UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 342 new cases, five deaths (media)
• British variant of the coronavirus in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti urges Quint, EU to react to Serbian president inciting statements (Express)
• Kosovo-Israel diplomatic relations to establish on 1 February (RTK)
• The Supreme allows Liburn Aliu and Labinota Demi to run, Albin Kurti remains out (Express)
• Former US envoy says Democrats have failed to solve Kosovo issue (media)
• Excavations in Kizhevak expected to resume by the end of March (RTK)
• Daka: EU election experts arrived in Kosovo (media)
• Cornerstone for Krusha e Madhe victims laid today (media)
• LDK-LVV coalition in Vushtrri breached (media)
• Haradinaj meets Austrian Ambassador, discuss strengthening of relations (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Selakovic: New US and EU unity also means new pressure on Serbia (Kosovo-online)
• 40.000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine arrived to Serbia, new shipments to follow (B92)
• Head of WHO Office in Serbia says country’s results in fight against coronavirus impressive (B92, Tanjug)
• No easing of Covid-19 relating measures in Serbia (B92)
• Minister Joksimovic says no dilemma about Serbia’s commitment to integration (N1)
• Radakovic: Democracy in Action only independent observer in upcoming elections (Radio kontakt plus)
• Brnabic: When it comes to recognition of diplomas, we’re waiting for interlocutors in Pristina (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Office for KiM: Popovic banned from entering Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Bolton: It would be a mistake if Biden let EU deal with Balkans alone (N1)
• EU Office on Haradinaj’s statement (B92, Kosovo-online)

International:

• Serbia announced 'illegal' vaccine programme in Kosovo (euobsrver)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Emigrant Life in Switzerland Inspires Prize-Winning Kosovo Writer (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 334 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Coronavirus: Serbia provokes Kosovo with vaccination scheme (DW)
• Ramadani: Covid vaccines will arrive soon (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Vucic's statement does not serve peace and stability in the region (media)
• Haradinaj: Vucic's threats to Kosovo don't help regional stability (media)
• U.S. follows implementation of Washington agreement, Israel recognition (media)
• Kurti meets Norwegian envoy for Balkans (media)
• Hoxhaj: No coalition with LVV, we will lead the government (Klan/media)
• Limaj: When we fought, Hoxhaj pondered seeking asylum in Serbia (Koha)
• Serbian List MP candidate beats up a Serb opposition member (media)
• Hodzic: I do not have an agreement with Serbian List (Kallxo/Telegrafi)
• Serbia opens parallel hotline, CEC not informed (Klan)
• CDHRF slams KSC for not granting release to former KLA leaders (media)
• Serbian government official not allowed entry to Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• In Kosovo, War Prisoners Campaign to Save Their Old Jail (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 28, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 334 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Zemaj: No relaxation of Covid rules is expected (Telegrafi)
• Biden administration supports the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)
• Hoti: Kosovo committed to reaching normalisation agreement with Serbia (media)
• VV's Nagavci rules out possibility of a coalition with PDK (Gazeta Blic/Klan)
• Balje: Srpska Lista interfering in elections (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• 18 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Serbia and US “didn’t push under the rug” disagreements over Kosovo, however, relations have positive trend (Kosovo-online)
• Mihajlovic: We need strategic partnership with Washington (N1)
• Vucic: We will open discussion on compulsory military service (B92)
• Trial of Krstic and Shabani continues (Radio KIM)
• Dacic thanked Botsan-Kharchenko for Russian help during pandemic (RTS)
• Sputnik on White House foreign policy priorities, including Western Balkans (B92)
• Court of Appeals confirmed indictment against former minister Rikalo and others (KoSSev)
• "We don't need Serbia's permission to unite with Albania" (B92, Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Corruption Perceptions Worsening In Balkans, Central Europe, Transparency Says (Balkan Insight)
• Container in refugee camp in Mitrovica engulfed by fire, six seek medical assistance (media)
• Journalist association and UN Women hold workshop on gender responsive budgeting (RTK)

• COVID-19: 301 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Hoti: The country to return to normality by early spring (RTK/Kallxo)
• Kurz says vaccine to roll out in all Western Balkans at the same time (media)
• Zemaj appeals for respect of Covid rules, days after flouting them (Koha)
• Lajcak warns against land swap idea, calls it 'dangerous' (media)
• Parties appeal ECAP decision with Supreme Court (media)
• Mustafa says he would prefer to see Kurti lead VV's ticket (Lajmi/RTK)
• Haradinaj: Not allowing Kurti to run is not good for democracy (media)
• Rasic accuses Serbian List of vote theft in the north (Kallxo)
• CEC has so far approved 46,000 voter requests from Diaspora (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo justice institutions put in service of Veseli's defence (Koha)
• Kosovo Must Take Three Crucial Steps During Biden’s Presidency (Balkan Insight)
• Ceremonies Mark Holocaust Remembrance Day Across Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• TI: Kosovo and Albania have made no progress in fighting corruption (Telegrafi)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 301 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Interim release denied for Thaci, Selimi and Krasniqi (media)
• Klinaku: Rejection of former KLA leaders’ conditional release, political (media)
• Kosovo leaders congratulate U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (media)
• Minister Haradinaj-Stublla: Kosovo is ready for dialogue with epilogue (media)
• Joint Kosovo-North Macedonia governments meeting postponed (Gazeta Express)
• Osmani: Today we are proud of help that Albanians gave to Jewish people (RTK)
• Kosovo’s Acting President receives death threat on Facebook (Gazeta Express)
• Hoti: Those who have problems with the law cannot take public office (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: LVV intends to overthrow the legal system (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: War for human lives, but also for future of our country is being waged (B92)
• Vucic: Serbia has no right to irresponsible statements (Kosovo-online, RTS)
• Silva: Enlargement remain in focus during Portuguese EU presidency (N1)
• Serbian Defense Minister: KFOR only legitimate force in Kosovo (N1, FoNet)
• “Allies will support unification with Albania“ (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Why is international community silent at Haradinaj’s threats (Kosovo-online, KoSSev)
• Andjelkovic: ICG provokes, offers Serbia capitulation, division of Kosovo real compromise (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Government providing another EUR 2.5 billion in aid to population and economy (N1, RTS)
• Holocaust Remembrance Day marked in Belgrade (N1)
• Health House in Kursumlija receives 800 requests for vaccination from Kosovo residents (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Eastern Europe wakes up with Trump hangover (EUobserver)

