UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 20, 2022

By OSPI-f  6 hours ago

• Kosovo reports over 2,000 new daily COVID cases as Omicron surges (media)
• New anti-Covid-19 measures to be discussed today (media)
• Kurti: The government will increase support for consumers (media)
• Kosovo’s electric bills could increase two-fold (Euractiv)
• Hovenier: U.S. dedicated to strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo (media)
• Gervalla in Athens to meet Dendias (Ekonomia)
• EU millions for rule of law did not translate into substantive reforms (Koha)
• RTK Director sacked; board cites numerous violations (media)
• Serwer: Good on recognition but oversold on strategic impact (media)
• Macron: Clear accession perspective of Western Balkans and EU reform (EWB)
• Landscapes of industrial ruin (Kosovo 2.0)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 19, 2021

By OSPI-rq  1 day ago

• COVID-19: 720 new cases, one death (media)
• Latifi: Healthcare system prepared to handle increased hospitalisations (Koha)
• The two-day rate of COVID-19 infections affects roughly 400 children (RFE)
• Government pledges €75 million to subsidise energy for citizens and businesses (Kallxo)
• LDK leader Abdixhiku opposes electricity price increase (media)
• AAK ponders calling protests to oppose electricity price increase (Klan/RTK)
• Lajcak, Peach discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Hovenier: KFOR enjoys U.S.’s steadfast support (media)
• Xhacka at UN SC: Women in Kosovo raped, killed as part of ethnic cleansing campaign (Koha/Klan)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 18, 2021

By OSPI-rq  2 days ago

• EU regrets Serb referendum not taking place in Kosovo (RFE/media)
• Kosovo Serbs Vote in Serbian Referendum in Serbia – Not Kosovo (BIRN)
• Serbia Opposition Voices Doubts About Referendum, Praised by EU (BIRN)
• Haradinaj: Regulatory Office has proposed increase of electricity price by 80% (media)
• Kosovo Police rebuts Serbian List allegations over Runik incident (media)
• Anti-corruption agency opens case into Rakic’s declaration of assets (Koha)
• COVID-19: 728 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 17, 2021

By OSPI-f  3 days ago

• COVID-19: 771 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo sends back Serbian ballots ahead of referendum (Deutsche Welle)
• Lawmakers reject holding Serb referendum in Kosovo (The Washington Post)
• President’s Chief of Staff: Kosovo kept a principled position (media)
• Assembly adopts resolution against Serbian referendum in Kosovo (Express)
• Kosovo Serbs travel to neighboring Serbia to vote in referendum (euronews.al)
• Kosovo bans Serbian vote on constitutional changes on its soil (Al Jazeera)
• Kosovo commemorates massacre where 45 were killed by Serbian troops (Exit)
• Spahiu: Talk of Albanian unification Damages Kosovo (BIRN)
• Panic as Kosovo pulls plug on its energy-guzzling bitcoin miners (The Guardian)
• Podcast: War’s consequences on cultural heritage (Kosovo 2.0)
• Serbia votes ‘Yes’ judiciary constitution changes (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 14, 2021

By OSPI-f  6 days ago

• U.S. Secretary of State Blinken writes to Prime Minister Kurti (media)
• Kurti answers to Secretary Blinken: Looking forward to work together (media)
• Konjufca: We don’t accept the Serbian association; this is a closed matter (T7)
• Commentators: Borrell is proving he is not impartial (Kosovapress)
• Vucic warns serious consequences if referendum in Kosovo not allowed (Koha)
• Ex-prosecutor: Serbia impeded probe of Kosovo Serb politician’s murder (BIRN)
• Kosovo human rights concerns raised in new report (Exit)
• Hague prosecutors accused of failing to protect Kosovo case files (BIRN)
• Meta on Open Balkan: Ambiguous initiative imposed from above (euronews.al)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 13, 2021

