UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 158 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Education minister: We are expecting decision on reopening of schools (media)
• UNDP delivers vouchers to 2,000 families as part of COVID-19 response (KP/Klan)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo to go to Washington meeting for final agreement with Serbia (RFE)
• Kosovo ministers meet U.S. Special Representative Palmer (media)
• Kosovo looks to send representative to U.S. State Department (media)
• Meeting of ruling coalition leaders rescheduled (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Haradinaj should not waste kerosene to travel to US in hope for final agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic: EU thinks Belgrade should accept every stance of Brussels (RTV)
• Vucic received Dodik’s comparability analysis on status of RS and Kosovo? (Tanjug)
• Abbot Janjic: Suspension of construction encouraging sign by Kosovo government and municipality (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• ‘Never Let a Good Crisis Go To Waste’ (Kosovo 2.0)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian Labor Minister says no rise in unemployment figures (BETA, N1)

• COVID-19: 162 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Hoti, Ramosaj agree to suspend works on Decan-Plav road (media)
• Ramosaj: Decan – Plav road, “will be built or I will build it” (media)
• U.S. Embassy statement on construction of Decan-Plav road (media)
• Hoti: I discuss mutual recognition in Brussels, Haradinaj knows this (media)
• Hoti: Meeting in Washington will focus on the economy (media)
• Ruling coalition leaders to meet today amid disagreements on dialogue (EO)
• Hoti: Government is stable, no need for reshuffling (media)
• EU aims to set up mechanism to monitor implementation of agreements (KTV)
• Weber predicts difficulties for Avdullah Hoti on September 2 (Express)
• Shala: Kosovo status, not a topic in dialogue (Express)
• Two more former KLA members summoned by Specialist Chambers (media)
• Serb arrested in Mokna, suspect in Enver Zymberi killing (Indeksonline)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 162 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Hoti concerned some still do not believe in existence of COVID-19 (media)
• Hoti and Ramosaj agree to suspend works on the Decan-Plava road (RTK)
• Government considers Vetevendosje’s accusations low (media)
• Ramush Haradinaj to meet Hoti tomorrow (RTK)
• Leaders thank police and doctors on the World Humanitarian Day (media)
• Naser Sahiti elected rector of the University of Prishtina (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Four new cases of Covid-19, one death registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Abbot Sava: It is absurd that monks defend law from institutions (KoSSev, N1)
• Nora Weller: Kosovo must prove that Serb community and monasteries are protected (KoSSev, N1)
• Vucic and Dacic on upcoming meetings in Washington and Brussels (RTS)
• Customs claims Bishop Teodosije returned from Jarinje over phytosanitary certificate; Bishop: They didn’t ask for anything (KoSSev)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce: Export to Kosovo EUR 95 million in first half of 2020 (N1)
• Four Serbs sent to one-month detention over possession of weapons and shooting (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Russia and China are Penetrating Balkans at West’s Expense (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Road Construction Sparks Row with Serbian Monastery (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNDP hands over vouchers for vulnerable families (media)

• COVID-19: 141 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Haziri: Kosovo to get Presevo Valley; Leposavic and 17 villages to Serbia (media)
• NATO Secretary General: Dialogue only way forward (media)
• Bolton: Meeting on September 2, a very good opportunity for Trump (Express)
• Nagavci: September 2 meeting, a step not thought through (Klan)
• LVV: This government is terribly dependent on Serbian List (media)
• Cufaj: Germany is in favor of visa liberalisation (media)
• Kosovo's foreign ministry backs down on bid to join Geneva Convention (Koha)
• North Macedonia's Pro-Western Parties Reach Coalition Deal (RFE)
• Kosovo leaders hail coalition deal in North Macedonia (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 18, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 141 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Hoti: The government will not allow further degrading of Telekom (RTK)
• Ramosaj: Works at Decan-Plave road continue, did not discuss with Hoti (RTK)
• Government: Decision to interrupt works at Decan Monastery, still in power (media)
• KFOR claims they are first security responders for Decan Monastery (Insajderi)
• KDI: Work of the Assembly – hostage to lack of political consensus (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hoti’s adviser: If works on Decani-Plav road continue, decision of government is violated (KoSSev)
• Abbot Janjic: Bypass road around special protective zone is solution (Radio KIM, SRNA)
• Ramosaj: Law banning Decani-Plav road discriminatory; Janjic: Law exists, institutions must protect it (KoSSev)
• Italians to guard Visoki Decani Monastery again (KoSSev, Kosovo-online)
• VOA: Why Vucic announces extraordinary elections already in 2022 (N1)
• Spiegel: NGOs, media dangerous to Serbian president under investigation (N1)
• Rakic, Milivojevic met Erik Grøndahl (TV Most)

International:

• Pandemic now driven by 20s, 30s, 40s group, many asymptomatic: WHO (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 11th edition of Anibar kicks off online (Prishtina Insight)
• Serbian Health Minister says number of coronavirus patients dropping (BETA, N1)

