Albanian Language Media: 

• Kurti and Osmani meet Ambassador William Walker (media)

• Maqedonci and Kasanof discuss KSF deployments with US troops in international missions (media)

• US gives green light to KSF for helicopter purchase (teve1)

• Kosovo with a series of demands on the issue of missing persons (RTK)

• KFOR: We are patrolling with Kosovo Police to protect critical infrastructure in the north (media)

• Haxhiu sends comments on Law on Bureau to Constitutional Court (media)

• Hargreaves meets Haradinaj, discuss Kosovo's Path to Euro-Atlantic Institutions (media)

• Defense requests of three defendants in the ‘Banjska’ case rejected (media)

• AJK reacts to suspension of Vehbi Kajtazi’s Facebook account (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Seven years since the murder of Oliver Ivanovic (KoSSev)

• Serbian List: CEC has decided against us again, we will appeal again (Kosovo Online, RTS, Tanjug, media)

• Serbian Democracy: We didn't get new seats in the electoral commissions, a new complaint follows (Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)

• Rasic: Protests should offer more than whistles and jeers (KoSSev)

• Arsenijevic: Rasic refused our request to return the Serbian flag to the Leposavic municipality building; Minister: I am not competent (Kontakt plus radio, FB)

• Can an advisory referendum replace the president of Serbia? (N1, NMagazin, Beta)

• Vucevic in a visit to Serbian Armed Forces troops in Ground Safety Zone (Tanjug)

• Kos: I think Serbia will soon be able to open Cluster 3 (Tanjug, media)

• Hill: The formation of the CSM is a key issue, the US will advocate for its establishment (Kosovo Online, Kurir)

International Media:

• Kosovo ruling party’s boycott of TV electoral debates draws criticism (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media 

Kurti and Osmani meet Ambassador William Walker (media) 

A day before the 26th anniversary of the Racak massacre, Prime Minister Albin Kurti received Ambassador William Walker, who as head of the OSCE Verification Mission became the witness who told the world about Serbian crimes in Kosovo. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, this meeting discussed one of the most important and tragic events in Kosovo's modern history: the Racak Massacre and Ambassador Walker's invaluable testimony about these events. "In this meeting, Prime Minister Kurti expressed his gratitude for Ambassador Walker's commitment to supporting truth and justice, as well as for his contribution to caring for and promoting international assistance during the war in Kosovo. He emphasized the significant and proactive role of the government of Kosovo in efforts to make possible the publication of Ambassador Walker's memoirs, which documents the terrible events of the Racak Massacre," the Prime Minister's statement reads.

President Vjosa Osmanialso received Ambassador William Walker, on the eve of the anniversary of the Racak Massacre. The announcement issued by the Presidency states that ‘Osmani thanked Walker for his contribution to the truth about Racak, while saying that the 1999 massacre by the genocidal regime of Serbia is a permanent memory for the 45 men, women and elderly people, who were brutally massacred on January 15, 1999.’ 

“The truth of Racak is undeniable,” Osmani stated.

Maqedonci and Kasanof discuss KSF deployments with US troops in international missions (media) 

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci and KSF Commander, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, were received on Tuesday in a meeting by Assistant Secretary of State, Alexander Kasanof, at the U.S. Department of State. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, the importance of continuing U.S. diplomatic support for Kosovo’s aspiration for integration into Euro-Atlantic structures was emphasized in this meeting. 

It is further reported that the planned joint deployments of the KSF in international missions with US troops were discussed. "In this context, the planned joint deployments of the Kosovo Security Force in international missions with U.S. troops were also discussed, which, in addition to increasing military interoperability, will also have a positive impact on strengthening the international subjectivity of our country," the statement says.

US gives green light to KSF for helicopter purchase (teve1)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci in an interview with Teve1 from the United States of America where he is staying on an official visit to the State Department, said that he is discussing the increase in military capacities in coordination with the Department of Defense from whom he said he has also received a commitment for the purchase of helicopters which is in the third phase of the KSF transition. Maqedonci stated that a considerable number of Javelin anti-tank military equipment is expected to arrive this year, for which half of the payment has been made. Minister Maqedonci announced that he has been notified by the State Department about FBI experts who are conducting investigations into the attack on the main Iber-Lepenc canal on November 29, which according to him was led by Milan Radojicic. 