By OSPI-rq  1 week ago

• Escobar reconfirms support for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (VOA/media)
• Hovenier, Bislimi discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Kurti: Serbs in Kosovo can vote in referendum through mail or liaison office (media)
• EU wants Serbia’s referendum to be allowed in Kosovo (Koha)
• Vucic warns of consequences if Serbia’s referendum is not allowed in Kosovo (Koha)
• Stoltenberg: NATO intervened in Kosovo to stop atrocities (media)
• COVID-19: 424 new cases, one death (media)
• IMF projects 7.5 percent economic growth for Kosovo (Klan)
• Used To Free Electricity, Kosovo’s Bitcoin Miners Are Now Facing Difficult Times After Ban (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 12, 2021

By OSPI-rq  1 week ago

• Kosovo bus slides off road in Serbia, nine injured (media)
• Konjufca, Hovenier vow to strengthen Kosovo-U.S. relations (media)
• Appointment of Hovenier-Hill duo to boost dynamic of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha)
• Kosovo to have liaison officer at State Department (media)
• Kosovo Veterans’ Deputy Leader: ‘Nothing New’ in Leaked War Court Files (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s former chief negotiator charged for inaccurate declaration of assets (media)
• COVID-19: 356 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Covid: Half of Europe to be infected with Omicron within weeks – WHO (BBC)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 11, 2021

By OSPI-rq  1 week ago

• Kurti meets new U.S. Ambassador: We will stand in unshakable alliance (media)
• Hovenier’s mission in Kosovo, to complete unfinished business (Koha)
• Kurti: We will take Kosovo Telecom out of the crisis and put it on the development tracks (media)
• European Parliament President David Sassoli dies at 65 (media)
• Can Serbs from Kosovo vote in Serbia’s referendum? (RFE)
• Specialist Chambers confirm Kadri Veseli was granted custodial visit to Kosovo (Express)
• Under tight security measures, Veseli concludes visit to Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 236 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Great Britain’s Special Envoy, Stuart Peach: We support ‘Open Balkan’ (euronews.al)
• Kosovo protesters urge Serbia to free war crimes defendant (BIRN)
• ‘Active Citizens’ Charge Officials With Destroying Mirusha Waterfall (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 10, 2022

By OSPI-hh  1 week ago

Albanian Language Media: Health Institute: Avoid gatherings; situation with pandemic can get worse (media) COVID-19: 236 new cases, no deaths (media)  Osmani: U.S. won’t find more trusted ally than Kosovo (Telegrafi) Haradinaj: Police must eliminate Serbia’s surveillance devices in Kosovo (media) There can be no monoethnic associations, government minister says (Klan Kosova) “If there is […]

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 10, 2021

By OSPI-rq  1 week ago

• New U.S. Ambassador arrives in Kosovo (media)
• Rizvanolli on action in Leposavic: We saved over €50,000 per month (RTK)
• Finance minister on crypto ban: One man’s gain is everyone else’s burden (euronews.al)
• Kosovo Police Seize Crypto-Mining Equipment After Govt Ban (BIRN)
• Focus on final settlement overshadows implementation of other agreements (Koha)
• Minister Haxhiu sees undoing of Specialist Chambers as “impossible” (EO/media)
• Gervalla: Unlawful decisions taken in last years to be invalidated (media)
• Abrashi: Declaration of UNMIK officials “persona non grata” is inapplicable (Koha)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Weren’t you the government of hope? (media)
• Meir: Turkey’s influence hinders Kosovo’s EU integration process (Lajmi)
• Police Errors Blamed for Woman’s Murder by Husband (BIRN)
• Mothers’ Stories Highlight Tragedy of Kosovo’s Disappeared (BIRN)
• Serbia’s back-door bid to embed Chinese snooping tools in Kosovo (RFE)
• COVID-19: 304 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo braces for new wave of COVID-19 as it records over 1,000 cases in nine days (Express)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 19, 2022

By OPSI-mu  23 hours ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 19, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 2,050 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak and Escobar expected to visit Prishtina and Belgrade (RFE)
• Arrival of new SRSG and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh (media)
• From crisis to convergence: A strategy to tackle Balkans instability at its source (media)
• “Kosovo selectively discriminated against for visa liberalization” (media)
• Haradinaj suspects energy situation created to benefit “the energy mafia” (Koha)
• Kosovo in 2022: No end in sight to life in limbo (BIRN)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 51 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• HLC: Investigations still opened on days of arrests of defendants (Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Second witness in case of Dusko Arsic interviewed, says he never heard about him (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic with French Ambassador Koshar on situation in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Epidemiologists warn of rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases (N1)
• Djuric with Escobar: Serbia ready to contribute to progress of region (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Peace, stability priceless (Tanjug)
• Erdogan: 2021 was exceptional year for Turkey-Serbia ties (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Kurti wants to interrupt practice of Serbs voting in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 18, 2022

