UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 2, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani declares Wednesday a day of mourning in Kosovo in honour of Kadare (Koha)
Gervalla meets the Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament (media)
KLI: For six months government approved only 15% of planned draft laws (ekonomia)
Serb citizens convert driver’s licences: We live in Kosovo, we have to respect the law (RTK)
False bomb alert at Pristina Airport (Reporteri)
Serwer: Trump might support idea of ​​dividing Kosovo if re-elected US president (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic meets with Grushko, thanks Russia for support in UN (Tanjug)
Vucevic: While Kurti in power, no possibility of progress in dialogue (Kosovo Online, Blic TV)
Hill: Normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina absolutely crucial (Kosovo Online, Euronews, diplomacyandcommerce.rs)
Gouillon: Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy to promote Serbia, defend its interests (Tanjug)
Cameraman who attacked Serbian politician at Gazimestan suspended (NMagazin, Beta, N1, KiM radio)
Statements on conflicts with Serbia have a negative impact on Kosovo's business environment (Kosovo Online, Gazeta Blic)

Humanitarian/Development:

OSCE report on domestic violence, inadequate trials for perpetrators (RTK)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Request for transfer of arrested Kosovars, in spirit of Basic Agreement (media)
Lajcak: We will work to unblock implementation of Agreement (media)
NGOs from region condemn banning of “Miredita, Dobar Dan” festival in Belgrade (RFE)
Osmani: Kosovo should get candidate status for EU, measures to be lifted (EO)
Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss latest developments, including dialogue (media)
Ulutash meets with Buhler, discuss about supporting dialogue (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Those powerful would wish Serbia to recognize “violent secession of its territory” (Radio KIM)
New apprehension at Jarinje, Serb from Mitrovica North brought to police station, then released (KoSSev)
Police Inspectorate launched investigation into complaint over (in)action of police officers to assault near Gazimestan (KoSSev, media)
Lawyer: Witness did not identify Milenkovic as perpetrator of criminal act (Radio KIM)
Ninety NGOs call on Serbian authorities to reconsider ban on “Miredita, Dobar Dan” festival (N1, BETA)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo leaders mourn loss of Albanian world-known writer Ismail Kadare (media)
• Bislimi and Petkovic tomorrow in Brussels to discuss implementation of agreements (Koha)
• Zupancic: Issues should be resolved through dialogue so that we don't see situations like in Ukraine (media)
• Konjufca: Hundreds of people in Serbia are training and preparing for an attack on Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Gervalla meets Turkish minister Hakan Fidan, discuss economic cooperation (RTK)
• Haxhiu submits request to Ministry of Justice in Serbia to transfer Kosovar citizens (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Dialogue only way to normalise relations, Kurti not interested in dialogue (Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti)
• Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at technical level to take place in Brussels tomorrow, Stano says implementation of agreements priority (Tanjug)
• Aleksandar Vlajic accused of “espionage” sent to one month detention, lawyer says detention ungrounded (KoSSev, media)
• Milicevic: It has reached a point where you can't anymore (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)
• "We don't need that kind of low-level propaganda": Comments from N. Mitrovica on posters with Vucic's image (N1)
• Serbia-China free trade agreement takes effect (N1, BETA)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue needs courage, vision and political will (RTK)
• Lajcak: We are wasting time on something that is not relevant (Ekonomia)
• Posters with photo of Vucic seen in north of Kosovo (RFE)
• Kurti in Greece: The world is facing challenges of an unprecedented level (RTK)
• Gervalla: Kosovo’s membership in CoE must be finalised ASAP (media)
• Kurti: eKosova platform now provides 175+ services (media)
• Latifi claims “Serbia waiting for suitable geopolitical situation to reinvade” (media)
• Lajcak at Dubrovnik Forum meets “partners from Western Balkans and beyond” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: An extremely high level of envy and hatred dominates Kurti's politics (Kosovo Online, media)
• Dacic: Pristina's threats to Vucic are a message to all Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Svecla can only brag on social networks (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• The North of Kosovo with posters of the Vucic’s image: “Supreme Commander, we are waiting for
you” written (RTS, Tanjug, media)
• Stojanovic: Peace and stability in the region are priorities of the Serbian Government (Kosovo Online)
• KP opened a case of "attack" after the incident at Gazimestan, PIK informed about Arsenijevic's com
plaint against KP officers (KoSSev)
• Gazimestan: Were Serbs singled out by Kosovo Police on Vidovdan? (KoSSev)
• Lazovic remanded in custody for one month; Lawyer: Decision to initiate investigation was made on
Friday (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

