Albanian Language Media:

• UNMIK: Closure of Serbian post offices negatively affects life of Serb community in Kosovo (Albanian Post, ekonomia online)
• KFOR: Any decision on opening Iber Bridge must take place within framework of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)
• British Embassy: We are disappointed with government’s action (Nacionale)
• Bislimi: EU should focus on Serbia's rejection of Basic Agreement (media)
• Serbian Post van not allowed to enter Kosovo (media)
• Svecla, Krasniqi and Durmishi visit Iber Bridge, test it before opening (media)
• Government takes new step: nearly €10,000 allocated for testing Iber Bridge (Nacionale)
• Kurti meets Ardita Sinani, offers close institutional cooperation in service of Presheva (Klan)
• Alsat: Osmani on two other occasions refused checking of personal luggage at Skopje Airport (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• UNMIK head reiterates concern over unilateral actions in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
• KFOR will respond to security development on Ibar bridge (N1)
• Vucic: Kurti is provoking, wants to turn us against NATO before the elections in the USA (Kosovo Online)
• Vucevic: Kurti wants Kosovo without Serbs, int'l community tacitly allowing that (Tanjug, media)
• A protest today in North Mitrovica due to Pristina's announcements about the opening of the Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online, B92, Tanjug)
• Elshani for VoA: The case of the closure of the Post of Serbia branches in the domain of economic crime (KiM radio, VOA)

International Media:

• Alleged large-scale coin forger arrested in Kosovo due to Eurojust support (eurojust.europa.eu)

Albanian Language Media

UNMIK: Closure of Serbian post offices negatively affects life of Serb community in Kosovo (media)

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh, voiced concern about recent developments in northern Kosovo, which continue to adversely affect the daily lives and socio-economic rights of the affected communities, including the latest closure of nine Post of Serbia branches in the northern municipalities by authorities in Pristina.

SRSG Ziadeh called for responsible leadership to maintain the calm and safety and security of all communities. She further reiterated her calls for outstanding issues to be resolved through the EU-facilitated Dialogue and appealed for restraint from taking unilateral actions. 

UNMIK will continue its endeavours to strengthen the conditions for prosperity, stability and peace in Kosovo and beyond.

KFOR: Any decision about opening of Iber Bridge must take place within framework of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)

The NATO mission in Kosovo KFOR, in a response to the news website, has said that any decision on the opening of the bridge should take place within the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

"KFOR units maintain a permanent, fixed presence on the bridge and continue to conduct regular patrols in the surrounding areas to ensure stability and security, for the benefit of all local communities. We will not hesitate to address any development that may affect the security environment and regional stability, in full respect of our UN mandate," said the answer.

It is further said that this morning KFOR commander Ozkan Ulutas was informed by the police director that there will be a close technical inspection on the main bridge of Iber.

British Embassy: We are disappointed with government’s action (Nacionale)

The British Embassy in Kosovo has reacted after the closure of nine Serbian post offices, saying that they are disappointed with the action. In a response to Nacional, the embassy said that the action of the authorities was done without prior consultation and without taking into account the impact of closing these posts.

"We are disappointed by yesterday's action by the Kosovo authorities to close the Serbian post offices in the north of Kosovo, without prior consultation or without taking into account the impact of the closures on the citizens. We call on the Government of Kosovo to seriously engage in solving these issues, including through dialogue facilitated by the EU," reads the response of the British Embassy.

Bislimi: EU should focus on Serbia's denial of Basic Agreement (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi reacted on Tuesday to the EU, after criticism of the action of the Kosovo Police on Monday for closing several branches of the Post Bank of Serbia in the north. 

"The dialogue in Brussels, instead of focusing on the central and very important issues, related to Serbia's denial of the Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Implementing Annex, expressed both through multiple violations but also by the official letter deposited in the  EU Foreign Service by former Prime Minister Brnabic, as well as the continuous statements by President Vucic and recently Prime Minister Vucevic, the EU appears to have a higher readiness to react in the condemnation of Kosovo and the return of the dialogue process backwards onthe issues of technical dialogue, contributing negatively to moving forward towards the final agreement", Bislimi wrote on Facebook.

The head of the Kosovo delegation in the dialogue further wrote that the actions of the Kosovo Police are in the service of protecting the rule of law, competitiveness and constitutionality - which, according to him, should also be supported by international partners.

"After the information received from the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (ARKEP) that economic operators are operating in the territory of Kosovo without a license and who are not registered with the Agency for the Registration of Businesses in Kosovo (ARBK), the Police has closed yesterday, nine facilities of the Post of Serbia in the north. The Post of Serbia acted illegally in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. The actions undertaken yesterday by the Police are only in the service of protecting the rule of law, competitiveness, and constitutionality in the country. Parallel structures and illegal activity have no place in the Republic of Kosovo. This should be strongly supported by our international partners and allies. The Republic of Kosovo works every day to align itself with the highest standards, values ​​and principles of the European Union. Through the Stabilization-Association Agreement that Kosovo has with the EU, we as a state are obliged, according to articles 74, 75, 91, 94, 96 and 99, to build and practise the free market economy, to adhere to the rules of the protection of competitiveness in the market as well as the prohibition, prevention and combating of other illegal activities. Moreover, the main prerequisites for joining the European Union are justice, the rule of law and their protection and respect", he wrote.

