UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 11, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo Assembly to discuss 2025 budget today (media)
Kurti’s address at “Advancement of Role of Women, Peace and Security” (media)
Osmani: Bulgaria always supports Kosovo in international organisations (media)
Haradinaj: No big love for PDK or LDK, but we must remove Kurti (Kosovapress)
Lajcak to hold important discussions on Western Balkans in Geneva (media)
Svecla commends Kosovo Police for successful operations (media)
KFOR soldiers conduct joint patrols with Kosovo Police in Zubin Potok (media)
Kurti, Osmani’s messages on 35th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Gov't reshuffle due between March and June (Tanjug)
Vucic in phone conversation with Trump (Tanjug, Novosti)
Poll: Mitrovica North residents concerned about security, without trust in Kosovo police (KoSSev, Radio kontakt plus, media)
Pavkovic: Self-Determination has assessed they need diaspora votes for majority (Kosovo Online)
EU Ambassador expects Serbia to intensify reforms amid election-free period (N1)
Joint patrols of KFOR and Kosovo police in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online, social media)
Serb arrested at Jarinje released (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Opposition calls protest for November 11 outside Serbian Government building (N1)

International Media:

Trump allies push Richard Grenell for Secretary of State (Real Clear Politics)
US Election: Balkan strongmen spy new chances under second Trump term (BIRN)
Kosovo’s labour market needs to meet a generation’s aspirations (PI)

Albanian Language Media

Kosovo Assembly to discuss 2025 budget today (media)

Members of the Kosovo Assembly will meet today at 10:00 to discuss the draft law on the budget for 2025. The government previously adopted the budget which amounts to €3.6 billion, and it forecasts that the economic growth this year will be 4.5 percent and 5.6 percent for next year. Opposition parties – PDK, LDK and AAK – have warned they will not vote in favor of the 2025 budget. The majority in parliament meanwhile is confident they have the required number of votes to pass the budget.

Kurti’s address at “Advancement of Role of Women, Peace and Security” (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti attended a ceremony organized last week by the Jahjaga Foundation on the topic “Advancement of the Role of Women, Peace and Security”. In his address, Kurti said that it is crucial to remember “the past, the challenges experienced and the extraordinary courage shown by our people, and in particular the women of Kosovo”.

“The narratives of survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo prove that all wounds require both social care and state justice. They remind us that support for survivors is a joint obligation and task, which requires permanent commitment. Their voice is essential in our transitional justice processes, which recognize the pain of the past and encourage hope for the future,” he said.

Kurti said that “the Strategy for Transitional Justice has been approved, for the first time after the end of the war in Kosovo, the documentation of the crimes committed during the war in Kosovo has begun, and the government is supporting the application of the survivors to the Governmental Commission for Recognition and Verification of the Status of Victims of Sexual Violence during the War, by funding authorized organizations”.

Kurti also reiterated the government’s commitment for “women and girls, from every community, have the same opportunities and support and that the agenda for equality, beyond being a promise of the future, is our daily commitment. Thus, working together for the present, we are raising strong and stable foundations of equality between individuals and peace between peoples, to leave a legacy for future generations”.

Osmani: Bulgaria always supports Kosovo in international organisations (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met with her Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev and said that “Bulgaria has always been a steadfast supporter of Kosovo’s efforts to join international organisations”. She said they also discussed “deepening cooperation in foreign policy, defence, education, and exploring new opportunities to strengthen our bilateral relations”.

Haradinaj: No big love for PDK or LDK, but we must remove Kurti (Kosovapress)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and candidate for Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said on Sunday that Kosovo’s membership in NATO would pave the way for membership in other international organizations too. “The world is moving at a fast pace and security issues are faced with a difficult dynamic. Our army can offer its elite capacities to NATO. We can join NATO even without being recognized by Serbia. For us to join NATO there is the principle of Serbia not obstructing Kosovo’s membership in international organizations,” he said.

Haradinaj said that cooperation between opposition parties is needed to remove Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. “We need to remove Kurti. The opposition can do this. It’s not that I have a big love for the PDK or LDK, but I need to work with them to remove this person [referring to Kurti]. Unfortunately, he has continued behaving as an anti-American … this is both dangerous and wrong. We need change,” he argued.

Lajcak to hold important discussions on Western Balkans in Geneva (media)

EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he will start his week in Geneva with important discussions on the Western Balkans. “This week will also be fully focused on following up on what was agreed during our last Chief Negotiators’ meeting,” he said.