Kosovo with a series of demands on the issue of missing persons (RTK) 

The first meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons during the last war in Kosovo will be held in Brussels today. The meeting of the delegations from Kosovo and Serbia will be chaired by the European Union. Kosovo will present a series of demands on the issue of missing persons, although the European Union has said that it will be more of an inaugural meeting. 

Kosovo will be represented at this meeting by Halil Cenaj, while the topic of discussion will be the work plan and addressing the issue of missing persons.

The Council of Families of the Missing has requested that Kosovo be represented by experts in the field at such meetings. The Chairman of the Council of Families of the Missing, Ahmet Grajqevci, has requested that the EU put more pressure on Serbia to clarify the fate of the missing. 

According to unofficial sources in Brussels, the meeting will be more symbolic than substantive. Around 1,600 people are listed as missing since the last war in Kosovo.

KFOR: We are patrolling with Kosovo Police to protect critical infrastructure in the north (media) 

KFOR says that regular patrols and engagements with local community representatives in Kosovo are to prevent tensions and renewed violence in the north. In a response to tevë1, KFOR said that following the recent events in Banjska and Zvecan, NATO decided to increase the number of KFOR troops through the deployment of reserve forces.  

“Our main objective is to prevent tensions or renewed violence. This is what we are doing every day, through regular patrols and engagements with local community representatives throughout Kosovo. Due to the evolving security situation, in 2023, following the events in Banjska and Zvecan, NATO decided to increase the number of KFOR troops through the deployment of reserve forces. Today, the KFOR force consists of approximately 4,300 troops from 29 contributing countries (including NATO allies and partners),” KFOR’s response states. 

Furthermore, KFOR announced that after the attack on the Iber-Lepenc canal, the situation in northern Kosovo is calm. “Following the November 29 attack on the Iber-Lepenc canal, the security situation in northern Kosovo is calm, but remains fragile, due to several factors, including unresolved issues in the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina and rampant misinformation and disinformation,” KFOR said. 

Meanwhile, regarding patrols, KFOR announced that they will continue to strengthen transparency and prevent any risk. “As we have said, the situation in Kosovo is calm, but fragile. KFOR will continue to conduct regular patrols along the Administrative Boundary Line and is vigilant. Continued coordination by the Kosovo Police and the Serbian Armed Forces is essential to strengthen transparency and mutual situational awareness and to prevent any risk of unjustified escalation. While KFOR continues to provide a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo, based on its long-standing UN mandate, law enforcement throughout Kosovo falls under the responsibility of the Kosovo Police,” the KFOR response states, among other things. 

Haxhiu sends comments to Constitutional Court on Law on Bureau (media) 

The Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, said that they have sent to the Constitutional Court the comments on the claims of the opposition parties against the Law on the Confiscation of Unjustified Assets. “The opposition’s years-long efforts to ban the concept of civil confiscation in Kosovo continue. Today, we submitted to the Constitutional Court the comments regarding the repeated claims of the opposition against the Law on the Confiscation of Unjustified Assets. Given that this Law is being contested by the opposition in the Constitutional Court for the second time in a row and when we have already addressed each request of the Court in relation to it, we hope that the Court will not need another 16 months to issue a Judgment. As we have said, those who have abused their office and have become millionaires through politics will not be amnestied,” she wrote on ‘Facebook’.

Hargreaves meets Haradinaj, discuss Kosovo's Path to Euro-Atlantic Institutions (media)

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, has met with AAK's candidate for prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj. Hargreaves wrote that it was a pleasure to discuss with Haradinaj the opportunities for Kosovo's continued path towards Euro-Atlantic institutions. "Kosovo can be proud of the integrity of its electoral processes as a young democracy. I was pleased to discuss the importance of maintaining this integrity with AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj today, as well as the opportunities for Kosovo's continued path towards Euro-Atlantic institutions."