• Kosovo bans TikTok in state institutions for cyber security reasons (BIRN)
• Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic: Convictions in murder trial, but justice not done (BIRN)
• Manufactured Outrage: Targeting Serbia-Kosovo Festival, Belgrade Eyes Political Gain (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia To Stay On Red Alert After Crossbow Attack At Israeli Embassy (RFE)
• No breakthrough in Serbia-Kosovo talks, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says (euronews.com)
• Environmental activists, citizens to intensify protests against lithium mining in Serbia
(balkangreenenergynews.com)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti reacts to Serbia’s banning of 'Miredita, Dobar Dan' festival (media)
• Organisers of 'Miredita, dobar dan': "State incited hatred, intolerance, hostility" (RFE)
• Kandic: Serbia and its institutions aligned themselves with hooligans (media)
• Four sentenced to prison for involvement in Ivanovic assassination (media)
• Police searching for Serb suspects over camouflaged cameras in north (media)
• Man arrested for allegedly committing war crimes against civilians (media)
• State Department report on international religious freedom: Kosovo (media)
• Court ruling on Bureau; KLI: Another government failure for judiciary reforms (EO)
• Poll: VV-Guxo 41 percent, PDK 19.6, LDK 19.2 and AAK-Nisma 6 (Albanian Post)
• ECPMF reacts to MP remarks against media and civil society members (media)
• AJK reacts to latest death threats against reporter Vullnet Krasniqi (media)
• Police remove “provocative shirts and flags” at St. Vitus remembering (media)
• Octopus Institute analysis on arrest of Albanians, one Serb, for espionage (Telegrafi)
• FPÖ wants parliament to declare itself against Kosovo independence (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Memorial service served to Kosovo heroes at Gazimestan (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian MFA: St Vitus's Day reflects our love of freedom, moral essence (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Serbia fulfilled its obligations; I do not expect anything from continuation of dialogue
(RTS)
• Verdict passed in case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, 22 years in prison for the four defen
dants (media)
• Office for KiM: Verdict against four Serbs in Oliver Ivanovic’s case "scandalous" (Kosovo Online,
media)
• Serbian List: Draconian and politically staged verdict (media, social media)
• Ivanovic's nephew: This verdict still does not provide answers to questions about who ordered
and executed Ivanovic's murder (KoSSev)
• Lawyer: Tolic underwent surgery again, I am concerned about his health condition (Kosovo
Online)
• Indictment against Svecla, three MPs upheld 75 months after teargas was thrown (KoSSev, me
dia)
• Serb Movements from Kosovo support the protest against lithium mines (Beta, Danas)
• Radovanovic: The frozen conflict suits both Vucic and Kurti (NMagazin, Beta)

International:

• Kosovo convicts four over Serb opposition politician’s murder (BIRN)
• Serbian police ban culture festival with Kosovo as pressure mounts on liberal voices (AP)
• Germany extends army deployments in Kosovo, Bosnia, Coast of Lebanon (RFE)
• What are the takeaways from another unsuccessful round of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue?
(EWB)
• Language and infrastructure barriers halt integration of Serb majority village into Kosovo soci
ety (Prishtina Insight)
• Serbian authorities use high-tech surveillance to monitor opponents (BIRN)
• Von der Leyen, Costa and Kallas bag EU top jobs (politico.eu)
• ‘Shipwreck’ and ‘carnage’: European media gawks at Biden’s debate flop against Trump
(politico.eu)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Police find surveillance cameras in the north (media)
• Rohde calls Kurti's conditions “a burden"; “Serbia violating Article 4” (media)
• Rasic doesn’t expect Radoicic to be handed over; “Dialogue must continue” (media)
• Assembly podium used for media smearing (Koha)
• Kurti meets Serwer: Grateful for his analysis and advice (media)
• Kurti welcomes Law on the Modernization of Citizenship in Germany (media)
• Serbian delegation leaves after Kosovo MP’s speech on Banjska attack (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Kurti wanted recognition not dialogue (N1)
• Office for KiM: Arrest of Lazovic in Leposavic, continuation of Pristina’s terror (Kosovo Online, media)
• Wife of arrested Lazovic: My husband is not on photos published by Albanian media, he has never been to Djakovica (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List: Kurti’s regime continues with intimidation and expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
• Djuric: Belgrade appreciates Brazil's position on Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Austrian Freedom Party requests Parliament declare against recognition of Kosovo (Euronews Serbian)
• Pristina portal says 45 indicted over Banjska armed incident (N1)
• “Miredita, Dobar Dan” festival shut down (media)

International Media:

• Police Ban Serbia-Kosovo Cultural Reconciliation Festival in Belgrade (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• O’Brien: Non-implementation of past agreements, lost opportunity (media)
• Kurti says LDK, AAK want to criticise and not remove him from power (Express)
• Opposition MPs leave assembly session (media)
• AJK: Independent Media Commission draft law shouldn’t be adopted (Kallxo)
• AJK reacts to Basha’s “unacceptable, dangerous attacks” against Kusari (media)
• Former Serb member of Kosovo Police arrested for espionage (media)
• Svecla: Fighting every form of terrorism is our priority (media)
• Hoxha visits police units in Jarinje, Leposavic, Bernjak and Banjska (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• O'Brien: Failure to implement earlier agreements a lost opportunity for both sides (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: By rejecting the trilateral in Brussels, Kurti showed that he does not want dialogue (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Arrested A.V. suspected of espionage (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)
• The president of the Committee for Aid to Serbs from Republika Srpska denied entry to Kosovo (Tanjug, SRNA)
• The Spanish Parliament overwhelmingly rejected the initiative to recognize Kosovo (Tanjug)
• The German and Italian embassies supported the EU statement on three draft laws (KoSSev)
• The SL MPs once again retained their mandates (NMagazin, Beta)
• Andric Rakic: No progress in dialogue or formation of the CSM realistic during Lajcak's extended mandate (Kosovo Online)
• “Miredita, dobar dan!” festival to kick off in Belgrade (N1, Beta)

