The Serbian List submitted its list for mayors and councillors for the upcoming local elections in Kosovo scheduled for 22 October. The candidate of the Serbian List for the mayor of the municipality of Gračanica/Graqanicë is Srđan Popović, the deputy in the previous convocation of the assembly.

Former Mayors - Bratislav Nikolić, Gradimir Mikić, Svetislav Ivanović, Stevan Vulović, Vučina Janković and Goran Rakić - were nominated for the municipalities of Štrpce/Shtërpcë, Ranilug/Ranillug, Novo Brdo/Novobërdë, Zubin Potok, Zvečan/Zveqan and North Mitrovica.

In 1998, Štrpce/Shtërpcë, in southern Kosovo*, saw the arrival of 900 displaced Kosovo Serbs and refugees from Croatia. Two decades on, the town is peaceful and well-integrated. And the area around it has become a virtual breadbasket. It boasts intensely flavored raspberries, fine goat cheese, a nascent pork industry, and delicacies like honey and fresh herbal teas.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with German Ambassador to Serbia, Alex Ditman. They discussed many issues and the most important one was that of Kosovo.
German Ambassador Alex Ditman stressed that internal dialogue for Kosovo is a serious and right move, Serbian media reported.

Vucic said that the internal dialogue as well as resuming of dialogue with Pristina is in the service of long-term peace in the region. He added the region would have a better future if Albanians and Serbs succeed to establish good relations.

State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Veljko Odalović told RTS that Serbia expects at least neutrality from its neighbours, regarding the vote on Kosovo's entry into UNESCO.

Veljko Odalović, visiting the RTS program, said that FYROM, for no reason, in recent months has been changing its relationship and policy towards Serbia.

It has been established that Macedonia's intelligence services followed and illegally "processed" Serbian diplomats, writes the daily Blic.

The newspaper further states that "foreign powers" were also involved in intelligence activities undertaken against Serbia.

"Serbian diplomats were followed without any reason, and even the method of intimidation was used. Some of the pressure that was applied was okayed by foreigners," a source has told the Belgrade daily, and added:

Marking the 19th anniversary of the disappearance of two Serbian radio journalists in Kosovo, a journalists’ association has demanded a fresh investigation into their deaths - and those of other journalists abducted and killed in Kosovo.

Rasim Ljajic believes that a frozen conflict related to the Kosovo issue does not suit Serbia, and proposes "normalization without recognition" as a solution.

The minister of trade, telecommunications, and tourism, who also serves as a deputy PM and is the leader of the SDPS party, is the latest Serbian official to write an op-ed on this topic for a Belgrade newspaper, since President Aleksandar Vucic launched his "internal dialogue on Kosovo."

By Leonora Aliu

As UN General Assembly vote approaches, does Kosovo have the support?

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today that although all proposals for resolving the Kosovo issues are welcome, one should bear in mind that a solution is needed and not ideas, such as the "Cyprus model", which practically would mean maintaining a "frozen conflict".

Commenting on proposals to reduce, and then abolishment of UN mission in Kosovo, he pointed out that Serbia believes in the objectivity and status neutrality of the world organization.

If our athletes and those from the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo meet on a podium, "they will have to stay there," says Bozidar Maljkovic.

The president of the Olympic Committee of Serbia has taken a firm stance on this, and "will not back down from it even at the price of being sacked.