UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• EU Special Representative for Kosovo: Fighting corruption needs constant attention (Prishtina Insight)
• Wilson Center issues report: Consolidating Kosovo's Sovereignty (media)
• CEC has so far approved 1,960 registration applications from Diaspora (Koha)
• Interest in COVID-19 vaccines increases in Kosovo, 14% of people fully vaccinated (KP)
• COVID-19: 221 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Grenell's visit during the "Open Balkans" project is (not) a coincidence (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Serbia sends police choppers to help North Macedonia’s firefighters (N1)
• Jevtic: By introducing economic measures to Serbia, Kurti wants to end dialogue (Gracanica-online)
• Davenport and Mladenovic on language rights in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Sheholli: ''Dragica ought to be sitting with Albanian women, apologizing, although she is not guilty'' (Kosovo Online, Blic, Euronews)
• Kosovo portals say Bregovic inspired massacres (KoSSev, N1, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serbia’s Ambassador to Russia Lazanski Passes Away (Balkan Insight)

• Head of Financial Intelligence Unit sacked (media)
• Investigations against senior officialsmentioned in recordings (Betimi per Drejtesi)
• “Proof that prosecution, judiciary are influenced by interest groups” (Telegrafi)
• Vetevendosje people in the board that government proposed to Assembly (Koha)
• Haradinaj calls on government to treat wildfires more seriously (media)
• Vetevendosje implies Arben Vitia will run for Prishtina Mayor (Express/ATV)
• COVID-19: 110 new cases, 1 death (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• War veterans’ leader: Special Court will fail, like EULEX and UNMIK (Telegrafi)
• Women’s Network: Gender equality is a legal obligation in local elections (Koha)
• COVID-19: 110 new cases, 1 death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Selakovic: We will know how to answer if Pristina starts lobbying for new recognitions (KoSSev)
• Police: Fires in northern Kosovo localized and under control (TV Most)
• Vucic: Serbia will help Skopje in firefighting, "Open Balkans" stipulates it (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Serbian election dates leaked from ruling coalition-opposition meeting (N1)
• No new Covid-19 cases in Serb communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Book Explores Kosovo Albanian Tradition of Dream Interpretation (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti: Citizens know our government cannot be compared to others before (Kallxo/RTK)
• Abdixhiku on Government's 100-day report: Empty and disappointing (media)
• PDK's Tahiri: Kurti government has done nothing of what it promised (EO/RTK)
• Hajdari: Implementation of reciprocity requires good organisation (Telegrafi)
• Petkovic on reciprocity: Kurti destroying dialogue (media)
• LVV supporter seemingly confirms Vitia's candidacy for Pristina mayor (media)
• 10 active fires remain in Kosovo, out of 50 (media)
• KSC experiencing serious problems with Albanian translation (Klan)
• COVID-19: 48 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Belgium to share COVID-19 vaccines, Kosovo among beneficiaries (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We did not give up on reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Protest against Open Balkans in front of Albanian embassy in Prishtina (Kallxo)
• Kosovo Defense Minister: We are monitoring fires (Klan Kosova)
• COVID-19: 48 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Politika: Ten countries ready to withdraw recognition of Kosovo's independence (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbia must be open, hatred towards Albanians brings nothing good (Politika, Beta, N1)
• UNESCO lists reasons why Serbian monasteries in Kosovo are endangered (Radio KIM, Euronews Serbia)
• Visegrad Group welcomes Open Balkans Initiative (N1)
• Petkovic: Albin Kurti threatens and ruins the dialogue (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petkovic with Pinter on situation of Serbs, SOC in Kosovo, dialogue and ‘Open Balkans’ (Kosovo-online)
• One case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Bajrami: Open Balkan of the Balkans people (Koha)
• Palokaj: Open Balkans cannot be built with deniers of genocide (Koha)

International:

• Trenin: Balkans are not a prime battlefield in the Russia-West confrontation (EWB)