By OPSI-mu  2 days ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 18, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 720 new cases, one death (media)
• What caused the outbreak of COVID this week in Kosovo (Express)
• Pupils, teachers get infected; many schools move to online classes (Indeksonline)
• Negative signals from France for visa liberalization (Express)
• PDK: Increased electricity tariffs, biggest blow to the people (Telegrafi)
• LDK: Government’s inaction forced ERO to increase electricity tariffs (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 171 new cases registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• EU in Serbia: Higher turnout would be better, but referendum results positive (N1)
• Pristina banned Serbs from voting in referendum; what about April elections? (N1)
• UNS and its branch in Kosovo request police and prosecution to find out who was behind cyber-attack on Kosovo-online portal (media)
• Vucic to pay one-day visit to Turkey (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Pristina’s decision disgraceful, I will ask EU officials about it (Kosovo-online)
• Andric Rakic: Failure to hold referendum in Kosovo an overture to a ban on elections in April (Danas)
• Escobar and Lajcak to visit Pristina on January 31, Belgrade on February 2 (Kosovo-online)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: 133 attacks against Serbs recorded in Kosovo in 2021 (Kosovo-online)

International:

Kosovo Court Struggles to Contact Ivanovic Murder Trial Witnesses (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

Kosovo families fear losing homes in post-war legal shambles (BIRN)
Kosovo Expects Doubling of Electricity Price as Energy Crisis Bites (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 17, 2022

By OPSI-mu  3 days ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 17, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• “Government, Presidency, Assembly joined in defence of the Constitution” (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila: Assembly’s resolution reconfirmed the will of all parties (media)
• PDK’s Tahiri: Assembly’s session was a mockery of opposition (media)
• AAK’s Tahiri: Our position on referendum was principled (media)
• Hyseni on Kosovo Assembly’s referendum resolution: Act of cowardice (media)
• COVID-19: 728 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian referendum: 30.63 percent of registered voters turned out, 59.71 percent voted pro (RTS)
• Serbian officials’ reactions to Pristina ban on referendum (media)
• Serbs protest against Pristina’s decision to ban referendum in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Stano: Serbs in Kosovo should have been enabled to vote in referendum (RTS)
• EU officials welcome outcome of Serbian referendum (N1)
• Vucic: Citizens voted in favour of constitutional amendments (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Referendum major step in strengthening rule of law (Tanjug)
• “Vucic announces referendum results before election commission” (N1)
• Serbian opposition: low turnout, referendum didn’t go the way ruling authorities expected (RTS)
• Vukadinovic: Referendum results blow to authorities, surprising for opposition (Radio KIM)
• “Unsolved murder of Ivanovic disgrace for Belgrade, Pristina, and international community“ (KoSSev)
• Vucic lights a candle in memory of Oliver Ivanovic (N1)
• Office for KiM: Young man from Banja village attacked (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo-online portal under hackers attack again (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Serbia Votes ‘Yes’ to Judiciary Constitution Changes (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 14, 2022

