UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbs in Rudare demand release of arrested and KP’s departure from north (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Police denies speculations about obstruction of buses in Shterpce (Express)
• Kosovo Police calls for peaceful protest in north (Koha)
• EULEX: We are closely monitoring security situation in north of Kosovo (media)
• “Serbia's illegal structures are intimidating Serbs and attacking policemen” (Albanian Post)
• Sources: Serbian structures oblige and threaten people to take part in protest (KP)
• EULEX present at the entrance of the road to Leposaviq (Kallxo)
• Osmani and Kurti appoint new KIA Inspector General (media)
• Central Bank foresees 3-4 percent increase in economic growth next year (RFE)
• PSD: Selective justice is not justice, it is confirmation of injustice (Paparaci)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kilometres-long column of people in the north of Kosovo, a large number of people at the protest in Rudare (N1, KoSSev)
• Serbian List, new speakers addressed protestors in Rudare (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Vucic before the protest in Rudare: Serbs not asking for much, only what belongs to all civilised people in Europe (media)
• Radojevic: Barricades are reaction (RTS)
• Jevtic: Police returns buses transporting Serbs from Strpce to attend protest in Rudare (Novosti, social media)
• Vucicevic: “If Kurti goes against barricades that is road to bad direction” (RTS)
• Brnabic: Kurti clearly showed his intentions (Tanjug, RTV)
• EULEX: We closely monitor security situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Vucic: KFOR fairer than some Western gov'ts, but I expect negative response (Tanjug)
• Miscevic: Nobody imposes a condition Kosovo or the EU on Serbia (Danas, Beta)
• Police officers from the south warned not to publish photos from the north, what happened in the previous days? (KoSSev)
• What will happen to Pristina’s EU membership bid? (Danas, FoNet)
• Statistics Bureau Chief: 61.000 to 62.000 Albanians live in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja (Bujanovacke, FoNet)

International:

• RSF Urges Kosovo to Protect Journalists From Attacks in North (BIRN)
• Kosovo Photographer Tracks Down Country’s Rarest Fauna (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Capital Expects First Electric Buses Next Year (Prishtina Insight)

• Police set up checkpoints on the Mitrovica-Leposavic highway (media)
• Serbs called to protest, KFOR ready to react if situation escalates (Koha)
• Kosovo Police investigating reports about kidnapping of Serbs in north (media)
• EULEX may increase number of police if needed (Klan)
• Kosovo Police confirms arrested ex-cop being held at police station (BIRN)
• After increase in attacks on journalists in Kosovo, police and international forces asked to provide better protection (Reporters Without Borders)
• Szunyog: Visa-free movement in 2024 is not yet final (Klan)
• Hovenier confirms support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Krasniqi: If Kurti can’t remove barricades, he should hand over mandate (Klan)
• Basha on KFOR's statement: “Offensive to state and victims of war” (media)
• Kosovo EU bid to get careful consideration early next year (Bloomberg)
• PSD calls on Assembly to amend law on specialist chambers (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR publishes footage of patrols in the north (media)
• Police: Explosions in the north suspected to come from shock bombs (RFE)
• Kosovo Police Director of Operations interview with Kallxo
• Stoltenberg mentions Kosovo in his end of the year speech (Klan)
• KFOR says it is analysing Serbia's request for return of army to Kosovo (Koha)
• Haradinaj calls on NATO to remove barricades as soon as possible (Telegrafi)
• Dendias mentions situation in the north of Kosovo also in Tirana (Klan)
• Jasharaj: If law on wages is adopted, strike will not continue in January (EO)
• The first results: Presevo Valley with over 100 thousand registered inhabitants (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Spain MFA: We cannot support Kosovo's application for EU membership (Kosovo Online, Blic, RTS)
• Petkovic: No response to request for phone call with Serb arrested by Kosovo police (Tanjug)
• Lawyer: Political process staged against Pantic, his rights are violated (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: On verge of armed conflict because of unilateral Pristina’s acts (RTV)
• Vucic: The statement of the German ambassador in Pristina dangerous, a threat to the Serbian people (Beta, N1, RTS)
• Brnabic on Twitter: Ambassador Rohde's statements are outrageous (Tanjug)
• Serbian List, Petkovic react to Svecla’s allegations about Rakic (Kosovo Online)
• Starovic: Kurti told falsehoods that we had more than 100 exercises with the Russians (Tanjug)
• Day 12 at barricades in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• The Greek minister refused to hold a conference in front of the "Republic of Kosovo" sign (RTS, Blic, Ekonomia Online)
• NGOs from Serbia and Kosovo: Escalation and de-escalation reflect the failure of political imagination (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
• Aliyev: Serbia, Azerbaijan strategic partners, support territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Stoltenberg: Security situation in Kosovo crucial for stability of Western Balkans (media)
• Rasic: In 2022, not a single house was built for returnees in Kosovo (Beta, Danas, KiM radio)

