Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Ukraine’s victory will be Europe’s victory (media)

• Kurti values ​​ contribution of International Republican Institute (media)
• AmCham welcomes Osmani’s decision to send back law on consumer (media)
• French envoy does not disclose whether his country supports removal of measures (Koha)
• Aliu hands over keys of rebuilt houses to families in Kosovo north (media)
• Elshani: Person whose weapons were found in Zvecan, linked to Banjska attack (media)
• Mickoski: Albanian language is not being endangered (RTK)
• Zijadin Sela: Kurti's statement about Albanian language, scandalous (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I expect more resignations in government and elsewhere on Wednesday (Tanjug, RTS)
• Petkovic meets Troccaz, says Kurti's statement on CSM confirms Pristina's violations of agreements (Kosovo Online)
• Hill: Much work has to be done to achieve normalisation of relations (Kosovo Online)
• Lawyer on indictment against Srdjan Lazovic: Classic example of mistaken identity (media)
• By KAP decision, Ministry of Health to take over part of Jedinstvo social enterprise’s property (Kosovo Online)
• Rio Tinto CEO concerned over anti-lithium protests (N1)

International Media: 

• Kosovo indicts Yugoslav Army ex-reservist for war crimes against villagers (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media 

Osmani: Ukraine’s victory will be Europe’s victory (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Tuesday that Ukraine’s victory will be Europe’s victory. “1000 days of Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine. 1000 days of remarkable resilience, unyielding strength, and an unbroken spirit of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine's victory will be Europe's victory—a decisive stand for freedom and justice. Kosovo will stand with Ukraine until victory is achieved,” she wrote.

Kurti values ​​ contribution of International Republican Institute (media)

Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, met with the Resident Director of the Kosovo Program from the International Republican Institute (IRI), Marta Onorato. The Kosovo Assembly, through a press release, announced that Kurti praised the partnership, the role and contribution of the institute.

According to the Assembly's statement, the meeting highlighted mutual efforts to strengthen cooperation and commitment to reforms aimed at inclusivity. The discussion focused on programs and projects that particularly centre on youth and women, as well as those related to public policy development.

AmCham welcomes Osmani’s decision to send back law on consumer (media)

The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo said in a statement on Tuesday that it welcomes the decision of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani to send back to the Kosovo Assembly the Law on Consumer Protection, as a response to comments by the AmCham and other organisations of the private sector. The statement notes that AmCham supports the President’s assessments that key provisions of the law are in opposition with the provisions of the Constitution and other laws. 

The AmCham said it strongly believes that Osmani’s decision is aimed at avoiding legal conflicts and respect for the authority, responsibilities and legal functioning of different institutions of Kosovo. “It is imperative that provisions that regulate consumer protection are not linked to other regulative aspects that do not regulate primarily or specifically the area of consumer rights and their protection, such as issues related to the environment,” the statement notes.

French envoy does not disclose whether his country supports removal of measures (Koha)

Rene Troccaz, Special Envoy of France for the Western Balkans, avoided the question regarding the lifting of the punitive measures of the European Union against Kosovo. Asked if France supports their removal, Troccaz said that he was under the impression that the discussion at the Security Conference in Belgrade was being held for Kosovo and Serbia.

Speaking about the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Troccaz requested that both sides refrain from unilateral actions. "What we have to say is that exactly as I said earlier, for us, the goal and the answer to these problems is EU integration. We must make progress in the dialogue within this framework, facilitated by the EU. Second, we must refrain from any unilateral measures, and third, we must certainly help both sides to find ways to reach an agreement on a solution, which is not easy. But this is what we have and where we are, we must not leave this path and this framework. This is the main answer", Troccaz said.