• COVID-19: 100 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti on Open Balkans: Creates space for influence from the East (KP)
• Kosovo honors Beau Biden, late son of US President (Reuters)
• Kosovo MPs to debate today on first 100 days of Kurti-led government (media)
• Gervalla denies reports suggesting her removal from post (Kallxo)
• Police arrest person for breaking into Gasic’s flat (Koha)
• Kosovo wins international recognition … at the Olympics (Politico.eu)
• Experts’ exodus from Kosovo accreditation body sparks blame game (BIRN)
• Minor earthquake shakes Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia (media)
• Kosovo men in search of WWII aircraft at bottom of Lake Ohrid (Euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Biden to be awarded Kosovo medal on behalf of late son, Beau (media)
• Gervalla says 'Open Balkans' is a dangerous initiative (Kosovapress)
• Abdixhiku: Economic integration of the region to be preceded by political recognition (media)
• Haradinaj accuses Kurti of ‘selling’ patriotism while protecting Serbia’s products (media)
• Vitia: The pandemic is far from over, our only weapon is vaccination (media)
• COVID-19: 70 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EC on the Open Balkans Initiative: We support the leaders' commitment to regional cooperation (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Belgrade expects constructive Berlin’s support in dialogue with Pristina (N1)
• “Open Balkan” criticized in Pristina and Tirana (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Kurti mistaken in thinking he’ll win with chauvinistic messages and closing Pristina (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: We have delivered food and insulin to Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)

International:

• Balkan ‘Mini-Schengen’ Leaders Eye Open Borders by 2023 (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• US State Department again lists BIRN as a resource for fighting corruption (Prishtina Insight)

• Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania Push Forward On 'Open Balkans' Initiative (RFE)
• Government of Kosovo reiterates position against Open Balkans initiative (media)
• Analysts support Kosovo's position on Mini-Schengen (Kosovapress)
• LDK: Berlin Process should be the starting point for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Dismisses ‘Visionless Mini Schengen’, Urges for Trade Deal with the EU (Exit)
• Over 55% of respondents consider rejection of "Open Balkans" will not negatively affect Kosovo’s economy (Telegrafi)
• Demi: Easy for Rama and Vucic to make calls for not keeping hostage to the past (Koha)
• Spahiu: Kosovo loses politically by not joining Open Balkans initiative (Klan)
• Osmani, Kurti, and Konjufca pay respects to the victims of bus crash (media)
• Kurti: Ireland, an important voice in speeding up the visa liberalization (media)
• President Osmani has telephone conversation with Israeli President Herzog (media)
• Gervalla to pay an official visit to North Macedonia today (media)
• Four laws in four months (RFE, media)
• COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Rama, Vucic and Zaev sign cooperation agreement in line with Open Balkan initiative (euronews.al)
• In 2023 there will be no borders between our countries, Vucic says (euronews.al)
• Zaev: A new wind of cooperation is blowing today in Skopje (euronews.al)
• Rama: Regional cooperation brings us closer to the EU (euronews.al)
• Vucic: If you consider Asterix a disgrace, put Serbia with a square sign (media)
• Concept Paper on justice vetting proceeded for public consultation (Telegrafi)
• Health Ministry: Compatriots living abroad can be vaccinated in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Open Balkans" new name for "mini-Schengen" (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Vucic, Rama and Zaev today at the economic forum in Skopje (media)
• Serbia-US friendship and alliance in 140 years of diplomatic relations (N1)
• Bishop Teodosije met German diplomat Berger (Radio KIM)
• Non-paper: European Council definitively rejects access to document (N1 Slovenia, N1 BiH)
• OSCE on burglary of Dragica Gasic’s flat (KoSSev, media)

International:

• Kosovo Faces Uphill Fight in Claiming Yugoslav-Era Property (Balkan Insight)

• Families bury victims of tragic bus crash (media)
• Germany's state secretary Berger meets PM Kurti, President Osmani (media)
• Hasani: EU and U.S. could ask for a break in dialogue (Klan)
• PDK warns it will not vote international agreements (media)
• Haxhiu: Four prosecutors to join Special Prosecution of Kosovo (media)
• Rama, Vucic, Zaev meet today at Skopje’s Economic Forum (media)
• Renowned Serb returnee to Gjakova suffers break-in (Prishtina Insight)
• COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media)