• G7 call on Kosovo and Serbia to continue dialogue without delays (Zeri)
• Lajcak: Western Balkans integration in EU, the only alternative (media)
• Gervalla in London: Serbia is threatening, we must act quickly if we want to save the peace (media)
• Why is the north of Kosovo a haven for criminal groups? (RFE Albanian)
• HLC's Blakaj: Missing persons ought not be a condition to agreement with Serbia (Koha)
• Movie Puts Spotlight on Forced Marriage in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Assembly adopts draft law for deployment of KSF abroad (media)
• North Macedonian president to pay official visit to Kosovo (Indeksonline)
• Kosovo connecting to Serbian IPs, businesses and opposition raise the alarm (euronews.al)
• Serbian Minister requests visa liberalisation for Kosovo (RTK)
• COVID-19: 8 new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 14, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: We are working to ease the energy crisis (media)
• PDK wants government to react to Vulin’s remarks about Recak massacre (RFE)
• “Kosovo to prosecute war crimes suspects according to chain of command” (Koha)
• Osmani receives credentials of Ambassador of Lithuania, Jurate Raguckiene (media)
• Kosovo, Albania unveil joint project for railway link (Prishtina Insight)
• Results of test samples for Omicron variant to arrive this month (Express)
• In four months, 89 percent of COVID-19 fatalities were not vaccinated (Koha)
• COVID-19: 8 new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 33 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: We continue strengthening army due to complicated security situation (N1)
• Avenija: Ungrounded arrests of Serbs disgrace for Kosovo society and international community (Radio KIM)
• Darko Dimitrijevic elected new president of Association of Journalists of Serbia branch in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Gervala’s statement, says Pristina rhetoric “inflammatory and anti-Serbian” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: Families of missing persons should address Lajcak for support (Radio KIM)
• Selakovic in London, to meet Lajcak, Peach and Escobar (media, GoS website)
International:
• Richard Grenell Exclusive Interview: The Serbia-Kosovo Agreement Was Not Just For Christmas (The Pavlovic Today)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 13, 2021
• Serbian minister's statement on Recak continues to draw reactions (media)
• Serwer: If Serbia refuses recognition, Kosovo has the right to reject Association (Koha)
• Kosovo authorities arrest three persons in connection to Gllogjan shooting (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo improving legal framework in efforts to uproot gender-based violence (media)
• Haxhiu: Venice Commission supports changes to prosecutorial system (media)
• Early marriages, a concern in Kosovo (media)
• Three NGOs urge Kurti to remove Egyptians from the RAE group acronym (Telegrafi)
• Meta: Republika Srpska actions threaten regional stability (Koha)
• North Macedonia eyes 3 million tones of Kosovo coal (Reuters)
• COVID-19: Seven new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 10, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: No agreement with Serbia without resolving the fate of missing persons (Koha)
• Civil society organisations from Kosovo and Serbia present joint demands on dialogue (media)
• EU: No room to deny or understate what happened in Recak (RFE)
• Pacolli on Vulin's statement: Serbia is trying to lie to the world (Klan)
• A group of U.S. members of Congress urge President Biden to bring justice for all victims of war crimes in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo president's aide: Criminal groups in the north cooperate with actors in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Rama and Escobar discussed Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, "Open Balkan" (Klan)
• COVID-19: Seven new cases, one death (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Families of the Missing: Our human rights are being violated daily (KiM radio)
• Vucic: Abuses of democratic principles hamper our well-being (Tanjug, media)
• Belgrade to Athens: Kosovo main political-security challenge (FoNet, N1)
• Blinken: Sanctions and restrictions for 11 officials due to criminal and illegal activities (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)
• Stevic on US sanctions: I run a legitimate business; 20 years since I’ve last seen Veselinovic (KoSSev)
• “Metal” owner on US sanctions: It’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard, I have no ties to Veselinovic (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Propaganda actions as justification for the attack on Serbs and an alibi for future moves of Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• One month detention for Dusko Arsic, Office for KiM reaction (KiM radio)
• Poll shows majority of youth want to leave Kosovo (N1)
• Survey: Over half of Serbia’s people believe corruption is present everywhere (FoNet, N1)
• Vulin: “NATO aggression began after the horrible lie about Racak” (N1)
Opinion:
• We should all speak out for survivors (KoSSev)
International:
• Nuclear technology centre planned for Serbia (world-nuclear-news.org)
• 'Nobody's dump': Lithium mine stirs unrest in Serbia (rfi.fr)
Humanitarian/Development:
• UNMIK calls for further efforts to promote equality for all in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo believes in UN values and its vision for sustainable development (Telegrafi)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 10, 2021
• Osmani speaks at Democracy Summit, presents three main commitments (media)
• Macron: We will organise a conference for Western Balkans in June (RFE)
• EP on Tuesday about fight against organised crime in Western Balkans (EWB)
• Kurti says criminal group in the north must be tried in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian List opposes U.S. decision on criminal bosses (media)
• Kosovo Serbs close to Serbia’s rulers join US blacklist (BIRN)
• Kosovo arrests Serbian citizen for war crimes on border (BIRN)
• Junior doctors protest failure to allocate special budget for wages (BIRN)
• Kosovo youth train as bakers, waiters to get quick jobs abroad (Reuters)
• Prishtina-Durres railway, Kosovo sets aside €1 million for feasibility (euronews.al)
• Consequences of Vucic’s “passivization” campaign on thousands of Albanians in Serbia (Exit News)
• The anger you’re entitled to (Kosovo 2.0)
