UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 6, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Joint EU-Western Balkans statement expected to be adopted in Slovenia (RFE)
• Kurti at Slovenia summit seeks visa liberalization and EU integration (RTK)
• Varhelyi: talks about visa liberalization for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Kurti and Vucic to meet in Slovenia, Merkel and Macron to participate in the meeting (media)
• Kosovo without state symbols at the Slovenia summit (RTK)
• RWLSEE demands mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
• Former Serbian minister calling Recak massacre a fabrication, escapes from Kosovo (media)
• CDHRF reacts after Stanisic’s sentence: partial justice for victims (media)
• COVID-19: One death, 41 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borrell: The road to the EU requires of Serbia and Kosovo to set differences aside (Beta, Danas)
• Kurti confirmed that he would meet with Vucic in Slovenia (euronews.rs)
• Vucic: No excessive expectations, but I expect positive message from EU (Tanjug)
• EU-Western Balkans summit will not discuss enlargement (N1)
• Vucic: Slovenia wants Western Balkans in EU by 2030 (N1)
• EU Council head: European perspective & lots of money for W. Balkans (N1)
• Kosovo HLC: Verdict to Stanisic without reasoning (Radio KIM)
• Vlajic: Todosijevic did not receive summons to serve his sentence (KoSSev)
• Drecun: Pristina will try to use license plates issue to impose recognition (Politika)
• Selakovic thanked Syria for principled stance on Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

International:

• (LIVE) EU-Western Balkans Summit 2021 (EWB)
• Civil society sets 10 principles for dealing with disputed past (Prishtina Insight)
• Progress stalls on EU entry for Western Balkans nations (AP)
• Slovenia summit: Balkan leaders look to EU to open up club (BBC)
• Western Balkans Awaits EU Summit as Membership Hopes Falter (Balkan Insight)
• You are family, EU chief tells Balkans, leaders not so sure (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• “Open Balkans” companies at World Exhibition in Dubai (Kosovo-online)

• Hovenier: Without Kosovo-Serbia mutual recognition, region will remain blocked (VOA/RFE)
• Borrell on EU-US relations: Cooperation in Western Balkans much better (media)
• Government says it supports regional cooperation in the framework of Berlin Process (Koha)
• Kurti meets Prime Minister of Croatia, Plenkovic (media)
• Abdixhiku requests from EU: Treat Kosovo equally, lift visas (media)
• Haradinaj: There cannot be progress on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue without the U.S. (RTK)
• Serbia accused of blocking a Kosovo truck from entering its territory (Koha/Zeri)
• EU Leaders To Reassure Western Balkans States On Accession At Summit (RFE)
• Commissioner Varhelyi accused of favouring Serbia's candidacy despite no progress on key issues (Koha)
• AKR's Pacolli visits former KLA leaders detained at The Hague (media)
• Serb jailed for crimes in 1998-1999 war in Kosovo (AP)
• COVID-19: Two deaths, 38 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• EP: EU-U.S. cooperation in the Balkans more than necessary (RFE)
• MCC: It is up to partner countries to select projects (Kosovapress)
• Serb sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing 13 civilians during war (media)
• Panel calls for more cooperation between KSC and KP for temporary release (BpD/Koha)
• COVID-19: Two deaths, 38 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 36 cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities (KiM radio)
• Kurz: Slovenia summit extremely important (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM: Verdict to Stanisic points out Serbs are tried based on ethnicity, not the law (Kosovo-online)
• RSF wants EU-Western Balkans summit to discuss support for journalists (N1)
• Church in Jagnjenica village, Zubin Potok, burglarized (Radio kontakt plus)
• Twenty-one years after the ouster of Serbia’s strongman – what has changed? (N1)
• Serbian FM says EU should value Belgrade’s results more (N1)

Opinion:

• “Whether a new crisis will occur depends on outcome of local elections in Kosovo” (Danas)
• Don’t close the door on the Western Balkans (politico.eu)