By OPSI-mu  6 days ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Quint urges Kosovo Government to allow Serbia’s referendum (media)
• Kosovo institutions issue statement on Serbia’s referendum (media)
• Kurti announces extraordinary Assembly session on Saturday (media)
• Kurti’s advisor says “established practice” was “bad practice” (Telegrafi)
• Ahmeti: Serbia trying to destabilise Kosovo through referendum request (media)
• LDK: Serbia’s referendum in Kosovo is unacceptable (media)
• PDK: Serbia’s referendum in Kosovo is unconstitutional (G. Express)
• AAK supports Government’s position on Serbia’s referendum (Klan)
• GLPS: Serbia’s referendum in Kosovo is not a human rights issue (media)
• COVID-19: 585 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 34 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• Quint on referendum: Pristina to allow Serbs to vote in line with established practice (KoSSev)
• Vucic with Serb representatives from Kosovo and Metohija today (RTS)
• Trajkovic: Kurti inspires Vucic (Radio KIM)
• Blinken wrote to Kurti: Restore momentum to dialogue, fulfil Kosovo obligations (Radio KIM)
• Friends of Oliver Ivanovic call on people to light candle in his honor on Sunday (KoSSev)
• Vlajic: Verdict of Todosijevic annulled, new trial in February (Radio KIM)
• Selakovic calls on voters to say yes at referendum (N1)
• “Kosovo special police in Gracanica supported inspection in monitoring implementation of anti-Covid measures” (Radio KIM)
• Orthodox New Year marked (Radio KIM)

International:

• Ex-Prosecutor: Serbia Impeded Probe of Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Inisght)
• Serbian Minister Denies Briefing Kremlin on Russian Opposition Meeting (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Activists handed over 290,000 signatures against Rio Tinto to Serbian Government (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 13, 2022

By OPSI-mu  7 days ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 13, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo Serbs vote by mail or at the liaison office (DW Albanian, media)
• Hovenier meets Bislimi: Committed to mutual recognition through dialogue (RTK)
• British Embassy: Announcement of competition for Chief Prosecutor, surprising (RTK)
• Borrell on Serbia’s referendum: Citizens should be allowed to vote (media)
• From today, KSF can embark anywhere in the world (Klan)
• Von Cramon: Shocked that Serbia wiretapped Russian opposition (media)
• Kosovo Albanians Applying for EU Residency Reaches Over 70,000 (Exit)
• COVID-19: 427 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 138 new cases registered in Serbian areas, no deaths (KoSSev)
• Borrell spoke with Vucic on referendum, says people should be able to vote (B92)
• “REC ready for referendum in KiM, waiting for response of those in charge” (KoSSev)
• Serbian List, Municipality condemn police action in Gracanica, urge international community to react (Kosovo-online)
• Kosovo special police units raided Gracanica municipal building (Radio KIM)
• Gracanica: Organized transport for celebration cancelled because of special police action (Radio KIM)
• OSCE Mission confirmed it received Belgrade’s request regarding referendum (KoSSev)
• Odalovic: Voting took place during times of Haradinaj and Thaci (Radio KIM)
• “3.000 people from Serbia filed lawsuits against NATO” (B92)
• Threatening leaflet posted at church gate in Vitomirica village (Kosovo-online)
• Oliver Ivanovic’s family says investigation into his murder obstructed (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 12, 2022

By OPSI-mu  1 week ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 12, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Bühler: The American base in Albania is evidence of strategic importance of the region (media)
• KPC announces vacancy for Chief State Prosecutor, Lumezi’s term ends in April (Albanian Post)
• Government decision: No more pensions under 100 euros (media)
• 12,000 Presevo Valley Albanians still without Kosovar citizenship (euronews.al)
• Swiss analyst sharply criticizes EU: You are terrified of Vucic (Express)
• Zaharova ironically asks if America has given up supporting Kosovo’s sovereignty (ekonomiaonline)
• COVID-19: 424 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Office for KiM: By spinning Pristina authorities attempt to ban Serbs from voting in referendum (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Defense Minister says Kosovo PM planning to destabilize region (N1)
• Diplomats: Kosovo will more and more become topic in Russian-US negotiations (Kosovo-online)
• Court of Appeals upheld indictment against Dejanovic (Radio KIM)
• “Kosovo government did not receive any request from Serbia regarding referendum” (Radio KIM, Radio kontakt plus)
• Brnabic: Serbia, Qatar have begun new stage of cooperation (Tanjug)

International:

• World Bank lowers Kosovo’s 2022 GDP growth projection to 4.1% (SeeNews)
• Andric Rakic: Causes of weak anti-corruption institutional framework in Kosovo need to be discovered (EWB)
• Kosovo continues crackdown on crypto (Euractiv)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 11, 2022

