Albanian Language Media: 

• The EU warns of new measures against Kosovo (Koha)

• USA Embassy echoes statement of Department of State: Kurti should return to cooperation (Albanian Post)

• Krasniqi: It is absurd that bridge over Iber continues to be closed (RTK)

• Elshani: Security is no reason for Iber Bridge to remain closed (media)

• Durmishi: Within two or three days we will have report on stability of bridge (media)

• Police arrest then release two Serb politicians for "obstructing workers of north Mitrovica municipality" (media)

• Hamza after meetings in Washington: USA stands by us (media)

• Deadline for conversion of driver's licenses postponed until August 23 (RTK)

• Haradinaj advises fellow combatants: Serbia has renewed persecution of citizens who were part of war (Reporteri)

• AJK: Dangerous photo-montages with pictures of journalists and media (Klan)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic arrested (KoSSev, media) 

• KP: Arsenijevic and Veljkovic released (medijacentar.info)

• Protest of Serbs in front of the police station in North Mitrovica due to the arrest of Arsenijevic and Veljkovic (KoSSev, media)

• Civil society demands the immediate release of Arsenijevic and Veljkovic (KiM radio, media)

• Office for KiM: Kurti continues with arrests until he arrests the last Serb (Kosovo Online, media)

• Kosovo Serb political parties condemn the removal of national symbols and the actions of the police (KiM radio, media)

• Heavy trucks 'testing' the Ibar bridge, after Svecla did (KoSSev)

• In North Mitrovica, the discussion of the municipal committee for "multi-ethnic cooperation", i.e. bridge: Huge interest from Pristina (KoSSev)

• EXFIS and Google show that they know more than the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (KoSSev)

• Montgomery: Kurti's long-term goal the departure of all Serbs from Kosovo; and his short-term goal to provoke the Serbian Government (Kosovo Online, N1, FoNet)

Albanian Language Media  

The EU warns of new measures against Kosovo (Koha)

The measures of the European Union towards Kosovo can be increased if the government continues with decisions that the international community is considering as unilateral and uncoordinated. The EU spokesman, Peter Stano, has mentioned the measures against Kosovo as the EU's response to these decisions - the closing of nine offices of the Serbian Post in Kosovo and the opening of the Iber Bridge.

"Measures were put in place years ago due to the fact that a lot was happening leading to escalation and instead of steps leading to de-escalation, more unilateral steps leading to escalation have been taken by those people. We have said then that these measures can be extended or removed regardless of developments in the situation. So what are we going to do? We have measures in force and these measures can be increased if the European actors agree that they should be increased", he said at Thursday's conference.

Stano has stated that he hopes that the government of Kosovo will get the message and stop the EU from considering increasing the measures.

"We have made our position clear to Kosovo, at many levels, in many ways and through many partners. It is not only the EU, all the international partners of Kosovo are telling the government in Pristina not to engage in these series of uncoordinated, negative and unilateral steps. We hope that they will finally hear the message and stop us from considering what measures we will consider taking if the situation does not change", said Stano.

USA Embassy echoes statement of Department of State: Kurti should return to cooperation (Albanian Post)

The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) has echoed the statement of the US Department of State, who have asked the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to return to cooperation, expressing concern about the continuous uncoordinated decisions.

"We would encourage the government of Kosovo to return to a close and constructive engagement with the United States, with the EU, with NATO, and other close international partners of Kosovo", says the reaction of the embassy publishing a part of the statement of the spokesperson of the US Department of State, Matthew Miller.

Krasniqi: It is absurd that bridge over Iber continues to be closed (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Local Government Administration Elbert Krasniqi has emphasized that the opening of the bridge over the Iber River is a proper action and will help cooperation and understanding between communities, and that such a thing was foreseen many years ago within the framework of the agreement reached in Brussels.

"In that plan it is stated that the revitalization of the bridge will greatly contribute to facilitating contacts between all the citizens of north Mitrovica and south Mitrovica and thus will contribute to their development and understanding. I consider that not only is there no reason, but it is also absurd to continue to keep the bridge closed. According to the very nature of bridges, this bridge should be at the service of all citizens and its opening will not be and is not against anyone. We are convinced that freedom of movement and the rule of law do not endanger peace and security, but on the contrary strengthen it", said Krasniqi.