As Bislimi wrote, the presence of the branches of the Post Bank of Serbia in the north represents a serious violation of the principles of good neighbourliness.

"An entity of Serbia, in this case the Post of Serbia, has operated illegally outside the territory of Serbia, and moreover in a country which it does not recognize. The presence of these offices in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, in addition to representing a serious violation of the principles of good neighbourliness, they also constitute illegal activity, cause market disorder, and disrupt competition. The fact that the issue of postal services has been considered as a discussion for the future in the past agreements of 2013 and 2015, does not mean that in the meantime the Post of Serbia will continue to operate illegally in the country, violate all rules, laws and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. Nothing implies rights, or toleration of illegal entities in the country. This cannot be acceptable and permissible for our country, and in principle it should not be acceptable even from the side of the European Union", Bislimi wrote.

Serbian Post van not allowed to enter Kosovo (media)

A Serbian Post van was not allowed to enter Kosovo on Tuesday. This was confirmed by the deputy police director for the north, Veton Elshani. He said that the stop was made due to the lack of licence did not have a licence.

"The border unit asked the driver about his licence and other questions and he turned back," he told Klankosova.tv Elshani announced that the case happened at the border point in Jarinje.

Svecla, Krasniqi and Durmishi visit Iber Bridge, test it before opening (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of the Interior, Xhelal Svecla, and the Minister of Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, were seen on Tuesday on a visit to the Iber Bridge in Mitrovica. Accompanied by Deputy Minister Hysen Durmishi, they inspected the area of the bridge which the government has planned to open for traffic soon.

Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla has said that the bridge over the Iber River will be opened. "The bridge will be opened, there is no reason not to open it, when it will be opened is a matter that is assessed by experts", he said in a short answer, when asked by journalists if they went to inspect the stability of the Iber bridge.

Asked about about the action of the police to close the offices of the Post of Serbia in Kosovo, he said that they acted without a licence.

Government takes a new step: nearly 10,000 euros allocated for testing Iber Bridge (Nacionale)

Before the opening of the Iber Bridge, the Ministry of Infrastructure will first test the load-bearing capacity of this bridge, the traffic on which has been stopped for a long time. Thus, the Minister of Infrastructure has awarded a tender worth 9 thousand and 640 euros to the company IPE PROING LLC to determine the bearing capacity of the Iber bridge.

The contract is entitled "Determining the bearing capacity of the existing bridge structure over the Iber River in Mitrovica, with test loads". The selection of the winning company was made on August 1, 2024.

Kurti meets Ardita Sinani, offers close institutional cooperation in service of Presheva (Klan)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, hosted the newly elected mayor of Presheva municipality, Ardita Sinani. In this meeting, he congratulated her on the formation of the coalition with the Albanian Democratic Party led by Ragmi Mustafa and on her new position as mayor of the municipality.

Kurti offered support in the implementation of the government program and expressed his and the government's readiness for close institutional cooperation in the service of Presheva and the citizens there without distinction.

Alsat: President Osmani on two occasions refused to check personal luggage at Skopje Airport (Klan)

The Albanian media in North Macedonia, "Aslat.mk" has reported on Tuesday that the delegation of President Vjosa Osmani had similar problems to the last incident that happened at Skopje Airport in the past.

According to this medium, the reasons for these incidents, dated September 16, 2023 and October 9, 2023, were related to the refusal of President Osmani's delegation to check the luggage of the head of state.

Alsat says that it based this publication on the police records, which it says explain that "in September of last year, the Kosovar side refused to check the luggage of the President of Kosovo".

The reasons for this refusal, according to Alsat, were based on the diplomatic immunity of the President.

"After reaching the VIP sector, between the person in charge of the protocol of the delegation and the security service at the airport, there was a misunderstanding because the same, invoking the diplomatic immunity of the president, did not agree that the personal baggage of the president of Kosovo should be checked in the scanner", it is stated in the minutes dated 16.09.2023, reports Alsat. The same situation as that of August 1 was repeated on October 9 of last year.  

Serbian Language Media 

UNMIK head reiterates concern over unilateral actions in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)

The head of the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Caroline Ziadeh voiced concern on Tuesday over recent developments in northern Kosovo, which she said "continue to adversely affect the daily lives and socio-economic rights of the affected communities, including the latest closure of nine Post of Serbia branches in the northern municipalities by authorities in Pristina", reported Tanjug agency, citing UNMIK statement.