International:

• Kosovo Police Confirms Arrested Ex-Cop Being Held at Police Station (BIRN)

• Kurti: Vucic is violating his beloved 2013 agreement (media)
• Kurti meets Dendias, discuss deepening of relations (media)
• Dendias: Pristina-Belgrade reached agreements should be respected (euronews.al)
• Svecla: Rakic, criminal gangs have blocked citizens in north (euronews.al)
• EULEX: Situation in the north, disturbing and tense (media)
• “Agreement with no mutual recognition may lead to new status-quo” (VoA)
• An explosion is reported in the north (media)
• EULEX supplied police in Jarinje with food, clothing, hygiene products (media)
• Arrested K-Serb police officer’s lawyer still unaware of his location (BIRN)
• Kosovo planning to purchase Bayraktar drones from Turkey (media)
• To resolve Kosovo-Serbia dispute, we must follow framework of Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue (The Parliament Magazine)
• EU invests 91 million euros in Kosovo for railway lines (euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti received Germany’s Secretary of State (media)
• Abbott: Resolving situation in north requires patience and calm thinking (media)
• PM Albin Kurti interview with The Guardian
• EU ambassadors approve visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Dendias: Implement everything that has been achieved so far (media)
• Non-paper from Kosovo, Serbia politicians and activists meet in Switzerland (Nacionale)
• No agreement without compromises from both sides, analysts say (RTK)
• Hoxha: Radoicic decided who was police chief, and who was municipal director (Kallxo)
• Qalaj: Police officers in Leposavic are sleeping on cardboards (teve1)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Secret indictments against Serbs in Kosovo unacceptable type of political pressure (Tanjug)
• President Vucic met NATO Admiral Munsch on Tuesday (Tanjug)
• Admiral Munsch: KFOR carefully monitors situation in northern Kosovo (Tanjug, RTS)
• Serbs from the north of Kosovo the 11th day at the barricades (NMagazin, Beta, RTS)
• Civil society: Detention conditions of Pantic represent serious violation of his human rights (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
• KP on smashed shop windows in Bosniak Mahala: The anti-terrorism unit involved in the investigation (KoSSev)
• Radojevic on breaking shops’ windows in Bosniak Mahala and lack of police reaction (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: “Kurti threatens and calls for liquidation” (KiM radio, N1, Beta)
• Brnabic, Vucic, Rakic react to Kurti’s statement on barricades and casualties (RTV, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• KFOR commander for N1: Parties in Kosovo to allow freedom of movement (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic says removal of causes may lead to de-escalation of situation in Kosovo (RTV)
• Rakic: “Release of arrested Serbs, withdrawal of all units, removal of secret hit lists, a recipe for removing barricades” (Kontakt plus radio)
• Navaro: Spain will not support Pristina EU membership bid (Kosovo Online)
• Fajon: Respect of Brussels Agreement crucial (Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo PM says Russia inflaming Serbia tensions as Ukraine war falters (The Guardian)

• Osmani: Final agreement must be based on mutual recognition (media)
• Kurti asks for more work from the diplomacy (media)
• Rohde: Association should be formed in line with Court’s decision (Koha)
• Osmani and KFOR Commander discuss security situation (media)
• Rohde criticizes Serbian List about Rada Trajkovic’s detention (Telegrafi)
• Ceku says artifacts stolen from Serbia will also be discussed in Brussels (media)
• LDK’s Haziri on Kosovo-Serbia "secret meeting" in Switzerland (Telegrafi)
• Greek chief diplomat Dendias to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Haradinaj: Kurti rejected Kosova C and U.S. gas pipeline project (Telegrafi)
• TV Crew Attacked Near Serbs’ Barricade in Tense North Kosovo (BIRN)
• Extreme Right-Wing Serbs Protest in Jarinje (Prishtina Insight)
• EU conditions monitoring of elections with finalization of reforms (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 19, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The barricades in the north will not be allowed to stand for long (Koha)
• The Greek FM and Lajcak talk about lowering tensions in the north (RTK)
• Swiss MFA confirms secret meeting between Kosovo and Serbia (Albanian Post)
• Abdixhiku: Situation in the north is worse; Government must ask for help (Express)
• Mehaj: Our objective is NATO membership (Telegrafi)
• LDK MP Avdullah Hoti interview with Nacionale
• Tahiri: Situation in the north cannot be resolved only with statements (Reporteri)
• Masked people attack the Klan Kosova team at the barricade near Cabra (Klan)
• Association of Journalists of Kosovo reacts to attack on Klan Kosova team (media)
• PSD to protest against the Specialist Chambers on December 24 (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Day ten at barricades, primary schools open today (RTS)
• PM Brnabic: Serbs are heard only from the barricades (KiM radio, RTS, FoNet)
• Dacic says Kurti is biggest threat to peace (TV Pink)
• SPS leader: Serbia sees Kosovo the way Catholics see the Vatican (N1, BETA)
• Petkovic: UNMIK and KFOR must urgently protect Serbs and their property in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug, RTS, Politika)
• Broken windows on Serbian shops in Bosnjacka Mahala (RTS, Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Simic: Continuation of hybrid and information war by Pristina (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Trajkovic rendered 30-day detention (Radio KIM)
• Appeal on detention of Dejan Pantic refused (Radio KIM)
• Vucic hosts Dendias and Dacic on occasion of Saint Nikola Day (Tanjug)
• The right-wing rally ends, they claim they wanted to tell KFOR to leave Jarinje (KoSSev)
• Lajcak wrote Franco-German proposal, says Drecun (N1, TV Pink)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: No practical reasons or legal basis for Serbian forces in Kosovo (Koha)
• How the Hague Tribunal Failed Wartime Rape Survivors (BIRN)