International:

• Biden tells EC commission chief international tax system must be fair (Reuters)
• Contractor on Albania Power Line Paid Millions to Offshore Consultancy (Balkan Insight)
• Olivér Várhelyi: Europe’s under-fire gatekeeper (politico.eu)

• EU leaders to restate membership guarantee for Balkans at summit (Reuters)
• What is expected from the EU-Western Balkans summit? (Radio Free Europe)
• US Senator: Association of Serbian municipalities, a recipe for disaster (media)
• Kurti: Increased budget for the army will be a priority (media)
• EULEX chief on implementation of license plates agreement (media)
• Krasniqi: Government allowed Serbia to intervene in our sovereignty (media)
• Latifi: Result of local elections will be different from national elections (Express)
• COVID-19: One death, seven new cases (media)
• All change: Merkel’s departure a moment to rethink EU Balkan policy (BIRN)
• Pandora Papers: New lead exposes Balkan PEPs’ hidden riches (BIRN)
• Vetevendosje’s man elected CEO of Kosovo Power Corporation (Kallxo)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti warns reduction of Serbian imports, plans to increase trade with Albania (euronews.al)
• Lajcak in U.S. after events in the North, Serbian request for Association (RTK)
• Kosovo-Serbia agreement on license plates enters into force (euronews.al)
• War victims found in Serbian mass grave repatriated to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Tahiri: Brussels license plates agreement threatens state sovereignty (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: Government made harmful decisions, call for resignation is legitimate (RTK)
• Shala: You agreed with Serbia in Brussels about our internal affairs (RTK)
• Establishment of reciprocity, Svecla visits Brnjak (media)
• COVID-19: One death, seven new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 28 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas (Radio konakt plus)
• Traffic normalized at Jarinje and Brnjak, stickers’ regime started (RTS)
• Petkovic: Without dialogue there is no progress, I hope US will explain it to Kurti (Kosovo-online)
• “Serbs pleased with withdrawal of special police units from northern Kosovo” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: KFOR has finally started doing its job (RTS)
• Rakic: I expect agreement will be respected and enable free movement of citizens (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• EU top diplomat in Serbia: W. Balkans has no alternative to Union (N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo – Serbia Micro “Cuban Missile” Crisis (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Charges Ten with Ethnically-Motivated Attack on Serbs (Balkan Insight)
• Vehicles, Their State Symbols Hidden, Now Crossing Kosovar-Serbian Border (RFE)

• License plates agreement: Sticker regime to enter into force today (media)
• Serbs lift roadblocks in Kosovo as NATO moves to end car plate row (Reuters)
• Kurti says they will work for full reciprocity with Serbia, addresses gas project (EO)
• "KFOR ready to perform its duties in support of local and regional stability" (media)
• U.S. commends progress in implementation of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (media)
• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets management of the Kosovo Police (media)
• “The era when the Republic of Kosovo is oppressed is over,” says minister Svecla (euronews.al)
• Mehaj: National security challenged and provoked by Serbia (media)
• Shala in op-ed: Four lessons from the North of Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Phillips: Kosovo was late with reciprocity, Serbia to stop seeking preferential treatment (Telegrafi)
• Kurti to attend EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia (Kosovapress)
• Kandic: Serbia not ready to punish war crime perpetrators (Kosovapress)
• Kosovo Court urged to convict Serb ex-policeman of wartime killings (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Two deaths, 23 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Police refutes Simic: Tendentious speculation (media)
• Vitia resigns as Minister of Health, will run for Prishtina Mayor (media)
• Education Ministry bans parties from using schools for campaign (Koha)
• “No dynamic in dialogue; serious EU-US engagement needed” (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 42 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Important that we have a good agreement (RTS)
• Waiting for retreat, Serbs at barricades for the twelfth day (RTS)
• Escobar: The Washington agreement important to us (Tanjug, RTS)
• Kosovo-online: ROSU members damaged vehicles owned by Serbs at Brnjak
• Serbian pro-government media: Vucic wins, Kurti – “knocked out, capitulated and turned tail“ (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Northern Kosovo a vital national issue for Serbia (N1, TV Pink)
• Serbian schools in North of Kosovo open on Monday (RTK2, KoSSev)
• ''There is no winner, but Kurti is certainly a loser'' (N1, Beta)

