UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 19, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: I cannot impose an Association, it’s up to the municipalities (media)
Kurti: We have strengthened our ties further with North Macedonia (media)
Kurti, Mickoski reiterate joint commitment to EU membership (media)
Osmani meets EU ambassadors, talks accelerating Kosovo's EU integration (Klan)
Estonian Riho Terras appointed EP Rapporteur for Kosovo (media)
Rohde on election campaigns in Kosovo that take place in Germany (media)
Haradinaj: I would send Association to court on first week in government (media)
KFOR Latvian soldiers patrol in Leposavic municipality (media)
Senator asks Blinken to keep eyes on Kosovo during transition of power (media)
Osmani congratulates Latvian leaders and people on Independence Day (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Putin invites Vucic to Moscow on the occasion of Victory Day (Tanjug, media)
Kazakh President Tokayev arrives in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)
Serbia, Kazakhstan sign 2025 military cooperation plan (N1)
Djuric meets with Koopman (media)
Strpce mayor signs proposal to declare “Stojko’s House“ cultural heritage site (KoSSev)
Serbian Culture Protection Agency against Government’s decision to remove general staff buildings from cultural heritage register (KoSSev, N1)
Latvian KFOR soldiers patrol in Leposavic (Kosovo Online, social media)

International Media:

Balkan countries at UN Climate Summit: Touting renewables, chasing gas deals (Balkan Insight)
Opposition in Serbia’s Novi Sad demands mayor’s dismissal as death toll rises (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: I cannot impose an Association, it’s up to the municipalities (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Monday that he cannot create an Association of Serb-majority municipalities, arguing that this is not in the competencies of the government. “I cannot make an association of municipalities in the Republic. It is up to the municipalities to make the association. We have freedom of association in the Constitution, but also in the Law on Local Self-Government. It is very clearly stated in two articles how the association of municipalities is made. The association that is imposed from above is a dictate, it is not an association,” he said in an interview with Alsat M TV station.

Kurti said that Serbia talks about the old agreements that were made by its predecessors, while it does not implement the last agreement on the normalization of relations. “We have an agreement in Brussels. The agreement is basic for mutual recognition, at least de facto, and it must be implemented. But Serbia talks about the old agreements that were overturned by the Constitutional Court. I do not deny the agreements made by the predecessors, but they should not be placed like the cart before the horse,” he argued.

Kurti also said that the Basic Agreement is not a self-service where Serbia can take what it wants and discard the rest.

Kurti: We have strengthened our ties further with North Macedonia (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X on Monday after the joint meeting of the governments of Kosovo and North Macedonia that “we strengthened our ties further with two MOUs on energy and education, and a protocol on border crossings. Starting January 1, 2025 we will implement a one-stop-shop system at two border crossing points, drastically reducing wait times and easing the free movement of people and goods”.

Kurti said that during the joint meeting he emphasized that Kosovo and North Macedonia “have no bilateral disputes—only open communication and growing collaboration. We are neighbors, friends, and partners, bound by trade, family ties, and shared progress”.

“In an era of heightened security threats, close cooperation among our security institutions is essential. Together, we guard against malign third actors in our region who threaten progress and our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. While we have much in common, one aspiration stands above all: the shared desire to join the European Union and contribute to peace through the NATO alliance. North Macedonia is already a NATO member, and Kosova is steadily progressing toward that goal with NATO already integrated into our country. Regional cooperation and economic integration under the Berlin Process, alongside dedication to EU reforms, remain our shared journey—one where we support and learn from one another,” Kurti said.

Kurti, Mickoski reiterate joint commitment to EU membership (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his North Macedonia counterpart Hristijan Mickoski had a tete-a-tete meeting prior to the joint meeting of the two governments and discussed bilateral relations and the importance of organizing the second meeting at the intergovernmental level. “Bilateral cooperation and the will to strengthen it in areas of priority and common interest were appreciated, which is evidenced by the reaching and signing of agreements in education and energy and the technical protocol to facilitate free movement between the two countries,” a press release issued by Kurti’s office noted. The two leaders also talked about the joint commitment on the road toward the European Union, the importance of both parties in this process and in the case of Kosovo, NATO membership as well, was reiterated.