International:

• Endgame Nears for Kosovo’s Crypto Haven (BIRN)

• Kurti for Der Spiegel: Vucic wants to return to past, but that train is gone
• Serbian police prevent far-right activists from crossing into Kosovo (RFE/Kallxo)
• Svecla: Police is capable and has capacities to confront criminal structures (Koha)
• President’s Chief of Staff reacts to protest at Jarinje (media)
• Hoxhaj: Serbian regime is solely responsible for tensions (media)
• KFOR to start regular military exercises near its base in Novosella (media)
• Mehaj: Kosovo Army has capacities to protect territorial integrity (media)
• Krasniqi: Government cannot hide behind KFOR (Kosovapress)
• KFOR must remove the barricades, analysts say (Prishtina Insight)
• President Osmani holds end-of-year reception with diplomatic corps (Koha)
• Tajani: Italy to organise conference on Balkans in January (media)
• U.S. welcomes verdict in case against Salih Mustafa (media)
• Conviction of Kosovo’s ‘Commander Cali’ sparks anger at home (BIRN)
• Kosovo arrests Serb ex-policeman for 1999 attack on village (BIRN)

• Kurti for Der Spiegel: Vucic wants to return to past, but that train is gone
• Serbian police prevent far-right activists from crossing into Kosovo (RFE/Kallxo)
• Svecla: Police is capable and has capacities to confront criminal structures (Koha)
• President’s Chief of Staff reacts to protest at Jarinje (media)
• Hoxhaj: Serbian regime is solely responsible for tensions (media)
• KFOR to start regular military exercises near its base in Novosella (media)
• Mehaj: Kosovo Army has capacities to protect territorial integrity (media)
• Krasniqi: Government cannot hide behind KFOR (Kosovapress)
• KFOR must remove the barricades, analysts say (Prishtina Insight)
• President Osmani holds end-of-year reception with diplomatic corps (Koha)
• Tajani: Italy to organise conference on Balkans in January (media)
• Conviction of Kosovo’s ‘Commander Cali’ sparks anger at home (BIRN)
• Kosovo arrests Serb ex-policeman for 1999 attack on village (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Recognition by the five states facilitates the EU membership process (RTK)
• PM Kurti, government ministers react to Rada Trajkovic’s detention (media)
• Specialist Chambers finds Mustafa guilty, sentences him to 26 years in prison (media)
• Acting Specialist Prosecutor welcomes verdict in Salih Mustafa trial (media)
• Reactions to Specialist Chambers’ verdict against Salih Mustafa (media)
• Reports that request for return of Serbian troops was delivered to KFOR (RFE)
• Shea: Serbia's request to send forces to Kosovo will be rejected (RFE)
• Docherty: Kosovo long-term strategic partner of the United Kingdom (RTK)
• Rizvanolli on paying electricity for north: Can’t continue this in time of crisis (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Gov't has adopted decision to request return of Serbian forces in Kosovo, handed over it to KFOR (Tanjug, Novosti)
• Dacic: Firm assurances from the five EU members who did not recognize Kosovo that they will not change their position (Danas, Beta, FoNet, Blic)
• Petkovic: Another former police officer arrested (KoSSev, RTS, N1)
• Arrests of Serbs in north continue, day seven at barricades (RTS, Tanjug, Blic)
• Serbian List reacts to latest arrest in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic again held at Merdare crossing, waiting to be let into Serbia (N1)
• Serbian ambassador blasts Kurti, Osmani over “Greater Albania” map (Tanjug)
• Serbian DefMin to UK Ambassador: Deeply concerned over Kosovo (N1)
• Brnabic speaks with her Romanian counterpart, expresses gratitude for principled stance on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Houses broken into and looted, and the church of St. Nikola in the hamlet of Bogosevce, near Prizren (Kontakt plus radio)
• Gujon to Pristina authorities: Be consistent in your stances, allow me entry in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Stano: European Union continues working on de-escalation in northern Kosovo (RTV)

Opinion:

• What Must Be Done to Finally Bring Justice to Kosovo? (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Convicted of War Crimes by Hague Court (BIRN)