International:

• Kosovo’s ruling party faces reality check in local elections (BIRN)

• Bislimi: Agreement on license plates does not undermine reciprocity (Koha)
• Escobar: Kosovo was right on reciprocity but implementation caught us by surprise (media)
• NATO committed to implementation of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (media)
• Svecla: Stickers to be put on every car with Serbian license plates (media)
• PDK: License plates agreement further strengthens Serbia's position (media)
• LDK: Government made one step forwards, two steps back (media)
• Haradinaj: Brussels agreement, setback with grave consequences for Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia: Can the EU really broker a peace deal? (Euronews)
• War victims found in Serbian mass grave repatriated to Kosovo (BIRN)
• Kosovo will not go ahead with gas project (Koha/Klan)
• Resorts or Refugee Camps: Fleeing Afghans Get Mixed Reception in Balkans (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four deaths, 45 new cases (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 30, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Miroslav Lajcak: We have reached an agreement (media)
• Lajcak thanks Escobar: EU-US unity for Western Balkans success (RTK)
• Borell welcomes agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
• Godfrey calls Brussels Agreement excellent news (media)
• Kurti: the era when Serbia gets used to reciprocity, begins now (media)
• Albania welcomes agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia (Klan)
• LVV: Bislim's statement was deliberately misunderstood (Koha)
• Vehicle Registration Center in Zubin Potok reopens (Klan)
• The EU confirms that there are meetings of dialogue delegations today (Klan)
• Special unit with patrols also on mountain roads around Brnjak (Klan)
• Konjufca receives KFOR Commander Franco Frederici (RTK)
• Hoti: Kosovo applied the agreement, but Kurti failed to coordinate with partners (euronews.al)
• Human remains from Rezalla massacre return to Kosovo (media)
• Kandic: Vucic and Brnabic are lying to Serbs in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: Four deaths, 45 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 34 new cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Serbian side accepted the compromise proposal for de-escalation of the situation in Kosovo (media)
• EU welcomes Belgrade-Pristina agreement, “calls for ZSO implementation” (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic-Lajcak talks in Brussels ended, deal made (RTS)
• "Citizens suffer because of election games" (Radio KIM)
• Ursula von der Leyen: Important to find a sustainable friendly solution to the crisis in Kosovo (media)
• Protests in northern Kosovo continue (RTS)
• Ambassador Godfrey: Great news, anything is possible through a serious and dedicated dialogue (Kosovo Online)
• EC denied Reuters allegations: EC firmly committed to advancing the accession process of the Western Balkan countries (N1, FoNet, VoA)
• Dacic rejects possible foreign military engagement in Kosovo (N1)
• Principled position of Spain not to recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Von der Leyen urges end to Serbia-Kosovo border tensions (politico.eu)

• What does agreement with Serbia on license plates contain? (RTK)
• “Settlement on license plates reached, but no final deal” (Euronews.al)
• Stano: Negotiations to solve crisis in the north to continue (media)
• Talks on the license plates to continue, sources say (Radio Free Europe)
• Serbia withdraws armored vehicles from Kosovo border (Euronews.al)
• Protesters and Police maintain uneasy stand-off at Kosovo border (BIRN)
• Kosovo PM Kurti interview with HRT (media)
• Serbia helping Russia create trouble in the Balkans, Serwer says (Express)
• Visions of the dialogue (II) (Kosovo 2.0)
• PDK: Government to immediately approve U.S.-funded gas project (media)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla meets EC President von der Leyen (media)
• COVID-19: Two deaths, 66 new cases (media)