By OPSI-mu  1 week ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 11, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 356 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti: Government committed to modernization of army (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo moves to address concerns of Serbia’s Presevo Valley Albanians (BIRN)
• After U.S., EU doesn’t rule out sanctions in Western Balkans (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 100 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online)
• Milivojevic: New US ambassadors to bring stronger pressure on Serbia (Radio KIM)
• MAT Magazine: China to become top five export destination for Serbian products (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Referendum important for future of our country (B92)
• Kosovo Serbs and referendum: Deafening silence of Belgrade (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic requests permanent presence of police at Brezovica ski center (Kosovo-online)
• Hodges: Serbia today is not Serbia of 1999 (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo Intensifies Hunt for Banned Crypto-Mining Machinery (Balkan Insight)
• Bulgarian President Reconfirms Hardline Stance on North Macedonia (Balkan Insight)
• EU funds have little impact in Western Balkans, auditors say (Politico)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 5, 2022

By OPSI-mu  2 weeks ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 5, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK, PDK reach co-governance agreement in Prishtina municipality (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: We won’t give up on vetting process (Kosovapress)
• Kraja: Kosovo made concessions to Serbia; Association biggest blow (media)
• Hoti: Serbia trying to remove Albanians from Presevo Valley (media)
• Another false alarm for explosive device at Prishtina bus station (media)
• Prime Minister and Health Minister on pandemic: We must not relax (media)
• COVID-19: 107 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 36 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• “Kosovo can go to Olympic games, but Kosovo Serbs can’t take part in referendum” (Radio KIM)
• Serbian Patriarch expresses respect to health care staff in Christmas message (FoNet, N1)
• Surlic: International community views status of K. Serbs and ZSO only through prism of whether Kosovo will achieve independence (KoSSev)
• 20 US military police officers to deploy to Kosovo (KoSSev, AP)

International:

• Montenegro Leads Region in Sudden Surge in COVID-19 Cases (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• KFOR donates medical equipment to health house in Vidanje returnee village (KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 4, 2022

By OPSI-mu  2 weeks ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 4, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• “France has changed approach”; optimism for visa liberalisation (Kosovapress)
• Will Biden launch an offensive in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue this year (Gazeta Express)
• Joseph: Rama’s rapprochement with Vucic is not healthy (Radio Free Europe)
• Thaci and others are held in detention on assumptions, attorney says (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 108 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 25 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Pristina’s decision to declare UNMIK official “persona non grata” (B92, social media)
• Moscow reacts to Pristina’s move (media)
• Trajkovic: Albanian political elite in Kosovo admitted return of expelled Serbs is politically conditioned (Kosovo-online)
• Schieb: Serbia–Germany relations aim at providing support for EU integration (N1)
• Chen Bo: Great results of cooperation between China and Serbia in 2021 (N1)
• EU Office condemned recent desecration of cemetery in Kisnica (Radio KIM)
• Two anti-coronavirus shots needed to enter Kosovo as of January 3 (Radio KIM)
• Server: Pristina also responsible for issue of missing persons (Kosovo-online)
• Kosovo police members received letter of reprimand for detaining KoSSev’s editor last year (KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 30, 2021

By OPSI-mu  3 weeks ago

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 30, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kryeziu: Agreement with Serbia can be reached within government’s mandate (Klan)
• Venice Commission to present its opinion on Vetting process in March (RTK)
• Musliu files lawsuit against Minister Peci (RTK)
• Jeffrey Hovenier sworn in as the new US Ambassador to Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Families of the missing gather in Prishtina (media)
• COVID-19: 53 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic talks about economic success, referendum, Kosovo issue in his annual address (media, B92)
• Godfrey: US-Serbia security cooperation at highest level (Tanjug)
• Dacic: February 15 deadline for dissolution of parliament (Tanjug)
• Minister: Rio Tinto has no right to lithium exploitation in Serbia (N1)
• Spain on Kosovo independence: An act contrary to international law (Kosovo-online)
• Simic on election of Judicial Council members: Rights of Serbs ought to be respected (Kosovo-online)
• OSCE Mission condemned desecration of Serbian cemetery in Kisnica (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Rocketing Real Estate Prices in the Balkans Stir Suspicion (Balkan Insight)