UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 23, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: No agreement reached on Serbia's elections; we have information of protest plans (media)
• First year in office: Kurti describes it as a turnaround time (Koha/Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: A year with Kurti-led government, Kosovo at crossroads, citizens poorer (EO)
• Kosovo pledges €100,000 as first instalment of aid to Ukraine (media)
• Mehaj: Kosovo and Israel are advancing diplomatic relations (media)
• COVID-19: 40 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Quint issued statement on Kosovo Serb voting within Kosovo in Serbia’s elections (gov.uk website)
• Vucic: Kurti causes instability in region, to be seen if Quint will succeed (KoSSev)
• Voting in Serbia, peaceful protests announced in central and northern Kosovo on Friday (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: We do not want to take part in institutional violence against Serbs (RTS)
• Radojevic with Rhode on elections, challenges of Serb community (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic spoke with Russian Ambassador and Chinese Chargé d'affaires (Kosovo-online)
• The European Union sees Serbia as a problem, which can be bad but also good news (Danas)
• UNS and DNKiM condemned robbery of RTK2 journalist (KiM radio)
• Serbian Patriarch calls faithful to aid Ukraine refugees (N1)
• Montenegro allows more polling stations for Serbian elections (N1)
• KLA graffiti painted on Serbian Consulate in Germany (N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s Undiplomatic Diplomacy is Getting Country Nowhere (Balkan Insight)
• One year of Kurti’s government: How is it going? (Kosovo 2.0)

• Prime Minister Kurti’s interview with RTK
• Bislimi: Serbia has not officially requested holding elections in Kosovo (Express)
• “Internationals asked us not to make Serbian elections a political issue” (Express)
• Montenegro prime minister reacts to Kurti's statement on demarcation (media)
• Ukrainian crisis revived Kosovo’s long-standing NATO aspirations (EWB)
• Kosovo’s ‘Commander Cali’ didn’t murder prisoners, lawyer says (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 41 new cases, three deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti reiterates: Serbian elections in Kosovo only with an agreement (Klan Kosova)
• PDK’s Krasniqi says Kurti-led government is incompetent (media)
• LDK’s Abdixhiku slams Kurti government on first anniversary (Express)
• “Prolonging Kosovo-Serbia agreement will damage peace efforts” (Klan Kosova)
• Abbot: We’re making a positive contribution to reinforcing rule of law (media)
• U.S. Embassy shares video about disinformation by Russian government (media)
• Schmitt: Kosovo with most functional democracy in the region (Indeksonline)
• COVID-19: 41 new cases, three deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU: We respect Belgrade's constructive approach, we regret Pristina's decision (RTS)
• President Vucic met Serb representatives from Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic with Patriarch Porfirije discuss Kosovo, situation in Ukraine (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian NGOs take legal steps against campaign calling for boycotting Serbian products (KoSSev, social media)
• Trajkovic: Kurti persistently diminishes rights of Kosovo Serbs guaranteed by Ahtisaari’s plan (Kosovo-online)
• Radulovic: Voting of Serbian citizens in Montenegro not banned (Kosovo-online)
• Assistant Director of Office for KiM banned from entering Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Krivokapic reacts to Kurti’s statement on demarcation (Kosovo-online)
• Kamberi: It is a pity that Albanians are going to the 3 April polls in two columns (Danas, Beta)
• OSCE ready to collect ballots at Serbian elections in Kosovo if agreement is made (Kosovo-online)
• Vulin meets Botsan-Kharchenko (RTS)
• ‘I’ll unite Serbia’, opposition presidential candidate says (N1)

International:

• Serbia vows retaliation in election row with Montenegro, Kosovo (BIRN)
• Western Balkans: Silence over Ukraine’s EU membership bid (euractive.com)
• Tailored partnership with the Western Balkans part of the EU’s new Strategic Compass (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kurti: Social and institutional obligations to people with Down Syndrome (media)
• “Kosovo’s economic growth in 2021 estimated at 10.5 percent” (Telegrafi)
• “We have no state reserves” (Radio KIM)
• Serbia to revoke ban on exporting wheat, floor and oil to North Macedonia (Kosovo-online)

• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti’s interview for BBC’s Newsday (media)
• "Agreement needed for Serbian elections to take place in Kosovo" (media)
• State Department: Kosovo to not derail from KSF transition plan (RFE)
• Kurti waiting for new government in Montenegro to discuss demarcation (Kosovapress)
• EU Strategic Compass warns of frail stability of Western Balkans (N1)
• Kosovo's Defence Minister Mehaj visits Israel (media)
• Vetevendosje against idea of pension withdrawals (RTK)
• AJK condemns Kurti's aide remarks on news portals (media)
• Montenegro refuses Serbia's request to open voting polls (VOA/media)
• COVID-19: 26 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 21, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti’s interview for La Repubblica (media)
• Kusari-Lila: First time a government is fighting organised crime (Klan Kosova)
• PDK invites Kurti and Gervalla to parliamentary debate on foreign policy (Klan Kosova)
• AAK: Only beautiful words, no concrete actions from Kurti government in one year (Zeri)
• COVID-19: 26 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU Delegation: There are no plans to impose whatsoever sanctions on Serbia (KoSSev)
• N1: Vucic rejects N1’s invitation for a TV presidential duel
• Vucic at SNS rally: I expect ‘strong, impossible’ pressure because of Kosovo (N1)
• A total of 6,501,689 eligible voters in Serbia (N1, KoSSev)
• Rakic Andric: No reaction of international community to video against Serbian products (Nova.rs)
• Djoric: Increased negative rhetoric against Serbian products has impact on security situation (Kosovo-online)
• SPS: Serbia to care about relations with Russia and continue along European path (N1)
• Vucic convenes National Security Council session tomorrow (B92)
• Selakovic: Serbia-Austria relations very good, stable (Tanjug)

International:

• Propaganda and Hysteria Flourish in Russo-Ukrainian War (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Pacolli writes to ministers on road maintenance, environmental protection (Zeri)
• Report: Over half of businesses say corruption present in public procurement (Telegrafi)
• “Preventing Serbs to return, owners of properties in Kosovo facing major troubles” (Radio kontakt plus)
• More than 20 doctors left Kosovo in a month (KoSSev)

• Kosovo Government in communication with Quint over Serbian elections (Koha/KP)
• Serbia's elections "without implications" to Kosovo's sovereignty (Koha)
• Borrell: Time to move forward on EU integration in the Western Balkans (media)
• Kosovo leaders, Kurti and Osmani, meet a White House delegation (media)
• U.S. expresses support for Kosovo and Bosnia (media)
• Leaders of Austria, Kosovo Urge for Visa Liberalization, Regional Security (Exit)
• Haziri: Government to wake up, prevent destabilisation of Kosovo (media)
• Von Cramon: Do not raise expectations over NATO membership (RTK)
• Ceku: It is possible for Kosovo to join NATO in these circumstances (RTV21)
• EULEX reinforcements begin arriving in Kosovo (media)
• World Bank approves a 50-million-euro support for Kosovo (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 31 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Peach: We need to make sure war in Ukraine does not spill over to the Western Balkans (Albanian Post)
• Kurti pays tribute to Ukranian police officer, killed in Kosovo's north in 2008 (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo needs a chief prosecutor with high moral and professional integrity (media)
• Dora Bakoyannis appointed PACE rapporteur for Kosovo (media)
• U.S Embassy in Sarajevo reacts to Russian ambassador remarks (Express)
• COVID-19: 56 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Austria significant partner, Serbia pillar of stability (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Serbia appreciates Austria's support on EU path (Tanjug)
• Patriarch Porfirije met Austrian Chancellor Nehammer (SOC website, media)
• Serbian government marks anniversary of anti-Serb violence in Kosovo (N1, media)
• Petkovic on April 3 elections in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Strpce residents protest recent arrests (Kosovo-online)
• The civil society of Kosovo and Serbia condemn the aggression in Ukraine and the inflammatory rhetoric of politicians (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• EU Should Make Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkans a New Offer (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Balkans Brace for Economic Blowback of War in Ukraine (Balkan Insight)
• Divided Montenegro Again Delays Imposing Sanctions on Russia (Balkan Insight)
• British envoy for Western Balkans: Bosnia is not experiencing a security crisis (N1 Zagreb)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ''Biber'' last night in Pristina, tonight in Prizren: "All victims are ours" (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Cryptocurrency mining in the north of Kosovo resumes (RFE)
• Minister Peci: Farmers growing more than two hectares of wheat will be subsidised (Kallxo)
• Survey: Traders and Kosovo government responsible for price hikes (Radio KIM)
• The land of the Sleeping Beauty Cave is waking up to tourism (National Geographic)