Defense requests of three defendants in the ‘Banjska’ case rejected (media) 

The Basic Court in Pristina has rejected as unfounded the requests to dismiss the indictment and challenge the evidence presented by the defense of Vladimir Tolic, Dusan Maksimovic and Blagoje Spasojevic in the “Banjska” case, which they had presented against the indictment of the Special Prosecution. 

The indictment of the Special Prosecution filed on September 11, 2024, charges 44 individuals and one legal entity. The list of defendants is headed by Milan Radoicic. So far, those arrested and under detention in this case are: Spasojevic, Tolic and Maksimovic, for whom criminal proceedings have been separated.

AJK reacts to suspension of Vehbi Kajtazi’s Facebook account (media)

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) in a statement on Tuesday expressed concern over the suspension of reporter Vehbi Kajtazi’s account on Facebook. According to Kajtazi, who owns the Paparaci news website, the suspension came after constant reports about his posts related to the February 9 elections, as well as numerous actions by bots that harassed him on his platform before the election campaign. 

Serbian Language Media  

Seven years since the murder of Oliver Ivanovic (KoSSev)

Friends, relatives and former party comrades will mark on Thursday, January 16, the seventh anniversary of the murder of the Serbian politician from Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic.

The traditional memorial service and candle lighting will take place at 8:15 a.m., at the site of the assassination, announced Dejan Nedeljkovic, one of the comrades of the late Ivanovic.

The leader of the civil initiative of the SDP, Oliver Ivanovic - was killed on January 16, 2018, with 6 shots in the back while entering the yard of the house in the northern part of Mitrovica - the seat of his civil initiative.

In June of last year, the Basic Court in Pristina sentenced Marko Rosic, Nedeljko Spasojevic, Dragisa Markovic and Zarko Jovanovic to a total of 22 years in prison for their involvement in the murder of Oliver Ivanovic.

Silvana Arsovic and Rade Basara were released.

Serbian List: CEC has decided against us again, we will appeal again (Kosovo Online, RTS, Tanjug, media)

The Serbian List has announced that the Central Election Commission has once again made a decision detrimental to the party regarding electoral committees, which they plan to appeal again.

"After the unlawful and forged decision of the CEC concerning electoral committees was annulled by the Election Panel for Appeals and Complaints and it was ordered that the Commission adopt a new one in accordance with legal acts, the CEC held a session today and again made an unlawful decision to the detriment of the Serbian List, with clear violations of electoral rules and favoring the party of Kurti's favorite, Nenad Rasic. The Serbian List will again file an appeal," stated the party’s announcement. 

They assert that this institutional and legal violence reflects the anti-Serbian policy of the regime in Pristina, led by Albin Kurti, who, they note, violates all legal acts in an attempt to prevent the Serbian people from choosing their representatives, that is, to prevent the SL from retaining all 10 mandates in the parliament in Pristina.

"Although we understand the undisguised love of Albin Kurti for Nenad Rasic and the hatred both feel towards the Serbian List and everything Serbian, we will not allow the violation of laws, manipulations, electoral engineering, and unauthorized actions to enable Kurti to seize Serbian parliamentary seats through proxies who, unfortunately, come also from the ranks of the Serbian people," added the Serbian List. 

Serbian Democracy: We didn't get new seats in the electoral commissions, a new complaint follows (Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)

Serbian Democracy announced last night that the number of their representatives in electoral committees has not changed.

Despite the decision of the EPAP that the CEC must act according to its election rules and therefore assign election board members to Serbian Democracy in all majority Serb municipalities, this did not happen, the party announced on Facebook.

"We still have representatives only in four municipalities with a majority Serb population," announced Serbian Democracy.

In addition, it is worrying that Nenad Rasic's party has retained an enormously increased number of representatives in electoral committees, which is also contrary to the election regulations on equal representation, according to Serbian Democracy.

