Albanian Language Media: 

• Kurti received Rohde, calls for lifting of EU measures (media)

• Macron: Normalization of relations essential condition for EU integration of Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)

• Osmani speaks about discussions with the King of Jordan (Klan)

• Kurti receives head of Islamic Community of Bosnia (media)

• Thousands of Albanians in the Valley deprived basic rights (RTK)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: Relations with France good, I expect positive answer about EXPO (Tanjug)

• Macron: Normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo essential condition for European integration (RTS, Tanjug, Kosovo Online, media)

• 26 years since the battle of Kosare: A divided memory (KoSSev)

• Are the foundations for the facilities of Serbian institutions from Kosovo being laid in Merdare? (KiM radio, KoSSev)

• The forgotten backbone: Kosovo’s farmers struggle against odds, push for innovation (KoSSev)

International Media:

• Serbian government desperate to portray students as violent (EWB)

• Trump announces 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs with exception of China (CNN)

   

   

Albanian Language Media 

Kurti receives Rohde, calls for lifting of EU measures (media)

Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, received on WEdnesday the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kosovo, Jorn Rohde.  He reiterated at this meeting the need for the lifting of European Union measures against Kosovo.

Kurti congratulated the Ambassador on the successful completion of the process of forming the governing coalition in Germany.

They also discussed current developments in Kosovo regarding the formation of the new government, following the certification of the results of the February 9 elections, the Prime Minister's Office announced.According to the announcement, other domestic policy topics were also addressed during the meeting, including the rule of law.

Macron: Normalization of relations essential for EU integration of Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)

French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated that the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is an essential condition to integrate into the European Union. Macron met on Wednesday with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and among other things, they also discussed the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. “We discussed the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. France is deeply committed to this. This is an essential condition for their European integration,” Emmanuel Macron wrote on the “X’ platform.

Osmani speaks about discussions with the King of Jordan (Klan)

Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, announced that last week during the Aqaba Process held in Sofia, she met with the King of Jordan, Abdullah bin Al Hussein. Osmani said that they talked about concrete steps to strengthen ties between Kosovo and Jordan. "We also addressed urgent security challenges and common perspectives on global issues," Osmani wrote. Furthermore, she said that with Al Hussein they also talked about advancing cooperation in defense, economic development and diplomacy.

Kurti receives head of Islamic Community of Bosnia (media)

The acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, accompanied by Mufti Naim Ternava and the elected MP, at the same time the leader of the VAKAT Coalition, Rasim Demiri, welcomed on Wednesday the head of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein Kavazovic.

“The decision of the Government of Kosovo to unilaterally lift visas for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina was also mentioned, enabling their travel to Kosovo only with a biometric ID card, according to the agreement on free movement from the Berlin Process,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“He also informed Mufti Kavazović about the restoration projects of many Islamic cultural sites, including mosques and other religious sites, as well as the ongoing investments in the protection of Kosovo’s cultural heritage,” the statement issued to the media by the government said among other things.

Thousands of Albanians in the Valley deprived basic rights (RTK)

Thousands of Albanians from Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja have been left without the right to vote, personal documents and access to basic services for years, due to the administrative practice of deactivating addresses. Lawyer Luka Jovanovic, who represents some of the affected citizens in the Administrative Court in Belgrade, has also informed the European Parliament, warning of a form of systematic discrimination. “Addresses are being deactivated without warning, while citizens remain without documents, outside of any system. The aim is to manipulate electoral lists and change the local composition,” he told RTK.

In a letter to MEP Tonino Picula, Jovanovic emphasized that the practice of deactivation has intensified after 2016 and that many citizens have not had the opportunity to protect their rights through legal means. Moreover, a large number of them were not able to participate in the last population census either. “If the existing regulations of the Republic of Serbia on residence and stay were implemented, this situation would not exist. This is a serious violation of human rights,” Jovanovic added.

Serbian Language Media  

Vucic: Relations with France good, I expect positive answer about EXPO (Tanjug)

Speaking to reporters after a working lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that they had agreed Serbia-France relations were good and discussed many topics and what they needed to do together in the period to come.

"We discussed numerous issues, Serbia's European future, and I believe you will get President Macron's statement about the EXPO. I asked France to take part in EXPO 2027 and I think we will get a positive answer also formally," Vucic said after the discussions with Macron, which lasted for over two hours, reported Tanjug. 