Osmani meets EU ambassadors, talks accelerating Kosovo's EU integration (Klan)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on Monday had a working lunch with ambassadors of EU member states and neighboring countries. “Today at a working lunch with the ambassadors of the member states of the European Union and neighboring countries, under the organization of the Hungarian presidency, in the discussion about the next steps to accelerate the integration of our country towards the EU,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

Estonian Riho Terras appointed EP Rapporteur for Kosovo (media)

Member of the European Parliament from Estonia, Riho Terras, was appointed on Monday as the EP Rapporteur for Kosovo. Terras is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP). The Parliament on Monday completed the list of rapporteurs for countries in the EU enlargement process.

Rohde on election campaigns in Kosovo that take place in Germany (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said in a post on X on Monday that “with regard to the upcoming general elections in Kosovo, we informed the Foreign Ministry and political parties about our specific regulation. This concerns campaign events for elections in Kosovo that take place on German soil. The regulation stipulates inter alia that permission will generally not be granted if the campaign event takes place within a period of less than three months before the date of elections in the respective country”.

Haradinaj: I would send Association to court on first week in government (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj, in a meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Germany, said that he would send the draft statute of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities to the Constitutional Court on the first week in government. “There is always the possibility that the Constitutional Court will reject it completely or overrule some points of the Association,” he argued. “I would not waste Kosovo’s time given the new developments in Europe and in Washington, because we could get insurmountable blows even bigger than the ones we got against our statehood”.

KFOR Latvian soldiers patrol in Leposavic municipality (media)

NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, published footage from routine patrols in the municipality of Leposavic. “These efforts are part of KFOR's daily mission to guarantee a safe and secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo. KFOR continues to implement its mandate. KFOR works in close coordination with the Kosovo Police and EULEX in their respective roles as security responders,” KFOR said in a statement.

Senator asks Blinken to keep eyes on Kosovo during transition of power (media)

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the danger that Serbia has presented to Kosovo over the years, mentioning the attack in Banjska in September 2023. He has expressed his fear that, “given the previous approach of the U.S. president-elect, Donald Trump, towards Russia”, he fears that “the new Trump administration will do very little to encourage peace between Serbia and Kosovo”.

Blumenthal also asked Blinken to keep his eyes on Kosovo during the transition of power in the USA. “During this transition phase, I ask you to use all the instruments at your disposal to ensure that Serbia is kept away from and unable to encroach on the territory of Kosovo. We also ask that you continue the efforts dedicated to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the admission of Kosovo to the UN,” he wrote.

Osmani congratulates Latvian leaders and people on Independence Day (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in a post on X on Monday congratulated the President, Prime Minister and people of Latvia on their independence day. “Kosovo cherishes the strong bonds between our countries. We look forward to further strengthening our friendship and cooperation,” she said.

Serbian Language Media

Putin invites Vucic to Moscow on the occasion of Victory Day (Tanjug, media)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to visit Moscow on May 9, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the victory in WWII, Tanjug news agency said it learnt.

"I invite you to take part in ceremonies to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, to be held in Moscow on May 9, 2025. That most significant date symbolises the end of the most terrible war in the history of mankind. Let us pay deep respect to the heroism of our fathers and grandfathers and bow to the many victims of Nazism. I am convinced that preserving the memory of the great victory will bolster the shared determination to oppose any manifestations of neo-Nazism and step up constructive cooperation with a view to securing peace and security on the planet. I sincerely look forward to seeing you in Moscow", Putin wrote in the invitation.

Vucic and Putin last spoke on October 20 this year by phone and last met on October 17 last year at a Beijing forum of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, Tanjug added.

Kazakh President Tokayev arrives in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Belgrade on Monday afternoon and was welcomed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Nikola Tesla Airport. Tokayev, whose presidential plane was escorted by Serbian Armed Forces jets, was given a guard-of-honour welcome at the airport, Tanjug news agency reported.

Hosted by Vucic, Tokayev will be on an official visit to Serbia on Monday and Tuesday. A welcoming ceremony that will include military honours will be held outside the Palace of Serbia on Tuesday and followed by a tete-a-tete meeting of the two presidents.