"Mr. Rasic got a parliamentary seat as a citizen's initiative, and after that he registered a new political entity, i.e. party, with which he is now participating in the elections. So, the many times greater number of election board members compared to the one received by the Serbian Democracy only implies a rewriting of the electoral will in favor of Kurti's proxy, Nenad Rasic," read the announcement of the Serbian Democracy on FB.

In other words, the CEC ignores the decisions of the EPAP and brings Kosovo closer to an institutional crisis before the elections themselves, according to this party.

We will appeal to all instances because of the new unfair decision of the CEC, said at the end from the Serbian Democracy.

Rasic: Protests should offer more than whistles and jeers (KoSSev)

Nenad Rasic, leader of the Freedom, Justice, and Survival party and Minister for Communities and Return in the Kosovo government, visited Northern Kosovo yesterday. In Leposavic, he faced protests from Serbian Democracy activists, who offered to raise a Serbian flag with him on the municipal flagpole—a gesture Rasic declined.

The activists responded with whistles and jeers. Rasic later visited Zvecan, where he commented on the protests.

While he expressed support for the activists’ right to dissent, he criticized their methods, stating, “I would like to see something more than just whistling and hooting.”

Informative Sessions on Civil Registration The minister’s visit coincided with scheduled sessions in Leposavic and Zvecan focused on civil registration for citizens.

These sessions, organized ahead of the implementation of a recent decision by Kosovo’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, aim to integrate individuals—primarily from the Serbian community—into Kosovo’s civil system.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mpub7nz9

Arsenijevic: Rasic refused our request to return the Serbian flag to the Leposavic municipality building; Minister: I am not competent (Kontakt plus radio, FB)

The Minister for Communities and Return in the Government of Kosovo, Nenad Rasic, attended yesterday the information session on civil registration, held in the municipal building in Leposavic. During the occasion, members of the Serbian Democracy (SD) tried to hand him the Serbian flag, which was removed from the Municipality building during the violent takeover of the building by special units in May two years ago. Rasic refused their request, stating that he was not competent.

"It is known that a year and a half ago, the Serbian flag was removed from the municipal building. Today, we asked Minister Rasic to return the Serbian flag," Serbian Democracy leader Aleksandar Arsenijevic wrote on Facebook.

Members of the SD referred to Article 59 of the Kosovo Constitution, which guarantees the right to promote and highlight national symbols, stating that Albanian flags are displayed on the buildings of municipalities with a majority Albanian population.

"If you want to give it to me, I would gladly accept it, but I cannot interfere in the work of this institution. I don't have the authority for that," answered Rasic.

Arsenijevic stated on Facebook that Rasic refused their request to return the Serbian flag to the Municipality building.

"When Rasic refused us to take the Serbian flag and return it together to the Municipality, they kicked us out of the hall."

After the end of the informational meeting, the members of the Serbian Democracy escorted the minister in front of the Municipality building while blowing their whistles, while the police prevented them from approaching him.

Can an advisory referendum replace the president of Serbia? (N1, NMagazin, Beta)

Associate professor of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, Dr. Dusan Vucicevic told portal N1 that according to the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, there is no variant in which the President of the Republic is replaced by an advisory referendum.

President Aleksandar Vucic asked the opposition to request the maintenance of the so-called advisory referendum on the president, to determine the support he has among the citizens.

In a post on the Instagram account of buducnostsrbijeav, Vucic stated that CRTA announced that the vast majority of citizens were in favor of his removal, recalled NMagazin. 

"There is no more credible source, neither for the international community, nor for political parties in Serbia, than that non-governmental organization. I fought for the people and the people are my strength. If these allegations of CRTE are true, it is impossible for me to remain in the position of the president of Serbia, and therefore, it is necessary for the opposition parties to submit only 67 signatures, and they have over 80, in order to hold an advisory referendum on the president of Serbia," he stated.

Professor Vucicevic stated that, according to the Constitution, the mandate of the president ends at the end of the term for which he was elected, by resignation and dismissal.