Svecla commends Kosovo Police for successful operations (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, commended Kosovo Police on its latest operations last week which resulted in the arrests of three people for loan sharking, ten people for narcotics and over 110 kilograms of narcotics. “I commend all members of Kosovo Police for their continuous engagement to fight organised crime and every other form of crime. There is no more political support for mafia groups. The security of our citizens and our country remains the primary objective and in this respect the support from our government will never be lacking to achieve this objective every day,” Svecla said in a Facebook post.

KFOR soldiers conduct joint patrols with Kosovo Police in Zubin Potok (media)

NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that “Latvian soldiers assigned to Regional Command East of the NATO-led KFOR mission conducted routine patrols in Zubin Potoku/Zubin Potok alongside members of the Kosovo Police. These efforts are part of KFOR’s daily mission to guarantee a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo”.

Kurti, Osmani’s messages on 35th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall that it was a key moment in history that signified not only the first step toward German reunification but also a new chapter for Europe. “Few years have impacted history as profoundly as 1989, and the fall of the Wall will forever serve as a reminder that the people’s will for freedom can break the shackles of any imposed oppression,” Kurti wrote in a post on X.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X that “on Nov 9, 1989, freedom and unity triumphed over division. The fall of the wall reunited families and a divided nation, but also inspired an entire world. It reminded everyone that no barrier can hold back freedom”.

Serbian Language Media

Vucic: Gov't reshuffle due between March and June (Tanjug)

President of Serbia and Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) member Aleksandar Vucic announced on Friday a government reshuffle was due between March and June and that it was time to "say goodbye" to some party members, Tanjug news agency reported.

"It is time to lay it on the line with that reshuffle between March and June, and to say thank you to all those who have been explaining on television that they respect President Vucic, because they know they get votes that way, while calling all our opponents behind our back to tell them 'you know it was not us, Vucic did that, Vucic ordered that', and so on", Vucic told SNS Head Committee session. He said some SNS officials in attendance were doing that, too.

"Therefore, it is time to look one another in the face, it is time to set things clearly, and whatever happens, happens - it will be endured as long as it can be endured. Get ready, it is no shame. Sometime at the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027, we will have elections", Vucic said.

Vucic in phone conversation with Trump (Tanjug, Novosti)

Tanjug news agency reported late last night it has learnt that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had a phone conversation with newly elected US President Donald Trump. Novosti daily recalled that Vucic was among the first presidents to congratulate Trump on his election. Few days ago, Vucic also said that Serbia has good relations with Donald Trump and his surroundings. He also assessed there would be no tectonic changes in relation of the US towards Serbia.

Poll: Mitrovica North residents concerned about security, without trust in Kosovo police (KoSSev, Radio kontakt plus, media)

Mitrovica North residents are facing everyday challenges when it comes to their security, which in return causes strong concerns among them, KoSSev portal reports. Omnipresent Kosovo police, which as they said, do not contribute to easing the tensions, causes the feelings of fear and uncertainty, says the poll conducted by Radio kontakt plus. In the poll, the people pointed out heightened tensions and everyday insecurity affecting mainly the Serbian community, and according to some of them, the security situation has significantly deteriorated over the last years.

Decreasing the presence of Kosovo special police forces, more ethnicities among Kosovo police members, as well as change of authorities, both in Belgrade and Pristina, according to them could lead to stabilisation of the situation and decreasing the tensions. They also said that security is much worse compared to the previous period, adding the current situation is characterised with “never-stopping arrests” and “large concentration of police”.

“It is noticeable that there are a lot of people who do not live here, there is a large concentration of police vehicles which drive around all the time and also vehicles with civilian plates. There are a lot of people, who do not live in Mitrovica North, at the promenade staying in the café bars all the time. What is the aim of all of this, I do not know? People, in principle, are upset. They do not know what will happen next. Some arrests are happening non-stop. I think the situation is worse compared to previous years”, one of the interlocutors said. Female respondent said the security situation is more than bad. “That is the mildest word I can use, because it doesn't seem possible for me to be free even to walk my child on the street. I think this year has culminated with the insecurity of all of us. I am not afraid for myself, but for the people I love. It is really painful when you see it is not the same as it was a couple of years ago”.

As far as the trust in Kosovo police is concerned, respondents mainly gave negative remarks. The general feeling was that the police “are not doing their job”, and that they are “excessively politically engaged”.

