UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 4, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• “France has changed approach”; optimism for visa liberalisation (Kosovapress)
• Will Biden launch an offensive in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue this year (Gazeta Express)
• Joseph: Rama’s rapprochement with Vucic is not healthy (Radio Free Europe)
• Thaci and others are held in detention on assumptions, attorney says (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 108 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 25 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Pristina’s decision to declare UNMIK official “persona non grata” (B92, social media)
• Moscow reacts to Pristina's move (media)
• Trajkovic: Albanian political elite in Kosovo admitted return of expelled Serbs is politically conditioned (Kosovo-online)
• Schieb: Serbia–Germany relations aim at providing support for EU integration (N1)
• Chen Bo: Great results of cooperation between China and Serbia in 2021 (N1)
• EU Office condemned recent desecration of cemetery in Kisnica (Radio KIM)
• Two anti-coronavirus shots needed to enter Kosovo as of January 3 (Radio KIM)
• Server: Pristina also responsible for issue of missing persons (Kosovo-online)
• Kosovo police members received letter of reprimand for detaining KoSSev’s editor last year (KoSSev)

• Stoltenberg: Tensions increased in Kosovo and B&H; NATO promotes stability (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo declares UNMIK staff a “persona non grata” (media)
• UN: "Persona non grata" doctrine not applicable to UN personnel (media)
• Hasani: UNMIK personnel cannot be declared "persona non grata" (Koha)
• Kosovo has high expectations of Albania joining UN Security Council (Klan)
• Serwer: I do not expect a Kosovo-Serbia agreement this year (Kosovo Online, media)
• Kosovo Surveillance Build-up Raises Privacy Concerns (BIRN)
• Serbia praises another arms shipment from Russia (AP)
• World Athletics confident Kosovo will participate in Serbian event with no issues (Exit.al)
• COVID-19: 38 new cases, no deaths (media)
• New COVID-19 restrictions come into force in Kosovo (Exit.al)
• Pandemic forces 3,000 firms out of business, additional relief packages needed (euronews.al)

• Kurti and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donfried talk about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• President Osmani decreed the Law on the Budget of Kosovo for 2022 (media)
• Dialogue, the biggest challenge for the Kurti Government in 2022 (Koha)
• Kurti meets Kosovo’s Security Council (media)
• Osmani and Kurti meet heads of security institutions (media)
• OSCE Condemns Desecration of Serb Gravestones in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Chinese cameras from the American black list, through Serbia in Kosovo (RFE)
• Enlargement crisis and its consequences: Key events in the Western Balkans in 2021 (EWB)
• COVID-19: 53 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 30, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kryeziu: Agreement with Serbia can be reached within government’s mandate (Klan)
• Venice Commission to present its opinion on Vetting process in March (RTK)
• Musliu files lawsuit against Minister Peci (RTK)
• Jeffrey Hovenier sworn in as the new US Ambassador to Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Families of the missing gather in Prishtina (media)
• COVID-19: 53 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic talks about economic success, referendum, Kosovo issue in his annual address (media, B92)
• Godfrey: US-Serbia security cooperation at highest level (Tanjug)
• Dacic: February 15 deadline for dissolution of parliament (Tanjug)
• Minister: Rio Tinto has no right to lithium exploitation in Serbia (N1)
• Spain on Kosovo independence: An act contrary to international law (Kosovo-online)
• Simic on election of Judicial Council members: Rights of Serbs ought to be respected (Kosovo-online)
• OSCE Mission condemned desecration of Serbian cemetery in Kisnica (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Rocketing Real Estate Prices in the Balkans Stir Suspicion (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti recaps 2021 in end-of-year press conference (media)
• No referendum of Serbia will take place in Kosovo, Kurti says (Klan/G. Express)
• Vucic reacts to Kurti's remarks on referendum (Telegrafi)
• Assembly fails to elect two Constitutional Court judges (media)
• Kosovo Ministry confirms being in touch with Spanish authorities (G. Express)
• Woman charged for joining a terrorist group (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 33 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly declares energy emergency (media)
• Kurti thanks Rama for helping with energy supply during end year holidays (euronews.al)
• Kurti: 2021 to be remembered as a year when hope, trust, and will for change became unbreakable (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Government approves draft law on setting up bureau for confiscation of unjustifiable wealth (Koha)
• Israel Appoints First Ambassador To Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• UK Embassy welcomes appointment of anti-corruption agency head (media)
• COVID-19: 33 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Patriarch: What the Vatican is for the Roman Catholic Church, Kosovo is for us (KoSSev, RTS)
• US Ambassador Godfrey: “The US does not see Serbia as a threat…” (B92, N1, TV Prva)
• Israel appoints ambassador in Kosovo (N1, KoSSev)
• Jevtic: They want to use police actions to force Serbs to leave Kosovo and Metohija (Politika)
• EU sources: How to get Western Balkans out of stagnation in 2022 (N1, BETA)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Urban Vision: Woman Painter Transforms Humdrum Kosovo Town With Murals (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti calls on diaspora to get vaccinated upon arrival in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Constitutional Court decides on payment for electricity in the north (media)
• ERO warns crisis through April, KEDS, KOSTT cannot do billing in north (EO)
• Albania to provide electricity to Kosovo for New Year's (media)
• Residents fire up generators as Kosovo energy crisis escalates (Reuters)
• Record of remittances in Kosovo in 2021 (Radio Free Europe)
• Court orders retrial of Kosovo Serb MP sentenced for ‘ethnic hatred’ (BIRN)
• Kurti received the Minister of National Defense of Turkey, Hulusi Akar (media)
• IOC threatens Malaysia and Serbia with event hosting ban (inisdethegames.biz)

