The meeting focused on strengthening institutional cooperation and supporting joint initiatives to advance scientific research, promote knowledge and deepen academic ties between Kosovo and Albania, the President’s Office said in a statement.

Shiroka Pula stressed the importance of closer institutional links and continued support for initiatives that foster scientific development and cross-border academic cooperation, the statement added.

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She was killed near her home in Vitomirica, Peja, on the evening of October 25, shortly after reporting domestic violence by her ex-husband to the police.

Kurti stated that in Kosovo, justice “unfortunately does not protect the vulnerable; on the contrary, justice has sided with the strong.” According to him, the justice system in Kosovo remains crooked.

“The Republic of Kosovo no longer needs any further proof to establish that reforming justice is a national emergency,” he said.

Kurti recalled that regarding the Zekaj case, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have until tomorrow at 18:00 to submit their detailed reports on the evidence and lapses within each institutional chain.

During the day, a protest has been called over Zekaj’s murder, marking her as the eighth woman to be killed this year.

Zekaj had repeatedly sought help from the institutions. She had turned to the authorities stating that as early as December of last year, her husband, from whom she was separated, had threatened her life.

The authorities had subsequently issued a protection order and decided that temporary custody of the couple’s minor child should be granted to Zekaj.

The authorities had also ordered the husband to stay away from her, while ruling that she could remain in the couple’s shared home.

Two days before her murder, Arlinda Zekaj had sent a letter to the Chief Prosecutor of Peja complaining about how her case was being handled and the failure to enforce the court decision.

According to the Prosecution Office, the duty prosecutor assessed that an immediate return home could endanger her life. He instructed her to stay with her brothers and planned for her return home to be carried out under police escort.

On the day of her murder, Arlinda Zekaj filed her final report regarding domestic violence. Her estranged husband was detained for 48 hours, while she insisted on returning to their shared home in accordance with the court ruling.

When asked if she felt safe at home—given that members of her husband’s family were present there—she admitted that her safety remained compromised, but insisted on exercising her rights.

Just minutes after the police escorted her home, Arlinda Zekaj was allegedly killed with an axe by her brother-in-law.

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In the 25 October elections, the Albanian Coalition won two parliamentary seats, marking the first time in six years that the Albanian community in Serbia has been represented by more than one MP.

The Albanian MPs in the new parliamentary term are Shaip Kamberi and Visar Mehmeti.

The Prime Minister stressed that their unity should continue through efforts to protect rights and calls for equality.

Kurti said the significance of the Albanian Coalition’s electoral result extended beyond the two seats it secured, given the challenges facing the Albanian community in Serbia, including the deactivation of residential addresses, non-recognition of diplomas, exclusion from public institutions, economic discrimination, emigration and the depopulation of Albanian-inhabited areas.

He noted that, for more than two decades, Albanians had found themselves in a “double opposition” — against the political authorities and against a state that had positioned itself against them.

Kurti stressed that political unity must be sustained through continued efforts to defend rights, demand equality and ensure a dignified life in their homeland. He described the two parliamentary mandates as both a collective achievement and a shared responsibility, adding that greater opportunities also brought greater responsibility.

The coalition’s formation was formalised on 29 September at the Kosovo Prime Minister’s Office.

Kurti also commented on the results of the Serbian parties, saying that “a quarter of a century later, following the defeat of Milošević and Šešelj at the beginning of the 21st century, their political successors, Vučić and Dačić, have also lost”.

Aleksandar Vučić, who had led Serbia for 12 years, was ousted from power after losing to the Students’ List.

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Speaking at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (QKUK), Kurti said the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice had 54 hours remaining to submit a report shedding light on the circumstances of the case and identifying any potential institutional failures.

“EU country reports have repeatedly criticised us, year after year, primarily over the justice system. We need to set justice on the right path; our justice system is not straight, it is crooked. Investigators must be investigated, prosecutors indicted and judges tried. If we considered this important before, it has now become urgent.

“In this spirit, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice have a further 54 hours to submit a report to me that fully clarifies this case, identifies where each link in the institutional chain has failed, and examines what is happening in all similar cases. There are many cases across Kosovo in which certain women continue to face threats and remain at risk. We must protect all of them,” he said.

Kamberi said Kosovo continued to be used for political purposes in Serbia, adding that winning elections without the support of nationalist voters was difficult.

Speaking to the media, he said Serbia’s new government should change its political course and accept the reality of Kosovo’s independence.

“In Serbia, you cannot win elections without the support of a section of the nationalist electorate. Kosovo is one of the issues most frequently used for political purposes. We will see, once the new government is formed, whether they maintain the same line or adopt a different approach,” Kamberi said.

He said representatives of the Student List, including academics and professors, should recognise that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s longstanding claims regarding Kosovo were unrealistic.

“They should therefore change their political course and face a reality that has prevailed in Kosovo for 27 years. Kosovo is an independent state, and relations with Kosovo should be built on that reality,” Kamberi said.

His comments come as Serbia prepares to form a new government following parliamentary elections held on Oct. 25.

Serbia continues to refuse to recognise Kosovo’s independence, declared on Feb. 17, 2008. Relations between the two countries remain part of a dialogue process facilitated by the European Union.