A plenary meeting of Serbian and Kazakh delegations headed by Vucic and Tokayev will be followed by a ceremonial exchange of signed bilateral documents with the two presidents in attendance. Vucic and Tokayev will then hold a press conference. After the official part of the schedule, they will attend a display of arms and military equipment at the Batajnica military airport.

Serbia, Kazakhstan sign 2025 military cooperation plan (N1)

Defence ministry delegations from Serbia and Kazakhstan signed a bilateral military cooperation plan for 2025 in Belgrade, N1 reports. The Serbian Defense Ministry said the signing took place during Kazakhstan Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov’s visit to Serbia.

In talks with Zhaksylykov, Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic expressed gratitude for Kazakhstan’s support of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in all international institutions.

He noted that cooperation between Serbia and Kazakhstan in the area of defence is very strong, with significant potential for expansion and emphasised that the two defence ministries exchanged proposals for potential future collaboration. The two officials also discussed opportunities to develop military-economic cooperation, military-to-military, military-education, and military-medical collaboration.

Djuric meets with Koopman (media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met on Monday with Gert Jan Koopman, director general of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, noting that Serbia would by the end of 2027 carry out all reforms necessary for EU accession.

Djuric said he hoped the efforts would be acknowledged by the other side and pointed out that full EU membership was a strategic goal and one of the main foreign policy priorities for Serbia, the Serbian MFA said in a statement. He noted that Serbia was boosting bilateral relations with EU member states, forging new ties and friendships with countries it had no opportunity to cooperate with more closely until now.

He said Serbia was and remained a pillar of peace of stability in the region and would continue to work on strengthening good neighbourly relations and cooperation as an indispensable part of the enlargement policy. Djuric also said his ministry would continue to work hard and with commitment on implementing activities aimed at fulfilling Serbia's EU agenda, and noted that meetings with EU member states, especially those in the region, had led to concrete forms of cooperation.

Strpce mayor signs proposal to declare “Stojko’s House“ cultural heritage site (KoSSev)

Strpce mayor Dalibor Jevtic has signed a proposal to declare the cultural and historical landmark “Stojko’s House“ a site of public interest. This proposal will be forwarded to the Strpce Municipal Assembly for approval, KoSSev portal reported. Jevtic made the announcement in a video posted on his official Facebook page.

“This is our way of defending the interests of the citizens of Strpce in a democratic manner, because Stojko’s House is not just a building of public interest, but it also holds significant cultural and historical value for all of us who live in the Sirinićka Zupa”, Jevtic stated.

The municipality, led by Jevtic, said last week that the Privatization Agency of Kosovo had leased this premise of Brezovica Ski Center to Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) on November 15. The Municipality of Strpce strongly opposes this decision.

“The Municipality of Strpce, all of us, will not back down on this issue or any others in our fight. Despite the political obstacles, we will protect the interests of everyone living in the territory of Strpce. Rest assured, we will achieve our goals, sooner or later, together with you. And I believe that the Municipal Assembly of Strpce will support this decision with a large, two-thirds majority“, Jevtic said.

Serbian Culture Protection Agency against Government’s decision to remove general staff buildings from cultural heritage register (KoSSev, N1)

The Serbian Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments has sent a letter to the Serbian Government and the Ministry of Culture, which N1 had access to, in which it accuses the government of violating the Cultural Heritage Law, KoSSev portal reported.

The document, drafted by the expert service of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, calls on the government to reconsider its actions. “If Serbia treats its own cultural heritage in this manner, how can we ask international institutions to protect our heritage in Kosovo and Metohija? If Kosovo authorities follow Serbia’s example, they could declare the Church of the Virgin of Ljeviš in Prizren, devastated during the March pogrom of 2004, no longer a cultural monument. How will we protect it when we are destroying our own heritage in the centre of Belgrade?“ the letter states.

Although heavily damaged in a 1999 NATO bombing of the-then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the former General Staff building of the Yugoslav Army survived due to its protected status as an immovable cultural property, granted in 2005. However, under the Serbian Government’s latest decision to revoke this status, it may no longer be the case.The Serbian Government has decided to remove the buildings of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army and the Ministry of Defense from the cultural heritage register. This decision, published in the Official Gazette on Friday, November 15, will take effect eight days after publication.