In a statement released by UNMIK, Ziadeh called for "responsible leadership to maintain the calm and safety and security of all communities."

"She further reiterates her calls for outstanding issues to be resolved through the EU-facilitated Dialogue and appeals for restraint from taking unilateral actions," the statement said.

"UNMIK will continue its endeavours to strengthen the conditions for prosperity, stability and peace in Kosovo and beyond," it also said.

KFOR will respond to security development on Ibar bridge (N1)

KFOR said on Tuesday that its forces deployed on the bridge over the Ibar in Mitrovica will tackle any development affecting security.

A press release said that KFOR commander Major General Özkan Ulutaş was informed on Tuesday morning by the Director of the Kosovo Police about an imminent technical inspection on the main bridge over the Ibar river, in Mitrovica.

“KFOR units maintain a permanent, fixed presence on the bridge and continue to conduct regular patrols in the surrounding areas to ensure stability and security, for the benefit of all local communities. We will not hesitate to tackle any development that may affect the security environment and regional stability, in full respect of our UN mandate,” it said.

It added that KFOR’s position has been clear and consistent – any decisions regarding the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar/Ibër river must be made within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Vucic: Kurti is provoking, wants to turn us against NATO before the elections in the USA (Kosovo Online)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated today that Albin Kurti is provoking with his actions because his time is slowly running out, attempting to incite conflicts and turn Serbia against NATO before the U.S. elections.

"Kurti is provoking because his time is slowly running out, and he wants to incite conflicts before the elections in the USA. He wants to prevent any significant changes in the White House and the American administration and, before that, to turn us against NATO and vice versa. He is very nervous," Vucic told reporters in Belgrade.

Read more at:  https://tinyurl.com/499a2t27

Vucevic: Kurti wants Kosovo without Serbs, int'l community tacitly allowing that (Tanjug, media)

Commenting on a recent arrest of five Serbs and Monday's closure of Post of Serbia branch offices in the north of Kosovo, Serbian PM Milos Vucevic said he was concerned over the destiny of Serbs in Kosovo and noted that he was dissatisfied with the reaction of the international community.

"I am dissatisfied with the reaction of the international community because I think a large part of them are tacitly allowing Albin Kurti to do what he is doing because if they were not, they would impose sanctions on him," Vucevic told reporters at the Resavica mine, which he visited on Miners' Day.

He noted that Pristina had arrested five Serbs in the Kosovo Pomoravlje region two days ago.

"It was only now that they (Pristina) remembered that those people committed alleged crimes in 1999," he added.

"They are targeting every one of our families. Kurti has banned us from getting food and medicines, seized our petrol pumps and a part of the power generation system and attacked health centers and outpatient clinics. And now, he has also banned our post offices and previously also the Postal Savings Bank. Only schools and kindergartens remain," Vucevic said.

He added that the complete lawlessness and terror in Kosovo were aimed at a full ethnic cleansing of Serbs.

He added that postal services were a part of Brussels agreements from 2013 and 2015.

A protest today in North Mitrovica due to Pristina's announcements about the opening of the Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online, B92, Tanjug)

Serbs from the north of Kosovo will gather today for a peaceful and democratic protest regarding Pristina's announcement on the opening of the Ibar Bridge between northern and southern Mitrovica, reported Kosovo Online, citing B92. 

The rally will be held at 11 a.m. on Brothers Milic Square, located in the vicinity of the bridge, the portal reported, citing Tanjug. 

Serbs from Kosovo are worried about their safety due to Pristina's announcements about the unilateral opening of the bridge, but also because of Pristina's daily escalating moves, and they expect KFOR to protect them.

Elshani for VoA: The case of the closure of the Post of Serbia branches in the domain of economic crime (KiM radio, VOA)

The deputy regional commander of the Kosovo police, Veton Elshani, told the Voice of America that the case of the closure of the Post of Serbia branches in the north is now being treated as an "area of economic crime", reported Kim radio..

"We went to all these nine locations and found these operators. They weren't licensed, they weren't registered, and after consultation with the prosecutor, we closed everything. We took some evidence to show the prosecutor what we found in those places. Now this case is being investigated as an area of economic crime," said Elshani.

He confirmed that a citizen's protest in North Mitrovica has been reported to the police for tomorrow.

"We received an announcement from the citizens that a protest will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. regarding the current events. We are always for freedom of movement and protest. It's good that we got the announcement, we will be around the gathering, we don't expect any problem, and if it happens, we are here to react, if necessary," said Elshani.

International Media

Alleged large-scale coin forger arrested in Kosovo due to Eurojust support (eurojust.europa.eu)

With support provided via the Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project, hosted by Eurojust, an alleged large-scale coin forger has been arrested in Kosovo*. The arrested person is an employee of the North-Macedonian Ministry of the Interior and is suspected of producing around 2 million fake EUR 2 coins, which were about to be circulated into the Kosovar economy.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/4z3dpnyx