"Dismissal is initiated only in case of violation of the Constitution, and that procedure is initiated by a third of the people's deputies, and then the Constitutional Court declares whether the president has violated the Constitution. But that's not the end of the procedure either. Even if the judges of the Constitutional Court say that the president violated the Constitution, the procedure would return to the Assembly, where two-thirds of the deputies would have to confirm that decision. So, there is no variant in which the President of the Republic is replaced by an advisory referendum," he concluded.

Vucevic in a visit to Serbian Armed Forces troops in Ground Safety Zone (Tanjug)

Serbian PM Milos Vucevic visited Serbian Armed Forces 4th Brigade troops in the Ground Safety Zone between central Serbia and Kosovo on Tuesday and noted that the whole country would invest concerted efforts to create better conditions for the military. Vucevic said he was pleased to be visiting Ground Forces troops on the first day of the Orthodox New Year.

He said that, with support from the president of the Republic, the government and the Ministry of Defence, better conditions would be created for the military to ensure troops on the ground had all they needed to function and execute their tasks.

"So that we can continue to strengthen our army also with the best equipment and arms and uniforms. We eagerly await the autumn and the first class of recruits to restore the good old tradition of military service for our young men, albeit for a slightly shorter period, and ensure the army is what it has always been - the people's army and an inalienable part of the fatherland and our citizens," Vucevic said. During the visit, he was accompanied by Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and Deputy Chief of General Staff Tiosav Jankovic.

Kos: I think Serbia will soon be able to open Cluster 3 (Tanjug, media)

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said on Tuesday the EU was "following the conclusions of the non-paper made in December" and that she believed Serbia would be able to open Cluster 3 in its EU accession talks "soon this year" if it delivered on all promises.

"I do not know the exact date but it is an ongoing process," Kos told reporters in Brussels.

She added that she had visited Warsaw last week to discuss with the Polish EU Presidency how to proceed in making it possible "also to open Cluster 3 with Serbia."

Kos said 2025 could be "the most successful year in the last ten years" when it comes to EU enlargement.

"My plan is, every month, to visit candidate countries and member states because we have to work on two paths simultaneously and, of course, I would love to come to Serbia soon," she also said.

Hill: The formation of the CSM is a key issue, the US will advocate for its establishment (Kosovo Online, Kurir)

The US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, stated last night that the issue of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) was "absolutely crucial" in the dialogue process for normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo, adding that the US and the EU share the same stance on this matter.

When asked whether, considering the strategic dialogue between the US and Serbia and the recent finalization of similar negotiations with Kosovo, these two parallel processes will bring a new phase to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Hill told Kurir TV that he does not know if they will be connected, nor what the US dialogue with Kosovo will look like, but what happens in the Brussels-led EU mediation process was important.

"I cannot speak about what will happen in Kosovo, but it is important what will happen in the EU, in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. How Kosovo and Serbia will reach a stage of normalization, and how the Serb community in Kosovo, which is extremely important for that relationship, will know what their future will look like. The key element of this and any dialogue with Kosovo must be the issue of the Community of Serb Municipalities. It is absolutely crucial, and our EU partners share the same view," Hill said.

He added that a period of very dynamic diplomacy is coming up in relation to the dialogue between Serbia and the US, as well as with the Brussels dialogue.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/28jjmy8y

International Media

Kosovo ruling party’s boycott of TV electoral debates draws criticism (Balkan Insight)

Ruling Vetevendosje party's decision to spurn televised election debates on three leading broadcasters, including TV debates hosted by BIRN, was described by media rights groups as an attack on media pluralism.

Domestic and international journalists’ associations have criticised the ruling Vetevendosje Movement party for refusing to participate in electoral debates aired by three leading private television broadcasters in Kosovo, Klan Kosova, T7 and TV Dukagjini.

Vetevendosje, which has been in power since 2021 and is seeking re-election at parliamentary polls on February 9, has not publicly stated its reason for not participating in the debates on the three channels. It is not yet clear whether the party will participate in debates on any other channels.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/2w7fhz7p