He made such a statement during the meeting on the topic "Inter-ethnic cooperation" in the municipality of North Mitrovica, where the mayor of this municipality, Erden Atiq, Veton Elshani, deputy regional director of the Kosovo Police, Jeta Tela chief of the cabinet of the Ministry of Interior, residents as well as members of civil society, are also participating.

Krasniqi said that the government has supported the residents in general, and especially the residents of the Serb community to be equipped with documents, which according to him has marked an increase. "For an active citizenry, the role of active citizenry is also needed, civil society must keep citizens informed," he said.

Meanwhile, Erden Atiq, mayor of the municipality of north Mitrovica, emphasized that during his administration they tried to solve the concerns of the residents. "We are dealing with a complex municipality, we are working with well-calculated work so as not to cause dissatisfaction. We have met more than 90 per cent of the citizens who have problems and worries and we have tried to solve their problems. Democratization is very important to me. Regarding the topic of free movement, we are open to listen to your concerns and respond to them", he said.

Elshani: Security is no reason for Iber Bridge to remain closed (media)

The deputy director of the Kosovo Police for the North region, Veton Elshani, said that in terms of security, there is no reason for the Iber Bridge to remain closed, since the police would have found different ways to secure it. In the meeting with the citizens of North Mitrovica in the Municipality building, he said that there are many problems in the Northern part and that according to him they are known. Elshani asked those present that it would be good to tell why they think the bridge should remain closed.

"There are many problems in the North of the country, most of which we know about and we have informed them all. We ask ourselves as the Kosovo Police why this bridge is closed, it would be good from you to hear why this bridge should remain closed, because from the security point of view there is no reason. If it is for insurance, we had found ways to provide it in different ways", said Elshani.

The deputy mayor of the municipality, Katarina Adjancic, said that it is good when they cooperate with the citizens to resolve the problems they face the most. "I am glad that together we are seeing what the problems are and resolving them together. I had contacts and I continue to help citizens, despite the problems with documents, etc. People are simple in their demands, they are aware of their obligations. There is an open platform powered by the government for questions and answers and even contests for subsidizing citizens for newborn children, etc", she said.

Durmishi: Within two or three days we will have report on stability of bridge (media)

The stability testing of the bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica has started. Testing is being done with several trucks, as the Deputy Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Hysen Durmishi, has closely followed this process. He announced that the testing of the bridge will be completed today and the final report of the experts is expected within two or three days.

"Today we are here doing tests for the stability of the bridge over the Iber river. We started two days ago, initially with geometric measurements. We have not been able to find its project, but today there are advanced methods that measure its stability and we are doing this now. During the day, this process will be completed so that within two to three days we will have the final report, which states whether the bridge is stable or not for the traffic of vehicles", said Durmishi.

He said that based on his experience as an engineer, this is one of the most stable bridges in Kosovo, but if the test results show that the bridge is not stable, then according to the report we will start another procedure for its rehabilitation and stabilization. "However, based on what can be seen, the bridge is stable and I am convinced that the report will also show such a thing", Durmishi emphasized further.

He said that these are the last tests, but he did not give a date for the opening of the bridge.

"I don't know when it will be opened, but I know that the bridge will be opened because there is no reason for it to continue to be closed. Bearing in mind that today every citizen of Kosovo can move freely throughout the territory of Kosovo, including Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, Zvecan, just as they can move freely in Shterpce, in Ranillug, then it is illogical for this bridge to be closed for vehicle traffic", Durmishi underlined.

Police arrest then release two Serb politicians for "obstructing workers of north Mitrovica municipality" (media)

Aleksandar Arsenijevic from the Serbian Democracy party has been arrested in the north of Kosovo, the deputy director of the Kosovo Police for the northern region, Veton Elshani, confirmed for Radio Free Europe.This Serb party then said that the politician, Stefan Velkovic, was also arrested.

According to Elshani, Arsenijevic obstructed the workers of the North Mitrovica municipality and refused police orders. He was arrested near the main bridge over the Iber river, where the municipal workers were painting. It is learned that these politicians prevented the painting of the Serbian flag near the bridge.

Through a press release, the Kosovo Police announced that they arrested and then released two Serbs who were standing near the Iber Bridge with several others, obstructing the workers contracted to remove graffiti with nationalist inscriptions.

The spokesperson of Vetevendosje Movement, Arlind Manxhuka, said that the flag of Serbia was not erased from the Iber Bridge, but an emblem of the terrorist organization "Severna Brigada".

