UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 14, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Supreme Court completes work on appeals, paves way for final results (media)
LDK’s Abdixhiku rules out any possibility of coalition with Vetevendosje (Klan)
Hamza: No coalition with Vetevendosje, we have major differences (media)
Osmani and Erken talk initiatives aimed at women economic empowerment (RTK)
Osmani and Kapetanovic discussed regional initiatives for stability (RTK)
Prosecution authorized police to interview Kurteshi about recent claims (Kallxo)
Krasniqi: Treatment of Thaci has not only humiliated him, Kosovo too (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

Synod of Serbian Orthodox Church calls for an end to divisions, fraternal dialogue (N1, media)
Violence will not be tolerated on March 15 protest - Higher Public Prosecutor's Office (Tanjug)
Western embassies, EP and Russia’s messages ahead of March 15 protest in Belgrade (KoSSev, Nova.rs, media, social media)
Popovic, Russian Ambassador discuss advancement of economic cooperation (Tanjug)
Chinese Ambassador says Serbia made progress under Vucic's leadership (Tanjug, media)
When do minority candidate votes constitute a "deviation of voters’ will"? (Kosovo Online)
Djuric: “Kurti is responsible for destruction of society in Kosovo” (Kosovo Online)
25 attacks on journalists in Kosovo in last three months (Radio kontakt plus)

International Media:

Struggling Kosovo pensioners find solace at social centers (PI)
Recordings expose procurement irregularities in Gjakova water supply company (PI)

Albanian Language Media

Supreme Court completes work on appeals, paves way for final results (media)

The Supreme Court of Kosovo has published 43 decisions following appeals that political entities and candidates for MPs had sent there, against the decisions of the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel.

In their press release, it is stated that of the 43 appeals they reviewed, 20 appeals were rejected, 11 were dismissed as inadmissible, 9 of them were accepted and 3 appeals were partially accepted. Their last decision, for which the CEC was awaiting a decision, was that of PDAK-LPB, which was rejected by the Supreme Court as unfounded. The completion of the announcement of all decisions by the Supreme Court paves the way for the CEC to come up with the final results of the elections that were held on February 9.

LDK’s Abdixhiku rules out any possibility of coalition with Vetevendosje (Klan)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku, in an interview with Klan Kosova on Thursday, reiterated his position that he will under no circumstance enter a coalition with the Kurti-led Vetevendosje Movement. “The pledges we made during the election campaign are still valid and there is no reason for me to change what I promised during the campaign … We said even before the campaign that we would not enter a coalition with the Vetevendosje Movement. I can confirm again that we will not enter a coalition with them even if they give us a kingdom. We don’t talk with them, we have not talked with them, and we will not have any meetings with them,” he argued.

Hamza: No coalition with Vetevendosje, we have major differences (media)

Candidate of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) for Prime Minister, Bedri Hamza, said on Thursday that this party has major differences with the Vetevendosje Movement in terms of their program and vision for Kosovo. “This is not a personal matter. Above the numbers, one needs to have a vision, a program, an orientation of how you can cooperate with a partner in government. If you look at our programs, on many issues there is no room for cooperation. We have differences in terms of economic development, the private sector, the diplomacy and many other issues,” he said.

Osmani and Erken talk initiatives aimed at women economic empowerment (RTK)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, hosted on Thursday the Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Europe and Central Asia, Arthur Erken. They discussed cooperation in initiatives aimed at the economic empowerment of women. The Presidency announced that Osmani expressed her gratitude for the continuous and valuable contribution of IOM in Kosovo over the last 25 years, especially in the post-war period, when assistance in the reconstruction of Kosovo, migration and humanitarian assistance was vital for the people of Kosovo.

Osmani and Erken also discussed cooperation in initiatives aimed at the economic empowerment of women, the creation of an attractive labor market for them and support for the creation of a favorable business environment for young people. Among other things, the role and contribution of the diaspora, increasing the quality of life in order to prevent waves of migration, was also discussed.

Osmani reconfirmed her willingness to support IOM and to further strengthen the partnership, with the aim of creating sustainable and effective policies in the field of migration and social integration.

Osmani and Kapetanovic discussed regional initiatives for stability (RTK)

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, hosted on Thursday the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Amer Kapetanovic. During the meeting, President Osmani discussed Kosovo's commitment to regional cooperation, as a key step for the advancement of the entire region and a contributor to stability and progress.