Aliu hands over keys of rebuilt houses to families in Kosovo north (media)

Kosovo’s Minister for Infrastructure, Environment and Spatial Planning, Liburn Aliu, handed over the keys of rebuilt houses to 21 families who returned to the north of Kosovo. “It is a special emotion to hand over the home keys to someone who for over two decades could not return to their properties and homes. This is a painful history that happened to thousands of families in the north of the country, many of whom were forcibly expelled after the end of the war … Kosovo is home to all its citizens, where everyone should live free and unimpeded from enjoying their rights,” Aliu said in a Facebook post.

Elshani: Person whose weapons were found in Zvecan, linked to Banjska attack (media)

The Deputy Director of the Police in the North, Veton Elshani, spoke about the confiscation of weapons by the police in Zvecan on Tuesday. Elshani stated that they cannot currently disclose the identity of the person whose weapons were found, as he is of interest to the police regarding the Banjska attack. "We consider that these weapons that were found here are connected to this person," he added, without providing details on whether they were found on his property or at locations where the suspect had operated. 

"We received accurate information on where they were located, and we found them buried underground," he explained, adding that the police first discovered the initial cache, which included uniforms, AK-47 rifles, and ammunition.

Elshani further stated that, after this, they called in the special police unit for demining, who arrived with their equipment and uncovered two additional caches underground, including a plastic pipe with an AK-47 inside. "All of these items were confiscated and brought to the police station," he said.

Elshani pointed out that this is not the first time the police have found weapons hidden underground in the north, and whenever they have information, the police act. He also said that the security situation in the north is calm, and there is no area where the Kosovo Police does not intervene.

Regarding the recent graffiti seen in the north, Elshani said that, according to the duty prosecutor, there was no content deemed to incite hatred or anything similar. Elshani mentioned that they are in constant communication with the community living in the north, despite the area being divided and a border region, and as the police, they have demonstrated in the past that they are capable and know how to manage this territory, which constitutes 17% of Kosovo's territory.

Mickoski: Albanian language is not being endangered (RTK)

The prime minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, speaking about the use of the Albanian language in North Macedonia and the law on languages, said that the Albanian language is not endangered in this country.

"Believe me, this is not a question of concern, no one is against the Albanian language, on the contrary, I am the head of the government, no one is against it, not even in Macedonia, this is an artificial topic. This is not a topic that hinders or does not hinder someone, this is a topic that these shadows from the past are trying to impose because they have no other topic, believe me", said Mickoski during an extensive interview with RTK.

Zijadin Sela: Kurti's statement about Albanian language is scandalous (RTK)

The chairman of the Alliance for Albanians in North Macedonia, Zijadin Sela, assessed as scandalous the appearance of the two prime ministers after the joint Kosovo-North Macedonia meeting. He singled out Prime Minister Kurti's statement about the Albanian language, which he said "brought him back to a time when irredentism, nationalism, and Albanian separatism were the headlines."

"Kurti's statement about the Albanian language in Macedonia sounded like that to me, when he told a big untruth, where he opposed the Albanian language in North Macedonia," Sela told Kosovo’s public broadcaster.

He said that VMRO-DPMNE is trying, through the Constitutional Court, to undermine everything achieved during these two decades, after the signing of the 'Ohrid Agreement', to implement the party's program which it promised during the election campaign there.

"The statement of Mr. Kurti is disturbing and scandalous,” Sela said among other things adding that he expected from Kurti to raise concern and put pressure on Prime Minister Mickoski about the Albanians of North Macedonia and violation of their rights.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs in North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, also said that "this statement came as an encouragement to the dismantlers of the Ohrid Agreement, encouragement to those who encourage the Constitutional Court to make a decision on the annulment of the Law on Language".

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic: I expect more resignations in government and elsewhere on Wednesday (Tanjug, RTS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in a public address on Tuesday evening he expected more resignations "in the government and elsewhere" on Wednesday over the recent tragic accident at the Novi Sad railway station, Tanjug news agency reported. Vucic said he was certain the competent prosecutor's office would take action in the shortest possible time. He again extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy.

