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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 15, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly adopts budget for 2024 (media)
• Deliu-Kodra: 2024 will be an election year (KTV)
• Serbia confirms in writing not considering implementing Brussels deal (Koha)
• Gervalla: Policy of appeasement towards Serbia has failed (media)
• Kearns on letter to EU to lift measures against Kosovo (Kallxo)
• Osmani to give end of year speech at Kosovo Assembly today (media)
• COMKFOR Ulutas meets Quint ambassadors (media)
• Rohde: Governments sometimes listen, and sometimes they don’t (Kosovapress)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: West will not give up on Kosovo independence (Tanjug)
• Rada Trajkovic on unveiling plaque at former Panda café: Cynical act of PM Kurti (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Kurti wading into the election campaign, urges Albanians in Serbia to mobilize and vote for Kamberi (KoSSev)
• Westerlund: Pristina has to implement its obligations (Kosovo Online)
• Haradinaj says budget scandalous, discrimination of municipalities not run by Self-determination (KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 14, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Meloni, “count on leadership” (media)
• Kurti travels to Brussels, invited by leader of European Socialists (media)
• Kurti: Serbia still hiding the truth about Panda case (media)
• Haxhiu: Early marriages in RAE communities, most unaddressed issue (media)
• KSF and Albanian Army hold joint drill in Albania (media)
• European Judo Championship to be held in Pristina on Saturday (media)
• KSC President grants Naim Haradinaj modification of sentence (media)
• Appeals Panel pronounces judgment in Salih Mustafa case (media)
• AAK’s Tahiri criticizes govt: 80% of capital projects haven’t started (Nacionale)
• Nissinen: We need strong democracies like Kosovo and Finland (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: If EU message was that we have to recognise Kosovo, that will not happen (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Serbians oppose sanctions on Russia (N1, FoNet)
• O’Brien: US expect calm and fair elections in Serbia, OSCE carefully monitors process (Voice of America)
• Six months since ban on importing Serbian goods in Kosovo was imposed (Radio KIM)
• Gogic, Rakic on non-acceptance of petitions to resolve mayors in north (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Memorial service to six murdered Serb boys served at Orthodox cemetery in Pec (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Election silence begins at midnight and lasts until closure of polling stations on December 17 (KiM radio, Beta)
• CRTA: Election campaign in a fog of unanswered questions (N1)
• Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedja KLA veterans called on Albanians to boycott elections on December 17 (Kosovo Online, bujanovacke.co.rs)
• Pointing a finger at Serbian “state security”, Kurti installs a memorial plaque on the anniversary of the Panda case (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Charges Four With Terrorism Over Election Office Bombing in North (BIRN)
• Hague Court Cuts Kosovo’s Commander Cali’s Sentence by Four Years (BIRN)
• Ex-Guerrilla-Turned-MP Does not Plead in First Hague Appearance (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 14, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Von der Leyen: Kosovo and Serbia to fulfill their commitments within dialogue (media)
• Borrell: I have invested a lot of energy in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Reporteri)
• Osmani: We have information that Serbia is preparing new attacks, will inform EU leaders (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo-Serbia agreement must be defended by EU and USA (VoA)
• Osmani: We will make association if it does not create additional level of governance (media)
• Bislimi: Association after elements of de-facto recognition are met (RTK)
• Lajcak in conversation with Bislimi: We agreed on the next steps in the dialogue (media)
• O'Brien meets Maqedonci: U.S. supports KSF (Koha)
• Osmani asks Von der Leyen to remove punitive measures against Kosovo (media)
• KFOR commander goes to Leposaviq, meets personnel patrolling along border line (media)
• Kurti and Abbott meet, discuss developments during 2023 (media)
• Bislimi and Blankenborg talk about economy and dialogue (RTK)
• Indictment filed against four northern Serbs, who threw bombs at offices of CEC (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic placed a reservation on the EU declaration: No recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• Vucic: I do not believe that the Kosovo issue will be resolved quickly and easily (Kosovo Online, TV Prva)
• Serbian PM Brnabic met Orban and Varhelyi ahead of the summit (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Borrell: Both sides in the dialogue are moving slowly, but they are moving (Tanjug)
• Michel: We expect more reforms from the Western Balkans (KiM radio)
• CEC received the requests of the president of the Leposavic, North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok municipal assemblies, response in five days (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Goran Bogdanovic: The French-German plan is already being implemented (KiM radio)
• KFOR Commander Ulutas in Leposavic, visited the church of St. Vasilije Ostroski (KoSSev)
• Four persons indicted in connection with last year's attack on the premises of the MEC (KoSSev)