The Presidency announced that Osmani praised the regional initiatives that are contributing to the increase in cooperation between neighboring states in the region, in which case she emphasized the importance of equal opportunities without procedural or political obstacles. "Speaking about the Berlin Process, President Osmani emphasized the need to work even harder to restore focus on topics of special interest, such as clarifying the fate of persons who disappeared forcibly during the recent wars in the Western Balkans," the announcement reads.

Furthermore, President Osmani emphasized the vital importance of investing in the empowerment of girls and women, describing this as a prerequisite for increasing well-being and advancing the development of the region. She also noted that Kosovo has confirmed its constructive role in the region and reaffirmed its commitment to full integration into the regional framework.

Prosecution authorized police to interview Kurteshi about recent claims (Kallxo)

Citing unnamed sources, the news website reported on Thursday that the prosecution in Pristina has authorized Kosovo Police to interview Sami Kurteshi, Vetevendosje’s representative at the Central Election Commission, about his recent accusations against a reporter. “You are criminal media, of paid killers,” Kurteshi had told a reporter of the Nacionale news website. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo reacted to Kurteshi’s statement saying it was both irresponsible and dangerous. It also called on Vetevendosje to urgently make sure that its representative at the CEC does not obstruct the work of journalists and refrain from using insulting and threatening language against the media.

Krasniqi: Treatment of Thaci has not only humiliated him, Kosovo too (AP)

Head of the Pristina-based non-governmental organization, Democracy Plus, Albert Krasniqi, said on Thursday that the treatment given to former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, has been shown that Kosovo is also being humiliated. According to Krasniqi, the large number of EULEX guards and vehicles in the yard of the University Clinical Center is incomprehensible. “The charges, on which this court was founded, fell before the process even started, the prosecution published the indictment without the confirmation of the court, just to prevent the official visit to the White House, the arrest took place exactly on his birthday”.

“With this treatment of the president of Kosovo, an attempt is being made to humiliate not only him as an individual, but also the state of Kosovo itself”, Krasniqi wrote on the social network ‘Facebook’.

Former President Hashim Thaci visited his father at the University Clinical Center (UCC) on Thursday, as the latter is in serious health condition. A large presence of people was observed outside the Clinic, who greeted the former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army. While leaving the Clinic, Thaci was accompanied by the doctor who is looking after his father's health condition.

Serbian Language Media

Synod of Serbian Orthodox Church calls for an end to divisions, fraternal dialogue (N1, media)

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) in a statement last night called on "all those who are in any way involved in current events" to put an end to divisions and initiate dialogue, N1 reported.

"We hear voices about possible conflicts in our people, and that worries us very much. The Church calls on everybody, who are in any way involved in current events, that at the time of Easter Lent, at the times of repentance and forgiveness, reflect on their own sins and show the fruits of repentance. Was there not enough division and discord in our people? That is why, dear spiritual children, we are turning to you today, as we have always done so far, begging you on our knees that everyone does as much as they can to maintain peace within us and among us", the statement said.

It added that violence multiplies violence and introduces people to a vicious circle in which we are all losers, destroys the foundations of society and creates new divisions, deeper than those already inherited.

"Freedom and justice are priceless values, but they are unattainable without love and mutual respect. Therefore, we put it on everyone's conscience that in every place - from the family, through work collectives and educational institutions, to social and political organizations - we persistently and unyieldingly build mutual trust and understanding through benevolent dialogue. The Church carries the spiritually proven truth and historical awareness that no one's particular interest is more important than the general good of the people and the state and opens its doors wide, inviting all responsible social actors to a fraternal dialogue", the statement said.

Violence will not be tolerated on March 15 protest - Higher Public Prosecutor's Office (Tanjug)

Ahead of a protest announced for March 15, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade on Thursday appealed to all protesters and other citizens to comply with regulations on public peace and order and exercise their right to peaceful assembly in line with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Serbia, Tanjug news agency reported.

"Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly but violence will not be tolerated and those who resort to it - both those who perhaps attack participants of peaceful protests and those who perhaps use violence against other people, police officers and representatives of state authorities - will be prosecuted in line with the law", reads the statement.

It also said that, as during previous protest gatherings, Serbian police would "take all measures and actions within their competence to ensure the announced protest gathering passes in a peaceful and dignified manner without threats to public peace and order, with a view to protecting the property, physical integrity and peacefulness of all citizens". The Prosecutor's Office also noted that violating the provisions of the Law on Public Order and Peace implied misdemeanour accountability and even criminal accountability in case of criminal offences committed at a public gathering.