"I expect new resignations as early as tomorrow, in the government as well as elsewhere”, he said on Tuesday. The death toll of the November 1 overhang collapse at the railway station rose to 15 on Sunday after a female patient seriously injured in the accident died at the Vojvodina Clinical Centre in Novi Sad. Doctors are fighting for the lives of two other seriously injured people.

During his public address Vucic responding to journalist’s question also said that he thanked the Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invitation to attend the 80^th anniversary of the victory in WWII in Moscow, adding that unless “the end of the world” occurs, he would gladly attend the celebration of the Victory Day in Moscow. “It will be my great honour to be on the Red Square on the occasion of the 80^th anniversary since liberation from fascism, as I was there on the 75^th anniversary of the liberation”, Vucic said.

Vucic added Serbia in addition to Expo, has one more goal and that is to fulfil all criteria for EU membership by the end of 2026. 

Petkovic meets Troccaz, says Kurti's statement on CSM confirms Pristina's violations of agreements (Kosovo Online)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic, met on Tuesday France's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, René Troccaz. During the meeting, Petkovic conveyed that Pristina is systematically undermining the dialogue and agreements reached in Brussels. He pointed to the recent statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who declared that he would not establish the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM), as further evidence of these violations, Kosovo Online portal reported.

In a post on Instagram, Petkovic said he informed his counterpart “about all Pristina's escalating actions and Albin Kurti’s acts”. He also emphasised that Belgrade is committed to dialogue and continues to act as a constructive party in the process.

"Belgrade is committed to dialogue and behaves as a constructive party. However, it is impossible to achieve normalisation of relations when, on the other side of the negotiating table, we have someone who violates all agreements and takes unilateral and illegal actions on a daily basis. These actions directly threaten the existence of the Serbian people and lead to their expulsion from their ancestral homes", Petkovic said.

Hill: Much work has to be done to achieve normalisation of relations (Kosovo Online)

US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill told the Belgrade Security Conference that significant work must be done to achieve the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, Kosovo Online portal reported. He emphasised the importance of supporting the EU-led dialogue.

"It is very important to initiate these processes and create conditions for normalising relations. But there is clearly much work to be done. This issue involves not only the current administration but also the next one, as it cannot be resolved immediately. A great deal of effort is required to achieve the status of normalised relations between Serbia and Kosovo", Hill said.

He added that the EU Special Envoy for Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has made many positive proposals addressing various topics, including the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities. "These are issues Lajcak raised right at the beginning, and they need to be implemented. Later, if everyone acts on Lajcak's proposals, we will be in a better place. Certainly, we have lost time for various reasons, but we must get back to work”, he underlined.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/L1k20

Lawyer on indictment against Srdjan Lazovic: Classic example of mistaken identity (media)

Predrag Miljkovic, defence lawyer of Srdjan Lazovic from Leposavic, accused by Special Prosecution in Pristina for allegedly committing war crimes in Malisevo municipality told TV Most this case represents “a classic example of mistaken identity”, adding the prosecution does not want to admit that.

Criticising situation in Kosovo judiciary, Miljkovic underlined that his client was arrested on June 26, this year at Jarinje crossing point he often used, while the investigation against him started the day after, on June 27, arguing that first an investigation needs to open and then someone gets arrested or not based on the results of that investigation. He also said Lazovic is accused of allegedly committing war crimes in Malisevo, but that his client “has never been south of the Ibar River and is not able to show Malisevo on a map even, let alone be there as a member of police”.

He recalled that this year a photo circulated on the internet, showing a member of Serbian police together with two or three colleagues standing in front of civilians kneeling on the ground with hands held high. According to Miljkovic, Kosovo police in Pristina somehow established that Srdjan Lazovic was in that photo, some witnesses were invited and they said it was him.