• COVID-19: 129 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Zemaj with recommendations on fighting COVID-19 pandemic (RTK)
• Kosovo signs agreement with EBRD to support services hit by pandemic (media)
• Serbia allocates funds for COVID-19 testing lab in Mitrovica North (Koha)
• U.S.: Kosovo's economic progress, crucial for peace with Serbia (Koha)
• Hoti: We will build Decan-Plave road by respecting laws of the country (media)
• "PDK will demand elections as soon as COVID-19 cases decline" (Koha)
• Konjufca: LDK was not sincere with LVV (Kanal 10/Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Protection of religious and cultural sites is in our tradition (media)
• LVV reacts to President Thaci's pardoning a 13-year-old boy's killer (media)
• Mitrovica municipality adds name of Roma girl to memorial stone (media)
• The British Embassy disappointed with the Assembly of Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 129 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• 40 coronavirus patients treated in Kosovo hospitals, in critical condition (media)
• Hoti: Final preparations underway for start of school year (media)
• Decan Mayor reacts to calls for halting road construction works (media)
• Decan Mayor sends letter to heads of state on Decan – Plav road (media)
• Vetevendosje seeks clarifications for halting of Decan-Plav road construction (media)
• Germany supports visa liberalisation, some countries still hesitant (RFE)
• PM Hoti calls on youth to join KSF (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Five cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo yesterday (Radio KIM)
• Blic: Grenell, Vucic and Hoti would discuss economy in White House, not politics
• Djuric: Pristina appeases domestic public saying it talks about independence (Kosovo-online)
• Countryman: Belgrade and Pristina not ready to reach agreement (N1, RFE)
• Hoti on suspension of works on Decani-Plav road section; Janjic: We were never against road, but its construction within SPZ (KoSSev)
• Simic: Works near Decani Monastery form of pressure before continuation of dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• KFOR Commander visited municipality and Visoki Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Novosti: Serbian Government and SOC to form team for protection of cultural heritage
• Brnabic: International community to clearly prevent jeopardy of cultural heritage (Kosovo-online)
• Thaci: Gazivode jewel of Kosovo, Djuric: Jewel heart of Serbia (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Access to 10% of our pensions will not revive the Kosovo economy (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo is a test of Israel’s moral character (The Jerusalem Post)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Economic Downturn Prompts Germany to Cap Western Balkan Workers (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 141 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Hoti calls for suspension of construction work on Decan – Plav road (media)
• Vetevendosje: Vucic makes demands, Hoti and partners meet them (media)
• Reactions after construction work stopped on Decan – Plav road (Koha)
• Kurti: Forcing bad agreements for sake of political campaign is wrong (media)
• Beqaj: Kosovo and Serbia not ready for agreement (Koha)
• Mustafa: We haven’t discussed President post with anyone (Express)
• Haxhiu: Illegitimate minority government must leave ASAP (media)
• Thaci: Ujman Lake, a precious wealth of the state of Kosovo (media)
• Think tank: Djukanovic could testify in Thaci's defence (Koha)
• Kosovo police criticised for stopping state TV crew from filming (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 159 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Thaci welcomes announcement of Washington meeting (media)
• Kurti: Grenell wants a foreign policy success in final hours (media)
• Mustafa: Washington meeting reconfirms U.S. engagement (media)
• Limaj: Wherever dialogue is held, Kosovo goes for final agreement (media)
• Pompeo and Schallenberg: We support Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (media)
• Kuci: Lack of quorum for economic revival law, shameful (media)
• Assembly adopts two international agreements worth €146 mil (media)
• Vucic calls for urgent halt of construction in Decani Monastery zone (media)
• Down Syndrome Centre risks closure (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 142 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Ministry of Health aims to increase COVID-19 testing capacities (Kallxo)
• Thaci welcomes announcement of Washington meeting (media)
• Kurti: Grenell wants a foreign policy success in final hours (media)
• EU welcomes any initiative in support of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue it facilitates (Koha)
• KLA associations to submit request for amending law on Specialist Chambers (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 17 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian municipalities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Djuric: Hoti’s provocative messages, a cheap attempt to create a bad political climate (Kosovo Online)
• Possible parliamentary elections in a year and a half? (media)
• Vucic: Serbia not in a position to refuse talks (B92)
• Diocese warns: Construction of the Decani-Plav road within the protective zone of the monastery Visoki Decani continues (KoSSev)
• Djuric reaction on stopping Bishop Teodosije at Jarinje crossing, ''an arrogant act of arbitrariness'' (media)
• Bishop Teodosije turned back from Jarinje (KoSSev)

International:

• Week in Review: Hope Versus Fatalism (Balkan Insight)
• Trump White House Will Host Talks for Leaders of Serbia, Kosovo (Bloomberg)

Humanitarian/Development:

• SEE Digital Rights Network Established (Balkan Insight)