Albanian Language Media:

• Peach: We need to make sure war in Ukraine does not spill over to the Western Balkans (Albanian Post)
• Kurti pays tribute to Ukranian police officer, killed in Kosovo's north in 2008 (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo needs a chief prosecutor with high moral and professional integrity (media)
• Dora Bakoyannis appointed PACE rapporteur for Kosovo (media)
• U.S Embassy in Sarajevo reacts to Russian ambassador remarks (Express)
• COVID-19: 56 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Austria significant partner, Serbia pillar of stability (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Serbia appreciates Austria's support on EU path (Tanjug)
• Patriarch Porfirije met Austrian Chancellor Nehammer (SOC website, media)
• Serbian government marks anniversary of anti-Serb violence in Kosovo (N1, media)
• Petkovic on April 3 elections in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Strpce residents protest recent arrests (Kosovo-online)
• The civil society of Kosovo and Serbia condemn the aggression in Ukraine and the inflammatory rhetoric of politicians (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• EU Should Make Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkans a New Offer (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Balkans Brace for Economic Blowback of War in Ukraine (Balkan Insight)
• Divided Montenegro Again Delays Imposing Sanctions on Russia (Balkan Insight)
• British envoy for Western Balkans: Bosnia is not experiencing a security crisis (N1 Zagreb)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ''Biber'' last night in Pristina, tonight in Prizren: "All victims are ours" (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Cryptocurrency mining in the north of Kosovo resumes (RFE)
• Minister Peci: Farmers growing more than two hectares of wheat will be subsidised (Kallxo)
• Survey: Traders and Kosovo government responsible for price hikes (Radio KIM)
• The land of the Sleeping Beauty Cave is waking up to tourism (National Geographic)

• President Vjosa Osmani’s interview with Channel 4 (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo will apply for EU membership this year (media)
• U.S.: We expect immediate engagement in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Reporteri)
• Bislimi: Agreement needed on April 3 Serbian elections (Kossev/Kallxo)
• President Osmani to meet White House delegation, Austrian Chancellor (media)
• In Kosovo, fears that Russia could inspire a new Serbian offensive (Euronews)
• President Osmani meets COMKFOR Kajari (media)
• Kurti: Committed to social policies centering on citizen and equality (media)
• Kosovo Parliament approves draft law on financing parties (BIRN)
• Prosecutors seek six-year jail terms for Kosovo veterans’ leaders (BIRN)
• Serbs commemorate victims of deadly 2004 unrest in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Half of poll respondents say they would leave Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• COVID-19: 33 new cases, two deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani writes to Biden, asks for support towards NATO membership (media)
• Sarrazin: EU membership perspective applies to the whole region (RTK)
• Spanish foreign ministry asked to comment on calls to recognise Kosovo (G.Express)
• Osmani awards medal to KFOR’s Ukrainian contingent (Koha/Kallxo)
• Mehaj: We need to be cautious to malign influence on information (media)
• Kosovo institutions targets of cyber attack, no damage incurred (Klan Kosova)
• Protest against homophobia takes place in Pristina (media)
• COVID-19: 33 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Marking the 18th anniversary of the March 2004 violence (media)
• “Video spot of Besa Bese group misuse of child and hatred call against Serbs” (Radio KIM)
• Arsenijevic files criminal report against author of video on boycotting Serbian products (Radio KIM)
• Around 2.500 refugees from Ukraine staying in Serbia (RTS)
• EU Ambassadors: We know we can count on Serbia (N1)
• Nehammer: EU will not be complete until it is joined by W. Balkan states (Tanjug)
• Djuric at international conference in Washington on ‘Open Balkans’, regional cooperation (Tanjug)
• Jevtic: Police action and arrests in Strpce mere politics (RTS)
• N1 invites Vucic, Ponos to presidential debate (N1)

Opinion:

• Legal framework for Kosovo Serbs tailored to Pristina (Part V): NATO, EU, Council of Europe (KoSSev)
• We need to talk about Serbia (Kosovo 2.0)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Wave of Fake News Confuses Kosovars About Ukraine War (Prishtina Insight)
• Drop of fuel prices in Kosovo announced (EO/Koha)
• Kosovo's economy grew by over 10 percent in 2021 (Kallxo)
• Vucic: Serbia will have enough food to export to neighbours (N1)