International:

• Europe Is Flirting With a Vaccine Disaster (Bloomberg)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Financial Times ranks Serbia 2nd in Europe on vaccination list (N1)

• COVID – 19: 313 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Kosovo ex-PM Albin Kurti barred from running in election (BIRN)
• CEC spokesman: We’ll wait for decisions from Supreme Court (Indeksonline)
• Kosnett: Respecting court decisions vital to Kosovo’s democratic future (media)
• VV: ECAP acted in line with Daka, LDK and PDK (media)
• Haradinaj: Albin Kurti must not be stopped from running in elections (Kallxo)
• Kosovo’s prime time TV debates are becoming a farce (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosnett: Washington agreement remains in force until eventual change (media)
• Hague judge extends detention for Kosovo ex-commander (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 26, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 313 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• U.S. Ambassador Kosnett gives interview to Gazeta Blic (media)
• Sannino: Political turbulences in Kosovo have not helped dialogue (RFE)
• Kurti: Dialogue with Serbia to take place without presidents and maps around (media)
• AAK replaces names of candidates convicted by courts (media)
• KWN calls on parties to refrain from intimidating and offensive language (media)
• KSC judge extends detention for Salih Mustafa (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 25 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• 11.700 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in Serbia (media)
• There won’t be “poisoned” envelopes from Serbia (Danas)
• Rakic, Simic and Jevtic visit Gracanica municipality (Radio KIM)
• Selakovic: Serbian foreign policy adjusted to new situation in world; priorities remain (N1)
• Kurz: Political will and courage of Belgrade and Pristina needed for agreement (Kosovo-online, Kurir)
• Merkel and Biden on strengthening cooperation and Western Balkans (Kosovo-online, RFE)

International:

• Don't Call Us, We'll Call You: Kosovo's Vetting Strategy For Diaspora Voters Adds To Election Chaos (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU calls for global coal power phase out (Politico)

• COVID – 19: 311 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Quint: CEC to ensure transparent process free from political interference (media)
• Orlando: Future of the country depends on free and fair elections (media)
• ECAP to decide today on the complaints of political parties (media)
• Kurti: Things will be different with the Biden administration (media)
• LDK’s Hoti presents government plan: €6 billion for investments (media)
• Haradinaj: We will create 30,000 new jobs (media)
• LDK’s Haziri on possible coalition with PDK (media)
• Haxhiu: With PDK in power, we will vaccinate all citizens in six months (media)
• Impact, fairness of Kosovo pre-election ‘transfer window’ questioned (BIRN)
• Political parties hide pre-campaign expenses (Koha)
• “Cooperation with Biden administration will bring results in Balkans” (media)
• Lajcak welcomes France’s support in the dialogue process (media)
• Serbia’s ethnic Albanians fear Belgrade silently deleting addresses (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 311 new cases, 10 new deaths (media)
• Deadline on ECAP decision on LVV, AAK and NISMA complaints, tomorrow (Telegrafi)
• Over 122,000 people still with UNMIK documents, removed from the voter list (Koha)
• Political entities violate anti-COVID measures, Inspection imposes fines (Telegrafi)
• Varhelyi: Western Balkans to have quick access to anti-Covid vaccine (media)
• Hoti compares LDK to Liverpool: It is not a team of the seasons (Koha)
• Kurti and Osmani promise students in Lipjan equality in labor market (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• 18 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Loncar: 217.000 people vaccinated so far, half a million doses of vaccine more at disposal (KoSSev)
• Protest walk of health workers in Mitrovica North, end to harassment demanded (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: “I am a ‘coward’ because I am protecting Kosovo and Kosovo Serbs” (KoSSev, Prva TV)
• Call to internally displaced persons from Kosovo to vote in February 14 elections (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Gratitude to Slovakia for consistent and principled position on Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online)
• Russia: Haradinaj’s statement impermissible political blackmailing (RTS)
• Petkovic replies to Rada Trajkovic: State gives equal opportunity to its citizens to be vaccinated (Kosovo-online)
• International Crisis Group: Three options to resolve Kosovo issue, none of which is ideal (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Can America Be Trusted Again? (Project Syndicate)

International:

• EU playing a zero-sum game in Kosovo (Modern Diplomacy)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 67 cases of domestic violence registered in north in 2020, women and children most common victims (KoSSev)
• Serbian awarded expert in emergencies dies from COVID-19 (media)
• Media: WHO plans to approve two Chinese vaccines (N1)

• COVID – 19: 392 new cases, six new deaths (media)
• First-time voters hoping for a change (Prishtina Insight)
• Osmani says “integrity of Central Election Commission will be protected” (media)
• Three scenarios in final decision for candidates list (Koha)
• CEC: We’ll act based on decisions by ECAP and Supreme Court (Telegrafi)
• Mustafa: If we fail to elect president, we’ll go to new elections (media)
• Haradinaj: February 14 is a referendum for Kosovo in NATO (media)
• Another former KLA soldier summoned by Specialist Chambers (media)
• “Kosovo-Serbia dialogue needs compromise to move forward” (Balkan Insight)