Opinion:

• Hungary’s EU ‘enlargement presidency’ will achieve limited success for Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo: Draft law on Independent Media Commission might endanger its political independence (ecpmf.eu)
• Serbia’s Vucic fumes as footballers travel to Euro 2024 on Croatian plane (Politico)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borell: Kurti was not ready for tripartite meeting, he presented conditions (media)
• Kurti sets conditions: Sign Basic Agreement and hand over Radoicic (media)
• Kurti on appointment of Rutte as NATO SG: Kosovo celebrates this news (media)
• EU concerned that comments on three draft laws were not considered (Klan)
• Haxhiu reacts to court declaring law on state bureau invalid (media)
• Maqedonci visits Croatia: Our friendship is eternal (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borrell: Kurti presented three conditions for engagement in the normalization process (media)
• Vucic: No trilateral meeting in Brussels; Kurti did not want or dare to meet with me (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric thanked MFA of Jamaica and Commonwealth of Dominica on the support to Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty (Kosovo Online)
• Szijjarto: During the EU presidency, Hungary will open new chapters in negotiations with Serbia (RTS)
• A Serb detained at Jarinje? (KoSSev)

International Media:

• Serbia’s Vucic, Kosovo’s Kurti Fail to Meet After ‘Preconditions’ Disagreement (Balkan Insight)
• Few Serbs have returned to southern Kosovo since the war (DW)

Albanian Language Media:

• New round of high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia today (media)
• Lajcak: We hope leaders come with vision and political courage (media)
• Rasic on Kurti-Vucic meet: It will increase dynamics of the dialogue (media)
• NATO appoints Mark Rutte as next secretary general (media)
• Osmani, Kurti congratulate Berset election as CoE Secretary General (media)
• Bajrami outlines reports Kosovo sent to EU following Banjska attack (media)
• Kurti meets members of Bavarian State Parliament and Chancellery (media)
• Krasniqi: No room for a monoethnic institution in Kosovo (media)
• Gervalla meets President of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (media)
• Court gives right to government on the law on the minimum wage (media)
• KLA War Veterans react after court decision, “we’ll continue protests” (media)
• Kurti congratulates Mickoski, looks forward to enhancing robust relations (media)
• Kosovo government confirms rejecting Petkovic’s visit request (Koha)
• Exhibition in Mitrovica on International Day against Hate Speech (media)
• Court extends detention by 60 days for three suspects of Banjska attack (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• New round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina; Vucic with European officials in
Brussels (RTS)
• Lajcak: Everything ready for discussion; hope for the political courage of Vucic and Kurti
(RTS)
• Office for KiM: Petkovic banned from visiting Kosovo on Saint Vitus Day (Kosovo Online,
media)
• Djuric congratulates Berset on election as CoE Secretary General (media, social media)
• Radojkovic: European Football Championship showed region still far from reconciliation
(Kosovo Online)
• YIHR filed 10 lawsuits against the media for 'hate speech' against the participants of the
'Mirdita' festival (KoSSev, Beta)

Opinion:

• Rada Trajkovic: Vucevic's "compromise" is the division of Kosovo (KiM radio, Beta)
• Hungary’s EU ‘enlargement presidency’ will achieve limited success for Western Balkans (BIRN)

International:

• NATO picks Netherlands' Mark Rutte as next boss (Reuters)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 26, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: In Brussels we will see how we can move forward (media)
• Kurti: OSCE has helped our country in establishing democracy (RTK)
• Government responds to Stano: We submitted report on Banjska to EU (RTK)
• Gervalla: Ministers’ Committee should convene for Kosovo admission (RTK)
• Court rejects request to suspend implementation of CBK regulation (media)
• Government: Vulin’s statement, proof of Serbia ties with Russia and China (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• PM says Serbia ready to compromise on Kosovo (N1)
• Instead of summer swimming season, Kosovo post office opened at Rajska Banja spa complex in Banjska (KoSSev)
• Stano: No report on Banjska from Pristina (N1)
• Kosovo Constitutional Court rejected request to suspend implementation of CBK regulation on dinar (Kosovo Online)
• Nenezic on Constitutional Court’s decision, says timing indicative because of meeting in Brussels (KoSSev)
• Lajcak: Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina currently at crossroads; agreement exists, but implementation is lacking (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: Frontex also to be deployed at Serbia’s borders with non-EU countries (media)

International Media:

• Kosovo Ex-Fighter’s Testimony Bolsters Prosecution Case at Thaci Trial (BIRN)
• Risk of Radicalisation: Kosovo Struggles with Informal Worship Places (BIRN)