Arsenijevic's arrest was made on the day when a debate is held in North Mitrovica about the opening of the bridge over the river Iber. Before the start of the debate, members of Arsenijevic's party went to the municipality of North Mitrovica, and asked Elshani to explain why Arsenijevic and Stefan Velkovic, from the same party, were arrested.

Representatives of the government of Kosovo, of the municipality of North Mitrovica, are participating in the debate, as the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has called on the Serbs to participate in it to "express their concerns which will be addressed by our institutional representatives and the institutions of the country". 

Hamza after meetings in Washington: USA stands by us (media)

Bedri Hamza, mayor of South Mitrovica, at the same time a candidate for prime minister proposed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo for the upcoming elections, announced that during his visit to the USA he met with the Special Assistant of President Biden, Ambassador Michael Carpenter, who at the same time is the Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council (NSC), as well as the Director for the Balkans and Central Europe (NSC), Kathleen Larkin.

"The message I received was clear: the US stands by us and supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo," wrote Hamza on Facebook.

Hamza said that they agreed that now is the time for progress in the consolidation of Kosovo towards recognition by the five EU member states, which have not yet recognized Kosovo's independence, towards providing a roadmap for Kosovo's membership in the Partnership for Peace and eventually in NATO and the EU.

"These are the strategic goals we talked about extensively. For the realization of all these goals, the partnership with the USA is of vital importance and irreplaceable for Kosovo and for me", wrote Hamza.

He said that he has briefly presented his vision and plan for Kosovo to move forward more quickly towards economic development, increasing salaries in the public sector, capital investments and increasing the well-being of citizens.

Deadline for conversion of driver's licenses postponed until August 23 (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo has extended the deadline for converting driver's licenses from those issued by Serbian institutions to official driver's licenses of Kosovo until August 23. This was announced by Minister Xhelala Svecla in a post on Facebook, who also invited all Serb residents to convert these documents.

Svecla said that the decision to postpone the conversion of driver's licenses came after the great demand of Serbs for conversion.

"Based on the numerous requests of citizens for the application of the equipment with driver's license of the Republic of Kosovo, of which only yesterday we had 273 applications, as well as the request for the extension of the deadline for the application, which according to our decision ends tomorrow, I have taken into consideration those in which case the deadline for conversion will be extended until August 23, 2024", said Svecla.

According to him, 5,588 residents from the ranks of the Serb community have applied for the conversion of driver's licenses from those issued by Serbian institutions to official driver's licenses of Kosovo.

This process, which has been enabled in all centers of the Civil Registration Agency in Kosovo, has continued without a single incident, Svecla said.

"After this date, August 23, for all those who do not convert their driver's license, action will be taken according to the relevant legislation in force", said Svecla, thanking all the residents of the Serb community who have fulfilled their obligation to convert their driver licenses.

He invited all those who have not completed this process to respect the deadlines in force.

Haradinaj advises fellow combatants: Serbia has renewed persecution of citizens who were part of war (Reporteri)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has said that Serbia has renewed the persecution of the residents of Kosovo who were part of the liberation of Kosovo. Through a post on the Facebook social network, Haradinaj has advised his comrades-in-arms to be careful when traveling.

"Unfortunately, Serbia has managed to extend its tentacles to several countries in the region and is using its advantages as a member of Interpol and other international organizations for legal prosecution in countries outside of Kosovo. Such a model was applied in the case of my detention in France and Slovenia," he wrote.

AJK: Dangerous photo-montages with pictures of journalists and media (Klan)

A series of photo-montages have appeared today on social media, in which the faces of some of the Kosovar journalists are seen, followed by fabricated messages, but real logos of some of the Kosovar media.

As announced by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, some of the journalists attacked by these photo-montages are: Vehbi Kajtazi, Valon Syla, Berat Buzhala, and others. In them, the logo of the independent Serbian media from northern Mitrovica, Kossev, is mainly used falsely. Meanwhile, the alleged news links include media such as Zeri, Telegrafi, Kosova Sot, and the like.

"AJK sees this campaign as extremely dangerous for journalists and the media, and invites the Kosovo Police with the Cybernetic Unit to urgently investigate the origin of such posts and prevent their further publication", it is stated, among other things, in a reaction of this Association,

Serbian Language Media 

Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic arrested (KoSSev, media) 

The leader of the Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, was arrested today around 11:00 a.m., the deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, Veton Elshani, confirmed for KoSSev.