Radio kontakt plus poll in Serbian is available at: https://shorturl.at/Y36FH

Pavkovic: Self-Determination has assessed they need diaspora votes for majority (Kosovo Online)

Milos Pavkovic, an associate at the Centre for European Policy, said the polls conducted during previous elections in Kosovo showed a large number of diaspora members voting for Albin Kurti's Self-Determination. It’s evident that, ahead of the February 9 elections, Kurti and his movement have assessed that every single diaspora vote could be decisive in securing a majority of voter support, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"Considering that Albin Kurti received absolute support, over 50 percent of the votes, in the previous elections, but now his rating is declining and stands below 50 percent, he is clearly relying on the diaspora to help him achieve majority support”, Pavkovic said. Commenting on opinions of some Pristina analysts that diaspora should not be allowed to vote as they lack insight into the real situation in Kosovo, Pavkovic said this is about an old political science debate whether diaspora should be allowed to vote or not, listing different examples in the countries, ranging from reserved places in the parliament for diaspora to them being able to vote in general or local elections.

“{…} It is true that citizens living in diaspora are often less informed than those living in the country and make less informed decisions, but given that they hold citizenship and the right to vote, they often exercise that right”, he added.

EU Ambassador expects Serbia to intensify reforms amid election-free period (N1)

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret expressed confidence that Serbia would accelerate its reform efforts, as no elections are expected soon. In an interview with Politika, he highlighted the EU’s expectation for progress in key areas, including alignment with EU foreign policy, despite Serbia’s close ties with Russia, particularly in energy. Giaufret noted Serbia’s support for EU crisis management in Africa and its humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as commendable contributions, N1 reported.

Presenting the EU’s recent progress report on Serbia, Giaufret emphasised that reforms in the rule of law, democracy, anti-corruption measures, organised crime prevention, and relations with Pristina are crucial to Serbia’s EU trajectory. He underlined that dialogue with Pristina is essential for normalisation and improving local lives, urging both sides to honour prior commitments.

He stressed the importance of energy diversification and independence on Serbia’s EU accession path, highlighting collaborative projects like the gas interconnector with Bulgaria. He underscored the EU’s role as Serbia’s main donor and trading partner but acknowledged a significant socioeconomic gap with the EU. He pointed to the EU’s €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, allocating €1.5 billion to Serbia, contingent on reform achievements, as essential for bridging this divide.

Joint patrols of KFOR and Kosovo police in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online, social media)

Latvian soldiers assigned to Regional Command East of the NATO-led KFOR Mission have patrolled together with Kosovo police in Zubin Potok, Kosovo Online portal reported citing KFOR statement.

“These efforts are part of KFOR’s daily mission to guarantee a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo. KFOR continues to implement its mandate - based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 - to provide a safe and secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo and freedom of movement at all time and impartially. #KFOR is the third security responder, after the Kosovo Police and the EU Rule of Law (EULEX) mission, respectively, with whom we work in close coordination”, the statement added.

Serb arrested at Jarinje released (Radio Mitrovica sever)

A Serb, S.V. arrested on Wednesday evening last week at Jarinje crossing point had been released on Friday, his lawyer Jelena Krivokapic said.

One person filed a criminal report against S.V. for the alleged acts of ‘threat and assault’, and later as the lawyer said, brought a photo taken from social media, and alleged that S.V. has committed serious crimes. Upon arrest S.V. was sent to 48-hour detention and got released upon expiry of it.

Opposition calls protest for November 11 outside Serbian Government building (N1)

A protest organised by opposition parties in response to the November 1 deadly canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station will be held on Monday, November 11, at 5 pm in front of the Serbian Government building in Belgrade, rather than on Wednesday as initially announced, MP Srdjan Milivojevic confirmed to N1. He noted that this will be a protest gathering but could not say whether there would be a march.

The demands remain the same, with the additional request that all those who were wrongly detained be released, Milivojevic added. Following the tragedy at the Novi Sad main railway station, where 14 people were killed and another three severely injured when a concrete canopy collapsed on them, a protest was organised in this city on November 5. What began as a peaceful march eventually descended into chaos in the city centre. Groups of masked young men vandalised the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) after protestors had earlier thrown red paint at the building. The Novi Sad City Hall was also damaged, with broken doors and windows, and the building was later targeted with flares. A nearby construction site for a public garage was also destroyed.

International Media

Trump allies push Richard Grenell for Secretary of State (Real Clear Politics)

Allies of Donald Trump are encouraging the president-elect to make the most of what he described as “an unprecedented and powerful mandate” by nominating a dyed-in-the-wool MAGA diplomat to serve as his secretary of state, rather than an America First convert as he did during his first term.

Enter Richard Grenell.

He is the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, who served previously as the acting director of national intelligence, and whose chief characteristic is an undying devotion to Trump. During the frenetic early days of the presidential transition, a number of names have already been floated, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty. Grenell, a firebrand whose name gives establishment foreign policy circles heartburn, is already lining up support from divergent corners of the GOP.

“He would be a break from precedent in the same way that President Trump’s foreign policy worldviews are a break with precedent,” said Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who has discussed a Grenell nomination with the Trump transition team.