UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 13, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Pompeo writes to Kurti: Lift the tariff for Kosovo and Serbia dialogue to resume (Express)
• Albin Kurti defers a bit to Thaci: Invites him for consultation (Express)
• Thaci travels to Germany to participate at Munich Security Conference (RTK)
• Kurti nominates Jusuf Thaci as Deputy Minister for education (RTK)
• Swiss president congratulates Kurti on election (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Compromise is our greatest concession towards Kosovo (Danas)
• "Moscow will find a solution if Belgrade calls on Russia" (Sputnik, B92)
• Carpenter: No progress on Kosovo issue before elections in Serbia (VoA, N1)
• Brnabic: The situation is unstable; Vucic was forced to react promptly (B92)
• Djuric discussed with Falconi security situation in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Returnee interviewed by Special Prosecutor’s Office, denied being arrested (KoSSev, Kosovo-online)
• Serbian media: Another country to withdraw recognition of Kosovo (B92, Sputnik)

Opinion:

• Why 2019 was Year Kosovo will Want to Forget (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo's new PM, cabinet accept halving of their salaries (Reuters)
• Kurti’s Ambitious Promises Will Test Kosovo Govt’s Resolve (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Detains Serb Ex-Policeman as War Crime Witness (Balkan Insight)

• PM Kurti's interview for KTV's Rubikon (Koha)
• Macron: Kurti government, political alternative and a hope (Kallxo)
• Berlin request immediate lifting of the tariff (Gazeta Express)
• Russia ready to find solution for Kosovo, if requested from Serbia (Sputnik/Lajmi)
• Finance Ministry publishes vacancy announcement for Customs director (media)
• Kosnett meets Konjufca, discuss advancing of Kosovo’s diplomacy (media)
• Veliu meets Apostolova, discuss also visa liberalisation (media)
• Assembly to convene today to discuss parliamentary groups (Gazeta Express)
• Kosovo Police detains then releases former Serb policeman (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 12, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca proposes not to apply for INTERPOL this year (Gazeta Express)
• Haxhiu: Government annulled two unjust decisions (media)
• Haradinaj slams decision to cancel salary raise, calls it “senseless” (media)
• Government dismisses national coordinators appointed during Haradinaj's term (media)
• Kurti to participate at Munich Security Conference together with Grenell and Vucic (Klan, RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Trump sent Grenell to ask Vucic, Thaci and Kurti a single question” (Tanjug, B92)
• Vucic to meet Grenell in Munich, Kurti will probably be in Germany (Tanjug, Radio KIM, N1)
• Reeker: We'll stand by Serbia as partner and friend on its path to EU (VoA, N1)
• Odalovic: Revoking tariffs major challenge for Kurti (RTS)
• Returnee in Istok arrested over alleged war crime, Office for KiM, Serbian List condemn arrest (Tanjug, RTV)
• Milena Ivanovic: Fact that Silvana Arsovic is indicted is scandalous (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo's New PM Visits Albania in First Official Trip Abroad (AP/NYT)
• Journalists’ Abductions, Killings in Kosovo ‘Not Properly Investigated’ (Balkan Insight)
• Suspects Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Faces Challenge to Resolve Battles over University Accreditation (Balkan Insight)

• Custin: Grenell never said U.S. investments in Kosovo will be cancelled (VOA)
• Grenell: Drop the tax to let investments work (media)
• Kurti: Visit to Tirana was not part of foreign policy (media)
• KFOR supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Kurti to meet Vucic in March? (Gazeta Express)
• Wigemark: There is political interference in Kosovo judiciary (Koha Ditore)
• Italian FM requests from Kosovo resumption of dialogue (Epoka e Re)
• EP draft resolution urges visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Government expected to annul decision on salary increase (Telegrafi)
• EULEX requests for the rule of law to be priority in Kosovo (RTK)
• Kurti nominates Avni Zogjani Deputy Minister (media)
• Ivanovic’s former associate accused as accomplice to his murder (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 11, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo and Albania set up commission for intergovernmental agreements (media)
• They start with disagreement: Kurti seeks Albanian macro-Schengen, Rama regional mini-Schengen with Serbia (Express)
• In Tirana, Kurti meets Speaker Ruci, President Meta, opposition leader Basha (media)
• Palmer: Russia wants Balkans with an element of chaos in it (RFE)
• Osmani meets heads of UN Agencies (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: I hope Pristina will revoke tariffs soon (RTS)
• "Germany wants to get directly involved in solving Kosovo issue" (Sputnik, B92)
• Dacic: Serbia wants to know if EU will expand to Western Balkans (BETA, N1)
• US hopes EU will open talks with Skopje, Tirana in March, worries about Russia (RFE, N1)
• UNS presents research on missing and murdered journalists in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: I expect government to work in interests of all citizens (RTV Puls)
• Stefanovic comments on US calls to Pristina to revoke tariffs (RTS)
• Indicted in Oliver Ivanovic’s murder case pleaded not guilty (RTS)