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“I call on the competent authorities to prioritise the investigation not only into the circumstances of the killing and the criminal responsibility of the suspects, but also into how the victim’s requests were handled and the actions of each institution with a legal duty to protect her,” Shiroka-Pula wrote.

She stressed that it must be established whether all necessary measures had been taken to assess the risk and protect the victim.

According to her, every red flag, request for help and complaint about institutional inaction must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

“No woman should be left unprotected after seeking help from state institutions. The safety and dignity of every woman must be treated as a fundamental institutional responsibility, and any suspicion of a failure to fulfil that responsibility must receive a clear response,” the president stressed.

She called on the justice institutions to act urgently, professionally and impartially. She also extended her condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.

“Protecting women’s lives is a non-negotiable obligation, and there can be no compromise when they are put at risk,” Shiroka-Pula concluded.

Arlinda Zekaj was killed with a suspected axe attack at her home in Vitomirica, Peja, on Sunday evening. Her brother-in-law, the main suspect, remains at large. Three days before her death, she had filed a complaint with the Chief Prosecutor in Peja, alleging that responsible institutional officials had failed to fulfil their duties and calling for urgent action.

In the letter, stamped as received on 22 October, she had warned of the danger she was facing and expressed concern that the institutions might only respond after a human life had been lost.

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In a Facebook post, Kamberi said a 35% increase in the electoral coefficients applied to national minorities brought the adjusted vote total to 36,761.

Kamberi, who heads the Albanian Coalition list, thanked voters in Presheva, Bujanovac and Medvegje for their support, political parties for joining forces and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for his involvement.

“This is the result of political unity, public trust and a shared commitment to dignified representation. Together in elections, together in representation, together for our rights,” Kamberi said.

The Albanian Coalition of the Presheva Valley is projected to win two seats in Serbia’s parliament, according to estimates by the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) and Ipsos, based on 56% of the sample processed.

The joint list of political parties representing ethnic Albanians in the Presheva Valley secured 0.8% of the vote, with the two projected seats going to Kamberi of the Party for Democratic Action (PVD) and Visar Mehmeti of the Alternative for Change (APN).

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According to a statement from the KSF, this initiative was carried out within the framework of bilateral cooperation and the friendly relations shared with the Republic of Croatia.

The training concluded with an 88-kilometer tactical march from Udbina to the Knin Fortress, which tested the participants’ physical and mental endurance, leadership skills, discipline and decision-making abilities under challenging conditions.

The training involved military personnel from Croatia, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. The final march also held symbolic significance, honoring the history and sacrifices of the Croatian people during the Homeland War.

“The participation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) in this training represents an important opportunity for the exchange of experiences, the professional advancement of KSF personnel and the strengthening of military cooperation between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Croatia.

The Kosovo Security Force remains committed to developing military leadership, enhancing professionalism and expanding cooperation with international partners, in order to fulfill its mission,” stated the KSF press release.

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The President received a formal request today from the Democratic Party of Kosovo’s parliamentary group, which sponsored the legislation, calling for the Assembly to review the law, particularly its provisions concerning the jurisdiction and mandate of the Specialist Chambers and the full safeguarding of the constitutional rights of those standing trial before them.

In her reasoning, President Shiroka Pula highlighted the sacrifices, commitment and contribution of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and its leaders in the struggle for Kosovo’s freedom and independence. She also reiterated her support for the Kosovo Assembly’s declaration of 28 September 2026 concerning the Specialist Chambers’ verdict in The Hague against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

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Peter Due, the UN secretary-general’s special representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), is expected to present the secretary-general’s latest report on Kosovo, covering the period from March 16 to Sept. 15, 2026.

According to Security Council Report, the document assesses the overall security situation as stable, while noting continued difficulties in the functioning of institutions and limited progress in implementing agreements reached through the European Union-mediated dialogue.

Discussions are expected to cover political developments, including the formation of a government in September and the election of Justina Pula-Shiroka as president on Oct. 7, with 81 votes.

The situation in northern Kosovo is also expected to feature prominently. The report describes the area as calm but fragile, citing disagreements between central and local authorities.

It also addresses issues involving municipal powers, the demolition of buildings, evictions from properties and actions by Kosovo Police, placing these developments in the context of relations between institutions and communities.

Another key topic will be the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and implementation of existing agreements, including the 2023 Ohrid Agreement.

No high-level meeting was held under the dialogue during the reporting period, the report says, although EU special representative Peter Sørensen continued contacts with both sides.

The Security Council may also discuss efforts to reintegrate Serb judges and prosecutors into Kosovo’s justice system and accountability for the armed attack in Banjska in September 2023.

The report also addresses people who went missing during the Kosovo war. As of Sept. 15, 2026, the fate of 1,579 people remained unresolved, according to the document.

Council members are also expected to express differing views on UNMIK’s future. The United States has previously called for the mission to be closed, while Britain has supported a strategic review of its role and responsibilities. Russia and China oppose reducing the mission.

Representatives of Kosovo, Serbia and the European Union are also expected to attend the meeting.

This is the Security Council’s second regular meeting on Kosovo in 2026.

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