Western embassies, EP and Russia’s messages ahead of March 15 protest in Belgrade (KoSSev, Nova.rs, media, social media)

Ahead of a protest announced to take place on March 15 in Belgrade, the Western embassies have appealed to Serbian authorities to ensure safety of participants in the protest. The European Parliament warned that “repression may jeopardize European integration of Serbia”. Russia called for restraint and to resolve the situation in dialogue, KoSSev portal reported.

As Nova.rs learnt the ambassadors of Western states have sent an appeal to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the state leadership to ensure safety of the participants of the protest that will take place on March 15.

Russia called for restraint of all political stakeholders in Serbia, Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova said. “We once again urge political forces for restraint, all those involved in the current events in Serbia. We expect soon normalisation of the situation through the dialogue”, she said. She added that Moscow closely follows events and warned that reckless acts guided by emotions could have a high price. "It is very important to understand how high the price of provoked, thoughtless steps dictated by emotions can be”, she said.

European Parliament MPs sent a letter to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen demanding a clear message be sent to the Serbian authorities that “any repression against peaceful protests may have consequences for the European integration of the country”.

Popovic, Russian Ambassador discuss advancement of economic cooperation (Tanjug)

Serbian Government Minister Nenad Popovic, in charge of international economic cooperation and the field of the societal position of the church at home and abroad, met with Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko on Thursday to discuss advancement of Serbia-Russia economic relations, Tanjug news agency reported.

The meeting especially focused on strategic areas such as energy, innovation, industry, agriculture and new technologies, and opportunities for strengthening the partnership in these sectors were reviewed as well, said a statement released by Popovic's office. Popovic noted that numerous aspects such as liberalised access to the Russian market, liberalised imports, scheduled flights between Serbia and Russia and substantial bilateral trade helped to strengthen the ties.

Popovic thanked the Ambassador for the Russian Federation's exceptional support for Serbia, especially on the Kosovo issue, as well as for its assistance on other international issues, the statement also said, noting that continued strengthening of the "partnership between the two brotherly nations remains our common objective".

Chinese Ambassador says Serbia made progress under Vucic's leadership (Tanjug, media)

Under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia has made important progress in its economic and social development in the past years, Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Ming said, noting that China has always been "a firm supporter of Serbia", Tanjug news agency reported.

"We will continue our efforts to cooperate with Serbia on its own sovereignty, territorial integrity and economic development", Li told Tanjug in an interview, adding he believes the government and people of Serbia would have the wisdom and the capability to maintain "peace, stability and prosperity".

"On international and regional issues, China and Serbia always understand and support each other, especially on issues about sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We always understand and support each other. I am sure that, in the future, we can count on each other continuously and together safeguard the international order which was established after WWII", Li said. "We will continue our cooperation and support on many international and regional issues which concern our interests and legitimate rights", he added.

When do minority candidate votes constitute a "deviation of voters’ will"? (Kosovo Online)

Preliminary election results, according to which the Serbian party For Freedom, Justice, and Survival (SPO) led by current Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic secured a parliamentary seat with votes from municipalities which are not majority-Serb, have once again sparked a discussion on the legitimacy of mandates reserved for a specific community but secured through votes from voters who do not belong to that community.

As interlocutors told Kosovo Online portal, parliamentary seats won in this manner represent a distortion of electoral will, are morally questionable, and cast doubt on the legitimacy of such mandates. It is suggested that changing the law could prevent such situations in the future.

This is not the first time it has happened. In the previous parliamentary elections in 2021, Kosovo Election Complaints and Appeals Panel annulled votes received by the Bosniak United Community Citizens' Initiative led by Adriana Hodzic, explaining that most of the votes had come from the Serbian community, which constituted a "deviation of the will of the Bosniak electorate and an undermining of the electoral process".

Hodzic's appeal to the Kosovo Supreme Court against the decision of the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel was rejected as unfounded, leading to the annulment of 4,205 votes that the United Community had received in Serbian-majority municipalities. Additionally, more than 800 votes received by the Roma Initiative in Serbian areas of Kosovo were annulled at that time, and their appeal was also rejected by the Supreme Court.

This time, the Serbian List claims that Nenad Rasic’s mandate, which he secured based on preliminary results, is illegitimate because he did not receive votes exclusively from Serbs.