovci: Serbia is training 400 extremists in Kopaonik (KTV)
• Ministry changes article on marriage, doesn’t say when govt will vote on it (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Parliament elects new Serbian Government (Tanjug)
• Stano: Serbian Government expected to show commitment to EU (N1)
• Stano: EU members, not Kosovo politicians, decide on abolition of punitive measures (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• SRSG Ziadeh meets Bishop Teodosije in Gracanica (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Kosovo Assembly on State Department report, opposition harshly criticized government over corruption (KoSSev, Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani meets Hovenier: EU’s measures are unfair and must be removed (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani received on Thursday in a regular meeting the ambassador of the United States of America, Jeffrey Hovenier. The latest developments in Kosovo were the focus of the discussion, in which case special emphasis was placed on Kosovo's journey towards membership in the Council of Europe.

"President Osmani and Ambassador Hovenier also discussed the voting process in the four northern municipalities, in which case President Osmani reiterated that the continuation of the measures is unfair, and that Kosovo has met the conditions for their eventual removal,” a press release issued by Osmani’s office notes.

Osmani and Hovenier also discussed a number of joint achievements and projects, among which the official start of the MCC Compact Program in Kosovo, which is expected to transform the energy sector.

Stano: EU decides on lifting of measures, not government of Kosovo (media)

Spokesperson for the European Union, Peter Stano, said on Thursday that the member states decide for the removal of the punitive measures the EU has decided against Kosovo, not the government of Kosovo. He said that the vote in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo on April 21 was one of several conditions for the EU to decide on the lifting of measures against Kosovo.

“When we imposed the measures, we said that they are temporary and can be removed. However, EU member states decide on this, not the government of Kosovo. The measures were not put in place for just one reason, but for several. Discussions about this are ongoing in the EU and the member countries will decide if the measures will be lifted and when, will they be lifted all or partially,” he said.

According to him, the decision on the possible lifting of measures against Kosovo requires a wider consensus throughout the EU. "When member states decide to do so and the reasons no longer exist, they will decide to lift the measures again, gradually or entirely. But, it is not only related to an incident or an event", he said.

Government reacts: De-escalation took place, measures must be lifted (media)

Spokesperson for the Kosovo Government, Perparim Kryeziu, reacted on Thursday to a statement by EU spokesperson Peter Stano, who said that the member states of the European Union and not the politicians of Kosovo decide when the measures against Kosovo will be lifted. In a post on X, Kryeziu attached a photo of the clash of Serbs with KFOR troops, saying that the EU had imposed measures against Kosovo, unfairly blaming it for the escalation of the situation in the North, and added another photo of the head of the Municipality of Zvecan, Ilir Peci, who on Thursday moved in the facility of the Municipality of Zvecan unhindered by anyone. “The case is simple. The EU imposed measures against Kosovo b/c it blamed us, unfairly, for the escalation that prompted photo 1. Photo 2 depicts the mayor of Zvecan walking out of the same building uninterrupted. De-escalation has happened. Hence, the measures must be lifted,” Kryeziu wrote.

Zulfaj: By not lifting measures against Kosovo, EU loses credibility (RTK)

Jeton Zulfaj, political advisor to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, reacted to a statement by EU spokesperson Peter Stano who said that the EU member states decide when the measures against Kosovo are lifted. “Mr. Stano is well aware that the government of Kosovo does not decide to lift the measures, but Mr. Stano, as he managed to put them in place, would have to find a way to remove them, because the credibility of the European Union is lost. What are those measures for? If Mr. Stano can justify the decision, but if he can't, he must find the explanations why they can't be removed,” Zulfaj said in an interview with RTK.

Zulfaj spoke about the political developments in Kosovo, including developments related to Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe. "Everything that has to do with the dialogue in Brussels, we should discuss it in Brussels and not in Strasbourg. The Council of Europe is in Strasbourg, the negotiations have never taken place in Strasbourg … and it is a mistake to think that it should be sent there,” he argued.

Zulfaj also said that Kosovo’s position is very clear that Brussels and Strasbourg should not be mixed, and that Kosovo has met all the criteria to become a member of the Council of Europe. He also quoted the compiler of the report on Kosovo's admission to the Council of Europe, the Greek MP, Dora Bakoyannis, who said that no candidate was asked for more reforms than Kosovo before the discussion on membership in the organization.

Zulfaj said that not everything is related to dialogue and the tendency to evaluate it like that is wrong.