As Elshani told KoSSev, he "prevented the official authorities from doing their work", and when the Kosovo police reacted to allow the work to continue, he "continued with the same action".

He was arrested on the Braca Milic Square, where workers were repainting the painted colors of the Serbian flag.

KoSSev reports that witnesses said, as can be seen in the video that Serbian Democracy has published in the meantime, the activists of this party first approached the workers who were repainting, asking "who are they and who sent them to do it", with the intention for them to stop the works, to which they did not respond and moved away a bit. They were then approached by a group of men, including the owner of the new cafe "C'est la vie" - Ekrem Peci, and then a discussion began. In it, it was heard that the garden he set up was not legal, and that it was not legal to repaint the flags, to which Peci cursed them with the message to "mind your own business". Then they tried to get an answer from the Kosovo police as to why they are not preventing the repainting of the Serbian flag.

According to the video published by the "Mitropol" FB page, Arsenijevic was overpowered by persons in civilian clothes, which his party activists resisted.

When asked where he is now and what is happening, Elshani stated that he will most likely be taken to the southern part of Mitrovica for questioning, without further explanation.

KoSSev recalls that Arsenijevic was arrested right before the start of a public discussion on multi-ethnic cooperation at the municipal committee for community safety and cooperation between institutions and civil society in North Mitrovica. KoSSev soon after corrected the news, reporting that Stefan Veljkovic was arrested, too. 

KP: Arsenijevic and Veljkovic released (medijacentar.info)

The president and vice-president of Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic, who were detained today in North Mitrovica, were released after an interview, the Kosovo Police announced.

The police statement states that they were detained for obstructing and preventing work, as well as causing and inciting tensions.

"Today, 08/08/2024 around 11:00, at the location near the bridge in North Mitrovica, several persons of Serbian nationality gathered, and they started to prevent the workers who were contracted and engaged by the competent authority, to clean some graffiti with nationalist hate inscriptions as " northern brigade" etc. who were in the square near the bridge. The persons in question were repeatedly warned not to disturb the work and to leave, but they continued to obstruct and prevent the execution of the works, as well as cause and incite tensions. Relevant police units, in order to calm the situation and create opportunities for employment, were forced to act and send two people to the police. The persons were escorted to the police station and released after the interview," the Kosovo Police announced, cited medijacentar.info.

Protest of Serbs in front of the police station in North Mitrovica due to the arrest of Arsenijevic and Veljkovic (KoSSev, media)

Several hundred citizens of North Mitrovica are currently protesting in front of the police station in North Mitrovica after the arrest of the leaders of the Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic. Together with civil organizations and Serbian List, they demand the immediate release of the two politicians, while condemning what they say is ''the excessive use of force by the police in uniform and civilian clothes''.

The mass of gathered citizens is visible from the former NIS pump to the station itself, and for now they are protesting peacefully. Nevertheless, there is noticeable anxiety among them, as well as in the city itself. In addition to this arrest, additional tensions are fueled by the ongoing testing of the main bridge on the Ibar for road traffic, as well as the discussion in the Northern Municipality, which, although it was announced as a discussion on multi-ethnic cooperation, at the center of Pristina's support for it, was the question of opening the main bridge, reports koSSev. 

Immediately after the arrest, citizens of the northern part of Mitrovica gathered in front of the police station.

According to KoSSev's reporter assessment, several hundred citizens are currently present, including the leaders of the Serbian List, as well as the Serbian League for the North, which was presented yesterday. Former judge Nikola Kabasic is also present.

Civil society demands the immediate release of Arsenijevic and Veljkovic (KiM radio, media)

Civil society organizations from the Serbian community demand the immediate release of Serbian democracy activists Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic and condemn the excessive use of force by the police in uniform and in civilian clothes.

"The painting of national symbols, the use of which is guaranteed by the law and the constitution, accompanied by the police indicate that the government's intention was only to provoke and disturb the public in front of the alleged public discussion with citizens organized by the Municipality of North Mitrovica with the Government of Kosovo in order to simulate a dialogue with the community," it was stated in a short statement of several NGOs that was delivered to the media.

The statement was signed by: New Social Initiative (NSI), Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture (ACDC), Center for Affirmative Social Action (CASA) and Aktiv.