International Media:

• EU-Western Balkans summit, 13 December 2023 (consilium.europa.eu)
• Who Owns the Media? Only 30 Per Cent of Media in Kosovo Reported Ownership, BIRN Finds (Prishtina Insight)
• Extradition To Kosovo Of Monastery Attack Suspect 'Impossible,' Serbian FM Says (RFE)
• Vučić received an invitation to the EU-WB Summit, Serbian authorities decided Brnabić will attend (EWB)
• Countries call on the EU to remove measures against Kosovo (politico.eu)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier: Surprised by criticism about the draft statute of the Association (RFE)
• European legislators to Borrell and Lajcak: Remove "sanctions" on Kosovo (AP)
• Kearns: Radoicic should be extradited to Kosovo, no justification for Serbia (AP)
• Osmani: The unjust measures against Kosovo must go (media)
• Selimi: “Sources say Serbia trained and armed Radoicic terrorists” (media)
• Kurti congratulates Tusk on appointment as Polish Prime Minister (media)
• Svecla gives details about “draft law for control of state border” (Indeksonline)
• Maqedonci: By investing in the army, we’re investing in safety of citizens (Klan)
• BIRN publishes Media Ownership Monitor in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Pristina’s lack of goodwill to start the election process in the North is clear (KoSSev, N1)
• Hovenier: Kosovo officials at all levels to make additional efforts and enable citizens to replace mayors (KoSSev)
• What does Hovenier say about INTERPOL's "red notice" for Radoicic (KoSSev)
• Dacic: No discussion about the Franco-German plan until the CSM is formed (N1, Beta)
• Milivojevic: The EU's attempt to include the Ohrid Agreement in Chapter 35 a test for Belgrade (RTS)
• Dacic: Attitude of Caribbean states to our strategic interests important to us (Tanjug)
• Covic: EU has unrealistic approach in relation to Kosovo issue, additional pressure to come (RTS)
• The leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans meeting in Brussels, a declaration on the table (RTS)

International:

• Unclear signals from Austria ahead of Western Balkans summit (EWB)
• Wider Europe Briefing: A Crucial Week In Brussels (RFE)
• Western Balkans' integration into EU in focus at Albania summit (rfi.fr)
• EU Urged to Link Serbia’s Negotiations to Action on Kosovo Deal (BIRN)
• For Serbia’s Campaigner-in-Chief, Elections Buy Time (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 13, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