“From the moment of the arrest, we interviewed those witnesses, and they were unconvincing. I, as his defence lawyer, requested expert opinion. We hired a digital forensics expert from Italy, Mr. Giuseppe Di Falco, and another digital forensics expert from Paris, who is a permanent forensic expert at the Court of Appeal in Paris, and both of them unequivocally said in their expert reports that the person in the photo is not Srdjan Lazovic”, Miljkovic said.

He added the expert report from Italy arrived on time, was translated into Albanian and Serbian and submitted to the Prosecutor's Office, but that the prosecutor in Pristina told him, experts in Pristina said the photo was of low quality and could not be enlarged in order to carry out examinations.

Asking how then it was possible for experts from Italy and Paris to do the examination, Miljkovic said the report using the method of comparison clearly showed that there are “eight morphological features pointing out differences between the persons (the one in the photo and his client Srdjan Lazovic), which could not have changed by the time elapses and differences in weight”.

He further argued it is a classic example of mistaken identity, that started with a wrong arrest, but that the prosecution does not want to admit it, adding that he brought another evidence, including Lazovic’s employment contract, military booklet and other material evidences proving that Lazovic has never been in Malisevo and that he is not the person in the photo. He also said that at the last hearing, he requested the presence of EULEX, but that special prosecution has rejected his request. 

By KAP decision, Ministry of Health to take over part of Jedinstvo social enterprise property (Kosovo Online)

The Board of Kosovo Privatization Agency (KAP) has approved the transfer of part of the property of Jedinstvo Social Enterprise to the Ministry of Health, which will use it as a central warehouse for medicines, Kosovo Online portal reported.

In a statement, KAP noted that this decision aligns with the final decision of the Kosovo government on expropriation dated July 24 of this year.

The final lists of workers who will benefit from 20% of the proceeds from the sale, transfer, or liquidation of 10 social enterprises or their assets have also been approved. These include: AD 'Peko' Mitrovica, DP KB 'Novo brdo' Gnjilane, DP KB 'Baran' Pec, DP KB 'Bujku' Pristina, DP 'Properimi' Pristina, AD 'Enti per Amviseri' Pristina, AD 'Centro tekstil' Pristina, SSC Veterinary Station Djakovica, and SSC Sipad Pristina, the statement said. Additionally, the Board approved 20 cases that meet the criteria for the sale process, while 13 cases were rejected.

Rio Tinto CEO concerned over anti-lithium protests (N1)

Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm told German daily Handelsblatt that the anti-lithium mining protests in Serbia could push back the company’s schedule, N1 reported. The daily recalled the protests by tens of thousands of Serbians who fear pollution. “This could jeopardise the schedule”, Stausholm said, adding that it takes about four years from approval to first production.

“Every time we suffer a setback, that point in time is further in the future and the point at which we start generating income also shifts”, he added. He also expressed concern over what he said is disinformation about Rio Tinto’s Jadar Project in the west of Serbia.

According to Handelsblatt, the German automobile industry has high hopes for the project because the lithium concentration in the Jadar Valley makes it competitive with mines in Australia and Canada. It added that Rio Tinto wants to mine 58,000 tons of lithium annually which is enough to produce 1.1 million electric cars and covers 17 percent of the EU’s demand for the battery metal.

International Media 

Kosovo indicts Yugoslav Army ex-reservist for war crimes against villagers (Balkan Insight)

Srdjan Lazovic, a Kosovo Serb arrested in June, is accused of taking part in the mass detention and torture of hundreds of civilians at a village in the Malisheve/Malisevo area in 1999.

Kosovo’s Special Prosecution on Tuesday said it has indicted a former reservist member of the Yugoslav Army for war crimes against civilians in Panorc, a village in Kosovo’s central municipality of Malisheve/Malisevo during the 1998-99 war.

The Special Prosecution provided only the initials of the suspect, but BIRN has seen the indictment, which names Srdjan Lazovic, a 48-year-old from Kosovo’s northern municipality of Leposavic.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/E71JZ