Office for KiM: Kurti continues with arrests until he arrests the last Serb (Kosovo Online, media)

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija announces that the PM Albin Kurti, continues to arrest Serbs "until the last one is arrested", creating daily impossible conditions for the life of the Serbian people in Kosovo, to force them with daily pressures to leave the territory of Kosovo, reported Kosovo Online. 

"Serb-hater Albin Kurti today first ordered the repainting of the Serbian tricolor at the place dedicated to the martyrdom of the Milic brothers in Kosovska Mitrovica, where Serbs peacefully protested yesterday because of Kurti's intention to open a bridge on the Ibar, and then his police brutally arrested two Serbs who opposed the desecration of Serbian symbols," the announcement states.

They add that it is about political activists Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Velkovic, "who were taken into custody with the use of force at the Milic Brothers Square only because they happened to be at the place where Kurti's henchmen wanted to remove the Serbian tricolor".

"Their brutal detention proves that the Serbs are right when they are more than worried about their safety and existence in Kosovo and Metohija, especially in light of the intention to open the bridge on the Ibar River, which today proved with this brutal detention and retaliation, right near the bridge," they added. 

They point out that Kurti continues to arrest Serbs until he arrests the last one, creating daily impossible conditions for the life of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

"It is part of his political agenda to create an ethnically pure Kosovo and Metohija, in which there is no place for the Serbian people, but only for his Greater Albanian ideas. Emphasizing the symbol of a nation is a civilizational and democratic achievement that is allowed everywhere in the world, just not in the fascist provisional created by Albin Kurti in front of the international community. By destroying the symbol of the Serbian people, whose display and use is allowed even according to the regulations of Prishtina itself, Kurti shows that he is deeply rooted in hatred towards Serbs and that he cannot hide it with any lies," the statement of the Office further stated.

As they point out, "representatives of the international community still pretend not to see and hear this and turn their heads away from the suffering of the Serbs, hiding behind lukewarm and belated announcements, instead of carrying out the tasks delegated to them on the ground, which is the protection of the Serbs who are endangered every day".

Kosovo Serb political parties condemn the removal of national symbols and the actions of the police (KiM radio, media)

Serbian lists reminded Kurti's regime that "even their constitution and laws guarantee the right to highlight the national symbols of all communities in Kosovo." The Kosovo Serb Party announces that the police is political, and that it lost its multi-ethnic character a long time ago.

"The removal of the Serbian flag is proof of the Serbophobia installed by Kurti's regime and the hypocrisy of the false mayor of North Mitrovica," reads the statement delivered to the media from the Serbian List.

"With this action, they directly committed the crime of inciting racial, national and religious hatred," it was assessed.

The SL demands "the international community to react urgently and stop Kurti from trying to expel the Serbs and cross the point of no return".

"It is their duty to act preventively and prevent terror against our people and not to be silent witnesses to the terror that Kurti is carrying out against the Serbian people," it concludes.

In their announcement, not a single word was mentioned about the arrest of members of the Serbian Democracy.

PKS: Political police make arrests based on the principle of political or ethnic affiliation

"The decision of the Kosovo police to arrest Aleksandar Arsenijevic, the president of the Serbian democracy, is another proof that it is political police, which arrests based on the principle of political and ethnic affiliation," announced the Party of Kosovo Serbs.

"It lost its multi-ethnic character a long time ago, especially in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, where 95% of Serbs live. Not only are the police bothered by the Serbs with whom they deal on a daily basis, but the police are also bothered by the symbols to which the Serbs have the right according to the constitution and the law," it was stated.

Unlike the Serbian List, the PKS "strongly condemns the detention of Aleksandar Arsenijevic".

"We demand from the KP urgently and unconditionally to stop harassing and terrorizing Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija," concludes their address to the public.

Heavy trucks 'testing' the Ibar bridge, after Svecla did (KoSSev)

Said - done. The "testing" of the main bridge on the Ibar for traffic is in progress, as the director of the KP informed the commander of KFOR, but also announced by the Kosovo Minister of the Interior Xhelal Svecla. 

On the main Ibar bridge, on the south side, four heavy and loaded trucks are parked. As we learn on the spot, they are "testing the stability". In the next two or three days, a report will be drawn up on whether this bridge is "stable for road traffic".

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Kosovo spoke to the media in Albanian. The newsrooms in Serbian were not informed about it this time either.