EU Council of Ministers approves conclusions for Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
Bislimi: Government has not guaranteed there are no constitutional violations in Association’s draft (media)
Svecla: Serbia's threats are a serious problem for Kosovo and the region (RTK)
Rohde: Kosovo and Serbia should fulfill their duties (RTV21, media)
Specialist Prosecutor’s Office arrests Haxhi Shala (media)
Kurti: We distributed funds to over 380 families from non-majority communities (media)
LVV missed again meeting of Investigative Commission for state reserves (EO)
Albanians and Serbs demand depoliticization of issue of missing persons (Reporteri)
Krasniqi: Kurti government is penalizing citizens on party basis (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic on non-acceptance of requests to dissolve mayors: Kurti violates his own regulations (KoSSev)
Varhelyi: Conclusions on Serbia adopted by EU General Affairs Council (Tanjug, media)
Vucic says he fears Kosovo situation will be set up in increasingly harsh manner (Tanjug)
Hill: I have found EU good will for Serbia, but not for Serbia's problems (Tanjug)
Vice President of Peoples’ Party visits Gracanica ahead of Serbian parliamentary elections (Radio KIM, media)
CRTA NGO to deploy 3,000 election observers (media)
Serbia Against Violence rallies thousands in Belgrade (N1, media)
Serbian military get new vehicles (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 12, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani travels to Brussels (RTK)
• EU measures against Kosovo can be removed "if there is progress in meeting the demands" (RFE)
• Mitrovica North doesn’t accept request of initiative to remove mayor Atiq (Koha)
• Cakolli: rejection of request for Atic's removal, violation of law (Koha)
• Court cancels hearings in trial of former KLA leaders until next year (media)
• Haxhi Shala sent to Specialist Chambers in the Hague (Koha)
• Maqedonci traveled for an official visit to the USA (media)
• Survey: Only 20% of Europeans want Kosovo to join EU (Kallxo)
• “Opposition will enable Vetevendosje to win over 50% in next elections” (EO)
• Kurti discusses permanent shelter for 60 families from RAE communities (RFE)
• Malaj: Albania-Kosovo relations very good, not determined by a moment (Klan)
• Special Prosecutor's Office invites Serb accused of war crimes to appear in court (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Mitrovica municipality did not accept the request for Atiq's dismissal (RTK2, Danas, media)
• Residents in north summoned for questioning in connection with December barricades? (KoSSev)
• Constitutional Court says verdict against Zoran Djokic is not in contradiction with Constitution (Radio KIM)
• The EU calls on Serbia, Kosovo to fulfill their obligations, the EC to supplement the criteria for Chapter 35 (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Vucic meets Molina, thanks him for Spain’s principled stance on territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• BBC: Vucic’s biggest test in Belgrade, Serbia Against Violence riding high in polls (N1, BETA)
• The family of Sladjan Trajkovic sent a request to international factors (KiM radio)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 12, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
• Bislimi: Contract is step toward normalization of electricity supply in north (media)
• Lajcak meets Petkovic, discuss Association draft statute (media)
• Osmani meets Kearns, discuss security developments (media)
• Kurti meets journalists from Ukraine and Afghanistan (media)
• Rohde thanks Kosovo for hosting Ukrainian and Afghan journalists (media)
• Kosovo joins European Youth Card Association (media)
• Krasniqi slams govt for allocation of budget to certain municipalities (media)
• COMKFOR Ulutas concludes visit to Albania (media)
• Szunyog meets SL leader, discuss early local elections and dialogue (media)
• Osmani meets Foreign Minister of Somalia (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Lajcak, Petkovic discuss normalization agreement (N1, media)
• Szunyog, Elek discuss elections, dialogue (Tanjug)
• EULEX on breaking into church near Podujevo: Criminal complaint filed to prosecution (Kosovo Online)
• “White Peony” award goes to lawyer Filipovic, “Black Peony” award to PM Kurti (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vucic with ODIHR mission: I expect fair, democratic elections (FoNet)
• OSCE PA to deploy 75 election observers (N1)
International Media:
• Kosovo’s Marginalized Groups Still Discriminated Against in Workplace – Report (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 11, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 11, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti returns from visit to Berlin, describes meetings with German officials (media)
• Lajcak: Preparing for separate discussions with chief negotiators (media)
• Rohde welcomes KEDS-Elektroserver commercial contract (media)
• Schmid: Western Balkans belong to the EU (media)
• Ex-KLA senior member Haxhi Shala interviewed by Specialist Chambers (RFE)
• Abbott: Impunity is becoming cornerstone for corruption (EO)
• Isufaj elected for another term as head of Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (media)
• Osmani meets Qatar Prime Minister, discuss efforts to further cooperation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak announces separate discussions with chief negotiators of Belgrade, Pristina (Tanjug)
• Jeremic: Kosovo must not join UN, we must reject Franco-German proposal (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Vucic: All important topics of mutual interest discussed with Aliyev (Tanjug, media)
• Dveri Movement: Elektrosever has become part of Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Lepaja: Serbs from Kosovo hostages of bad relations between Pristina and Belgrade (KiM radio, Slobodno Srpski)