Opinion:

• Embracing Europe’s Power (Project Syndicate)

International:

• U.S. Envoy Urges Kosovo To Drop Tariffs On Serbian Goods 'With No Reciprocity' (RFE)
• Why Europe Cannot Afford To Get It Wrong On The Western Balkans (Forbes)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Winter Sports Festival Hopes to Thaw Kosovo’s Ethnic Freeze (Balkan Insight)
• Gifted but ‘ignored’ (Prishtina Insight)

• Reciprocity still just an idea, Grenell doesn't support it (Koha/Express)
• The U.S. Embassy with the same stance as Grenell: Lift the tariff (RTK)
• EU expects from Kosovo to lift the tariff (Gazeta Metro)
• PM Kurti to visit Tirana today (media)
• Kurti: Righteous protests advanced justice (media)
• Italian foreign minister visits Kosovo today (media)
• PDK to Osmani: We are boycotting you, not the Assembly (RTK)
• Kurti appoints two deputy prime ministers (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 10, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• PM Kurti to visit Tirana tomorrow (media)
• PDK boycotts Assembly presidency meeting (media)
• Ruling coalition, opposition divide parliamentary committees (Kallxo)
• Basketball club from Serbia refused entry to Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Engel unconvinced with Trump’s mediation of Pristina-Belgrade talks (Express)
• Haxhiu plans to visit the north to see work of institutions there (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: I expect nothing from new Kosovo government (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• Blic daily on Merkel-Vucic meeting, plan for Kosovo (B92, Blic)
• Census lowered to three percent, 40 percent of women on the election lists in Serbia (Tanjug, B92)
• Basketball players banned to enter Kosovo, Office for KiM, Srpska Lista react (KoSSev)
• Janjic: Reciprocity would mean endless conflicts (RTK2, Radio kontakt plus)
• Lawyer Vasic says no conditions for hearing in Ivanovic’s case to be held tomorrow (Kosovo-online)
• Prosecutor Syle Hoxha is retiring, controversial court cases remain (TV Most, Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• New EU Enlargement Strategy Leaves Balkans Unimpressed (Balkan Insight)

International:

• New Kosovo PM Says Ties With Serbia Should Be Based On 'Symmetry' (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Record number of women in government ‘inspirational’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Maternal deaths ‘lost in the system’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Rumena Ljubic: Solitude is my greatest enemy (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)

• Thaci optimistic Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to end with mutual recognition (RTK)
• Dialogue and reciprocity with resolutions (Koha)
• EU Council calls informal meeting of Western Balkans leaders (Zeri)
• German Chancellor Merkel invites PM Kurti for visit (Epoka e Re)
• Der Spiegel: Kurti and Osmani can make the change in Kosovo (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Vetting process in justice will commence within 24 months (RTK)
• British national tests negative for coronavirus (media)
• Vucic: We are in a difficult situation, nothing good for Serbs (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti comments on possible appointment of EU special envoy for dialogue (Klan)
• Thaci announces elections for Podujeve mayor (media)
• CEC replaces 11 MPs that took on government posts (media)
• Weber: Kurti will be an uncomfortable interlocutor for EU (DW)
• Veliu: Kosovo to renew efforts to join international organisations (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Kurti: things are not that simple (RTS)
• Dogovor: Kurti’s populism becomes a problem, he needs to be prime minister of all in Kosovo (RTV KIM)
• Vucic comments on possible appointment of Lajcak as EU special envoy (Tanjug, B92)
• Vucic: Serbia is allowed to choose (B92, Tanjug)
• EU donates additional EUR 138.5 million to Serbia (BETA, N1)

International:

• New Kosovo Prime Minister Pledges to Remove 100% Serbian Import Tariffs (VOA)
• Kosovo Charges Serb Ex-Policeman with War Crimes (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Windy weather causes disruption across Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

• PM Kurti gives interview to Voice of America
• Abazi: Kurti-led government will overcome all obstacles (Zeri)
• Veseli says 100 percent import tariff should not be lifted (media)
• EU to appoint Lajcak as special envoy for Kosovo – Serbia talks (Lajmi/Blic)
• Agim Veliu resigns post of Podujeve mayor (media)
• Haxhiu visits detention cell of the deceased LVV activist, Dehari (media)
• Varhelyi: Agreement with Kosovo, crucial for Serbia’a path to EU (Zeri)
• Kurti says approval of budget is first challenge of his government (media)
• Braathu: OSCE will continue to support Kosovo (Koha)