British Parliament approved Alicia Kearns' motion for Kosovo (media)

The House of Commons of the British Parliament approved on Thursday a motion for Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina proposed by MP Alicia Kearns, with which Britain supports the territorial integrity of Kosovo and condemns the attack in Banjska against the Kosovo Police. This motion was proposed by Kearns following a debate that took place on security in the Western Balkans.

"I ask that this House moves to recognize the acute security situation in the Western Balkans, to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to condemn the attack by Serbian nationalist militants in Banjska in Kosovo on September 24, 2023,” it is stated among others in the motion passed in the British Parliament.

Reporters without Borders latest report on Kosovo (media)

In their latest report on Kosovo, Reporters without Borders note that “while the Kosovo media market is diverse, its development is limited by its small size and ethnic divisions. Media freedom is threatened by politicised regulation, gag suits, insufficient access to information and an increase in physical attacks.”

Media landscape

Despite its small size and division along the ethnic lines, Kosovo has a pluralistic and dynamic media market. The highly concentrated TV sector is dominated by private Pristina-based channels, although the public broadcaster RTK plays an important role. NEw online news portals include strong brands such as BIRN or Kosovo 2.0, the latter being one of the few media outlets to publish both in Albanian and Serbian.

Political context

Even if the media succeed in holding politicians accountable, journalists continue to be the targets of political attacks. The ineffective media regulator, IMC, is trying to reform itself. The biggest TV channel, Klan Kosova, has been subjected to administrative harassment from the government, which had also threatened public broadcaster RTK’s independence with the election of a close ally of the ruling party as its director. Serbian-language media, which are under pressure from Serbian political forces, have complained of discrimination in access to public information, particularly in their language, which is that of the constitutional minority.

Legal framework

Freedom of expression, protection of sources and the right to information are legally guaranteed, while defamation and libel are decriminalised. But more and more journalists have been subjected to SLAPPs initiated by business groups and politicians. In practice, copyright law is not upheld and access to information is threatened by a draconian bill on media regulation and by proceedings launched against a telecoms operator.

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

Kurti’s “digital army” on the frontline against reporters (RFE)

Chairman of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Xhemajl Rexha, said in an interview with the news website that the “digital vigilance” of people in power, linked to power or its supporters, is present in all social platforms and is used to denigrate reporters that criticize the government, but also other opponents. “This is regrettable, and our constant call is for the government to ask for these campaigns to stop. We have reason to believe that in some cases they could be organized and orchestrated, but in most cases, they initiate from an account that can be very popular and then naturally are continued by other profiles that share the same opinions with those that initiated the campaign,” he argued.

Radio Free Europe asked the Kosovo government to comment on the claims but received no response. The ruling party – the Vetevendosje Movement – did however reject them. “According to our opinion, the accusations by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo against the Prime Minister are unfounded. They need to have the weight of proof, because there is great discordance between the accusations and the situation on the ground.

The Republic of Kosovo, in the last three years of governance, has achieved progress in improving the right and freedom of expression,” Vetevendosje spokesperson Arlind Manxhuka said.

Bajqinovci: Serbia is training 400 extremists in Kopaonik (KTV)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Mefail Bajqinovci, said in an interview with the TV station on Thursday that “Serbia is training 400 extremists in Kopaonik” and that Kosovo got this information from the intelligence services of its allies.

Bajqinovci said that the position of the EU to introduce measures against Kosovo on the issue of the mayors in the north and not sanction Serbia for the terrorist attack in Banjska is a double standard. “It is a double standard. The fact that the EU has not condemned it except with a declaration, a resolution, and there were no consequences for Serbia, Serbia today is training 400 extremists in Kopaonik. The services of our allies are telling us this … Even Serbia is not denying the information. There are 400 extremists that are being trained in Kopaonik because it [Serbia] had no consequences after Banjska,” he said.

Revealing details from last year’s attack against the Kosovo Police in Banjska, where a police sergeant was killed, Bajqinovci said that police were attacked with over 25 RPGs and other heavy armament.

Ministry changes article on marriage, doesn’t say when govt will vote on it (Koha)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice has changed the article on marriage, including the point on civil unions, in the bill of the Civil Code. The point, which resulted in the opposition of the drat law by MPs from the ruling party, had allowed for the registration of civil unions through same sex marriages. Officials of the ministry did not reveal further details and did not say when the document will be sent to the government for voting. “The draft of the Civil Code has almost been finalized, with the adequate changes in Article 1138 and other amendments. The draft law will be sent to the government for voting and will then be finalized as an initiative following voting procedures in the Assembly,” the ministry told KTV.