Opinion:

• Vasic: Serbs are losing fear of regime’s election scare tactics (BIRN)

International:

• 24-year electricity dispute in northern Kosovo resolved thanks to Türkiye's intensive efforts (AA)
• Prishtina Named European City of Sports 2024: A Boost for Sports in Kosovo’s Capital (Prishtina Insight)
• With Leak Of Private Video, The Dirty Tricks Begin In Key Belgrade Election Battle (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 11, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets German Chancellor Scholz (RTK)
Bislimi participates at Budapest Balkan Forum (media)
Kurti in Berlin: Kosovo committed to aspiration for EU membership (RTK)
OSCE: There are no conditions for holding Serbian elections in Kosovo (RTK)
KFOR Commander: Security situation in the north calmer, but still fragile (Reporteri)
Draft of Association submitted by EU, worrying for opposition (RTK)
Von Cramon on KEDS-Elektroserver deal: Good news (RTK)
Kurti: We will continue to protect everyone's rights (media)
Haxhiu: Violence will not be normalized, we will work to protect women's lives (media)
Talat Xhaferi, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, from January 28 (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic satisfied with the signed contact between KEDS and Elektrosever (Tanjug, N1) 
Dacic congratulated the International Human Rights Day and pointed out their violation in Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
Office for KiM: At the ambulance in Suvo Dol broken windows and metal door (KiM radio)
Serbian List: The devastation of the Suvi Dol ambulance a shameful act (KiM radio)
SNV: The catastrophic political and security situation of the Serbs in Kosovo (KiM radio, Danas)
An initiative to replace the mayor submitted in Zubin Potok (KoSSev)
An Initiative to recall mayor submitted in Leposavic as well; Radovic: No party support (KoSSev)
Natural gas from Azerbaijan: Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector put in trial operation (N1, Tanjug)

International Media:

SafeJournalists: Investigations of Attacks on Journalists in Western Balkans Long and Ineffective (safejournalists.net)
Türkiye's efforts help resolve electricity dispute in northern Kosovo (dailysabah.com)
United opposition poses stern test for Vučić in Serbia’s election (politico.eu)
Aleksandar Vucic: The man who remade Serbia (BBC)
Kosovo Indicts 53 Members of Serbian Forces for 1999 Village Massacre (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 8, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• State Department expects Kosovo and Serbia to implement all obligations (VoA)
• Stano on Association's draft: It is new, balanced and European proposal (RTV21)
• Tahiri outlines some of the “serious problems” of the draft statute (media)
• Haliti: Not President’s competency to call parties to discuss draft statute (media)
• Lekaj doesn’t rule possible protests if Association draft statute is signed (RTV21)
• Krstic: If Trump comes to power, division of Kosovo will be discussed (Kanal 10)
• Lajcak: First time in a while EU is ready for enlargement (media)
• Special Prosecution: We have filed 33 indictments for war crimes in Kosovo (RFE)
• Rafuna: Economic integration of Western Balkans bring stability (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I will protect national interests, our people in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Orban: If the Brussels and Ohrid agreements enter the negotiation framework, Belgrade can count on Hungary (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Hill: Recognition of Kosovo is not on the table, but normalization of relations (euronews.rs)
• Two-hour restrictions over malfunction at Valac power station (KoSSev)
• Xhufka: Do not dare to approach the church in Rakinica, because hellfire awaits you; The Diocese filed a criminal complaint
• Kurti video in Serbian: Thanks for faith in better Kosovo (N1)
• Hill: The US supports Serbia's bid to become a member of the EU (KiM radio, RTS, media)

Opinion:

• Bjelos: Pro-Democracy Forces in Serbia Targeted with Spyware (BIRN)

International:

• Week in Review: Uphill Struggles and Low Expectations (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kurti meets Soderberg, focus on non-majority communities (media)
• Just transition roadmap sought for coal town in Kosovo* (balkangreenenergynews.com)