• COVID-19: 19 new cases, one death (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: We want a legally binding agreement centred on mutual recognition (Kosovapress)
• Svecla: Sanctions against Veselinovic's group prove our fight against corruption was legitimate (media)
• UK's Abbott welcomes U.S. sanctions against Veselinovic's group (Telegrafi/RTK)
• Haradinaj hails U.S. sanctions as ‘excellent news for Kosovo’ (media)
• Radule Stevic and tenders awarded to him by Kosovo institutions (RFE)
• Minister Aliu confirms having a contract with company sanctioned by the U.S. (EO/Zeri)
• Kosovo joins U.S. in diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics in China (Koha/Telegrafi)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 33 news cases in Serbian communities (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• I did not yield to protests; I only met people’s demands, President Vucic says (N1)
• Borrell: US sanctions important step in fight against organized crime in Western Balkans (Kosovo-online)
• Millions worth tenders of an entrepreneur from the north of Kosovo, to whom the US imposed sanctions (RFE, KoSSev)
• Trajkovic: Serbian-Albanian connections (Radio KIM)
• KLA flag in Bosniak Mahala, Mitrovica North removed (KoSSev)
• Serb accused of committing war crimes arrested at Jarinje (KoSSev)
• Vucic participates in online Summit on Democracy (RTS)
• Admiral Bauer and General Wolters with KFOR Commander on security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker says expropriation law up for public debate (N1)
International:
• As Russia's Balkan Allies Toy With War, Kosovo Banks on U.S. Protection (Newsweek)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Berkovo: Struggling with Covid-19, without technical and potable water (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Mitrovica North residents on new Covid-19 measures: political decision, making peoples’ lives more difficult (KoSSev)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 9, 2021
• U.S. imposes sanctions on controversial Kosovo Serb businessman (BIRN)
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement on sanctions (media)
• Kosovo’s leaders welcome sanctions against Veselinovic and his group (media)
• Vucic: We’ll look into any serious allegations (media)
• Collaku: Kurti should change strategy to win ground with Serbia (euronews.al)
• Hasani: Constitutional Court has cemented obligation to form Association (media)
• Gastronomes to protest against government measures on December 15 (media)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 8, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Szunyog: No agreement in dialogue prevents deployment of special unit in northern Kosovo (Klan)
• The U.S. Democracy Summit starts Thursday, Osmani to participate (RTK)
• Weber expects Germany’s stronger commitment on resumption of dialogue (media)
• Qalaj: We have never requested permission for actions in the north (Ekonomia)
• Kosovo to start administering COVID-19 booster shots from Thursday (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Borrell: New Vucic – Kurti meeting unnecessary before preconditions are met (N1)
• Serbian privileging of the north of Kosovo (RFE)
• “There are no obstacles to deploy Kosovo police in the north, but only in coordination with KFOR” (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic's visit to the Municipality of Gracanica without the presence of the media (KiM radio)
• Von Cramon’s tweet: Tabloid headlines, Vucic’s comments, and the SOC reaction (KoSSev, media)
• EU ambassadors confirm opening of Cluster 4 for Serbia (RTS, N1)
• Ambassador De Riu: Belgrade and Pristina to avoid rhetoric that closes room for negotiations (Kosovo-online)
International:
• Stabilisation and Association Council statement following the 4th meeting between the EU and Kosovo* (consilium.europa.eu)
• EU is losing the PR battle and the soft power in the Western Balkans (EWB)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 8, 2021
• Kurti and Borrell clash over Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Koha)
• Kurti: Two decades since prison release, I continue to fight for the same causes (media)
• Escobar: U.S. supports implementation of reached agreements (media)
• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets EC President von der Leyen, EP President Sassoli (media)
• Varhelyi on vetting process: No need for such a deep reform (Kosovapress)
• President Osmani meets UK, Austrian ambassadors (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo is in the hands of energy mafia (media)
• Kosovo, Albania Ready to Help any Potential US-led Ukraine Mission (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti meets Borrell and Lajcak, talks about future of dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti: We have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (media)
• Meeting between Kurti and Vucic, not expected this year (Koha)
• Sir Stuart Peach’s appointment as special envoy to Western Balkans, important step (RTK)
• Perparim Rama sworn in as mayor of Pristina (media)
• KOSTT's request for allocation of 33 million euros for electricity in the north, rejected (media)
• Kurti represents Kosovo with a footnote in Stabilization and Association Council (Zeri)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 42 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: We are ready to sign agreement on missing persons, but it is Pristina blocking dialogue (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Flags of Albania and KLA displayed in Bosniak Mahala (KoSSev)
• NATO senior official says Serbia valued, long-term partner (N1, BETA)
• RCC’s Bregu: Challenges facing EU linked to those W. Balkans experiences (FoNet, N1)
• Von Cramon met SOC Bishop Grigorije (N1, media)
• The White House announced a plan to fight corruption on a global level (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• OSCE Mission condemned repeated vandalism of memorial plaque dedicated to missing Serb journalists (social media)
• Vucic and Hasanpur: Iran respects territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
Opinion:
• The global fight for democracy begins at home (Politico)
International:
• Serbia Strengthening ‘Parallel Structures’, Kosovo Deputy PM Says (Balkan Insight)
• For Serbia’s Stevan Dojcinovic, journalism brings the Balkans’ corruption to light by ‘touching the untouchables’ (theglobeandmail.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• More than 100 cases of sexual violence this year (Koha, KoSSev, RTK2)