Vucic said he was pleased with the discussions and that he hoped they would bring good results to Serbia. He said they had also discussed geopolitical issues and bilateral cooperation. He noted that Serbia had recently purchased a 50 mln euro supercomputer from France and that a second, 411 mln euro instalment for a purchase of French Rafale jets would be paid in the coming days.

"We also talked about additional investments by French companies in Serbia and about how to solve the issue of US taxes so that they do not impact the Michelin factory and some other factories in our country," Vucic said.

"We also discussed Kosovo-Metohija and everything else, that goes without saying. We do not think alike on everything, which is completely clear, because it is a fact that they recognise 'Kosovo', while we do not. But our positions are getting closer and closer to each other and I am very grateful to President Macron for his excellent understanding of our situation and for his in-depth approach to this," Vucic said in response to a question whether Kosovo had also been a topic after France had opposed initiatives in the UN Security Council for a withdrawal of UNMIK.

Vucic also said they had concluded that the world was embarking on an era of turbulence and general uncertainty that would last for a long time.

Asked to comment on 84 pct Chinese tariffs on US goods and their potential global impact, Vucic said tough times were ahead and that Serbia must prepare for that and learn how to react.

"It is good to have a major ally in Europe like France. I believe that is important. France is working, and I believe it will continue to work, on defusing the situation in Ukraine. We also discussed the Western Balkans, the situation in the region. I had my initiatives regarding Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so we discussed everything. Of course, I also spoke about the situation in Serbia. I am proud we have literally managed to endure terror in the past four months in a peaceful and democratic manner," Vucic said.

He added that the global situation is becoming increasingly complicated and more and more difficult but that he believed that, with support, cooperation and alliances with friends, Serbia would be able to do - and change - many things.

Macron: Normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo essential condition for European integration (RTS, Tanjug, Kosovo Online, media)

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said, after the meeting with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is an essential condition for their European integration.

Macron said yesterday in an announcement on X in Serbian language that he had a long conversation with the President of Serbia and that one of the topics was the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, to which France is deeply attached.

He indicated that he emphasized to Vucic how much importance France attaches to Serbia's democratic and European future.

"I expressed my confidence in Serbia's ability to find the path of dialogue again, and my hope that the future government will resolutely continue the expected reforms and consolidate very good economic results," the announcement continued.

Macron also emphasized France's commitment to the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans.

He added that they also discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"I reminded you of our unwavering support for the unity of that country, as well as the condemnation of any procedure that aims to call that unity into question," he added in this regard. It is everyone's responsibility, he says, to commit to respecting the constitutional order so that Bosnia and Herzegovina can return to its European path.

He indicated that they also discussed the strengthening of political, economic and defense cooperation, following his visit to Belgrade in August last year.

Macron also stated that he confirmed to President Vucic the participation of France in the Expo 2027 international exhibition.

26 years since the battle of Kosare: A divided memory (KoSSev)

Twenty-six years ago today, one of the bloodiest battles of the Kosovo conflict began — the Battle of Kosare. Lasting 67 days, from April 9 to June 14, 1999, it remains etched in the collective memory of both Serbs and Albanians. But while the location and the toll are shared, the narratives are not, reporte KoSSev yesterday. 

For many in Serbia, Kosare is remembered as the “Second Battle of Kosovo” and a senseless sacrifice of youth. For Kosovo Albanians, it marks the fall of a symbolic border, a victory against what they call the oppressive regime of Slobodan Milošević. It is one battlefield with two opposing stories — two flags, one tragedy.

The battle begins

On April 9, 1999 — Good Friday — members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), backed by NATO airstrikes, launched an offensive on the Yugoslav Army’s border outpost at Kosare and surrounding positions along the Yugoslav-Albanian border.

Yugoslav forces, outnumbered and outgunned, reportedly fought back. According to military sources, despite their smaller numbers, they managed to hold their positions in what would become one of the most intense ground battles of the war.

The Yugoslav Army lost 108 soldiers, many of them young conscripts between the ages of 18 and 20. Many had only recently completed basic training and were stationed at the border with little preparation for what lay ahead.

On the opposing side, Serbian sources report more than 200 KLA fighters were killed, while official figures released today by authorities in Pristina list 114 fallen soldiers.