Serbian Language Media

Parliament elects new Serbian Government (Tanjug, N1)

The Serbian Parliament elected on Thursday evening the new Government of Serbia, headed by Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. One hundred and fifty-two of 213 MPs in attendance voted in favor while 61 voted against and there were no abstentions, Tanjug news agency reported.

The new government will have 31 ministers, including five ministers without portfolio.Compared to the previous government, led by former prime minister Ana Brnabic, one third of the new cabinet are new ministers.

The oath of the new government includes the statement that the ministers will be committed to preserving Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia, N1 reported. The ceremony followed a lengthy debate during which MPs from the ruling coalition and opposition traded accusations of corruption and incompetence.

Stano: Serbian Government expected to show commitment to EU (N1)

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano told Thursday’s news briefing the new Serbian Government is expected to show commitment to its strategic goal of European Union membership, N1 reported.

“Serbia is a candidate country which stated that EU accession is a strategic priority. The EU expects it to deliver on this in practical terms. We look forward to working with the new Serbian Government in its efforts to deliver on this strategic objective”, Stano said, adding Serbia knows that it is expected to align with EU foreign and other policies as a candidate country.

“EU membership is a strategic choice and we expect the Serbian government in whatever composition to demonstrate its commitment to the EU path for the benefit of its people … We would expect every member of the government to work on it as much as they can”, Stano said.

Stano: EU members, not Kosovo politicians, decide on abolition of punitive measures (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

European Union members, not Kosovo politicians, decide on the lifting of punitive measures against Kosovo, EU spokesman Peter Stano said Thursday, in relation to the statements of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that Pristina has fulfilled all requirements for lifting punitive measures, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"The European Union has introduced punitive measures due to constant crisis situations, unilateral measures and escalation in relations with Serbia. The EU has clearly said that the measures are reversible. They will be abolished when the EU members decide, not Kosovo politicians. I repeat, when the members of the EU decide that there is no longer any reason for the measures to remain in force. That has not happened so far, and the member countries are continuing the discussions and these are internal processes”, Stano said in a press briefing on Thursday.

He added punitive measures were not introduced because of one issue only, but because of a series of decisions and measures, and what Kosovo did on just one issue is not decisive for their abolition either. "We want to see the whole situation resolved. Both sides should fulfill their obligations, and Kosovo has heard what our expectations are. The elections in the north are only one issue. We can look at how the elections were organized and what led the Serbs to boycott them. The measures are introduced against Kosovo for certain reasons. When they are no longer there, they will be abolished, and they are not related to just one thing", Stano is quoted as saying.

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

SRSG Ziadeh meets Bishop Teodosije in Gracanica (Kosovo Online, social media)

Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh spoke with Serbian Orthodox Church Raska-Prizren Diocese Bishop Teodosije in Gracanica Monastery on Thursday, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“The power of religion in building trust in society & finding renewed momentum for peace on the occasion of Orthodox #Easter was discussed by SRSG Ziadeh & Bishop Teodosije during a visit to Gračanica Monastery today. The two looked ahead to further trust-building work in the future”, UNMIK said in a post on X social media platform in relation to the meeting.

Kosovo Assembly on State Department report, opposition harshly criticized government over corruption (KoSSev, Radio KIM)

The Kosovo Assembly held a session on Thursday, with more than 20 items on the agenda, including the recently published State Department report on Kosovo. Inclusion of this topic was requested by opposition MPs, and a separate session held in the honor of one of the KLA fallen members preceded it. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister attended this session but left the Assembly before discussion on the State Department report had started, KoSSev portal reported. The opposition minded this act, in particular that Kurti has left, and voiced harsh criticism for corruption in the government as included in the report.

The report, in addition to the corruption issue, covered the still present problem of property appropriation following the conflict and unsuccessful resolution of this issue. At the same time, the report says that more than 95 percent of requests to repossess the properties are submitted by Serbs from Kosovo.

The report also deals with “disrespect (by Pristina) of its own laws during expropriation of 118 land parcels in the north of Kosovo”. At the same time it also said that reports on violence and discrimination against members of non-majority communities are still present, and points out inconsistent implementation of the law when it comes to the Serbian language. The report also said that high Kosovo officials are seldomly punished for corruption, and that the judiciary was the subject of political interference, disputable appointments and unclear mandates.