Albanian Language Media:

• Minister calls on MPs to support emergency measures in energy sector (media)
• Kosovo's energy sector experiencing one of major challenges in last twenty years, KEDS says (media)
• Kurti: Sustainable progress brings together democracy and science (Koha)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Sad indicator of religious and ethnic intolerance" (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• 17 cases of COVID-19 in Serb areas (KoSSev)
• Borrell: The rhetoric of divisions in 2021 hampered the Western Balkans' path to the EU (Danas, Beta)
• Vulin, Petkovic with Teodosije on the position of Serbian people in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Balkan Security Network: Serbia has largest army of all ex-Yugoslav republics (Beta, N1)
• Holiday message to negotiators in Pristina, Belgrade, and Brussels (KiM radio)

• Kosovo Assembly to hold extraordinary session to discuss electricity crisis (media)
• Haradinaj blames Vetevendosje, Kurti for electricity crisis (media)
• Kosovars Protest Against Electricity Cuts, Demand Sackings (BIRN)
• Turkish minister to visit Kosovo today (Koha)
• Serbian official not permitted entry to Kosovo (Koha)
• Borrell: 2021, a year of transitions (RTK)
• Russia Is Playing With Fire in the Balkans (FA/Klan)
• Kosovo: Guerrillas’ Trials Begin at Hague War Crimes Court (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• PM Kurti on energy situation: There are almost no power cuts (media)
• “Government has taken measures; but consequences are inevitable” (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: Agreement with Denmark; no need for constitutional amendments (EO)
• Minxhozi: Kosovo-Albania railroad construction in 2024 (EO)
• PAI leader refutes party member: We remain part of government (Gazeta Express)
• Ministry: Vaccination remains most effective protection from COVID-19 (media)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: ''I see I am to blame for the lack of electricity in Kosovo also, but the results are winning'' (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Serbian families of the missing uninformed about the Brussels dialogue (KiM radio)
• Veljko Odalovic banned from entering Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTK2)
• Jeremic: Opposition should be ready to defend election results on streets (N1, Beta)
• Ambassador Godfrey: America’s goal is same as Serbia’s (N1, Beta, RTS)
• Petkovic: Since Kurti came to power, number of incidents against Serbs 50 percent higher (Kosovo Online)
• Tombstones in Kisnica village desecrated, condemnations of the act (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, gracanicaonline.info)
• "Stop Hate Speech" (KiM radio)