KoSSev reports that the deputy minister could not answer the questions, because as he says, he does not speak the language. The colleagues from the Albanian newsrooms conveyed to us what he said.

In North Mitrovica, the discussion of the municipal committee for "multi-ethnic cooperation", i.e. bridge: Huge interest from Pristina (KoSSev)

KoSSev reported today that a public discussion started on multi-ethnic cooperation at the municipal committee for community safety and cooperation between institutions and civil society of North Mitrovica. The event was given a lot of attention by the Kosovo government, whose representatives, as announced, were present today, but also the media in Albanian. 

The municipality of North Mitrovica is joining the efforts of Pristina to open the main bridge on the Ibar, whose councilors were the first to make such a decision in the first task last year when they took over the mandates after the Serbs left the institutions.

Last week, this municipality announced a discussion on "interethnic cooperation at the municipal committee for community safety and cooperation between institutions and civil society."

In fact, writes KoSSev, the opening of the main bridge was imposed as a topic in practice, which the Serbs are opposed to, but so is the international community (at the moment), visible in the session itself.

As he confirmed yesterday in North Mitrovica, along with the local leadership, primarily Self-Determination, the Minister for Local Administration Elbert Krasniqi and the head from the Kosovo MIA Jeta Tela were present in the municipal hall.

There is also the deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, Veton Elshani. 

From the representatives from the Serbian community, in addition to the vice-president Katarina Adjancic, there is the NGO "Aktiv", along with individual citizens.

Krasniqi talked about the "ideal" moment to open the bridge.

EXFIS and Google show that they know more than the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (KoSSev)

KoSSev reports that one of the newest markers on the Google map in North Mitrovica is the EXFIS fuel station.

Decades ago, the “NIS” fuel station was a landmark for Mitrovica residents, along with the yellow pillar, the bridge, Sejda, Šar, the small Post Office...

It is one of the 5 fuel stations, which are closed in northern Kosovo, due to the lack of a business license.

The Privatization Agency, accompanied by police, closed three fuel stations on July 16 and two more on July 22 in North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok.

Immediately after the closure, on July 26, the PAK offered to lease all five gas stations. According to the conditions of the tender, the submission of bids will take place on August 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The envelopes with offers will be opened 15 minutes after the deadline for their presentation, more precisely at 12:15 on the same day, they announced at the time.

Instead of NIS – EXFIS?

On the day that the PAK announced the tender for the lease of 5 gas stations in the North of Kosovo, the name of the company that deals with oil derivatives - EXFIS - was already placed on the fuel station in North Mitrovica.

The sign was also hidden with white foil not long after, while a day later, all of the EXFIS markings had disappeared.

As PAK explained at the time, EXFIS, a company for the sale of petroleum products, submitted a request for the lease of several sales points, but EXFIS “misunderstood” it and started branding the fuel station in North Mitrovica. They claim that it was a mistake, and that they will investigate the case in detail.

KoSSev noted that EXFIS is a company from Pristina, which is registered as a limited liability company and has a chain of gas stations throughout Kosovo.

As some media in Albanian have written on several occasions, EXFIS is allegedly the “financier” of Vetevendosje.

The PAK did not respond to last week’s inquiry by KoSSev about how a serious company could consider the submission of a request for a lease as permission to enter the property, and above all how PAK could have even received a request for a lease, if in the conditions it prescribed for this it stated that the offers would be delivered only on August 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

KoSSev noted that the EXFIS sign on the former NIS fuel station was first covered with white foil and then removed due to reports of what was visible on the spot, but North Mitrovica has received a new landmark on Google Maps.

Montgomery: Kurti's long-term goal the departure of all Serbs from Kosovo; and his short-term goal to provoke the Serbian Government (Kosovo Online, N1, FoNet)

Former US Ambassador to Belgrade William Montgomery stated in an interview with Kosovo Online that Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti continued with aggressive "ethnic cleansing" actions against Serbs living in Kosovo, with the clear intent of trying to get them all to leave, adding that the recent action against Post Offices was a classic example.

"The 'dialogue' that the European Union in particular wants to achieve is not possible under these conditions. The only question I have is when will the US and the EU take sufficient punitive measures against Kurti. Clearly, simply criticizing him publicly and privately is not effective. I say this with real worry, as if a petty guy like Kurti with an economy which is not working is able to ignore our concerns, what lessons will the rest of the world learn from this?" Montgomery stated.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/6vnswtfv