The fighting ended on June 14, 1999, following the Kumanovo Agreement and the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/cfmty42m

Are the foundations for the facilities of Serbian institutions from Kosovo being laid in Merdare? (KiM radio, KoSSev)

In the village of Merdare, work has begun on the buildings that, as Radio KiM unofficially learns, will house Serbian institutions from Kosovo that were closed by the actions of the Kosovo Police since the beginning of this year. The work has already started, the foundation has been laid, and the KiM Radio team found the workers on the site.

However, they did not want to talk about the purpose of the buildings, saying that they were not familiar with it. They did not even answer the question of which institution or company hired them. 

According to KiM radio the construction site is not marked with a sign that should indicate the name of the project, the investor, the responsible persons, and the deadline for the completion of the works. Perhaps also because, as unofficially heard, the institutions will be housed in temporary facilities - containers.

The construction site is located next to one such facility used by Bank Postal Savings Bank. The Serbs from Kosovo are withdrawing money from it, since the abolition of the dinar and the closure of this bank in Kosovo, paid to them from the budget of the Republic of Serbia.

Radio KiM learned from people they have met that allegedly the foundation is being built for facilities that will be intended for four Serbian municipalities from Kosovo, and that it is planned to house centers for social work in them.

Currently, the Center for Social Work from Gracanica, which was closed on January 15 of this year, is temporarily located in the village of Rudare, municipality of Kursumlija. 

Although the editorial staff of KiM Radio addressed the Office for KiM with the question of where citizens can renew documentation for child allowance and social assistance after the closure of Serbian institutions in Kosovo, the answer did not arrive by the time the article was published.

The forgotten backbone: Kosovo’s farmers struggle against odds, push for innovation (KoSSev)

In a world of plastic fruit and over-sprayed apples, the farmer is still waking before dawn to earn his bread the hard way. For centuries, he has endured. Yet today, his future on Kosovo’s soil is more uncertain than ever.

In the third episode of the series “Da te pitam, komšija?”, broadcast from dual studios in North Mitrovica and Gorazdevac, the spotlight was placed firmly on the challenges and resilience of Kosovo’s agricultural community. Speaking on the program were veteran journalist Ivan Vučković, who has documented life across the villages of Leposavic, and Mehdi Mulaj, an agricultural expert from the Pec region.

Farmers in northern Kosovo face a host of challenges. Chief among them is the lack of an irrigation system, despite the availability of water resources. Other key issues include poor organization among farmers, limited support from both local and central institutions, and insufficient subsidies—which many say should be larger, more fairly distributed, and easier to access. Ultimately, and in large part because of these problems, there is also a shortage of people willing to stay and work the land.

“If the system can’t solve anything else, it could at least address nepotism and corruption. Even just tackling that issue would lift farmers’ spirits and encourage them to take a more active role in agriculture.”

In the south, a local official rejects the idea that there’s a lack of investment or fairness in the system. However, he acknowledges that despite favorable conditions, Kosovo continues to import both fruit and meat—while local farmers toil year-round for modest profits.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/2p9fxbx9

International Media 

Serbian government desperate to portray students as violent (EWB)

For over four months, mass protests have been taking place across Serbia, sparked by students who began blocking university buildings. All student-organized events have been peaceful, although several separate protests have included incidents such as citizens throwing eggs at ruling party officials or attempting to enter municipal buildings. On the other hand, the Serbian government has consistently tried to discredit the entire student movement by portraying it as violent.

The regime’s two main strategies have been to fabricate incidents that are quickly exposed as fake news and, on the other hand, to spread narratives that suggest that the protests represent the terror of a minority seeking to “topple” the state.

“A lot of money has been spent to achieve these goals. Violence is everywhere—within institutions and on the streets. Terror has literally taken over Serbia”, President Aleksandar Vučić said in one of his 61 public addresses in March.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/463kpjdu

Trump announces 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs with exception of China (CNN)

President Donald Trump announced a complete three-month pause on all the “reciprocal” tariffs that went into effect at midnight, with the exception of China, a stunning reversal from a president who had insisted historically high tariffs were here to stay.

But enormous tariffs will remain on China, the world’s second-largest economy. In fact, Trump said they will be increased to 125% from 104% after China announced additional retaliatory tariffs against the United States earlier Wednesday.

Read more at:https://tinyurl.com/2835x5u3